CLEVELAND, Ohio — The final AP state boys basketball poll was released on Monday night. These polls are voted on by a group of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout the state of Ohio, including cleveland.com's David Cassilo and Tim Bielik.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The final AP state boys basketball poll was released on Monday night.

These polls are voted on by a group of sportswriters and broadcasters from throughout the state of Ohio, including cleveland.com's David Cassilo and Tim Bielik.

Every week, we will show you how we voted compared to the end result of the state poll and provide some insight into our choices.

(State poll is listed first, followed by cleveland.com's ballot)

DIVISION I
1. Cin. Moeller (7) 19-1 156
2. Zanesville (7) 21-0 153
3. St. Edward (1) 17-2 116
4. Massillon Jackson (1) 17-2 114
5. Trotwood-Madison 19-2 102
6. Berea-Midpark 17-2 66
7. Uniontown Lake 18-2 57
8. Tol. Bowsher 18-2 52
9. Shaker Heights (1) 17-4 35
10. Tol. Cent. Cath. 17-2 16
(tie) Cols. Northland 16-4 16
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

cleveland.com ballot

1. Shaker Heights

2. Cincinnati Moeller

3. St. Edward

4. Zanesville

5. Trotwood-Madison

6. Toledo Bowsher

7. Massillon Jackson

8. Berea-Midpark

9. Uniontown Lake

10. Northland
Notes: As the lone outlet to vote for Shaker Heights No. 1, it's nice to see the Raiders in the poll. Still, they should be higher considering they just beat St. Edward.

Overall, having those two teams and Berea-Midpark in the Top 10 is a great accomplishment for Northeast Ohio. All of the teams deserve it.
DIVISION II
1. Mansfield Ontario (13) 20-0 157
2. Norwalk 20-1 131
3. Day. Dunbar (2) 19-3 125
4. Cols. Watterson (2) 19-2 114
5. Franklin 18-3 71
6. Millbury Lake 19-1 65
(tie)Day. Thurgood Marshall 16-5 65
8. Circleville Logan Elm 19-2 47
9. Defiance 16-3 39
10. Athens 16-3 24
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Central Catholic 20, 12. St. Vincent-St. Mary 14, 13. Cols. Brookhaven 13, 14. Elida 12.

cleveland.com ballot

1. Dayton Dunbar

2. Columbus Bishop Watterson

3. Mansfield Ontario

4. Central Catholic

5. Dayton Thurgood Marshall

6. Defiance

7. Circleville Logan Elm

8. St. Vincent-St. Mary

9. Millbury Lake

10. Athens

Notes: After being No. 1 in the first AP state poll of the season, Cleveland Central Catholic fell out of the top team after suffering some tough losses down the stretch. St. Vincent-St. Mary also failed to crack the top ten, failing to take advantage of the chances it had to do so. Both teams can make state final four runs, but have not impressed voters outside from Northeast Ohio as much.

When it comes to the top, we stuck with Dunbar at the top because they had a better resume than Ontario despite not having the undefeated record that Ontario has.
DIVISION III
1. Beachwood (7) 19-2 158
2. Villa Angela-St. Joseph (4) 14-6 141
3. Belmont Union Local (4) 20-1 113
4. Lucasville Valley (1) 19-2 103
5. St. Bernard Roger Bacon (1) 16-4 93
6. Cols. Ready 16-5 79
7. Lima Cent. Cath. 16-4 56
8. Warrensville Heights 12-7 44
9. Gilmour 16-3 34
10. Chillicothe Zane Trace 16-3 33
Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Archbold 19, 12. Creston Norwayne 14.

cleveland.com ballot

1. Villa Angela-St. Joseph

2. Beachwood

3. St. Bernard Roger Bacon

4. Columbus Bishop Ready

5. Warrensville Heights

6. Belmont Union Local

7. Clark Montessori

8. Lima Central Catholic

9. Gilmour

10. Archbold
Notes: Beachwood was the lone Northeast Ohio team to finish No. 1 in the state. Regardless of how the season finishes up, it's a great accomplishment for the Bison.

As we've said in the past, there's a lot to look forward to in the Garfield Heights district, as the four local teams in this poll (Beachwood, Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Warrensville Heights and Gilmour) are all in that district.
DIVISION IV
1. Convoy Crestview (15) 21-0 168
2. New Madison Tri-Village (1) 21-1 143
3. Berlin Hiland 19-2 134
4. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep 21-1 120
5. Tol. Ottawa Hills (1) 17-1 98
6. Troy Christian 19-2 81
7. New Washington Buckeye Cent. 18-2 57
8. Tipp City Bethel 16-3 52
9. Peebles 18-2 50
10. Haviland Wayne Trace 15-4 7
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

cleveland.com ballot

1. Convoy Crestview

2. Berlin Hiland

3. Canal Winchester Harvest Prep

4. New Madison Tri-Village

5. Toledo Ottawa Hills

6. Tipp City Baptist

7. Troy Christian

8. Cornerstone Christian

9. Peebles

10. Haviland Wayne Trace

Notes: No local teams received enough votes to be ranked.

American ski halfpipe champion David Wise and snowboard cross bronze medalist Alex Deibold come from humble backgrounds.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The “Undude” rules.

David Wise, the Olympic champion most Americans had never heard of before he climbed to the top of the ski halfpipe podium Tuesday, is the anti-Shaun White in ways too many to enumerate. The biggest difference is Wise entered the Sochi Olympics with almost no hype and certainly not an hour-long NBC promotional video, and Wise leaves the games with a medal.

Upon winning the first gold medal in the new Olympic event, Wise rushed to hug his wife Alexandra, whom he met at a church camp, as she held large photos of their 2-year-old daughter Nayeli.

“I think it’s more important to be a good husband and father than it is to be a great skier,” Wise told reporters in Sochi.

Wise is the sixth American to win gold in Sochi. The U.S., with two medals Tuesday, is tied with The Nethlands for the most medals (20) with five days remaining.

Also Tuesday:

• America's other medalist Tuesday also has a humble backstory. Alex Deibold was waxing snowboards at the 2010 Vancouver Games, and on Tuesday he rode his board to a surprise bronze medal in snowboard cross. France's Pierre Valutier held off late-charging Nikolay Olyunin of Russia for the gold medal.

• The U.S. women's bobsled team, which has medaled in every Olympics since the event was introduced in 2002, is in position to win two more medals Wednesday. The two-man sleds piloted by Alana Meyers and Jamie Greubel rank first and third, respectively, after completing two runs. Myers and brakeman Lauryn Williams own a 0.23-second lead over Canada defending champions Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse. Greubel and Aja Evans are in third with a significant, 0.49-second gap on the fourth sled. Americans Jazmine Fenlator and Lolo Jones are 11th. The final two runs are Wednesday.

Williams, who won a sprint relay gold medal at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, took up bobsled six months ago and could join American Eddie Eagan (1920 boxing, 1932 four-man bobsled) as the only athletes to win summer and winter Olympic gold medals.

