03252012 Flint Journal Sports Section by Bernie Eng

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The Flint Journal

Sunday, March 25, 2012

College basketball: MSU’s Appling knows he needs to lead. PAGE B5 STATE BRIEFS TIGERS

Scherzer strong in Detroit loss

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TAKE 3: BEECHER WINS IT!

Armed with a revamped two-seam fastball, Max Scherzer puzzled batters for nearly seven scoreless innings Saturday in Detroit’s 4-2, 10-inning loss against the New York Yankees. The righthanded Scherzer retired the first 16 batters he faced. Scherzer spent the offseason Max relearning Scherzer the twoseamer after struggling to command it since he came out of college. The dedication appears to have paid off, he said. “I’m starting to get more and more feel with it,” Scherzer said. “There’s certain situations where I’m starting to get an idea when to throw it.” Scherzer threw 81 pitches, striking out eight and walking one. PISTONS

Dumars on Darko It has been nearly a decade since the Detroit Pistons drafted 18-yearold Serbian sensation Darko Milicic with the second pick of the 2003 draft. Even though Detroit went on to win the NBA championship the following season and the only firstround picks from that class still with their original franchises are Dwyane Wade and Nick Collison, fans continue to bemoan the Pistons’ missed opportunity to draft Carmelo Anthony or Chris Bosh. Team president Joe Dumars also has regrets, calling the Milicic pick his biggest mistake during a sit-down interview with WDIV’s Bernie Smilovitz. LIONS

Boykin to Detroit? Add another name to the list of cornerbacks analysts are speculating the Detroit Lions will select in next month’s NFL draft. Georgia’s Brandon Boykin will be Detroit’s top pick at No. 23 overall, according to NFL draft expert Russ Lande’s latest mock draft. “The Lions lost free-agent cornerback Eric Wright and need help in their secondary,” Lande wrote in the Sporting News. “It makes sense for them to grab Boykin, who will start at cornerback as a rookie and add an explosive dimension to their kick return unit.” Boykin broke his leg at the Senior Bowl, so he did not perform at the NFL scouting combine. — Wire reports

LATHAN GOUMAS | MLIVE.COM

The Beecher High School boys basketball team celebrates after its 74-60 Class C state championship win against Traverse City St. Francis on Saturday at Breslin Center. Beecher finished 28-0.

BUCS REFUSE TO LOSE FOR THIRD STRAIGHT TIME AT BRESLIN BY ERIC WOODYARD EWOODYAR@MLIVE.COM

EAST LANSING — Third time’s the charm for Flint Beecher. In the Bucs’ third straight trip to Breslin Center, Beecher pulled it off. The Bucs are the 2011-12 Class C state champions for boys basketball. B e e c h e r c a p t u re d t h e school’s fourth state title after beating Traverse City St. Francis 74-60 in the title game Saturday afternoon. “I’m just overwhelmed with excitement,” Bucs coach Mike Williams said in the news conference afterward. “I’m very humbled by this entire process, by this entire season, and I’m very fortunate that our kids were able to be Monte a part of this.” Morris As far as history is concerned, this year’s Beecher squad one-upped the program’s other legendary teams of the past. The present group ended 28-0, becoming the third team at Beecher to finish a season undefeated. Former coach Moses Lacy’s team was perfect in the 1984-85 season, and ex-Bucs coach Mike Bedore’s teams went unblemished in 1976. Both of those teams went 27-0 and captured Class B titles, but 28-0 never had been accomplished at Beecher. Until now. Williams outdid his predecessors. “We’ve put in a lot of work for this and to get here,” he

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was in middle school and seeing coach (Mike) Williams get to the state championship in 2008.” — Beecher senior Antuan Burks

added. “It was unbelievable, and I know that we did everything the right way.” Monte Morris led Beecher with 18 points, six assists and seven rebounds. Antuan Burks chipped in 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. The teammates could picture this moment at a very young age. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was in middle school and seeing coach Williams get to the state championship in 2008,” said Burks, after his final high school game. “Me and Monte sat by each other here (at Breslin Center) saying that we’re going to bring a championship home, and that’s what we did today. We made history.” Burks and Morris have joined good company. “It feels real good knowing that I can come back after I graduate and just talk to guys that’s playing and let them know that we made it to the state championship and had an undefeated season,” said Morris, a two-time Class C

LATHAN GOUMAS | MLIVE.COM

Beecher’s Antuan Burks takes a jump shot during the Class C state title game. Burks finished with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists.

All-Stater and back-to-back Player of the Year. “I talked to Roy Marble and Mateen Cleaves last night, and (Mateen) going to Flint Northern still didn’t defeat the purpose that he wanted me to win a championship. “I feel like I can come back and get another (championship) but, right now, it feels good that I know I can put my name in that category with

them,” Morris added. Beecher wasted little time pressuring St. Francis, forcing 13 first-half turnovers — with eight in the first period. Although the Gladiators struck first with a pair of free throws from Nick Clear, the Bucs closed the quarter on a 23-7 run. Morris looked to score early. He finished a tough right-handed layup at the buzzer to put Beecher up by 20 at halftime.

Morris ended the half with 12 points. He shot 5 for 9 from the field. Williams went to his bench early. Emmanuel Phifer came off the bench and finished a one-handed dunk on a break at the 1:48 mark of the first quarter. Jalen Pettes and Montana Gooch also got extended minutes early, too. Senior swingman Cortez Robinson took on the tough task of guarding St. Francis’ A l l - St a t e fo r wa rd S e a n Sheldon at times. Sheldon averaged a little less than 20 points per game this season but didn’t score much on Robinson in one-on-one situations. Sheldon, however, ended up with 22 points and 19 rebounds. He racked up 17 points and 11 boards in the final 16 minutes. “We were down 20 at halftime, but we just had to come out and play in the second half,” said Sheldon, who has committed to William & Mary for basketball next season. “I just thought we came out and competed in the second half, but they just played better than us and we didn’t knock down the shots we needed to in the first half, so we fell behind quick.” Robinson finished with 11 points for Beecher, Jequarius French added 14 and Phifer scored eight and added seven rebounds. St. Francis sophomore Byron Bullough hit three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points. “Beecher is the best team in the state in Class C,” Gladiators coach Keith Haske said. “It seemed like Morris always came up with that big basket. They’re great team with a great player and they’re the best team in the state.”

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The Flint Journal

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Baseball: Tigers manager Jim Leyland says he’s fine with one-year contract. PAGE B5 NICK

BAUMGARDNER U-M BASKETBALL

Should Burke stay in school?

End of an era at MSU

GREEN’S STORIED CAREER FINISHES WITH NCAA SWEET 16 LOSS TO LOUISVILLE

Michigan point guard mulling jump to NBA MLIVE.COM

he offseason is under way, and the Michigan basketball program has uncertainty surrounding its point guard. Just another spring in Ann Arbor. For the third straight year, a Michigan guard is contemplating an early exit from school for a shot at professional basketball. Two years ago, Manny Harris thought Trey Burke about it and left. Last year, Darius Morris thought about it and left. This year, freshman point guard Trey Burke is thinking about it — but hasn’t gone anywhere just yet. Should he stay? Should he go? That’s for he and his family to decide, and they have every right to explore both avenues. As a freshman, Burke was the leading scorer on a co-Big Ten Conference championship squad, broke Michigan’s single-season rookie assist record, played more minutes than any other freshman in program history and was the league’s co-Freshman of the Year. Quite simply, that’s an extremely tough act to follow. Michigan will have more talent on paper next season, even with the recent departure of Evan Smotrycz. Meaning, the opportunity for Burke to average 12 shots per game throughout a 35ishgame season might not be as strong. He’s a hot name right now, and his numbers on paper are terrific, even if they do come from a small sample size. There’s one thing about Burke that will always linger as a knock on him throughout his basketball career, and it’s something he cannot control: his height. He’s listed at 5-foot-11, which is rather small for today’s college game, not to mention the pro game. It’s no secret how NBA teams draft. They draft on potential and they very much prefer youth. Burke is 19 years old right now, and he’s 5-11. The chances of a pro team taking a shot on a 19-year-old, 5-11 point guard may might be higher than a team rolling the dice on a 22-year-old, 5-11 point guard. When you boil it all down, take away all the numbers and what ifs, Burke is like every other kid who signs a letter of intent to play college basketball. Some are more audible about it than others, but no one enters a program without an end goal of playing in the NBA. It’s a big part of why Burke decided to attend a school like Michigan in the first place. The money never hurts, obviously. But the mere chance to fulfill a dream always will speak awfully loud.

BY THE NUMBERS

BY GRAHAM COUCH GCOUCH@MLIVE.COM

Michigan State’s Draymond Green walks off the court late in the Spartans’ NCAA tournament loss to Louisville on Thursday in Phoenix. Green scored 13 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in his final game, a 57-44 loss to the fourthseeded Cardinals in the Sweet 16.

PHOENIX — Draymond Green stood in the Michigan State locker room Thursday night until every last question was asked and answered. This was the swan song for the face of a program and the voice of a team. His final moments as captain of a group he had carried since last spring. No national title, no Final Four and no visible tears for the once pudgy freshman turned senior All-American. Green’s career ended with 57-44 loss to fourth-seeded Louisville — the defeat less surprising than how it happened, the top-seed Spartans looking tired at times and lost at others, with Green unable to rescue them. For better or worse, this was his team, his loss. So he stood and talked. “It hurts. It’s going to hurt for a while,” said Green, who became the school’s all-time rebounding leader in the loss, grabbing 16 Thursday. “But I know I’ve got some things to be thankful for and that’s what’s holding me together. At the end of the day, it’s a tough one, it’s a tough pill to swallow.” Green only once appeared close to tears, when asked about walking off the floor with his coach and in his Michigan State jersey for the last time. “It’s not a good feeling,” Green said. “You always want to go out on top and just wasn’t able to, but at the end of the day, (Coach Tom Izzo) and

Height-weight: 6-foot-7, 230 pounds | Hometown: Saginaw

BY THE NUMBERS

Rebounds-career: Green finished with 1,096 career rebounds, most all-time. (Greg Kelser is second with 1,093). Rebounds-season: Green finished this season with 393 rebounds, the highest single-season total (Johnny Green had 392). Games played: Green played in 145 games for MSU, tying Durrell Summers for the most all-time. Field goals-career: Green finished 10th all-time in field goals with 634. 2011-12 season: Green led MSU in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounds (10.6), steals (1.5), minutes (33.2) and was second in assists (3.8). Notable: Named All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year this season. Also named a finalist for Wooden Award and Naismith Award, given to the nation’s top player. Coach (Mike) Garland and especially Coach (Dwayne) Stephens, they’ve done a great job with me over four years. “I can only be thankful for the work they’ve done with me and making me into a better player and a better person.” He hadn’t played his best game — 5-for-16 shooting, 13 points, six turnovers. In many ways, Green was outplayed by Louisville freshman Chane Behanan, who scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds while out-battling Green for several rebounds like few others have all season. “He’s very good,” Green said of Behanan. “He’s very young and talented and he has a great will, great feel for the game, feel for the ball, knack for the

Jets media, ruthless fans won’t sugarcoat their opinions of Tebow

Detroit captain returns to help team rally

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night got two things they desperately needed: Nicklas Lidstrom and a win. Their invaluable captain returned after sitting out 11 games with a deep bone bruise in his right ankle, and the Red Wings battled back from a three-goal deficit to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 at Joe Louis Arena, snapping a sixgame winless streak. Drew Miller snapped a 4-4 tie by scoring on a backhand shot at 11:35 of the third period. Jiri Hudler had tied it with his 22nd goal at 8:10. He was in front of the net, and Brad Stuart’s shot from the slot deflected in off of him. The Red Wings scored four unanswered goals after trailing 4-1 late in the second period. Detroit dominated territorially, outshooting the Hurricanes 50-24. It matched a season-high shot total for the Red Wings. The Red Wings are 15-0-1 at home against the Carolina/ Hartford franchise in the regular season since a 3-0 loss to the Whalers in 1989. The Hurricanes’ only win in Detroit since then came in Game 1 of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals.

Draymond Green ranks as one of the greatest Spartans ever after finishing his career for MSU on Thursday.

ball. He’s going to be a very, very good player.” Behanan hugged Green, patting Green’s back with his fist as they met in the postgame handshake line. Many did during Green’s run at Michigan State. His play and personality made him beloved. But his 20 minutes standing in front of cameras and notepads and questions, from a mob of reporters to a few late stragglers is another reason for so much respect. This was his team. But he wouldn’t let Thursday night be about the end of his collegiate career or NBA future. “We just had a great will to win,” Green said. Said Izzo, simply: “I think of him with as much respect as any player I’ve ever coached.”

Tebowmania will be even crazier in the Big Apple

Lidstrom returns; Red Wings end slide BY ANSAR KHAN AKHAN1@MLIVE.COM

Greatest Green

BY NANCY ARMOUR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Detroit Red Wings forward Drew Miller, center, celebrates his game-winning goal with teammate Ian White on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes in Detroit.

