The Herald-Palladium from Benton Harbor, Michigan • 30

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1972 PACK THIRTY-TWO Blbssoiinilaiid Race Heats Up On Bot irniei0 THE MEWS-PALLADIUM, BilNTON 11 ARDOR, Friday The already torrid Blossom-land cage race will get even more scorching Friday night with two old-fashion barn- burners. Co-leaders Lakeshore and River Valley, both sporting 8-2 records, meet runnersup Cassopolis and Buchanan, respectively. The Rangers and Bucks are at 6-3. Tavish-is counting on his club to be 'up' for Cassopolis this time around. "We weren't prepared and Cass just dominated all phases of the game in our first meeting.

They outhustled us on the boards and the Shafers got into early foul trouble. "But we'll be ready for them this time. The kids made a commitment at the beginning of the year to win the Blossomland title. So we'll have to beat Cass to do The ancers' strong-rebounding front line of Charlie and Bud Shafer and Jeff Up front the Rangers have Bill Hawthorne (6-3) center, and his brother, Romuld (6-2) and Croom (6-4) at forwards. Croom has been the most consistent Ranger, averaging 22.4 points and 15 rebounds a game.

"It's a must win for us," Vargo "We can't afford another loss." The Mustangs, winners of eight of their last nine games, will be playing without starting guard Randy Sandtveit, who is apparently out for the season with a twisted knee, But the River Valley bench, Hardke will have their hands full with the front muscle of the Rangers. "Rebounding will play a big parC noted MacTavish. "Croom (Larry) is one of the best leapers I've seen this year. I think the key man for us will be Hardke. When he crashes the boards, we just seem to go." Six-foot-five Charlie Shafer, who has a tendency to get into early foul trouble, is the top Lancer rebounder, averaging 17 caroms' a game.

The Lancers' balanced attack all five starters in double figures-could also be a factor in the game. Guard Rick Farrowi Lakeshore's main outside shooting threat, heads the pack with a 18.4 average. Cassopolis coach John Var-go is hoping his inconsistent Rangers can put it all together again against the Lancers. "We've been Inconsistent all season." We were really keyed up in our first meeting and played our best game of the season. But since then we've been up and down.

It's really a question of mental attitude. I really don't know what to expect Friday," their respective foes. Lakeshore was felled 91-68 by the Rangers for its worst Blossomland beating of the season. But now the Lancers will be playing on their home court, where they are unbeaten in Bud play. River Valley's lone post-holiday defeat came at the hands of the Bucs: 63-62 in double overtime.

Since the loss, the Mustangs have five straight wins but the equally hot Bucks have peeled off four victories in a row and they'll also have the home court advantage Friday. Lakeshore coach Lloyd Mac- Mustang triumph and a Lancer setback would clinch a share of the title for the winner. Lakeshore concludes its Bud schedule next week by hosting Berrien Springs while River Valley entertains Brandywine. Cass and Buchanan will play a previously snowed-out game next Tuesday. Then in finales, the Rangers travel to Ed-wardsburg and the Bucks trek to Coloma.

Picking favorites in Friday's two crucial clashes is a risky business as Lakeshore and River Valley both dropped earlier season games to which has a lot to do with the Mustangs success, should be able to fill the gap. "I think our team has really matured in all areas since the Christmas break," offered River Valley mentor Jerry Schaffer. "Our bench is really deep and I don't hesitate to use it. Jeff Town-send has helped up up front and Dave Rennhack at guard. "Buchanan has been gaining momentum since they beat us.

Gerald English really killed us in that first game. We just plan to pressure them and play good defense." Tom Sauser sparks the Mnsfane offense. The 6-2 Cass and Buchanan victories Friday would saddle all four contenders with three losses apiece and would set up a wild final-week of Bud action. But a Lakeshore win and a River Valley defeat or a SIDELINED BY $10,000 DEBT Hawks Will Sit Out 1972 A i I i i I finances," said Holmes. "We don't have the financial backing necessary to field a team.

