January 20, 2023 3:48 am
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – A family spokesman for Damar Hamlin tells The Associated Press the Buffalo Bills safety still faces a long rehabilitation despite enjoying a remarkable recovery some three weeks after having to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati. Jordon Rooney says Hamlin still requires oxygen and is having his heart monitored regularly to ensure there are no setbacks or after effects. Rooney provided the update to emphasize Hamlin still faces hurdles since being discharged from Buffalo General Medical Center on Jan. 11, and began making regular visits to the Bills facility this week.
January 20, 2023 3:51 am
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) – PGA Tour rookie Davis Thompson shot a career-low 10-under 62 at La Quinta on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead over Jon Rahm and four others after the first round of The American Express. The 23-year-old Thompson got off to a brilliant start by birdieing three of the first four holes and then making eagle on both par-5s on the front nine, Nos. 5 and 6. He made the turn in 8-under 28, the lowest front-nine score at La Quinta. Rahm shot 64 at La Quinta, one of three courses being used fo the first three rounds. The fourth-ranked Rahm won two weeks ago at Kapalua.
January 19, 2023 3:54 am
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) – Brady Tkachuk scored 25 seconds into overtime, and the Ottawa Senators beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4. Alex DeBrincat, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and Shane Pinto also scored for Ottawa, which went 4 for 9 on the power play. Tkachuk also had three assists, and Cam Talbot stopped 16 shots. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, and Sidney Crosby had three assists. Jason Zucker, Mark Friedman and Rickard Rakell also scored, and Casey DeSmith made 35 saves.
January 19, 2023 6:14 am
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers will keep Matt Canada on as offensive coordinator and he will return for the 2023 season, according to other reports and Steelers Now confirmed. The news comes after a long waiting period where it was unclear if Canada would return to the Steelers after a disappointing season where they averaged only 18.1 points per game. That ranked 26th in the NFL, a near two-point decrease from the 2021 NFL season. There will be multiple steps to work with now moving forward, including any staff shakeups that could potentially be occurring on the offensive side of the football. However, keeping Canada will allow for some continuity for Kenny Pickett, the Steelers’ soon-to-be second-year quarterback who steadily improved over his rookie season.
January 19, 2023 3:51 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Greg Elliott scored 23 points and Pittsburgh handed Louisville its eighth straight loss, 75-54. Elliott was 9-of-12 shooting with five 3-pointers, Nike Sibande made four first-half 3-pointers for his 12 points and Jamarius Burton had 10 points and a career-tying 11 assists – his first double-double – for the Panthers. El Ellis scored 19 points with five assists to lead the Cardinals. JJ Traynor added a career-high 14 points. The Panthers average 8.5 3-pointers a game but had 14 on 34 attempts Wednesday. Pitt’s ACC wins matches its conference total from each of the previous three seasons. The Panthers have won seven of their past nine games.
January 18, 2023 10:17 pm
The high school basketball season for boys teams is at the halfway point with most teams having played each section opponent once by now. The top four teams in each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, along with any unbreakable ties for qualifying positions. Following is a rundown for each team in the Washington/Greene County area (section records as of Tuesday).
Class 6A Canon-McMillan (0-5) is two games back of the final playoff spot, currently held by Norwin. The Big Macs lost to the Knights by one point, and by two to fifth-place Hempfield the first time through section play. C-M will have to win both of those games the second time through to have a shot at qualifying.
Class 5A Peters Township (4-1) created a three-way tie for first with Bethel Park and Thomas Jefferson. The Indians won at Bethel Tuesday night but lost to Thomas Jefferson in triple overtime right after New Years. Trinity (2-3) currently holds the final playoff spot thanks to comfortable wins over Ringgold (1-4) and Connellsville.
Class 3A Wash High (6-0) leads the seven-team section, beating each team by at least 19 points the first time through. McGuffey (4-2) is tied with Yough for second place. Charleroi (2-4) is one game back of the final spot while Waynesburg (0-6) is three games off the pace.
