Fast Break
LACROSSE
Duke wins ACC championship
Matt Danowski and his fellow seniors had helped Duke win 40 games in their careers and reach the NCAA championship game in 2005.
This year, they can add another impressive – and more significant – accomplishment to their resumes.
Danowski and Zack Greer each scored three goals Sunday at Durham, N.C., and the Duke lacrosse program continued its triumphant return by beating Virginia 12-9 in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship.
Danowski was the tournament’s most valuable player for the top-seeded Blue Devils (13-2), who won their fourth title and first since 2002.
It’s the latest on-field highlight for the Blue Devils in the road back from a rape scandal that led to charges against three former teammates – who were ultimately exonerated – and the cancellation of much of last season. “For us as seniors, we talked about leaving a legacy here,” said Danowski, honored as the ACC player of the year earlier this week. “It’s another testament to the character of the guys on this team and the way we’ve stuck (together) throughout this whole thing, kept our noses clean and just kept going and stayed with it.”
AUTO RACING
Daughter beats dad in drag race
Ashley Force won the first father-daughter race in NHRA history Sunday, edging 14-time series champion John Force in the first round of Funny Car eliminations in the NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Ga.
Ashley finished in 4.779 seconds to easily edge John (5.783 seconds). The 24-year-old rookie advanced to the semifinals, equaling the best Funny Car effort for a female driver in NHRA history, before losing to eventual runner-up Mike Ashley.
“Today, I’m a proud father,” John said. “I’ve dreamed of this day for a long time and it makes me emotional to think it finally came true. She’s a great young driver and she’s probably gonna whip me a bunch, but I’m OK with it because she’s my baby.”
BASKETBALL
Talk about lighting it up
Darius Rice scored a playoff-record 52 points to help the Dakota Wizards win the NBA Development League championship with a 129-121 overtime victory over the Colorado 14ers at Bismarck, N.D.
The former University of Miami forward was 11 of 19 from 3-point range and 18 of 29 overall from the field. He was 5 of 7 from the line and had seven rebounds.
Rice, who also set a league playoff record for 3-pointers, hit a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime tied at 109.
Maurice Baker added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Dakota.
Pooh Jeter led Colorado with 30 points, and Tony Bobbitt added 29.