The Warrensville Heights boys basketball team outscored Cleveland Heights, 24-13, in the final quarter to get the victory on Friday night.
The Warrensville Heights boys basketball team outscored Cleveland Heights, 24-13, in the final quarter to get the victory on Friday night.
Shaker Heights is still perfect in its conference.
Shaker Heights is still perfect in its conference.
The Lake Erie Monsters drop their third straight, a 5-2 decision at the Rochester Americans.
ROCHESTER, New York -- The Lake Erie Monsters surrendered four goals in the first period and never recovered in dropping a 5-2 decision to the Rochester Americans on Friday at Blue Cross Arena.
The loss was the third straight for the Monsters, playing the first of a five-game road swing.
The Americans jumped ahead 3-0 on goals by Mark Pysyk, William Carrier and Dan Catenacci in the first 6:40 of the period before Dennis Everberg got the Monsters on the board at 15:21 with his third goal of the season.
Zac Dalpe scored another for Rochester before the end of the period for a 4-1 lead.
Joey Hishon added his eighth goal of the season for the Monsters on a power play at 3:03 of the second period and Rochester added an empty-net goal by Jerry D'Amigo in the final minute of the game.
Calvin Pickard started in goal for the Monsters and was replaced by Sami Aittokallio after Rochester's first two goals. Pickard returned late in the first period and finished by stopping 17 of 19 shots in 44:23 minutes. Aittokallio stopped five of seven shots in 13:32. Rochester's Andrey Makarov had 29 saves.
Hishon also had an assist.
The Monsters will visit Hamilton on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Notes: The Monsters are 0-2-0-0 against Rochester this season... The Monsters are 6-8-2-1 on the road this season... Hishon has two goals and two assists over his last three games... The Monsters are 2-5-1-1 against their former division, the North, following Friday's loss.
Timofey Mozgov spoke to media members for the first time as a member of the Cavaliers.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Timofey Mozgov is a man of very few words.
Luckily for the Cavaliers, it's his size that will benefit the team greatly. He has no lofty goals or assumptions. He knows where his impact will be felt.
"With [my] size," he said during pregame locker room access. "I'll try to do my best. Whatever coach asked me to do."
Cleveland has been courting Mozgov ever since the off-season. The team's patience and persistence finally paid off on Wednesday. Mozgov says he was aware of the back and forth between the Cavaliers and Nuggets, but did his best to tune it out.
"I always try to be away from this business ... of course I knew what was going on, but not too deep," Mozgov said. "[I was] not thinking about it every day."
For months the Cavaliers have been lacking a paint presence on the defensive end. Mozgov has always been the organization's No. 1 target. However, is he the difference-maker? Will he live up to the expectations?
"It's kind of pressure, but like I said before, I'll try to do my best," he said.
Mozgov was on a Denver team destined for an upcoming lottery pick. Now he'll be the defensive anchor of an anticipated championship-contending team.
Asked if he's glad to be playing for something: "It's hard to say right now. I haven't even had a shootaround with the team yet. I just got my physical in the morning. It's hard to say right now, but I'm sure it's going to be great."
Friday morning the coaching staff went over plays and watched videos with Mozgov to try to get him up to speed with their system as best as possible.
"Not the optimum situation for putting him in a game right away, but it's necessary and the sooner the better," head coach David Blatt said.
Mozgov will come off the bench tonight against the Golden State Warriors before being inserted into the starting lineup on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings.
He had little to say while he spoke for the first time as a Cavalier, but judging by his incredible size, he'll have a lot to say on the court.
• J.R. Smith gets the start at the two-guard position, sending Matthew Dellavedova to the bench.
• Shawn Marion is sitting this game out with a left hip strain.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' losing streak extended to four games on Friday night, falling to the Golden State Warriors, 112-94.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers' losing streak extended to four games on Friday night, falling to the Golden State Warriors, 112-94.
Timofey Mozgov, making his wine and gold debut, played 27 minutes, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds. He kept offensive possessions alive and altered a few shots on defense, two things the Cavs are hoping he can consistently bring.
In just his second game with the Cavs, J.R. Smith scored a game-high 27 points. Kyrie Irving added 23. Kevin Love recorded his 19th double-double, finishing with 17 points and 14 rebounds, but took just one shot in the final quarter.
The Cavs are now 19-18 on the season, and have dropped to sixth place in the better-than-expected Eastern Conference. They played without LeBron James for the seventh game in a row, falling to 1-7 this season in games without him.
