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Perry sports £ Bill Overton Sports editor Embarrassment is just part of life, Mr. Jansen I was really happy to see Dan Jansen get a gold medal yesterday. Lord knows that he deserves one just for having the heart to take all this Jansen was a big joke in my household Monday afternoon. When I found out he had slipped, I couldn't help but laugh. Somebody told me that he heard something on the radio that afternoon. A wise-crack deejay acted as if he were calling Jansen in Norway. When this "Jansen" answered the sall, he said that he didn't want to talk about it. But after some coaxing by the DJ, Jansen said that he would answer some questions right after he gets a shower. As Jansen puts the phone down, you hear him slipping in the shower. Cruel’jokes, but I got a good laugh out of them until that night when I saw it all take place. You work that hard all your life and it all seems rather worthless at the time. But even though Jansen may be America's goat, he's not alone by a long shot. Duncan Kennedy, the United States' best shot for a first ever luge medal, wiped out on a run that could have put him in very good position for a medal. What about the Austrian skier that lost his ski at the top of the downhill run? That's embarrassing. I've had moments like these people. I just haven't had them shown to millions of people. So, in honor of Jansen and Kertnedy, I've decided to reveal some of my most embarrassing moments in sport. Please don't let this get outside the city limits: I played soccer for over five years when I was young. During my second season, I was moved from forward to fullback. When you're 9-years-old, you don't want to play defense. All you care about is scoring a goal. So I did right into our own goal. In all honesty, I wasn't trying to do it. The ball went off the side of my foot and found its way under the goalie's hands. I was a decent baseball player in my teen years. But I made a lot of stupid mistakes. Heres a couple: When I was 16,1 was standing on third after a triple. I was so proud of myself. As the opposing pitcher faced the next batter, I was chatting with the third-base coach. I think I was telling him a joke! BOOM! Catcher throws in behind me and I'm unknowingly cracking a stupid joke. I'm out and we lose by a run. I pondered running my car into a river that night. Earlier in my career, I was a pitcher, and a pretty good one. I averaged IS or 16 strikeouts in a seven-inning game. I had a good hard fastball and a mean curve ball which broke off the table (at least fora 12-year old). Anyway, there's a man on third in the sixth inning. I strike a dude out on another nasty curveball. I can hear the "ahh" and "wow" in the stands. I crack a smile over at the coaches, one of who's my dad. The guy on third takes off and steals home. STEALS HOME while I'M SMILING. You don’t know how long that lived with me. By the way, we lost the game by a run, 7-6. Want some basketball? How 'bout the time I showed up at 8:30 for a 7:30 game? Made me feel real cool! I also remember playing junior varsity basketball in high school. It was a 15-man team and early in the season (I got better later really), there weren't enough chairs for the bench players. So I had to sit on the water cooler during the home games. That really knocked the ladies dead, know what I mean? If I had the pressure Jansen had on the ice, I would have lost a skate in the first 50 meters. It's all a part of life —a life full of embarrassment. That's part of what makes it so fun. Eagles stomp Westfield for region title James scores 36 in Athens Christian victory By PHIL CLARK , Special to tha HHJ MACON You could sum up the GISA Region 2-AAA championship game Friday night in two words Larry James. The big Athens Christian center dominated the game from tipoff to final whistle, scoring 36 points and controlling the backboards on both sides, leading the Eagles to an 80- 59 win over Westfield. James’ presence under the West field basket completely altered the Hornets’ style of play and they were never able to establish an inside game. Westfield’s Jeff Dortch hit the first basket of the championship game and the Hornets had reason to think championship. But much like the Hornets last meeting with Athens Christian, it turned downhill in a hurry. The Ea gles jumped out to a 19-9 lead after cme quarter. Westfield did make a run at it to open the second quarter, cutting the lead to 21-15 with still 6:41 to go. But again, James took control of the game, as he scored 15 in the first half. Westfield did actually cut into the lead slightly in the second quar ter, putting up 19 to the Eagles’ 17, but still trailed at the half by eight, 36-28. I \ L t.v * 1111}' yJL /HHP' pgglgK .bJSKm' •• •. W 8R -nj_- ’***'• , . W*?**"* vwsHHHHmhw i Laurie Thompson played her last game for Westfield. 