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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2007

Updated: 09/02/2007 11:45 pm

BASKETBALL

U.S. Cruises 118-81 To FIBA Title

LAS VEGAS - LeBron James scored a team-record 31 points, and the United States beat Argentina 118-81 on Sunday to win the FIBA Americas championship.

Dwight Howard made all seven of his shots and scored 20 points, and Carmelo Anthony added 16 points for the Americans, who were never challenged while winning 10 games in 12 days and will head to Beijing next summer as one of the gold medal favorites.

The Americans averaged 116.7 points in the tournament. The game was largely meaningless, because both teams had already clinched spots in the Beijing field by winning semifinal games Saturday. But the Americans didn't let up, remaining perfect in four Olympic qualifiers, including 7-0 against Argentina.

In the third-place game, Larry Ayuso scored a tournament-best 39 points and Carlos Arroyo added 30 points and 10 assists to lead Puerto Rico past Brazil 111-107.

TRACK AND FIELD

Felix Caps America's Top Showing

OSAKA, Japan - Allyson Felix ran one of the greatest 400-meter relay legs in the sport's history to help the United States bring a triumphant end to its most dominant showing ever at a world track and field championships.

With 26 medals, 14 of them gold, the Americans delivered just the performance they wanted heading in to 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Felix's breathtaking second leg of the women's 1,600 was timed unofficially by the U.S. staff at 48 seconds. That's faster than the 48.2 Florence-Griffith Joyner ran in helping set the American record at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

During her magnificent week, she also defended her 200 title and ran the second leg of the winning 400 relay team. Felix became the second woman to win three gold medals at a world championships. The other was Marita Koch of East Germany at the first worlds in 1983.

ELSEWHERE

U.S. Looks Golden In Gymnastics

STUTTGART, Germany - There were no medals awarded for this performance. Still, what a great night for the Americans to say they have the best gymnastics team in the world.

From Nastia Liukin's graceful comeback to Alicia Sacramone's 'Remember Me?' floor routine, the U.S. women set themselves up as the team to beat at these world championships - and maybe next year in Beijing, too - with a razor-sharp and nearly mistake-free romp through the gym in qualifying Sunday.

They scored 245.025 points to take a 3.85-point lead against China.

PREP FOOTBALL: Cincinnati Elder (2-0) ended the nation's longest football winning streak at 109 with a 41-34 overtime victory against Charlotte (N.C.) Independence (1-1) on Saturday night in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge in Cincinnati.

NBA: The body pulled from the Delaware River was positively identified as Floyd 'Pete' Nelson, the missing father of Orlando Magic star Jameer Nelson.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL: Kristina Fabris posted a career-high 26 kills to earn all-tournament honors, and Marcella Gurgel added 21 as South Florida (2-1) defeated Fordham (4-4) 30-25, 27-30, 30-13, 34-32 at the Western New York Invitational at Niagara University. ... Katelen Dixon became the fifth player in University of Tampa history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs as the No. 1 Spartans (7-1) cruised to a pair of 3-0 victories to conclude the Otter Classic, which was hosted by Cal State-Monterey Bay in Seaside, Calif. UT beat No. 20 Seattle Pacific 30-18, 30-22, 30-26 and CSU-Monterey Bay 30-10, 30-17, 30-16.

WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER: Shannon Aitken posted her second consecutive shutout as No. 4 Tampa (4-0) topped No. 8 Tusculum (3-2) 1-0 in Columbus, Ga. ... South Florida fought host Mississippi (0-0-2) to a 0-0 double overtime tie in Coach Denise Schilte-Brown's first game at USF. ... A goal by Sara Macko (Bloomingdale) in the 73rd minute lifted No. 22 Saint Leo (2-1) past No. 15 West Florida (1-2) in the Lions' home opener. The win marked the Lions' first victory against the Argonauts in eight tries. ... No. 2 Notre Dame (1-0-1) scored in each half to beat No. 13 Florida (1-1) in Gainesville.

MEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER: Despite a goal by Leonardo Nogueira, host Saint Leo (1-1-1) fell to West Florida (3-1) 2-1.

OBITUARIES: Russell Ellington, whose four-decade career coaching basketball included a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters, died Saturday in Savannah, Ga. He was 69. Ellington had a record of 894-212 while coaching Savannah State College, Savannah Tech and Morris Brown. Ellington toured with the Globetrotters from 1984-93. ... Bill Henry, 83, who pitched in the majors from 1952 to 1969, has died. Henry died Aug. 27 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, two days after he suffered a heart attack. He finished with a career record of 46-50 and pitched in two games in the World Series in 1961 with the Reds. He also pitched for the Red Sox, Cubs, Pirates, Giants and ended his career with the Astros.

A Tribune staff, wire report

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