Despite the win-loss record, Cavs' rebuilding plan may be working. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra will decide on who replaces injured Rajon Rondo in Eastern Conference all-star lineup. More Cavaliers story links.

View full size Center Tyler Zeller (40) was taken by the Cavs with the 17th pick in last June's draft and power forward Tristan Thompson (13) was selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2011 draft. Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer  

The young teams' seasons are taking different paths. The Bobcats (11-35) began the campaign as if they intended to be one of the NBA's surprise teams, getting off to a 7-5 start. Since then, they have won four games and lost 30. Chances are the Bobcats will lose again tonight, as they play in Miami against the Heat.

The Cavs (14-34) were 5-23 at one point, but are a respectable 9-11 since, including Saturday night's entertaining 115-110 home win over the defending Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder (35-12).

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes Mary Schmitt Boyer's story on how newly-acquired forward-center Marreese Speights has given the Cavs a boost with his play coming off the bench.

Some observers note similarities in how the Cavs are trying to build a contender and how the Thunder has. Prior to the Cavs' win over Oklahoma City, Jason Lloyd wrote for the Akron Beacon Journal that the Cavaliers seem to be on the right track despite their record. Before explaining some new luxury and salary cap rules, Lloyd wrote:

The Cavs are venturing where no team has gone before them. When Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller walk onto the court in Houston in two weeks, the Cavs will become the first team in the 20-year history of the event to send four players to the Rising Stars Challenge and have one of them also playing in the real All-Star Game. No team that had three representatives in the rookie game has done that.

Simply the amount of players a team sends to a rookie/sophomore game, of course, hardly guarantees future success. The Los Angeles Clippers sent three in 2001 and, four years later, still hadn’t made the playoffs.

The Cavs had four players named to the game in 1998 when it was exclusively for rookies (Derek Anderson was injured and didn’t play). The Cavs even made the playoffs that season but didn’t return to the postseason for eight years.

For now, however, the Cavs appear ahead of the curve.

Video: Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks is asked to compare the Cavaliers with the Thunder during Kevin Durant's second season. (By Brendan Bowers, Stepien Rules)

Marreese Speights had to give his okay for the Cavaliers' trade with the Memphis Grizzlies to go through. It didn't take him long. (By Jason Lloyd, Akron Beacon Journal)

Video: Cavs guard-forward C.J. Miles talks with the media following Monday's practice. (nba.com/cavaliers)

Looking back to scouting reports on Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller during their high school days. (By Brendan Bowers, Stepien Rules)

Video: Kyrie Irving taking it to the Oklahoma City Thunder. (CBSSports.com)

Video: Cavs coach Byron Scott is interviewed following Monday's practice. (nba.com/cavaliers)

The Cavs, coming off an inconsistent week, move up one spot in the new power rankings. (ESPN.com)

After Kyrie Irving, who is the best player from the 2011 draft class? (By Ken Golliver, Sports Illustrated SI.com)

Buckeyes basketball visits Wolverines on Tuesday and host Hoosiers on Sunday. Matta gets high grade in a ranking based in large part on "how much a coach wins and loses as compared to the resources he has." More Buckeyes story links.

View full size Ohio State's Aaron Craft (right) defends Michigan's Trey Burke (with the basketball) during the Buckeyes' 56-53 win over Michigan on Jan. 13 in Columbus. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State's Buckeyes visit Michigan's Wolverines on Tuesday night in one of the Big Ten's marquee games of the season.

The Buckeyes are the nation's 10th-ranked team, with a 17-4 record, including 7-2 in Big Ten contests. The No. 3 Wolverines are 20-2, 7-2.

Ohio State defeated Michigan, 56-53, on Jan. 13 in Columbus. Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises' wrote the game story on the Buckeyes' win and columnist Bill Livingston wrote about the star point guard match-up of the Buckeyes' Aaron Craft and the Wolverines' Trey Burke.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage includes a report on the new national Top 25 rankings and and Karen Farkas' story that Ohio State University has chosen the "block O" as the school's identifying symbol.

Another Buckeyes' Big Ten rival, Indiana's Hoosiers (20-2, 8-1), have replaced Michigan as the nation's top-ranked team. Indiana won at home over Michigan, 81-73, on Saturday.

Bob Baptist writes for the Columbus Dispatch about the Buckeyes:

The week ahead The games don't get bigger than the two on tap this week. Michigan was No.1 when it lost at No.3 Indiana on Saturday night. Indiana could be No.1 when it visits Columbus on Sunday. Michigan will be smarting not only from its loss to the Hoosiers but from its only other loss of the season, at Ohio State last month. The Buckeyes will have to control tempo against both teams.

How good are they?
Still waiting. This appears to be a team whose level of play correlates to the level of its competition. The Buckeyes did what they needed the past two weeks to put away Iowa, Penn State and Nebraska while frittering double-figure leads in two of the games. Meanwhile, they went to the wire with Michigan and Michigan State, winning at home and losing on the road. More of the same this week would make for two high-level games. The Buckeyes will have to play as tough as they did at Michigan State to have a chance at Michigan. The home-court advantage should help them against Indiana.

Zac Jackson writes for FoxSportsOhio.com about a key match-up at point guard in the Buckeyes' game at Michigan: OSU's Aaron Craft vs. Michigan's Trey Burke:

Long considered one of the nation's best and most relentless defenders, Craft and his teammates have gotten the best of Burke thus far. Ohio State went 2-1 against Michigan last year, and the Buckeyes won this season's first meeting on Jan. 13 in Columbus. Burke scored 15 points in that game, more than three points below his average and the fewest he has scored in Big Ten play.

Everywhere Burke went on what became a 4-of-13 shooting day, Craft followed closely; they basically shared the same oxygen. For now, anyway, the ultra-talented Burke is still trying to best the guy he followed by a year in the All-Ohio Red AAU program.

Ohio State story links

.....Basketball.....

Ohio State coach Thad Matta is near the top in rankings based not just on wins and losses, but also "how much a coach wins and loses as compared to the resources he has." (By Jason Belzer, Forbes)

New national power rankings, with a comment that this week presents an opportunity for the Buckeyes. (ESPN.com)

Observations following the Buckeyes' 63-56 win at Nebraska on Saturday night. (By Tony Gerdeman, the-ozone.net)

The Buckeyes will play two of the nation's top three ranked teams this week. (FoxSportsOhio.com/Associated Press)

Ohio State's women's team, with Tayler Hill scoring 24 points, avoids last place in the Big Ten with a 70-56 win at Indiana. (By Tony Gerdeman, the-ozone.net)

.....Football.....

Ohio State's Urban Meyer and Alabama's Nick Saban are colliding in the recruiting tussles. National signing day is on Wednesday. (By Tim May, Columbus Dispatch)

A post-2012 season ranking of the Big Ten's quarterbacks, with Ohio State's Braxton Miller holding a lofty spot. (By Brian Bennett, ESPN.com)

Ohio State might be on the verge of landing another top-notch recruit. (By Tim May, Columbus Dispatch)

Former Ohio State wide receiver Cris Carter finally makes the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (By Brandon Castel, the-ozone-net)

This is the start of a four-part series in which the Indians' infield, outfield, starting pitching and bullpen are examined before the start of spring training.

