Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 14

persectional roundup 77 Class AA su Wednesday, March IS, 1172 Mattoon Journal Gazette 15 re CHAMPAIGN, 111. (AP) -Thornridge's mighty Falcons led a host of favorites into the, quarter-finals of the Class AA Illinois State High School Basketball Tournament night. The eight finalists will vie for Hinsdale Central, ranked No. 2, spanked ambitious Lyons of LaGrange 66-59 and third-rankled Quincy moved past Kankakee Eastridge 76-70. 1 The mild upset of the opening round came at Evanston where the host team ousted fourth-ranked fortoMg-fi2-60; 69 victory over Mascoutah.

with the help of 18 Alleman turnovers. Paul Maras led Peoria with 20 points. Collinsville added some nostalgia to the tournament with its victory over Mascoutah. Rich Knarr scored 29 points for the Kahoks. More important was ihe.facL.that VirgLL Fletcher recorded his 599th career victory.

Quincy, the No. 3 team in the state, ousted Kankakee Eastridge as Larry Moore scored 27 points. The game was tight entering the fourth quarter before Moore scored a basket to put Quincy ahead to stay at 54-53. Thornridge didn't break a sweat, as usual, in eliminating Lockport Central as the Falcons rolled to their 51st straight victory and 30th of the season. Five players scored in double figures with Boyd Batts leading theattaekwittnriwintSrGreg Rose had 17 and Quinn Buck-tier, considered one of the most sought-after athletes in the nation, added 15.

Aurora East also had an easy time in supersectional action. The Tomcats had six players in double-figures as they eliminated Conant by shooting a snappy .551 from the field. Greg Smith paced East Aurora with 23 points. One of the major upsets in the first round was Evanston's triumph over North Chicago. Joe Wharton led the Wildkits with 22 ixrints und hita painrf free throws with five seconds to play to provide the winning margin.

Evanston held a 48-44 lead after three quarters and North Chicago finally tied the game at 60-all on a three-point play by Gerald Coleman with 22 seconds to play. Wharton then came through with his free throws to win the game and advance Evanston to Champaign Jor the quarterfinals with a 17-8 record. At Chicago, Crane moved on by smashing upstart Marshall asNateWilliamsscored26v points. It marked thflrst time the Chicago Public League champions advanced to Champaign without having to qualify elsewhere. Crane takes a 26-4 record to Champaign.

The results left the following lineup for the quarter-final round at Champaign Friday: Thornridge, 30-0, vs. Collins-ville 20-9; Evanston 17-8, vs. Peoria Manual, 24-6; Hinsdale Central, 26-2, vs. Aurora East, cy, 26-4. One of the toughest games expected in the first round was the game between Manual and Alleman.

Manual topk an early lead and was ahead 29-23 at the half rflnethe-UniversitjroHl linois Assembly Hall beginning Friday. Thornridge posted its 51st straight victory and 30th of the season by smashing Lockport Central 74-46 Tuesday in super-sectional competition. East advanced with an easy 93-53 victory over Con-ant, Peoria Manual upended Rock Island Alleman 61-51, Crane dumped Marshall at Chicago 75-63 and Collhjsville retained its reputation with a 78- cords 51st straight victory imrnriaa i Duane Thomas: Class A A On the hall I'm going to be my own man 1 By Jim Kimball ment attributed to Dallas coach i rector a and Coach Lan-Tom Landry after the Super i dry "a plastic man." Ll i las' Lincoln High School, Floyd I Iglehart, one of the few people he trusts. Also on hand was Al Tabor, Iglehart's coach at Wi "When I signed with the Cow Remember who won state (First In 2-Part series) By WILL GRIMSLEY AP Special Correspondent DALLAS (AP) "I'm going to be my own man," Duane Thomas said. "I'm not going to beg for something I worked for.

I am optimistic. But if they don't dig me, well, the hell with 'em." The normally mysterious, tight-lipped running star of the champion Dallas Cowboys took a long, hard look at his controversial role in professional football today and talked about it. He talked freely. 'I almost reached the point of putting an end to my career," he said. The man who has been uncommunicative for months and became known as "The Sphinx" unburdened himself of the frustrations, misunderstandings and disillusionments that can beset a naive black athlete coming out of the ghetto into the wheeling and dealing world of big time sports.

