KFDM COOP

Game 3 Friday Night.

Camby wins NBA Defensive Player award Nugets center averaged 11.7 rebounds, led league in blocked shots NEW YORK — Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby was voted the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year on Friday after leading the league in blocked shots for the third time. Camby averaged 3.3 blocks to go with 11.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. He also averaged 1.24 steals, tops among centers. He received 70 first-place votes and 431 points from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Camby also led the league in blocks last season and in 1997-98. He is one behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mark Eaton for the most blocked shot titles. Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Theo Ratliff and George Johnson also led the league in blocks three times. San Antonio forward Bruce Bowen was second with 206 points, while teammate Tim Duncan had 158 points and finished third. The Nuggets and Spurs are tied at a game apiece in their Western Conference first-round series.

2-0 Liberty in the 3rd.

2-0 Liberty in the first.

Easy fellows!

LOL i don't want the board to blow up.

Also if Vidor wins and Dayton wins Vidor will play PN-G Saturday to determine 2nd and 3rd.

Good point. We'll know after the games are over tonight on everything.

Yes. Not 100% it would be there but possible.

IF Vidor and Nederland have to play Saturday to see who goes to the playoffs it is possible it would be at Lamar.

It will get better!!

[Hidden Content]

REGIONAL TRACK QUALIFIERS By Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News Here is a master list of area high school athletes who qualified for this weekend's UIL regional track and field championships. The athletes are listed with their school and the regional qualifying time or distance in their event. Unlike in recent years, no changes have been added to this list due to academic ineligibility. Discus -- 4A Girls: Kumyae Renfro, Ozen, 104-8; Alicia Thevis, Nederland, 101-7; 3A Girls: Jalisa Harry, H-F, 96-0; Yvonne Vega, H-F, 89-5; 2A Girls: Mary White, East Chambers, 88-6; 4A Boys: Jarrade Lee, Ozen, 160-11; Cody Evans, Lumberton, 143-0; Darren Wilkerson, Ozen, 139-6; 3A Boys: Justin Granger, Orangefield, 126-8; Jay Mullens, Silsbee, 121-3; Patrick Carlton, Bridge City, 120-6. Shot put -- 5A Girls: Whitney Williams, West Brook, 38-8; Danielle Smith, PA Memorial, 37-6; 4A Girls: Kumyae Renfro, Ozen, 35-3.5; Alicia Thevis, Nederland, 32-6.5; 4A Boys: Darren Wilkerson, Ozen, 48-9.5; Brian Davis, Central, 43-7.75; David Sicktich, LC-M, 43-2.5; 3A Boys: Ahmad Jones, Silsbee, 51-7.25; Adrian Mims, WO-S, 51-6; Daniel Paulus, Silsbee, 46-8.5; 2A Boys: Blake Peveto, Deweyville, 43-4. High jump -- 4A Girls: Tiara Robinson, Ozen, 5-2; Daphne Tolbert, Bmt Central, 5-0; 3A Girls: Christina Jaques, Bridge City, 