The Times from Munster, Indiana • 28

Carlesimo canned INSIDE Sportscope, B2 TV schedules, B2 Sports Extra, B4 Scoreboard, B7 TUESDAY December 28, 1999 SECTION 8 PAGES PJ. Carlesimo was fired Monday by the Golden State Warriors, who have -struggled to a 6-21 record. Only the Bulls nave a worse mark this year. B6 Illinois edition Story tip or comment? Call Times Sports Editor Mike Sansone, (219) 9334156; or email, sansonehowpubs.cpm Bears changing up for season finale I -T7 wo Boniol released; McNown questionable for Tampa Bay PRO FOOTBALL BY JEFF MEZYDLO Times Sports Writer LAKE FOREST Finally getting eliminated from playoff contention hit the Bears hard, as did the injuries that added up for a team that had been relatively healthy for the past month. Sunday's lopsided loss to St.

Louis also proved to be the final act in the comedy of errors known as the Chris Boniol experience. BonioFs missed extra point in the third quarter apparently proved to be the last straw. The Bears released him Monday after Shane Matthews may continue at quarterback this week if rookie starter Cade McNown can't go. McNown missed the second half against the Rams after straining his right side. He will be evaluated throughout the week "He's fine walking and sitting," Bears trainer Tim Bream said.

"It's when he turns to throw or move in that motion that it hurts." Sunday marked the second time McNown has left a start with an injury. See BEARS, B5 10 games and seven jnissed field goals. Jaret Holmes will kick in the Bears' season finale against Tampa Bay at Soldier Field. It's likely to be just one of several changes, especially if the team's walking wounded can't make one more go of it "We wanted to give Jaret a chance," Bears coach Dick Jauron said. "It was more of a move to give Chris his freedom.

I feel he could kick in this league if he gets his confidence back." ASSOCIATED PRESS ASSOCIATED PRESS The Bears cut struggling kicker Chris Boniol on Monday. Bears rookie quarterback Cade McNown is listed as questionable for Sunday's season finale against Tampa Bay. Pacers 103 Dale Davis and Jalen Rose combine to help the Pacers pound the Bulls once more ffiS Bulls 91 A A 'J Double trouble BY MATT YOUMANS Times Sports Writer CfflCAGO Always humble, Pacers coach Larry Bird was asked to assess his performance on the bench during his third and final season. "I never said I was a great coach," Bird said. He may or may not have a great team, but what Bird does have TRACY ALBAN0 THE TIMES Thornton's Chris Alexander, 33, puts up a shot over two Oak Forest defenders on Monday night.

Buckley, Marian play games with Shepardt Spartansremairt unbeaten on late surge PRO BASKETBALL Rookies Elton Brand and Ron Artest led the Bulls with 22 points each. was more than enough to overwhelm the Bulls for the second time in two weeks. Pacers for BOYS PREP BASKETBALL Big Dipper XXVII ZZ: Lincoln Park 82, CreteMonee 55 Bloom Twp. 93, Andrew 43 "3 CVS 76, Rich East 53 Thornton 78, Oak Forest 57 Marian Catholic 79, Shepard 67 'l 1 I ifiS t'V' BY MICHAEL MORRISSEY Times Sports Writer RICHTON PARK Melvin Buckley sounds more like the name of a board game-maker than a big game-breaker. But Buckley, a Marian Catholic sophomore forward, broke Monday night's Big Dipper contest with Shepard wide open.

The inexperienced lOth-grader scored seven of his 10 points during a fourth-quarter run that kept the Spartans undefeated. With a 79-67 victory over the Astros, Marian (9-0) advanced to the quarterfinals tonight at 9:30 p.m. against the winner of Monday's nightcap between Hinsdale Central and Eisenhower. "He really picked us up in the second half," Marian coach Bryan Tucker said. "He played timid and tentative wards Dale Davis and Jalen Rose meant double trouble Monday night in a 103-91 victory at the United Center.

Davis scored 22 points and Rose added 21. The Bulls, in losing their eighth straight game to drop to 2-23, never led in the game. Rookie forwards Ron Artest and Elton Brand scored 22 apiece to pace the Bulls. Point guard B.J. Armstrong added 21 and seven assists.

On the NBA's highway, the Pacers are a sleek sports car and the Bulls are a garbage truck. One night after the Bulls tied an NBA record for fewest assists in a game with three in a 27-point loss at New Jersey, there were some positives. Start with their total of 24 assists. Bulls coach Tim Floyd felt his bewildered team played with much more enthusiasm than against the Nets. "If we don't play with great effort, the results can be embarrassing," Floyd said.

"Teams go through periods where they don't bring it to the in the first half. "But he's a tough kid, and when our post player (Matt Sze lag) got his third foul, we had na choice." Buckley looked great finger-rolling in the pregame layup line, but out of sync once the game began. Until replacing Szelag, that is. Then the lanky 6-foot-5 Spartan popped out for a 3-pointer with three minutes left in the third. See SPARTANS Looking out for NolT Win earns T'ridge date with Westinghousfc: floor as consistently as they should out some teams can overcome n.

We're not at the point where we can do that." See BULLS, B6 ASSOCIATED PRESS The Pacers' Rik Smits, 45, shoots over the Bulls' Elton Brand, back left, while Indiana's Dale Davis moves in to assist. The Bulls lost 103-91 and fell to 2-23 for the season, worst In the NBA. 'Bad' attitude won't bring down Brand (OK hi BY MIKE CLARK Times Assistant Sports Editor HILLSIDE When Thornridge takes the floor tonight, don't expect a lot of butterflies. "I think we're going to come out with a lot of intensity," Tridge senior Allen Fort said. "We want to beat the No.

1 team in the nation." That would be Chicago Westing-house, up next for the Falcons after their 73-49 rout of Chicago King in Monday's first round of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. Fort, especially, could have a full head of steam if he starts tonight's game on the bench. That's where he was Monday afternoon in spite of the fact he's contributed mightily to the Falcons' 10-1 start. "It was a motivational thing," Thornridge coach Mike Flaherty said. "If he starts, he gets complacent" BOYS PREP BASKETBALLS Proviso West Holiday Tournament Honiewoodflossmoor 67, St Joseph 39 Schaumburg 56, Manley 55 Proviso West 75, Providence-St Mel 73 Hillcrest 53, Fenwick 42 Thornridge 73, King 49 Farragut 56, Proviso East 47 New Trier vs.

Larkin, late No problem with that against King. In 22 minutes, Fort busted loose for game highs of 23 points (on 9of-15 shooting) and 12 rebounds. But he wasn't the only hero for the Times No. 2 Falcons. Guard Gregory Benson, who was on the sophomore team when the season began, made his first-ever varsity start one to remember.

See THORNRIDGE, B3 to suit up -have been absorbed by a losing mentality. They wait around and wonder what can go wrong next Brand is definitely different. He's not only the best but Brand's consistency is sensational in itself. At 6-foot-9, he is already exhibiting an ability to defend and score on bigger and quicker guys in the post. He works as hard as a ditch digger and stays as focused as a telescope.

Bulls coach Tim Floyd doesn't have much to be thankful for at the moment, but he knows he's lucky to have Brand. "We're very pleased with him," Floyd said. "He's better than what I expected. See YOUMANS, B6 ers, Brand played as if his team was in playoff contention. "After the game, I try to forget about it," said Brand, who finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

"But before the game, I don't care who we're playing -San Antonio, anybody -1 think we can come out with a win. "It's very tough. It's almost indescribable. Fve never faced anything like this, but Fm just going to keep working and try to improve my game." Forget about Lamar Odom and Steve Francis. Sure, those rookies can fill a highlight reel, CHICAGO Anyone else might be inclined to shower his teammates with a deluge of four-letter words.

Constant humiliation is hard to take. But night after night, as the Bulls do their best imitation of the clumsy Washington Generals, rookie forward Elton Brand shows restraint. He plays hard, he keeps his cool and he shows why he was worthy of being the No. 1 overall draft pick. Too many Bulls players including the ones who don't bother MattYoumans Times Columnist player on a bad team, he also maintains a winning attitude.

Even as the Bulls dropped to 2-23 after Monday night's 103-91 lashing at the hands of the Pac- XHH BOTTQIVI L.IMH I scores arid a look at the lighter side of spoils SEEING IS BELIEVING "The Reds are considering playing if HPf deft) in right field?" EJfJfZ'T4' Yi Says Jlm Armstronfi of the Denver .1 Post-Tney must not have' cable I yet in Cincinnati." PRO Minnesota 107 San Antonic PRO Montreal 4 Boston 0 San Jose 3 BASKETBALL Oriando 105 Golden State late HOCKEY Ottawa 0T1 4 N.Y. Islanders 3 Dallas 1 Pacers 103 Phoenix 91 Dallas Blackhawks 2 Atlanta 2 Florida 6 St Louis Bulls 91 Utah 92 LA. Lakers late Washington (OT) 2 Detroit 3 Tampa Bay 1 Colorado late Atlanta 10T Philadelphia NBA coverage, Philadelphia 5 Buffalo 1 Anaheim 1 NHL coverage, Charlotte 108 Vancouver late B6 Calgary 1 New Jersey 4 Edmonton 4 B6.