J O I N U S O N L I N E S T L T O D A Y. C O M / S P O R T S
SUNDAY • 03.25.2018 • B
BLUES BACK IN GOOD SPOT BLUES 2 COLUMBUS 1
They’re second wild card for now
> 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. Sharks, FSM > Gunnarsson injury is the latest loss for Blues defense. B8
BY JIM THOMAS St. Louis Post-Dispatch
WESTERN WILD CARD Team GP COL 75 STL 75 LAK DAL
76 75
PTS 90 89 89 84
COLUMBUS, OHIO • The Blues
finally climbed the hill. Barely. Out of a playoff position since Feb. 24, they moved into the second-wild card spot Saturday with a season-best fifth consecutive win, cooling off the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 in a pressure-filled contest at Nationwide Arena.
The Blues took a 2-0 lead on goals by Alexander Steen and Vladimir Tarasenko, and then Jake Allen and the defense did the rest in holding off a talented and fresh Columbus club. “What we’ve seen is complete desperation on our part,” coach Mike Yeo said. “Approaching every game like the season’s on the line. So the challenge for us ASSOCIATED PRESS
See BLUES • Page B8
The Blues’ Kyle Brodziak celebrates after Alexander Steen’s first-period goal.
CURTIS COMPTON • Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Loyola players celebrate and Kansas State players console each other after the Ramblers won the South Region, in Atlanta, to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1963.
Ramblin’ on Loyola-Chicago’s improbable run heads to Final Four with win over Kansas State LOYOLA’S SEASON NO ONE SAW COMING
100/1 Odds to win South Region at some sports books at start of tourney.
3 Loyola was picked third in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll.
5 Coach Porter Moser 0 Wasn’t expected to never had finished better than fifth in 12 seasons.
receive an at-large bid had it lost in the MVC Tournament.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA • Porter Moser stood in front
of the scarf-clad Loyola cheering section, a bit dazed but beaming from ear to ear. “Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?” the Ramblers coach screamed over and over. No kidding. Loyola is headed to the Final Four . An improbable NCAA Tournament took its craziest turn yet Saturday night, when Ben Richardson scored a careerhigh 23 points and the 11th-seeded Ramblers romped to a 78-62 victory over Kansas State to cap a stunning run through
J U P I T E R , F L A . • Carson knows Carlos. The Cardinals’ Class AAA catcher (for now) has caught too many of Martinez’s pitches to count. And after framing 55 more
Saturday afternoon, Carson Kelly had some words for those of us who are worried about Carlos Martinez’s curious camp. “He was lights out,” Kelly said after he took off his mask and sat down on one of the golf carts that rove the minorleague side of the Roger Dean Stadium complex. Martinez had just carved
through a lineup of minorleague Marlins for four innings, allowing two hits and one run. Cheap ones at that. One of the hits bounced off an infielder’s glove. The RBI triple that should have been a double pinballed around the outfield longer than it should have. Martinez walked two. He also struck out six and made many baby Marlins look very, very silly.
> 12:05 p.m. Sunday at Nationals, FSM > Mayers makes opening-day roster. B3
CARDINALS PREVIEW | SECTION S
78 KANSAS ST.
62
the bracket-busting South Regional. The Ramblers (32-5) matched the worst-seeded team to reach the Final Four, joining Louisiana State (1986), George Mason (2006) and Virginia Commonwealth (2011). Those other three all lost in the national semifinals. Loyola gets its turn on Saturday in San Antonio against Michigan. The Ramblers will try to become the lowest-seeded team to win a national championship, a See NCAA • Page B5
Michigan advances to Final Four • Wolverines hold off Florida State 58-54. B5 Sunday • Villanova vs. Texas Tech, 1:20 p.m. • Duke vs. Kansas, 4:05 p.m. • TV: Both on KMOV (4)
Martinez looks strong ‘right on time’ BEN FREDERICKSON St. Louis Post-Dispatch
LOYOLA
Martinez pitched like a twotime All-Star in an intentionally short tune-up that was designed to launch him into his second consecutive openingday start. He pitched like you would expect him to pitch against a lineup of kids who probably called home to say, “Dad, guess what, you’re not going to believe this, but today I got to hit See FREDERICKSON • Page B2
The days of shame over for Mizzou Tigers returned to respectability BY DAVE MATTER St. Louis Post-Dispatch
COLUMBIA, MO. • His first two
years at Mizzou, Kevin Puryear usually pulled a hoodie over his head when he walked to class, hoping to conceal his identity as much as possible. That’s not easy as a 6-foot-7 African-American at a predominantly white university, but when you win 18 games in two seasons, a stroll through campus becomes a personal walk of shame. Those days are over for Puryear and his teammates. Even though the 2017-18 season ended with a couple of postseason thuds, the Tigers revived their program under first-year coach Cuonzo Martin and his blended cast of newcomers and
See MU • Page B4
SPORTS
4 M
SPORTS
B2 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
CALENDAR
BASEBALL NOTEBOOK
ROAD
Blues • blues.nhl.com | 314-622-2583 Tuesday 3/27 vs. Sharks 7 p.m. FSM
Friday 3/30 at Golden Knights 9:30 p.m. FSM
Saturday 3/31 at Coyotes 8 p.m. FSM
Cardinals • cardinals.com | 314-345-9000 Sunday 3/25 at Nationals* 12:05 p.m. FSM
Monday 3/26 at Blue Jays * (Montreal) 6:07 p.m.
Tuesday 3/27 at Blue Jays* (Montreal) 6:07 p.m., MLBN
M 2 • SUNDAY • 03.25.2018
Sale OK after being hit by liner
Monday 4/2 vs. Capitals 7 p.m. FSM
*Exhibition game Thursday 3/29 at Mets (opener) 12:10 p.m. FSM
St. Louis FC • saintlouisfc.com | 636-680-0997 Saturday 3/31 vs. Colo. Springs 4 p.m.
Saturday 4/7 vs. Fresno 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 4/14 vs. Los Angeles 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 4/21 at Oklahoma City 7 p.m. KPLR (11)
OTHER EVENTS FAIRMOUNT PARK HORSE RACING • Simulcasting: 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. daily.
ON THE AIR TICKET INFORMATION Cardinals 314-345-9000 Rascals 636-240-2287 Grizzlies 618-337-3000 AUTO RACING Blues 314-622-2583 Illinois 217-333-3470 Mizzou 800-228-7297 1 p.m. NASCAR: STP 500, FS1 SLU 314-977-4758 SIUE 855-748-3849 Ambush 636-477-6363 6 p.m. NASCAR trucks: Alpha Energy Solutions 250, FS1 STLFC 636-680-0997 Fairmount 314-436-1516 • 618-345-4300 BASEBALL 10 a.m. College: Army vs. Navy, CBSSN 11 a.m. College: Florida vs. Arkansas, SEC Network Noon College: Louisiana State at Vanderbilt, ESPN2 Noon Exhibition: Yankees at Rays, MLB 12:05 p.m. Exhibition: Cardinals at Nationals, FSM, KMOX (1120 AM) 2 p.m. College: Minnesota at Nebraska, BTN 2 p.m. College: Tennessee vs. Alabama, SEC Network 8 p.m. Exhibition: Dodgers at Angels, MLB Network BASKETBALL 11 a.m. Women’s NCAA Regional final: Louisville vs. Oregon State, ESPN Noon NBA: Cavaliers at Nets, NBA 1:20 p.m. NCAA reg. final: Villanova vs. Texas Tech, KMOV (4), WXOS (101.1 FM) ASSOCIATED PRESS 4 p.m. NBA: Heat at Pacers, FSM Plus Boston ace Chris Sale said he expects to pitch on opening day despite being struck by a line drive Saturday. 4:05 p.m. NCAA regional final: Duke vs. Kansas, KMOV (4), WXOS (101.1 FM) 5 p.m. NBA: Knicks at Wizards, NBA Sale led the majors with 308 open up when shortstop Jorge PoFROM NEWS SERVICES 6:30 p.m. Women’s NCAA Regional final: Mississippi State vs. UCLA, ESPN strikeouts last season, going 17-8 lanco was suspended 80 games 7:30 p.m. NBA: Jazz at Warriors, NBA for a drug violation. This was not the sight the Red Sox with a 2.90 ERA. GOLF The Red Sox already were lookenvisioned in Chris Sale’s final • blues.nhl.com | 314-622-2583 game 9BLUES a.m. PGA:Blues WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, semifinal,*Exhibition GOLF spring training tune-up: Their ace ing at starting the season with a Brewers make pitching moves 1:30 p.m. PGA: Puntacana Resort &Wednesday Club Championship, final round, 4/6 GOLF Saturday 4/7 4/4 Friday crumpled on the ground, knocked depleted rotation. Manager Alex • The Brewers demoted Junior at Avalancheoff the mound by a line drive. at Blackhawks vs. Blackhawks 2 p.m. PGA: WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, finals, KSDK (5) Cora announced earlier Saturday Guerra, their opening-day starter 8 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 4 p.m. Champions: Rapiscan Systems Sale quickly got up, flexed his that pitchers Drew Pomeranz and a year ago, to Triple-A Colorado FSM FSM GOLF NBCSNClassic, final round, left leg a few times and walked Eduardo Rodriguez will begin the Springs. He has a 3.15 ERA in 20 6 p.m. LPGA: Kia Classic, final round, GOLF Cardinals • cardinals.com | 314-345-9000 *Exhibition game off the field under his own power season on the disabled list. And spring innings. And manager CARDS HOCKEY Craig said pitcherTuesday Yovani4/10 Monday 4/9 Sunday 4/8 Counsell Saturday 4/7 a 15has accepted ThursdayWright 4/5 Wednesday 4/4 Steven Tuesday 4/3reigning Monday 4/2Saturday. Sunday 4/1 3/31 The AL East 11 a.m. Flyers at Penguins, KSDKSaturday (5) vs. vs. Brewers vs. D’backs vs. D’backs vs. D’backs at a Brewers at Brewers at Brewers champions at Mets at Mets Gallardo also has been told heBrewers will game suspension under Major called it bruised 3 p.m. NCAA Tournament: Boston U. p.m. vs. Michigan, ESPN2 7:15 p.m. 6:05team. p.m. 1:15 p.m. 1:15 p.m. 6:15 p.m. Baseball’s 6:40 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 1:10 p.m. 12:10 p.m. 12:10 not make the League domestic violeft hip, and Sale said the injury FSM FSM FSM FSM FSM Fox Sports 1 FSM FSM FSMNHL Network FSM 3:30 p.m. AHL: Springfield at Toronto,
wasn’t serious and wouldn’t
5:30 p.m. NCAASaturday Tournament: State vs.4/29 Denver, ESPNU Saturdaystart 5/5 5/4 opening-day Wednesday jeopardize 5/2 Fridayhis Tuesday 5/1 4/28 OhioSunday vs. Cubs vs. Cubs vs. White Sox vs. White Sox at at Pirates 6:30 p.m. Bruins Wild, NBCSN at Pirates against Tampa Bay. 1:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 12:15 p.m. Thursday, 7:15 p.m. 12:35 p.m. 6:05 p.m. LACROSSE “I don’t FSMlingering FSM see anything FSM FSM FSM FSM 11 a.m. College: Notre Dame at Ohio State, ESPNU from this,” Sale said. “Looked a lot Sunday 6/3 Saturday 6/2 Friday 6/1 Wednesday 5/30 Thursday 5/31 Tuesday 5/29 RUGBY than it really is.”vs. Pirates Pirates vs. Pirates worsevs. vs. Pirates at Brewers at Brewers Sale1:15 was a p.m. liner off 9 a.m. Premiership: Wasps, p.m.struck by1:15 7:15 p.m. 12:10 p.m.NBCSN 6:15 p.m. 6:40 p.m.Leicester vs. FSM Davis in FSM FSM FSM FSM FSM the bat of Houston’s J.D. SOFTBALL the first inning. earlier,7/2 San Sunday 7/1 A dayMonday Saturday 6/30 Wednesday BTN 6/27 Friday 6/29 Tuesday 6/26 at Northwestern, Noon College: Minnesota at D’backs Francisco ace Madison Bumgarvs. Braves vs. Braves vs. Braves vs. Indians vs. Indians 1 p.m. College: North Carolina at Notre Dame, ESPNU 8:40 p.m. 1:15 p.m.a broken pinkie 6:15 p.m. ner suff 7:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. ered on his 6 p.m. College: FSM FSMhand when he KTVI (2) FSM FSM ESPN2 FSMTexas A&M at Florida, pitching was hit a TENNIS and will at 8/3 least a Friday Thursday 8/2 be out Wednesday line 8/1 drive Tuesday 7/31 Monday 7/30 Sunday 7/29 10 a.m. ATP:vs. Miami WTA 3rd round, Tennis Channelvs. Rockies at Saturday. Pirates vs.He Rockies vs. Rockies vs.round, Rockies CubsOpen: ATP 3rd month. had surgery 6:05 p.m.Duffy p.m. City’s Danny 7:15 p.m. 7:10 p.m.WTA 3rd round, p.m. 6 p.m. ATP:7:05 Miami Open: ATP 3rd round, Tennis Channel7:15 p.m. And12:15 Kansas FSM FSM FSM FSM FSM ESPN WINTER SPORTS
2 p.m.
8/29 Tuesday 8/28 Gold Wednesday 8/26 WorldSunday Women’s Curling Championship, Medal, NBCSN vs. Pirates vs. Pirates at Rockies 7:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 2:10 p.m. FSM FSM FSM
DIGEST
exited in the third inning Saturday
Saturday 9/1 Friday 8/31 Thursday 8/30 because of shoulder tightness. He vs. Reds vs. Reds vs. Pirates said he expected to be OK to start 6:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 6:15 p.m. on opening FSMThursday FSM day, at home FSM
against the White Sox.
Sunday 9/30 Saturday 9/29 Wednesday 9/26 Friday 9/28 Tuesday 9/25 Monday 9/24 X-rays on Sale did atnot reveal a Cubs at Cubs at Cubs vs. Brewers vs. Brewers Brewers Noble Indyvs. wins at Fairgrounds, pointed to Derby fracture. 2:20 p.m. TBA 1:20 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m. FSM it first hit FSM FSM the front and FSM FSM Indy settled near “When me, it kind Co-favorite Noble held off a late FSM
of got me in the hip, but got the charge by Lone Sailor to win the $1 million Louisiana Derby by a head St. Louis FC • saintlouisfc.com | 636-680-0997 nerve. So it shot all the way down Saturday at the Fair Grounds Race course, in New Orleans. Noble Indy Saturday 5/26 5/9mySaturday Saturday 5/5 for Wednesday to foot. So,5/12 that’s what kind of and Bravazo both went off at 5-2Saturday in one of4/28 the major prep races the at Orange County at Colo. Springs at Los Angeles vs. Portland at Kansas City made me worried, ” he said. “I was Kentucky Derby, but Bravazo faded . Noble Indy earned 100 points in 7 p.m. 9 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. tellingKPLR them out the Road to the Kentucky Derby, assuring qualification for the Triple KPLR (11)there, (11)when I was ‘Give me a minute. It’ll come Crown opener, on May 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Velazquez Saturday 9/22 Wednesday 9/12 Saturday 9/15 Saturday 9/8 Wednesday 8/29 Saturday 9/1 back.atI’ll be City fine.’ They steered Nobleat Indy into the leadatentering and finishedat Salt Lake City vs. San didn’t Antonio Kansas Reno Portlandthe finalvs.turn Seattle want to wait, in here, the 11/8-mile race in 1:50.28. He 9paid andp.m. $3.20. Lone 1 p.m. p.m. got 7:30 p.m. so came7:30 p.m.$7.40, $4.807:30 9 p.m. it evaluated, looked at, figured out Sailor was second and earned 40 points — probably enough to qualify for the Kentucky Derbymen’s — andbasketball paid $7.80 and Morning-line Illinois • fi$4.20. ghtingillini.com | 217-333-3470 nothing serious, just a bruise.” favorite My Boy Jack finished third and paid $3.20. (AP) SLU men’s basketball • slubillikens.com | 314-977-4758 Federer, Halep fall • Roger lost his• second match in| 800-228-7297 a row Mizzou men’sFederer basketball mutigers.com Saturday following a 17-0 start to the year, this time squandering St. Louis FC • saintlouisfc.com | 636-680-0997 a lead against a qualifier ranked 175th. Federer was eliminated at Cardinals • cardinals.com | 314-345-9000 *Exhibition game the Miami Open tennis tourney, in Key Biscayne, Fla., by big-serving Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Federer was playing for the first time since he was beaten by Juan Martin del Potro in the Indian Wells final Sunday. On the women’s side, top-ranked Simona FREDERICKSON • FROM B1 Halep was ousted 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 by Agnieszka Radwanska. (AP) against Carlos Martinez!” Weather affects NASCAR • Bad weather washed out qualifying for He pitched like he had someNASCAR’s first stop this season at a short track, so Martin Truex thing to prove. Jr. will start Sunday from the pole at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. “He had command of everyNASCAR suspended its trucks race because rain stalled Saturday’s thing,” said Kelly, who knows event after 23 laps, with Ben Rhodes leading. The race will resume good pitching. “Cutter. Slider. EvSunday night after NASCAR completes the Cup Series event. (AP) erything. He had a good feel for it. He threw anything in any count. Hamilton wins pole slot • Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton set a “The velocity is there. The blistering time in his final lap of qualifying to take pole position for command is there. That’s the Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix for a record seventh Carlos we all love. He’s ready to time, outpacing his nearest rival by a sizable 0.664 seconds. The roll for the season.” defending Formula One champion set a time of 1 minute, 21.164 This club better hope so. seconds. It’s the 73rd pole of Hamilton’s career. (AP) More than the rotation will be in trouble if Martinez isn’t sharp. I defend Martinez against STLFC falls in San Antonio • St. Louis FC’s Kyle Greig headed in an the myopic — and sometimes Austin Martz cross less than two minutes into the game, but host San worse — criticism about his everAntonio FC (1-1) rallied for a 2-1 win in United Soccer League action. changing hairstyles and waterSan Antonio answered with a pair of head-balls of its own; Mikey splashing home run celebrations. Lopez headed in a head pass from Kris Tyrpak in the 21st minute and Those who fail to see he is this then Tyrpak headed in a cross from Lopez in the 60th for the 2-1 final. team’s most talented pitcher at STLFC is 0-1-1. (Joe Lyons) the moment, in addition to a truly beloved clubhouse presence, can’t McDevitt hired to coach at Middle Tennessee • Middle Tennessee be argued with because they are has a new men’s basketball coach in Nick McDevitt, who led UNC not tethered to the truth. Asheville to the Big South regular-season title the last two years. He But I won’t harp on the folks replaces Kermit Davis, who left to coach Mississippi. (AP) who expect more from Martinez. Not when every person in the orFerris State wins Division II title • Zach Hankins led Ferris State, of ganization, from manager Mike Big Rapids, Mich., to its first NCAA Division II national championship Matheny to Martinez himself, in any sport, scoring 19 points in the Bulldogs’ 71-69 men’s basketball thinks Tsunami is still short of his victory over Northern State, of Aberdeen, S.D., in Sioux Falls, S.D. (AP) high-water mark. (He’s special now. He could become elite.) HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER And I won’t gloss over the seeming abnormality of his spring FAX 314-340-3070 MAIL Must include name, address training. E-MAIL Sports Sound Off for verification. Martinez made just three soundoff@post-dispatch.com St. Louis Post-Dispatch 900 North Tucker Letters may be Grapefruit League starts, and HOLE IN ONE Boulevard edited for length Golf courses submit results to none since March 13. The fiSt. Louis, MO 63101 and clarity. postsports@post-dispatch.com nal two came against the meager Marlins, who pounced on him for To e-mail editors, use fi rst initial AND last name@post-dispatch.com CONTACT US For general information call 314-340-8222 a combined nine hits in eight innings. Roger Hensley Assistant Managing Editor | Sports 314-340-8301 He then shifted to the back Cameron Hollway Deputy Sports Editor 314-340-8392 fields, meaning he faced mostly Don Reed Deputy Sports Editor | Nights 314-340-8313 minor-league hitters. There he Mike Smith Assistant Sports Editor | Online 314-340-8137 made his only six-inning outing Mike Reilly Assistant Sports Editor | Nights 314-340-8178 of camp. It stunk. In that outChris Gove High School Sports 314-744-5725 ing one week ago, he surrendered
lence policy.
Chase Anderson is to start on
Friday 5/11 Thursday 5/10 against Tuesday 5/8 Monday 5/7 Sunday 5/6 opening day, Thursday the at Padres at Padres vs. Twins vs. Twins vs. Cubs Padres, and9:10 Zach schedRangers Colon p.m. p.m.Davies is9:10 12:15 p.m. p.m.• The Texas 7:05 p.m. release7:10 home Rangers cut pitcher FSM FSMthe Brewers’ FSM uled to start FSM Bartolo CoESPN
lon, but the popular 44-year-old opener — April 2 against the CarSaturday 6/9 Friday 6/8 Wednesday 6/6 Thursday 6/7 Tuesday 6/5 dinals. could rejoin them at Reds at Reds vs. Marlins vs. soon. MarlinsThe team vs. Marlins faced a deadline7:15 Saturday to ei3:10 p.m. 6:10 p.m. 12:15 p.m. p.m. 7:15 p.m. FSM ElsewhereFSM FSM Fox Sports • Yankees firstFSM basether add 1the righthander to their man Bird7/6was scratched 25-man roster, cut him or pay Saturday 7/7 Thursday 7/5GregFriday Wednesday 7/4 him Tuesday 7/3 from the starting a split$100,000 Giants at Giantslineup inat at Giants at around D’backs for now. at D’backs to stick 3:05 bep.m. 9:15against p.m. 9:15 p.m. p.m. for $1.75 8:40 p.m. squad game Atlanta His contract9:10 called FSM cause of a FSM FSM FSM sore right foot. FSM He was million if he pitched for Texas. scheduled to undergo a CT 8/8 The Rangers have 8/5 the option Wednesday Tuesday 8/7 both Monday 8/6 Sunday Saturday 8/4 still at Marlins at Marlins at Marlins at Pirates scan and MRI exam. of negotiating at a Pirates new deal with 6:10 6:10 p.m.about it, 6:10 p.m.“I’m worried 12:35 p.m. interest 6:05 p.m.and have top.m. be Colon, shown FSM FSM FSM FSM FSM in keeping him. Colon made five honest,” Yankees general manager Friday 9/7 Wednesday 9/5 “I’m 9/4 Cashman Monday 9/3 Sundayin 9/2 said. not starts spring training and hadTuesday a Brian at Tigers at Nationals at Nationals at Nationals vs. Reds sure what we’re dealing with. ” 3.00 ERA in 18 innings. 6:10 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 12:05 p.m. 1:15 p.m. Corbin has FSMbeen FSM FSM • Pitcher Patrick FSM, ESPN FSM Vargas goes back to Twins • Ken- chosen to start the Diamondnys Vargas has made a quick U- backs’ opener, Thursday at home turn and is headed back to the against Colorado. He was 14-13 Minnesota Twins. They reclaimed with a 4.03 ERA in 32 starts last him off waivers from Cincinnati, season. The opportunity for Corbin two days after the Reds plucked Saturday 6/9fromSaturday Wednesday 5/30 Saturday 6/2 arose a groin6/16 injury Saturday to Zack 6/23 him from Minnesota. vs. Salt Lake City at Sacramento at Tulsa vs. Kansas City vs. Phoenix Greinke, who is still working his Minnesota recently cut Vargas 10 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. way back to full strength. when it ran out of roster space. The KPLR (11) KPLR (11) 27-year-old batted .253 with 11 • Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler will Saturday 10/13 Saturday 9/29 home runs and 41 in 78 games begin the season in the minors afvs.RBIs Oklahoma at Phoenix ter squandering an opportunity last season for the CityTwins as a des8 p.m. 7:30 p.m. KPLR (11)hitter and to secure a rotation spot during ignated first baseman. The Twins had a roster spot spring training.
Martinez’s outing calms nerves
Martinez
six hits, five runs and four walks. There was a three-run homer and a 21-pitch first inning. Heads cocked as news of the outing spread. What’s up with Martinez? Factor in the off-the-field unknowns — I’m talking about the rather sketchy civil suit against Martinez for his alleged role in an alleged assault outside a strip club in 2014, and the Grapefruit League start he asked out of earlier this month for personal reasons he declined to clarify — and it’s not outlandish to wonder about Martinez. A bad start Saturday would have been alarming. So give credit to Martinez for calming nerves. “I’m 100 percent right now,” he said. “Everything’s good. I’m just ready for opening day.” Great. But what about this spring? “I was working a lot with my pitches,” Martinez said. “The first three starts of this spring training, I was not comfortable with my pitches. That’s why I did that in the minor leagues. I was working. I was working with my new pitch, the cutter. That’s it. Right now, I feel strong. I feel comfortable with every pitch.” Martinez said three of Saturday’s strikeouts came on the cutter. He eased concerns that he might overuse the new pitch by
saying his best pitches are still his two-seam fastball, changeup and strikeout-producing slider. “But I want to show the other teams I have another pitch now,” he said of the cutter. “It’s good.” If any more pitch-tweaking is necessary, it will come in the final bullpen sessions before opening day in New York. Then and there, not here in Florida, it will be time to see if Martinez has made progress on the goals he outlined this offseason. He wanted to iron out the first-inning flare-ups. He wanted his focus on the mound to become a constant, not something that drifts depending on the situation. He wants to ascend to the level his manager keeps telling the world he can reach. “With the stuff he has, if he’s not in the conversation as a Cy Young contender, then something is wrong,” Matheny said. “Whether he likes that or not, it’s the truth. I want to continue to help every one of these guys use the God-given ability they have. How do we maximize it? Carlos is no different than the rest. He’s just been given a lot. And a lot is expected once you have that.” Martinez agrees. “I’m the ace,” he said.” I’m going to be strong for the whole season.” He’s saying all the right things. On Saturday, his stuff matched his talk. “Right on time,” Matheny said. “What I heard was that it was almost overpowering. That’s what I’ve been waiting for.” Nothing would clear up a cloudy spring like a dominant start at Citi Field. Ben Frederickson @Ben_Fred on Twitter bfrederickson@post-dispatch.com
We vs. 12: Fac
Sa at 7:4 FSM
Su at 12: FSM
Su at 3:0 TV
Fri at 7:1 FSM
Sa at 5:1 FSM
Sa vs. Va 7:3
BASEBALL
03.25.2018 • Sunday • M 2
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • B3
CARDINALS NOTEBOOK
Matheny gives Mayers good news Righthander makes opening-day roster
Cardinals 8, Mets 7 New York ab r h bi St. Louis ab r h bi Cnforto cf 2 1 0 0 G.Grcia 2b 2 0 1 0 C.Start cf 1 0 1 1 W.Tovar pr 2 2 1 0 J.Reyes dh 4 0 0 0 J.Gyrko 3b 2 0 0 1 5 1 1 1 A.Mejia 3b 2 0 1 0 Gnzalez 1b Frazier 3b 4 1 3 2 Mrtinez 1b 2 0 0 0 Cabrera 2b 5 1 2 1 P.Wsdom ph 1 1 1 1 W.Flres rf 3 1 0 0 M.Ozuna lf 3 0 2 2 P.Bondi lf 4 0 2 2 L.Thmas pr 2 1 1 1 Rosario ss 4 1 0 0 Y.Mlina dh 2 0 1 0 Lobaton c 3 1 0 0 Knizner pr 2 1 1 1 Y.Munoz ss 4 0 0 0 A.Grcia cf 4 1 2 0 Arzrena rf 3 1 0 0 Fr.Pena c 3 1 1 2 S.Baron c 1 0 0 0 Totals 35 7 9 7 Totals 35 8 12 8 New York 001 050 010 — 7 St. Louis 000 070 001 — 8 LOB: New York 7, St. Louis 7. 2B: Gonzalez (2), Frazier 2 (4), Mejia (2), Ozuna 2 (7), Garcia (4). 3B: Stuart (1), Biondi (1). SB: Wisdom (1). SF: Frazier (1), Gyorko (1). New York IP H R ER BB SO Conlon 4 1 0 0 0 2 2/ Uceta 3 4 5 5 1 0 1/ Torres 3 3 2 2 0 1 Church 3 1 0 0 1 2 1/ Regnault L, 0-1 3 3 1 1 1 0 St. Louis IP H R ER BB SO Mayers 1 0 0 0 0 0 Mujica 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 3 2 Warner Evans 1 0 0 0 0 0 2/ Mckinney 3 4 5 5 2 1 1/ Bowman 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 Cecil 1 1 0 0 0 0 Norris 1 2 1 1 0 0 Leone W, 1-0 1 0 0 0 0 1 HBP: by: Conlon (Garcia). Umpires: Home, Carlos Torres; First, CB Bucknor; Second, Paul Nauert; Third, Ben May. T: 3:00. A: 7,339
BY RICK HUMMEL St. Louis Post-Dispatch
JUPITER, FLA. • In their final
home exhibition game, the Cardinals trotted out nine pitchers in nine innings. Some were minor leaguers, and righthander Mike Mayers, who started the game, came to camp with that designation. But Mayers will be on the team that goes to New York for Thursday’s opener. He tossed just eight pitches, seven for strikes, in his one inning Saturday. He said he expected to pitch two innings, as he had done in every other appearance, but manager Mike Matheny told him he was finished after one. “When Mike told me I was done, he also told me I needed to pack my bags for New York,” Mayers said. “And then I was greeted by a hug from everybody. That was a moment I’ll never forget. “Actually, I have to apologize to Mike. He told me, ‘That’s it,’ when I saw him at the top step (of the dugout). I thought he meant ‘That’s it. That’s the way to do that inning.’ I walked right past him and wasn’t paying attention. I had to quickly apologize to the skipper.” At this point, veteran Adam Wainwright walked past Mayers in the clubhouse and said, “He’s a big leaguer. I don’t know if you’ve heard.” Mayers’ spring statistics were 12 innings, 13 strikeouts, five hits allowed and no runs or walks. That will get you to the big leagues. “He came in here on a mission,” Matheny said. “And mission accomplished. He needed to change the trajectory (of) his career, and he did it.” The Ole Miss product has been playing from behind ever since his horrid big-league debut in 2016 when he allowed nine runs in 1 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cardinals bullpen coach Bryan Eversgerd, the pitching coach at Memphis last year, noted early in camp that
CHRIS LEE • clee@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny says of pitcher Mike Mayers (above): “He came in here on a mission. And mission accomplished.”
Mayers threw much harder — and with more authority last year — as a reliever at Memphis. But Matheny already had seen what the 26-year-old Mayers had in him. Last spring, Mayers threw a pitch close to Marcell Ozuna, who was with Miami, and Ozuna stared at him. “The next pitch was like 96 (miles an hour)” and Matheny recalled thinking to himself, ‘Well, then, just do that!’” “I remember talking to him about what happened and he said, ‘It (ticked) me off.’ I said, ‘Then get (ticked) off. What do we have to do? Hot sauce?’ “We’ve got a long way to go, right? But it’s a great story, and I hope it has a better ending.” Mayers said, “I pitch a little bit differently out of the bullpen. Not necessarily pitching angry, but pitching with a little emotion is definitely OK out of the bullpen. “I’m in the business of proving people wrong, and I like it,” he said. “I’ve had that underdog mentality for the majority of my
baseball career. I wish everything to this point had gone a little bit different, but I’m anxious to reright the ship and get it going in the right direction.” Righthander John Brebbia, who came up last season and performed well, also will be an opening-day player for the first time as the Cardinals have finalized their 25-man roster. Luke Gregerson (left hamstring strain) and Alex Reyes (elbow) will be placed on the disabled list, with Gregerson on the 10-day list and Reyes no doubt on the 60-day list.
‘I LOVE OUR CLUB’ That’s what Matheny said after Saturday’s game. “We gave a nice little sample to our fan base, the ones that have been watching us all spring,” he said. The Cardinals have won nine of their last 12 games. With the Cardinals down 6-0, Ozuna doubled home two runs to highlight a seven-run home fifth. Rookie Lane Thomas singled with the bases loaded to knock
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in the winning run in the ninth inning for an 8-7 Cardinals win. The entire dugout, consisting of many veterans, poured out to congratulate Thomas. Ozuna, after starting his spring four for 28 with 13 strikeouts, is 14 for his last 24, including two doubles in two times at bat Saturday.
‘LOUSY TIMING’ Gregerson, who injured his hamstring running his last sprint of the day a few days ago, will be out a couple of weeks at least. John Mozleliak, president of baseball operations, said the strain was a grade one strain — the least severe. The time frame for such injuries is generally 10 days to three weeks. Gregerson was perfect for three innings, retiring all nine men he faced. The 33-year-old said that on his final sprint “I felt a little twinge and it got tighter and tighter. And here we are. This is really lousy timing. I’ve never had a leg injury in my life.” Gregerson, who had an oblique strain earlier in camp. Dom Leone, who has three saves and one win, probably has pitched more ninth innings in Florida than he ever did with Toronto, Arizona or Seattle. He has a 1.00 ERA in nine innings and might be the first one in the
ninth-inning barrel Thursday. “If I get the chance, it will be awesome,” he said.
PHAM HAS GOOD DAY Center fielder Tommy Pham, struggling at .170, was scratched from Saturday’s lineup, mostly on Pham’s request. Instead of taking three or four at-bats in the game with the Mets, he got eight plate appearances in minorleague games and had three hits, including a home run, and also was hit by a pitch. “I hit five balls hard in eight atbats, so that’s a good sign,” Pham said. Pham asked a coach to record his swing with an iPad from behind the fence. In between atbats, he crossed his arms over his chest and then practiced his swing in slow motion, focusing on his body positioning. He reviewed film while his teammates played defense. Pham’s battles with his eyesight are well-documented, and he thinks they have contributed to this spring chill. He said Saturday that he’s “working through” some contact lenses.
MOTTE DECLINES OFFER Former Cardinals closer Jason Motte, who was given his unconditional release Thursday, has declined to join the Cardinals on a Class AAA Memphis contract and is pursuing other options.
CARDINALS’ ROSTER Pitchers (13): Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Luke Weaver, Miles Mikolas, Bud Norris, Dom Leone, Sam Tuivailala, John Brebbia, Matt Bowman, Brett Cecil, Mike Mayers, Tyler Lyons. Catchers (2): Yadier Molina, Francisco Pena. Infielders (6): Matt Carpenter, Kolten Wong, Paul DeJong, Jedd Gyorko, Greg Garcia, Yairo Munoz. Outfielders (4): Marcell Ozuna, Tommy Pham, Dexter Fowler, Jose Martinez. Ben Frederickson of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report. Rick Hummel @cmshhummel on Twitter rhummel@post-dispatch.com
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SPORTS
B4 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thomas can rise to No. 1 with a win He will face Watson; Noren takes on Kisner
M 3 • Sunday • 03.25.2018
WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT
UConn rolls into Elite Eight St. Louisan Collier shines as Huskies head to 13th regional finals in a row ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN, TEXAS • Justin Thomas
won two matches Saturday to reach the semifinals of the Dell Technologies Match Play. One more and he gets to No. 1 in the world. Thomas made quick work of Si Woo Kim in the morning and then trailed for the first time all week against Kyle Stanley — just not for long. Thomas won three straight holes to start the back nine, made a 6-foot par putt to stay in control and closed out Stanley 2-and-1. Dustin Johnson didn’t win a match during the week and will not get any world ranking points. That means Thomas only has to reach the championship match Sunday to become the seventh American to reach No. 1. In his way is Bubba Watson, who is back to playing like a two-time Masters champion. “It will and would be a great accomplishment,” Thomas said. “But I’m just worried about trying to beat Bubba Watson tomorrow.” Watson made all the key putts in a battle of Georgia southpaws when he beat Brian Harman in the morning, and then he turned a tight match into a runaway against Kiradech Aphibarnrat by winning five of six holes on the back nine for a 5-and-3 victory. That put Watson, who won last month at Riviera, in the semifinals for the first time since his Match Play debut in 2011. Alex Noren extended his run at Austin Country Club by winning for the ninth time in his last 10 matches. His only loss was to Johnson a year ago in the quarterfinals, and he needed only 31 holes to beat Patrick Reed and Cameron Smith of Australia. Noren and Thomas are the only semifinalists who have not lost a match in the tournament. Kevin Kisner reached the semifinals with a big putt and a big blowout. He made a birdie on the 18th hole to beat Matt Kuchar and then matched the shortest match of the week with an 8-and-6 victory over Ian Poulter, who was disappointed for more than just losing. “Probably didn’t see that one coming,” Kisner said. “I thought it was going to be a difficult match. Obviously, Ian’s match-play record speaks for itself. I got off to a good start making a few birdies. He made a few mistakes, and I was able to capitalize on those. And things just snowballed from there.” Poulter was told after he beat Louis Oosthuizen in the morning that reaching the quarterfinals was enough for him to be in the top 50 at the end of the week, which would get him into the Masters. Moments later, he received a text that he needed to win his match against Kisner. “I gave him no fight at all. It was rubbish,” said Poulter, who didn’t make a birdie. The misinformation wasn’t to blame, though it clearly added to an all-around bad day at the office. “Next time I won’t listen to other people. I’ll do my bit and focus better,” Poulter said. “I mean, I can’t put that down as an excuse. It would be an excuse if I said it. So it’s disappointing to be given the wrong information, but that wasn’t part of this afternoon.” Kisner faces Noren, whom he knows from their college days — Kisner at Georgia, Noren at Oklahoma State. Thomas (No. 2) and Noren (No. 13) are the only top seeds from the 16 groups who advanced to the semifinals. Thomas had his wisdom teeth pulled two weeks ago, went to the Bahamas and then came down with what his doctor suspected was strep throat. He wasn’t sure when he arrived Monday if he could play, though it got progressively better, and so did his game.
GOLF ROUNDUP Stricker leads by one shot over Durant, Sluman Steve Stricker moved into position for his second straight PGA Tour Champions victory, shooting a 3-under 69 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead in the Rapiscan Systems Classic in Biloxi, Miss. Stricker had a 7-under 137 total at Fallen Oak. Joe Durant is tied for second with Jeff Sluman. Kerr loses lead • Cristie Kerr lost a fivestroke lead in the Kia Classic to set up a final-round showdown at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, Calif. A day after shooting an 8-under 64, Kerr had a 75 to drop a stroke behind Lizette Salas, Eun-Hee Ji and In-Kyung Kim. Garnett’s lead shrinks • Brice Garnett saw his lead drop from six shots to two over Corey Conners going into the final round of the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship in the Dominican Republic. Associated Press
Geno Auriemma and the Connecticut Huskies are in a familiar place — the Elite Eight. Napheesa Collier (Incarnate Word Academy) scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds to help top-seed UConn beat Duke 72-59 on Saturday, in Albany, N.Y., and advance to the regional finals for the 13th consecutive season. The Huskies’ senior duo of Gabby Williams and Kia Nurse was key on the defensive end to help UConn win. “We’re fortunate that our two seniors are two of the better defensive players in the country,” Auriemma said. “We can count on those two every game. Gabby’s going to play great every game. She plays at a certain level every game. Kia’s one of the toughest competitors we’ve had at Connecticut.” UConn (35-0) will face defending national champion South Carolina on Monday night to try and advance to a record 11th straight Final Four. “Last time we played them we got out to an early run so I don’t think any of us are expecting it to be easy (Monday),” said Williams, who had 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. “A’ja (Wilson) doesn’t want her college career to be over on Monday. We know they are going to put up a fight and it will be a battle.” The Huskies scored the first seven points of the game beginning with a banked-in 3-pointer from Nurse and they were off and running. Fifth-seed Duke (24-9) was only behind by seven points early in the second quarter when the Blue Devils went cold from the field, going scoreless over the next 5½ minutes. UConn extended its advantage to 30-16. The Blue Devils cut their deficit to 12, but UConn scored the final eight points of the half, including a pullup by Williams just before the halftime buzzer to give UConn a 40-20 lead. Duke closed its gap to 44-31 midway through the third quarter, but didn’t score for the rest of the period and UConn rebuilt the 20-point advantage. “You’ve got to be prepared for the whole 40 minutes,” Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie said. “UConn is good at responding to that. You’ve got to keep going and have immediacy and smarts. ... We did in circumstances, but we couldn’t get it across the board. They have too much experience not to, especially with Gabby and Nurse, they have too much experience.” South Carolina 79, Buffalo 63 • Alexis Jennings scored 20 points and A’ja Wilson added 20 points and 13 rebounds to spark the Gamecocks in the other game in Albany in their quest to successfully defend their national title. Second-seeded South Carolina (29-6) has won six straight. Upstart Buffalo (296), just the third Mid-American Confer-
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Connecticut’s Gabby Williams (right) shoots over Duke’s Rebecca Greenwell in the second half.
ence school to reach the Sweet 16, was among the final four teams to earn an atlarge berth. It was the program’s second NCAA Tournament appearance after a first-round exit two years ago. Cierra Dillard led Buffalo with 29 points. South Carolina’s dominance inside against the smaller Bulls spelled the difference. The Gamecocks outrebounded Buffalo 48-21, outscored the Bulls 20-5 on second-chance points, and finished with a 52-30 edge in the paint. “We just did what we do best,” Jennings said. Notre Dame 90, Texas A&M 84 • Marina Mabrey scored 25 points, hitting a careerhigh seven 3-pointers, and Arike Ogunbowale also had 25 points to help the Irish advance in the Spokane (Wash.) Regional
semifinals. The Fighting Irish (32-3) rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit and are back in their familiar spot of playing for a trip to the Final Four. They meet Oregon on Monday night for a slot in the Final Four. The Aggies finished at 26-10. Oregon 83, Central Michigan 69 • Ruthy Hebard had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Sabrina Ionescu as the Ducks rolled in Spokane. Lexi Bando added 14 points for Oregon (33-4), which earned a second consecutive trip to the Elite Eight with its 12th win in a row. Tinara Moore had 23 points and 14 rebounds for Central Michigan (30-5), which won its first two NCAA Tournament games in program history this year.
Despite finish, Tigers can hold heads up MU • FROM B1
holdovers from the Kim Anderson years. Mizzou tasted the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years, finished with 20 victories, tied for fourth place in a deep Southeastern Conference and filled seats at Mizzou Arena that for years collected only dust. The team on the floor at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for the NCAA firstround loss to Florida State barely resembled the unit that faced Iowa State in the Nov. 10 season opener 126 days earlier, but even in defeat, the player on this team who’s logged more career minutes than anyone could relish what the Tigers achieved. “I’m beyond proud to call these guys my teammates and beyond proud to call these coaches my coaches,” Puryear said after Mizzou finished the season with five losses over its final seven games. “We fought a lot of adversity this season, and people counted us out at times during the season. For us to make the runs that we did and play basketball the way we did, I think it’s pretty remarkable. And I think that’s something that everybody in our locker room should be proud of.” For all the roster turnover and streaky play that unfolded the past five months, Martin’s debut season was defined by progress from the program’s rock-bottom years that preceded his arrival. By the season’s final tip-off, the Tigers had only seven healthy scholarship players — more like six and a half considering freshman Michael Porter Jr. was still recovering from back surgery and was only a shell of his former self in the two postseason games he played. Still, the Tigers shaved a 22-point deficit to six in the second half against Florida State before the season expired. Mizzou’s first-half effort bothered Martin, but reaching the NCAA Tournament with an undermanned lineup — a team with zero players with Big Dance experience — was more than he expected when he took the job last March. “I think it speaks volumes about their character, their makeup to be resilient and continue to fight,” Martin said in Nashville. “I’m just really happy for them to do that. I’ve never been around a situation
MU STATISTICS GP-GS Min/G FG-Att.-Pct. 3FG-Att.-Pct. FT-Att.-Pct. Reb./G Ast TO Stl Blk Pts/G Robertson 33-33 36.0 158-374-.422 105-243-.432 116-146-.795 3.0 77 77 32 2 16.3 Barnett 32-32 34.1 142-316-.449 82-198-.414 73-82-.890 5.9 35 50 23 19 13.7 3-1 17.7 10-30-.333 3-10-.300 7-9-.778 6.7 1 3 3 1 10.0 M.Porter J.Porter 33-7 24.5 104-238-.437 40-110-.364 78-104-.750 6.8 74 63 28 55 9.9 Puryear 33-26 25.3 93-211-.441 13-51-.255 84-102-.824 4.3 27 48 10 8 8.6 33-33 19.4 115-204-.564 0-0-.000 40-76-.526 4.2 15 70 8 33 8.2 Tilmon Geist 33-11 26.1 73-167-.437 33-90-.367 63-90-.700 3.8 95 57 27 0 7.3 Harris 14-9 13.9 22-54-.407 0-7-.000 9-13-.692 2.4 44 24 14 0 3.8 20-0 10.6 15-33-.455 7-20-.350 13-16-.813 1.5 37 22 5 0 2.5 Phillips VanLeer 31-13 14.3 27-74-.365 19-64-.297 0-7-.000 1.4 30 21 13 0 2.4 Wolf 4-0 2.8 3-4-.750 3-3-1.000 0-0-.000 0.0 0 0 1 0 2.3 Nikko 33-0 8.1 28-51-.549 0-0-.000 21-40-.525 2.0 6 16 5 22 2.3 Rau 11-0 4.5 4-9-.444 1-3-.333 1-3-.333 0.3 2 4 1 0 0.9 33 201.5 794-1765-.450 306-799-.383 505-688-.734 37.0 443 469 170 140 72.7 Total Opponents 33 201.5 795-1949-.408 231-706-.327 425-586-.725 32.7 376 365 217 117 68.1
where you win 27 games in three years. So the mental state, more than anything, before you even get to the floor, how you develop the confidence level so guys can compete and understand that they’re still good players. … let’s learn from it, let’s become better basketball players.” It was a year ago Saturday when Porter announced his commitment to Mizzou. The back injury and subsequent surgery limited him to 53 of the season’s 1,330 minutes, but the Tigers managed a potent lineup without him, led by senior snipers Kassius Robertson and Jordan Barnett, who accounted for 40 percent of the team’s scoring. A year ago, the Tigers shot just 30.4 percent from 3-point range, the worst single-season mark in team history. With Robertson and Barnett firing away from deep, the Tigers raised that percentage to 38.3, sixth-best in team history. Up front, freshmen Jontay Porter and Jeremiah Tilmon weren’t always consistent but gave the Tigers two inside threats to score, rebound and block shots. At its best, Martin’s team was greater than the sum of its parts, good enough to beat six NCAA Tournament teams, including the program’s first win over Kentucky during a five-game winning streak in SEC play that salvaged a spiraling January. The turnaround couldn’t have been complete without these superlative performances:
TEAM MVP: KASSIUS ROBERTSON When Robertson joined the program
last summer as a graduate transfer from Canisius College, the Tigers thought they were getting a 3-point specialist who would spread the floor and complement Porter’s output. He became so much more. Robertson, a first-team All-SEC selection, led MU with 16.3 points per game, played 94.1 percent of the team’s minutes and was the best high-volume 3-point shooter in team history. His 3-point attempts (243) and makes (105) rank third all-time for a Mizzou season, while his percentage from behind the arc (43.2) was MU’s best for a player with 200 attempts.
TOP NEWCOMERS: JONTAY PORTER, ROBERTSON If he’s the MVP, then naturally Robertson was also the team’s top newcomer, but he’ll share this honor with the younger Porter, the 18-year-old jack-of-all-trades whose production ranked among MU’s top eight freshman seasons for points, rebounds, blocks and 3-pointers.
MOST IMPROVED: JORDAN BARNETT His DWI arrest and season finale suspension notwithstanding, Barnett developed into one of the SEC’s deadliest perimeter scorers as a senior, boosting his 3-point percentage from 30.0 to 41.4, and gave the Tigers 11 games with at least 18 points. Dave Matter @dave_matter on Twitter dmatter@post-dispatch.com
NCAA TOURNAMENT
03.25.2018 • SUNDAY • M 4 9 Kansas St.
61 Kansas St.
5 Kentucky
62
58 Loyola Chi.
SOUTH: Atlanta
11 Loyola Chi. 7 Nevada
68
9 Florida St.
75 Florida St.
78
54
Michigan
33-7
99 Michigan
7 Texas A&M
FINAL FOUR in San Antonio. Sat., March 31 5:10 or 7:50 p.m. TBS
60
WEST: Los Angeles
3 Michigan
32-5
69 Loyola Chi.
4 Gonzaga
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • B5
NCAA BASKETBALL DIVISION I MEN SWEET 16
CHAMPIONSHIP
Villanova
Sunday 1:20 p.m., KMOV (4)
Texas Tech FINAL FOUR in San Antonio. Sat., March 31 5:10 or 7:50 p.m. TBS
Monday, April 2, 8:20 p.m., TBS Alamodome San Antonio, Texas
Duke
72
Michigan holds off Florida State Wolverines score enough to win defensive battle with Seminoles
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES • Moe Wagner
climbed the ladder, snipped the final strand and whipped the net around his head while thousands of Michigan’s West Coast fans roared. The Wolverines hadn’t caused much disturbance to those nets at Staples Center during the West Region final. They also knew it didn’t matter, because Florida State troubled the twine even less. When shots aren’t falling, Michigan knows it can rely on defense, discipline and tenacity. And by doing all the hard things, the Wolverines muscled their way to the Final Four. Charles Matthews scored 17 points and Michigan earned its first Final Four berth since 2013 with a 58-54 victory over the Seminoles on Saturday night. “I’ve never seen a team work so hard and be so connected on both ends of the floor,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “Even when things do not go right on the offensive end, they were exceptional on defense.” Wagner added 12 points as the Wolverines (32-7) earned their 13th consecutive victory by persevering through a defensedominated second half despite shooting 4-for-22 from 3-point range.
MICHIGAN 58, FLORIDA ST. 54 FG FT Reb FLORIDA ST. Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Cofer 34 6-12 3-3 2-11 0 0 Koumadje 6 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 2 Angola 22 0-6 6-6 2-4 2 3 Mann 35 2-2 0-1 1-5 2 4 C.Walker 23 1-4 0-0 1-2 0 2 Forrest 28 1-4 5-6 2-5 2 2 Savoy 21 3-11 3-3 0-1 0 4 Kabengele 15 1-5 1-1 2-3 0 3 M.Walker 8 1-3 0-0 0-2 0 1 Obiagu 7 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 Totals 200 16-50 18-20 10-33 6 23 Percentages: FG.320, FT.900. 3-point goals: 4-17, .235. Team rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: 13. Blocked shots: 7. Turnovers: 13. Steals: 6. Technical fouls: None. FG FT Reb MICHIGAN Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Livers 12 0-1 2-2 2-4 0 0 Wagner 26 3-11 6-8 1-6 1 4 Abdur-Rahkman 39 3-9 1-3 1-4 2 2 Matthews 39 6-14 4-6 2-8 0 2 Simpson 34 4-8 1-3 0-2 5 1 Robinson 30 2-5 2-2 0-3 0 4 Teske 12 1-1 0-0 1-2 0 2 Simmons 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 Poole 2 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 Totals 200 19-49 16-24 7-29 8 16 Percentages: FG.388, FT.667. 3-point goals: 4-22, .182. Team rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: 10. Blocked shots: 4. Turnovers: 10. Steals: 6. Technical fouls: None. Florida St. 26 28 — Michigan 27 31 —
PTS 16 2 6 4 2 7 12 3 2 0 54
PTS 2 12 9 17 9 7 2 0 0 58
54 58
junkyard dogs,” Beilein said, referring to Florida State’s nickname for its defense. “Well, we’re pit bulls.” Michigan’s Zavier Simpson and Robinson combined to hit three free throws in the final minute to keep Florida State at bay. And with Michigan up by four, Florida State allowed the Wolverines to dribble out the clock without fouling again.
11th-seeded Loyola romps, surges into Final Four NCAA • FROM B1
distinction held by No. 8 seed Villanova in 1985. Don’t bet against Loyola, which emerged from a regional that produced a staggering array of upsets. The South became the first regional in tournament history in which the top four seeds — including overall No. 1 Virginia — were knocked out on the opening weekend. In the end, it was the Ramblers cutting down the nets. After three close calls, this one was downright easy. “We believed that we could do something like this — do something really special— because we knew we had such good chemistry and we’ve got such a good group,” said Richardson, who was named MVP of the regional. “Everyone would say we were crazy. If we said this was going to happen, people would call us crazy, but you’ve just got to believe.” No one believes more than their 98-year-old team chaplain, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, who led a prayer in the locker room before the game. Later, she was pushed onto the court in her wheelchair to join the celebration. Sister Jean donned a Final Four cap — she even turned it around backward, just to show she’s hip to the kids — and gave a gleeful thumbs-up. She’s already looking forward to a bigger game next
ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
Kansas State coach Bruce Weber consoles forward Xavier Sneed, who is from Hazelwood Central High, after the Wildcats were ousted.
weekend. “I’m going to San Antonio,” she said. “That’s going to be great.” Also joining the celebration were several players from the Ramblers’ 1963 national championship team. This Loyola performance came out of nowhere. The Ramblers had not made the tournament since 1985 until they broke the drought by winning the Missouri Valley Conference tourney, in St. Louis. Then, as if benefiting from some sort of divine intervention, the Ramblers won their first
three tournament games by a total of four points . Finally, with the Final Four on the line, they turned in a thoroughly dominating performance against the ninth-seeded Wildcats (25-12), the other half of the first 9-vs.-11 matchup in tournament history. “This is not something where it just started,” said Moser, a former assistant coach at St. Louis University. “These guys have been investing for a long time on how hard they worked, how hard they believed, and we’ve kind of had
78 5
EAST: Boston
Texas Tech
78 3
Purdue
65 2
Kansas
80 1
Clemson
76 5
30-7 MIDWEST: Omaha
Syracuse
65 11
Duke
69 2
29-7
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michigan forward Moe Wagner celebrates after scoring during the second half against Florida State.
talking: The Wolverines had a distinct home-court advantage from thousands of vocal fans packed into the lower bowl of the Lakers’ and Clippers’ home arena, and they seemed to need all of those cheers to survive an off shooting night. “I felt like we were in Ann Arbor,” Beilein said. Phil Cofer scored 16 points for the ninth-seeded Seminoles (23-13), who couldn’t match their late rally past top-seeded Xavier last week because they simply couldn’t score consistently, going 7 for 30 from the field in the second half. “Even though we were getting good stops, we couldn’t get into our offensive flow because they were doing a good job defensively,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. “When we did get into the lane, we didn’t finish our plays. The thing about Michigan’s team, they are not totally defined by one particular player. They’re a complete basketball team.” Savoy trimmed the Wolverines’ lead to 55-52 on a 3-pointer with 1:17 to play. With Michigan fans holding their breath, Savoy then missed a potential gametying 3-pointer and two more 3-pointers in the final minute, including a final shot under pressure with 12 seconds left. “They call themselves the
W. Virginia
Kansas vs. Duke offers classic duel
WEST REGION
After taking a 10-point lead on Duncan Robinson’s 3-pointer with 2:26 to play, Michigan’s lead dwindled to three before P.J. Savoy missed a potential tying 3-pointer for Florida State with 58 seconds left. The Wolverines held off a late charge from the Seminoles (23-12), who had already knocked off three higher-seeded opponents on their school’s longest NCAA Tournament run since 1993. “We take pride in our defense, so we believe in ourselves,” said Michigan guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rakhman, who scored nine points on 3-of-9 shooting. “We knew we had to get stops. We weren’t making free throws. That comes with the game sometimes. We just had to continue to get stops.” With tenacious defense and just enough made free throws down the stretch, Michigan hung on and advanced to San Antonio, Texas, next weekend to face the underdog heroes of Loyola-Chicago (32-5), who stunned the sport by winning the South Region. The third-seeded Wolverines are much less of a surprise, but the achievement is no less impressive for Beilein’s squad, which wore its “Do More, Say Less” shirts throughout the week. Michigan let its fans do the
90 1
27-9
Sunday 4:05 p.m., KMOV (4)
58
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kansas
Villanova 33-4
this mantra about the process. “People asked me out there, did you ever think you were going to the Final Four? And to be honest with you, after Selection Sunday, we didn’t say, hey, let’s go to the Final Four. We said, what do we got to do to beat Miami, and then it was the next game, and then it was the next game. These guys have done an amazing job on laser-like focus on what’s right in front of them instead of skipping steps.” Not the least bit intimidated, Loyola came out in attack mode right from the start against a Kansas State team that rode a stifling defense to the regional final. Moving the ball just as you’d expect from a veteran squad with two seniors and two fourth-year juniors in the starting lineup, the Ramblers kept getting open looks and bolted to a 36-24 lead. “They jumped out to that big lead and it was tough for us to come back,” said Xavier Sneed, who is from Hazelwood Central High and led Kansas State with 16 points. “They kept their foot on the gas.” The Ramblers shot 57 percent against a team that is used to shutting foes down, including nine of 18 from 3-point range. K-State hit just 35 percent from the field — six of 26 from beyond the arc. Early in the second half, Richardson swished a 3-pointer as he was fouled by Kamau Stokes,
OMAHA, NEB. • In a tournament defined by unpredictability, there will finally be a regional final that makes sense. No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Duke will square off in the Midwest final Sunday for the last spot in the Final Four — and the stakes are huge even by Elite Eight standards. Mike Krzyzewski is looking to break UCLA legend John Wooden’s record of 12 Final Four appearances. Kansas coach Bill Self, who recently joined Krzyzewski and Wooden in the Naismith Hall of Fame, is hoping to snap a twoyear losing streak in regional finals and a 2-7 personal record in Elite Eights. After scores of upsets produced some rather strange matchups elsewhere, it’ll be “Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk” vs. Coach K and the Blue Devils in a classic finale in Omaha. “It’s great when you have two programs of this nature, this status in the history of our game play for a Final Four berth. I think it’s great for the sport,” Krzyzewski said. As for the latest chapter in the Kansas-Duke series, the topseeded Jayhawks (30-7) are more like a plucky underdog — at least by their high standards — while second-seeded Duke (29-7) and its cadre of ridiculously talented freshmen appear to be rounding into title-contending form. Duke is a betting favorite in the game even though it is the lower seed. The Jayhawks have clawed their way into their third straight regional final as a No. 1 behind teamwork and a toughness that wasn’t always there in the winter. Their last two wins, over Seton Hall and Clemson, came by just 4 points apiece. “It’ll be a tough game. But it’s going to be a fun game,” Self said. “We know we’ve got our hands full. But we like to think they have their hands full too.” Duke cruised through to the Sweet 16, but then had to survive a furious challenge from ACC rival Syracuse. The young Blue Devils have flourished under the leadership of senior captain Grayson Allen, who is 12-2 in the NCAA Tournament. “We’re both here for a reason. It’ll be a good one,” Duke star Marvin Bagley III said.
LOYOLA 78, KANSAS ST. 62 FG FT Reb LOYOLA Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS Krutwig 22 4-8 1-1 1-7 2 0 9 Custer 36 2-8 2-2 1-2 5 2 7 Richardson 36 7-10 3-3 0-6 4 2 23 Townes 30 4-6 5-5 0-4 3 2 13 Ingram 32 4-6 2-2 0-8 1 2 12 Williamson 21 3-6 2-3 1-5 2 4 8 Jackson 13 3-3 0-0 0-2 0 2 6 Satterwhite 4 0-0 0-2 0-0 0 1 0 Skokna 3 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 Shanks 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Negron 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 DiNardi 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 200 27-47 15-18 3-35 17 15 78 Percentages: FG.574, FT.833. 3-point goals: 9-18, .500. Team rebounds: 1. Team Turnovers: 15. Blocked shots: 2. Turnovers: 15. Steals: 2. Technical fouls: None. FG FT Reb KANSAS ST. Min M-A M-A O-T A PF PTS Mawien 19 2-8 0-0 1-3 0 2 4 Sneed 36 6-10 0-0 3-6 1 2 16 Brown 38 6-16 2-3 1-3 2 3 14 Diarra 25 2-8 2-2 1-5 0 4 7 Stokes 28 4-12 4-4 1-3 4 2 13 McGuirl 29 2-9 1-1 1-1 1 1 5 Wainright 11 1-2 0-0 1-4 1 3 2 Stockard 7 0-0 1-2 0-1 0 2 1 Love 2 0-0 0-0 1-1 0 0 0 Kinnamon 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 McAtee 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Sallah 1 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Schoen 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Patrick 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 200 23-66 10-12 10-27 9 19 62 Percentages: FG.348, FT.833. 3-point goals: 6-26, .231. Team rebounds: 1. Team Turnovers: 6. Blocked shots: 2. Turnovers: 6. Steals: 7. Technical fouls: None. Loyola 36 42 — 78 Kansas St. 24 38 — 62 A: 15,477.
winding up flat on his back, flashing a huge smile with his arms raised above his head. He knocked down the free throw to complete the four-point play, stretching the lead to 44-29. Loyola led by as many as 23. “We’re just a bunch of guys that everybody laughed at ... when we thought we were going to play Division I basketball,” Ramblers guard Clayton Custer said. “Nobody thought we could do any of this.” They do now.
GYMNASTICS
B6 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
M 2 • Sunday • 03.25.2018
LSU wins SEC championships
NOTEBOOK
Mizzou on the rise despite mixed results
All-around winner Sarah Finnegan has St. Louis roots
BY STU DURANDO St. Louis Post-Dispatch
For Shannon Welker’s fifth season as Missouri’s gymnastics coach, the Tigers sought to challenge an experienced roster that finished 2017 ranked 17th in the country against one of the nation’s most difficult schedules. The results have been mixed, but have included breakthroughs that indicate the program remains on the rise in the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers beat Florida for the first time in 23 attempts. They have three wins against top-10 teams. And they have posted several scores that rank among the 10 best in program history. “The focus was on finishing stronger on the back half of the season,” Welker said. “The last two years we came out strong but tapered off a little with some quality and other things. So the focus was on the finish and we delayed a couple of things we usually do earlier to have some freshness to what we are doing.” Mizzou entered the SEC Championships on Saturday ranked No. 21 nationally and seeded No. 8 out of eight teams in the conference. The Tigers finished third in the early session at Chaifetz Arena and seventh overall. Their score of 196.1 was well off of their season best of 196.925. Next they hope to make some noise in the regionals on April 7. The Tigers were third in their regional last year, leaving them one spot short of an appearance in the national championships. In the last two seasons, Mizzou has won five dual meets against SEC opponents after having just one dual meet win previously in the conference. “From the time we started we’ve made tremendous progress,” Welker said. “When we got here we were (ranked) in the low 40s. Every year through last year we improved. This year we’re not quite where we thought we’d be, but the postseason is where we want to make our mark.” Aside from the tough SEC schedule, Mizzou also faced No. 25 Iowa State and lost and No. 21 George Washington, which the Tigers defeated. On Saturday, Morgan Porter (Ritenour High) performed in the all-around competition for the second time this season and was fifth in the afternoon with a score of 39.10. Porter qualified for the NCAA Championships in allaround as a freshman and is coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered last season. “We’ve been slowly working her back into more events,” Welker said. “She started on bars and beam and we’ve been plugging her in on vault a little here and there and recently on the floor. We’ve been strategic when we use her, but she’s a full year out from the injury, so she’s ready.” In her first attempt at the all-around this season, two weeks ago at Iowa State, Porter scored 39.175. Doing her first competitive floor routine since the injury on Jan. 20, 2017, she scored 9.85. On Saturday, she scored 9.70.
