LOCAL

LOCAL
Game changes
The Struthers at Salem boys basketball game, scheduled for Jan. 3, has been moved to Jan. 2. The junior varsity game will begin at 6 p.m.
The varsity, junior varsity and freshman games between Mooney and Boardman on Jan. 3 have been moved to Jan. 4. Game times are: 4:30 p.m. for freshmen, 6 p.m. for junior varsity and 7:30 p.m. for freshman.
Browns Backersto collect toys
WARREN -- The Y-Town-Warren Browns-Backers will be collecting toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots at the Buena Vista Cafe, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and will feature Bone Lady, former and current Browns players.
The Y-town-Warren Browns Backers are also collecting Toys for Tots at Jolly Joes until Sunday.
Malone thirdin standings
CLEVELAND -- The 10th anniversary of the NACDA Directors Cup began with Azusa Pacific (Calif.) taking the lead with 228 points in the NAIA.
Malone is in third place with 171. The standings are based upon the completion of women and men's cross country and women and men's soccer.
Swim meetat Grove City
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's and women's swimming and diving team will host the sixth James E. Longnecker Invitational today and Saturday at the Grove City College pool.
Ten women's and nine men's teams will compete in the two-day event.
Area drivers winat Nelson Ledges
NELSON -- Several local drivers won in the Kryderacing Regional championships at Nelson Ledges road course.
The regional championships are a series of 11 races held over the season and is held in conjunction with the Sports Car Club of America.
Bill Pintaric Jr. of Liberty won in the CT4 class driving a Datsun 510 sponsored by WRP Investments, Inc.
Csaba Bujdoso of Canfield won the A Sedan class driving a Camaro.
Bill Kamser of Berlin Center won the Sporte 2000 class, It was his eight win. Mac Stambaugh of Salem finished second.
Jim Tibor of Cortland placed fifth in the Spec Racer Ford class, while Ray Boniface of Poland was seventh in Improved Touring S, driving a BMW.
Phantom Rockets' Cassel top player
BOARDMAN -- Justin Cassel of the Mahoning Valley Phantom Rockets has been named Continental Elite Hockey League Player of the Week.
It was the second time this season that he was chosen for the honor. He scored three goals in the Phantom Rockets' 7-4 victory over Brownstown last Sunday and leads the team with nine goals.
REGION
Ward in action
CLEVELAND -- Vonda Ward (6-foot-6, 190 pounds), the International Boxing Association female heavyweight champion (14-0, 13 KOs), will defend her title against Kathy Rivers (12-2, 4 KOs) from Woonsocket, Rhode Island tonight at Gund Arena.
The boxing show will be carried on ESPN2 and will include four other bouts.
Verno Phillips (33-9-1) goes against Shibata Flores (43-9-0) in a 10-round junior middleweight fight.
There are 10 fights scheduled on the undercard.
Courtney Brown likely to miss game
BEREA -- Defensive end Courtney Brown is likely to miss Sunday's game at Jacksonville because of a sore left knee, Cleveland Browns coach Butch Davis said Thursday.
Davis said Brown might return to the lineup Dec. 15 against Indianapolis.
NATION
Arizona's Levasseurheld on pot charge
TUCSON, Ariz. -- University of Arizona junior tight end Justin Levasseur has been arrested on felony drug trafficking charges after he was stopped in Illinois with 87 pounds of marijuana.
Blazers pleadinnocent
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Trail Blazers Damon Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace have pleaded innocent to misdemeanor marijuana possession charges related to a traffic stop in Washington state last month.
The Blazers fined forward Ruben Patterson $100,000 as punishment for his most recent legal troubles. Patterson was arrested Nov. 25 on a felony domestic assault charge after his wife, Shannon, called 911 and said he assaulted her at their home.
WORLD
Collins' second68 good for lead
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Australia's Steve Collins shot his second straight 4-under 68 in rainy and windy conditions to take a three-shot lead in the Australian Masters.
Ty Tryon had a 71 for a 145 total, leaving the 18-year-old American nine strokes behind Collins. England's Nick Faldo (74) was at 148, and five-time British Open champ Tom Watson (77) made the cut at 150.
Vindicator staff/wire reports