THE LATEST LINE: COLLEGE HOOP PRACTICE GETS READY TO OPEN

The college and high school football seasons are barely past their halfway points -- but that doesn't mean sports fans with a passion for basketball can't start thinking about hoops.

I know, the NBA is in a lockout stage and there's no telling when some of the world's richest -- and most spoiled -- athletes will be taking the court.

But college basketball teams across the country are just about ready to begin preparations for the 1998-99 season. Practice officially opens Saturday, with most squads playing their first games in early November.

I love both football and basketball. So what's really neat is when the sports overlap and I can partake in a two-for-one kind of deal. That's going to be coming up real soon.

It makes for some busy -- yet extremely enjoyable -- times.

* It doesn't matter what the reasons are for their differences -- there is simply no reason for the current NBA lockout.

Any league that brings in that much money -- and makes filthy rich men of owners and players alike -- should be able to solve things and get back on the court.

No ifs, ands or buts.

As Chicago guard Steve Kerr said, it's hard for the common person to have any sympathy at all for either side in this dispute.

* It's a sport that doesn't receive a whole lot of attention from the public, but SEMO's women's cross country team is putting together a fabulous season.

Entering weekend action, the Otahkians -- led by senior standout Janell Quigley -- had finished in the top three in every meet they have competed in.

SEMO's women and men will both have their only home action of the season Saturday when the SEMO Invitational is held.

* Former SEMO football star Marquis Walker, now in his third NFL season, turned in a key play last Sunday during Oakland's win at Arizona.

Walker intercepted a pass and returned it 28 yards to the Arizona 4-yard line. That led to a touchdown as the Raiders beat the Cardinals 23-20.

* Several kudos are in order for area high school teams and athletes in fall sports other than football (which receives plenty of publicity as it is).

Congratulations to Cape Central's girls tennis team, which recently wrapped up another undefeated dual-match season and captured another district title.

The Lady Tigers have gone 12-0 in duals each of the past three years and they've also won three straight district crowns.

And special kudos to Central foreign exchange student Eliane Hess, who did not lose a game in winning four matches to capture the district singles title. No matter what kind of competition she was facing, that is truly amazing.

Congrats to the Jackson and Kelly softball teams, who advanced to play in quarterfinal games Saturday (this was written before I knew whether either team made it to the final four).

And congrats and continued success to the Jackson volleyball team, which has compiled a remarkable 22-2-2 record so far.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian