The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 56

E4 Saturday, February 2 1 2004 HOCKEY BASKETBALL The Windsor Star Jovo goes on air to defend team HOCKEY NOTES Panthers 2 Penguins 0 Roberto Luongo stopped 34 shots for his 20th career shutout as the Florida Panthers beat Pittsburgh 2-0 Friday night to extend the Penguins' NHL-record home losing streak to 13 games. Kristian Huselius and Juraj Kolnik scored second-period goals against rookie goalie Andy Chiodo to help Florida win for the first time in four games (1-2-1) on its six-game road trip. The Penguins lost their 17th straight game, which would have tied the league record if they hadn't gained a point in Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss at St. Louis. See also OHL Standings E7 Star Staff and News Services Injured Vancouver defenceman Ed Jovanovski phoned a radio station Friday to defend his teammates after a caller called the Canucks clowns.

"I just turned on the radio and heard this guy call my team a bunch of clowns," Jovanovski, a Windsor native, told The Team 1040. "The team is not a bunch of clowns. If this guy is a season ticket holder he can just go ahead and sell his tickets. It's very unfair for guys to crucify (a team) when you're working hard. It ticks guys off when you hear that." Irate callers had been filling the airwaves following Vancouver's 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild Thursday night.

The Canucks have just one win in their last five games. During The Team's morning program, listeners were critical of the Canucks' effort. "If those clowns can't get up for the game, don't turn around and look at (coach Marc) Crawford," said one caller. "They are not a peewee team anymore. They are getting paid millions of dollars to get fired up to play hockey If they want to go out there and lay an egg, you look directly at the 25 clowns sitting on the bench." Jovanovski, who is recovering from a shoulder separation and didn't accom- The Canucks have also lost captain Markus Naslund with a concussion.

Eagles beat Swiss MacKenzie Charron arid Shane Faubert had two goals each as the Tecumseh Eagles defeated Team Swiss 7-0 at the National Peewee Championship Friday in Quebec City. Mitch Boucher earned his second shutout of the tournament Burke D'Souza, Derek Viselli and Jacob Jorgensen netted singles for Canada. Play continues today as Tecumseh faces Team USA and Quebec takes on the Swiss. The winners play for the gold medal at 6 p.m. pany the team on its current road trip, rose to the Canucks defence.

He called the radio station's main number and asked to be put on the air. "The team hasn't been winning and that's what fans want to see and that's what they deserve to see," Jovanovski said. "They do pay a lot of money to watch us play but don't go personal and call guys clowns. "If this guy is so brave put him on the ice and see what he can do." Jovanovski has already missed four weeks with his shoulder injury and could be gone for another month. NBA an.

ftj I I ATLANTIC DIVISION 6 GB Pet A Home Away New Jersey 53 33 20 .623 4793 4583 18-8 15-12 New York 56 8VS 26 30 .464 5099 5180 16-14 10-16 Miami 56 lOVi 24 32 .429 4914 5013 16-10 8-22 Philadelphia 55 11 23 32 ,418 4921 4986 13-14 10-18 Boston 56 ll'S 23 33 .411 5303 5391 11-17 12-16 Washington 53 17 16 37 .302 4796 5076 11-15 5-22 Orlando 57 20 15 42 .263 5412 5747 8-19 7-23 CENTRAL DIVISION Indiana 55 40 15 .727 4935 4673 21-6 19-9 Detroit 56 6'i 34 22 .607 5022 4858 20-8 14-14 New Orleans, 54 97. 30 24 .556 4967 4948 17-11 13-13 Milwaukee 53 11 28 25 .528 5129 5060 21-6 719 Toronto 54 U'A 25 29 .463 4595 4710 1412 11-17 Cleveland 55 19 21 34 .382 5055 5248 15-13 6-21 Atlanta 55 22 18 37 .327 4901 5207 11-16 7-21 Chicago 54 23' 16' 38 .296 4832 5159 10-17 6-21 I Vi'mHiKH'KmMI'H I MIDWEST DIVISION 6 GB Pel A Home Away Minnesota 54 39 15 ,722 5161 4856 21-6 18-9 San Antonio 55 3 36 19 .655 4948 4603 18-7 18-12 Dallas 54 5 34 20 .630 5582 5402 23-4 11-16 Memphis 53 TA 31 22 .585 5128 5001 20-7 11-15 Houston 53 7VS 31 22 .585 4644 4460 18-8 13-14 Denver 56 8 32 24 .571 5445 5329 21-8 11-16 Utah 56 13 27 29 .482 4987 5066 19-10 8-19 PACIFIC DIVISION Sacramento 52 38 14 ,731 5458 5088 24-4 14-10 LA. Lakers 52 5 33 19 .635 5048 4891 21-4 12-15 Seattle 53 13'A 25 28 .472 5178 5242 14-14 11-14 Portland 53 13' 25 28 .472 4856 4969 17-10 8-18 Golden State 52'15 23 29 .442 4910 4951 17-9 6-20 L.A. Clippers 53 SA 23 30 .434 5103 5227 16-12 7-18 Phoenix 56 22 18 38 .321 5238 5436 12-15 6-23 MEET THE PRESS: Rasheed Wallace, right, meets the media with Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown Friday at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich. ap photo Raptors fall to hot Nets Frank extends streak Star Staff and News Services Jason Kidd tied a season-high with 15 assists and Richard Jefferson had 20 points to help the New Jersey Nets set a franchise-record with their 12th straight victory, 91-72 over the Toronto Raptors Friday night.

