RGV Capsules: Augustus battles fourth straight undefeated opponent tonight
Veteran Brownsville fighter Emanuel Augustus battles his fourth straight undefeated opponent on the undercard of tonight’s boxing show at the Pontiac Silverdome, just outside Detroit. Augustus (38-33-6, 20 knockouts) is scheduled to face 23-year-old Vernon Paris (23-0, 14 KOs) of Detroit in a 10-round bout between light welterweights. Augustus suffered narrow losses against undefeated opponents with a combined record of 41-0 in his three previous fights.
"I don’t think this (Paris) guy has really been tested yet," said Robert Campos, who trains Augustus. "I think Emanuel has a good chance against him." Augustus last fought on Sept. 25, 2010, in Grand Prairie, where he suffered an eight-round unanimous decision setback against Charles Hatley (14-0, 11 KOs) of Dallas.
Also scheduled to fight on tonight’s Pontiac Silverdome undercard is Harlingen welterweight "King" James De La Rosa (20-0, 12 knockouts), who is set to go against Germaine Sanders (27-8, 17 KOs) of Chicago, also in a 10-rounder.
-- The Brownsville Herald
Hockey
Lehrke, Bees hold on for third win in four games
HIDALGO – Tyler Lehrke’s game-clinching empty-net goal with 42.9 seconds left in the Killer Bees’ 5-3 victory over the Texas Brahmas was probably the right way for the night to end.
Not only did it give him his third point of the night after two first-period assists, it was a reward for a player who has spent time on injured reserve and been a healthy scratch at times this season. It was also more proof that he belongs on a line with Zak McClellan and Aaron Lee.
“Tyler complements them. He’s done a good job on that line,” coach Chris Brooks said. “I give the kid credit, he’s stuck it out through some tough times and played a big part in the game tonight.”
Since the trade of center Sean Muncy, Lehrke has played with the two longest-tenured Bees, players Brooks has built the team around because of their effort and two-way play.
And Lehrke has fit right in.
“The thing is, you’ve got to get a guy on that line that buys in to what those guys do night in and night out to complement them,” Brooks said. “He does that.”
His goal locked up a game the Bees led 3-0 entering the third period. Like Tuesday in a 4-3 victory over Laredo, the Bees (17-22-3) turned what looked like a potentially easy win into an anxious one.
Tallies from Mike Sgroi and Jason Deitsch pulled the Brahmas (19-14-4) to within one before the Bees’ Tomas Klempa scored at the 11:03 mark of the third to restore their two-goal edge. Brian Ihnacak’s goal at the 14:21 mark set up another tense finish, but Lehrke’s score gave the Bees their third win in four games and a three-point edge over Laredo for the final playoff spot in the Berry Conference.
“We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole the first half of the year,” Lehrke said. “The schedule’s in our favor right now. We’re at home way more than we’re on the road and we’ve got to make the most of it and try to keep moving up in the standings.”
As Lehrke alluded to, the Bees have 15 of their final 23 games at home after tonight’s rematch with the Brahmas. To take advantage of their schedule, the Bees will need the whole roster to contribute.
On Friday, it was Lehrke’s new line that did that, as he assisted on McClellan and Lee’s goals that gave the Bees a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes.
“It’s two great players to play with,” Lehrke said. “They’re probably two of our hardest workers, no question about it. They bring it every day, so playing with two great guys like that every day makes your job that much easier. All you’ve got to do is play hard and help them out a little bit.”
ICING: The Bees wore special Air Force uniforms that were auctioned off following the game. There was also an Air Force induction ceremony during the first intermission.
Brian Sandalow covers the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436 or via e-mail at bsandalow@themonitor.com.
Basketball
Vipers' win streak stopped at 10
DES MOINES, IOWA – The defending NBA Development League champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers lost for the first time since Dec. 27, snapping a franchise-record 10 game winning streak in a 138-119 to the Iowa Energy on Friday at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Energy (20-7) got off to a red-hot start, hitting 11 of 13 shots (84.6 percent) to take a 27-18 lead at the 5:07 mark of the first quarter. The Energy hit 21 of their first 30 shots (70 percent) and 29 of 43 (67.4 percent) in the first half to build a 75-62 lead. The Energy led by as many as 17 in the half.
The Vipers (17-8) got off to a good shooting start as well, hitting 21 of 38 shots (55.3 percent), including 7 of 13 from behind the arc (53.8 percent).
Terrel Harris scored five points as the Vipers opened the third quarter on a 12-0 run to climb within 75-74 in the opening three minutes. The Vipers took their first lead since the first quarter when Jerel McNeal hit a layup at the 7:22 mark to make it 81-80. The Vipers outscored the Energy 34-26 in the quarter to pull within 101-96. The Vipers hit 12 of their first 17 shots (70.6 percent) in the quarter, but missed their final six.
The Energy opened the fourth quarter on an 11-2 run and outscored the Vipers 37-23 to put the game away.
Jeff Adrien recorded his 12th double-double in 16 games with 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Vipers.
Chicago Bulls-assignee James Johnson led the Energy in scoring with 28 points while Marqus Blakely hit all 10 of his field goal attempts to score 25 points. Curtis Stinson recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 assists.
The Vipers and Energy play game two of this four-game series on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
-- Vipers Services
College
Broncs track & field kicks off season in Houston
HOUSTON – The University of Texas-Pan American track and field team kicked off of their indoor season Friday at the University of Houston hosted Houston Indoor Invitational and Multi Events at Yeomen Fieldhouse.The men were the bright spot for UTPA on Friday as they finished third in the distance medley.
Matin Casse, Andrew Lopez, Omar Doria and Guillermo Martinez came in with a time of 10:20.94 coming in just behind Houston Baptist (10:16.67) and Texas-Arlington (10:18.51) who finished first and second respectively. The Broncs B team finished ninth with a time of 10:54.03, the C team finished 11th with a time of 11:08.97
“It was a great race with a great 800 leg from Andrew Lopez,” UTPA track & field coach Dave Hartman said.
The Broncs women’s team of Judith Chumba, Alexia Frank, Daphne Payton, and Lillian Lagat finished ninth in the Distance Medley with a time of 12:57.19. The B and C teams finished 12th (13:35.45) and 13th (13:44.69).The host Houston Cougars finished first in the medley with a time of 12:07.73.
“Overall I was pleased wth the way the team competed today,” Hartman added. “ We were a little rusty considering it is our first competition of the season. I am looking forward to what we can accomplish tomorrow.”
On Saturday, the Broncs will look to Andrew Lopez competing in the mile, Scott Bann in the shot put and Melinda Sarmiento in the high jump to provide a boost to their meet results. Saturday’s portion of the meet begins at 9:00 AM with the shotput.
-- UTPA Services
UTPA favored to repeat as GWC women’s tennis champion
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Great West Conference women’s tennis coaches have selected defending champion University of Texas-Pan American as the favorite to win the 2011 GWC women’s tennis championship. The preseason poll was announced Friday by the league office.
UTPA received five first-place votes for a total of 34 points. NJIT received the other first-place vote and came in second in the voting with 27 points, followed by North Dakota with 22 points. Chicago State garnered 17 points for fourth place with Seattle and South Dakota rounding out the poll with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The 2011 Great West Conference women’s tennis championship will be held April 30 and May 1, at Chicago, Ill., and hosted by Chicago State.
-- UTPA Services