5-0; Samieka Buckley, Silsbee, 5-0; Julie Harrington, H-F, 5-0; 2A Girls: Tiffany Tezeno, EC, 4-8; Taylor Kurek, EC, 4-8; 1A Girls: Tabitha McCray, Sabine Pass, 4-10; 5A Boys: Sam Bordelon, PA Memorial, 6-2; 4A Boys: Phillip Richard, LC-M, 6-4; Jason Williamson, Vidor, 6-2; 3A Boys: Justin Anderson, H-J, 6-2; Chase Leger, Bridge City, 6-0; Derek Evans, Orangefield, 5-10. Long jump -- 5A Girls: Terrell Robertson, PA Memorial, 18-6; 4A Girls: A'Lexus Brannon, Ozen, 18-2; Tiara Robinson, Bmt Ozen, 16-8.5; Jamie Narcisse, Central, 16-8; 3A Girls: Christina Jaques, Bridge City, 17-4.75; Vanquanisha Jordan, WO-S, 17-0.37; 5A Boys: Jeremy Blueitt, West Brook, 22-8; 4A Boys: Dallas Booker, Ozen, 21-3.5; 3A Boys: Jacoby Franks, WO-S, 22-8; Terrance McCarter, Silsbee, 22-4.75; Earl Thomas, WO-S, 21-5.75; 2A Boys: Kyle Swinney, Deweyville, 19-3.5; Eugene Leday, EC, 19-1. Triple jump -- 4A Girls: A'Lexus Brannon, Bmt Ozen, 38-3.25; Jamie Narcisse, Bmt Central, 34.7.5; Savannah Desmarais, Nederland, 33.5; 3A Girls: Christina Jaques, Bridge City, 35-8.25; Brittany Cooper, H-F, 34-9; Brittany Henry, Silsbee, 34-5; 2A Girls: Taylor Kurek, EC, 31-2; 5A Boys: Craig Bailey, PA Memorial, 44-1.5; Freddie King, PA Memorial, 44-0.75; 4A Boys: Thomas Campbell, Cent, 43-10.25; Phillip Jefferson, Cent, 42-0; Dallas Booker, Ozen, 41-3; 3A Boys: Jacoby Franks, WO-S, 43-8.75; Justin Anderson, H-J, 43-7; Jardell Elam, Silsbee, 43-1.75; 2A Boys: Donte Raymond, EC, 40-0.5; Preston Guillory, EC, 39-1; 1A Boys: Aaron Clark, Sabine Pass, 19-4.5. Pole vault -- 4A Girls: Jared Parker, Vidor, 14-6; Jordan Begnaud, PN-G, 11-6; 3A Girls: Sherry Wineland, Silsbee, 9-6; Megan McElhany, H-F, 8-6; 4A Boys: Jared Parker, Vidor, 14-6; Jordan Begnaud, PN-G, 11-6; 3A Boys: William Harper, Silsbee, 11-6; Shea Mayo, Orangefield, 11-6; Curtis Gaspard, H-F, 11-0. 3,200-meter run -- 4A Girls: Chelsea Yaws, Nederland, 12:13.29; Kassie Laughlin, PN-G, 12:28.59; 3A Girls: Erica Garza, Bridge City, 12:53.28; Paige Sermons, H-J, 13:11.84; Melissa Pittman, Bridge City, 13:58.98; 4A Boys: Drew Bean, LC-M, 9:50.11; Romar Bradley, Bmt Ozen, 10:30.10; 3. Clifton Cherry, Nederland, 10:41.46; 3A Boys: Ryan Kelly, Bridge City, 10:58.85; Tim Cude, Bridge City, 11:11.92; 2A Boys: Terry Knight, Deweyville, 11:39.69. 400-meter relay -- 4A Girls: Beaumont Ozen (Raynella Gage, Yoshana McEachin, Kierra Williams, Ebony Lewis) 50.15; Bmt Central 50.35; 3A Girls: Silsbee, 50.30; WO-S, 50.90; H-F, 51.20; 2A Girls: East Chambers 52.12; 5A Boys: PA Memorial (Jordan Charles, Patterson Clay, Decovan Gorrer, Brandon Harrison) 42.89; 4A Boys: Beaumont Central (Morris Thomas, Charles Thomas, Marvin Payne, Derrick Hall) 41.40; Bmt Ozen 41.56; 3A Boys: WO-S (Dominique Rhodes, Jacoby Franks, Josh Gloston, Earl Thomas), 41.99; Silsbee, 43.40; 2A Boys: East Chambers 45.48. 