Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 October 2003 — Page 32

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D SECTION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2003

GAME POINTS

Randolph All’s Wells is best in my that ends playbook Wells By ERICKA P. THOMPSON By JOSHUA COHEN Staff Writer Staff Writer

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You're at a basketball game, waiting for the show to start. The house lights go down and t he an nouncer starts to belt out the starting lineup, “And now, coming out of Muncie, Indiana..." What? Waif a minute, stop right there. Muncie, Ind.? There’s an NBA starter from Muncie? Yes, there is. Bonzi Wells. Born in Muncie and a Ball State alum, Wells is now one of the top young stars in the NBA. Granted he's not at the level of Tracy McGrady or Allen Iverson, but he’s good. Wells, who plays for the Portland Trailblazers, finally got his chance to start full-time in the 2001-2002 season. He had been playing his role off the bench well and fans were waiting for his chance to get out there and explode. He didn't disappoint, averaging 17 points and 6 rebounds per game on his way to becoming the go-to man in Portland. Wells is good. He’s 6 foot 5 inches and 210 lbs., but his game is much larger than his stature. He is the kind of player you want on your team when you need a lift and nobody else can seem to pick it up. He’s got finesse that translates into smoot h m<n es to t he basket and a deadly outside jump shot. On a team with Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire and Scottie Pippen, Wells stood out as the reason the Blazers made it to the playoff’s the past two years. Recently, it has been called into question whether Wallace could be a franchise player. If this is true, Portland need look no further than Wells to take bis place. With the right supporting cast, which the Blazers seem to be gathering, including Indiana’s own Zach Randolph, Wells can emerge as one of the NBA elite. Unfortunately, he plays a posit ion overcrowded with superstars''Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, McGrady, Iverson, Ron Artest, Steve Francis, Michael Finley and so on and so on J. This will probably ensure that he will not be considered in the top five NBA guards at any given time. However, when it comes to Indiana home boys, Wells is the cream of the crop, and the most exciting player to come out of our humble state in the \ BA today. And did I mention he's from Muncie?

Bonzi Wells

PeyBack Classic not paying like it used to

By ERICKA P. THOMPSON tion covered the rental of the RCA to the Play It Smart academic The PeyBack Classic was mentoring program that serves held last week at the RCA five IPS schools. Dome, but the results of this Although no one involved quesyear’s games are unlike the tions how much the contribution “mini” success the teams felt to the Play It Smart program in previous years. helps, the athletic departments of Until now, the partieipat- the schools are affected by the ing high school teams would loss in funds, receive a cash distribution. In “When this event was started, I the first two years of the event, thought the idea was to create an athletic departments at Tech, opportunity for our kids to play in Manual, Arlington, Broad the (RCA) Dome and to help inRipple and Northwest divided ner-city athletic programs,” $120,000 ($10,000 per school Northwest athletic director Otis in 2000 and $14,000 in 2001) Curiy said in a recent publicaafter their expenses. tion. “While our kids still get to be This year, Peyton in the dome, we lose the income Manning’s PeyBack Founda- from a home game and could go

in the hole financially by playing Ripple. The distributions are there.” what offset that.” In previous years, admission No one could be reached at the to the classic was free but fans PeyBack Foundation or the Indiwere asked to pay $5. Each school ana Sports Corp. to find out the was able to keep 100 percent of financialsuccessofthisyear’sclasadvance ticket sales, but the pro- sic. ceeds from game day were split In happier news for Northeight ways. west, their 19-14 victory over “Everyone is very apprecia- Manual gave them the right to tive of what the PeyBack Foun- their conference title. The team dation and the Indiana Sports improved to 5-1 and 4-0 in their Corp. have done over the years, conference, but it would be overblown in Tech lost to Scecina, 21-6 and saying they saved us,” Arlington added another loss to their record, athletic director Larry Nicks The team is 0-6 this season and said in a publication. “The event holds the state’s longest losing has been a nice experience, but streak at 27 games, it is difficult to give up the gate Broad Ripple also lost to Arreceipts we would generate in a lington 60-21 and Washington typical home game with Broad had a victory over Howe, 30-24.

Arlington's quarterback, Marcus Minor scores one of his touchdowns as he runs pass Broad Ripple's defensive line. Arlington embarrassed the Rockets defeating them 60-21. Last year Broad Ripple won against Arlington 49-18.

