ROCKY RIVER — The calendar wasn’t flipped two months early. And the location wasn’t Elyria. But Friday night’s heavyweight matchup between Lutheran West and Wellington had the look, feel and pace of a pressure-packed postseason game. If all goes according to plan, the Longhorns and Dukes should meet at the Division III sectional or district [...]

ELYRIA — It was a frustrating Friday night for Elyria Catholic at the Coliseum. The Panthers missed at least 10 easy shot attempts — known in basketball circles as “bunnies” — within two feet of the basket in a 50-43 North Coast League loss to Holy Name. “Time after time the ball looked like it [...]

BEREA — As the games have grown in importance, so has safety Sean Jones’ impact. He continued a run of eight strong weeks by making two of the most critical plays in the Browns’ 8-0 win over Buffalo last week. In the first quarter, he sprinted toward the sideline, dropped his shoulder and separated receiver [...]

BEREA — Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith can talk with the best of them, so he wasn’t about to stand by quietly when friend and former teammate Carson Palmer took a shot at him this week — even if it was a joke. “He’s looking hefty,” the Bengals quarterback said of Smith during a conference [...]

Of all things … So the other day I get this e-mail from Norman Chad. You all know who Norman Chad is, right? Couch Slouch? Funniest guy this side of that Frank Caliendo guy who does all the imitations on TV. Well, OK, he’s not that funny, but on any given day his is the only [...]

COLUMBUS — The jerseys will still say Florida and Ohio State on the front and it’s still basketball, five to a side. But today’s rematch between the Gators and Buckeyes is as far away from their showdown in last year’s national championship game as an NBA player’s salary is from a college kid’s meager checking [...]