The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 20

SPORT SIGNALS By Hal Brown Sportf Editor, The Star Husken In Command Military strategists may not agree that if vou occupy a hill with two enemy camps, you are in command, but Nebraska basketball team would appear to be in com- rnand of the Big Eight race at this point despite sharing the top of the hill with Kansas State and Iowa State. standings, after a month of warring, are finally beginning to make some semblance of sense and the race Is now apparently a four-horse affair. NU coach Joe cagers are in the commanding position of the four teams Nebraska, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Kansas who are currently tied in the loss column, which is where it counts, because of two major factors. Schedule Favors NU One of those factors is the remaining schedule that gives the Huskers and Jayhawks a slight edge over the Wildcats and Cyclones. Nebraska has four games remaining with the contcnd- ers and three of those games are In the NU Coliseum where the Huskers would have to be an even-moncy bet against anybody except UCLA.

The only contender the Huskers must play on the road IS Kansas with KU, K-State and Iowa State all having to invade the NU Coliseum. The remaining schedule among the contenders is just as favorable for Kansas with the Jayhawks getting Nebraska, Kansas State and Iowa State all in Lawrence and playing only the Huskers on ttie road. Kansas State, also hurt by the loss of two guards because of grades, has the toughest row to hoe, schedule- wise, having to meet each of the contenders once more, all on the road. Iowa State gets Kansas State at Ames, but must play at Kansas and Nebraska yet. Swing Could Decide If any of the four contenders can win its remaining games against the other three, that likely would wrap up the championship.

If this does not happen, and highly unlikely that It will, then the race quite likely could be decided In the red soil country of Oklahoma. Again, the Huskers are in command on that count. The turning point in the Big Eight race could turn out to be the success on the weekend jaunt into Oklahoma where they accomplished what no other team in the league may be able to do. Nebraska came back with two victories. Kansas State came back with a 1-1 mark and KU and Iowa State still have to make the journey.

With Kansas barely getting by the Okie schools in Lawrence, coach Ted ulcers could be at their worst March 2 and 4 when he must troop into his homeland. Iowa State makes that swing this weekend. First Since 1916 Nebraska been sole owner of a conference basketball championship since 1916 when coach Sam cagers batted 1.000 in winning the Missouri Valley title with a 12-0 mark. The Huskers tied with Kansas in 1937, with Oklahoma in 1949 and with Kansas and Kansas State in 1950. Another tie is a possibility, but the Huskers are in command and NU fans, players and coaches should be encouraged by Oklahoma coach John observation, seen anyone any HUMPHREY STANDOUT- Uchtman Cains Player Award By VIRGIL PARKER Prep Sports Writer When a player nears 2,000 points for a high school career he is bound to be recognized.

When he hits over 60 percent of his shots and scores 52 counters in a single game to set a new school record, likely to be named player of the week. It is all happening to Jim Uchtman of Humphrey High. Uchtman canned 22 of his 36 field goal attempts and added 8-11 from the free throw line for his 52 point total. The record he broke? His own. The previous school high was 37, set by Uchtman last year as a junior.

Humplirey coach Gordon Svoboda is high on his ace. not just a good he said, plays a lot of defense for us too. averaging over 50 percent from the field for the whole season, and better than 75 percent from the free throw Sports Menu Wednesday BOXING Golden Gloves Smoker. Atokad. South Sioux City, 8 p.m^, HOCKEY Omaha at Fort Worth.

Thursday Colleges: Creighton at Oklahoma City; Pershing at St. Hastings at Kearney. at Houston. State at Nebraska. NU Coliseum.

7:30 p.m. Friday BOXING Southeast District Golden Gloves. State Fairgrounds. 8 p.m. BASKETBALL State Colleges: Nebraska Wesleyan at Colorado College: Chadron at Peru: Briar Cliff at Wahoo JFK: Northwestern.

Iowa, at Dana: Sioux Falls at Concordia: McCook JC at Lamar. JC: Scottsbluff JC at Northwest Community College of Wyoming; York JC at McPherson. Lincoln High Schools: Fremont at Lincoln East. East Gym. 8 p.m.: Pius vs.

Lincoln High, Pershing Auditorium. 8 p.m.: Beatrice at Lincoln Northeast. Johnson Gym, 8 p.m. Illinois at Nebraska. NU Coliseum Pool.