Who’s playing who in high school football Oct. 3. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted Home games are in bold Ben Davis vs. Lawrence North Southport vs. Perry Meridian Warren Central vs. Center Grove Pike vs. Bloomington North Arlington vs. Evansville Bosse on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. Roncalli vs. Whlteland Noblesville vs. McMutcheon North Central vs. Terre Haute South Carmel vs. Terre Haute North Cathedral vs. Tech at Broad Ripple at 7:30 p.m. Brebeuf vs. Ritter Chatard vs. Scecina at Arlington at 7:30 p.m.

Darnell Taylor (No. 45) makes a rare Tech first down as he runs away from Scecina's defensive end Nick Carter. Tech lost 21-6. (Photos/J. Hurst)

Colls showing no weakness; biggesl lesl lies ahead

By BARATO BRITT Superdome. Manning frankly picked them Recorder Correspondent And in case anyone forgot apart the entire game. Manning’s favorite target, Marvin The Saints offense, however, The undefeated Indianapo- Harrison reminded defenses who was fully loaded yet could do little lis Colts have officially served is the No. 1 option on a team full against’ the Colts “crunked up” notice to the National Football of weapons. The all-pro receiver defense. The defense forced four League. called for the ball, and delivered turnovers on Sunday, showing Armed with a high-powered with three touchdowns and 158 solid consistence if not quite the offense and a retooled defense, yards on six catches. precision head coach Tony Dungy there is little to exploit on a Even the absence of Edgerrin expects. team gaining confidence with James proved to make little dif- Dungy has quickly quashed the each passing week. ference. The stable of Colts backs, notion that the Colts D is the With last Sunday’s 55-21 a healthy James Mungro, Ricky team’s weak point, rbutof theNewOrleansSaints, Williams and Dominic Rhodes, After week four, the Colts lead the Colts have firmly estab- compensated for James, who is the AFC in points allowed per fished themselves as a favorite nursing a back injury. The team game at 11.8. in the AFC. Sunday’s disman- collectively rushed for 100 yards Second-year linebacker David tling of a talented, yet under- on 28 carries. Thornton’s breakout has continachieving Saints team served The offensive barrage was ued, and along with rookie safety indication of what can happen enough to make a fantasy football M ike Doss is adding attention to when the Colts are clicking on junkie drool. the overall defense face of a deall cylinders. Granted, the Saints defense fense that has taken on the coach’s In a career already full of was in no way in top form, miss- identity, only with acertain swagdefining performances, quar- ing five starters. Still, it was the ger that is hardly displayed by the terhack Peyton Manning manner in which the Colts picked low-key coach, chose to save a little some- them apart that will give oppos- There is reason for optimism thing for his hometown, go- ing defensive coordinators head- in Indianapolis, but in this young ing an eye-popping 20-25 for aches. In th is game, there were no season, that optimism remains 314 yards and six touchdowns weakness, no particular inch- tempered. The team’s 4-0 start in three quarters in the vidua! for a defense to focus, does not overshadow the test the

whole nation will witness in prime time Monday night at 8 o’clock. The Colts square off against the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, with the fully-rested Bucscomingoffabye week no less. Notwithstanding a loss to the emerging Carolina Panthers, the Buccaneers remain the most menacing defense in the NFL. Coach Dungy’s former defensive stars remain as hungry as ever, so much so that defense is no longer enough for All World Defensive Tackle Warren Sapp. The undefeated record and recent offensive outburst make the stakes that much higher. No one can reasonably expect a repeat performance against the league’s most dominant defense, not even with the weapons in the Colts’ arsenal. Win or lose, the Colts will still lead the AFC South. But a season can change for a team in a single game. It all unfolds Monday night.

Schumacer wins Grand Prix

SPORTS BRIEFS

Michael Schumacer takes control in the rain as he adds a victory and wins the U.S. Grand Prix at The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo/W. Thomas)

Catchings receives WNBA Award Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings is the recipient of the WNBA's Community Assist Award for the month of August. She also received the award in August of 2002. Catchings re-launched her Web site, Catchin24.com, as a special way to thank her fans for their support. She and the Fever held Catchin24.com Night with the Fever in August offering discounted tickets to fans from her Web site and to stay for a special meet and greet and autograph session. She also has hplrl live and silent aiirtlnns

to raise money for scholarships for disadvantaged youth to attend up and coming camps. Catchings also hosts camps throughout the post season, Kyser named finalist The NCAA has announced that former IUPUI women's basketball star Tiffany Kyser has been selected as one of the 10 finalists for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award. She was earlier named Indiana's state winner of the award. The award recognizes outstanding female studentathletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership. Kyser now plays professionally in C.rooro

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