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ByJoshDubow TheAssociatedPress SAN JOSE Martin Jones made 22 saves in his second straight shutout and Tomas Hertl scored twice to give the San Jose Sharks a series lead for the first time in four trips to the Western Con- ference final with a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 on Thursday night. Joonas Donskoi also scored to give the Sharks a 2-1 series ad- vantage and move them as close as they have ever been to reach- ing their first Stanley Cup final. San Jose had won just three games in its first three trips to the conference final, part of a long history of playoff disap- pointment that is showing signs of coming to an end this season. San Jose has controlled the play for much of this series, limiting St. Louis' chances and taking advantage of miscues by the Blues to generate enough of- fense. St. Louis has gone 150:45 without scoring since Jori Lehtera's second-period goal in Game 1 led to a 2-1 victory. Game 4 is Saturday in San Jose, where the Sharks have won six straight playoff games. Brian Elliott allowed three goals on 14 shots before be- ing pulled midway through the third. The Blues now find them- selves trailing a series for just NHL PLAYOFFS Jones'shutoutgivesSharksserieslead Hertl scores twice as San Jose takes 2-1 series advantage over Blues with win on home ice MARCIOJOSESANCHEZ—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS The San Jose Sharks' Joonas Donskoi (27) celebrates with teammates a er scoring against the St. Louis Blues during Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Thursday in San Jose. By Janie McCauley The Associated Press OAKLAND A far cry from his brash, former basketball-play- ing father, Klay Thompson is perfectly content to be the soft- spoken, second superstar behind MVP Stephen Curry. He is more than happy to let Draymond Green do the arguing, arm flex- ing and trash talking. Yet Thompson's hard-nosed performances on both ends of the court all postseason are ar- guably the biggest reason the defending champion Warriors are back in the Western Confer- ence finals and one step closer to a repeat title. "He doesn't say a lot, but he absorbs a lot. He's all over it, he kind of sends off this vibe that he's a little out there, but it's the old expression 'still waters run deep,' something like that," coach Steve Kerr said. "There's a lot more in there than you think." Thompson, he just wants to play. "We've got a huge fan base, but it's not No. 1 on my list," Thompson said of engaging with supporters and the media. "I just enjoy, I love playing the game." After he carried Golden State for much of the first two rounds, Thompson's teammates took the pressure off with a balanced per- formance in Wednesday night's 118-91 Game 2 win against the Thunder that notched the West- ern Conference finals at one game apiece. Earlierintheplayoffs,Thomp- son shared how Kerr challenged him to "channel my inner Reg- gie Miller" and constantly keep moving. Kerr has appreciated Thompson's ability to drive and dish and making things happen without the ball — and he did it much of the time without fellow Splash Brother Curry, who was sidelined with ankle and knee injuries. So, when Golden State elimi- nated Portland in five games last round, Curry offered one final thing: A thoughtful shout out to Thompson and all he has meant during this title defense. "Klay doesn't even want the limelight," said Kerr. "He just likes to play and he would pre- fer not to do any media. I don't think he cares at all about hav- ing his name out there or doing NBA PLAYOFFS Thompsonhascarried Warriorsinplayoffs All-Star guard fine with being Golden State's 2nd superstar behind MVP Curry MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) reacts a er scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of Game 2of the Western Conference finals in Oakland on Wednesday. JEFF CHIU — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, center, shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 2of the Western Conference finals in Oakland on Wednesday. SHARKS3,BLUES0 Series: San Jose leads 2-1. Game 4: St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks, 4:15p.m. Saturday, TV on NBC. THESCORE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS Series: Tied 1-1. Game 3: Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder, 5p.m. Sunday, TV on TNT. TUNEIN Staff Report CLIO Corning High School's Marc Lengtat has qualified to compete Monday in the NorCal Championship Golf Tournament at Corral de Tierra Country Club in Salinas. Lengtat and his teammate Jared Burreson represented the Cardinals at the NSCIF Mas- ters Championship on Tuesday at Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club in Clio. They were joined by Red Bluff's Nathen Fregoso and Mer- cy's Shane Rhodes. Lengtat qualified for Monday's championship with a round of 76, tied for third among the individ- ual competitors whose teams did not qualify for the tournament. University Prep's Mark Stephens had the top round of 70, Chico's Tanner Caviness carded a 73 and Chico's Brayden Russo had a 76 and, with Lengtat, they advance. "We at Corning Union High School are proud to have Marc representing our school and community at the NorCal Cham- pionship," Cardinals coach Mike Costanza said in an email. Costanza said Burreson be- came ill before the start of play Tuesday and tried to compete, fin- ishing nine holes. But he was un- able to finish due to illness. Fregoso just missed the cut with a round of 78, fourth-best among those competing as indi- viduals and fifth among individ- uals and those on non-qualifying teams. Rhodes carded an 83 Tuesday. The top two teams advance to Monday's tournament. Pleasant Valley was the Division 1 win- ner with a team score of 381 and Shasta was the Division 2 winner with a team score of 389. Pleasant Valley's Noah Norton shot a day's best 68 and Shasta's Zack Caples shot a 70, but they will advance with their teams instead of as in- dividuals. Other schools represented Tuesday included teams from Colusa, U-Prep and Chico and in- dividuals from Foothill, Enter- prise, Modoc, West Valley, Mount Shasta, Durham and Paradise Ad- ventist Academy. GOLF Corning's Lengtat qualifies for NorCal Leads Cardinals with 76 at section Masters meet The Associated Press LAKETAHOE Toms Skujins deliv- ered his U.S.-based team another win in the nation's highest-pro- file race. The young Latvian rider pulled away from Adam De Vos and Xa- bier Zandio, the only remnants of an early breakaway, and cruised across the finish line to win Stage 5 of the Tour of California on Thursday. Skujins won three days after Cannondale Pro Cycling team- mate Ben King won in a break- away. Julian Alaphilippe finished 43 seconds back in a pack of overall contenders on the 132-mile route through vineyards and forestland to retain the yellow jersey. Pe- ter Stetina remained 22 seconds adrift in second and George Ben- nett 37 seconds back in third. Skujins, who also won a stage TOUR OF CALIFORNIA CHRIS GRAYTHEN — GETTY IMAGES Toms Skujins of Latvia celebrates a er winning Stage 5of the Tour of California from Lodi to South Lake Tahoe on Thursday. Skujins claims Stage 5 win in breakaway at Lake Tahoe THOMPSON PAGE 2 CYCLING PAGE 2 SHARKS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, May 20, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1