2 p.m. Southeast at Beatrice: Lincoln High at Hastings; Omaha Bryan at Lincoln Northeast, 4 High School District ToumameDt at Lincoln The Bulldogs, 84 on the year, have steadily improved after dropping three of ttieir first four at the outset of the season. Others nominated for their outstanding play include: Bill Hamel, Guide through with 22 points against Class Nelson to lead the Class Warriors to a close 57-55 win. His work on the boards was an equally important factor in the victory. John Seidel, Sidney The Class Maroons knocked off two Class A opponents over the weekend while Seidel picked up 54 points and 41 rebounds in the two contests.

Alan Atkins, Coach Randy Hash calls Atkins complete ball his only returning starter from last state tourney team. Alan had 32 points and 27 rebounds against Tyron, has averaged 22 15 in the two departments all season. Chuck Wagner, North Loup- Scotia Wagner paced the Wildcats to the L.V.A.A. conference championship with 44 points in the title game against Litchfield. Roger Wiseman, a high scorer who always draws the toughest defensive assignment as well.

Coach i Hesse says that in' one recent game, rated a tossup, gave him the other top scorer to guard. He held him to four points while scoring 33 himself while hitting 16 of 18 from the Wiseman also led the Fort Kearney conference in scoring during the football season. Doane To Host Gals' Track Meet April 27 Crete The second annual Doane College Invitational Track Meet has been scheduled for April 27, according to Mrs. Marlene Joy, director of Physical Education at Doane College and meet director. The meet scheduled to be at Simon Field on the Doane campus is sanctioned by the Nebraska School Activities Association.

Girls in grades nine to twelve may participate, if they represent their respective high schools. Wednesdoy, Februory 7, T968 The fJwenin Mimr tf Solich Named Football Coach Rv vmnif By VIRGIL PARKER Prep Sports riter Frank Solich, who holds an all-time Nebraska rushing record, was named Tuesday as the new head football coach at Lincoln Southeast High School. Announcement of the selection of the 23-year-old Solich, who has coached for two years at Omaha Holy Name, was made by Dr. Wesley Lauterbach, principal at Southeast. Frank is relatively inexperienced, he has many compensating Lauterbach said.

have a rebuilding program to undertake and feel that he is the type of man who can Instill the same kind of enthusiasm in football that exists in the rest of our athletic athletic director Darwin Salestrom confirmed the rebuilding problems. Only three lettermen will return. Thirty-eight boys earned monograms last season. Thirty-five were seniors. we talked with was real impressed with the job he did at Holy Salestrom said.

His first club in 1966 was 2-7, but finished 6-2 last year when his team was ranked No. 2 in the final Class ratings. Solich was named metropolitan area coach of the year for his rebuilding job. The Nebraska who ran at fullback for the Huskers despite his 162 pounds during the 196365 campaigns, succeeds Bill Stephenson, who resigned as coach last November after seven years as boss of the football fortunes. Stephenson compiled a record during his tenure.

Southeast was 5-4 last year. Solich accounted for 1,071 yards during his three years at Nebraska. During his senior year he broke a 1.5- ycar-old Bobby Reynolds single game rushing record which still stands, 204 yards against the Air Force. He played on three bowl teams which had a combined 29-3 record under Bob Devaney. FRANK SOLICH CZECH ICERS CRUSH U.S.

Kansas City Baseballers Hire Metro Kansas City Kansas 1969 American League expansion team named Charley Metro director of player procurement Tuesday, completing a front office trium- verate sworn to form a winning team in record time. Metro, 49, joined Cedric Tallis, executive vice president, and Lou Gorman, director of player development in a news conference pledge to a winner Tallis, hired away by owner Ewing M. Kauffman from the California Angels, said a field manager will not be named until late this season. He refused to comment on reports that Hank Bauer, Baltimore Orioles manager and one-time manager of the old Kansas City Athletics, might be willing to return on a long-term contract. But Tallis added: believe in term contracts for managers.

And I want anybody got it made. I like Gorman and Metro, who will operate with equal authority, said they will start naming a scouting staff Wednesday. If the league allows Kansas City to draft free agent players in June, the club wiU try to work out farm club agreements with some Class A teams this year. Dubuque, Iowa, of the Midwest League and Raleigh, N.C., of the Carolina League were mentioned as possible Kansas City farm clubs. Tallis said when the expansion draft is held in October, the club will concentrate on obtaining younger players from the other American League teams.

