Kingsport Times from Kingsport, Tennessee • 12

irj -jf i- 2B Kingsport Times Friday February 1978 VPIr Furman Test ACC Powers In North-South Tonight Probable Lineups NORTH CAROLINA H4- FURMAN (TT5I MW CNd: Wtfttt AllfIN It 4 135 H5 It 55 17 7 52 Me 99 204 PM Flavor FAI Oomais (4r4 Rodrtev Arnod (6-4) CJonaffron Moore (-8) Bruce Granm (4-2) Coii F-MM Korea (4-7) Ovdiev Read lev -6) C-RkK Yonohor (-! Tom Zoitootris 18-51 PM Ford (-2) NORTH CAROLINA STATE (14-4) VIRGINIA TECH (IPS) i Aver aoo 134 14 1 13 I 174 12 0 Nl Flavor Les Henson (PS) Tic Price (4-4) Woyno Rod to son (4-9) Ron Red (PI) Mor shod AsMord (P2) Poo Flavor Avoraw Howkere Whttnev (P5) IS Art Jooet -7) 7 4 Clean Sudfeoe (7-2) 0 Tony Warren (P4) 4 2 Clyde Auoiiit P4) 12 PHIL FORO NC AR-AjmtI CHAtLIS WHITNEY NCS tonwl ON SELL VPI PINT By DENNY DAXNELL Assistant Sports Editor CHARLOTTE NC Through the years the North-South Doubleheaders have developed into a-family affair with North Carolina State and North Carolina the co-hosts for the attraction dominating the action The Tar Heels have posted a 32-6 worksheet in North-South play while the Wolfpack have a 25-11 ledger The opposition this time around is expected to offer a much stronger challenge as both Furman and Virginia Tech come into the contests with impressive credentials The Paladins are 12-5 on the year including an impressive 87-68 conquest of Clemson while the Gobblers have reeled off a 16-3 worksheet Tech is coming off a sound 87-71 thrashing of 19th ranked Syracuse In Fridays opening round here at the Coliseum the Wolfpack now 14-4 will meet the Gobblers at 7 pm while the Tar Heels 16-3 and ranked No 3 in the nation face Furman of the Southern Conference in the 9 pm nightcap Saturday's pairings pit State against the Paladins at 7 pm and UNC against the Gobblers at 9 pm The doubleheaders have taken on added importance for Charlie Moir and his Virginia Tech cagers The Gobblers have a solid shot at claiming an at-large berth in the upcoming NCAA tournament I definitely think we have a chance for an NCAA bid" Moir said At the same time I dont think the pressure is' on us to the point we have to win two games this weekend I feel we have to wiiT 20 games this year to be considered When youre an independent any win helps But theres no pressure on us to win both or even one game After this weekend we have six more games remaining Anytime you beat a nationally ranked team or one that has been in the rankings previously it has to help Well certainly be giving it our best shot" Tech invades Charlotte with all five starters in double figures Ron Bell a 61 senior guard leads the parade with a 174-point average Bell has scored in double figures in 28 consecutive games for the Gobblers Tic Price a 66 junior follows with a 141 average while Les Henson is hitting at a 13 4-point dip Wayne Robinson carried a 131 average while Marshall Ashford hits at a 120 ppg average Its a difficult assignment said Wolfpack coach Norm Sloan of the upcoming games You would think itd- be somewhat of a relief to get away from the conference for a couple of games but in this case its really not Both Virginia Tech and Furman are very strong teams For us to have success against them we must approach the games with the same intensity we would if they were conference opponents Im not sure our players understand this so it could be a problem" Hawkeye Whitney the Packs 65 sophomore forward continues to set the scoring pace for the team with a 156 average and is second in rebounding with 49 Following in the points department is steady Tony Warren at 142 and Clyde The Glide Austin the 64 sophomore point guard at 126 This is certainly an opportunity for Virginia Tech Sloan said The season record determines whether Tech will be involved in post-season play Theyll be as fired up as if it were a conference game I hope we can rise to the occasion We have to eliminate the mental mistakes and little errors we had in our last game despite claiming a win" Furman has had its problems in the Doubleheaders posting an 68 ledger But this time around the youthful Paladins have proven they can battle with ACC teams on an even keel In last years games the Paladins Jonathan Moore turned in two excellent performances Moore scored 27 points and had eight rebounds