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Advice from Marquette Police ahead of NYE Ball Drop WJMN - UPMatters.com
Columbus High senior Ashton LaPointe works around a Lincoln High defender at home on Dec. 4. LaPointe scored a career-high 21 points in Wednesday's road win at Norfolk.
Better ball security gave Columbus High more opportunities on Wednesday at Norfolk in the HAC Tournament consolation game. Many of those opportunities were taken advantage of by senior forward Ashton LaPointe.
The combination of the two gave Columbus a 63-50 win over its rival to the north. It also earned the Discoverers back-to-back wins over the Panthers for the first time in more than 15 years.
"We just didn't turn the ball over, so we kind of controlled the whole game," coach Jordan Hitchcock said. " ... Our guys played well. We didn't shoot the ball particularly well from three, but Ashton had 21, which had to be a career-high for him, and Ean (Luebbe) and Sam (Kwapnioski) played really well."
LaPointe's 21 was put together mostly in the second and third quarter where he had 13 of that total including a three-pointer. Luebbe and Kwapnioski tied for next best with 15 apiece. Luebbe had just four in the first half while Kwapnioski, in foul trouble, went scoreless in the first 16 minutes.
But Luebbe eventually came alive to help answer a Norfolk run and Kwapnioski went 13 of 16 from the line, including 9 of 10 in the fourth to seal it.
"Our defense was really solid and forced them into tough shots," Hitchcock said. "We were able to work the ball around and get good shots."
Columbus held Norfolk to 1 of 11 shooting in the first quarter and limited leading scorer Kamari Moore to 0 for 10. He finished with 22 points but didn't have any at halftime and had to work for every bucket.
Despite the encouraging defensive start, Columbus itself was just 4 of 12 and only led 11-5. LaPointe scored three times in the paint in the second and CHS was up 21-18 at the break.
Norfolk came out after halftime and took the lead in the third thanks to a couple Moore threes, but Columbus responded with eight points from LaPointe and seven by Luebbe.
The Discoverers went back ahead and kept the lead the rest of the way thanks to an overall 24 of 33 afternoon of free throw shooting.
"We trapped (Moore) in ball screens and had a conscious effort to get the ball out of his hands," Hitchcock said. "We executed that pretty well and switched on a lot of actions that they run, kept the ball in front and forced tough shots over defenders."
Meanwhile, LaPointe took advantage of being one of the taller guys on the floor for once.
"It was also getting some confidence and belief in yourself," Hitchcock said. "The amount of work he puts in and the schedule he keeps through the end of the season last year, you're just so happy for a kid like that who's put all that work in. There's no guarantee you'll be rewarded, but to put that type of work in consistently and run into that reward, it's pretty cool to see it happen for a kid like that."
It's a win in the consolation round, over a 1-7 team, but also already more wins than a year ago and against a Maroon Cup rival.
"It's no doubt meaningful," Hitchcock said. "When you're coaching kids that do everything you ask and buy into everything that you're doing, you want them to get the reward so bad. That's extremely satisfying.
"We're nowhere near done, but we have taken a step forward as far as having poise and executing and finishing a game."
Nate Tenopir is the sports editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at sports@columbustelegram.com.
Agnes Louise (Murphy) Ball, 89, a resident of Philippi, passed away Wednesday Dec. 29, 2021, in West Virginia Caring Facility in Elkins.
Agnes was born Nov. 12, 1932, in Barbour County, a daughter of the late Welsa Milton “Mike” and Eva Lena (Godwin) Murphy.
Friends will be received at the Wright Funeral Home and Crematory 220 N. Walnut St. Philippi on Friday, Dec. 31, from 5-8 p.m. and on Saturday, Jan. 1, from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. with Rev. Burl Haddix officiating. Interment will follow in the Clemtown Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wrightfuneral homeservices.com.
"We're here today replacing 192 of the Waterford crystal triangles on that ball behind me with a new design, 'the Gift of Wisdom,'" said Jeffrey Strauss, president of Countdown Entertainment, on Monday. "It's represented by a wheel with these petals of knowledge growing ever forward."
Each year the geodesic sphere, which measures 12 feet in diameter and weighs 11,875 pounds, gets 192 new crystal facets that represent themes for the new year such as Happiness, Goodwill, Harmony, Serenity, Kindness and Wonder. The ball is studded with 2,688 intricate crystal panels that range in length from 4-3/4 inches to 5-3/4 inches.
