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Show v By Lex Hemphill Tribune Sports Writer HOUSTON Even the bad experiences have been good for the young Rockets in their playoff series with the Jazz. The Rockets, with their young frontline, will probably challenge e for the NBA title In the if they can find some better back-coudirection and a little more solid outside shooting. The other thing they'll have to have is experience, and theyre getting that now. '.The four games that weve played have been priceless for us, said Rockets Coach Bill Fitch Saturday. Were looking at a five- -' year program of getting down the road and winning a championship if we can. These four games have been worth more to us than the last 2$ games of the regular season, and I think that weve learned more. During the course of the season, I'm always preaching about the little things and how important they are and how you have to have all these things, because when you come down to tomorrow (Sundays fifth game), youve got to have everything in your bag of tricks and have every weapon sharpened because you dont know what youre going to need when you get there. Among the lessons the Rockets have learned in this series is this one: Yes, you can lose an lead in the last 1:19 of the game. The Rockets almost did it Friday shots night. The three three-poiby Darrell Griffith werent the only missiles that almost brought down the Rockets. The final minute also included: a poor inbounds pass at endcourt by Mitchell Wiggins, an loose-bal- l foul by Akeem Olajuwon, and a decision by Olajuwon to go back up with a shot after an offensive rebound when he could have held it and perhaps killed the last 12 seconds of the game. - near-futur- rt Fitch says that young players don-- t believe that such crazy scenarios can happen, so he tries to tell them. He's told them about the seventh game of the Eastern semifinals in 1976, when he was coaching Cleveland against the Washington Bullets, coached by K.C. Jones. Fitch recalled that his Cavs were down by two points with about 15 seconds left and the Bullets had the ball. He related, Dave Bing was the ball right in front of me 4-- A, and we cant get it from him. Thats going to be it. Then a whistle blows. Clem Haskins called a timeout he was in front of k.C.s bench he called a timeout to tie his shoestring. We stole the inbounds pass and tied it up, and we called a timeout. And we stole another In bounds pass and won the game. If they dont call that timeout, its over." Fitch's young Rockets may believe him more now, after Friday night. More playoff notes: Wiggins, who shared time for with Lewis Lloyd at the Rockets during the regular season and averaged nine points a game, seemed to be lost in the shuffle after Game 1 until Fitch found him Friday, night and got 16 good minutes out of him. Fitch said he went to Wiggins for defensive purman poses, and the second-yea- r from Florida State made the most of his opportunity. "The first game I played in the series, I didnt play that well, especially in the second quarter when we got blown out, said Wiggins. In the second game, Luke (John Lucas) and Lionel (Hollins) and Lew were all playing well, so there was no need to bring another guard in. So I didnt hang my head. I kept working hard in practice. I had confidence in myself. Rockets Coach Fitch said during the year that the one place his players would love to win was in the Salt Palace because of the way the fans get on them. Well, after finally winning there Friday, how do you feel about the Jazz fans now, Bill? off-gua- -' Baseball Same OP St&nl 3-- A shoulder injury, they could contend. Alta The Hawks are a solid club. They hit the ball well and have experience. The trouble is, they play in Region Two. Steve Hardy and Dave McQulvey give Coach Gary Garcia a pair of solid arms on the mound, while Troy Long (CF), Matt Bradshaw (IB) and sophomore Troy provide potent bats for, the ham in the state championship game took away some of the luster, but no matter now. Pitchers Wayne Arroyo and Jim Orwlp are back in the fold for another season to head op the state's best pitching staff, and while the offense is not up to last seasons level, it will be more than adequate. By Joe Baird Tribune Sport Writer Its late April, and believe it or not, the Salt Lake area's 25 and prep baseball teams have gotten in most, if not all, of their