LOCAL

LOCAL
Phantoms win
BOARDMAN -- Anthony Canzoneri's goal with 31.5 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Youngstown Phantoms a 3-2 win over the Toledo Ice Diggers in a North American Hockey League game at The Ice Zone on Wednesday night.
Aaron Rhyner's shot from the right faceoff dot was redirected by Canzoneri, who was parked on the right wing goal line, beating Toledo goaltender Justin Marriott for his eighth goal of the season, and his third game-winning goal of the year.
The Phantoms outshot Toledo 66-27. The 66 shots are a Phantoms franchise record, and the 63 saves by Marriott are a season-high for any goaltender in the NAHL.
The Phantoms (18-10-2) scored once in the first period on Rhyner's goal at the 9:16 mark. It was Rhyner's 20th goal.
Toledo tied the score in the second period, but the Phantoms retook the lead on Jeremy Smith's power play goal. Toledo tied the score late in the period.
The Phantoms' next game is Jan. 7 at The Ice Zone against the Soo Indians.
South Rangehires coaches
NORTH LIMA -- The South Range school board, at its regular meeting Monday, hired Doug Valesquez as varsity wrestling coach and Bill Sferra as an assistant varsity softball coach. Blaine Daugherty was appointed a non-paid assistant to the wrestling coach.
Jingle Bell Runat fairgrounds
CANFIELD -- The Jingle Bell Run, a 5k race, will be held New Year's Eve at the Canfield Fairgrounds.
All runners participating in the family event will receive jingle bells for the flat-course race that winds through the fairgrounds amid holiday decorations and music at 1 p.m.
There is also a fun run for children ages 12 and under at 12:45 p.m.
Awards will be presented.
Cost is $12 before Friday and $15 after that, up to the start of the race. The kids race is $2 and there is a $35 family limit.
Correction
The final score of the Poland-Struthers boys basketball game was 71-49, not 77-49 as appeared in Wednesday's story. The Vindicator regrets the error.
REGION
Indians give Shapiro two-year extension
CLEVELAND -- Mark Shapiro finally got to negotiate a contract without having to worry about his payroll.
Cleveland's general manager, who has rebuilt the mid-market Indians into a contender without having much money to spend, received a two-year contract extension Wednesday through the 2007 season.
Also, the Indians re-signed Billy Traber and Jason Bere to minor league contracts.
Steelers get sixto Pro Bowl
The Pittsburgh Steelers will send six players to the Pro Bowl.
Center Jeff Hartings and linebacker James Farrior are going to Honolulu for the first time, as is second-year safety Troy Polamalu.
Guard Alan Faneca and wide receiver Hines Ward were selected for a fourth consecutive season, while linebacker Joey Porter made it for the second time in three seasons. Six other Steelers are alternates: quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, defensive end Aaron Smith, kick returner Antwaan Randle El, offensive tackle Marvel Smith, punter Chris Gardocki and fullback Dan Kreider.
The Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers had no players selected.
MAC reprimands Toledo coach
TOLEDO -- The Mid-American Conference reprimanded Toledo coach Tom Amstutz and a video coordinator because the team omitted a trick play from a game film given to Eastern Michigan earlier this season.
The Rockets ran a fake punt in a September loss at Kansas and then pulled off the same play the next week against Eastern Michigan.
Bill Jobko, 69
LOGANVILLE, Ga. -- Bill Jobko, 69, a member of Ohio State's 1954 national championship football team, died after the main blood vessel through his abdomen burst.
Jobko died Saturday at a hospital in Snellville, Ga.
NATION
O'Neal's suspension cut by 10 games
NEW YORK -- Jermaine O'Neal won a 10-game reduction Wednesday in his suspension for fighting with fans during the Nov. 19 Pacers-Pistons brawl, but an arbitrator also upheld NBA commissioner David Stern's bans on Ron Artest and two other Indiana players.
The league said it would go to federal court to challenge arbitrator Roger Kaplan's decision.
Bryant lawyers: Others to blame
DENVER -- Attorneys for Kobe Bryant asked a federal judge Wednesday to uphold their arguments that other sources were at least partially responsible for emotional injuries allegedly suffered by the woman accusing the NBA star of rape.
Vindicator staff/wire reports