The Times and Democrat from Orangeburg, South Carolina • 10

lje uJimes atiu iemocrat Page 10A, Orangeburg, S.C.. Friday, November 20, 1987 Ga. Southern must top SCSC to make playoffs Sophomore Everette Sharpe (5-10, 195) and seniors1 Flint Matthews (6-0, 233) and Robert Underwood (5-10, 197) are the linebackers. Corners include junior Terry Young (5-11, 174) and senior Nay Young (5-9, 189). Sophomore Taz Dixon (5-8, 175) is the free safety.

Senior Oliver Davis (5-10, 187) is the rover back. In their last three games the Eagle defensemen have allowed just 258 yards rushing and an average of 14.3 points per game. Despite its 7-3 record this season, Georgia Southern has had difficulty on the road, losing two of three games played. South Carolina State enters the game at 6-4. The Bulldogs are 3-2 at Oliver C.

Dawson Bulldog Stadium. By DENNIS SHUMATE Sports Editor Georgia Southern, needing a victory to make postseason play, will be South Carolina State's final opponent of the 1987 gridiron season Saturday afternoon at Oliver C. Dawson Bulldog Stadium. The Eagles, two-time defending Division I-AA national champions, enter the game at 7-3. With a victory over the Bulldogs, Georgia Southern will most likely be invited to the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

Georgia Southern has victories this season over Catawba, 27-0; Middle Tennessee, 17-13; Central Florida, 34-32; Bethune-Cookman, 14-13; Western Carolina, 37-16; Western Kentucky, 23-0; James Madison, 26-7. The Eagles are riding a three-game winning streak. Handing Georgia Southern its three losses were Florida 17-13; East Carolina, 16-13; and N.E. Louisiana, 26-17. Saturday's meeting will be only the third between the two schools.

The Eagles lead the series 2-0, beating South Carolina State, 43-30, in Orangeburg in 1985 and 28-7 last year in Statesboro. A pair of freshmen, quarterback Raymond Gross (6-0, 163) and fullback Joe Ross (6-1, 185) will lead the Eagles into Orangeburg on Saturday. Sophomore Ernest Thompson (6-2, 209) and junior Frank Johnson (5-8, 195) are the other backfield performers for Georgia Southern. Juniors Ross Worsham (6-1, 180) and Tony Belser (5-11, 156) will be the wide receivers. Sophomore guards Sean Gainey (5-11, 247) and Brad Bernard (6-0, 257), junior center Dennis Franklin (6-1, 258), junior tackle Tony Smith (6-3, 242) and senior tackle Ronald Warnock (5-9, 223) will handle blocking duties.

Senior Tim Foley (5-10, 225) is the kicker. Foley put his mark in the NCAA record books two weeks ago against James Madison when he connected on a 63-yard field goal, the longest ever in Division I-AA. Foley's kick broke the 62-yard mark set by Paul Hickert of Murray State last season. Ross is the leading ball carrier for the Eagles, having rushed for 920 yards. Ross has rushed for over 100 yards five times this season.

Defensive starters include sophomore guards James Carter (6-2, 245), Charlie Waller (6-4, 239), senior end Rod Eichler (6-0, 230) and senior tackle Tyrone Hull (6-1, 230). Claflin's tournament matches four of best female hoop programs i a ill iv a f-'-ff- li I i l' 1 If "i i i i I r7 Off JJ r5 i noiui uic ice Russ LUC0r8i Back row, from left are: Joe Ashland, "Pots" Whid- The "dew sweepers," as some know them, are (front row, from don, Jimmy Graves, Blake Smith, John Ashland and Joe Corbett. left): Frank Purvis, Leroy Dantzler, Clemson Key, Woody Lyons and photo by Ken Tyler) 'Dew sweepers' still setting the pace at Hillcrest Tom Vargo says they are the in the wrong hole and didn't i Nebraska, will become golf will be a very competitive tournament." i Claflin Claflin, which has made four appearances in the District Six Final Four in the 1980s, is coming off a 26-8 campaign. The Pantherettes feature one of the premier players in the district, Miriam Walker, who is capable rewriting the scoring books at Claflin. Other top players include: Ruby Byrd, Cynthia Waymyer, Marie Stuckey and Lillian Williams.

