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Sports TV and radio listings for Northeast Ohio, Saturday, March 3

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Here's today's and tonight's sports listings for TV and radio for the Cleveland area.

antawn-jamison3.jpgAntawn Jamison (with the basketball) and the Cleveland Cavaliers play in Washington tonight at 7 against the Wizards in a game that will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio and broadcast on WTAM/1100-AM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

(Click on to links for more team or event information)

Auto racing

1 p.m. NASCAR Nationwide Series, Bashas' Supermarkets 200 qualifying, Speed; 4:30, race, ESPN2

2:30 p.m. Sprint Cup, pole qualifying for Subway Fresh Fit 500 qualifying, Speed

Golf

1 p.m. The Honda Classic, third round, Golf Channel

3 p.m. The Honda Classic, third round, WKYC Channel 3

Gymnastics

1 p.m. American Cup, WKYC Channel 3

Hockey

7 p.m. NCAA Vermont at Boston College, CBS Sports Network

7 p.m. NHL Toronto at Montreal, NHL Network

Men's college basketball

Noon George Washington at Dayton, CBS Sports Network

Noon Memphis at Tulsa, WOIO Channel 19

Noon Pittsburgh at Connecticut, ESPN

Noon Big South Tournament final, ESPN2

12:30 p.m. Nebraska at Minnesota, Big Ten Network

2 p.m. Patriot League semifinal, CBS Sports Network

2 p.m. Cincinnati at Villanova, ESPN

2 p.m. Ohio Valley Tournament game, ESPN2

2 p.m. LSU at Auburn, WOIO Channel 19

2 p.m. Xavier vs. Charlotte, Fox Sports Ohio

2:30 p.m. Northwestern at Iowa, Big Ten Network

4 p.m. Louisville at Syracuse, WOIO Channel 19

4 p.m. Vanderbilt at Tennessee, ESPN

4 p.m. Boise State at New Mexico, NBC Sports Network

4:30 p.m. Patriot League semifinal, CBS Sports Network

6 p.m. Horizon League semifinal, CLEVELAND STATE vs. Youngstown State or Detroit, ESPN3

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cleveland State coverage

(also, Cleveland State vs. Youngstown State/Detroit, tape delay, 10:30 p.m., ESPNU) 

7 p.m. North Carolina at Duke, ESPN

7 p.m. Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament final, ESPN2

8:30 p.m. Horizon League semifinal, Valparaiso vs. Butler/Milwaukee, ESPNU

9 p.m. Texas at Kansas, ESPN2

9 p.m. West Coast Conference Tournament semifinal, ESPN2

11 p.m. West Coast Conference Tournament semifinal, ESPN2

Motorsports

8:30 p.m. Supercross, Speed

NBA

7 p.m. CAVALIERS at Washington, Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM/1100-AM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage

7 p.m. Milwaukee at Orlando, NBATV

10 p.m. Minnesota at Portland, NBATV

Rodeo

9 p.m. Professional Bull Riders Iron Cowboy III, NBC Sports Network

Soccer

7:30 a.m. English Premier League Arsenal at Liverpool, ESPN2

Women's college basketball

11 a.m. ACC Tournament game, ESPNU

Noon Iowa State at Baylor, Fox Sports Ohio

1 p.m. ACC Tournament game, ESPNU

SEC Tournament game ESPNU

5 p.m. Big Ten semifinal, Big Ten Network

7:30 p.m. Big Ten semifinal, Big Ten Network


OHSAA wrestling: Division I midday update heading into tonight's state finals

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - Six state champions tonight will give St. Edward the Division I scoring record of 229 points at the state wrestling tournament in Value City Arena. St. Edward, which clinched its 27th team championship Friday night, expanded its lead over runner-up Massillon Perry, 206.5-89.5.

St. Edward 220-pounder Ty Walz, pictured at right on Friday, is one of eight Eagles competing in the Division I state finals tonight. - (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Six state champions tonight will give St. Edward the Division I scoring record of 229 points at the state wrestling tournament in Value City Arena.

St. Edward, which clinched its 27th team championship Friday night, expanded its lead over runner-up Massillon Perry, 206.5-89.5.

The Eagles have eight wrestlers in the finals tonight: Alex Moore (113 pounds), Dean Heil (126), Edgar Bright (132), Markus Scheidel (145), Mark Martin (170), Domenic Abounader (182), James Suvak (195) and Ty Walz (220).

Five champions plus bonus points, such as a pin and a major decision by two winners, would tie the record.

The parade of champions is at 5:30 p.m. and championship matches are at 5:45 p.m. Get live, match-by-match results from all three divisions on Twitter by searching the #PDvarsity hashtag.

Oregon Clay is third with 63 points, followed by Cincinnati Moeller (61.5), Solon (56), Maple Heights (49), Barberton (45), Brecksville (44), Wadsworth (41) and Twinsburg (40).

Area third-placers in Division I were: Brecksville's Aaron Assad (113), Barberton's Cobey Fehr (126), Wadsworth's Kagan Squire (132), St. Edward's Nick Barber (138), Avon's Zane Zeman (145), Solon's Justin Kresevic (160) and Maple Heights' Almonte' Patrick (220).

Squire is a four-time state placer who finished his career with 176 wins. He was second the last two years and third as a freshman.

Assad was a state runner-up at St. Peter Chanel last year who came back from knee surgery that was performed in January. He pinned Lancaster's Jacob Spearman with five seconds remaining in the final, ultimate tiebreaker overtime.

Kresevic edged St. Edward's Jacob Davis with a takedown in sudden victory, 3-1. Davis nearly had the match won with a takedown on the edge of the mat in regulation, but they were ruled out of bounds.

Maple Heights heavyweight Aaron Pipkins was winning his third-place bout, 3-1, but suffered a leg injury during a takedown by Canton GlenOak's Derrick Everett. Pipkins was unable to finish and lost by injury default.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

OHSAA wrestling: Division III midday update heading into tonight's state finals

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Note: Get live, match-by-match results tonight from the state wrestling finals in all three divisions on Twitter by searching the #PDvarsity hashtag. COLUMBUS, Ohio – Twelve area wrestlers in Division III finalized their place on the podium and Waynedale clinched the team title in the consolation portion of Saturday's state tournament.

