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ByChipThompson editor@redbluffdailynews.com @editorchip on Twitter REDDING TheRedBluffSpartans boys took a 68-34 loss on the road to the Shasta Wolves on Tuesday night, while the Lady Spartans fell at home to Shasta 53-44. The Spartans struggled with the Wolves, failing to score more than single digits in any period, and giving up 24 in the second period alone to take a 41-18 defi- cit into the half. Tye Clement led the scor- ing for the Spartans with eight points; Brayden Hutchins, Daw- son Voth and Derek Gordon each had five; D.J. Robinson had four; Evan Tanner had three and Er- ick Spencer and Payton Edwards each had two. The Spartans (8-15 overall, 1-8 league) are scheduled to close out the regular season in Chico against the league-leading Pleas- ant Valley Vikings (20-5 overall, 9-0 league) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Shasta53, Lady Spartans 44 RED BLUFF The Red Bluff Lady Spartans faded in the final period Tuesday night to fall to the Shasta Wolves 53-44 at home. The Spartans came back from a first-half deficit of 30-24 to lead at the end of the third quarter, 38- 37, but were held to just six points in the fourth as the Wolves put 16 on the board for the win. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday no in- dividual stats had been posted for the Spartans. Red Bluff (13-9 overall, 3-6 league) will close out the regu- lar season at 7:30 p.m. Thursday when they host the league-lead- ing Pleasant Valley Vikings (16-6 overall, 9-0 league) at 7:30 p.m. Liberty Christian 69, Warriors 39 RED BLUFF The Mercy Warriors boys went down early Tuesday night to the Liberty Christian Patriots, felling behind 47-13 at the half. Despite a solid second half, the deficit was too much to overcome and the Warriors lost 69-39. Marcus Kuechle led the War- riors with 22 points and 25 re- bounds, Dartagnan Kingwell had six points and eight rebounds, Nick Keane had five points and Jarrett Stickney had four points and two rebounds. T.J. Frase and Alavaro Dela- fuente each had three rebounds and Delafuente had two points. The Warriors (1-23 overall, 0-9 league) are scheduled to fin- ish the regular season when they host the Redding Christian Lions (17-8 overall, 6-3 league) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The Lady Warriors (2-20 ove- all, 0-7 league) will wind up the season at 6 p.m. Thursday against the Lions (16-5 oveall, 6-1 league) at home. Corning CORNING Due to the evacuation of Oroville, Tuesday's Corning Cardinals home games against the Oroville Tigers were resched- uled. The Cardinals (24-0 overall, 8-0 league) are scheduled to host the Tigers (9-14 overall, 2-4 league) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. They will fin- ish the regular season at 7:30 p.m. Friday when they visit the Para- BASKETBALL Spartans,Warriorstakelosses Cardinalsgameswith Oroville rescheduled to Thursday evening By Jerry McDonald Bay Area News Group ALAMEDA Life is good for Todd Downing. Instead of stepping in to fix the wreckage of someone else's disaster, the Oakland Raiders new offensive coordinator takes over the NFL's sixth-ranked of- fense with a quarterback in Derek Carr who merited MVP consideration. No meeting and greeting with a new staff or installing an en- tirely new system. He's got a very good offensive line and a handle on what his players can and cannot do. "It's an incredible blessing to have my first opportunity this way," Downing said in a confer- ence call with Bay Area report- ers Wednesday. When coach Jack Del Rio opted to promote Downing on Jan. 22 from quarterbacks coach rather than strike a new deal with offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, it raised some eye- brows throughout the league. The Raiders were coming off a 12-4 season, went to the play- offs for the first time in 14 years and were exciting and explo- sive. Downing had a year to go on a contract which contained a provision to allow him to in- terview elsewhere for a coordi- nator's job. "There was some interest in my availability to get either an interview or a coordinator's job in other places, and that became evident and apparent to coach Del Rio," Downing said. It helped that Downing, 36, has forged a strong relation- ship with Carr. David Carr, the quarterback's brother, recently said Downing had served as a go-between between Derek and Musgrave, and that the change would liberate his brother in terms of having more freedom within the offense. "There's been a lot made of his command of the line of scrim- mage," Downing said. "There is certainly going to be opportu- nities for Derek to do that, but that's not something I feel we'll even have to get into until we're much further into this offense and into training camp." Downing wants Carr to keep progressing in terms of read- ing his progressions, being ef- ficient and using proper foot- work while at the same time be- ing more vocal in terms of his input into game plans. "I think my relationship with him is something that's going to give him the opportunity to voice his opinions and I look for- ward to him really taking