For the second year in a row, New Year's Eve in Times Square will be scaled-back event, with organizers encouraging spectators to attend the virtual show. In-person attendance, usually about 60,000 before the pandemic, will be capped at 15,000 due to the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
A close-up shot of a crystal triangle about to be placed on the New Year's Eve ball.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
But the worldwide audience is expected to remain massive.
"We're going to have more than a billion revelers around the world joining us on TV and on the internet celebrating," said Strauss. "It's the one moment where we all come together, even if it's just for 60 seconds as we count down towards 2022."
Stars scheduled to perform at this year's celebration include KT Tunstall, LL Cool J, Journey and Chloe.
Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images
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When the Ball Stops Bouncing ithaca.com
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team is set to make its third trip to Illinois on Tuesday for the Mid-American Conference opener and the last game of 2021 at Northern Illinois. BSU enters Tuesday with a 5-6 record, while NIU enters 3-7.
| BSU | Category | NIU |
| 74.4 | POINTS PER GAME | 56.7 |
| 77.9 | OPP. POINTS PER GAME | 67.0 |
| .441 | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .375 |
| .461 | OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .422 |
| .383 | 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .333 |
| .380 | OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .290 |
| .662 | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | .640 |
| 34.7 | REBOUNDS PER GAME | 31.9 |
| -2.0 | REBOUNDING MARGIN | -6.0 |
| 14.1 | ASSISTS PER GAME | 9.5 |
| 14.1 | TURNOVERS PER GAME | 15.9 |
| -1.1 | TURNOVER MARGIN | -0.7 |
| 6.7 | STEALS PER GAME | 7.1 |
| 1.8 | BLOCKS PER GAME | 3.7 |
In TSN's 2021-22 Southeast Division preview, Kyle Irving's bold prediction was that Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball would be an All-Star this season.
It's not looking so bold anymore.
Nearly 30 games into his sophomore campaign, Ball is making quite the All-Star case for himself, leading the Hornets with averages of 19.8 points, 8.0 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. For perspective, reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is the only other player in the league that leads their team in each of those four statistical categories.
Ball's doing it at 20 years of age.
MORE: Jokic enters Nuggets record books, grows MVP case
Not only is Ball reinvigorating Charlotte's fan base with his play, but he is also playing a large role in the Hornets' re-emergence as a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. Sure, Charlotte is currently hovering around the .500 mark, but it's doing so despite having one of the NBA's toughest schedules to this point in the season. The Hornets remain in the thick of the East's playoff race even with 22 of their 34 games to date being away from Charlotte (including two Western Conference road trips), the reward being they now have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league.
Ball has played a key role in their early-season success.
NBA League Pass: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial)
In addition to his numbers being of an All-Star caliber, Ball's displaying the poise of an All-Star on a nightly basis.
Whether it's his all-world passing ability:
His improvement as a finisher:
His commitment to growth as a shooter:
Or his fearlessness in the clutch:
Ball passes the All-Star eye test, but does that guarantee a selection?
MORE: How to vote for 2022 NBA All-Star Game starters
Last season, six Eastern Conference guards were selected to the All-Star Game. Assuming the same number of guards is selected in 2022, the question becomes whether or not Ball has established himself as one of the six best guards in the East.
Here's where he ranks among Eastern Conference guards:
Of guards in the East, it's fair to consider the Bulls' duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine as locks, as well as the Nets' James Harden, who is working on his 10th consecutive All-Star selection. After those three, Ball will be in competition with the likes of Bradley Beal, Jaylen Brown, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Trae Young for what could be the final three guard spots.
Considering the difficulty of their schedule, Ball's Hornets have looked to be just as good as Beal's Wizards, VanVleet's Raptors and Young's Hawks up to this point in the season, if not better. The Celtics have been better in spurts but Brown could be set back by missing a chunk of time due to injury. Garland, on the other hand, has played an integral role in the Cavaliers' success this season, but his numbers don't quite measure up to Ball's.
It's no secret that Miami has the makings of a title contender but it's highly unlikely that both Herro and Lowry represent the Heat in the All-Star Game. Given the impact that doesn't always show up in the stat sheet, Lowry feels like the most likely candidate.
With Ball checking all the criteria of an All-Star, he's building a case stronger than a number of his peers in the Eastern Conference.
An All-Star bid in 2022 would mark the first of many.