We plan to use the year to reorganize. "We feel we would need $50,000 to $60,000 in the bank before we could field a team. Then we wouldn't be dependent on gate receipts." Holmes pointed out that with this kind of backing the Hawks could field a team knowing all contractual agreements could be met. "And, most importantly," he Off Assists Bruins' Win PASSING FANCY: Lake Michigan College guard Cass Bridgman passes off to teammate Bill Flood (42) after getting past former Lakeshore star Chris Knapp (35) during Tuesday night's game against Kalamazoo Valley. LMC won, 92-76.

(Staff photo by Pete Mitchell) 1 ijfr? vYOOfiflQ players also would know we could do what we said we would." The Hawks were not the only team in the Midwest Football league with financial problems. Holmes said that "to the best of my knowledge, not one team in the league made money last year. In fact, we probably lost less than anyone." The difference between most of the other teams and the Hawks was in the amount of financial- backing, noted into the game. Sanderson scored the first of his two goals in the game just three minutes later, again with Orr helping out, and Bailey made it 3-0 at 13:13. Orr then tried to put it in with long slap shots.

Each time he missed but each time Walton was there for the rebounds and his 20th and 21st goals, just 68 seconds apart. Gary Croteau, Wayne Crale-ton' and Iva Boldirev made it respectable for California while Sanderson made sure the Seals wouldn't catch up with his second goal and 17th of the season. Jean Ratelle was the big gun for the Rangers, scoring the hat trick with his 37th, 38th and 39th goals of the year. His first came just 13 seconds into the game and his second, the tie-breaking winner, came four seconds from the end of the second period. Glen Sather and Vic Hadfield also tallied for New York before Ratelle scored No.

3 of the game into an empty net in the closing minutes. Bob Schmautz averted a Canucks' shutout. The Black Hawks, breezing along with a 13-pointlead in the West Division, were breezing along with a 2-0 lead against St. Louis on goals by Stan Mikita and Darryl Maggs. But in the third period, the Blues bounced bSck as Gary Sabourin and Brian Lavender connected within a span of just 1:07 to tie it at 4:28.

Mikita, however, untied it exactly two minutes later with his second goal, a power-play shot that boosted his season total to 23. K-ii-'o. Ca ex' forward holds a 19.4. average and is one of the league's most accurate outside shooters. "We just have to concentrate on winning this game, not looking to next week or how Lakeshore is making out," Schaffer observed.

A tenacious defense and the continued point producing of star Dave Zdenahlik have been prime ingredients in the Bucks' late rush. In the last four games the Bucks have limited foes to 57.7 points a game while Zdenahlik, a 6-4 senior torwara, nas niKea ms season's average to 24.3. "I think our kids are finally gaining experience and have started to work together now," said Buck coach Don Rennhack. "Also we're getting more help from Zdenah lik." English, a 6-2 center, and George Dreitzler, a 6-1 forward, complete the Buck front line. At guards are Steve Glossinger, who hit a season-high 22 points last Friday against Edwardsburg, and Cleavon Bradshaw.

Rounding out Blossomland action Friday are Coloma (0-9) at Brandywine (5-5) and Edwardsburg (3-6) at Berrien Springs (2-8). Brandyw ine's Leonard Drake continues to pace the Bud scoring derby with a 26.8 average. Zdenahlik is second with a 24.4 average and Croom third at 23.7. 1 a Own Free Parking So? WMKM -f Holmes. At present, the Hawks are about $10,000 in debt.

Holmes pointed out that the club lost only about $3,000 last year, but had some $7,000 in obligations carried over from the previous season. "Many people still don't realize we are a non-profit organization," said Holmes. He added that many board members have spent their own money in order to keep the team alive. Part of the reorganizational effort will be aimed at broadening the club's representation throughout the area. Eight of the present board -members are from Buchanan, two from Niles and one from South Bend.

There are four vacancies on the board which the club hopes to fill from throughout the Michiana area. "We, want to do everything we can to keep the team in this area," emphasized olmes. He acknowledged that at least two other communities are interested in the Hawks, but said sale of the franchise would be a last resort. The Hawks were organized in 1969 and split their home games that season between Buchanan and St. Joseph.

The next year the team moved to Buchanan. Two other teams Pontiac and Wyoming have dropped out of the league. Ham-tramck has moved back to Detroit under new management, and Lansing and Flint will play under different management. The only teams not undergoing changes for this season are Columbus and Niagara Falls. New in the league this year are Indianapolis and Youngs-town.

