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Daily Newspaper and Tourism Guide for Reeves County Trans Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

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Sports

Thursday, December 4, 1997

Eagles down, not out, at Crane Sports

PECOS, Dec. 4 -- The way the bracket was set up for this year's West
Texas Shootout in Crane, this morning's basketball game between the
Pecos Eagles and the Iraan Braves was more of a warmup game than an
actual tournament opener.

That's good news for the Eagles, as they came out on the short end of a
53-49 final score. But instead of being knocked into the loser's bracket
of the tournament, Pecos will hang around Crane all day, then face the
host Golden Cranes in an actual semifinal match, starting at 7 p.m.

It was the second narrow loss in just over a week by the Eagles to the
Braves, who erased a six-point halftime deficit in the third quarter,
then saw Pecos rally from seven points down in the fourth quarter.

"They jumped ahead 49-42, and we came back and tied it at 49 all with
about 30 seconds left, but I didn't have any time-outs," said Eagles'
coach Brian Williams. "We stole the ball twice, but we walked with it
once, and lost it the other time."

Iraan's Lane Hart was then fouled and sank both free throws, and would
hit two more in the final seconds, as the Eagles were unable to come up
with the tying basket.

"We're still having trouble in close games. We've got to learn when we
get the ball back to take advantage of it," Williams said. "Annette
Marquez hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and we never went back
to her. We also missed a few more lay-ups again today, and we missed
three free throws in the fourth quarter."

Lori Marquez led the Eagles with 16 points, while Marisol Arneivas had
10 for Pecos, which fell to 1-5 on the year. Crane, meanwhile, stands at
1-3 going into tonight's game, after a 51-46 loss to Wink on Tuesday.

A win tonight would send Pecos into an 8 p.m. semifinal game on Friday
against one of four teams --Fort Stockton, Kermit, Monahans or Fort
Davis. Iraan will likely face Seminole in their semifinal matchup Friday
afternoon. If Pecos loses tonight, they'll play in the consolation
semifinals, at 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Pecos' boys will begin tournament play in Odessa on Friday against El
Paso Austin at 1 p.m. The Eagles will then face Permian at 6 p.m. in the
round- robin tournament.

Bears split games, face Mustangs today

PECOS, Dec. 4 -- The Balmorhea Bears will take on the Marathon Mustangs
this afternoon in the first round of the Sanderson Tournament, after the
teams split their games Tuesday against the Valentine Pirates.

Playing in Valentine, Balmorhea's girls lost their first game of the
season, by a 39-36 final score, while the boys improved their record to
2-0 with a 77-64 victory over the Pirates.

"Both games were pretty close all the way," said girls' coach Ennis
Erickson. "The girls game was back and forth and nip and tuck, while in
the boys game we got ahead and stayed ahead most of the game, but they
would get close at times and then we would pull back ahead."

Balmorhea's girls will take a 2-1 record into their 3:30 p.m. game
against Marathon today, followed by the boys against the Mustangs at 5
p.m. Erickson said in addition to the Bears, Mustangs and the host
Eagles, the other teams entered include district rival Grandfalls, Wink,
Comstock, Fort Hancock and the Del Rio Rams' junior varsity squad.

Age group team swims at Midland meet

PECOS, Dec. 4 -- Pecos Age Group swimmers came up with a couple of first
place finishes on Nov. 22, in a `C' swim meet at the City of Midland
pool.

Sara Wein won first in the girls' 10 and under 50 freestyle, with a
40.86 time, Rebecca Wein won the 50 yard breaststroke in the girls'
11-18 division with a 41.62 time, and Cathy Minjarez took first in the
50 butterfly in the 10 and under group, with a 44.80 time.

For the boys, Will Oglesby won first in the 50 fly in the 11-18 year old
division, with a 36-30 time, while Matthew Oglesby won the 25 yard fly
in the 8 and under division, with a 26.24 time.

In other races for the boys, Will Oglesby was second in the 11-18
year-old 50 breaststroke and third in the 50 freestyle and 50
backstroke; Maxcey Key was fourth in the 11-18 division's 100 individual
medley, fifth in the 50 breaststroke and seventh in the 50 backstroke;
Matthew Oglesby was second in the eight and under 25 yard breaststroke
and third in the 50 free; Dane Daniel was fifth in the eight and under
50 free and sixth in the 25 fly;

Douglas Eichorst was sixth in the 10 and under 25 backstroke; Gabriel
Natividad was sixth in the 10 and under 50 free, seventh in the 50
backstroke and eighth in the 50 breaststroke and 100 individual medley;
Matthew Elliott was fifth in the 10 and under 50 fly and 50 backstroke,
seventh in the 100 medley, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 50
breaststroke; and Joshua Elliott was third in the 6 and under 25 free
and the 25 backstroke.

