Hosiery summer hoops league begins BY RORY DAVIS SPECIAL TO THE CHRONIC! K The Hot Summer Hoops League at Hanes Hosiery is off to a hot start this year. The action began during the last week of June, and seems to be getting hotter each week. Young bailers in the 6-9 Division have been playing some of the more exciting games so far. No team is hot ter than the Blue Devils. Blue Devils 24, Deacons 19: The Blue Devils began the season with a 19-14 win over the Wolfpack. Celeste Burgess led the charge dur ing the first win. Caleb Burgess also played big dur ing the opening win. In the second game, Arrington Gray scored 18 points to lead the Blue Devils to a hard fought victory over the Deacons. The Deacons were fresh off a 7-point win over the Tarheels. The Deacs appeared to have a chance to force overtime, but Dedrick Hawkins' 3-point attempt fell short. Gray snagged the rebound and sank two free throws to provide the final margin. David Blake chipped in with 6 points for the Blue Devils, while Hawkins led the Deacons with 1 1 . Wolfpack 19, Tarheels 17 (OT): The Tarheels have played sound basketball for two-straight games, but still haven't found a way to win. They dropped a close game to the Deacs during the first game of the season. Then, dropped a 19-17 game to the Wolfpack last week. The Heat hope to contend for a summer league title. Fouled on a 3-point attempt as the final horn sounded, Tevin Lloyd of the Tarheels knocked down all three free throws to send the game into overtime. The Wolfpack opened the game on an 8-0 run, but the Tarheels clamped down on defense ? scratching and clawing their way back into the game. Boo-Boo Blue (II points) and Zack McLeod (6 points) led the way for the Wolfpack, with McLeod hit ting two late free throws to give the Wolfpack the victo ry. Lloyd scored 15 points for the Tarheels in the losing effort. The Mavericks and Suns picked up victories in the 10 13 Division last week. Mavericks 32, Spurs 28: Rakie Badger scored 26 points as the Mavericks out lasted the Spurs 32-28. Badger used his superior quickness and strength to score at Hvill against the Spurs defense. F&rtunately for the Spurs, their offense kept them in the game. Gary Lash hit two key 3-pointers, while Corey Allen and Daisean Rucker combined for another 16 points to keep the Spurs in the game. The two teams battled back and forth, swap ping the lead throughout the second half until Badger took control and put the game out of reach for the Mavericks, Suns 37, Heat 25: Jared Smith scored 22 points, help ing the Suns cruise to a lop sided victory over the Heat. Danny Roche scored another 8 points for the Suns. Although the outcome had been determined by halftime, the Heat played hard ? cut ting into the Suns' lead over the final minutes. Dede Johnson led the Suns -with 7 points, while Jermaine Gay and Daqjuan Lee scored 6 points apiece for the Heat. Photo by Anthony Hill Several players from the TICKS squad get ready for water aero bics. T.I.C.K.S. from page Bl ing the ball inside out," Smiley said. "To be honest with yon, I didn't think that practicing two hours a week was enough time to prepare for nationals. We have good guard play, and a big man that no one can match up with. If we follow the game plan, we should be all right." "I'm looking for Richard Daniels, Pat Nicholson. Derrick Grant, Trey Ervin and Jon II to really step up for us," Smiley cowimied. "... especi/fiy Jon II^He didn't have "it" good tourna ment for us during our last time out. If they step up then we should be straight. I'm confident we will win another national champi onship. I think we can come back with the gold." Some of the other play ers that Smiley hopes to receive big play from are Antonio Leak. Kurt Myers, Burrell BroWn, Terrell Thompson, Jason Kirshner. Jordan Robinson and Matt Turner ? to name a few. The TICKS' performanc es in various other tourna ments have Smiley confi dent about his teams chances in the national tour nament. He said his squad has played very well against a number of talented Division I AAU squads this year. "... so I know we should be able to do some things in the tournament," Smiley said. "We've played some good Division I. teams. The guys have really been work ing hard. Everything went well with the training camp too. We spent a lot of time on defense. We're going to be pressing a lot. Plus, we have a very deep bench. Everyone is real excited about what we can do. Like I said, we've just got to stick with the game plan and everything should work out." Note: The TICKS uni forms and shoes were spon sored by Dallas Maverick star Josh Howard. Community Care Center Volunteers working together to provide free medical and dental care to low-income , uninsured families. You must be approved as a patient before seeing a doctor or dentist. We accept applications for new patients on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 2:30-5:00 PM. We suggest you pick up a brochure about our requirements to pre pare for the interview. Applications are taken on "first come, first served" basis. We accept only 40 applications per week. ? You can't be a patient if you are pregnant. ? We are not a walk-in clinic. v ? We can't handle emergencies. ? We can not accept patients with Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans' Administration Benefits or private health insurance. o Volunteers and our small staff provide medical and dental care for our patients. We are supported with donations from churches, individuals, businesses, foundations and the United Way. We do not receive government funds. Donations are requested from our patients to help operate the Clinic. 2135 NewWalkertown Road Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (across from Evergreen Cemetery) More Information: 336-723-7904 Wake's Michelle Sikes had an explosive senior season. Wake's Sikes earns big honor CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT Wake Forest's Michelle Sikes has been named the 2007 Division I Outdoor Track & Field Scholar Athlete of the Year, as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the 2007 Women's Division I All-Academic Track & Field Team last week. Demon Deacon track athletes Caitlin Chrisman, Lindsay Neuberger and Nicole Schappert were also named to the USTFC CCA All-Academic Team . Sikes, a mathematical economics major, had one of the most remarkable years of any student-athlete in the country. She won the 5000-meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Sacramento to become the first female track athlete in Wake Forest history to win an NCAA crown. Sikes also recently earned a spot on the USA World Championship team after finishing third in the 5000-meters at the USA Track & Field Championships. "Michelle built confidence with each passing week and race. I have been very fortunate to work with such a wonderful young per son who possesses so much passion, compassion and at the same time the desire and the ability to line up and challenge anyone at anytime. She has a bright future ahead of her, not only in athletics but professionally as well," Wake head coach Annie Bennett said. In addition to her many athletic accomplishments, Sikes recently received the Marge Crisp Award as Wake Forest's top female athlete for 2006-07 and earlier this year was named a Rhodes Scholar, as well as an Atlantic Coast Conference Postgraduate Scholar. "She has dedicated herself all year while still maintaining her difficult academic schedule; graduating in Wake's Honor Program and interviewing and winning the Rhodes Scholar award the week end of NCAA Cross Country championships," Bennett said. "She is a very goal-oriented individual, and she kept her eye on the taf get all season." , ,415 student-athletes representing 117 Division I colleges and universities make up the All-Academic team. The USTFCCCA-ijonors Division I individuals for their aca demic and athletic achi