KFDM COOP

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The Lamar State College-Port Arthur softball team travels to Bossier City, La., on Saturday and Texarkana on Sunday for doubleheaders against two of the strongest teams in Region XIV, Galveston and Bossier Parish. Lamar State (2-18 overall, 1-11 in Region XIV) is looking to break a 10-game losing streak. Freshman outfielder Ashley Lapeyrolerie from Bridge City continues to lead all Lamar State hitters with a .303 batting average. The pitching staff expanded to four pitchers this past week when freshman shortstop Lynae Dobson from West Orange-Stark added pitching duties to her role on the team.

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I doubt this will one will be played. Thunderstorms are expected by noon Saturday

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Kevin Durant AP College Basketball POTY ATLANTA -- Kevin Durant of Texas was selected Friday as The Associated Press' college basketball player of the year, the first freshman to receive the honor. The 6-foot-9 swingman finished fourth in the country in scoring (25.8) and rebounding (11.1) while leading the Longhorns to a 25-10 record, the Big 12 tournament championship game and the second round of the NCAA tournament. Durant received all but two votes for player of the year from the 72-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Senior forward Alando Tucker of Wisconsin, the Big Ten player of the year, got the other two votes. Durant, the Big 12 player and freshman of the year, shot 47 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the free-throw line. He averaged 36 minutes per game and led the Longhorns in steals and blocked shots. He had 20 double-doubles and scored at least 30 points a Big 12-record 11 times. In Texas' five postseason games, he averaged 28.5 points and 9.6 rebounds. He is the first Texas player to receive the award, which was first presented in 1961. J.J. Redick of Duke won the award last season.

Jasper Article on Thomas Brooks file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ADMINI~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/Brooks%20returns%20'home'.htm Brooks returns 'home' Former coach changes mind, accepts post By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor It all came down to coming home. Thomas Brooks, who coached the Jasper Bulldogs in 2000 and 2001 to two Class 4A playoff appearances, has accepted the challenge of leading the athletic program. "It feels real good to be home," Brooks said after Tuesday's announcement. "I feel very comfortable here in Jasper. I just have a spot in my heart for Jasper. "I feel more relaxed and I'm just ready to go to work now that I'm back in Jasper," Brooks said. "The thing that brought me back here was the people. This town is so special. I just feel real good to be back around the people I feel comfortable with." Interim Athletic Director Chris Coleman was ecstatic after the Jasper Independent Board of Trustees approved Brooks appointment to the position. "It is great news," Coleman said. "I am excited as a parent because I have a son that will be in the high school program but I am really excited for our community. "Thomas is a tremendous football coach but he's a better man than he is a football coach," Coleman said. "He has great character and great discipline in the program and he is immediately respected in the community by all sectors. We want our kids to have someone to look up to and we think Thomas Brooks is that kind of guy." This decision marks a reversal from Brooks' decision a couple of weeks ago when he took his name out of the running for the position. Coleman said the pair had discussed the position in conversation but no formal offer was ever made to the then-John Tyler head football coach. "It was just in the talking stage the first time we talked about it," Coleman said. "Thomas always said he loved Jasper and loved being in Jasper and it just started the ball rolling. We looked at it and toyed with it but at the time, it just didn't feel like the time was right for him to come back." Brooks, 46, contacted Coleman Friday, March 23 and informed him he was interested in coming back to the position. "He will bring instant creditability to this program," Coleman said. "But when you are looking for a head football coach, to us, it's not just about winning football games. "He is a living example for our kids and the students deserve the opportunity to have someone they can look up to," Coleman said. Brooks served as head coach for the Bulldog football program in 2000 and 2001 after serving as head coach at Waxahachie. In both seasons in Jasper, Brooks led the Bulldogs into the Class 4A playoffs with an overall record of 15-10. "He really started us back on building a strong program," said Coleman, who hired Brooks for his first stint with the Bulldogs. "There were some things we had to adjust program-wise that first year. The entire program had to be adjusted." Brooks has directed the rebuilding John Tyler football program into the Class 5A playoffs the past two seasons and now will face a similar task in Jasper. "He's a great fit for Jasper," Coleman said. "He presents a tremendous image for us outside of Jasper as well as in town. He will do what is right, at all times, for the kids." Coleman said the plan is for Brooks to begin his Jasper duties Thursday, March 29. Coleman believes the athletes of Jasper will accept and welcome Brooks as their new head football coach. "I know the kids will be excited because they know they are getting a good man," Coleman said. "They know they will have to act right, work hard and represent Jasper, Texas and Jasper High School well because Coach Brooks won't stand for anything less than that."