Indianapolis played in the old Continental league, but Youngstown is a new team. The league is expected to approach Rochester, N. or Louisville, to become the eighth team. Holmes noted that even if the Hawks could have fielded a team this season, a problem of scheduling would have had to be settled. This year the league will open July 8.

"We felt this was too early," said Holmes. "We wanted to wait until the week before the All-Star game." and Dave Healy had 13 apiece. Greg Huberty paced Bloomingdale with 20 points and Joe Alfieri and Ron. Henry tallied 19 each. Bloomingdale hit 47 per cent from the field while getting six more baskets than Gobies, but lost the game at the free throw line where the Tigers hit 29 of 42 and the Cardinals only 16 of 33.

The decision almost dooms. Bloomingdale to last place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with a 1-9 record while boosting Gobies to 3-8. Overall Gobies is 5-10 and Bloomingdale 3-13. The Gobies junior, varsity also won by one point. Gobies (71) Bloomingdale (70) i 7 6 4 7 5 3 2 0 4 3 1 5 8 3 4 0 0 2 0 12 Weed.f Kinclaid.f legal, Clement Thompson Healy 1 4 2 Huberty.f 1 4 3 13 Gordon.c 2 4 12 3 Henry.g 3 2 1 Cat'hed 4 5 3 Puckett 6 12 Totals 21 29 21 27 16 24 SCORE BY QUARTERS Gobies 14 18 20 19 71.

Bloomingdale 17 18 14 21 70 Officials: Rod Terrils (Battle Creek) and Steve Joe ton (Kalamazoo). BUCHANAN The Mich-iana Hawks will not field a football team this fall." The Hawks, plagued by financial difficulties the past two seasons, have been granted a one-year leave of absence by the Midwest Football Hawks president Donald Holmes announced here last night. Holmes said league commissioner Keith Bacon confirmed the leave Tuesday afternoon. "The primary reason for sitting out the 1972 season is NBA Standings EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W. L.

Pet. Boston 44 19 .698 New York 37 23 617 Philadelphia 23 38 .377 Buffalo 17 44 .270 Central Division Baltimore 25 34 .424 Atlanta 23 38 .377 Cincinnati 18 42 .300 Cleveland 17 45 .274 WESTERN CONFERENCE Midvest Division Milwaukee 50 13 .794 Chicago 44 18 .710 Phoenix 38 25 .603 Detroit 22 40 .355 Pacific Division G.B. 5V! 20 26 3 9'2 12 27'j Los Angeles 51 8 864 613 Golden St 38 24 W2 15'2 28 Vi 38 Vj Seattle 37 25 .597 Houston 24 38 .387 Portland 15 49 .234 Golden State 103. Buffalo 100 Atlanta 113, Detroit 105 Baltimore 113, Houston 98 Boston 111, Portland 104 Los Angeles 125, Cincinnati 118 Only games scheduled Wednesday's Games Houston at New York Baltimore at Atlanta Cleveland at Philadelphia Los Angeles at Phoenix Boston at Seattle Only games scheduled Thursday's Games Milwaukee at Cincinnati New York at Chicago Only games scheduled ABA Standings East Division W. L.

Pet. G.B Kentucky 47 12 .797 Virginia 37 25 .597 11V? New York 28 32. .467 Carolina 24 37 .393 24 Fioridians 24 37-393 24 Pittsburgh 21 38 .356 26 West Division Utah 42 20 .677 Indiana 35 26 .524 6V? Dallas 30 34 .460 13 Denver 24 37 .393 17'j Memphis 23 37 .383 18 Tuesday's Results Carolina 126, Pittsburgh 113 Kentucky 101, Indiana 99 Dallas 116, Virginia 111 Utah 118, Memphis Fioridians 125, Denver 124, OT Wednesday's Games Utah at New York Pittsburgh at Kentucky Only games scheduled Thursday's Games Virginia vs. Carolina at Charlotte Only game scheduled NHL Standings East Division Pts GA 40 8 9 89 234 126 36 11 9 81 243 128 31 13 11 73 211 147 24 23 9 57 181 176 23 24 11 57 147 159 11 32 14 36 151 214 15 35 5 35 137 197 West Division Boston New York Montreal Detroit Toronto Buffalo Vancouver Chicago Minnesota California St. Louis Philadelphia Pittsburgh Los Angeles 38 13 6 30 18 9 18 29 11 19 31 8 82 190 115 69 153 128 47 158 216 46 158 191 17 28 10 44 135 172 16 31 9 41 139 185 15 37 7 37 145 228 Tuesday's Results Boston 6, California 3 Chicago 3, St.

