About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2020)
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com SPORTS 2B Wednesday, January 29, 2020 NBA Hawks fall to Raptors after slow start, 130-114 Associated Press Kyle Lowry had 12 points and 11 assists while becom ing Toronto’s career assist leader and the Raptors beat the Atlanta Hawks 130-114 Tuesday night for their sea- son-best eighth straight win. Serge Ibaka had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Pascal Siakam added 24 points and Fred VanVleet had 19 as the Raptors won their 10th in a row over Atlanta. Toronto never trailed and led by as many as 28. Toronto center Marc Gasol scored 10 points but was unable to return after leaving early in the third because of a sore left ham string. Gasol missed 12 games because of a strained left hamstring between Dec. 18 and Jan. 12. With his ninth assist, a long outlet pass to Terence Davis in the fourth, Lowry moved past Jose Calderon (3,770) on the team’s career list. Lowry and former Raptors star Vince Carter embraced near half court after the record was announced late in the game. Lowry finished with eight rebounds, narrowly missing his second triple-double of the season. John Collins had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Trae Young had 18 points and 13 assists for the Hawks. Cam Reddish also scored 18 points, De’Andre Hunter had 15 and Carter added 10 as Atlanta lost for the fourth time in six games. Young missed all three of his field goal attempts in the first quarter and didn’t score. Gasol scored all of his points in the opening quarter and Siakam added eight as the Raptors led 33-23 after one. After a fourth missed shot, Young connected from 3-point range with 7:27 left in the second, his first points of the game. Ibaka scored 12 points in the second and Davis had 11 for the Raptors, who led 68-56 at halftime. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Ga. Tech handles Morehouse, 82-54 James Banks III scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots in just 17 minutes of action to lead Georgia Tech to a 82-54 win over More house on a night when the Yellow Jackets were never threatened. Tech (10-11, 4-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) had no problems with the Division II program that is located less than two miles from McCamish Pavilion. The Jackets moved to 2-0 all-time against Morehouse, and head coach Josh Past- ner — who is notorious for deploying a short player rotation — used all 13 of his players as Tech won its second straight home game after losing five consecutive games in McCamish. Michael Olmert led More house (9-10, 6-5, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Con ference) with nine points while Malik Kennedy scored seven and Xavier Brewer pitched in three points and a team-high seven rebounds. Georgia Tech domi nated on the boards, pulling down 45 rebounds to 30 for Morehouse. The Jackets eased through the first half, taking a 44-22 lead by the break as Wright connected on 4 of 5 shots and Georgia Tech built a 23-12 rebounding advan tage. The Jackets blud geoned Morehouse in the paint, outscoring the Maroon Tigers 22-10 over the first 20 minutes. Olmert was the only More house player to make more than one shot in the first half. He hit 2 of 5 tries for a team that made 8 of 26. GEORGIA FALLS TO MISSOURI: Missouri over came a 20-point deficit in the second half to defeat Georgia 72-69 on Tuesday night in Columbia, ending a four-game losing streak. The Bulldogs (11-9, 1-6 Southeastern Conference) jumped to an early lead, largely in part to star fresh man Anthony Edwards (18 points per game), who scored 14 in the first half alone to put Georgia ahead 42-30 at halftime. Then, as Georgia’s offense lagged, Missouri (10-10, 2-5) woke up. Guard Xavier Pin son scored 16 points in the last 14 minutes of the game, almost single-handedly fueling a comeback. Mis souri forward Reed Nikko reached a career high with 13 points, 11 of which came in the second half. Leading by two with nine seconds left, Nikko blocked a potential game-tying jump