• American teen Mikaela Shiffrin finished a respectable fifth in her Olympic debut in the giant slalom, while 2006 champ Julia Mancuso failed to finish her first run. Slovenia's Tina Maze won her second gold medal by 0.07 over Austrian super-G winner Anna Fenninge, and defending champion Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany won bronze. Shiffrin is the reigning slalom world champ and her aim is on that event Friday.

• Norway’s Emil Hegle Svendsen nearly entered the annals of Olympic infamy when hard-charging French rival Martin Fourcade almost passed the celebrating Svendsen with his hands in the air near the finish of the biathlon 15-kilometer mass start. Svendsen was declared the winner in a photo finish. Svendsen told reporters in Sochi he was in control the whole time and “it looked closer than it was.''

• Four years removed from its breakthrough at the Vancouver Games, the U.S. Nordic combined team struggled again Tuesday. Taylor Fletcher (20th) was the top American and defending champion Billy Demong finished 31st in the final individual event of his career. Norwegians Joergen Graabak claiming the gold and Magnus Hovdal won gold and silver, and Germany's Fabian Kircheisen captured bronze.

• The Netherlands swept the grueling 10,000 meters, giving them 19 speedskating medals. Jorrit Bergsma set and Olympic record while upsetting teammate and world-record holder Sven Kramer to win speedskating's grueling 10,000 meters.

• NBC's primetime show at 8 p.m. Tuesday is to include Alpine skiing, halfpipe, snowboard cross and bobsled.

Looking ahead to Wednesday, in addition to the conclusion of women's bobsled, all four men's hockey quarterfinals will be played. Team USA plays at noon against Czech Republic, which beat rival Slovakia, 5-3, while Canada plays Latvia, which upset Switzerland, 3-1.

Russia beat Norway, 4-0, Tuesday with Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky getting 22 saves for the shutout. Team Russia plays Finland and Sweden faces Slovenia in the other quarterfinals.

The men's giant slalom begins at 2 a.m. ET and the women's figure skating short program is at 10 a.m.

Kyrie Irving looks to build on his All-Star MVP performance and lead the visiting Cavaliers to a fifth straight victory Tuesday night against the 76ers, losers of eight in a row.

Kyrie Irving looks to build on his All-Star MVP performance and lead the visiting Cavaliers to a fifth straight victory Tuesday night against the 76ers, losers of eight in a row.

Get updates from The Plain Dealer on Twitter @PDCavsInsider and post your comments during the game below.

Tweets by @PDcavsinsider

During the four-game winning streak before the All-Star break, Kyrie Irving averaged 22 points, 7.0 assists and shot 48 percent from the field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving winning the MVP in the All-Star Game makes for a fun weekend for Cavaliers fans. But here's what was more meaningful -- how Irving played in the four-game winning streak right before the break.

He averaged 22 points, 7.0 assists and shot 48 percent from the field. That's winning basketball, especially because he did it taking only 14 shots per game. He was an outstanding 28-of-30 at the foul line.

But can they keep it up? They being both the Cavs … and Irving.

The opponents are Washington and Detroit on the road, Memphis and Sacramento at home. Not great teams. Memphis is the only one with a winning record. Washington would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

But fans also know their team is capable to losing to terrible teams any time, any place. It's up to Irving to set the tone to change that.

Obviously, Mike Brown plays a critical role. The coach has to use his players correctly, watching how Dion Waiters and Irving are reacting together on the court. He has to be careful with the minutes for Anderson Varejao, out for Tuesday's game at Philadelphia as he continues to rest his back.

But Irving playing with enthusiasm and confidence sparks this team.

The Cavs entered Tuesday night only three games out of the final playoff spot -- rather remarkable, given the 20-33 record in what has been mostly a dismal season.

For the fans who become discouraged with Irving, simply ask yourself what player in the last three drafts would you prefer? Remember that he won't be 22 until March 23.

I want Irving to sign the maximum contract that the Cavs are expected to offer after the season. I also want Irving to understand what it means to play in games that have meaning -- even if simply to secure a final playoff spot.

Yes, he was superb scoring 31 points in the All-Star Game, but defense was a rumor. It was all about having fun. The last 29 games should be all about winning for the Cavs.

Irving and Brown need to combine to set that agenda. Hopefully, Waiters will continue to make a sincere attempt to blend on the court. During the four-game streak, Waiters averaged 17 points and shot 45 percent.

The Cavs have been so frustrating. This team should not be 13 games under .500 as play begins after the All-Star break. New General Manager David Griffin is working hard to add some shooting in a trade before Thursday's deadline.

And yes, it makes sense to move Jarrett Jack. The veteran is averaging 18 minutes a game and was 5-of-17 (only 13 points) in the winning streak. He has three more years ($19 million) left on his deal -- and hasn't supplied the outside shooting (40 percent) that the Cavs hoped.

The Cavs believe they can bring Matthew Dellavedova off the bench as backup guard. Brown likes his defense and his willingness to pass the ball.

I do expect Griffin to make some type of deal, probably minor.

But the real key with what happens begins with Irving, and if he can continue to play to the high level that he has in the last few weeks.

Philadelphia coach Brett Brown first met Kyrie Irving when the Cavaliers point guard was a week old, and his father, Drederick, was playing for Brown's Melbourne, Australia, team.

PHILADELPHIA – When Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown was in charge of the Bulleen Boomers in Melbourne, Australia, two decades ago, one of his top players brought his newborn son to practice.

On Sunday, Brown saw that little baby named MVP of the NBA All-Star game.

Brown still was in awe Tuesday that the week-old baby he saw Drederick Irving bring to practice in Melbourne has grown into one of the best players in the league.

"To fast-forward that to now and see what he has grown into ..." Brown trailed off before the Cavaliers played the Sixers at Wells Fargo Center.

Although his dad played for Brown, Kyrie Irving never played for 76ers coach – though it wasn't for lack of effort on Brown's part when he was coach of the Australian national team.

"There were stages we were trying to get him to naturalize and come to Australia and be Australia's point guard," Brown said.

Those dreams, of course, now are dashed with Irving's rise not only in the NBA, but with USA Basketball, to which earlier this season he was named to the group from which the Olympic team will be chosen.

"He's been thrust forward at a very quick rate on his emergence into one of the elite point guards in the world," Brown said. "To see him now, given the history I have had with his family and briefly him, you're just so proud of what he does. He amazes me, what he can do with the ball. ... To see what he does on an open court in a free-style type of game, his talents just shine."

Jack on rumors: Jarrett Jack hears the same things everyone else does. Two days before the NBA's trade deadline, there were rumors that the Cavaliers guard is headed to Brooklyn in exchange for Jason Terry, or to Sacramento for any number of players.

Jack doesn't know what's true and what's not. And he's not worrying about it.

"I can't worry about it unless I find out there's some legitimacy to it," he said.

Meanwhile, he hopes that the rumors are false. Although Jack's start in Cleveland hasn't been what he's expected – he's averaging 8.5 points on 39.7 percent shooting – he's happy where he is.

"It's good to be wanted and coveted," Jack said, "but I didn't come here to want to leave in four months. I came here to try to help build something, and I want to keep that going for as long as I can. "

New Sixers weapon: The 76ers signed a new weapon for Tuesday's game against the Cavaliers: a high school senior from nearby Bensalem High School. Kevin Grow, an 18-year-old with Down syndrome, earned national attention when Grow hit four 3-pointers in the final two minutes of Bensalem's game last week – in only the second game he played with the team.

