"I wasn't worried about scratching. I was just trying to go all out,"
Brownlee said, as he stepped to the ring for his sixth and final throw
in the rain-delayed Class 4A discus finals at Clark Field.

The Pecos Eagles' senior had thrown 166-foot-1 on his next-to-last
throw, and trailed only LaMarque's Corey Middleton, who had gotten off a
pair of 176-foot-2 throws in his first five attempts.

That was still six feet below Brownlee's season-best mark, so a gold
medal wasn't out of the question. And after Navasota's John McGinty
failed to beat Brownlee's mark, second place was assured.

But on a wet a muddy night, Brownlee saw his final attempt go off too
early, sailing off to the right side and skidding into the 160-foot
distance marker.

"It just slipped out of my hand," he said following the event, which was
delayed 4½ hours due to the rain which didn't end until after sunset in
Austin. "I didn't get a good grip on it, and it just slipped straight
down."

With the gold assured, Middleton went up and made the final throw in
Class 4A this season the best, sailing the discus 186-foot-4 to add on
to his winning margin.

"I was just really fatigued all day," said Brownlee, who flew into
Austin on Friday morning. "My legs were tired, and I couldn't get it out
there like I could in practice.

"I'm happy in got second, I'm just disappointed I couldn't get off my
best throw of the year."

Middleton and Brownlee were expected to battle for both the discus and
shot put gold medals. But in the other event - which actually did run on
time - neither ended up with a medal, with Brownlee losing out on the
bronze to Flour Bluff's Brandon Rodriguez by _-inch on his final throw,
57-foot-7½ to 57-6_.

The rain did let up slightly during the mid-afternoon shot put event,
and compared to the District 4-4A and Region I-4A meets, where Brownlee
took first in both events, the drizzle and low-60s temperatures were
balmy by comparison.

"I felt like the weather would play in our favor, but the young man from
Kilgore got off a good throw early, and when you do that you build your
confidence up," coach Mike Ferrell said, after Jamar Toombs got off the
best throw in the opening round, and followed it up with a 59-foot-11
effort in the finals, the top throw in Class 4A this year.

El Paso's Tony White, who Brownlee beat out for the gold on his final
throw at regionals, took second with a 57-11 effort, while Brownlee was
able to pass Middleton, who finished fifth with a 56-foot-10.

"Bryan was unable to get a big throw early, but he came through with his
last put, when he could have laid down and settled for fifth or sixth
place," Ferrell said. "I'd still believe Bryan is the best in the state,
and I'd be willing to go to battle with him, anytime, anyplace."

Brownlee's 12 points tied Pecos with Big Spring in the final standings,
as the Steers got a pair of third place finishes from Tory Mitchell in
the 100 and 200 meter dashes. District and regional champion Andrews
finished with 16 points, thanks to Erik Lujan's win in the 800 meters
and his third place in the 400 meters, while Sweetwater scored 10
points, thanks to Robert Reed's gold medal in the triple jump.

Jasper won the boys Class 4A title with 64 points, while Dallas Lincoln
took the girls division with 50 points. Former Eagle Tamika Gardner,
competing in the Class 3A girls triple jump for Rusk, won third with a
37-7¼ effort. The only District 4-4A points in the girls division also
came in that event, where Big Spring's Jaclyn Owusu placed third with a
37-7½ effort.

Jordan steals Hawks' comeback win hopes

He realizes the legs grow weary a little quicker than they used to -
especially when he has to play two days in a row. Jordan conserves his
energy for those moments when it counts most.

Like the fourth quarter.

Scottie Pippen carried Chicago for three quarters Sunday, helping the
Bulls build a 22-point lead over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 of the
Eastern Conference semifinal. Jordan assumed a supporting role, sneaking
a rest while Pippen dominated the game on his way to 26 points, eight
rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

But when Pippen and the rest of the Bulls did a disappearing act in the
final period, it was left to Jordan to ensure the Bulls remained on
track for their fifth championship in seven seasons.

Jordan scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and Chicago
held off the Hawks for an 89-80 victory and a 3-1 lead. The Bulls can
close out the best-of-7 series when it shifts back to the United Center
on Tuesday night.

``Scottie was the standout, no question,'' Chicago coach Phil Jackson
said. ``Michael pitched in, especially down the stretch. Michael really
picks his spots. He paces himself well in the back-to-backs.''

This was the Jordan of old - not the Jordan who was starting to look
old earlier in the series. He floated through the air on a couple of
improbable shots that brought a wide grin to the face of His Airness, as
if he's still amazed at himself after all these years.

``Scottie set the tone,'' Jordan said. ``I like to finish it up.''

Trailing by as many as 24 points in the second half, the Hawks put
together a 16-2 spurt that brought them to 83-80 in the final minute.
But Jordan hit two free throws, Ron Harper made two more and Jordan
closed it with a steal and dunk.

``We didn't quit in the fourth quarter,'' said Hawks center Dikembe
Mutombo, who accused his teammates of doing just that in 100-80 loss in
Game 3 Saturday. ``I think the Chicago Bulls really learned something
about us today. We didn't quit and we're not going to quit on Tuesday.''

Rockets 110, SuperSonics 106

In Seattle, rookie Matt Maloney hit eight 3-pointers and Charles
Barkley scored seven of his 26 points in overtime to give the Rockets a
3-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal. The Rockets needed the
overtime after Barkley missed two free throws with 11 seconds left in
regulation and Hersey Hawkins hit a 3-pointer.

Maloney, who equaled his career playoff high with 26 points, gave
Houston a 108-106 lead with his 3-pointer with 37 seconds left in
overtime.

Gary Payton led Seattle with 27 points.

Knicks 77, Heat 73

In New York, Patrick Ewing blocked Tim Hardaway's 3-point attempt with
three seconds left to preserve the victory. The Knicks made only five
field goals in the fourth quarter and none in the final 6:20, but they
held Miami to just two baskets over the final 12 minutes and zero points
in the final 2:50.

Ewing led New York with 25 points and 11 rebounds and outplayed his
counterpart, Alonzo Mourning, for the third straight game. Mourning had
14 points and seven rebounds and was not a factor in the fourth quarter.

Voshon Lenard led Miami with 22 points, but he did little after going
4-for-4 on 3-pointers in the first quarter to help the Heat open an
early 12-point lead.

(Copyright 1997 by The Associated Press)

State and Regional Sports Pages--San Angelo Standard-Times

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