Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 43

DETROIT FREE PRESSFRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983 3D another look contenders Its timefo ft the piep xs a Uich FJcCsb In addition to Antoine Joubert, Southwestern will boost from 6-foot-4 Lavell Rockymore, brother of U-M's looked ragged since. But what else is new? "We'll be ready to play," said coach Dave Soules. "We're not that bad I'll be really upset if we don't win it. We are always ready to play by tournament time." Make room in the trophy case. Saginaw St.

Mary (15-3): The Raiders, who have played some excellent teams, are getting better as the season progresses. "We're mentally tougher," said coach Norwaine Reed. "In the tournament it doesn't matter how good you are but how mentally prepared you are that day. We've also improved our depth. When we beat Flint Beecher and dePorres, we played with key people on the bench.

We're playing well as a unit." St. Mary should meet East Catholic in a quarterfinal game that should decide the state champion. Thirteen weeks ago, when every high school basketball team in Michigan was undefeated, we took a look at eight teams two in each of the four classes we thought had the best chances to win a state championship trophy at Crisler Arena March 26. A lot of crazy things have happened since then, but those eight teams, along with about 700 others, will be shooting for a state title starting Monday. Every one of the eight coaches believes his team is ready for a long tournament run.

Let's take a closer look: Class A Detroit Southwestern (17-1): The Prospectors have won their third straight PSL title and should take a third straight Operation Friendship game tonight. "We've improved team-wise," said coach Perry Watson. "The individual skills were there, but now we've improved in The team things like defense, rebounding and running the fast break. We're just coming as a team." In addition to Antoine Joubert, the Prospectors will get a boost from 6-foot-4 Lavell Rockymore, brother of U-M's Leslie, who became academically eligible last week. An easy tournament route should help.

Detroit Kettering (15-3): The Pioneers defeated Southwestern by two early in the season, but lost by one in the PSL title game last week. That close loss could have lasting effects. "If we would have lost badly, it could have hurt us," said coach Arnold Nevels. "But we know we could have won it very easily if we would have been a little tougher down the stretch. "We've played in a lot of big games that have made us more mature.

We've improved our point guard position The guys are ready to go after the state tournament thing." WINNERS WEAR SOFTBALL BIK ysit now Prep stars of the tveoli High school athletes In any sport can be nominated for this weekly feature, based on their previous week's performance. Coaches should call Mick McCabe at 222-6664 from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday. UNIFORMS IN STOCKI BE EARLY BE ORGANIZED! Devln Hart Trenton basketball Rex Stanczyk Ann Arbor Richard basketball TEAM MANAGERSI CONTACT US NOW FOR EARLY SEASON DISCOUNTS. MARK Kettering played its best ball before Christmas.

If it can regain that form, look out. Class Willow Run (13-6): The Flyers are brilliant some nights and terrible others. Perhaps that inconsistency is what comes with starting five juniors. "I tought we'd be playing better," said coach Ron Tarrant. "We're so up and down, so unpredictable.

But something seems to happen around here at tournament time. "I do see us getting to the regional final against Oak Park. That's the way it should be. We can win it. I think we can do it, but I don't know if we will.

I don't know if we have the mentality for it." If nothing else, the Flyers have the coaching to do it. Oak Park (18-2): The Redskins also are young. Four starters are juniors, but three of them started as sophomores, and they've played well all year. "In the last six or seven games, we've experienced all types of games from slow-down to run-and-gun," said coach Richard Greist. "We've gotten ready for anything we might face in the tournament.

"Our biggest improvement has been in our overall team defense. We've held our opponents to an average of 51 points a game while we've scored 71 or 72 points a game. We've played as many as four or five different defenses in one game." It should be quite a regional final. Class Detroit Country Day (16-2): This team set its sights on a Class title and then scheduled teams such as Ypsilanti (Class A), Oak Park and Southgate Aquinas (both Class B) to make up for a lackluster conference schedule. "We've improved in a couple of areas," said coach Kurt Keener.