BY STU DURANDO St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Sarah Finnegan has been a picture of perfection at times this season, but she now knows that isn’t necessary to win championships. The LSU junior with St. Louis roots arrived at Chaifetz Arena for the Southeastern Conference gymnastics championships as one of two performers in the country to score 10s in three events this season. She is ranked No. 4 nationally among all-around performers. The challenge was the presence of defending national champion Alex McMurtry of Florida, not to mention her own LSU teammate Myia Hambrick and many others. The 5-foot-1 Finnegan, who started her gymnastics career in St. Louis, moved and then returned for her final year of high school, didn’t have any of those perfect moments Saturday. In fact, she and her teammates left much room for improvement. But she was good enough to capture the SEC all-around championship and lead the Tigers to the team title over second-place Alabama. “It’s cool, especially since I had a lot of people come and a lot of family and friends I haven’t seen in a while,” Finnegan said. “Coming and doing my gymnastics in front of them was cool because not a lot of them get to see me perform. It was just a great night.” Finnegan scored 39.50 to edge Florida’s Alicia Boren with 39.475. LSU also did not have its best performance but still scored 197.40 to break the NCAA record for consecutive meets with at least 197 points at 36. The Tigers, who are ranked No. 2 in the country, are the only team to reach 197 in every meet this season. “Consistency paid off and not getting slump-shouldered,” LSU coach D-D Breaux said. “We made a mistake and the next person would try to correct it. It has to be natural and organic. We had a little bit of a struggle here and there but never stopped with that tenacious fighting spirit that they have.” Finnegan has bounced around but spent eight years in St. Louis and started the sport at a local club when she was 7. Her family moved before she started high school but returned for her senior year, which she completed at Heritage Classical Christian Academy. By that point she was clearly in demand among top college programs. She was a second-team All-American as a freshman and a first-team All-American as a sophomore, when she won a national title on the bars. This year she has gained more national prominence. Finnegan is ranked first in the country on the bars, fourth on the balance beam, seventh in the floor exercise and 23rd in the vault. She got her weakest event out of the way to start the meet and scored a 9.875. Without a major stumble, she was positioned to challenge for the all-around title with a solid performance. The same went for the team, which trailed Florida after two events. “Since we know the nationals will be in this arena, it was a good boost of confidence to know we’ve won a championship in this arena,” she said. “We have a feel for the equipment and the atmosphere. D-D always says that consistency wins. We know we still have work to do and want to fine-tune little things to bring our top game for the rest of the season.” LSU edged Florida for last year’s team title 198.075-197.825. However, in 2018 Florida had the advantage of returning all 24 routines, making the Gators the
PHOTOS BY TIM VIZER
Sarah Finnegan of LSU competes on the uneven bars during the SEC gymnastics championships Saturday at Chaifetz Arena. Finnegan captured the all-around title.
RESULTS TEAM STANDINGS 1. LSU.................197.400 2. Florida...........196.825 3. Alabama........ 196.975 4. Kentucky.......196.550
5. Arkansas........ 196.425 6. Georgia..........196.350 7. Missouri.........196.100 8. Auburn.......... 195.650
VAULT Team Individual 1. FLA 49.475 1. A. McMurty, FLA 9.975 2. LSU 49.400 2. D. Watson, AUB 9.925 3. ALA 49.300 2. G. Day, AUB 9.925 4. KY 49.300 9 tied for fourth. 5. GA 49.150
Mizzou’s Morgan Porter starts her flip as she approaches the vault during the SEC championships. The team finished seventh at the event.
only team that competed for the national championship last year at Chaifetz to do so. Florida also has four strong freshmen, three of whom have U.S. national team program experience. Nevertheless, the Tigers had the better regular season, finishing on top by posting a perfect mark against league opponents for the second consecutive year. The Tigers’ only loss came at the Metroplex Challenge, where they lost to UCLA but finished ahead of two other teams. Fifth-ranked Florida looked like it would challenge LSU. The Gators posted the best score on the vault at 49.475 and the balance beam at 49.550. They matched LSU’s score of 49.40 on the bars. But the Gators did poorly in the floor exercise, their final event of the night. They scored 48.40, which was the worst score for any team in any event on the day. It pushed them to third place. Several SEC teams could return for the national championships on April 20 and 21. LSU is a heavy favorite to do so, and Finnegan felt that competing once at Chaifetz in advance was important. “The feel of the equipment is a little different, a little bouncier and the bars swing a little more,” she said. “It’s something you have to adjust to. We have a really young team and haven’t experienced that before, so this was a really great opportunity for them to learn.” Stu Durando @studurando on Twitter sdurando@post-dispatch.com
UNEVEN PARALLEL BARS Team Individual 1. LSU 49.400 1. Alex McMurty, FLA 9.950 49.400 2. Am. Hundley, FLA 9.900 2. FLA 49.150 2. Rachel Gowey, FLA 9.900 3. ARK 49.125 2. Myia Hambrick, LSU 9.900 4. GA 49.100 2. Kennedi Edney, LSU 9.900 5. KY 2. Lexie Priessman, LSU 9.900 BALANCE BEAM Team Individual 1. FLA 49.550 1. Alyssa Baumann, FLA 9.975 49.450 2. Kiana Winston, AL 9.950 2. AL 49.300 2. Nickie Guerrero, AL 9.950 3. LSU 49.225 4. Hailey Garner, ARK 9.925 4. ARK 49.175 4. Alicia Boren, FLA 9.925 5. MO 4. Sarah Finnegan, LSU 9.925 FLOOR EXERCISE Team Individual 1. LSU 49.300 1. Ariana Guerra, AL 9.900 2. AL 49.275 1. Alicia Boren, FLA 9.900 49.275 1. Sidney Dukes, KY 9.900 3. KY 49.075 4 tied for fourth. 4. ARK 49.050 5. GA ALL AROUND Individual 1. Sarah Finnegan, LSU ����������������������������������� 39.500 2. Alicia Boren, FLA ����������������������������������������� 39.475 3. Kennedi Edney, LSU �������������������������������������39.450 4. Amelia Hundley, FLA ����������������������������������� 39.425 4. Sydney Snead, GA ���������������������������������������� 39.425
Stu Durando @studurando on Twitter sdurando@post-dispatch.com
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SPORTS
03.25.2018 • Sunday • M 4
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • B7
Avs win in shootout vs. Knights
NBA STANDINGS WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf y-Houston 59 14 .808 — 9-1 W-8 29-6 30-8 38-8 San Antonio 43 30 .589 16 7-3 W-6 29-8 14-22 25-20 New Orleans 43 31 .581 16½ 5-5 L-1 22-15 21-16 22-23 Dallas 22 51 .301 37 3-7 L-5 14-24 8-27 12-35 Memphis 19 54 .260 40 1-9 L-4 14-24 5-30 16-28 W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf Northwest Portland 44 28 .611 — 8-2 L-2 25-13 19-15 26-16 Oklahoma City 44 30 .595 1 7-3 W-1 26-11 18-19 25-20 Minnesota 42 32 .568 3 4-6 L-1 27-9 15-23 30-15 Utah 41 32 .562 3½ 8-2 L-1 24-12 17-20 27-17 Denver 40 33 .548 4½ 5-5 W-2 27-10 13-23 24-23 Pacific W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf y-Golden State 54 18 .750 — 6-4 W-1 28-8 26-10 30-15 LA Clippers 38 34 .528 16 4-6 L-1 20-15 18-19 22-23 LA Lakers 32 40 .444 22 4-6 W-1 18-16 14-24 16-28 Sacramento 24 49 .329 30½ 5-5 W-1 13-23 11-26 11-34 Phoenix 19 55 .257 36 0-10 L-11 9-27 10-28 13-32
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (left) congratulates left wing Gabriel Landeskog after he scored the winning goal in the shootout session against the Golden Knights for a 2-1 victory. ASSOCIATED PRESS
NHL STANDINGS
The game had a postseason intensity. So Gabriel Landeskog of course brought out his best shot — even if he might’ve had his eyes closed when he took it. A capacity crowd certainly let him know the result. The Colorado captain beat Marc Andre-Fleury with a nifty move in the shootout and the Avalanche kept expansion Vegas from clinching a playoff spot on their home ice by beating the Golden Knights 2-1 on Saturday. “It was a lot of fun and the crowd was incredible,” said Landeskog, who explained that on his winning tally he came in from an angle on Fleury, cut toward the middle and shot the puck with his eyes shut. “(Fleury) made some nice saves on me during the game. It was nice to get that one back.” Semyon Varlamov stopped all three shots in the shootout. He finished with 39 saves, including seven in overtime. This after allowing five goals and being pulled in a 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings two days ago. Carl Soderberg was back on the ice for the Avs after missing two games with an illness and contributed with a first-period goal. Colorado remains in the thick of the playoff picture. The Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights are on the doorstep of earning their playoff spot. They were kept in this game thanks to the play of Fleury, who was back in the net after sustaining an undisclosed injury Tuesday. Fleury made 29 saves. Jonathan Marchessault tied the game early in the third, moments after Fleury made an incredible save with his right leg.
WESTERN CONFERENCE Central x-Nashville Winnipeg Minnesota Colorado Blues Dallas Chicago Pacific Vegas San Jose Los Angeles Anaheim Calgary Edmonton Vancouver Arizona
GP W L OT Pts GF GA Home Away Div 74 48 16 10 106 239 187 25-8-4 23-8-6 17-5-2 74 45 19 10 100 245 192 28-7-2 17-12-8 13-8-2 74 42 24 8 92 231 211 25-6-7 17-18-1 12-11-0 75 41 26 8 90 239 218 26-10-2 15-16-6 11-10-3 75 42 28 5 89 209 196 23-15-0 19-13-5 10-10-3 75 38 29 8 84 214 204 24-11-3 14-18-5 11-13-0 76 31 36 9 71 214 234 17-17-4 14-19-5 7-11-3 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Home Away Div 75 47 21 7 101 250 204 26-9-2 21-12-5 18-3-3 75 43 23 9 95 232 203 24-11-3 19-12-6 21-4-3 76 41 28 7 89 221 190 19-14-3 22-14-4 11-11-4 75 38 24 13 89 212 200 22-10-5 16-14-8 12-6-7 76 35 31 10 80 205 231 15-18-4 20-13-6 10-12-3 75 34 36 5 73 217 238 17-17-3 17-19-2 14-9-1 75 26 40 9 61 193 246 12-18-6 14-22-3 6-17-1 75 25 39 11 61 186 241 15-20-4 10-19-7 8-10-6
Atlantic x-Tampa Bay x-Boston Toronto Florida Montreal Detroit Ottawa Buffalo Metropolitan Washington Pittsburgh Columbus Philadelphia New Jersey Carolina NY Rangers NY Islanders
GP W L OT Pts GF GA Home Away Div 75 51 20 4 106 272 213 27-8-2 24-12-2 16-7-2 73 46 17 10 102 243 188 25-7-5 21-10-5 15-5-2 75 45 23 7 97 255 213 26-8-2 19-15-5 14-7-3 73 38 28 7 83 223 224 23-11-3 15-17-4 14-6-2 76 27 37 12 66 192 243 17-13-8 10-24-4 11-9-5 75 27 37 11 65 192 233 14-15-8 13-22-3 6-14-4 74 26 37 11 63 203 262 15-17-6 11-20-5 8-12-4 75 23 40 12 58 174 248 11-23-5 12-17-7 10-9-3 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Home Away Div 75 44 24 7 95 236 221 26-9-2 18-15-5 13-7-3 75 42 27 6 90 246 229 27-8-2 15-19-4 15-7-2 76 42 29 5 89 215 208 25-12-2 17-17-3 14-10-3 75 38 25 12 88 226 223 19-13-6 19-12-6 12-7-5 75 39 28 8 86 225 225 19-14-3 20-14-5 13-9-1 75 33 31 11 77 208 239 17-15-6 16-16-5 9-10-5 75 33 34 8 74 219 241 21-14-4 12-20-4 9-10-3 75 31 34 10 72 242 273 17-16-4 14-18-6 11-12-2
NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. x-clinched playoff spot Saturday Blues 2, Columbus 1 Colorado 2, Vegas 1, SO San Jose 5, Calgary 1 Chicago 3, NY Islanders 1 NY Rangers 5, Buffalo 1 Toronto 4, Detroit 3 Florida 4, Arizona 2 New Jersey 2, Tampa Bay 1 Washington 6, Montreal 4 Carolina 5, Ottawa 2 Minnesota 4, Nashville 1 Edmonton 3, Los Angeles 2 Friday Blues 4, Vancouver 1 Montreal 3, Buffalo 0
New Jersey 4, Pittsburgh 3, OT Winnipeg 3, Anaheim 2, OT Boston 3, Dallas 2 Sunday Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 11:30 a.m. Nashville at Winnipeg, 6 p.m. Vancouver at Dallas, 6 p.m. Boston at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m. Anaheim at Edmonton, 8:30 p.m. Monday Florida at NY Islanders, 6 p.m. Ottawa at Carolina, 6 p.m. Buffalo at Toronto, 6 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers, 6:30 p.m.
Detroit at Montreal, 6:30 p.m. Arizona at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m. San Jose at Chicago, 7:30 p.m. Colorado at Vegas, 9 p.m. Calgary at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m. Tuesday Carolina at New Jersey, 6 p.m. NY Islanders at Ottawa, 6:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Detroit, 6:30 p.m. Boston at Winnipeg, 7 p.m. San Jose at Blues, 7 p.m. Minnesota at Nashville, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Dallas, 7:30 p.m. Columbus at Edmonton, 8 p.m. Anaheim at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
Avalanche 2, Golden Knights 1, SO
Blackhawks 3, Islanders 1
Wild 4, Predators 1
Vegas 0 0 1 0 — 1 Colorado 1 0 0 0 — 2 Colorado won shootout 1-0. First period: 1, Colorado, Soderberg 16 (Compher, Kerfoot), 13:52 (pp). Penalties: Merrill, VGK, (holding), 9:01; Haula, VGK, (tripping), 12:21; Comeau, COL, (slashing), 16:34. Second period: None. Penalties: Marchessault, VGK, (tripping), 2:10. Third period: 2, Vegas, Marchessault 24 (Theodore), 1:15. Penalties: Carpenter, VGK, (tripping), 2:27. Overtime: None. Penalties: None. Shootout: Vegas 0 (Perron NG, Haula NG, Marchessault NG), Colorado 1 (MacKinnon NG, Rantanen NG, Landeskog G). Shots: Vegas 11-10-12-7: 40. Colorado 13-9-6-2: 30. Power-plays: Vegas 0 of 1; Colorado 1 of 4. Goalies: Vegas, Fleury 27-11-4 (30 shots-29 saves). Colorado, Varlamov 23-15-6 (40-39). A: 18,042.
Chicago 0 2 1 — 3 NY Islanders 0 0 1 — 1 First period: None. Penalties: Anisimov, CHI, (tripping), 14:51. Second period: 1, Chicago, Kane 26 (Sharp, Gustafsson), 2:36 (pp). 2, Chicago, Saad 17 (Rutta, Oesterle), 4:25. Penalties: Hickey, NYI, (tripping), 2:03. Third period: 3, NY Islanders, Tavares 33 (Hickey, Lee), 17:18. 4, Chicago, Seabrook 6, 18:46. Penalties: Lee, NYI, (holding), 1:55; Anisimov, CHI, (tripping), 11:48. Shots: Chicago 9-10-6: 25. NY Islanders 10-8-14: 32. Power-plays: Chicago 1 of 2; NY Islanders 0 of 2. Goalies: Chicago, Forsberg 10-16-3 (32 shots-31 saves). NY Islanders, Halak 18-26-6 (24-22). A: 13,091.
Nashville 1 0 0 — 1 Minnesota 0 2 2 — 4 First period: 1, Nashville, Johansen 13 (Forsberg, Subban), 8:37. Penalties: Coyle, MIN, (tripping), 16:06. Second period: 2, Minnesota, Eriksson Ek 5 (Foligno, Winnik), 2:50. 3, Minnesota, Niederreiter 18 (Zucker, Murphy), 13:45. Penalties: Forsberg, NSH, (cross checking), 3:31; Johansen, NSH, (slashing), 11:34; Nashville bench, served by Hartnell (too many men on the ice), 18:39. Third period: 4, Minnesota, Zucker 30 (Staal), 1:29. 5, Minnesota, Parise 10 (Granlund), 18:19. Penalties: Josi, NSH, (delay of game), 5:08; Dubnyk, MIN, served by Zucker, (delay of game), 10:26; Hartnell, NSH, (boarding), 15:24; Seeler, MIN, (roughing), 15:24; Bitetto, NSH, Penalty Shot (misconduct), 15:28. Shots: Nashville 9-5-6: 20. Minnesota 6-14-10: 30. Power-plays: Nashville 0 of 2; Minnesota 0 of 4. Goalies: Nashville, Rinne 40-11-4 (29 shots-26 saves). Minnesota, Dubnyk 32-14-6 (20-19). A: 19,303.
Calgary 1 0 0 — 1 San Jose 2 1 2 — 5 First period: 1, San Jose, Dillon 4 (Meier, Tierney), 7:52. 2, San Jose, Hansen 2 (Burns, Goodrow), 9:06. 3, Calgary, Stone 3 (Ferland, Stewart), 12:17. Penalties: None. Second period: 4, San Jose, Kane 26 (Tierney), 8:26 (sh). Penalties: Dillon, SJ, (slashing), 1:59; Andersson, CGY, (holding), 6:14; Labanc, SJ, (hooking), 6:59; Goodrow, SJ, (high sticking), 10:17; Hamilton, CGY, (high sticking), 17:26; Backlund, CGY, (roughing), 18:00; Kane, SJ, (roughing), 18:00; Kane, SJ, served by Labanc, (roughing), 18:00. Third period: 5, San Jose, Braun 4 (Karlsson, Couture), 10:09. 6, San Jose, Kane 27 (Dillon, Pavelski), 12:10. Penalties: Hamonic, CGY, (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:15; Kane, SJ, (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:15; Hamonic, CGY, Major (fighting), 3:15; Kane, SJ, Major (fighting), 3:15; Giordano, CGY, (cross checking), 4:13; Dillon, SJ, Major (fighting), 15:02; Hathaway, CGY, Major (fighting), 15:02. Shots: Calgary 11-17-10: 38. San Jose 9-14-10: 33. Power-plays: Calgary 0 of 4; San Jose 0 of 3. Goalies: Calgary, Rittich 8-6-3 (33 shots-28 saves). San Jose, Jones 28-18-6 (38-37). A: 17,562.
Rangers 5, Sabres 1 Buffalo 0 0 1 — 1 NY Rangers 2 3 0 — 5 First period: 1, NY Rangers, Kreider 15 (Fast, Zibanejad), 16:29. 2, NY Rangers, Vesey 16 (Zuccarello), 18:02. Penalties: None. Second period: 3, NY Rangers, Pionk 1 (Vesey, Hayes), 3:59. 4, NY Rangers, Zibanejad 27 (Pionk, Kreider), 8:45 (pp). 5, NY Rangers, Vesey 17 (Spooner, Hayes), 14:47 (pp). Penalties: Nolan, BUF, (holding), 8:23; Scandella, BUF, Major (fighting), 9:17; Holland, NYR, Major (fighting), 9:17; Kreider, NYR, (holding), 10:25; Eichel, BUF, (slashing), 13:28. Third period: 6, Buffalo, Reinhart 20 (Okposo, O’Reilly), 15:26 (pp). Penalties: Sproul, NYR, (hooking), 4:50; Zibanejad, NYR, (tripping), 14:13; Nolan, BUF, (hooking), 15:33. Shots: Buffalo 21-9-14: 44. NY Rangers 10-7-6: 23. Power-plays: Buffalo 1 of 3; NY Rangers 2 of 3. Goalies: Buffalo, Ullmark 1-2-0 (11 shots-10 saves), Lehner 14-26-9 (12-8). NY Rangers, Georgiev 4-3-1 (44-43). A: 18,006.
