CMYK
Sports
Section B Friday, December 11, 2009
Steelers try to end woes Pittsburgh and Cleveland in Thursday night action
Page 2B
Syracuse hands Florida first loss By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Kerr-Vance's Shameka Valentine is fouled by Crossroads Christian's Elizabeth McAuslan during the first half of the Spartans' 59-56 win over the Colts on Thursday night. Crossroads trailed late in the game but had a chance to send the contest into overtime. To view or purchase photos, visit us on the Web at www.hendersondispatch.com.
TAMPA, Fla. — Rick Jackson scored a careerhigh 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Thursday night, helping No. 7 Syracuse remain unbeaten with an 8573 victory over No. 10 Florida in the SEC/Big East Invitational. Andy Rautins had 18 points and Wes Johnson finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Orange (9-0). Reserve Kris Joseph contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds against the previously unbeaten Gators (8-1). Syracuse led most of the game, but Florida stayed close by making 12 3-pointers in 30 attempts. Kenny Boynton made five 3s and led the Gators with 20 points and seven assists. Chandler Parsons scored 19 and Erving Walker added 14. Jackson had 16 points and, just as important, seven offensive rebounds in the first half. The 6-foot-9 junior only took one shot in the second half, finishing 8 of 12 while Johnson and Rautins asserted themselves offensively. Johnson had 13 second-half points and Rautins made a 3-pointer that helped the Orange pull away for good after Florida had wiped out a
AP Photo/Chris O’Meara
Syracuse guard Scoop Jardine goes up for a shot over Florida's Kenny Boynton and Dan Werner during the first half in Tampa, Fla. 10-point deficit. Neither team was ranked when the season began, but both quickly worked their way into the Top 10. Syracuse thumped North Carolina and California to serve notice that the Orange might be better than anticipated. Florida raised eyebrows by knocking off Florida State and upsetting Michigan State on the way to just the third 8-0 start in school history. The Orange twice built leads of 10 points, only have Florida battle back. The Gators made five 3-pointers in a 15-3 burst that turned a 54-44 Please see SYRACUSE, page 3B
Spartans slip past Colts Valentine, KVA fend off late Crossroads rally, 59-56 F rom S taff R eports
Crossroads Christian trailed 59-53 late in Thursday’s crosstown game with Kerr-Vance, but stormed back in the final seconds with a chance to send it to overtime. Crossroads forced a turnover with two seconds left, but couldn’t convert on the final shot as KVA held on for the 59-56 win. Britney Anderson nailed a 3-pointer with four seconds left to bring the Colts within three. “We played very good defense. The girls were determined not to lose,” said Spartans coach Eric Johnson. Shameka Valentine led KVA with 36 points. Amanda Wilson chipped in with 11. Anderson led Crossroads with 28 points and Albrie Tucker had 11. “I thought we should have won it,” said Colts coach John Anderson. “We made a couple of mistakes. We played a good game and either team could have won.” Crossroads took the early advantage, building a 3428 lead.
“They killed us on the boards in the first half,” Johnson said. “We did a little better in the second half.” The Colts suffered a blow when guard and scoring threat Elizabeth McAuslan fouled out of the game in the third quarter. Johnson, in his first season at the helm of the KVA girls team, got his first taste of the Vance County rivalry. “It was hard fought,” he said. “I’ve been a part of some bad rivalries before and this wasn’t one of them. At the end of the game, there were a lot of hugs exchanged between both sides.” Anderson echoed Johnson’s thoughts on the nature of the game. “Some of the girls know each other. Certainly, there are some friendships there,” he said. “I think the rivalry comes from the schools being so close together.” KVA improves to 2-5 on the season and faces Franklin Academy Friday at 6 p.m. Crossroads falls to 4-3 and plays Community Christian Tuesday.
Brian Kelly swapping Cincinnati for South Bend By TOM COYNE AP Sports Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Brian Kelly will be Notre Dame’s next football coach, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. The two people confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that a deal has been reached with the Cincinnati coach. They requested anonymity because an official announcement had not been made. Kelly was at a Cincinnati team banquet, where he was expected to inform his players of the decision. Some members of the University of Cincinnati’s board of trustees have been told of Kelly’s decision, a person in the
school’s administration told the AP on condition of anonymity because the school had not made an announcement. The South Bend Tribune first reported the hiring. The 47-year-old Kelly is 34-6 in three seasons at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to back-to-back Big East titles and two straight Bowl Championship Series berths. The Bearcats set a school record last season for victories with an 11-3 record, then topped that with a 12-0 mark this season. Notre Dame has been searching for a coach for about a week and a half since firing Charlie Weis. Kelly has long admired Notre Dame, which seemed to be the perfect fit
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Kerr-Vance's Devonne Smith puts up a shot as he is fouled by Crossroads Christian's Jeremy Grainger during the first half of the Spartans' 98-20 win over the Colts Thursday night. To view or purchase photos, visit us on the Web at www.hendersondispatch.com.
KVA nets 98 in home win over Crossroads From Staff Reports
AP Photo/Chris O’Meara
Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly screams at an official during an Oct. 15 game against South Florida in Tampa, Fla. for an Irish Catholic coach raised in the Boston area. His name first popped up as a possible candidate last season before Notre
Dame said Weis would be back for a fifth year. When Kelly arrived in Please see KELLY, page 3B
Kerr-Vance improved to 4-3 on the season with a 98-20 win over Crossroads Christian Thursday. The Spartans dominated from the onset, building a 57-10 halftime advantage. “I was pleased with everyone,” said KVA coach David Carrier. “We played as a team, competed and played hard. Tyler Overby led the Spartans with 18 points. Cameron Capell scored 14, Chris Lanham had 13 and Brandon Dickerson
had 11. Patrick Stewart contributed with nine points. Crossroads coach John Anderson said his team was flustered by KVA’s pressure. “We just couldn’t handle the ball,” he said. “I think the pressure frustrated us early on and we never got over it.” Jamison Overby and Jeremy Grainger each had seven points for the Colts. KVA plays at Franklin Academy Friday at 7:30 and Crossroads faces Trinity of Raleigh at home Friday at 6:30 p.m.