Keystone's William Spangler, pictured at top on Thursday, placed fifth at 126 pounds in Division III Saturday at the state wrestling tournament. - (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

Note: Get live, match-by-match results tonight from the state wrestling finals in all three divisions on Twitter by searching the #PDvarsity hashtag.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Twelve area wrestlers in Division III finalized their place on the podium and Waynedale clinched the team title in the consolation portion of Saturday's state tournament.

Beachwood, which has Sammy Gross wrestling in tonight's championship, saw Ryan Harris (138 pounds) and David Shapiro (160) finish third. The Bison is currently in fifth place with 52.5 points.

Rootstown joined Beachwood in the top 10 and is in sixth (52 points), while Garrettsville Garfield is seventh (49.5) and St. Peter Chanel eighth (41.5).

Individuals who also placed were Black River's Mike Hozan (fourth, 113), Manchester's Kyle Ferguson (seventh, 120) and the Waterloo tandem of J.J. Diven (seventh, 138) and Nick Hermann (eighth, 126).

Keystone had two placers in William Spangler (fifth, 126) and Brian Spangler (eighth, 132) as did Rootstown with Travis Linton (third, 170) and Jake Moore (fourth, 220). Manchester's Lucas Dies (fourth, 195) and Devin Dressler (seventh, 285) rounded out the list.

Win or lose, the Miami Heat keep making headlines: Tom Reed's NBA power rankings

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Our weekly assessment of who's rising and falling in the league, through Friday's games.

lebron-whoo-heat-reax-squ-ap.jpgView full sizeThe Heat are closing in on the best record in the NBA, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been an eventful last week for LeBron James.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Our weekly assessment of who's rising and falling in the league, through Friday's games.

1. Miami Heat

Last week: 1

LeBron James ends week as he began it -- passing up game-winning shot.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Last week: 2

Thunder is 17-5 against teams with a winning record.

3. Chicago Bulls

Last week: 3

Fortunately for the Cavs, they don't play Chicago again until the final day of the season.

4. San Antonio Spurs

Last week: 4

They are 8-2 in their last 10.

5. Los Angeles Clippers

Last week: 6

Have no sense where to rank this team. Loss in Phoenix was a bad one.

6. Orlando Magic

Last week: 8

Magic were fine All-Star hosts. Let's see how they act closer to March 15.

7. Philadelphia 76ers

Last week: 7

Sixers have feasted on weaker opposition.

8. Los Angeles Lakers

Last week: 9

Will be interesting to see Kobe against Heat on Sunday.

9. Memphis Grizzlies

Last week: 10

Griz in stealth mode as they climb the rankings.

10. Dallas Mavericks

Last week: 5

The champs have lost four straight.

11. Indiana Pacers

Last week: 11

Pacers beat up on losing teams, but sit 7-9 against clubs with winning records.

12. Houston Rockets

Last week: 12

Rockets are 15-5 at home, but have won just six times on the road.

13. Atlanta Hawks

Last week: 13

Hawks another team rumored to be interested in Ramon Sessions.

14. Denver Nuggets

Last week: 14

Nuggets finally string together a couple wins.

15. New York Knicks

Last week: 17

Tyson Chandler showed his value against Cavs on the court and in the locker room.

16. Boston Celtics

Last week: 18

As trade rumors swirl, Celtics win three straight.

17. Portland Trail Blazers

Last week: 15

Blazers are 1-7 in games decided by three points or less.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves

Last week: 16

Wolves also start slowly out of the break.

19. Utah Jazz

Last week: 19

Jazz get a big win over Heat after smartly electing to lead Haslem wide open.

20. Golden State Warriors

Last week: 20

Warriors want to be star chasers. Winning more games would help their cause.

21. Milwaukee Bucks

Last week: 22

Bucks are 2-8 in their last 10.

22. Phoenix Suns

Last week: 23

Suns on a treadmill with sights set on golf season in late April.

23. Cleveland Cavaliers

Last week: 21

Cavs are a telling 5-14 against teams with a winning record.

24. Detroit Pistons

Last week: 25

Pistons continue to improve under Frank.

25. Toronto Raptors

Last week: 26

Cheer up Raptors fans, you get the Cavs twice in the next month.

26. Sacramento Kings

Last week: 24

Who cares how they finish the season? The Kings are staying in Sacramento, and that's all that matters.

27. New Orleans Hornets

Last week: 27

Hornets threw a scare into the Bulls before crumbling in the final seconds Tuesday.

28. New Jersey Nets

Last week: 28

The Nets are 3-13 at home, which of course they are leaving at season's end.

29. Washington Wizards

Last week: 29

The Wizards and Cavs had to look at each other Saturday night and think, "If we can't beat this team ..."

30. Charlotte Bobcats

Last week: 30

The Bobcats haven't won a game in their division. Of course, they've only won four games in the other five divisions.

Connecticut's Andre Drummond a big prospect with plenty of work to do: Mary Schmitt Boyer's NBA draftwatch

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Second of a weekly series profiling top players who could be available to the Cavs in this year's NBA Draft on June 28.

unconn-drummond-shoot-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeLike the Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson, Connecticut's Andre Drummond is considered a freakish athletic talent, but has considerable developing to do on his offensive game and the fine points of basketball.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Second of a weekly series profiling top players who could be available to the Cavs in this year's NBA Draft on June 28. The draft lottery to determine the order is May 30.

Andre Drummond

College: Connecticut

Position: Center

Ht/wt: 6-10, 270

Born: August 10, 1993

Hometown: Middletown, Conn.

High school: St. Thomas More High School in Oakdale, Conn., which won the 2011 national high school championship.

Stats: Averaging 10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 28.4 minutes in 29 games, 25 starts.

Scouting report: Scouts like his length and athleticism, but there are questions about his assertiveness and consistency, especially since his raw numbers are not that impressive. ... He's shooting 53.7 percent from the field (137 of 255) but a scary 31.2 percent from the line (24 of 77) and that fact that he goes to the line less than three times a game is another indication of a lack of assertiveness. ... According to a story on SI.com on August 30, 2011, after Drummond announced his intention to attend Connecticut, Scout.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels said, "As far as prospects go, I'm not sure if I've seen a better big man since Greg Oden, in terms of size, skill and athleticism. His mobility at 6-11 is ridiculous." (The Connecticut Web site lists Drummond as 6-10.)

The top 10

Mary Schmitt Boyer's projected top-10 players in the 2012 NBA draft. These rankings will be updated every week from now until the end of the NBA season.