Here are five observations from the most recent loss:
Closing quarters – The 18-point win for Golden State is hardly indicative of how the game actually went. Before the final minutes, the Cavs hung with the league's top team, even trimming the lead to six points with four and a half minutes left. But that was as close as the Cavs got.
One of the things they will point to is how they closed quarters. The Warriors finished every quarter on a run.
There was a 9-5 run to finish the first. The second quarter ended with a 14-6 flurry from the Dubs. In the third quarter, Golden State raced passed the Cavs in the closing minutes, 18-10. Then the fourth quarter finished with the Warriors outscoring the Cavs, 19-8. That's a total of 60-29.
The Cavs, who have squandered two fourth quarter leads in the last three games, have to relocate the killer instinct, even with James in street clothes.
Hero ball – Irving has been criticized in the past for playing too much one-on-one basketball. The same goes for Smith, labeled a chucker by many for much of his career.
Both lived up to those reputations on Friday night.
The only way to beat Golden State, deep and talented, inside Oracle Arena is with team ball. Their defense, ranked No. 1 in the NBA, is too good. It's imperative to run quality offensive sets. Dribbling repeatedly from one side of the court to the other doesn't qualify. Nor does coming down court and firing up an off-balanced jumper.
But apparently no one gave Irving, Smith or the rest of the Cavaliers that scouting report.
Some possessions surprisingly ended in made baskets. Others ended in turnovers. Many ended in missed shots.
Here's the number of passes on each half court possession in the final nine minutes of the fourth quarter based on my count after watching again:
0, 2, 0, 4, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 3, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 2, 0.
That's a total of 16 passes. That's right, 16. Total. In nine minutes, spanning 17 possessions. Two of the passes coming off the inbounds. That's not offense. I don't know what to call it. But if it doesn't change the Cavs' losing streak will continue.
Golden State, the team David Blatt was going to be an assistant with before being hired by the Cavs, moved the ball beautifully on Friday. The Warriors finished 35 assists on 43 made baskets. The Cavs, on the other hand, had just 13 on 35 makes.
Starting backcourt – Blatt moved Matthew Dellavedova out of the starting lineup on Friday night, something the coach hinted at following Wednesday's loss against the Rockets. Dellavedova played 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Smith, expected to continue his Sixth Man role, was put alongside Irving to start the game. This will probably be the case until Iman Shumpert, who is at least two weeks away from seeing game action, can slide into the starting spot.
Going against the best backcourt tandem in the NBA, Irving and Smith didn't back down. The two combined for 50 points on 20-of-46 from the field while playing 83 combined minutes.
Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry scored 47 points, making 16-of-32 from the floor.
The Smith-Irving backcourt has the ability to light up the scoreboard, but can also shoot the Cavs out of games.
Still, it was nice for the Cavs to have another backcourt player contribute, considering they had the 25th ranked scoring backcourt in the league going into the night, averaging 37.6 points.
Too slow – The Cavaliers' offense has been inconsistent this season. With little ball movement at times, they have tried to quicken the pace and get easy baskets in transition.
James has been a big part of that, lethal in the open floor. But not everything can be excused with his absence.
On Friday, there were no Love outlet passes. Irving had no room to dazzle in the open court. The Warriors took those opportunities away while flourishing on the break themselves. Golden State finished with 36 fast break points compared to Cleveland's three.
Tristan Thompson's final start – With Mozgov completing his physical late in the day, the Cavs decided against starting him. That gave Tristan Thompson one more start before moving back to the second unit, a role he should get used to even though he's played very well since taking over for injured Anderson Varejao.
Against Golden State, Thompson scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds, including four on the offensive end of the floor. He has averaged 12.3 points and 10.8 rebounds in the 10 games without Varejao. He also recorded four double-doubles during that stretch.
But the Cavs didn't send Denver a pair of first round picks to have Mozgov come off the bench. The Cavs fancied him for months because of his size, activity inside and physical style. He's a legitimate starting center. Thompson is not, especially having to play next to Love, whose defensive deficiencies need to be covered up. Love needs to play alongside a player like Mozgov to have any chance on defense.
The Cavs have lost eight of 10.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors, 112-94, Friday night at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, Calif. Here is a capsule look at the game from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:
Nothing doing: The Cavs (19-18) have dropped four in a row and eight of 10. They have scored 94 or fewer in six consecutive games (1-5).
