Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 103

DETROIT FREE PRESS 6A DETROIT FREE PRESSTHURS, FEB. 17, 1983 no drag oh a snowmobile Yitrinta rovniup? around his best oerfor- By JOHNETTE HOWARD Free Press Sports Writer llfeJ time "Those treads are like a chain saw they'll chew you up and spit you out if you go down." Gene Brani auwvtv i mances or the corruption that he implies is frequent on the tour. "ONE RACE, I thought I had it won. I crossed the finish line and started waving at some friends. Later, they said I didn't have enough laps.

Another guy who went (on a shortcut) through the pit six or seven times went ripping by me; they gave him the checkered flag, and I'm saying what happened? What happened?" Brani's racing specialty is the mini-enduro stock class 25- to 75-mile races on half-mile tracks at places like Whiskey Run and Thunder Bay. Many snowmobile courses are run on horse race tracks that are modified in the winter with banked turns for snowmobile drag racing. His main equipment is a liquid-cooled Polar-See RACER, Page 7A The real test of a snowmobile drag racer comes in the hairpin corners of the track those high, banked turns covered with glaring ice. That's where champions and also-rans alike get christened. On the corners, the weak find their hearts beating almost as loudly as the roaring, souped-up engines.

It's the part of the course where the churning snowmobile treads, with their sharply honed metal studs and razor-sharp carbide skis, are suddenly a concern; it's where men in little more than snowsuits and helmets hurtle full bore, sometimes at almost 90 m.p.h., daring each other to pull back on the throttle first. "How dangerous is it? Instant death that's how bad it can be," says Gene Brani, a six-year veteran of Michigan's pro-am snowmobile racing circuit. "I hammer and nail it, pound it, hang it all out until I chase someone down and hassle them until they make a mistake," says Brani. "I followed one guy so hard he blew out a piston, had to pull over and was out of the race. A lot of mind games go on out there.

You're trying to beat somebody, but you have to trust them (and their ability), too." Brani is not very trusting, nor does he inspire much trust in other racers. He is brash, outspoken, not content with anything but a top finish. He has an encyclopedic memory of all his races the track conditions, the opponents, the incidents and anecdote after "If you hang on, you can go as fast as you want," he says. "It gets nuts in corners. Six sleds all going for the same spot.

And those treads are like a chain saw they'll chew you up and spit you out if you go down." BRANI, 28, is a renegade of sorts on the tour a racer whom others try to avoid in the corners, a man who's not afraid to mix it up, get involved in a little bumping in the turns, or even ride an opponent's tail on the straightaway, hoping all the time to create even the slightest bit of hesitation, the briefest glimmer of daylight on the track which is all it takes to slip by and on to the next leader. Lahser team matches NHL scoring feat THE BLOOMFIELD HILLS LAHSER hockey team has matched a feat accomplished only once in the history of the National Hockey League. The Knights, 3-12 this season, were trailing Livonia Churchill 8-4 with only minutes left in the game last Thursday when defenseman Jim Moeller moved to center to improve the Knights' firepower. Did he Country Day pulls out a squeaker over Oak Park By RICK ROUSOS Free Press Special Writer ever. Moeller won a faceoff to the left of the goal, got a-carom off the boards and scored a power play goal at 13:45 of the final period.

Jeff Kowalski got the assist. That was for starters. Moeller won the ensuing faceoff and slapped the puck to Jeff Dahm, who scored again at 13:55. On the very next faceoff, which Moeller again won, Kowalski rammed I Jim Moeller home a goal at 14:05 to make the score 8-7. Moeller and Dahm got the assists.

The three goals in 20 seconds tied the NHL record set by the Boston Bruins in 1971 against Vancouver. Warren McKenzie, assistant director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, says his organization does not keep such records. "After the third goal, we just went crazy," Moeller said. "We would rather have won, but it's fun thinking that we might have set a record I couldn't fall asleep last night because I was thinking about it." I -i quarter to pull away from the Redskins, 24-12. Oak Park scored the next seven points, led by an outstanding Tony Holifield.

The action seesawed back to Country Day, which responded with the next seven points, including five from guard Rich Goldberg. Oak Park came back to score two buckets and Country Day led 31-23 at intermission. DURING HALFTIME, fans from Oak Park grumbled about their team's performance. "They've got to get more physical," said Harold Lowrey, 33. "They haven't been getting the ball underneath and playing their game." As Keener feared, Oak Park did get the ball to their big players near the basket and began playing their intimidation game in the second half, scoring the first three baskets and rejecting a couple of shots.