It was an exclusive interview with The Associated Press the first such interview since well before this 6-1, 220-pound powerhouse from Dallas' tough South Side had helped carry the Cowboys through a championship season and to a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl. "Football's not the only job in the world," he added. "If I have to go back from scratch and build over again and go into something else, okay, then it has to be that." The interview took place in' the neat, suburban home of Thomas' former coach at Dal- fskli Jill Itef A 1 itr mjJSSmJ I Bill Tate, Jack Record Point leaders against Paris Twenty-five years ago this month Paris bombed Champaign 58-37 in the title game of the Sweet Sixteen in old Huff Gym to reign as Illinois high school basketball-champion. To some longtime local cage fans that year will always hold special significance. For it well could have been Mattoon's Green Wave taking the final bows.

Mattoon came within a whisker of upsetting mighty Paris in the Charleston Sectional title game played at EIU's old Lantz Gym. The Tigers prevailed 36-34. Green Wave coach Bur-chard Horton was quoted as saying afterwards, "If we'd won that one, we could have won the state." Paris' stormy coach Ernie Eveland amitted to reporters following his club's convincing win over the Ted Beach-led Champaign team, "Mattoon gave us the toughest battle of the season." Members of that Green Wave team were Jack Record, a sophomore standout; Dick Upton, Ron Haddock, Reg Tate, Gene Cornell, Bill Tate, Paul Cisna, Carl Dilsaver, Al Bartels and Gaydon Brandt. Following is the game story of that memorable Mattoon-Paris game as written by former JG sports Editor John Miller: "For 31 minutes Friday night a frenzied mob of cage fans saw a magnificent bunch of youngsters from Mattoon outplayxoutpass and outscore the mighty Paris basketeers only to losXthe Charleston Sectional championship and a berth in the state's Sweet Sixteen, 36-34, when the Tigers' famed tournament luck flashed on the last minute of the game. "Mattoon fans were amazed when Mattoon went out in-front as the game started and stayed there most of the time while throttling and bottling the vaunted Paris offensive.

"Marshall Cummins, a substitute, forward, provided the winning spark for Paris after Bob Owens, tall and spectacular Negro center, was banished from the game for slamming a punch to the jaw of Reg Tate, Green Wave pivot man, in the first minute of the final quarter." Jack Record had wiped out a 24-19 lead in the third quarter with three baskets as Mattoon poured through nine consecutive points to hold a 28-24 third quarter lead. tourney shorts CHAMPAIGN, 111. (AP) Pairings and records for the quarter-final round of the Class AA Illinois High School Basketball Tournament: 12:15 p.m. Thornridge, 30-O, vs. Collinsville, 20-9.

1:45 p.m. Evanston, 17-8, vs. Peoria Manual, 24-6. 7 p.m. Hinsdale Central, 26-2, vs.

Aurora East, 26-3. 8:45 p.m. Crane, 26-4, vs. Quincy, 264. CHICAGO (AP) Eight officials, highest rated for their work in regional tournaments, were named Wednesday for the Class AA High School basket-ball championships at Champaign this weekend.

The whistleblowers for the Champaign session, announced by Harry Fitzhugh of the Illinois High School Association? include: Robert C. Burson, Western Springs; Daniel F. Davey, Elgin Richard t. Deitz, McLeansboro; Thomas J. Fra-ngella, Orland Park; Robert Freels, Centralia; Otho T.

Kortz, Oak Lawn; Richard A. Leiber, LaGrange, and L. Cal Pepore, Chicago. CHAMPAIGN, 111. (AP) The eight supersectional games played Tuesday night in the Class AA Illinois State High School Basketball Tournament drew a total of 46,705 fans.

The Carbondale game drew the biggest crowd at 9,000 followed by Normal with 8,600. Peoria was third with 7,300. CHAMPAIGN, 111. (AP) A tight race is expected for the individual scoring honors in the Class AA Illinois High School Basketball Tournament. Following the first round, Rich Knarr of Collinsville was in front with 29 points.