In other girls finishes, Rebecca Wein placed second in the girls 11-18
50 backstroke and third in the 50 butterfly and in the 100 individual
medley; Sara Wein was third in the 10 and under 25 fly fourth in the 100
medley and fifth in the 50 backstroke; Jessica Minjarez was sixth in the
girls 11-18 year-old 50 freestyle, 13th in the 100 medley, 14th in the
50 breaststroke, 15th in the 50 fly and 21st in the 50 backstroke;
Lauren Wein was eighth in the 11-18 100 breaststroke, 12th in the 50
free, 13th in the 50 backstroke, 15th in the 100 medley, 18th in the 50
fly and 17th in the 100 breaststroke in the girls open division;

Christina Clarey was 21st in the 11-18 50 free and 100 medley, 24th in
the 50 breaststroke and 32nd in the 50 backstroke; Sara Mincey was 21st
in the 11-18 50 breaststroke, 22nd in both the 50 free and the 50 fly
and 29th in the 50 back; Kelsey Flores was 20th in the 100 medley, 22nd
in the 11-18 50 free, 23rd in the 50 breaststroke, 25th in the 50 fly
and 27th in the 50 back;

Michelle Wein was third in the 50 breaststroke for girls 10 and under,
seventh in the 50 free and 100 medley, eighth in the 50 fly and 12th in
the 50 backstroke; Jessica Thompson was sixth in the 8 and under 25 yard
breaststroke, seventh in the 50 back and 11th in the 50 freestyle; and
Ashley Mendoza was fourth in the 10 and under 50 breaststroke, fifth in
the 100 medley, seventh in the 50 fly and 10th in the 50 backstroke.

Warriors terminates Sprewell's pact

By ROB GLOSTER
AP Sports Writer
OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 4 -- The Golden State Warriors' decision to
terminate the contract of their best player has little to do with
winning games or saving money. It simply was a matter of right and
wrong.

The Warriors terminated Latrell Sprewell's $32 million contract
Wednesday night, two days after he attacked coach P.J. Carlesimo at
practice and threatened to kill him. If successful in the termination,
the Warriors would avoid paying the approximately $24 million Sprewell
was scheduled to earn in the final three years of the four-year deal
signed before last season.

It was the first time an NBA player had his contract terminated for
insubordination. Two players, Roy Tarpley and Richard Dumas, had their
contracts voided because they violated the league's drug policy.

``Outrageous misconduct by players in professional sports has been
tolerated for too long,'' general manager Garry St. Jean said. ``We are
drawing the line. Some things are more important than winning or losing
games.''

Sprewell, a three-time All-Star and the team's leading scorer with 21.4
points per game, was notified of the termination in a letter sent by St.
Jean early Wednesday evening. The Warriors said the 27-year-old guard
would be placed on waivers within 48 hours.

``This wasn't an economical decision,'' St. Jean said at a hastily
assembled news conference following the Warriors' 95-67 loss to
Cleveland. ``This was a decision about morals and ethics and the right
thing to do.''

Sprewell's agent, Arn Tellem, could not be reached for comment. Bill
Hunter, director of the players union, said a grievance would be filed.

Sprewell, who will become a free agent if no team claims him off
waivers, said in an interview earlier Wednesday that he was prepared to
play outside the NBA if the Warriors and other teams shun him.

``I'll go overseas to play if I have to. And my life will go on if I
never play basketball again,'' he told the San Francisco Chronicle.
``Basketball didn't make me what I am. I'll be OK. I'll be man enough to
deal with whatever happens.''

In interviews with the Chronicle and KPIX-TV, Sprewell admitted making
a mistake, but did not apologize to Carlesimo, saying his attack on the
coach was provoked ``after a lot of verbal abuse by P.J.''

Sprewell was suspended for at least 10 games for the attack on
Carlesimo, in which he grabbed the coach by the neck and threatened to
kill him.

The game against the Cavs was the first game of that suspension. The
loss to Cleveland, in which Golden State scored just 10 points in the
fourth quarter, dropped the Warriors' record to 1-14 and left them
winless in six games at their newly remodeled Oakland Arena.

``We've got a lot of work to do,'' Carlesimo said. ``We had a lot of
work to do when we were 1-13. Perhaps we have more work to do now.''

Warriors players were told of Sprewell's termination after their loss
to Cleveland.

``Sprewell was our teammate and I treated Sprewell like he's part of my
family,'' guard Bimbo Coles said. ``I'm shocked. I just don't know what
to say.''

Earlier Wednesday, Sprewell spoke publicly for the first time since the
incident.

``I want to apologize to my fans, my family and friends of mine who saw
this. It's definitely not something that I condone, but it did happen.
And that's a mistake I made,'' Sprewell told KPIX.