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Ball Aerospace-Built Optics and Mirror System Launched Today Aboard James Webb Space Telescope KPVI News 6
Follow the Belt long enough and you come to learn that Fearless Leader has been known from time to time to dabble in the money-making side of sports otherwise known as sportsbook wagers. Bowl season is no different, and in some respects even more important. It’s the last opportunity to be profitable on the sport we all know and love until next fall rolls around. So, when opportunity knocks, you have to let it in. And Fearless Leader is here to guide you through all of the MACtion bowl-bonanza with his predictions, picks, and best bets for each of the games on gameday morning. Consider it your wake-up call that there’s money to be made and MACtion can be your own personal ATM.
It’s a fact of life that we all have a budget (except for you, Elon, and free to send over that custom MACtion Tesla). So, rather than be all willy nilly reckless with the virtual bucks, Fearless leader is going to be placing no more than $250 on each game and tracking the results the following day. Call it a heat check, call it accountability, call it an archived cold take for when it doesn’t go as planned. Thanks to math, you can scale that for your budget. Only went to risk $25 per game, divide the pick amounts by 10. And so on and so forth. Yay education!
What’s gambling without accountability?
Bahamas Bowl 2021 - Link
Hit the spread, hit the points, missed the props, which I’ll take any day of the week.
Spent: $250 Game result: W $330 (+80)
Cure Bowl 2021 - Link
Hit the NIU spread, missed the total going against my own rule. Serves me right.
Spent: $150 Game result: W $190.91 (+40.91)
Lending Tree Bowl 2021 - Link
Missed the mark with both an EMU spread bet and a total point under, which only proves to me I can never bet the under ever. If the spread is a million, give me the over and hang on.
Spent: $245 Game result: W $0 (-245)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl 2021 - Link
Well, Kent State, thanks for playing a good first half. Second half? Not so much. At least we hit the over. So not all was lost.
Spent: $250 Game Result: W $190.91 (-59.01)
Frisco Football Classic 2021 - Link
This is an ominous foreshadowing where when I bet on the MAC, they lose. Bet against, they win. Do I take it on myself to help the conference going forward? I do.
Spent: $250 Game Result: W $0 (-250)
Odds current at the time of publication and provided by DraftKings*
Thoughts/Commentary: At some point, you are faced with the choice to follow your heart or follow your head. Most times, and there have been more than a few, when the choice to go with the heart resulted in immense amounts of agony and pain that could have easily been avoided if the right body part was listened to. So, it’s with a heavy heart and the acceptance of all your Ts and Ps that I spend the $250 Camellia Bowl as follows:
$100 Georgia State -5.5 (-110)
$150 Over 51 (-110)
Remember, it’s all just fun and games until it puts your kid through college and buys your parents a Lexus. Always be cashing...
*Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details
College football bowl season kicked off Friday, Dec. 17 and carries through early January with the College Football Playoffs. Several players will opt out of respective bowl opportunities, but many more will close out their collegiate careers before jettisoning to the NFL. CBSSports.com is tracking all of the prospects to watch throughout bowl season:
North Texas' Dion Novil is a big interior defender with respectable pass rush production this season. Wide receiver Jyaire Shorter has battled injuries over the past few seasons but is certainly one to watch in the future.
Miami (Ohio) safety Sterling Weatherford and edge rusher Dominique Robinson are headed to the Senior Bowl. Robinson looks light playing as a down edge rusher. He shows good speed and flexibility around the edge but needs to get stronger to hold his own in the run game.
The CBS Sports college football staff offered more analysis from a betting perspective and explained how each team can achieve success.
UCF offensive tackle Marcus Tatum is a really athletic lineman with an athletic frame. The Tennessee transfer gets a little off-balance in the run game and can improve marrying his hands and feet. Defensive tackle Kalia Davis shows first-step quickness and a good understanding of leverage.
The Gators made the change from head coach Dan Mullen to Billy Napier after the regular concluded in an effort to salvage their recruiting class. Several players entered the transfer portal, but others will represent Florida in the draft process. Defensive lineman Zachary Carter, edge rusher Jeremiah Moon and running back Dameon Pierce are headed to the Senior Bowl. Pierce was a highly productive player this season. Carter is a bit of a tweener traditionally, but that is a coveted role in the league today. Cornerback Kaiir Elam is often mentioned among the best at his position.
