The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 11

Morton AFC Player of Year 11 NEW YORK (UPI) The first major move Red Miller made upon taking over as coach of the Denver Broncos last year was acquiring quarterback Craig Morton. "We made the trade because we wanted someone with experience," said Miller. We wanted something you can't draft. I always felt Craig could throw the ball as well as anyone and that's what you look for first in a quarterback." The Broncos got more out of Morton than anyone expected and Thursday the 34-year-old veteran, who led Denver to a Super Bowl berth after being drummed out of New York as a failure, was named American Football Conference Player of the Year for 1977. Morton, a favorite of booing fans when he played with the New York Giants, went to Denver in an off- season trade for quarterback Steve Ramsey and a No.

4 draft pick. Morton finished as the No. 2 passer in the AFC, helped the Broncos to the best record in the NFL (12-2) and then sparkled in post-season play as he brought Denver the first Super Bowl berth in 'its history. Morton was named on 32 of the 56 ballots cast by UPI's panel of pro football writers, four from each conference city. Miami quarterback Bob Griese was second with 16 votes and no other player broke into double figures.

Morton also is the second Bronco to be honored in post-season, joining Miller, who was named AFC Coach of the Year. Morton became the first Bronco player ever to be chosen AFC Player of the Year. Working behind an ineffective offensive line, Morton was unable to mount any type of offense in his years with the Giants. But he won the job in Denver late in pre-season and was named offensive co-captain. He then took advantage of almost every break the AFC's best defense handed him in leading the Broncos into the playoffs for the first time.

"The New York fans were frustrated," Morton said. "We didn't have any offense because we were always trying to go the length of the field. We didn't get the turnovers that we get in Denver. "The difference is that the guys here will give you the ball in decent field position. You're not going the length of the field every time you get the ball.

They force the other team into mistakes and throw them off balance." Morton passed for 1,929 yards and 14 touchdowns and completed better than 51 percent of his passes. Never known as much of a runner, Morton still managed to score four touchdowns running. Griese, who was plagued with headaches before this year, became the only NFL quarterback to wear eye glasses and then became the AFC's leading passer. He hit more than 58 percent of his passes and threw for 2,252 yards and 22 TDs in keeping the young Dolphins in contention until the final day of the season. Jimmy Connors (left), trying to regain prestige after losing in the finals at Wimbledon and U.S.

Open, uses two hands to return Trying to regain prestige ball and Eddie Dibbs (right) is a study in concentration as he waits to return a shot from Connors during their match in $400,000 Grand Prix Masters Championship Wednesday. Connors won 7-5, 6-2. (UPI Photo) Masters should decide who is No. 1 in tennis world NEW YORK (UPI) "I'm No. 1." So say Jimmy Connors, Guillermo Vilas and Bjorn Borg.

And if one of the three wins the $400,000 Masters championship at Madison Square Garden, he will become No. 1 in every world ranking though probably not in the minds of the other two. There are five other players in this five-day, round-robin gathering of the world's top eight men who feel they, too, have a shot at winning the $100,000 first prize, but only Brian Gottfried is considered more than a passing threat for an upset. None would jump to the top with a win. Connors and Borg have been the big rivalry in men's tennis for several years now, but Vilas had an unprecedented year in 1977 as he won 14 of his last 15 tournaments, including the French and U.S.

Opens. Now there is a tennis triumvirate. Tonight, Connors and Vilas will show us "Son of Forest Hills" as they resume the battle they waged in the finals of the U.S. Open last September. Vilas survived the wind and torrent of Connors' temperament to whip him in four sets in that Forest Hills finale.

Lucky to win Connors may seem the logical choice but there's a hitch Connors will not win if he plays as sloppily as he did against Eddie Dibbs in their first- round match Wednesday. Connors won, 7-5, 6-2, but he knew he was lucky to win. Vilas played Spain's Manuel Orantes, whose style is a similar to Dibbs', and the 25-year-old Argentine looked much more impressive in his 6-4, 6-1 triumph though he was bothered by a blister on his left foot. Borg toyed with Raul Ramirez through the first set Wednesday before letting up a bit for a 6-2, 6-4 victory. Borg will get a stiffer test on the swift surface this afternoon when he faces cannon-armed Roscoe Tanner.

Gottfried, Ft. Lauderdale, matched Tanner's six aces in their opener and outplayed the blond from Lookout Mountain, for a 7-5, 6-2 win. Borg doesn't have Gottfried's serve and volley game, but he has more range and patience. Gottfried goes against Ramirez in the first match today. Orantes and Dibbs square off in the evening's first match.

NBA Results Buffalo 94, Los Angeles 93 New Jersey 115, Phoenix 83 Philadelphia 108, Cleveland 93 Housfon 104, Indiana 96 Denver 119, San Antonio 114 Detroit 111, Atlanta 97 Seattle 116, Kansas City 110 Sylvan Grove after seventh win By HAROLD BECHARD Something will have to give Friday night when unbeatens Sylvan Grove and Pawnee Heights match up in top boys' basketball game in the area at Sylvan Grove. Both teams are 6-0 overall, but neither is on top of the Quivira League. That honor belongs to Otis-Bison, who is 2-0 in the league and 3-4 overall. Pawnee Heights, coached by Lowell Harp, is 1-0 in the QL while Rojer Robinson's Mustangs haven't played a league contest yet. Robinson's squad is about where everyone figured it would be.