against NC State in the first game and came back the following night with 21 points and 12 rebounds against UNC The 68 sophomore hit on 21 of 27 shots from the floor in the N-S twin bill last year Sloan responded to that performance saying Weve got four of the finest freshmen in the country I just wish 1 had Jonathan Moore to go along with them North Carolina's Dean Smith added: Hes a great player I hate to think of facing him for another three years Moore is carrying an 185 average this season but 1ms plenty of scoring help as four Paladin starters are averaging in double figures A1 Daniels is hitting at an 184-point clip while Bruce GGrimm is at 181 Rodney Arnold a former All-Stater at Lynn View More On Page 3B Col 1 should play a key role for the Paladins in the North-South Doubleheader Kingsports Steve Martin Chosen PB A Rookie Of Year By GREG ARMSTRONG Times-News Sports Writer Kingsports Steve Martin got an early wedding present Thursday when he learned of his selection as the 1977 Pro Bowling Association Rookie of the Year the Times-News has learned The 19-year-old pro is getting married here in two weeks and his selection makes Martin Third Lane 1 Oth In King Louie Kingsport pro Steve Martin will be named as 1977 PBA Rookie of the Year within the next few days however bowled only half as many tournaments as did Martin It's really exciting said Martin from Overland Park Kans where he and fellow Kingsporter Dennis Lane are competing in the King Louie Open I felt good about the way I bowled my first year and I'm certainly proud of the award A formal announcement of the award is expected within the next few days by Sporting News Magazine its sponsor More than 300 PBA members voted on the award After learning of the award Martin immediately went out for the start of the King Louie Open and demonstrated his ability Martin started the tourney by averaging better than 230 per game and peaked in the early stages at fourth place When the cut was made Thursday afternoon the Kingsporter was among the 24 finalists "There are a lot of advantages to receiving the award a PBA tour official said Theres a lot of top-notch bowlers on the tour but gaining recognition is the name of the game" One of the advantages from the award is a one-year exemption from qualifying But Martin already earned enough points last season to avoid the so-called rabbit squads Martin with a strong finish today in Kansas could really draw attention when the national announcement is made Both Martin and Lane are among the finalists competing in the final 16 match-play More On Page 3B Col 4 OVERLAND PARK Kan (UPI) Joe Berardi maintained his torrid bowling Thursday night to hold his lead after the fourth round of the $75000 King Louie Open Kingsport continues to be well-represented in the tournament Rookie of the Year Steve Martin is third 230 pins behind Berardi with a total of 5969 while Dennis Lane is 10th another 104 pins back with a total of 5865 Berardi Pearl River a veteran still seeking his first PBA tour win has led the tourney for the last three rounds He averaged 30 for eight games of match play Thursday night winning six and tying one match Berardi holds a 103-pin lead over Mark Roth alreadv winner of two PSA events Roth moved from sixth by rolling the highest round of the night 1920 including the third perfect game of the tournament Berardi produced games of 226 258 218 214 216 259 257 and 214 en route to his 1862 total His bonus pin total of 195 gives him a 26-game score of 6199 Roth's total is 6096 In fourth place is Palmer Fallgren Las Vegas 5952 and fifth is Larry Lamb San Francisco 5947 Lamb had the best won-lost record of the round going 7-1 in his matches OVERLANO PARK Kan (UPI Fourth round I coders and their 26-game total pintail in the S7SOOO King Louie Open Bowling Tournament 1 Joe AerordL FearlRhrerNV Alt 2Mor Roth Stefteettio nd NY 494 5teveMortMiKlstprtTom 599 PoimerFoltgreftLosVegfNv 5932 5 Lorry Lamp Son Francisco 5947 GoertePaPoChor)otloN 5925 7 Joe HvtcmflMft Scranton Pa 5915 StveJentindependeceM 5999 9 Dick Ritger River Fall WH 10 OennisLoneKingsportTenn 5865 his professional future a little brighter Martin was the winningest rookie on the tour last season competing in almost all tour events On several occasions he finished in the