The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 1

o)r5 falRD EDITION Thursday, Dec. 29, 1988 The Pantagraph Q. XL SO fa DDs Coldl-shootimig 1 SPORTSWATCH iwaaiaait Dltka has had enough with injuries SUWANEE, Ga. Coach Mike Ditka said yesterday the Chicago Bears probably cannot afford another serious Injury to a key player. "We need all those guys.

We're down to the point minutes while Memphis State was reeling off 27. "We were totally inept as a shooting team except for Jarrod," said ISU coach Bob Donewald, whose team's record dropped to 36. "Jarrod was the only one to shoot with any consistency. "I thought we were too quick to shoot from the perimeter early. As time went on I thought we got more patient, but we were never able to establish an inside game." Coleman, whose points came mainly on jump shots 8 to 10 feet from the basket, finished with 20 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.

Coleman had 14 points in the first half. "He hit some shots early we didn't think he could hit," said Memphis State coach Larry Finch, whose team improved its record to 74. Memphis State's quickness and its fullcourt press compounded the Red-birds' woes. Both teams admitted to 20 turnovers, but Memphis State was abl.e to convert eight ISU turnovers into easy baskets. By BRYAN BLOOOWORTH Pantagraph sports editor KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

Illinois State University's basketball team disguised itself as the gang that couldn't shoot straight last night in the first game of the Volunteer Classic. The Redbirds made just 7 of 25 shots in the second half and managed only 17 points in dropping a 6845 decision to Memphis State. In the second game, No. 19 Tennessee defeated Miami (Ohio), 9433. ISU-Memphl8 State ISU, which plays Miami here tonight at 5:30, finished with a 36 percent shooting performance (18 of 50).

However, had it not been for Jarrod Coleman's 10 for 17 accuracy from the field, things would have been much worse. Subtract Coleman's statistics and ISU was 8 for 33 for 24 percent. The Redbirds, who trailed 41-37 with 13 ft minutes remaining, scored just six points on 3 of 14 shooting in the final 11 right now where we don't have that many people," Ditka told reporters after the Bears went through another practice for Saturday's NFL playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Chicago. The Bears have been riddled by injury all season and Ditka had worried that de Singletary named NFL's top defensive player. Story on B5.

Olympia shoots itself out of chance for title ISU scored off Just three Tiger turnovers. "Some of our turnovers were the result of good defense on their part, but some were Just a lack of concentration and purpose by our offense" added Donewald. "They're probably as quick as any team we've faced. They play very aggressively, but we never really exploited their press either. "When a team presses you're going to have a certain number of turnovers, but you're also going to have some scoring opportunities.

When you have those, you have to captitalize on them. We didn't do that. Against Southwest Missouri (a 55-51 ISU victory), we did." Coleman echoed Donewald's comments. "A press is easy to break if you concentrate and fill the spots. We didn't do that," said Coleman.

"Coach told us ahead of time what was going to happen tonight. We've had terrible practices all week and that's how we played the game. We lacked V1 7 fH-K. til 5 iXs TN A- V. i i A ii 5 fensive tackle Dan Hampton, with a sore knee, running back Neal Anderson and tight end James Thornton, both with sore legs, might not be able to play against the Eagles.

But yesterday, he said the three would be ready. 'The Fridge' still in Bears' plans SUWANEE, Ga. The Chicago Bears plan to offer William "The Refrigerator" Perry a new contract, but the decision could change, club President Michael McCaskey said. "Right now we plan to," McCaskey said when asked if the Bears would keep Perry. "But we will take that up after the season is over." Perry, who missed the Wisconsin phase of training camp because of an eating disorder, has been sidelined since breaking his left arm Sept.

18. He has rarely been seen by his teammates. Bill Tobin interested in Packers post GREEN BAY, Wis. Bill Tobin, the Chicago Bears' personnel director who is credited with helping build the Bears into a powerhouse, is interested in becoming president of the Green Bay Packers. "Sure, I'm interested.

That's the ultimate, to be in charge of a National Football League team," Tobin said in a phone interview yesterday with The Capital Times of Madison from the Bears' Suwanee, training site. Chicago, Philadelphia wager food PHILADELPHIA Forget the shot at the Super Bowl and megabucks. Forget the personality clash between the coaches. It's cbeesesteaks and cheesecakes at stake when the Philadelphia Eagles and Coach Buddy Ryan visit Chicago to meet the Bears and Ryan's old boss, Coach Mike Ditka, in a first-round NFC playoff game Saturday. Mayor W.

Wilson Goode put 10 Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwiches on the Eagles, and Chicago Mayor Eugene Sawyer has put five cheesecakes up against them. By JIM BENSON Pantagraph staff CLINTON Tim O'Donnell normally shoots 3-pointers like they're layups. So when O'Donnell drove toward the basket and missed a layup in the second half, Olympia High School coach Bill Gaddis said "it was only fitting." The top-seeded Spartans could not find the range against Warrensburg-Latham during last night's semifinal game in the Clinton Holiday Basketball Tournament. The Cardinals, weary from a tough afternoon victory, jumped out to a big lead against Olympia. When the Spartans rallied in the third quarter, Warrensburg-Latham put on another spurt and registered a convincing 7247 victory.

