BAKER CITY HERALD • TuEsDAY, JAnuARY 4, 2022 A5
SPORTS
Richardson, Young help Oregon rally, beat Utah 79-66
EUGENE (AP) — Will Rich-
ardson scored 23 of his ca-
reer-high 26 points in the second
half, Jacob Young had a sea-
son-high 22 points and Oregon
rallied from a nine-point sec-
ond-half deficit to beat Utah 79-
66 on Saturday night, Jan. 1.
De’Vion Harmon added 11
points for Oregon (8-6, 1-2 Pac-
12).
The Ducks made just one of
their first 10 field-goal attempts
and trailed most of the first half
before Both Gach hit a 3-pointer
to give Utah (8-6, 1-3) a 40-31
lead early in the second. Richard-
son and Young combined to score
15 points in a 17-2 run over the
next 3½ minutes that gave Oregon
the lead for good.
Richardson, who finished 9-of-
12 shooting and hit a career-high
five 3-pointers, scored Oregon’s
first nine points in an 11-4 spurt
that made it 67-57 when Young
drove the left side of the lane and
dropped a wrap-around pass
to N’Faly Dante for a two-hand
dunk with 5:22 to play. Young
hit a 3 about 2½ minutes later to
push the lead into double figures
for good.
Branden Carlson led the Utes
with 15 points, Marco Anthony
scored 14 and Lazar Stefanovic
added 10. David Jenkins Jr., who
scored 1,194 points in two years at
South Dakota State before leading
UNLV in scoring at 14.8 points
per game last season, fouled out
with 7 minutes to play and was
held scoreless for the first time
in his career. The redshirt junior
went into the game as Utah’s sec-
ond-leading scorer at 12.7 per
game while leading the Pac-12 in
both made 3s (37) and 3-point
field-goal percentage (.435).
Oregon seemed to crank up its
defensive intensity in the second
half, pressuring Utes ball handlers
into turnovers and scoring 20 of
the Ducks’ 22 fast-break points.
They shot 18 of 28 (64.3%) from
the field and 6 of 8 from 3-point
range while scoring 50 points af-
ter halftime.
The Ducks are 20-2 against
Utah under coach Dana Altman
and have won eight straight in the
series.
Zack Palmer/The Register-Guard
Oregon guard Jacob Young, shown here against the University of Portland on Dec. 15, 2021, scored 22 points to help the Ducks beat
Utah on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Eugene.
Penny, Metcalf lead Seahawks to 51-29 blowout of Lions
BY TIM BOOTH
Associated Press
SEATTLE — Russell Wilson
was the last off the field, wav-
ing his arms and stopping to
sign a few autographs for the
Seahawks fans who lingered in
the rain.
Heading into an offseason
with expected changes that
may include the franchise
quarterback, Wilson provided
at least one bright spot in Se-
attle’s home finale of an other-
wise disappointing season.
“I was just thinking about
joy and I was thinking about
our fans,” Wilson said. “I was
thinking about just, what a
special moment to be able
to, you know, win this game
at home for our fans and for
them to feel that energy again.”
Rashaad Penny rushed for a
career-high 170 yards and two
touchdowns, Wilson threw
three of his four TD passes to
DK Metcalf, and the Seattle Se-
ahawks routed the Detroit Li-
ons 51-29 on Sunday, Jan. 2.
Seattle (6-10) closed out its
home schedule with its most
impressive offensive showing
of the season, raising questions
about where those fireworks
have been for most of an un-
derachieving year.
Penny rumbled for 144
yards in the first half, while
Wilson threw TD passes to
Metcalf and Tyler Lockett as
Seattle built a 31-7 halftime
lead.
Penny has 481 yards rushing
over the past four weeks and
praised the performance of his
offensive line.
formance after several com-
petitive games. Three of the
Lions’ previous four losses had
been by four points or less.
“When we pulled it back
within two scores, I thought
this is a chance to get this
thing back in our our favor.
We’ll get a stop or turnover
and and now we make this a
one-possession game, and we
just couldn’t do it,” Detroit
coach Dan Campbell said.
“That really disappointed me
more than the other stuff.”
Tim Boyle made his sec-
ond straight start for Detroit
with Jared Goff out due to a
knee injury and was 22 of 37
for 262 yards and three inter-
ceptions in the second half.
He did have the highlight
Steph Chambers/Getty Images-TNS of throwing a 6-yard touch-
Quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks leads his team onto the field to start the NFC Wild Card down pass to left tackle Taylor
Decker in the third quarter to
Playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field last January. in Seattle. With possible changes
pull Detroit within 38-22.
in the offseason, Wilson might have played his last home game for the Seahawks in a 51-29 win over De-
St. Brown finished with
troit on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.
eight catches for 111 yards.
but never returned.
“When we were really at
“It means a lot having them
Carroll said Wagner was
guys and then my job is easy,” our very best we were at our
Penny’s big half
Penny said. “There’s a big hole most balanced,” Seattle coach having an MRI.
Penny topped his previous
The futures of Wagner, Wil- career high of 137 yards in
Pete Carroll said. “That’s
there, all you have to do is
son and Carroll — the trio
maybe hard to get excited
hit it.”
the first half. It was the most
that helped bring the Sea-
about it. Whatever, I don’t
Wilson added a third TD
yards rushing by a Seahawks
care. That’s a great way to play hawks their lone Super Bowl player in the first half of any
to Metcalf on the third play
title — have been debated
this game.”
of the second half. Wilson
game and the most in a half
with Seattle set to finish off its since Shaun Alexander had
Despite the offensive fire-
finished 20 of 29 for 236
worst season since 2009.
yards, while Metcalf had a ca- works, it wasn’t all good for
192 yards in the second half
“I hope so. I hope that’s the of a 2001 game against the
Seattle. On Detroit’s first of-
reer-high three touchdown
case,” Wilson said of being
fensive play, Seahawks line-
catches. Metcalf has 12 TD
Raiders.
back in 2022. “Take it one day
catches this season, also a ca- backer Bobby Wagner suf-
Penny also had the sec-
at a time but today was really ond-most yards rushing of any
fered a sprained knee when
reer best.
he slipped and fell awkwardly about our team.”
It was the fifth 50-point
player in a half this season,
Amon-Ra St. Brown ran for trailing only Dalvin Cook’s
game in franchise history and trying to defend a screen pass
for Jamaal Williams. He even- one touchdown and caught
first since 2012 when Seattle
153 yards in the first half for
another for the Lions (2-13-1), Minnesota against Pittsburgh.
tually walked to the sideline
beat Buffalo 50-17 in a game
who turned in a lackluster per-
and then to the locker room
played in Toronto.
“We wanted to be physical
and coaches had all the faith
in us to continue to dial them
up, and Penny is just really
running with a lot of con-
fidence, really been playing
inspired,” Seattle left tackle
Duane Brown said.
Rookie records
St. Brown joined Leonard
Thompson in 1981 as the only
Lions wide receivers to score
a touchdown rushing and re-
ceiving in the same game.
The last Lions wide receiver
to rush for a touchdown was
Calvin Johnson in 2007.
St. Brown also became the
first Detroit rookie to have
touchdown catches in three
straight games since Dave
Middleton in 1955.
Referee concern
Referee Tony Corrente was
helped off the field by athletic
trainers after dropping to one
knee on the field following a
play midway through the third
quarter.
Medical personnel imme-
diately rushed off both side-
lines and Corrente eventu-
ally walked off the field and
toward the Seahawks locker
room with a Seattle trainer
holding his arm. Corrente
returned at the start of the
fourth quarter.
Carroll said a player col-
lided with Corrente.
Up next
Lions: Host Green Bay in
the season finale next Sunday.
Seahawks: Close out the sea-
son next Sunday at Arizona.
OSAA might allow high James scores season-high
school athletes to profit 43, Lakers beat Trail Blazers
Oregon School Activities
Association Executive Di-
rector Peter Weber told the
PORTLAND — Last
summer, new rules allowed Oregonian/OregonLive that
college athletes the ability to the OSAA and the OSAA’s
profit off their name, image Executive Board have had
discussions on the topic.
and likeness (NIL).
Weber said the OSAA has
Immediately, college
been monitoring what is
stars like Oregon football
player Kayvon Thibodeaux happening in New York and
will have language for the
and basketball player Se-
board to review during the
dona Prince were able to
Feb. 7 meeting.
start cashing in on their
Central Catholic football
brands, including sponsor-
coach Steve Pyne said he
ship and non-fungible to-
was not aware that this was
ken (NFT) deals.
