The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 11

Mildred sparks Fairbury; Lexington wins W4f Minutemen twice? in Midstate Conference games. "They did a good job of speeding things up. "I thought we had a chance to win when they got in foul trouble (four Minutemen had four fouls) but I knew the only way was if we slowed it down. Lexington controlled the tempo." Tim Hassinger led Flanagan, 10-15, with 29 points including 13 in the third stanza when the Falcons roared from a 47-41 deficit into a 51-49 lead. seconds remaining.

"We wanted the ball in Steve's hand," Kagel related. "We told him to try and penetrate but if they held, to dump off to (Jeff) Fehr." During the subsequent timeout before Mildred become the instant hero, Kagel tried to relax "I told him if he missed it he was going to make me miss my favorite TV show because it would keep us from leaving." Kagel said jokingly. "Actually, we couldn't have had a better guy at the line. This is the best free throw shooting team I've ever had and Steve is our leader." Although some of the partisan fans and many of the Gridley players didn't believe there was a foul, Mildred realized there had been contact. "I thought it might have been charging on me," he said.

"I was trying to dribble between some guys hoping I'd get nudged with a knee. "We come in every morning and shoot free throws and I usually make 40 out of 50," Mildred added. "I was just trying to keep my head straight and concentrate on my form." Added Kagel, whose squad has a history of strong regional tournament performances: "You hear a lot about how we're living in a born-again age. Bloomington-Normal, III. B-1 Feb.

28, 1980 that Craig was the only one of our kids that played well," said the elder Meiss. "We came back (from 31-27 half time deficit) and took control of the game (leading 39-35), but we gave up size in key positions which hurt. "We've been a perimeter-oriented team all year," Meiss added. "We lived by it, but tonight they weren't falling. Phil's shots were within his range.

Two or three of them went down but rimmed out." Gridley fought back to tie twice in the final minute, with Tim Grusy scoring the basket both times. But Fairbury-Cropsey had possession at the end, and with Mildred's help, that was all that was needed. LEXINGTON outscored Flanagan 36-15 in the final 11 minutes to take a commanding 19-point victory. "They are a better running team than we are." noted Flanagan Coach Roger Smith, whose team lost to the Heyworth's shooters GAMES TONIGHT 4 30 Seybrook-Arrowsmith vs University High 00 Fairbury-Cropsey vs. Leington By Fred Kroner Pantagraph sports writer COLFAX Steve Mildred lived out a dream Wednesday night and in the process kept his Fairbury-Cropsey basketball team alive in the Class A Regional Tournament at Octavia High School.

"Everyone dreams of winning a game with no time showing on the clock," said the 6-foot Fairbury-Cropsey senior. Mildred, was fouled as the final buzzer sounded when he drove between two defenders. He then paced nervously around center court after Gridley Coach Pete Meiss called a timeout, before he toed the line with all eyes in the capacity crowd focused on him. The ball touched nothing but net and the Tartars had upset the Redskins, 50-49. Mildred second shot in the one-and-one went off the back of the rim.

Mildred, however, had to share the star's role for the night with Lexington junior Mick Freed. The 6-3 Freed tallied 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds leading the Minutemen past Flanagan, 85-66. FAIRBURY-CROPSEY Coach Dennis Kagel instructed his team to get the ball to Mildred during a timeout with nine It's mine iiniMi i uii fca go wild; Clinton wins uu in i AW "Ten and 15 doesn't sound like much, but it's quite an accomplishment for these guys," noted Smith. "We started out 1-7 and nobody thought we'd win two games. "Our five seniors made something out of what no one thought we had.

It gives us somehting to shoot for next year (five Flanagan squad members are reshmen, including 6-7 Bill Braksick who scored 15 points and snared seven rebounds)." Brad Vissering and Gary Gundy closed their careers at Flanagan with 11 points apiece. After Freed, Lexington's 22-3 team had its traditional balance Max Harmon and Doug Colclasure each collected 12 points while Randy Winterland netted McNeely off, they got it inside to Newton." In a rare twist, the shorter Vikings outrebounded Heyworth, 26-12. What few rebounds were available ended up being knocked out of bounds in the scramble. "We started in our half-court trap and stayed with it," said Bruce of a defense that helped cause 25 Tri-Valley turnovers and led to numerous easy fast break baskets. "We controlled the tempo pretty well." Tri-Valley, which shot 39 percent, had 22 points from senior Ryan Roberts.

