Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama • 14

B4 Mnwkigham Pert-Herald Widnwday hbnwy 5 1998 Sports Sports update Tide takes Brown to head Clippers TV station reports Former San Antonio Spun coach Larry Brows will be named the head coach of the Los Angela Clippers tomorrow a television station reported last night A "reliable aouree on the Weat the information that Brown would succeed Mike Schaler 1 San Antonio i Free throws help BSC clinch victory Woni Staff sad PM Raparts CHATTANOOGA Birmingham-' Southern ranked No 6 In the latest NAIA poll unk 15-of-16 attempts in the final two minutes -last night to hold off Tennessee' Temple 95-88 I 96 of the i the All-Star mmmm newt think in the back of nearly every players' mind is the fact that Magic has tested positive for HIV and that we still don't know that much about said Mark Price of the Cleveland Cavaliers a member of the East All-Stars have people telling us that there is less than a 1 percent chance of catching it on the basketball court But this is not like catching a cold We are talking about a deadly disease I personally don't have a problem playing (against Magic) in the 'game because a mining that bell be than mostly for this fans and not play that much" Health ends college career South Carolina forward Joe Rhetfs college career is over after medical tests showed he could collapse again Tests performed last week on Rhett after be collapsed in a game Jan 25 showed be has two conditions that him to (collapsing) during periods of intense teamphysidan Bill McKeazie said at a news conference yesterday The first is that the 6-footS senior from Pnimnhia suffers from a slow heart beat at rest for which two years ago he bad a panemsker implanted The second condition a chaotic heart beat during intense exercise was uncovered during the tests last week at Emory Hospital in Atlanta WHEN: 730 pm CST today WHERE: While CofMumGoitoga Station Texas AMWAVEftWVOK (690AM) NOTES: Alabama has a schoot-reoord 12 victories In 13 norvcorferenoe games We season Alabama coach Wimp Sandsraon never has coached against Texas AAM although hia son Barry did coach as a graduate assistant with the Aggies Texas ASM guard Tony MoGfemls la from BuSsr Ugh In HuntavMsL Ha was one of the players overcome by carbon monoxide betore Texas AAM's game at Baylor FUmee leaked tram a boler Into the vWSng team locker room and McGinnis was one of toe players held overnight tor observation in a Waoo Texas hospkN Alabama's 17-4 start equals Sis atsrts of 8andsrsorfo 1962 1986 and 1967 teams Only one team (1967) improved to 16-4 Me break from SEC play By Ray Mellck FtSrBsiUlqsts Wimp Sanderson never has been one to take a break once his Southeastern Conference schedule started But with the reduction in SEC regular-season games from 18 to 16 this year it meant everyone had the chance to add two games in the middle of the conference schedule "We had the opportunity to play 14 non-conference games and I wanted to play all said Sanderson head basketball coach "Texas AfcM had a slot open and I want to go 10 days without playing and we were able to work this this game So the Crimson Tide (17-4) will meet Texas AAM ISIS) at 7:30 pm today in in College Station Texas an important game for Sanderson said beaten two ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) teams one Pac-10 team one Big East team and one Missouri Valley team We need to beat a Southwest Conference school to give ourselves a better opportunity to go' back to the NCAA Tournament tried to emphasize the importance of this game as for as us getting back into the final 64 is concerned And I know that if our guys take this game lightly get If Alabama can win which the Tide should or else Sanderson never would have scheduled the game the Cdmson Tide will match its best start under Sanderson The 1986-87 Alabama team that won the SEC regular- season title is the only other Sanderson-coached Alabama team to win 18 of its first 22 games However even if Alabama win the break from the SEC race comes at a good time FTeshman forward Jason Caffey needs a couple of games to get back into playing shape after missing two weeks of practice and game time with a sprained ankle He played briefly Saturday against Florida out of Sanderson said been two weeks since been able to run His foot is still sore but it's not as sore and he should be able to start playing some in this game a hard kid to condition because 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds But back If we can get him in condition he can do some Which should bring some relief to the Tide bench In the past three games the Alabama reserves have produced only two points Part of the problem has been that the Tide was without Caffey who had been starting ahead of redshirt freshman Cedric Moore before his injury With Caffey back Sanderson has the depth along the front line again But for all of his complaining Sanderson says happy to be 17-4 and maybe whatever criticism there is of bis team is a good sign guess it means we've arrived when people criticize a team that is Sanderson said Tm tickled to death to be where we are I enjoy It when we play like capable of playing You always look for progress and some games we get it some we can tell you there are some areas that are not as good as we need to be to win at the Division-I level Yet won 17 Gardendale survives Minor College basketball Behind by as much as 16 points in the second half the Ousaaers (11-14) forced BSC (21-2) to the free-' throw line and were able to cut the deficit to six points with less than' two minutes remaining I But five different BSC players' were able to hit the crucial free throws to preserve the victory A Marquette 66 North i Carolina State 42 MILWAUKEE Damon Key scored 17 points and de- feme led ny Ron Curry shut down North Carolina State as the Warriors' handed the Wolfpack (9-11) its: sonsecutiveloss Curry held Wolfpack star Tom Gugliotta to 18 points Memphis State 77 SW Louisiana 76 LAFAYETTE La Sophomore' Anfernee Hardaway's 31 points in-1 eluded two foul shots with 27 seconds remaining that squelched a furious comeback as Memphis State (12-6) held off Southwestern Louisiana (11-9) The Rajin' Cajuns trailed 75-65 with 1:30 to go Indiana 76 Illinois 65 CHAMPAIGN 111 Calbert Cheaney scared 23 points and sixth-ranked Indiana (16-3 7-1) took sole possession of the Big Ten Conference lead with a victory over Illinois (8-112-7) Jeffco Tournament that led to 18 Keith Smil led Erwin with 22 10 and Hunter finished with 16 points Hueytown 77 Hewitt 59 Hueytown (6-12) used an 8-0 run midway through second quarter to open a 14-point lead that second-seeded Hewitt (14-7) could never overcome Hueytown plays Shades Valley at 7:45 pm tomorrow With 5:08 left in second quarter Hueytown led 20-14 But Taurus Geer and Roderick Griggs each cored four points as theGopheri 1 a 28-14 lead 3:36 before half- Hueytown led 28-24 at halftime and Hewitt never threatened from there Geer led Hueytown with 18 points and 11 rebounds Griggs added 16 Shades Valley 71 Leeds 64 Michael three-point play with 2:06 to play gave host Shades 14-10) an insurmountable int lead against Leeds (7-101 The Mounties made only 15-of-23 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter but sank five of six in the st 1:23 to bold off the Green Wave Leeds led 35-34 at halftime but Shades Valin took a 48-45 lead after a close third quarter The Mounties could never pull away until basket and free throw made it 64-57 quai last ketball Association's Eastern Division that first road loss we fell apart This should help our confidence" Dave Popaou added 19 points for the Bandits while Skeeter Henry added 17 and held Conner Henry the CBA's sixth-leading score- to 16 points on six-of-22 i led the Sun Kings with Pdnt-guard Anthony who started for the Bandita early in the season and then was dealt to the Sun Kings in a trade McHone says he wishes be never made scored 11 points and had nine The game marked the first time this season the Bandits scored less than 100 points and won we get a few more 6-1's (victories) we can win our McHone said think we have as good a chance as anybody" The Bandits made a 20-19 first-quarter lead hold up when Jim Rowinski was called for walking on the Sun final posaereion of the quarter i increased its lead to 88-27 in tEe the second quarter on its way to a 47-41 halfUmelead i i I i i I I it 1 By David Pruitt PM-HsiUOnsfaM ToHKeded Gardendale a scare from eighth-seeded (5-17) last night in the Jefferson County Tournament but held on for an 8048 victory Gardendale plays Erwin at 6:30 pm tomorrow The Rockets behind Jeremy eight points led 21-10 after the first quarter But Casey Black and Corey Thomas scored 19 of Minor's 26 second-quarter points as the Tigers cut the lead to 39-36 at the half Minor went ahead with 5:08 left in the third quarter as Black sank a jump shot for a 46-45 lead The Tigers held the lead until Brooks Robinson's