preseason and early region schedules. No snow, no Ice, no hurricane force winds, and little rain. That In itself makes this season remarkably different, as for at least the past two years, snowouts, ralnouts and assorted other natural disasters rendered the month of April all but unplayable. As a protection against inclement weather this season, the Utah High School Activities Association moved back the state baseball tournaments to the middle of June only to find out the move uneccessary with the spring weather. unusually spring-lik- e d Those, pretty much, are the changes. On the field its pretty much the same old story. Region Two is again the dominant force in Utah high school baseball, finalists with last years two again Bingham and Taylorsville poised for big seasons and the rest of the league a minefield as well. Meanwhile, Granger and Cottonwood will likely go down to the wire again for the Region Three title, with Cyprus entirely capable of stepping in if either the Colts or the Lancers should stumble. 4-- 3-- Hy-m- The defending Bingham champs only return two starters off last year's team, but one of them, shortstop Pat Newbold, is one of the A Hawks. Kearns The Cougars are pretty much in the same boat as the Hawks, as their preseason record nd 4 region mark would attest. A good team with the misfortune of playing in a tough league, Kearns is lea by Gary Bronson (2B), Nick Berriochoa and catcher (SS), Joe Quintana (CF-P- ) Tracy Gallo. West Jordan No weak sisters here either. The Jaguars also went unbeaten in preseason, but lack the depth to make any serious waves in Region Two. Still, Sean Simpson is one of the league's top pitchers, and if Brett McCleary (SB) comes around at the plate and and Ricky Allen bounces back from an arm injury, the Jags could be spoilers. Region Three The class of Region Granger Three a year ago, the Lancers finished third at the state tournament, and return five starters off that club. Translation: Another league title is definitely not out of the realm of possibility. Coach Mike Folster looks to pitchers Kenny Eyre and Jeff Lund, along with Mike Wilding (2B), Kyle DeLange (SB), Chuck Crowton (RF) and Kevin Anderson. Cottonwood The Colts were hurt 0-- 0 First of Two Articles states top players. The Miners will again be strong up the middle, have power at third base with Ken Peck, and an ace on the mound in Darren Butterfield. The Huskie bats are Hlllcrest being heard from once again. After a struggling fourth place region finish Hill-crea year ago, the offense has returned. Coach Bob Johnson has seven starters back, with Ron Anderson (2B), Alan Hoyne (CF), Johnny Pymm (SS) and Steve Hansen (IB) leading the way. Hillcrest has power, depth and experience, but the pitching staff is young. off-fiel- st once-fearso- 4-- 4-- A Brighton - If experience counts for anything, the Bengals will be heard from. Coach Doug Howard has nearly everyone back and will look to Chad Fife (CF), Eddie McDaniels Don (C) and two junior pitchers to help Emery and Mark Gorringe keep pace with the Huskies, Miners and Warriors. If they get top hurler John Peterson back into form after a Region Two The Warriors were Taylorsville loaded a year ago with a great pitching staff and a platoon of guys who could hit. A loss to arch-rivBing losses, bu eviptdi second best teanr in the still theyre this league. Rightflelder Matt Green is hitting .450 and is an excellent death fensive player, while multi-spo- rt lete Craig Sorenson is solid both at , shortstop and on the mound. by graduation In a year In which the Cyprus Pirates were expected to be a good hit club, the opposite has in fact transpired. Coach LaRon Unck is from.. getting solid performances -Greg Henson (SS), Bill Robbs (2B, .495 and but Woodruff Kirk (OF), average) the mound corps has gotten off to a ' rugged start. o pitch-n- , The Titans, with just' I Olympus two starters back off of what was a ,, so-s-o team last season, gave Granger all it wanted in the league opener be- fore losing, and will be heard from before the season is over. Brad . Gerber (2B) and pitchers Rod Young , and Rod Hafer lead Oly. . Granite The Farmers have been a hard-lucteam so far this season,"' suffering three losses by one run...' Still, Coach Ray Carlstedt has five' starters back and the Farmers could battle for a tournament spot but a lot of that will hinge on shortstop Randy Casper