Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 December 2002 — Page 17

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6,2002

PAGE B5

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Pike unanimous No. 1 choice in first regular-season poll y STETO HERMAN voting. In 2A, Cass moved u

BySTE

AP Sports Writer

Without playing a game. Pike High School is the unanimous choice for No. 1 in the first Associated Press boys basketball Class 4A poll of the regular season. The Red Devils, who returned all of their starters from last

moved up one

Bloomington North, third in spot to No. 1 after preseason the preseason poll, dropped to favorite Speedway lost one of seventh. That moved the next two games and dropped to sixth;

andinClass A, White River Valley jumped two spots to No. 1 after Lafayette Catholic and South Central (Harrison), the 12 teams in the preseason, each

four teams up one spot each, with DeKalb now third, Lafayette Jeff fourth, New Albany fifth and Evansville Reitz

sixth.

Perry Meridian remained lost one of two games,

year’s 24-4 team, open the high eighth, Munster again was It’s the first time in school school season Saturday night at picked ninth and newcomer Ben history that White River Valley

Davis was voted 10th. South has been ranked No, 1.

Bend Riley, 10th in the pre- Hie four leaders were unseason poll, dropped out of the changed in this week’s girls

rankings after a double-over- coaches poll,

time loss to Goshen. Kokomo remained No. 1 in Gary Roosevelt, which won Class 4A, Alexandria again was two games in the East Chicago the top team in 3A, SouthwestTournament last week, re- era (Jefferson) remained atop mained No. 1 in Class 3A, but the 2A poll, and North Vermil-

lion was the unanimous choice

forNo. 1 inClassA.

Franklin Central in a Confer-

ence Indiana game.

Pike was voted No. 1 in the preseason poll two weeks ago and on Monday received all 10 first-place votes from the AP

media panel.

Indianapolis North Central, which opened with a 119-51 rout

of Broad Ripple last week, re- the leaders changed in the two mained No. 2 in the statewide smallest classes.

Colts charge to top of AFC with 4-game streak

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer A month ago, the Indianapolis Colts’ season was slipping away. They were mired in a three-game losing streak, struggling on both sides of the ball and battling injuries. , In the zany world of the NFL, though, four weeks is an eternity. Since then, Indianapolis has played flawlessly, winning four straight, regaining a one-game lead in the AFC South and, at 84, claiming a share of the AFC’s best record. Tiebreakers even have Indianapolis in position for the conference’s top seed, which seemed unimaginable just a few weeks back. “A month ago, we weren’t even on theradar screen,” coach Tony Dungy said Monday, a day after the Colts defeated Houstori 193((iW .'(I- r. •! I . V. ) Nobody isforgettingtheColts jww. n.

The Colts are playing at their best, having won road games at Philadelphia and Denver while avoidingthe pitfalls of overlooking critical home contests against lowly Dallas and Houston. The offense is running more smoothly, albeit not entirely in sync. • Quarterback Peyton Manning has thrown six touchdowns and just two interceptions during the winning streak. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison has been dominant, and although two-time NFL rushing champ Edgerrin James hasn’t been racking up yards in bundles, he has forced opponents to prepare for a balanced attack while he fights through the injuries. But the biggest difference has clearly been the progression of Dungy’s defense. 11 Twelve games into his first season, the Colts have risen from 29th in total defense to No. 2. Only Tampa Bay, Dungy’s

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After three straight games around the season,

with dismal first halves - two of Since Dungy’s speech, the which were prime-time national Colts have outscored their optelevision games - the Colts ponents 97-42 and put themseemed to be foundering. Man- selves back in contention for ning was throwing intercep- their third playoff appearance

tions, the offense was going no- in four years.

where and the defense was still

a work in progress.

Worse yet, Indianapolis was headed to Philadelphia, knowing full well another loss could have sent it into a late-season

On Sunday, they could take

another big step.

Indianapolis visits Tennessee (7*5), a team that trails the Cohs by one game in the division and could sweep the head-to-head

tailspin for the second straight series with another victory. Hie

Colts Defensive End Dwight Freeney (File Photo) formerteam, ranksaheadofthe tunes can change in a hurry.

