Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 10

Finney Cage DETROIT FREE PRESS Saturday. Feb. 1, '75 5-C I l. '14'' A' i Hopes Brighter -At Last Finney High School's basketball team may not be a threat for the state championship yet, but the program at the East side school has gronn to the point where tlie squad can afford to smile these days. Free Press Sports Writer Things are on the upswing in a basketball way at Finney High, where co-coaches Lavert France and Ray Pierson have the Highlanders headed toward their best season in history.

Don't expect Finney to go all the way this winter. France and Pierson are attempting to establish a sport in a school which had become accustomed to losing in basketball battles with such powers as Pershing, Kettering and Denby. There simply were no Spencer Haywoods or Ralph Simpsons enrolled at the East Side school, which is in its 14th year of existence. "Do you realize that for the first four years we had only 800 students out here?" asked athletic director Jack Ramm. "When the school was opened, Dr.

Samuel Brownell, then superintendent of schools, told us the building was built to last 10 years. It was to take care of the overflow from both Denby and Pershing. Now we're up to around 2,400 students and there are no plans to close the Finney has done well in football and baseball. The Highlanders won the PSL football title in 1971 under Nick Cheo-las and have captured two West Side titles. There are also two divisional championships in baseball.

Ken House came out of Finney and became one of the Big Ten's top distance runners at Illinois. Art James, another Finney graduate, is on the Tigers' spring roster and Chet Ricker is one of the PSL's top swimming freestylers. Facilities are reasonably good at Finney, except for a gym which seats fewer than 800 persons. Nobody ever could find out why a gym was built in 1961 which would seat so few people. But there's a football field, baseball diamonds, a pool and the facilities of the Cannon Recreation Center next door to keep most everyone occupied and the athletes happy.

Ramm has four staff manning his phys ed department and four women to coach and direct girls' phys ed and athletics. There also are half a dozen part-time or volunteer coaches. However, the basketball program always has suffered. There was that day several years ago when old Eastern have terrific height, our kids all jump well." Ricardo Bonner, Kelvin Jestice and Gregory Floyd round out the starting five with Franklin McCray, Chris Edwards and Dean Solomon as the top subs. Finney had one big night.

The Highlanders went over to the U-D Memorial Building one evening and brought home a victory over Brother Rice, the defending state Class A champion. Moments like this can do big things for a new program. Finney is 9-5 on the season. Those nine victories represent a new high for a season. Earl Cureton and David Cochran have been carrying the Highlanders this season.

Cureton, a 6-foot-5 center, is carrying an 18-point scoring average while Cochran, a 6-foot-4 forward, is scoring at 20 points a game. "Cochran is one of those rare fellows who is always in the thick of things," says Pierson. "He has the knack of being in the right place at the right time. Although we don't High ran up a 138-43 victory. "Things like that don't exactly bring the kids out for the team," says Pierson.

"We've had our problems interesting good prospects out of the junior highs to enroll here," Pierson continued. "When a school has a bad name or a losing complex, it's sometimes a difficult thing to overcome. There was a time when we couldn't even interest kids in the building to come out for the sport." t. MtWrHHVlriiltf r-' i Mackenzie Whips Mumford, 82-63, for 15th in Row Lakeview's Keith Leaves Mark on Ice They are 4-4 in league play and 4-8 overall. Vincent Rush added 14 points to the winning total.

Larry Belin's 21 topped Pershing, which fell to 2-12 overall. NORTHWESTERN 84, SOUTHWESTERN 69: A big second quarter did it for the Colts as they rolled to a 49-25 halftime edge and had no problem thereafter. Alan Hardy's 19 points topped the winners and Cleveland Jackson contributed 18. Hardy hauled in 14 caroms. Ron Gree's 20 led Southwestern, which finished 4-6 in the league.

The Colts are 7-3 in PSL action and 12-3 overall. MARTIN LUTHER KING 91, NORTHERN 61: The Crusaders took command in the second quarter to win their 10th against six losses (4-4 in the PSL). Junior forward Don-zell Graham singed the cords for 39 points to lead all scorers. Teammates Dennis Portis and Grady Wicker added 16 and 14, respectively, to the Crusaders' total. Calvin Williams' 24 and George Coley's 18 were high for the Eskies, who are 1-7 in the league.

Free Press Photo bv HUGH GRANNUM It's a draw as Frank Chris (44) of Mumford and Mackenzie's Gerald Sims (15) fight for the ball. The Stags had the overall edge, however, as they won Friday afternoon's game, 82-63. one Roberts Not A In Fame Vo Keith Zoldak Lakeview High was my favorite. We repeated at Portland, the next year. But it goes both ways.

"WE LOST the state bantom finale to Slazors, 5-4, two years ago. I hit the crossbar with 10 seconds left. "We always had trouble with them. We beat them, 1-0, during the regular season. After the game we shake hands.

Our goalie aimed higher and punched a guy. I jumped on a guy, too. Play safe." Keith also performs with the school golf team, but the rub of the green never will supplant the joy for the red, which signals a goal. Nothing could be sweeter. le Beef Unbeaten Mackenzie High, the state's No.

