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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015 SPORTS 7A Blazers’ rally comes up short against Suns PHOENIX (AP) — Sea- son-high points by Eric Bled- soe with 33 and Isaiah Thomas with 27 saved the Phoenix Suns after they watched a 25-point ¿UVWKDOI OHDG HYDSRUDWH EXW still topped the Portland Trail Blazers 118-113 on Wednesday night. The Blazers (31-12) went up 110-105 with 2:22 to play on a 3-pointer from leading scorer 1LFRODV %DWXP ZKR ¿QLVKHG with 27 points. But the Suns went on a 13-3 run to close the game and win their seventh straight home game. Portland got 22 points each for Damian Lillard and Wes- ley Matthews and 10 rebounds from Batum. The Suns (26-18) have their longest home win streak of the season and longest since eight straight during the 2009-2010 season. The Blazers had a chance to go ahead again with 20 sec- ond left, but Lillard missed a baseline jumper and fouled the Suns’ P.J. Tucker. A missed free throw by Ba- tum also cost the Blazers a chance to tie the game at 114. Portland’s last chance to tie was lost when Lillard stepped out of bounds try- ing to catch a high inbounds pass with 9.8 seconds left. The Blazers, losers of four RI ¿YH SOD\HG ZLWKRXW VWDU forward LaMarcus Aldridge because of a left hand injury. They still overcame their worst GHIHQVLYH ¿UVW TXDUWHU RI WKH season and outscored Phoenix 80-60 from the 5:10 mark of the second. But they couldn’t pull it out. The Suns outscored the Blazers 27-2 over nine minutes EHWZHHQ WKH ¿UVW DQG VHFRQG TXDUWHUV WR WDNH FRQWURO 3RUW- land went scoreless over the ODVW WKUHH PLQXWHV RI WKH ¿UVW and almost three minutes of the second before Will Barton’s layup. Gerald Green lobbed to Miles Plumlee for a dunk, and Phoenix led 53-31 at the 6:09 mark of the second. The Blaz- ers trailed by as many as 25 but cut the lead to 14, 66-52, at halftime. SCOREBOARD PREP SCHEDULE TODAY Girls Basketball — Catlin Ga- bel at Warrenton, 6 p.m.; Ilwaco at Ocosta, 7 p.m. Boys Basketball — Catlin Gabel at Warrenton, 7:45 p.m. Swimming — Seaside at Astoria, 4 p.m. FRIDAY Boys Basketball — Tillamook at Astoria, 5:30 p.m.; Seaside at Banks, 5:30 p.m.; Neah-Kah-Nie at Knappa, 7:45 p.m.; Jewell at Coun- try Christian, 7 p.m.; Raymond at Ilwaco, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball — Tillamook at Astoria, 7:15 p.m.; Seaside at Banks, 7:15 p.m.; Neah-Kah-Nie at Knappa, 6 p.m.; Jewell at Country Christian, 5:30 p.m. Wrestling — Astoria at Tillamook Invitational, Noon SATURDAY Boys Basketball — NW Christian at Ilwaco, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball — NW Christian at Ilwaco, 5:45 p.m. Wrestling — Ilwaco at Coyote Classic, Kittitas, 10 a.m. BASKETBALL HIGH SCHOOLS Standings Boys Lewis & Clark League League Overall Portland Adv 8-1 9-7 Clatskanie 7-2 11-5 De La Salle 7-2 10-6 Rainier 6-3 6-9 Catlin Gabel 5-4 11-6 Riverdale 2-6 5-11 OR Episcopal 2-7 7-10 Warrenton 2-7 8-9 Portland Chr 1-8 3-15 Northwest League Nestucca 6-1 11-5 Knappa 5-1 12-4 Vernonia 5-1 8-8 City Christian 4-4 8-9 Delphian 3-3 7-7 Faith Bible 2-4 5-10 Gaston 1-5 4-12 Neah-Kah-Nie 0-7 3-14 Girls Lewis & Clark League Portland Adv 8-1 10-6 Portland Chr 8-1 15-3 Rainier 8-1 11-5 De La Salle 5-4 5-12 OR Episcopal 4-5 9-8 Clatskanie 4-5 8-9 Riverdale 1-7 3-11 Catlin Gabel 1-8 4-13 Warrenton 1-8 1-16 Northwest League City Christian 6-1 8-7 Vernonia 5-0 13-2 Faith Bible 4-1 9-4 Knappa 2-3 8-8 Gaston 2-4 5-11 Neah-Kah-Nie 1-5 6-7 Nestucca 0-6 3-13 AP Photos/Ross D. Franklin Portland Trail Blazers’ Thomas Robinson, left, strips the ball from Phoenix Suns’ Isaiah Thomas during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 118-113. The Blazers rallied in the IRXUWK TXDUWHU WULPPLQJ WKH Suns’ lead to 93-86 with 8:57 left after Dorell Wright’s con- ventional three-point play. Phoenix’s lead was four points until Thomas scored on a soaring layup and drew a blocking foul on Wright, mak- ing the score 99-92 after a free throw. Thomas kept the Blazers at bay with another basket with 5:59 to go, giving the Suns a six-point lead. But the Blazers stormed ahead 105-102 with 4:05 left on the 3-pointer from Batum. The Suns tied a season high IRU SRLQWV LQ D ¿UVW ZLWK and the total