CLINTON didn't shoot 73 percent -but the Maroons didn't have to in pulling their record to 13-12. Six-foot-2 forward Kelly Chick and guard Tim Green combined for 18 points in the second quarter to lead Clinton from a 15-14 deficit to a 36-23 lead at halftime. Clinton's 6-3, 185-pound center Bruce Bishop scored only four points in limited action, but his 16 rebounds helped Clinton control the boards. With guard Jeff Bruner popping in five of eight shots In the second half, Clinton was never in danger. "Bellflower hung in there," admitted Clinton Coach Tom Gramkow.

"We Came out flat we hadn't played in more than a week. We outmanned them, but they hung in there a long time. "We can't finish any worse than .500 now," said Gramkow. "This will be our third season at .500 or over since 1961." Bellflower, by far the tourney's smallest school (with an enrollment of 67), had 23 points from Craig Bradbury Class A Regional Mason eight and Neal McNeely contributed seven. "If we didn't have such balance with the other guys averaging at least 10 points.

Freed would have some outstanding stats." said Lexington Coach Don Eiker. "He did everything we asked. "We have the offensive punch, and we have guys on the bench that can come in and score but we have a tendency to sit back and want to out score the other team. We can play good defense, though." FIRST GAMC Gridley Fairbur y-Cromey 11 27 43 49 12 Jl 31 SO GRIDLEY Gr us 3 17. Alvey 17-4.

Hayes 4 0 1 Mill 4 01 Gremm 9 4 22. Foot 0 04 Dallon 004 Totals 21-7 44 FAIRBURY CROPSEY-Kafer 304 Fehr 4 7 10 Mitchell 74 4. Hammer 4 110. M.ldred7?t4 Mitchell 24 4. Duffy 044 Totals 73 SO SECOND GAME Leiington Flanagan 22 4i 43 is II 35 54 66 LEXINGTON Freed 14 4 11 Harmon 4 4 II MtNeely 7)7 Winterland 741, Cot oasure 5-7 17.

Tnomai 7-04. Elias 044. Andrew 0 04, Berry 0 04, Pallon 14 7. Colt 14 7. Perkins 004 lolalt 33 14 IS FLANAGAN-Vistenng S-lll.

Hilling' 10 74 Braksick SS IS. Smith 0-0 0 Gundy 4 3 11, Iverson044. Reeve 0-0 0 Schwann 000. Mallory 0-00. Gerig 044, Husteble 044.

Gundy 0 04 lolalt 74 1144 and 18 from Tim Finis. But no other Dragon player could manage more than four points. "We figured out how to beat them," said Bellflower Coach Don Harden, "but we just couldn't shoot. "We had six layups early in the game that fell out. But we did all right this season," said Harden of a campaign that ended at 12-12.

Clinton's Chick made 11 of 15 shots and took nine rebounds. Guards Green and Bruner added 16 and 14 points. Clinton ended with 46 percent shooting to Bellflower's 35 percent, and the Maroons had a 42-32 rebound lead. "We started out playing like we were going to just walk through the tournament," said Gramkow. "But we woke up.

You can't do that in a regional." FIRST GAME Clinton 15 23 34 14 34 41 BELLFLOWER Bradbury 4 5 33. Finis 94 II. Gillespie 044, Lytel 1-2-4, Builta 14 7. Harden 14 2, Anttrum 14-7. Sommer 044, Lutt 0 1-1, Gitrtl 044 Totals 724 57 CLINTON Chick II 7 74, Sturgeon 0 04, Bishop 1-2-4, Bruner 74-14, Green 1-0-16, Hamblen 34-6.

