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By RICH GREENE DN Sports Editor It was the complete opposite of Paradise, Tuesday night, for the Lady Spartans, who fell behind the Lady Bobcats early in a 65-36 loss that saw freshman star Lily Brose leave the game early with an injury. Paradise speedster Caressa Williams put the Lady Bobcats (15- 3, 4-2) up by double-digits almost as fast as she got up and down the court on her way to a game-high 13 points. The Lady Spartans (5-13, 1-5) were down 23-10 at the end of the first period after committing a num- ber of turnovers. Red Bluff played better in the second period, but with 1:36 left before halftime, Brose took a hard spill while attempting to make a steal and never returned to the game. Alana Hinkston led the Spartans with 11 points. Roxy Luppino was forced into running the offense and being the primary shooter in Brose's absence. She finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Brose, who returned to the bench after halftime with her knee iced and bandaged, had nine first half points. Lottie Jones had six points and six rebounds. Paradise got transition baskets to go along with six 3-pointers, three of which came from Catharine Rees. Brieanna Churchill finished up with nine points and nine rebounds leading Paradise's strong post play. The Lady Spartans shot 9-for-14 from the free throw line. Sports 1B Wednesday January 27, 2010 Wednesday Boys Basketball — Mercy at Weed, 7:30 p.m. Boys Basketball — Red Bluff at Paradise, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball — Mercy at Weed, 6:30 p.m. Soccer — Los Molinos at Mercy Wrestling — Foothill at Red Bluff, 6 p.m. Wrestling — Corning at Anderson, 6 p.m. Courtesy photo Several Top Fuelers placed at the Top Fueler Winter Classic Wrestling Tournament held at Red Bluff High School. Pictured, from top left, Brandon Shira, fourth at 70 pounds,Tanner Ganenbein, fourth at 76 pounds, D-Bo Kent, second at 70 pounds, Cody Shira, second at 112 pounds, Denver Gulliford, first at 205-pound varsity, Marnuel Torres, third at 185 pounds, Kyle Bickley, third at 122-pound varsity, Bode Parks, second at 116 pounds, Hunter Acala, second at 60 pounds, middle row, Michael Pryor, second at 65 pounds, Bryce Coates, third at 55 pounds, Blake Tweedt, first at 60 pounds, Dillon Carter, third at 89 pounds, Zack Howard, fourth at 83 pounds, Brandon Marsh, fourth at 76 pounds, Keaton Coley, third at 65 pounds, Christian Mills, fourth at 108 pounds, John Raker, second at 60 pounds, front row, Tyler Parks, first at 55 pounds, Rocco Racker, fourth at 60 pounds, Colby Pryor, third at 45 pounds, Triston Vaillete, fourth at 40 pounds, Anthony Yorty, third at 40 pounds and Shane Barrow, fourth at 50 pounds. Top Fuelers flourish at home tournament Lady Spartans tumble Tehama Tracker Corning boys basketball The Corning Cardinals played a strong defensive game, Friday night, and cruised past Yreka 65-30 to improve to 13- 5 and 2-0 in the Northern Athletic League. Corning led 48-15 at halftime and was led by 18 points from Cameron Nye and 11 from Luis Piseno. Los Molinos boys basketball Playing with just five players due to suspensions, Friday, the Bulldogs fell 72-53 to Hamilton. Despite having no bench, the Bulldogs did lead after the first period. Sean Conrad scored 15 points and dished out five assists during a night in which he went 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Kevin Garnica pulled down 15 rebounds to go along with 14 points. Dominique Ceja had 12 points and Ryan Mekech had 10 rebounds. Jc Conrad rounded out the Bulldogs lineup. Athletics sign free-agent RHP Ben Sheets OAKLAND, (AP) — Once Billy Beane received positive word on Ben Sheets' throw- ing session last week, the Oak- land general m a n a g e r pounced. The pitcher's agent had an impressive offer in hand from the Athletics practically by the time Sheets was done icing down his arm afterward. It was merely an hour later. Oakland took a mighty gamble Tuesday on Sheets, agreeing to terms with the free-agent righty on a $10 million, one-year contract only 11 months after he underwent elbow surgery that sidelined him all of last season. A four-time All-Star, the 31-year-old Sheets becomes the team's sec- ond-highest paid player behind six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez. ''We were either going to get him with what we had or we weren't, and we had to be aggres- sive about it,'' Beane said. Manager Bob Geren immedi- ately called Sheets his ace and opening-day starter. When Sheets repeatedly hit 92 mph on the radar gun pitching for a big audience at his alma mater in Louisiana, taking a shot on him seemed like a no-brainer for Beane and his typically small-spending franchise. ''This is where I wanted to be. I'm glad they welcomed me with open arms,'' Sheets said, wearing a new green A's cap when formally introduced at the Coliseum. ''I think I'm 100 percent physically ready to go.'' Sheets was so set on sticking to his routine that he played long toss with Geren's oldest son, Bobby, after having dinner Monday night with Beane and members of the front office. He threw on turf, under the lights in a drizzle. Sheets was MCT photo Ben Sheets missed the entire 2009 season. Raiders hire Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator ALAMEDA (AP) — The Oakland Raiders hired Hue Jackson as offensive coordi- nator on Tuesday, hoping the man who helped develop Joe Flacco in Baltimore can do the same for JaMarcus Rus- sell. Jackson is the second new assistant hired by the Raiders since the end of the season, joining defensive line coach Mike Waufle. While owner Al Davis has not yet committed to bringing Tom Cable back as head coach in 2010, he has hired two assistants with ties to Cable. Jackson and Cable worked together on the staff at Cal- State Fullerton in 1990 and at the University of California in 1996. Waufle and Cable also worked together at Cal in the 1990s. The Raiders have pointed out Cable's ties with the new coaches in their news releases announcing the hires. Cable See OC, page 2B Daily News photo by Rich Greene Roxy Luppino looks for a shot, Tuesday, against Paradise. See SHEETS, page 2B