800-meter run -- 4A Girls: Sojourner Brown, Ozen, 2:25.58; Crystal Brindle, Lum, 2:28.69; Ashley Washburn, Ned, 2:29.49; 3A Girls: Morgan Broussard, Bridge City, 2:29.57; Macy Howerton, H-F, 2:34.24; 1A Girls: Andrea Rodriguez, Sabine Pass, 2:44.17; 4A Boys: Jeremy Hawkins, Central, 1:59.79; Philip Rogers, Ned, 1:59.81; Fredrick Granger, Ozen, 2:01.94; 3A Boys: Logan Stewart, Bridge City, 2:05.56; Jerald Gloston, WO-S, 2:07.20; Anthony Bolton, Silsbee, 2:09.80; 2A Boys: Joe Dooley, Deweyville, 2:07.59; Kevin Nowicki, EC, 2:08.97. 100-/ 110-meter hurdles -- 4A Girls: A'Lexus Brannon, Ozen, 14.27; Tiara Robinson, Ozen, 16.62; Whitney Poe, Lum, 16.88; 3A Girls: Laura Riddick, Orangefield, 16.33; Demitresis Rhone, Silsbee, 17.26; Nikita Huddleston, Silsbee, 17.48; 4A Boys: Brock Walker, Nederland, 14.83; Matt Johnson, PN-G, 15.17; Jamar Gulley, Central, 15.28; 3A Boys: Donovan Harris, Silsbee, 14.93; Xavier Thomas, Silsbee, 15.55; Troy Bolton, Bridge City, 16.05; 2A Boys: Kendal Barrow, EC, 17.14. 100-meter dash -- 4A Girls: Jordan Perry, Central, 13.07; Sabrina May, Ozen, 13.14; Kemiya Leaven, Central, 13.22; 3A Girls: Patricia Johnson, Silsbee, 12.98; Allie Kocot, H-F, 13.64; 4A Boys: Marvin Payne, Cent, 10.97; Victor Spikes, Central, 11.17; Javin Dartez, Ozen, 11.28; Chris Coleman, West Brook, 11.03; 3A Boys: Cody Mills, Bridge City, 11.46; Johnny Dishon, Bridge City, 11.47; Justin Anderson, H-J, 11.49; 1A Boys: Aaron Clark, Sabine Pass, 11.00. 800-meter relay -- 4A Girls: Ozen (Yoshana McEachin, Jawanna Lamb, Ebony Lewis, A'Lexus Brannon) 1:44.08; Central 1:46.82; Nederland 1:49.56; 3A Girls: Silsbee (Caroline Smith, Brittany Henry, Chasity Gilder, Patricia Johnson), 1:47.69; WO-S, 1:47.72; H-F, 1:49.33; 5A Boys: West Brook 1:30.03; PA Memorial 1:31.81; 4A Boys: Ozen (Javin Dartez, Rashard Johnson, Sean Liedy, Dallas Booker) 1:31.73; Nederland 1:31.93; 3A Boys: WO-S (Dominique Rhodes, Josh Gloston, Jacoby Franks, Earl Thomas), 1:29.05; Bridge City, 1:32.29; H-F, 1:32.72; 2A Boys: East Chambers 1:34.27; Deweyville 1:37.12. 400-meter dash -- 4A Girls: Sojourner Brown, Ozen, 59.75; Alexis Vaults, Ozen, 61.52; Mailaika Tezeno, PN-G, 63.07; 3A Girls: Macy Howerton, H-F, 1:04.94; 2A Girls: Charla Thomas, EC, 62.28; Christina Caswell, Deweyville, 67.97; 5A Boys: Rashaud Brown, PAM, 49.71; Shane McCardell, West Brook, 50.18; 4A Boys: Herbert LaBove, Ozen, 49.19; Justin Krautz, Nederland, 49.84; 3A Boys: Kevin Young, Bridge City, 51.11; Caleb Worthy, Orangefield, 51.35; Nick Reed, WO-S, 51.45. 300-meter hurdles -- 4A Girls: Tiara Robinson, Ozen, 47.73; Destyni Jubert, Central, 50.66; 3A Girls: Ariel Stevenson, H-F, 47.60; Nikita Huddleston, Silsbee, 49.77; Caroline Smith, Silsbee, 50.36; 2A Girls: Shaena Oldham, EC, 52.25; 4A Boys: Brock Walker, Nederland, 39.52; Devon Brack, Nederland, 42.15; Ryan Clark, Ozen, 43.53; 3A Boys: Donovan Harris, Silsbee, 40.57; Brian Box, H-J, 41.00; Xavier Thomas, Silsbee, 42.04; 2A Boys: Shean Brinson, Deweyville, 42.59; Kendall Barrow, EC, 44.24.