Grow signed a two-day contract with the Sixers, which included practice Monday, a Sixers jersey, and participation in Tuesday's introductory ceremony.

The last word: Goes to Sixers coach Brown, who coached Matthew Dellavedova for the Australian national team: "Matty plays like Rocky boxed."

In Philadelphia, especially, that's a good thing.

Once Ubaldo Jimenez's four-year deal with Baltimore is official, the Indians draft status for 2014 will improve.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The draft pick that the Indians will receive as compensation for Ubaldo Jimenez when his deal with Baltimore becomes official means they’ll be a lot busier on the first day of the first-year player draft in June than they were last year.

“We’ll have four picks in the first day,” said Brad Grant, Indians director of amateur scouting.

Last year the Indians took high school outfielder Clint Frazier in the first round, but then had to wait because they lost second- and third-round picks as compensation for signing free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn.

Jimenez’s deal with the Orioles, pending a physical, improves the Indians’ draft standing in two ways. With Baltimore losing its first pick in the draft (No.17), the Indians move up from No. 22 to 21.

The compensation pick for Jimenez comes between the first and second round. It’s No.30 at the moment, but it could drop to the mid 30s depending on what teams sign remaining free agents Nelson Cruz, Kendrys Morales and Ervin Santana. Cruz, Morales and Santana have draft pick compensation tied to them just as Jimenez did.

The Indians will have another pick in-between the first and second round thanks to last year’s competitive balance lottery. At the moment, that’s the 37th pick.

“Any opportunity we have to acquire talent is an important opportunity for us,” said GM Chris Antonetti. “Our long term success will be predicated on how successful we are at acquiring and developing our own talent.

“The model we need to follow is the one where we add and supplement through free agency, but not build teams through free agency. Having those additional draft picks, we’re excited about having that opportunity.”

Easy does it: First baseman-DH Brian LaHair will have to wait to make his Cactus League debut as he recovers from September surgery on his left wrist. The Indians signed LaHair to a minor-league deal after he opted out the second year of his deal with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japan.

The Indians begin Cactus League play on Feb. 26.

“There’s a gradual routine for him (to come back),” said manager Terry Francona. “I don’t think he’ll be a ton behind everybody else.”

LaHair is hitting off a tee, but so far he hasn’t hit against pitchers.

Slow go: Right-hander Danny Salazar, expected to carry a big load in the rotation this year, is being brought along slowly. He threw a bullpen session Tuesday and isn’t scheduled to throw again for at least two days.

The only two other pitchers who are getting that much time between bullpen sessions are Frank Herrmann and Shaun Marcum. Herrmann is coming off Tommy John surgery, while Marcum is recovering from surgery to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome.

Antonetti said Salazar isn’t hurt.

“His focus in spring training is to prepare to pitch the whole season,” said Antonetti. “He’s not competing for a job.”

Said Salazar, “I’m 100 percent. They just have me on a program.”

The Indians have handled Salazar carefully since he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2010. When they brought him up last year, he was on a pitch count for much of the season.

Salazar is taking part in all the pitchers conditioning and fielding drills. Last year he made his first 10 starts in the big leagues, hitting 100 mph on occasion and averaging 11.25 strikeouts and 2.59 walks per nine innings.

Francona said that he expects Salazar to open the season in the rotation, but that if he needs extra rest, there are enough off days in April (two) to do that.

No numbers, please: Francona wouldn’t speculate on how many games Yan Gomes would catch this year.

“We told him to come to camp prepared to be the main catcher,” said Francona. “He’s never done that before so we’ll try to use some common sense.”

Gomes had a solid offensive year last season as he split the catching job with Carlos Santana. As a starting catcher, Francona wants Gomes concentrating on one thing – the pitching staff.

“He’s a good hitter and he will help us offensively,” said Francona. “But again, the goal for Gomer is if were shaking hands after the game, whatever he did was good enough. If you take ownership of a staff, you’re going to lose at-bats, I don’t care how good of a hitter you are.”

Finally: Jason Giambi wanted to play until he’s 40, but he never really thought about playing at 43. So he has no problem coming to camp on a minor-league deal for the second straight year to let the Indians use a roster spot on a younger player.

“They want a little bit of security because they eventually feel the rubber band is going to snap,” said Giambi, with a laugh.

Justin Masterson and the Indians reached a one-year deal on Tuesday without going to arbitration.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Justin Masterson did not have to fly to St. Petersburg, Fla., on Tuesday because he and the Indians reached a one-year deal to avoid arbitration.

Masterson signed for $9.762,500. It was just below the midpoint of the parties' two filing numbers. Masterson filed at $11.8 million and the Indians countered at $8.05 million.

“We’ve done some work,” said Masterson. “Honestly, I think we’re really close to making something happen without flying. We’ve both moved a little bit,” he said. “We’re both trying to make something happen.”

Masterson and his agent, Randy Rowley, were scheduled to fly to St. Petersburg on Tuesday afternoon. His arbitration case was scheduled for Thursday. The midpoint of the two offers was $9.925 million.

Masterson, the Indians' No.1 starter, went 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA last season. The 6-5, 250-pound right-hander made $5,687,500 last year. He is now the fourth-highest paid player on the team behind Nick Swisher ($15 million), Michael Bourn ($13.5M) and Asdrubal Cabrera ($10M).

The Indians' arbitration season is over. They won decisions against right-handers Vinnie Pestano and Josh Tomlin before settling with Masterson.

"It's great to have it all done," said GM Chris Antonetti. "Our clear preference in each of the cases was to negotiate settlements. We're happy to be able to do that in Justin's case.

"Our preference would have been able to do that with all of the games, but we just weren't able to align on value."

The Indians had gone 22 years without having a player go to arbitration.

While the Cavaliers may be willing to listen to offers for forward Luol Deng, it would be incorrect to say they were looking to trade him, one source tells The Plain Dealer. The NBA's trading deadline is 3 p.m. Thursday. The Cavs have a history of being active at the deadline.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With the NBA trade deadline just over 24 hours away -- 3 p.m. Thursday -- the rumor mill is spinning rapidly out of control and the language used is key.

ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst tweeted on Wednesday that the Cavaliers have been testing the trade market for Luol Deng because they're worried about re-signing him. Deng, acquired on Jan. 7 in a trade that sent Andrew Bynum and three draft picks to Chicago, can be a free agent this summer.

That's different than ''shopping'' Deng or ''looking to trade'' him. One source told The Plain Dealer the Cavs would be ''open to discussion'' depending on the deal and players being offered, but said the team doesn't want to be short-sighted on getting better. At 21-33 with a five-game winning streak going into tonight's game against Orlando at The Q, just three games out of the playoff picture, the Cavs love what Deng brings on and off the court, even if he has struggled a bit with his sore left Achilles since arriving from Chicago. His professionalism and leadership is vital for a team full of young players, including fellow Duke alum Kyrie Irving.