Capitals 6, Canadiens 4 Washington 3 1 2 — 6 Montreal 1 1 2 — 4 First period: 1, Montreal, Galchenyuk 17 (de la Rose), 8:35. 2, Washington, Kuznetsov 22 (Backstrom, Carlson), 11:11 (pp). 3, Washington, Wilson 12 (Backstrom), 14:49. 4, Washington, Wilson 13 (Burakovsky, Backstrom), 18:11. Penalties: Shaw, MTL, (high sticking), 10:35. Second period: 5, Washington, Beagle 7 (Orlov, Chiasson), 4:52. 6, Montreal, Hudon 9 (Shaw, Benn), 19:58. Penalties: Scherbak, MTL, (hooking), 2:25; Wilson, WSH, (holding), 14:49. Third period: 7, Washington, Kuznetsov 23 (Carlson, Backstrom), 1:10 (pp). 8, Washington, Oshie 17 (Jerabek, Burakovsky), 4:52. 9, Montreal, Hudon 10 (Reilly, Shaw), 9:28. 10, Montreal, Gallagher 28 (Petry, Drouin), 18:03 (pp). Penalties: Drouin, MTL, (hooking), 1:00; Wilson, WSH, (high sticking), 5:19; Ovechkin, WSH, (slashing), 17:05. Shots: Washington 10-10-10: 30. Montreal 9-5-7: 21. Power-plays: Washington 2 of 3; Montreal 1 of 3. Goalies: Washington, Grubauer 13-9-3 (21 shots-17 saves). Montreal, Price 15-24-6 (30-24). A: 21,302.
x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Saturday Philadelphia 120, Minnesota 108 Detroit 117, Chicago 95 Orlando 105, Phoenix 99 Houston 114, New Orleans 91 LA Lakers 100, Memphis 93 Charlotte 102, Dallas 98 Friday Denver 108, Washington 100 Indiana 109, LA Clippers 104 Cleveland 120, Phoenix 95 Minnesota 108, New York 104 Toronto 116, Brooklyn 112 Milwaukee 118, Chicago 105 Oklahoma City 105, Miami 99 San Antonio 124, Utah 120, OT
Boston 105, Portland 100 Golden State 106, Atlanta 94 Sunday Cleveland at Brooklyn, noon San Antonio at Milwaukee, 2:30 p.m. Miami at Indiana, 4 p.m. Boston at Sacramento, 5 p.m. LA Clippers at Toronto, 5 p.m. New York at Washington, 5 p.m. Portland at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m. Atlanta at Houston, 7 p.m. Utah at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. Monday Denver at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
LA Lakers at Detroit, 6 p.m. New York at Charlotte, 6 p.m. Memphis at Minnesota, 7 p.m. Boston at Phoenix, 9 p.m. Tuesday San Antonio at Washington, 6 p.m. Denver at Toronto, 6:30 p.m. Chicago at Houston, 7 p.m. Cleveland at Miami, 7 p.m. Portland at New Orleans, 7 p.m. Dallas at Sacramento, 9 p.m. Indiana at Golden State, 9:30 p.m. Milwaukee at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
NHL SUMMARIES
Sharks 5, Flames 1
EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf x-Toronto 54 19 .740 — 8-2 W-1 30-6 24-13 36-9 x-Boston 49 23 .681 4½ 6-4 W-2 24-13 25-10 30-15 Philadelphia 42 30 .583 11½ 8-2 W-6 24-11 18-19 26-18 New York 26 47 .356 28 2-8 L-2 18-18 8-29 14-29 Brooklyn 23 50 .315 31 3-7 L-2 14-24 9-26 14-29 Southeast W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf Washington 40 32 .556 — 4-6 L-2 20-16 20-16 26-18 Miami 39 34 .534 1½ 6-4 L-1 22-13 17-21 26-18 Charlotte 33 41 .446 8 5-5 W-3 20-17 13-24 19-25 Orlando 22 51 .301 18½ 2-8 W-1 15-21 7-30 13-31 Atlanta 21 52 .288 19½ 2-8 L-2 15-22 6-30 9-36 Central W L Pct GB L10 Str Home Away Conf x-Cleveland 43 29 .597 — 7-3 W-4 25-11 18-18 30-14 42 31 .575 1½ 6-4 W-1 25-13 17-18 30-18 Indiana Milwaukee 38 34 .528 5 5-5 W-1 22-15 16-19 24-23 Detroit 33 40 .452 10½ 4-6 W-1 22-14 11-26 20-26 Chicago 24 49 .329 19½ 3-7 L-5 15-22 9-27 18-26
Devils 2, Lightning 1 Tampa Bay 0 0 1 — 1 New Jersey 1 1 0 — 2 First period: 1, New Jersey, Hischier 18 (Butcher, Mueller), 17:51. Penalties: Moore, NJ, (holding), 18:36; Hedman, TB, (hooking), 19:50. Second period: 2, New Jersey, Palmieri 21 (Hall, Zacha), 10:59. Penalties: Gibbons, NJ, (hooking), 18:19; Miller, TB, (delay of game), 18:19. Third period: 3, Tampa Bay, Palat 9 (Sergachev, Point), 4:22 (pp). Penalties: Butcher, NJ, (tripping), 2:27. Shots: Tampa Bay 14-10-12: 36. New Jersey 11-13-7: 31. Power-plays: Tampa Bay 1 of 2; New Jersey 0 of 1. Goalies: Tampa Bay, Vasilevskiy 42-15-3 (31 shots-29 saves). New Jersey, Kinkaid 21-10-2 (36-35). A: 16,514.
Maple Leafs 4, Red Wings 3 Detroit 0 2 1 — 3 Toronto 1 1 2 — 4 First period: 1, Toronto, Kapanen 7 (Bozak, van Riemsdyk), 14:30. Penalties: Helm, DET, Major (fighting), 3:50; Hyman, TOR, Major (fighting), 3:50; Brown, TOR, (hooking), 6:14; Bertuzzi, DET, (interference), 8:02; Helm, DET, (delay of game), 9:26. Second period: 2, Detroit, Larkin 12 (Mantha), 4:32. 3, Detroit, Bertuzzi 3 (Zetterberg, DeKeyser), 9:37. 4, Toronto, Brown 14 (Dermott, Rielly), 14:19. Penalties: Zetterberg, DET, (high sticking), 17:24. Third period: 5, Detroit, Nielsen 15 (Witkowski, Kronwall), 4:58. 6, Toronto, Nylander 17 (Matthews), 7:27. 7, Toronto, Kadri 29 (Marleau, Marner), 12:34. Penalties: Daley, DET, (holding), 9:47. Shots: Detroit 11-19-11: 41. Toronto 15-8-6: 29. Power-plays: Detroit 0 of 1; Toronto 0 of 4. Goalies: Detroit, Howard 19-27-8 (29 shots-25 saves). Toronto, Andersen 35-19-5 (41-38). A: 19,154.
Hurricanes 5, Senators 2 Carolina 1 1 3 — 5 Ottawa 1 0 1 — 2 First period: 1, Carolina, Di Giuseppe 4 (Zykov), 7:34. 2, Ottawa, B.Ryan 9 (Karlsson, Dzingel), 9:38. Penalties: Staal, CAR, (tripping), 13:38. Second period: 3, Carolina, McGinn 14 (Staal, Dahlbeck), 17:19. Penalties: van Riemsdyk, CAR, (tripping), 7:32; Ottawa bench, served by Chlapik (delay of game), 17:19. Third period: 4, Carolina, Hanifin 9 (Zykov, Aho), 8:29. 5, Carolina, Skinner 23 (Di Giuseppe), 9:37. 6, Ottawa, Chabot 7 (Hoffman, Paajarvi), 16:34. 7, Carolina, Staal 17 (Williams, Lindholm), 19:25. Penalties: None. Shots: Carolina 5-8-11: 24. Ottawa 12-8-16: 36. Power-plays: Carolina 0 of 1; Ottawa 0 of 2. Goalies: Carolina, Ward 21-13-4 (36 shots-34 saves). Ottawa, Condon 5-15-5 (23-19). A: 16,555.
Panthers 4, Coyotes 2 Arizona 1 1 0 — 2 Florida 0 0 4 — 4 First period: 1, Arizona, Keller 22 (Panik, Stepan), 14:36. Penalties: None. Second period: 2, Arizona, Panik 11 (Stepan, Keller), 1:33 (pp). Penalties: Florida bench, served by Vatrano (too many men on the ice), 0:40; Ekman-Larsson, ARI, (holding), 8:03; Weegar, FLA, (cross checking), 8:03; Strome, ARI, (high sticking), 11:54; Ekman-Larsson, ARI, (holding), 18:17. Third period: 3, Florida, Trocheck 29 (McGinn, Yandle), 6:13. 4, Florida, Trocheck 30 (Pysyk, Huberdeau), 9:33. 5, Florida, Malgin 11 (Mamin, Sceviour), 16:15. 6, Florida, McGinn 12 (Trocheck, Barkov), 19:46 (pp). Penalties: Archibald, ARI, (slashing), 9:59; Chychrun, ARI, (slashing), 18:58. Shots: Arizona 13-11-4: 28. Florida 9-20-18: 47. Power-plays: Arizona 1 of 1; Florida 1 of 4. Goalies: Arizona, Kuemper 12-6-4 (46 shots-43 saves). Florida, Reimer 19-13-5 (28-26). A: 14,905.
Oilers 3, Kings 2 Los Angeles 1 1 0 — 2 Edmonton 2 1 0 — 3 First period: 1, Edmonton, Aberg 4, 0:45. 2, Edmonton, McDavid 37 (Larsson, Rattie), 15:32. 3, Los Angeles, Muzzin 8 (Carter, Pearson), 16:00. Penalties: Bear, EDM, (slashing), 18:39. Second period: 4, Edmonton, McDavid 38 (Sekera, Slepyshev), 4:08. 5, Los Angeles, Carter 9 (Rieder, Pearson), 6:19. Penalties: Toffoli, LA, (tripping), 19:51. Third period: None. Penalties: Lewis, LA, (slashing), 3:33. Shots: Los Angeles 9-16-4: 29. Edmonton 11-7-9: 27. Power-plays: Los Angeles 0 of 1; Edmonton 0 of 2. Goalies: Los Angeles, Quick 30-27-2 (27 shots-24 saves). Edmonton, Talbot 29-27-2 (29-27). A: 18,347.
NHL SCORING LEADERS Through Friday’s games Player, team Nikita Kucherov, TB Connor McDavid, EDM Nathan MacKinnon, COL Evgeni Malkin, PIT Claude Giroux, PHI Anze Kopitar, LA Steven Stamkos, TB Phil Kessel, PIT Blake Wheeler, WPG Johnny Gaudreau, CGY Alex Ovechkin, WAS Taylor Hall, NJ Sidney Crosby, PIT Mikko Rantanen, COL Jakub Voracek, PHI 1 tied with 78 pts.
GP 72 74 66 71 75 75 74 75 74 75 74 69 75 73 75
G 37 36 38 41 26 33 27 30 19 23 44 33 25 27 19
A 58 58 54 50 64 53 59 53 64 59 37 48 56 53 61
PTS 95 94 92 91 90 86 86 83 83 82 81 81 81 80 80
GOALTENDING LEADERS Through Friday’s games WINS Name, Team Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL Pekka Rinne, NSH Connor Hellebuyck, WPG Frederik Andersen, TOR Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ Devan Dubnyk, MIN Braden Holtby, WSH Tuukka Rask, BOS Jonathan Quick, LAK John Gibson, ANA Cam Talbot, EDM Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK Martin Jones, SJS Ben Bishop, DAL Jake Allen, STL Henrik Lundqvist, NYR SHUTOUTS Name Team Pekka Rinne, NSH Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL Connor Hellebuyck, WPG Frederik Andersen, TOR Ben Bishop, DAL Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ Devan Dubnyk, MIN Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK John Gibson, ANA Martin Jones, SJS Darcy Kuemper, ARI Petr Mrazek, PHI Jonathan Quick, LAK
GPI MINS W L OT 60 3530 42 14 3 54 3213 40 10 4 61 3596 38 11 9 60 3533 34 19 5 60 3609 34 21 5 53 3026 31 14 6 50 2828 31 15 4 48 2815 31 11 5 58 3315 30 26 2 56 3225 29 17 7 59 3324 28 27 2 41 2390 27 11 3 53 3015 27 18 6 53 2886 26 17 5 52 2936 25 21 2 59 3261 25 24 6 GPI MINS SO W L OT 54 3213 8 40 10 4 60 3530 7 42 14 3 61 3596 6 38 11 9 60 3533 5 34 19 5 53 2886 5 26 17 5 60 3609 5 34 21 5 53 3026 4 31 14 6 41 2390 4 27 11 3 56 3225 4 29 17 7 53 3015 4 27 18 6 26 1414 4 12 5 4 34 1844 4 13 12 4 58 3315 4 30 26 2
Simmons lifts 76ers to a win ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ben Simmons had a tripledouble, Joel Embiid dazzled while getting the better of Karl-Anthony Towns, and the host Philadelphia 76ers inched closer to their first playoff berth in six years with a 120-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. Simmons had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists for the 10th triple-double of his rookie season. Embiid scored 19 points, and had a lefthanded block of Towns, a 3-pointer and a windmill dunk in the Sixers’ 20-4 run to start the third quarter. Dario Saric added 18 points as the Sixers (42-30) won their sixth straight game, ensured a winning season and moved within one win or Detroit loss from their first postseason appearance since 2012. Andrew Wiggins scored 16 points, and Towns had 15 points and 11 rebounds, but shot just 3 of 15 from the field for Minnesota as its two-game winning streak was snapped. Simmons secured his tripledouble with 3:19 left in the third quarter when he put back his own miss for his 10th point. It was part of a dominating 39-
19 period for the Sixers that broke open a close game. Embiid provided the biggest roar when his acrobatic, breakaway dunk made it 79-56 with 6:39 left. After Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau called a timeout, Embiid egged on the crowd by raising his arms and screaming.
NOTEBOOK Curry has sprained knee • Stephen Curry will miss at least three weeks with a sprained left knee, meaning the Golden State Warriors will be without their do-everything point guard and second-leading scorer for the rest of the regular season. Curry could be back at the start of the playoffs next month if all goes well in rehabbing his latest injury. An MRI on Saturday showed a Grade 2 sprain of his medial collateral ligament and the team said Curry would be re-evaluated in three weeks — that would be April 14 and a possible Game 1 of the playoffs for Golden State. The two-time MVP had returned Friday night from a sixgame absence after his latest right ankle injury only to injure his left knee when center JaVale McGee fell into him.
NBA SUMMARIES Magic 105, Suns 99
Rockets 114, Pelicans 91
Phoenix: Jackson 6-17 6-8 18, Bender 1-7 0-0 3, Chriss 3-8 3-4 10, Payton 6-15 2-4 14, Daniels 4-13 2-2 12, Dudley 1-2 0-0 3, Len 6-10 3-4 15, Ulis 7-13 0-0 14, Harrison 1-1 2-2 5, Reed 1-3 2-2 5. Totals 36-89 20-26 99. Orlando: Hezonja 4-7 5-8 14, Gordon 10-18 6-9 29, Vucevic 11-26 2-2 24, Augustin 5-7 4-4 15, Iwundu 0-3 0-0 0, Biyombo 0-2 2-2 2, Birch 0-1 0-0 0, Mack 4-11 1-2 12, Purvis 2-6 0-0 6, Artis 0-1 0-0 0, Afflalo 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 37-84 20-27 105. Phoenix 23 23 28 25 — 99 Orlando 26 12 39 28 — 105 3-point goals: Phoenix 7-29 (Daniels 2-10, Harrison 1-1, Reed 1-1, Dudley 1-2, Chriss 1-3, Bender 1-5, Ulis 0-2, Jackson 0-2, Payton 0-3), Orlando 11-30 (Mack 3-5, Gordon 3-6, Purvis 2-4, Afflalo 1-1, Hezonja 1-2, Augustin 1-3, Artis 0-1, Iwundu 0-3, Vucevic 0-5). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Phoenix 41 (Len 9), Orlando 54 (Vucevic, Gordon 11). Assists: Phoenix 21 (Payton 8), Orlando 29 (Augustin 10). Total fouls: Phoenix 22, Orlando 18. A: 17,393 (18,846).
New Orleans: Moore 4-9 0-0 8, Miller 4-9 0-0 11, Davis 10-22 4-6 25, Holiday 5-17 0-0 10, Liggins 0-4 0-0 0, Hill 1-4 0-0 2, Diallo 5-6 5-6 15, Okafor 1-3 0-0 2, Drew II 4-7 0-0 9, Cooke 0-2 0-0 0, Clark 4-13 0-0 9. Totals 38-96 9-12 91. Houston: Ariza 3-8 0-0 8, Tucker 1-5 0-0 3, Capela 9-12 0-2 18, Harden 11-24 2-2 27, Gordon 7-13 1-1 19, Anderson 5-11 2-2 16, Black 0-0 0-0 0, Green 5-14 1-1 14, Johnson 4-6 0-0 9. Totals 45-93 6-8 114. New Orleans 16 21 24 30 — 91 Houston 29 35 19 31 — 114 3-point goals: New Orleans 6-21 (Miller 3-6, Drew II 1-2, Davis 1-2, Clark 1-3, Cooke 0-1, Hill 0-1, Moore 0-2, Liggins 0-2, Holiday 0-2), Houston 18-47 (Anderson 4-8, Gordon 4-9, Green 3-8, Harden 3-11, Ariza 2-5, Tucker 1-3, Johnson 1-3). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: New Orleans 46 (Diallo 9), Houston 48 (Capela 16). Assists: New Orleans 19 (Holiday, Hill 4), Houston 22 (Harden 8). Total fouls: New Orleans 14, Houston 17. Technicals: Moore. A: 18,055 (18,055).
Pistons 117, Bulls 95 Chicago: Valentine 7-14 0-0 18, Vonleh 5-13 1-2 12, Lopez 2-7 0-0 4, Payne 4-10 1-2 10, Holiday 2-9 0-0 5, Zipser 0-2 0-0 0, Portis 5-13 0-0 10, Felicio 4-6 2-2 10, Grant 4-10 0-0 10, Arcidiacono 1-1 0-0 3, Nwaba 5-12 2-3 13. Totals 39-97 6-9 95. Detroit: S.Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Griffin 4-8 0-0 10, Drummond 6-9 3-4 15, Jackson 5-10 3-4 15, Bullock 5-9 0-0 14, Ennis III 5-9 3-4 13, Ellenson 0-1 0-0 0, Tolliver 8-15 3-3 25, Moreland 0-2 0-0 0, Smith 5-9 1-1 12, Buycks 0-2 0-0 0, Galloway 0-1 0-0 0, Kennard 5-9 2-2 13. Totals 43-86 15-18 117. Chicago 22 25 29 19 — 95 Detroit 36 30 29 22 — 117 3-point goals: Chicago 11-35 (Valentine 4-7, Grant 2-3, Arcidiacono 1-1, Nwaba 1-3, Vonleh 1-5, Payne 1-5, Holiday 1-6, Lopez 0-1, Zipser 0-1, Portis 0-3), Detroit 16-42 (Tolliver 6-12, Bullock 4-7, Griffin 2-5, Jackson 2-6, Kennard 1-3, Smith 1-4, S.Johnson 0-1, Galloway 0-1, Ennis III 0-3). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Chicago 43 (Felicio 8), Detroit 49 (Drummond 20). Assists: Chicago 27 (Grant 10), Detroit 33 (Griffin 9). Total fouls: Chicago 20, Detroit 11. A: 19,139 (21,000).
76ers 120, T’Wolves 108 Minnesota: Bjelica 2-9 0-0 5, Gibson 3-5 1-2 7, Towns 3-15 7-8 15, Teague 1-8 1-2 3, Wiggins 7-17 2-5 16, Georges-Hunt 3-5 5-5 11, Aldrich 2-4 0-2 4, Dieng 6-12 2-2 15, Brooks 2-6 2-3 8, Jones 4-6 3-3 11, Crawford 4-10 5-6 13. Totals 37-97 28-38 108. Philadelphia: Covington 4-10 0-0 11, Saric 6-10 3-5 18, Embiid 6-12 6-8 19, Simmons 5-9 5-8 15, Redick 3-11 0-0 8, Ilyasova 4-9 1-2 9, Holmes 1-3 0-0 2, Johnson 3-4 0-0 6, McConnell 1-2 1-3 3, Anderson 3-9 3-3 9, Belinelli 5-6 4-5 17, Korkmaz 1-3 0-2 3. Totals 42-88 23-36 120. Minnesota 24 28 19 37 — 108 Philadelphia 32 27 39 22 — 120 3-point goals: Minnesota 6-23 (Brooks 2-4, Towns 2-6, Dieng 1-1, Bjelica 1-4, Jones 0-1, Teague 0-2, Crawford 0-2, Wiggins 0-3), Philadelphia 13-37 (Belinelli 3-4, Saric 3-6, Covington 3-9, Redick 2-7, Korkmaz 1-1, Embiid 1-3, Ilyasova 0-3, Anderson 0-4). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Minnesota 53 (Towns, Dieng 11), Philadelphia 51 (Simmons 12). Assists: Minnesota 19 (Jones 6), Philadelphia 33 (Simmons 13). Total fouls: Minnesota 27, Philadelphia 29. Technicals: Gibson, Teague, Simmons. A: 20,668 (21,600).
Lakers 100, Grizzlies 93 L.A. Lakers: Kuzma 9-21 3-3 25, Randle 7-15 6-8 20, Lopez 2-8 3-6 8, Ball 5-13 1-4 12, Caldwell-Pope 5-12 4-4 18, Wear 4-10 0-0 11, Zubac 0-0 0-0 0, Ennis 3-7 0-0 6. Totals 35-86 17-25 100. Memphis: Martin 5-13 0-0 10, Green 7-10 0-0 17, Gasol 6-16 6-7 18, Harrison 7-15 5-6 20, Brooks 4-14 1-2 10, Davis 2-3 2-3 6, Chalmers 1-4 2-2 4, Simmons 1-2 0-0 2, Selden 2-7 2-2 6. Totals 35-84 18-22 93. L.A. Lakers 17 35 19 29 — 100 Memphis 28 29 14 22 — 93 3-point goals: L.A. Lakers 13-38 (Caldwell-Pope 4-9, Kuzma 4-10, Wear 3-7, Lopez 1-4, Ball 1-6, Ennis 0-2), Memphis 5-29 (Green 3-3, Harrison 1-5, Brooks 1-7, Chalmers 0-3, Selden 0-3, Martin 0-4, Gasol 0-4). Fouled out: Green. Rebounds: L.A. Lakers 44 (Randle 11), Memphis 43 (Green 16). Assists: L.A. Lakers 19 (Ball 10), Memphis 20 (Harrison 9). Total fouls: L.A. Lakers 20, Memphis 21. Technicals: Harrison. A: 18,119 (18,119).