REGIONAL TRACK SCHEDULES CLASS 5A REGIONALS AT HUMBLE Friday at Turner Stadium 8:30 a.m.: Boys shot put 11:30 a.m.: Boys high jump; Girls discus, pole vault 2:30 p.m.: Girls shot put, high jump, and triple jump; Boys pole vault and triple jump. 6 p.m.: Girls and boys running prelims and 3,200-meter finals. Saturday 9 a.m.: Girls long jump; Boys discus and long jump. 2:05 p.m.: Girls and boys running finals. 6:20 p.m.: Approximate start of last event. CLASS 4A REGIONALS AT HUNTSVILLE Friday at Bowers Stadium 11 a.m.: Girls discus and pole vault; Boys shot put and high jump. 2 p.m.: Girls shot put, high jump and triple jump; Boys triple jump and pole vault. 4 p.m.: Girls and boys running prelims and 3,200-meter finals.

Bean heads area tracksters REGIONAL TRACK WEEKEND By Tom Halliburton The Port Arthur News Drew Bean should have his own separate category as "better than a best bet" at regionals. The Little Cypress-Mauriceville senior is far above the rest of the best in the Golden Triangle when it comes to being an odds-on favorite to win a gold medal and qualify for the 96th annual University Interscholastic League track and field championships. Most every casual area track observer realized that about Bean before the 2007 outdoor season started.... and unfortunately for our neighborhoods, nothing has unexpectedly improved in that regard. Translation: there may be very few Golden Triangle state qualifiers by Saturday evening. If the form charts prove accurate, this will be the least represented Golden Triangle contingent ever at the state meet. In recent years, Port Arthur and Beaumont always have produced one or two shining stars to excel and "save the day" for the rest of our region. This year, there's Drew Bean and a whole bunch of "maybes." Texastrack.com's long-trusted publisher and state expert Phil Murray truly delivered convincing evidence of that reality early this week. Armed with complete results from virtually district meets in all five classes as well as regional qualifier performances, Murray displayed numbers that looked a bit embarrassing for Golden Triangle schools. Murray showed his updated 2007 High School Performance List on his outstanding website. It listed the Top 10 best numbers in all 17 boys and 17 girls events. That opened the door for Golden Triangle athletes to be eligible for a spot in any of 340 places. The Golden Triangle contingent in the state's Top 10 contained Bean with the third- and sixth-fastest times in the boys 3,200-meter run. It included Ozen freshman A'Lexus Brannon with the state's seventh-fastest time in the girls 100-meter hurdles. Last, but not least, the Beaumont Central boys sprint relay team ranked 10th.... and that's all, folks. Nobody from any other Golden Triangle-area outposts. Unlike mid-April's district meets -- where all three medalists advance to regional -- only the top two move on to state, May 11-12, at Austin. So even in the case of the boys sprint relay, Central's best time of 41.4 could be a serious longshot compared to other regional times such as Angleton's 41.25, Texas City's 41.37, and Dayton's 41.39. In other words, don't bet the ranch on Central, but don't count out the Jaguars, either. The group of Morris Thomas, Charles Thomas, Marvin Payne and Derrick Hall have proven that they can go when they're clicking. Bean, though, is in his own league. He made a 9:50.11 look easy two weeks ago during the boys 3,200-meter run at the 22-4A meet in Bulldog Stadium. "I definitely have more in the tank," Bean said. "I'm hoping to get to 9:10 or so by regionals. The state record is 9:08... I'm feeling good now. I'm feeling strong." While Port Arthur Memorial and Beaumont West Brook sprinkled in a few encouraging signs, each area school is faced with overcoming Greater Houston's best of the best this weekend at Humble's 5A regional. That should position jumpers such as Memorial's Sam Bordelon and West Brook's Jeremy Blueitt in positions of underdogs to advance.