GPS needed: The Cavs are 8-9 on the road. Oakland was the first stop on a five-game trip.
No King = slim chance: LeBron James (left knee, back) missed his seventh straight game -- extending a career-long -- and eighth overall. The Cavs slipped to 1-7 without him; the victory was over a bad outfit in Charlotte.
Soaring: Coach Steve Kerr's Warriors padded the NBA's best record (29-5).
Fun at ORACLE: The Warriors wrapped a homestand at 6-0, part of 14 straight home victories. They are 16-1 overall at home.
Keep bringing on the East: Golden State improved to 11-0 against Eastern Conference opponents.
Splash Brothers on cruise control: Golden State guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 47 points. They did not need to work all that hard for their baskets, thanks in part to Cleveland's typically lax defense, especially against screens.
Curry went 8-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 from the line for 23 points in 35 minutes. Oh, by the way: He had 10 assists.
Thompson was 8-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-10 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 from the line for 24 points in 30 minutes.
Glaring disparity: The Warriors held a 36-3 advantage in fastbreak points. The Cavs didn't have the King and the Warriors are good at running and gunning -- but being outscored, 36-3, on the fastbreak is inexcusable under any circumstances.
Asserting themselves: The Warriors used an 11-0 run in a two-minute span of the third quarter to create the space necessary to win. It turned a two-point deficit into a nine-point lead.
Their surge resulted from good offense and defense and Cleveland's bad offense and defense.
With 6:39 left in the third, Kyrie Irving sank an off-balance jumper to give the Cavs a 66-64 lead. During the shot, Cavs center Timofey Mozgov was bumped into Irving by Harrison Barnes; it put the Warriors in the penalty.
Mozgov missed the free throw. Then the Warriors got busy.
In transition after Mozgov's miss, Curry caught Irving overplaying his strong side and darted past him with a lefty dribble. Irving fouled Curry on a shot attempt in the lane. Curry converted both free throws.
Irving, as talented and quick as he is, too often gets beat off the dribble.
On the Cavs' ensuing possession, Matthew Dellavedova located Mozgov on the left baseline for what should have been a routine two points -- except that Golden State center Andrew Bogut rejected Mozgov's two-handed dunk attempt. On most such plays, the defender makes some sort of contact on the offensive player, even if it is not called. Not here: Bogut's block was nasty and clean.
Mozgov recovered the ball, but by the time he reset, the 24-second clock had expired.
Seven seconds later, Curry received a handoff from Barnes and drilled a deep 3-pointer on the left wing. Irving gave Curry the room he needed by going under Barnes' screen instead of over it.
The Cavs' next possession ended when Irving's ill-advised entry pass intended for Kevin Love was stolen by Draymond Green. Dellavedova lost track of Barnes in transition and Green found him for a wide-open backdoor layup to push Golden State's cushion to 71-66 with 5:31 left.
Coming out of a Cavs timeout, J.R. Smith misfired on a step-back jumper from the left side.
As Golden State ran a set piece, Bogut should have been called for a moving screen that freed Thompson from Smith. Bogut was grabbed by Smith as Thompson sank a jumper. The officials whistled Smith for a foul and, upon video review, took two points off the board because Thompson's shot occurred after Smith's foul.
ESPN analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson critiqued Smith for being late against another screen. Van Gundy said: "You've got to drive your shoulder through those screens.''
Van Gundy spoke of how Smith and Irving need to guard their counterparts if they are going to play extended minutes together. "This league is now all pick-and-rolls,'' Van Gundy said. "And you're going to have to constantly get hit, drive through the screens, and figure it out.''
With 4:54 remaining, Bogut made a lefty hook on the right block off screen-and-roll action. The Cavs seemed confused and did not communicate.
Irving missed a jumper. As Green grabbed the rebound and headed up the floor on the right, Barnes sprinted past Irving on the left. Irving signaled for somebody to pick up Barnes, but Dellavedova -- Cleveland's last line of defense -- slid toward Green even though Green was not at the time line. Green, from just inside the timeline, flipped an alley-oop to Barnes, who dunked to make it 75-66.
Barnes' slam provided the Warriors their 29th and 30th fastbreak points. The Cavs had zero. That is correct: The Warriors led in fastbreak points, 30-0.
Van Gundy said: "Cleveland's dog-trotting back. You've got to sprint back.''
At that point, the Warriors had assisted on 14 consecutive baskets.
