By BRIAN MAHONEY

AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Joakim Noah gave a meek smile, looking as if he was hiding either the truth or the pain.

Asked how his sore right foot felt, he replied unconvincingly: “Feels great.”

It probably didn’t, but a big playoff victory surely eased some of the aches.

Noah gutted his way through an injury that made it difficult to even run in Game 1, making three fourth-quarter baskets as the Chicago Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets 90-82 on Monday night to tie their first-round series at one game apiece.

“Just found a way,” Noah said. “It feels great to come out with a win tonight. We showed a lot of resiliency.

“To come out in the biggest moment of our season and play the way that we played was huge.”

Carlos Boozer had 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Luol Deng bounced back from a poor opener with 15 points and 10 boards for the Bulls, who became the first team to win a road game this postseason.

They did it the only way they know how: with bruising Bulls defense.

“I feel like overall our team played passionate basketball tonight and that’s a plus, because it was ugly in that Game 1,” Noah said.

Chicago held the Nets to two baskets in the third quarter to build a big enough lead to hold off a charge in the fourth.

Noah finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls, who host Game 3 on Thursday.

“I thought overall, I thought Jo was very rusty in the first game but willed it, and I thought he willed it again tonight and we needed every bit of it,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “To me, it’s obvious we’re a much better team with him on the floor.”

Brook Lopez scored 21 points for the Nets, who shot 35 percent from the field and were just 4 of 21 from 3-point range. Star point guard Deron Williams was 1 of 9, finishing with eight points.

“We didn’t get stops, which was the key for us because then we couldn’t get out and run like we wanted to,” Williams said. “We have to do a better job defensively next game. I’ve got to do a better job of everything really. This was a bad one for me.”

After an unrecognizable defensive effort in a 106-89 loss in Game 1, when they allowed the Nets to shoot 16 of 20 in the second quarter, the Bulls got back to the mentality that has helped them overcome a number of injuries, including the season-long absence of Derrick Rose.

Noah, who has battled plantar fasciitis and whose status was in question coming into the series, played 25 1/2 minutes, just passing the 20-to-25 that Thibodeau said he would be limited to.

The All-Star center, who grew up and played high school basketball here, missed 12 of the final 15 games of the regular season. He was ineffective in 13 minutes Saturday, finishing with four points, but he was all over the court in the second half Monday, scoring 11 points and grabbing seven rebounds and fighting for any loose ball he could get near.

“He’s willing it is what he’s doing, and to his credit,” Thibodeau said.

Joe Johnson scored 17 points but shot 6 of 18 for the Nets, who couldn’t even reach the 87.5 points they averaged against the Bulls in the regular season, let alone the 106 they rang up in the opener.

Two nights after the first major postseason game in Brooklyn since the 1956 World Series, the crowd wasn’t as energetic and neither were the Nets, who didn’t give the fans much to cheer about with poor starts in both halves.

“Our execution when they made an adjustment or when they increased the defensive pressure, we didn’t handle it or react as well as we need to,” Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said.

The Nets didn’t make their first field goal of the third quarter until Williams’ only basket of the game with 6:35 remaining in the period. Reggie Evans dunked less than a minute later, but that was about it for the Nets’ offense.

Boozer converted a three-point play to start a 9-2 run to end the period, and Chicago was ahead 69-57.

Brooklyn was 2 of 19 (10.5 percent) in the quarter, missing all three 3-point attempts. Noah’s low-scoring backup, Nazr Mohammed, had as many baskets in the period as the Nets.

Chicago pushed it to 14 points early in the fourth before Brooklyn cut it to five. Noah had two baskets around a 3-pointer from Nate Robinson as the Bulls seemed in control again with an 80-68 lead, but Johnson hit two 3-pointers in an 8-0 surge that trimmed it to 80-76 with 4:12 to play.

But Johnson missed an open 3-pointer that could have cut it to one, and back-to-back baskets by Deng and Noah extended the lead to 86-78.

The Nets were trying for their first 2-0 lead in a series since the first round in 2004, when they swept the Knicks. But they couldn’t get the quick pace that favored them in Game 1, forcing themselves to beat Chicago’s defense in the half court, and they couldn’t do it.

There were even some boos from the fans who stuck around to the end and had lost interest much earlier. The overhead video board encouraged them to wave towels during a third-quarter timeout, but it seemed it was mostly missed or ignored, as there was no noticeable response.

