Hattiesburg American from Hattiesburg, Mississippi • 15

14A Wednesday. February 14, 1996 Hattiesburg AMERICAN WORLD Queen Mother honors secret agents INSIDE: Money 6B TV listings 8B Comics 9B 10-148 SPORTS Chuck Abadie, Sports Editor 584-3110 Alan Hinton, Assistant Sports Editor 584-3136 A 544-8405 Rail reestablishes Vietnam, China ties LONDON (AP) Looking strong, the 95-year-old Queen Mother Elizabeth appeared Tuesday in her first public engagement since a hip replacement operation three months ago. The Queen Mother, whose husband George VI was king during World War II, attended a memo Wednesday, February 14, 1996 1B rial service at Westminster Abbey for Allied secret agents who died behind enemy lines during the war. The Queen Mother had surprised the public with her decision to undergo major surgery at her age. But she walked out of the hospital, declining assistance, 18 days later.

Lady Eagles tangle with Ole Miss tonight scon WALTERS (J Rocky Apparel Factory Outlet DONG DANG, Vietnam (AP) A Chinese train draped in red ribbons and banners crossed into Vietnam today as officials from both sides pledged to turn the once-tense frontier into a crossroads for peaceful trade. The reopening of rail links 17 years after they were cut by war dramatized the recent improvement in relations between the socialist neighbors, who have often been political rivals. "The reopening of rail links will definitely have a positive ef fect on the development of relations," Vietnam's deputy minister of transport, Bui Van Siiong, said as he welcomed the trainload of Chinese officials to Dong Dang, 2 miles south of the border. "This reopening will also help Vietnam integrate into the region and the world, culturally and economically," he said. "We will try to develop this train into an international-standard express train.

That will be a symbol of the profound friendly relationship between these two brotherly countries." WHO: USM (17-4) vs. Ole Miss (15-7) WHERE: Tad Smith Coliseum, Oxford WHEN: 7 p.m. today RADIO: WHER-FM (103.7) By TIM DOHERTY AMERICAN Sports Writer Last week, University of Southern Mississippi forward Brandy Reed said the Lady Eagles could match up with Southeastern Conference teams. Tonight, USM's women's basketball team gets that chance. The Lady Eagles will meet No.

21 Ole Miss in a rematch at Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford at 7 p.m. USM (17-4) has won 13 of its last 14 games, including a 100-79 victory over Mississippi State in Hattiesburg. After that win, Reed was asked about playing against SEC competition. "We'd do all right," Reed said. "We're looking forward to playing (Ole Miss).

If we're playing right we can play with anybody in the country." USM will have to play very right to beat the Lady Rebels (15-7). Ole Miss enters tonight's and No. 20 Florida on the road. Ole Miss has wins over three ranked teams: Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Alabama. The Lady Rebels also own a 76-74 overtime win over USM in the championship game of the Lady Eagle Classic on Dec.

9. Ole Miss senior center Yolanda Moore scored a career high 31 points and pulled down 18 rebounds. Moore had the basket that tied the game 68-68 then hit the game-winning shot in overtime with 17.6 seconds left. USM was led by senior guard Patricia Nash, who also scored 31 points. Both Nash and Moore are All-America candidates.

The Lady Eagles were without Reed in the first meeting. The 6-foot-1 sophomore was serving part of a four-game suspension for disciplinary and academic reasons. She currently is averaging 20.4 points and 11.0 rebounds a game. Tho A i. i i Procc till 1 1 Zm 91 it I rTiT Y9 i I mi i iST3 ITrZ JFZTCWZ game having lost its last two games, but those losses came against No.

1 Georgia at home HISTORIC MOMENT: Vietnamese soldiers and Chinese police stand as honor guards at the doors of the first train to cross the Chinese border into Vietnam since 1977. Libyan congress refuses to let go of 2 Lockerbie suspects IIIIIIIIHIIIIMfltT CLIMBING THE LADDER SAVE 50 OR MORE on current brand fashions with slight imperfections REG PRICE NOW Men's Shorts 12.99-9,99 3.99-1.99 Women's Shorts 9,99 2.99 Lott, Hust advancing in minors Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera Auditions MAN OF LA MANCHA Monday and Thursday, Feb. 12 and 15 6:00 P.M. C.E. Roy 5th St.