1. Anthony Davis, PF, 6-10, 220, Kentucky, freshman

2. Andre Drummond, C, 6-10, 270, Connecticut, freshman

3. (tie) Harrison Barnes, SF, 6-8, 223, North Carolina, sophomore

3. (tie) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, 6-7, 228, Kentucky, freshman

5. Thomas Robinson, PF, 6-9, 240, Kansas, junior

6. Jared Sullinger, PF, 6-9, 280, Ohio State, sophomore

7. (tie) Perry Jones, PF, 6-11, 220, Baylor, sophomore

7. (tie) Bradley Beal, SG, 6-4, 201, Florida, freshman

9. Jeremy Lamb, SG, 6-5, 185, Connecticut, sophomore

10. (tie) Cody Zeller, C, 6-11, 215, Indiana, freshman

10. (tie) Tyler Zeller, C, 7-0, 250, North Carolina, senior

Kyrie Irving remains atop latest NBA rookie rankings

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Irving, the NBA's Eastern Conference rookie of the month for January and February, has established himself as the clear leader for the Rookie of the Year award.

pistons-knight-drive-76ers-vert-ap.jpgView full sizeDetroit's Brandon Knight has been one of the NBA's standout rookies -- among those not named Kyrie Irving.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- From now until the end of the regular season, these rankings will reflect the leaders for the Rookie of the Year award.

Cleveland's Kyrie Irving, the MVP of the Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend and the NBA's Eastern Conference rookie of the month for January and February, has established himself as the clear leader.

(Statistics through Friday's games.)

1. Kyrie Irving, No. 1 pick by Cleveland, G

Stats: 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists

Rank last week: 1

2. Ricky Rubio, No. 5 pick by Minnesota in 2009, G

Stats: 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.3 assists

Rank last week: 2

3. Brandon Knight, No. 8 pick by Detroit, G

Stats: 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists

Rank last week: 5

4. Kenneth Faried, No. 22 pick by Denver, F

Stats: 8.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, .4 assists

Rank last week: Unranked

5. Isaiah Thomas, No. 60 pick by Sacramento, G

Stats: 9.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists

Rank last week: Unranked

Success hardly a slam dunk for Wizards' John Wall: Tom Reed's NBA Tipoff

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There is no one right way to rebuild a franchise. But Washington's young point guard isn't getting a lot of help from the rest of his roster.

wall-dunk-2012stars-mct.jpgView full sizeJohn Wall, the top pick of the 2010 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards, is struggling to adapt to the leader's role with a poor team lacking any veteran presence.

WASHINGTON -- John Wall and Kyrie Irving, the last two No. 1 overall picks, have spent time in each other's company the past 10 days.

They played together in the Rising Stars Challenge as part of All-Star Weekend in Orlando and opposed each other Saturday as the Washington Wizards hosted the Cavaliers. Neither point guard plays for a particularly good or talented team, but Wall probably would welcome a chance to swap places -- if only for the remainder of the season.

Irving and fellow rookie Tristan Thompson are learning what it means to be a pro around Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, Anthony Parker and Ramon Sessions. Wall is coming of age with the Wizards' Andray Blatche, who on opening night introduced himself to the Verizon Center crowd by saying, "This is your captain," and several hours later complained to reporters about his role in the offense.

There is no one right way to rebuild a franchise. The Cavaliers (13-20) have tried to surround their impressionable first-year players with character veterans still contributing on the court. The Wizards (7-28) did not appear to make that a priority.

Wall, averaging 17.3 points and 7.7 assists, is part of a starting lineup with seven previous years of NBA experience. Veteran reserves Blatche and Nick Young were mentored by former Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, a self-described "goof ball" involved in the bizarre gun incident inside the Washington locker room with teammate Javaris Crittenton in 2010.

The Wizards also have Maurice Evans and Roger Mason, but it's difficult to lead when you're not playing regularly. So Wall, who saw coach Flip Saunders fired after a 2-15 start, is in some ways trying to navigate his first two seasons without access to the GPS of a respected leader. Not an easy task.

In multiple media scrums during All-Star Weekend, both Irving and Thompson made unsolicited comments about the influence of Parker, Varejao and Jamison. Meanwhile, Sessions repeatedly has been cited for accepting his role as the backup point guard and excelling as the leader of the second unit, all while having his named attached to trade rumors.

Maybe it doesn't sound like much to fans weaned in a fantasy sports era, when all that matters are statistics and production. After all, the Cavs likely will join the Wizards as non-playoff contenders soon enough. But having the right veterans show you the league and its mysteries can be beneficial. The 35-year-old Jamison, who hasn't missed a game in this lockout-shortened season, can still name the Golden State veterans who helped him as a rookie.

Years from now it will be interesting to hear what Irving and Wall recall about their formative NBA seasons.

Salary cap room opens options for Cleveland Cavaliers, but won't rush their plan: NBA Insider

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How the Cavaliers manage the most salary cap space they have enjoyed since the summer of 2005 will play a significant role in their long-term success.

grant-gm-horiz-dia.jpgView full sizeThe Cavaliers, led by General Manager Chris Grant, are following the Oklahoma City model of constructing a winning team, which requires patience and discipline.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Even as New York Knicks point guard Baron Davis dished out eight assists to beat his former club Wednesday in Madison Square Garden, he was still benefiting the Cavaliers.

Davis helped deliver the franchise's signature win last season in beating LeBron James and the Miami Heat a month after arriving from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Feb. 26, 2011 deal that produced the first-round pick that became Kyrie Irving. Those events alone should leave the organization forever indebted to the Bearded One.

But the cap space created when the Cavaliers waived Davis through the amnesty clause in December makes them one of the most intriguing teams as the trade deadline and off-season approach.

The Cavs have $7.1 million in space heading into the NBA's annual bazaar on March 15. They should have more than $20 million available this summer. How they manage it will play a significant role in their long-term success during the Irving era.

Over the next 11 days, the Cavaliers will try to acquire draft picks or players that fit into the franchise's future. Ramon Sessions is attracting interest from contenders in search of a point guard. But it's the Cavaliers' cap space that also has many league executives messaging General Manager Chris Grant at 4G speed.

The flexibility gives the Cavs the option of absorbing a contract or two from a club looking to escape a financial bind or make a big play for someone like Dwight Howard. The Cavaliers could serve as a third team or facilitator in a blockbuster. They would do it, of course, only at the right price.

