Johnson City Press from Johnson City, Tennessee • 15

Thursday June 2 1988 Detroit flexes muscles takes 3-2 advantage Los Angeles has Dallas i against wall The Associated Press DALLAS If form prevails the NBA Western Conference finals will be extended to seven games If the Los Angeles Lakers play as well in Game 6 as they did in Game 5 the series will be over Thursday night "I dont think Ive seen the Lakers play this well in a long long time Dallas forward Mark Aguirre said after Los Angeles overpowered the Mavericks 119-102 Tuesday night "They were great Los Angeles will take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series into Thursday nights sixth game at Reunion Arena A victory by the Lakers would put them into the NBA finals "I think we can beat them if were at the top of our game and theyre struggling a bit Dallas center James Donaldson said Of Thursday night he said "We werent on top of our game and they sure seemed to be So far the home team has won every game with none of the games closer than 12 points The Mavericks won the third and fourth games on their homecourt by scores of 106-94 and 118-104 Meanwhile Mavericks reserve Detlef Schrempf who has averaged 80 points per game in the playoffs was ruled out of Thursday nights game because of a sprained left ankle suffered in the Tuesday loss team officials said Wednesday Team doctor listed Schrempf as questionable should the senes go seven games The Lakers went ahead for good in Game 5 by scoririg 15 straight points to turn a 10-4 deficit into a 19-10 advantage The Mavericks werent closer than five points after that It was 15-10 when Lbs Angeles guard Byron Scott flying toward the basket from the side was straight-armed by Sam Perkins Please see LAKERS Page 19 EJD A playoffs throws and a layup and Boston got no closer than four after that The Pistons took advantage of 0-for-12 drought by the Celtics during a span of 8:49 in the second half turning a 12-point deficit into a five-point lead with 19-2 spurt Johnsons rebound basket from near-prone position with 3:11 left gave Boston an 86-85 edge and the lead seesawed until Fred Roberts tied the score 92-92 with 1:10 remaining Roberts points were the first scored by anyone on the Celtics other than Johnson Larry Bird Kevin McHale or Robert Parish Danny Ainge was held scoreless 47 minutes going 0-for-6 McHale fouled out with 26 points Bird had 25 Johnson 23 and Parish 18 Bird had 17 rebounds and Parish added 14 Dantley and Joe Dumars finished with 18 points each for Detroit Daly said McHale fouled out trying to guard Dantley who also took advantage of Roberts on the go-ahead three-point play "Thats the risk you take if you Elay him (Dantley) and dont dou-le-team him Daly said "Eventually hell get you He didnt score 20000 points doing nothing We wanted the ball in his hands down the stretch because he had Roberts on him and we knew-he could get to the basket McHale had eight points and Bird five during a 21-8 Boston run that turned a three-point lead into a 50-34 margin with 242 left in the first half Detroit missed 11 of its first 13 shots in the second period S3 tries to steal the ball from AP LaserPhoto Detroits Joe Dumars California makes Abbott eighth pick NFL life suiting Gash well so far By Bill Barnard AP Basketball Writer BOSTON The homecourt advantage so important in the NBA Eastern Conference finals a year ago is turning to dust in 1988 Detroit which lost all four games at Boston Garden and won all three at home in 1987 took a 3-2 lead by defeating the Celtics 102-96 in overtime Wednesday night It was the third road victory of the series and the second by Detroit The Pistons can clinch their first appearance in the championship series since moving to De-' troit in 1957 by winning at home Friday night or in Game 7 at Boston Garden Sunday "Weve won in their building and theyve done it in our building so Friday night will be some basketball game Pistons coach Chuck Daly said "We cant sit back and watch them nail shots on Friday Theyve got too good a team This series could still go seven Adrian Dantleys three-point play gave Detroit the lead in overtime and Isiah Thomas scored 29 of his 35 points after halftime for the Pistons "I was so hyper Thomas said of his 3-for-10 six-point performance in the first half "I started to let the game come to me instead of forcing it "Even when hes struggling you know hes capable of a great half Daly said "and thats what he gave us Dennis Johnsons basket gave Boston a 94-92 lead in overtime but Dantley followed with a free throw and his three-point play with 2:52 to go making it 96-94 Thomas followed with two free Parks and Recreation said he was in disbelief "Were shocked out of our boots They called us yesterday and told us they would draft him but when he told us today I thought he was lying to me You know what I mean he said "I dont know if anyone from this area was ever drafted that early "Its a dream come true because some people told us he wouldnt play 1 just thank God for letting him run like he can run I cant even think right now A lot of people expect someone to Khigh and when they're picked low rounds theyre dis- an a a in By Ronald Blurn Associated Press Writer NEW YORK Jim Abbott the one-handed pitcher from the University of Michigan was chosen by the California Angels as the eighth pick in baseballs pitcher-rich amateur draft Wednesday "They talked to me about my situation having