Jeff Lucas

Jeff Lukas, recovering from injuries suffered when he was knocked down by a runaway horse in the barn area at Santa Anita on Dec. 15, is no longer in a coma and has been shifted from intensive care to a private hospital room, a spokeswoman for the Wayne Lukas Racing Stable said Tuesday. "Jeff has been improving daily," Peggy Yost said. "He has been recognizing voices and there has been considerable movement of his hands. He is not talking.

Jeff Lukas, recovering from injuries suffered when he was knocked down by a runaway horse in the barn area at Santa Anita on Dec. 15, is no longer in a coma and has been shifted from intensive care to a private hospital room, a spokeswoman for the Wayne Lukas Racing Stable said Tuesday. "Jeff has been improving daily," Peggy Yost said. "He has been recognizing voices and there has been considerable movement of his hands. He is not talking.

The Browns today signed 10 free agents, including Jeff Graham, a quarterback on the team's developmental squad last season, and defensive back Charlie Wright, the brother of Browns veteran safety Felix Wright. They also signed defensive end Bob Buczkowski, 25, a No. 1 draft pick of the Raiders in 1986, and four free-agent offensive linemen: Jeff Lucas, Matt Patchan, Bob Sims and Dave Smith. Also signed were tight ends Charlie Darrington and K. D. Dunn and cornerback Ellis Dillahunt.

Brian Ballew said he is unaccustomed to playing the hero, but the Hart High forward sure looked like a veteran in the role Wednesday night. The 6-foot-2 senior scored seven of his 17 points in the final two minutes, including a three-pointer with two seconds to play that gave the Indians a 55-52 victory over Palmdale in the semifinals of the 22nd Hart Holiday Classic. The defeat snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Falcons (9-2).

Muir High School has had one of the top boys basketball teams in the San Gabriel Valley in recent years, but you couldn't judge by the Mustangs' performances in CIF playoffs. Muir lost in the first round to Santa Monica in 1984 and in the second round to Newport Harbor last year. The Mustangs, seeded No. 3 in the 4-A Division with a 24-2 record, are hoping to last longer this time. The first step will be a victory over Warren in the opening round at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Altadena.

FIRST TEE * 7 a.m.--Jay Don Blake; Mark Wiebe; Patrick Burke. * 7:09--John Mahaffey; Steve Stricker; Jim Carter. * 7:18--Mike Reid; Jay Delsing; Glen Day. * 7:27--Scott Verplank; Don Pooley; Joe Acosta Jr. * 7:36--Tom Lehman; Craig Stadler; Scott Simpson. * 7:45--Jim Furyk; Ben Crenshaw; Lanny Wadkins. * 7:54--Mark Brooks; Fred Couples; Tom Kite. * 8:03--Billy Ray Brown; Brad Fabel; Brian Tennyson. * 8:12--Steve Rintoul; Olin Browne; Carl Paulson.

Ganesha High, top-ranked basketball team in the CIF 3-A Division, has coasted through its Hacienda League schedule with as little difficulty as its 13-0 league record might attest. The only thing separating Ganesha (23-1 overall) from finishing with a perfect league record is a game with rival Bonita at 7 p.m. Friday in La Verne. Considering how Bonita has played lately, winning may not be easy for Ganesha.

David (Kid) Ramos and Robert Lucas, veterans of the Orange County traditional blues scene, are stepping up to higher-profile gigs. Lucas, who now lives in Bellflower, will join the long-running band Canned Heat as singer and slide guitarist, reports his manager, Berkeley Green. The gig begins in June and "it's definitely a step (up)," Green said.

Mission accomplished. That sure makes Brigham Young University basketball Coach Ladell Anderson happy. Five of the seven BYU basketball players who left on missions two years ago have returned to play for Anderson this season. "When those guys left, I told them I hope I'll be here when they get back," Anderson said. "I had to suffer through it. By now we'll be OK." After 15-14 and 18-14 seasons, the Cougars are expected to be more than OK this season.