was the most the Blazers have surrendered in any opening period this season. Still, the Blazers maintain a comfortable lead in the NBA’s Northwest Division. Thomas scored nine of the 6XQVODVWSRLQWVRIWKH¿UVW and had 13 in the decisive run. Green scored 10 of his 12 SRLQWVLQWKHVHFRQGTXDUWHU Tip-ins Blazers: Batum eclipsed his season high by 10 points, and his six 3-pointers were also a season best. ... Wright, who started in place of Aldridge, scored a season high 15 points. Suns: Phoenix has won seven straight at home over the Blazers. The Suns are 17-2 against Portland in 19 home games since January of 2005. The Suns are now 4-0 at the halfway point of their longest homestand in club history, eight games. They are home through Jan. 30. ...Thomas made the move of the game when he purposely slowed down his dribble while looking away, causing defender C.J. McCol- lum to slow his pace. Suddenly 7KRPDVURVHXSDQGKLWDTXLFN jumper with 2.8 seconds left in WKH¿UVWTXDUWHU Up next Blazers: Host Boston to- night. Suns: Host Houston Friday night. Portland Trail Blaz- ers’ Will Barton (5) drives past Phoenix Suns’ Isaiah Thomas (3) during the first half of an NBA bas- ketball game Wednesday in Phoenix. 3DWULRWV¶FRDFKVD\VKHGRHVQ¶WNQRZKRZEDOOVZHUHGHÀDWHG FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Bill Beli- chick said today he doesn’t know KRZ IRRWEDOOV EHFDPH GHÀDWHG during the game that got his team to the Super Bowl. But Belichick declined to DQVZHU TXHVWLRQV DIWHU VD\LQJ he knew nothing about accusa- tions that his team cheated with XQGHULQÀDWHGIRRWEDOOVLQLWVZLQ against the Colts in the AFC championship game. The NFL is investigating. “I had no knowledge of this situation until Monday morn- ing,” said Belichick, who said he was “shocked” to learn the news. “I would say I’ve learned a lot more about this process in the last three days than I knew or have talked about it in the last 40 years that I’ve coached in this league,” Belichick said. “I had no knowledge of the various steps HTXLSPHQWPDQDJHUVDUHNQRZQ to have very individualized pref- erences in how footballs are read- ied for games. Belichick said he was unaware of the process for game balls until the accusations were raised. Belichick says he sometimes KHDUV TXDUWHUEDFNV NLFNHUV DQG other specialists talk about their preferences. “I can tell you and they will tell you that there is never any sympathy from me whatsoever AP Photo/Elise Amendola on that subject. Zero,” Belichick New England Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick reacts said. during a news conference prior to a team practice in Fox- 3DWULRWV TXDUWHUEDFN 7RP borough, Mass., today. Belichick addressed the issue of Brady is expected to address re- the NFL investigation of deflated footballs. porters later Thursday. Belichick says the Patriots involved in the game balls and balls, or absolve anyone besides JRLQJIRUZDUGZLOOLQÀDWHIRRW- process that went through.” himself of potential wrongdoing. balls to a safe level to prevent Belichick did not specify who Softer balls are generally con- them from dropping below in the Patriots organization was sidered easier to throw and catch, allowable air pressure during UHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKHXQGHULQÀDWHG DQGTXDUWHUEDFNVVSHFLDOLVWVDQG games. “We will take steps in the fu- ture to make sure that we don’t put ourselves in this type of situa- tion again,” he said. The coach who has won three Super Bowls said he generally forces players to practice under bad ball conditions. “Anytime players complain DERXWWKHTXDOLW\RIWKHIRRWEDOOV I make it worse and that stops the complaints,” he said. The issue has drawn strong reaction from around the game and its fans as the Patriots pre- pare to play the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona, for the NFL title. Belichick declined to answer VHYHUDOTXHVWLRQVDIWHUKLVRSHQ- ing remarks at his press confer- HQFH DQVZHULQJ VHYHUDO TXHV- tions by saying: “I’ve told you everything I know,” and “I don’t have an explanation.” Scherzer’s $210M deal done, Nationals think about ‘winning’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Forgive Washington Nationals owner Mark Lerner if he got swept up in the scene. Speaking after a news