Larry Moore of Quincy was second with 27 and Nate Williams of Crane was third with 26. Jim Flynn of Hinsdale and Greg Smith of East Aurora were tied with 23 each followed by Joe Wharton of Evanston with 22. Paul Maras of Peoria Manual had 20 and Boyd Batts of Thornridge 18. Class AA Supersectionals At Aurora Hinsdale C. 66, LaGrange Lyons 59 At Carbondale Collinsville 78, Mascoutah 69 At Crete Thornridge 74, Lockport 46 At DeKalb Aurora East 93, Conant 53 At Evanston Evanston 62, N.

Chicago 60 At Normal Quincy 76, Eastridge 70 At Peoria Manual 61, Alleman 51 Chicago Public League Crane 75, Marshall 63 NAIA tourney scores 7 ByJTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS NAIA at Kansas City First Round Belhaven, 75. Quin-nipiac, 64 Adams 78, Willamette, Ore. 65 boys, Brandt put his arm. around my shf ulder and said. 'Don't worry, we'll take care of Thomas related.

"It was the middle of last season that I found out I had a poor contract I went to Brandt and asked him to renegotiate. I knew they had torn up contracts before. But he had lost all memory. "I went to Schramm (Tex Schramm, General manager). He said.

'Sorry, boy, you're I figured they didn't dig me. I wasn't the stereotype passing type of nigger who comes in and says, 'Please, Mr. White Man, do this for Then came the mid-summer trade to the New England Patriots. "I wish you had been with me just to see the expression on their faces," Thomas said. "It was as if they had been pre-conditioned for me.

"They didn't even send all my records up there. The coach (John Mazur) told me to take a three-point stance. That was just a little tribute they wanted. "It didn't make any difference. I was a running back.

It made no difference if I had done the job on my eyebrows. Three days later they came to me and told me to leave." Thomas came home a more embittered man. That's when he entered into his shell. "They're trying to brainwash and castrate a person's life," he said. "I said, If this is happening to me, whom they consider a super star, can you image what those other guys are going through?" mother good one, that It wasn't a bunch of misfits," Holcomb continued.

"The next move is up to him. I don't plan to try and contact him anymore." Thorobreds set sights on NAIA title KANSAS CITY (AP) Lucias Mitchell, the natily dressed coach of Kentucky State's defending champions, served notice today the Thorobreds have their sights set on a third National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics basketball championship. "We believe we can win it again if we play like we have been lately," Mitchell said. We're not as big and physical on the boards as we were last year but we're much quicker and we shoot a lot better." The Thorobreds are 24-5 and have a 14-game winning streak, Walks out on White Sox Richie Allen goes Bowl that Thomas would have to change his attitude if he hoped to play with the Cowboys. "If he said that, I think it is a i dishonest." Thomas said.

"There is nothing wrong with my attitude. My attitude is a winning attitude. "I never go around and complain about him (Landry) not talking." One of Thomas' problems with the Dallas administration has concerned his contract, which is well below that of other super stars in the National Football League and none in the Dallas football hierarchy denies super star status. Yet, according to a source close to Thomas (he declines to elaborate on money matters), Duane signed a three-year contract with base pay of only to be raised only to $22,000 next season, the third year of the agreement. According to friends, Thomas not only was committed to an inferior contract but was persuaded to sign over power of attorney to his agent, who later was dismissed.

Thomas, whose mother and father had died while he was in college and whose two brothers suffered accidents and costly ailments, found himself entrenched in debt and with a restricted source of income. Although he blames the agent rather than the Dallas front office for this financial plight, it was undoubtedly this pressure which provoked Duane's unusual press conference last July in which he called Gil Brandt, the Cowboys player personnel di- home to he's going to play for us." Allen, departing the Sox hotel carrying his Dodger suitcase, said: "We're miles apart. Nowhere close. I'm not going to talk to Holcomb anymore. There's no use.

I'm going home to mother's." The only Sox player to talk to Allen was outfielder Pat Kelly, long friendly with Richie. "I went to his room to say hello," said Kelly. "He looked great andssaid he had a good winter." Kelly said Allen agreed to meet him for dinner at 6 p.m., but that was before Allen's walkout on Holcomb. Holcomb was asked to ex plain Allen's aversion to being a "public relations man" for the White Sox. "We bad a pleasant dis cussion, but he just wants more than we will pay," said Hol-lomb.