shot from Edwards. Edwards played every minute of the game, finish ing with 23 points. Georgia’s Tyree Crump and Toumani Camara scored 13 and 12, respectively. Missouri ran into foul trouble early, finishing the first half with 12. Mitchell Smith and Nikko both fin ished the game with four. The Tigers held leading Georgia rebounder Ray- shaun Hammonds to one off the glass. Hammonds had averaged 8.1 rebounds per game prior to facing Missouri. After a sleepy start, the team’s late comeback proved enough to break the losing streak and avoid a second straight home loss. Nikko’s offensive produc tion was key, as the team has struggled offensively without forward Jeremiah Tilmon, who hasn’t played since Jan. 4 because of a foot injury. Georgia loses: Even with 23 points from Edwards, the Bulldogs’ offense went cold when the Tigers started their comeback. Georgia scored eight points in the last 12 minutes of the game. The Tigers will head to Columbia, South Carolina, to face the Gamecocks on Saturday. The Bulldogs will continue their SEC play against Texas A&M on Sat urday at home. Associated Press Transactions BASEBALL American League BOSTON RED SOX — Agreed to terms with 1B Mitch Moreland on a one-year contract. Designated RHP Denyi Reyes for assignment. HOUSTON ASTROS — Named Ryan Engels development coach of Round Rock (PCL); Gregorio Pettit manager, Jason Kanzler hit ting coach and Sean Connole mental skills and development coach of Corpus Christi (TL); Rafael Pena hitting coach of Fayetteville (Carolina); Sean Godfrey hitting coach of Quad Cities (MWL); Wladimir Sutil manager, Ernesto Irizarry hitting coach and Tanner Lubbach devel opment coach of Tri-City (NYP); Ricardo Rivera manager of the GCL Astros; Luis Reynoso hit ting coach of the DSL Astros; Jeff Lewis minor league rehab coordinator; and Terrence Kennell minor league strength and conditioning rehab coordinator. National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Designated 3B Pat Valaika for assignment. CHICAGO CUBS — Selected the contract of LHP Adam Choplick from Southern Maryland (Atlantic). CINCINNATI REDS — Designated OF Jose Siri for assignment. MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Signed RHP Shelby Miller to a minor league contract. NEW YORK METS — Signed RHPs Rob Whalen and Erasmo Ramirez and INF Eduardo Nunez to minor league contracts. WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Agreed to terms with 1B Ryan Zimmerman on a one-year con tract. FOOTBALL National Football League CLEVELAND BROWNS — Named Andrew Berry executive vice president of football opera tions and general manager. Signed FB Johnny Stanton to a reserve/future contract. DENVER BRONCOS — Named Mike Shula quarterbacks coach. HOUSTON TEXANS — Named Bill O’Brien general manager in addition to his duties as coach. Promoted executive vice president of team development Jack Easterby to executive vice president of football operation. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Announced the retirement of offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. SOCCER Major League Soccer MINNESOTA UNITED — Signed F Luis Amarilla on a 12-month loan from Velez Sarsfield (Primera Division-Argentina). NEW YORK CITY FC — Signed D Gudmundur Thorarinsson. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES — Acquired F Oswaldo Alanis on a one-year loan from Chivas de Guadalajara. COLLEGE ARMY — Named Sean Saturnio special teams coach. RUTGERS — Named Adam Scheier special teams coordinator. SAINT ANSELM — Named Shaun Bishop men’s golf coach. Golf/PGA Sunday’s scores s-Torrey Pines GC (South -Host Course); 7,765 yards; Par 72 n-Torrey Pines GC (North); 7,258 yards; Par 72 San Diego Purse: $7.5 million Final Marc Leishman (500), $1,350,000 68n-72s- 68s-65s—273 -15 Jon Rahm (300), $817,500 68n-71 s-65s- 70s—274 -14 Rory Mcllroy (163), $442,500 67n-73s-67s- 69s—276 -12 Brandt Snedeker (163), $442,500 69n-67s- 72s-68s—276 -12 Tom Hoge (110), $307,500 71s-71n-67s- 68s—277 -11 Tony Finau (92), $253,125 70s-70n-68s- 70s—278 -10 Patrick Reed (92), $253,125 69n-69s-70s- 70s—278 -10 Bubba Watson (92), $253,12567s-73n-69s- 69s—278 -10 Harry Higgs (68), $181,875 70n-68s-69s- 72s—279 -9 Charley Hoffman (68), $181,875 69n-74s- 71s-65s—279 -9 Max Homa (68), $181,875 73s-68n-71 s- 67s—279 -9 Beau Hossler (68), $181,875 72s-66n-73s- 68s—279 -9 Patrick Rodgers (68), $181,875 70s-69n- 72s-68s—279 -9 Tiger Woods (68), $181,875 69n-71s-69s- 70s—279 -9 Maverick McNealy (55), $136,875 71 s-71 n- 69S-69S—280 -8 Keegan Bradley (49), $114,375 66n-72s- 73s-70s—281 -7 Cameron Champ (49), $114,375 71n-68s- 68s-74s—281 -7 Jason Day (49), $114,375 73s-67n-72s- 69s—281 -7 J.B. Holmes (49), $114,375 68s-69n-71s- 73s—281 -7 Sung Kang (49), $114,375 69n-71s-67s- 74s—281 -7 Zac Blair (36), $69,042 72s-66n-72s- 72s—282 -6 Will Gordon, $69,042 75s-68n-69s- 70s—282 -6 Russell Knox (36), $69,042 69s-74n-69s- 70s—282 -6 Jason Kokrak (36), $69,042 69n-74s-69s- 70s—282 -6 Collin Morikawa (36), $69,042 70n-69s- 74s-69s—282 -6 Matthew Wolff (36), $69,042 76s-66n-71 s- 69s—282 -6 Sebastian Cappelen (36), $69,042 66s-71n- 71s-74s—282 -6 Tyler McCumber (36), $69,042 72n-68s- 68s-74s—282 -6 Ryan Palmer (36), $69,042 72s-62n-71 s- 77s—282 -6 Mark Anderson (24), $45,938 74s-66n-69s- 74s—283 -5 Matthew NeSmith (24), $45,938 67n-70s- 76S-70S—283 -5 J.J. Spaun (24), $45,938 73s-67n-74s- 69s—283 -5 Basketball/NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pet GB Toronto 33 14 .702 — Boston 31 15 .674 1 1 /2 Philadelphia 31 17 .646 2 1 /z Brooklyn 19 26 .422 13 New York 13 35 .271 20 1 /z Southeast Division W L Pet GB Miami 32 15 .681 — Orlando 21 27 .438 11 1 /2 Charlotte 16 31 .340 16 Washington 15 31 .326 16 1 /2 Atlanta 12 36 .250 20 1 / 2 Central Division W L Pet GB Milwaukee 41 6 .872 — Indiana 30 17 .638 11 Chicago 19 30 .388 23 Detroit 17 31 .354 24 1 / 2 Cleveland 13 35 .271 28 1 / 2 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pet GB Dallas 29 17 .630 — Houston 29 17 .630 — Memphis 23 24 .489 6 1 /2 San Antonio 20 26 .435 9 New Orleans 19 29 .396 11 Northwest Division W L Pet GB Utah 32 14 .696 — Denver 32 15 .681 1 /2 Oklahoma City 28 20 .583 5 Portland 20 27 .426 12 1 /2 Minnesota 15 32 .319 17 1 / 2 Pacific Division W L Pet GB L.A. Lakers 36 10 .783 — L.A. Clippers 33 14 .702 3 1 /2 Phoenix 19 27 .413 17 Sacramento 17 29 .370 19 Golden State 10 38 .208 27 Ihesday’s Games Philadelphia 115, Golden State 104 Charlotte 97, New York 92 Toronto 130, Atlanta 114 New Orleans 125, Cleveland 111 Boston 109, Miami 101 Memphis 104, Denver 96 Milwaukee 151, Washington 131 Phoenix at Dallas, late L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, ppd Today’s Games Chicago at Indiana, 7 p.m. Detroit at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Memphis at New York, 7:30 p.m. Utah at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. Houston at Portland, 10 p.m. Oklahoma City at Sacramento, 10 p.m. Thursday’s Games Charlotte at Washington, 7 p.m. Toronto at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. Golden State at Boston, 8 p.m. Sacramento at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. Utah at Denver, 10:30 p.m. Friday’s Games Toronto at Detroit, 7 p.m. Chicago at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. Dallas at Houston, 8 p.m. Memphis at New Orleans, 8 p.m. TODAY ON TV BASKETBALL HOCKEY ■ Women’s College Basketball: Richmond at Massachusetts, noon, NBCSN ■ DePaul at Seton Hall, 6:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1 ■ Alabama at LSU, 7 p.m., ESPN2 ■ Memphis at UCF, 7 p.m., ESPNU ■ Pistons at Nets, 7:30 p.m., ESPN ■ Memphis at UCF, 7 p.m., ESPNU ■ Marquette at Xavier, 8:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1 ■ Baylor at Iowa State, 9 p.m., ESPNU ■ Rockets at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m., ESPN ■ Arizona State at Washington State, 11 p.m., ESPNU ■ Predators at Capitals, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN ■ Lightning at Kings, 10 p.m., NBCSN TENNIS ■ Australian Open: Women’s Semifinals, 10 p.m., ESPN2 SUPER BOWL KC enters Miami loose DAVID J. PHILLIP I The Associated Press Kansas City Chiefs’ Derrick Nnadi poses with fans during Opening