The Nets missed eight of their first 10 shots, allowing the Bulls to get into the defensive game they need. Brooklyn shot just 33 percent in the first quarter, missed five of its six 3-point attempts, and Chicago led 20-17.

The second quarter is where it got away from the Bulls on Saturday, but this time they methodically increased their lead to seven midway through the period. A 12-3 run by the Nets, capped by three straight jumpers by Lopez from about the same spot, gave them a 39-37 lead, though Chicago quickly stopped the momentum by answering with six straight and let 47-46 at the break.

Kirk Hinrich finished with 13 points and Robinson had 11.

Notes: This will be the first Chicago-Nets series that isn’t a sweep. The Bulls won 3-0 in the first round in 1998 during their last title run. ... Former New York Giants teammates Justin Tuck and Michael Strahan sat together. ... The 11 points tied the Nets’ franchise record-low for the third quarter in a playoff game.

By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) — Mike Napoli hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Will Middlebrooks busted out of a slump with a three-run homer and the Boston Red Sox rebounded from a doubleheader sweep by beating the Oakland Athletics 9-6 on Monday night.

The Red Sox, swept by Kansas City Sunday, scored three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth. Napoli’s fourth career slam keyed the five-run fifth and helped end Oakland’s eight-game winning streak against Boston.

The Athletics dropped their season-high fourth straight.

Felix Doubront (2-0) allowed three runs on three hits, walking five. He also threw two wild pitches and struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings.

A.J. Griffin (2-1) was tagged for a career-worst nine runs — seven earned — and eight hits in four-plus innings.

RANGERS 7, ANGELS 6

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A.J. Pierzynski hit a tiebreaking homer with two outs in the ninth inning, and Texas rallied from a late three-run deficit for a 7-6 win over the Angels.

Mitch Moreland had three hits and drove in a run for the Rangers, who also got three hits from Elvis Andrus in their fourth consecutive victory, snapping the Angels’ three-game winning streak.

Chris Iannetta doubled in the go-ahead run and Luis Jimenez got his first career RBIs on a two-run single while the Angels took a 6-3 lead in the sixth inning, but Texas tied it with three runs in the seventh.

Pierzynski then hit his fourth homer of the season to right off Angels closer Ernesto Frieri (0-1).

Tanner Scheppers (2-0) pitched two innings of one-hit relief for the Rangers, and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his sixth save.

Josh Hamilton had four hits against his former team after getting bumped out of the cleanup spot.

ORIOLES 2, BLUE JAYS 1

BALTIMORE (AP) — Nick Markakis singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Orioles a victory over the Blue Jays.

Toronto reliever Aaron Loup (1-2) began the ninth by hitting Chris Davis with a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt, Steve Pearce popped out and Nolan Reimold received an intentional walk before Alexi Casilla reached on a throwing error by shortstop Munenori Kawasaki that loaded the bases.

Markakis then sliced an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field near the left-field line.

Jim Johnson (1-1) worked a perfect ninth for the Orioles, now 5-2 on a nine-game homestand that ends Wednesday.

RAYS 5, YANKEES 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Matt Moore became the first Rays pitcher to win his first four starts of a season, Ryan Roberts homered twice and Tampa Bay beat CC Sabathia and the Yankees.

Moore (4-0) allowed one run, two hits, three walks and had nine strikeouts over eight innings. Roberts connected in the first and third to help the Rays take an early 5-0 lead.

Yankees infielder Kevin Youkilis, who left Saturday’s game at Toronto with lower back stiffness, was a late scratch Monday after the back tightened up following batting practice.

Sabathia (3-2) had a three-game winning streak end. The left-hander gave up five runs and seven hits over seven innings.

INDIANS 3, WHITE SOX 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Asdrubal Cabrera hit a clutch two-run single in his return to the lineup and the Indians used a throwing error by reliever Matt Thornton to rally for a victory over the White Sox.

Justin Masterson (4-1) pitched seven effective innings to help the Indians win their third straight. They have won three of four this season against the White Sox.

Cleveland had runners on first and second with one out in the eighth when Thornton (0-1) threw wildly to second while trying to pick off Drew Stubbs. Both runners moved up as the ball went into center field.

Jason Kipnis struck out for the second out, but Cabrera hit a liner to center to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead.

MARINERS 7, ASTROS 1

HOUSTON (AP) — Felix Hernandez pitched six scoreless innings for his 100th career win and Seattle homered three times to back him up in a victory over the Astros

Hernandez (2-2) reached the milestone in his fourth try to join Jamie Moyer (145) and Randy Johnson (130) as the only pitchers to reach 100 wins with the Mariners.