Metro termed the expansion draft system, which will allow dipping into minor league rosters of established American League teams, He predicted it will enable Kansas City and Seattle to put together the nucleus of a good team in two or three rounds of drafting instead of waiting several years. Metro, who called himself the most envied baseball man in the whole for'winning his new job, was a superscout last year for Cincinnati. An outfielder in his minor league playing days, he managed in the minors for 17 years and finished out of the first division only once. WINNING EFFORT Jim Hoyt of Lincoln Northeast does a one-hand stand en route to his win in the free exercise competition in a gymnastics meet with Lincoln High. (Staff Photo by Jim Palmer) Summary page 22.

Free Throws Boost Deshler To Victory State To Get Fish, Wildlife Federal Grants Washington (UPI) Interior Secretary Stewart Udall said Tuesday Nebraska has been apportioned $135,563 as a fish grant and $493,861 as a wildlife restoration grant. The state funds were included in more than $15 million in federal aid apportioned to the 50 states for fish and wildlife restoration. The funds are used for acquisition of fish and wildlife areas, habitat development, hunting and fishing access sites and research. Under the program, Interior pays up to 75 per cent of the cost of completed state projects that have met federal requirements. Gym Head Appointed Mrs.

Juliette Simpson, instructor of physical education for women at the University of Nebraska, has been appointed state gymnastics chairman for the division of girls and sports. division of the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreatioil By VIRGIL PARKER Prep Sports Writer Deshler Dragons squeezed out their 15th straight victory here Tuesday night as they edged neighboring Hebron, 5047 before a jam-packed crowd. It was obvious both clubs had been anticipating this long awaited showdown as both were tight and tense throughout. Accuracy at the free throw line spelled the difference. The top-rated Class Deshler quintet canned 11 of 12 charity opportunities in the final quarter to maintain its lead and win.

On the other hand, Hebron, on the one-and-one early in the second half, failed on the first six such opportunities and managed but seven of 20 free throws for the game. Deshler coach Tom Rine said, stake my life on Brad Brettman at the free throw line. He won the Hebron game last year the same Brettman swished seven straight from the line in the final quarter when the Cloud County "5 Tops Fairbury Concordia, Kan. (JPI Cloud tall basketball crew swept to an easy 109-83 victory over Fairbury Junior College Tuesday night. Cloud County jumped to an early lead, was ahead 53-38 at the half, and continued to pull away.

Fairbury 38 83 Cloud County 53 Fairbury: Schlichtman 22. Gilmore 19, Short 13, Erhart 10. Johnson 9, Hellerich 6, Schoen 4. Cloud County: Wassenburg 30, McCaffrey 19. Gilpin 17, Kennedy 16, Nelson 11.

Mitchell 6. Grady 6. Smith 4. winners managed but one field goal. Hebron gained a three-point lead in the initial stanza, 10-7, but Deshler managed to gain a 15-14 advantage at the first- quarter break.

The host team knocked in five more points to gain the biggest margin at 2114, although Hebron narrowed the gap to 27-22 at halftime. Hebron reduced the Deshler lead to 37-34 at the end of the third quarter and tied it at 4444 in the final minute before Brettman hit four crucial free throws in a row to ice the win. Fifth rated Hebron, now 11-5, may have a chance for revenge later this season. Both clubs are in District C-2. Hebron 14 8 12 Deshler ...........................15 12 10 S.

Thumsnn 6. Henntag 7. Johnson 11, Haase 18. 22. Buntemeyer 7, Fintel 9, Preifert 8.

Kovac 4. Americans Fall, 5-1, In Hockey Grenoble, France snapped a tie early in the second period and went on to crush the United States 5-1 Tuesday in the opening match of Olympic hockey competition. The teams exchanged goals in the first period, but Jan Havel scored after only two minutes of the second period had elapsed, putting the Czechs ahead to stay. Jaroslav Jirik added a goal 17 minutes later, and Czechs put the game away with third-period goals by Pejr Hejma and Jiri Holik. Doug Volmar, an engineer from Minneapolis, spured the United only goal.