That put the Cardinals into tonight's 8 o'clock championship game against No. 2 seed Central Catholic. Rich Hager-ty's free throw with two seconds left lifted the Saints to a 4746 victory over Flanagan. In winners bracket games earlier yesterday, Flanagan stopped DeLand-Weld-on, 6447, and Warrensburg-Latham turned back Lewistown, 5344. Clinton advanced to the consolation championship game with a 4948 win over Springfield Ursuline.

Other action saw Decatur St. Teresa upend Blue Ridge, 5246; Tolono Unity down Argen-ta-Oreana, 5549; and Riverton defeat Peoria Heights, 61-39. Warrensburg-Olympia Its second game in 5ft hours took a toll on Warrensburg-Latham. Cardinal guard Greg Howell sat out most of the third quarter when he cramped up. Olympia, though, was suffering from worse pain like 37 percent field goal shooting (21 of 57) and 42 percent from the line (5 of 12).

The Spartans quickly scored the game's first two baskets. A rout was on, all right, but for Warrensburg-Latham, which ripped off the next 18 points. The Cardinals built the lead to 38-14 before Olympia cut the gap to 41-33 in the middle of the third quarter. The Spartans' Jason Marvel had a chance to trim the deficit to six, but missed a pair of free throws. Warrensburg-Latham steadily pulled concentration and didn't run our offense." Finch agreed the press was a major factor for the Tigers.

"I thought we played pretty good defense. We applied the pressure when it needed to be applied," said Finch. "One of my concerns coming into the game was the tempo. We didn't want to let Illinois State control the tempo and get us in a walking game. "We noticed when they've had success it's because they've been able to control the tempo.

We wanted an up tempo." ISU set the tempo early by making its first three shots to jump to a 7-2 lead with 17:19 remaining. However, the Redbirds made Just two of their next 10 shots and had five turnovers during the next 10 minutes to fall behind 18-12. Memphis State then went on a 9-2 run for a 27-14 lead with 6 minutes remaining. ISU managed to cut the deficit to Pis REDBIRDS, B5 I i)- mmA Taylor had 11 points each for Clinton. St.

Teresa-Blue Ridge Blue Ridge, 1-9, could hit only 34 percent from the floor. Jerry Wayne and Chad Morfey had 12 points each for the Knights. lllini foe wants to regain respect. Story on B5. Morris will be helped by having super sophomore Emmitt Smith to hand the ball to.

Smith, who missed two and a half games because of a knee injury, has averaged 109.8 yards rushing per contest when healthy. He gained a school record 1,341 yards last year and has 988 this season. He will be at full strength tonight. "When he's healthy he probably means about six first downs a game to us," Hall said. "He has great strength in his lower body and great speed and Notes lllini nose tackle Mo Gardner, hobbled late in the season by leg injuries, is expected to start.

Only tight end Jeff Finke, who recently underwent knee surgery, will miss the game. Illinois hopes to break an All American Bowl hex on Big Ten Conference teams. The Big Ten is winless in four previous games. 1 Jl ft y) t) Scurry nets cocaine charges RENO, Nev. Free agent pitcher Rod Scurry Tuesday was formally charged with possession and use of cocaine.

Scurry is free on $6,000 bail and faces a Jan. 5 Justice Court arraignment on the charges that were filed by the Washoe County District Attorney's office. The 32-year-old left-hander was arrested Thursday after he allegedly purchased $40 worth of crack, a rock form of cocaine, from a police informant in front of a house that had been staked out by police. AT CLINTON away again. Howell, a fine 6-foot-2 ballhandler, returned in the fourth quarter to hit seven free throws on his way to a game-high 21 points.

Olympia's record fell to 6-3 as its six-game winning streak was snapped. This also will be the first time in five years the Spartans, who won the title in 1984 and 1985, won't be in the championship game. "We played great' defense and our offense clicked," said Cardinal coach Victor Binkley. "We played with a lot of desire and intensity." Binkley's greatest worry was Olympia's match-up zone. But the Spartans switched to a man-to-man in the second half because they weren't getting out on the Cardinals' perimeter shooters.

"We stood around and watched," said Gaddis. i Central-Flanagan Hagerty made the first of two free throws to break a 46-all deadlock as the Saints held off gritty Flanagan, 7-3. The Falcons were without two of their best players guard Tod Falcomata and forward Jeff Weichman. Falcomata reinjured his knee against DeLand-Weldon, while Weichman hurt his ankle in Tuesday's game against Ursuline. Jon Forney, who paced Flanagan with 19 points, did his best.