"From our scouting reports, we knew they went for the blocks a lot," Keener said. "We told our kids to go to the pump fake a lot." With that lesson momentarily forgotten, the Redskins went ahead by seven points midway through the final quarter, led by Fred Marshall's outside shooting and Ed Wilcox's strong rebounding and follow-up shots. Playing well inside for Country Day was 6-foot-7 Damon Jones, who blocked several shots down the stretch, and bull-like Chuck Adams, a 6-foot-5 enforcer who planted himself in the lane and pulled down 18 rebounds, many of them in clutch situations. THE YELLOWJACKETS chipped away at the Oak Park lead but still trailed by five with two minutes left. Adams sank a 15-footer to bring them within one point with only a minute to go, but Oak Park hit another shot to push the lead to three with 28 seconds left.

Then, with four seconds left, Holmes picked up the loose ball following the jump ball and launched the shot that lived up to his nickname. Before the game, Country Day coach Keener said he would have to try to "outsmart a great physical team. They're talented, tall and quick." However, after the game, Keener said Oak Park was not outsmarted, but "out-hearted." Just moments after one of the best Oakland County basketball games this year, the court at Detroit Country Day High School was pure chaos. Players and fans at one end Country Day's jumped, cheered and chanted "Ice! Ice!" as they mobbed Reggie (Iceman) Holmes, the sophomore whose 18-foot jumper as time ran out climaxed a frantic come-from-behind finish to a nerve-wrenching 47-46 victory for the Yellowjackets over Oak Park. With just four seconds left and Country Day trailing by one point, the teams lined up for a jump ball near Country Day's basket.

Although Country Day forward Chuck Adams didn't appear to win the tip, guard Troy Hudson stripped Oak Park's Michael Thornton of the ball. It bounded to Holmes, who arched a shot that hit nothing but the net. AT THE OTHER END of the overcrowded gym, the scene was completely different. Almost as quickly as the ball slipped through the net, Oak Park's players slumped to the court as if they had just breathed nerve gas. Redskin players on the bench fell out of their chairs and lay on the floor, holding their heads.

And the throng of Oak Park fans sat stunned and silent. In the solemn Oak Park locker room, no tears were shed. Both teams entered the team ranked their in their respective classes Country Day was No. 5 in Class Oak Park was No. 3 in Class and both had reason to be proud of the way they played.

It was Oak Park's second loss in 15 games. As drained Oak Park Coach Richard Griest said, "That's just the kind of game that you hate to see anyone lose especially your team." COUNTRY DAY Coach Kurt Keener, whose team improved to 13-2 by Friday, called the contest "a game of momentum." He was right. Country Day, one of Michigan's top-ranked Class teams, entered the game as underdog but began quickly. After a close first quarter, Country Day scored the first seven points of the second I A iL 1 5 el I'ii Free Press Photo by MANNY CRISOSTOMO Oak Park's Kevin Curry (43) tips a jump ball away from George Clark, backup center for Country Day. 1 standouts by Johnette Howard Andy Kolp, Brother Rice Just when Catholic Central's basketball team seems to be purring along, Brother Rice and Andy Kolp pop up and throw a wrench into the machinery.

With a playoff appearance hanging in the balance if Brother Rice won, Kolp scored 18 IF YOU LIKE comedy with your basketball, you'll probably find it when the Detroit Lions meet the Birmingham-Bloomfield Jaycees in a charity game Friday at Seaholm High School. The Lions have has a history of pulling some practical jokes during the game like the time James Hunter and David Hill picked up the referee and threw him into a school swimming pool in Sault St. Marie. At another game, a referee took off his striped shirt in the middle of the game and began playing with the Lions. Hunter, Dexter Bussey, Eric Hippie and Tom Skladany are some of the Lions scheduled to play Friday.

The Jaycees will be assisted by some Lion alumni, including Mel Farr, Lem Barney and Seaholm graduate Tom Tracy. "We had to get some guns or die," joked Tom Myers, president of the Jaycees. Myers says he will not be playing for two reasons: "One, since I'm president, I'll be doing a lot of the introductions and emcee work. Two, I'm too old. And afraid.

