The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 11

Celtics Combine For 13 th Title Scott, White Provide Spark PHOENIX (UPI)'- The Boston Celtics are back on top of the National Basketball Association and give the credit to teamwork, the mark of the dozen Boston teams that won the championship before this Celtics. was almost out of said JoJo White, the star of the win in triple overtime in game five Friday felt the key to today's game was to be how Charlie (Scott) played, and he got the job done. I could just look for my openings once in Scott said the 87-80 win which gave the Celtics the championship series four games to two over his former team, the Phoenix Suns finally show a lot of people that JoJo and I are a good backcourt combination. had my share of criticism this year was a big thrill finally getting to play without in foul Boston Coach Tommy Heinsohn declared, like Charlie. He's emotional like me.

been much maligned and had a lot written about him, but a smart basketball player Heinsohn, who collapsed from exhaustion after Friday game, said, feel very good after the last win, but I sure feel good today. My doctor told me I had to settle down. It was pretty difficult, but 1 was working at "Friday game definitely took a lot out of us physically although I think our mental attitude was great going in said Phoenix Coach John MacLeod. "We had a chance to catch them in the last quarter, but you have to give Boston credit. They let us have it.

had a couple of good shots that didn't fall at crucial 'We Gutsed It Out' PHOENIX (AP) was a total team enthused Boston Coach Tom Heinsohn after his relentless Celtics had clinched their 13th National Basketball Association championship in the past 20 years The struggling Celtics, their age often showing, nevertheless, were able to withstand the young, determined Phoenix Suns 87-80, ending the Western Conference champions' Cinderella dreams of winning their first league title. "We gutsed it out all season," continued Heinsohn, who coached the final game after becoming ill following Friday triple-overtime game of the series, which ended with the Celtics 4-2 winners "This hasn't been an easy season for said Heinsohn, who was doubtful for this game because of his weakened physical condition. It an easy easy series for Charlie Scott, either. Scott, traded from Phoenix after last seson, had to prove Himcall uith thp Ppltirs Anri hp did it this season, despite some criticism Burly Dave Cowens, who had 21 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, called the title "a feeling of accomplishment. first time you win is unique," said Cowens, a member of Boston's last championship team in 1974.

"When you win it once you want to do it again cause you know what like. younger guys really carried said Boston captain John Havlicek, who at 36, is the second oldest player. is really a tribute to them Phoenix Coach John MacLeod described his team performance in the final game as "flat" and praised the Celtics for their defense, their offensive rebounding and for "driving us out of our offensive This was the fourth consecutive league championship the Celtics had won on the road, the others in 1968,1969 and 1974. It also was the second title in seven years as a coach for Heinsohn, who previously had played on eight Boston championship dubs. JoJo White, who scored 15 points for Boston, was voted the Most Valuable Player in the series He was the leading scorer with 130 points John Havlicek, playing despite a severe muscle tear in his left foot, added 10 points for Boston and became the third leading scorer in NBA playoff history Havlicek now has 3,611 points in the playoffs, putting him behind only Elgin Baylor's 3,623 and Jerry 4.457.

Despite losing, the Suns certainly were not disgraced After losing the first two games in the series in Boston, they battled back and tied the series with two victories at home The loss was only the second at home in the last 21 games for the Suns BOSTON ,87) 4 2 2 10. 3 4 4 ic Cowens 10 1-1 9 7 W- 5 5-8 15. 0 44 4 McDonald 1 00 2. 9M0. Nelson 0 0-0 0 Totals 32 PHOENIX (SO) Heard 4 3-4 1 6-8 20 Sobers 7 Van Arsdaie 2 Awtrey 1012 32 16-2I 80 Boston Pooled oot 29 Phoenix 23 20 18 19 30 87 20 13 23 24 80 Gamble Home Run Gives Yankees Split By United Press International Oscar three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the New York Yankees a 5-2 victory over Oakland in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday after the A's had won the opener 3-2.

The Yankees tied the game in the ninth when Thurman Munson tripled with one out and Chris Chambliss singled him home Following Carlos single. Rollie Fingers relieved Paul Lindblad and gave up a single to Graig Nettles but Claudell Washington threw out Chambliss at the plate Gamble then belted his fifth home run of the season into the rightfield bleachers. Phil Gamer drove in the winning run in the opener with a two-run single in the second mning Vida Blue, who had relief help from Fingers, gained credit for the first game victory. In other games Boston beat California 4-1, Chicago swept a doubleheader from Cleveland 3-2 and 54), Milwaukee edged Kansas City 4-3 in 14 innings, and Minnesota took a doubieheader from Baltimore 3-2 and 11-6 Cecil Cooper and Carl Yastrzemski knocked in two runs apiece to spark Boston over the Angels Cooper scored on a first inning single by Yastrzemski and then hit a one-out, two-run single in the fourth after two walks and a hit batsman by loser Nolan Ryan, 4-7, filled the bases line drive base hit, which knocked out Ryan, just eluded Angel shortstop Dave Chalk glove. Yastrzemski drove his second run of the contest in the seventh inning Ken Brett and Jesse Jefferson combined on a three-hitter to pitch Chicago past Cleveland in the nightcap after the White sox won the opener on Jim Essians run-sc oring single in the fourth inning as rookie Pete Vuckovich picked up his fourth win in five starts Brett pitched seven innings, allowing only two singles to gain his third straight victory since coming to the White Sox from the Yankees last month.