UPDATE

Red Wings 5, Hurricanes 4 Next game: Detroit vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m. Monday at Joe Louis Arena TV: FSD It wa s goa l te n d e r Ty Conklin’s first appearance at home this season. It was his second game in relief of Jimmy Howard (strained groin), who is expected back this week. A second-period scoring outburst saw each team score three times. Carolina led 4-3 when the dust settled, but it would have been worse if the Red Wings hadn’t fought back by scoring two goals in 18 seconds late in the period. Henrik Zetterberg notched his second of the game, his 21st of the season, at 16:58. He one-timed a wrist shot from the slot that knocked off goalie Cam Ward’s mask and went in the net. Todd Bertuzzi then scored at 17:16, batting the puck out of

the air from the net front for his 14th goal. Rookie Gustav Nyquist picked up his fifth assist in his past six games on the play. The Red Wings’ dreadful penalty killing cost them earlier in the period, when Carolina scored a pair of power-play goals 17 seconds apart to jump ahead 4-1. Jamie McBain scored at 15:38, with one second remaining on a five-on-three advantage. Jiri Tlusty then notched his second goal of the game at 15:55. It was Lidstrom’s first game in four weeks. It is the longest stretch of time and games he has missed in his 20-year career. “I think it’s just a matter of getting the tempo up again and getting used to game situations,” Lidstrom said after the morning skate. “I think that’s something that’s hard to do in practice. You can only get used to that playing games.” He expects the ankle to be sore for some time. “That’s what guys in the past who’ve had similar (injuries) have told me,” Lidstrom said. “It lingers a while, even after you’re back playing games.”

haotic, arrogant, sometimes even crass. And if you think the New York Jets are bad, you should see their fans. Welcome to The Big Apple, Tim Tebow. If you can make it there ... well, let’s just say the attention you received in Denver — the obsessing over your throwing technique, what kind of teammate you were, your religious beliefs, your musical Tim Tebow preferences, where you went for dinner and, yes, even your Tebowing — will seem like a quick once-over compared to the microscope you’ll be under in Manhattan. “I think it’s a great market; it’s a great city,” Tebow said late Wednesday night. Better watch what you wish for. While their buttoneddown co-tenants at the Meadowlands, the Giants, just won their second Super Bowl in five years, the Jets are NFL champions in dysfunction. Coach Rex Ryan has turned off pretty much anyone not in green and white with his foul

mouth and obscene gestures, and it’s going to take more than a few bottles of Lysol to clear the toxic air in the Jets locker room. Now, Tebow walks into a city where fans won’t have any qualms about sharing their feelings and onto a team that already has a shaky situation with its quarterback, Mark Sanchez. Sanchez’s psyche already was fragile after last season and seeing the Jets pine for Manning couldn’t have helped. Then, not two weeks after he is signed to a threeyear extension, the Jets go out and get Tebow. “Mark Sanchez is, has been and will be our starting quarterback,” Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said late Wednesday. Uh-huh. The Broncos said similar things about Kyle Orton, and he finished last season in Kansas City. The New York fan base is notoriously fickle — Linsanity? That’s so two weeks ago — and one interception by Sanchez, heck, one glare from Santonio Holmes, and Jets fans will be calling for Tebow. The tabloids won’t even be that restrained; one paper Thursday featured the Statue of Liberty, Tebowing. “We obviously know that Tim has a magnetic following,” Tannenbaum said. “We understand the popularity of the backup quarterback, and this one is more unique than others.” “Unique,” that’s a good way of putting it.

THE FLINT JOURNAL

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012 B3

LOCAL SPORTS

Mott claims another NJCAA title With win, Bears grab program’s fourth national championship BY ROSS MAGHIELSE RMAGHIEL@MLIVE.COM

DANVILLE, IL — For every jab Community College of Rhode Island threw at No. 1-ranked Mott on Saturday night, the Bears answered with an uppercut, pulling away to win 70-60 and claim their fourth National Junior College Athletic Association men’s basketball championship. Mott jumped out in front early, leading 15-7 in a matter of minutes before building a 23-9 lead and forcing a Rhode Island timeout with 9:46 left in the first half. The Bears led by as many as 17, but closed the first half

making just one of their final 11 shots. The cold streak allowed Rhode Island to battle back and cut the deficit to within six points, 29-23, at halftime. The Bears distanced themselves again to start the second half, then continued to hold off Rhode Island as it tried to rally. Rhode Island got the game to as close as five points (41-36) with 15:53 left in the second half before Mott extended its lead back to double digits and secured the win. After finishing as the national runner-up a year ago, Mott finished the job this season and now holds more national championships than any other NJCAA Division II men’s basketball program.

Friday

Ralph Eason has perfected his role as the wingman for Mott Community College during its run in the National Junior College Athletic Association

tournament. Alongside scoring star John Taylor, Eason was clutch again for the Bears as they defeated Lakeland 84-73 in Friday’s semifinal. Eason scored 26 points, 15 of which came in the first half while Taylor was struggling to find his rhythm. Mott lead 38-35 at halftime and had to battle to the final minutes to secure the win over a feisty upset-minded Lakeland squad. Taylor came alive in the second half and ended up leading all scorers with 28 points. “Ralph Eason has been solid all year, he’s done it all year for us,” Mott coach Steve Schmidt said. “I thought they did a nice job on Taylor defensively, although he still ended up in the 20s, but Eason stepped up. Defensively too, he just did an outstanding job.” Eason also went 10 for 10 from the field for 21 points in Mott’s first game of the tournament on Tuesday.

Lakeland came out firing in the second half, posting a quick 6-0 run and eventually taking a 51-45 lead with 12:14 left to play. The run had Mott momentarily on its heels and forced Schmidt to call a timeout to regroup his team. “I told them it was time to get this done,” Schmidt said. “I just told them it’s on you and it’s time to make some plays. I didn’t go crazy, but I told my guys I wanted to play in the last game tomorrow night because they deserve that.” His words resonated loud and clear. The Bears battled back, eventually retaking the lead 56-54 on a basket by Eason with 9:46 left to play. An 11-4 run, ending with an old-fashioned 3-point play from Taylor, put Mott up 67-60 with 6:19 left. Mott to scored on six straight field goal attempts and took a commanding 76-61 lead with 4:02 left.

Korhonen an all-stater

BASKETBALL STATE FINALS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLASS A SAGINAW 54, ROCKFORD 42: Travontis Richardson scored 13 points and Julian Henderson added 12 as Saginaw beat Rockford to win its sixth Class A state title. Rockford (22-6) was led by Chase Fairfield’s 14 points. Saginaw (26-2) held a 25-24 lead at halftime. The Trojans started quickly in the third, but Fairchild’s 3-point shooting pulled Rockford back within 37-35 at quarter’s end. The Rams were still within a point until Keyon Addison hit a 3-pointer and Henderson followed up with a fast-break layup to put Saginaw up 48-42 with 1:53 left. CLASS D SOUTHFIELD CHRISTIAN 76, CLIMAX-SCOTTS 44: At East Lansing, Chris Dewberry scored 30 points as Southfield Christian won its first state title. The Eagles (24-2) have a familiar sound to their roster, as Lindsey Hunter III and Lindsey Hunter IV make up the starting backcourt. Their father, former NBA player Lindsey Hunter Jr., is an assistant coach for the team. The Panthers (26-2) got 11 points from Jacob Hinga and nine from Zach Nabozny. CLASS B LANSING SEXTON 67, STEVENSVILLE LAKESHORE 32: Bryn Forbes scored 19 points and Denzel Valentine scored 15 and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Lansing Sexton past Stevensville Lakeshore. Sexton finished the year 27-1, with its lone loss coming to Detroit Pershing (8180 on Jan. 14). Ryan Avery and Keith Brushwyler scored six points apiece to lead Lakeshore (24-3).

POWERS HOCKEY FORWARD NAMED TO FIRST TEAM

BOYS BASKETBALL SATURDAY

Boys Basketball State Finals At Breslin Center, East Lansing

CLASS A

Saginaw 54, Rockford 42

CLASS B

Lansing Sexton 67, Stevensville Lakeshore 32

CLASS C

Flint Beecher 74, Traverse City St. Francis 60

CLASS D

Southfield Christian 76, Climax-Scotts 44

AP CLASS A ALL-STATE TEAM ALL-STATE

Matt Costello, Bay City Western, 6-10, Sr., Class A Player of the Year Travontis Richardson, Saginaw, 6-3, Sr. Bishop Robinson, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 6-2, Jr. Connar Tava, Warren De La Salle Collegiate, 6-6, Sr. Denzel Watts, Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 6-1, Jr. Kahlil Felder, Detroit Pershing, 5-10, Jr. Malik Albert, Detroit King, 6-2, Sr. Jonathan Williams, Southfield-Lathrup, 6-2, Jr. Wes Clark, Romulus, 6-0, Jr. Jackson Lamb, Temperance Bedford, 6-7, Jr. Fredrick Edmond, Lansing Eastern, 6-4, sr. Chris Harrison-Docks, Okemos, 6-0, sr. James Young, Troy 6-6, Jr. COACHES OF THE YEAR: Julian Taylor, Saginaw; John Pleasant, Rochester; Nate Oats, Romulus.

SPECIAL MENTION (Nominees receiving two or more votes from the 10-member panel) Eric Evans, Jenison; Jalen Adams, Saginaw Arthur Hill; Jordan Hare, Saginaw Arthur Hill; Taylor Perry, Rochester.

HONORABLE MENTION (Nominees receiving one or no votes from the 10-member panel) Blake Hibbitts, Hudsonville; Austin Somerfield, Greenville; Zac VanBeek, Zeeland East; Trent Windemuller, Holland; Darren Kapustka, Grand Rapids Northview; Myles Busby, Niles; Nate Taylor, Battle Creek Central; Dean Kolstad, Richland Gull Lake; Zach Cornish, Mattawan; Ryan Hickoff, Fenton; Zak Lewis, Petoskey; Graeme Placek, Traverse City West; Sherron Dorsey-Walker, Detroit Pershing; Martez Walker, Detroit Pershing; E.C. Matthews, Romulus; Chris Jenkins, U-D Jesuit; Tristan Simmons, Ypsilanti; Mike Lewis, Ann Arbor Huron; Tyler Conklin, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North; Tracy Edmond, East Lansing; Rashaun Carroll, Lansing Waverly; Brandon Nazione, Howell; Dorrell Foster, North Farmington; Nick Tatu, Clarkston; Coreontae DeBerry, Holland; Kevin Rich, Grand Rapids Northview; Taylor Moton, Okemos. COACH: Mike Thomas, Kalamazoo Central.

AP CLASS B ALL-STATE TEAM ALL-STATE

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Denzel Valentine, Lansing Sexton, 6-6, Sr. Jared Klein, Otsego, 6-1, Sr. Anthony Clemmons, Lansing Sexton, 6-1, Sr. Bryn Forbes, Lansing Sexton, 6-3, Sr. Lloyd Neely, Detroit Crockett, 6-5, Sr. Derrick Walton, Jr., Harper Woods Academy, 6-0, Jr. John Simons, Cadillac, 6-8, Sr. Lance Monroe, Bridgeport, 6-0, Jr. Kevin Badger, Wyoming Godwin Heights, 6-0, Sr. Dontel Highsmith, Dowagiac, 6-2, Jr. Bo Zeigler, Detroit Community, 6-6, Jr. Drake Harris, Grand Rapids Christian, 6-4, So. Stevie Repichowski, Lansing Catholic, 6-5, Sr. Sterling Morrow, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 6-1, Sr.

BY MARK SPEZIA MLIVE.COM

It’s a reality Powers hockey coach Travis Perry would rather not face. Life without versatile foward Colton Korhonen will not be easy for the Chargers come next season. At the same time, however, Perry is elated that Korhonen concluded his accomplished career with some well-deserved recognition. The four-year, top-line mainstay was named to the Division 3 All-State first team by the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey Coaches Associaton. Korhonen was the only Flintarea player named to a first team. “I am certainly going to miss having Colton around next year,” Perry said. “He has been on one the top lines since his freshman year, and it seems like he has been here forever. He was like an assistant coach in some ways. He has such a good grasp of the game and has been a great example to our younger players because he always worked on his way and improved each season.” Though Korhonen’s offensive numbers were actually down a bit compared to last season, he was the Chargers’ top scorer with 48 points (14 goals, 34 assists) in an effort to help replace graduated first-team, All-State duo

SCOREBOARD

Kellen McCormick, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 6-8, Sr. COACH OF THE YEAR: Carleton Valentine, Lansing Sexton.

SCHEDULE MONDAY

LON HORWEDEL | ANNARBOR.COM

Flint Powers’ Colton Korhonen, center, takes a shot during the first period March 12 in the state semifinals against Chelsea.