three-point play with 52 seconds left in the quarter gave the Rockets a 55-53 lead Robinson scored six points as Gardendale went on a 10-4 run in first three minutes of fourth quarter to take a 67-57 lead Robinson had 15 rebounds and Bearden added 14 for Gardendale Erwin 79 Pinson 68 Dabney Hunter and Rod Rutledge led a SO-8 third-quarter burst as Erwin (11-9) overcame a fi halftime deficit to defeat Valley Hunter scored six points and had four steals in the third quarter and added six points and five The Indians (10-12) led the 24-29 at halftime but the quickly disappeared as Hunter cored two baskets and Rutledge added a tip-in for a 35-34 Erwin lead 1:02 into the third quarter The Eagles' defense was the key forcing 11 third-quarter turnover! Eagles lead university officials after they determined he did not pay his own I when arrested during an altercation with a Las Vegas police officer Rider was not suspended however and will continue to practice with the Runnin' Rebels basketball team during the ingoing investigation UNLV athletic director Jim Weaver said Rider's bail receipt from his Jan 24 arrest showed the bail was paid by Ron Allen an academic adviser A lawsuit on behalf of the 8-year-old son of the late Hank Gathers alleging negligence by former Loyola Marymount baiketball coach Paul Westhead has been withdrawn attorneys for both sides said yesterday The attorneys said that after almost two years of pretrial discovery it has become apparent to them that there is no evidence of individual liability on the part of Westhead now bead coach of the NBA'S Denver Nuggets Westhead was the toyola Marymount coach when Gathers 23 collapsed during a game on March 4 1990 and was pronounced dead less than two hours later Jacksonville State University has moved into the No 2 spot in the latest NCAA Division men's basketball poll The Gamecocks atop the Gulf South Conference with a 6-1 league mark and sporting an 18-1 record overall trail 19-1 Calif oraia-Pennsylvania in the poll Shoplifting charges against two University of Tennessee basketball players were dismissed then reinstated Monday by a Sessions Court judge Judge David Poss agreed the charges were ambiguous and dismissed the original warrants But after bearing some testimony from witnesses he signed new warrants charging junior college transfers Orlaado Berry and Corey Allen with shoplifting The two are accused of taking stereo headphones valued at $3797 from a Knoxville Kmart store on Jan 16 Both players pleaded innocent during hewing Nebraska AD Devaney: Tm forced Nebraska athletic director Bob Devaney said yesterday he feels forced out of his position and wanted to work two years beyond his contract which expires in January 1993 forced Devaney said in a telephone interview from Lincoln no doubt about that" But Regent Dou Blaak of McCook said the 76-year-old Devaney agreed on a contract last summer and the NU board of regents simply ratified it The contract called for Devaney to remain as athletic director through 1992 then step down to allow a transition to a new athletic director Blank said The agreement reached in July rail ter Devaney to retire as Nebraska athletic director Jan 4 1993 He would then serve as an athletic department consultant and fundraiser and would continue to receive his current salary of $94034 Mariners deal remote Vincent says Commissioner Fay Vincent said yesterday there was still a chance though remote that the Seattle Mariners would be sold to a Japanese-led group Hiroshi Yamauchi president of Nintendo Go Ltd has proposed to finance a group that would purchase the Mariners from Jeff Smulyan the Indianapolis broadcasting executive who is trying to sell the club for $100 million The proposed deal coming amid a wave of anti-Japan xenophobia sweeping the United States was called by Vincent when it was proposed Jan 23 and has gained no public support thus fw from owners of the other 25 teams think I would change my statement" Vincent said after a 75-minute meeting with Washington Gov Booth Gardner and Seattle Mayor Norman Rice what I said was there is a policy or a set of principles and in light of those principles it would be my Judgment that a transaction of the sort which has been presented would not be Kei Griffey Sr who retired as a player in November following 19 major-league seasons is returning to the Seattle Mariners as special assistant for player development Griffey will split his duties between the Mariners and the six minor-league