Hernandez allowed five hits and struck out nine to lower his ERA to 2.08.

Kyle Seager, Jesus Montero and Kendrys Morales all homered for the Mariners, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Rick Ankiel hit a solo homer in the seventh inning for the Astros, who dropped to 5-14 — the second-worst start in franchise history, according to STATS. They opened 4-20 in 1969.

Houston starter Brad Peacock (1-2) yielded nine hits and seven runs — both season highs — in 4 1-3 innings.

By The Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Daniel Sedin had a goal and an assist to help the Vancouver Canucks lock up their fifth straight Northwest Division title with a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night.

Jannik Hansen and Zack Kassian also scored for the Canucks, who won their eighth in a row at home and are guaranteed of home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Henrik Sedin added two assists and Cory Schneider made 24 saves for the Canucks, who have put some distance between themselves and slumping Minnesota in the past few weeks.

Daniel Carcillo scored for Chicago, which trailed 1-0 after the first period and 3-0 after the second. Cory Crawford made 29 saves as the NHL-leading Blackhawks made clinching first place overall a bit more difficult with a second straight loss.

The Blackhawks are trying to win their first Presidents’ Trophy since 1991, when Mike Keenan was coach. Chicago has 73 points with three games remaining, while Pittsburgh has 70 with three games also left on its schedule.

DUCKS 3, OILERS 0

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Viktor Fasth made 24 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and Anaheim beat Edmonton to clinch the Pacific Division title.

Ryan Getzlaf, Radek Dvorak and Sami Vatanen scored for the Ducks, who won back-to-back games in Edmonton to win their first division title since 2007 — the year they went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Oilers have lost eight of their last nine games and seem destined for yet another high draft pick in the offseason.

Anaheim officially eliminated the Oilers from contention Sunday, making them the team with the longest active postseason drought at seven consecutive seasons.

PENGUINS 3, SENATORS 1

OTTAWA (AP) — Tomas Vokoun made 34 saves and Dustin Jeffrey had a goal and an assist to lead Pittsburgh to its seventh straight victory with a win over Ottawa.

Jarome Iginla and Tyler Kennedy also scored, and Brenden Morrow had two assists for the Penguins, who have already clinched first place in the Eastern Conference.

Patrick Wiercioch scored and Craig Anderson stopped 21 shots for the Senators, who didn’t get any help when Winnipeg beat Buffalo 2-1. The Jets now trail the Senators and New York Rangers by just a single point for the final playoff spot in the conference. Both the seventh-place Rangers and eighth-place Senators have a game in hand on Winnipeg.

JETS 2, SABRES 1

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Antti Miettinen scored with 7:36 left to keep surging Winnipeg in the playoff race with a win over Buffalo.

Ondrej Pavelec stopped 24 shots, including a huge glove save on Thomas Vanek with 5:45 left to preserve the victory. Winnipeg improved 6-0-1 in its past seven and moved within a point of the idle New York Rangers, who hold the East’s eighth and final playoff spot.

The Jets also crept within a point of Southeast Division-leading Washington, setting up a critical showdown on Tuesday, when Winnipeg travels to play the Capitals.

Aaron Gagnon also scored for Winnipeg, while Vanek scored the lone goal for Buffalo.

RED WINGS 4, COYOTES 0

DETROIT (AP) — Johan Franzen scored twice and Jimmy Howard had 34 saves to help Detroit beat Phoenix for two desperately needed points in the Red Wings’ push to make the playoffs.

The Wings moved within a point of eighth-place Columbus in the Western Conference and are hoping to finish the last three games of the regular season strong enough to extend the franchise’s postseason streak to 22 years.

Damien Brunner scored late in the first period and Valtteri Filppula had a power-play goal late in the second for Detroit, which had won only one of its previous six games.

The Coyotes are five points behind the Blue Jackets and on the brink of elimination.

NL Capsules

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Yadier Molina drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, backing Shelby Miller’s strong start Monday night, and the St. Louis Cardinals returned to the site of their Game 5 NL division series victory last season with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

The other big hit for St. Louis was Allen Craig’s two-run double in the third.

Miller (3-1) struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits.

All the Cardinals’ runs came against Dan Haren (1-3), who gave up three runs and six hits in five-plus innings.