Community Center 24 roles (including chorus and nor singing roles) Cold Readings. Bring Music to Audition. Accompanist Available. Call 582-7074 for additional information. CAIRO, Egypt (AP) Libya's congress has voted against handing over two men wanted in connection with the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

The decision Tuesday by the General People's Congress concluded a week-long meeting in the coastal town of Sirte in which Libya's parliament also called on Arab countries to ignore U.N. sanctions imposed since the 1988 bombing. Libya's official JANA news agency, meanwhile, said the parliamentary discussions focused on the distribution of Libyan oil earnings to the public. JANA reported Tuesday that Libya planned to go ahead with a scheme first announced by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in 1992 to share oil profits with the citizens. The decision led to a falling out between Gadhafi and some of his closest advisers, including the then-No.

2 man in the Tripoli government, Abdel-Salam Jal-loud. JANA said the General People's Congress was looking at legislation to authorize the central bank to start distributing oil revenues to low-income families. The agency said each family would get $5,000 and said at least 100,000 of the nation's estimated 5 million people would qualify for the cash grants. Although Libya is governed by a variety of peopb's committees and congresses, the real power rests with the 53-year-old Gadhafi, who took power in a 1969 military coup. Girl's Shorts 2.99 HE HfSftiaMT lR HBBHBB You've seen these items in department and specialty stores and in quality catalogs! mmm 4400 Hardy St, Suite 14A Hattiesburg, MS 17 mm Westwood Square Shopping Center (Near Sack-n-Save) S3B lMMiiiillllliimiiimmirf WON! EAR By ALAN HINTON AMERICAN Assistant Sports Editor They were the golden boys, Bill Lott and Gary Hust.

Both from Petal, both talented quarterbacks, both strong-armed, power-hitting, fast-running outfielders. Both helped Petal High School to baseball championships, both signed college football scholarships as quarterbacks, both were drafted high by major-league baseball teams, and both turned to pro baseball right out of high school, Lott in 1990 and Hust in 1991. Now, five and six years later, both are still in the minor leagues, where salaries are minimal and bus trips are long. But both said they can sense the closeness of that magical land, the major leagues, where teams travel first class by air, where the average salary is more than $1 million a year and the minimum salary is $109,000. Before breaking his wrist last season, Lott, 25, led Class AAA Albuquerque in hitting with a .315 batting average.

He had five home runs, seven doubles, two triples, 26 runs batted in and one stolen base. Late in the season, unable to play, Lott watched as the big-league Los Angeles Dodgers called up several Albuquerque outfielders, none with as statistics as impressive as Lott's. "You never know if you would've been the one they Referee's AIDS test negative Morrison's results frighten officials LAS VEGAS (AP) A day after Tommy Morrison admitted testing positive for the AIDS virus, the referee in his bloody fight with Lennox Lewis took an AIDS test of his own that came back negative. Boxing officials across the country, meanwhile, renewed calls for all states with boxing to test for HIV in the wake of Morrison's test that shook the boxing world. "I hope we can get a bill passed in California before something major happens in this state, before some documented transmission occurs in a boxing ring," said Richard DeCuir, head of the California Athletic Commission.

The confirmation Monday of Morrison's positive test prompted referee Mills Lane to go to his doctor in Reno, and have blood drawn to make sure he didn't get the virus. The results came back negative Tuesday. "My doctor called me about 4:30 today and and told me I was absolutely negative," Lane said. Lane was the third man in the ring in Morrison's Oct. 7 loss to Lennox Lewis in Atlantic City, N.J., in which Morrison was cut around both eyes in the second round and bled much of the way before the fight was finally stopped in the seventh round.

"I had blood all over me," Lane said. "He bled all over me and everyone else." Lane said he was unaware at the time that New Jersey was one of the many states that don't require boxers to take tests for the AIDS virus. It is not known if Morrison had the virus at the time he fought Lewis. Lane said he was told by his doctor that there was only an infinitesimal chance he could have gotten the virus in the ring, but wanted to take the test just to make sure. "I've got a family.

I've got a wife and two children," he said. "I'm not really worried but it will make me feel better to know for sure." In Louisiana, that state's boxing commission planned to implement AIDS testing even before the Morrison story broke. "I will have a policy in place for the commission to vote on by April 1," said Dr. Jerry Rosenberg, the commission's physician. "By May 1, it should be Area coaches excel during '95-96 season Down-to-the-wire not only describes several area prep basketball races this season.