For a number of reasons, including the fact that they can offer him more money than any other team, the Cavs are hopeful they can retain Deng. But they also realize the two-time All-Star with an expiring contract is an attractive option for other teams, although current collective-bargaining agreement rules prohibit him from being included in a package of players. The Cavs would be foolish not to listen to offers for anyone on their roster -- besides Irving. Traditionally, the Cavs have been active at the trading deadline under former general managers Danny Ferry and Chris Grant. Acting general manager David Griffin has indicated a willingness to deal as well.

To this point, the only other Cav mentioned prominently in trade rumors is Jarrett Jack for Brooklyn's Jason Terry, but it appears the Nets may be closer to a deal with Sacramento for Marcus Thornton. Players the Cavs have reportedly inquired about include Golden State's Harrison Barnes and the Lakers Chris Kaman, as well as D-League guard Pierre Jackson.

Probable starters: Cavs -- F Luol Deng, F Tristan Thompson, C Tyler Zeller, G Jarrett Jack, G Kyrie Irving. Magic -- F Tobias Harris, F Glen Davis, C Nikola Vucevic, G Arron Afflalo, G Jameer Nelson.

Injuries: Cavs -- Anderson Varejao (back) is out. Dion Waiters (hyperextended left knee) is doubtful. Magic -- None.

Officials: Michael Smith, Kevin Culter, Josh Tiven.

Up next for Cavs: At Toronto on Friday.

Ryan Stahl, 35, of Republic, Ohio hit the $10 million mark in career earnings while racing Feb. 13 at Northfield Park.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ryan Stahl isn’t racing quite so often this winter, but the Seneca County horseman is busier than ever and still setting career marks on the racetrack.

The 35-year-old trainer-driver from Republic, Ohio, passed the $10 million mark in earnings on Feb. 13 while racing at Northfield Park. He has won more than 3,200 races in a career that began with a matinee victory at Mt. Gilead in 1992 when he was just 14 years old. He learned to train and drive horses while working with his father, veteran horseman Russell “Lee” Stahl, who died in 2008.

Stahl’s first pari-mutuel wins came two years later when he scored at the Seneca County Fairgrounds in Tiffin with Lojo’s Sharp Baby and Good Fish. That helped convince a talented young high school basketball player his future was in horse racing.

These days, Stahl spends almost as much time developing his 80-acre farm into a horse racing factory as he does racing standardbreds. Stahl and fiancé Nicole Gagnon have built a new horse barn and a half-mile training track, and are busily completing their new home.

“We’re trying to get all of the construction done in one shot,” he said. “Then maybe we’ll have time to kick back and relax. It’s really nice to head straight home after a night of racing, rather than have to take the horses to the (Seneca County Fairgrounds), about 20 miles away.

“And come morning, I can walk out the back door and go right to work.”

This winter’s abhorrent weather has been a problem.

“We live about 100 miles from Northfield Park, and the weather has made it difficult to get to the track,” he said. “We’re training nine horses right now, and expect to have 15 to 18 horses racing later this year. Cutting back on the number of horses we’re training and racing has given us more time this winter to spend with our two kids, and work around the farm.”

Northfield Park’s purses are on the upswing with the injection of racino revenue, the main reason Stahl plans to do much of his racing there this season. While he wants to slowly expand their stable of older horses, Stahl might also start buying and training young horses for the rich Ohio Sires Stakes races, as his father had done over the years.

Northfield’s schedule changes this year also gives the talented reinsman ample weekend racing opportunities at other Ohio tracks. Northfield is concentrating on weekday racing, while Scioto Downs (May 8-Sept. 27), Miami Valley Gaming and Racing (through May 4) and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway (Oct. 3-Dec. 27) are all offering weekend racing.

“I like racing during the week at Northfield Park, then having a three-day weekend to race at other tracks or to do what Nicole and I want to do,” he said. “It’s good to be able to get away from racing for a few days.”

Road to the Derby: Top Billing, a three-year-old colt from trainer Shug McGaughey’s stable, will need some luck in Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The leading Kentucky Derby candidate on Steve Haskin’s Derby Dozen list this week, Top Billing and jockey Joel Rosario drew post No. 12 in a large 13-horse field. Commissioner is the 3-1 morning line favorite. Top Billing is next at 7-2.

McGaughey won the Fountain of Youth last year with Orb, who went on to capture the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby.

Haskin’s Derby Dozen are: Top Billing, Cairo Prince, Candy Boy, Honor Code, Bayern, Tapiture, Commissioner, Mexikoma, Vicar’s in Trouble, California Chrome, General a Rod and Intense Holiday.

Northfield notes: Pembroke Snapshot ($3.60) was guided to his 25th career victory by Aaron Merriman in Monday’s $9,500 Open Trot, stopping the clock at 1:57.3. The $10,000 Open Pace winner was Lyons Josephjnr ($19.60), a Pennsylvania import from the Ron Burke Stable driven by Josh Sutton to a length win in 1:56 in strong winds and heavy snowfall.

Sutton is dominating this year’s driving derby at Northfield with 47 wins. Chasing Sutton are Aaron Merriman (33), Keith Kash Jr. (30), Ronnie Wrenn Jr. (29) and David Lake (26). The leading trainers are Calvin Hollar (15), Lake (13), Gerald Malady (12) and Kash and Barry Langley (10).

Inside scoop: Merriman (@AaronMerriman) and Wrenn (@RonnieWrennJR) are not only tweeting for the harness fans, they are providing an analysis of their efforts after each race.

The NFL draft is quickly approaching. The Browns, with two first-round picks, have already spoken about the importance of this off-season. With the fourth pick, they will have options. Do they go for a quarterback or take a run at another position of need, such as wide receiver?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -“ The NFL draft is quickly approaching. The Browns, with two first-round picks, have already spoken about the importance of this off-season. With the fourth pick, they will have options. Do they go for a quarterback or take a run at another position of need, such as wide receiver? Quarterbacks are sure to dominate the early part of the draft, but Sammy Watkins has separated himself from the other players at his position. He will get consideration starting at No. 2 with the St. Louis Rams.

Browns also need help at receiver, running back and offensive line.

INDIANAPOLIS – Browns General Manager Ray Farmer could appear in one of those Geico-centric commercials.

Perhaps the only thing more well known than "15 minutes could save you 15 percent on your car insurance" is that the Browns are searching for a franchise quarterback.

Many draftniks expect them to use the fourth pick in the first round -- or trade up -- to acquire a quarterback in the May draft. Most believe one of three candidates -- Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles -- will call Cleveland home next season even as Brian Hoyer is expected to make a complete recovery from a torn knee ligament.

In a cleveland.com interview, Farmer said he knows which draft-eligible quarterback he likes -- the GM is not telling, of course -- and “that No. 4 is not necessarily where I would take the guy that I like.” So there’s that.

Word of advice: At this time of year, you should read every word from NFL coaches and GMs concerning the draft and believe about a third of it. While the Browns likely will use some of their 10 picks to fill needs on defense, they figure to focus on improving the NFL’s 18th-ranked offense. They have ample needs.

