SPORTS DIGEST || Mooney’s Handel a first-team selection

Mooney’s Handel a first-team selection

Cardinal Mooney senior Mark Handel was named to the All-Ohio Division IV first team defense. The 6-foot, 180-pounder played in the secondary for the Cardinals but also was a key part of their offensive attack.

An incorrect photo accompanied a story in Wednesday’s edition of The Vindicator.

Cardinal Mooney (10-4) plays Clinton-Massie Friday afternoon at Massillon in the Division IV state championship game.

NHL: Canadiens top Devils 4-3 in shootout

David Desharnais scored the tying goal with 37 seconds left in the third period and added a goal in the shootout and the Montreal Canadiens rallied for a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Desharnais’ tying goal in the third was reviewed by the NHL to see if he had lifted his stick too high in redirecting the slap shot taken by teammate Brian Gionta. Lars Eller also scored in third period and shootout for Montreal, which also beat the Devils in Montreal on Monday night.

Also Wednesday, Sean Couturier had two goal and two assists and the Philadelphia Flyers scored four goals in third period to rally for a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Golf deeper than ever; most are at Sherwood

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.

Tiger Woods believes it’s harder than ever to win on the PGA Tour because of the increasing depth of talent of the players. And most of them are at his tournament this week. The World Challenge gets underway today, held at Sherwood Country Club for the last time, and the field is so strong that the entire 18-man field is in the top 30 in the world ranking. That’s what makes it difficult to win trophies.

And what’s why Woods laughs at using the phrase “pretty good” to describe a year in which he won five times on the PGA Tour.

Top 2012 picks both injured, out 4-6 weeks

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

It’s been a tough week for former Kentucky stars and top 2012 NBA draft picks Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The Bobcats announced Wednesday that Kidd-Gilchrist will be sidelined four to six weeks with a broken left hand, an eerily similar injury to what Davis suffered earlier this week.

Kidd-Gilchrist, the No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, suffered a non-displaced fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his left hand during Tuesday night’s game at Dallas. Kidd-Gilchrist’s former college teammate and friend Davis, who was selected No. 1 last year, suffered a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his left hand in the Pelicans game Sunday night against the New York Knicks. Davis is also expected to be out four to six weeks.

MLS targets Miami, Atlanta for new teams

NEW YORK

Major League Soccer hopes to place its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. “We’re making progress in both of those markets. I wouldn’t say we’re close,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s championship game between Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City.

New teams have been announced for 2015 in New York City and Orlando, Fla., increasing the league’s total to 21. Miami and Atlanta would give the league 23 teams, one short of the league’s goal for 2020. Garber said Tuesday that Minneapolis, San Antonio, St. Louis and Austin, Texas, are among the possibilities for a 24th team.

MLS’s regular-season attendance average increased from 15,504 in 2006 to a record 18,807 last year before dropping slightly this season to 18,594.

Reporting prep results

The Vindicator encourages coaches and statisticians to report prep results by email (sports@vindy.com) or fax (330-747-6712).

Phone calls (330-747-1478) are also acceptable but emails and faxes are strongly preferred. Deadline is 10:30 p.m.

Staff reports/Associated Press