The Cavs snapped their dry spell at 4:08, when Irving converted two free throws. The quarter ended with the Warriors leading, 84-76.
The Cavs pulled no closer than five in the fourth.
Solid bounce-back: Smith rebounded from an 0-of-5, zero-point debut with the Cavs on Wednesday to score a team-high 27 on Friday.
Smith, starting at off-guard, shot 11-of-23 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line in 42 minutes. He should have had another basket and possibly another free throw, but a terrible charging call cost him the and-one.
In the first half, Smith was 7-of-12 for 16 points in 19 minutes.
Smith deserves credit for his point total, but he should not be taking more than twice as many shots as Love. A max player, Love was 6-of-11 from the field and finished with 17 points. He grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.
Smith hustled, but his defense was not exactly Gary Payton-esque.
King's men serve up donuts: Mike Miller and James Jones, veteran long-distance threats whom LeBron wanted on the Cavs this season, combined to go 0-of-8 from the field -- all from 3-point range -- in 39 minutes.
Interesting words: Van Gundy cracked LeBron several times for LeBron's recent comments about Cavs coach David Blatt. Van Gundy did not think LeBron gave Blatt enough support, labeling it a "tepid endorsement.''
"From a leadership standpoint, he should have been more effusive,'' Van Gundy said of LeBron, "so you don't even have to talk about it anymore. His tepid endorsement keeps the question alive. He could have eliminated all those questions by being more assertive in how he felt. And even if he doesn't believe it -- lie.''
Jackson said: "The question is going to stay alive until they play better. I don't care what he says.''
Van Gundy said: "I disagree. What LeBron James wants in Cleveland, he gets.''
The Golden State Warriors handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their fourth consecutive loss Friday night at Oracle Arena.
OAKLAND, Calif. – In an entertaining affair, the Golden State Warriors came out on top of the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-94 Friday night at Oracle Arena.
If tonight's performance is any indication of what could be when Cleveland (19-18) becomes whole, the Cavs are going to be a fun team to watch.
LeBron James, sporting a black suit on the bench, jumped up on the court to root his teammates on whenever a spectacular play was made. He said he expects to be back soon after recovering from knee and back injuries.
It was action-packed, adrenaline-filled basketball at its best and the Cavaliers didn't back down despite playing in one of the most hostile environments in the league.
Golden State (29-5) is one of the league's most tight-knit teams, and its experience and cohesion pulled it through. The Warriors only allowed 18 points by the Cavaliers in the final quarter while they went on to put up 28.
Klay Thompson led Golden State with 24 points, and Stephen Curry contributed 23 points and 10 assists. Draymond Green flirted with a triple-double, posting 10 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Cleveland has lost eight of its last 10 games.
The Cavs' Kyrie Irving scored 23 points on 9-of-22 to go with six rebounds and five assists. Kevin Love supplied 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Tristan Thompson had 11 points and nine boards.
Smith got the start
Newly acquired J.R. Smith got the start at the two-guard spot in his second game with the Cavaliers, sending Matthew Dellavedova to his more natural reserve role. It proved to be the right move as he torched the Warriors for a game-high 27 points.
Smith was able to get a practice and a shootaround in before this game, and he certainly looked more comfortable than his 0-for-5 debut on Wednesday.
His motto is, "When in doubt, shoot the ball." There was plenty of doubt tonight and it was needed.
Mozgov's debut
It took all of three minutes for head coach David Blatt to insert Timofey Mozgov into the game. Almost immediately he showed why the Cavs traded for him this week by gaining deep low-post position and coming down with six rebounds in the first seven minutes.
His screen setting was textbook, freeing up Irving for easy driving lanes and he altered multiple shots in the paint, a component Cleveland has been lacking for some time.
Mozgov finished with nine points, eight rebounds and a block in 26 minutes.
Injuries
Cavaliers forward Shawn Marion sat out the game out with a left hip strain. The Warriors were without center Festus Ezeli, who continues to nurse a left ankle sprain.
Who's on deck?
The Cavaliers' next game is against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday at Sleep Train Arena. Sacramento (15-20) is 9-10 at home.
With Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman battling an injury, Monday's National Championship could be a breakout game for Buckeyes tight end Nick Vannett.
DALLAS — It's not supposed to be Nick Vannett's time. Not yet. Not with senior tight Jeff Heuerman playing out his final season at Ohio State.
Vannett, a fourth-year junior, has been a role player for the Buckeyes. Albeit an important one in the Buckeyes' offense, but still a kind of backseat approach to Heuerman, who's established himself as one of Ohio State's vocal leaders.