"There is no way at this stage we would free him to deal with another club. One of his complaints was that over the last few years in St. Louis and Los Angeles he was just being used as a gate attraction to sell tickets. He felt it would be the same way in Chicago." Holcomb said he told Allen, whose career has been stormy on and off the field since he was National League Rookie' of the Year for the Philadelphia Phils in 1964, that "we want you as a for jwUiing helse.V "I told him he' would be with a professional club that was a NBA Tuesday'i Results Milwaukee 109, Portland 98 Seattle 115, Chicago 111 -Los Angeles 129, Detroit 116 Cleveland 127, Baltimore 118, ot Buffalo 108, Philadelphia 105 New York 115; Atlanta 107 Boston 124, Golden State 110 Only games scheduled 25 years ago? iff to end the scoring. With 35 seconds remaining, Paris stalled.

"Owens, who was presented with the sectional tournament trophy by Coach Eveland after the game, was high for Paris with 11 points. Bill Tate got the same total for Mattoon," Miller wrote. Other Mattoon pointmakers were Jack Record Dick Upton Ron Haddock Reg Tate 4 and Gene Cornell 6. For Paris, John Wilson netted Gene Vietor Don Glover Morris and Cummins 3 each; Beeson and Max Wilson one apiece. The Green Wave hit 12 of 16 free throws in the game while Paris, which held a 14-11 basket edge, sank 8 of 13 charity tosses.

Mattoon had earned the sectional title game with a first round 37-31 win over Pana before Paris clobbered Litchfield 83-27 to advance. At state, Paris whizzed past Beardstown 70-33; South Shore of Chicago 49-37 and Pin-ckneyville 57-50 prior to disposing of Champaign in easy fashion. Could Mattoon have enjoyed similar success? We'll never know, but it's fun for Wave fans to ponder the thought anyway. Mattoon compiled a 22-7 record that season, including three losses to Champaign by 49-30, 57-50 and 55-44 scores. sociation attorney Larry Flei-sher, of the possibility the players refuse to play next season." The Royals said they would play 21 games in Kansas City and-HLhome games in each of the othenxities.

"None of us are haDDV." Van Arsdale said-terateani you're never home, man," said'center Sam Lacey. Another question still to be answered is the future of Coach Bob Cousy. Royals attorney Ambrose Llndhorst said that no decision has been, made on whether the former Boston Celtics star will remain at the Royals helm. Axelson indicated the club wants to retain Cousy, saying, "I think I can talk him into ley College, Duane insisted that his two friends be present. Thomas talked in a low, subdued voice.

He proved not only articulate iut even eloquent at times. Yet his words carried the ring of disillusionment. Obviously, he felt he was a man who had been discriminated against, lied to and cheated to the point that he had little trust left for anyone. Thomas said his months of silence were self-imposed and not traceable to any outside source, such as former Cleveland great Jim Brown, as had been reported. "It's not that I have anything against reporters," he explained.

"I just don't like people because of their being narrow-minded on things." The powerfully built "halfback, still speaking in a low key, said he felt he received unfair criticism because of his long silence. "You know, it takes different people to make up the world," he added. "There are some guys on the team who enjoy meeting the press, who get a kick out of being before a television camera. But not me. Because of my background, I don't particularly dig it.

"I didn't feel like talking. So I didn't talk. If I read the Constitution right, it gives me freedom to do as I please. There's no stipulation that says if you play football you have to talk. I don't get paid for talking.

I get paid to play football." For this reason, Thomas said he was disturbed by a state no part of the White Sox. The disconcerted Holcomb reported that Allen, after rejecting the highest salary in White Sox history, asked to be traded or given permission to deal with another club, and complained about being "used" as a gate attraction. Manager Chuck Tanner, doubted Allen had headed for his mother's home in Wampum, and felt the 30-year-old veteran had remained in the Sarasota area. "I know what he's thinking," said Tanner, "but I'm not concerned, "I'm sure Jeff Furry hopes to make a choice "sometime in late April." Only one of the five schools Furry is considering Is located in Illinois. Furry is the son of Mr.

and Mrs. Bernard Furry, 3209 Oak. SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) Richie Allen now has walked out on a major league baseball club whose uniform he hasn't even worn. The controversial slugger Tuesday rejected a reported $125,000 Chicago White Sox contract, asked to be traded and disappeared announcing, "I'm going home to mother's." Allen, acquired last winter from the Los Angeles Dodgers who paid him $105,000 in 1971, popped into camp 23 days late and then took only 15 minutes to tell General Manager Stu Holcomb, in effect, he wanted Five schools Miller said, "Record gave the Green Wave a six-point margin as the final chapter started, and then came the scramble which brought Owens' expulsion from the game.