2-ranked Class A basketball team, rolled to an 82-63 victory Friday over Mumford. It was the Stags' 15th straight win and their 10th without tarnish in the Detroit Public School League. Mackenzie put four starters in double figures to counter a two-man punch by Mumford. Brian Conaway's 27 for the Mustangs led all scorers and teammate Darryl Bryant added 25. But the Stags had a 22-point output from Gerald Sims, 16 from Michael Gray and 14 each from Daid Ousley and sophomore center Rich Johnson.

Johnson, starting in place of Terry Neal who is out with a knee injury had 20 rebounds. Neal is expected to be back in action next weekend for the Public School League playoffs. CASS TECH 54, SOUTHEASTERN 51: The No. 1-ranked Technicians (11-1 overall and 9-1 in PSL play) avenged their only loss of the season. Cass held a nine-point edge at halftime and then staved off a second-half rally by the Jungaleers, who slipped to 10-4 for the season.

William Mayfield had 10 of his game-high 16 points in the first quarter for Cass. Teammate Rod Curry added 14. The Jungaleers were led by Allen Mann's 14 and Cleo Hayes' 12. COOLEY 75, CODY 65: The Cardinals out-scored Cody by a 14-4 margin over the last three minutes to win their second against 13 losses. Wendell Jackson had 17 for the win-, ners and Gary Steinman tallied 18 for the Comets, who slipped to 2-11 overall.

HENRY FORD 78, REDFORD 69: The Trojans outscored the Huskies by 32-19 in the middle quarters to coast home for win No. 7 in 10 league frays. They are 9-7 overall. Greg Kelser had 23 points for the Trojans to lead all scorers and Aaron Fowler added 18. Fred Brockington registered 20 for the Huskies.

FINNEY 88, OSBORN 59: The Highlanders came from behind in the second quarter, established a 39-33 halftime advantage and blew it open in the final 16 minutes. Earl Cureton was the big gun for Finney with 32 points, while Dave Cochran tallied 16. Charles Ross was best for the Knights with 18. Finney, second in the northeast division at 5-3, is 10-5 overall. CENTRAL 89, CHADSEY 64: The Trail-blazers had little problem winning their seventh against three losses in the PSL.

Ken Anderson's 21 and Mike Harden's 20 paced the winners, while David Black had 17 for Chadsey, winless in league play. MURRAY-WRIGHT 76, WESTERN 65: The Pilots clinched the Southwest Division title and earned a trip to Cobo next Saturday for the PSL playoffs. Robert King led the winners with 23 points, 17 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Michael Davis added 17 points for the winners. Clint Clark's 20 points was high for Western.

DENBY 56, PERSHING 50: Six-foet-10 center Stuart House racked up 31 points, 27 rebounds and seven blocked shots to h-ad the Tars to their third straight PSL triumph. BY MORRIS MOORAWNICK Free Press Special Writer There's a big red mark circled around March 15 on Keith Zoldak's calendar this year. Zoldak, a 17-year-old senior at Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, hopes perhaps, even expects to be displaying his talents at the University of Michigan ice rink that day. The Wolverine arean is the site of the finals for the first annual state high school ice hockey tournament.

KEITH IS a soft-spoken co-captain for the Huskies' hockey team, which is rated Michigan's No. 1 prep power by the coaches. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound center makes up for his lack of size with skating finesse, superb stick handling, an accurate if not blazing shot and dogged back-checking on defense. Zoldak showed his potential as a sophomore by scoring one goal and assisting on two others in Lakeview's 3-2 triumph over Trenton for the Mayor's Tournament Trophy which signifies the unofficial state champion. In 1974, Keith captained the Huskies to the Michigan Metro League title with 18 goals and 18 assists in 14 games.

This season, he has blinked the red light for 22 goals and added 16 assists to spark Lakeview to 15 straight victories. For his efforts, Zoldak has been named the Free Press Prep Star of the Week. KEITH, CALLED K.Z. by fellow players, is a mild soul who rarely raises his voice. Except to brother Perry.

Kinship commands special conversation. "He is a junior at school just a smart aleck," Zoldak said. "He plays right wing on my line a little bit smaller than "me and loves to tease. We jaw all the time. "He slaps me and runs.

If 1 score a goal, he says I should have passed to him. We call him a puck hog. Of course, if someone goes after him, I get involved. It's the same the other way, too." Once in a while, Keith gets his dander up. "Our team doesn't have to be coaxed," Zoldak said.

"We lead the league in penalties. We played South Lake earlier this month and had 98 minutes. I took six minors myself. "A defenseman slashed me. We wrestled on the ice and got roughing penalties.

I was relieved. I though I'd get a fighting major. That means a one-game suspension. And the coach gets upset." THE FOR captain, on Keith's jersey entitles him to question a referee's judgement. As an official himself he works midget games three times a week the Lakeview leader protects his teammates.

