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By RICH GREENE DN Sports Editor The Mercy Warriors frustrated the usually high-scoring Los Moli- nos offense, Tuesday, in a 3-1 win at Red Bluff Union High School. Los Molinos (3-4) had few chances to spring an attacker on net and were frequently called for offsides as the Mercy (3-1) back line played solid enough to keep the Bulldogs in check. For most of the game the War- riors outran the Bulldogs to loose balls and Christian Mondragon and Alvaro Ortega helped Mercy maintain solid possession through- out the match. At the 17-minute mark, Liam Dobson got his head on a Mon- dragon corner kick and put it past the Bulldog keeper for the first half's only score. The Warriors stormed out of the gates after halftime with goals in the 43rd and 47th minutes. First Henry Wan tapped home an Ortega cross as it bounced across the goal line and then Michael Uhalde drove through the Bulldog defense and chipped a shot in from about 10 yards out. The Bulldogs only score came late around the 71st minute mark. Mercy had four corner kicks to just one for the Los Molinos. Mercy coach Victor Torres said he's pleased with the Warriors recent strong play from goalkeep- er Gabriel Guerrero, as well as Ortega, Uhalde and Samantha Mondragon. Sports 1B Wednesday February 3, 2010 Wednesday Boys Basketball — Red Bluff at Chico, 7:30 p.m. Girls Basketball — Chico at Red Bluff, 7:30 p.m. Wrestling —West Valley at Corning, 6 p.m. NBA — Warriors at Mavericks, 5:30 p.m., CSNBA NBA — Spurs at Kings, 7 p.m., CSNCA NBA — Suns at Nuggets, 7:30 p.m., ESPN Mercy tops rival Los Molinos, 3-1 Daily News photo by Rich Greene Mercy's Christian Mondragon (#7) gets to the ball in front of the Bulldogs' Freddy Castellon. Registration for the 2010 Jr. Bulls will be held Sunday at the Red Bluff Union High School gym from noon to 1 p.m. The summer Amer- ican Legion baseball program begins in late- May and runs through July. Registration is open to players 17 years-old and younger. Players can not turn 18 before Aug. 15, 2010. A $50 registration fee will be due and members will be on hand to answer any questions. Those who can not attend, but still want to play should call Mike at 736-0520. More information is also available at www.redbluffbase- ball.com. HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets f i n a l l y got a breather after a month of c l o s e games. Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry scored 24 points apiece, and the Rockets sal- vaged the last game of their longest homestand of the season, routing the Golden State Warriors 119-97 on Tuesday night. Trevor Ariza scored 18 points and Chuck Hayes grabbed 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who finished their six-game homestand with a disappointing 2-4 record. The Rockets led by as many as 28 and won easily, a much-needed blowout after they went 7-9 in the previous 16 games, all decided by 10 points or less. Monta Ellis scored 34 points for the Warriors, who've lost six in a row overall and 12 of their last 13 road games. Corey Maggette, Golden State's second-leading scorer, sat out with a hip pointer, and the short-handed Warriors fell into a 21-point hole in the first quarter. Houston hit 11 of its first 17 shots against the NBA's worst defensive team, and Golden State matched its sloppy early defense with poor shooting, missing 12 of its first 17 shots. ''We couldn't find it offensively,'' said Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who scored 14. ''For us to be competitive, we have to be able to make plays and we didn't. We just didn't come ready to play.'' Luis Scola's layup with 45 seconds left in the first Manning the biggest star by far on Media Day Mark's Fitness Bench Press Club met for their second competition, Sunday, at Red Bluff Health and Fitness. Ten members competed for the 200-Club Champion and 300-Club Champion trophies and a pound-for-pound championship belt. Reigning champion Manuel Ruiz took home both the 300-club and pound-for- pound titles for a second time, weighing 195 pounds and benching 315. Doug Shepard won the 200 club title with a maximum lift of 298.75 pounds. Mark Bailey, trainer and competition organizer, also recognized the most improved member Jesus Soriano with a spe- cial plaque. Soriano benched 310 pounds on Sunday, 35 more than he lifted in September. Bench Press Club flexes muscles again Courtesy photo Mark's Fitness Bench Press Club competitors pictured from top left: Greg Ulloa, Steve Roberts, Mark Bailey, Doug King, Angelo DiMaggio, Huy Pham, Jason Eden, Steven Magee, Richard Susano, Collin Walton and in the front row are winners Doug Shepard, Manuel Ruiz and Jesus Soriano MIAMI (AP) — Peyton Man- ning worked the room masterfully. He took questions from all direc- tions, throwing in plenty of eye con- tact. He spoke glowingly when nec- essary, took a few stabs at humor and steered away from anything that might come across as controversial. Yes, the Indianapolis Colts quar- terback handled Super Bowl media day with the same aplomb he shows at the line of scrimmage. Manning, a four-time MVP and clearly the biggest star in South Florida, spoke on a wide range of subjects Tuesday without revealing a whole lot we didn't already know. He certainly didn't provide any bul- letin-board fodder to Sunday's opponent, the New Orleans Saints. Heck, that's his hometown, the city where his father Archie played and still lives. If the Colts weren't trying to win a title of their own, Manning would've been the Saints' biggest fan. He was certainly happy when they beat Minnesota in an overtime thriller to earn their first trip to the Super Bowl, a game that Manning won three years ago. ''The Saint were my team grow- ing up,'' he said. ''I was really excit- ed for New Orleans, watching them win that game against the Vikings. It was exciting to see the French Quar- ter empty in the third quarter and then be packed after the game. I had a lot of friends down there tell me what it was like.'' Manning said he also appreciates the history of the Colts, dating back to their days in Baltimore. In fact, one of his father's favorite players was Hall of Fame quarterback John- ny Unitas (the other: Mickey Man- tle). ''I understand the significance of Unitas,'' Manning said. ''I still feel that connection to Colts history.'' Not long after being drafted by Indianapolis, Manning met Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who was then playing at right-down-the-road Purdue. ''He came to see a Colts game,'' said Manning, who then quickly pointed out that Brees ''paid for his ticket. Everything was on the up- and-up,'' apparently in case the NCAA was listening. Manning didn't get any offbeat questions, but that didn't stop him from trying to add a little levity to the proceedings. ''No, I'm not superstitious,'' he MCT photo Peyton Manning listens to a question during Tuesday's Media Day. Red Bluff Jr. Bulls Redding Riptide The Redding Rip- tide will be holding softball tryouts for their spring and summer travel teams on Satur- day from 10 a.m. to noon, rain or shine at Mountain View Mid- dle School, 675 Shasta View in Redding. Players are asked to bring indoor shoes. The Riptide will be forming 16-and-under, 14-and-under and 12- and-under divisions. For more informa- tion contact Don Wolfe at 510-7524. Maggette out, Warriors lose See MEDIA, page 2B See LOSE, page 2B