The Cavaliers are following the Oklahoma City model, which requires patience and discipline. Cleveland fans will get a look at the Thunder on Friday and possibly again in the NBA Finals. It has taken OKC GM Sam Presti five years to reach championship contender status. He has done it by taking no short cuts and making shrewd use of cap space to acquire first-round picks.

Instead of spending the money Presti saved on dealing Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis while the franchise was still in Seattle, he used a $9 million trade exception to acquire veteran Kurt Thomas and his $8 million salary from Phoenix. Oh, yes, he also received two first-round picks, one which became Serge Ibaka.

In 2009, Presti rented his cap space again, this time to the Utah Jazz, a club that was looking to avoid the luxury tax. The Thunder absorbed Matt Harpring, who had sustained a career-ending injury and his insured $6.5 million salary, to snatch point guard Eric Maynor in return.

The Cavaliers hope to build around Irving the way the Thunder did Kevin Durant. In other words, don't expect them to be a big player this summer in free agency, despite having a deep-pocketed owner and the franchise's most cap space since 2005.

That was the summer the Cavaliers made like Kardashians looking for available NBA talent on the open market. In order to placate James, former GM Danny Ferry overpaid for free agents Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones. James re-signed, the Cavs made it to the finals two years later, but those deals hurt the franchise long term.

High-profile free agents aren't coming to places like Oklahoma City and Cleveland for anything short of outrageous fortune. Grant is taking the harder road, one that requires him to hit on his first-round picks and execute good trades.

The Cavaliers, and everybody else for that matter, passed on signing Wilson Chandler to an offer sheet. Using cap space judiciously doesn't always excite fans, especially after landing a rookie like Irving. The natural instinct is to surround him with running mates as quickly as possible.

Grant isn't withdrawing all of Dan Gilbert's money any time soon. He will make deals when they make sense. While everyone else is waiting, they can decide on what rafter the No. 85 banner should hang.


OHSAA gymnastics: Mentor's Kayla Kosmerl becomes school's first all-around state champion

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HILLIARD, Ohio - Senior Kayla Kosmerl culminated 13 years of hard work and became the first Mentor gymnast to win the coveted all-around state championship Saturday during the state gymnastics meet at Hilliard Bradley High. Kosmerl, an honor student with designs on becoming a physician's assistant, used a win on the uneven bars, a runner-up finish on the balance...

Mentor senior Kayla Kosmerl won the state gymnastics all-around title Saturday with 37.875 points. - (Allison Carey, The Plain Dealer)

HILLIARD, Ohio - Senior Kayla Kosmerl culminated 13 years of hard work and became the first Mentor gymnast to win the coveted all-around state championship Saturday during the state gymnastics meet at Hilliard Bradley High.

Kosmerl, an honor student with designs on becoming a physician's assistant, used a win on the uneven bars, a runner-up finish on the balance beam, a third on the vault and a fourth in floor exercise to win the all-around title with 37.875 points.

Brecksville sophomore Michaela Romito won the state title in floor exercise for the second year in a row and added a title on the beam but a ninth-place finish on the bars led to a second-place finish in the all-around.

Area athletes maintained their dominance as 23 of them claimed the 30 possible podium placements.

 

David Huff goes 2 scoreless innings as Cleveland Indians and Reds tie in Cactus League opener

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The sounds of baseball were all around Goodyear Ballpark as the Indians and Reds opened the Cactus League season Saturday.

huff-pitch-spring-2012-cc.jpgView full sizeDavid Huff's first start in spring training resulted in three hits allowed in two scoreless innings, with 25 of his 35 pitches going for strikes.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The sound came from behind the right-field wall in a batting cage at Goodyear Ballpark. It came from a big man, swinging a big bat.

Whoosh ... whoosh ... whoosh ... whoosh.

Baseball was back and Shelley Duncan was the delivery man. Every time he swung his bat through the stale air of the cage, the game inched closer to Progressive Field and Opening Day more than a month away.

There is still a long way to travel and many swings to take, but the switch has been flipped. Once again the machine is moving and it cannot be stopped.

The Indians and Reds opened the Cactus League season Saturday. The sun was out, the air was crisp and cool and over 6,000 people came to watch. It ended in a 6-6 tie as the Indians took a 6-5 lead in the ninth only to have prospect Chen-Chang Lee give up a one-out homer to Cincinnati's Todd Frazier to tie the game.

Lee struck out the next two batters, but manager Manny Acta and Dusty Baker decided nine innings was enough. The two teams will play again Sunday and Monday.

Acta said it was too early to put much weight on what happened, but he knows better. Every little thing matters in spring training. People are always watching, evaluating and calculating about how to fit the best 25 players on one team in time for the regular season.

Left-hander David Huff knows this is true. He's been through this drill too many times. So when he drew the Cactus League opener, he knew he didn't have time to ease into it. Not with the fifth spot in the rotation wide open.

Huff pitched two scoreless innings. He gave up three hits and struck out one. When he left the Indians led, 2-0.

It did not start well. Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips, the Gold Glove second baseman the Indians gave away, opened the inning with a double. Phillips committed an error in the top of the first which led to a run, so this was redemption in an awkward swing that sent the ball down the left-field line.

"I just said, 'How did he hit that?'" said Huff. "He was out on his front foot. It was a good pitch, but I think he saw it coming because it was a change-up and slowed my arm action down. I didn't maintain my fastball arm action."

Huff recovered to strike out Zack Cozart. Joey Votto ended the inning by lining into a double play at third.

In the second, Huff retired the first two batters then gave up two singles before retiring catcher Devin Mesoraco on a fly ball to center.

"The big thing was trying to throw inside to hitters and I executed," said Huff. "I was throwing it inside for strikes and balls and really made the hitters uncomfortable."

Huff led the Indians in victories as a rookie in 2009. In 2010, manager Manny Acta's first year, he was the last starter to make the rotation out of spring training. Last year he didn't make his first start in the big leagues until July 18, so he has learned that the competition for a spot in spring training is not always what it appears to be.

"You can't think about that when you go out there," said Huff. "You have to think about facing that hitter in the box and that pitch you have to execute."

Kevin Slowey, Zach McAllister and Jeanmar Gomez are pitching for the same spot.

The Indians have 31 more Cactus League games to play. Throw in two scheduled B games and there are still many innings to decipher. But things are already starting to show themselves.

