The Manhattan Mercury from Manhattan, Kansas • 9

Cards bomb Bomber by 24 Cowgirls greatly improved By MARK JANSSEN Sports Editor STILLWATER, Okla What a difference a year makes. That's what folks at Oklahoma State are saying when it comes to women's basketball. One year ago the Cowgirls won just four games with only one of those coming in Big Eight play (80-70 over Iowa State). Three of their 23 losses were to Kansas State 84-59, 76-53 and 102-64. This year under first-year coach Dick Halterman, Oklahoma State is 9-4 entering Wednesday's Big Eight opener against the Lady Cats.

"Being so new myself and having so many new kids, I think if there's a time where we're going to have a shot I i ---'J- I -i. v. I 1 By TIM HOSTETTER Sports Writer JUNCTION CITY After his team whipped Wakefield, 83-59, here Moo-day night in the openinground of the Eisenhower League Tournament, Luc key High boys' coach Russ Lane was shaking his bead in aH directions. "I thought we had some excellent individual performances, but; we didn't play that well as a team, and we are going to have to play as a team if we are going to win the next two games of mis tournament," said Lane. "Offensively, several kids shot well and made some moves I didn't know they had, but our defense wasn't good.

They (Wakefield) were shooting layups in the second half." The Luckey-Wakefield contest was one of four opening round games played in Bradley Auditorium Monday. In the other boys' game, Blue Valley whipped winless St. George, 71-46. There were also no surprises in the girls' first round games. Unbeaten Westmoreland buried St.

George, 71-36, and Blue Valley held off St. Xavier, 38-29. -( The rest of the first-round action began today at 4:00 with Wakefield playing Luckey. Hope will play White City at 5:30 in the final girls' tilt. At 7:00, Hope will tangle with Westmoreland and St.

Xavier and White City will conclude the first round games at 8:30, Wakefield could never slow the Cardinals' offense down. Luckey, which was paced by 31 points from center Jira.Strafuss, raced to a 19-10 first-quarter lead and extended it to 45-23 at half time. The Cards, now 7-1, hit a blistering 57 percent from the field (31 of 54) compared to Wakefield's 40 percent (22of55). But, it was Luckey's defensive play that troubled Lane after the game. "I was very disappointed with our defensive play, especially after the good effort we had against St.

Xavier last Friday (a 37-30 win)," said Lane. "We had a chance to come out in the third quarter and really open the game up, out we made a lot of fouls' and put them at the line. The refs were calling the positioning fouls inside consistently on both sides. We just didn't play that good defensively." Wakefield managed to whittle the lead down to 17 at 67-50 early in the fourth quarter, but Luckey's hot shooting and the play of Strafuss inside proved too much for the Bombers to overcome. In addition to Strafuss' big double-figure night, guard Terry Ekart had 13, freshman Steve Post added 12 and John Winkler and John Graham had 10 points each.

Sophomore Clay Patterson paced the Bombers with 13 points while Jon Lahahadl2. The Cards will play the winner of tonight's St. Xavier-White City mat-Continued on Page B2 The Manhattan Mercury Bl Mercury Sports Tuesday, January 17, 1984 Riggins hits Tampa for Super XVIII at Kansas State, this is as good a time to play as there is," Halterman said. "We'll be the most ready we've been all year long." Kathy Schulz, a 6-1 junior, has been OSU's leader with a 19.7 point per game average. Schulz is also netting 62 percent of her fielders and averaging 7.9 rebounds per game, which ranks fifth high in the Big Eight Conference.

Also in twin figures is Jackie Glosson with a 15.4 scoring average. While one of the Cowgirls' stop scorers, Glosson is out of the starting lineup. "Those kids (Glosson and Bridget Nixon) messed up and lost their starting positions," siad Halterman. "I'm not going to just hand it back to them. They'll just have to prove they're ready to play." That's what Kansas State's Lynn Hickey is hoping her team is.

to play. "Our biggest concern is not what Oklahoma State is doing, but rather what steps we will be taking to regroup and play without our main center (Tina Dixon, who is out until the end of this month with a knee injury)," Hickey said. With Dixon out, Hickey is expected to go with Angie Bonner at center; Jennifer Jones and Carlisa Thomas at the forwards along with Susan Green and Cassandra Jones in the backcourt. "This is the one game we've talked about all year long," Halterman said. "It's one of those situations where it won't do us ay more good to lose by two or three points.

If we're going to lose I'd rather lose big. But if we're going to be in it, we need to win." Staff photo by Rod MikinsW Eddie Elder slams home two of his 18 points Saturday night against Southern Colorado. Cats open Big 8 play vs. Pokes The game holds extra meaning for Gibbs, who served as an assistant coach here under John McKay of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "To come back as a head coach in the Super Bowl before all of may friends is special," Gibbs said.