But Heuerman has been dinged up, and in a way that's sped up the clock on Vannett.
"I think coming into the season we knew we would get pretty equal playing opportunities," Vannett told cleveland.com during Saturday's media day previewing the College Football Playoff National Championship vs. Oregon.
"Jeff's been a little banged up, that's created some more opportunities for me. I've always embraced that in case something happened, I wanted to be ready to step into the spotlight."
Heuerman is now dealing with another injury, one to his ankle suffered in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. He said on Saturday he'll play against Oregon in Monday's championship game, but no one knows to what extent until Heuerman gets on the field and truly tests out the injury.
Too much tight end talk for one day? Not in this game. With the way the Ducks play defense, couldn't this be a game in which the Buckeyes' tight ends play a prominent role in the passing game?
"Absolutely it could be," Ohio State tight ends coach Tim Hinton told cleveland.com.
This could be Vannett's time.
"I think it could be," Vannett said. "You never really know what the defense is going to throw at us. If they call my number, I'll be ready."
His No. 81 and Heuerman's No. 5 (and also No. 86) haven't been a called a ton this season. That's the nature of Ohio State's offense. The tight ends are on the field a lot, but aren't always the top targets in the passing game. Vannett and Heuerman each have 17 catches. Vannett has four touchdowns and Heuerman has two.
But here's why the Ducks may give Ohio State's tight ends an opening for an uncharacteristically big night: Oregon is fine with giving up passing yards over the middle between the 20-yard lines.
If Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones truly takes what is given to him, he could be looking the tight ends' way a lot. If Heuerman is hampered by the ankle injury, Vannett might have his No. 81 called more than usual.
"Nick has come along way this year, and helped me a bit by being able to take a load off my back," Heuerman said. "Him coming along this year and growing up a lot has been awesome for me because I don't have to play 80, 90 snaps like I was last year. Which is nice, because year four of college football is so tough."
Vannett has already shown he's capable of stepping up and filling any void left by Heuerman.
He scored two touchdowns in a win over Rutgers when Heuerman had to pull himself out of the game. After Heuerman got hurt against Alabama, Vannett saw extended time as a blocker and receiver, and impressed Hinton with his play.
"Some guys handle that role and some guys don't," Hinton said. "Especially when you're as good as he is, he can look around and say, 'Coach, I'm really good too, why aren't I playing?' But he's not like that and he's really good. It's a nice problem to have ... Like the Alabama game, if he has to go in and play 90 percent of the snaps, he's prepared to help us win the game."
The next man up thing has been beaten to death with this Ohio State team, but for the sake of following themes, you could throw Vannett into that mold as well. He was going to play anyway, but with injuries hampering Heuerman at times, the Buckeyes haven't lost anything from their tight end position.
Vannett prepared himself for such a scenario. He said he watched more film this offseason and prepared differently because he knows once Heuerman is gone, it's his turn to lead the tight end room.
"This whole season, especially toward the end, Coach Hinton has put me at a higher standard as far as leadership and being more vocal out there, helping guys out in a way," Vannett said.
That's why he'll be ready if Monday is his time.
"You have to know what's going on," Vannett said. "You can't just throw your helmet on and expect things to happen. It takes a lot of preparation, a lot of maturity."
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James gifted the Ohio State football team with red Beats by Dre headphones on Saturday.
DALLAS – When Ohio State football players returned to their hotel rooms at the Hilton Anatole on Saturday afternoon – probably looking for a nap – there was something special waiting for them on their beds.
Everyone received a pair of red Beats by Dre headphones and LeBron James, who personally endorses the company, had something to do with it.
It was a generous gesture from James considering the headphones Ohio State received retail for $299.95. But he didn't buy them for the Buckeyes, so no NCAA violation.
"LeBron helped facilitate the connection with Beats by Dre," an Ohio State spokesperson told cleveland.com. "The headphones were donated to Ohio State and were distributed within the permissible NCAA limitations on awards."
James has been a supporter of Ohio State, which was evident again this year when he was in attendance for the Buckeyes' night game vs. Virginia Tech in September.
Though James went straight from high school to the NBA, he often says he would have gone to Ohio State if the current one-and-done rule had existed then.
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer was one of the first to publicly thank James for his support and generosity on Twitter.
