Briefs for print
Hempfield wins team rifle title
Hempfield won the WPIAL Team Rifle Championships with a score of 800-54x.
The three local teams, Trinity, Waynesburg and McGuffey finished fourth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
The Hillers fourth-place finish was led by Gage Martin’s 100-9x.
Selena Phillips scored a 100-9x to pace Waynesburg, while Aidan Brookman also finished with a 100-9x to lead McGuffey.
McDaniels backs
out of Colts job
Josh McDaniels has backed out of a deal to become the Indianapolis’ Colts new coach, a decision that shocked the franchise hours after it announced his hiring.
The Colts confirmed McDaniels’ decision in a statement Tuesday night after reports emerged that the Patriots’ offensive coordinator had opted to stay in New England with coach Bill Belichick.
McDaniels had agreed to contract terms with the Colts to replace the fired Chuck Pagano. A news conference had been scheduled for Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts said McDaniels informed them Tuesday evening that he would not sign the deal.
“Although we are surprised and disappointed, we will resume our head coaching search immediately and find the right fit to lead our team and organization on and off the field,” the Colts said in the statement.
By spurning the Colts after they waited 22 days to hire him, McDaniels leaves the reeling franchise as the only one without a coach. New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia left Belichick’s staff a day after the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to become coach of the Detroit Lions.
Gronkowski’s
house robbed
Police say the home of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was robbed while he was away at the Super Bowl.
Foxborough Police Chief William Baker confirmed Tuesday morning that his department is investigating a burglary at Gronkowski’s home.
He said officers responded to the home just after 6 p.m. Monday.
Baker said “out of respect for Mr. Gronkowski’s privacy and because this is an active and dynamic criminal investigation we’re not going to be releasing any information right now about what was stolen and whether any suspects exist.”
But according to a Broadcastify.com recording of a call between responding officers and dispatch, a dispatcher says “multiple safes and possible guns” were taken.
Gronkowski had nine catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’ 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
In the NBA
Jonathon Simmons scored 22 of his career-high 34 points in the third quarter and the Orlando Magic overcame a 21-point deficit Tuesday night to beat the reeling Cleveland Cavaliers, 116-98.
The Cavaliers scored 43 points in the first quarter, but then went almost 6 1/2 minutes without scoring in the fourth and lost for the 14th time in 21 games. They played the second half without coach Tyronn Lue, who went to the locker room in the second quarter with what the team said was an illness.
The Magic made their first 10 shots of the second half and won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 8-10. LeBron James had 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Cavaliers, but did not have a rebound or an assist in a foul-plagued second half.
Evan Fournier scored 19 points for the Magic, who broke a nine-game home losing streak against Cleveland.