Lamkln 14-7. Billlngsley 1-7 4. Blum 0-0-0. Williamson 0 l-l, McKinley i Hickman 0-04 Totals -32177 SECONO GAME Tri-Valley Heyworth I 20 36 55 14 43 64 IS TRI-VALLEY Lauritson 441. Roberts 16-22.

Springer O-l-l. Khngenberg 1-2-4. Norman 17 4. Wagers 044. Fulks 41 Punke 14 7.

Prince 13-5, Whitwood 040. DeLong 0- 0 0, Williams 004 Totals 20 15-55 HEYWORTH McNeely 12 2 26. Shaffer 2-1-5. Milton 14 2. Wickenhauser 7 1-15.

Me'SS 444. Newton 7414, Shirk 24-4 Mose 1- 1-3. Springer 304. Ash 0 2-2, Westertield 04 0 Totals 3-7 15 City, win points to lead Mason City while Pat Sullivan added 11 points for the Huskies. DELAVAN received a big performance from Greg Swart, who scored 24 points.

Todd Bail added 18 while Brian Burrell and Doug Zimmer tossed in 10 each. For Easton, Mike Hovey scored 25 points nad Sean Tracy added 14 points. Delavan connected on 48 percent of its field goals and made 50 percent of its free throw tries. FIRST GAME Mason City Green Valley 14 it 64 10 74 43 67 MASON CITY-Birch 1211. Coroteau 51 II.

Dye 14 6. Kiesling 0 2 2. Renken Sulhvan 5 111 Totals 22 21-64 GREEN VALLEY Reining 11-2 24. Tyler 4 311, Williams 24 4. Gustofl 14 7.

Holreiter 2-3 7. Cupi 5414. Totals 25 12-62. SECOND GAME Easton II 43 65 79 14 21 40 57 DELAVAN Burrell 4 7-10. Jetkel 12-4.

Dirks 1-3-5. Swart 124-24. Hodges 142, Garber 2 0 4. Zimmer 4 2 10, Bale 1711, Dutton 14-7 Totals 34 11-79 EASTON-Sebade 1-3 5, Hovey 7-11-25, Tracy 14 2, Lynn 2-0 4. Tracy 74-14, Pottors 74-4, Cunningham 1-1-3.

Totals 2I-1S-57 Chiddix trips Bourbonnais GAMES FRIDAY 30 m. Normal Chiddix vt. CaJwkla 7 45 m. Joint Washington vi. Quincr MOUNT ZION (PNS) Normal Chiddix beat Bourbonnais, 51-37, in second round action Wednesday in the Class Grade School state tournament here.

Other scores from Wednesday were Cahokia 50, Jacksonville Turner 28; Joliet Washington 33, Palestine 23: and Quincy 48, Mt. Zion 37. Chiddin II 19 35 51 13 73 27 37 CHIODIX-Weller 20. Block 4 Bowman 0. Hoelerle 14 14, Kotarba 4.

Huilinga 3. Eovaidi 4. McKemie 0 Total 51. BOUBONNAIS-Austin 0, Barwegen 9, Deal her age 0. Edwards 0, Henderson 0, Phillips 6, Smith 2, Vlckery 20.

Total 37 Sports This is a born-again team. We come into the regional at 0-0 and go from there." Fairbury-Cropsey improves to 11-14 after shooting 69 percent (22 of 32) from the field. Mildred led the Tartars with 16 points while Fehr and Dave Hammer each netted 10. Fehr and John Kafer paced the rebounding with eight and six respectively. Pete Meiss' Gridley team, which had 14 fewer turnovers than the Tartars, closes at 17-8.

Craig Gramm, playing the best game of his career and demonstrating the ability to penetrate or hit from the outside, scored a game-high 22 points. Sophomore Billy Hayes, the Redskins' scoring leader, picked up four first-half fouls and left the game with eight points, fouling out with 6:15 to play. Meiss' son, Phil, also added eight points, but made just four of 20 shots. "Craig played a super game, but I felt night's collegiate showdown. Illinois State University plays DePaul at Chicago Saturday night at 7:30.