one hand said Abbott who was born without a right hand "They said ib'didnt matter to them that they just needed a left-handed pitcher Pitchers dominated the first round accounting for 14 of the first 26 olayers selected Andy Benes a right-handed pitcher from the University of Evansville was taken by the San Diego Padres as the No 1 pick followed by a pair of high-school players Cleveland took shortstop Mark Lewis of Hamilton Ohio High School Atlanta selected left-handed pitcher Steve Avery of John Kennedy High School in Taylor Mich and Baltimore chose right-handed pitcher Gregg Olsen of Auburn University The Associated Press learned that Pete Rose Jr the son of the Cincinnati Reds manager was Sicked by the Baltimore Orioles lose plays third base for Oak Hills High School in suburban Cincinnati and was expected to go in the first three rounds The Angels made Abbott the fifth pitcher selected though most teams thought he would not be drafted until the end of the first round or the start of the second Abbott the 1987 Sullivan Please see DRAFT Page 19 ML Bostons Danny Ainge left Thane Gash His blazing speed has surely been lioticed When the Cleveland scouts were in Johnson City a couple of months ago Gash who played at about 202 pounds last season was timed at 46 in the 40 That was in high-top tennis shoes Once he got to Cleveland and into more suitable attire he lowered the number to 44 plenty quick enough to keep pace witn most NFL receivers Gash however says hes more concerned with strength than speed right now "The strong (safety) has to take on more guards more linemen than the free he said "And were talking about people that are 280 290 pounds I think the heaviest defensive back we have here is about 210 Gash known for his physical play said the starting strong safety job will belong to Chris Rockins when summer camp begins in July He knows he will have to earn his spot on the roster "Fm trying to prepare myself for anything right now he said "I have to make an impact at strong and on special teams I wouldnt be surprised if special teams is where Ill Please see GASH Page 19 By Kelly Hodge Press Managing Sports Editor Hes having to learn a new system and a new position but Thane Gash says life in the National Football League is all right so far Gash a standout at East Tennessee State University the past four years is in the middle of a month-long minicamp for Cleveland Browns draft picks and free agents He and 30 or so others have been putting in 12-hour days since arriving just over two weeks ago "I like 'it its been pretty interesting" Gash said Wednesday from Cleveland "Im just trying to get acquainted with the system here and things are even more new to me than they normally would be since Im playing strong safety Its definitely an adjustment Gash who played free safety at ETSU was the Browns seventh-round pick In the recent NFL draft Hes one of nine defensive backs trying to make their mark before the current camp break June 10 The group will then have about a month ofT before reporting with the Browns veterans on July 21 The teams first preseason game is against the Detroit Lions on Aug 6 For now Gash is feeling his way along His typical day starts with breakfast about 8 am and progresses through weight lifting sessions agility drills and numerous meetings before winding down about 8 in the evening This camp isnt a do-or-die situation I dont think he said The purpose is for the young guys to learn the offensive ana defensive systems and get in top condition "I think about all of these guys will be back for the summer camp After that its hard to say wnat will happen Gash hesitates to evaluate himself at this point He hopes hes made an impression but isnt sure "I must be in pretty good position or Fd be at home right now he said Thats about only way I can look at it AP LaserPhoto pidby the Angels Jim Abbotts handicap didnt prevent him from being University Highs Lowe picked by Phils Xintcd We were prepared the way so this is really a shock Lowe made his mark at University High with a Bolid performance both at the plate and in center field He hit 12 home runs was 38-of-38 in stolen base attempts and hit 514 He waS also named the all-District MVP! Although Jordan had scouted him during the season Lowe apparently impressed the organization even further at a couple of camps At a Phillies camp at Walter Please see LOWE Page 19 guaranteed a four-year college scholarship (exceeding $30000) as part of the contract but he had not signed as of midnight Because only identities of first-round picks Are released to the Iiubhc to protect draftees from ta-ent-seeking college recruiters Lowe doesnt know exactly what round he was chosen This is awesome I had no idea I would go this early Lowe said "I didnt care if it was the 50th round its an honor to just get drafted But to get drafted this high is unheard of around here Chriss father Lonnie Lowe Director of the Johnson City By Dan Pever Ptm Sports Writer University High center fielder Chris Lowe tola by a Philadelphia Phillies scout on Tuesday he would be picked by the club some time during the June 1-3 amateur draft got some unex- pected news Wednesday night Phillies Bcout Jerry Jordan told him he was a first-day pick (rounds one-through-15) during his Palomino League practice at 8 plm and spent the remainder of the evening at Lowes house trying to sign the 17-year-old to a professional contract He was 0 A.