Jefferson hurled the final two innings and gave up only a single in the eighth In the opener, Bucky Dent broke an O-for-32 slump with a fourth inning triple to right-center and came home with what proved to be the winning run on Essian single Don Money, who opened the 14th inning with a walk, scored on Suto Lezcano's two-out single to lift Milwaukee to its first extra mning victory of the season as the Brewers beat Kansas City. Royals relief pitcher Marty Patun, now 1-6, walked Money on four straight pitches Money then advanced to second on Jim Rosario ground out and came home when Lezcano singled to leftfield. It was first extra inning victory after three previous losses Larry three run homer sparked a 17- hit assault in the nightcap after Dan ninth home run won the opener as the Twins swept a doubleheader from Baltimore Ford, who now has 33 runs-batted-in, added a pair of two-run singles in the second game as Jim Hughes, 2-6, got the victory thanks to relief help from Bill Campbell. homer came in the sixth inning off reliever Wayne Garland and gave the Twias an 8-2 lead. ninth home run of the season with one out in the ninth inning of the first game snapped a 2-2 tie to give newly-acquired Bill Singer his fifth victory in six decisions.

In night action Detroit was at Texas. In the National League. Jim Katt drove in three runs with a pair of doubles and a single and went the distance despite giving up nine hits in leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants Kaat was trailing 1-0 in the seventh inning when the Phillies rallied for five runs as a result of two breakdowns in the San Francisco defense With John Montefusco pitching a one-hit shutout, Derrel Thomas lost a popup behind second base by Mike Schmidt and the ball fell for a double. Greg Luzinski walked and Dick Allen's single tied the score at 1-1 and the Phillies added four more runs on two singles, two walks and an unusual error by center fielder Larry Herndon, With runners on first and second. Jay Johnstone dropped a single in center and Herndon picked the ball up and ran it toward third with Luzinski off the base.

Herndon tagged Luzmski out but then dropped the ball and the Philadelphia left fielder scored an unearned run The Phillies put the game out of reach with four more runs in the eighth as Kaat, who had a two-run single in the seventh, added a run-scoring double. The victory raised his record 4-2. In other games, San Diego stopped Pittsburgh 6-1, Atlanta bombed Montreal 14-8, Cincinnati routed St Louis 13-2, Los Angles routed New York 10-3 and Houston beat Chicago twice. 2-0 and 5-1. Enzo Hernandez and Ted Kubiak each drove in two runs and Brent Strom scattered seven hits to give San Diego a victory over Pittsburgh before 51,726 fans an all-time Pirates home crowd record Rowland Office, on a 12 -game hitting streak, drove tour runs with the help of a three-run eighth inning homer and Tom Paciorek hit an inside-the-park two-run homer in the sixth to lead the Braves over the Expos and a sweep of their three-game series.

Reserve catcher Bill Plummer drove in seven runs with a homer, triple and single as the Reds shellacked the Cardinals to sweep a three-game senes. Bill Russell and Steve Garvey each collected three hits and drove in three runs apiece and Don Sutton pitched an eight-hitter to highlight a rout by Los Angeles over the Mets. Bob Watson's run-scoring single in the first and Roger Metzger sacrifice fly in the second backed up rookie Joaquin Andujars overpowering two-hitter in the opener and the Astros struck for four runs in the first inning of the second game to sweep the Cubs. Gilbert Rondon, another Astro rookie, won the second game by allowing six hits 6 1-3 innings Houston hitters backed Rondon, 2-1, with five hits and four runs in the first inning Box Scores, Page 12 v. STAFF PHOTO BY FRANK VARGA Bob of Lincoln (69) leads Richard Meyers and Hick race Sunday night at Midwest Speedway.