• Quarterback: About the only certainty at this position is Brandon Weeden won’t be taking first-team reps at training camp. Hoyer played well in his three starts, but the Browns didn’t see enough of him before his Oct. 5 injury to say whether he can be a long-term answer. Manziel, Bridgewater and Bortles all have their strengths, yet there’s no clear-cut choice. It stands to reason one of those three quarterbacks will be available when the Browns select at No. 4, but will it be the guy Farmer wants?

Fresno State’s Derek Carr is also an option late in the first round. After that, Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo and Alabama’s A.J. McCarron are down-the-board alternatives among the quarterbacks without health issues.

• Receiver: The Browns need a No. 2 wideout to pair with All-Pro Josh Gordon as it’s hard to imagine Greg Little returning in that role. The good news is this draft is loaded with prospects. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said Monday it’s one of the deepest drafts in recent years at the position.

If Farmer wanted to play it safe in his first draft, he could take Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins at No. 4. Such a move would give the Browns one of the most dynamic young receiving corps in the NFL. But there are plenty of other options at position: Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, USC’s Marqise Lee, Oregon State’s Brandin Cook and LSU’s Ordell Beckham and Jarvis Landry are among them.

• Running back: The playoffs once again proved why, despite all the attention paid to the passing game, you still must be able to run the ball. The Browns couldn’t do it a year ago after trading Trent Richardson. Although the deal with Indianapolis netted the 26th pick in the first round, the rushing attack was a disaster until the season’s final weeks when Edwin Baker looked serviceable. Yes, the Browns should benefit from the return of Dion Lewis, who broke his leg in preseason, but they need to draft a reliable halfback.

Do they want a bruising back or multi-purpose back? Among the options: Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey, Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde, Auburn’s Tre Mason, Washington’s Bishop Sankey, Florida State’s Devonta Freeman and Towson’s Terrance West. Most if not all will be available after the first round.

• Offensive line: The Browns definitely have needs here, and much will depend on the future of All-Pro center Alex Mack. If the Browns re-sign him, they can turn their attention to either upgrading the guard position or drafting a right tackle.

Some believe former Browns offensive line coach George Warhop was thinking of moving right tackle Mitchell Schwartz to guard next season. It’s unclear what direction new line coach Andy Moeller will take. The good news for the Browns is the tackle pool is deep. Ohio State’s Jack Mewhort might make sense in the second or third round. Despite off-field concerns, Seantrel Henderson might also be a later-round prospect.

At guard, North Dakota State’s Billy Turner and Furman’s Dakota Dozier are names to keep in mind. If the Browns lose Mack, Arkansas’ Travis Swanson and Colorado State’s Weston Richburg are possibilities. Browns fans are hoping it doesn’t come to that.

• Tight end: The Browns are in good shape here with Pro Bowler Jordan Cameron and blocking tight end Gary Barnidge. North Carolina’s Eric Ebron and Texas Tech’s Jace Amaro are among the top prospects.

Peter Kobelt grew up a Buckeye fan in the Columbus area. While living with receiver Evan Spencer and tight end Jeff Heuerman he helped lead his team to a national title this week.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Here’s a story about a national championship Ohio State athlete and team. Forget the sport for the moment.

Peter Kobelt is a 6-foot-7 lifelong Buckeye fan, a native of the Columbus suburb of New Albany who grew up crying whenever Scoonie Penn missed a free throw in basketball, and awash in the power of football.

“Living in Ohio it’s almost religion and then there’s football and then there’s maybe (his sport redacted for the moment),” Kobelt said Wednesday.

He already had trouble eating at his favorite pizza place in his hometown – “Every time I go in there I get treated like a celebrity. I don’t like to go in there too much, but their pizza is good.”

Since his team won it all Monday, Kobelt and his teammates have noticed a little more of a reaction when they wear their team gear around campus.

“You get a few extra girls, too,” he said with a smile.

With piles of snow outside their facility, Kobelt and these Buckeyes are perpetual northern underdogs in a sport where warm-weather teams have a built-in advantage at least in recruiting, if not actual performance.

“It’s an incredible win for the program. It’s very hard for a northern school to accomplish this in (redacted sport),” OSU assistant and former Buckeye player Justin Kronauge said. “It’s something we’re proud of. A lot of the talent is in Florida, Texas and California, and we did it with a couple Ohio kids and some international guys. We focus on player development and some guys stepped up.”

The Buckeyes beat Virginia in the semis and Southern California in the championship to win the title, but SEC speed is a thing.

“The SEC probably has, I don’t know, 11 teams in the top 25,” Kronauge said.

You know who understands a reality like that? Kobelt’s football roommates – receiver Evan Spencer and tight end Jeff Heuerman.

That fact alone should be enough for anyone who wants to think of this as an Ohio State football story. Throw in the fact that Kobelt said a steady stream of other football players and friends come through the apartment, guys like Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Joel Hale, Tommy Schutt and Jack Mewhort, and anyone who loves Buckeye football can embrace this.

"I would embrace it the same way as if we won a football national title," Kobelt joked. "Throw a huge block party, police escort, the whole deal."

After a 24-game winning streak ended this season with consecutive losses and the football Buckeyes falling short of the national championship they’d been aiming toward for two years, Urban Meyer's team should co-opt this title from Kobelt and his teammates.

“I was giving them a hard time about it back at the apartment,” Kobelt laughed.

That's even though he's a tall guy with a basketball Twitter handle - @theotherKobe – gleaned from his favorite basketball player and a shortening of his last name. The Other Kobe wouldn’t mind a shoutout from that Kobe. He may as well go after it while he’s hot.

Kobelt is a national champion. It’s not actually an NCAA title, because that only comes for the outdoor version of his sport, not the indoor version. But he’s the No. 1 player on a team that beat everybody else in the country.

The sport is tennis. But the operative phrase here is national champion.

Ohio State won the ITA National Indoor Title on Monday, the first team tennis title in school history. There are a Big Ten Championship and NCAA Outdoor Championship still ahead as larger goals this season. But this was the first national title for the Buckeyes after four previous losses in the indoor finals. The Buckeyes figured at least seven or eight other teams have as much or more talent, and compared to past years, they didn't think this was the season it would happen.

But it did. It gave a team with a 181-match home win streak, the longest streak in Division I sports, something else to point to. And it's about as relatable as an Ohio State team sports title gets in recent times, outside the 2002 football championship.

Since 2000, Ohio State has won 23 team titles: nine in synchronized swimming, six in pistol, three in fencing, one in men's gymnastics, one in rowing, one in men's volleyball, one in football and now one in tennis.

Kobelt said Spencer’s dad, Tim, the former Ohio State running back and assistant football coach, knows OSU tennis coach Ty Tucker and has hit some tennis balls with him in the past. So Evan Spencer understands the game a bit. But he said Heuerman is another story.

They were matched up as roommates through an OSU trainer when Kobelt was looking for housing this year. It turned out the move gained him some big fans.

“They’re a different species, but a lot of our stuff is the same,” said Kobelt, the No. 1 singles player and half the No. 1 doubles team for the Buckeyes. “We wake up, we go to school, we got to practice, we come home and we’re really tired and don’t want to do anything and we go to sleep. It’s different worlds, football and tennis, but at the end of the day they are pretty similar.”