(AP Laserphoto) Dame's Tracy Jackson tied the game 64-64 with 1:08 left and DePaul held the ball until Grubbs threw a pass away with 13 seconds to go. Five seconds later, Hanzlick was called for traveling and turned the ball back over to the Blue Demons. Bradshaw's 20-foot jump shot bounded off the rim at the buzzer. DEPAUL (74)- Aguirre 12 4-5 28, Cum-mings 8 0-0 16, Mitchem 1 0-2 2, Dillard 4 0-0-8, Bradshaw 7 04 14, Grubbs 3 04 6. Totals 35 4-7 74 NOTRE DAME (74)- Jackson 5 2-2 12, Tripucka II 6-6 28, Woolridge 6 4-6 16, Branning 5 1-2 11, Hanzlik 2 1-2 5, Paxson 2 04 4.

Varner 0 04 0, Salinas 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 14-18 76 Halftime Score Notre Dame 32, DePaul 31 Regulation 64-64 1st OT 70-70. Fouled out Cummings. Total fouls DePaul 17, Notre Dame 13. A 11,345, Brian Richard powerful Ducks.

Anthony Venzon of Mounds Meridian is the smallest player on the team at 5-114 but he averages over 28 points and 11 rebounds a game. Aside from Downing, the powerful Private League landed two other players on the team 6-3 Terry Hearn of Providence-St. Mel and 6-7 Jeff Heerdt of Timothy Christian. Both have been outstanding performers against the toughest of competition. Rounding out the team are 6-4 Gary Moeller of Okawville, 6-7 Rick Resetich of DePue and 6-7 Richard of Wenona.

Woo I ridge free throws spark Irish past DePaul South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame's Bill Hanzlik (42) and Kelly Tripucka (44) struggle for the basketball with DePaui's Mark Aguirre in Wednesday Mark Aguirre's 28 points. It marked the fifth time since the opening 12 years ago of the Athletic Convocation Center that Notre Dame has defeated the nation's top-ranked squad at home. Kelly Tripucka, who led Notre Dame with 28 points, gave the Irish a 72-70 lead with 4:24 left in the second overtime. But DePaui's Teddy Grubbs countered with a basket and Clide Bradshaw scored on a break-away layup to give the Blue Demons a 74-72 lead with 2:55 left.

But Bill Hanzlick hit a 15-foot jumper to tie the score and set the stage for Woolridge's winning free throws. Both teams wasted opportunities to win the game in regulation. Notre GAMES TONIGHT 6 30 Central Catholic vs Wapella 8.00 m. Clinton vs. Heyworth By Mark Wellwood Pantagraph sports writer CLINTON If the reason Heyworth High School's basketball team shot 73 percent from the field in Wednesday night's 85-55 rout of Trj-Valley was that the Hornets like the gymnasium, Clinton had better change the lighting system or something.

The host Maroons, who handled Bellflower in Wednesday's first game, 72-52. face Heyworth tonight in the semifinals of the Clinton Class A Regional Tournament. If the reason Heyworth's Mike McNeely made 11 straight shots in one stretch and ended with a 12-for-17 shooting night was poor Tri-Valley defense, then the Vikings deserved to end their season with a 30-point loss and a 6-20 record. If the reason Heyworth made its first five shots in the first quarter, its first eight shots in the second and quarters, and nine of its first 10 shots in the third quarter was simply good shooting, then Coach Kirby Bruce's Hornets deserve a collective pat on the back, a plaque from the IHSA, or at the very least a batch of cookies baked by the cheerleaders. HEYWORTH has shot 48 percent as a team this year.

But Wednesday's 39 baskets in 53 attempts didn't exactly overwhelm Bruce, whose team moved its record to 19-6. "I guess a couple of teams in the tournament can shoot," Bruce said, referring to No. 1 seed Central Catholic's performance against Farmer City-Mansfield Tuesday. "McNeely is a heck of a shooter when he's on, we'd better get him the ball." The Hornets got him the ball. After a slow l-for-5 start in the first quarter, the 6-2 junior guard hit nine straight jumpers mostly from 18 to 20 feet in the second quarter as Heyworth built a 43-20 lead.