The CBS Sports college football staff offered more analysis from a betting perspective and explained how each team can achieve success.
Wide receiver Calvin Austin III and offensive guard Dylan Parham will represent Memphis at the Senior Bowl. Austin is an undersized but explosive wide receiver who has topped 1,000 receiving yards each of the past two seasons. Over the course of his career at Memphis, he has averaged 16.3 yards per reception. Parham has disciplined eyes trained to stop loopers and jumpers.
Hawaii running back Calvin Turner Jr. began his collegiate career as a triple-option quarterback at Jacksonville before transferring. Last year, Memphis had a running back by the name of Kenny Gainwell who also spent a lot of time at wide receiver. Turner is a little taller but has similar versatility. Turner had the same number of carries as he did receptions (73). He accumulated roughly 1,200 all-purpose yards.
The CBS Sports college football staff offered more analysis from a betting perspective and explained how each team can achieve success.
Georgia State sophomore safety Antavious Lane has made big plays for the Panthers this season. He has recorded four interceptions and one forced fumble. All-conference offensive guard Shamarious Gilmore is one of the most experienced prospects in college football.
Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt has good size but average mobility. The Ohio native has been a a three-year plus starter and shows touch in the short to intermediate. Senior wide receivers Justin Hall and Yo'Heinz Tyler have been highly productive players in that Ball State offense. Hall has compiled 318 receptions, 3,385 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in five seasons. In addition, he has presented his versatility through exposure to the run and return games.
The CBS Sports college football staff offered more analysis from a betting perspective and explained how each team can achieve success.
Western Michigan quarterback Kaleb Eleby is an inconsistent passer with good mobility. He is able to drive the ball to all levels of the field. Edge rusher Ali Fayad does not have the length that NFL teams covet at the position but he was one of the most productive defenders in college football this season. He registered 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Nevada is loaded on offense and the names have been bandied about since the summer. Quarterback Carson Strong is large in stature but lacks mobility. He will have to be an excellent passer to overcome those limitations. Tight end Cole Turner is a former wide receiver that plays outside of his frame and attacks the football. He has a claim as one of the best tight ends in this draft class. Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is a good short to intermediate route-runner with an ability to create after the catch. The Wolfpack have a quality pair of offensive linemen in offensive tackle Aaron Frost and center Tyler Orsini.
Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers has already announced that he is returning for another season. He had a down campaign after asserting himself as one of the most dynamic skill players after the catch in 2020. Quarterback Phil Jurkovec has also announced that he is returning. The Eagles have leaned on its offensive line over the past few years. Offensive guard Zion Johnson has established himself as one of the best interior prospects in this class. He can do a better job of sinking his hips and absorbing contact.
East Carolina cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian is just a sophomore but he was second among all FBS players with five interceptions. He had seven interceptions over the prior two seasons. Left tackle Justin Chase was in his second season since transferring from N.C. State. He played in the absence of D'Ante Smith, who was drafted in the fourth-round by the Bengals, last season before taking on the role of full-time starter this year.
Tulsa cornerback transfers Akayleb Evans and Allie Green IV made a big impact for Missouri this season. Evans is a physical player and quarterbacks proceeded at their own risk when making throws to the field. He is headed to the Reese's Senior Bowl despite limited ball production. Defensive tackle Kobie Whiteside had 7.5 sacks in 2019 but has just three in his four other combined seasons. He has to do a better job of holding his gaps because that would seem to be his bread and butter on the next level. Running back Tyler Badie is undersized but otherwise checks all of the boxes. The Tennessee native is a good receiver and fights through contact.
Army linebacker Andre Carter II is a tall drink of water. At 6-foot-7, the Texas native is second among FBS programs in sacks (14.5) and tied for eighth in forced fumbles (4).
Two Roadrunners are headed to Mobile, Alabama, next month for the Reese's Senior Bowl. Offensive tackle Spencer Burford and cornerback Tariq Woolen will participate in college football's premier professional showcase. Woolen is a lengthy cornerback with limited ball production. He can do a better job of getting his eyes back to the quarterback but his long speed allows him to mirror receivers and recover rather quickly. Safety Rashad Wisdom is undersized but does not play like it. He is a physical player with great range.
