The Paris News from Paris, Texas • Page 8

December 24, 1997 DAILY BRIEFS STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Penn State All-American running back Curtis Enis admits he accepted gifts frorn a Texas-based sports agent and then lied about it, coach Joe Paterno said. Enis was declared ineligible for the Citrus Bow! and has probably played his last game for the Nittany Lions. "I think that he realized he made a mistake," Paterno said Tuesday on a conference call from Melbourne, where Penn State is practicing for their New Year's Day game with No. 6 Florida, "He was trying to come clean with everything." Paterno met with Enis and hts parents around 1 p.m.

in an "emotional meeting." After talking, the two men hugged and Patemo wished Enis well. "He said he was sorry," Patemo said, and then read from a statement from Enis: "I know I made a I apologize to my teammates and my fans and ask for their understanding." Penders adjusting to pacemaker AUSTIN (AP) One month after having a defibrillator and pacemaker placed in his heart, 52-year-old Texas basketball coach Tom Penders says he is adjusting to life. He can't go through airport metal detectors or he will set them off. "I show the airport security a card explaining the heart condition and tnen they give me a body frisk," Penders said. He sometimes feels discomfort, especially while sleeping, because he can feel the device still settling in between his chest muscles.

Penders was diagnosed with car- diornyopalhy in 1991, and tests for insurance showed that he was at risk of suffering a heart attack. So he had the machine implanted during surgery performed at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston a former Longhoms basketball player, famed surgeon Denton Cooley. "It (the defibritlator) gives you your own personal EMS unit right in you," Penders said. "It gives you a feeling that you're safe. Rangers agree to terms with third baseman ARLINGTON baseman Scott Cooper, who had 15 RBIs in 75 games, agreed to a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers Tuesday.

Cooper also has been invited to attend the team's spring training camp as a non-roster player, officials said. Cooper, 30, became a free agent at the end of this season- He started 28 games at trard base with the Kansas City Roysfe befcre being placed on the clsacfed 5st frcm July to Septerncer fcr a. raft hern- string straa Cooper has an average cf with 33 homers 211 REIs 'n 592 games. Bs rzs in Boston, Si Lous arc! Kansas The lefthancted a SAO-tame American LeaoLe AJ Sar. Shaq, Pippen lead AB-Star voting without playing NEW YORK In a case of reputation over perforrnaros, ShasjSe O'Neal and Scottve Pippen are among the leading vote-gesars fcr the NBA All-Star game.

O'NeaJ has played onty eigrt games this season for the Los Angeles Lakers. Pippen has played all season for the Chicago Bulls because of a foot injury. In the first baflcting resufts released Tuesday, O'Neal is the top vote-getter among fans on the Western Conference team. O'Neal, sidelined by an abdominal strain and now a wrist fracture, votes. He is far in front in voting for center, with David Robinson of San Antonio next at 83,885.

Pippen has received 85286 votes, good for second place. ON TAP Here is the area sports through Dec. 27 (times are approximate). W-women, M-men, B-varsity boys, G-varsity girts-. NL at Mesqute Tom Bean at Cooper Band at Honey Grave (G.

B) 2 pm. North HopWns at fihwrowi (Q) ,330 Cowboys' grades, like season, mostly failures Please report schedule changes to 'The Paris News sports ctoptrttnent at (903) 735-6744. ext. S49 or 248. Schedules also be faxidto 785-1263.

IRVING Placekicker Richie Cunningham, safety Darren Woodson and guard-tackle Lurry Allen were the only Dallas Cowboys who can claim to be A students in a failed 6-10 season. Here are the grades, as posted on the closed door at Valley Ranch: SPBOAL TEAMS Cunningham hit a team-record 34 field sools in 37 attempts and was perfect on 23 extra point tries. The offensive MVP. A plus. Punter Toby Gowin faded.

plus. Kickoff returner Herschel Walker sometimes was the only offense the team had plus. Punt returner Deion Sanders good while he las ted. B. OFFENSE Allen was the only A student.

Snapper Dale Hellestrae gets a plus for his hikes, but couldn't he block just a little better? Erik Williams gets a D. Too many penalties. Nate Newton gets an F. Too fat and always hurt. John Flannery gets a for being just average.

Mark Tuinei gets an I for being injured and an aloha for the likely end of his long career. Tight end David LaFleur gets a for blocking and an I for incomplete as a receiver because Troy Aikman seldom threw him the ball. Eric Bjomson gets a for receiver before he got hurt and an for blocking. Tight end Scott Galbraith gets a for his blocking. Aikman gets a minus.

Too many interceptions and not enough leadership. Running back Emmitt Smith gets a for fighting through his many injuries. Sherman Williams gets a for fumbles. Because fullback Daryl Johnston got hurt, he gets an incomplete' although he played great beforehis Wide gets a for. not being more productive, even though he faced a lot of double-teams.