Hornets 102, Mavericks 98 Charlotte: Kidd-Gilchrist 1-9 0-0 2, Williams 3-5 2-2 9, Howard 6-12 6-12 18, Walker 9-17 2-2 24, Lamb 5-14 2-4 14, Bacon 3-9 3-3 9, Kaminsky 3-7 2-2 9, Hernangomez 0-4 3-4 3, Monk 4-12 0-0 11, Graham 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 35-92 20-29 102. Dallas: Barnes 6-20 1-2 18, Nowitzki 2-9 0-0 4, Powell 0-3 4-4 4, Smith Jr. 8-17 3-4 21, Finney-Smith 0-4 1-2 1, McDermott 4-8 3-3 14, Kleber 0-2 0-0 0, Noel 5-8 0-0 10, Ferrell 7-10 1-2 16, Barea 4-10 1-2 10. Totals 36-91 14-19 98. Charlotte 22 32 25 23 — 102 Dallas 27 21 22 28 — 98 3-point goals: Charlotte 12-25 (Walker 4-8, Monk 3-5, Lamb 2-6, Graham 1-1, Williams 1-2, Kaminsky 1-2, Howard 0-1), Dallas 12-41 (Barnes 5-11, McDermott 3-5, Smith Jr. 2-6, Ferrell 1-4, Barea 1-5, Kleber 0-1, Finney-Smith 0-2, Powell 0-2, Nowitzki 0-5). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: Charlotte 62 (Howard 23), Dallas 52 (Noel 12). Assists: Charlotte 21 (Kaminsky 6), Dallas 22 (Smith Jr. 6). Total fouls: Charlotte 14, Dallas 22. A: 20,085 (19,200).
NBA LEADERS Scoring Harden, HOU Davis, NOR James, CLE Antetokounmpo, MIL Lillard, POR Durant, GOL
Through Friday’s games G FG FT PTS AVG 64 586 567 1984 31.0 66 690 432 1863 28.2 72 757 328 1972 27.4 67 671 450 1828 27.3 65 547 431 1730 26.6 60 562 313 1594 26.6
HOCKEY
B8 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
M 4 • Sunday • 03.25.2018
NOTEBOOK
Gunnarsson injury latest loss for defense BY JIM THOMAS St. Louis Post-Dispatch
COLUMBUS, OHIO • For much of the season, the
Blues had so many able defensemen, they didn’t know what to do with them all. That no longer is the case. First Jay Bouwmeester’s nagging hip injury finally reached the point where surgery was needed. He last played March 3 in Dallas. And on Friday against Vancouver, Carl Gunnarsson’s left knee buckled as he took a hit from Vancouver’s Bo Horvat in the opening period of a 4-1 Blues victory. Gunnarsson did not return to the game and examination late Friday night revealed a torn ACL in the knee, obviously a season-ending injury and one that will require surgery. “Really tough for the team, that’s the first part,” coach Mike Yeo said Saturday. “That goes without saying. But I also feel really bad for Gunny. He was playing very, very well. We talked about it the other day, his impact and his play and how I think that’s had a big hand in how Petro’s played lately.” Since Bouwmeester was lost for the season, Gunnarsson had been paired with Alex Pietrangelo on the Blues’ top defensive pairing for the past eight contests. “Obviously we lose Bo and you get spread a little bit more thinly,” Yeo said. “And (Gunnarsson’s) game was at a very high level, playing against the top players every night. On the penalty kill. A lot of parts that we’re gonna feel in the lineup and we’re gonna have to make up for. But again, we feel really bad for him.” A steady presence on the backline, Gunnarsson played in 63 games this season registering a seasonhigh five goals with four assists. Gunnarsson was plus15, a team-high among the defensive corps and tied for third-best on the team overall. Gunnarsson’s injury puts Jordan Schmaltz back in the lineup, almost certainly for the rest of the season. Schmaltz began the night paired with Robert Bortuzzo but Yeo juggled his pairings over the course of the game. “Actually he’s played pretty well,” Yeo said of Schmaltz. “He came out of the lineup because (Joel Edmundson) came back in — but it’s definitely not related or because of his play. I think that his game was starting to get better and stronger every game. I’m glad that he hasn’t been sitting out for too long here.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Blue Jackets’ Sonny Milano (left) and Blues’ Ivan Barbashev fight for a loose puck during the first period Saturday.
Allen comes up big in goal at Columbus BLUES • FROM B1
now is to make sure that doesn’t change. Obviously there’s still a lot of work to be done.” At 42-28-5 the Blues have 89 points, tying them with Anaheim for the second wild card in points. But since the Blues have the tie-breaker edge with 39 victories in regulation and overtime — to Anaheim’s 34 — they hold down the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. For now. “That doesn’t mean anything right now to be honest,” Allen said. “I don’t think that matters one bit to us.” “Nope,” Steen agreed. “Gotta keep trucking. Keep going.” But out of the ashes of a seven-game losing streak (0-6-1) in February, the trade of Paul Stastny, and recent injuries to Jay Bouwmeester, Scottie Upshall, Carter Hutton, Tarasenko, and Carl Gunnarsson, the Blues are riding an 8-2-1 wave since that 8-3 meltdown in Minnesota on Feb. 27. “I’m very pleased, very proud of the group,” Yeo said. “I know that there’s an awful lot of character inside of our locker room. And I love that it’s on full display right now.” Making his season-high ninth consecutive start, Allen stopped 33 of 34 shots, including a couple of breakaway attempts and facing all kinds of oddman rushes. If it wasn’t vintage Allen, it was certainly the next best thing. “Lots of shots. Lots of rubber,” Allen said. “We played a really good hockey team. Very good offensive team. Four lines of offense.” Columbus (42-29-5) had won 10 consecutive games and was seeking its franchise-record ninth consecutive home victory on fan appreciation night. But with rare exception, Allen and the Blues kept that Nationwide cannon quiet. You know, the one that goes off every time the Blue Jackets score. “The (Columbus) team, obviously the way they came out, a ton of confidence and they were flying,” Yeo said. “The number of chances and the quality of chances that (Allen) made big saves on in that first period, I thought he was outstanding tonight.” Steen got the Blues on the board quickly, with his 15th goal of the season coming three minutes into ilable
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the contest. Patrik Berglund took the puck out of the corner and fed Steen for a shot that trickled over goalie Sergei Bobrovsky’s pads. “Good forecheck,” Steen said. “(Kyle Brodziak) gets in on one side, and then Bergy picks the puck up on the other end and makes a great pass. Just fortunate it went in.” Even so, all the early pressure belonged to Columbus. Just 24 seconds after Steen’s goal, the red light went on, the cannon was fired, and the puck was in the Blues’ net. False alarm. Cam Atkinson of the Blue Jackets had clearly kicked the puck in the net with his left foot, and it didn’t take long for a review to disallow the goal. Undismayed, the Blue Jackets kept up the pressure. Starting on back-toback nights for the second weekend in a row, Allen flashed his glove in time to catch a backside Markus Nutivaara shot that was launched at plenty of open net at 5:15 of the first. “You know that guy’s over there with a onetime option,” Allen said. “I saw him release it. I knew where he was shooting. I just put my glove there.” Then came a fullfledged breakaway by Artemi Panarin, aka the Bread Man. He tried to get Allen with a backhand to Allen’s stick side from about 10 feet but to no avail. “He’s beaten me on the backhand before, so I was sorta just trying to stay with it and got a pad on it,” Allen said. Columbus started the second period like the first, putting pressure of Allen and the St. Louis defense. The Blue Jackets’ offensive zone time was so noticeable, it seemed like they were on a perpetual power play at times. “The big difference was ‘Snakey’ was tremendous,” Steen said. As for those highlightreel saves, Steen added, “They don’t surprise me. No. He’s that good.” Tarasenko’s 29th goal of the season gave the Blues a 2-0 lead midway through the second period, and turned out to be the gamewinner. Skating down the right side with Alex Pietrangelo flanking him to his left, Tarasenko weaved inside, finding room because Pietrangelo in effect set a screen on former Blues first-round draft pick Ian Cole. Tarasenko kept going inside, also got around Atkinson and beat Bobrovsky.
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BLUES 2, BLUE JACKETS 1 Blues
1 1 0 — 2
Columbus 0 1 0 — 1 First period B: Steen 15 (Berglund, Brodziak), 3:00. Penalties: Vanek, CBJ, (tripping), 11:54; Jones, CBJ, (high sticking), 19:29. Second period B: Tarasenko 29 (Schenn, Schwartz), 9:37. C: Atkinson 19, 14:32. Penalties: Sobotka, STL, (tripping), 16:21. Third period None. Penalties: Berglund, STL, major (high sticking), 9:14; Foligno, CBJ, (slashing), 9:36. Shots on goal 8 13 7 28 Blues Columbus 14 12 8 34 Power-plays Blues 0 of 2; Columbus 0 of 3. Goaltenders Blues, Allen 25-21-2 (34 shots-33 saves). Columbus, Bobrovsky 34-21-5 (28-26).
Allen stopped another breakaway, this time by Oliver Bjorkstrand, at the 13:26 mark of the second. But the quick-skating Blue Jackets finally broke through 66 seconds after that save. Atkinson scored his 19th goal of the season, this time with no kicking
Photo with: Marion Briggs
help from his skate, from 50 feet with traffic in front of Allen to make it a 2-1 game. The third period was white-knuckle time, with the Blues surviving a fourminute high-sticking penalty against Berglund. It helped them that two of the four minutes were spent in 4-on-4 play because of a slashing penalty against Nick Foligno. But not unlike Friday’s 4-1 victory over Vancouver, the Blues got stronger as the game went along even though they were playing for the third time in four games, and left Ohio with two hardearned points. “We continue to push,” defenseman Colton Parayko said. “I think that we understand what’s at stake right now.”
PROSPECT WATCH The Blues have re-assigned forward Adam Musil to the Czech Republic national team from San Antonio of the American Hockey League. Musil, who turns 21 on Monday, appeared in 54 games for the Rampage, scoring three goals with eight assists. He was plus-2.
BLUENOTES Sammy Blais, recalled from San Antonio on an emergency basis Friday, accompanied the team to Columbus. But with all 12 forwards healthy from the Vancouver game, he was held out of action. ... Goalie Carter Hutton (neck) and forwards Scottie Upshall (knee) and Nikita Soshnikov (upper-body) did not travel to Columbus. With Hutton still out, Ville Husso was Jake Allen’s backup for the eighth consecutive game.
Jim Thomas @jthom1 on Twitter jthomas@post-dispatch.com
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B10 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
STLHIGHSCHOOLSPORTS.COM
M 2 • Sunday • 03.25.2018
BOYS VOLLEYBALL • SECOND ANNUAL SOUTHSIDE CLASSIC
St. Mary’s stands tall to retain tournament crown BY JOE HARRIS For STLhighschoolsports.com
WEBSTER GROVES • The
old Southside High boys volleyball team is quickly turning the tournament that bears its name into its personal playground. St. Mary’s swept host Webster Groves 25-17, 2516 to claim the Second Annual Southside Volleyball Tournament on Saturday. The Dragons also took home the title in the tourney’s inaugural year. “It’s a great tournament just to see where we’re at,” St. Mary’s senior Justin Bridges said. “Obviously we were pretty successful this weekend and we’d like to keep moving forward with that.” Bridges, a first-team AllMetro setter as a junior, dominated in all aspects for St. Mary’s (6-0), No. 2 in the STLhighschoolsports small school rankings. Bridges had 15 as-
sists, a pair of timely kills, two aces and a block in the championship. “It is definitely a plus to have somebody like Justin on your team,” St. Mary’s coach Johnny Chittakhone said. “Very volleyball savvy. High volleyball IQ That’s why he’s the floor captain.” Kyle Merzweiler and Tobias Hall each had six kills for St. Mary’s and Michael Berra added five. Libero Stephen Menzel led a stout defensive effort with 31 digs. “We had some ‘C’ team and JV players step up today, like Max Hibbeler,” Menzel said. “We just try to get balls up and our setter (Bridges) does his job.” Donavan Parker was another who stepped up. Parker, a 6-foot-6 basketball player playing in just his second week of volleyball, formed a wall at the net with the 6-foot-4 Merzweiler, allowing St.
PAUL KOPSKY • STLhighschoolsports.com
St. Mary’s libero Stephen Menzel (right) passes from the back row Saturday during the Southside Tournament championship against Webster Groves.
Mary’s to control the net. “It’s predictable defense,” Chittakhone said. “We know they’re not going to hit above us. So they’re going to either hit
around us or use the block and when they hit around us then we have to dig those balls and that’s what we did today.” Whatever the twin tow-
ers didn’t cover at the net, Menzel had the rest. The senior’s digs and first touches are on point all match long, allowing the Dragons to transition into their system. “I’ll be happy the day he graduates,” Webster Groves coach Helen Buckley said of Menzel. “He’s so good and he’s such a complete player.” Webster (3-2) had the early advantage. Jake Collins had a pair of kills, Tucker Wienke put down an ace and Ian Thompson had a block to help give the Statesmen an 11-7 lead in the first set. A Berra kill stopped the bleeding for St. Mary’s, which closed out the opening set on an 8-2 run. Bridges had a block and a kill during the spurt and a Webster violation clinched the set for the Dragons. St. Mary’s jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the second set and never looked back.
Parker had a pair of blocks and Bridges had another ace. “I’m just trying to be the best player I can for my team and help them succeed in all different kind of ways,” Bridges said. “If I’ve got to be a bigger part of the offense by putting the ball down that’s what I’ve got to do.” Webster got within two, but St. Mary’s answered with a 5-1 run powered by a pair of Hall kills and another by Berra. A pair of Merzweiler kills clinched the match for the Dragons. Matt Lehmann led Webster with six kills, Kevin Drexl had five kills and Collins added three kills. Thompson had 14 assists. “We’re not the world’s tallest team, we’re not super short, but I said we’re going to have to be scrappy,” Buckley said. “We’re still trying to find an identity, but the defensive part is coming along.”
BOYS VOLLEYBALL • FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL TOURNAMENT
PAUL HALFACRE • STLhighschoolsports.com
Alton’s Alaina Nasello (7) battles against Villa Duchesne’s Emma Mueller (22) during a Parkway College Showcase game Saturday at Lou Fusz Soccer Complex. For more coverage, visit STLhighschoolsports.com.
GIRLS SOCCER • 17TH PARKWAY COLLEGE SHOWCASE SATURDAY’S SCORES
RICK ULREICH • Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
Francis Howell Central’s Dylan Stover (29) tries to tip the ball over the block of Parkway Central Charlie Meier (9) in the championship match of the Francis Howell Central boys volleyball tournament Saturday in Cottleville.
WHO’S NEXT?
Parkway Central embraces day-long format in title conquest BY STEVE OVERBEY STLhighschoolsports.com
COTTLEVILLE • Parkway Central senior hitter Sam Pannett was ready to keep going. Mark Diekroeger, his front-line cohort, wanted to play some more, too. The Colts’ top guns were just getting warmed up after they capped off a nine-hour day by knocking off Francis Howell Central 25-15, 25-20 in the championship match of the Francis Howell Central Invitational late Saturday afternoon in Cottleville. Parkway Central, the defending Class 3 state champion, began play in the day-long, 16-team affair at 9 a.m. with pool play. Pannett and Diekroeger ended their quest just after 5 p.m. with the title trophy in tow. “We run so much in practice that we’re used to this,” Pannett said. Explained Diekroeger, “When you’re in shape like we are, long days like this don’t bother you.” The fresh-as-a-daisy Colts (7-1) simply wore down Howell Central, bolting to a 7-0 lead in the opener on the way to a 43-minute sweep. Pannett led the way with 11 kills and several key service points. Diekroeger, a 6-foot-4 jumping jack,
added nine kills and three blocks. Senior libero Daniel Buffum triggered the defensive charge. Setters Jack Meier and Lawson Cockerham had a field day distributing the ball to a wide range of offensive threats. “Our guys did a fantastic job of really being in system,” Parkway Central coach Tom Schaefer said. “We took control and we were able to finish.” Pannett and Diekroeger play club volleyball and they are used to long days. Most club tournaments followed a similar format to the one used at Howell Central on Saturday. “You kind of learn when to pace yourself just a little,” Pannett said. “That way you can go all out at the end when you need to.” Schaefer was impressed his team turned in its best performance of the day in the late-afternoon final. “I thought they were really sharp mentally, which was great to see,” Schaefer said. Pannett helped start the first-set blitz with a kill and a two service points. Diekroeger pumped the advantage to 7-0 with the first of a trio of thunderous kills. Howell Central (6-1-1) never got closer than to within six points after the Colts’ early salvo. Successive kills from Pannett and Clayton Rodriguez pumped the lead to 23-12 before Ro-
SATURDAY’S RESULTS BOYS LACROSSE CBC 11, Houston (Tenn.) 10 C: Aiden Landwehr 3, Drake Nickoliason 2, Michael Hogan, Jack Troll, Braden McCarthy, Hunter O’Rourke, Pierce Reiling, Jack Stewart CBC 10, Evangel Christian (Tenn.) 9 C: Aiden Landwehr 2, Michael Hogan 2, Braden McCarthy 2, Jack Troll 2, Drake Nickoliason, Pierce Reiling Scores only Hickman 7, St. Mary’s 3 Eureka 7, De Smet 4
BOYS VOLLEYBALL FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL TOURNAMENT Pool A Francis Howell Central def. Cape Notre Dame 25-21, 26-24; Fort Zumwalt West def. Ritenour 25-11, 25-13; Fort Zumwalt West tied Francis Howell Central; Cape Notre Dame def. Ritenour 25-12, 25-19; Francis Howell Central def. Ritenour 25-16, 25-15; Fort Zumwalt West def. Cape Notre Dame, 25-13, 25-14 Pool B CBC def. Chaminade 25-21, 25-22; Francis
Howell def. Summit, 25-21, 25-21; CBC def. Francis Howell 25-18, 25-20; Summit tied Chaminade; CBC def. Summit, 25-18, 25-18; Chaminade def. Francis Howell 25-20, 27-25 Pool C Parkway North tied De Smet; Francis Howell North def. Fort Zumwalt East 25-17, 30-28; De Smet def. Francis Howell North 25-22, 25-17; Parkway North def. Fort Zumwalt East 25-21, 25-19; De Smet def. Fort Zumwalt East 25-22, 25-18; Parkway North tied Francis Howell North 1-1 Pool D Pattonville def. Fort Zumwalt North 25-14, 25-22; Parkway Central def. Parkway South 25-23, 25-21; Parkway Central def. Pattonville 25-19, 25-16; Parkway South def. Fort Zumwalt North 29-27, 25-22; Parkway South tied Pattonville 1-1; Parkway Central def. Fort Zumwalt North 25-15, 25-17 Quarterfinals Howell Central def. Chaminade, 25-21, 25-23, 15-8 CBC def. Fort Zumwalt West, 27-26, 25-18 De Smet def. Park.South 25-22, 25-14, 15-8 Park.Central def. Park.North 25-19, 21-25, 15-7 Semifinals Howell Central def. CBC 25-11, 25-23, 15-12
driguez served out the opener. Parkway Central used a 7-2 run to take an 18-13 lead in the nightcap. Justin Hathcock chipped in with an ace and Diekroeger added a pair of kills. The Spartans fought back to within 18-16 on a three-point spurt by Noah Jami. But Parkway Central regained control behind the one-two punch of Pannett and Diekroeger. Fittingly, Pannett finished the match with a kill. Howell Central was without standout Connor McAfee in the final. McAfee was forced out of the lineup with a migraine. Still, the Spartans were able to muster up a late charge in the second set. “Maybe we didn’t play our best in the final, but overall it was a good day,” Howell Central coach Mark McAfee said. “This was our first taste of real good competition and we handled it pretty well.” Parkway Central, which won 17 in a row last season in claiming the title, is enjoying life as a defending state champion. “We’re still as hungry for it as ever,” Schaefer said. “It’s some new guys, and new people with new responsibilities. But it’s all starting to work.”