Then McNeely hit two more from outside in the third quarter before a shot near the end of the period bounced off the rim. Heyworth reserve center Clete Newton was no slacker either, canning all seven of his shots from inside. Guard Troy Wickenhauser was 7-for-9, and Trent Meiss was 4-for-6 from the field. "We weren't really playing McNeely that loosely," said Tri-Valley Coach Gary Harlacher. "We were in a zone at the time maybe we should have gotten someone on him earlier.

Once we shut Moeller averages 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, Resetich 21 points and 17 rebounds and Richard 21 points and 12 rebounds. Five other players missed making the team by one vote. They were John Allhands of Watseka, Ron Cochran of Franklin, Rick Gross of Sheldon, Roger King of Havana and Steve Skinner of Monmouth. Others who also missed but were among leading vote-getters included Tony Gillette of Sterling, Tom Dillon of Franklin Center, Chris Jacobsen of Man-lius, Anthony Webster of Cairo, Kevin McCormick of Ottawa-Marquette, Wade Graskiewicz of Pinckneyville and Greg Bange of Homer. Area players to receive honorable mention included David Baker of Maroa, Pat Halloran of Dwight, Bill Hayes of Gridley, Steve King and Steve Moews of Central Catholic, Dan Pearl of DeLand-Weldon, Bill Sampen of Hartsburg-Emden, Dan Sisk of Tremont, John Thomas and Joe Trhlik of Saybrook-Arrowsmith, Brad Verdun of Dwight, and Kevin Wilson of Deer Delavan i Jfloews, King mentioned Wenona's Richard on All-State SOUTH BEND, Ind.

(AP) Digger Phelps said he was sorry for Ray Meyer. But Meyer, college basketball's win-ningest active coach, didn't need condolences. "I've been asked 10 times in the last two weeks about being No.l. I didn't ask to be No. 1.

It was voted, and so what," Meyer said Wednesday night after his top-ranked Blue Demons fell to No. 14 Notre Dame 76-74 in double overtime. "I'll send congratulations if there is another team voted No.l after this game. He can have the I don't want it," Meyer added. "All I could say to Ray after the game was that I was sorry," said Phelps, the Fighting Irish coach.

"He's done so much for college basketball that when the game starts it's up for grabs." Orlando Woolridge sank a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining in the second overtime Wednesday night to enable the Irish, 21-5, to stop DePaui's 26-game winning streak. The Blue Demons, who dropped to 25-1, were led by Rigg, Sisk lead Tremont to 68-57 win GAME TONIGHT 7:30 Manito Forman vs. Roanoke-Benson TREMONT (PNS) Kim Rigg scored 25 points while teammate Dan Sisk added 22 to lead Tremont High School past Illini Bluffs, 68-57, in the second round of the Tremont Class A Regional basketball tournament here Wednesday night. Allen Vaughn led Illini Bluffs with 19 points. The victorious Turks shot 49 percent from the field and 46 percent from the free throw line.

Illini Tremont 10 27 41 57 14 33 46 61 ILLINI BLUFFS-Vaughn l-3-l, Robert-Son 5410, Nannen 4-2-10, Scott 24-4. O'Neill 34-6, Brining 14-2, Jarrett 24-4, Gollon 14-2, Geier 044, Aldridge 044 Totals 26-5-57. TREMONT-Sisk 10-2 22, Garcia 04-0, Knobloch 044. Morr 2-2-6, Rigg 10-5-25, Scherer 14-2, Crandall 14-2. Risinger 14-2, Bolliger 0-1-1, Sander 044.

Knapp 044, Vance 3-24. Totals 21-12-61. GAMES TONIGHT 6 30 Harfsburg Emden vs. New Holland Mtd-dietown I 00 Mason City vt Delavan MASON CITY (PNS) Host Mason City held on to edge Green Valley, 64-62, while Delavan dropped Easton, 79-57, in action of the Class A Regional which took place here Wednesday night. MASON CITY pulled out a narrow two-point victory over Green Valley.