San Diego State defensive lineman Cam Thomas has great size and strength. Over the past year, he has improved to the point where some consider him a potential Day 2 draft choice. He registered 10.5 sacks this season. Tight end Daniel Bellinger is also headed to the Reese's Senior Bowl. Bellinger can get stronger but he shows an ability to make catches outside of his frame. Running back Greg Bell has good burst and fights through contact. He can improve in pass protection.
Kent State quarterback Dustin Crum is a three-year starter for the Golden Flashes. The dual-threat senior from Grafton, Ohio, accounted for 27 total touchdowns this season relative to six interceptions. He is one to watch on Day 3. Wyoming produced linebacker Logan Wilson a few years ago and the Cowboys are back with a key front seven contributor. Linebacker Chad Muma is headed to the Reese's Senior Bowl. Muma has natural movement skills and is able to change directions with ease. He has the traits necessary to be a starter in the NFL.
Tulsa has a few prospects of note, particularly along the offensive line. Sophomore left tackle Tyler Smith was the recipient of a lot of praise in the preseason, but it was his teammate, right tackle Chris Paul, who recently accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Paul, like Louisiana's Robert Hunt a few years ago, plays on the edge but is projected to move inside. Speed gives him a lot of problems around the corner, but he has good strength to counter bull rushes. Moving inside should correct some of the oversetting issues he has encountered. A Day 2 selection is within range.
Billy Napier accepted the head coaching position at Florida, but that program will produce a few more pros on his way out the door. Offensive lineman Robert Hunt was taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The Ragin' Cajuns have a few more offensive linemen coming down the pike. Offensive tackle Max Mitchell is off to the Senior Bowl. Mitchell is a long lineman with good mobility. His neighbor, offensive guard O'Cyrus Torrence, is an NFL caliber player. When the 2020 season began, he was trying to run through defenders rather than engage and marry his feet. As the year progressed, his technique improved. Torrence is a player who looks for work when disengaged and plays to the whistle.
Tayland Humphrey is a big, imposing interior defender. The safety tandem of Percy Butler and Bralen Trahan have made a strong case for draft consideration. Butler has great burst and range but he is inconsistent as a tackler in space.
Marshall has a name familiar to NFL fans. Safety Steven Gilmore is the younger brother of Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Tall and thin, Steven has registered six interceptions over the past three seasons.
Utah State produced first-round quarterback Jordan Love a few years ago, but few have popped onto the radar in 2021. Linebacker AJ Vongphachanh has looked really good in coverage but struggles to get off blocks and has little pass rush production. Oregon State center Nathan Eldridge has accumulated a tremendous amount of experience in his career.
UAB edge rusher Alex Wright is a long, but filled out prospect. He is quick and able to turn speed into power. His pass rush production does not match the talent, but NFL teams will salivate over his traits.
BYU has a strong offensive line led by left tackle Blake Freeland and center James Empey. Freeland flipped from the right side last year. He is a very athletic player, but he struggles with leverage because of his height. Empey, on the other hand, plays with great leverage. He will lean on opponents in the run game. Tight end Isaac Rex and running back Tyler Allgeier both show traits that suggest they could one day develop into NFL starters.
There is a talent discrepancy in this matchup, as Fresno State brings a lot more to the table this year. Bulldogs quarterback Jake Haener has fought through injuries to deliver his team a few big wins this season. The Washington transfer is a bit undersized but displays great accuracy and leadership.
Running back Ronnie Rivers has taken down nearly every record that the program had entering the season. Rivers has flexible ankles to create opportunities in open space. Wide receiver Jalen Cropper is the team's top draft prospect with Haener returning to school next season. Cropper has a large catch radius and shows great body control allowing him to attack the ball in the air. The California native has footwork at the stem to create leverage.
South Carolina State cornerback Decobie Durant is a long, lean prospect with great ball skills. Over the past four seasons, he has managed to snare 12 interceptions, including three this season. Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders loaded up on transfers in his first season with the program. One of those transfers was senior linebacker James Houston, who has registered 14.5 sacks since coming over from Florida. Even more impressive, Houston has converted seven pass rush opportunities into forced fumbles. He was coached by Patrick Surtain in high school.
Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe has been rising in the draft community. The Houston Baptist transfer is calm in the pocket. He shows great accuracy and an understanding of how to lead his receivers. Zappe is headed to the Reese's Senior Bowl in an effort to boost his stock even more. Edge rusher DeAngelo Malone is slender but shows great acceleration and range. In the past, he has struggled to get off blocks and can improve in defending the run.