"Both Owens and Reg Tate had gone to the floor and a foul was called on Tate, when they got to their feet, Owens hooked Tate and officials waved him off the floor to a seat beside Ernie Eveland, Paris coach. "Beason shot the free toss for Owens and made it and Mark Wilson added another to whittle the Green Wave lead to 30-26. Unable to penetrate for close' shots, Paris began firing from long range. "Don Glover connected and Bill -Tate countered with a rebound. Morris clicked for Paris on a long, long shot and Gene Vietor added a charity toss.

"Ron Haddock made a free toss and Mattoon was still ahead 33-31. "Glover hit another long One and the score was tied. Haddock got two fouls, missing the first and dropping the second through to give Mattoon- a 34-33 lead with a minute to go. "Paris got the ball out of bounds and Cummins took a long pass and a long shot which was good and the Tigers were ahead 35-34. Cummins added a free toss sas City for the 1972-73- season, spreading home games among St.

Louis, Omaha and the Mu- nicipal Auditorium here. The decision still awaits approval by the league. But Joe Axelson, the Royals executive vice president and gejaeralf manager, said the team ex-pectsjio-difficulty in getting it since attendance at Cincinnati has averaged only about 3,500 per game. However in the players said-late Tuesday they will refuse to play if the team management splits home dates among the three cities. Tom Van Arsdald, team captain, called the move "bush" and added, "The players are going to fight it." Van Arsdale said he had advised National Basketball Commissioner Walter Kennedy, through Players' As- Furry trims field Players against Royals splitting home dates among three cities including Tuesday-night's 118-68 rout of Minot, N.D., State in a Machine" Grant poked in a record-breaking 60 points.

Kentucky state's second round foe tonight is West Geor- gia, which needed an overtime AueustanaTiir. ira; AeameyTmooT-rfiins considerinirr By JIM KIMBALL JG Sports Editor Jeff Furry, Mattoon's highly-sought-after 6-foot-8, 220-pound cage star, has narrowed his lisUof college choices to five. Furry, who has received over 100 letters trom various schools and practically as many phone calls, according to his father, Bernard, wished to not make public the names of the five He did say. Tm interested in attending a medium-sized school and not a big one." The Jolly Green Wave Giant explained, "I want go where I feel I've got a good chance of playing." Distance from home will have no bearing on the final choice, according to Furry, who set new single game. (43) and season (643) scoring records at MHS this season.

Another factor in his decision will be "how w.ell I like the coaching staff." He period to defeat Northwestern of Iowa 7M9. Pittsburg, Kan-State advanced with a 98-75 triumph over Western Carolina KANSAS CITY (AP) The Cincinnati, nee Rochester, Royals are'It" again in-ihe- latest round of musical sports franchises. After 14 seasons in Cincinnati, the National Basketball Association club announced -plans-Tuesday to move to Kan- Frank Howard turns down $100,000 offer By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS According to the Texas Rangers, no one needs Frank Howard. The- large slugger returned his estimated $100,000 contract unsigned and owner Bob Short said. "That's, it.

as. far as the Rangers are con cerned. "We've exhausted all avenues of trade for Howard," manager Ted Williams disclosed. "No one apparently Deeds his services." ST7NebT96 West. Wash.

66, Findlay, Ohio 63 S.F. Austin 71, Hillsdale, Mich. 61 Kentucky St. 118, Minot, N.D. 68 W.

Georgia 73, NW. Iowa 69 Pittsburg, Kan. 98, Car. 75 ABA Tuesday's Results Virginia 156, Pittsburgh 133 Dallas 111, Carolina 105 Denver 123, Indiana 106 Only games scheduled in Tuesday night's other first round contest, Earlier Tuesday, Belhaven of Mississippi whipped Quinnipiac, 75-64; Augustana, outscored Kearney, State 103-96; Adams, State defeated Willamette, 7845: Western Washington nipped Findlay of Ohio 6643, and Stephen F. Austin downed Hills- dale, 71-61..