BASKETBALL NOTES THURSDAY RESULTS Minnesota 92 Sacramento 75 Philadelphia 112 Seattle 101 LA Clippers 102 Boston 100. FRIDAY RESULTS Indiana 96 Washington 87 Orlando 102 Denver 98 Miami 125 Atlanta 92 Utah 92 New York 78 New Jersey 91 Toronto 72 Cleveland 89 San Antonio 87 Phoenix at Memphis Minnesota at Detroit Sacramento at Chicago Philadelphia at LA Lakers Portland at Golden State. Today's Games IN A CROWD: Chang Walls, centre, of the Massey Mustangs fires a pass to Denis Skenderovic during Friday's high school playoff game. The Mustangs lost to the Catholic Central Comets 5441. Star photo: Ryan King Townsend cuts apart Mustangs Comets win quarter-final TV Season Satellite Series Denver at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Den 1-0 New Orleans at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m. 1-1 Memphis at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. WGN Mem 1-0 Houston at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. SCORE Dal 1-0 L.A. Clippers at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.

L.A. 1-0 Boston at Portland, 10 p.m. 0-0 Seattle at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. GS 2-1 SUNDAY GAMES Sacramento at Toronto, 1 p.m.; Cleveland at New York, 1 p.m.; Utah at Indiana, 3:30 p.m.; San Antonio at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m.; Milwaukee at 6 p.m.; Orlando at Detroit, 6 p.m.; L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 6:30 p.m.; Atlanta at Houston, 8:30 p.m.; Boston at Seattle, 9 p.m.

New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank improved to 11-0. Frank set an NBA record for the best start to a coaching career by winning his 10th consecutive game Wednesday Kerry Kittles added 19 points for the Nets, whose previous longest streak came Dec. 23, 1982, through Jan. 12, 1983. Donyell Marshall had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost four straight.

Toronto is in danger of falling out of the playoff race af: ter losing Vince Carter and Jalen Rose to injuries. Carter is expected to miss at least two weeks with a sprained left ankle, and Rose is out for a month with four broken bones in his left hand. (. Wallace Seeks fresh Start Rasheed Wallace walked into his new locker room Friday and was greeted with hugs, handshakes and smiles by his Detroit Pistons teammates. "There he is!" Darvin Ham said.

"Welcome!" Wallace was moved to Detroit in a three-team trade Thursday after playing only one game for Atlanta, which acquired the temperamental player from Portland last week. "It's definitely a fresh start for me," Wallace said before he made his Detroit debut against Minnesota. The Pistons lost 88-87. "This is where basketball has taken my journey. It's pretty much revamped my career.

I'm looking forward to it." Widow loses COUrt fight The legal battle over the death of Boston Celtics captain Reggie Lewis ended Friday, 11 years after he collapsed during a pickup game. The state Appeals Court rejected a bid by Lewis' widow, Donna Harris-Lewis, for a third trial in her suit, against Lewis' cardiologist, Dr. Gilbert Mudge. Lewis collapsed and died while shooting baskets with friends at Brandeis University in 1993. Harris-Lewis al- i leged in her suit that Mudge failed to diagnose a lethal heart condition.

The first jury to hear the malpractice case deadlocked in 1999 and the judge declared a mistrial. St. Clair basketball Raquel Burke netted 24 points as the St. Clair Saints women's basketball team defeated Niagara 55-42 Friday. Tina Sirka had 10 points for the Saints, who face Redeemer College today at 2 p.m.

Jermaine Small had 21 points as the St. Clair men's basketball team fell to Niagara 68-65 Friday. Bode Olagundoye netted seven points for the Saints. a veteran and he's as strong as an ox," Central coach Pete Cusumano said. "Andre is a great player but Daryl frustrated the heck out of him." Smyth had just two baskets by half-time and 11 points on the game, well below an average that hovers around 20-plus.