Parkway Central def. De Smet 25-17, 25-19 Championship Park.Central def. Howell Central 25-15, 25-20 OTHER SCORES Bellvl. East def. Alton 25-15, 25-11 ME Lutheran def. Lutheran SC 25-21, 25-22 Bellvl. West def. Granite City 25-19, 25-15 Webster def. Lindbergh 27-25, 25-19 St. Mary’s def. Affton 25-20, 25-18 St. Mary’s def. Webster 25-17, 25-16
BASEBALL Borgia 101 006 2 10 5 300 010 0 4 8 Union W-Jack Wooley. L-Trevor Kelly. St. Clair 000 000 0 5 122 005 10 8 Sullivan W-Dalton Englert. Duchesne 001 01 2 1 12 10 O’F Christian 500 43 W-Joshua Turner. Winfield 000 281 1 12 12 13 14 N.Hills (Pa.) 120 102 7 L-John Hogan. Niles North 000 01 1 2 351 20 11 12 Vianney W-Noah Niznik. O’F Christian 021 200 3 8 11 3 2 Duchesne 001 110 0 W-Ryan Malzahn. HR-O Dalton Short
4 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
S.Callaway 010 030 0 201 000 0 Union L-Jacob Kleekamp Jeff City 010 040 0 000 000 0 Borgia L-Matt Piontek.
4 5 0 3 8 3 5 4 0 0 3 0
GIRLS SOCCER Ladue 3, Moline 1 L: Grace Hardester 2, Katherine Mabbs Wesclin 5, Mater Dei 1 W: Claire Gruenke 2, Galena Stewart 2, Sydney Christopher; M: Faith Rackers
GIRLS LACROSSE Assumption (Ky.) 11, Nerinx Hall 10 N: Kelly Moore 3, Kay Dames 2, Lynly Brennan, Sarah Brinkmann, Sydney Carr, Mimi Lawyer, Natalie Trachsel Scores only Cor Jesu 7, Assumption (Ky.) 4
SOFTBALL Glen.South 000 000 0 Collinsville 003 032 0 W-Maddy Lautz. Glen.South 201 003 0 Collinsville 051 014 0 W-Kandra Butcher.
0 3 0 8 9 0 6 4 0 11 14 0
At Lou Fusz Complex Hillsboro 1, Belton 0 Columbia 4, Ursuline 1 Orchard Farm 2, Lutheran South 0 Parkway Central 5, Lebanon 0 Parkway West 0, Lockport 0 Pattonville 7, Jacksonville 0 Fort Zumwalt South 1, Nixa 0 Lindbergh 2, Ozark 1 Fox 2, Branson 0 Holt 10, Springfield Central 0 Francis Howell North 2, Liberty (KC) 2 Belleville East 2, Glendale 1 Fort Zumwalt North 5, Kickapoo 0 Cor Jesu 3, Gurnee Warren 1 Incarnate Word 3, Geneva 0 Metea Valley 4, Marquette 0 Neuqua Valley 4, Collinsville 0 Granite City 2, Glenbard West 0 Webster Groves 4, Oswego East 1 Lee’s Summit West 3, Visitation 0 Summit 0, Hickman 0 Oakville 3, Fort Zumwalt East 3 Fort Zumwalt West 3, Jefferson City 0 St. Charles West 2, Parkway South 1 Timberland 8, Neosho 0 Liberty (Wentzville) 2, Carbondale 0 Belleville West 1, Ursuline 0 Rock Bridge 1, Troy Buchanan 0 De Soto 5, Metro-East Lutheran 0 St. Charles 1, Mascoutah 0 Farmington 4, McCluer North 0 Alton 1, Villa Duchesne 0 Francis Howell Central 6, Sacred Heart-Griffin 1 Hazelwood Central 2, Parkway North 0 Washington 3, Seckman 0 Benet Academy 2, Hazelwood West 1 Springfield Central 1, Piasa Southwestern 0
SATURDAY’S SUMMARIES Columbia 4, Ursuline 1 C: Kennedy Jones 2, Reagan Mauch, Fae Harrell Orchard Farm 2, Luth. South 0 O: Grace Fortuna, Kayla Hedges ; shutout by Haleigh Schroer Parkway Central 5, Lebanon 0 P: Emily Lander 2, Ann Marie Razny, Kaylee Canoy, Megan Hamill; shutout by Megan Stephens Pattonville 7, Jacksonville 0 P: Kendall Battle 2, Cameryn McGee, Emily
Schrumpf, Shannon Wetzel, Kaeli Benedict, Megan Lashley; shutout by Talia Sinclair FZ South 1, Nixa 0 F: Hannah Warnecke; shutout by Mackenzie Gan Holt 10, Springfield Central 0 H: Jewel Morelan 2, Jae Crandall 2, Mackenzi Heisserer 2, Sydney Balducci, Kerry Bruno, Kaylie Compton, Hannah Hodge; shutout by Sara Sanabria FH North 2, Liberty (KC) 2 F: Jessie Beckmann, Sam Cary Bellvl. East 2, Glendale 1 B: Haley Epperson, Alexandra Mueller FZ North 5, Kickapoo 0 F: Mackenzie Menke 2, Aliyah Tucker, Mackenzie Boyle, Makayla Meiser; shutout by Maggie Pagano Incarnate Word 3, Geneva 0 I: Emily Groark 2, Olivia Layton; shutout by Grace Paez Nerinx Hall 2, O’Fallon 1 N: Mackenzie Duff, Lindsey Heckel; O: Sam Stutsman Granite City 2, Glenbard West 0 Gr: MacKenzie Hawkins, Maya Ware; shutout by Viktoria Johnson Oakville 3, Zumwalt East 3 F: Payton Corley, Maddie Mrazik, Maggie Weller; O: McKenna Books, Lauren Colombo, Alexis Updike FZ West 3, Jeff City 0 F: Lauren Crane, Evelyn Mabie, Kaitlyn Nichols; shutout by Camielle Day St. Charles West 2, Parkway South 1 S: Abbie Gilblair, Maggie Miller Timberland 8, Neosho 0 T: Sydney Baker, Mia Corrigan, Bailey Dyck, Ashley Reiter, Michelle Routt, Emma Smith, Kristin Van Booven ; shutout by Hannah Hartman, Abby Tucker. Liberty (Wentzville) 2, Carbondale 0 L: Kate Fulhorst, Claire Roberts; shutout by Amy Carnahan Bellvl. West 1, Ursuline 0 B: Sydney Valerius; shutout by Bailey Redden De Soto 5, ME Lutheran 0 D: Macie Wills 2, Amy Reiser, Meagan Blanchard, Jordan Landis ; shutout by Abby Pope St. Charles 1, Mascoutah 0 SC: Brooke Schneider; shutout by Riley Beerman, Faith Davis.
TRACK AND FIELD GIRLS FESTUS EARLY BIRD INVITATIONAL Teams: 1. Blue Springs South 85, 2. Jefferson 67.8, 3. Raymore-Peculiar 54.8, 4. Cape Notre Dame 49, 5. Lafayette 46 100: 1. Courtney Williams, Nerinx Hall, 12.26 200: 1. Taylor Richey, Windsor, 26.65 400: 1. Courtney Williams, Nerinx Hall, 57.73 800: 1. Claire Morrill, Cape Notre Dame, 2:28.42 1600: 1. Victoria Findley, Blue Springs South, 5:06.94 3200: 1. Lauren Low, Blue Springs South, 11:29.26 100 hurdles: 1. Anna Heacock, Jefferson, 15.96 300 hurdles: 1. Natalie White, Lafayette, 47.68 400 relay: 1. Cape Central, 53.77 800 relay: 1. Raymore-Peculiar, 1:54.18 1600 relay: 1. Eureka, 4:23.69 3200 relay: 1. Blue Springs South, 10:00.26 High jump: 1. Natalie Timpe, Cape Notre Dame, 5-0 Pole vault: 1. Katie Schumer, Jackson, 10-6 Long jump: 1. Anna Heacock, Jefferson, 16-8.5 Triple jump: 1. Marissa Gianino, Lafayette, 36-4 Shot put: 1. Kelsey Boyd, Hillsboro, 38-0.25 Discus: 1. Brittany Hawthorne, Lafayette, 107-1 LINDENWOOD INVITATIONAL (No team scores) 100: 1. Serena Williams, Battle, 12.85 200: 1. Christine Williams, Timberland, 26.49 400: 1. Paige Magee, Battle, 1:02.18 800: 1. Claire Ayers, Washington, 2:30.58 1600: 1. Mikayla Reed, Washington, 5:14.35 3200: 1. Mikayla Reed, Washington, 11:18.05 100 hurdles: 1. Scout Regular, Incarnate Word, 16.02 300 hurdles: 1. Veronica Sherrod, East St. Louis, 48.16 400 relay: 1. Ritenour, 51.73 800 relay: 1. East St. Louis, 1:47.55 1600 relay: 1. East St. Louis, 4:12.2 3200 relay: 1. Francis Howell North, 10:19.18 High jump: 1. Carynton Marshall, Battle, 5-2 Pole vault: 1. Claire Meara, Timberland, 9-0 Long jump: 1. Diamond Riley, Ritenour, 17-6.5 Triple jump: 1. Diamond Riley, Ritenour, 38-9 Shot put: 1. Evangeline Harris, East St. Louis, 38-9.25 Discus: 1. Evangeline Harris, East St.
Louis, 128-3 Javelin: 1. Jaylynn Martin, Timberland, 103-4
BOYS FESTUS EARLY BIRD INVITATIONAL Teams: 1. Lafayette 104, 2. Jackson 98, 3. Raymore-Peculiar 95, 4. Festus 70, 5. SLUH 61. 100: 1. Andrew Graves, Jefferson, 11.61 200: 1. Tanner Luedte, Eureka, 23.59 400: 1. Lazarus Williams, SLUH, 51.49 800: 1. Corben Clubb, Herculaneum, 1:59.39 1600: 1. Max McDaniel, Festus, 4:28.74 3200: 1. Nassim Oufattole, Lafayette, 9:21.59 110 hurdles: 1. Chris Mckinzy, RaymorePeculiar, 14.77 300 hurdles: 1. Isaiah Martin, Hillsboro, 40.49 400 relay: 1. Park Hills Central, 45.43 800 relay: 1. Jackson, 1:36.01 1600 relay: 1. Jackson, 3:36.6 3200 relay: 1. SLUH, 8:24.93 High jump: 1. Hudson Bailey, RaymorePeculiar, 6-3; Pole vault: 1. Jackson Rinehart, Jackson, 13-6 Long jump: 1. Chris Mckinzy, RaymorePeculiar, 21-5 Triple jump: 1. Chris Mckinzy, RaymorePeculiar, 45-6.25 Shot put: 1. Michael Rexroad, RaymorePeculiar, 48-9.5 Discus: 1. Michael Rexroad, RaymorePeculiar, 143-4 LINDENWOOD INVITATIONAL (No team scores) 100: 1. Austin Maiden, CBC, 11.21 200: 1. Joe Magee, Battle, 23.62 400: 1. Joe Magee, Battle, 52.51 800: 1. Cason Suggs, Washington, 2:04.91 1600: 1. Robert Gibson, Pattonville, 4:37.02 3200: 1. Bret Davis, Parkway South, 10:23.22 110 hurdles: 1. Derrick Boyce III, Pattonville, 16.26 300 hurdles: 1. Christopher Olisah, Battle, 43.67 400 relay: 1. Battle, 44.99 800 relay: 1. Battle, 1:35.43 1600 relay: 1. Washington, 3:40.21 3200 relay: 1. Northwest Cedar Hill, 8:55.07 High jump: 1. Da’jon Weston, Battle, 6-1 Pole vault: 1. Darin Smalls, Battle, 13-6 Long jump: 1. Da’jon Weston, Battle, 21-10 Triple jump: 1. Da’jon Weston, Battle, 46-4 Shot put: 1. Bradley Papez, Timberland, 47-4.5 Discus: 1. Jordan Jenkins, McCluer SouthBerkeley, 128-4 Javelin: 1. Derrick Boyce III, Pattonville, 168-10.5
NEWS SPORTS
1 03.25.2018 • Sunday • M 4
ST. LOuIS LOUIS POST-dISPaTCH POST-DISPATCH • X21 B11
BOYS GOLF SEASON PREVIEW PLAYERS TO WATCH Max Floyd, junior, Barat A second-team All-Metro selection last season after finishing third in Class 1 state tournament, which was an improvement after Floyd finished in eighth as a freshman. Floyd’s sophomore season also included district and sectional medalist victories. During summer golf was named co-boys player of the year on the Accelerated Golf Tour. Cory Harrison, senior, St. Charles McKendree University commit settled for a 26th-place tie in the Class 3 state tournament last season after his opening-round 76 had him in contention for an all-state finish. The Gateway Athletics Conference North Division player of the year, who also was a Class 3 state qualifier as a freshman, is a three-time first-team allconference honoree. Max Kreikemeier, junior, Lafayette Returning first-team All-Metro golfer is a two-time Class 4 allstate honoree, finishing tied for 11th as a sophomore after tying for 10th his freshman season. Sophomore season included 3-under 68 at Missouri Bluffs to win Greg Bantle title. Won 18th Metropolitan Junior Amateur Championship medalist crown over the summer and represented St. Louis in the fall in Mid-America Junior Cup. Colin Stolze, senior, Chaminade Missouri S&T signee has helped the Red Devils to consecutive third-place team trophies in the Class 4 state tournament. Stolze was Chaminade’s low finisher in the 2016 state tournament and is the top returnee from last season’s squadron with his 24th-place tie. Also a member of Chaminade’s basketball team, Stolze ranked third last summer in the Gateway Junior PGA’s player of the year standings. Kevin Wahle, senior, De Smet Three-time Class 4 state qualifier tied for 11th last season for his first all-state finish. Wahle’s 75 in the second round was tied for the thirdbest score on the tournament’s final day. Won Missouri Golf Association’s Junior Amateur Championship medalist title last summer in a playoff and has signed to play at the NCAA Division I level for Creighton.
SPOTLIGHT
SECOND ACT Timberland’s Meindl hopes to improve on breakout season BY CHRIS GOVE STLhighschoolsports.com
David Meindl doesn’t seem as concerned about what he’s accomplished as what he can still achieve. That outlook has worked well so far for the Timberland High senior boys golfer, who finished tied for 11th in the Class 4 state tournament last season. “I’m happy with what happened,” Meindl said. “It’s in the past, too.” Meindl and the two golfers he tied with for 11th — Lafayette junior Max Kreikemeier and De Smet senior Kevin Wahle — are the top area returners by finish from last year’s Class 4 state tournament. Unlike the other two, Meindl was making his state tournament debut last season. And that was on the heels of the heartbreak of missing state by a single stroke at the sectional qualifier his sophomore season. “He came out more focused and more dedicated to get to state,” Timberland coach Stan Lane said. “I knew he had the potential.” Meindl fired a 74 on the opening day of the state tournament and was tied for seventh before settling just outside the top 10 with a 78 in the final round. His 2-over 74 was tied for the third-lowest round of the tournament. The state tournament finish wasn’t a flash in the pan, though. Meindl’s solid junior season included honors as the Gateway Athletic Conference’s South Division player of the year based on consistent performances in league duals and tournaments. But the state-qualifying series still was a grind for Meindl, who earned his first
AMERICA’S LINE
GOLF
NBA Favorite Points Underdog Cavaliers 6.5 NETS BUCKS NL Spurs PACERS 3.5 Heat Celtics 6 KINGS WIZARDS 10 Knicks RAPTORS 8 Clippers THUNDER 3 Blazers ROCKETS 13.5 Hawks Jazz 3 WARRIORS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Favorite Points Underdog NCAA Tournament — East Region final Villanova 7 Texas Tech NCAA Tournament — Midwest Region final Duke 3 Kansas NHL Favorite Odds Underdog PENGUINS -$165/+$145 Flyers JETS -$135/+$115 Predators STARS -$270/+$230 Canucks WILD -$120/even Bruins OILERS -$110/-$110 Ducks Grand Salami: Over/under 28.5 goals. Home team in CAPS © 2018 B. Eckstein
WGC | Dell Match Play
TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL American League BOSTON — Traded INF Deven Marrero to Arizona for a player to be named or cash. Optioned INF Tzu-Wei Lin and LHPs Roenis Elias and Robby Scott to Pawtucket (IL). Reassigned C Dan Butler, INF Ivan De Jesus Jr. and OFs Rusney Castillo and Aneury Tavarez to minor league camp. Signed C Christian Vazquez to a three-year contract extension. CLEVELAND — Released RHP Carlos Torres. DETROIT — Released SS Alexi Amarista. HOUSTON — Optioned OF Tony Kemp and INF Tyler White to minor league camp. KANSAS CITY — Released OF Michael Saunders and RHP Ricky Nolasco. MINNESOTA — Claimed DH Kennys Vargas off waivers from Cincinnati. NY YANKEES — Optioned RHP Domingo German to Scranton (IL). Acquired 1B Mike Ford as a Rule 5 draft return from Seattle and assigned him to Scranton. Signed C Kellin Deglan to a minor league contract. SEATTLE — Optioned RHP Chasen Bradford to Tacoma (PCL). TEXAS — Traded C Mike Ohlman to Boston for cash. Released RHP Bartolo Colon. TORONTO — Assigned LHP Matt Dermody outright to Buffalo (IL). Released LHP Craig Breslow. Signed RHP Murphy Smith to a minor league contract. National League ARIZONA — Designated RHP Albert Suarez for assignment. Selected the contract of RHP Fernando Salas from Reno (PCL). CINCINNATI — Optioned RHPs Jackson Stephens and Robert Stephenson to Louisville (IL). MILWAUKEE — Optioned RHP Junior Guerra and OFs Keon Broxton and Brett Phillips to Colorado Springs (PCL). NY METS — Optioned RHP Zack Wheeler to minor league camp. PHILADELPHIA — Released RHP Francisco Rodriguez. PITTSBURGH — Optioned OF Jordan Luplow and C Jacob Stallings to Indianapolis (IL). Reassigned RHPs Tyler Jones and Richard Rodriguez to minor league camp. WASHINGTON — Optioned RHP Austin Adams, C Pedro Severino and OF Andrew Stevenson to Syracuse (IL). Reassigned LHPs Tim Collins and Tommy Milone, RHPs Edwin Jackson and Christopher Smith, INF Chris Dominguez, C Spencer Kieboom and OF Moises Sierra to minor league camp. Released INF Reid Brignac and OF Ryan Raburn. BASKETBALL | NBA CHICAGO — Signed F Jaylen Johnson. MEMPHIS — Signed G Marquis Teague to a 10-day contract. FOOTBALL | NFL ATLANTA — Agreed to terms with CB Justin Bethel. HOCKEY | NHL COLORADO — Recalled G Spencer Martin from San Antonio (AHL) and G Joe Cannata and F Julien Nantel from Colorado (ECHL) to San Antonio. NEW JERSEY — Signed G Cam Johnson to a one-year, entry-level contract.
HORSE RACING Louisiana Derby results Saturday | New Orleans, La. Distance: 1 1/8 miles; 9f Time: 1:50.28 Noble Indy (J. Velazquez) 7.40 4.80 3.20 Lone Sailor (J. Graham) 7.80 4.20 My Boy Jack (K. Desormeaux) 3.20 Exacta (2-8) ��������������������������������������������� 37.00 Trifecta (2-8-9) ���������������������������������������� 95.35 Super (2-8-9-4) �������������������������������������� 137.16 D.Double (9-2) ����������������������������������������� 71.20 Pick 3 (1-9-2) �����������������������������������������223.40 Pick 4, 4 correct (5-1-9-2) ����������������������589.40
Saturday | Austin, Texas | Yds: 7,108; Par: 71 Fourth Round (Seedings in parentheses) Bubba Watson (35), USA, def. Brian Harman (18), USA, 2 and 1. Kiradech Aphibarnrat (28), Thailand, def. Charles Howell III (59), USA, 1 up. Kyle Stanley (45), USA, def. Sergio Garcia (7), Spain, 3 and 1. Justin Thomas (2), USA, def. Si Woo Kim (50), South Korea, 6 and 5. Cameron Smith (46), Australia, def. Tyrrell Hatton (12), England, 2 and 1. w Alex Noren (13), Sweden, def. Patrick Reed (19), USA, 5 and 3. Ian Poulter (58), England, def. Louis Oosthuizen (25), South Africa, 2 and 1. Kevin Kisner (32), USA, def. Matt Kuchar (16), USA, 1 up. Quarterfinals B. Watson (35), USA, def. Kiradech Aphibarnrat (28), Thailand, 5 and 3. Justin Thomas (2), USA, def. Kyle Stanley (45), USA, 2 and 1. Alex Noren (13), Sweden, def. Cameron Smith (46), Australia, 4 and 2. Kevin Kisner (32), USA, def. Ian Poulter (58), England, 8 and 6.