Cardinal Track Has Solid Showing at 46th Ty Terrell Relays Lamar posts several season best performances Drew Lacy-Lamar University Assistant SID Cardinal Track Has Solid Showing at 46th Ty Terrell Relays Lamar posts several season best performances BEAUMONT – In their last action before the Southland Conference championships next week, the Lamar University track and field teams ran at the 46th Annual Ty Terrell Relays at the Ty Terrell Track. Clerc Koenck ran a personal-best and the third-best time in school history in the women’s 800 meter run, posting a time of 2:12.23, while Amanda King ran the fifth-fastest time in the 800 with a personal-best time of 2:13.60. The times posted by Koenck and King rank second and fourth in the Southland Conference this season. In route to winning the men’s 100-meter dash, Michael Gauthier ran a season-best time of 10.64. The 10.64 is the eighth fastest time turned in by a Southland Conference performer this season. Stephen Boone also posted a season-best time in the 400 meter hurdles, winning the race in a time of 54.74. Francis Kasagule won the men’s 800 meter run in a time of 1:52.23, the third fastest time in the SLC this season. Danny Shaw finished second with a 1:54.00 performance, the seventh fastest time in conference this season. Stacey Monteau ran away from the field in the women’s 3,000 meter run, posting a time of 10:15.00. She finished 40 seconds ahead of her closest competitor. The women’s 4x100 meter relay team registered a second place finish with a season-best time of 47.14. The men’s 4x100 relay team also turned in a season-best performance with a 41.75 performance, which put them in third place. The Cardinals will be in action again nest weekend, when they head to Nacogdoches for the Southland Conference championships hosted by Stephen F. Austin on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

MEN’S GOLF: Dawie Van Der Walt named SLC player of the year; Lamar places Daucy Crizer-Lamar University SID FRISCO – After helping Lamar University win its second straight Southland Conference Championship last week, junior Dawie Van Der Walt was unanimously named Southland Conference Player of the Year and all five Cardinal golfers were named to All-SLC teams Thursday, as voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Van Der Walt, who became the 16th Lamar golfer to win medalist honors at the SLC Championship, becomes the second straight and sixth all-time Lamar golfer to earn SLC player of the year honors. Teammate Casey Clendenon earned the honor last season and PGA Tour member Chris Stroud is the only four-time player of the year recipient (2001-04) in conference history. A native of Cape Town, South Africa, Van Der Walt posted top 10 finishes in all seven tournaments this spring and led the SLC with 10 for the season. His 54-hole score of 13-under 203 at the SLC championship was the second-best round since the tournament’s inception in 1964, falling one stroke short of former Lamar golfer John Reigger, who posted a 202 in 1985. Van Der Walt leads the SLC with a 70.44 season scoring average over 34 rounds, including a sparkling 69.68 scoring average over 22 rounds this spring. He has shot par or better in 25 of 34 rounds, including 15 rounds in the 60s. Joining Van Der Walt on the first-team were teammates Clendenon, Oliver Bekker and Justin Harding, and Aaron O’Callaghan of Southeastern Louisiana. Clendenon, a junior from Katy, posted five top 10 finishes this season and has the team’s third best scoring average at 72.22 over 37 rounds. He finished third at the SLC championship at 7-under 209. He also earned first-team honors last season. Bekker, a sophomore from Stellenbosch, South Africa, placed second at the SLC championship with a 10-under 206. He has six top 10 finishes this season and his 72.16 season scoring average over 37 rounds is second on the team. He was named first-team All-SLC and SLC freshman of the year last season. Harding, a sophomore from Cape Town, South Africa, won a league-best three tournament titles this season – Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic, Border Olympics and UALR/First Tee Collegiate Classic. He has a 72.54 season scoring average over 37 rounds. He was a third-team All-SLC selection last year. Dusty Smith, a senior from The Woodlands, was an All-SLC second team selection. It marks the third straight year that Smith has earned All-SLC accolades. Smith, who tied for fourth at the SLC championship, has a 73.62 season scoring average over 37 rounds. Joining Smith on the second team is Matthew Carvell, Hugo Leon and Peter O’Keefe of SE Louisiana, and Robert Gwin of Sam Houston State. The All-SLC third team was comprised of Thomas Kearney and Kyle Collins of Texas-San Antonio, Sigmundur Masson of McNeese State, James Taverner (SLU), and Zach Reeves of Texas-Arlington. Beau Willis of Sam Houston State was named SLC freshman of the year and Lamar’s Brian White earned SLC coach of the year honors after guiding the Cardinals to their all-time best 21st SLC title. Lamar will likely play at the NCAA Central Regional May 17-19 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. The 27-team fields for each of the three NCAA Regional sites will be announced on Monday, May 7. The Cardinals placed fifth at last year’s NCAA Central Regional and tied for ninth place at the NCAA Championship. 2007 All-Southland Conference Men’s Golf Teams First Team Dawie Van Der Walt, So., Lamar University Casey Clendenon, Jr., Lamar University Oliver Bekker, So., Lamar University Aaron O’Callaghan, So., Southeastern Louisiana Justin Harding, So., Lamar University Second Team Matthew Carvell, So., Southeastern Louisiana Robert Gwin, Sr., Sam Houston State Hugo Leon, Sr., Southeastern Louisiana Peter O’Keefe, Jr., Southeastern Louisiana Dusty Smith, Sr., Lamar University Third Team Thomas Kearney, Jr., Texas-San Antonio Sigmundur Masson, Jr., McNeese State James Taverner, So., Southeastern Louisiana Zack Reeves, Jr., Texas-Arlington Kyle Collins, So., Texas-San Antonio Player of the Year: Dawie Van Der Walt, Lamar University Freshman of the Year: Beau Willis, Sam Houston State Coach of the Year: Brian White, Lamar University