Jaycob McCombs and Spencer Spurlin, who accounted for the bulk of last year’s scoring. Korhonen led Powers to a fifth straight state quarterfinal appearance and fourth consecutive Big Nine championship. The Chargers put together a memorable four seasons with Korhonen in the lineup. Powers posted an 82-24-6 record during that time against a strong schedule, including a state championship game appearance and a state semifinal berth. Korhonen finished with 154 career points (48 goals, 106 assists). “Honestly, it is hard to put into words what Colton has meant for our program,” Perry said. “He is not the most talented players we have had, but

is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen. He does all of the little things right like winning faceoffs, blocking shots, making good decisions with the puck and winning battles along the boards.” Grand Blanc’s Hunter Moran (forward) and Ryan McElroy (defenseman) made the second team in Division 1 while Goodrich’s Ricky Hatton (forward) made the second team in Division 3. Grand Blanc’s Jake Niel (goaltender) and Swartz Creek’s Derek Makimaa were named honorable mention in Division 1 while Powers’ Garrett Gormley (forward) and Casey Korhonen (goaltender) and Goodrich’s Chris Blodgett (defense) were Division 3 honorable mention.

Baseball Burton Bendle at Flint Powers Catholic, 4 p.m. Marlette at Burton Bentley, 4 p.m. Cass City at Millington, 4 p.m. Flushing at Clio (DH), 4 p.m. Genesee at Lake Fenton (DH), 4 p.m. Imlay City at Davison (DH), 4 p.m. Lansing Everett at Owosso, 4 p.m. Girls Lacrosse Flint Powers Catholic at Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 7:30 p.m. Swartz Creek at Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 6 p.m. Girls Soccer Flint Kearsley at Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 4:30 p.m. Grand Blanc at Midland, 6 p.m. Linden at Davison, 6:45 p.m. Ovid-Elsie at Durand, 7 p.m. Troy Athens at Holly, 6:45 p.m. Girls Tennis Almont at Lapeer West, 4 p.m. Flint Kearsley at Imlay City, 4 p.m. Softball Burton Bendle at Flint Powers Catholic, 4 p.m. Cass City at Millington, 4 p.m. Fenton at Howell (DH), 4 p.m. Genesee at Lake Fenton (DH), 4 p.m. Lansing Everett at Owosso, 4 p.m. Lapeer East at Goodrich (DH), 4 p.m.

TUESDAY

Baseball Birch Run at Freeland (DH), 4 p.m. North Branch at Croswell-Lexington (DH), 4 p.m. Grand Blanc at Flint Kearsley (DH), 4 p.m. Lapeer West at Yale (DH), 4 p.m.

accomplished that feat. Fisher attributes his success in Ann Arbor largely to his high school coach back at Northern, Francis Bentley. Bentley is also a member of the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame and was Fisher’s next-door neighbor in Flint. Marie (Williams) Finley to this day remains the greatest female basketball player ever to come out of Beecher High School. She was a three-time Class B All-State selection and was named an All-American as the Detroit Free Press Athlete of the Year. As a senior in 1987, she was a Miss Basketball Award finalist. She went on to play at Michigan State University, becoming a four-year letter winner and team co-captain in 1990-1992.

• Drunk Driving

■ FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION ■ PAYMENT PLANS ACCEPTED

MATTHEW L. NORWOOD Attorney at Law 810-235-4639 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE 2012 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROJECT ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF FLUSHING GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Sealed Proposals will be received by the Charter Township of Flushing , Genesee County Michigan, for a qualified person or firm to provide Architectural and Engineering Services for preparation of construction documents and assisting the Township with contract bidding, for the Removal of Architectural Barriers for the Flushing Township Main Office/Police Department, located at 6524 N. Seymour Road, Flushing, Michigan and the Flushing Township Nature Park, located at 8301 N. McKinley Road, Flushing, Michigan. Proposals are solicited on the basis of a lump sum price for all labor and material required to complete the project as designed and specified in the contract. The Charter Township of Flushing has received Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds through the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission. The grant funds shall pay for removal of architectural barriers to the Flushing Township Main Office, Police Department, and Nature Park for the purpose of providing accessibility to disabled citizens. The referenced project is a federally funded activity authorized under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. All successful bidders must comply with federal labor standards; including the Davis-Bacon Act and the Copeland Anti-Kickback legislation; federal equal opportunity requirements; and Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. Minority/Women/Handicapped business owned enterprises (MBE/WBE/HBE) and Section 3 business concerns seeking bid opportunities under this Project Notice are encouraged to respond. The Scope of Service informational packet can be picked up at the Charter Township of Flushing offices located at 6524 N. Seymour Road, Flushing, MI 48433. A copy of all Project and Contract Documents are on file and are available for inspection on and after Friday, April 27, 2012, at 6524 N. Seymour Road, Flushing, Michigan. Proposals will be received at 6524 N. Seymour Road, Flushing, Michigan until Thursday, April 26, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. All bids received will be opened and publicly read aloud. The right is reserved by the Charter Township of Flushing to accept any bid, to reject any or all bids, and to waive any irregularities in any bid, in the interest of the Charter Township of Flushing. 4367627-01

Don’t miss the weekly column from the Huge Show’s Bill Simonson Tuesdays in Sports. Visit his blog at blog.mlive.com/hugeblog.

T U E S D AY S

CONTACT US Coaches: To report game results, please contact MLive at 877-270-9533 or xxx-xxxx, fax 877-271-4518 or email to prepsports@mlive.com. To view results online, go to mlive.com/flpreps

All State and Federal Offenses

Phones Answered 24 hrs.

Read the Huge Opinion

Bill Simonson

4347883-02

Felix “Toots” Miller was part of a basketball team that made history at Flint Central High School. As a member of the Indians’ 1957-1958 team, Miller helped lead Central to an 18-2 final record, 14-1 in the regular season. Latonya Mechelle White, like fellow inductee Calvin McQueen, was a track and field star at Flint Northern High School in 1988-1989. She won the state meet in both the shot put and discus throw in high school while earning allSaginaw Valley and all-state honors. Tickets to today’s Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame are $35 and will be available by calling Sylvester or Derenda Collins at (810) 7324149.

THURSDAY

Baseball Burton Bentley at Mayville, 4:15 p.m. Byron at Linden (DH), 4 p.m. Clio at Flint Carman-Ainsworth (DH), 4 p.m. Flint Kearsley at Flushing (DH), 4 p.m. Imlay City at Ortonville-Brandon (DH), 4 p.m. Mt. Morris at Genesee (DH), 4 p.m. Otisville LakeVille Memorial at Burton Bendle, 4 p.m. Owosso at Saginaw Nouvel, 4 p.m. Swartz Creek at Montrose (DH), 4 p.m. Boys Golf Larry Judson Invitational, 10 a.m. Boys Lacrosse Davison at Grand Blanc, 7 p.m. Swartz Creek at Bay City Western, 7 p.m. Boys Track and Field Tri-meet at Ortonville-Brandon: Flint Northwestern, Ortonville-Brandon, 4 p.m. Vassar Tri: Flint Powers Catholic, 4 p.m. Girls Lacrosse Flushing at Midland Dow, 6:30 p.m. Saginaw Heritage at Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 6 p.m. Girls Soccer Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker at Birch Run, 5 p.m. Flushing at Flint Kearsley, 5:30 p.m. Lake Fenton at Fenton, 6 p.m. Ortonville-Brandon at Port Huron Northern, 6 p.m. Otisville LakeVille Memorial at Millington, 2:09 p.m. Owosso at Laingsburg, 5:30 p.m. Girls Tennis Clio at Bay City Western, 4 p.m. Flushing at Ortonville-Brandon, 4 p.m. Girls Track and Field Tri-meet at Ortonville-Brandon: Flint Northwestern, Ortonville-Brandon, 4 p.m. Vassar Tri: Flint Powers Catholic, 4 p.m. Softball Burton Bentley at Mayville, 4:15 p.m. Byron at Linden (DH), 4 p.m. Mt Morris at Genesee (DH), 4 p.m. Ortonville-Brandon at Waterford Mott (DH), 4 p.m. Otisville LakeVille Memorial at Burton Bendle, 4 p.m. Owosso at Saginaw Nouvel, 4 p.m.

Criminal Defense Attorney

4335219-01

FLINT, MI — Norm Bryant, director of the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame, hasn’t been shy in his praise of the incoming 2012 class of inductees. Going as far as to say it may be the best of the soon-to-be 28 classes ever brought into the GFAAHOF, Bryant has had high praise for all eight inductees. John Fisher, Marie (Williams) Finley, Jeff Grayer, Courtney Hawkins, Felix Miller, Calvin McQueen, Daryl Turner and Latonya Mechelle White make up the class that will be inducted today. Grayer, McQueen, Turner and Hawkins all were highlighted in an ongoing series by

The Flint Journal, but the other four bring with them a long list of accolades as well. John Fisher was a threetime champion wrestler at Flint Northern High School during 1981-1984 and was named a Michigan High School Athletic Association AllState selection Norm Bryant three times. Fisher continued his wrestling career at the University of Michigan and left the Wolverines’ program as its alltime leader in victories with a career record of 184-21. He was a four-time collegiate All-American and is the only athlete ever from Flint to have

WEDNESDAY

Baseball Birch Run at St Charles (DH), 4 p.m. Davison at Midland Dow (DH), 4 p.m. Lake Fenton at Fenton (DH), 3:30 p.m. Montrose at New Lothrop (DH), 4 p.m. North Branch at Brown City (DH), 4 p.m. Boys Track and Field Quad Meet: Lapeer West, 4:30 p.m. MSU True Team Invite: Corunna, Linden, 3:30 p.m. Bridgeport Invitational, 4 p.m. Otisville LakeVille Memorial at Clio, 4 p.m. Girls Lacrosse Flint Powers Catholic at Clarkston, 7 p.m. Girls Soccer Cass City at Millington, 5 p.m. Durand at Linden, 4:30 p.m. Fenton at Detroit Country Day, 6:45 p.m. Flint Powers Catholic at Midland, 7 p.m. Saginaw Heritage at Grand Blanc, 7 p.m. Girls Tennis Chesaning at Owosso, 4 p.m. Corunna at Lansing Everett, 4 p.m. Davison at Fenton, 4 p.m. Flint Kearsley at Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 4 p.m. Flint Powers Catholic at Swartz Creek, 4 p.m. Girls Track and Field Quad Meet: Lapeer West, 4:30 p.m. MSU True Team Invite: Corunna, Linden, 3:30 p.m. Otisville LakeVille Memorial at Clio, 4 p.m. Softball Birch Run at St Charles (DH), 4 p.m. Clio at Frankenmuth (DH), 4 p.m. Lake Fenton at Fenton (DH), 4 p.m. Lapeer East at Flint Powers Catholic, 4 p.m. Montrose at New Lothrop (DH), 4 p.m. North Branch at Brown City (DH), 4 p.m. Oxford at Goodrich (DH), 4 p.m.

Driver’s License Restoration

Flint Afro-American HOF today BY ROSS MAGHIELSE RMAGHIEL@MLIVE.COM

DH Game 2: North Branch at Croswell-Lexington (DH), 4 p.m. Ortonville-Brandon at West Bloomfield (DH), 4 p.m. Webberville at Durand (DH), 4 p.m. Boys Lacrosse Grand Blanc at Midland/Midland Dow, 7 p.m. Swartz Creek at Davison, 7 p.m. Boys Track and Field Tri Meet: North Branch, 4 p.m. MSU Playmakers Indoor Meet: Davison, Holly, Owosso, 3:30 p.m. Girls Soccer Brown City at North Branch, 4:30 p.m. Corunna at Owosso, 5:30 p.m. Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy at Birch Run, 4:30 p.m. Swartz Creek at Lake Fenton, 4:30 p.m. Girls Tennis Corunna at Owosso, 4 p.m. Fenton at Saginaw Nouvel, 4 p.m. Flint Powers Catholic at Lapeer East, 4 p.m. Girls Track and Field Tri Meet: North Branch, 4 p.m. MSU Playmakers Indoor Meet: Holly, 3:30 p.m. atMichigan State University, 3:30 p.m. Softball Birch Run at Freeland (DH), 4 p.m. Grand Blanc at Flint Kearsley (DH), 4 p.m. North Branch at Armada (DH), 4 p.m. Utica at Ortonville-Brandon (DH), 4 p.m. Webberville at Durand (DH), 4 p.m.