PGA | Dominican Republic
Saturday | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Purse: $3 million | Yardage: 7,670; Par 72 Third Round Brice Garnett 63-68-69 — 200 -16 Corey Conners 64-71-67 — 202 -14 Tyler McCumber 67-70-67 — 204 -12 Tom Lovelady 69-68-68 — 205 -11 68-67-71 — 206 -10 Seamus Power Denny McCarthy 66-69-71 — 206 -10 67-67-72 — 206 -10 Seungsu Han Harris English 71-69-67 — 207 -9 67-72-68 — 207 -9 Kevin Tway 66-73-68 — 207 -9 Troy Matteson Martin Flores 68-71-68 — 207 -9 George McNeill 67-71-69 — 207 -9 Geoff Ogilvy 69-67-71 — 207 -9 Keith Mitchell 66-66-75 — 207 -9 Andrew Putnam 70-68-70 — 208 -8 Paul Dunne 67-70-71 — 208 -8 Kelly Kraft 68-69-71 — 208 -8 Matt Atkins 69-67-72 — 208 -8 Xinjun Zhang 66-68-74 — 208 -8 Steve Wheatcroft 66-66-76 — 208 -8 Retief Goosen 70-70-69 — 209 -7 69-70-70 — 209 -7 Fabian Gomez Shawn Stefani 68-72-70 — 210 -6 Nate Lashley 70-70-70 — 210 -6 Troy Merritt 69-70-71 — 210 -6 Adam Schenk 70-71-69 — 210 -6 Tommy Gainey 70-68-72 — 210 -6 K.J. Choi 71-68-72 — 211 -5 70-71-70 — 211 -5 Rob Oppenheim Patrick Rodgers 74-65-72 — 211 -5 Abraham Ancer 71-67-73 — 211 -5 Joel Dahmen 71-66-74 — 211 -5 Trey Mullinax 69-66-76 — 211 -5 Matt Every 69-66-76 — 211 -5 Hunter Mahan 70-65-76 — 211 -5 Santiago Rivas 71-69-72 — 212 -4 Dicky Pride 71-70-71 — 212 -4 Matt Jones 72-67-73 — 212 -4 71-70-71 — 212 -4 Fabrizio Zanotti Lanto Griffin 69-68-75 — 212 -4 David Lingmerth 70-67-75 — 212 -4 Michael Kim 68-75-69 — 212 -4 J.T. Poston 72-71-69 — 212 -4 66-74-73 — 213 -3 Jonathan Byrd 72-68-73 — 213 -3 Emiliano Grillo Richy Werenski 71-68-74 — 213 -3 Brendon de Jonge 66-75-72 — 213 -3 Daniel Chopra 70-68-75 — 213 -3 Ryan Brehm 73-69-71 — 213 -3 Ben Crane 70-72-71 — 213 -3 Stephan Jaeger 72-68-74 — 214 -2 Cameron Percy 69-71-74 — 214 -2 Mark Wilson 69-72-73 — 214 -2 73-68-73 — 214 -2 John Merrick 72-69-73 — 214 -2 Brett Stegmaier 70-68-76 — 214 -2 Ricky Barnes 72-70-72 — 214 -2 Rory Sabbatini Ethan Tracy 68-69-77 — 214 -2 John Daly 73-70-71 — 214 -2 Vince India 73-70-71 — 214 -2 71-72-71 — 214 -2 Omar Uresti 71-68-76 — 215 -1 Chris Wood Augusto Nunez 70-71-74 — 215 -1 Ken Duke 67-75-73 — 215 -1 Scott Piercy 70-72-73 — 215 -1 Davis Love III 71-72-72 — 215 -1 Eric Axley 72-71-72 — 215 -1 Harold Varner III 71-70-75 — 216 E Julio Santos 70-72-74 — 216 E David Hearn 69-73-74 — 216 E J.J. Henry 71-72-73 — 216 E Mike Weir 72-71-73 — 216 E Johnson Wagner 73-70-73 — 216 E Tim Herron 73-70-73 — 216 E D.J. Trahan 71-72-73 — 216 E Parker McLachlin 73-70-73 — 216 E Made cut, did not finish Andrew Yun 71-70-76 — 217 +1 Trevor Immelman 69-74-74 — 217 +1 Cameron Beckman 73-70-74 — 217 +1 69-74-77 — 220 +4 Stuart Appleby Robert Allenby 73-70-78 — 221 +5
ISRAEL PEREZ • Special to STLhighschoolsports.com
Timberland’s David Meindl lines up a putt last season during the second round of the Class 4 boys golf state tournament in Joplin. Meindl finished tied for 11th and has signed to play for the University of Mobile.
state appearance by a mere two strokes — just a slight improvement over his sophomore heartbreak on paper that was a huge leap on the golf course. “Probably the biggest improvement in my game is my mental aspect,” Meindl said. “I just go into each hole with a positive thought, thinking I know what to do here, I know my strategy and I can progress and have a good score. “I remember when I was younger when I was playing in junior events and stuff like that, I would hit a bad shot and it would completely (ruin) my entire round. I was able to get more mature as a player.” A year-round player and younger brother of former Lutheran St. Charles golfer Eric Meindl, David’s improvement helped him land a scholarship to play for the University of
Mobile, an NAIA program. In his final season with Timberland, Meindl helps lead a roster that includes fellow senior and returning state qualifier Grant Wolfe along with freshman standout Hunter Niles. Another pair of seniors, Mitchell Burnette and Sam Heppermann, round out the lineup that has Lane hopeful for the program’s first run at a state appearance as a team since winning the Class 4 championship in 2013. “I think we’ve got a team that could make a pretty good run,” Lane said. Meindl said competition within the team’s lineup will benefit the entire group. Wolfe finished second in the GAC South player of the year standings last season and Burnette was Timberland’s low man at the district tournament.
Champions | Rapiscan Systems Classic leaders
NASCAR TRUCKS Martinsville 250 lineup
Saturday | Biloxi, Miss. Purse: $1.6 million | Yardage: 7,088; Par 72 Second Round Steve Stricker 68-69 — 137 -7 Jeff Sluman 71-67 — 138 -6 Joe Durant 66-72 — 138 -6 71-68 — 139 -5 Stephen Ames Billy Andrade 69-70 — 139 -5 David McKenzie 69-71 — 140 -4 Jesper Parnevik 70-71 — 141 -3 Jerry Smith 74-68 — 142 -2 Tim Petrovic 73-69 — 142 -2 Scott McCarron 72-70 — 142 -2 Scott Parel 72-70 — 142 -2 Kevin Johnson 71-71 — 142 -2 Mark Calcavecchia 67-75 — 142 -2 Russ Cochran 73-70 — 143 -1 Fran Quinn 74-69 — 143 -1 Tom Lehman 71-72 — 143 -1 Mike Goodes 71-72 — 143 -1 Gene Sauers 70-73 — 143 -1 Wes Short, Jr. 70-73 — 143 -1 Billy Mayfair 69-74 — 143 -1 Vijay Singh 73-71 — 144 E Michael Bradley 73-71 — 144 E Olin Browne 73-71 — 144 E Tom Byrum 72-72 — 144 E Michael Allen 71-73 — 144 E Todd Hamilton 71-73 — 144 E Rod Spittle 71-73 — 144 E
After Saturday qualifying; Saturday race suspended. To be completed Sunday after Cup Series race Martinsville, Va. | Lap length: 0.526 miles Car number in parentheses 1. (41) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 95.942 mph. 2. (88) Matt Crafton, Ford, 95.704. 3. (98) Grant Enfinger, Ford, 95.588. 4. (54) Kyle Benjamin, Toyota, 95.492. 5. (52) Stewart Friesen, Chevrolet, 95.487. 6. (21) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 95.482. 7. (16) Brett Moffitt, Toyota, 95.395. 8. (8) J. Hunter Nemechek, Chevrolet, 95.391. 9. (13) Myatt Snider, Ford, 95.208. 10. (2) Cody Coughlin, Chevrolet, 95.146. 11. (18) Noah Gragson, Toyota, 94.846. 12. (24) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 94.444. 13. (51) Harrison Burton, Toyota, 94.770. 14. (99) Tyler Matthews, Chevrolet, 94.628. 15. (02) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 94.458. 16. (92) Timothy Peters, Ford, 94.223. 17. (04) Cory Roper, Ford, 94.055. 18. (25) Dalton Sargeant, Chevrolet, 93.854. 19. (45) Justin Fontaine, Chevrolet, 93.617. 20. (20) Reid Wilson, Chevrolet, 93.520. 21. (22) Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 93.456. 22. (83) Kyle Donahue, Chevrolet, 92.796. 23. (4) Todd Gilliland, Toyota, 95.213. 24. (15) Robby Lyons, Chevrolet, 93.520. 25. (3) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 92.760. 26. (33) Josh Reaume, Chevrolet, 92.560. 27. (63) Kevin Donahue, Chevrolet, 92.488. 28. (50) Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, 92.227. 29. (49) Wendell Chavous, Chevrolet, 91.113. 30. (6) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, 90.180. 31. (10) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, 87.388. 32. (1) Mike Senica, Chevrolet, 82.327.
LPGA | Kia Classic leaders Saturday | Carlsbad, Calif. Purse: $1.8 million | Yardage: 6,609; Par: 72 Third Round Eun-Hee Ji 70-68-67 — 205 -11 Lizette Salas 69-67-69 — 205 -11 In-Kyung Kim 67-69-69 — 205 -11 Wei-Ling Hsu 72-66-68 — 206 -10 Cindy LaCrosse 69-69-68 — 206 -10 Caroline Hedwall 66-70-70 — 206 -10 Cristie Kerr 67-64-75 — 206 -10 Anna Nordqvist 71-70-66 — 207 -9 Kris Tamulis 70-70-67 — 207 -9 Carlota Ciganda 70-68-69 — 207 -9 Jeong Eun Lee 68-69-70 — 207 -9 a-Hyejin Choi 72-70-66 — 208 -8 Jin Young Ko 70-72-66 — 208 -8 Jane Park 71-69-68 — 208 -8 Caroline Masson 70-70-68 — 208 -8 Hee Young Park 66-70-72 — 208 -8 Brittany Lincicome 72-72-65 — 209 -7 Perrine Delacour 70-72-67 — 209 -7 Bronte Law 69-72-68 — 209 -7 Shanshan Feng 72-68-69 — 209 -7 Lydia Ko 68-71-70 — 209 -7 Thidapa Suwannapura 69-69-71 — 209 -7 Lee-Anne Pace 74-69-67 — 210 -6 Inbee Park 71-71-68 — 210 -6 Pernilla Lindberg 71-70-69 — 210 -6 Nanna Koerstz Madsen 70-71-69 — 210 -6 Danielle Kang 69-69-72 — 210 -6
F1 • Australian GP lineup After Saturday’s qualifying; race Sunday Melbourne, Australia | Lap length: 3.29 mi 1. (44) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:21.164. 2. (7) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:21.828. 3. (5) Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:21.838. 4. (33) M. Verstappen, Red Bull, 1:21.879. 5. (3) Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:22.152. 6. (20) K. Magnussen, Haas Ferrari, 1:23.187. 7. (8) R. Grosjean, Haas Ferrari, 1:23.339. 8. (27) Nico Hulkenberg, Renault, 1:23.532. 9. (55) Carlos Sainz, Renault, 1:23.577. 10. (77) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, no time. 11. (14) F. Alonso, McLaren Renault, 1:23.692. 12. (2) S. Vandoorne, McL. Renault, 1:23.853. 13. (11) Sergio Perez, F.I. Mercedes, 1:24.005. 14. (18) L. Stroll, Williams Mercedes, 1:24.230. 15. (31) Esteban Ocon, F.I. Mercedes, 1:24.786. 16. (28) B. Hartley, STR Honda, 1:24.532. 17. (9) M. Ericsson, Sauber Ferrari, 1:24.556. 18. (16) C. Leclerc, Sauber Ferrari, 1:24.636. 19. (35) S. Sirotkin, W. Mercedes, 1:24.922. 20. (10) Pierre Gasly, STR Honda, 1:25.295.
SOCCER
MOTOR SPORTS
Major League Soccer
NASCAR CUP SERIES Martinsville 500 lineup
EASTERN W L T Pts GF GA Columbus 3 0 1 10 8 3 New York City FC 3 0 1 10 8 3 New York 2 1 0 6 7 1 Atlanta United FC 2 1 0 6 7 6 1 0 1 4 2 0 Philadelphia New England 1 1 1 4 4 5 Montreal 1 2 0 3 4 5 D.C. United 0 2 2 2 5 9 Orlando City 0 2 1 1 2 5 Chicago 0 2 0 0 4 6 Toronto FC 0 2 0 0 0 3 WESTERN W L T Pts GF GA Sporting K.C. 2 1 1 7 9 9 Vancouver 2 1 1 7 5 6 Los Angeles FC 2 0 0 6 6 1 Minnesota United 2 2 0 6 6 8 FC Dallas 1 0 2 5 5 2 Houston 1 1 1 4 7 4 LA Galaxy 1 1 1 4 3 3 Real Salt Lake 1 1 1 4 3 6 San Jose 1 1 0 3 5 5 Colorado 0 1 1 1 3 4 Portland 0 2 1 1 2 7 Seattle 0 2 0 0 0 4 NOTE: Three points for win, one point for tie. Saturday New York City FC 2, New England 2, tie Portland 1, FC Dallas 1, tie Columbus 3, D.C. United 1 New York 3, Minnesota United 0 Sporting K.C. 2, Colorado 2 LA Galaxy 0, Vancouver 0 Friday, March 30 Real Salt Lake at Toronto FC, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 31 New York at Orlando City, Noon Los Angeles FC at LA Galaxy, 2 p.m. Vancouver at Columbus, 2 p.m. Portland at Chicago, 5 p.m. Atlanta United FC at Minnesota United, 7 p.m. New York City FC at San Jose, 7 p.m. D.C. United at Sporting K.C., 7:30 p.m. New England at Houston, 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Colorado, 8 p.m. Montreal at Seattle, 9 p.m.
Race Sunday | Lineup in owner points order Martinsville, Va. | Lap length: 0.526 miles Car number in parentheses 1. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota. 2. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota. 3. (22) Joey Logano, Ford. 4. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford. 5. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford. 6. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota. 7. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet. 8. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford. 9. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford. 10. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford. 11. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford. 12. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet. 13. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota. 14. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet. 15. (21) Paul Menard, Ford. 16. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet. 17. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford. 18. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet. 19. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet. 20. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet. 21. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet. 22. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet. 23. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota. 24. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford. 25. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet. 26. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet. 27. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford. 28. (38) David Ragan, Ford. 29. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet. 30. (51) Harrison Rhodes, Chevrolet. 31. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford. 32. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet. 33. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet. 34. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota. 35. (72) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet. 36. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet. 37. (96) DJ Kennington, Toyota. 38. (55) JJ Yeley, Chevrolet.
That depth will be tested Tuesday when Timberland plays in the Greg Bantle Memorial at Missouri Bluffs. Having the experience of an all-state finish — the top 15 individuals in Missouri earn all-state honors — also is a good calling card for Meindl. But he’s not content, by any means, and plans to improve in this year’s Class 4 state tournament May 14-15 at Swope Park Golf Course in Kansas City. “Going to state, I feel more confident, I feel better about my abilities,” Meindl said. “I’m really happy with the finish that I had. I really didn’t expect to do anything too crazy last year. I ended up all-state, I was pretty happy with that. Coming from last year to this year, I’m definitely expecting top three if not to win it.”
United Soccer League
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Saturday’s results San Antonio 2, St. Louis 1 Charleston 1, Penn 0 Nashville 0, Pittsburgh 0 Atlanta 3, New York 1 Indy 1, Richmond 0 Tampa Bay 2, Bethlehem 0 Charlotte 2, Toronto 0 Portland 1, Colorado Springs 0 Salt Lake City 3, Tulsa 2 Swope Park 4, Seattle 2 Fresno 1, Los Angeles 1 Sacramento 1, Orange County 0 Phoenix 4, Oklahoma City 1 Las Vegas vs. Reno, late Louisville vs. North Carolina, ppd. Wednesday’s games Reno at Rio Grande Valley, 10 a.m. Orange County at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m. Fresno at Seattle, 9 p.m.
Men’s NIT
English Premier League Saturday, March 31 Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool, 5:30 a.m. Newcastle vs. Huddersfield, 8 a.m. Man United vs. Swansea, 8 a.m. West Brom vs. Burnley, 8 a.m. Brighton vs. Leicester, 8 a.m. West Ham vs. Southampton, 8 a.m. Watford vs. Bournemouth, 8 a.m. Everton vs. Man City, 10:30 a.m.
SPRING TRAINING NL W L Pct. Milwaukee 19 9 .679 15 9 .625 San Diego Chicago 18 12 .600 Cardinals 16 11 .593 Miami 15 11 .577 15 14 .517 Los Angeles Arizona 13 15 .464 San Francisco 13 15 .464 13 16 .448 Atlanta Colorado 12 15 .444 Washington 12 16 .429 Philadelphia 12 16 .429 Cincinnati 10 18 .357 Pittsburgh 10 18 .357 New York 9 18 .333 AL W L Pct. Boston 19 9 .679 Houston 18 9 .667 Cleveland 18 12 .600 17 12 .586 New York Baltimore 16 12 .571 Kansas City 16 12 .571 15 12 .556 Chicago Seattle 14 14 .500 Minnesota 13 13 .500 Oakland 13 14 .481 Tampa Bay 13 15 .464 13 16 .448 Toronto Detroit 11 15 .423 Los Angeles 13 18 .419 Texas 7 22 .241 Saturday Boston 6, Houston 0 Miami 4, Washington 3 Cardinals 8, NY Mets 7 NY Yankees (ss) 8, Atlanta 3 Philadelphia 4, Detroit 1 Pittsburgh 7, Tampa Bay 5 NY Yankees (ss) 13, Toronto 6 Chicago White Sox 7, LA Dodgers 3 Cleveland 10, Texas 3 Milwaukee 10, Oakland 5 San Diego 6, Cincinnati 2 Arizona (ss) 15, LA Angels 9 Kansas City 4, Arizona (ss) 4 Minnesota 12, Baltimore 4 Seattle 7, Cubs (ss) 3 Chicago Cubs (ss) 3, Colorado 0 Sunday Miami (ss) vs. NY Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla., 11:10 a.m. Atlanta vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Baltimore vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Boston vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Houston vs. Miami (ss) at Jupiter, Fla., 12:05 p.m. NY Yankees vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Cardinals vs. Washington at West Palm Beach, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Pittsburgh vs. Toronto at Dunedin, Fla., 12:07 p.m. Chicago Cubs vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 2:05 p.m. Cincinnati vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 2:05 p.m. Milwaukee vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 2:05 p.m. Seattle vs. San Diego at Peoria, Ariz., 2:10 p.m. San Francisco vs. Oakland at Oakland, CA, 3:05 p.m. Arizona vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:10 p.m. LA Dodgers vs. LA Angels at Anaheim, CA, 8:07 p.m.
Semifinals | at MSG, New York | Tuesday W. Kentucky (27-10) vs. Utah (22-11), 6 p.m. Penn St. (24-13) vs. Miss. St. (25-11), 8:30 p.m. Championship | Thursday, March 29 Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.
Men’s CBI Championship Series (Best-of-3; x-if necessary) Monday • North Texas (18-17) at San Francisco (21-15), 9 p.m. Wednesday • San Francisco (21-15) at North Texas (18-17), 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 30 • x-San Francisco (21-15) at North Texas (18-17), 6 p.m.
Men’s CIT Quarterfinals | Saturday Liberty 84, Central Michigan 71 Semifinals | Wednesday, March 28 UIC (19-15) vs. Liberty (22-14), 6 p.m. Sam Houston State (21-14) at Northern Colorado (24-12), 8 p.m. Championship | Friday, March 30
Men’s NCAA Div. II Championship | Saturday Ferris State 71, Northern State 69
NCAA Women’s Tournament ALBANY REGIONAL Reg. Semifinals | Saturday | Albany, N.Y. South Carolina 79, Buffalo 63 UConn 72, Duke 59 Regional Championship | Monday So. Carolina (29-6) vs. UConn (35-0), 6 p.m.
SPOKANE REGIONAL Reg. Semifinals | Sat. | Spokane, Wash. Notre Dame 90, Texas A&M 84 Oregon 83, Central Michigan 69 Regional Championship | Monday Notre Dame (32-3) vs. Oregon (33-4), 8 p.m.
KANSAS CITY REGIONAL Reg. Semifinals | Friday | Kansas City, Mo. Mississippi State 71, N.C. State 57 UCLA 84, Texas 75 Regional Championship | Sunday Mississippi St. (35-1) vs. UCLA (27-7), 6:30 p.m.
LEXINGTON REGIONAL Reg. Semifinals | Friday | Lexington, Ky. Oregon State 72, Baylor 67 Louisville 86, Stanford 59 Regional Championship | Sunday Oregon St. (26-7) vs. Louisville (35-2), 11 a.m.
FINAL FOUR | At Columbus, Ohio National Semifinals, Friday, March 30 Albany champ. vs. Spokane champ., 7 or 8:30 p.m. KC champ. vs. Lexington champ., 7 or 8:30 p.m. National Championship | Sunday, April 1 Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.
Women’s NIT Third Round | Friday West Virginia 67, James Madison 55 UC Davis 71, Kansas State 69 Quarterfinals | Sunday UC Davis (28-6) at Indiana (20-14), 1 p.m. Alabama (20-13) at Va. Tech (21-13), 1 p.m. St. John’s (19-14) at W. Virginia (24-11), 3 p.m. TCU (22-12) at South Dakota (29-6), 6 p.m. Semifinals | March 28-29 | Champ. March 31
NCAA Women’s Div. II Championship | Friday Central Missouri 66, Ashland 52
Area colleges Baseball Mississippi State 3, Missouri 1 (15 inn.) Drury 18, UMSL 0 UMSL 7, Drury 4 St. Louis U. 7, St. Joseph’s 3 Softball Eastern Illinois 3, Belmont 2 Eastern Illinois 11, Belmont 8 Missouri 3, Arkansas 0 Men’s tennis Washington U. 6, Wabash 3