Mark Reynolds, shown during his time with the Baltimore Orioles, will bring some balance to the Indians' lineup with his right-handed bat. AP  

CLEVELAND, Ohio - There have been a couple of changes at the corners for the Cleveland Indians' infield headed into the 2013 season. Free agent Mark Reynolds has replaced Casey Kotchman at first base; and 2008 No.1 pick Lonnie Chisenhall is scheduled to start at third base for departed Jack Hannahan.

The middle of the infield will stay the same with two-time All-Star Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop, Jason Kipnis starting his second full season at second base, and Carlos Santana behind the plate.

Last season, when the Indians lost 94 games, they used six players at first, five at second, five at third, five at short and three at catcher. Here's how they ranked by position in the 14-team American League:

• Offense: First base -- 13th in runs with 69, 11th in average at .240, 13th in OPS at .675; second base -- third in runs with 97, fourth in average at .262, fifth in OPS at .726; third base -- 14th in runs at 52, eighth in average at .254, 11th in OPS at .677; shortstop -- fifth in runs at 82, sixth in average at .259, fourth in OPS at 7.28; catcher -- third in runs at 72, seventh in average at .234, ninth in OPS at .695; designated hitter -- 13th in runs at 59, 13th in average at .226, 11th in OPS at .702.

• Defense: First base -- 8th in fielding percentage at .994 with 10 errors; second base -- fifth in fielding percentage at .988 with nine errors; third base -- 12th in fielding percentage at .940 with 27 errors; shortstop -- 14th in fielding percentage at .965 with 27 errors; catcher -- seventh in fielding percentage at .992 with nine errors.

Here is a position-by-position look at the infield:

First base

Starter: Mark Reynolds.

2012 stats: He hit .221 (101-for-457) with 26 doubles, 23 homers, 69 RBI and 159 strikeouts for Baltimore. Defensively, he made seven errors in 108 games at first.

Backups: Carlos Santana and Nick Swisher can slide over from catcher and right field, respectively. Swisher made 41 appearances at first last year with the Yankees. Matt LaPorta, Yan Gomes, Chris McGuiness or Mike McDade could help if they make the club.

Comment: Reynolds signed a one-year deal worth $6 million. He's averaged 30 homers and 187 strikeouts per season in his big-league career. His right-handed bat balances the lineup.

View full size

Jason Kipnis is hoping to build on his performance from 2012.
Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer




 

Second base

Starter: Jason Kipnis.

2012 stats: He hit .257 (152-for-591) with 22 doubles, four triples, 14 homers, 76 RBI and 109 strikeouts. Defensively, he led AL second basemen with 440 assists and tied Robinson Cano for the second-fewest errors with six.

Backups: Mike Aviles, Cord Phelps and Ryan Raburn. Phelps and Raburn need to make the team.

Comment: Athletic player who turned in a strong season on both sides of the ball last year, while learning just how long a big-league season is.

Third base

Starter: Lonnie Chisenhall.

2012 stats: He hit .268 (38-for-142) with six doubles, five homers, 16 RBI and 27 strikeouts in 43 games with the Indians despite missing over two months with a broken right ulna bone. Defensively, he made six errors in 30 games at third.

Backups: Aviles can play third, short and second.

Comment: Chisenhall is a talented player offensively and defensively, but injuries have slowed his progress. This is the year to prove he belongs in the big leagues.

View full size

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera has proven he can consistently hit in the .270s.
Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer




 

Shortstop

Starter: Asdrubal Cabrera.

2012 stats: He hit .270 (150-for-555) with 35 doubles, one triple, 16 homers, 68 RBI and 99 strikeouts. Defensively, he ranked 11th among AL shortstops with a .971 fielding percentage after making a career-high 19 errors. Still has quick hands, participating in the fourth-most double plays in the AL with 99.

Backups: Aviles, who played 128 games at shortstop last season for Boston, is going to be a busy man. Juan Diaz will be a phone call away at Class AAA Columbus.

Comment: Second-half lapses aside, what you see is what you get from Cabrera. He's hit .276, .273 and .270 in the last three years. Plays a lot of innings, so he needs to be in prime condition.

Catcher

Starter: Carlos Santana.

2012 stats: He hit .252 (128-for-507) with 27 doubles, two triples, 18 homers, 76 RBI and 101 strikeouts. Santana and Detroit's Alex Avila led the league with 10 passed balls each.

Backups: Lou Marson and Gomes, should he make the team.

Comment: He needs to show a lot more energy behind the plate than he did last year.

Designated hitter

Starter: To be determined.

2012 stats: Departed Travis Hafner was the Tribe's main DH. The Indians used 12 players at DH last year, and seven of them are gone. Next to Hafner's 61 starts, Santana was second with 27.

Comment: The Indians were forced to shuttle players through the DH spot last year because of Hafner's injuries. This year the shuttle is part of the game plan.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Boys basketball Note: Varsity game starts at 7:30.

Boys basketball

Note: Varsity game starts at 7:30.

LAKE ERIE LEAGUE

Warrensville Heights at Euclid

Girls basketball

Note: Varsity games start at 7:30 unless noted.

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

Crossover

Kirtland at #15 Chagrin Falls

LAKE ERIE LEAGUE

Shaw at Cleveland Heights

NORTH COAST LEAGUE

White Division

Cleveland Central Catholic at Villa Angela-St. Joseph

Holy Name at Trinity

NORTHEAST OHIO CONFERENCE

Lake Division

Parma at Brush

Valley Forge at Normandy

River Division

#18 Mayfield at #13 Brunswick

#19 Medina at Elyria

North Royalton at Strongsville

Valley Division

#5 Solon at #4 Hudson

#1 Twinsburg at #9 Stow-Munroe Falls

PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Stars Division

Firelands at Black River

Keystone at Buckeye

Wellington at Brookside

Stripes Division

Fairview at Brooklyn

Lutheran West at Columbia

Oberlin at Clearview

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE

County Division

Mogadore at Waterloo

Rootstown at Garrettsville Garfield

Windham at #24 Southeast

Metro Division

Coventry at Springfield

Field at Ravenna

Kent Roosevelt at Crestwood

Streetsboro at Norton

PRINCIPALS ATHLETIC CONF.

#22 Manchester at Timken

Triway at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy

SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE

Brecksville-Broadview Heights at Westlake

#10 Midpark at Amherst Steele

North Olmsted at Berea

Olmsted Falls at Avon Lake

SUBURBAN LEAGUE

Cloverleaf at Copley

Highland at #3 Wadsworth

Revere at Nordonia

Tallmadge at Green

WEST SHORE CONFERENCE

Avon at Vermilion

Elyria Catholic at Rocky River

#23 Lakewood at Midview

NONLEAGUE

#7 Archbishop Hoban at #11 St. Vincent-St. Mary

Beaumont at #16 Gilmour Academy, 7

Eastlake North at Euclid

#2 Hathaway Brown at #12 Walsh Jesuit

Laurel at West Geauga

Madison at Bedford, 7

#14 Mentor at Shaker Heights

Newbury at Ledgemont

#8 St. Joseph Academy at #17 Lake Ridge Academy

Warrensville Heights at #25 Beachwood

Wrestling

OHSAA DUAL TEAM TOURNAMENT

Regional finals

Note: Matches to begin at 7 p.m.