Anthony Miller gets ari'F fdr failure to run routes and use his speed to separate from defensive backs. Stepfret Williams, the third-down receiver, gets a for too many drops. DEFENSE Ends Tony Tolbert and Shante Carver get big fat Fs for their disappearing acts. Tackles Chad Hennings and Tony Casillas get Ds because although they stopped the run some, they never put pressure on the quarterback. An for Leon Lett, where were you for 13 games? Linebackers Randall Godfrey and rookie Dexter Coakley earned Bs for their letterjackets because they made plays.

Middle linebacker Fred Strickland had a sinking spell of a season and gets a D. Broderick Thomas, a h'nebacker-line- man, gets an for making himself forgotten. Ditto for Vinson Smith. The secondary had an honor roll member in the hard-hitting Woodson at strong safety. The other safety, Brock Marion, gets a for a productive year.

Cornerback Kevin Smith earned a because of too many penalties and occasionally getting toasted. Sanders would have made a if he hadn't been hurt because he got beat several times. COACHING Barry Switzer gave himself a grade after the finale with the New York Giants. It was an F. Dunn earns award Associated Press NEW YORK Tampa Bay's Warrick Dunn made it a sweep for Florida State today, joining college teammate Peter Boulware as an Associated Press NFL rookie of the year.

Dunn, the versatile running back who played a major role in the Buccaneers' turnaround this season, was chosen Qffensive Rookie of ttierSrear conducted by the wide panel of sports writers and broadcasters selected Boulware, an end for Baltimore, as the top defensive rookie on Tuesday. "Where we went to school, you tend to experience things that other players don't experience the media, the competition, the hoopla, the experience of playing big games," Dunn said. "That is every day here. In college, you only play three or four (big) games a year; I just got a taste of it. It was just a matter of making adjustments for 16 games and not four or five games." Dunn, the only rookie to make the Pro Bowl this year was one of four running backs among the five players receiving votes.

He got 28, with Corey Dillon of Cincinnati earning 13, Arizona's Jake Plummer picking up four, and Buffalo's Antowain Smith and Tiki Barber of the New York Giants receiving one apiece. One member of the 48- person panel refused to vole. "I wish I could have scored iBore touchdowns and gained more yards. But I'm just a rookie." ssid Dunn, who rushed for 978 yasrds four touchdowns, 39 for 462 yards KXKfes, and was an piaysr frorn the begin- Kopefolh over time, I'll get btttsr, cr, body will get tfroag-er, tally I'll get stronger to the game just forward from Dsss f-frh asrzight running hack I in rhe 1 2 years to award, Hz the first BuoKSfKr he mbsirA top offesKive key reaxxa hzrt best year (int. winning seasoo rn 15, "A guy vbo izkc It ihe distance just afaotrt tirne touches the 1 offensive coordinator Mike Shute vM in describing Dunn, think it takes pressure off everybody else.

"It takes pressure off (quarterback) Trent Dilfer. It takes pressure off (fullback) Mike Alston, our receivers and the offensive line. Everything kind of tics into together. Anytime you get a guy who can put the ball in the end zone like that, you should be i Cooper's Jennifer Janes, center, fights for the ball in a game against Clarksville earlier this season as teammate Brooke Zachry (23) looks on. Cooper, which has won its district six years running, will battle for the tide again this season, but it wont be easy as many teams have the weapons to knock the Bulldogettes off.

'John Conrad Suff District 17-2A for girls will be hotly contested Steve Foegeite News Sports Writer The Prairiland Lady Patriots drew first blood in District 17-2A basketball action with a 44-42 win Monday over Como-Pickton. But as any coach will tell you, this race is far from over. "There is going to be a lot of noise made in this district," Chisum Mustang head coach Tommy Chalaire said. "I think this is the toughest 2A district in the state. You can't come out and be flat" Chalaire knows first hand how close this district can be.

His Lady Mustangs ended last season tied for second with Lone Oak. A playoff game was played in Honey Grove to decide which team would make the postseason as the district runner- up. Chalaire and the Lady Mustangs fell short, 5755, to end their season. Lone Oak advanced as the No. 2 seed behind last season's champion Cooper.

Five teams finished above .500 for the season, and only two made the playoffs. Prairiland won 20 games last year under first-year head basketball coach Frankye Sessums. But the 20-win season was only good enough for fourth in district. "I think we can compete with any school in our district," Sessums said. "It is going to be a dogfight till the very end." But no matter how close the competition, no matter how monumental the battles, all good sports fans know the season will eventually be played out.

On Feb. 20, a District 17-2A champion and runner-up will be decided, and six other teams will then realize just how tough it was to play in this district. Chisum Lady Mustangs returns for his second season as coach of -ff-. Mustangs. Last season the team finished and 11-4 in district play.

Three starters RanWin and Jennifer Halliburton from test season's team. kjxcked on the door," Chalaire said. game for second. This year I hope open door." Aiteft, -a. post, is a natural force inside both and defensively.