You ever see how big those guys are?" Tickets are available at the door for $4. Prizes, including a color TV, a Commodore 64 computer and an autographed football, will be awarded. Miss Michigan, Diane Arabia, will be drawing the winners. YOU MAY NEED to jog your memory to recall table hockey a home game played on a 38- by 18 2-inch miniature rink with players that spin and slide up and down slots on the "ice." The little shavers are mounted on sticks that slide in and out of the board. Remember? Well, there is an actual tournament for such a game, and defending pro champion Ivan Sanislo, of Madison Heights, barely missed defending his title in the 11th Maestro Club Classic World Table Hockey Association Championships Saturday at the Holiday Inn in Southfield.

Sanislo lost a close, triple-overtime game and the match to his doubles partner, Steve Murri, in the semifinals of the pro bracket. The two combined Sunday to win the pro doubles title from Steve Bernstein and Alan Cousineau, from Worcester, Mass. "The match between Steve and Sanislo easily could have gone either way," said tournament director Sidney Stutz. "It was one of the best matches we've had in a long time. Just fantastic." Other winners in the tournament were: Semi-pro singles: John Schenk, of Livonia, over Jim Eccles, Kalamazoo; novice singles: Andy Regal, of Chicago, over Egon Braukis, of Windsor; and novice doubles: Jim Eccles and Greg Trimncr, both from Kalamazoo, over Mike Wallace, of Sterling Heights, and Schenk.

OAKLAND UNIVERSITY'S wrestling team closed out its regular season with a second at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships Friday at Lake Superior College. The Pioneers, 7-3 this season, had four title winners: Brad Wilkerson (126 pounds); John Craig (134); Matt Vrondrosek (150), and Gregg Mannio (167). Craig and Mannio both won titles for the third consecutive year, and Pioneer Coach Jack Gebauer was named conference coach of the year. "Craig and Mannio have continued to provide outstanding performances," Gebauer said, "and their domination of the conference is evident. As for my honor, I'm elated Oakland, with 68 points, was second behind Ferris State, which got 93 points.

The team next competes Saturday at Ferris State in the Mideast NCAA Division II regionals. Compiled by JOHNETTE HOWARD classes in Detroit and some clinics at the University of Kansas. Besides helping tape the athletes, Pricer says he checks uniforms, issues equipment, gets things ready for road trips and equips the locker room for visiting teams on game nights. "It's often a long day for him, but it's good training," says Pricer's father, Wayne. "He's getting valuable experience, and he's learning how to make decisions and be responsible.

He feels better about school, and I think he's a better person for doing it." HONORABLE MENTIONS BASKETBALL: Country Day sophomore Randy (let) Holmes sank an 18-foot shot at the buzzer as the Yellowjackets, No. 3 In Class came from behind last Tuesday to nip Oak Park, 48-47. Oak Park entered the game as the No. 3-ranked team in Class B. Holmes came back Friday to score 28 points in Country Day's 101-47 romp over Hamtramck Moses Smith hit a 25-foot ump shot as time ran out to give Royal Oak St.

Mary's its 10th straight win after four opening losses a 46-45 victory over Cranbrook Randy Bolder) of Ferndale continues to rack up the points. The senior guard scored 29 points In a 58-53 win over Southfield Lathrup last Tuesday, then added 17 Friday In a 68-61 win over Bloomfield Hills Andover Mllford Lakeland's Jim SI. John had 22 points in an 81-55 win Friday over South Lyon Bloomfield Hills Lahser's Mike Davis had 11 assists, five steals and 10 points in a 63-42 win over Troy last Tuesday. points as the Warriors defeated Catholic Central 40-38 Friday with a thrilling last-minute rush. The victory forced a special playoff game Tuesday against Bishop Gallagher at Calihan Hall, with the winner of that game advancing to Friday's Catholic League playoffs, Dave Cerska, Royal Oak Kimball Royal Oak Kimball Coach John Sfire thought he knew all about Dave Cerska before this season.

Cerska, a versatile senior swimmer at Kimball, also is coached by Sfire on the Royal Oak Penguins AAU team. And Sfire had him pegged as a middle-distance and distance swimmer until this season, when Cerska started swimming some sprints. Five record-setting performances later, Cerska is a leading contender for a state championship in the 50-yard freestyle, the glamour sprint event of swimming. "It was incredible. We didn't think he had that kind of speed.