They both want national titles. And they'll take them, and celebrate them, wherever they come.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Starting Lineup is a weekly rundown of the top wrestlers at each weight class from the deep talent pool that makes up cleveland.com's seven-county region. But this isn't meant to be the final word on the top wrestlers in the area. Like any rankings, these selections are open for debate. In fact, we want to...

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Starting Lineup is a weekly rundown of the top wrestlers at each weight class from the deep talent pool that makes up cleveland.com's seven-county region.

But this isn't meant to be the final word on the top wrestlers in the area. Like any rankings, these selections are open for debate. In fact, we want to hear from you. Do you agree with this week's selections? What would your startling lineup look like? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Video will be added shortly to this post.

THE STARTING LINEUP

106

Starter – Noah Baughman, Wadsworth (39-3): Baughman won the Division I Medina sectional with a first-period pin.

Challengers – Jarod Brezovec (Aurora), Devione Edwards (Lorain), Alan Hart (St. Edward), Sebastian Vidika (Black River).

113

Starter - L.J. Bentley, St. Edward (23-3): Bentley returned to action after missing the state dual tournament by winning the Division I Lorain sectional.

Challengers – Andrew Coghill (Nordonia), Andre Herron (North Royalton), Cory Simpson (Field), Josh Whitelaw (Aurora).

120

Starter - Austin Assad, Brecksville-Broadview Heights (42-2): Assad won the Division I Medina sectional, winning by default over Josh Heil (Brunswick).

Challengers – Ryan Bennett (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy), Josh Heil (Brunswick), Alex Mackall (Walsh Jesuit), Armando Torres (Elyria).

126

Starter - Anthony Tutolo, Lake Catholic (28-1): Tutolo won the Division II Lake Catholic sectional.

Challengers – Justin DeMicco (Brecksville-Broadview Heights), Jarrad Lasko (Madison).

132

Starter – Sammy Gross, Beachwood (29-3): Gross won the Division III Beachwood sectional.

Challengers – Nick Boggs (Riverside), Aaran Gessic (Perry). Austin Hiles (Brecksville-Broadview Heights), Hunter Ladnier (St. Edward), Nolan Whitely (Walsh Jesuit).

138

Starter – Kyle Kaminski, Padua (43-4): Kaminski dropped from 145 and pinned previous starter Ryan Skonieczny (St. Vincent-St. Mary) to win the Division II St. Vincent-St. Mary sectional).

Challengers – Mike Kostandaras (Walsh Jesuit), Sonny Lucas (Brecksville-Broadview Heights), Ryan Skonieczny (St. Vincent-St. Mary).

145

Starter – Grayson Davis, Brecksville-Broadview Heights (31-10): Davis takes over the spot vacated by Kyle Kaminski (Padua) after beating Nick Decesare (Nordonia), 7-4, to win the Division I Medina sectional.

Challengers – Nick Decesare (Nordonia), Bo Random (Madison).

152

Starter - Jeff Hojnacki, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (22-6): Hojnacki won the Division II St. Vincent-St. Mary sectional.

Challengers – Robbie Bosley (Wadsworth), Ben Darmstadt (Elyria), Jairod James (Bedford).

160

Starter – Michael Coleman, Hudson (30-2): Coleman won the Division I Austintown-Fitch sectional with a 44-second pin in the finals.

Challengers: Zach Ladich (Rootstown), Austin Strnad (Brecksville-Broadview Heights), Mike Wearsch (Amherst).

170

Starter – Ryan Harris, Beachwood (39-3): Harris won the Division III Beachwood sectional.

Challengers – Tim Knipl (Wadsworth).

182

Starter - Travis Linton, Rootstown (41-2): Linton won the Division III Rootstown sectional.

Challengers – Aaron Adkins (St. Vincent-St. Mary), Gabe Dzuro (St. Edward), Anthony McLaughlin (St. Ignatius), Alec Schenk (Perry).

195

Starter - Josh Murphy, Brecksville-Broadview Heights (38-6): Murphy won the Division I Medina sectional.

Challengers – Kenny Jackson (Crestwood), Tyler Maclellan (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy).

220

Starter – Sean Rutherford, Norton (25-0): Rutherford won the Division II Northwest sectional.

Challengers – Alex Woicehovich (Nordonia), Parker Knapp (St. Edward).

285

Starter - Billy Miller, Perry (36-0): Miller won the Division II Lake Catholic sectional.

Challengers – Kevin Vough (Elyria), Jovahn Fair (Firestone)

Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@ScottPatsko). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

What we will be watching for tonight

It should be a big night of action for NBC on Wednesday.

Women’s figure skating short program, first U.S. Olympic gold medal in the men’s giant slalom, two medals in women’s bobsled and U.S. hockey team moving on to the semifinals.

Here are three things to look for:

HERE’S JOHNNY

NBC’s figure skating color commentator Johnny Weir has been a great pairing with 1998 women’s figure skating champion Tara Lipinski. They bring the drama and the fashion. In fact Weir has made a daily habit of revealing his outfits on Twitter (is the blue Volvo truck for product placement?):

RT @JohnnyGWeir: Today's Look: pic.twitter.com/103vEPgQOQ

— NBC Sports Network (@NBCSN) February 19, 2014

SPIN IT FORWARD

NBC will have rare live weekday coverage Thursday with the U.S. women’s hockey team play Canada for the gold at noon. How much of tonight’s programming will remind the viewers to tune in tomorrow at noon?

I’m guessing some and it should pair well with the U.S. men’s hockey team playing Canada in the semifinals Friday at noon.

Did you know Team USA has a brother-sister combination on the hockey ice?

Phil Kessel scored his fifth goal of the Olympics in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Czech Republic. The current Toronto Maple Leafs forward was born in Madison, Wis. and played his college hockey at the University of Minnesota.

His younger sister Amanda is currently playing for the University of Minnesota, although she took this season off to play in the Olympics. She led the nation in scoring as a junior with 101 points in the 2012-13 season. In these Olympics, Amanda has nine points and is a +9 on the ice.

PLAYING UP THE DOWNER

The U.S. women’s bobsled team of Elena Meyers and Lauryn Williams finished just .11 seconds from making Williams the first female athlete to win gold in the Summer and Winter Olympics. Expect there to be more cheers than tears tonight, especially from her teammates.

OLYMPIC BRONZE!!!!!!! with @AjaLEvans!!!!! @Sochi2014 @USBSF @USOlympic #blessed pic.twitter.com/0O2JEDXXn8

— Jamie Greubel (@JamieGreubel) February 19, 2014

NBC Schedule

All times Eastern

3-5 p.m. -- Women's Speedskating - 5000 Gold Medal Final; Men's and Women's Cross-Country - Team Sprint Gold Medal Finals; Women's Cross-Country - Team Sprint Gold Medal Final

8-11:30 p.m. -- Ladies' Figure Skating - Short Program; Men's Alpine Skiing - Giant Slalom Gold Medal Final; Women's Bobsled - Gold Medal Final Runs; Men's Snowboarding - Parallel Giant Slalom Gold Medal Final

1-2 a.m. -- Biathlon - Mixed Relay Gold Medal Final

2-4:30 a.m. -- Primetime Encore

CLEVELAND, Ohio — In our latest boys basketball top play of the week video poll, we have three impressive plays to choose from. Check out the video below and vote for which play you think was most impressive. Thanks to Steven Newton and Robert Holmes of 3rdcoasthoops.com for providing highlights. Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters Robert Rozboril and Nathaniel Cline...