It came at 16:22 of the first period and tied the game 1-1. Larry Pleau of Boston assisted on ttie score. Volmar took the puck away from right winger Josef Cerny and backhanded a shot from 20 feet out. The Americans thought they had scored another goal shortly after tally in the second period, but it was disallowed. Pleau faked Czech goalie Vlado Dzurilla to the right and fired the puck into Bie top left corner of the cage.

But the referee ruled that Pleau had been offside. That would have tied the game 2-2, but instead the Czechs remained out front and stayed there. U.S. goalie Pat Rupp of Minneapolis was the victim of the Czech onslaught. James Suchy beat Rupp in the first period, letting go with a shot to the right corner just as he was flattened by the U.S.

defensemen. In the second period, Havel took a pass from Fran Pos- pichil and fired the puck just past shoulder. Jirik beat the goalie from in close just 14 seconds before the end. were just too high, too said Murray WilUam- son, the American coadi who played at the University of Minnesota in the late 1950s. Czechs are not that good.

On a good night we could beat them and I think we will beat them the next time we play. They arc not in a class with the Russians and I believe both Canada and IN OLYMPICS Sweden can beat he said. William.son said the entire team was disappointed at their poor performance. a fighting mad team he added. are going to win our game against Sweden Herb Brooks of St.

Paul. who was a member of the 1964 team, said, was one of the poorest games we have played during the past Horkey CiichoBlovtkla 5. United States 1 RuMia 8. Finland 0 Canada 6 West Germany 1 GRENOBLE. France (AP) Standings In Group A of the Olympic hockey tournament: Soviet Union Canada Czechoslovakia Pis.

GF G4 1 0 0 2 8 A United sutes 0 1 West Germany Finland GRENOBLE. France. (AP) The schedule for Winter Olympic events on Feb. 8. all times EST; 1 a.m.

(Grenoble) Women's figure skatinK. compulsory figures (Peggv Fleming, Colorado Spiings. Lynn, Rockford, and Albertina No.ves. Arlington. Mass.) 2 a.m.

Men and women luge singles, first two of four runs, (laien Williams. Old Tappan. N.J., Kathleen Roberts. Miles City, Sheila Johansen. Billings.

Michael Hessel. Eugene. James Murray, Avon, Kim Lairtoa. Tahoe City. Robin Partch.

St. Cloud. Minn.) 6 a.m. (Chamrousse) downhill ski (WlUUm Kidd. Stowe.

Jere Elliott. Steamboat Springs, Dennis McCoy, BMiop, James Barrows, Steamboat Springs. Colo.) II a.m. (Grenoble) Hockey group A Cnschoslovakia vs. West Germany.

Paul Lamey, Manchester. N.H., and Robert Huscher, New York, Howard Clifton. Elnora. N.Y.. and Michael Luce.

Keene. N.Y.) 2:30 p.m. (Grenoble) Hockey group Norway vs. France. 3 p.m.

(Grenoble) Hockey group A Canada va. Finland. Peru Cagers To Host Chadron State Friday Peru Peru State College will host Chadron State College Friday and Saturday in a pair of basketball games destined to play key rolls in the race for the Nebraska College Conference championship. Both Peru State and defending NCC king Chadron State need a pair of victories to keep pressure on loop leading Wayne State. Wayne has a 4-1 conference record, Peru trails by half a game with a 3-1 mark, and Chadron came on strong last weekend to thrash Hastings College twice and move its NCC record to 3-2.

Each team plays eight conference games. Doane Squeaks Past Concordia Seward P) Doane and Concordia fought down to the final gun before Doane escaped with a 67-66 basketball victory Tuesday night in a game in which six points was the greatest lead by either team. At the half it was Concordia 30-28. Concordia moved to a six point lead before Doane powered back to a six point lead at 5:45 left in the game. The teams stayed within a basket or two down to the final second when Kent Jones sank a fielder to pull his team within a single point.

Jones paced Concordia with 22, while Loren Coate had 21 for Doane. Doane 28 Concordia 30 Doane: Coate 21. Owen 16, Grant 11. Kruszka 8, Gissler 6, Egger 3. Concordia: Jones 22.

Greve 18. Loh- meyar 12. Raabe 8. Naber 4. Pooker 2.

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