Tony Croteau and Don Birch each tossed in 18 Honarabla Mention Doug Ackerman, Carmi; John Allhands, Watseka; Leo Anstyn, Winchester, Oavid Baker, Maroa; Greg Bange, Homer; Wayne Berth, ISO; Art Baraias, Sterling, Don Behrtnds, Tiskilwa, Keith Blumenstock, Crab Orchard; Tommy Brown, Provldence-St. Mel; Shawn Cannon, Valley, Bob Carroll, Franklin; Ron Cochran, Franklin; Rick Considlne, Amboy; Pierre Cooper, Luther South; Tony Curvey, Morrisonvllle. Ken Davis, Winchester; Tom Dillon, Franklin Center; Jim Ferry, Morrison; Jeff Gatfney, Arthur; Tony Gillette, Sterling, Mark Goevennach. Robinson, Wade Graskiewtcf. Pinckneyville, Rick Gross, Sheldon; Brian Grubb, Buda, Don Gulley, Christopher.

Pat Halloran, Dwight; Ken Hammond. Monmouth; Bill Hayes, Gridleyi Travis Helm, Wayne City; Dennis Hill, Franklin; Jack Hippen, Chadwick; Greg Irwin, New Berlin, Todd Irwin, Rlverdale, Chris Jacobsen, Manlius; Scott James, Armstrong; Cal Johnson, Morris City. Brian Kenady, Riverdale. Roger King, Havana, Steve King, Btoomingfon Cathalkj Don Lan-man. Orion; Nate Lansing, ROVA, Scott Marks, Marengo; Scott McCabe, Peoria Bergan; Bruca McCloud.

Georgetown; Kevin McCormick, Ottawa-Marquette; Jeff McKenlle, Norris City-Omaha, Mikt Milbrandt, Beardstown; Jim Mitchell, Zeigler-Royal-ton; Melvln Menke, Pleasant Hill; Steve Mem, Bloomingtta Central Cathalic. Dave Nanninga, Princeton; Ed Nees, Jamalca; Doug Novsek, Lawrencevlllo; Dan Pearl, DeLanaV Weldoni Mike Pillen, Wethersfleld; Todd Prusator, Tiskilwa; Mike Ouagliana, wethersfleld; Brlct Reining, Green Valley; Sam Rotin, Beardstown; Bob Sabaleskey, Westvllle; Bill Sampen, Hertsburo-Emden, Brian Schulti, Breese Central; Jeff Sebben, Hall; Tracy Shellon. Pittsfield; Dan Sisk, Tremont, Steve Skinner, Monmouth, Ron Slager. Chicago Christian. Bryan Smith, St.

Teresa; Curtis Smith, Benton; Greg Snider, Calhoun; John Thomas, Saybrook Ar-rowsmlth, Steve Thomspson, Virginia; Joe Trhlik, Saybrook-Arrowsmtth. Alan Vaughn, mini-Bluffs; Brad Verdun, Dwight, Mike Wall, Mid-County; Erie Watson, Loveioy; Scott Weakley, Bement; Anthony Webster, Cairo; Tim Walker, Elmwood; Dennis Whaien, Routt; Kevin Wilson, Deer Creek-Mackinaw; Scott Wright, Catlln; Brad Wyss, Cissna Park; Greg Yess. Prlncevlllt, Mark Zimmerman, Lanark. By The Associated Press Walter Downing, the brilliant 6-8 pivotman for New Lenox Providence's defending champions, was the only unanimous selection on the 1980 Associated Press Class A All-State Illinois high school basketball team. Downing, a junior and a repeater from last year's team, was the only non-senior to make the 12-man team selected by a panel of 18 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the state.

Brian Richard of Wenona was named to the first team. Taurice Mallory, Cairo's brilliant 6-1 all-around performer who barely missed making last year's team, was named on 14 ballots and runnerup to Downing as the team's leading candidate. Bill Roth of Ashland, Tom Gilles of Peoria Bergan, Pat Blohm of Princeton and Jim Busby of Havana were among others who received heavy backing. Roth, 6-1, is averaging over 30 points a game. Gilles is considered one of the most outstanding Class A players in central Illinois.

Biohm, 6-6, is both a scorer and rebounder and Busby, 6-2, has averaged around 22 points for Havana's.