The Mustangs, picked as the team to beat in the league before the season started, returned five starters from last year's 11-9 team. Pawnee Heights has been a surprise. The Tigers were picked no better than fifth in the seven-team league, but led by Gary Patterson and four other players scoring eight points a game or better, Heights has won them all, including upset wins over Kinsley and talented Hanston, with no starter taller than 5-foot-ll. Patterson (5-10) is averaging 16 points a game and is followed by Robert Klein at 10.6 a contest and Charles Harp at 10.2. "Were looking forward to playing Top gomes in the area BOYS 1.

Pawnee Heights (6-0) at Sylvan Grove (6-0) 2. Great Bend (5-1) at Salina South (5-1) 3. Philllpsburg (4-1) at Victoria (5-1) 4. Clifton (6-0) at Washington (5-1) 5. Belleville (4-2) at Clay Center (3-1) 6.

Oakley (5-1) at Goodland (2-1) 7. Norton (4-1) at Hill City (6-1) 8. Clyde (6-0) at Linn (4-2) 9. Southeast of Saline (4-2) at Llndsborg (4-2) 10. Esbon (5-0) at Lebanon (4-2) GIRLS 1.

Bennington (5-2) at Miltonvale (8-0) 2. Northern Valley (4-1) at Natoma (6-0) 3. Quivira Heights (5-1) at Geneseo (6-1) 4. Southeast of Saline (4-2) at Llndsborg 14-2) 5. Concordla (4-1) at Chapman (3-2) (Thursday night) 6.

Rlley County (5-1) at Hanover (5-1) 7. Oakley (5-1) at Goodland (3-2) 8. Wheatland (4-1) at Grlnnell (2-1) 9. North Central (5-1) at Jewell (3-2) 10. Lincoln (5-1) at Minneapolis (3-2) Pawnee Heights," said Robinson.

"Our competition hasn't been that good except for Dorrance (a 50-48 win), so we'll see how good we are Friday night." Robinson's squad has had good balance all year with junior guard Allen Walter leading the way with a 16.5 scoring average. Mark Winckler is next with a 14.3 average and Gary Frederking, Mike Cheney and Tom Frederking follow with 10.3,9.7 and 9.0 averages. But while the offense has been click- 2 KSU frosh cagers quit MANHATTAN, Kan. (UPI). Two freshmen basketball players on Kansas State's varsity squad have left the team, one for academic reasons and another for personal reasons, head coach Jack Hartman said Wednesday.

Thomas Freeman, 6-foot-3, of Lynwood, failed to meet academic requirements during the fall semester. He played in six K-State games and had a scoring average of 1.0. Kevin Ogle, 6-foot-8, of Edmond, left the squad for personal reasons, Hartman said. Three players have now dropped from the Kansas State team in recent days. Just before the holidays, junior Keith Frazier left the squad.

Had Frazier stayed he would have been in- elgible because of grades. Freeman came to Kansas State from southern California where he was an outstanding prep guard. It was indicated that Freeman can remain in school and become eligible for next season if he can pass 24 hours of class- work. But neither Hartman or Glenn Stone, sports information director, knows what he intends to do. Kansas State started the year with 14 scholarship players and has lost three of them.

Dan Hickert, a 6-11 center, is out with mononucleosis, leaving the Cats with 10 scholarship players. Concentration Denver Bronco star quar- Super Bowl game against terback Craig Morton sits in Dallas Jan. 15. Morton was Broncos' offices and studies his named UPI AFC Player of play book in preparation for Year. (UPI Photo) Tucson Open begins today TUCSON, Ariz.

(UPI) Johnny Miller, who literally has made a living out of winning the Tucson Open, seems to have his game back together again, and if so, he is the one to beat in the $200,000 event which starts Thursday to launch the 1978 PGA Tour. Miller hasn't won a tournament title since the Bob Hope Desert Classic nearly two years ago after winning 12 titles the previous two years. Tuesday, while playing a practice round on the long but flat Tucson National Golf Course, Miller shot a 6- under-par 66. Wednesday, in the pro- am prelude, he had a 67. "I've always played well on this course," Miller said.

"It's a nice place for me to start my comeback. I don't know if I can win this week. Maybe that would be asking too But I am encouraged by the way I played the course in these two rounds. I hope I can do as well when the bell rings." Chief challengers Bruce Lietzke, the young man who finished strong a year ago to create a tie and then beat Gene Littler on the fourth hole of sudden death with an incredible 90-foot birdie putt, and Tom Watson, the PGA Player of the Year for 1977, look like the chief challengers along with Miller. The field also included Lanny Wadkins, the PGA champ last year and third on the money list behind Watson and Jack Nicklaus, so there could be a strong scramble for the top prize of $40,000.

