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?-SOOftS? H Coach tells differi 'Sweet 'When he (USC Women's Basketball Coach Terry Kelly) cami in, I didn't know what he could do He never did prove what he could do.' ?Former USC basketball playe Evelyn Johnsoi By Jeff Rogers Although forward Evelyn Johnson wa officially dismissed from USC's women i _? 11 11 i ' ? uctsnciuuu team lasi weeK oy Head Coac j Terry Kelly, Johnson said yesterday it wa her decision to leave the team. "I have no regrets except that I didn dismiss myself earlier," Johnson said. "I never did enjoy playing this yeai Basketball just wasn't fun anymore." JOHNSON SAID her knees were hurtin in the practice session last week when sh i decided to quit. "Some of the players came over and said was using my knees as an excuse for n( hustling in practice," she said. The senior from East Lansing, Mich., ha a slow start after recovering from sprin and summer knee surgery. "They didn't know what I was goin through," she said. "I decided to leav Decause tms was my last year, and they'r not going to care what happens afterwardi I had to do what was best for myself." JOHNSON ADDED that Kelly had no sa in her decision to quit. "Coach Kelly wasn't even at the Dra< tice," she said. "He didn't even ask for m IHI an 4r i v: '^ir I ?: ii *i ? j.:.... i?, rnrni;n uiiiiiny nuwuiunm unvna iiisiiid iui oaiuim took their sixth straight win over USC at Littl jnt story E' says she a v -f-- -r,"" f s JgBp^^r^Ef i B ll W e USC forward Evelyn Johnson battles for pos e season. The honorable mention Ail-American was side of the story. I'm a little bitter about that." y Johnson said she and Kelly had experienced a personality clash all season. "There are a lot of clashes between y players and coaches," she said. "I feel that ^^j9nK' '^jfe''^:-: ..$ %?t->i9B gar:: - . ^gggpsp r. :^^SB HHtei:-'''^:'' Photo by Djv? C^^ u in CaliirrlauV- noma anoincl Plamsnn Tho Tirtare a ill MU1UI uny a yanio nyamai uiuiiiauii. i nu nyuiu ejohn Coliseum. a C decided to cj ^ggnnBH| MSSISm ne\ F^SI Ba *i^? am -.wain - - >-- . A W GC gjjgr can I in^e .^ggSp B COV< win ition in a game against Mercer earlier in the ?, i dismissed from the team Wednesday. sen) it was a coaching mistake on his (Kelly's) S< part for not asking me why I left. Johi Lyn "I REALIZE that all coaches make j0h mistakes, but he (Kelly) has a lot to learn 44, about coaching and dealing with people." ^ Kelly was named acting head coach last the} Gamecocks up ag as basketball sea: uy jonnny Hoggs CLEMSON -USC's men's basketball team ' has its back against the wall as the Gamecocks look for a postseason tour- t6< nament bid. The Gamecocks dropped an 86-81 decision to Clemson Saturday night, falling to a 15-7 031 record with six games left in the regular season. USC acting Head Basketball Coach Steve Steinwedel said he wasn't sure how ?UI the loss will affect Carolina's chances for a National Collegiate Athletic Association bid. StC "I really don't know," Steinwedel said. "I can only speculate on it. I don't know how many wins it will take to get into the NCAAs. "WE'VE GOT SIX games left, and if we argi get those six, I think we'll be in real good tech shape. We're going to find out what kind of ball team we are." , sanl USC's final six games are against Georgia iate Tech, Holy Cross, Marquette, DePaul and julI1 Georgia Southern at home, and Florida 12:2 State on the road. T] The Tigers, 9-15, shot 70.8 percent from Ir the floor in the first half and 59.3 percent in the the second ? 64.7 percent for the game. and Carolina shot 47.7 percent from the floor for thai the game. ' "I think we're a better shooting team than R 47 percent," Steinwedel said, "but then that shot should be enough to win a ball game. UP 13 Wal "OUR DEFENSE didn't help us much dun] tonight, but I'm not sure any defense could T1 have stopped them. con< "We knew things would turn around for Coli. them. I'm disappointed it happened tonight." Fosi Clemson Head Coach Bill Foster said, defii "Had we not shot so well, we might have UJ lost. It's been a long time since we've shot 20 p that good, but we are capable of shooting Bra< well." Hau USC trailed 20-17 midway into the first Th half whpn n t<vhnir>al fnnl All *v?or? , .. ..w M WV*M?VM? A V/UA VII UH/lllYVCUCl AAAC41I gave the Tigers six points. Micl J one MAHC CAMPBELL was fouled while Ca shooting by Gerald Peacock. Steinwedel Geoi luit team l have no regrets except that I n't dismiss myself earlier. I rer did enjoy playing this year. sketball just wasn't fun fmore.' ?Former USC basketball player Evelyn Johnson after Pam Parsons resigned in midon. He was named head coach late in ?, ictisun. When he first came in, I didn't know t he could do," Johnson said. "He never srove what he could do." thnson was dismissed from the team Inesday, two days after she scored her er hifch of 36 points against Francis ion College. She had become the second ime leading career scorer for the Lady lecocks, trailing only Ail-American la Foster. )HNSON SAID that in cutting her, Kelly ide it sound like he did it for the best rests of the team. don't know if it will pull the team ^ ither," she said. "They might try to ;r it up and play closer to prove they can without Evelyn Johnson. f fViotiv* 4 ? ll__ ii i mou uicin inc UCai, CSJJCClilliy 1(16 ors." me of the Lady Gamecocks, including ison's replacement, freshman Gwen ch, agreed with Kelly that dropping nson was good for the team. rhe players are looking from their point riew," Johnson said. "They know that f'll be getting more playing time." ainst wall son dwindles I think we're a better shooting am than 47 percent but then it should be enough to win a II game. Our defense didn't help much tonight but then I'm not e any defense could have i ii # ippea mem. - USC acting Head Coach Steve Steinwedel led with the official and received the nical. impbell made both foul shots and then c the two-shot technical. Five seconds r, Anthony Jenkins hit a baseline per that gave Clemson a 26-17 lead at the Omark. le Gamecocks never regained the lead, the second half, USC managed to cut deficit to one point but couldn't convert, Clemson pulled away with slightly more i four minutes remaining. AYMOND JONES sank a pair of foul s with 4:17 left to play to put the Tigers 8-73. Less than a minute later, Warren lace worked his way inside for a slam v i that gave Clemson an 80-75 advantage. le Tigers then cruised to their sixth :<v<iifiuo \/ir?tnr*vr nuor I TQf o t I ittlainhn r^^mtva t v t vw? J v t v* u," \-J v> u v jli1vv1vjv1u1 seum. Ve needed a win over a good team," ;er said, "and South Carolina is litely a fine ballclub. SC's Jimmy Foster led ail scorers with oints ? 10 of those from the foul line, i Jergenson poured in 19, while Jimmy 'thorne added 14 and Kenny Holmes 11. e Tigers were paced by Murray Jar's 19 points and Campbell's 18. Chris lael had 15, David Shaffer added 13 and .s scored 12. rolina returns home Wednesday to play *gia Tech.