Edward Mujica pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save. The Cardinals have alternated wins and losses over their last nine games.

Washington has lost seven of 10.

GIANTS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brandon Belt hit a game-winning single in the ninth inning after Buster Posey tied the score with a two-run homer in the eighth, and San Francisco rallied to beat Arizona for its seventh straight victory at home.

Posey’s drive to straightaway center was his second homer of the year, both in the past two days.

Belt’s first career game-ending hit came against Tony Sipp (1-1), who allowed a leadoff single to Andres Torres. Brandon Crawford sacrificed him to second.

Jose Mijares struck out two in the ninth before yielding Cliff Pennington’s double. Sergio Romo (1-1) relieved in a double switch as Belt entered at first base. Romo retired pinch-hitter Eric Hinske on a first-pitch grounder.

Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley hit his first career home run and Eric Chavez also connected.

PHILLIES 3, PIRATES 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jimmy Rollins hit a tiebreaking single in the sixth inning and Jonathan Pettibone had an impressive major league debut to lead Philadelphia past Pittsburgh.

Pettibone allowed two runs and six hits, striking out six in 5 1-3 innings. Raul Valdes (1-0) got two outs in the sixth and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his fourth save.

Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin hit solo homers for the Pirates on a chilly night when the temperature dipped below 50 degrees.

Pirates starter A.J. Burnett gave up two runs and five hits, fanning seven in five innings. Jared Hughes (1-2) retired his first two batters in the sixth before running into trouble.

REDS 5, CUBS 4, 13 INNINGS

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jay Bruce hit a tying double and scored on Cesar Izturis’ two-out single in the 13th inning, rallying Cincinnati to a victory that gave Chicago its fourth straight loss.

Luis Valbuena hit a two-run homer in the top of the 13th off Alfredo Simon (2-1) for a 4-2 Cubs lead.

Michael Bowden (0-1) couldn’t hold it. He gave up a single by Xavier Paul, Brandon Phillips’ double and Bruce’s two-run double that tied it.

Izturis’ single past diving shortstop Starlin Castro sent the Reds to their seventh victory in eight games on their homestand.

Bruce also hit his first homer of the season to start Cincinnati’s comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the seventh.

The Cubs have dropped seven of eight and 12 of 15, leaving them in last place in the NL Central at 5-13. David DeJesus hit a leadoff homer for Chicago.

BREWERS 7, PADRES 1

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer and Yuniesky Betancourt had a three-run shot off Jason Marquis in the first inning to help Milwaukee beat San Diego for its eighth straight victory.

Kyle Lohse (1-1) went five innings, allowing one run and five hits, but left in the sixth after dislocating his left pinkie on a play at first base. He said he expects to make his next start.

Marquis (1-2) was rocked for seven runs in four-plus innings as the Padres dropped their fourth in a row overall and sixth straight at home.

The homer for Braun was his sixth of the season. He added an RBI single in the fifth and has 19 RBIs.

Jefferson grabs NWC baseball triumph

SPENCERVILLE — Jefferson rallied from a 1-run deficit in the fourth inning and shut out Spencerville over the final three frames to knock off Spencerville 10-7 in a Northwest Conference baseball game on a sunny and pleasant Monday afternoon/evening at Spencerville.

The Bearcats (1-6, 0-1 NWC) had rallied from a 6-2 deficit after 2 1/2 innings to take a 7-6 edge before the visiting Wildcats (12-4, 2-1 NWC) came back.

Drew Kortokrax led the visitors with a 3-for-4 day at the plate (2 runs), while Zach Ricker and Seth Wollenhaupt (RBI) were both 2-for-3 and Jordan Herron got on via three free passes.

Zach Ricker (3-1) was the winner with 3 2/3 innings of relief of Herron (2 1/3 IPs). Ross Thompson got his second save with an inning.

Jon Shimp went 2-for-3 (2 runs) for the hosts.

Joey Shimp took the loss with 4 2/3 innings in relief of starter Aaron Crider (1 1/3 IP). Jefferson visits Elida 5 p.m. Wednesday, while Spencerville visits LCC Thursday.

Score by Innings:

Jefferson 0 3 3 0 2 1 1 - 10 10 3

Spencerville 2 0 4 1 0 0 0 - 7 5 3

WP: Zach Ricker (3-1); Save: Ross Thompson (2); LP: Joel Shimp; 2B: Ross Thompson (D), Seth Wollenhaupt (D), Tyler Wrasman (D), Drew Kortorkax (D), Wyatt Krouskop (S).