"We've developed more offensive consistency, and we've developed a bench. Last year we were a five-man team, but we've got seven players now. Reggie Holmes is as good a sophomore as I've seen "A year ago at this time, we were kind of fading fast. But a year of maturity makes a difference." Country Day's starting five has been the same for three years. They're ready.

Detroit St. Martin dePorres (14-5): Coach Ed Rachal has only two senior starters, but some very talented underclassmen. "We're fairly close to where we want to be, but we're never going to be a real consistent team," said Rachal. "We can be real good one game and real crazy the next. The point guard (Negele Knight) is a baby.

I've never had to live with a sophomore point guard. But he's got some talent, and he's never had what I'd call a ridiculously bad game. "We're going to have to control tempo and we've got to have some luck We've go to have six or seven games in a row where they come to play." Country Day beat dePorres early in the season and the two should meet in the regionals. Class Detroit East Catholic (14-6): The Chargers were If So- ia DABIERO'S open BURKE'S n.n ci im. ncT 1 1 sunuay ennDT 1 1 A 1 ft, In two games, the senior point guard had 47 points including a career-high 28 points in one contest and 12 assists.

"Devin can penetrate and pass the ball off, as well as shoot the jumper from the perimeter," said coach Jim Ryan. "He handles the conversion from defense to offense very well." The senior guard scored 19 points in Richard's win over Wyandotte Mt. Carmel in the Catholic League C-D Division title game. "Rex is very committed to the game," said coach Bill Giarmo. "Not a day goes by that he's not in the gym.

Fundamentally, he one of the nicest shooters I've seen." 3620 FORT LINCOLN PARK 21529 KELLY ROAD, E. DETROIT 2 Biks. N. of Goddard 381-5152 at 8Vi Mile Road 776-3590 yL iMeMiiatlulB I Lloyd Lambrlx Monroe Catholic wrestling Miriam Carew Dearborn gymnastics wwmm jig iimmm The senior advanced to the Class heavyweight finals by pinning all three of his opponents in the reglonals. His season record is 37-3, with 29 pins.

"For his size (6-3, 270) he's very quick and agile," said coach Paul Osten-toskl. "He uses his weight to wear his opponents down. He's also a great young man." The senior broke her school's record In the all-around event the vault, the uneven parallel bars, the balance beam and the floor exercise. "She's always best in the floor exercise, because she has great dance presence and a degree of showman-' ship that sells her routine," said coach Bonnie Whisman. 1 CLASSIC STEEL BELTED RADIAL POWER KING POLYESTER BLACK WALL Teresa Hudak Rogers City volleyball Grant Long Romulus basketball The senior had 51 kills in 69 spike attempts while leading her team to the Rogers City Invitational title.

"She's' got a real good vertical jump," said coach Dan Cox. "She's able to hit balls that aren't set very well. She might get a shot blocked once or twice, but she comes right back at them. She's also a great defensive player." The 6-foot-7 junior scored 29 points and had 40 rebounds in two games last week. "He is an excellent defensive rebounder," said coach Al Wilkerson.

"He gets good position. He can jump, but he doesn't rebound above the rim. He's got a good touch from 10 to 15 feet, but he scores a lot off the offensive boards." knocked out of the Catholic League playoffs and have All-Stater Thompson to pick college (Joubert)," he said. "But regardless of where other people go, there will be competition. I just want to go where I fit in best." fm mm if ma.a"' Thompson has visited all four schools at least once and has attended six games at All tlrM plu F.E.T.

$1.44 to $2.86 Strong poly cord for dependent service and smooth ride 2 Steel Belts Improved Traction MSU, three at U-M and two at Illinois. my teammates. I just want to have a clear mind going into the tournament." THOMPSON IS averaging 26.5 points, 1 1 rebounds and 10 assists for the 16-3 Pioneers, who are ranked fifth in Class B. He's shooting 63.6 percent from the floor and 79.7 percent from the free-throw line. Although Detroit Southwestern's Antoine Joubert, also a guard, orally committed to U-M last week, Thompson has not eliminated the Wolverines.

