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Thursday Tennis — Corning at Anderson, 3:30 p.m. Tennis — Red Bluff at Paradise, 3 p.m. Tennis — Sutter at Mercy, 3:30 p.m. Golf — EAL at Red Bluff at Wilcox Oaks, 1 p.m. Golf — NAL at West Valley at Tucker Oaks, Noon MLB— Giants at Dodgers, 5 p.m., ESPN Sports 1B Spartans smack Shasta Challenge of Champions District 1 took home the team award at the Challenge of Champions held in Plymouth over the weekend. Red Bluff’s Casey Meroshnekoff continued his impres- sive streak winning the bareback competition. Red Bluff’s Brandi Anthony was first in goat tying. Only a district’s Top 3 participants were invited for each invent. Meroshnekoff and Anthony partnered together in team roping and placed fifth. Meroshnekoff also grabbed a seventh place in boys cut- ting. Red Bluff’s Danny Brown was fourth in saddle bronc and Cottonwood’s Madison McCarley was fifth in pole bending. McCarley and Bodie Robbins placed ninth in team rop- ing. BASEBALL Red Bluff 9 Las Plumas 5 Daily News photo by Rich Greene Red Bluff’s Aubrey Lair beats out an errant throw after dropping a sacrifice bunt,Wednesday. ris. SOFTBALL Shasta 0 3 2 Red Bluff 6 10 0 By RICHGREENE DN Sports Editor No snooze button needed. The Lady Spartans heard their wake up call just fine. A day after getting blasted at Pleas- ant Valley, the two-time defending sec- tion champions woke up to trounce vis- iting Shasta 6-0. It could have been worse. The Spartans left the bases loaded in two innings. Not that pitcher Megan McColpin needed any more run support. After allowing back-to-back singles to open the game, McColpin flat out dealt — needing just 22 batters after- ward to get the 21 outs she needed. The only batter to reach during the stretch did so on an infield single. While McColpin kept mowing down Shasta 1-2-3, the Lady Spartans offense was filling the bases early and Sacramento Kings SACRAMENTO (AP) — The trademark cowbells are just a faint echo. A faithful following once considered among the best in American professional sports has only one thing left to cheer for now. They bring signs that read: ‘‘Save our Kings’’ and ‘‘Please Don’t Go.’’ If this isn’t the end of Sacramento’s run, it sure feels like it. All indications are the Kings are moving south to Anaheim after 26 seasons in California’s capital. Ana- heim’s City Council issued the bonds needed to entice the franchise, new federal trademark rights have been requested and about every- thing else needed to put a simple majority vote before NBA owners is in motion. Suddenly, Sacramento is on the verge of being wiped off the NBA map. ‘‘It’s a sad and sorry state,’’ fan Nick Guero said at a recent Kings game with his 6-year-old son, Christo- pher, sitting next to him in a matching Tyreke Evans jer- sey. ‘‘I was hoping to share the Kings with my son for years to come. Now? I almost want to cry. Every game we go to might be our last.’’ There was a time not so long ago that Sacramento was the NBA’s model of success. A smaller-market franchise that thrived on being the town’s only team, fans turned out in masses even when the Kings were terrible. The team sold out its first 497 games in Sacra- mento, still the fourth- longest streak in league his- tory, and they had another run of 354 straight sellouts when the franchise peaked. Chris Webber, Jason Williams, Peja Stojakovic, often. Red Bluff put up three runs in the first inning. The rally started with a McColpin single up the middle. Emily McEnaney followed with a deep double to the left field corner that was just a few feet away from making her the Northern Section’s all-time home run queen. Brittney Fletcher then drove home McColpin and Morgan Weaver knocked in McEnaney and Fletcher. The Lady Spartans tacked on anoth- er run in the second inning as the bot- tom of Red Bluff’s order was impres- sive all game long. Brooke Clatty singled and Danisha Slay drew a walk to start the inning. Aubrey Lair then put down a sacri- fice bunt, one of three she successfully got down in the game. Shasta’s defense threw away the ball trying to get Lair out at first and Clatty crossed home to make it 4-0. In the fifth inning Slay singled and then was sacrificed over to second by Lair, before being driven home by Har- Vlade Divac and Doug Christie even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2001 with the headline, ‘‘The Greatest Show on Court. Sacramento Kings: Basketball the way it oughta be.’’ Fans only added to the lore by clanking cowbells to deafening levels, especially behind the visitors’ bench. Those bells were never louder than when Sacra- mento won an NBA-best 61 games in the 2001-02 sea- son, losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lak- ers in the Western Confer- ence finals at home in a decisive Game 7. ‘‘When we were win- ning, the place was unbe- lievable,’’ said Rick Adel- man, the coach of those great Kings teams who’s now at the helm for the Houston Rockets. ‘‘Now, for me, it’s just really sad.’’ Even with success, the need for an updated arena was always there. The build- ing formerly known as Arco Arena lacks the moneymak- ing luxury suites that are in so many new facilities, the sightlines are poor and the 17,317-seat capacity is small by NBA standards. Cash-strapped Sacramento has refused for years to con- tribute public dollars to a new arena, which Kings owners Joe and Gavin Mal- oof argue is critical for the franchise to be profitable. Some also have criticized the Maloofs for not pushing hard enough for a new arena when the Kings were in their prime and they had the chance. In 2006, voters crushed a measure that would have raised sales taxes by a quarter cent to help finance a new arena with a resounding 80 per- cent in opposition. Now a new, different type of vote approaches. And Sacramento won’t “It’s really important if (the bottom of the order) gets on base, we know the first three batters are going to drive us home,” said Slay, who finished 2-for-2 with a walk. That team concept worked again for the Lady Spartans’ final run in the sixth inning. Slay singled, Lair again laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached safely on a fielder’s choice where Shasta didn’t get anyone out. Harris singled to load the bases and McColpin drove a deep sacrifice fly to score Slay. Harris finished 3-for-4 and drove in two runs. “We were more prepared, more upbeat,” Harris said of the difference between Wednesday’s win and Tues- day’s loss. Coach J Howell noticed it as well. “We came out really focused and I liked our intensity — yesterday was a bit of a wake up call,” he said. The Lady Spartans (8-2, 2-0) host Lassen 4 p.m., Friday. Sacramento bracing for life without the Kings be able to decide this one. The NBA granted the Kings an extension until April 18 to file a relocation request, and a simple major- ity approval by owners would be all that’s needed for the team to become the Anaheim Royals, one of the federal trademarks an attor- ney for the Maloofs filed for with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The team was previously the Royals in stops in Rochester and Cincinnati. Tuesday night, Anaheim’s City Council unanimously approved a $75 million bond deal to entice the Kings to relocate to Orange County. And Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former NBA All- Star, is already preparing his hometown for the worst. ‘‘It feels like a slow death,’’ Johnson said of the Kings’ possible move. He has vowed that Sacra- mento will work to build a new arena with or without the Kings in hopes of luring another NBA franchise, a tough task for any city, let alone one out in the Central Valley of Northern Califor- nia with enough budget issues to worry about. ‘‘I can’t imagine the team leaving,’’ Adelman said, ‘‘because the likelihood of them getting anything back is not very good.’’ Some residents have increased efforts to push for a new arena, although even the most loyal fans have come to grips with the reali- ty that Sacramento will like- ly join Seattle — whose SuperSonics became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008 — as the latest town to lose its team. The Glass Agency, an advertising company in Sacramento, launched a bill- board and social media cam- paign to generate awareness of the issue. One billboard on Interstate 5 had a deflated basketball with a sign: ‘‘Game Over. If the Kings leave, we all lose.’’ ‘‘You don’t have to care about basketball to appreci- ate how a professional sports team impacts a city’s ability to thrive, prosper and, frankly, be relevant,’’ said Amber Williams, the agency’s president. ‘‘It is a part of what makes Sacra- mento a great place to live.’’ Added former Kings standout Brad Miller: ‘‘I came to Sac because I knew how great of a place it was to play,’’ he said. ‘‘It drew me in just because the team was so good. It would be really sad to see them go.’’ Kings fans have, perhaps unsurprisingly, stayed stead- fastly loyal. While crowds have been sparse for the past few seasons, the attendance of late has swelled. In a Feb. 28 game against the Clip- pers, efforts to keep the Kings in town created a rare sellout with fans even jeer- ing at the Maloofs — sitting courtside — not to relocate the franchise. The Maloofs, except for firing back at Sacramento officials who were trying to sway Anaheim not to issue bonds for the Kings, have remained publicly silent on relocation. The current play- ers and coaches also are reluctant to say much about a possible move. ‘‘(Fans) still love us,’’ Kings forward Donte Greene said. ‘‘They want to keep this team here. They keep coming to the games and showing that they want the team to stay here.’’ Fans might not have the chance much longer. Sacramento’s season finale is April 13 at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, and days later the franchise’s future could become official. Robby Lasby continued to be hot at the plate and the Spartans knocked off Las Plumas 9-5, Wednesday, to improve to 10-2 on the season. Lasby hit a triple and drove in three runs during a 3-for- 4 day at the plate. Austin Brownfield went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Taylor Figgs went 2-for-3 and Jorge Caldera doubled. Red Bluff is 2-1 in league play. TENNIS Central Valley 1 Corning 8 The Cardinals took eight out of nine matches, Tuesday, to improve their league record to 2-2. “We played really well against a team we struggled to beat last time,” coach Mike Albee said. “We keep improv- ing as a team and get stronger each day.” The Cardinals swept the singles matches. Ryan Howell breezed through James Khamboupha 6- 0, 6-0 in No. 1 singles. Durante Rodriguez defeated Kao Saelee 6-3, 6-4. Erik Espinosa beat Brandon Chaolee 6-0, 6-2 Javier Curiel handled Chiem Saechao 6-2, 6-4. Robert Garcia beat Jake Bergstorm 6-4, 7-6 and Kyle Hansen defeated Rickey Chaolee 6-4, 4-6, 10-6. In doubles play Howell and Rodriguez defeated Saelee and Bergstorm 8-3. Espinosa and Curiel defeated Khamboupha and Chaolee 8-0. LACROSSE this weekend. A heavy dose of lacrosse action will be in Red Bluff On Saturday Red Bluff’s Under-13 team will be play- ing two games in a round robin as will the junior varsity team. 8:30 a.m. day. In all 10 games will be played Saturday, beginning at The girls lacrosse team will play a round robin on Sun- All the games will be played at the soccer park on the corner of Park Avenue and Baker Road. GOLF Sevillano Links will be hosting a Demo Day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Golfers of all skill levels can test and compare, special order or purchase the latest in golf equipment. For more information about the 2011 Demo Day at Sevillano Links or to book a tee time, tournament or stay and play getaway call the golf shop at 528-4600 or visit sevillanolinks.com. Scoreboard MLB American League Today’s games Detroit (Verlander 0-0) at New York (Sabathia 0-0), 10:05 a.m., ESPN Los Angeles (Weaver 0-0) at Kansas City (Hochevar 0-0), 1:10 p.m. National League Today’s games San Francisco (Lincecum 0-0) at Los Angeles (Kershaw 0-0),5 p.m.,ESPN Atlanta (Lowe 0-0) at Washington (Hernandez 0-0), 10:05 a.m. Milwaukee (Gallardo 0-0) at Cincinnati (Volquez 0-0), 11:10 a.m. San Diego (Stauffer 0-0) at St.Louis (Carpenter 0-0), 1:15 p.m., ESPN NBA Wednesday’s results Denver 104, Sacramento 90 Memphis 110, Golden State 91 Atlanta 85, Orlando 82 Charlotte 98, Cleveland 97 Chicago 108, Minnesota 91 Indiana 111, Detroit 101 Miami 123, Washington 107 Milwaukee 104, Toronto 98 New Orleans 95, Portland 91 New York 120, New Jersey 116 Philadelphia 108, Houston 97 Oklahoma City at Phoenix, late Dallas at L.A. Clippers, late Today’s games Boston at San Antonio, 5 p.m., TNT Dallas at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m., TNT NHL Wednesday’s results Buffalo 1, N.Y. Rangers 0 Championship Series Best-of-3 Wednesday’s result Creighton at Oregon, late Creighton leads series 1-0 Today’s game Alabama vs.Wichita State, 4 p.m., ESPN2 CIT Championship Wednesday’s result Santa Clara 76, Iona 69 CBI Today’s games Dallas at San Jose, 7:30 p.m., CSNC Atlanta at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Columbus at Washington, 4 p.m., VS N.Y. Rangers at N.Y. Islanders, 4 p.m. Toronto at Boston, 4 p.m. Ottawa at Florida, 4:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m. Edmonton at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Nashville at Colorado, 6 p.m. Los Angeles at Vancouver, 7 p.m. NIT Championship At Madison Square Garden New York Thursday March 31, 2011 Tehama Tracker RODEO Carolina 6, Montreal 2 New Jersey 3, N.Y. Islanders 2 St. Louis 10, Detroit 3 Anaheim at Calgary, late