But could the same rules something that the OSAA
be extended to those in the
was discussing, but raised
high school ranks? It’s a little equity concerns as the only
closer than one might think. student-athletes who would
While the National Fed- likely profit from their NIL
eration of State High School are those who also would
Associations was quick to
benefit at the college level.
respond in July that high
“It makes sense to me
schoolers would not be able at the college level as the
to profit from NIL, many
NCAA makes millions of
states have since switched
dollars off of the athletes,”
their positions. High school he said. “My hope is that it
student-athletes in states
does not happen.”
like California and New
Weber agreed that NIL
York can profit via NIL.
deals could lead to equity
And Oregon could be join- concerns, adding that the
ing those ranks soon.
OSAA is monitoring what
BY NIK STRENG
The Oregonian
other states are doing before
creating their own language.
To avoid certain ineq-
uities while allowing stu-
dent-athletes to profit
from their NIL, Califor-
nia and New York both
employ a rule that stu-
dent-athletes are able to
participate in commercial
endorsements so long as
they are not affiliated with
their schools or the state
athletic association.
“They can’t be wearing
their school uniform or re-
fer to their school or sec-
tion,” said New York State
Public High School Athletic
Association spokesperson
Chris Watson.
Pyne, whose Rams won
the 2021 OSAA 6A football
state championship, is no
stranger to student-athletes
who could profit from these
types of deals. Rams junior
tight end Riley Williams
will likely be the top recruit
coming out of Oregon’s
class of 2022 and would be
a top target for high school
NIL sponsorships.
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BY JOE REEDY
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — One day
after quietly celebrating his 37th
birthday at home with his family,
LeBron James put on an age-defy-
ing performance.
James became the oldest player
in NBA history to have a game
with at least 40 points and 14 re-
bounds, scoring a season-high
43 on Friday night, Dec. 31 as the
Los Angeles Lakers rolled to a
139-106 victory over the Portland
Trail Blazers.
According to Sportradar, the
oldest player to have a 40-14 game
was Larry Bird, who was 35 when
he had 49 points and 14 boards for
the Boston Celtics in 1992 (which
coincidentally also came against
the Trail Blazers).
“I don’t feel like I have been in
the league 19 years. When I am
daily reminded of it, I feel it some-
times,” James said after his 67th
40-point game of his career and
sixth in four seasons with the Lak-
ers. “Sometimes you do have to re-
mind people you can still do what
you can do at a high level.”
James was 16 of 26 from the field
and made five 3-pointers in a game
where the Lakers led throughout.
“If that’s what our team needs to
win, I’m OK with that,” said James,
who during the last seven games
— including Friday — is averag-
ing 36 points and has made 57.8%
of his shots from the field. “I’m
not a guy who goes out and sees
if I can jack up a bunch of shots.
The streak I have been on with my
scoring I have been efficient. I take
pride in that as a player.”
His seven-game streak is not an
anomaly: He’s done it four other
times. But this is the first since he
was with Miami Heat in February
2013. James’ longest stretch is 10
with the Cleveland Cavaliers late in
the 2005-06 season.
The Lakers were up 69-54 at
halftime on 27 points from James,
who went coast-to-coast for a dunk
to give Los Angeles a 53-37 advan-
tage midway through the second
quarter. He topped the 40-point
mark on a 3-pointer from 27 feet
out with 8:25 remaining to put the
Lakers up 109-84.
Los Angeles’ largest lead was 35
in the game’s final minute.
“This is just LeBron James play-
ing at a superior level more than
what is happening around him,”
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.
“While (Anthony Davis) is out, he
is intent on doing everything he
can to pile up wins and play at an
extra-high level.”
Malik Monk scored 18 points,
Carmelo Anthony added 16 points
and Russell Westbrook (15 points,
13 rebounds, 12 assists) recorded
his ninth triple-double this season
for the Lakers, who had dropped
six of their last seven coming into
the game.
Portland’s Ben McLemore
came off the bench to tie his sea-
son-high with 28 points in his
first game back after clearing the
league’s health and safety protocols.
Damian Lillard added 18 points
for the Trail Blazers, who have
dropped four straight and 11 of
their last 13.
“I don’t think we played with
enough force. They dictated the
start,” said Portland assistant coach
Scott Brooks, who is directing the
team while head coach Chauncey
Billups is in the league’s COVID-19
protocols. “They were attacking on
both ends of the floor and we were
back on our heels. You can’t do that
against good teams. We gave them
too much respect.”
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