"Oh, yeah, I have thought about him By TERRY FOSTER Free Press Special Writer Garde Thompson, a 1982 All-State basketball player at East Grand Rapids, says he will decide on a college Sunday. Thompson, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, said he will choose from Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois and Arizona State. He said he wants to "get it out of the way before the state high school basketball tournament begins next week." Thompson said the recruiting "has been a hassle on my coach (Rick Albro), myself and "I want to go to a place where I can play," he said, "not necessarily where I have to play a lot as a freshman, although I want to, but somewhere that has a bright future for me and the team. I would like a school that has a good coaching staff I am going for a good education too." Thompson wants to major in business. ga cams B78-13 $26.90 D78-14 30.90 E78-14 31.90 F78-14 32.90 G78-14 34.90 G78-15 35.90 H78-15 30.00 Whltewalls add Garde Thompson East Grand Rapids P16580R13 $39.90 P18580R13 43.90 P18575R14 43.90 P19575R14 47.90 P20575R14 51.90 P20575R15 55.90 P21575R15 50.90 P22575R15 58.90 P23575R15 02.90 Fans invited to meet the Panthers at Silverdome fa Arbor, WTRX in Flint, WTWN in Grand Rapids, WHTC in Holland, WKHM in Jackson, WKMI in Battle CreekKalamazoo, WILS in Lansing, WCFX in Mt.

Pleasant, WHLS in Port Huron, WSGW in Saginaw and WOHO in Toledo Detroit area by WKBD-TV (Channel 50) at 8 p.m. All Panther games, home and away, will be broadcast by Detroit radio station WXYZ-1270 AM, which has put together a 12-city Panther network. The other 1 1 stations are WAAM in Ann The Chicago Blitz, which signed Lion linebacker Stan White and defensive lineman Joe Ehrmann, have signed Lions assistant coach Chris Pagnucco. Pagnucco, 27, will work with special teams and break down film for the Blitz defense. Premium R.S.

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fliihTniiiiiii.UMiinii.iriimiM By CURT SYLVESTER Free Press Sports Writer The Michigan Panthers will give fans a chance to meet their players, coaches and cheerleaders this afternoon at the Silverdome. Fans will be permitted to watch the final 1 12 hours of the team's practice. After a media interview-photo session with the players, spectators will be allowed onto the field for autographs and photos. After that, the Panther cheerleaders will be on the Silverdome field for photos and interviews. Here's the schedule: 2 p.m.

Fans will be admitted into the north end of the Silverdome. 2:30 pjn. Panthers will move from their outdoor field into the Silver-dome for the final 90 minutes of practice. 4 p.m. Media interviews will be held with players and coaches.

5:15 p.m. Fans will be permitted on the field to meet players, get autographs and take pictures. 6 p.m. Panther cheerleaders will take the field for an hour-long session with fans. NOTES: Ticket sales have improved since the Panthers signed University of Michigan wide receiver Anthony Carter last Saturday.

Season tickets have been selling at the rate of more than 100 a day, while tickets for the March 19 home opener are moving at better than 500 a day. According to marketing director Tommy Thompson, since Saturday, the team has sold 465 season tickets (for a total of 7,386) and 2,248 tickets for Silverdome opener against Oakland Although the Panthers open the USFL season with two games on the road, both will be televised in the Detroit area. I. Monday's season opener in Birmingham will be televised nationally by ESPN at 9 p.m.; the Iflarch 12 game in Tampa Bay will be televised in the PROFESSIONAL BOWLERS TOUR ABC's WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS -WORLD WRISTWRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS Top men and women competitors-egged on by the raucous Petaluma, Ca. crowd-look to strongarm their way to the top! THE FLORIDA DERBY Derby hopefuls in one of the HIGHLAND PARK BRIGHTON MILFORD LINCOLN PARK MT.

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