Lamar State softball team signs Houston pitcher/infielder Port Arthur: Just two days after the 2007 season ended, Lamar State College-Port Arthur head softball coach Vance Edwards started the preparations for the 2007-08 year by signing his first recruit, Alison Heidbreder, a 4A pitcher/infielder with a 1.93 earned run average and a .414 batting average. “We’re excited to have Alison become a Lamar State Seahawk,†Edwards said. “She not only is an outstanding pitcher, she also will bring substantial offensive power to our line-up.†Heidbreder earned All-District 24-4A honors at Waltrip High School in Houston in her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She was the district’s co-MVP as a sophomore. Heidbreder’s statistics this season most likely will bring her a fourth all-district selection. She currently has a 2.67 earned run average over 21 games and leads her team in batting average and extra base hits. The Houston Chronicle lists her among the area’s 4A leaders in extra base hits and runs scored. The 2007 season isn’t the first time Heidbreder put up big numbers. As a freshman, she hit .545, followed by .594 as a sophomore and .423 as a junior. Heidbreder has similar statistics as a pitcher. As a freshman she recorded a 2.03 ERA. The next year she had a 2.95 with five no-hitters and three perfect games. As a junior, Heidbreder recorded a 2.18 ERA, three no-hitters and a perfect game. This year, Heidbreder is 4-3 with a 1.93 ERA and two no-hitters.

