CAPTAIN'S LOG: The Captain showed off her driving skills the other night. Safe rather than sorry has always been the Captain's motto, but even more so in bad weather or when it is dark.

The Captain always wants to be behind the wheel when it is dark. Not because she thinks the first mate is a bad driver but because she likes to be in control of the situation.

And after years of listening to the Captain ask the first mate if the roads are slippery every five minutes, he has just given in and lets the Captain drive.

The other evening as we approached s stop sign with the Captain behind the wheel, the road went straight ahead and also had a Y turn to the right. It was three lanes to the stop sign and all of the places we wanted to go were on the left.

At the last minute, the Captain asked if she could go straight ahead to the stop sign. Before the first mate could reply, "Of course," the Captain took the Y to the right. She then drove a quarter mile down the pike and flipped a Louie to head back in the direction we wanted to be going.

The first mate was laughing hysterically. "It looked like there were stripes on the road so I didn't know if I could go straight."

"That was smart," said the first mate. "I'm sure it was safer to go out of your way and flip a Louie in the road to get to where we wanted to go."

And the Captain doesn't think the first mate should drive at night. Right.

SULTAN SELECTS: Another perfect 5-0 week for the Sultan who has been on a roll since the season started. That raises the Swat Master to 41-4, an incredible 91 percent since the hoops season started.

The Sultan is hoping that the crystal ball remains red hot and that the powers to be might include a bonus for this remarkable string of right guesses.

BBB-NRHEG vs. JWP (Friday): The Sultan says, NRHEG 59, JWP 51:  NRHEG has already defeated JWP twice this season, winning by 19 and nine points. The Panthers have played many teams tight and then fall just short at the end. NRHEG will not let this one get away as the Panther defense will contain Josh Stockman and carry the Panthers to a win.

GBB -NRHEG vs. JWP (Thursday): The Sultan says, NRHEG 77, JWP 40: This is a mismatch as NRHEG won the first meeting by 43 points and this one won't be any better for the Bulldogs. The Panther press will create many easy scoring opportunities on the other end of the court for NRHEG. The Panthers won't let their chance for an unbeaten season slip away here.

BBB-Waseca vs. New Ulm (Thursday): The Sultan say, Waseca 63, NU 54: The Bluejays won in New Ulm and are playing much better defense now than early in the season. Different players are starting to step forward offensively for the Jays, and the overall team defense is starting to shut teams down. Waseca is just one game behind the conference leaders so a win here is a must.

GBB-Waseca vs. New Ulm (Thursday): The Sultan says, Waseca 61, NU 42: The Jays had no trouble winning the first meeting, but it is always tougher on the road. However, NU is winless this season and no team wants to be the first one the Eagles defeat. The Lady Jay defense should dominate the punch less NU squad.

GBB-WEM vs. Tri-City United (Friday): The Sultan says, WEM 53, TC United 41: The Bucs have struggled of late but should get healthy in this one. Scoring points has been tough for WEM, but TC's defense has been suspect all season. The Buccaneer offense will step up to the challenge in this one.

SECOND SCOOP: The NRHEG girls kept their record perfect by passing a big test at Carleton College Saturday. It goes down in the books as a nine-point win, but it was a 20-point game most of the way and a 23-point margin with four minutes left.

That makes 20 consecutive wins for the Panther girls. Games against WEM and Blue Earth appear to be the only tough games remaining to complete an unbeaten regular season.   

But as wonderful as the regular season has gone, things will become very tough at tournament time for NRHEG to advance to state.

In the south sub-section tourney, there are Southland and Blue Earth with just two losses apiece, a 13-3 USC squad and a Hayfield team that played the Panthers as tough as anyone.

In the North sub-section is St. Peter at 14-2, Kenyon-Wanamingo at 13-4 and the WEM squad that gave the Panthers a tussle.

NRHEG has defeated a number of these teams soundly, which makes it even scarier.

Blue Earth is a team to keep your eye on. The Bucs eliminated NRHEG last year by not allowing Carlie Wagner to penetrate to the basket. Defense is their strength once again. They are long and athletic and really buy into defense.

NRHEG is the only undefeated Class AA team left in the entire state, and that gives opponents even more incentive to play their best.

So Panthers. Continue to work hard and improve, and don't get complacent. You have a bull's eye on your backs. Everyone wants to be that first team to beat you.

HARDWOOD HEROES:
* NRHEG's Jade Schultz nailed six three-points in 10 attempts, scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 76-69, overtime victory over Faribault BA.
* WEM's Grant Pope contributed 21 points, 15 assists and seven steals in a 94-61 rout over Belle Plaine.
* NRHEG's Carlie Wagner set a new school record with 39 points, and handed out six assists, as the Panthers whipped Goodhue 77-68.
* Waseca's Jake Busse scored 17 points and snared 13 rebounds to help the Bluejays defeat Le Sueur-Henderson 70-61.
* NRHEG's Anna Schlaak had 16 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and four steals in an 89-57 triumph over USC.

SHOTS FROM THE PAST:
* 1958 - Brooklyn's Roy Campanella was seriously injured in an automobile accident in New York. He was confined to a wheel chair and never played baseball again.
* 1967 - Paige Cothren was the first player to sign with the New Orleans Saints.
* 1973 - The UCLA Bruins won their 61^st consecutive game to break the record held by the University of San Francisco.
* 1981 - Oakland beat Philadelphia 27-10 in Super Bowl XV. The Reaiders entered the playoffs as a wild card team.
* 1988 - Rickey Green of the Utah Jazz scored the 5-millionth point in NBA history.

SCOOP QUIZ: Who was the first Heisman Trophy winner to be elected to pro football's Hall of Fame?

Last week: Who is the all-time leading scorer in UCLA men's basketball?