Wiggins is fourth; Neumeister wins

Wiggins is fourth; Neumeister wins

AVON

Columbiana’s Bruce William Wiggins shot a 78 to finish tied for fourth place in Thursday’s Junior PGA Qualifier at Avon Oaks Country Club for ages 16-18.

Poland’s Zachary Jacobson shot an 85 to tie for 21st.

For boys ages 13-15, Columbiana’s Jared Wilson shot a 75 to tie for first.

At the Classic Auto North Coast Junior Tour, Cortland’s Kaylee Neumeister won for girls ages 16-19 with a 70.

OHSAA approves lacrosse

COLUMBUS

The Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors have approved adding boys and girls lacrosse for the 2016-17 school year.

Lacrosse will become the first sport in the OHSAA’s newly developed category called “emerging” sports because lacrosse does not have the required 150 schools to become an OHSAA “recognized” sport.

‘Bevo’ Francis, 82

RIO GRANDE

Clarence “Bevo” Francis, who scored 113 points for Rio Grande College in a 1954 game and was one of college basketball’s great scorers, has died. He was 82.

Francis died Wednesday at his southern Ohio home, Roberts Funeral Home said. Rio Grande said he died after a long illness.

Francis’ landmark game came against Michigan’s Hillsdale College on Feb. 2, 1954 and put his small Ohio college on the map. The school in southeastern Ohio is now called University of Rio (pronounced RYE’-oh) Grande and had less than 100 students at the time.

Francis, who was born in Hammondsville, is survived his wife, Jean; son Frank; and daughter Marge.

Connor is 13th in final rankings

WATERLOO, ONTARIO

Youngstown Phantoms center Kyle Connor is ranked 13th in the final International Scouting Services prospects rankings for this month’s NHL Draft.

Connor, the USHL’s scoring champion this season, is the top-ranked player from the league. The U.S. National Development team has two players on the list: Colin White at 16 and Jeremy Bracco at 28.

Connor will play for the University of Michigan this fall.

UFC announces doping tests

The UFC is partnering with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for a landmark drug testing program in the mixed martial arts promotion.

USADA will independently administer multiple year-round, unannounced tests to the UFC’s fighters when the program begins July 1, the promotion announced. Fighters will be subject to multiyear suspensions for even a first failure under a policy modeled on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s code.

After years of relying on government agencies to help monitor its fighters in a sport notorious for performance-enhancing drug use, the UFC is paying unspecified millions to turn over the responsibility to USADA.

The UFC’s new policies also include heavy sanctions for steroid use.

Pacers’ George continues to mend

INDIANAPOLIS

Paul George and Robert Mathis teamed up for a charity softball game Thursday night.

The two injured Indianapolis stars were more than just a feature attraction. Fans wanted to see how George, the Pacers’ two-time All-Star, and Mathis, the Colts’ Pro Bowl linebacker, were doing.

George returned from a horrific leg injury to play in six games late last season and then had to be carried to the locker room in the season finale. After watching George work out Thursday, Pacers coach Frank Vogel said his top player looks “good” and that he had the team’s blessing to play in the Caroline Symmes Celebrity Softball Challenge. Mathis had plans to participate, though not run, in the game as he continues to recover from a torn left Achilles’ tendon last September.

Staff/wire report