Nelson fines Davis, Jackson as Warriors work on keeping cool By GREG BEACHAM Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. — Though the Bay Area is abuzz with excitement for the Golden State Warriors' first home playoff game in 13 years, the Warriors are getting a few remedial lessons in keeping their cool. Warriors coach Don Nelson said Thursday he will fine Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson for being ejected from Golden State's 112-99 loss in Game 2 of the club's first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. Davis and Jackson put on a taunting, preening display that dampened an otherwise successful trip for the eighth-seeded Warriors, who stole Game 1 from the heavily favored Mavs and headed back to the West Coast with homecourt advantage in the series, starting with Game 3 on Friday night. "It doesn't make any sense to me, as hard as we worked to get to the playoffs, to all of a sudden get there and not be able to play because of ejections and not controlling our emotions," Nelson said before a brief workout at the Warriors' downtown training complex. "I want to play with passion. I want to play with emotions, (but) have respect for authority out there. The referees are the authority, and just like when I make a decision, I expect the respect to be there for me. ... Things don't always go your way, and you've got to control your emotions." The NBA hasn't announced any potential discipline against Davis, who apparently was thrown out for sarcastically applauding the officials late in the third quarter, or Jackson, who left the court in a contentious, roundabout manner after getting his second technical foul in the final minutes. But on what should have been a celebratory day before hoops-crazy Oakland's first taste of the postseason since 1994, Davis and Jackson spent the day avoiding direct comment on a dressing-down from their veteran coach. Nelson didn't announce the amount of his fines, only saying, "it will be substantial." Neither player betrayed any particular anger about the fines — perhaps a testament to Nelson's control of the club in his first season back in town. The Warriors spoke mostly about improving their defense and harnessing the energy of their sellout crowd Friday night after splitting the first two games. "That's in the past," said Davis, who had just 13 points Wednesday night after scoring 33 in the series opener. "I'm not even going to talk about that, not even a little bit. It doesn't have even a little relevance." Davis kept clapping for the officials while standing at the bench, even when Nelson asked him to stop. Davis defended his clapping a bit, saying, "I was stopping." Jackson still could face a suspension for the very definition of failing to leave the court in a timely manner. He took time to shout at officials and spar with fans on the long walk back to the locker room, but the swingman was cool again Thursday. "I love basketball," Jackson said. "I'm going to continue to play with a lot of emotion. Obviously, I've got to police myself. It's obvious, and I will continue to do that, but my passion for the game will never change." The Mavericks already learned last year about remaining calm in the playoff cauldron. Their path to the NBA finals was littered with misbehavior — Jason Terry's one-game suspension for punching San Antonio's Michael Finley below the belt; D.J. Mbenga's five-game suspension for going into the stands; Jerry Stackhouse's one-game ban in the NBA finals for a hard foul on Shaquille O'Neal. "Guys can get suspended, so we kept our cool (in Game 2)," Dallas forward Josh Howard said. "That's something that comes with experience." But that cool didn't slow down a series that's become more competitive and exciting than most 1-8 matchups in an average year. Dallas' win in Game 2 snapped Golden State's six-game winning streak against the NBA's best regular-season team — and it might have awakened the Mavs' competitive spirit as well after they were outfoxed by Nelson and Davis in the opener. "Those guys have got pride, a lot of pride," said Al Harrington, who hasn't made much of an impact for the Warriors. "They didn't have the best record for nothing. It was getting a little heated (in Game 2). Guys were talking trash, which they didn't in the first game." Coach Avery Johnson missed the Mavericks' workout in Dallas while tending to a family emergency in Houston, but was expected to join the game for the flight to California. Johnson was the starting point guard for the Warriors' last playoff team under Nelson in 1994. "You have to realize once things don't go in your favor, you have to let it go and focus on the next play, the next assignment, the next task," said Devean George, who has three championships rings from his days with the Lakers. "You can't get caught up into what didn't go in your favor before. I think experienced players allow things to just happen and then move on."

I agree! Rockets were bound to have one bad sloppy game but they'll be back Saturday.

> > Utah Wins game 3. [Hidden Content]

Good point Ruck!

kogt Cardinals Score For Cardinals Three former Bridge City athletes scored points for Lamar in the Ty Terrell Relays held Thursday. Michael Gauthier (left) won the 100m dash with a time of 10.5 while Rory Scales was third in the high jump. Aaron Brannen was sixth in the 800m with a time of 1:54. Gauthier also ran on the sprint and mile relay and Brannen also ran a leg on the mile relay team.