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THE FLINT JOURNAL

B4 SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012

SCOREBOARD

THIS WEEK TODAY

AUTO RACING 12:30 p.m. — IndyCar: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. ABC 2:30 p.m. — NASCAR Sprint Cup: Auto Club 400. Fox BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING 1 p.m. — Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays. MLB Network 4 p.m. — Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels. MLB Network 4 p.m. — Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Indians. WGN COLLEGE BASKETBALL — MEN 2:20 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional final: Baylor vs. Kentucky. CBS 5 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional final: Kansas vs. North Carolina. CBS COLLEGE BASKETBALL — WOMEN Noon — NCAA tournament regional semifinal: Texas A&M vs. Maryland. ESPN 2:30 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional semifinal: St. Bonaventure vs. Notre Dame. ESPN2 4:30 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional semifinal: Penn State vs. Connecticut. ESPN2 7 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional semifinal: Gonzaga vs. Kentucky. ESPN2 COLLEGE HOCKEY 5:30 p.m. — NCAA tournament West regional final. ESPNU 8 p.m. — NCAA tournament Northeast regional final. ESPNU GOLF 12:30 p.m. — PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational, final round. Golf Channel 2:30 p.m. — PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational, final round. NBC 2:30 p.m. — PGA Champions Tour: Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, final round. Golf Channel 7 p.m. — LPGA Tour: Kia Classic, final round. Golf Channel NBA 8 p.m. — Miami Heat at Oklahoma City Thunder. ESPN 10:30 p.m. — Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN NHL 5 p.m. — Minnesota Wild at Washington Capitals. NBC Sports Network 7:30 p.m. — Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks. NBC Sports Network SOCCER 2 p.m. — Fœtbol de la Liga Mexicana: Torneo de Clausura 2012: Pumas U.N.A.M. vs. Tigres U.A.N.L.. Univision 4 p.m. — MLS: Colorado Rapids at New York Red Bulls. ESPN

MONDAY

BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING 1 p.m. — Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies. ESPN 4 p.m. — Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Angels. MLB Network COLLEGE BASEBALL 7 p.m. — North Carolina State at North Carolina. ESPNU 9 p.m. — Cincinnati Reds at Texas Rangers. MLB Network COLLEGE BASKETBALL — WOMEN 7 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional final. ESPN 9 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional final. ESPN HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL 7:30 p.m. — Powerade Jam Fest. ESPN2 NBA 7 p.m. — Detroit Pistons at Washington Wizards. FSD Plus NHL 7:30 p.m. — Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings. FSD 7:30 p.m. — Tampa Bay Lightning at Philadelphia Flyers. NBC Sports Network 10 p.m. — Los Angeles Kings at Vancouver. NBC Sports Network SOCCER 2:55 p.m. — English Premier League: Manchester United vs. Fulham. ESPN2

TUESDAY

BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING 1 p.m. — Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies. MLB Network 4 p.m. — Los Angeles Angels at San Francisco Giants. ESPN2 7 p.m. — Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees. MLB Network COLLEGE BASKETBALL — MEN 7 p.m. — NIT semifinal. ESPN2 9 p.m. — NIT semifinal. ESPN2 COLLEGE BASKETBALL — WOMEN 7 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional final. UMass vs. Stanford. ESPN 9 p.m. — NCAA tournament regional final, Washington vs. Minnesota. ESPN COLLEGE SOFTBALL 8 p.m. — Alabama at Auburn. ESPNU NHL 7:30 p.m. — Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins. NBC Sports Network SOCCER 2:30 p.m. — UEFA Champions League quarterfinal: Apoel vs. Real Madrid. FSD

WEDNESDAY

BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING 1 p.m. — New York Yankees at Atlanta Braves. ESPN HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL 7 p.m. — McDonald’s All-America Girls Game: East vs. West. ESPNU 9:30 p.m. — McDonald’s All-American Boys Game: East vs. West. ESPN NBA 7 p.m. — Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers. FSD 7 p.m. — Orlando Magic at New York Knicks. ESPN NHL 7:30 p.m. — Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets. NBC Sports Network 10 p.m. — San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks. NBC Sports Network SOCCER 2:30 p.m. — UEFA Champions League quarterfinal: Olympique de Marseille vs. Bayern Munich. FSD TENNIS 1 p.m. — ATP: Sony Ericsson Open, men’s and women’s quarterfinals. ESPN2 7 p.m. — ATP: Sony Ericsson Open, men’s and women’s quarterfinals. ESPN2

THURSDAY

AUTO RACING 5 p.m. — IndyCar Firestone Indy Lights: Streets of St. Petersburg. NBC Sports Network BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING 1 p.m. — Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies. ESPN

4 p.m. — Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels. MLB Network 6 p.m. — Washington Nationals at Detroit Tigers. FSD COLLEGE BASKETBALL — MEN 7 p.m. — NIT final. ESPN NBA 8 p.m. — Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat. TNT 10:30 p.m. — Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers. TNT GOLF 8:30 a.m. — European PGA Tour: Sicilian Open, first round. Golf Channel Noon — LPGA Tour: Kraft Nabisco Championship, first round. Golf Channel 3 p.m. — PGA Tour: Shell Houston Open, first round. Golf Channel HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL — BOYS 2 p.m. — National Invitational: La Lumiere Ind. vs. Montverde Fla.. ESPNU 4 p.m. — National Invitational: Montrose Christian Md. vs. Ravenscroft N.C. ESPNU 6 p.m. — National Invitational: Blanche Ely Fla. vs. St. Benedict’s N.J. ESPNU 8 p.m. — National Invitational: Coolidge D.C. vs. Findlay Prep Nev. ESPNU TENNIS 1 p.m. — ATP Sony Ericsson Open, women’s first semifinal and men’s quarterfinal. ESPN2 7 p.m. — ATP Sony Ericsson Open, men’s quarterfinal. ESPN2

FRIDAY

AUTO RACING 12:30 p.m. — NASCAR Sprint Cup: Martinsville, practice. Speed 2 p.m. — NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Martinsville, practice. Speed 3:30 p.m. — NASCAR Sprint Cup: Martinsville, final practice. Speed BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING 4 p.m. — Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Angels. MLB Network 7 p.m. — Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees. MLB Network BOXING 9 p.m. — Boxing: Hank Lundy vs. Dannie Williams. ESPN2 COLLEGE SOFTBALL 8 p.m. — Florida at Georgia. ESPNU COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL — MEN 7 p.m. — Loyola-Chicago at Ohio State. Big Ten Network GOLF 8:30 a.m. — European PGA Tour: Sicilian Open, second round. Golf Channel Noon — LPGA Tour: Kraft Nabisco Championship, second round. Golf Channel 3 p.m. — PGA Tour: Shell Houston Open, second round. Golf Channel HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL — BOYS 11:30 a.m. — National Invitational semifinal. ESPN2 1:30 p.m. — National Invitational semifinal. ESPN2 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL — GIRLS 3:30 p.m. — National Invitational: Edgewater Fla. vs. Riverdale Baptist Md.. ESPNU 5:30 p.m. — National Invitational: Dr. Phillips Fla. vs. HD Woodson D.C. ESPNU NBA 8 p.m. — Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls. FSD 8 p.m. — Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic. ESPN 10:30 p.m. — Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers. ESPN NHL 7:30 p.m. — Nashville Predators at Detroit Red Wings. FSD Plus 10 p.m. — Dallas Stars at Vancouver. NBC Sports Network SOCCER 7:30 p.m. — MLS: FC Dallas at D.C. United. NBC Sports Network TENNIS 3 p.m. — ATP Sony Ericsson Open, men’s first semifinal. ESPN2 7 p.m. — ATP Sony Ericsson Open, men’s second semifinal. ESPN2

SATURDAY

AUTO RACING 10 a.m. — NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Martinsville, qualifying. Speed 11:30 a.m. — NASCAR Sprint Cup: Martinsville, qualifying. Speed 1:30 p.m. — NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Martinsville. Speed 4 p.m. — IndyCar Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, qualifying. NBC Sports Network BASEBALL SPRING TRAINING 1 p.m. — Detroit Tigers at Atlanta Braves. FSD 1 p.m. — Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays. MLB Network 4 p.m. — Los Angeles Angels at Chicago Cubs. MLB Network COLLEGE BASEBALL 4 p.m. — Miami at Clemson. ESPNU 8 p.m. — Arkansas at LSU. ESPNU COLLEGE BASKETBALL — MEN 6 p.m. — NCAA tournament semifinal. CBS 8:30 p.m. — NCAA tournament semifinal. CBS NBA 7:30 p.m. — Charlotte Bobcats at Detroit Pistons. FSD GOLF 7 a.m. — European PGA Tour: Sicilian Open, third round. Golf Channel 1 p.m. — PGA Tour: Shell Houston Open, third round. Golf Channel 3 p.m. — PGA Tour: Shell Houston Open, third round. NBC 4:30 p.m. — LPGA Tour: Kraft Nabisco Championship, third round. Golf Channel COLLEGE LACROSSE Noon — Virginia at Maryland. ESPNU COLLEGE SOFTBALL 4:30 p.m. — Baylor at Missouri. FSD COLLEGE WATER POLO Noon — Indiana at Michigan. Big Ten Network HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL Noon — National Invitational, girls final. ESPN2 2 p.m. — National Invitational, boys final. ESPN SOCCER 9:55 a.m. — English Premier League: Manchester City vs. Sunderland. ESPN2 9 p.m. — CONCACAF Olympic qualifier: Teams TBA. NBC Sports Network 11 p.m. — MLS: New England Revolution at Los Angeles Galaxy. NBC Sports Network TENNIS 12:30 p.m. — ATP: Sony Ericsson Open, women’s final. CBS

S PORT S CA L E N DA R

FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS ALL TIMES EASTERN

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

HOCKEY NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

PHIL (ss) MIA at HOU at STL WASH BAL at ATL NYY (ss) 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 6:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:05 pm 1:30 pm FSD FSD

EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC

Pts

x-N.Y. Rangers x-Pittsburgh x-Philadelphia New Jersey N.Y. Islanders

75 74 75 75 74

47 46 44 42 30

21 22 23 27 33

7 6 8 6 11

101 98 96 90 71

206 248 238 204 177

168 193 208 195 222

NORTHEAST

Pts

Boston Ottawa Buffalo Toronto Montreal

73 76 76 76 76

42 38 37 33 29

28 28 29 34 34

3 10 10 9 13

87 86 84 75 71

237 230 197 217 197

SOUTHEAST

Pts

Florida Washington Winnipeg Tampa Bay Carolina

74 75 75 74 76

36 37 35 34 30

24 30 32 33 31

14 8 8 7 15

86 82 78 75 75

184 202 201 209 202

203 214 217 252 228

CMB 7:30 pm FSD

at CMB 7:30 pm NBCSN

180 223 209 239 211

at WASH 7:30 pm FSD+

at CLE 7 pm FSD

HEAT 88, PISTONS 73 MIAMI (88)

CENTRAL

Pts

x-St. Louis Detroit Nashville Chicago Columbus

75 75 75 75 74

46 45 43 42 24

20 25 24 25 43

9 5 8 8 7

101 95 94 92 55

192 230 213 230 172

147 185 198 215 237

James 6-15 5-5 17, Bosh 4-10 7-7 15, Anthony 3-4 0-0 6, Chalmers 1-7 0-0 3, Wade 10-19 4-4 24, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Haslem 3-6 2-2 8, Turiaf 2-2 0-2 4, Cole 1-6 0-0 2, Battier 4-8 0-0 9. Totals 34-77 18-20 88.

NORTHWEST

Pts

y-Vancouver Colorado Calgary Minnesota Edmonton

74 76 76 74 75

44 39 34 31 30

21 30 27 33 36

9 6 15 10 9

97 84 83 72 69

227 197 186 159 200

186 200 208 204 220

Prince 5-12 0-0 11, Maxiell 0-6 0-2 0, Monroe 2-5 1-1 5, Knight 6-12 2-4 18, Gordon 4-10 2-3 10, Bynum 1-5 4-4 6, Wallace 1-4 0-2 2, Jerebko 3-8 0-1 6, Wilkins 4-9 0-0 9, Daye 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 29-75 9-17 73.

PACIFIC

Pts

THURSDAY

MONDAY

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. Columbus at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. Ottawa at Winnipeg, 8:30 p.m. Dallas at Calgary, 9 p.m. Los Angeles at Vancouver, 10 p.m. Colorado at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

1 0

3 3

0 2

4 5

1st PERIOD—1, Carolina, Tlusty 16 (LaRose, E.Staal), :17. Penalties—Allen, Car (interference), 7:24; Gleason, Car (roughing), 8:32; Holmstrom, Det (goaltender interference), 8:32; Jokinen, Car (tripping), 9:19. 2nd PERIOD—2, Carolina, LaRose 18 (E.Staal, Allen), :26. 3, Detroit, Zetterberg 20 (V.Filppula, Hudler), 5:10. 4, Carolina, McBain 8 (Faulk, Jokinen), 15:38 (pp). 5, Carolina, Tlusty 17 (Skinner, Jokinen), 15:55 (pp). 6, Detroit, Zetterberg 21 (V.Filppula, Hudler), 16:58. 7, Detroit, Bertuzzi 14 (Nyquist, Lidstrom), 17:16. Penalties—Lidstrom, Det (interference), 13:39; Cleary, Det (hooking), 15:07. 3rd PERIOD—8, Detroit, Hudler 22 (Stuart, V.Filppula), 8:10. 9, Detroit, Miller 14 (Cleary), 11:35. Penalties—None. SHOTS ON GOAL—Carolina 10-11-3—24. Detroit 16-15-19—50. POWER-PLAY OPPORTUNITIES—Carolina 2 of 2; Detroit 0 of 2. GOALIES—Carolina, Ward 27-23-12 (50 shots-45 saves). Detroit, Conklin 4-5-1 (24-20). A—20,066 (20,066). T—2:29. REFEREES—Dwyer, Lee. LINESMEN—G.Devorski, Brisebois.

