Heartland tourney tips off tonight

COLUMBIANA — The Heartland Christian boys basketball team will host The Hoopin’ in the New Year Tournament on Monday and Tuesday.

The tournament tips off today with Crestview vs. United at 5:30 p.m., followed by Heartland Christian vs. Pittsburgh Christian at 7 p.m.

The tournament wraps up Tuesday with the consolation game at 5:30 p.m., followed by the championship game at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Rebels highlight South Range tournament

GREENFORD — Unbeaten Crestview highlights the eighth annual South Range Holiday Hoops Showcase, which will feature eight varsity and eight junior varsity girls basketball games on both Monday and Tuesday.

Varsity games scheduled for today are 10 a.m., Garfield vs. Mooney; 11:30 a.m., Akron Hoban vs. Boardman; 1 p.m., Howland vs. Walsh Jesuit; 2:30 p.m., Fitch vs. Massillon Perry; 4 p.m., Brush vs. Massillon; 5:30 p.m., Ursuline vs. Hilliard Davidson; 7 p.m., Canfield vs. Beaver (Pa.); and 8:30 p.m., South Range vs. Springfield.

Tuesday’s varsity schedule includes 10 a.m., Ursuline vs. Garfield; 11:30 a.m., Hilliard Davidson vs. Springfield; 1 p.m., Austintown Fitch vs. Beaver PA.; 2:30 p.m., Howland vs. Massillon Perry; 4 p.m., Crestview vs. Laurel; 5:30 p.m. Massillon vs. Boardman; 7 p.m., Akron Hoban vs. Canfield; and 8:30 p.m., South Range vs. Youngstownl Mooney.

Admission for adults is $8 per day for adults and $6 for sudents or $15 for a two-day pass for adults and $10 for students.

West Branch frosh fall to Boardman

BELOIT — Boardman rallied past West Branch for a 31-19 win in freshman boys basketball action Saturday.

The Spartans scored the last 16 points of the first half for a 19-4 lead.

West Branch leaders were Judah Kutz with six points, Michael McCartney with four and Logan Hawk and Kolin Kaley with three apiece.

The Warriors (2-6) will host Beaver Local today.

UCLA topples Ohio State

COLUMBUS (AP) — Lauren Betts had 18 points and 16 rebounds as the No. 4 UCLA women’s basketball team extended its winning streak to six games with an 82-75 win over No. 19 Ohio State on Sunday.

Kiki Rice added 16 points and Angela Dugalic scored 15 as UCLA (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten) beat the Buckeyes for the fourth straight time, dating to December 2023.

Jaloni Cambridge led all scorers with 28 points, and Elsa Lemmila added 13 points and seven rebounds for Ohio State (11-2, 1-1) which had its nine-game winning streak halted in its conference home opener.

The Bruins built a 76-60 lead midway through the fourth quarter before Ohio State closed the gap behind strong defense and key late baskets from Cambridge, T’yana Todd and Chance Gray. The Buckeyes closed within six points with about two minutes remaining, but got no closer.

UCLA outrebounded Ohio State 47-33, including a 19-10 edge on the offensive end that led to a 35-10 advantage in second-chance points. Betts anchored the Bruins in the paint as UCLA outscored the Buckeyes 50-32 inside.

Ohio State struggled from 3-point range in the first half, missing its first 11 attempts before Lemmila connected with 3:43 left in the second quarter. The Buckeyes found some rhythm in the third quarter, hitting six 3-pointers, and finished 7 of 30 (23%) from beyond the arc.

Penguins rout Blackhawks

CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Brazeau recorded first NHL hat trick, Bryan Rust scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins rolled past the sliding Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 on Sunday night.

Anthony Mantha had a goal and assist and Noel Acciari scored as the Penguins won their second game in three, but just their second in the last 11 (2-5-4). Ryan Shea had three assists, and Arturs Silovs made 21 saves.

Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno scored in his return after missing 19 games with a hand injury, and Wyatt Kaiser and Tyler Bertuzzi each had a goal. Last-place Chicago came out flat a night after snapping a six-game losing streak in Dallas with a shootout win and lost for the ninth time in its last 11 (2-9-0).

Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight stopped only three of the first seven shots he faced before being relieved by Arvid Soderblom 12:03 into the game. Knight returned for the third period and stopped both shots he faced in the frame.

Soderblom stopped 12 of 15 shots, including Sidney Crosby’s breakaway in the second period.

The Penguins led 4-0 midway through the first period.

Mantha opened the scoring 1:38 in, swatting in a loose rebound. Rust made it 2-0 at 7:19, beating Knight on the glove side from the left circle. Brazeau upped it to 3-0 just 61 seconds later, knocking in Mantha’s feed from behind the net and prompting Chicago coach Jeff Blashill to take a timeout.