dubs the team announced yesterday The Atlanta Braves and star outfielder Ron Gant came to terms yesterday on a one-year $265 million contract avoiding arbitration Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Gary Sheffield yesterday agreed toa one-year contract for $450000 Kansas City Royals pitcher Tom Gordon agreed to $815000 a $490000 raise and catcher Mike Madarlane agreed to $740000 a $260000 raise Houston pitcher Mark Portugal settled at $125 million a $520000 raise World Cup site choices may be narrowed Organizers of the 1994 World Cup said yesterday that the cities chosen to play host for the 52-game tournament will be announced at a news conference in New York on March 23 Alan Rothenberg chairman of the organising committee World Cup USA 1994 had said last month that 12 cities would be picked from the 19 commun'ties still in contention But he hacked off that Tuesday and said there was a chance only eight would be chosen Atlanta is among the cities still in contention Midfielder Tab Ramos will be with the UR soccer team for the first time in 15 months on Feb 26 when it plays its first game against Brazil in 62 years Ramos the best player during the 1990 World Cup has been released for the game by Figueras his club in the Spanish second division Briefly University of Alabama junior Jesaifer Mahuey stopped two sweeps last night when she beat Louisiana State senior KelU Hill for the 1992 Southeastern Conference 10-meter diving title in the Alabama Aquatic Center Mahaney set a new SEC record of 55100 in route to winning her first SEC title unseating Hill UAB junior tennis player Frank Sckaffaer will compete in the Rolex National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships at the Northwest Racquet Club in Minneapolis beginning tomorrow The tournament is reserved for the top 32 players in the country Trainer Wayae Lukas suffered three broken ribs when thrown from a pony yesterday at Santa Anita the track said Lukas 56 was taken to Arcadia Methodist Hospital where he was under observation Keith Herald Pinson Roderick Jones right battle Rod Rutledge for a rebound during the Jefferson County Tournament at Shades Valey High SchooL Thomas settles in during victory a i js ary SCORE: Barxfts 98 Yakima Sun Kings 90 ATTENDANCE: 441 QUARTERS WON: Bandts 3 Yakima 1 STAR: Bandts forward Irving Thomas scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds KEY STAT: Yakima's Conner Henry (244 ppg) was held to 16 points on six-of-22 shooting NOTE: The Bandts ended a four-game losing streak QUOTE: tough to dominate a game from start to finish In this Bandts coach Mo McHone said guys have too much t-l pTIOwa NEXT: 7:05 pm Friday vs Fart Wayne at Fair Park Arena ChetFussman By Chet Passman Poet -Hrakl Reports Birmingham Bandits forward Irving Thomas last night demonstrated a strong ability to scare and rebound But his most impressive demonstration might have occurred hours before he led the Bandits to a 98-90 Before the game Thomas a onetime Los Angeles Laker turned down a lucrative offer from a team in Paris to remain with the Bandits I came here I told Coach Mo (McHone) that I really plan on going to Europe said Thomas who played Greece last year plan oo keeping my word" McHone who has lost three key players to foreign teams this season was pleasantly surprised by the decision especially considering Thomas acquired In a trade with Rapid Dty joined the team less than two weeks ago But Thomas seemed very much at home last night scoring 25 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in his first start for the Bandits Tm just kind of settling in he raid The Bandits (15-22) woo six-of- even points against the struggling McHone said tough Sun Kings (6-22) and ended a four to dominate a game from start to game killing streak before yet an- finish in the league These guys have other small crowd of 441 too much pride The Bandita were one quarter Thomas made eight-of-12 shots away from pitching a ihutout when from the field and soared 11 points the Sun King cut a 14-point fourth- in the third quarter when Birming-quarter deficit to 89-84 with 4:28 re- ham increased a six-point halftime maining lead to 13 going into the fourth But four Bandit players connected "We needed this laid on key free throws in the final two Thomas who joined the team minutes and Yakima was unable to Jan 25 but prevent the pull closer four-game road slide last bad a flat spell in the fourth wed: that dropped the team from 1 I.