Night for the NFL Super Bowl 54 on Monday at Marlins Park in Miami. Chiefs keep the spirit high in locker room Associated Press If you’re planning to walk through the middle of the Kansas City Chiefs locker room between lunch and their usual afternoon prac tice, you might want to grab someone’s shoulder pads and helmet and brace for impact. There’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in the middle of a pickup basket ball game involving 300- pound linemen. It’s a scene that plays out daily during the regular season, big bodies banging into each other as defensive tackles Chris Jones and Kha- len Saunders try to post up under the hoop — hung just over the doorway leading into the showers. Usually, teammates will gather around them, play ing the dual role of vocal fans and even more vocal referees. “When you check in, it’s nonstop competition,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce explained this week. “Guys are always trying to play some type of game or compete in some type of way to get the upper hand on somebody else.” The pickup games illus trate a few points about the Chiefs team preparing to play in its first Super Bowl in 50 years: They have a fierce competitive streak that permeates the entire roster, whether it’s on the field or off; they genuinely like being around each other, even when they could leave during the lunch hour; and perhaps most of all, they have a loosey-goosey nature despite the pressure- cooker business and high- stakes nature of professional football. That last point could serve them well as they deal with a week of media engage ments, countless parties and distractions, and ultimately the strain that comes with prepping for their big game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. “The unique thing about this group is that they don’t complain about anything,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “When they need to cut it loose and have fun, they cut it loose. But when they’re at practice, they’re all business.” It wasn’t always that way. Less than a decade ago, Sunday’s game When: 6:30 p.m. TV: Fox under the failed tenures of general manager Scott Pioli and coach Todd Haley, the feeling in the locker room on a random Wednesday during the season was down right oppressive. Smiles were few, laugh ter even more rare, and the stress and tension that the Chiefs seemed to carry with them was almost palpable. Romeo Crennel tried to lighten the mood a bit during his only season in charge, but it’s hard to be lighthearted in the midst of a 2-14 season marked by as much off-the-field turmoil as there were issues between the lines. It wasn’t until Reid showed up from Philadel phia that things changed. He gave his players broad free dom to express themselves, whether that meant the way they dressed or how they acted or even where they spent their free time. All Reid asked was that they stay out of trouble, set a good example and take care of business when it was time to get serious. SUNDAY’S GOLF Leishman knocks in late birdie for Torrey Pines win Marc Leishman realized he had at two-shot lead as he stood over a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole at Tor rey Pines. He also knew Jon Rahm was the only one who could catch him. That made his final birdie all the more important. It turned out to be the win ner Sunday in the Farmers Insurance Open, much to Rahm’s surprise. Leishman shot 31 on the front nine to seize control, came up with three big par saves on the back nine and closed with a birdie for a 7-under 65 and a one-shot victory. “If I wasn’t to win, I didn’t want it to be because of me,” Leishman said. “I wanted it to be because someone made a run, which Jon did. I’m just lucky that he didn’t do it a hole earlier.” Rahm played so badly at the start — two bogeys and a double bogey through five holes — that he started fir ing away, and few players are more dangerous. He made an eagle and three birdies over a five- hole stretch to at least have a chance. His one mistake, aside from a bogey on the 15th hole, was not knowing the score. “He stuffed his tee