Hearn makes smooth move from PN-G to LC-M Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader LITTLE CYPRESS — Growing up in the Port Neches-Groves area students are drilled from Day 1 about the importance of high school sports and the beloved Indian teams. By the time a student’s junior year comes around, they are taught their blood is now purple. Kris Hearn defied that logic this year in his senior year and has made the jump from PN-G to Little Cypress-Mauriceville and Bear baseball fans could not be any happier. Hearn’s transition from one District 22-4A power to another has helped put the Bears in the position they find themselves in today. At 7 p.m. tonight at Vidor Field, the Bears will face the Vidor Pirates and with a win LC-M will clinch the district championship. A LC-M victory will also spoil Vidor’s chances of clinching a playoff spot. A Bears’ win coupled with a Nederland Bulldogs’ win over Lumberton would force a tie between the Bulldogs and Pirates for the last remaining playoff spot. For Hearn, he has just been excited to play at shortstop for the Bears and coaches Steve Griffith and Wayne Stephenson. He has also enjoyed proving a lot of people wrong. “It feels great to be in this position,†Hearn said. “This team has worked really hard for it and it feels good to be counted out before the season even started and now we are 11-2 in district and with a win at Vidor we are district champions.†Hearn played his former team twice this season splitting the games with the visitors winning on the other’s home field. PN-G first went to Don Gibbens Field and the Indians walked away with a 4-2 victory in Hearn’s first match-up against his former teammates. “The first game was pretty weird for me looking over and seeing those guys,†Hearn admitted. “I think I put too much pressure on myself that game and it showed. The second game I was more relaxed and it felt great to go out and get a win against my old team. “ Hearn was 0-for-5 the first time he faced the Indians but the Bears came back and defeated PN-G 5-4 at the Reservation in the second half of District 22-4A play. Hearn, who is receiving attention from several junior colleges, has not only just played for Griffith this season, he has played well. He is the team’s leadoff batter and is batting .364 on the year with nine doubles, three home runs, 39 runs and a .509 on base percentage. He has scored 19 times in district play and is batting .333 in the district contests. “There have been numerous games where he led the game off with a good hard shot and that gets our kids in the right state of mind,†Griffith said. “He continues to do that time and time again. Many times in these past games we have scored in the first inning and the statistics show the team that scores first wins the ball games. It gives your team and a spark and he has certainly contributed to that.†When Hearn moved from PN-G to the LC-M school district he was given a chance to play baseball just like every other student at the school. “He was certainly good enough to make our team,†Griffith said. “Both academics and athletics have gone very well for him with the academics being the most important part. I am just glad to have him here and happy for his individual success and the team’s success.†One of the main contributor’s to Hearn’s easy transition to LC-M High School was Bears’ catcher Jake Rowell. “I have played baseball with Jake for many years away from high school,†Hearn said. “He helped me a lot when I got here and being on the same team as him our senior years is excellent.†Griffith plugged the motto of “Surround yourself with good people and good things will happen,†when discussing the friendship between Hearn and Rowell. “He surrounded himself with Jake when he got here and we can see the success,†Griffith said. It also had to be asked if Hearn brought over any secrets about the PN-G baseball program when he crossed over. “We never asked Kris for any of their signals or plays,†Griffith added quickly. “We don’t think that would be the right thing for our program to do.†The long-time LC-M coach for now has his eyes set on the Vidor Pirates and another Bears’ district championship. Vidor downed LC-M 6-3 in the first round of district play after the Pirates scored five runs in the top of the second at Don Gibbens Field. Hearn led the bottom of the first off with a home run and teammate Chad Richard added a homer in the bottom of the second. Hearn would score again in the bottom of the fourth after he singled and was drove in by Stefan Cloeren. The Bears got eight hits in that contest while the Pirates picked up six of their own. “It is going to be a packed house and an emotional game in Vidor,†Griffith said. “Our kids would like to win the district championship and theirs would like to win a playoff berth so both teams have something to fight for. It is going to come down to which team the emotion affects in a negative way the most.â€