New first baseman Casey Kotchman looked like a perfect fit in the No.6 spot behind Travis Hafner. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Matt LaPorta, the old first baseman, replaced him in the fifth inning and went 0-for-2.

There might also be a safety first movement afoot. In the first, Kotchman singled to right with Asdrubal Cabrera on second. Cabrera tried to score, but when Jay Bruce's throw beat him by 10 feet, he slowed to a trot. Mesoraco fumbled for the ball, but with Grady Sizemore and Chris Perez already injured, Cabrera showed good judgment in not trying to bowl over a catcher.

As for the whoosh caused by Duncan and his bat. That was done to prepare for one at-bat in the sixth. Duncan flied out to center on a 3-2 pitch, but in this case the sound meant much more than the out.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

St. Edward hockey team spoils St. Ignatius' perfect season with district final surprise

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BROOKLYN, Ohio -- No state high school hockey tournament would be complete without a classic game between St. Edward and St. Ignatius. That's just what 2,020 fans got on Saturday in the Brooklyn District final at the Coyne Recreation Center. When all the skating, screaming and scoring was done, it was the Eagles (19-12-3) handing the Wildcats (39-1) their...

St. Edward fans celebrate Mick Bartholomew's first-period goal in Saturday's Brooklyn District title game against St. Ignatius. The Eagles handed the Wildcats their first loss of the season, 3-2. - (Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)

BROOKLYN, Ohio -- No state high school hockey tournament would be complete without a classic game between St. Edward and St. Ignatius. That's just what 2,020 fans got on Saturday in the Brooklyn District final at the Coyne Recreation Center.

When all the skating, screaming and scoring was done, it was the Eagles (19-12-3) handing the Wildcats (39-1) their first loss of the season, 3-2, in a game as emotionally draining as it looked.

"We didn't change our focus for three periods," said St. Edward coach Troy Gray, whose club had lost three times to its West Side rival. "[St. Ignatius] is a monumental team that had a history-making season. Our kids kept their composure. It's all about their effort."

Composure came through when it had to for St. Edward. Rallying from a 2-0 first-period deficit, the Wildcats tied the game on a goal by senior Paddy Spellacy off a pass from Liam Geither with 6:15 to play. It definitely looked as if momentum was with the Wildcats, who had won the most games in state history.

But 45 seconds later, junior Connor King got the game winner for the Eagles when he put the puck past goaltender Matt Kovesdy after a scramble in front of the net with 5:29 to go."It squirted out to me and I back-doored it," said King, who credited teammates Gabe Lampron and C.J. Hoy for keeping the puck alive. "A big factor all season has been working through adversity. Don't let one loss define your season."

However, that sole defeat is what St. Ignatius has to deal with. Geither, with 56 goals this season, could only throw his gloves to the boards in disappointment at the final buzzer.

Utter dejection filled the Wildcats.

"When you shoot for glory, when your goal is the state championship, this is the risk you take of possibly getting crushed," said St. Ignatius coach Pat O'Rourke. "We'll gladly take our chances in the district championship game every year.

"When we got the second goal, I thought we had something going. The next shift they got it right back. I wish we had one more week together."

Instead, the Eagles will prepare for University School in Saturday's state semifinal at noon at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The Preppers defeated the Eagles twice this season.

St. Edward scored twice in 90 seconds late in the first period, senior Mick Bartholomew converting in close with 3:57 to go. With Geither off the ice on a penalty, Lampron scored on the power play when he put home a rebound at 2:27.

The Wildcats cut the deficit on senior Mike Abood's score during a power play with 7:15 left in the second period off assists by Spellacy and Geither.

Down the stretch, Geither nearly put home a backhander with two minutes left.

"We just outworked them today," said St. Edward senior goaltender Logan Galati, who matched Kovesdy with 38 saves. "Our defense did a good job of not giving them good shots. When they started their run, we had to get back to work."

A game like this was to be expected. St. Edward won here in six overtimes, 3-2, in the 2009 district final.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

On Twitter: @JoeMaxse

 

Cavaliers vs. Wizards: Game preview and Twitter updates

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The Cavaliers take on the Wizards tonight in Washington. Get a preview and follow in-game updates from @pdcavsinsider on Twitter.

The Cavaliers try to bounce back tonight against the Washington Wizards on the road. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider in the box below. Check out the in-game box score here. Read on for a game preview. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.



Cavaliers beat Charlotte Bobcats, 102-94View full sizeKyrie Irving.
(AP) -- The Washington Wizards continue to falter, due largely to an inability to make plays when it counts most.

A visit from the scuffling Cleveland Cavaliers - in addition to Andray Blatche's likely return - could help them get back on track.

Trying to avoid a seventh consecutive defeat, the Wizards look Saturday night to continue their home dominance of the Cavaliers, who are hoping to have rookie standout Kyrie Irving available.

Washington (7-28) has been outscored by an average of 10.6 points during its six-game skid, but has had a chance to win each of its last three contests before ultimately coming up short.

After getting outscored 27-18 in the fourth quarter of a 115-107 loss to Sacramento on Feb. 22, the Wizards continued to come up short following the All-Star break. Washington rallied from a 22-point deficit only to fall 119-118 at Milwaukee in the final seconds Tuesday before suffering a 102-95 defeat to Orlando on Wednesday.

The Wizards were within one point of the Magic after three quarters of play but couldn't keep up in the final minutes.

"I think we've been in a lot of games this year, I think we need to start winning them," guard Jordan Crawford said. "All the comebacks and the 'Wizards hung in there, they're a young team', that's old. You can only use that for so long. We gotta start putting wins on the board."

"The thing that we struggle with is in the fourth quarter when (teams) really lock down on us and we gotta execute, I think that's when we struggle and it's hard to get points."

Crawford started Wednesday over Nick Young, who along with center JaVale McGee was demoted to a reserve role due to undisciplined play.

Crawford has been a bright spot during the six-game skid, averaging 20.3 points including a season-high 32 in a Feb. 22 loss to Sacramento. He's likely to get another start after Young left the loss to Orlando in the fourth quarter with a bruised right knee. Young is not expected to play Saturday.

The Wizards should receive a boost from Blatche, who is expected to return after a 15-game absence due to a strained left calf. The power forward was averaging 10.3 points and 7.1 rebounds before he went down.

Washington has won 21 of 26 meetings with Cleveland (13-21) in the nation's capital - including six of the last seven. The Wizards have to like their chances all the more Saturday if Irving can't go.

