SPORTS digest

Yankee Lake sets MMA bouts for Saturday

BROOKFIELD

Twelve amateur mixed martial arts fights are set Saturday at the Yankee Lake “Brawlroom.”

The main event of the evening will feature Tyler Collins from Jackson-Milton High School versus classmate Yessey Ventura.

The fights will be held in a cage and governed by the Ohio Athletic Commission.

Other local fighters include: Thomas George (Hubbard) versus Nick Tarr (Sharon, Pa.); Joe Iorio (New Castle, Pa.) versus Joe Cecala (Wisconsin); Justin Michaels (Hermitage, Pa.) versus Clay Hopper (Indiana); Tylor Gregg (Sharpsville, Pa.) versus Sam Edinger (Sharon, Pa.); and Ben Frantz (Beaver, Pa.) versus Todd Ambrosia (Pulaski, Pa.).

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the fights will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event may be purchased for $20 at the Yankee Lake Store or by contacting Chuck Haskell at 724-699-1725. For more information, visit mmabrawlroom.com.

YSU’s Lackova named Horizon Player of Year

ANN ARBOR, MICH.

Youngstown State junior Dominika Lackova was named the Horizon League Women’s Tennis Player of the Year on Thursday.

Lackova and senior Annina Brendel were first-team all-league selections as was announced at the league’s postseason awards banquet.

Brendel was also the recipient of the Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award becoming the first YSU women’s tennis player to be recognized with the honor.

Lackova is the third YSU women’s tennis player to win player-of-the-year honors in the past four years. Paula de Man was named player of the year in 2013 and Marta Burak earned the award in 2015.

The Penguins open defense of their Horizon League title on Friday against Oakland. The match is set to start at 11 a.m.

YSU senior Hugo Morth was named All-Horizon League second team.

Poland graduate earns Horizon League honor

ANN ARBOR, MICH.

Poland High School graduate Garrett Gardner received a Horizon League honor on Thursday.

Gardner, a sophomore, received the Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award in recognition of his fairness and integrity displayed throughout the season. The coaching staff nominated the sophomore citing his support of others, and the class with which he conducts himself on and off the court.

Valpo (20-5, 6-0 Horizon) awaits its opponent for Saturday’s semifinal match.

The Crusaders will face the winner of today’s Youngstown State/Cleveland State at the Preston Robert Tisch Building.

The winner of the Horizon League Championship receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Hawks bounce Celtics, will face Cavaliers

BOSTON

Paul Millsap had 17 points and eight rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs with a 104-92 Game 6 victory over the Boston Celtics.

Al Horford and Kent Bazemore each added 15 points for the Hawks, who earned their first playoff series win over Boston since the St. Louis Hawks beat the Celtics in the 1958 Finals.

Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 25 points and 10 assists. Jae Crowder added 15 points.

Atlanta will play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round beginning Monday.

Stuard has lead at Zurich Classic

AVONDALE, La.

Brian Stuard shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday to top the leaderboard in the suspended first round of the Zurich Classic.

The 33-year-old Stuard had only 21 putts in his bogey-free round at TPC Louisiana, finishing his final hole after a rain delay of nearly five hours. He’s winless on the PGA Tour.

None of the afternoon starters were able to finish before darkness suspended play.

Staff/wire report