top 10 The Kingsporter nicknamed Puppy" by his fellow pros has been aiming for this honor since he officially entered the tour 13 months ago Martin won $12475 in 77 That was over $1000 more than his nearest competition Craig Cutser of California Cutser Oh my knee Pete Maravich is wheeled from the court after injuring his kne in game Tuesday night He will miss Sundays all-star game in Atlanta as a result of the injury Wake Forest Mauls Duke 79-60 More Than 300 Athletes Set For State Of Franklin Meet ACC STANDINGS Conference Overall North Corolina 2 17 3 Virginia 5 2 15 2 Duke 4 3 15 Slole 4 3 14 4 Woke Forest 4 3 13 5 Clemson Marylond 1 6 11 Thursday's Result Wake Forest 79 Duke 0 closer than 12 points The Blue Devils fell to a 15-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the conference Third ranked North Carolina and North Carolina State travel to Charlotte tonight for the two-day North-South doubleheader against Virginia Tech and Furman It could be a very difficult weekend said Wolfpack coach Normanl Sloan Virginia Tech is 163 overall while Furman is 12-5 "Both Virginia Tech and furman are excellent teams We must approach them with the same intensity we would if they were conference opponents Im not sure our players understand this WINSTON-SALEM NC (UPI) Wake Forest Coach Carl Tacy believes the biggest difference between Duke and the rest of the teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference is Blue Devil Center Mike Gminski With Gminski Duke is the best team in the ACC and I think the statistics will verify that said Tacy Thursday night after his Deacons rolled up a 79-60 win over the Blue Devils Duke was without the services of the injured Gminski considered the best center in the league With Gminski out of the game Wake Forests three front court players scored 52 points as the Deacons moved to a 13-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the conference We got the ball inside a lot but at times I thought we could have gotten it in there more" said Tacy Rod Griffin led the Deacons scoring' with a game-high 21 points followed by Leroy McDonald with 19 points and Larry Harrison with 12 points Duke coach Bill Foster tried to compensate for the loss of Gminski who has missed two games with an injured toe but the effort was tanooga those situated in TSSAA Region One Many local schools will be entered including Dobyns-Bennett Daniel Boone Sullivan Central David Crockett Church Hill Sullivan West Science Hill Ketron and Lynn View Name of the meet is the State of Franklin Invitational and it is being sponsored by the newly organized track club of the same name Tickets being sold for the east side only will he $1 each at the gate Girls and boys events are scheduled throughout the day There will be nine running and five field events for boys and nine running and three field events for girls Other schools in the region defini-More On Page 4B Col 6 JOHNSON CITY Its a milestone for high school athletics in Upper East Tennessee Saturday will mark the first time track and field participants have gathered in the area for a prep meet indoors Some 300 athletes from an estimated 30 schools located throughout the East Tennessee area will compete in the meet scheduled to begin inside the Minidome at East Tennessee State University at 9 am Preliminary heats in the 60-yard hurdles will kick off the day-long meet and finals in that same event will open championship competition at 10:30 am Schools eligible for the meet include all secondary institutions east of Oak Ridge and Chat hampered by 31 turnovers The inside game really hurt us' I thought Gminski might play but we just didnt want to take any chances" Foster said The Deacons led by as much as 20 points during the game and had little trouble down the stretch Freshman forward Eugene Banks paced the Blue Devils with 18 points and Jim Spanarkel scored 10 points before fouling out with 5:19 to play Duke went with a full-court press most of the second half in trying to play catchup from a 42-24 deficit at intermission but could pull no OUKE Bonks 6 6-6 8 Dennord 4 0-2 8 Sponorkei 4 2-2 10 Horrelt 2 2 6 Bender 3 00 6 Goetsch 4 01 8 Suddoth 1 0-2 2 Gray 1 0-0 2 Morrison 0 0-0 0 Bell 0 0-10 Tolois 25 10-1 60 WAKE FOREST 79 Gritfln 8 5-9 21 McDonold 7-7 19 Harrison 