The No. 1 overall pick in last June's draft missed Friday's 112-91 loss to Chicago with the flu and is uncertain for this contest. With their leading scorer (18.5 ppg) sidelined, the Cavaliers got outscored 82-63 in the final three quarters.

"It's disappointing," said Antawn Jamison, who scored a team-high 22 points. "Against a team like that you have to bring it for 48 minutes. We only did it for 12. It's the realization that we've got a long way to go."

Cleveland will now try to avoid losing five straight for the first time since its NBA-record 26-game skid Dec. 20-Feb. 9, 2011.

Jamison, who spent five-plus seasons with the Wizards before getting traded to Cleveland during 2009-10, is averaging 22.2 points versus his former team - his third-highest mark against any opponent. Jamison has scored at least 21 points in five of his last six games overall.

Browns' Josh Cribbs thinks that Peyton Hillis-to-CIA story came from Hillis's now-former agent

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Browns returner Josh Cribbs thinks Peyton Hillis's former agent is behind the Hillis-to-CIA story.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns returner Josh Cribbs thinks Peyton Hillis's now-former agent, Kennard McGuire, is the inventor of the story that Hillis once considered  retiring to join the Central Intelligence Agency.

Hillis told The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot on Friday that the report stating he told Browns coaches he contemplated retiring as recently as the end of the season and thought about joining the CIA was patently false.

"It makes me sound insane," Hillis said.

Hillis can become an unrestricted free agent March 13.

Hillis said he thinks someone gave the story to ESPN to try to devalue him in free agency. Cribbs suspects that that someone is Maguire, whom Hillis fired on the eve of free agency. Maguire was Hillis's third agent in a year.

Cribbs was asked about the Hillis-to-CIA story in a group interview Saturday night at The Q, before the Monsters played Charlotte. Cribbs was in attendance as part of "Cleveland Browns Night.''

Cribbs did not name a name in his initial response, but it was virtually certain he was talking about Maguire.

"As soon as we heard it, we were like, 'Oh, did something happen between the two?' Oh, he decided to go with a different agent?''' Cribbs said. "Well, now you see.''

Asked if he was referring to Maguire, Cribbs said: "I guess so. I don't know too much on the matter, but you see how it all came down after he switched agents. And it's unfortunate that his prior agent would do that to him. It's unfortunate.

"That tends to hurt a person's credibility when you get released, because those things happen all the time. Then you go and try to scorn a guy. I don't think that was a good move for him (if he's) trying to get future athletes under his belt, to try to slur a guy's good name.''

Cribbs and cornerback Joe Haden, who also was a guest of the Monsters, said the Browns are a better team with Hillis and that Hillis was not a problem in the locker room this season. Cribbs and Haden said his teammates want Hillis to remain with the Browns.

 



Cleveland Browns KR/WR Josh Cribbs talks about Peyton Hillis situation, RGIII at Lake Erie Monsters game : Video

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs talked about the Peyton Hillis situation and assumed it was Hillis' ex-agent that spread the rumors of him wanting to retire and go to the CIA. He also talked about his off-season and possibility playing along side potential Browns draft pick Robert Griffin III. Watch video

Tonight the Lake Erie Monsters hosted "Browns Night" at their game against the Charlotte Checkers at Quicken Loans Arena, which featured a handful of past and present Browns players.

Browns' wide receiver Josh Cribbs talked about the Peyton Hillis situation and assumed it was Hillis' ex-agent that spread the rumors of him wanting to retire and go to the CIA.

He also talked about his off-season and the possibility of playing along side of potential Browns draft pick, Robert Griffin III.

Cribbs was joined by teammates Joe Haden, Jordan Norwood, T.J. Ward and Titus Brown.

The five current Browns players were joined on the ice by alumni Hanford Dixon, Bob Golic, Aaron Shea and Ernie Kellerman for the ceremonial puck drop to start the game.

All of the players then participated in fan-favorite in-game promotions, such as trivia contests and t-shirt tosses.

Federer defeats Murray in Dubai

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By Michael Casey Associated Press DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Roger Federer edged Andy Murray 7-5, 6-4 Saturday to win his fifth Dubai Championships title. The second-seeded Federer didn't drop a set all week and kept Murray off balance much of the match. The win was Federer's fifth title in seven tournaments and his 72nd overall. "This is perfect. This...

By Michael Casey Associated Press

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Roger Federer edged Andy Murray 7-5, 6-4 Saturday to win his fifth Dubai Championships title.

The second-seeded Federer didn't drop a set all week and kept Murray off balance much of the match. The win was Federer's fifth title in seven tournaments and his 72nd overall.

"This is perfect. This is great. Any title is a good one, I'll tell you that," Federer said. "I have a losing record against Murray."

roger.jpgRoer Federer celebrates his victory in the Dubai Championships. He defeated Andy Murray, 7-5, 6-4 on Saturday.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion improved to 7-8 against Murray, outplaying the 24-year-old from Scotland with a mix of powerful groundstrokes, drop shots and the occasional serve-and-volley.

Murray, who was coming off a semifinal win against top-ranked Novak Djokovic, struggled with his backhand and serve. He won 85 percent of his first service points against Djokovic, but only 48 percent against Federer.

"For sure I made a few too many mistakes in the second, and he was playing a lot more aggressive than in the first set," Murray said. "Sets can come down to just a couple points. You get a lucky shot here or one great shot and you can break the set wide open."

Federer saved two break points when down 3-2 in the first set at the Aviation Club. He saved the first when Murray hit a forehand long and won the second with a backhand volley.

Federer broke Murray to go up 6-5 and took the first set when Murray hit a forehand wide.

The two players traded breaks early in the second set before Federer broke decisively to make it 5-4. Murray saved one match point before the Swiss star hit a forehand winner into the corner.

"The match was close, I think in both sets, I just gave myself more opportunities than Andy did overall," said Federer, who used the fast surface to his advantage.

Murray insisted his win over Djokovic was not on his mind when he took the court against Federer.

"It was a good win yesterday, good win the day before, tough match today," Murray said. "So I'm just happy with the week, because at this stage last year I was in a very different position, different frame of mind."

Despite losing, Murray said his performance this week will help him at upcoming tournaments in the United States.

"I was happy I managed to adjust to the court," Murray said. "The conditions over in Indian Wells (and) Miami are going to be very, very different to here. Much slower court, which hopefully will suit my game a little bit better."