BASKETBALL NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION ATLANTIC

PCT

Philadelphia Boston New York Toronto New Jersey

27 25 24 16 16

21 22 25 32 34

.563 .532 .490 .333 .320

— 11/2 31/2 11 12

17-10 16-8 15-10 8-15 6-18

10-11 9-14 9-15 8-17 10-16

PCT

CENTRAL

Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Cleveland Detroit

39 28 22 17 16

10 19 26 28 32

.761 — .633 51/2 .592 71/2 .234 241/2 .152 28

20-2 18-8 15-7 6-18 4-17

15-9 13-10 14-13 5-18 3-22

PCT

19-4 14-7 11-11 9-14 12-12

20-6 14-12 11-15 8-14 4-20

.796 — .596 10 .458 161/2 .378 20 .333 221/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST

PCT

San Antonio Dallas Memphis Houston New Orleans

32 28 25 26 12

14 22 21 23 36

.696 .560 .543 .531 .250

— 6 7 71/2 21

19-4 18-8 16-7 18-7 5-21

13-10 10-14 9-14 8-16 7-15

PCT

NORTHWEST

Oklahoma City Utah Denver Minnesota Portland

36 26 26 23 22

12 22 22 26 26

PACIFIC

L.A. Lakers L.A. Clippers Phoenix Golden State Sacramento

30 27 24 19 17

18 21 24 26 30

3-point goals—Miami 2-16 (Battier 1-3, Chalmers 1-7, Wade 0-1, Cole 0-2, James 0-3), Detroit 6-15 (Knight 4-4, Wilkins 1-1, Prince 1-3, Bynum 0-1, Jerebko 0-2, Gordon 0-4). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Miami 52 (Bosh, Wade 9), Detroit 47 (Maxiell 7). Assists—Miami 24 (James 10), Detroit 16 (Bynum 6). Total fouls—Miami 15, Detroit 20. Technical—Miami defensive three second. A—22,076 (22,076).

.750 — .542 10 .542 10 .469 131/2 .458 14 PCT

.625 — .563 3 .500 6 .422 91/2 .362 121/2

FRIDAY

Milwaukee 112, Charlotte 92 Phoenix 113, Indiana 111 Toronto 96, New York 79 Orlando 93, Cleveland 80 Atlanta 93, New Jersey 84 Miami 88, Detroit 73 Oklahoma City 149, Minnesota 140,2OT Philadelphia 99, Boston 86 San Antonio 104, Dallas 87 L.A. Lakers 103, Portland 96 Utah 121, Denver 102

21-4 19-6 15-12 12-12 15-8

15-8 7-16 11-10 11-14 7-18

20-3 16-8 15-10 10-13 13-10

10-15 11-13 9-14 9-13 4-20

TODAY

Phoenix at Cleveland, 3 p.m. Denver at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. Utah at Atlanta, 6 p.m. Washington at Boston, 6 p.m. Philadelphia at San Antonio, 7 p.m. Miami at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. Golden State at Portland, 9 p.m. Memphis at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.

MONDAY

Boston at Charlotte, 7 p.m. Miami at Indiana, 7 p.m. Orlando at Toronto, 7 p.m. Detroit at Washington, 7 p.m. Utah at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. Milwaukee at New York, 7:30 p.m. Denver at Chicago, 8 p.m. Sacramento at Houston, 8 p.m. New Orleans at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

REGIONAL SEMIFINALS—THURSDAY

Syracuse 64, Wisconsin 63 Ohio State 81, Cincinnati 66

REGIONAL FINALS —SATURDAY

at CHI CHAR 8 pm 7:30 pm FSD FSD

Ohio State 77, Syracuse 70

SOUTH REGIONAL REGIONAL SEMIFINALS —FRIDAY

Baylor 75, Xavier 70 Kentucky 102, Indiana 90

Totals

ab r h bi

000 000

3 0 1 1 1 1 3 2 3 1 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 3 1 32

200 002

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 4

2 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 4 2

E—Worth (2). DP—New York 1. LOB—New York 5, Detroit 7. 2B—J.Gil (3), Wise (2). HR—Ibanez (1), A.Ciriaco (1). SB—Maxwell (4), Hall (1). S—O.Santos. SF—Worth. New York

F.Garcia Whelan Logan D.Mitchell W,2-0 C.Cabral S,1-1 Detroit

R ER BB

41/3 1 3 1

1 0 0 3 0

0 0 0 2 0

2 0 0 3 0

4 0 1 1 1

R ER BB

2/ 3

0 0 0 2 0

Scherzer 7 3 2 2 0 8 Benoit 1 0 0 0 0 1 Dotel 1 1 0 0 0 2 Schlereth L,1-1 1 1 2 1 3 1 Blown save—D. Mitchell (1-1). HBP—by Scherzer (Cervelli). Umpires—Home, Wegner; First, Holbrook; Second, Lollo; Third, Gosney. T—2:56. A—10,115 (9,000).

GOLF BAY HILL SCORES PGA

At Bay Hill Club and Lodge Course; Orlando, Fla. Purse: $6 million. Yardage: 7,419; Par: 72 (36-36) (a-amateur)

Third round—Saturday Tiger Woods Graeme McDowell Ernie Els Ian Poulter Charles Howell III Johnson Wagner Kevin Na Charlie Wi Bud Cauley Sean O’Hair Zach Johnson Chris Stroud Bubba Watson Webb Simpson Justin Rose Jason Dufner Seung-Yul Noh Tim Herron Brian Davis Gary Woodland Trevor Immelman Ryan Moore K.J. Choi

69-64—133 63-70—133 70-65—135 67-69—136 67-69—136 67-69—136 68-69—137 67-70—137 64-73—137 69-69—138 68-70—138 67-71—138 71-68—139 70-69—139 69-70—139 69-70—139 68-72—140 68-72—140 67-73—140 71-70—141 70-71—141 70-71—141 71-71—142 71-71—142 73-69—142 70-72—142 70-72—142 68-74—142

NASCAR SPRINT CUP

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

000 000

67-68—135 71-66—137 73-66—139 70-69—139 68-71—139 67-72—139 68-73—141 68-73—141 72-70—142 72-70—142 71-71—142 69-73—142 69-73—142

Lineup for today’s race

A.Jackson cf D.Fields cf D.Machado ph Boesch rf S.Moya rf R.Santiago ph Kelly 3b A.Ciriaco 3b Fielder 1b R.Strieby 1b D.Young lf Q.Berry lf Avila c O.Santos c Raburn dh Jh.Peralta ss Worth ss Inge 2b Diaz 2b 35 4 5 4 Totals

New York Detroit

REGIONAL FINALS —TODAY

North Carolina (32-5) vs. Kansas (30-6), 5:05 p.m.

WEST REGIONAL REGIONAL SEMIFINALS —THURSDAY

Louisville 57, Michigan State 44 Florida 68, Marquette 58

REGIONAL FINALS —SATURDAY

Louisville 72, Florida 68

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS—MARCH 31

Ohio State (31-7) vs. Midwest champion South champion vs. Louisville (30-9)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP—APRIL 2

Semifinal winners

NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS

TUESDAY UMass (24-10) vs. Stanford (24-11), 7 p.m. Washington (24-10) vs. Minnesota (22-14), 9 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP MARCH 29 Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

(Best of 3) MONDAY Pittsburgh (20-16) at Washington State (18-16), 10 p.m. WEDNESDAY Washington State at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. MARCH 30 (if necessary) Washington State at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

COLLEGEINSIDER.COM TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS SEMIFINALS

Mercer 64, Fairfield 59

SATURDAY

TODAY Oakland (20-15) at Utah State (20-15), 6 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP WEDNESDAY Mercer (26-11) vs. Oakland-Utah State winner, TBA

WOMEN NCAA TOURNAMENT

DES MOINES REGIONAL REGIONAL SEMIFINALS—SATURDAY

Tennessee 84, Kansas 73 Baylor 83, Georgia Tech 68

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP—MONDAY

Tennessee (27-8) vs. Baylor (37-0), 7 p.m.

FRESNO REGIONAL

ab r h bi Detroit

0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Second round—Friday

AUTO RACING AUTO CLUB 400

YANKEES 4, TIGERS 2, 10 INN. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

REGIONAL SEMIFINALS —FRIDAY

North Carolina 73, Ohio 65, OT Kansas 60, N.C. State 57

At The Superdome, New Orleans

At La Costa Resort and Spa, Legends Course Carlsbad, Calif. Purse: $1.7 million. Yardage: 6,490; Par: 72 (36-36) Yani Tseng Se Ri Pak Alison Walshe Jodi Ewart Jiyai Shin Caroline Hedwall Jennifer Johnson Brittany Lincicome Ai Miyazato Inbee Park Chella Choi Amy Yang Sun Young Yoo

MIDWEST REGIONAL

FINAL FOUR

LPGA

Second round—Saturday

Boston vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater, 1:05 p.m. Houston vs. Washington at Viera, 1:05 p.m. Miami vs. Detroit at Lakeland, 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, 1:05 p.m. Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, 1:05 p.m. Kansas City vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale, 4:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glendale, 4:05 p.m. Milwaukee vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, 4:05 p.m. San Diego vs. Chicago Cubs (ss) at Mesa, 4:05 p.m. Colorado vs. L.A. Angels at Tempe, 4:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs (ss) vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, 4:10 p.m. Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, 7:05 p.m. Cincinnati vs. Texas at Surprise, 9:05 p.m.

3 1 2 2 3 2 3 1 3 1 2 1 3 1 3 2 2

KIA CLASSIC

Jeff Sluman Fred Couples Jim Thorpe Chien Soon Lu John Huston Bobby Clampett Michael Allen Peter Senior Tom Pernice Jr. Bob Tway Bill Glasson Jim Carter John Ross Joey Sindelar Chip Beck Fred Funk Dick Mast Brad Bryant Joel Edwards Hal Sutton Jim Rutledge Mark Wiebe Jerry Pate Mark Brooks Jay Haas Mike Goodes Vicente Fernandez John Cook

Minnesota vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, 1:05 p.m. Baltimore vs. Philadelphia (ss) at Clearwater, 1:05 p.m. Miami vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, 1:05 p.m. Boston vs. Toronto at Dunedin, 1:05 p.m. Philadelphia (ss) vs. Detroit (ss) at Lakeland, 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets vs. Washington at Viera, 1:05 p.m. Pittsburgh vs. Houston (ss) at Kissimmee, 1:05 p.m. Detroit (ss) vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa, 1:05 p.m. Houston (ss) vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, 1:05 p.m. San Francisco vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, 4:05 p.m. Arizona vs. San Diego at Peoria, 4:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, 4:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers vs. Milwaukee (ss) at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m. Milwaukee (ss) vs. Kansas City at Surprise, 4:05 p.m. Texas vs. L.A. Angels at Tempe, 4:05 p.m. Cincinnati vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, 4:10 p.m.