DIVISION I

Region 2

At Brecksville

#1 Brecksville vs. #2 Wadsworth

Region 3

At St. Edward

#2 Solon vs. #1 St. Edward

Region 4

At Massillon Perry

#2 Madison vs. #1 Massillon Perry

DIVISION II

Region 10

At CVCA

#2 Bay vs. #1 Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy

Region 11

At Perry

#1 Perry vs. #4 Crestwood

DIVISION III

Region 19

At Kirtland

#5 Keystone vs. #3 Kirtland

Hockey

BARON CUP TOURNAMENT

At John M. Coyne Recreation Center

BARON CUP I

#1 St. Ignatius vs. #8 Rocky River, 6:30

#4 University School vs. #5 Lake Catholic, 8:30

BARON CUP III

#2 North Canton Hoover vs. #7 Lakewood, 4:30

Five-star linebacker recruit first committed to Alabama, then to Auburn, getting a Tigers' tattoo on his arm. Monday night, he announced he had switched his commitment back to Alabama.

View full size The Auburn tattoo on Reuben Foster's arm. Foster has come off his commitment to play football at Auburn, now saying he will play for rival Alabama. Justin Hokanson/AuburnSports.com via Twitter  

National Signing Day is Wednesday.

The recruiting process has in its own way become a mid-winter "reality-TV programming" staple, as Kevin Scarbinsky alluded in a column for AL.com.

Scarbinsky tells the story of five-star linebacker recruit Reuben Foster -- who has an Auburn tattoo on his arm -- by beginning his column:

Yes. By all means. Let's joke about the different ways that Reuben Foster can alter or cover that outdated AU tattoo on his forearm.

Wear an arm sleeve 24/7.

See a tattoo removal specialist in Tuscaloosa.

Add the word "Beat" above it.

And while we're at it, let's look at Foster, not as a young man in conflict, but as the ultimate symbol of recruiting insanity in a football-mad state.

He was an Alabama commitment, and then he was an Auburn commitment, and now he's an Alabama commitment again. If he puts this pledge in ink - on paper this time - he'll be the Alabama player with the Auburn tattoo.

That's so football in Alabama.

That's so (pick one) bizarre, extreme, typical, sad.

St. Edward's hockey team will not play in the annual Baron Cup I hockey tournament in Brooklyn. The Eagles were scheduled to play Holy Name in the quarterfinals  of the eight-team field on Thursday night. However, St. Edward's overall record of 18-13-2 meant the Eagles could only play two games in the tournament.

St. Edward will not be skating this week in the Baron Cup Tournament. - (Action Sports Photo)

St. Edward's hockey team will not play in the annual Baron Cup I hockey tournament in Brooklyn.

The Eagles were scheduled to play Holy Name in the quarterfinals  of the eight-team field on Thursday night. However, St. Edward's overall record of 18-13-2 meant the Eagles could only play two games in the tournament.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association instituted a limit of 35 games this season. With 33 games already under its belt, St. Edward would not have been able to play in the championship game on Sunday, or else it would not have been eligible for the state tournament.

Tim Carras, president of the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League, said Hudson will replace St. Edward on Thursday to play Holy Name.

It was an off-season of change for the Indians' outfield, including the trading of Shin-Soo Choo and the signing of Nick Swisher to replace him.

View full size How will Michael Brantley react to the arrival of potential center-field rival Drew Stubbs will be one of the interesting subplots to spring training, says Paul Hoynes. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer  

(Editor's note: One in a series of Indians previews prior to the start of training camp on Sunday. Previously, the infield, AL Central preview.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians' outfield underwent a big makeover during the off-season. It was needed after last year.

At two of the three positions, left and center field, the Indians finished last in the American League in runs with 72 from center and 66 from left. In left, the Indians used nine players. Johnny Damon and Shelley Duncan were the busiest with 52 starts each. They were cut loose in August.

Eight of the nine players who started a game in left field are no longer on the roster.

The remake cost new manager Terry Francona his most productive outfielder. Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo was traded to Cincinnati on Dec. 11 as part of a three-team deal. Choo was a year away from free agency and made it clear he would not sign an extension to stay in Cleveland.

Reds outfielder Drew Stubbs was part of the four-player return along with right-handers Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw arriving from Arizona. Stubbs or incumbent Michael Brantley will play center this year with the other moving to left.

To replace Choo in right, the Indians made a big splash by signing Nick Swisher to the biggest free agent contract in team history, a four-year, $56 million deal with a vesting option for a fifth year that could take the package to $70 million.

Here's a quick review of production the Indians received from the outfield in 2012 and how they ranked in the league:

Offense: Center -- last in runs with 72, fifth in average at .281, 12th in homers with eight and eighth in OPS at .738; Left -- last in runs with 66, 13th in average at .216, 11th in homers with 11, 14th in OPS at .598; Right -- fourth in runs with 89, fifth in average at .278, 10th in homers with 16, fourth in OPS at .797.

Defense: Center -- third in fielding percentage at .998 with one error; Left -- eighth at .983 with six errors; Right -- first in fielding percentage at .994 with two errors.

Now for a look at this season's Indians outfielders:

Center field

Starter: Drew Stubbs.

2012 stats: He hit .213 (105-for-493) with 13 doubles, two triples, 14 homers, 40 RBI and 30 steals. He ranked fourth with 75 runs among National League center fielders with a minimum of 500 plate appearances. Defensively, he had a .982 fielding percentage, made five errors and played 135 games in center.

Backups: Brantley and Ezequiel Carrera, if he makes the team. Rookie Tim Fedroff, the Indians' minor league player of the year, and spring-training invitee Cedric Hunter are possibilities as well.

Comment: The Indians say they still haven't made a decision about who will play center, but Brantley has played left before. Stubbs, the faster of the two, has played strictly center in the big leagues.

Left field

Starter: Michael Brantley.

2012 stats: He hit a career high .288 (150-for-552) with 37 doubles, four triples, six homers, 60 RBI and 12 steals in 149 games. Brantley's .288 average ranked second among AL center fielders with 500 or more plate appearances. Defensively, he played 144 games in center, had a .997 fielding percentage and made one error in 342 total chances.

Backups: Carrera, Fedroff, Ben Francisco, Ryan Raburn, Jeremy Hermida, Hunter or Matt Carson. Utility man Mike Aviles might see time there as well. Francisco, Raburn, Hunter, Hermeida and Carson are spring-training invitees.

Comment: Brantley still considers himself a center fielder. It's going to be interesting to see how Francona handles this if Stubbs is his choice to play center.

Right field

Starter: Nick Swisher.

2012 stats: He hit .272 (146-for-537) with 36 doubles, 24 homers, 93 RBI and two steals in 148 games. Swisher appeared in 109 games in right, 41 at first, 12 at DH and two as a pinch hitter. Defensively, he had a .986 fielding percentage for fifth in the AL among right fielders. He made three errors and had four assists.