Loll won the Paulus through the third turn during a hobby stock heat heat. McDonald Takes Midwest By KEN HAMBLETON Star Sports Writer Randy McDonald is looking for consistency this year and it appears found it. McDonald scored a clean sweep Sunday night at Midwest Speedway, winning his heat, the trophy dash and the 25-lap main super stock feature race for his second win in two nights McDonald of Phillips, driving a Chrysler "kit car," zipped into the lead of the 19-car field on the third lap and ran away from the field to score his first feature win of the year at Midwest The young farmer had to hold off a serious challenge from Lin- colnite Rex Nun. who closed to within five car lengths when the race had to be restarted on the 13th lap track was the perfect track for said McDonald. the slicker it got the better we ran McDonald, who won the first feature race at Midwest last year before hitting a dry string of four races without a finish, has placed third and second in previous feature races at the Lincoln track this year.

re looking for consistency and if everything holds together, we'll make some money this said McDonald McDonald has finished all but one of the 12 races entered this year on the stock car circuit and has placed no lower than fourth Joe Wade challenged McDonald early in the race but started to slow down when his right front tire went flat. pit crew changed the tire while the cars were lining up for the restart But the engine stalled on the second lap after the restart, dropping Wade from the race Gene Hromas of Ulysses, Randy Largent and Rex Hendrickson then took over the battle for second but Nun slipped by all three drivers on the outside of the third turn when they started to pass slower cars Wayne Hummer, who won last week's feature race, then made a bid for third place but spun the second turn when he tried to pass Hromas Hummer regained the fifth spot but spun again two laps later when his car and Dennis Parker's hit coming out of the fourth turn Super stock heat winners included McDonald. Don Droud of Lincoln and Hummer, also of Lincoln, Orval Hoffman led from start to finish to capture the 15-lap sportsman feature, for his second straight win Hoffman drove a nearly perfect race and stayed ahead of the battles that caused three restarts Kermit Eckstrum and Paul Porath stayed right behind Hoffman until the 12 th lap when Porath, who had had handling poblems, spun in the fourth turn on the three-eighths mile track, giving third place to Hank Bulm Bulin, who had started towards the rear of the 19 car field, then captured second when Eckstrum slid wide on the first tum of the last Lap Del Kugel of Wahoo won the hobby stock feature nipping Daryl Janda on the last lap of the 12 lap race John Gerioff of Hickman turned in the quickest times in the hobby stocks with a lap just slower than McDonald had turned in his super stocker Gerioff won his heat and the trophy dash, but spun twice in the feature event and placed fourth. The other hobby heat winner was Bob Loll of Lincoln Super Stocks 1 Hummer Lincoln, 2 Dean Ward. Grand Island 3.

Jansen, Aurora, 4 Randy Largant Cloud Second heat 09 laps) Don Droud. Lincoln 2 Nun, Lincoln. I Hen- dricxion Lincoln 4 Ron Ban Lincoln Third htat (16 I Randy McDonald iipt 2 Joe Wade Lincoln; 3 Parker Lincoln, 4 Gene Hromat, Trophy dath I McDonald, 2 Nun 3 Hummer Supar Feature (IS I 1 McDonald 2 Nun 3 4 Hon OftOuon Largant 6 CiproncoZtagior Lincoln, 7 8 Met Sorenson. coin, 9 Ttm Swanson Lincoln. 16 Lincoln Hobby Stocks hoat (6 1 John GarfoH Hickman.

2 Ooyie Hetrmnx. Lincoln, Dan Lincoln, 4 Rich Lincoln Second heaf (I -i Orvai ho man, Lincoln, 2 Hap Ternti, I Bulm, Lmcow 4 jtm Manmng, CordOxa Third haaf (6 I Bod Lincoln. 2 Pauiuv Richard Lincoln; 4 Bod Lincoln Trophy dath st 1 GarloU 2 Rouiut. 3 noMman Feature (12 I Dot Kuge wanoo 2 Daryi Lmcom 3 Bill Smith, Lincoln, Doug Lincoln Laxam Allan Lincoln A Footuro OS 1 HaHman 2 Bulm, 3 Eckstrum, Lincoln 4 GortoW, Bfown 4 7 Diotricx, I 9 Ppui Porem Lmcoin, 10 Smith Kite Wins Playoff Over Diehl PHILADELPHIA (AP) "I got every break there Tom Kite said "These guys out here have been telling me and telling me that when my tum to win. I'd win.

They keep telling me when your turn, you can aim it in the wrong direction and you still can lose. "1 had a pretrv good chance to lose it. But it was just one of those weeks when everything went right Everything He chipped in from 40 yards for a birdie that got the momentum going He kept alive his hopes of a spot the playoff with a 45-50 foot putt for par late in the day He watched froir. the sidelines. his round finished and his score on the board, as two players moved ahead of him then backed up in the grinding pressure of the closest battle on the pro golf tour this year He dropped a difficult 8-10 foot putt for bogey on the first playoff putt that kept him alive against Terry Diehl And Kite finally scored the first victory of his four-year pro career with a par on the fifth hole of the playoff for the title in the Bicentennial Classic been disappointed, kind of dejected, that it taken me this long to Kite said "I kept telling myself.