Columbia The Lady Koalas were the surprise team in District Six last season, posting a 19-13 overall record and 10-6 in the league. Columbia return only five veterans from last Leading the way for the Lady Koalas will be All-District candidates senior forward Shurn' Sanders and junior guard Cynthia Jones of Bowman. Sanders averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds a game last season while Jones, one of the finest ball-handlers in the district, also averaged in double figures and dished out four assists a Benedict The Lady Tigers, which compiled a 16-12 mark last will be led by three seniors, Sandra Myers, Sharon Tindal and Toysha Leslie. Dillard Dillard, 21-7 last season, will be led by a pair of juniors, Ber-nadett Sinegar and Pamela Wilkes. By MORRIS WRIGHT Sports Writer Four of the best small college women's basketball programs will go head to head this weekend in the first Princess of Orange Classic.

The classic features three NAIA teams Claflin College, Columbia College and Dillard University and one Division II squad, Benedict College. The event gets under way Friday at the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center on the campus of Calflin College. The two-day tournament will kick off at 6 p.m. when Dillard meets Benedict.

Then District Six rivals Claflin and Columbia square of in the nightcap. Saturday's lineup starts at 5 p.m. with the consolation game between Friday night's losers. The championship contest begins at 7 p.m. In the nightcap, the Claflin men will host the Allen University Yellow Jackets.

Claflin's head coach Nelson C. Brownlee said he will use the tournament to evaluate his personnel. "We have a very competitive field," Brownlee said. "I feel we have four of the top small college women's basketball programs participating in this year's field. "The competition will be good for all of the teams because it will help each team out later in the season.

By playing in a tournament such as the Princess of Orange Classic it gives a coach a chance to see some of the areas he needs to work on. "We've had several scrimmages, but they're not game situations," Brownlee said, "There's nothing like a real game with game situations." Benedict, a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, is the most experienced team in the tournament, Brownlee said. "They (Benedict) are the most experienced team in the tournament," Brownlee said. "They returned about eight players from last year's team. "Benedict had some big wins last season, which included a win over South Carolina State College.

They're a team to contend with. Dillard and Columbia are equally tough, Brownlee said. "We lost to both teams last season. "We lost to Dillard by eight points in New Orleans and Columbia beat us in district play last season, so you can see this course superintendent at the count. Another oddity with this Puttin' a'round "1 m.

IMS 4 ,71 "over the hill gang," but I prefer to call them the "dew sweepers." They have their own descriptive term but that's unprintable. Regardless of what they are called, they love to play golf and are the first ones of the tee at Hillcrest Golf Course. Jimmy Graves says, "We don't have to wait on anyone and no one waits on us." This is a group of men who generally tee off at 7 a.m. during the spring and summer and 8 a.m. in the fall and winter.

When I arrived for the interview at 9, two groups had already played nine holes and were ready to talk. They have no particular format, "We just enjoy playing and can use the exercise," said Russ Lucore. "No carts we all walk and most of the time don't even count our strokes," said Joe Corbett. Most are natives, but Joe and John Ashland are from up in Charleston, W.Va., Russ Lucore is from Pennsylvania, Jimmy Graves is from Tennessee and "Pots" Whiddon is from Georgia. The group boasts two players who have had holes-in-one, Jimmy Graves and Woody Lyons.

With two flagsticks on the same green, Joe Ashland scored an ace, but it was scored Country Club of Orangeburg on Monday. Tom for the past seven years has held a similar position at the Charleston Air Force Base and brings some 16 years of experience in golf course supervision. We welcome him and wish him well. For the past two months Hank Mirmow supervised the course maintenance and as usual has everything in tip-top shape and running smoothly, however, not without the able assistance of a good crew of workers headed by Harold Bellinger. Others in the work group are Hercules Thompson, Sylvander Blue, David Mintz, Tony Baker, Curtis Coleman, John Henry Boneparte and Joe Harkin.

The course is in excellent shape and all of you are to be commended for a job well-done. Thanks for joining us, practice good etiquette and have a good round. Martin Cheatham is an Orangeburg Realtor who is active in promoting golf in the Orangeburg area. He has worked extensively with junior golf events and programs, and is golf coach at Orangeburg Prep Schools. His biweekly column is written especially for The Times and Democrat.

group is that Frank Purvis from Denmark plays cross-handed, admitted oldest player in the group is Woody Lyons at 75 and the youngest are Frank Purvis and Jimmy Graves at 63. Age is not a criteria, neither is how long you have been playing. Clemson Key has been beating it around for 58 years, while Blake Smith only discovered the game two years ago. Three of the group Leroy Dantzler, Joe and John Ashland were exposed to golf in the '20s and '30s. Leroy caddied at the Old Country Club, where for 30 cents he carried double for 18 holes.