E.Nunez 3b J.Nix 2b Cervelli c J.Gil pr-c Cano 2b A.Maruszak 3b Teixeira 1b Laird pr-1b Ibanez dh Maxwell ph-dh Dickerson cf Hall ss Garner lf A.Krum cf Curtis rf R.Pena ss Wise cf-lf

70-71-72—213 73-74-67—214 74-73-67—214 72-72-70—214 71-72-71—214 72-68-74—214 72-67-75—214 71-68-75—214 72-74-69—215 76-70-69—215 73-71-71—215 69-74-72—215 73-69-73—215 72-70-73—215

At Fallen Oak, Biloxi, Miss. Purse: $1.6 million. Yardage: 7,119; Par 72

TODAY

New York

Marc Leishman Greg Owen Josh Teater Jim Furyk John Rollins Martin Laird Sergio Garcia Vijay Singh Henrik Stenson Jeff Overton Phil Mickelson Anthony Kim Kevin Chappell Daniel Summerhays

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Houston 5, Pittsburgh 4, 10 innings Toronto 9, Atlanta 0 Baltimore 12, Washington 3 N.Y. Yankees 4, Detroit 2, 10 innings Boston (ss) 4, Miami 1 N.Y. Mets 6, St. Louis 6, 10 innings Philadelphia 10, Boston (ss) 5 Minnesota 19, Tampa Bay 4 Chicago White Sox 6, Milwaukee 4 San Diego (ss) 5, Chicago Cubs 1 L.A. Angels 3, Texas 2 L.A. Dodgers 5, Cleveland 4 Cincinnati (ss) 6, San Diego (ss) 0 San Francisco (ss) 6, Cincinnati (ss) 4 Colorado 7, San Francisco (ss) 6 Kansas City vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, late

SATURDAY

L.A. Clippers 101, Memphis 85 Atlanta 95, Washington 92 New Jersey 102, Charlotte 89 New York 101, Detroit 79 Dallas 101, Houston 99, OT San Antonio 89, New Orleans 86 Indiana 125, Milwaukee 104 Toronto at Chicago, late Sacramento at Golden State, 10:30 late

EAST REGIONAL

NASH 7:30 pm FSD+

MISSISSIPPI GULF RESORT CLASSIC

MONDAY

EASTERN CONFERENCE

88 73

SATURDAY

RED WINGS 5, HURRICANES 4

11 18 20 36 39

16 16

N.Y. Yankees (ss) 6, Minnesota 4 Baltimore 6, Boston 5 St. Louis 2, Miami 1 N.Y. Yankees (ss) 5, Philadelphia 3 Atlanta 9, N.Y. Mets 4 Detroit 7, Pittsburgh 2 Houston 5, Washington 1 L.A. Dodgers (ss) 17, Chicago White Sox (ss) 4 L.A. Angels (ss) 6, Milwaukee 3 Kansas City 2, L.A. Dodgers (ss) 0 Chicago Cubs 10, Colorado 8 Toronto 7, Tampa Bay 5 L.A. Angels (ss) 4, Cleveland 1 Texas 4, San Francisco 1 Chicago White Sox 6, Arizona 3 San Diego 5, Cincinnati 2

TODAY

13 21

FRIDAY

Edmonton at Columbus, 3 p.m. Minnesota at Washington, 5 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Florida, 5 p.m. New Jersey at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Nashville at Chicago, 7:30 p.m. Boston at Anaheim, 8 p.m. St. Louis at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

35 31 29 11 7

32 16

Baltimore 11, Minnesota 1 Toronto 2, Philadelphia 0 Atlanta 5, Miami 5, 10 innings St. Louis 9, Washington 0 Tampa Bay 8, Pittsburgh 6 N.Y. Mets 8, Houston 2 Cleveland 9, San Diego 4 Chicago White Sox 16, Kansas City (ss) 4 San Diego 11, Colorado 6 L.A. Angels 7, Kansas City (ss) 4 Chicago Cubs 11, Texas (ss) 4 N.Y. Yankees 4, Boston 4 Cincinnati 6, Texas (ss) 2 Colorado 7, San Francisco 0

SATURDAY

Miami Orlando Atlanta Washington Charlotte

27 20

THURSDAY

Dallas 4, Calgary 1 Tampa Bay 4, N.Y. Islanders 3 Detroit 5, Carolina 4 Buffalo 3, Minnesota 1 Nashville 3, Winnipeg 1 Ottawa 8, Pittsburgh 4 Philadelphia 4, Montreal 1 N.Y. Rangers 4, Toronto 3, SO Boston at Los Angeles, late Vancouver at Colorado, late Phoenix at San Jose, late

SOUTHEAST

Miami Detroit

SPRING TRAINING

Buffalo 4, N.Y. Rangers 1 Columbus 5, Carolina 1 Toronto 4, New Jersey 3, SO Winnipeg 4, Washington 3, OT Edmonton 2, Florida 1, SO Montreal 5, Ottawa 1

Carolina Detroit

DETROIT (73)

BASEBALL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

FRIDAY

COLLEGE BASKETBALL MEN NCAA TOURNAMENT

REGIONAL FINALS —TODAY

Friday

Philadelphia 2, Washington 1, SO Tampa Bay 3, Edmonton 2, SO Minnesota 3, Calgary 2, SO Los Angeles 1, St. Louis 0, SO Pittsburgh 5, Nashville 1 Vancouver 2, Dallas 1 Phoenix 3, Colorado 2 San Jose 2, Boston 1

Point leaders 1. E.Sadler, 214; 2. R.Stenhouse Jr., 196; 3. A.Dillon, 187; 4. T.Bayne, 180; 5. S.Hornish Jr., 160; 6. C.Whitt, 151; 7. M.Annett, 148; 8. T.Malsam, 144; 9. J.Allgaier, 126; 10. M.Bliss, 119.

Baylor (30-7) vs. Kentucky (35-2), 2:20 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Dallas 75 41 29 5 87 198 198 Los Angeles 74 37 25 12 86 172 160 Phoenix 75 37 26 12 86 197 194 San Jose 74 37 26 10 84 201 191 Anaheim 75 32 32 11 75 189 209 Two points for a win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss; x-clinched playoff spot; y-clinched division

B.Keselowski 125-128; J.Logano 129-135; T.Bayne 136-138; J.Logano 139-150.

69-65-71—205 72-63-71—206 71-70-67—208 71-69-68—208 73-68-68—209 71-69-69—209 73-68-69—210 66-68-76—210 70-73-68—211 69-72-70—211 71-68-72—211 70-69-72—211 69-70-72—211 73-66-73—212 69-69-74—212 66-69-77—212 73-73-67—213 74-71-68—213 70-73-70—213 75-68-70—213 73-69-71—213 71-71-71—213 69-72-72—213

After Friday qualifying At Auto Club Speedway Fontana, Calif. (Lap length: 2 miles) (Car number in parentheses) 1. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 186.403 mph. 2. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 185.534. 3. (55) Mark Martin, Toyota, 185.534. 4. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 185.51. 5. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 185.51. 6. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 185.328. 7. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 185.199. 8. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 185.195. 9. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 185.185. 10. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 185.123. 11. (15) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 185.052. 12. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 185. 13. (56) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 184.724. 14. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 184.53. 15. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 184.322. 16. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 184.068. 17. (2) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 184.044. 18. (10) David Reutimann, Chevrolet, 183.913. 19. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 183.744. 20. (30) David Stremme, Toyota, 183.397. 21. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 183.379. 22. (78) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 183.052. 23. (51) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 182.681. 24. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 182.56. 25. (22) A J Allmendinger, Dodge, 182.542. 26. (47) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 182.445. 27. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 182.366. 28. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 182.094. 29. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 182.007. 30. (26) Josh Wise, Ford, 181.087. 31. (83) Landon Cassill, Toyota, 180.85. 32. (98) Michael McDowell, Ford, 180.61. 33. (13) Casey Mears, Ford, 180.542. 34. (36) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, 180.433. 35. (23) Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 180.356. 36. (49) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, 180.297. 37. (33) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 179.609. 38. (34) David Ragan, Ford, 179.466. 39. (19) Mike Bliss, Toyota, 179.296. 40. (93) Travis Kvapil, Toyota, 178.864. 41. (38) David Gilliland, Ford, 178.602. 42. (32) Ken Schrader, Ford, owner points. 43. (74) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 179.131. Failed to qualify 44. (7) Robby Gordon, Dodge, 178.47. 45. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 178.443. 46. (37) Timmy Hill, Ford, 177.936.

ROYAL PURPLE 300

NASCAR NATIONWIDE Saturday’s results At Auto Club Speedway Fontana, Calif. (Lap length: 2 miles) (Start position in parentheses) 1. (1) Joey Logano, Toyota, 150 laps, $70,770. 2. (10) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 150, $66,593. 3. (3) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 150, $40,750. 4. (7) Brian Scott, Toyota, 150, $40,233. 5. (4) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 150, $31,215. 6. (14) Brad Sweet, Chevrolet, 150, $28,883. 7. (6) Kenny Wallace, Toyota, 150, $26,633. 8. (15) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 150, $18,840. 9. (5) Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, 150, $25,268. 10. (8) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 150, $25,983. 11. (16) Michael Annett, Ford, 150, $24,408. 12. (17) James Buescher, Chevrolet, 150, $24,158. 13. (11) Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 150, $24,008. 14. (9) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 150, $23,948. 15. (13) Jason Bowles, Toyota, 150, $24,863. 16. (22) Tayler Malsam, Toyota, 150, $23,578. 17. (18) Mike Bliss, Toyota, 150, $16,900. 18. (19) Mike Wallace, Chevrolet, 150, $23,233. 19. (20) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 149, $23,123. 20. (28) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 148, $23,688. 21. (35) Robert Richardson Jr., Chevrolet, 148, $16,435. 22. (33) Benny Gordon, Chevrolet, 148, $16,275. 23. (32) Joey Gase, Ford, 148, $22,658. 24. (31) Erik Darnell, Chevrolet, 147, $16,025. 25. (24) Blake Koch, Chevrolet, 147, $22,633. 26. (25) Eric McClure, Toyota, 146, $22,448. 27. (27) T.J. Bell, Chevrolet, 145, $22,113. 28. (39) Daryl Harr, Chevrolet, 145, $21,993. 29. (34) Tim Schendel, Chevrolet, 145, $15,375. 30. (12) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, accident, 142, $22,033. 31. (40) David Green, Dodge, suspension, 139, $21,623. 32. (2) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, engine, 112, $22,563. 33. (38) Kevin Lepage, Chevrolet, rear gear, 82, $21,403. 34. (37) Morgan Shepherd, Chevrolet, engine, 66, $14,825. 35. (21) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, engine, 63, $21,183. 36. (29) Tim Andrews, Ford, vibration, 22, $14,605. 37. (43) Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, rear gear, 9, $14,485. 38. (36) Chase Miller, Chevrolet, vibration, 8, $14,375. 39. (30) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, electrical, 6, $14,115. 40. (41) Mike Harmon, Chevrolet, rear end, 5, $14,080. 41. (23) Scott Speed, Chevrolet, vibration, 4, $14,020. 42. (42) John Jackson, Toyota, fuel pump, 3, $13,940. 43. (26) Jeff Green, Toyota, vibration, 2, $13,907.

Race statistics

AVERAGE SPEED OF RACE WINNER: 142.330 mph. TIME OF RACE: 2 hours, 6 minutes, 28 seconds. MARGIN OF VICTORY: 1.066 seconds. CAUTION FLAGS: 4 for 18 laps. LEAD CHANGES: 15 among 7 drivers. LAP LEADERS: J.Logano 1-26; B.Keselowski 27-59; J.Logano 60-62; E.Sadler 63-64; J.Logano 65-68; J.Allgaier 69; J.Logano 70-77; J.Allgaier 78; J.Logano 79-101; R.Stenhouse Jr. 102; J.Logano 103-111; K.Busch 112-124;

REGIONAL SEMIFINALS—SATURDAY

St. John’s (24-9) vs. Duke (26-5), late Stanford (33-1) vs. South Carolina (25-9), late

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP—MONDAY

Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.

RALEIGH REGIONAL REGIONAL SEMIFINALS—TODAY

Texas A&M (24-10) vs. Maryland (30-4), Noon Notre Dame (32-3) vs. St. Bonaventure (31-3), 2:30 p.m.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP—TUESDAY

Semifinal winners, 9 p.m.

KINGSTON REGIONAL REGIONAL SEMIFINALS—TODAY

UConn (31-4) vs. Penn State (26-6), late Gonzaga (28-5) vs. Kentucky (27-6), late

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP—TUESDAY

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

FINAL FOUR At Pepsi Center, Denver

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS—APRIL 1

Des Moines champion vs. Fresno champion, 6:30 or 9 p.m. Raleigh champion vs. Kingston champion, 6:30 or 9 p.m.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP—APRIL 3

Semifinal winners, 8:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S NIT

THIRD ROUND THURSDAY Syracuse 82, Temple 68 Virginia 74, Appalachian State 58 Toledo 81, VCU 64 San Diego 60, Texas Tech 51 Oklahoma State 70, Missouri State 57 Colorado 48, Villanova 47 FRIDAY James Madison 72, South Florida 45

QUARTERFINALS SATURDAY Syracuse 74, Toledo 73, OT TODAY Colorado (21-13) at Oklahoma St. (19-12), 1:30 p.m. Virginia (25-10) vs. James Madison (27-7), 2 p.m. San Diego (25-8) at Washington (20-13), 3 p.m.

SEMIFINALS WEDNESDAY Syracuse (22-14) vs. Virginia-James Madison winner, TBA THURSDAY Colorado-Oklahoma State winner vs. San DiegoWashington winner, TBA

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL SEMIFINALS

WEDNESDAY Northern Iowa 68, Seattle 64 FRIDAY Minnesota 67, Manhattan 54

CHAMPIONSHIP TODAY Northern Iowa (19-14) at Minnesota (18-17), 3 p.m.

COLLEGE HOCKEY NCAA TOURNAMENT

NORTHEAST REGIONAL At Worcester, Mass.

SATURDAY

Boston College 2, Air Force 0 Minnesota-Duluth (24-9-6) vs. Maine (23-13-3), late

TODAY

Boston College (30-10-1) vs. Minnesota-Duluth-Maine winner, 8 p.m.

EAST REGIONAL At Bridgeport, Conn.

FRIDAY

Union (NY) 3, Michigan State 1 UMass-Lowell 4, Miami (Ohio) 3, OT

SATURDAY

Union (NY) 4, UMass-Lowell 2

MIDWEST REGIONAL At Green Bay, Wis.