Appalachian State linebacker D'Marco Jackson shows strong leadership skills and has disciplined eyes. His game is more reactive than proactive, but he should find a role on special teams in the NFL. Jackson has accepted an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl. Defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor and cornerback Shaun Jolly are a few other talented defenders on the roster.
Compared to the typical year, this winter ball cycle was light on interesting Marlins connections. Nonetheless, I will bring you up to speed on how the organization’s active players performed in international competition.
De La Cruz authored the Marlins’ proudest 2021-22 winter ball moment when, fresh off paternity leave, he mashed a grand slam for Toros del Este on November 10. But his bat was relatively quiet after that. As the Marlins contemplate how DLC could fit into their outfield alignment next season, keep in mind that he made 14 of his 16 LIDOM starts in center field.
Dunand was a star for Leones del Escogido during the previous season, hitting for power while providing Gold Glove-winning defense at third base. Much different story this time around, unfortunately. The 26-year-old Miami native didn’t have any multi-hit games.
Six-year MLB veteran Erik González was a teammate of Dunand’s. He used his LIDOM season to audition for a stateside job and showed enough promise to receive a spring training invite from the Marlins (his .621 OPS was actually close to the league’s .638 average). He was Escogido’s main shortstop for the bulk of the campaign, increasing his workload at the hot corner once Dunand left the roster.
I wouldn’t blame anybody for failing to notice that Mincey pitched for Beloit in late 2021. He thrived in long relief...with the caveat that he was among the oldest players in the High-A Central league (age 29). LIDOM was a more appropriate test for him.
Simply put, Sánchez took care of business. For a former top prospect who’s already an above-average major league hitter, his LIDOM stint was geared toward making up for lost time after a season that was bookended by leg injuries and interrupted by a long bout with COVID.
Magneuris Sierra (Toros del Este) and Matt Pobereyko (Estrellas Orientales) also participated in the league, but both of them elected free agency and are no longer part of the Marlins org.
Avilés had been a defensive nomad for the Angels Double-A affiliate, alternating between second base, third base, shortstop and left field. At least with Tiburones de La Guaira, he was able to settle in at third. Venezuela’s league presents more hitter-friendly conditions than LIDOM, so Avilés’ numbers were mediocre relative to his peers. His minor league deal with the Marlins was made official on Dec. 15.
Miguel Rojas intended to play alongside Avilés, but those plans fell through due to a combination of the MLB lockout and the team’s inability to qualify for the LVBP postseason. His winter involvement with Venezuelan baseball was limited to coaching clinics and organizing a home run derby.
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Mincey resurfaced with Aguilas del Zulia in December, benefiting from better luck on balls in play than he had in the D.R.
Mercado’s walk rate was up from what he’s done in the minors, but this performance for the most part tracks closely with his affiliate history. As catcher for the RA12 team, he threw out 34.8% of attempted base-stealers. He will vie for a spot on Beloit’s Opening Day roster, though it’ll be a tight squeeze.
Nice to see Chávez do something productive with the bat after posting a yucky .165 batting average in his 55 combined games with Pensacola and Jacksonville.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Josh Ball out of Marshall with the No. 138 pick in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft with hopes he could add much-needed depth to the tackle position. Wide receiver T.J. Vasher went undrafted and was signed to the team in May to compete for a spot on the practice squad and possibly the 53-man roster.
Unfortunately for Ball and Vasher, their NFL careers haven’t left the starting gate yet. Ball suffered an ankle injury in September and has been on injured reserve ever since. Vasher came into the league with a lingering knee issue from his days at Texas Tech and was placed on the Reserve/non-football injury list in May.
Wednesday brought some encouraging news regarding both players as they had their 21-day practice windows started.
Ball came into the NFL with character concerns attached to his name. When he was at Florida State, a woman accused him of 11 incidents of misconduct, and he was convicted of “dating violence” which led to his departure from the Seminoles. After one year at Butler Community College, Ball transferred to Marshall where he spent two seasons. As a senior in 2020, he received first-team all-conference USA honors.
At this point in the season, Ball will likely take a redshirt for 2021 and compete for a backup role next season. His 21-day practice squad activation coincides with the final three weeks of the regular season, but it also makes him eligible for potential emergency duty in the playoffs.