Women's sports no longer "token" activities here ing at a smooth rate, the SG coach has been more pleased with the Mustangs' defense, which is allowing just 44 points a game. Walter is in his third year as a starter for him as are Winckler and Cheney. "We have plenty of experience," said Robinson. "Allen (Walter) has started since he was a freshman while Wihckler and Cheney have started since they were sophomores." The top girls' game of the night should be an Elsenhower West League battle between Bennlngton and unbeaten Miltonvale. Miltonvale played half of its regular season games before the holiday break and was 8-0 at Christmas.

Bennington was 5-1 at the break, but lost to Glasco Tuesday night, 44-37. The Bulldogs are 3-1 in the league compared to 4-0 for Miltonvale and need a win to stay in the race. Miltonvale, coached by Laurence Pacey, has been paced by the scoring of Vicki Hadorn and Darla Catlin with 15 points a game each. Bey Fuller is the other Pirate in double figures with an average of around 13 a game. Sharon Reed is scoring 13 points a game to lead Bennington while Sandy Underwood is averaging around 10 a contest.

By Julie Curran Women's sports are no longer considered 'token' activities on college campuses. They were started so women wouldn't feel lost in the swirl of intercollegiate men's athletics. With each passing year, women's athletics are growing and drawing enthusiastic spectators to the tracks, pool sides, and gymnasiums across the country. The two Salina colleges, Marymount and Kansas Wesleyan, currently have teams fielded in the sport of the season, basketball, which are making believers out of those who thought they'd never like to watch women compete in any sport other than a friendly game of pi. nochle or a race to the end of the ironing board.

Both teams have returned from the holiday vacation to interterm classes and heavy January basketball schedules. Marymount, 7-2 on the season, opens the new year with tournament action at Emporia State University Friday night. Coach Tom Collins says the competition is stiff. "We're matched up with Emporia State in opening round action Friday night," said Collins, "and they're probably the best small college team in the state right now." The other pairing is Seminole Junior College, last year's national runnerup in the juco ranks, against Hutchinson. The consolation game and the championship games will be played on Saturday.

Collins brought his squad back last Thursday for two-a- day workouts in the hope of minimizing holiday layoff conditioning problems. It was an expensive decision as Vicki Nesbitt, starting 5-9 freshman, sustained a serious knee injury during practice over the weekend. "Nesbitt tore a cartilage in her right knee," said Collins, "and she is out indefinitely, possibly for the remainder of the season. It's a big loss. She has been my most consistent rebounder." The other Spartans who were injured before the Christmas break are reasonably healthy.

Margaret Kierl, 5-3 sophomore guard, is at about 70 percent speed on her mending knee and Mary Jo Siess appears to be returning to good form after her severely sprained ankle. Coach Collins also welcomed back Christy Kierl, a starter last year, who has returned from first semester study off campus. A good performance in the Emporia tourney is tant to the Spartans, who are off to a superb start this season, and their ability to play against the big ones will be unveiled this weekend. Frosh standout Sure to have a big role in this effort will be freshman sensation, Leslie Schmitt, 5-11 guard, who has been wowing Marymount fans all season. Schmitt has been averaging over 20 points a game and had a season high of 33 against the Kansas State junior varsity in December.

Kansas Wesleyan women cagers enter the thick of the Kansas conference battle Saturday at King Gymnasium against Sterling. The Coyotes are but 1-3 on the season but are looking stronger with each game. The best evidence came Dec. 7 when the Tabor Bluejays (who fell to Marymount by only 4 points) came to town and went home humbled by Wesleyan, 76-61. Coach Brad Gibson, like Collins, was concerned about conditioning also and so has conducted two-a-day practices and feels his team is in good shape.

Coyotes gain, lose "Our conditioning is good and we're healthy," said Gibson. The Coyote skipper also announced he lost two players and gained two this semester. Lost were Donna Stevens, who has left school, and Deb Walter, who decided against playing basketball. Joining the Wesli ranks are 511 Vicki Schrader and 5-9 Carolyn Sias. Still flying high after their big win over Tabor, the Coyote women will have a formidable opponent in Sterling Saturday according to Gibson.

"Sterling is much improved from last year," he said, "and very aggressive. I look for an excellent game." Practices this week have been good, says Gibson, and the team's attitude is good. Gibson, too, has a super freshman player in Amy Proffitt. Proffitt, 5-5 guard, has been quite impressive in early season play with her direction of the Wesleyan offense and her outside shooting. In the Tabor game, Proffitt scored 25 points.

"Amy has been my primary pleasant surprise so far," said Gibson. In addition, junior Jill Rietzke has been effective from her low post position for the Coyotes. Both Marymount and Kansas Wesleyan are exciting teams to watch with their full court presses and all- around hustle and determination. Thrills, spills, enthusiasm, and quality action you'll find them all in college women's basketball! Are you a believer?.