FRIDAY

Ferris State 2, Denver 1 Cornell 3, Michigan 2, OT

SATURDAY

Ferris State (24-11-5) vs. Cornell (19-8-7), late

WEST REGIONAL At St. Paul, Minn.

SATURDAY

North Dakota 3, Western Michigan 1 Minnesota 7, Boston U. 3

TODAY

North Dakota (26-12-3) vs. Minnesota (27-13-1), 5:30 p.m.

FROZEN FOUR At Tampa, Fla.

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS—APRIL 5

Northeast champion vs. West champion, 4:30 or 8 p.m. Union (NY) (26-7-7) vs. Midwest champion, 4:30 or 8 p.m.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP—APRIL 7

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

THE FLINT JOURNAL

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012 B5

STATE SPORTS

Appling already misses Green MSU GUARD SAYS HE NEEDS TO BE A VOCAL LEADER NEXT SEASON

Leyland OK with one-year deals

BY GRAHAM COUCH GCOUCH@MLIVE.COM

PHOENIX — Reality drilled Keith Appling in the gut sometime Thursday evening. Perhaps when he was pulled from Michigan State’s 57-44 loss to Louisville with 2:05 remaining. Or maybe when senior Draymond Green thanked his teammates, Appling included, in the locker room immediately following defeat. By the time Appling finished his final locker room interview, the Spartans’ sophomore point guard’s eyes were mostly on Green, across the room holding court one last time in a Michigan State uniform. His voice heavy with dejection, Appling struggled to remember the final minutes of a loss he didn’t see coming. “There was so much going on at the time,” he said, after racking his brain to try to recall a late-game conversation with coach Tom Izzo. What Appling could see coming was life without the giant figure across the way. “We just … I just got to look to be more of a vocal leader and help my teammates as much as I possibly can,” Appling said. The legacy of Green was colliding with his impending void at this moment, Appling seeming to recognize how much heavy lifting Green had done for this once-unheralded crew. “That’s going to be the pressure on (Derrick) Nix and (Adreian) Payne and Appling now,” Izzo said. “Are they ready to rise up?” “They know how to do it, but knowing how to do it and doing it are two different things. But at least they’re on the right road, they know what it takes.” Rising up doesn’t only mean their scoring and rebounding averages. It’s about leadership — visible and vocal. “Maybe something we didn’t have last year,” Izzo said about his 2010-11 team. Next year’s Michigan State team appears to have a number of terrific pieces, maybe all the pieces — from the trio just mentioned, to incoming freshmen Gary Harris, Denzel

BY JAMES SCHMEHL JSCHMEHL@MLIVE.COM

AP FILE

Draymond Green, left, has been a mentor for guard Keith Appling during their two years together at Michigan State. Appling says he will try to take over for Green in a leadership role next season.

Valentine, Matt Costello and Kenny Kaminski, to returning younger players such as Branden Dawson, Travis Trice, Brandan Kearney, Russell Byrd and Alex Gauna, who should return healthier and with invaluable experience. Aside from Nix (the lone senior next season), it has a chance to a be a two-year group, one with Final Four potential both years. The challenge for Appling is not to try to be Green. It’s not who he is. But he needs to

Pistons crushed by lowly Knicks Detroit loses fifth-straight game BY BRENDAN SAVAGE BSAVAGE@MLIVE.COM

NEW YORK — The streaking Detroit Pistons, who have been on the road for most of the past two weeks, continued traveling in the wrong direction Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. A 101-79 loss to the New York Knicks gave the Pistons five straight losses that include four in a row on the road, where they’ve dropped eight of their past nine. A couple of weeks ago, there was talk the Pistons might actually be a playoff contender after they won three straight to pull within three games of the Knicks, who were eighth overall in the Eastern Conference and had lost five straight. Then, the Knicks won five in a row after changing coaches, the Pistons went into their current slump and the difference between the two teams is 8½ games. So much for playoff talk. New York won Saturday for the sixth time in seven games under new coach Mike Woodson — a former Pistons’ assistant — as Amar’e Stoudemire scored 17 points to lead five Knicks in double figures. Tyson Chandler grabbed 17 rebounds. Ben Gordon led the Pistons with 20 points. Greg Monroe was the only other Detroit player in double figures with

dependent on his team’s success this year but said he is “proud” of what he has accomplished in Detroit. “We came in here when they were struggling, and I think we’ve done a good job. I’ll take that to my grave with me,” Leyland said. Still, he is not satisfied “Have we fulfilled what I came here for? Absolutely not,” he said. “I’m not going to sit here and say I’ve done a great job, because I don’t think I have. But we, as an organization, have done a good job since my time here.” Leyland is 519-454 in six seasons in Detroit. Coming off a deep playoff run last year, he said he’s not interested in calling it quits any time soon. “I’m 67 years old — I feel great and I want to continue to do it,” Leyland said. “But a lot of that will depend on them and how we’ll do.” The Tigers were in first place with a little more than seven weeks remaining in the regular season when both parties came to an agreement Aug. 8 on a one-year deal. A manager in the majors for 20-plus years, Leyland said he no longer is worried about the much-desired security that comes along with a long-term contract. “At one time, that was important,” he said. “But at this point in my career, I’m not worried about it.” Leyland seemingly found himself on the hot seat in 2008 with the club coming off a last-place finish with the third-highest payroll in baseball. “I don’t consider myself on the hot seat because I’m never going to change the way I manage,” he said. “I’m going to manage the way I do and if they like it than fine. “If they don’t, they’ll get somebody else.”

Tigers manager says it is best for himself, organization

UPDATE

Knicks 101, Pistons 79 Next game: Detroit at Washington, 7 p.m. Monday TV: FSD Plus 12 points. The game marked the Pistons’ third one-sided loss in as many games with the Knicks this season. New York won the previous two encounters by an average of 25 points. That included a 113-86 romp Jan. 31 at Madison Square Garden. For the first time in seven games, the Pistons held an opponent under 50 percent shooting in the first half but it didn’t do them any good on the scoreboard. The Knicks led 49-37 at the half thanks largely to a 13-0 run midway through the second quarter. After a pair of free throws by Detroit’s Jonas Jerebko tied it at 31-31 with 5:32 left in the second, the Knicks ripped off 13 straight points capped by Jeremy Lin’s 3-pointer with 2:33 remaining. It was New York’s only 3-pointer of the first half. The Knicks shot 46 percent in the first half, making 16 of 35 from the field. Meanwhile, the Pistons’ shooters struggled the entire first half. They missed 11 of their first 19 shots in falling behind 17-9 with three minutes left in the first quarter and ended up shooting 32 percent before halftime.

use his voice — he did more often later this season. And it needs to be him who finds his voice, as Izzo said earlier this season. Appling’s the point guard. The ball is in his hands the most. And it will be next season. Any assertion that Appling is better off at shooting guard, with Trice starting at the point, is undervaluing Appling’s abilities in transition, growth at the position, on-the-ball defense and the talent of Harris, the Spartans’ incoming off-guard.

“They could be special,” Green said Thursday, standing not far from a row of younger teammates, sitting at their lockers. “If they put everything together and have a bond similar or better than this team had, and couple people grow more as leaders — we need Keith to grow more as a leader, Derrick to keep growing — they can be a very special group.” They took a step toward that Thursday, Appling leading the way. Not with his play, but in taking ownership.

NCAA HOCKEY ROUNDUP

WMU falls to North Dakota THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aaron Dell made 25 saves and North Dakota beat Western Michigan 3-1 on Saturday to advance to the NCAA hockey regional finals in St. Paul, Minn. Michael Parks scored his 12th goal of the season and Corban Knight added his 16th for North Dakota (26-12-3), which won its eighth straight game and is 11-2 all time in NCAA regional games. Brock Nelson added an empty-net goal to finish the scoring for UND. Kyle O’Kane scored his seventh goal of the season for Western Michigan and freshman goaltender Frank Slubowski finished with 24 saves, but the Broncos fell to 0-6 in NCAA tournament games. “It’s the first time I have been through this in the dressing room,” said Western Michigan coach Andy Murray, who finished his first season as coach after 10 seasons as a head coach in the NHL. “We have five seniors who won’t wear the Broncos’ jersey anymore, but the job they have done for this university is very commendable and they will always be Broncos.” Western Michigan advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. SATURDAY UNION 4, LOWELL 2: Union College reached the Frozen Four for the first time with a 4-2 win against Massachusetts-Lowell in the NCAA East Regional .Daniel Ciampini, Kyle Bodie, Jeremy Welsh and Josh

Jooris scored for the Dutchmen (25-7-7)Union will face the Cornell/ Ferris State winner in the national semifinals on April 5 in Tampa, Fla. FRIDAY MIDWEST REGIONAL FERRIS STATE 2, DENVER 1: Jordie Johnston and Simon Denis scored goals and Taylor Nelson made 25 saves to help Ferris State beat Denver 2-1 on Friday night in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Green Bay, Wis. Johnston opened the scoring at 4:30 of the second period, and Denis, a defenseman, made it 2-0 at 2:54 of the third with his first college goal for the CCHA regularseason champion Bulldogs (24-11-5). Drew Shore scored at 5:22 of the third period and Sam Brittain made 32 saves for Denver (25-14-4). Ferris played Cornell late Saturday, but the game ended too late for this edition. Check out AnnArbor.com for results.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland reiterated early Friday that he’s perfectly OK working under a one-year contract at this stage in his career. It’s a best-case scenario for both the o r ga n i z a t i o n and the 67-yearold Leyland, he said. “If they get rid of me, they wouldn’t have to pay me for two more Jim Leyland years,” Leyland said. “And if I decide I want to end it at the end of the season, I can end it. “There are no strings attached.” L eyl a n d m ad e s i m i l a r comments last August after he signed a one-year contract to remain with the club through the 2012 season. “That’s the smartest thing to do,” Leyland said at the time. “It’s practical for them. It’s practical for me.” Since being hired by Detroit in 2005, Leyland has reached three contract extensions, including two-year extensions in 2007 and 2009. Last year, he recorded his 1,500th victory — nearly 25 years after winning his first game as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 12, 1986. No active manager has more victories. Leyland acknowledged his future with the club is

2012 DETROIT TIGERS SCHEDULE APRIL SUN

MON

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BOS FSD 1:05 15 CWS FSD 2:10 22 TEX FSD 1:05 29 NYY FSD 1:05

FSD

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30 FSD

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TB FSD 1:05 18 KC FSD+ 8:10 25 SEA FSD 7:05

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THU KC 3 FSD 1:05 9 SEA 10 FSD 10:10 FSD 16 MIN 17 FSD 7:05 FSD

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SAT CWS 5 CWS FOX 4:05 7:05 OAK 12 OAK FSD 9:07 10:07 PIT 19 PIT FSD 4:05 7:05 MIN 26 MIN FSD 2:10 8:10

BOS 7:10

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SAT NYY 2 FOX FSD 7:05 CLE 8 CIN 9 FSD 1:05 FSD 7:10 FSD CHC 15 COL 16 FSD 2:20 FSD 7:05 FSD STL 22 PIT 23 FSD 1:05 FSD 7:05 FSD TB 29 TB 30 FSD 7:10 FSD 7:10 FOX 1

NYY FSD 1:05

CIN FSD 1:10 17 COL FSD 1:05 24 PIT FSD 1:35

CHC FSD 8:05 18 19 STL FSD 7:05 25 TEX 26 TEX FSD 8:05 FSD 8:05

JULY SUN

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23 30

AUGUST SUN

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FRI MIN 6 FSD 1:05 FSD 10 All-Star 11 12 13 FSD Game (KC) 17 LAA 18 LAA 19 LAA 20 FSD 7:05 FSD 7:05 FSD 1:05 FSD 24 CLE 25 CLE 26 CLE 27 FSD 7:05 FSD 7:05 FSD 7:05 FSD 31 BOS FSD 7:10

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CLE FSD 7:05 CWS 11 FSD 8:10 OAK 18 FSD 7:05 KC 25 FSD 7:05

KC FSD 8:10

NYY 1:05

THU

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LAA FSD 10:05 CWS 14 CLE 13 FSD 8:10 FSD 7:05 OAK 21 MIN 20 FSD 1:05 FSD 7:05 KC 28 MIN 27 FSD 1:05 FSD 8:10

KC 8:10

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SAT CLE 4 CLE FSD 7:05 FSD 4:05 10 TEX 11 TEX FSD 8:05 FSD 8:05 17 BAL 18 BAL FSD 7:05 FSD 7:05 24 LAA 25 LAA FSD 7:05 FSD 7:05 CWS 31 FSD 7:05

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NYY 7:15

FRI

CORNELL 3, MICHIGAN 2: Rodger Craig scored 2:25 into overtime to give Cornell a 3-2 victory over Michigan on Friday night in the NCAA Midwest Regional. Cornell (19-8-7) will face Ferris State in the regional final Saturday night, with the winner advancing to the Frozen Four in Tampa, Fla. Michigan (24-134) rallied to tie it on Kevin Lynch’s goal with 4:01 left in the third period. Luke Glendening opened the scoring for the Wolverines at 1:11 of the first period. John McCarron tied it on a power play at 10:10 of the first, and Joakim Ryan gave Cornell the lead with a short-handed goal 40 seconds in the second period. Andy Iles made 31 saves for Cornell, and Shawn Hunwick stopped 21 shots for Michigan.