and centerfielder Rob Harding bouncing back from Injuries. . ( k The Eagles have strug;.s Skyline gled so far this season and appear destined for the league cellar. But they are solid defensively and have , talent in Mike Layden (C), Brent Cannon (SS) abd John Russell (3B). To contend at all, though, Coach Mike Hunter will need much more offen-- 1 sive production. the tires that land the space shuttle, the 747 s, and many of todays most advanced aircraft. Goodrich builds "Theyre still a pain in the rear, But thats the biggest he smiled. compliment I can give them; Id love to have them if I was their coach. I think they do a heckuva job. It's even tough watching those free throws on film with all those flags and stuff waving. I mean, you dont run into that; thats the only house weve run into it. Im anxious to see what our fans do (Sunday), see if they learned anything. o GT4 BLACKWALL 3490 ALL SEASON i one 1(5(14 165(15 17570(13 WHITEWALL LIFESAVER thing: It would have been a shame if youd lost your franchise . . . That was a happening there. We were in town long enough to know that everybody in the streets took pride in the fact that there was a playoff game It just proves 155RI2 43.90 47.90 43.90 1(570(13 1(570(14 19570(14 BELTED POLYESTERriBIRGLASS NEW BFG TIRES PRICED C 3MPETIT1VELY WITH RECAPS 45.90 47.90 49.90 STEEL BELTED RADIAL 35 going on. mssotu X7 p, 5580R13 BFG'S BFG'S NEWEST PI 65(0(13 (17510(13 1(510(13 (1757514 PI (5 7514 (19575(14 35.90 37.90 39.90 42.90 43.90 45.90 43.90 49.40 (30575 (31575(14 52.90 (33575(14 (30575(15 (31575(15 (33575(15, 56.90 (33575(15 57.90 1 4 NEW a. ALL SEASON INDUSTRY LEADER TIRE BFG BELTED 5, 7, 9, 12 and 15 Passenger Wagons in stock Just in time for Summer Vacations (155(0(13 (165(0(13 (175(0(13 (1(5(0(13 (17575(14 39 39.90 42.90 44.90 47.90 49.90 P15580R13 (1(57514 (19575(14 (30575(14 (31575(14 (33575(14 BFG'S 52.90 53.90 57.90 5335 CsStJL STEEL BELTED RADIAL 1 KZJBKQuBh 5 YEAR50,000 Mill PROTECTION 85 CARAVAN 9,976 ku 85-68- rf t 1 5 . . . PORSCHE RACING TEAM another championship performance at Sears Point 5 hour endurance race yesterday For Thanks to Drivers: l . t,, Larry Moulton Ron Christensen Stieg Svard Steve Clifford This Porsche Racing Car is exclusively owned, sponsored, tuned and by Steve Clifford Motors. race-prepare- d TA ADVANTAGE Our best passenger car tires. FAMILY THE EDGE (H-- - 48.90 49.90 52.90 54.90 l 4) (G-- l S) (G-- l 5) SIZES MORE Z BFG TRUCK TA's 50-60-- 70 America's most popular raised whiteletter tire NON-RADIA- L BFG's TOUGH STEEL RADIAL TRUCKTIRES SPORT TRUCK - All Terrain - Mud Terrain yc Terrain Design Flotation Sizes All UTAH'S gHLY . 46.90 4) Glorious PicturtC of the Goodrich Blimp STEVE CLIFFORD MOTORS . . . t 1 UPDATE: A THE Congratulations to ; I " 44.90 (D-1- (E-- f. 42.90 (B-1- 3.00 '13,760 ssseasHBo : P19570B13 P30570B 1 4 P2 1 570B 1 4 P32570B14 P23570B 1 4 P32570B 1 5 P23570B1 5 , $39.90 (A-1- NEW 85 B1 50 WAGON 9 Pass. Loaded 85-57- : . PI 85706 13 ; BELT1D FIBERGLASS TA's EXAMPLES: NEW SEASON DESIGN ALL COMPARABLE INCOMPARABLE FREE RAISED WHITE LETTERS .(30575(15 ittle moreTbut ore the most rouble free n Americdllurope XLM H.T. XLM ' 58.90 (31575(15 60.90 (33575(15 61.90 (33575(15 63.90 50.90 OndtA' i TA's. GT4 WHITEWALL WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE WAGON TO FIT YOUR FAMILY NEEDS : Qg 1983 Sunday, April 28. The Salt Lake Tribune Young Rockets Build Valuable Experience ' OFF PRINTED WITH TIRE PURCHASE AT NO CHARGE) ALIGNMENT " Reg. 6.30 Reg. 24.88 19.88 'SALES 4.00 NEW VALVE STEMS MONROE SHOCKS Reg. 2.50 Reg. 23.00 GST I RE CENTER USED TIRES (ROM world COMPUTER SPIN BALANCE PFGoodrich TAADI-IN- 't rated tires in the COMMERCIAL PRICES CALL FOR QUOTE ON SERVICES (MOUNTING COMP. TAv EURO TA? Top V&H speed SNOW SEASON 20 SALE MUD ALL HOW .95 1 6.88 V7S4 WEST VALLEY CITY 1 Valley Fair Mall 4 Sat. Open 6 M-Use one o four 3 NAISE 966-012- 9-- CERTIFIED MECHANICS HOUR: 7:30 A.M.. 3:30 P.M. WEEKDAYS I AM. .13-0- NOON SATURDAY 1 INSTANT CREDIT APPLY TODAY AMOCO inuun COOIHO fYffMI 9-- convenient credit plant HWnilMI AUOHMMI CM ALUM . - iz o ivi i TIRE CENTERS & SERVICE cctrrw -- J. 8 9.9S' - JCerd AMLAi-J- 414 EAST 200 SO. Salt Lake City 364-785- r 6 i. i BBOMI , . y HOLLADAY Cottonwood Mall Open 6 M-8-- 277-4579-- 3 Sat. DOWNTOWN 1 , S 78 E. So. Temple 9 Open 7:30 to 5:30 M-8:30 to 1:00 Sat. t ' f A L, 321-630- , , tV r V |