Louis 1 New York 5, Vancouver 1 Only games scheduled Wednesday's Games Toronto at Pittsburgh California at Montreal Philadelphia at Chicago Detroit at Minnesota St. Louis at Los Angeles Only games scheduled Thursday's Games Boston at Philadelphia Pittsburgh at Buffalo New York at Los Angeles Only games scheduled Canham Honored ANN ARBOR Don Canham of Michigan was honored by the Columbus Touchdown Club as College Athletic Director of the Year for 1971. iniJlJiKQXflj From Associated Press "We got off to a great start against California," Boston Coach Tom Johnson said. "We came out skating and were in the right spot at the right time." Mike Walton, Derek Sanderson, Johnny Bucyk and Ace Bailey were in the right spot when Bobby Orr was unleashing his shots Tuesday night. The result was Boston's 6-3 National Hockey League victory over the Golden Seals, extending to, 23 games the Bruins' unbeaten home streak, within five of the NHL record set by Montreal in 1943-44.

It also kept Boston eight points ahead of New York in the East Division as the Rangers whipped Vancouver 5-1. In the night's only other game, Chicago edged St. Louis 3-2. Orr didn't get a goal against the Seals. But the Boston de-fenseman, runaway leader in assists, provided four all of them in the Bruins' five-goal first period to raise his season total to 62.

His first came on Bucyk's 24th goal of the year just 1:33 One Official Too Many' For Pistons DETROIT Only one offi cial showed up here Tuesday night, but that was one too many for the Detroit Pistons, Referee Jack Madden caught the Pistons committing three fouls in the final two minutes and the Atlanta Hawks used them to preserve a 113-105 victory after Detroit had pulled to within three points. Lou Hudson and Pete Mara-vich scored 26 and 25 points respectively for the Hawks while Bob Lanier got 28 and Dave Bing 27 for the Pistons. In other games. Tuesday night Los Angeles slipped past Cincinnati 125-118, Boston beat Portland 111-104, Baltimore whipped' Houston 113-98 and Golden State shaded Buffalo 103-100. Substitute Paf Riley sparked Los Angeles with career highs of 27 points and eight nine rebounds, hitting 12 of 17 shots from the floor.

John Havlicek's 31 points paced Boston to its 10th victory in the last 11 games and Dave Cowans added 21. Rookie Sidney Wicks had 30 for Portland. Jack Marin scored 39 points and Archie Clark 29 as Baltimore snapped an eight-' game losing streak despite a 31-point show by Houston's Elvin Hayes. Cazzie Russell's 32 points, including two last-minute free throws, carried Golden State past Buffalo. Tiger Free Throws Upend Bloomingdale imnrite lid) ftfli) iPM -i Use The Fabulous of noijse HOUSE OF FURNITURE'S Credit Plan a 90 Days Scn.3 As Cosh Turniture BLOOMINGDALE The free throw artistry of little Paul Charkowski carried Gobies to a 71-70 victory over Bloomingdale in another installment of their neighborhood rivalry here Tuesday, night.

Charkowski, a junior guard who stands only 5-foot-4, dropped in. a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line and got six of them in the fourth quarter to help the Tigers hold off the charging Cardinals. "We were playing catch-up and we had to foul somebody to get the ball," Bloomingdale coach Gale Radke said. "We just fouled the wrong guy." The Cardinals also lost a golden opportunity when they -stole the ball in the final minute but were called for traveling before they could get a pass to an open man for a certain basket that would have put them ahead. Gobies came back to score again and go ahead by three -points, making Bloomingdale's final basket a token effort.

Charkowski led Gobies with 14 points while Bill Thompson 0 2075 Red Arrow Highway 2 MILES EAST OF ROSS FIELD BENTON HARBOR Phone 926-6184 7).