C8 SPORTS & SCOREBOARD SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 2021 | KILLEEN DAILY HERALD Baseball fans, meanwhile, appeared di- fans who just want to enjoy the game and vided on pulling the game from Georgia. support their team,” she said. “We need BRIEFS MLB Patrick Smith, a lifelong Braves fan in to take politics out of sports.” FROM PAGE C7 Ellisville, Mississippi, said he thinks the But Dick Pagano, a baseball fan in Elk Yordan Álvarez hits 3-run homer league made the right decision and noted Grove Village, Illinois, said he will not as Astros beat A’s again fi l ed a lawsuit over the measure, which that not taking a stand would have polar- watch or attend any games this year. adds greater legislative control over how ized some supporters. “They shot themselves in the foot,” OAKLAND, Calif. — Yordan Álvarez elections are run and includes strict “When governments restrict access said Pagano, who added he will be disap- hit a three-run homer and Houston identifi cation requirements for voting to the ballot box, someone has to step in pointed to miss the planned Hank Aaron kept thriving through all the boos, absentee by mail. to encourage these entities to roll back celebration during the All-Star Game, slugging its way to a third straight Critics say the law will disproportion- those measures,” he said. because he once saw him play in the 1957 win in a 9-1 victory over the Oakland ately affect communities of color. Lorre Sweetman, in Kahului, Hawaii, World Series. Aaron, who played for the Athletics on Saturday. Georgia Republicans say the changes said it was a poor move by MLB because Braves in Atlanta and Milwaukee for Houston has outscored Oakland 26-7 were needed to maintain voter confi - it wasn’t based on the actual new voting most of his career, faced extensive hate in three games against the defending dence in the election system, and the laws but on “political pandering” and mail and racism as he closed in on break- AL West champion A’s, who were elim- governor insists opponents have mis- misinformation. ing Babe Ruth’s home run record. inated by the Astros in a four-game AL characterized what the law does. Still, while some fans upset about the The league did not immediately re- Divsion Series last fall. Abrams, who has championed voting decision have called for a boycott of spond to a request for comment Saturday. Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0) did his part, rights since narrowly losing to Kemp professional baseball, she said she will MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred too. The Houston right-hander struck in the 2018 election, is among those who not stop watching games and her three previously said he made the call to move out seven and walked three in fi ve in- have spoken out against the law. The grandsons are still learning the sport. the All-Star events and the amateur draft nings, allowing two hits and one run. Democrat is being closely watched to see “They caved to pressure without from Atlanta after discussions with indi- if she seeks a 2022 rematch. considering the message this sends to vidual players and the Players Alliance. Oklahoma hires Loyola Chicago’s Moser as basketball coach Bliss to cover it all up, and vided a muted soundtrack to scoring 17 himself. But the Porter Moser orchestrated one of NCAA sanctions that lasted the blowout inside the cavern- rest of the Cougars were 1 of the great underdog stories in sports in BAYLOR well into Drew’s own tenure. ous home of the Indianapolis 15 from the fi eld, including recent years, leading mid-major Loyola FROM PAGE C7 Yet somehow, the son of Colts. All-American guard Quentin Chicago to two deep NCAA Tournament longtime Valpo coach Homer The only cheering? That Grimes (0 for 5) and DeJon runs with the blessing of Sister Jean. 1 seed, or upstart UCLA on Drew always pictured the came from those in green and Jarreau (1 for 7), who earned Moser’s teams won’t surprise anyone Monday night for their fi rst very scene that unfolded Sat- gold. MVP honors in the Midwest now. national championship. urday night: His team playing The Bears controlled the Region. Oklahoma hired Moser as its bas- Marcus Sasser had 20 points selfl essly, almost effortlessly, game from the jump, unleash- Houston coach Kelvin ketball coach Saturday following Lon for the cold-shooting Cougars never once feeling the pres- ing a 14-3 run fueled by the Sampson, whose reputation Kruger’s retirement. Moser embraces (28-4), whose dream path to sure of college basketball’s kind of crisp passing, silky for being a master tactician the challenge of coaching at a Big 12 their fi rst Final Four since biggest stage. shooting and dastardly defense was stretched to the limit, program that reached the Final Four 1984 — they faced teams seed- Well, there were a few that made them unbeatable be- tried to get the guard-heavy in 2016 and has featured NBA talents ed 15th, 10th, 11th and 12th things Drew probably didn’t fore a 23-day COVID-19 pause Cougars to forget about the Buddy Hield and Trae Young. along the way — ended with picture. late in the regular season. 