"It's a dream come true." The Redskins-Raiders meeting in Tampa Stadium will serve as a rematch of a foul-plagued game the two teams played earlier this year, which the Redskins won, 37-35. "I'm looking forward to playing them again," said Manley. "It's my type of game, brute strength against brute strength." Both teams were to hold their first workouts here this afternoon. The Redskins will be practicing at the University of South Florida and the Raiders at the practice field of the Buccaneers. All practices will be closed.

The Redskins are bidding to become the fourth different team and fifth individual club (Pittsburgh did it twice) to win consecutive Super Bowls. Winners of 11 straight games this season, the Redskins are also looking to become only the third team in NFL history to post 17 wins in a single season (Miami 1972 and Pittsburgh 1978). On a cash basis, Sunday's winners will each receive $36,000, the losers TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Flowers and saddle bags, John Riggins and the Washington Redskins are in Florida and ready for Super Bowl XVIII Sunday against the Los Angeles Raiders. The defending National Football League champions' arrival here Monday night was witnessed by more than 400 fans who cheered and serenaded their favorites with Washington's fight song, "Hail To The Redskins." The Jargest cheers were reserved for quarterback Joe Theismann and Riggins, the latter dressed with a military flight jacket, an ascot, a red flower and motorcycle saddle bags drapped over his shoulder.

"We are here and ready for the Raiders," said Redskin defensive end Dexter Manley. "It's wonderful to get to Tampa and get down to business," said Theismann. The team worked out Monday an Washington after snow was cleared from its practice field. The snow also delayed the team's flight by 45 minutes. Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs, taking note of the weather the team left behind, echoed Theismann's sentiments.

"The players had a lot of zip at practice today. I think they were ready to leave town. It's great to be in Tampa. This is the exciting time for us," he said. K-State will need those points this week when they face Oklahoma State with a 76.3 scoring average and Oklahoma Saturday with a 92.3 scoring mean.

And, with 6-7 Crenshaw (18.1 points per game) and 6-6 Williams (10.5), Hartman sees a team with, "outstanding offensive potential. They are all very quick and they like to run." Leading that running game are guards Bill Self and junior college transfer Winfred Case who, at 5-10, is netting 53 percent of his shots and averaging 8.8 points per game. While scoring plenty 76.3 points per game -O-State is also giving up plenty 71.4. "Any time you put a shot up pretty quick you're going to give it back to the other team. Your opponent is going to have plenty of opportunities to score," Hartman explained.

It was of that same defense that earlier this season Cowboy coach Paul Hansen said, "It would not be fair for me to criticize my there wasn't any. This team is hazardous to my health." It's defense that has kept Hart-man's heart beating. However, the Cats' offense has made Hartman's thumper skip a beat or two during recent games. K-State has not been Notes on the Cats and Pokes Jack Hartman has been tough on Oklahoma State posting a 21-9 record against his alma mater. In Stillwater, Hartman is 10-4.

Paul Hansen's five-season coaching record at OSU is 75-50, which includes 1 6-3 mark versus K-State. The first game ever played at Gallagher 11811 was on December 9, 938. Oklahoma played Kansas, rhe two coaches were Henry Iba and Dr. Phog Allen. The Aggies won, By MARK JANSSEN Sports Editor STILLWATER, 13 preliminary games, it's time to play Big Eight basketball.

The Wildcats of Kansas State and the Cowboys of Oklahoma State, who meet here Wednesday in a 7:30 tipoff, have each won eight and lost five through this first stage of the season. The question to coach Jack Hart-man of the Wildcats is, "Is his team ready to face the upcoming Big Eight battles?" "I thought we were going to be ready the way we started the season, but I'm a little bit concerned right now," Hartman said. "We have very conscientious group of young men and they work very hard. Right now they may be trying a little too hard. "They aren't playing with a relaxation, poise and composure that they need to play with and like we had earlier," Hartman said.

"I know we'll go into Oklahoma State determined and intense. I just hope we can play with a good relaxed frame of mine." The task, however, will be tough. The Cowboys have defeated K-State in the last five meetings and six of the last seven. While Paul Hansen's team did lose their inside-outside punch of LeRoy Combs and Matt Clark through graduation, returning are starters Charles Williams, Raymond Crenshaw and Joe Atkinson who started two years ago, but sat out last season with a fractured wrist. As a freshman, the 6-7 Atkinson played on a wing averaging 9.4 points per game.

Now, he's the Cowboys' center where he is averaging 19.4 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per contest. "He's just a very good athlete," Hartman said. "You could play him about any place on the floor." In, his only two starts, freshman lex Williams has hit 10 of 16 from the eld, scored 27 points and grabbed above 64 points and has averaged only 61 points in the last six outings. "I'm a little concerned because in our recent games we've been reluctant to shoot the ball. That's usually influenced by the fact we're not an eight rebounds.

