NBA 101

Canada defeats Argentina in penalty shootout after scoreless draw in the SheBelieves Cup

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan stopped the first two attempts she faced and Canada went on to defeat Argentina 3-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw in the SheBelieves Cup on Saturday.

Jordyn Huitema had Canada’s best chance of the first half but Argentina goalkeeper Solana Pereyra got a hand on the hard shot to send it into the crossbar and out of the net. The match remained scoreless the rest of the way.

Under new rules for SheBelieves Cup, the match went straight to penalties. Sheridan blocked the first two attempts she faced and the Canadians sealed the victory when Vanina Preininger’s attempt for Argentina went over the bar.

Argentina was held scoreless across the four-team, round-robin tournament and finished last. Canada’s finish would be determined in Saturday’s late game between the United States and Colombia.

Canada saw the return of captain Jessie Fleming, who missed the match against the United States because of illness. Olivia Smith, who plays for Arsenal, was ruled out of the tournament because of a concussion.

Argentina’s women play next month as the CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League continues. The tournament serves as the region’s qualification tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Canada will play for a place in the World Cup in the CONCACAF W Championship starting in November.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Johnson and Davidson score 15 each, Clemson beats Georgia Tech 79-76

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Butta Johnson and Nick Davidson each scored 15 points and Clemson rallied in the second half to beat Georgia Tech 79-76 on Saturday in a regular-season finale.

Clemson (22-9, 12-6 ACC) erased a six-point halftime deficit and outscored Georgia Tech 46-37 in the second half to secure the win. The Tigers had four players score in double figures and closed the game at the free-throw line in the final seconds.

Georgia Tech (11-20, 2-16 ACC), which entered the game on an 11-game losing streak, led 39-33 at halftime. Clemson responded with a quick run to erase the deficit. A 3-pointer by Johnson and a layup from Carter Welling helped tie the game at 47 midway through the half.

The teams traded the lead several times before Clemson pulled ahead. Johnson drilled a 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining to extend the Tigers’ lead to 75-70 and they sealed the victory with free throws in the final seconds.

Welling added 13, and Ace Buckner finished with 10 for Clemson.

Jaeden Mustaf led Georgia Tech with 28 points. Kowacie Reeves Jr. added 20 in his final collegiate game, and Akai Fleming scored 18 for the Yellow Jackets.

Up next

Clemson opens ACC Tournament play on Wednesday as the No. 5 seed.

Georgia Tech did not qualify for the conference tournament.

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Johnson hits game-winning 3 as South Carolina downs Mississippi 64-61

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Meechie Johnson scored 17 points and hit a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift South Carolina over Mississippi 64-61 on Saturday.

South Carolina (13-18, 4-14 SEC) led 34-28 at halftime and held the advantage for much of the second half before the Rebels rallied to tie the game in the final minute.

Mississippi (12-19, 4-14 SEC), which has lost 12 of its last 13 games, pulled even at 61 when Malik Dia converted a tip-in with one minute remaining. South Carolina went more than five minutes without a field goal before Johnson delivered the game-winner from well beyond the arc as time expired.

Kobe Knox and Nordin Kapic each scored 12 points for the Gamecocks. It was Karpic’s second straight game in double figures coming off the bench.

Dia led Ole Miss with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting. AJ Storr added 13 points for the Rebels. Ole Miss struggled from long distance, making just 1 of 14 attempts from 3-point range.

Up next

Ole Miss awaits seeding for the SEC Tournament beginning on Wednesday.

South Carolina awaits seeding for the SEC Tournament.

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Boston College defeats Notre Dame 77-69, looks to take last spot in ACC Tournament

BOSTON (AP) — Fred Payne scored 24 points, Boston College rallied late in the second half, and the Eagles defeated Notre Dame 77-69 on Saturday, the last day of the ACC regular season.

The win moved Boston College (11-20, 4-14 ACC) into position to possibly take 15th place in the ACC standings. Still, the Eagles need Pittsburgh (4-13 ACC) to lose to Syracuse later in the day in order to take the spot. Boston College holds the tiebreaker with Pitt.

Notre Dame (13-18, 4-14) won’t qualify for the 15-team ACC Tournament because of tiebreakers.

Boston College, which hadn’t led since it was 19-17 with 8 1/2 minutes left in the first half, surged in front 61-53 at the end of an 11-0 run with 5 1/2 minutes left in the game. The Eagles extended their lead to 65-56 with three minutes remaining.

The second of back-to-back three-point plays by Jalen Haralson got the Fighting Irish within four points with 1:16 to go, but Boston College wrapped it up by making seven free throws in the final minute.

Boston College made 31 of 41 free-throw attempts, and Notre Dame made 14 of 21 from the line.

Chase Forte scored 14, Jayden Hastings 12 and Boden Kapke 11 for Boston College.

Haralson, a freshman, scored 21 points, and Brady Koehler had the second double-double of his freshman season with 11 rebounds and 10 points for Notre Dame. Shrewsberry scored 14 points, and Cole Certa added 10.

Shrewsberry buried three 3-pointers in the first half, and Notre Dame led 33-30 at the break. Boston College did not make a shot in the final nine minutes of the half, missing 13 in a row.

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Celtics star Jayson Tatum's status upgraded to available, clearing way for season debut after Achilles tendon surgery

BOSTON (AP) — Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s status upgraded to available, clearing way for season debut after Achilles tendon surgery.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum's status upgraded to available, clearing way for season debut vs. Dallas

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s status has been upgraded to available, clearing the way for him to make his season debut almost 10 months after having surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

Tatum’s status was updated Friday afternoon ahead of the Celtics’ home matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum was listed as questionable for the game Thursday. It marked the first time this season he hadn’t been listed as sidelined and undergoing rehabilitation for the injury he suffered during Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the New York Knicks last May.

Tatum previously indicated his return to the court would be for a home game.

Boston (41-21) currently sits in second place in the Eastern Conference standings.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Achilles healed: Celtics OK Tatum for Fri. return

Jayson Tatum is officially available for the Celtics’ Friday night home game against the Mavericks. Tatum suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the playoffs less than 10 months ago.

Knicks’ Brown: SGA tops in convincing refs of fouls

“SGA, he’s a tough cover, and he does a great job of convincing the referees — probably better than anybody in the league — that he’s getting hit,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said after his team’s 103-100 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday night.

Caruso, Hartenstein exit OKC win with injuries

Alex Caruso (left hip contusion) and Isaiah Hartenstein (left calf tightness) were ruled out during the team’s 103-100 victory over the Knicks on Wednesday night and will be reevaluated Thursday.