FSD

OAK 11 FSD 10:07 MIN 18 FSD 1:05 24 CLE 25 FSD 12:05 FSD 31

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CWS FSD 2:10 20 TEX FSD 7:05 27 NYY FSD 7:05

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THE FLINT JOURNAL

B6 SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2012

NATIONAL SPORTS

IN BRIEF BASKETBALL

Louisville advances to Final Four Rick Pitino nudged out Billy Donovan for a spot in the Final Four on Saturday when his Louisville team finished the game on a 23-8 run for a 72-68 victory over Florida in the West Regional in Phoenix. Chane Behanan hit the go-ahead basket with 1:04 left for fourthseeded Louisville, then after two Cardinals free throws, Florida’s Bradley Beal and Erving Walker each missed chances to tie. The seventh-seeded Gators (26-11) fell in the regional semifinals for the second straight year, while Louisville (30-9) will go to the Final Four for the ninth time, and the second under Pitino. Russ Smith led Louisville with 19 points, and Behanan had 17. BASKETBALL

Ohio State downs ‘Cuse Jared Sullinger recovered from first-half foul trouble to score 19 points and grab seven rebounds, helping Ohio State beat Syracuse 77-70 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four. It will be the Buckeyes’ first trip to the NCAA semifinals since 2007. Deshaun Thomas scored 14 with nine rebounds for Ohio State (31-7), which led by eight points with 59 seconds to play and held on after the Orange cut it to three. Brandon Triche scored 15 points for Syracuse (34-3). BASKETBALL

Facing a familiar foe UNC’S WILLIAMS MEETS FORMER TEAM FOR FINAL FOUR BERTH THE LIST

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

S T. L O U I S — No r t h Carolina’s path to another Final Four runs right through Roy Williams’ old neighborhood. Williams and his current team, the top-seeded Tar Heels, will face his old team, Kansas, in the Midwest Regional finals today. It has been almost nine years since Williams left the Jayhawks to return “home,” and whatever bad feelings there might have been about his departure have long since subsided. But it makes for another juicy storyline in a tournament that seems to be filled with them. “The programs are certainly tied together for a lot of different reasons,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “It will be two really good teams hooking up.” On paper, that is. On Friday, both Kansas and North Carolina showed plenty of flaws. North Carolina (32-5) needed overtime to escape with a 73-65 victory over 13th-seeded Ohio to advance to its 25th regional final and sixth under Williams. If Walter Offutt had made the go-ahead free throw on a threepoint play with 25 seconds left in regulation, the Bobcats could have been the first team seeded 13th or lower to play in a regional final since 1985. T h e Jay h aw k s ( 3 0 - 6 ) struggled to make shots, run their offense and get into a flow against North Carolina State. They even squandered an eight-point lead in the final few minutes, failing to wrap up the win until Richard Howell’s

Friday’s games SOUTH REGIONAL

� Baylor 75, Xavier 70 � Kentucky 102, Indiana 90

MIDWEST REGIONAL

� North Carolina 73, Ohio 65, OT � Kansas 60, N.C. State 57

Saturday’s games WEST REGIONAL FINAL

� Louisville 72, Florida 68

EAST REGIONAL FINAL

� Ohio State 77, Syracuse 70

Today’s games SOUTH REGIONAL FINAL AP

North Carolina coach Roy Williams directs his team Friday during the first half of a Midwest Regional semifinal against Ohio in St. Louis. The Tar Heels won in overtime and will face Kansas today in the regional final.

MIDWEST REGIONAL FINAL

off-balance heave at the buzzer came up well short. “We feel like we got away with one,” said Tyler Zeller, who had 20 points and a career-high 22 rebounds for one of three double-doubles for the Tar Heels. “Ohio played the better game. They hit a lot of shots. I think we just were able to make a lot of plays at the end that made us capable of pulling it out.” The Tar Heels sorely missed point guard Kendall Marshall, perhaps their most irreplaceable player and the steadying hand behind their fast-paced attack. They turned over the ball 24 times, and every player except Stilman

Four, and the Jayhawks went on to win the national title. Thomas Robinson had 18 points and 15 rebounds against the 11th-seeded Wolfpack, and Jeff Withey blocked 10 shots to finish one shy of the NCAA tournament record. But Kansas shot less than 38 percent from the field, and made only one shot from 3-point range. “There’s nothing we’re doing wrong,” Robinson said. “The looks are there. The shots are just not going down. “So just keep running our offense, keep doing what we do and we won’t do anything different. Like I said, (the lid) will come off eventually.”

Miles to lead Nebraska

One bad tee shot keeps Tiger from pulling away THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUTO RACING

Power takes pole

BASEBALL

Rays’ Bush held Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Bush is being held on more than $1 million bail on charges that he left the scene of an accident that seriously injured a motorcyclist in Florida. Bush made his first court appearance Saturday. Charlotte County Circuit Court records show that Bush remained in custody on multiple DUI-related charges and counts of leaving the scene of an injury accident and driving with a suspended license. The Florida Highway Patrol said Bush kept driving after hitting a motorcycle Thursday. The motorcyclist remains hospitalized. — The Associated Press

White, the freshman who replaced Marshall, had at least two turnovers. Ohio missed all six of its shots in overtime, and Harrison Barnes made up for a dismal shooting night by scoring five of Carolina’s 10 points to secure the win. Barnes finished with 12 points on 3-of-16 shooting. Williams said he doubts the Tar Heels will get Marshall back for today’s game. Kansas and North Carolina, the bluest of college basketball’s bluebloods, have played only once since Williams left, a game Tar Heels fans would probably prefer to forget. Kansas walloped the Tar Heels 84-66 in the 2008 Final

� Kansas (30-6) vs. North Carolina (32-5), 5 p.m. on CBS

Woods takes lead into final round

New Nebraska coach Tim Miles said fans probably aren’t familiar with him, but he asked them to give him a chance to turn around the longstruggling Cornhuskers Tim Miles men’s basketball program. Miles was introduced on Saturday. He resigned from Colorado State on Friday after leading the Rams to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2003. This will be Miles’ first job in a power conference.

Will Power led a strong Penske Racing effort Saturday in qualifying for the IndyCar season opener by winning the pole for today’s Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Power set an IndyCar track record of 1:01.3721 over the winding 1.8mile course through the streets of St. Petersburg. Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe qualified second at 1:01.5357. Andretti Autosport qualified third and fourth behind Ryan Hunter-Reay and James Hinchcliffe, while Penske’s Helio Castroneves was fifth.

� Baylor (30-7) vs. Kentucky (35-2), 2:20 p.m. on CBS

Tiger Woods hits a shot to the green from the first fairway Saturday during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla.

ORLANDO, Fla. — One swing cost Tiger Woods a comfortable lead at Bay Hill. All that mattered to him was his name atop the leaderboard at the end of the day, leaving him one round away from winning on the PGA Tour for the first time in 30 months. If anything, Saturday showed that it won’t be easy in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. In two holes, Woods went from a four-shot lead to briefly tied with Graeme McDowell. But he followed a double

bogey on No. 15 with a birdie from a fairway bunker on the par-5 16th to restore his lead, and then hung on for a 1-under 71 that gave him a one-shot lead over McDowell going into the final round. McDowell didn’t make a birdie until the 17th hole, but he was bogey-free on a tough day for a 71. Woods is 37-2 when he has the outright lead going into the final round, and today will show if he has regained his status as the most formidable closer in golf. Woods, who was at 11-under 205, last won on the PGA Tour on Sept. 13, 2009, at the BMW Championship. “I enjoy it,” Woods said of his place atop the leaderboard. “It means I’ve played well to get there.”

NFL has its own March Madness From Peyton to Payton, offseason has been wild BY BARRY WILNER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

March Madness is all about the NFL this year. From Peyton Manning in Denver to Tim Tebow in New York. From Sean Payton getting suspended for New Orleans’ bounty system to Saints players awaiting possible punishment for participating in it. Not to mention the other big free agent signings. How did Mario Williams wind up in Buffalo? Answer: There’s 100 million reasons. How about Calvin Johnson’s $132 million deal through 2019 with the Lions, merely the richest contract in NFL history, with Megatron getting $60 million guaranteed? No matter what happens in the NCAA basketball tournament, with the Final Four

New Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning holds a Broncos jersey next to vice president of football operations John Elway on Tuesday in Englewood, Colo.

in the Big Easy of all places, it can’t top what the NFL has produced in March. And that’s with the draft, usually the focal point of the

offseason, still a month away. It has become impossible to escape NFL headlines pretty much since the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl — that was Feb. 5. The next meaningful pro football game is more than five months away. The past two weeks, in particular, have been off the charts for NFL interest. “Fans love it, and they crave it,” said Rich Gannon, the 2002 NFL Most Valuable Player and now a host on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “They don’t want an offseason, and there hasn’t really been one, from the Super Bowl and the onemonth buildup to the combine and free agency, and then to everything lately.” What chaos could be ahead? Plenty. • New Orleans star quarterback Drew Brees has yet to reach agreement on a new contract, and given the Saints’ precarious situation, imagine how ugly things might get if he ignores the franchise tag the team plunked on him and stays away from

offseason workouts. • With a rookie wage scale limiting financial investments, more blockbuster draft trades could happen. As it is, the Redskins mortgaged much of their future to move up four spots to get Robert Griffin III. Yet, after his sensational pro day at Baylor, there’s thought Griffin has become a challenger to Stanford’s Luck as the top overall pick, owned by Indianapolis. • Tebow vs. Mark Sanchez. Just wait until the incumbent stumbles, even momentarily, and the Big Apple is rocked by screams from Tebow’s loyal legions. At least there are no labor battles to be waged for 4 1/2 months by America’s richest sports league and its players. Last year at this time, we were in the middle of the lockout. No one knew if the 2011 season would even happen. “I think the NFL is in great shape,” Manning said, “with some great owners, great coaches and great people in leadership.”

Kahne remains confident Driver off to rocky start with Hendrick THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FONTANA, Calif. — Kasey Kahne waited nearly two years between signing with NASCAR’s winningest team and finally climbing into his new ride. So far, the wait was hardly worth it. Kahne opened the season with a month of wrecks, mistakes and disappointing results for Hendrick Motorsports, culminating in a collision with Regan Smith that ruined last week at Bristol. Kasey He’s 32nd in Kahne the Sprint Cup Series points ON AIR standings, and his car is � SPRINT CUP: down to 34th in owner points, Auto Club 400, t h e o re t i c a l ly 2:30 p.m. today putting Kahne on FOX in position to lose a guaranteed spot in the field if he has another wreck or awful performance today at Auto Club Speedway. It’s a tense situation to navigate so early in the NASCAR season, but the former boy wonder still radiated quiet confidence while working with his team at his hauler in Fontana. “I would be (down) if my cars were slow, but everything has been so good,” Kahne said. “My team is so good. There’s really no reason to be down, other than we’re not in the position we want to be in.” Even though Kahne has had more knee surgeries (three) than Sprint Cup victories (one) since September 2009, he’s determined to get his season back on track in Fontana, where he qualified fifth Friday on the track where he won in 2006. Such is the self-confidence of the former Rookie of the Year from Enumclaw, Wash., who has earned 12 wins and more than $49 million before his 32nd birthday next month. “Some of it may be bad luck, and then some of it may be me making mistakes,” Kahne said. “Everyone in NASCAR has wrecks. As far as the racing stuff, from the cars to the pit stops to the team and the engines, the car is awesome.” Kahne wrecked out of the Daytona 500, finishing 29th. He got into the wall early in Phoenix, saying he “made a big mistake,” and finished 19th in Las Vegas despite setting the track speed record when he qualified on the pole. Last week was the most disappointing result yet — and his third straight poor finish after starting in the top 10. He wrecked just 24 laps in at Bristol Motor Speedway when he passed the much slower Smith but then made a little contact when he thought he had room to move down the track, triggering the crash. Kahne dismisses the notion he’s trying too hard since joining Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the high-profile Hendrick team, saying he’s not doing anything new in his mental preparation. Kahne isn’t the only Hendrick driver having a rough spring during a so-far winless season. Johnson has been embroiled in the drama of NASCAR’s overturned penalties against crew chief Chad Knaus, while Earnhardt ended Gordon’s race last week in Bristol when he cut Gordon’s tire with his tailpipe while both drivers raced for position late in the race. Earnhardt, who is having a strong season otherwise, then cost himself a likely top-10 finish by speeding on pit row. He called Gordon afterward to discuss it, and both drivers have moved past it. x