Joe Atkinson has had individual games ol 29, 27, 24, 23, 23 and 22 Notes on the Lady Cats and Cowgirls The Lady Cats have not lost to OSU in seven previous Dick Halterman came to O-State from Moberly, where he led the Lady Greyhounds to a 144-21 record in five years. His 1982 team-won the national junior college title with a 35-3 record. Lynn Hickey's coaching record in four-plus years at Kansas State is a lofty 110-36. K-State's next game will be against Oklahoma in Ahearn Fieldhouse at 7: 30 Saturday night. Kansas State 1 10-3) Oklahoma State Jennifer Jones (6-1 Soph) Rae Rippetoe (5-10Sr) Carlisa Thomas (5-10 Fresh) Vicki Johnson 5-10 Sr Angie Bonner (6-1 Jr) Kathy Schulz (6-1 Jr) Susan Green (5-8 Fresh) Crista Troester 5-4 Soph Cassandra Jones 5-7 Soph) Bridget Nixon 15-6 Sri Lady Cats climb to No, 9 Kansas State's Lady Cats moved up a notch to No.

9 in the latest collegiate women's basketball poll despite not playing during the poll week. The other ranked Big Eight team, Missouri, moved up to No. 11 with an 11-2 record. ticipating the shot before we get the ball in our hands," said Hartman. No one has Hartman more concerned entering the Big Eight season than Ben Mitchell who has scored a total of only 13 points in the last three games on four of 22 shooting from the field.

Eddie Elder has become K-State's top scorer at 12.6 per game and is coming off an 18 point inside-outside scoring effort against Southern points. Raymond Crenshaw has had top games of 36, 26, 23 and 22 points. Wednesday's game can be heard on KMKF (101.7) and WIBW (580). K-State next plays Oklahoma in a 2:10 tipoff in Ahearn Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon. Kansas Slate IK-5) Oklahoma Slate W-5 Eddie Elder 1 6-9 Jr i Raymond Crenshaw (6-7 Sr I Ben Mitchell (6-8 Soph i Charles Williams (6 Jn Alex Williams 16-8 Fresh (' Joe Atkinson (6-7 Soph) JimRoder(MSoph) Bill Self (6-3 Jr) Eric Watson fr2Jr (i Winfred Case (5-10 Fresh) Dickey announces six more signees term have to be good students as well tackle from Dodge City.

Reed and Cliggett each won all-American honors this past season. Women's Top 30 Record Pts Pvs U-0 14-1 .160 .098 11- 2 1.039 12- 3 917 7 think they can make an immediate impact on our Jim Dickey as good football players," said K-State coach Jim Dickey. "That's true with this group. I look forward to having them join us for spring drills. I think they can make an immediate impact on our team and challenge for starting berths.

A Dickey scored on nine of the 11 junior college mid-term athletes that scholarships were offered. "We really didn't figure on signing that Dickey said. "Usually you get a smaller percent. We just got more yeses." The ninth signee was Butler County's Dion Noblitjt who arrived on campus, but then decided to return to By MARK JANSSEN Sports Editor The list of Kansas State football signees has grown to eight as coach Jim Dickey has annoucned the signing of six more junior college talents to national letters of intent. Two of the signees are from Nor--theastern Oklahoma Junior College in Miami, Okla.

They are Jimmy Mc-Cullough, a defensive back-receiver and Ken Sewell, an offensive guard. The other signees come out of the Jayhawk Junior College Conference. They are defensive tackle Dana Dimel from Hutchinson, defensive tackle Rockey Dvorak from Garden City, back-receiver Don Cliggett from Pratt and Kenneth Reed, a defensive 854 850 at 73 3 0 H4 It 568 12 I Louisiana Tech I St) 2. Georgia 3 Texas 4 Southern Cal 5. Mississippi 6.0ld Dominion 7.

Louisiana State B.Long Beach State Slate 10. Cheyney 11. Missouri 12 Tennessee 13. Auburn M.CIemson 15. Alabama 16.

Carolina St W.Maryland 18 St John's W.Virginia 12-2 11- 1 12- 1 8-3 l-3 8-2 11-2 10- 5 11 11- 3 15-3 11- 4 (-4 13- 1 12- 2 ua S10 438 406 Ml 277 These six signees join Jeff Drouillard from Dodge City and Ron Mackiin of Butler County who were announced earlier. "The athletes you recruit at mid- 250 13 183 1 130 20 Sporting new cowboy boots, John Riggins strolled into Tampa Tuesday. i Butler Community College. A.