Backups: Carrera, Fedroff, Francisco, Raburn, Carson, Hermida or Hunter should they make the team. Aviles could get some time in right as well.

Comment: Swisher seems to love the spotlight. It will be on him in Cleveland.

Two things that will be fun to track this season:

• The individual performances of Brantley and Stubbs. One scout said the Indians can't make a bad choice between the two in naming a center fielder. Brantley probably has more instincts when it comes to playing center, but Stubbs has more speed, which allows him to cover more ground. Still, Brantley showed last year that he's a good center fielder.

• Who plays better, Swisher or Choo? Choo's overall numbers in right were better last season, but Swisher showed more power and run production. It won't be a true head-to-head comparison because the Reds say they're going to play Choo in center. The added responsibility could cost him at the plate.

The Cavaliers' bench is finally becoming a strength after the arrival of veterans Marreese Speights and Wayne Ellington.

View full size In his eighth NBA season, Cavaliers backup point guard Shaun Livingston (grabbing a loose ball against the Celtics) leads the suddenly effective -- and experienced -- second team. "All I gotta do is get those guys the ball and let them go to work a little bit," Livingston says. Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer  

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Not so long ago, Byron Scott was flummoxed, distraught. Try as he might with varied lineups and motivational speeches, the Cavaliers head coach couldn't find a way to inspire his bench. Night after night, the bench was outscored and outplayed.

Now?

"It's been the best that we've had since I've been here, as far as being able to sustain and sometimes even exceed what our first unit has done," he said Tuesday.

In five games since the arrival of Marreese Speights and Wayne Ellington in a trade from Memphis, the second unit has been, safe to say, pretty solid. Directed by wiry 6-7 point guard Shaun Livingston, they have not been outscored once. They have played energetic defense. They have held their own against opposing starting units.

They have outscored opponents an average of 39.6 to 28.4 points in that span. In Saturday's triumph over Oklahoma City, the bench walloped the Thunder's, 44-26.

Although they haven't been together long, the strength of the second unit is in its experience and, quite simply, hard-nosed play. The bench, which also includes C.J. Miles at swingman and Luke Walton at power forward (when healthy), averages six years of experience. In comparison, the starting five averages one year of experience.

"From a point guard's perspective, it makes your job that much easier," Livingston said of his veteran teammates. "You love it. All I gotta do is get those guys the ball and let them go to work a little bit. It makes my job just so much easier."

When Speights and Ellington arrived two weeks ago, they knew maybe three offensive plays before being thrown into the rotation. They helped the Cavaliers survive a 113-108 victory over Milwaukee, and have been building chemistry ever since.

"Our offense is really based on guys reading and playing together," Scott said. "I don't want to stand up and call a ton of plays and I don't have to with those guys because they do know how to play off each other. It makes my job a lot easier, and I think for them it allows them to just play freely without me standing up and calling every play.

"I want us to run, look for opportunities to get easy baskets, but if we don't have it, flow right into our offense. They do a good job of that. They get the ball from side to side and look to attack, and that's why I think they're playing so well on both ends of the floor. They do the same thing on the defensive end, they really talk to each other, they cover for each other. I think both of them go hand-in-hand."

Said Livingston: "It's great. We thrive on that. We relish that opportunity. As well, I think it's a good teaching point for the young guys. Just to see what type of energy it really takes to win games in this league."

Part of the reason that Scott has not even considered sliding Speights into the starting lineup -- despite the center's 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in five contests here -- is because he loves the cohesiveness the veteran unit has formed.

"It's been a very solid unit. We keep them together every day in practice, too," Scott said. "When we're playing 5-on-5 they play against the [first] team just because I want them to continue to get even more familiar with one another. But they've been great. They just understand how to play on both ends of the court."

Injury update: Scott said both Daniel Gibson (right great toe sprain) and Walton (ankle injury) practiced Tuesday, but will be game-time decisions against Charlotte on Wednesday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- News, insight and tidbits on Tuesday's recruiting scene heading into Wednesday's National Signing Day: Ohio's recruiting rank: Ohio's 2013 recruiting class is about the fourth largest in the nation, which is normal, according to Youngstown recruiting analyst Mark Porter of ScoutingOhio.com.

Cleveland Heights' WR Shelton Gibson. - (Allison Carey, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- News, insight and tidbits on Tuesday's recruiting scene heading into Wednesday's National Signing Day:

Ohio's recruiting rank: Ohio's 2013 recruiting class is about the fourth largest in the nation, which is normal, according to Youngstown recruiting analyst Mark Porter of ScoutingOhio.com.

Porter said about 135 seniors had made oral commitments to Division I colleges as of Monday, and about 155 were expected to sign Wednesday. He said California and Florida will have more than 400 and Georgia will come in at about 170.

"Ohio produced a lot of linebackers and defensive linemen. But the QBs were less than 10 and it was a little light on offensive linemen," Porter said.

In 2012, Ohio had 161 Division I recruits and 140 in 2011.

Locally, several coaches and recruiting pundits said next year in Northeast Ohio, the blue chip crop will be strong, but the numbers will be down. For example, the Chagrin Valley Conference has eight Division I recruits so far this year and is expected to have three to five next year.

Gibson update: Cleveland Heights receiver Shelton Gibson is to make his official college announcement Wednesday at the school. Last month, he Tweeted a photo of himself in a West Virginia jersey and said he was a Mountaineer. He told Scout.com recently he was a West Virginia recruit. But during all that, he also took an official visit to Tennessee.

Cleveland Heights coach Jeff Rotsky has refused to confirm Gibson is heading to West Virginia and Gibson could not be reached for comment.

Gibson is a four-star recruit who also visited Ohio State.

McVay's wild ride: Recruiting can be a whirlwind. The last three weeks can be a tornado.

Three weeks ago, Aurora safety Jake McVay was choosing between Slippery Rock and Findlay. Those were his only offers. Then Youngstown State offered, and he gave the Penguins an oral commitment.

But late last week, safeties who had committed to Kent State and Bowling Green announced they were headed elsewhere, and both schools turned to McVay. Wednesday, he will sign with Kent State.

"Five or six years ago that never would have happened," Aurora coach Bob Mihalik said. "College coaches have created this atmosphere. Once a kid gave an oral commitment, that was it. But now, once a kid verbals, other coaches don't stop recruiting them."

Munger doing study: Shaker Heights lineman Donovan Munger, an Ohio State oral commit, visited Florida State after announcing his OSU pick. He later told an Internet blogger he was doing due diligence.

AP POLL COLUMBUS (AP) -- How a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school girls basketball teams in the fifth of seven weekly Associated Press polls, by OHSAA divisions, with won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses):

AP POLL

COLUMBUS (AP) -- How a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school girls basketball teams in the fifth of seven weekly Associated Press polls, by OHSAA divisions, with won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses):

DIVISION I

1. Twinsburg (8)19-0 176

2. Kettering Fairmont (8) 17-1 173

3. Centerville (5) 19-1 165

4. Mason 18-1 135

5. Reynoldsburg 18-2 117

6. Wadsworth17-2 84

7. Solon15-4 68

7. Dublin Coffman 16-1 68

9. Hudson17-2 63

10. Perrysburg 15-1 40

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. North Canton Hoover 13; 12. St. Joseph Academy 12.