The same foot speed Townsend used to smother Smyth also caused matchup problems for Massey If the Mustang guards sagged off, Townsend hit the open jumper. If they played him tight, he blew by for a layup. Up by seven in the third, Townsend had Central's only basket as the Comets simply dribbled on the perimeter to waste the clock, including the final 3:40. "They killed the clock and we didn't get a chance to come back," said Massey guard Rory O'Hearn, who watched almost as much as he played because of early foul trouble. O'Hearn finished with 12 points.

Zig-gy Haile had 14 for Central and Abdun Aguer came off the bench to score nine. On the boards, Central outre-bounded Massey 24-11. mcatonihestar.canwest.com or 255-577? 'ext. 414 By Mary Caton star sports writer Daryl Townsend was a fashion statement before the game and a mission statement during it Friday Townsend stylized his warmup jersey with scissors, giving it fringe around the hem and sleeves and a fancy Vat the neckline. During the game, his hard-nosed play cut through the very seams of the Massey Mustangs' defence and helped fashion a 54-41 quarter-final victory for the Catholic Central Comets in WECSSAA's North Division.

In addition to placing the Comets in the semifinals, the victory avenged a regular-season loss at the Massey gym. Setting the tone "That was from a lack of effort," said Townsend, who led his team with 20 points and eight rebounds. "We watched the tape of that game yesterday and we saw ourselves look bad. We weren't going to let that happen again." Townsend set the tone with seven points and three boards in the first quarter (18-12 CC) and, at five-foot-10, he drew the assignment of defending Massey's six-seven forward Andre Smyth. "Daryl is a phenomenal athlete, he's Lilt Tlwrsday Rmlts Iknbenvohfct 92 Kings 75 Kevin Garnet! had 22 points and 24 rebounds lot the Tlmbervrolves In a 92-75 victory over the Kings In a matchup of the Western Conference's top teams.

SACRAMENTO (75) Slojakovic 5-15 3-5 15, Songaila 5- 10 2-2 12. Divac 5-13 0-2 10, Christie 3-7 1-1 7, Biooy 4-14 2-2 11. Jackson 2-14 4, Peeler 1-5 0-0 2, Massenburg 4-5 0-0 8, Smith 1-44-46, Wallace 0-2 0-00, Totals 30-89 1 2-16 75. MINNESOTA (92) Sprewell 5-14 2-2 13, Garnet! 8-19 6- 7 22, EJohnson 0-1 0-0 0, Hassell 1-2 0-0 2, Cas-sell 7-18 3-4 18. O.Miller 4-5 1-1 9, Hoiberg 1-1 00 2 Trent 2-3 2-2 8.

Hudson 3-6 3-4 10. Siuerbiak 3-6 04 6. Madsen 1-2 2-4 4, Martin 0-0 O-O 0. Totals 35-77 19-2492. SkwumIo 16 18 26 15-76 Mltinnoli 23 20 20 21-92 3-Point Goals Sacramento 3-15 (Stoiakovic 2-3.

Bitty 1-5, Smith 0-1, Jackson 0-3, Peeler 0-3), Minnesota 3-10 (Hudson 1-1, Sprewell 1-3, Cassdl 1-5. SrarDiak 0-1). Rebounds Sacramento 40 (Divac 8). Minnesota 70 (Garnetl 24). Assists Sacramento 22 (Bibby 7), Minnesota 21 (Sprewell.

Cassell 5). Total fouls Sacramento 19, Minnesota 22. A 18,667 76enll2Son(cil01 Allen Iverson relumed to the 76ers starting lineup to score 40 points in a 112-101 victory over the Super-Sonics in a loul-lilled game. PHILADELPHIA (112) Robinson 10-18 5-5 26, Thomas 3-9 2-2 8, Dalembert 3-4 2-2 8, Iverson 10-24 17-21 40, Snow 3-5 1-2 7, Green 4-7 1-2 10, Buckner 2-5 00 4. Salmons 0-3 0-0 0.

McCaskill 0-0 0. McKie 4-6 0-0 9, Hamilton 0-00-00. Totals 39-81 28-34 112 SEATTLE 101) Booth 0-5 4-4 4. Lewis 3-9 6-6 13, Potapenko 3-4 02 6. Allen 10-26 9-9 31, Daniels 2-6 3-4 8, Radmanovlc 3-10 2-211, Murray 6-10 2-4 14, Frahm 0-1 00 0, Evans (Ml 0, James 2-4 5-6 9, Ridnour 0-2 2-2 2.