Special thanks to @KingJames @beatsbydre for their support to the Buckeyes! pic.twitter.com/ccAUo4pvaB
— Urban Meyer (@OSUCoachMeyer) January 10, 2015
Here are other reactions from the team:
Shoutout to my man @KingJames for the @beatsbydre! pic.twitter.com/wFK2Xj5688
— Stephen Collier (@S13Collier) January 10, 2015
S/O to my man @KingJames good looks cuh pic.twitter.com/2pnJlldVtA
— N.o.o.N (@JayHolmes_) January 10, 2015
When the #GOAT is a Buckeye... He takes care of his Team!! S/O to @KingJames for hooking these boys up!! [?] pic.twitter.com/tg64PxphX8
— Zach Sith #Zone6 (@CoachZachSmith) January 10, 2015
S/o to @KingJames for hookin the team up pic.twitter.com/5fl379Tvrm
— EzekielElliott#15 (@EzekielElliott) January 10, 2015
Thank you @KingJames for the beats. #NationalChampionship #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/76bZGqiP3Y
— Ed Warinner (@4Warinner) January 10, 2015
The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks met with the media for the final time on Saturday before Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship.
DALLAS — Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott had a recurring problem in New Orleans. Any time he met with the media ahead of the Sugar Bowl, his name was spelled wrong on the placard at his table.
That didn't happen during Saturday's media day previewing the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff National Championship matchup with Oregon. Elliott's name was spelled correctly. Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Ed Warinner had the problem this time.
His name was spelled with an extra R: "Warrinner".
He took a reporter's pen — a nifty Goofy pen from cleveland.com reporter Doug Lesmerises — crossed out the extra R and with that media day in Dallas was underway.
The Buckeyes and Ducks met with the media on a full-length turf field inside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas. No. 4 Ohio State and No. 2 Oregon will play in the first College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Check out our stories from Saturday's media day below, and head here for coverage of the Ducks from our colleagues at Oregonlive.com.
How can Oregon overcome an injury and a suspension to two of its best receivers?
'I'm going until I can't move': Ohio State TE Jeff Heuerman says he'll play in National Championship
How LeBron James helped the Ohio State Buckeyes get Beats by Dre and why that's OK
Oregon will be short two receivers on Monday, but the Ducks will still trot out four other receivers with at least 20 catches and 300 receiving yards.
DALLAS -- Ohio State handled losing two quarterbacks. Can Oregon handle losing two top receivers?
"It doesn't affect whatever we're doing at all, to be honest with you," Ducks receivers coach Matt Lubick said Saturday. "We think we have great receiver depth. This is the most receiver depth we've had in a number of years. And we're the healthiest at receiver we've been in a long time."
But they still don't have all their guys.
Devon Allen, second on the Ducks with 41 catches and third with 684 yards, is out for this game after hurting his knee early in the Florida State win on Jan. 1. And Darren Carrington, fourth on the Ducks with 37 catches and second with 704 receiving yards, was suspended for this game, reportedly for a positive drug test.
The Ducks are treating it like an injury. Head coach Mark Helfrich said he didn't even address it with his team.
"We don't have a message," he said at Saturday's media day for Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship. "We don't sit down and talk about injuries, we don't sit down and talk about anything. We go."
The Ducks, who also lost tight end Pharaoh Brown to a season-ending knee injury, have six wide receivers on the roster with at least 20 catches and 300 yards. So four of them will be ready for the Buckeyes. That includes Charles Nelson (21 catches, 306 yards) and Keanon Lowe (25 catches, 359 yards), both of whom missed time with injuries but are back now.
Byron Marshall, a receiver/running back hybrid, leads Oregon with 66 catches for 834 yards.
"We just go about our business," Marshall said. "We can't control who's not here."
All that is why Lubick could see Allen go down and Carrington stay home and still consider his group healthy. Carrington had his first two 100-yard games of the season against Arizona in the Pac-12 Championship and Florida State in the Rose Bowl in part because other receivers were out. Lubick said he feels bad for Carrington, who is missing the biggest game of his career.
But this is what the Ducks do. They'll hope to do it some more against Ohio State on Monday.
"All year long we've had guys for different reasons miss games and the next guy has jumped in there and done just as good," Lubick said. "So I expect that to happen."
The Buckeyes went for about two hours at the home of the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday afternoon. Watch video
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Both Oregon and Ohio State are scheduled to hold team walkthroughs at AT&T Stadium on Sunday. The Buckeyes got a good look Saturday.