DIVISION II

1. West Holmes (12) 18-0 195

2. Clyde (2) 19-0 178

3. Oxford Talawanda (2) 19-0 132

4. Jackson (1) 18-0 115

5. Geneva (1) 16-1 98

6. Hathaway Brown (3)14-5 92

7. Bellbrook 16-2 82

8. Kettering Alter 16-3 54

8. Tol. Rogers 16-3 54

10. Bellevue 14-2 51

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Celina 24; 12. Canfield 18; 13. Beloit West Branch 15; 13. Archbishop Hoban 15.

DIVISION III

1. Smithville (16) 19-0 201

2. Archbold (1) 17-1 147

3. Proctorville Fairland (1) 17-0 140

4. Richwood N. Union (1) 19-1 116

5. Orrville (2) 16-2 99

6. Cols. Africentric 17-5 96

7. Gilmour Academy16-2 71

8. Beachwood 17-1 63

9. Casstown Miami E. 19-1 38

10. Versailles 16-3 34

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Beverly Ft. Frye 24; 12. Anna 18; 13. Middletown Madison 16; 14. Collins Western Reserve 13.

DIVISION IV

1. Ottoville (19) 19-0 207

2. Berlin Hiland (1) 15-2 177

3. Tri-Village 18-1 142

4. Ft. Loramie 15-2 129

5. Hamler Patrick Henry 17-1 106

6. Newark Cath. 14-1 97

7. Bridgeport 17-1 75

8. Lake Ridge Acad. (1)17-2 62

9. Zanesville Rosecrans 19-1 56

10. New Riegel 15-2 21

Other receiving 12 or more points: 11. Reedsville Eastern 19.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - St. Edward basketball coach Eric Flannery received another appointment within the USA Basketball program Tuesday when he was named as an assistant coach for the men's developmental team for 2013-14. Flannery and L.J. Goolsby, an AAU coach from Kansas, were named to the staff of head coach Don Showalter, head coach at Iowa City High. The...

St. Edward's Eric Flannery was named as an assistant coach for USA Basketball's men's developmental team for 2013-14. - (Plain Dealer)

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - St. Edward basketball coach Eric Flannery received another appointment within the USA Basketball program Tuesday when he was named as an assistant coach for the men's developmental team for 2013-14.

Flannery and L.J. Goolsby, an AAU coach from Kansas, were named to the staff of head coach Don Showalter, head coach at Iowa City High. The selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Developmental National Team Committee and approved by the organization's board of directors. This is Showalter's third stint as the developmental coach.

First up for the team is the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Uruguay in June, which will feature eight national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean with at least the top three teams advancing to the 2014 U17 World Championships.

"I am very humbled and honored to be asked to coach with USA Basketball," said Flannery, who has assisted at numerous USA Basketball trials and training camps and served as the head coach of the 2010 USA Youth Olympic Games Team. "I am excited to work with some of the best players and coaches in the country and a part of me feels I can represent all of Northeast Ohio basketball in my efforts."

Flannery is in his 17th season as head coach at St. Edward. His teams have compiled a 314-99 record, including a 15-4 mark heading into Tuesday's game at Willoughby South.

"Eric has been extremely successful at St. Edward and has extensive USA Basketball experience," Showalter said in a statement. "The combination of coaching experience and building teams for international competition will be very valuable."

 CLEVELAND, Ohio – Here is a list of high school seniors who will play football next season for these NCAA Division II, III, NAIA or junior college programs. Austin Adams, Highland, Hillsdale; Myles Alexander, Euclid, Findlay; Kyle Allanby, Cleveland Heights, Glenville State; Brian Arnold, Berkshire, Concordia; Tony Andrews, Brush, Lake Erie; Elijah Bell, Buchtel, Morgan State; Darrell Benjamin, Glenville,...

Euclid linebacker Myles Alexander will play college football at Findlay next season. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

 CLEVELAND, Ohio – Here is a list of high school seniors who will play football next season for these NCAA Division II, III, NAIA or junior college programs.

Austin Adams, Highland, Hillsdale; Myles Alexander, Euclid, Findlay; Kyle Allanby, Cleveland Heights, Glenville State; Brian Arnold, Berkshire, Concordia; Tony Andrews, Brush, Lake Erie; Elijah Bell, Buchtel, Morgan State; Darrell Benjamin, Glenville, Mercyhurst; George Berry, Solon, Notre Dame College; Steve Best, Midview, Ashland; Matt Blaha, Euclid, Siena Heights; Ron Brant, Green, Wayne State; Kameron Bremer, Lutheran West, Notre Dame College; Jeremiah Burris, Avon, Bryant; Erick Burzanko, Berkshire, Notre Dame College; Kenny Butler, St. Edward, Notre Dame College; Tylaferio Claridy, Buchtel, Muskingum; Erron Cosey, Buchtel, Notre Dame College; Mike Cray, St. Ignatius, Walsh; Chance Donnelly, North Royalton, Lake Erie; Mitch Doraty, Medina, Mount Union; Marnayre Drummond, Buchtel, Morgan State; Harry Durrah, Brush, Ashland; Ryan Fallon, St. Edward, Notre Dame College; Juwan Ford, Euclid, Notre Dame College; Paul Gabel, Revere, Alderson-Broaddus; Matthew Gawlik, St. Ignatius, Gannon; Brandon Gency, Streetsboro, Ashland; Joey Guajardo, Harvey, Otterbein; Antwan Harris, Glenville, Lake Erie; Curtis Henry, Glenville, Ave Maria; Jared Hopkins, Buchtel, Central State; Dorien Hudson, Cleveland Heights, Notre Dame College; Victor Hudson, Nordonia, Edinboro; Alex Kelly, Avon, Grand Valley State; Nick Krempasky, North Royalton, Ashland; Mike LaManna, St. Ignatius, Ashland; Carl Lint, North Royalton, Ashland; Chad Metcalf, Brookside, Notre Dame College; McKenny Mitchell, Euclid, Notre Dame College; Robbie Nash, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Mercyhurst; Chris Ranc, Lutheran West, Ashland; Terrence Roscoe, Euclid, Notre Dame College; Nick Seme, Wadsworth, football and track, Ashland; David Shupp, Harvey, Ottererbein; Christian Sifford, Brecksville, Mount Union; Anthony Simmons, Cleveland Heights, Morehouse; Travis Tarnowski, North Royalton, Ashland; Foster Tucker, Columbia, Tiffin; Bobby Upshaw, Cleveland Heights, West Liberty; Tim Von Salter, Avon, Arizona Western; Malcolm Webb, Buchtel, Baldwin Wallace; David Zeh, Avon, West Virginia Wesleyan.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A sampling of Tweets sent out Tuesday about National Signing Day from the high school community: "Big s/o to everybody who is signing their letter of intent Wednesday. Through your hard work and dedication dreams have become reality." -- @RD7_UofM (Ross Douglas, Avon football player signing with Michigan)

Mentor's Mitch Trubisky. - (Allison Carey, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A sampling of Tweets sent out Tuesday about National Signing Day from the high school community:

"Big s/o to everybody who is signing their letter of intent Wednesday. Through your hard work and dedication dreams have become reality." -- @RD7_UofM (Ross Douglas, Avon football player signing with Michigan)

"Signing day!!! I can't wait to be up there on the stage.. I'm ready to go to college. I get a fresh start." -- @DorienHudson (Dorien Hudson, Cleveland Heights football player signing with Notre Dame College)

"Nice day to throw outside, another good throwing sesh w my boys @jordan_for6 and @KhrisFrancis_21" -- @Mtrubisky10 (Mentor quarterback Mitch Trubisky from North Carolina, where he enrolled last month)

The victory improved Akron's nation-best winning streak to 14 with the next challenge coming Saturday at Miami.