Class 2A Fort Cherry (6-0) ran the table, the Rangers’ closest margin being a 10-point win over second place Chartiers-Houston (5-1), the Bucs’ only loss. Burgettstown (4-2) and Bentworth (3-3) hold the other playoff positions at the moment, having lost to each team above and beating each team below them in the standings. Carmichaels (2-4) is one game back while Beth-Center (0-6) is three off the pace with six games left.
Class 1A Section 1 Avella (1-4) is one game back of the final playoff spot, currently held by Western Beaver. The Eagles lost to the Golden Beavers, 76-37, in early January.
Class 1A Section 2 Jeff-Morgan (3-2) and Mapletown (2-3) hold the final two playoff spots behind Monessen and Geibel Catholic. West Greene (1-4) and California (0-5) trail the field with five games left.
January 18, 2023 3:46 am
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) – Brandon Staley will be back for a third season as the Los Angeles Chargers head coach. The same can not be said for some of his offensive staff. The team on Tuesday announced that offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterbacks coach Shane Day have been fired after two years. Criticism about Lombardi’s play-calling increased throughout the season. The Chargers were ranked ninth in total offense, but 20th in scrimmage yards per play along with the third-worst rushing attack in the league.
January 18, 2023 3:43 am
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Rafael Nadal says his hip was injured during a second-round loss at the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald. The 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 defeat abruptly ended Nadal’s title defense and bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam trophy. Nadal pulled up awkwardly at the end of a point late in the second set against the 65th-ranked McDonald on Wednesday. The No. 1-seeded Nadal was visited by a trainer on the sideline, then left the court for a medical timeout. Up in the stands, his wife wiped away tears. Nadal returned to play, but was physically compromised and not his usual chase-every-ball self.
January 17, 2023 3:54 pm
The girls high school basketball season is at/near the halfway point with most teams having played each section opponent once by now. The top four teams in each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, along with any unbreakable ties for qualifying positions. Following is a rundown for each of the teams in the Washington/Greene County area (section records as of Tuesday).
Class 6A Peters Township (3-3) is in a four-way battle for the final two playoff spots with Chartiers Valley, Bethel Park and Baldwin. Canon-McMillan (0-6) is three games back with six to play.
Class 5A Trinity (4-1) sits one game back of section leader South Fayette after Tuesday’s win at Lincoln Park.
Class 4A Ringgold (2-4) is in fifth place, one game back of Laurel Highlands for the final playoff spot. The Rams lost to the Mustangs, 49-44, Monday night.
Class 3A Waynesburg (4-1) is alone in first place, one game better than a three-team logjam in second. Charleroi, South Park and Yough are all 3-2. McGuffey (2-3) sits one game out of the playoff picture at the halfway point but the Highlanders’ win over Charleroi Monday night keeps them within reach.
Class 2A Section 2 Burgettstown (5-0) leads the way and needs only 1 win or losses by Sto-Rox and Northgate to clinch a playoff berth. Fort Cherry (3-2) is currently in third behind Burgettstown and Brentwood.
Class 2A Section 4 Wash High (6-0) leads this seven-team league by one game, having gone unbeaten the first time through. Chartiers-Houston (5-1), California (4-2) and Carmichaels (3-3) round out the top four, each losing only to the teams ahead of them in the standings. Bentworth (2-4) needs to pull a couple upsets while Beth-Center (0-7) is in danger of being eliminated.
Class 1A West Greene (5-0) leads the league, having now won 70 straight section games. The Pioneers’ last section loss was Feb. 2, 2016 to Jeff-Morgan. Avella (2-3) sits in fourth place, one game better than Mapletown (1-4). Jeff-Morgan (0-5) is two games back of the final playoff spot.
January 17, 2023 3:44 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jake Guentzel scored 33 seconds into overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins staged a late rally to pull out a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. The Penguins squandered a third-period lead but Bryan Rust tied it with 25 seconds remaining in regulation. Guentzel then won it with his 18th goal of the season as Pittsburgh snapped a two-game slide. John Klingberg and Trevor Zegras scored late in the third period to give the Ducks the lead before Pittsburgh’s push sent the Ducks to a fourth straight loss.
