U.S. Olympic Festival Roundup : Lewis Leads West to Bronze Medal

Tom Lewis of Pepperdine led a second-half rally that gave the West a 91-86 victory over the East Wednesday in the Olympic Festival basketball bronze medal game at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Lewis, a 6-foot-7 forward playing in his third straight Olympic Festival, scored 17 points.

A passive approach off the court and an intense one on it helped the West win the women’s basketball gold medal later Wednesday afternoon.

Shameil Coleman of Cal State Long Beach and Rehema Stephens of Colorado sparked a 15-4 run in the second half as the West used its superior height to advantage for a 68-53 victory over the South.

“We were ready to play,” West Coach Debbie Ryan of Virginia said. “All week, we stayed together as a team. Our staff told the players just to keep this game in perspective and not to get too hyped up or nervous about it.”

Both teams held six-point leads in the first half. The score was tied eight times in the second half, the last at 40 following a turnaround jumper by Washington’s Karen Deden with 11:03 left. Brenetha Jackson of Long Beach, Calif., hit a layup and Pauline Jordan of Nevada Las Vegas made a follow shot, and the West never was caught.

“They ‘ve worked so hard,” Ryan said. “This win is just really gratifying.”

In the women’s bronze medal game, Kelly Lyons of Old Dominion sparked an early surge to lead the East to a 77-63 victory over the North.

The speedskating finals with men’s and women’s 1,000 meters and 5,000-meter relays at Greensboro, N.C., were also scheduled Wednesday night.

Marina Kunyavsky, who won the National Championships last month in Shelbyville, Ind., compiled a score of 38.40 to take the lead after the preliminary round in rhythmic gymnastics.

The 1985 Festival gold medalist from Culver City, Calif., has a .3 lead over the 1986 gold medal winner, Diane Simpson, Evanston, Ill.

“I’m very glad,” said Kunyavsky, who was born in Leningrad, USSR. “I’ve practiced very hard in Los Angeles and in my two days here. The competition here is very tough. The scores by the judges were much lower than usual.

“I was very confident out there today. I decided to just go for it. I loved the crowd. They gave me a lot of spirit.”

“I felt like I was consistent all day, but I lost 3-10ths of a point when my hoop went out of bounds.”

The United States Gymnastic Federation is using the scores of the Festival to help determine spots on the Pan Am Games team.

Wednesday was an off-day in hockey. Track and field does not begin until Friday.

Maureen Mendoza of Long Beach, Calif., scored four goals Wednesday to lead the East to a 9-8 victory over the South in the first round of women’s water polo.

John Thompson, Georgetown basketball coach who will coach the U.S. basketball team at next year’s Olympic Games, said he is concerned about the selection of players for that team.

“The Olympics are late in 1988 . . . what happens to those kids who graduate in May?” Thompson asked. “Will they go pro or will they wait for the Olympics. Agents have some control over what happens with these kids.”