(Longer article and box score in Wednesday’s paper).

——-

Lady Bearcats run-rule Jefferson

SPENCERVILLE — Spencerville’s fast-pitch softball crew rode the 2-hit pitching of Alex Shumate and compiled 11 hits in a 12-1 5-inning Northwest Conference rout of the visiting Wildcats Monday.

Shumate (2-3) walked six and fanned eight in giving up an unearned tally. Alyssa Mulholland led the attack with a 4-for-4 contest (3 runs, 2 runs batted in), with Tori Johnston 2-for-2 (2 runs, 3 RBIs).

Taylor Branham (0-6) took the loss for the Wildcats (0-6, 0-2 NWC), ceding all 11 hits and all 12 runs (10 earned). She walked five and struck out six.

Branham and Kamie Pulford got the visitors’ only hits.

Jefferson hosts Continental 5 p.m. tonight and Allen East Thursday. Spencerville visits Kalida tonight and LCC Thursday.

Score by Innings:

Jefferson 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 2 2

Spencerville 3 3 4 2 x - 12 11 8

WP: Alex Shumate (2-3); LP: Taylor Branham (0-6). 2B: Tori Johnston (S), Haleigh Mull (S).

(Longer article and box score in Wednesday’s paper).

———

Niemeyer outduels Geise in MAC

MINSTER — Minster’s Adam Niemeyer outpitched St. John’s Curtis Geise for a 3-0 Midwest Athletic Conference triumph Monday at Minster in a game postponed from April 16.

Geise was good, only giving up a pair of hits and three runs, fanning 10 in five innings. However, he walked six and none of the runs weren’t earned.

Niemeyer went the distance for the Wildcats (9-1, 1-0 MAC) in a 1-hitter, striking out 14. Geise had the only hit.

St. John’s (3-6, 0-1) visits St. Henry 5 p.m. today and Bath Wednesday.

Score by Innings:

St. John’s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 1 0

Minster 1 2 0 0 0 0 x - 3 3 1

WP: Adam Niemeyer; LP: Curtis Geise (2-1).

(Fuller article in Wednesday’s paper).

——-

Lancers edge Bulldogs in NWC baseball

ADA — Eli Farmer went the distance for Lincolnview Monday night, besting host Ada 3-2 in Northwest Conference action at War Memorial Park.

Matt Oeschle led the 9-hit Lancer (4-6, 2-1 NWC) attack with a 3-for-4 day, while Kyle Williams was 2-for-4.

Lincolnview hosts Paulding 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Score by Innings:

Lincolnview 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 3

Ada 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 - 2

WP-Eli Farmer (3-1); LP-Cobb.

——-

Elida to rename tennis courts for long-time coach Schwinnen

ELIDA — The Elida Board of Education has elected to rename its high school tennis courts after long-time boys and girls coach Denny Schwinnen.

At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the board will make it official.

The Elida Board of Education approve the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Coach Denny Schwinnen has taught in the district for 40 years, coached Boys Tennis in the Elida School District for 36 years and Girls Tennis for 12 years. He was

WBL Coach of the Year 14 times, 11 in Boys Tennis and 3 times in Girls Tennis. His career record in Boys Tennis is 455-167, a winning percentage of .731. His Girls Tennis teams had a record of 111-97 or a winning percentage of .533. He has a combined career record of 566-264, a winning percentage of .681. This ranks him in the top 20 coaches in

wins in the State of Ohio; and

WHEREAS, Coach Schwinnen had 32 winning seasons and at one time had 29 consecutive winning seasons. He coached a total of 83 District Qualifiers, 69 boys and 13 girls. In

2003, his entire team qualified for Districts. His players qualified for the State Tournament 12 times: 10 in Boys and 2 in Girls. Six of his 12 state qualifiers became state place winners and 2 Doubles Teams were State Champions in 1979 and 2005; and

WHEREAS, Coach Schwinnen has won the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Sportsmanship Ethics and Integrity Award and in 2010 was inducted into the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED

by the Elida Local School District Board of Education that, effective April 27, 2013, the school district tennis courts shall be named the “Denny Schwinnen Tennis Courts” in honor of the district’s long-time teacher and coach.
story created on Monday 4/22/2013 at 9:13:34 pm by Jim Metcalfe
story modified on Monday 4/22/2013 at 9:28:57 pm by Jim Metcalfe