AKRON, Ohio -- A strong final 1:48 offset a near-upset performance from Central Michigan as Akron pulled away for a 68-56 triumph to remain first in the Mid-American Conference race Tuesday night in Rhodes Arena.

"All at once we went boom, boom, boom, and the game was over," Akron coach Keith Dambrot said.

The victory improved Akron's nation-leading winning streak to 14 with the next challenge coming Saturday at Miami. It will have to be a better effort than what Akron (18-4, 9-0 Mid-American) delivered against the Chippewas (9-13, 2-7), who trailed just 57-56 at the 1:48 mark when Alex Abreu chased down a loose-ball rebound near midcourt and snapped a pass to Demetrius Treadwell under the hoop for an easy dunk and 59-56 lead.

"When it came to winning time we made some winning plays," Abreu said. "That was a really loose scramble. They made a mistake running at the ball and they lost Tree. We got lucky on that one. Tonight was a nightmare for us."

Abreu finished as the offensive catalyst for the Zips with 15 points and seven assists while Treadwell overcame a foul-plagued night with 12 points and five boards. It was just barely enough.

Normally a slow-staring team, the Zips grabbed a 13-3 lead then struggled until the final two minutes.

"We started too good," Abreu said. "We thought it was going to be a blowout, and it wasn't. We never got off to a big run, and they kept answering and answering."

Central Michigan either led or was within two possessions of the Zips most of the night as senior guard Kyle Randall from Youngstown consistently came up with big shots en route to a 22-point game.

With less than 12 minutes to play the Zips were losing the rebound battle, 23-17, and were only 1-of-5 from the free-throw line as Akron fell in love with the 3-pointer (10-of-27).

"They sat in our lap and gave us 3-balls," Dambrot said.

That's primarily because Treadwell was sitting with three fouls at the half -- including a technical for screaming at an official -- then picked up his fourth with 14:46 to play.

"Tree got in foul trouble and Zeke [six points, nine rebounds] was mediocre. Then it became an even game," Dambrot said. Add in a poor night from 6-11 backup Pat Forsythe and Akron's inside advantage was wiped out until Treadwell returned for the final eight minutes.

The 6-7 junior power forward from Euclid flexed just enough to score eight points with three rebounds down the stretch to save the Zips.

"Treadwell's our best player," Dambrot said. "When he got back in the game there was a huge difference."

After his dunk, a sideline steal by Akron freshman Jake Kretzer led to a tip-in from Treadwell and after a missed CMU jumper Kretzer sealed the game with a 3-pointer for a 64-56 lead.

The final score does not indicate just how close, and for how long, this game really was.

"We had a rough night, but good enough to win," Dambrot said. "Weird game."

Sebastian Douglas, Charlie Lee and Junior Lomomba added 10 points apiece for Cleveland State (12-12, 4-6).

Christopher Siders

Special to The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland State focused on defense and an inside game to beat the Youngstown State Penguins, 66-60, at the Wolstein Center.

Junior forward Devon Long's 23 points, five rebounds and dominating presence inside was plenty to lift who held YSU (averaging 71 points) in check.

"I put on the board in the locker room that we had to attack the basket," Vikings coach Gary Waters said. "We did a great job defending and in the last four minutes we controlled the game."

• YSU-Cleveland State boxscore

The lead changed hands 13 times, with five ties. The Vikings controlled the Penguins forward Kamren Belin (3-10, 11 points) and guard Blake Allen (5-11, 14 points). The Vikings held the prolific scoring Penguins to 42.3 percent shooting.

Devin Long looked as if he was channeling Charles Barkley.

"I told him [Lee] to keep giving me entry passes," said Long. "Don't be afraid to give it to me. I was extra vocal today!"

Long also contributed with his defense.

"We had to take away Allen and Belin," said Waters. "We did a great job defending and every time they hit us, we hit back."

Youngstown State had a six-point lead in the first four minutes, but the Vikings took over and never looked back. Waters singled out Sebastian Douglas for his quick and attacking play.

"I hit a big basket, a buzzer beater [against the shot clock] with time running down in this game," said Douglas. "I had some hustle plays and this was the second game in a row I felt I was a power."

The Vikings host Valparaiso on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Christopher Siders is a freelance writer based in Lakewood.

The Monsters (24-17-2-3) lost their second in a row but have secured points in seven of eight.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Going 0-for-7 on the power play against a solid club such as the Hershey Bears is asking for trouble.

The Monsters paid for their power outage Tuesday night with a 3-2 shootout loss at The Q. Hershey prevailed in the five-round shootout, 2-1. The Monsters (24-17-2-3) lost their second in a row but have secured points in seven of eight. They are two points behind first-place Abbotsford in the Western Conference North Division.

"At this time of year, any point is big," Monsters coach Dean Chynoweth said.

Hershey (22-19-3-2) salvaged a split of the season series, 1-1.

Lake Erie is 2-for-26 on the power play in its last four games.

"We're not simplifying it," Chynoweth said. "We're looking for the fancy plays. We haven't put ourselves in position to shoot, and we haven't shot when we've had the opportunities. We've been taking it from the middle to the walls, and nothing happens."

The Monsters opened the first period in style. Just 42 seconds in, winger Paul Carey created space and beat goalie Dany Sabourin from the top of the left circle for his ninth goal of the season. It came on the game's first shot.

The Bears answered at 9:19 when center Mike Carman beat goalie Calvin Pickard from the left circle. Carman played with Lake Erie for parts of the previous three seasons until a February 2012 trade to Hershey.

At 13:51, Monsters center Brad Malone was whistled for high sticking. The ensuing Bears power play featured end-to-end excitement that included former Monster Ryan Stoa being denied by Pickard and Monsters center Mike Connolly being rejected by Sabourin on a breakaway. Late in the power play, Bears winger Barry Almeida secured a loose puck on the edge of the crease and stuffed it in for his fifth.

The Monsters made it 2-2 at 2:14 of the second. Not long after Sabourin made a solid save, center Gary Steffes won a face-off cleanly. The flat puck slid to defenseman Thomas Pock, whose hard shot was true for his eighth. Sabourin might have been screened.

Through two periods, the Monsters held a 23-21 advantage in shots but were 0-for-6 on the power play, including a 5-on-3 opportunity.

The Monsters made sure the game got to overtime by killing a tripping penalty late in the third. They controlled play in the five-minute OT.