charge of expressing his thoughts on the offense," Downing said. While Carr is the centerpiece of the offense, there were signs of occasional strain between Del Rio and Musgrave last season regarding the running game. The Raiders went from the No. 28 rushing attack to No. 6, but there were instances where Del Rio didn't think the Raiders used it enough, referencing the need for more "big boy football." "I am as committed to the run RAIDERS DOWNING EAGER TO LEAD ON OFFENSE New offensive coordinator, promoted from quarterbacks coach, has rapport with Carr JOSECARLOSFAJARDO—BAYAREANEWSGROUPFILE Oakland Raiders quarterback Connor Cook, right, speaks to Raiders quarterback coach Todd Downing during warm-ups before playing the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild-Card Round game at the NRG Stadium in Houston on Jan. 7. By Mike Tulumello The Associated Press MESA, ARIZ. If the Oakland Athletics can jump out to a lead this season, they should be in great shape. As pitchers and catchers re- ported Wednesday, manager Bob Melvin reflected on his numerous options to close out games. So many options, in fact, that he might not even need a traditional closer. "We may not have one par- ticular closer," Melvin said. "We may do things a bit differently this year." Between Santiago Casilla, who is returning to his original team after spending seven years across the Bay in San Francisco, Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson and John Axford, the A's have four back-of-the-bullpen arms who have combined for 389 ma- jor league saves. "The tough part will be iden- tifying who goes where," Mel- vin said. Then there's Ryan Dull, who quietly emerged as a big-time re- liever last year with a 2.42 ERA in 70 appearances. And yes, he too can close. Dull had three saves last year. Another late-inning option is Liam Hendriks, who had a 3.76 ERA in 53 appearances. "Really, you have six back- end-of-the-bullpen guys," said catcher Stephen Vogt. "That gives Bob a lot of options on what he wants to do late in the game." Melvin said this could allow him to take pressure off the team's young starters, allowing them to finish their starts after five or six innings and feel con- fident going into their next as- BASEBALL A's may not need traditional closer this year The Associated Press GLENDALE,ARIZ. After an injury- interrupted 2016 season, Clayton Kershaw hopes to remain healthy this season. "I'm here to make every start this year," the Los Angeles Dodg- ers ace said Wednesday after re- porting for spring training. "I feel like that's what I'm here to do." Kershaw threw a bullpen ses- sion, a day ahead of the official start of workouts for pitchers and catchers. He did not pitch for the Dodg- ers from June 26 until Sept. 9 last year because of a herniated disk in his back. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner went 12-4 with a 1.69 ERA, then made four starts and one relief appearance in the playoffs. "I'm doing good," said Kershaw, who turns 29 on March 19. "I'm excited to give the back a good test this spring. But there's no worries or concerns for me." The physical regimen has changed some for the six-time All- Star, who has thrown 1,760 reg- ular-season innings during nine major league seasons. "The routine is a little differ- ent, yeah, but no drastic changes, which is great," Kershaw said. "I feel like I'm still able to get the work in. I'm a little more aware. Instead of my pushing through stuff, I'm just a little more aware. For the most part, not a lot has changed." Kershaw threw off the mound four or five times before arriving in Arizona. His wife, Ellen, gave birth to a son, Charley, in Novem- ber, their second child. "One was tough," Kershaw joked. "Two is just adding to the chaos." He sees familiarity in the Dodg- ers clubhouse as the team tries to reach the World Series for the first time since winning the 1988 World Series title. Kershaw was happy Los Ange- les kept closer Kenley Jansen, in- fielder Justin Turner and pitcher Rich Hill, and is in the process of finalizing a deal to re-sign in- fielder Chase Utley. Kershaw was intrigued by the addition of pitcher Sergio Romo, who com- pleted a $3 million, one-year con- tract on Wednesday. "Having those guys, and hav- ing Chase back after everybody had written it off, that it wouldn't work out, is such an added bo- nus," Kershaw said. "Everybody talks about intangibles, but I re- ally mean it, regardless of how Chase plays, what he does in the clubhouse is the best I've ever seen." Romo adds bullpen depth after leaving the San Francisco Giants to join their rival. "It's a different look," Kershaw said. "They love spin rate here, and we've got a lot of spin rate, high-fastball pitchers. Now we've got a guy that can paint a slider and get guys out. Nice to have him around, for sure." Kershaw figures to make his seventh straight opening-day start, which would match the SPRING TRAINING Kershaw hopes to remain healthy BASKETBALL PAGE 3 RAIDERS PAGE 3 DODGERS PAGE 3 A'S PAGE 3 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, February 16, 2017 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1