The 30-year-old Federer heads to New York, where he will play an exhibition match Monday at Madison Square Garden against Andy Roddick.

"There is no substitute to confidence," Federer said. "I've played great."


A good year, indeed? Cleveland Indians' camp has reason to believe: Bud Shaw

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The Indians spent 95 days in first place last season. That and MLB's expanded playoffs are reasons for hope as the Cactus League schedule begins, Bud Shaw writes.

kotch-swing-spring-2012-cc.jpgView full sizeCasey Kotchman's RBI single was another little piece of optimism that could be found around the Indians' spring camp during the Cactus League opener on Saturday.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Blue skies spread out over the most optimistically named spring training town in America.

That's at least until Celebration, Fla., gets a team or Ticker Tape Parade, Ariz., springs out of the desert and courts a MLB franchise.

Reasons to cheer the prospect of postseason baseball don't announce themselves every day in March. But enough about Grady Sizemore and Chris Perez. For one day, Opening Day, the civic obligation was to let runaway optimism share the stage with a marching band and the flag-waving parachutists who descended on Goodyear Ballpark and the 2012 Indians.

It was made easier by what baseball has delivered in the way of hope for the Tribe this spring. Something that goes beyond a team that spent 95 days in first place a year ago, has one of the best bullpens in either league and offers the promise of a good-enough starting rotation.

In a sport where the one percenters and the rest vie for the same pot of gold, Major League Baseball at least opened another door to the postseason vault by adding an extra wild-card team in each league.

"I like it," Indians' pitcher Derek Lowe said Saturday of the expanded playoffs. "No doubt it helps. You don't have to win 100 games to get in the postseason. A team could win 85, 88 and still feel like it has a chance."

Lowe is hardly conceding the division to the Tigers. He's 38. He knows anything can happen. He's also spent his long career in bigger markets Boston, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Had the extra wild card been available in 2011, Boston and Lowe's Atlanta Braves would've benefited, making the playoffs despite late-season collapses.

He understands the other side of the street as well as anybody, even if he has enjoyed living in baseball's gated communities all these years.

One of many concerns about the expanded playoff plan is that until baseball evens its economic playing field, the availability of an extra postseason spot simply favors other free-spending teams. But payroll didn't stop Tampa. The plan may not offer an equal opportunity chance economically, but it's another chance.

"The more the merrier," Indians' manager Manny Acta said, standing on a sun-drenched field after the opener against the Reds ended in a 6-6 tie. "I like that teams have to play hard at the end of the season. With a one-game playoff nobody wants to be the wild card."

The two wild card teams this year will play nine innings (or more) for the right to meet the division winner with the best record. Some critics are bothered by the possibility that a 94-win wild card team could lose to lesser wild card entry in a one game of Russian roulette, and that the lesser wild-card entry could be a third-place team. Or that a third-place team could win the World Series.

Acta shrugs.

"If you are a wild-card team, you can't be picky," he said. "Beggars can't be choosers. ... I don't think any team is going to start the season thinking about winning the wild card. But if it's there, 'Woo Hoo.'"

If you are a modestly funded team playing in a division where the Tigers just lost Victor Martinez and replaced him with Prince Fielder, you can be too proud to ask for a handout. That's admirable, even. But you'd still welcome one when you see it.

The Indians are better equipped to challenge Detroit this season, which is not to say they will. The 30-15 start, coupled with Detroit's early struggles, prolonged the summer of contention. Nobody can predict a similar beginning to 2012, but Acta believes there will be a residual effect from living the high life for so long.

"It gives us reason to believe in ourselves," the manager said. "It wasn't a one-month thing. We know we were there for a long time."

The Indians won 80 games last season and finished 15 games behind Detroit. The slide culminated in a 12-17 September, but injuries contributed to a steady decline. They are better at first base (Casey Kotchman), healthier at second (Jason Kipnis) and should be rejuvenated in right (Shin-Soo Choo).

Can they win the division title? Yes. Will they? Probably not.

The Indians trotted out top-seven part of the lineup of Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera, Choo, Carlos Santana, Travis Hafner, Kotchman and Jason Kipnis. Not bad. Not the Tigers either.

In the interest of maintaining optimism, we'll keep the mention of Justin Verlander's dominance to this single sentence.

Late in the afternoon as the shadows fell over the field, the theme from "Rocky" was heard inside Goodyear Ballpark. The expanded playoffs isn't quite Hollywood's promise of a puncher's chance, but it beats the alternative.

On Twitter: @budshaw

Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden talks about Morris Claiborne, Peyton Hillis at Lake Erie Monsters game : Video

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Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden talked about possibly playing along side LSU corner back Morris Claiborne. He also talks his off-season, Robert Griffin III and the Peyton Hillis situation. Watch video

Tonight the Lake Erie Monsters hosted "Browns Night" at their game against the Charlotte Checkers at Quicken Loans Arena, which featured a handful of past and present Browns players.

Browns' cornerback Joe Haden talked about possibly playing along side LSU corner back Morris Claiborne.

He also talks his off-season, Robert Griffin III and the Peyton Hillis situation.

The five current Browns players were joined on the ice by alumni Hanford Dixon, Bob Golic, Aaron Shea and Ernie Kellerman for the ceremonial puck drop to start the game.

Cleveland Cavaliers drop their fifth straight, 101-98, to Washington

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Antawn Jamison scores 29 points, but none in the fourth quarter as Cavs fall.

Gallery preview

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott got the quick start he desired with the lineup changes made Saturday night at the Verizon Center.

But it was the five players Scott had on the floor early in the fourth quarter that became the story of their latest loss, a 101-98 setback to the Washington Wizards. The combination of Anthony Parker, Ramon Sessions, Daniel Gibson, Omri Casspi and Ryan Hollins generated no offense against an opponent that had dropped six straight games and rolls out of bed surrendering 100 points.

The Cavaliers missed seven consecutive shots to open the quarter and went scoreless for the first 4:13 while Wizards also fumbled for offense. The result is Scott had to return a fatigued Antawn Jamison and an ailing Kyrie Irving earlier than desired.

While Irving responded with 12 points down the stretch, the Cavaliers could not slow Jordan Crawford and John Wall enough to avoid a season-high fifth straight loss. For the second time this week, Parker had a chance to tie it in the waning seconds but missed a 3-point attempt.