Franklin, a senior point possesses great ball-handling skills, which is good for beating opposing presses, and has quick deferis.veV- Hafliburton, a senior forward, is basketball-smart and great hustle. Freshman forward Desiree Booker and junior forward Lonna Layton round out Cnisum's first five. Sophomores Connie Blackshear and Jennifer Washington, and junior Camesna ERis are strong off the bench. "Honey Grove and Cooper are looking tough," said Chalaire of the district competition. "But on any given Tuesday or Friday we can beat anybody." Chisum will know just how tough Cooper is Tuesday, the Lady Mustangs open district play at Bulldog Gym, 1996-97 W-L W-L x-Cooper 12-2 28-6 y-LoneOak 12-3 21-8 Chisum 11-4 19-10 Prairiland 8-6 20-9 Honey Grove 6-8 16-15 Rivercrest 5-9 13-17 2-12 8-20 Como-Pickton 1-13 8-21 y-runner-up 1997-98 W-L Prairiland 1-0 Honey Grove 0-0 Cooper 0-0 Lone Oak 0-0 Rivercrest 0-0 Chisum 0-0 Alba-Golden 0-0 Como-Pickton 0-1 i W-L 8-4 15-2 12-4 11-5 10-7 8-6 7-6 Prairiland Lady Patriots The Lady Patriots face the same dilemma every basketball season.

They are one of three teams out of District 17-2A which plays volleyball in the fall. And with the success of Prairiland's volleyball team year after year, practice time in the gym preparing for basketball is shortened even more. "Usually they pick up the level of play a couple of games into district," said Sessums of her team. "What hurts us is we're struggling to catch up with everybody else. One or two district losses early hurts us." But with the Lady Pats getting an early district win Monday, the rest of the field is now struggling to catch up with them.

The team, currently 1-0 in district and 8-4 overall, see the return of starters Brandie Upchurch, Katha Crawford and Can Irwin from last year's 20-9 team. The Lady Pats went 8-6 in league play. Defense is the team's strength thus far in the season, but Sessums said the team is struggling offensively. Sessums sees a balanced district field this season. "All the teams are fairly strong," she said.

"Everybody (on the team) needs to contribute to win." Christy Patterson and Felicia Taylor are key ingredients to this year's team. Kim Gibson will supply needed support off the bench. Honey Grove Lady Warriors The Honey Grove Lady Warriors missed the playoffs last year, but may be primed to make another postseason run. Seventh-year coach Kathy Clark's Lady Warriors are off to a 15-2 start and seemed to be ready to make a strong run for the district title, or at least the runner-up spot. The Lady Warriors have four starters back from last year's 16-15 team, which finished 6-8 in district play.

"Our defense has really come on. They worked really hard in the offseason and had a couple of girls who have realty helped out in rebounding," said Clark, referring to sophomore forward Casie Cummins and junior post Jynna Decker. Senior post Magen Upchurch also stands out on the defensive end and leads the Lady Warriors in scoring, averaging 12 points a game. Upchurch and guard Jessica Odom are Iho lone seniors on tho loam and both are returning starters. Docker and junior forward Ashley Scotl also are returning atartora.

"I figuro Coopor and Chisum and Rivorcroat arc going Srcl7-2AnnPAGH9A Dallas outskates Canucks Associated Press VANCOUVER, British Columbia The Dallas Stars scored on all three of their power- play chances Tuesday night and extended their winning streak to four games with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Jere Lehtinen had a goal and an assist and IT i DA Li I. Tony picked up his" 200th career point as the Stars completed a three-game sweep of their Western Canada swing. The Stars won despite missing several of their key players due to injuries including Greg Adams, Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Modano, Benoit Hogue and Sylvain Cote. Hrkac opened the scoring on the power play 1:12 into the first period when he picked up a loose puck in front of the net and flipped it past Canucks goalie Kirk McLean.

The Stars took a 2-0 lead on Derian Hatcher's goal in the second period, before Pavel Bure brought the Canucks within a goal by tapping in a pass from Bret Hedican Mavericks plummet to 5-22 Associated Press CLEVELAND It was a measure of how much things have changed in Cleveland over the past year. The fans actually stood and cheered. The normally tranquil crowd at Gund Arena was on its feet Tuesday night as the rookie trio of Derek Anderson, Cedric Henderson and Brevin Knight led the Cavaliers to a 99-85 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Anderson scored a season-high 24 points, Henderson had a season-high 20 and Knight had 14 points and 15 assists for the Cavs, who sent the Mavericks to their 10th consecutive loss, Cleveland outscorcd Dallas 328 in the third quarter to turn a 4941 halftimc deficit into a 73-59 lead. The fans had been particularly quiet when Dallas finished the first half on a 20-10 run to lead at halftime.

Klmlid Reeves, who finished with 18, had 10 points in the spurt. Michael Finley scored 29 for Dallas, which used an 18-7 run at the start of the fourth quarter to pull to 80-75. A steal and 15-foot jumper by Wesley Person helped Cleveland regain command..