CLEVELAND, Ohio — In our latest boys basketball top play of the week video poll, we have three impressive plays to choose from. Check out the video below and vote for which play you think was most impressive.

Thanks to Steven Newton and Robert Holmes of 3rdcoasthoops.com for providing highlights. Northeast Ohio Media Group reporters Robert Rozboril and Nathaniel Cline were in studio to talk about the three exciting plays from last week’s Northeast Ohio hoops action.

The featured players this week are Warrensville Heights senior Jermaine Brown displaying his athletic ability on both sides of the court; East Tech freshman Markell Brown dunking with authority at Warrensville Heights and Shaker Heights junior Esa Ahmad making a strong offensive move in the paint. See below on how to send in a video nomination.

Let us know which play you thought was most impressive by voting in the poll below, and feel free to say why in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Do you have video of a play you think belongs in the poll? Be sure to email your highlight videos weekly to Lexi Pluym via email (apluym@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@LexiPluym) by Mondays at noon.

You can also follow the highlights providers on Twitter (@3rdcoasthoops).

Contact high school sports reporter Nathaniel Cline by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@nathanielcline). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Yuna Kim leads Adelina Sotnikova and Carolina Kostner by less than a point heading into Thursday's free skate. Gracie Gold is fifth.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Wednesday had everything an Olympics fan could want and then some: figure skating grace, a major hockey upset, history on the line in bobsled, spectacular Alpine skiing, drama – yes, drama – in curling, a husband-wife medal combo, and a crowning moment for the greatest Winter Olympian, whose name you probably don't know or can't pronounce.

All while the countdown shrinks for the USA-Canada women's hockey gold-medal showdown at noon Thursday, to say nothing of the women's figure skating free skate at 10 a.m.

Defending women's figure skating champion Yuna Kim of South Korea set the tone early with a 74.92 short-program score, which no one matched Wednesday. Skating last, Japan returning silver medalist Mao Asada fell on a triple Axel and is 16th.

The top eight after Kim: Adelina Sotnikova (Russia) 74.64, Carolina Kostner (Italy) 74.12, Gracie Gold (USA), 68.63, Yulina Lipnitskaya (Russia) 65.23, Ashley Wagner (USA) 65.21, Polina Edmunds (USA) 61.04 and Akikio Suzuki (Japan) 60.97.

The short program was a throwback to 1968 champion Peggy Fleming. Kim skated in a long-sleeve chartreuse yellow dress reminiscent of Fleming's lon-sleeve chartreuse green dress she won gold in, and Italian Caroline Kostner skated gracefully to “Ave Maria,'' which was Fleming's signature music. Wagner killed the moment with a jarring Pink Floyd accompaniment after Kostner's skate.

Sotnikova, not her 15-year-old teammate Lipnitskaya, carries Russia's gold medal hopes. The Russians could use a lift after its men's hockey team suffered a stunning, 3-1 loss to Finland, the only country with three Olympic medals (none gold) since NHL players joined the Games in 1998. Teemu Selanne, 43, had a goal and an assist for Finland.

Russia, favored by many and perhaps feeling the weighted expectations of the host nation, fell behind 3-1 in the second period. Starting goalie Semyon Varlamov allowed all three goals on 12 shots and was replaced by Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who made seven saves.

"I've got empty inside," Bobrovsky told USA Today, summing up the feelings of a hockey-loving country that spent $50 billion to host the Sochi Olympics.

Team USA had the best quarterfinal game, beating Czech Republic, 5-2. Goalie Jonathan Quick had 21 saves, and David Backes had a goal and an assist and Ryan Suter had three assists.

In a rematch of the epic 2010 gold medal game, the U.S. semifinal opponent on Friday is Canada, a 2-1 win over 11th-seeded Latvia. Finland plays Sweden in the other semifinal Friday.

Also Wednesday:

• The day began with Alpine skier Ted Ligety winning his second career gold medal, and finally a medal in the event he has dominated for years, the giant slalom. Apparently unfazed by placing out of the top 10 in his first two Olympic events, his aggressive first run produced a .93 lead and he skied the second run to a comfortable win by. .48. Frenchmen Steve Missilier and Alexis Pinturult took silver and bronze. Americans Bode Miller was 20th.

• A sloppy final run by driver Elana Meyers with brakeman Lauryn Miller dropped the top U.S. women's bobsled from gold to silver, while Canada's Kallie Humpries and Heather Moyse repeated as Olympic champs. The U.S. won two medals with driver Jamie Greubel and Aja Evans taking bronze. Williams, a 2012 Summer Olympics sprint gold medalist, sought to become the second athlete to win summer and winter gold, but other bobsled history was made when Meyers became the first black pilot to win a medal.

• Switzerland's Patriza Kummer won women's snowboarding parallel giant slalom when Japan's Tomoka Takeuchi missed a gate. Russia's Alena Zavarzina won bronze, and moments later, her husband, American-born Vic Wild won the men's gold medal for Russia. Wild recently attained Russian citizenship.

• In the third win-or-go-home moment of British skip David Murdoch's Olympic career, his final stone sealed a dramatic 6-5 victory over Sweden in a men's curling semifinal. Trailing 5-4, he scored a rare, match-winning double. Murdoch faced similar moments in Torino and Vancouver and came up short.

• Norway won the first biathlon mixed relay (two women, two men) and Norwegian Ole Einar Bjoerndalen became the most decorated Winter Olympian with his 13th medal. Bjoerndalen broke the record he shared with Bjoern Daehlie, the Norwegian cross-country skiing legend. Both men have a record eight gold medals. Bjoerndalen last week became the oldest individual Winter gold medalist at age 40 when he won the 10K sprint, and has one more event, the 4x7.5K relay Saturday.

• Norway also won the women's classic team sprint cross-country race, and Americans Sophie Caldwell and Kikkan Randall were eighth. It was Randall's best finish in a disappointing Olympics, including an 18th-place finish in her specialty, the free sprint. Randall won a team sprint world title last year, but that was in freestyle, and she is not as strong in classic.

• Marit Bjoergen won her fifth career gold medal and led Norway to the women's relay title. Finland won its first Winter Olympics gold medal in 12 years and beat Russia by 0.97 in a dramatic men's team sprint finish. Finland, Russia and Germany entered the stadium together and Sami Jauhojaervi pulled ahead for the Finns.

• Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic defended her long track speedskating 5,000 gold medal. For just the fourth time in 10 long track events, The Netherlands did not win, but it did claim the silver and bronze medals. Irene Wust's silver is her fourth medal in Sochi, and the Dutch have 21 speedskating medals. The rest of the world has nine.

NBC's primetime broadcast at 8 p.m. is to feature figure skating, bobsled and Alpine skiing.