It might also describe the battle for Hattiesburg American coach of the year honors. A brief preview of the field: Good boys teams Many thought Perry Central lost too many players off last season's 28-4 team. Then, the Bulldogs suffered another setback with the death of point guard Jerical Parks before the season began. Instead, coach Matt O'Keefe and his troops posted a 26-4 regular season record. That has involved many players playing out of position.

Even All-American candidate Stevie Johnson has seen some time at point guard. To bring these guys together into a winning nucleus has been O'Keefe's finest work. The Petal High School basketball team has won 37 games in the last two seasons. Coach Steve Simmons does it with a lineup that does not include a starter over 6-foot-3. Realignment gave the biggest boost to the Collins basketball team this season.

Coach Lee Hill and the Tigers are 19-3, with losses to Mount Olive, Prentiss and Petal three quality foes. The Tigers use the inside game of Leonard Fautner and outside game of Anthony Magee to fuel a transition game. One must also not overlook the continued success of Stone, Mount Olive and West Jones. The Pete Georgian-coached Stone Tomcats are 22-1 with a junior-laiden club. The Tomcats will only get better with time but are still poised to make a legitimate Class 4 A title run.

Coach Steve Geiger and Mount Olive are odds-on Class 1A favorites. The 26-2 Pirates have done it with athletes not necessarily great basketball players but pure athletes. Meanwhile, Lewis Vaughn's West Jones team lost three starters off last season's south state 4A'championship ballclub. But what has happened? Veteran performers Chris Albritton and Doug Conner have led the Mustangs to a 17-6 mark and repeat Division 5-4A championship. Quality girls, too The season has not belonged only to the guys.

Coach Ed Walley and the Petal Lady Panthers have won more games, 20, than any Petal team in several decades. Walley says his team does not win on athletic talent alone. Instead, it's hustle and willingness to work. Coach Mike Thornton has taken four transfers at Forrest County AHS and kept the Lady Aggies on the right track. Forrest County is 28-2 overall and looks for a return trip to the state tournament in Jackson.

The Bassfield girls might be the class of the area. Coach Eddie Hough's Lady Yel-lowjackets are a favorite in Class 2A play. Bassfield finished the regular season 23-2. Finally, defending State Class 4A champion West Jones finishes Kevin LauniusHattiesburg American TUNING UP: Minor league baseball players Gary Hust, left, and Bill Lott worked on their hitting the past few weeks in preparation for the coming season. was that he needed to improve.

And he knew where. "No matter how good you are at other parts of the game, you still have to hit," he said. "Early on, I wasn't a breaking ball hitter. I asked (Hattiesburg native and Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman) Charlie Hayes about it. He said the best way to hit the breaking ball is not to miss the fastball." As last year's batting average attests, Lott can hit most any kind of pitching now.

He's a good outfielder and can still run, both on the basepaths and covering ground from either the right field or left field positions. That's what was expected out of Lott, who was drafted in the second round in 1989 and turned down a football scholar- called up," Lott said last week. "I was doing as good as anybody that was called up. But there was nothing I could do about it." Last year was a tough one for Lott, 6-foot-4, 190 pounds when he first entered the world of professional baseball and 6-5, 230 now. His father, Billy Lott, died.

ship with Ole Miss to go pro. And the Dodgers, the ones in L.A., haven't forgotten him. Lott reports this week to Vero Beach, with the major-league Dodgers, then probably will begin the season at Albuquerque, N.M. He's not afraid of the work required at the big-league camp. "I've been working with my mom hauling mail, starting at 3:30 every morning," Lott said.

"Getting up at 7 for spring training will be easy for me. "Phil Regan will be my manager (with Albuquerque)," Lott said. "He likes to let people run and I can still run. That will show my talent more. "After I was hurt, the Dodgers said to go back and do what you have to do to get ready.

I'm ready. I can't wait to see everybody, to get back with Hideo Nomo, Piazza and Tommy La-sorda. I only wish my dad could see me." Lott is not a naive teen-ager anymore. His 19-month-old son, See MINORS, 4B Then he discovered a bone in his wrist was broken. Then he saw other players, ones he thought were no better than he was, move on to Los Angeles.