shot on the 16th to 8 feet, and he went after the pin on the 17th to 5 feet for birdie, drawing him to within two shots. Leishman had fin ished by then at 15-under 273. “After I made that putt on 17,1 never looked at the scoreboard,” Rahm said. “So as far as I was con cerned, I was one back. With a birdie, I was going to be in a playoff.” It might not have changed anything. Rahm hit the green on the par-5 18th, and it went to the top ridge — the pin was on the lower level in a bowl. He was in the same spot from where he made eagle in 2017 that secured his first PGA Tour title. His putt died to the left and short. His caddie told him, “Good try.” “I’m like, ‘What do you mean? We’re in a playoff.’ He’s like, ‘Nope, he birdied 18.’ And I didn’t hear any roars or anything, so I just assumed he parred,” Rahm said. “Again, even if I hit the right speed, that putt doesn’t go in. It was left of the hole, so it doesn’t matter. But still, it’s just a sour feeling.” Rahm shot 70. When he won at Torrey Pines in 2017, he rallied with a 65 to win. This time, it was Leish- man’s turn. Leishman and Rahm are the only players to win with a 65 in the final round since the South Course was revamped and lengthened ahead of the 2008 U.S. Open. Associated Press BEARS ■ Continued from 1B find their footing on either side of the court. A pair of 3-pointers from Finley Millwood and Tay lor Click were all that kept Cherokee Bluff close eight minutes into the game. But the home team flipped a switch in the sec ond frame, exploding at the midpoint of the period with a 10-0 run that gave the Lady Bears their first lead of the night. Defensively, Chero kee Bluff was even better, holding Dawson County to just 4 points in the quarter and allowing only one made basket over the entire eight- minute span. A 3-point play from Phil lips with just 12 seconds remaining until halftime put the Lady Bears on top by 4 going into the break. The teams played rela tively even basketball throughout the third quar ter — with Cherokee Bluff doing most of its damage at the free throw line and Daw son County benefiting from a trio of Madison Anglin 3s. The Lady Tigers carried an improved offensive effort into the start of the fourth quarter, starting the frame off with a 10-4 run that put them back in front briefly, but the Lady Bears played their best with their backs against the wall. From the four-minute mark until less than a 60 sec onds remaining, Cherokee Bluff kept Dawson County off the scoreboard entirely, and went 3-of-5 at the free throw line as part of a 9-0 spurt to go on top by multiple possessions late. “Our youth has shown a little bit in close games when we didn’t know how to finish,” Justice said. “We didn’t understand time and score and things like that. I’m really proud of them for finishing.” Two free throws and another Anglin 3 briefly cut the Lady Bear lead to just a point, but a clutch, 2-for-2 trip to the charity stripe from Alexis Mize put Chero kee Bluff back on top by 3, and Anglin’s final attempt before the buzzer missed its mark. Following the win, Chero kee Bluff will turn its atten tion to the regular season finale Friday night against region rival North Hall ahead of next week’s Region 7-3A tournament. DAWSON COUNTY BOYS 67, CHEROKEE BLUFF 55: Seniors Griffin Neville and Jason Evrett scored 15 and 13 points, respectively, to lead the Bears on senior night, but the home team could not overcome a slow start in Fri day’s loss to the Tigers. Dawson County scored the first 7 points and the last 7 points of the opening quar ter en route to taking a 21-13 lead eight minutes in. The Tigers could not extend the advantage much throughout the game, but neither could Cherokee Bluff (15-9, 7-4) close the gap. Trailing by 13 early in the fourth frame, the Bears rode the momentum of a tough 3-point play from Jacob Carlson to score 6 straight and get to within two posses sions of the lead. But Dawson County scored the next 7 points to bury the comeback attempt and finish off the season sweep of Cherokee Bluff. The defeat snaps what had been a five-game win streak for the Bears.