con- ference Wednesday to announce the addition — via a $210 mil- lion, seven-year contract — of 2013 AL Cy Young Award win- ner Max Scherzer, Lerner was thinking big thoughts. After all, the club’s starting rotation, at least for the moment, also in- cludes Stephen Strasburg, Jor- dan Zimmermann, Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez. “If they all stay healthy,” be- gan Lerner, whose father, Ted, is the team’s principal owner, “I guess it’s a possibility we may give up the fewest runs in National League history during a 162-game schedule, which is amazing.” Let the speculation begin, then. Who will start on opening day, an honor that’s gone to Strasburg the past three years? How good could this staff be? As it is, in 2014, Washing- ton’s starters led the majors with a 3.04 ERA. How far can those pitchers take the Nationals, who won the NL East in 2012 and again last season before bowing out in one more than the Philadelphia Phillies won after assembling Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt. Still, if that’s the discussion connected to the Nationals now, it represents a sea change from where this franchise stood a half-dozen years ago. It was noteworthy to hear the word “winning” over and over Wednesday at Nationals Park, where the scoreboard displayed a “Welcome to D.C.” greeting for Scherzer and his wife, and AP Photo/Evan Vucci the diamond was covered by the Washington Nationals’ manager Matt Williams, left, and gener- afternoon’s dusting of snow. al manager Mike Rizzo, right, look on as pitcher Max Scherzer This is a club that lost 100 puts on a jersey during an introductory news conference at Na- games in both 2008 and 2009 tionals Park, Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Scherzer signed DQG IRXQG LW GLI¿FXOW WR DWWUDFW a $210 million, seven-year contract to join the Nationals. top talent in free agency, but the perception has changed. Washington’s opening playoff with anybody’s in our division, “There’s no doubt about it,” series each time? our league and maybe in base- Rizzo said. “We’ve got a lot of And, perhaps most intrigu- ball,” Rizzo said, “and compete good baseball people around ingly, will general manager against them.” here. We’ve got a lot of good Mike Rizzo keep that group in- Of course, things don’t al- professionals. The selling por- tact? Or will he wind up trading ZD\V VKDSH XS RQ WKH ¿HOG WKH WLRQ RI LW IURP ¿YH \HDUV DJR someone, perhaps Zimmermann way they do during the offsea- to today is night and day. We or Fister, who can both become son. certainly have no problem with free agents after next season? 7KH WHUUL¿F $WODQWD %UDYHV players wanting to be Washing- 8QWLOWKRVHODVWWZRTXHVWLRQV group that included three Hall ton Nationals.” are answered, Rizzo certainly of Famers in Greg Maddux, Asked what reasons led shares Lerner’s enthusiasm for Tom Glavine and John Smoltz him to sign with Washington, the current collection of arms. wound up with only one World Scherzer replied, “One: win- “We’ll stack our rotation up Series championship. That’s ning. I think this team is capable of winning and winning a lot. When you look at the near term and long term, this is an organi- zation you want to be a part of.” The size of the contract prob- ably didn’t hurt, either. The 30-year-old Scherzer, who became a free agent after VSHQGLQJ WKH SDVW ¿YH VHDVRQV with the Detroit Tigers, received the most guaranteed dollars for a right-handed pitcher in big league history. “I don’t play this game for money,” said Scherzer, who was 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA in 2014, a year after going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA, “but yet at the same time, when you have an offer like that, it just makes you go, ‘Wow.”’ The deal includes a record $50 million signing bonus, of which $5 million is due this year and $15 million each in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The total payments of the contract are spread over 14 years, reducing the present-day value and making it palatable for the Nationals. “If that didn’t happen, there wouldn’t have been a deal,” Mark Lerner said. “We had to PDNHLWZRUNIRUXV¿QDQFLDOO\ It was really my father and Mike coming up with a creative deal.”