Vasher is 6-foot-6 with an 84-inch wingspan which was the longest for any pass-catcher coming into the 2021 NFL draft. That type of height and length makes him a potential red-zone threat especially with his knack for making contested catches. Also, Vasher ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash which shows he has pretty good speed to make his freakish measurables.
The Miami Heat were coming off a bad defeat. Losing to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday was, arguably, their worst loss of the season, albeit without some of their best players.
They would be down another guy after that game too, losing P.J. Tucker during the contest with a leg injury. They would, however, get some relief on Tuesday and in the form of a returning Tyler Herro.
And return he did. To a tune of 26 points, a board, and five assists on 8-17 from the floor and 5-8 from range, the Boy Wonder tied for the Miami Heat leader in scoring on Tuesday.
He was to only be matched in that department by a resurgent Duncan Robinson. Going 10-16 from the floor and 6-10 from range himself, he would finish with 26 points, a board, and an assist apiece as well.
Though they did the big scoring for the Miami Heat, Kyle Lowry had a massive game as well. Finishing two points shy of a triple-double, what would have been his second with the Miami Heat, he would leave the game early in the fourth with eight points, 11 boards, and 12 assists.
They tried to get him a couple of looks before leaving to complete the triple-double, but couldn’t find a way to get it done. The win was most important though and they got that.
As mentioned, Lowry would leave the game early in the fourth as the Miami Heat nearly got up nearly 30 to seal the game. They coasted to the finish, but how they got there is important too.
As they have for the last several games, they shot a ton of threes and unlike Detroit, they made a ton of them.
They made 22-49 threes on Tuesday, shooting 44.9 percent from deep as a team. That will definitely win you some games.
It did on Tuesday for the Miami Heat and will always give them a shot when they can shoot like that. They have a day off before welcoming the Pistons into their place on Thursday for some payback.
They may have Jimmy Butler back in the lineup as well, which would make things that much sweeter. After a game like Tuesday though, Thursday can’t get here fast enough.
If County Executive Ball can reach an agreement with GSCM, the County will pursue County Council approval of an Installment Purchase Agreement to secure Camp Ilchester, providing $700,000 of the purchase price at settlement and the $5.3 million balance in Fiscal Year 2023.
"I'm so excited to finally see this offer be formalized," said Senator Hester. "As a mom and lifelong environmentalist, providing opportunities for our kids to experience outdoor education is extremely important to me – if accepted, this offer will allow us to preserve nearly 21 acres of green space for the local community. This is a win-win-win for our kids, our community, and our environment."
“It would be excruciating to lose this treasured space to a developer,” said Delegate Watson. “My goal is for this land to remain green space that future generations can enjoy”.
If acquired, the County will preserve Camp Ilchester as green space, keeping a potential 40 developable lots out of the development pipeline and utilizing the property to expand recreational program offerings to residents across the County and State. Potential uses of the Camp could include sports programs, outdoor adventure camps, active aging activity and a nature center with nature-based educational programming.
Additionally, the potential County acquisition of Camp Ilchester could help advance the High School #14 project, which will be located at Troy Park, in Elkridge following County Executive Ball’s announcement last October. The purchase of Camp Ilchester could provide several acres of land potentially eligible to offset the conversion of the portions of Troy Park, in Elkridge purchased with Program Open Space funding for High School #14.
Today’s offer follows months of negotiation with GSCM to preserve the existing green space at Camp Ilchester. On March 30th, the GSCM’s Board of Directors announced their recommendation to find a buyer for Camp Ilchester and focus resources gained from a potential sale on Camp Woodlands in Anne Arundel County.
The County began to conduct due diligence on the property starting in April, securing two appraisals of the property, with County Executive Ball engaging in high level discussions with GSCM related to the preservation of the property. On May 12th, GSCM received approval from their Board of Directors to officially pursue the sale of Camp Ilchester, with the Board committing to pursue discussions with groups interested in preserving the property as green space prior to soliciting bids from developers.
Following ongoing discussions throughout the summer, GSCM announced in August that they were initiating a formal process to solicit bids from entities interested in purchasing Camp Ilchester. The County submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) to GSCM on August 27th. Proposals were evaluated at the September 23rd GSCM Board of Directors meeting. Discussions have continued following the Board’s formal bid evaluation process, leading to the County’s $6 million offer to purchase the property today.