While Oregon practiced at a local high school, Ohio State practiced inside Jerry World, looking up at that Cowboys star while walking through a tunnel onto the field, they getting to work beneath the giant scoreboard.
Injured H-back Dontre Wilson did go through some early work as reporters watched, while tight end Jeff Heuerman has vowed to play with an ankle injury and did warm up. Receiver Devin Smith was sick and missed the media interviews earlier in the morning but was out there as usual during reciever drills.
With "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC blaring, as ordered by Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes did their usual pre-practice quick cals, led by strength coach Mickey Marotti, but with Meyer punching the air as the Buckeyes started to accentuate the start.
The scene has been the same for weeks.
The Buckeyes appear to like the team they are and like where they are. That carried through one last practice before Monday night's College Football Playoff National Championship, which lasted for about two hours.
Ohio State then had dinner and a comedy show at the team hotel scheduled for Saturday night. Sunday morning will follow the typical day-before schedule for the Buckeyes, with brunch and morning massages before the walkthrough at 2:45.
Check out our photo gallery and video for a feel for the final practice of this 2014-15 season for Ohio State.
East Tech (9-2) girls basketball defeated Hathaway Brown (5-6), 47-43 on Saturday.
East Tech (9-2) girls basketball defeated Hathaway Brown (5-6), 47-43 on Saturday.
Brady directed a masterful 74-yard drive and put the Patriots ahead with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady's third touchdown pass gave New England its first lead with about five minutes remaining and the Patriots reached their fourth straight AFC championship game with a 35-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
Justin Tucker had given the Ravens a 31-28 lead on a 25-yard field goal with 10:17 left. Then Brady directed a masterful 74-yard drive. He completed eight of nine passes for 72 yards -- and ran for a first down -- and put the Patriots ahead with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell.
The top-seeded Patriots (13-4) will face the winner of Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts in the conference title game next Sunday. The sixth-seeded Ravens (11-7) had won two of three playoff games in Foxborough over the past five seasons.
The Vikings moved to 8-0 on the season.
The Vikings moved to 8-0 on the season.
Browns coach Mike Shanahan returned home from vacation Tuesday only to discover that his first offensive coordintor, Kyle Shanahan, wanted out.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns coach Mike Pettine had his ''toes in the sand'' last week after a disappointing end to the season, but his fun in the sun quickly slipped through his fingers.
Pettine returned home from his vacation on Tuesday only to discover that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan wanted out of his contract because of what he felt were irreconcilable differences with the front office.
Pettine, who said in his postseason press conference that he expected Shanahan to stay, now finds himself with an unforeseen major overhaul of his offensive staff after only one season on the job.
Shanahan had planned to discuss his departure with Pettine, but Pettine's flight was delayed by a day, and news that Shanahan was willing to make a lateral move because of the friction broke before he got a chance to tell the head coach.
Within 48 hours after Pettine returned, Shanahan asked Browns owner Jimmy Haslam to release him from the final two years of his contract, and Haslam obliged.
That same day, on Thursday, the Browns fired quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains, and asked Shanahan's hand-picked receivers coach Mike McDaniel to go home while the Browns figured out whether or not they wanted to retain him.
McDaniel, who was brought over from Washington with Shanahan, will likely join the former Browns coordinator wherever he ends up. It remains to be seen what will happen with the remaining offensive assistants, a but a source said they will likely be given permission to interview with other clubs if given the opportunity. The other offensive staffers include running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, offensive line coach Andy Moeller, who worked with Pettine in Baltimore and did a fine job this season with the line, and tight ends coach Brian Angelichio.
Pettine finally announced the departures of Shanahan and Loggains in a press release issued by the club on Saturday.
"After conversations with Kyle this week we've determined that it would be in the best interest of the Cleveland Browns that he pursue other opportunities and we have accepted his resignation." Pettine said. "In Dowell's case, it was a difficult decision but one that we felt we had to make. We wish them both well. Our focus quickly turns to finding an outstanding coach to lead our offense and I am confident we will bring in highly qualified individuals to help us develop, improve, and achieve the success we are all seeking.
"I look forward to working with the staff as we go through this process to bring in coaches committed to helping the Cleveland Browns lay a strong foundation to take our offense to a consistently high level in the 2015 season and beyond."