'Dogs connect when it counts By BILL OVERTON Sports Editor MACON Painfully looking on, the Westfield girls basketball team saw it all come crashing down Wednesday night at the GISA Region 2-AAA Tournament George Walton Academy, a team which had lost the last two encounters with Westfield, was only four seconds away from a third-straight loss. But down 49-48, the Bulldogs' Mandy Whitikar scored a short jumper as time expired to give Walton a stunning 50-49 win and everything else that goes with it, including a meeting the next day with regular season champion Mt. de Sales and a state playoff berth. Meanwhile, Westfield could only mourn about the events that had just transpired. The Hornets thought everything was going to be alright after senior Laurie Thompson nailed a three pointer to give Westfield a one point advantage with eight Boys Athens Christian 80 Westfield 59 James had five baskets in the third quarter, but Westfield matched it with five three-pointers and stayed in the game, trailing only 55-45 at the end of three quarters. But the fourth quarter was all Athens Christian. The Hornets just couldn’t seem to keep the ball out of James’ hands, and the big center answered with 11 more in the fourth quarter in a 25-point period for the Eagles. Athens moved its record to 24-2 on the season, with one of its losses coming in early January at Westfield. The Hornets fell to 15- 11 on the season. LOn Talton had 15 for the Hor nets, while Jeff Dortch scored 13. But Westfield just could not get the ball inside as James continuously swatted the ball away or altered shots by the Hornets. Center Jake Walls was held to just four points, while forward Brian Nash picked up eight. Athens Christian will play the number four team from Region 3- AAA next Thursday night at Tat tnall Square Academy in Macon. Please see WESTFIELD, page 7A Girls George Walton 50 Westfield 49 seconds left. They were wrong. After a timeout, Walton inbounded to Beth Joines, who had a game high 24 points. Joines, as she had all game, drove with her right hand to the baseline. With a hand in her face, her feet left the ground and she released what appeared to be an attempt at a game-winning jump shot. But Joines lofted a three-foot pass to Whitikar, who was able to get a clear shot at the basket and banked home the winner. It was all abruptly over. There would be no semifinal matchup. There would be no state tournamenL There would be no tomorrow. "At Westfield, we always expect to be there," coach Donna Campbell said. "We always expect to be in a state tournament and, more often than Please see HORNETS, page 7A HUH M,- jMiNijit**' JfHr %\ JmEIHF. Mr I Westfield's Jeff Dortch (20) releases a shot In the lane as John Shipley (21) looks on. Perry toys with Trojans in regular season finale Boys Perry 75 Peach County 65 By BILL OVERTON Sports Editor FORT VALLEY Just another game for Perry Friday night. Okay, it was a little more than just a game. It wasn't just a tune-up for the upcoming GHSA Region 2- AAA tournament. It was a win Perry coach Carl Thomas has been visualizing for six years. It is a victory on Peach County High School's home floor, and after five unsuccessful tries, Thomas and his 21-3 team finally accomplished the feat in a 75-65 whipping of the Trojans Friday night in front of a capacity crowd. The third-ranked Panthers, which have struggled with their outside shooting, continued to struggle Friday night to a point. Highly unsuccessful from beyond the three point line (1-17 in last Saturday’s win over Peach), Perry didn't win the game with its threes. The Panthers simply helped put it out of reach. Perry seniors Eric Richardson and Keith Wimberly were the main culprits. With Perry clinging to a 55-50 lead early in the fourth quarter, Richardson surveyed Peach's zone and launched his third three of the game to give the Panthers some breathing room. Richardson said that he wanted to put the last meeting behind him, a game in which he only scored eight points. "I think last week I was a little nervous," Richardson said. "But once you hit a three, you get kind Please see PANTHERS, page 7A Panthers clipped by Peach By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer FORT VALLEY—Christmas does come in February. And, once again, it was the Perry women playing Santa Claus to the Peach County Trojans. Last week, the Trojans captured 30 Pan ther turnovers to go home with the win. Although the Perry ladies lim ited their turnovers to 22; but, the result was still the same as the Tro jans triumphed on their home court 53-50. With the loss, the Panthers fall to 10-14, while the Trojans im prove to 14-9 with the win. In addition to turning the ball over, the Panthers had problems at the free throw line all night long. The women hit on only eight of 25 free throws. Perry missed the front end of the one-and-onc four times IHE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1994 a The Houston Home m Journal 2* 9k mMk ■ pLfA jj mk lip 4m ‘ Tarvlsh Felton completes an eye-opening slam dunk. Girls Peach County 53 Perry 50 on the night, including three times in the final stanza of play. "It seems like every time we got close, we would miss shots," said Perry head coach Max Vickers. "I'm satisfied with the effort" The story of the night was turnovers. Perry would fall behind by 10 twice on the night as Peach County would take advantage of Panther miscues to take charge of the game. Instead of resigning for the long trip home with the big loss, the Panther played defense, forced Tro jan turnovers and played strong un der the boards. I With 1:46 left in the game, Shemia Fransciso put back a Peach miss, giving the Tr nans a 10 point lead, 53-43. With just under a minute left to go, Amber Fendley started a Pan ther charge, hitting for two, bring ing Perry to within seven, 53-46. Angela Leggett came back strong just 20 seconds later, grab bing two offensive boards, hitting on her second shot. A turnover by Peach with less than 20 seconds on the clock gave Perry a chance to cut the, lead down to three. However, the Panthers missed Vickers frantically calling for time, trying to stop the clock. Leggett drove for the basket, making the underneath lay-up, cut ting the lead down to three, 53-50. The Panthers were able to call a Please soe PEACH, page 7A 5A