When you re first drafted, ev erybody thinks they'll be in the 1989: Graduated from Petal High, drafted by the Dodgers, played at Kissimee, Fla. 1990-91: Played at Bakers-field, in A League and Yakima, in Northwest League 1992: Played at Vera Beach, in A League 1993-94: Played at San Antonio, Texas, in AA League 1995: Played at Albuquerque, N.M., in AAA League Feb. 14, 1996: Reported to Vera Beach, with Los Angeles Dodgers 1990: Graduated from Petal High, drafted by the A's, played in Arizona League 1991: Played at Southern Oregon in short-season A League 1992-93: Played at Madison, in Class A Midwest League 1994-95: Played at Modesto, in Class A Cal League Feb. 10, 1996: Reported to Scottsdale, scheduled to play at Huntsville, Ala. Class AA League majors in two or three years," Lott said.

"I was playing at WUMtNS Bakersfield with (current major-league stars) Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi. I was 19 and Asylum-seeker kills Russian guards MOSCOW A North Korean seeking political asylum broke into the Russian trade mission in Pyongyang today and killed several guards in a shootout. The man was holed up inside the trade mission, threatening to commit suicide unless he was granted asylum, the ITAR-Tass news agency said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigory Karasin said officials in Moscow were monitoring the situation. WWII flying ace dies at age 83 BONN, Germany Adolf Gal-land, one of Germany's most famous fighter pilots during World War II, has died, a veterans' group said today.

He was 83. Galland died Friday at his home in Oberwinter, which is near Bonn, after returning from a hospital where he had heart surgery, said the Cologne-based Society for Fighter Pilots. Born on March 12, 1912, Galland is credited with shooting down 104 Allied planes during World War II. From 1937-38, Galland flew missions in support of Gen. Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War.

Dollar gains slightly against Japenese yen TOKYO The dollar edged higher against the yen in lackluster trading today, while Tokyo share prices rose after a two-day decline. The dollar remained in a narrow range in a thin market, traders said, following its narrow rise overnight in New York trading. "The dollar was being sandwiched just above 106.50 yen the whole day," said Okinori Shi-noda, a dealer with Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank. Shinoda said the dollar was under pressure against the German mark amid speculation that Germany's central bank would not move to cut its interest rates at a policy committee meeting scheduled Thursday. N.

Korean leader's mistress escapes SEOUL, South Korea In a major propaganda coup for South Korea, the estranged mistress of reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong II has escaped to the West. Sung Hae Rim, 59, was safe in a European country, officials said today without identifying which nation. South Korean officials are already talking with her to arrange her eventual political asylum in the capitalist South. Sung vanished this month from the Swiss villa that she occasionally visited during her near-exile in Moscow that followed her split with Kim. She is the mother of Kim's eldest son, but her current marital status is one of many mysteries surround- ing the shadowy leader.

By The Associated Press they were 22 or 23. I realized then it would take longer than expected. FALL HUkS Another thing Lott realized Former Ole Miss football great Conerly dies SAVE 50 ON OXFORD (AP) Former all-pro quarterback Charlie Conerly, the passing tailback credited for the early football success at the University of Mississippi, died Tuesday after an extended illness. He was 74. Conerly led Ole Miss to the first of its six Southeastern Conference titles in 1947.

While he was a tailback, he also did the passing, and still holds the Ole Miss single-season record with 18 touchdown passes thrown that season. Conerly died about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He had been hospitalized since having heart surgery in September. He died from complications related to the surgery.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Clarksdale, Conerly's hometown. Conerly is survived by his wife Perian Collier Conerly and two sisters. Conerly played at Ole Miss in 1942 and then again in 1946-47 after the season he was replaced at quarterback by Y.A. Tittle.

The Giants had acquired Conerly from the Redskins before he even wore a Washington uniform. He was drafted by the Redskins in 1945. After completing the second part of his career at Ole Miss, Conerly joined the Giants in 1948 as a tailback in the A-formation used by coach Steve Owen. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year and was all-pro for the first of three times, including 1959 when he was the NFL's leading passer. "I decided I'd had enough.