The acquisition of Camp Ilchester would continue the Ball Administration’s efforts to preserve land for environmental and agricultural purposes throughout the County where appropriate. Last December, County Executive Ball closed on the Savage remainder property, acquiring the five-acre parcel located to the west of Savage Mill for $1.75 million and preserving the property for outdoor recreation and open space. Noteworthy for its environmental significance as a State of Maryland designated Targeted Ecological Area, the Savage remainder parcel had been the target of proposed development since 2013, transitioning through iterations ranging from 15 units per acre to a maximum of 35 units.
County Executive Ball also re-opened the Agricultural Land Preservation Program (ALPP) in June 2019 after the program was shut down by the previous administration due to a budget shortfall. In November, County Executive Ball announced the addition of the 128-acre Dickey Farm to ALPP, preserving the largest remaining farm in the rural west of Howard County and marking one of the largest single additions to agricultural preservation in over a decade. Including Dickey Farm, there are five additional properties in the acquisition pipeline, totaling nearly 300 acres.
iHeartRadio’s final Jingle Ball concert, set for Sunday night in Miami, has been canceled due to the surging Omicron variant.
“Due to the increased transmission of the new Covid-19 variant and to further minimize any potential risks, as a precautionary measure and for the safety of our staff, talent and guests, we have made the decision to cancel tonight’s IHeartRadio Y100 Jingle Ball,” organizers tweeted Sunday.
— iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) December 19, 2021
Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Saweetie, Black Eyed Peas and Anitta were among the artists scheduled to perform at the Miami stop of the traveling, Christmas-themed pop show, although a handful of artists — including Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion and Jonas Brothers — recently dropped out of their remaining Jingle Ball appearances after either testing positive for Covid-19 or coming into close contact with someone who had.
Lil Nas X, who performed at New York’s Jingle Ball concert, was forced to skip the following night’s London stop after — he later revealed — testing positive post-show. Coldplay also missed the London Jingle Ball following a positive test among their crew.
Florida’s new Covid cases have doubled over the past week — and the state’s death toll has continued to climb — as the Omicron variant has spread throughout the U.S., forcing event cancellations stretching from Miami to Broadway and NBA and NHL games in-between.
While they've met only once, Ball State (6-3) was involved in a landmark moment in Bellarmine program history as the Cardinals represented the Knights' first-ever opponent as a Division-I program. The two teams squared off in Bellarmine's season opener last year in Freedom Hall, a D1 debut that was delayed nearly three weeks due to the coronavirus.
Ball State raced out to a 29-5 lead after one quarter en route to a 98-42 win. It didn't help that the Knights were missing multiple key players as a result of the pandemic, but Bellarmine Coach Chancellor Dugan also praised the Cardinals' overwhelming physicality after that contest, which was a revealing introduction to the D1 game for the Knights.
Ball State will pose a formidable challenge once again. The Cardinals, who have been off since Dec. 11, will enter on a two-game winning streak after defeating IUPUI 73-67 and Utah State 81-55. Ball State suffered one lopsided loss to Stephen F. Austin, 87-66, but its other two setbacks — 71-67 to Texas Tech and 64-54 to Pittsburgh — were highly competitive, with the Cardinals owning a four-point lead with four minutes left in the former before Tech rallied.
Anna Clephane's 16.2 points per game tops the chart for Ball State. Thelma Dis Agustsdottir is next at 10.7 and is the team's top 3-point threat, and Sydney Freeman is a third double-figurer scorer at 10.4 per contest. Freeman and Ally Becki both distribute over 4 assists per game. Bellarmine will have to be protective of the ball against the Cardinals, whose opponents average 19.1 turnovers per game, with four foes amassing at least 22 giveaways.
Bellarmine (2-7) probably couldn't have played much better than it did during a 105-48 win Thursday over Spalding in Freedom Hall. The Knights scored the most points during the Dugan era, tied the program record with 15 3-pointers and threatened the program record for field-goal percentage after shooting a shining 66.7 percent. In addition, Dugan earned the 150th win of her career at Bellarmine.
Sophomore guard Mackenzie Keelin poured in a career-high 25 points against Spalding, and junior guard Jaela Johnson reached double figures for the sixth time in seven games after registering 20 points. The duo combined to go 10-of-14 from 3-point land.
Senior guard Presley Brown pocketed the first double-double of her career behind 11 points and a career-best 10 assists. Senior forward Sheniqua Coatney hit 8-of-10 shots in scoring 16 points, and freshman forward Haley Stoklosa matched her career high with 11 points.
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