``I think it's been known for some time now that we haven't been on
good terms. And it's been over a month or so now, and I just couldn't
take the verbal abuse that he's been giving all the guys over the past
month or so.''

Reports say Brown picked for UT post

By CHIP BROWN
AP Sports Writer
AUSTIN, Dec. 4 -- Texas is hoping North Carolina's Mack Brown can bring
both offense and defense to the Longhorns, who got offense and little
else from former coach John Mackovic.

Brown, like Mackovic, has an offensive background. But Brown has been
able to field strong defenses -- something Mackovic was unable to do.

Texas went 4-7 this season, and Texas allowed a record number of points
(33.2 per game). Six of the seven-worst single-season defensive
performances in Longhorns history came in his six-year tenure as coach.

While Mackovic also was criticized as being an aloof wine drinker in a
beer-guzzling state, Brown is known for his folksy charm, similar to
Texas Tech's Spike Dykes.

An announcement that Brown will succeed Mackovic, who was fired and
reassigned after the season, is expected no later than Saturday, a
source told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

``Mack Brown has committed to come to Texas. Everyone's ecstatic,'' the
source said.

Brown, whose seventh-ranked Tar Heels are a candidate for an Alliance
Bowl berth, was interviewed by Texas officials Wednesday and was offered
the job later in the day, the source said.

Brown didn't immediately return a message left at his home by the AP. He
didn't attend the Tar Heels' practice on Wednesday.

Steve Kirschner, North Carolina's director of media relations for
football and basketball, confirmed Wednesday night that Brown ``has been
offered the job at the University of Texas.''

``He will consider the job and will make a quick decision. He has not
accepted it at this time. He is waiting to talk with (UNC athletic
director) Dick Baddour before making his decision,'' Kirschner said,
based on a conversation he had with Brown's wife, Sally.

Baddour told The Herald-Sun of Durham, N.C., that Brown had not accepted
the job.

``He has not given them a decision. The rumors he has accepted the job
are not true,'' Baddour said.

``He's going to sleep on it, and we're going to talk about it in the
morning. But obviously, they will want a decision as soon as possible.''

The source said Brown was sought for the Texas job because he has proven
he can win at a school with strong academics, is an offensive coach who
has also fielded strong defenses and is a good fit in Texas because of
he's somewhat of a good ol' boy.

``He's a great fit for Texas. He'll be well received by followers of the
school,'' the source said.

Brown would also receive a considerable pay raise. The Texas job pays
roughly $625,000 per year. Brown's base salary at North Carolina was
about $170,000, not including TV, radio and shoe deals.

The Tar Heels went 1-10 in Brown's first two seasons (1988-89). But UNC
has averaged nine victories over the last six years, including three
10-win seasons. They went 10-2 last year and made it to the Gator Bowl.
They are 10-1 this season.

Carolina's 45 wins over the past five years are second-best in the
Atlantic Coast Conference to Florida State. The Tar Heels have made five
consecutive bowl appearances, winning three. They lost to Texas 35-31 in
the 1994 Sun Bowl.

Early focus in the Texas search had been on Northwestern's Gary Barnett.
But the source said, ``The search committee didn't interview Barnett
after talking to Brown.''

One of the knocks on both Mackovic and Barnett was that they were too
aloof for down-home Texas faithful.

Barnett issued a statement through Northwestern late Wednesday saying he
had ``taken my name out of consideration.''

``I will not comment further on this subject, and I would appreciate it
if the media and others would respect my privacy in this matter,''
Barnett said.

Speculation had also focused on Miami's Butch Davis, but he too withdrew
from consideration on Wednesday.

``I have not been contacted, nor do I anticipate being contacted by any
school in reference to a coaching vacancy,'' Davis said. ``I am fully
committed to being at the University of Miami.''

An offensive coach for most of his career, Brown's defenses at North
Carolina have gained national recognition.

The Tar Heels are second to top-ranked Michigan in total defense, giving
up 209.3 yards per game. Texas allowed 399.9 yards per game this season.

Prior to coaching at North Carolina, Brown, who lettered at Florida
State as a running back in 1971 and 1972, was at Tulane, where he had
records of 1-10 (1985), 4-7 (1986) and 6-6 (1987).

He coached Appalachian State for one season (1983), finishing 6-5,
before becoming offensive coordinator under Barry Switzer at Oklahoma in
1984.

The Sooners went 9-2-1 that season and made it to the Orange Bowl.

``You could tell early on that he (Brown) had the complete package and
that he was going to be a very successful head coach,'' Switzer said.
``What he has accomplished at North Carolina has come as no surprise to
me.''

Brown was offensive coordinator at LSU in 1982, a year in which the
Tigers went 8-2-1 and played in the Orange Bowl.

He also served as offensive coordinator at Iowa State and as receivers
coach at Southern Mississippi and at Memphis State.



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