3-point line and go right to the “I’ve always said there are reasons a whimper against a team Instead of 70,000 fans When the Cougars fi nally basket in the second half. why you win,” Moser said in a state- focused squarely on this night reaching to the rafters, the scored, the Bears ripped off The Cougars cut their ment. “If you look at the standards since the moment last year’s Bears were cheered in the another 16-3 run, carving up defi cit to 16 at one point, but that the programs at Oklahoma have tournament was canceled lower bowl by thousands of the nation’s top 3-point fi eld- there was no coming back on set, there are reasons why they’ve won. because of the pandemic. cardboard cutouts — from the goal defense with ruthless effi - this night. The coaches, infrastructure and com- For Drew, the wait had been late Georgetown coach John ciency. Butler scored 11 points The big cushion down the munity are all championship caliber. even longer. Thompson to New Mexico during the run, and Mitchell’s stretch gave the Bears — mul- You just want to be a part of that. To He took over a program 18 State mascot Pistol Pete back-to-back 3-pointers to end let-haired Matthew Mayer, play in a premier league like the Big years ago embroiled in argu- — due to measures against the fi rst half gave the Bears MaCio Teague and Jonathan 12 and be a part of this championship ably the biggest controversy COVID-19 that have forced a 45-20 lead that felt insur- Tchamwa Tchatchoua in their culture excites me.” in the history of the sport: them to live in a bubble for the mountable. bright pink sneakers, Butler the graphic shooting death last three weeks. Probably because it just and Mitchell and the rest of Carlisle returns to Dallas bench of player Patrick Dennehy, The roughly 8,000 fans that about was. their guys lounging on the his teammate Devon Dotson were allowed through the Sasser did everything he bench — plenty of time to cel- a" er false positive pleading guilty to his murder, doors, socially distanced in a could to keep Houston alive, ebrate the program’s second WASHINGTON — Rick Carlisle is attempts by then-coach Dave vast ocean of blue seats, pro- hitting fi ve 3-pointers and trip to the national title game. back coaching the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night at Washington after missing Friday’s win in New York SCOREBOARD against the Knicks due to a positive COVID-19 test. Phoenix 34 14 .708 —Arizona 37 17 15 5 39 99 114 BASEBALL L.A. Clippers 32 18 .640 3 St. Louis 36 16 14 6 38 102 116 Carlisle, in his 13th season coaching AMERICAN LEAGUE L.A. Lakers 31 18 .633 3½ San Jose 36 16 16 4 36 102 120 the Mavericks, said he had been vac- East Division Today’s TV sports Golden State 23 26 .469 11½ Los Angeles 35 14 15 6 34 96 99 W L Pct GB AUTO RACING Sacramento 22 27 .449 12½ Anaheim 38 11 21 6 28 85 127 cinated with two shots in January and Tampa Bay 2 0 1.000 — Friday’s Late Games NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for Baltimore 2 0 1.000 — 5 p.m. FS1 FIA Extreme E Championship: Atlanta 126, New Orleans 103 overtime loss. The top four teams in each was surprised to test positive. The test New York 1 1 .500 1 Final, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia Utah 113, Chicago 106 division will qualify for playoffs under this turned out to be a false positive. Toronto 1 1 .500 1 Phoenix 140, Oklahoma City 103 season’s temporary realignment. Boston 0 2 .000 2 (taped) L.A. Lakers 115, Sacramento 94 Friday’s Late Games Herald wire reports Central Division Milwaukee 127, Portland 109 Edmonton 3, Calgary 2 W L Pct GB 9:30 p.m. NBCSN MotoGP: Grand Prix of Doha, Saturday’s Games Colorado 3, St. Louis 2 Detroit 2 0 1.000 — Dallas at Washington, late Arizona 4, Anaheim 2 Kansas City 2 0 1.000 — Losail International Circuit, Cleveland at Miami, late San Jose 3, Los Angeles 0 Minnesota at Philadelphia, late Chicago 1 1 .500 1 Doha, Qatar (taped) Saturday’s Games Minnesota 0 1 .000 1½ New York at Detroit, late Tampa Bay 2, Detroit 1 Cleveland 0 2 .000 2 BOWLING Indiana at San Antonio, late Boston 7, Pittsburgh 5 West Division Orlando at Utah, late Nashville 3, Chicago 0 RECORD W L Pct GB 1 p.m.