It gets tougher every year, physically and mostly mentally," Conerly said when announcing his retirement on Feb. 21, 1962. "It was harder and hard to keep getting up week after week. As you get older you lose something." He was the SEC Player of the Year in 1947, when Ole Miss won its first league championship under first-year coach Johnny Vaught. Bandolino Cole-Haan Easy Spirit Enzo Investments Keds Naturalizer Nine West Orig.

29.00-155.00, now 14.50-77.50 II He was my first real trigger man. Johnny Vaught Ex-Ole Miss coach JJ after serving in the U.S. Marines during World War II. He had a 14-year NFL career with the New York Giants before retiring 24-4. Another solid season for Coach Sandra Sumrall.

And the best job done by a two-team coach? O'Keefe, no question at all. The Perry Central girls have also taken an influx of new talent and parlayed it into a 23-9 record. That's a combined 49-13 mark. Scott Walters is a sports writer for the American. He may be reached at 584-3137.

SAVE 50 ON FALL CHILDREN'S SHOES from Stride Rite, Copper Key, Little Capezio, and Nike Orig. 25.00-90.00, now 12.50-45.00 WOMEN'S ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR Nike, Reebok and Avia Orig. 45.00-79.00, now 22.50-39.50 SPORTS DIGEST ON TV AHEAD IN SPORTS 6:30 p.m. NBA Basketball (Chicago at Detroit), WGN. 8 p.m.

NCAA Bas SCOREBOARD BASKETBALL (NBA) Orlando 121, Denver 93 Toronto 98, Miami 87 Cleveland 110, Charlotte 100 New Jersey 101, Indiana 92 Houston 121, Dallas 106 Chicago 111, Washington 98 Philadelphia 104, Milwaukee 101 Utah 114, San Antonio 111, OT Seattle 102, Phoenix 98 Golden State 99, Portland 98 Boston 108, L.A. Clippers 94 Minnesota 94, Sacramento 90 College (Top 25) Georgetown 66, Boston College 63 Iowa at No. 23 Michigan. Virginia Tech 56, Liberty 53 DwairJ's Races in Laurel The Mississippi Trail 50-mile and 50K endurance runs will be held Saturday, March 2, at the Long Leaf Horse Trail in Desoto National Forest, 13 miles south of Laurel. Both races will have a 12-hour limit and begin at 6 a.m.

The course is soft dirt trails and fire roads. It's a 12.5-mile loop and a 6.1-mile loop. The entry fee is $45. Checks should be made payable to Mississippi Trail 50. For more information, contact Carl Touchstone at 649-3471 or Steve DeReamer at 649-3680.

Also upcoming: Feb. 22 Hattiesburg Area Community Tennis Association annual meeting at Trustmark Bank in downtown Hattiesburg. Time: 7 p.m. Feb. 24-25 16th annual Crayfish Classic, sanctioned tournament, at The Racquet Club of Hattiesburg.

Events: Men's and women's NTRP singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Entry fees: $25 singles, $36 doubles, $36 both. Entry deadline: Feb. 19. 6 p.m.

NCAA Basketball (North Carolina at Clemson), ESPN. 7 p.m. NBA Basketball (New York at Charlotte), TBS. 8 p.m. NCAA Basketball (Miami at Providence), ESPN.

8 p.m. NCAA Basketball (Virginia at Duke), ESPN2. 9 p.m. NBA Basketball (Atlanta at Los Angeles Lakers), SportSouth. Highlights Thursday 6:30 p.m.

NCAA Basketball (Purdue at Ohio State), ESPN. Thursday: Carey vs. Mobile Friday: Carey baseball begins Saturday: Lady Eagles results Sunday: USM-Marquette Monday: USM sports day LET'S HEAR FROM YOU To submit items for Sports, send them to Chuck Abadie, Hattiesburg American, P.O. Box 1111, Hattiesburg, MS 39403 or fax them to 583-8244. Selection varies by store; some items not available in all stores.

Savings based on original prices; Interim markdowns have been taken. ketball (Wake Forest at Maryland), ESPN2. 8:30 p.m. NCAA Basketball (Louisville at N.C. Charlotte), ESPN.

10 p.m. NCAA Basketball (Wyoming at UTEP), ESPN2. 11 p.m. NCAA Basketball (UNLV at Pacific), ESPN. SHOP DILLARD'S MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SUNDAY DILLARD'S AND ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS WELCOME.