Tuesday marked the Monsters debut of defenseman Chris Reed, a product of Solon High School and Ohio State. Reed, signed to a professional tryout contract Monday, had been with Cincinnati of the ECHL.

Hershey's roster includes former Cleveland Barons Jon DiSalvatore and Garrett Stafford. DiSalvatore was denied by Pickard at 6:21 of the third. He hurt the Monsters last season as a member of the Houston Aeros.

The Monsters do not play again until Saturday, when they face Abbotsford on the road. It is the first of back-to-backs in Abbotsford. Chynoweth said he doubts goalie Sami Aittokallio (lower body) will be available for either game.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

The versatile Konz was one of the league's swiftest defensive backs when he helped the Browns reach four championship games.

View full size Kenny Konz, who died in 2008, was active in the Browns alumni group and in charity work.  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A countdown of the top 100 players in Cleveland
Browns history. Players must have spent at least four seasons with the
Browns. The ranking is based only on players' careers with the Browns.

No. 44, Kenny Konz, safety, 1953-59

The Browns selected Kenny Konz out of Louisiana State with the last pick in the first round of the 1951 draft. He joined them in 1953, after serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

Konz started at right safety in his rookie season, then was switched the next year to left safety, where he played the rest of his career -- all with the Browns. Teams did not yet specifically designate players as "free" and "strong" safeties, in part because the tight end position generally had not yet become an offensive staple.

Konz was one of the fastest defensive backs of his day, in fact, as swift as most current pass defenders. He intercepted 30 passes in 84 regular season games -- not missing a contest in his seven campaigns, as regular season schedules were 12 games. He returned four picks for touchdowns.

The Browns played in four championship games during Konz' career, winning two. Konz intercepted two passes in the 56-10 rout of the Detroit Lions in the 1954 championship game at Cleveland Stadium, and had another two interceptions in the 38-14 win over the host Los Angeles Rams in the 1955 title game.

Against the Rams, Konz' pick of a first quarter pass at the Cleveland 12 was considered a game-turning point. In the third quarter, his 24-yard punt return set up a touchdown that built the Browns' lead to 24-7.

During the 1950s, NFL teams dressed fewer than 35 players, making a versatile player such as Konz especially valuable.

Konz returned punts, leading the league in 1956 with an average return of 14.4 yards, including a touchdown. He was the Browns' punter in 1957, averaging 39.3 yards on 61 boots. He made 3-of-3 extra point tries in 1954. Konz likely could have helped on offense, too. He starred in college as both a defensive back and running back.

Konz earned various first- and second-team all-pro honors in 1955, 1956 and 1957.

(The Browns' all-time top 100 players so far)

Video: It's difficult to see the uniform numbers, but Browns rookie Kenny Konz (22) plays right safety in this highlights segment (without audio) of Cleveland's 17-16 loss to the Lions in the 1953 NFL championship game at Detroit:

Brunswick bedeviled Shaker Heights once again. The Blue Devils upset host Shaker for the second time in 13 months, 44-42, in a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division boys basketball game Tuesday night.

Brunswick bedeviled Shaker Heights once again.

The Blue Devils upset host Shaker for the second time in 13 months, 44-42, in a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division boys basketball game Tuesday night.

Brunswick outscored Shaker Heights, 9-5, in the fourth quarter. Senior guard Kyle Wheeler led the Blue Devils with 15 points, and Zach Parker scored 12.

It was the second straight loss for the Raiders (11-6, 4-2), who were coming off a nonleague loss to St. Edward. They entered the game tied for first in the NOC Valley, and ranked fifth in The Plain Dealer Top 25.

Brunswick (8-9, 2-4) is ranked 23rd by The Plain Dealer.

Last season, Brunswick upset then-No. 1 Shaker Heights in overtime, 56-54. The Raiders got a measure of revenge last month with a 52-39 win at Brunswick.

Shaker Heights' 6-7 sophomore Esa Ahmad returned from a one-game team suspension and had a team-high 12 points, but the Raiders played their first game without 6-5 senior Kash Blackwell, who is expected to miss two weeks with a sprained ankle.

No. 1 Mentor 103, Strongsville 96: Up by two points at the half, Mentor (15-3, 5-1 NOC Valley) then posted a 38-22 third-quarter advantage. Cardinals senior Jeff Foreman led all scorers with 31 points, and Conner Krizancic scored 21.

Senior Kyle Meehan's 22 points and sophomore Alex Barnes' 19 led Strongsville (2-14, 0-6).

No. 6 Garfield Heights 74, Medina 66: The host Bees took a 20-15 lead into the second quarter, but Garfield Heights (13-3, 4-1) held Medina to 21 total points in the second and third quarters. Leading the Bulldogs' charge were Al Burge (17 points), David Bell (16) and Willie Jackson (15).

Senior guard Billy Geschke made 13 of 14 free throws and scored 13 points for Medina (7-8, 1-3).

Amherst 61, Avon Lake 48: Amherst's Garrett Klekota had a career-high 32 points, and shot 6-of-11 on 3-pointers. He outscored Avon Lake in the third quarter, 14-9.

Buchtel 82, Akron East 80 (2 OT): The Griffins (12-4, 9-2) won a thriller and advanced to the City Series Championship.

East's Demetrius Ray had a potential game-winning 30-footer bounce off the rim at the buzzer. Ray's earlier 3-pointer in the final seconds of the fourth quarter forced overtime. East rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth.

Buchtel's Tyler Jones hit a layup late in the first overtime to force another period.

Sable Cooper led Buchtel with 17 points. Elijah Bell and Jones each had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Brandon Townsend's 23 points and 12 rebounds led East (10-6, 8-3). Ray scored 22.

Buchtel had 28 turnovers, but made 16 of 21 free throws.

Hockey

Orange 8, Westlake 4: Evan Raupp had three goals and an assist in the Baron Cup II victory at Brooklyn Recreation Center. Teammate Cory Bonda had four assists and one goal. Kent Axcell scored three goals for Westlake.

Diving

Lakewood/CSU sectional: Midpark's Nathan Harper won the sectional at Fairview Park, and was one of 16 divers to advance to the Bowling Green district tournament. Harper was the lone diver to top 400 points at 441.90. Strongsville's Blake Green edged Avon Lake's Tyler Nock for second place, 399.10-396.45.

Last-second try by Aaron Craft to tie the game is blocked as Buckeyes lose another close game on the road to a ranked team. Watch video

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- On the road, a game can be gone before it starts. Ohio State went up by 21 on Michigan in the teams' first showdown in Columbus, and the Wolverines nearly came back to win. But the hole was too deep.

At a packed Crisler Arena on Tuesday night, with Michigan football coach Brady Hoke and former Wolverine quarterback Denard Robinson in the crowd, the Buckeyes looked like globs of ketchup dribbled in a bucket of heavily buttered movie popcorn.

With the Michigan crowd and the players, in new uniforms and shoes, clad in a color best described as "textbook highlighter" the scene was set for Michigan to turn the tables. OSU coach Thad Matta remembered the Buckeyes playing one of their worst games of last season in a loss at Crisler.