If you ever win, maybe be a snowball effect Maybe the next one will be easier and you can win a lot This one come easily He had to shoot a five-under- par 66 in the chilly, cloudy final round, wait for an hour ami then go to the playoff. Pate finished with 70 and third at 278, one shot back Nelson round of par 71 dropped him back to a tie with Floyd and McGee at 279 Floyd had a 70, McGee a 71 Jones, with a closing 70, and Still, 72, followed at 280. renshaw, a two-time winner this year, had a closing 76 for 289 Johnny Miller had 74-290 and leading money-winner Hubert Green 70-286 It was the second straight week that a PGA tour had to be decided with a playoff and it was Kite first time tn the circle since be turned pro in 1972, Bicentennial Results, Page 13 'A, Peck Jones $3 Million Possible Ak-Sar-Ben's Jones Forecasts $3 Million Outing By MARK GORDON Star Sports Writer Omaha Can Ak-Sar-Ben handle $3 million in one day 0 think we have a chance when we have the Gold Cup and the noted Ak-Sar-Ben's rnutuel manager Peck Jones. depends on what kind of horses come here for those two races We could also do it on closing day also depends on what price horses win that day If we get some favorites, we have a better chance If there a lot of dead heats and objections, we could handle it in pretty fair The Omaha Gold Cup Stakes, a added event over a mile and is set for June 26 It is premier event for year-okls The Cornhusker. a chase over a nule and 1 8 th, is set lor July 3 It is Omaha top event for horses Although the names i the Gold Cup and Cornhusker nominees have not been released yet, Omaha placing judge Ray Beard has spent the last weeks recruiting horses for those events Inside rumors indicate that some of the country 's top horses wili be nominees Still, Jones is preda ting an average dally rnutuel handle of $1,400,000 for the regular 60-day Omaha meet With the additional 15 days of the State Fair Grounds racing, Jones foresees an average daily handle of $1,350,000 for the entire 75 days think we'll tire out a little at the he said just too many days But we really know something new that been tried before a pin of some 12 to 13 per over last year average of $1,208.996 Even a five per cent gam is a good figure with a track this size," Jones said per cent of 1 200,000 is $60,000 and a lot of money to be up a day A lot of small tracks don't handle that much in a day "When I first came here in 1940, we did $40,000 a day Now I'd guess within three or four years, we ll average $2 million a day.

Every year, this plac gets and bigger due to the better class erf horse, and the stability of the economic situation in Nebraska Jones added that other factors leading to an improved handle were Ak-Sar-Ben avie activities and the support the track receives from Kansas City, Des Momes and different organizations in the immediate area With 90 additional mutuef windows this year, the track is able to handle more money in less time Jones said there are 208 win-place-show sellers, 123 daily double-exacta sellers, 166 cashiers and 150 other persons working in the money room, change runners and messengers. re getting done at 7 30 on weekdays and just a few minutes past 6 on Saturdays We don have the 36-minute late days like last year We re running on time and handing more be noted handle of $1,956.559 was the best this season and the fifth-best history There have been three days when the $2 million figure was exceeded closing ua 1975 and 1974 and when Derby appeared in last year's Gold Cup Stakes on June 28 The top figure is $2.364.069 on Juiy 12, 1975 But like Peck Jones said, $3 million is eertainiy possible if everything works just nght Ak-Sar-Ben Notes The 4-H Handicap, a chase fur 3-year-oids over a mile and 1 6 th, is Saturday 's feature. Possible favorites include die Dozac Stable swift AUy Roger's Choke and the Jack Van Berg-trained entry of Bay Streak and Joachim Hoss Inman Honest Humbre is also set to go ui one of the major preps for the Omaha Gold Cup Stakes After six weeks ui racing. Ak- Sar-Ben continues to show impressive attendance and mutuef handle gains over last year a previous records The average crowd of 15,077 is 5 67 cent better than last year's 14,267 The average mutuef handle of $1,281,052 is 16 26 per cent than last season $1.101,797 Jockty Stand 1091 John Lively id ted Sam Deny Allan Hill Bruca Brown hennath apprentice 131 26 0 12 1 2 22 12 24 It 184 II 12 Il 12 10 1 Hi 100 Traintr Standings Brandt Si jack Van Barg mman Oon von 69 Mor(tmaiM III SI A Faory 21 iinrv Don la kamnng JJ ter pi II 13 II i FH 11 110 89 62 I i LINCOLN STAR. Sports Monday, Jwnn 7 11 Boston Celtics coach Tommy Heinsohn receives a dousing in the shower, clothes and all, from Celtics Paul Silas (35) and Dave Cowens following 87-80 Sunday victory over the Phoenix Suns, which clinched the NBA championship and ended the pro basketball season on June 6.