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SPORTS BRIEFING

Season opener on Friday

The East Liverpool and Beaver Local boys basketball games scheduled for Tuesday were postponed due to the winter weather.

The Edison at East Liverpool game has been rescheduled for Dec. 22. Beaver Local was scheduled to host Steubenville.

Beaver Local will host East Liverpool on Friday in the season opener for both teams.

Youth basketball signups

CHESTER, W.Va. — The George Jones Memorial Youth Basketball League will be held Saturdays beginning Jan. 9. Games will be played at the Old Chester School.

Age groups are 9-and-under and 10-12. There are no travel teams.

Deadline to enter is Dec. 30. For more information, contact Steve Dawson at (330) 383-3259.

Ohio State resumes practice

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio State football team is resuming full practices again in preparation for Saturday’s game at Michigan State.

Ohio State said in a one-sentence statement that the team would “resume organized team activities” on Tuesday afternoon.

The Buckeyes will do so while managing COVID-19 issues, and will be without coach Ryan Day, who tested positive last week. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson is assuming head coaching duties for the week and for Saturday’s game in East Lansing.

Ohio State chose to cancel its game at Illinois last week because of an unacceptable number of COVID cases among players and staff in the program.

No. 3 Ohio State (4-0, CFP No. 4) needs to play this week and next week against Michigan to have enough games in to be eligible for the Big Ten title.

Garrett returns for Browns

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns got back their most valuable defensive player and lost another vital one.

Myles Garrett is ready. Ronnie Harrison won’t be for some time.

Cleveland’s defensive star was activated from the COVID-19 list on Tuesday after missing two games with the virus. Garrett, who was leading the NFL in sacks when he got sick, has been cleared to return to practice this week as the Browns (8-3) get ready to play at Tennessee.

Garrett has been out since testing positive for the virus on Nov. 20 after he was isolated for two days while having symptoms. The Browns won both games without their best player — and one of the league’s top defenders — and are relieved to have him back for their playoff push.

Kappas off to Austin Peay

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Chris Kappas, a coordinator at Division III powerhouse Mount Union the past eight seasons, has joined the Austin Peay State University’s football coaching staff as defensive coordinator.

Austin Peay is an NCAA Division I program and competes in the Ohio Valley Conference.

“I am extremely excited to bring Chris in as our defensive coordinator,” Austin Peay head coach Scotty Walden said. “He is a winner who has won multiple conference and national championships. As both a highly successful offensive and defensive coordinator, Chris’s background gives him an edge when game planning for offenses. He will bring a very aggressive attack style defense to Austin Peay. It will be a fun system for our players to be in and will free them up to play hard and make plays. Above being a champion on the field, Chris is a champion off the field and will fuel our players with tools to be successful in life.”

Kappas is married to Columbiana High School graduate Krista Johnson.

“My family and I are extremely excited for the opportunity to join the Austin Peay football family under Scotty,” Kappas said. “It is an honor to lead the defense at a rising program and becoming recognized nationally. We will challenge the men on this team to become the best version of themselves on and off the field, and to set their standards and expectations at the highest level possible. Our goal will be to be the best in everything we do, while doing things the right way with consistency and discipline.”

Kappas was a defensive back on Mount Union’s 2005 and 2006 NCAA Division III national championship teams. He coached in four Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowls, winning the national championship in 2015 and 2018.

Ely promoted at Mount Union

ALLIANCE — Daryl Ely was promoted to defensive coordinator for the University of Mount Union football team Tuesday.

Ely enters his 12th season as an assistant coach on the Purple Raiders staff and takes over for Chris Kappas, who left to become defensive coordinator at Austin Peay (Tenn.) State University.

He has been an defensive assistant for his entire coaching career and the last two seasons was pass defense coordinator while also working with the cornerbacks.

Ely, a two-time All-American defensive back, starred on Mount Union’s 2008 NCAA Division III national championship team.

No fans at West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia said Tuesday that no fans will be allowed at its men’s and women’s basketball games in December, except for essential personnel and the families of players and staff, due to recent spikes of COVID-19 cases in the state.

The university initially had capped fan attendance at 20% of capacity at 14,000-seat WVU Coliseum, or around 2,800.

“To say that we are disappointed is quite an understatement, but the decision not to allow spectators in December is the correct one at this time for the safety of our fans, staff and student-athletes,” athletic director Shane Lyons said.

Indians reliever has surgery

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians rookie reliever Cam Hill underwent surgery on his right wrist after being involved in a car accident in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Hill shared details of the incident on his Instagram account, saying he was “very blessed to only bang up my wrist. Surgery went really well, most importantly the others involved in the accident were all okay.”

Hill also posted a photo of him recovering in his hospital bed with his right arm heavily bandaged. He gave a thumbs up with his left hand.

Cleveland said Dr. Brian Chalkin, a hand specialist, operated Monday night on the right-hander’s lunate bone, located in the mid-carpal joint. The team said surgery went “as expected” and that it does not have any details yet on Hill’s rehab or when he might be able to pitch.

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