The Browns have been granted permission to interview 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, and that interview is scheduled for Monday, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area. Roman interviewed Saturday with the Jaguars, where his former John Carroll University teammate and roommate Dave Caldwell, the club's general manager, will try to hire him. Roman will also interview for the Rams coordinator vacancy, as will Shanahan, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Roman, 42, has also interviewed for the Tampa Bay Bucanneers offensive coordinator post that went to former Falcons' coordinator Dirk Koetter. He also interviewed for the Bills head coaching job and is expected to have other opportunities depending on how the head jobs shake out.
The Browns also have former Bears quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh, who helped Pettine get his first job with the Ravens, on their radar, cleveland.com reported Thursday.
Shanahan, who also interviewed for the Bills' head coach job on Thursday, acknowledged that it was his decision to leave. The Browns will not owe him for the final two years of his contract.
"I appreciate the opportunity Mike Pettine, Ray Farmer and Jimmy Haslam gave me to lead the Browns offense in 2014," Shanahan said. "The Browns organization is committed to improvement and winning. I regret how the inner workings of the organization were represented publicly over the last few days. Ray and Mike both have the work ethic, experience and talent to work together to turn this organization into a winner. In light of the circumstances, I have decided to resign. I'm grateful for my time with the Browns and wish them great success going forward."
Cleveland.com reported Tuesday that Shanahan and other coaches were dismayed by a high-ranking member of the personnel staff texting from the press level to the sidelines about play calls, according to a source. The NFL is now looking into the matter, according to NFL spokesman Michael Signora. It's a violation of league rules for club personnel to use cell phones and other electronic devices in club-controlled areas from 90 before kickoff through the end of the game.
Shanahan and other members of the offensive staff also felt the Browns' personnel department didn't put enough stock into their player evaluations or needs, including their opinion on quarterbacks.
The Browns finished the regular season ranked 23rd in total offense (324.6 yards per game), 20th in passing offense (216.6) and 17th in rushing offense (108.0).
Pettine is now tasked with hiring an offensive coordinator while also rectifying a quarterback situation that's "muddy at best'' given the sub-par play of Johnny Manziel and the fact that Brian Hoyer's contract expires in March.
The Browns, however, have vowed to "leave no stone unturned'' in their bid to find a winning quarterback.
The new coordinator will be the Browns' sixth in as many seasons.
The Lake Erie Monsters trip up the Hamilton Bulldogs, 2-1.
HAMILTON, Ontario -- Left winger Trevor Cheek scored with 3:15 left to lift the Lake Erie Monsters over the Hamilton Bulldogs, 2-1, Saturday at FirstOntario Centre.
The win snapped the Monsters three-game losing streak and got them back to .500 at 15-15-2-3.
Cheek's goal was his fourth of the year and was assisted by Maxim Noreau and Mitchell Heard.
Calvin Pickard, who had struggled in Friday's loss at Rochester, stopped 23 of 24 shots. Hamilton goalie Mike Condon faced 29 shots and stopped 27.
The game was scoreless through two periods before Monsters center Joey Hishon scored his ninth goal of the season just 28 seconds into the third. Karl Stollery and Stefan Elliott had assists.
Hamilton tied it at the 7:54 mark on Charles Hudon's ninth goal of the season.
The Monsters are off until Friday when they play at Chicago, before traveling to Iowa for games next Saturday and Sunday.
The Vikings are off to an 8-0 start this season.
The Vikings are off to an 8-0 start this season.
Mitch Peterson scores 17 to lead No. 12 Walsh Jesuit past No.16 Western Reserve Academy
Mitch Peterson scores 17 to lead No. 12 Walsh Jesuit past No.16 Western Reserve Academy
Kent State stops Northern Illinois for first MAC victory.
DEKALB, Ill. — Devareaux Manley scored all of his 19 points in the second half and Kris Brewer's free throws with 15.1 seconds lifted Kent State over Northern Illinois, 67-65, Saturday night.
Brewer was fouled on a drive for Kent State (10-5, 1-1 Mid-American) with the game tied at 65. Anthony Johnson missed a runner for Northern Illinois (7-6, 1-1) in the final seconds.
Jordan Threloff tied the game for NIU at 61 and the teams twice traded points with Johnson tying the game at 65 with 39 seconds left.
After shooting 0 for 3 in the first half, Manley made all five of his 3-point attempts in the second. He converted a four-point play on his fifth 3-pointer to pull Kent State even at 58-all.
Jimmy Hall added 15 points and Brewer finished with 11 for the Golden Flashes.
Threloff scored 21 and Johnson added 14 for the Huskies.