Colts, and Dungy believes the

Cohs are still improving.

“We still have a lot of improving to do before we start talk-

I looked at the tape, and since ing,” said Harrison, the NFL’s Week 3, we’ve made strides,” leading receiver. This team was Dungy said, referring to the not made for talking.” Colts’first game against Hous- Instead, Harrison and his ton. “Our run defense is so much teammates have relied on their sharper and that’s good. We’re on-field performance to demgoing to need that this coming onstratethey belong among the

week.” NFL’s top teams.

If the last month has taught When November began, few

the Colts anything it’s this: For- believed.

year.

Dungy, who prefers talking playoffs during the regular season, refused to let that happen. “I remember Bum Phillips, after a big win one time, was asked what he told his players at halftime,” Dungy said. “He said told them if they didn’t start •laying better, we were going to

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Titans won at Indianapolis 2315 on Nov. 3. That’s the last time the Cohs

lost

But the Colts know with four games to play, they cannot have a letdown. “It’s fun to be talking about a win, and I’m really pleased with this team and the direction we’re

lose.’Hiat was kind of the gist of heading,” Dungy said. “But we’ve whatltold them.” ^ got to continue to play well or Tl|l, Colts responded with someone else could emerge their best performance of the that’s not on the radar screen

year at Philadelphia and turned now.”

BEN DAVIS Continued from B6 three first downs in the first half tal attitude, was 8-for-21 for 113 against the unranked Giants. yards. Snider averted the shutout Polston, who left the game early in the fourth quarter after with more than six minutes rea 42-yard pass from Marcus maining, was 14-for-17 for 212 Heminger to Justin Wynn set yards. Hie 175 yards on 10 reup a 9-yard touchdown run by ceptions by Rainey broke the Aaron Lane. But by then, it was previous 5A championship too late to make a difference. record of 118 yards by Tyler Th- - Heminger, who received the ompson of Bloomington South IHSAA Eskew Award for men- against Lake Central in 1993.

BEST i Continued from B6 in the league either (Shaq). In ciency formula is as follows: fact, the Magic need serious help ((PTS + REB + AST + STL + inside and then we could tell if BLK) - ((FGA - FGM) + (FTA - T-Mac is capable of leading a FTM) + TO)) / G. team to a championship. Since I’m a sports columnist If you look overall, this is very and I have to make black and close to call. Kobe leads the white decisions, I would have to league in player efliciency with gowithTnlcyMcGradyiflhad an efficiency rating of 30.6 while to choose either in a draft. I fig-T-Mac comes in a close second ure either way, you can’t go too with a rating of29.45. The effi- wrong.

COOPER Contbiuad from B6 tensive, and his knowledge of napolis in that capacity* what it takes to be successful at Reid Nichols, Milwaukee’s the Msqor League level will pro- director of player development, vide our players with a positive added, “We are glad to provide frame of reference for what it Cedi Cooper with this opportuwill take to get them to that level, nity. As we restructured our orThat kind of aggressive play ganization in Milwaukee, we should provide for a very in- wanted to give Cecil the chance spired and competitive brand of to do something he reaDy wants baseball for our fens in India- to do, and that is become die napohs.” manager of the Indianapolis Burfeson continued, “We fed Indians. (that Ed Romero did a very good “We’re also glad that Ed job for us as our manager last Romero will be with us to hdp year, and we know he will con- in the development of the intinne to have a positive impact fielders in our organization.” on die fortunes of die Milwau- Cooper makes his off-season kee Brewers as their roving mi- home in Katy, Texas with his nor league infidd instructor. We wife Octavia and their daughwish him the best, and will look ten Kdly, 24, Brittany, 14, and forward to his visits to India- Tori, 9. I- . f

WINNINC MAKES YOU FEEL NAOM 'LL OVER.

warm up with the hottest tern in the league. The ferns onl| this month. Thaft Just five dunces to be part of soMething the Pacers look to buM on their best start in NM history.

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