Joe and John had a unique experience at Kanawha Country Club in Charleston, W.Va. During the Depression, the club cut their wages from 90 cents to 65 cents and the caddies went on strike. Club members attempted to use their sons as substitutes, but when they did the regular caddies stood their ground, would not allow the substitutes and eventually won the strike and normal wages were restored. Both of these fellows have caddied for Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen and Joe Kirkwood, the trick-shot artist. All agreed that "Pots," Leroy and Clemson generally play with Martin Cheatham Tournament lineup Friday First game (6 p.m.) Dillard v.

Benedict Second gome (8 p.m.) Claflin v. Columbia pretty good golf. But all also agreed that everyone had a good time, and after all, isn't that what it's all about? Saturday Flrct game IB p.m. I Third place Friday night losera Second game 17 p.m.) Friday night winner! Third game 19 p.m.) Claflin vs. Allan (men) New course superintendent Tom Green, a native of Simon will get 300th victory with different type Lady Bulldog team By DENNIS SHUMATE Sports Editor South Carolina State women's basketball coach Willie J.

Simon will reach a milestone during the 1987 season when the 14-year Lady Bulldog coach gets his 300th career victory. Simon has an incredible 291-78 record at South Carolina State. Last season the Lady Bulldogs finished 20-11 and earned a first-place tie in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with an 11-3 mark. The loss of 6S center Wanda Pittman forces Simon to stress a more fast-paced offensive guard-oriented attack this season, rather than last season's inside game that centered around Pittman. Pittman averaged 19.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game last year.

Robin Starks, 5-10 freshman guard Tezra Williams and 5-6 junior guard Patricia Brown. "The key will be if Susan Brown can get off to a good start. She's our long-distance shooter. She can shoot three-pointers with ease. "Our biggest worry is defense.

Over the last two years we've led the nation in Division I in team defense. So far this year we haven't done that. I'm really concerned about it," Simon said. "In practice we've really been up and down. One day we look really good and the next day we can't shoot it in the ocean," Simon said.

Along with the players already mentioned as probable starters, South Carolina State's roster will be comprised of 5-11 freshman forward Keshia Campbell, 6-0 senior forward Kimberly Steward, 5-8 sophomore guard Tracie Gordon, 6-0 freshman forward Shonda Turner, 5-8 sophomore guard Kimberly "We're just overflowing with guards. We have five or six guards we'll be able to put in and feel comfortable with. Last year we got the ball to Pittman inside and she got between 22-24 points," Simon said. "Last year at one point we were 12-9 and then we beat Florida and Howard on the road. That really surprised me.

I hope this team will do the same thing. If we can keep this team together, by the end of the year we should be a good team," Simon said. The Lady Bulldogs are preparing for their 1987-88 debut Nov. 30 at Augusta. Zakiyyah Aquil, a 6-2 freshman, is expected to be the starting South Carolina State center with 6-0 sophomore Dionne Thompson and 5-8 junior Tammy Evans being the forwards.

Guards expected to start for South Carolina State include 5-6 sophomore Katrina Harris and 5-9 senior Susan Brown. First to come off the bench are 5-a junior guard Sullivan and 5-4 sophomore guard Sabrena Blue-Tonya Mackey, a 6-2 sophomore forward, will join the team during the second semester. Simon is assisted by Lyman Foster and Gene E. Breland. South Carolina State will play a 27-game schedule starting with Nov.

30, Augusta, away: Dec. 2. Clemson. away; Dec. 4.

Morris Brown, away; Dec. 5. Clark, away; Dec. 7. Winthrop, home; Dec.

9. Benedict, home; Dec. 12. Claflin. home; Jan.

2, Coppin State, away; Jan. 6. East Carolina, home; Jan. 9. Morgan State, away: Jan.

11, Howard, away; Jan. 14. Florida away; Jan. 16. Coppin State, home: Jan.

18. Bethune-Cookman. home: Jan. 20. Coastal Carolina, away; Jan.

25. Bethune-Cookman. away; Jan. 27. Baptist, home; Jan.

30. Maryland- Eastern Shore, away; Feb. 1, Delaware State, away: Feb. 6. Delaware State, home; Feb.

8. Maryland-Eastern Shore, home; Feb 13. North Carolina home; Feb. 15. Florida home; Feb.

20. Morgan State, home; Feb. 22. Howard, home; Feb. 25.

Baptist, away; Feb. 27. North Carolina away; March 3-5, Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament in Greensboro. N.C.