He swam a 21.33 last Thursday at Andover, which is the fastest time in the freestyle in the state this year," Sfire said. "I think it's the fastest anyone has ever swum before the state meet. He's broken five (team) records this year and is a member of a sixth record in the 200 medley relay." Which means that in an normal meet, Cerska can swim as many as six of a total of 10 events. He currently holds school records in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard medley, in which he swims the anchor leg. Against defending state champion Andover last Thursday, Cerska broke his own records in the 50-yard and 500-yard freestyle and took two firsts.

He came back later in the meet in the 200-yard medley to match his 50-yard freestyle record of 21.33. Before the year is over, Sfire says, Cerska has a great shot at breaking the state 50-yard freestyle record of 21.16. At Andover, Cerska dropped four-tenths of a second off his previous team record of 21.7. "He can win the state title. He's an incredibly tough trainer, a year-round swimmer, and he's very dedicated," Sfire says.

"Right now, he's four-tenths of a second faster than anyone in the state and he's ranked third in the 500 freestyle. He's probably the best Royal Oak Kimball's ever had, and they've had some good ones." as nine points in the third quarter. Brother Rice kept whittling the lead down, then won the game in the final minute when John Henry sank two foul shots with 20 seconds left after drawing a charging foul. That gave Rice a 39-38 lead. B.

J. Armstrong made one foul shot with three seconds left after a blocked shot by Kern Smith to lock up the win. Said Conti: "Kolp's baskets all seemed to occur at times when you're saying to yourself, 'We've got to get a basket Wayne Pricer, Royal Oak Kimball Wayne Pricer puts in more time than your average athlete. He knows more about conditioning and training. And he's used to performing with bumps and bruises.

While the athletes take care of the free throws and touchdowns and home runs, Pricer, a student trainer at Royal Oak Kimball, takes care of the athletes. Pricer, a senior, is one of seven managers who worked 20 to 30 hours a week this season with the football team. He's spent the winter attending to the Kimball basketball team, and when spring rolls around, he'll shift his attention to the baseball team. "He's a worker," says Kimball football coach Paul Temerian. "Our managers and trainers get better each year, do more work in less time, come up with better ideas, and it saves us coaches a lot of headaches." Because of an asthma problem, Pricer couldn't compete in sports through grade school or high school.

As he approaches graduation, he says he's growing out of the asthma but has no enduring regrets about no being able to play sports. He still feels like he's participated. "I'm happy with what I've done," he says. "I've kind of enjoyed it. I've been on a few championship teams and I've made some great friends." Pricer has attended several sports medicine where CC had already clinched a berth.

Catholic Central, which led the Catholic League Central Division all season, has lost just twice this year both times to Brother Rice (9-6). The Pilots finished with a 13-2 record and, probably, the strong hope that they don't have to face Brother Rice again in the playoffs. "I don't know what it is that we have over them," said Brother Rice Coach Nick Conti. "The rivalry is just so intense that everyone gets up for the game." At least Kolp does. With his 18 points Friday and 22 points in the Warriors' 59-54 upset of Catholic Central eariler this year, Kolp is averaging 20 points against CC twice his season average of 10.7 per game.

And Kolp is hitting an amazing 92 percent (24 of 26) of his free throws this season. "The thing that stands out about his performance Friday is that all four baskets he scored in the second half were at those kind of critical times when you need a basket," Conti said. "He's certainly an individual we like to go to offensively. He's just relentless. He keeps coming at you." The entire Warrior team refused to give in against CC, despite falling behind by as many Johnette Howard's Oakland rankings Basketball Top 10 1 Southfield (13-2) 2 Avondale (16-0) 3 Detroit Country Day (14-2) 4 Oak Park (13-2) 5 Clarkston (14-1) 6 Ferndale (12-4) 7 Lake Orion (10-3)x 8 Royal Oak Shrine (10-3) 9 Milford Lakeland (12-3) 10 Berkley (12-5) tell us about your feats We want to hear from you when you hear about or see an Oakland resident doing something noteworthy in sports.

Write the Detroit Free Press, Oakland Bureau, 1 185 S. Adams, Birmingham 40011. Or call us at 540-6625, 9-5 weekdays..