SPORTS digest

Balash to speak to Curbstone

BEAVER TWP.

Dana Balash, WFMJ Channel 21 sports director, will be the guest speaker at Monday’s Curbstone Coaches meeting at Avion Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road.

Mettille wins Crazy Lenny’s 5K

POLAND

Mount Union runner Mack Mettille won the 35th annual Crazy Lenny’s 5K race on Thursday.

Tom Grantonic was the first male masters runner and Mark Rogenski was the first male runner in the 40s age group.

Youngstown State’s Michelle Klim, a Poland High School graduate, won the women’s race. Karen Grantonic was the first over 40 runner while Wilma DePiore, a former Ursuline and South Carolina runner, was the first female in the 40 age group.

Boardman Lanes to host tournament

BOARDMAN

The Youngstown-Salem 600 Club Bowling Tournament is having a Singles Tournament with Division Payout on Jan. 10 at 1 p.m .at Boardman Lanes.

Entries must be received by Wednesday to avoid a $5 late. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call Jan Schultz at 330-629-6908.

Self-defense class for women set

LEETONIA

A women’s self defense class is scheduled for Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. at Leetonia Sportsman’s Club.

Advance registration and payment are required. Cost is $30. Instructors are certified Black Belts in Karate. For more information, call 330-427-6431.

Giles is finalist for Playmaker honor

YOUNGSTOWN

Flag foorball player Alexis Giles of Youngstown has been named one of 14 finalists for the 2015 USA Football Playmaker of the Year.

She plays in the Youngstown Youth Flag Football Association.

The program honors the top youth flag football players across the nation The nominees come from 11 states.

The 14 finalists will submit videos showcasing why they should be named USA Football Playmaker of the Year. One grand prize winner will be selected and receive an all-expenses paid trip for two to San Francisco, site of the NFL FLAG national championship; two tickets to the NFL Experience; an Xbox One gaming system; and a copy of EA SPORTS Madden NFL 16.

Akron beats Lipscomb

AKRON

Isaiah Johnson and Noah Robotham scored 20 points apiece as Akron notched its eighth-straight win, beating Lipscomb 80-73 on Saturday night.

Johnson finished with 8-of-12 shooting from the field for the Zips (11-2). Robotham finished with 5-of-11 shooting. Antonio Jackson added 10 points with eight assists and four rebounds and Reggie McAdams chipped in nine points with seven rebounds.

A Johnson dunk gave Akron a 32-23 edge with 3:05 left in the first half and the Zips led 36-29 at the break.

Akron fell behind early in the second half to trail by six, 45-39, but a 3-pointer by McAdams led a 17-7 run that put the Zips back on top, 56-52, with 7:06 to play. They never trailed after that.

J.C. Hampton led the Bisons (4-13) with 21 points and seven rebounds. The loss is the fifth-straight for Lipscomb.

Lepchenko, Gavrilova win

BRISBANE, Australia

An Uzbekistan-born American and a Russian-born Australian had easy straight-set victories today in Australian Open Series warmup tournaments.

At the Brisbane International, U.S. citizen Varvara Lepchenko, who was born in Tashkent, beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-1 in the first round.

In Perth, Western Australia, 4,300 kilometers (2,600 miles) from Brisbane, Daria Gavrilova, who was born in Moscow, gave the Australian Green team a 1-0 lead in the mixed teams Hopman Cup with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Sabine Lisicki of Germany.

Staff/wire report