Boys Class 5-A: Tyler Lee 3 Dallas Sunset 0 W.T. White 3 Longview 2 (Shootout) Klein 3 Lufkin 0 Boys Class 4-A: Willis 1 Nacogdoches 0 Brenham 3 Athens 0 Palestine 2 Lumberton 0 Pine Tree 3 Waller 1 Mount Pleasant vs. Richardson Pearce, @ Rockwall Girls Class 5-A: Tyler Lee 10 W.T. White 0 Girls Class 4-A: Lindale 4 Nederland 1 Henderson 4 Montgomery 1 Pine Tree 3 Brenham 2 Whitehouse 2 Port Neches-Groves 0

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THIS WEEK'S AREA TRACK MENU 33rd Annual Orangefield Bobcat Relays Friday at Orangefield's Bobcat Track 2:15 p.m.: Officials scratch meeting 3 p.m.: Girls and boys field events begin 4 p.m.: Girls and boys 3,200-meter runs begin Running finals begin 20 or 30 minutes after conclusion of the field events GIRLS DIVISION Bridge City, Buna, Hamshire-Fannett, LC-M, Nederland, Orangefield, PN-G, Vidor. BOYS DIVISION Bridge City, Buna, LC-M, Nederland, Orangefield, PN-G, Shepherd, Vidor. 4th Hardin-Jefferson Snooks Michalka Relays Friday at Hawk Stadium, Sour Lake 1:30 p.m.: Officials scratch meeting 2:15 p.m.: Girls and boys field events begin

The Orangefield Relays will be March 30. The scratch meeting is at 2:15, field events 3pm, 3200 at 4pm, followed by the running finals. OF will host the District 21-3A meet Apr. 9-12. The 22-4A Meet will be Apr. 10-12 in Nederland. The 3A Regionals will be Apr. 27-18 in Humble. The 4A Regionals will be Apr. 27-28 in Huntsville.

Predictions?

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NEW: Gillispie balks at A&M deal COLLEGE STATION — At the end of another bizarre day in Texas A&M's quest to lock down basketball coach Billy Gillispie, school officials delayed an announcement of a new contract agreement after receiving indications from Gillispie that he wants to keep open his options for the most tantalizing of current job openings — Kentucky. According to sources close to the situation, Gillispie late in the day balked at verbally agreeing to a new contract placed before the A&M board of regents for approval on Thursday. Under the new contract, Gillispie's base salary would jump from $1.25 million to around $1.6 million per year. The school had hoped to announce the new deal Thursday afternoon and put to rest nearly a week of speculation about Gillispie's intentions to stay at A&M. The day's maneuverings kept the uncertainty alive for A&M fans, but brought a week of drama at Arkansas to an end. According to reports, the Razorbacks elected to drop pursuit of Gillispie after being informed by athletic director Bill Byrne around noon on Thursday that Gillispie, who is in Atlanta for the Final Four, was accepting the new contract offer at A&M and was staying put. Curiously, according to reports, Byrne contacted Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles around 10 a.m. on Thursday to grant his permission for the Razorbacks to talk to Gillispie. Following the A&M regents meeting, A&M officials prepared a statement to acknowledge the new contract and announce Gillispie's acceptance of the deal. Around 7 p.m., the announcement plans were scrapped. [Hidden Content]

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I need their schedules and we'll be glad to.

It's been locked.

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Biggio one and done to end his great career? Biggio will reveal plans when 'time is right' Astros second baseman Craig Biggio has figured out how he wants his career to end. He just isn't telling anyone yet. "I know exactly what I want to do in my mind," Biggio said. "I'm just hoping it works out that way." The first step for Biggio would be to get the 70 hits he needs for 3,000. His next step might be to announce his retirement, effective at the end of the season. Biggio, 41, hinted at such a plan Tuesday in an interview with FOXSports.com. "When the time is right, I'm going to let everybody know," he says. "I think it's fair to the fans to let them know. I think they should know." He then mentioned former teammate Jeff Bagwell's final appearance in a Grapefruit League game last March. "If a lot of fans knew that was going to be Baggy's last game, they would have filled the stadium," Biggio said. "People would have come out in appreciation of how he played the game over the years. "He just wasn't able to get back from an injury. In general, I'm going to be honest with the fans." By doing so, Biggio would give himself the opportunity to take a victory lap around the National League and allow Astros fans to celebrate the end of a 20-year, likely Hall of Fame career. Cal Ripken took a similar approach with the Orioles in 2001, announcing on June 19 that he intended to retire at the end of the season. Biggio makes no secret of his desire to spend more time with his wife, Patty, and three children — Conor, 14, Cavan, 11, and Quinn, 7. "I love the game. I love my family. And I miss my family," Biggio says. "They've paid a big sacrifice. "As an older player, with your kids getting ready to go to high school, it gets harder and harder each year, especially coming down here (to spring training)." Biggio's agent, Barry Axelrod, says that Biggio has been saying such things for the past four or five years. "As his boys get closer to his high-school years, I think he's dying to be around them more," Axelrod says. "This is the last year of his contract. I guess if he hits .325, maybe they'll talk to us about one more. I can't predict anything. But I would think it's winding down." It has been a pleasure to watch this guy compete day in and day out for almost 20 years. Talk about a true gamer. HOF'er in my book