CANTON, Ohio — Tricia Roscoe couldn’t wait for the scores to be announced. At the conclusion of the Division II girls state diving championships, the Laurel sophomore ran up the steps next to the diving well to get the final tallies from the announcer's table.

CANTON, Ohio — Tricia Roscoe couldn’t wait for the scores to be announced.

At the conclusion of the Division II girls state diving championships, the Laurel sophomore ran up the steps next to the diving well to get the final tallies from the announcer's table.

Safe to say she was excited to be competing in her first state championships. Even safer to say she was ecstatic when she found herself on the medal stand at the C.T. Branin Natatorium with a fifth-place finish.

“It was awesome,” Roscoe said. “It’s a great feeling. I was ranked fifth, so I wanted to stay there or higher.”

Roscoe was in sixth place heading into the final round of diving, but finished strong with a final score of 352.70. Kettering Alter’s Claire Schuermann took the top spot, finishing with a score of 414.35.

The live tracking system used to keep scores shut down during the event, leaving some divers, including Roscoe, unsure of their standing. Her sprint up to the announcer’s table put her fears to rest.

“For a few rounds I didn’t know my score,” Roscoe said. “That was scary. I was looking to see other people’s scores and where I would finish.”

Gilmour’s Brooke Zedar made it to the finals, but narrowly missed out on the podium with a ninth-place score of 339.60. Zedar, who finished 11th at last year’s championships, finished less than one point behind the eighth-place finisher. Other local competitors included Orange’s Chloe Joseph (17th), Bay’s Jessica Mosier (20th) and Hathaway Brown’s Emma Bryan (22nd).

Joseph was the only senior among the local contingent, meaning the rest of the group has a shot at bettering their scores next year. They can take a lesson from Roscoe, who failed to qualify for states last year, but used it as a motivator.

“I knew what I was getting into,” said Roscoe, who finished first at this year’s district meet. “I prepared for it, and then when I got here it was an awesome feeling making it.”

When Roscoe went into last year’s district meet, she had just three months of diving under her belt. With a full year of preparation, she found herself on the state medal stand, where she hopes to land again the next two years with more hard work.

“I only hope to improve my scores,” Roscoe said. “Just work on new dives and do even better.”

State diving finals

Girls Division II

How they finished: 1. Claire Schuermann (Kettering Alter) 414.35; 2. Allison Brophy (Cincinnati Summit Country Day) 374.85; 3. Brittany Anderson (Columbus Wellington) 360.55; 4. Syreeta Palckdharry (Columbus School for Girls) 355.55; 5. Tricia Roscoe (Laurel) 352.70; 6. Cassie Wegryn (Cincinnati Indian Hill) 347.20; 7. Kara Korengel (Cincinnati Indian Hill) 346.30; 8. Savannah Teter (Girard) 340.50; 9. Brooke Zedar (Gilmour) 339.60; 10. Maddie Mitchell (Cincinnati McNicholas) 336.50; 11. Sawyer Weitzel (Celina) 331.80; 12. Abby Mitchell (Cincinnati McNicholas) 329.60; 13. Erica Henrichson (Sandusky Perkins) 316.35; 14. Olivia Schlotterer (Celina) 315.60; 15. Aspen Flood (Napoleon) 306.30; 16. Jordan Sloan (Wauseon) 298.35.

Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The NFL draft is quickly approaching. The Browns, with two first-round picks, have already spoken about the importance of this off-season. Even before playing a single down for South Carolina, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has had the spotlight shining on him.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -“ The NFL draft is quickly approaching. The Browns, with two first-round picks, have already spoken about the importance of this off-season. Even before playing a single down for South Carolina, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has had the spotlight shining on him. In high school he was looked at as a freak athlete, a player bigger and better than anyone with whom he shared the field. 

The top recruit coming out of high school delivered on lofty expectations, taking no time to become one of the most disruptive forces in college football. Since last year, Clowney has been touted as a future No. 1 pick, but questions about work ethic and motivation popped up during his junior season as his production dropped. Given the QB-needy teams drafting high, it could lead to an unexpected fall on draft day. 

The Cavaliers look to win their season-high sixth game in a row as they host the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena tonight. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers look to win their season-high sixth game in a row as they host the Orlando Magic at Quicken Loans Arena tonight. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Magic come to town with a 16-39 record, with just 3 wins on the road.

Get updates from The Plain Dealer on Twitter @PDCavsInsider and post your comments during the game below.

Tweets by @PDcavsinsider

Cavaliers coach Mike Brown says he doesn't pay attention to the trade rumors swirling around his team.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Brown is one of those guys who is hyper-focused on the task at hand.

So the Cavaliers coach doesn't want to discuss any of the trade rumors circulating, and he's certainly not going to worry about them.

"To me, it's just business as usual,'' Brown said before Wednesday's home game against the Orlando Magic. "My focus is on tonight's game -- trying to figure out a way to beat the Magic, and that's it. I feel our players are that way, too.''

The latest rumor from ESPN.com on Wednesday evening suggested the Cavs were pursuing the Lakers' Jordan Hill though one league source told The Plain Dealer the Cavs had not spoken to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. Earlier, ESPN.com was reporting that the Cavs were making Luol Deng available, though Yahoo Sports reported that because Deng, who can become a free agent this summer, won't commit to signing a long-term deal anywhere, a trade is unlikely. A much earlier rumor about Jarrett Jack going to Brooklyn for Jason Terry was scratched when the Nets sent Terry to Sacramento instead.

No wonder Brown doesn't want to hear any of it.

"I'm not even thinking about it,'' Brown said. "I'm worried about trying to beat the Magic. I truly believe that if I start thinking about 'what if' and all the possibilities out there, then I'm not doing those guys in the locker room any justice. So I'm focused on coaching this team and coaching the guys we have and getting ready for tonight's game and that's it.''

Injury report: Anderson Varejao missed his fourth game with a sore back. Though the Cavs insist it's nothing more serious than that, there is no timetable for his return.

Dion Waiters, who hyperextended his left knee after a dunk in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, missed the game. Though he seemed to be walking OK in the locker room, he did not speak to reporters before the game.

However, after Tuesday's game he tweeted, "Thanks for the prayers & concerns nothing is torn thank the man above for that. Just sore as hell but I'll be fine.''

Defending his defense: Brown didn't want to make a big deal about a change on defense during the five-game winning streak. Though the Cavs have not been showing as hard on their pick-and-rolls, Brown seemed reluctant to credit that switch for any of the success. During the streak, they have held three of the five opponents under 90 points. Opponents are shooting 41.9 percent in the streak, 29.5 percent from 3-point range.

"We just played the pick and rolls a little softer, just trying to crowd the paint a little bit more so that we don't get spread out,'' Brown said. "We've played it this way in the past. Sometimes it's worked, sometimes it hasn't.

"Our guys have just done a nice job of picking up on some other team concepts in terms of being in the right spot at the right time, being a little bit more physical. We're trying to fight the post a little bit better, and our guys are doing that. They're not allowing the ball to go into the post as easy, which has had a big impact. Both of those areas in terms of protecting the paint have been better or more consistent that it has in the past, and it's helped our defense out some.''