He had four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, including one with 19 seconds left to tie the game. Hagerty led the Saints, 54, with 13 points. Flanagan-DeLand Falcomata went down in the second quarter with the Falcons trailing, 23-13. Suddenly, Flanagan came to life. The Falcons cut the margin to 26-23 at intermission and took control by outscor-ing the Eagles, 23-5, in the third quarter.

Forney tied DeLand-Weldon's Sean Reeder for game-high honors with 23 points. The Eagles dropped to 5. Warrensburg-Lewistown Howell scored 17 points as the Cardinals overcame 36 percent shooting. Lewistown, 44, received 22 points "lower my blood pressure." Perhaps, but even without Armstrong, Florida would have 19 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in its starting front three. Redshirt freshman Brad Culpepper would start at middle guard and Roth at tackle if Armstrong cannot play.

"They're a tremendous pass rush team, they play the run as well as ri I 1 1 n' if The PantaoraphSTEVE SMEDLEY DeLand-Weldon High School's Brad Wachob rebounded his own missed shot during second-quarter action against Flanagan in the Clinton Holiday Basketball Tournament yesterday. Also pictured from left to right are DeLand-Weldon's Matt Baker (53) and Flanagan's Jeff Delheimer and Marty Harrison (40). Flanagan won, 64-47. Florida front line concern for Mackovic, lllini Court lets Mascoutah athletes play MASCOUTAH Armed with court orders, Mascoutah's top scorer and a teammate played basketball after a judge temporarily put aside their team suspensions. Darrin Plab, averaging 18.3 points for the Indians, scored 18 Tuesday night and Terrence J.

Elmore added six in Mascoutah's 56-54 loss to Woodlawn in the Breese Mater Dei Holiday Tournament, in which University High is also participating. Plab, 18, and Elmore, 17, both seniors, were recently suspended from the team for violating district policies, said Athletic Director Jim Knott, who declined to describe the specific violations. A St. Clair County judge issued two restraining orders that block the suspensions until Friday. Nets place Lee on injured reserve EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.

The New Jersey Nets yesterday placed forward-center Keith Lee on the injured lisj for the second time this season. Lee, who missed all of last season with a leg injury, has a strained left calf muscle that has caused him to miss the last two games. He will have to sit out at least five games while on the injured list. Stern denies Hawks' protest NEW YORK NBA Commissioner David Stern yesterday denied the Atlanta Hawks' protest of their loss on Dec. 10 to the Denver Nuggets.

With about five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the Hawks trailing by three points, Denver's Lafayette Lever struck a missed Atlanta shot with his fist, which is prohibited by NBA rules, knocking the ball into the backcourt. The loose ball was retrieved by another Denver player as time expired. "Upholding a protest is an extreme measure, one which must be based on the misapplication of a rule by a referee as opposed to a simple error in Judgment or a poor performance," Stern said. From Pantagraph wlra aarvlcaa from Jim Evans. Clinton-Ursuline Brett Harris made the second of two free throws with two seconds left to give the Maroons their second victory in 11 decisions.

Matt Michel and Robb anyone would want, and they have excellent pass defenders," Mackovic said of the Gators, who rank fourth nationally in total defense at 247.8 yards per game. "They are the fastest defense we have played all year. We're going to need to be at our best offensively to handle their pass rush and handle the blitz of the linebackers and the secondary." Florida's secondary includes Ail-American free safety Louis Oliver, a former walk-on expected to go in the first round of the National Football League draft. Oliver Company will face an lllini offense led by senior running back Keith Jones, Illinois' leader in rushing, receiving and scoring, and sophomore quarterback Jeff George, who has completed 58 percent of his passes for 2,257 yards. "I think the difference between the two teams right now is that Jeff George is playing very well for them," Florida coach Galen Hall said.

"When he's hot, he's an exceptional player. "They have a very talented player at quarterback and ours (redshirt freshman Kyle Morris) is young and inexperienced." By RANDY KINDRED Pantagraph staff BIRMINGHAM, Ala. The University of Illinois football team gets a firsthand look at Florida's vaunted defensive line tonight in the All American Bowl at Legion Field. Coach John Mackovic already knows what his lllini will see in the 7 o'clock game, which will be televised nationally on ESPN. "They (the Gators' front three) are a combination of Michigan and Michigan State," said Mackovic, whose team lost to both Michigan schools during a 64-1 regular season.

"They have the speed and quickness of Michigan and the size and strength of Michigan State." Specifically, Florida has a first-team Ail-American in tackle Trace Armstrong, a second-team Ail-American in middle guard Jeff Roth and an all-Southeastern Conference player in tackle Rhondy Weston. The senior trio has produced 30 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback sacks for the 6-5 Gators, who are 5ft-point favorites. Armstrong, a 6-foot4, 270-pounder, is questionable because of a knee injury. If he does not play, Mackovic said it will.