Last year his zeal got the better of him. "We beat Ann Arbor Pioneer, 7-5," Zoldak said, "but I didn't see the finish. "We led, 4-2, in the second period I scored all four goals and the ref gives me a misconduct. He skated by me at the end of the period. I implied he was favoring the other team.

I was gone with another misconduct. "My brother called me a jerk. I slapped him on the helmet. Yes, I was mad." Keith has numerous trophies at home, testimony to his skill. He has played on championship tams in seven of his nine years at the sport.

"We won the Pee Wee national title at Edina, in '69-70," Zoldak said. "That Greg Lloyd George Popa BY MILTON RICHMAN UPI Sports Editor NEW YORK-(UPI)-Lets" get one thing straight right off. If ever anybody deserves to be in Baseball's Hall of Fame, it's Robin Roberts. He did everything he was supposed to do and then some. He worked in the salt mines and toiled in the vineyards for the Philadelphia Phillies mostly, plugging away doggedly at his trade for 19 years.

He was a 20-game winner six consecutive years and had the same incredible control over a baseball Muhammad Ali has over a listening audience. He was a perfect gentleman with it all in that never once did he make a pitch with- WHAT I'M TRYING to say is that Robin Roberts gets my vote for the hall of fame every year. He's going to keep getting it as long as I keep voting because, to me, anyway, he belongs in there with baseball's elite the same way Bob Lemon does, but I also think he should ease up and relax a little. He shouldn't allow himself to get carried away by some of his more fervent Philade-phia well-wishers, who are so upset over his missing out by a mere nine votes in this last election that they're calling the balloting a poll-ish joke and throwing around hints that maybe the vote isn't on the up-and-up because only one man, Jack Lang, secretary of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, counts the balllots in a closed room. Next thing you know, someone's going to claim the voting is rigged, and I can just hear Babe Ruth laughing and saying, wherever he is, "those guys down there are never gonna get to heaven that way." If anybody has a license to holler about the voting, it seems to me Bob Lemon has, but he never does.

TAKE A LOOK at some of his figures. He pitched only 13 years, six less than Robin Roberts, and was a 20-game winner seven times, one more time than Roberts, who Ruffing, Wes Ferrell and Don pitched six years longer. Moreover, Lemon was one of the finest hitting pitchers ever, a fellow who ranked with Charlie Ruffing, Wes Ferrell and Don Newcombe in that department, and was an exceptional fielder as well. He has been waiting much longer to get into the Hall of Fame than Roberts, having retired as an active player in 1958, eight years before Roberts did. Understandably, Robin Roberts is getting a little anixous.

He sees a fellow like Ralph Kiner make it and he remembers that Kiner was among the top 10 hitters in the league average-wise only twice. He doesn't knock Kiner's election, but he thinks, and again Detroit Sparks Host Cleveland The Detroit Sparks will meet the Cleveland Comets in a pair of wheelchair basketball games this weekend. The first game will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at Dearborn High School. The two teams will meet again at 1 p.m.

Sunday at Strong Junior High School in Melvindale. it's perfectly understandable, what about me? ROBERTS SAYS he questions whether those writers voting now actually know the records and backgrounds of the players they're voting for. He says maybe they should condense the size of the voting group, make it smaller, and select a neutral committee to get up a summary of each player and include it with the ballot. Robin Roberts wonders about the current writers. This isn't anything new.

Ballplayers have wondered about writers for years and years, and writers in turn have wondered about ballplayers. From my observation, both have a lot to wonder about. When he's elected, Robin Roberts will think the writers are great. Well, good, anyway. I KNOW IT'S a little difficult, especially when he's this close, but Robin Roberts simply will have to be a little patient.

He has always enjoyed reading books and if I may, I'd suggest he read the book Ecclesiastes from the Old Testament, particularly that portion which goes like this: "There is a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance a time to love and a time to hate." Robin Roberts'- time for being elected to the Hall of Fame simply hasn't come yet. It will, beyond question. Probably like Ralph Kiner laid, next year. Free Press Salules George Popa, Cranbrook George Popa was Mr. Zero for the Cranbrook High soccer team this past fall.

The 5-foot-ll, 160-pound goalie permitted only eight goals in 14 games while posting six shutouts in the North Suburban Soccer League, and was accorded an All-American citation this week. The husky but agile 17-year-old senior is being recruited by several schools in the Ivy League for future play. Greg Lloyd, Lans. East Greg Lloyd, a 1974 second-term Free Press All-State basketball selection from Lansing Eastern, has his eyes set on the top slot in 1975. The 17-year-old Quaker senior hit 22 of 35 floor shots and seven of nine free throws for 51 points in a 109-63 romp over Lansing Catholic Central last week.

Lloyd, a )WJ-pound is averaging more than 32- points per game in 13 games this season. Grid Playoffs? By the Associated Prut High school principals throughout Michigan are expected to receive questional res asking their opinion of proposed high school football playoffs. "It'll be the principals who'll really decide there'll be play-offs," says Dick Comar, publicity director for the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association. He said the results will be presented at the March 21 meeting of the representative council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association..