So when Michigan went up 10 early, it made sense for the Buckeyes to be down. So to get back up on their feet so quickly meant something. And overtime meant more.

The Buckeyes had to settle for enjoying the effort.

No. 3 Michigan beat No. 10 Ohio State, 76-74, in overtime, staying perfect at home and handing the Buckeyes another close road loss, after their three-point defeat at Michigan State earlier this season.

  With Ohio State down by a point, Michigan's Trey Burke blocked Aaron Craft's foul-line jumper from behind with nine seconds to play in overtime. That came after Craft had stripped Burke as he was trying to pad Michigan's one-point lead on the previous possession.

After an OSU foul, Glenn Robinson III made one of two free throws with 7.6 seconds left, and a last frantic trip down the court by Craft ended when he was blocked at the rim. Some thought Tim Hardaway Jr. could have been called for a foul on the play. Asked if he was hit on the arm, Craft said, "Maybe."

"I got to the rim, I got a layup," Craft said. "In the moment, I'm happy with what I did. There was a lot of contact all game. We didn't get the call, so you've got to move on."

  In the fifth matchup this season between the top four teams in the Big Ten -- Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana and Michigan State -- the home team won again, the Wolverines (21-2, 8-2 Big Ten) sticking right behind the one-loss Hoosiers in the Big Ten race, while the Buckeyes (17-5, 7-3) took a half-step back.

"I've got to give Michigan credit. The plays they made were tremendous plays. It takes an effort like that (to win on the road), but we needed something to kind of make our own luck at some point down the stretch," OSU coach Thad Matta said. "This league is about getting knocked down again and getting back up."

Sure, we know today is National Signing Day for football. But Big Ten basketball -- not bad, eh?

The Buckeyes played the Wolverines to a standstill in the first half, holding a 31-30 lead after 20 minutes. Michigan's biggest first-half lead was 18-8, but Ohio State answered with defense, forcing two turnovers during a little 7-0 run that quickly closed the gap.

And then LaQuinton Ross started adding what hadn't been there in the first Michigan game, when he played just three minutes and scored no points. That was on Jan. 13, and he's a different player now, in a different role.

He's played double-digit minutes in every game since that night, but he hadn't yet scored double digits in Big Ten play. That changed with what might be a breakout game for him.

It was one thing for Ross to play well against Wisconsin or Nebraska, teams that didn't have athletes he had to guard on defense. But Michigan is deep and versatile, and Ross did enough on the defensive end to stay on the court and create problems for Michigan on the offensive end.

He hit 3-pointers, put the ball on the floor and scored off the dribble, and grabbed offensive rebounds. OSU leading scorer Deshaun Thomas has been praised for his efficient offense in plenty of games this season, but while Thomas was off a bit Tuesday (6-of-15 for 17 points), Ross took advantage.

He finished with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Craft added 11 points for the Buckeyes.

They needed all of them to keep up with Michigan's Hardaway (23 points), who hit 3-pointers on four of five Michigan possessions in the second half, and only didn't score on the other one because freshman Mitch McGary took a shot without letting the veteran get his hands on it first. The third of those 3-pointers gave Michigan its first lead of the second half at 52-50. But the Buckeyes fought back with more smart offense, including a postup from Thomas, a three-point play underneath from Amir Williams and a 3-pointer by Ross.

Williams came to play as well, with back-to-back dunks during one stretch, and a critical offensive rebound after Michigan's Nik Stauskas had given the Wolverines another lead with a fast-break 3-pointer, putting Michigan up, 65-64, with 3:24 left. Williams finished with nine points and four blocks.

The Buckeyes then were down, 72-70, with a minute to play when, after Craft missed a drive, the long rebound was grabbed by Ohio State, and Lenzelle Smith drained an off-balance 19-footer for another tie at 72.

Michigan called timeout with 21.3 seconds left, and Burke dribbled out the clock and missed a step-back 3-pointer over Thomas as the horn sounded.

That meant more basketball. And more reason for the fans in Crisler, and Big Ten fans in their living rooms, to grab their popcorn, sit back, and enjoy.

"I've got a test tomorrow, so studying for that is going to be worse than if we would have won," said Craft, who smacked the concrete wall in a hallway as he came out for postgame interviews, but not hard enough to hurt himself. "I'll feel sorry for myself on the way back, but when we get back to Columbus, we'll meet as a team and we've got to move forward. Obviously you want to win every one, but I think we got better today, and that's the bigger picture."

By signing Mike Aviles to a two-year, $6 million deal, the Indians have a fall-back position if they decide to trade shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera in the next couple of years.

Mike Aviles, shown playing shortstop for Boston last year, and the Indians have come to terms on a two-year, $6 million contact with an option for the 2015 season. AP  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the 22nd straight year, the Indians have avoided arbitration during the off-season. Thursday, they announced the signing of infielder Mike Aviles to a two-year, $6 million contract. GM Chris Antonetti said the deal gives Aviles security and the Indians some cost certainty in preparing their budget.

It will also give them a shortstop in case Asdrubal Cabrera is traded before his contract expires after the 2014 season. Cabrera, who will make $16.5 million over the next two years, was the subject of many trade rumors this winter.

When asked about the possibility of Cabrera being traded, Antonetti warned not to read too much into the transaction.

"Mike Aviles complements our team," said Antonetti. "He's very valuable and very versatile player."

Aviles will make $3 million each in 2013 and 2014. He was a club option for 2015 worth $3.5 million. In January, Aviles filed for arbitration. He was seeking $3.4 million and the Indians offered $2.4 million. He settled for just over the midpoint of the two offers with an additional year thrown in.

The seven Indians who filed for arbitration earned $24.75 million in salary for 2013. The Indians have not had a player go to arbitration since Greg Swindell and Jerry Browne in 1991. Aviles' hearing was scheduled for next week.

The Indians acquired Aviles and catcher Yan Gomes from Toronto in November for right-hander Esmil Rogers. Last year Aviles was the primary shortstop for Boston, batting .250 with 28 doubles, 13 homers and 60 RBI in 136 games. He had career highs in doubles, homers, RBI and tied career bests in extra-base hits (41) and steals (14).

Aviles should be a busy man this season. Depending on how the bench is built, he could be the top utility infielder or see significant time at DH. Antonetti and manager Terry Francona feel comfortable with Aviles playing short, second and third base. Francona has even talked about him getting time in right and left fields.

If another utility infielder makes the club, Aviles could see a lot of time at DH. It seems the Indians plan on rotating players through the DH this year.

"I'm blessed and cursed with versatility," Aviles told reporters last month. "As long as I get a chance to play, I know I can help the team a little bit."

Said Antonetti, "How we use the DH will reflect how the bench comes together."

Another arm: The Indians have signed left-hander Rich Hill to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp. Hill, who turns 33 on March 11, is 23-20 with a 4.60 ERA in 118 games (70 starts) with the Cubs, Orioles and Red Sox.

In his career, he has held lefties to a .209 average and an 0.65 OPS. He was with the Red Sox for parts of the previous three seasons. Antonetti said Hill will get a shot in the bullpen. He was bothered by elbow problems last season and made just 25 appearances.

On Twitter: @hoynsie