Sesay 1-1 003. Totals 30-78 33-39 101. Philadelphia 32 27 24 29112 Seattle 25 24 25 27-101 3-Point Goals Philadelphia 6-15 (Iverson 3-4. McKie 1-2, Green 1-2. Robinson 1-5, Buckner 0-1, Salmons 0-1), Seattle 8-24 (Radmanovic 3-7, Allen 2-7, Sesay 1-1.

Daniels' 1-3. Lewis 1-5, Murray 0-1). Rebounds-Philadelphia 49 (Dalembert 11), Seattle 53 (Allen 11). Assists Philadelphia 26 (Iverson 11), Seattle 20 (Lewis, Allen 4). Total fojls Philadelphia 31 Seattle 26.

Technicals Seattle coach McMillan. A 17.072 Ctpperil02CeHcsl00 Eddie House made an off-balance 19-foot jumper with 1.8 seconds remaining to give the Los Angeles Clippers a 102-100 victory over the Boston Celtics. BOSTON (100) Davis 7-14 7-10 23, Blount 3-6 2-4 8, Mihm 4-9 3-411, Pierce 5-19 6-7 18. Welsch 6-10 6-8 20. McCarty 2-6 3-4 8, Banks 3-8 4-6 10.

Stewart 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 1-1 04) 2, Hunter 0-00-0 0. Totals 31-7331-43 100. L.A. CLIPPERS (102) Maggetle 5-11 5-6 15. Brand 14-22 11-14 39, Kaman 1-3 0-0 2, Richardson 0-3 3-4 3, Jane 0-3 0-0 0, Wilcox 3-63-49, Overton 0-00-0 0, Barnes 2-3 2-3 6.

House 5-11 0-0 12, Dooling 5-11 6-7 16. Totals 35-73 30-38 102. Boston 31 22 17 25-100 L.A.CIIpMn 11 21 26 17-102 3-Polnt Goals-Boston 7-18 (Davis 2-2, Welsch 2-3, Pierce 2-9, McCarty 1-3, Banks 0-1), L.A. Clippers 2-14 (House 2-5, JarlcO-1, Richardson 0-2, Dooling 0-3, Maggette 0-3). Rebounds Boston 49 (Mihm 8), LA Clippers 51 (Brand 1 1 Assists-Boston 1 7 (Davis 5), L.A.

Clippers 21 (Jaric 6). Total fouls Boston 24, A. Clippers 29. Technicals Boston Defensive Three Second. Richardson 2.

Flagrant fouls House. Elected Richardson. A 18.490 See also NBA E7 Redskins put trust in veteran Bnmell 7 as the starter, giving Joe Gibbs the veteran he sought in the coach's first season back in Washington after an 11-year retirement. "Mark and Joe Gibbs have I 1 A oeen iaiRin6 every aay, fj i sometimes multiple times," lWy Steinberg said. "Mark's I comfort level and excite- (LsfmS ment level with coach Gibbs Washington strikes deal with Jaguars Star News Services Quarterback Mark Brunell agreed to a seven-year, $43-million US deal with the Washington Redskins late Thursday, clearing the way for a trade next month.

Brunell will receive an signing bonus, according to agent Leigh Steinberg, who wrapped up several weeks of negotiations with Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Brunell still remains under contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they gave their longtime starter permission to search out a possible trade once the season ended. Brunell is expected to displace Patrick Ramsey NFL NOTES Lions on the move The Detroit Lions pre-sea-son games are moving from the Fox affiliate to UPN Detroit. The weekly pregame show, Ford Lions Report, will air on the CBS station, WW beginning in August. The pre-season games will be broadcast on the UPN station, WKBD.

CBS and UPN Detroit are owned by the Viacom Stations Group. The Lions' pre season games had previously aired on WKBD from 1990-1M and then on WWJ from 1995-2000. Good QB crop This year's quarterback class is strong. Four players Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and J.P. Losman all could be first-round picks.

A handful more could also go on the first day. Dungy supports policy Tony Dungy thinks minority candidates need more chances and not just as coaches. The Indianapolis coach, one of five black head coaches in the NFL, said he supported expanding the league's new interview policy to Include front office employees. "I think the same thing should be applied to other positions," he said at the league's annual combine In Indianapolis. "I don't see a difference between coaches and directors of player personnel or general managers." Steeler restructures contract Left tackle Marvel Smith has restructured his contract to help get the Pittsburgh Steelers get under the salary cap.

The deal transforms $1,715 million of Smith's $2.25 million salary into a signing bonus. Mark Brunell- has grown every day "He became convinced throughout the process that the ability to play for a Hall of Fame-calibre coach that had been to four Super Bowls was unique and too good to pass up." The deal cannot become official until the offseason trading period begins March 3. The Redskins will give the Jaguars a third-round draft pick for Brunell..