2 2 12 Johnson 2 0-0 4 Dole 2 0-0 4 Hendier 0 0-1 0 Singleton 3 4 10 McCaffe'v 0 0-0 0 Ellis I 0-0 2 Morris I 54 7 Thurmond 0 0-0 0 Tolois 28 23-31 79 Halftime Woke Forest 42 Duke 24 Total fouls Duke 27 Woke Forest 20 Fouled out Sponorkei Teehmcol fouls Woke Forest Dench Duke bench Groy A-8250 Bristol Raceway Refurbishing In Response To Fans Penny Darnell On Racing Thats only the beginning of the $200000 renovation program underway A new electronic scoreboard controlled from the press box is being installed outside turn three and four The board will have the top five positions along with the lap number Plans also call for the refurbishing of 1500 grandstand seats a door through the front grandstand wall for easier and aafer access before and after competition of events lane striping for the track crushed stone for the Infield area and a total paint program for the walls and buildings around the track Hester also announced during the press conference for media representatives in Bristol Wednesday that a new two-level press box will be constructed high on the bank above turn one A major change in the racing program will occur with the running of the Volunteer 500 The event usually held on Sunday afternoon is slated for Saturday night August 26 By that race date the new owners hope to have new camper hookups available for the fans The third race at the track will be the Thunder Valley 300 slated for June 4 The event is expected to draw the top Late Model Sportsman drivers from throughout the country Theres new blood on the scene at Bristol and the pair have wasted little time letting race fans know their intention of providing the best possible program Both Hester and Baker call their new endeavor a labor of love" The pair are off to a good start toward bringing fans a top-notch racing program one which will again fill the stands at Bristol International Raceway A major renovation program is underway at Bristol International Raceway both in the track facilities and the racing program itself -And based on the plans presented by new owners Lanny Hester and Gary Baker a pair of Nashville businesmen who purchased Bristol International Speedway from Larry Carrier and Senator Carl Moore last December the gripes of race fans are being answered The pair immediately changed the name of the facility but that was only to inform fans changes are in store for the 533-mile high-banked track Hester and Baker searched for the reason for the dwindling attendance at the track And they went to the right places They sought the opinions of the fans themselves One of the first changes due at the track is the distance for all Winston Cup Grand National races The distance will be 500 laps instead of the present format Based on the opinions that I have gotten the fans definitely want a 500-lap race Hester said With an average speeds for our events approaching 100 miles per hour due to the quickness of our track the 400-lap events in the past were just too short The fans are the strength of the sport and we intend to give them what they want Three of the last four Winston Cup Grand National events at BIS were 400 lap affairs While Hester said the fans supported such a change by a 16to-l margin the drivers had different thoughts about going back to 500 laps 1 i Its very true tiat Bristol is one of the most grueling tracks on the circuit and several drivers waste little time expressing their distaste for the facility But even those that aftack it loudest still like the challenge it presents 1 1 Hester and Baker have added an additional incentive which should lure a top field for both Grand National events For the first time in the 16year history of the track BIR will offer a purse of $100000 We feel that the $100000 pursewill enable us to attract a full competitive field consisting of all the top cars for the Southeastern 500 Hester said It should be an incentive to all of the drivers to come in here and run hard to win the tremendous amount of cash that we are posting In the process it will make the racing action more intense for the fans The previous high purse at the track was $85340 for the 1977 Southeastern 500 of Bristol International Raceway are slowed temporarily by the snow but have a $200000 renovation program scheduled for the track I JL.