"Our second unit couldn't get anything going offensively and their second unit was terrific and I think that was the difference in the game," Scott said. "As much as I wanted to give AJ [Jamison] more rest I looked up and said there is no way possible I could keep him on the bench any longer. ... I know he's playing a ton of minutes ... but it's out of necessity."

The 35-year-old Jamison played 38-plus minutes on the second night of a back-to-back. He finished with 29 points on 11-of-24 shooting and seven rebounds, but was held scoreless in the final 8:29.

Irving added 20 points, while the two new starters, Ryan Hollins (15 points, seven rebounds) and Alonzo Gee (11 points, five rebounds) also were effective.

It was a quiet losers' locker room as the Cavaliers -- who began the week with legitimate playoff aspirations -- spoke of finding ways out of their funk. Yes, they have lost to likely postseason participants Boston, New York and Chicago in this stretch. But they also have fallen to New Orleans (9-28) and Washington (8-20).

The Wizards had allowed 13 of their previous 14 opponents to reach the 100-point mark. The Cavaliers appeared as though they would add to the list midway through the third quarter with a 72-64 lead. But they committed three turnovers in the final four-plus minutes as Crawford (31 points) and Wall (24) rallied the Wizards.

In an eight-minute stretch that spanned the final two quarters the Cavaliers were outscored, 18-6.

"A turnover here, not getting back there, those are the things that are killing us," Jamison said. "We have to find a way to put games away and make it difficult for our opponents.

"You would think there would be a sense of urgency to start the fourth quarter. I don't know if it's being tired, but we have to come with a sense of urgency to get a win. We can't let this drag out."

The Wizards led by 10 points with 3:44 left, but Irving gave his team hope despite playing at what Scott guessed was "about 75 or 80 percent." Irving said his body ached on Friday as he sat out the loss to Chicago and that he was just "starting to get my legs back under me."

Both Jamison and Gee took ill-advised 3-pointers in the final minutes, yet the Cavs still had a chance in the final seconds. Scott said Parker was the second option on the final shot but they couldn't get the ball to Irving.

Scott benched Semih Erden in favor of Hollins, who had a season-high in points. Gee started in favor of Omri Casspi, who contributed just three points in nine-plus minutes.

OHSAA wrestling: Locals bring home two state titles in Division III

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COLUMBUS, Ohio - Beachwood's Sammy Gross (113 pounds) and Rootstown's Garrett Linton (195) were crowned champions in Saturday's Division III state wrestling tournament. Wrestling in their school's first state finals Garrettsville Garfield's Aaron Yonker (160) and Kevin Stock (182) both finished second. St. Peter Chanel's Dan Barrett (195) and Kennedy Smith (220) held the runner-up tag as well for...

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Beachwood's Sammy Gross (113 pounds) and Rootstown's Garrett Linton (195) were crowned champions in Saturday's Division III state wrestling tournament.

Wrestling in their school's first state finals Garrettsville Garfield's Aaron Yonker (160) and Kevin Stock (182) both finished second. St. Peter Chanel's Dan Barrett (195) and Kennedy Smith (220) held the runner-up tag as well for the Firebirds.

Waynedale (104 points) finished as the team champion.

Rootstown was fifth with 58 points, while Beachwood (56.5), Garfield (49.5) and Chanel (41.5) ended up sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Frustrated Cleveland State left with a basketball season that fizzled away: Terry Pluto

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For Cleveland State, it's a lousy way for the season to end, as the Vikings admitted they have only themselves to blame.

mccallum-det-vert-spec.jpgView full sizeThe Vikings never had an answer for Detroit's Ray McCallum, who dazzled with 26 points in Saturday's victory by the Titans.

VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Tim Kamczyc's eyes were red, his voice cracking.

The Cleveland State junior forward was trying to explain his team's 63-58 loss to Detroit in Saturday's semifinals of the Horizon League tournament. That ended the Vikings' NCAA tournament dreams and made even an bid to the National Invitation Tournament a big question mark.

"I feel really bad for the seniors," said Kamczyc, who added "I have never seen anyone play as hard as [D'Aundray Brown]. He played his heart out tonight."

For the Vikings, the good news is Brown returned from his major groin injury and delivered 17 points and seven rebounds in what may be his final college game. He had played only eight minutes in the previous seven games -- no surprise, the team was 2-5 in that span.

But in their season's biggest game, CSU's veteran guards were overmatched and their freshmen were overwhelmed.

"We have no one to blame for this but ourselves," said coach Gary Waters. "It's on us."

That was especially true for the backcourt of Tre Harmon and Jeremy Montgomery, who have started together for three years. Harmon fouled out with eight points. Montgomery had an especially frustrating game with five turnovers.

Making it worse, Detroit's Ray McCallum Jr. not only "played like an MVP," according to Waters -- but outscored his CSU counterparts, 26-19. Waters said that in his previous games, McCallum had never scored more than 12 points against CSU.

The Vikings' record is 22-10, 12-6 in the Horizon League. At the start of the season, they were picked for third place in the Horizon after losing Norris Cole to the Miami Heat. The team picked to win? These Detroit Titans, who have the league's best athletes and have won 12 of their last 14.

But after starting the season 20-4 with no one was scoring more than 12 points a game, it seemed something special was happening at Wolstein Center. Then Brown was injured, and the offense was stalled.

Saturday, with the Vikings shooting 36 percent and the players confidence shaky, looked like several of the late-season losses. Perhaps CSU overachieved for much of the season. Or maybe a team that depends on fierce pressure defense runs a bit on empty by the end of the season.

CSU had no real stars. Harmon was named to the Horizon League second team. Brown and Harmon were named to the all-defensive team. Waters mentioned how Brown and Kamczyc (11 points) delivered, "but they needed help."

The Vikings had been getting help from their freshmen, but not this time. Anton Grady (the Horizon's Newcomer of the Year) had perhaps his worst game, 0-of-7 from the field and two points in 20 minutes. The 6-foot-8 Central Catholic product struggled with Detroit's big men -- two at least 6-10.

Freshman point guard Charlie Lee was 0-of-5 in 19 minutes, as Waters hoped he'd bring some fire to the fizzling backcourt.

When it was over, Waters did not talk about how this is the fourth time in the last five years that CSU has won at least 21 games -- or how CSU was 43-88 in the previous five seasons before Waters arrived.

"This hurts because we didn't play the way we can," said Waters. "That's what bothers me the most."

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