Sports digest 12/3/01

Sikeston tourney opens play today

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The 30th annual Sikeston Invitational boys basketball tournament will tip off today, with two-time Class 3A state champion New Madrid County Central looking to defend its title.

New Madrid is seeded first, followed by Charleston, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Blytheville (Ark.), Doniphan, Kennett and Cape Girardeau Central.

Three first-round games will be played today: New Madrid vs. Cape Central, 5:30 p.m.; Sikeston vs. Blytheville, 7 p.m.; and Charleston vs. Kennett, 8:30 p.m.

The opening round concludes Tuesday as Poplar Bluff faces Doniphan at 5:30 p.m. There will also be a semifinal Tuesday, at 8:30 p.m., with the other semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. The finals will be Friday at 8:30 p.m.

Chaffee girls tourney tips off

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Defending champion Kelly is favored to defend its title as the annual Chaffee Invitational girls basketball tournament opens today.

Delta is seeded second, followed by Scott City, Sikeston, Chaffee, Oran, Portageville and East Prairie.

Three opening-round games will be held today: Kelly vs. East Prairie, 5:30 p.m.; Sikeston vs. Chaffee, 7 p.m.; and Delta vs. Portageville, 8:30 p.m.

The first round wraps up Wednesday as Scott City plays Oran at 5:30 p.m. There will also be a semifinal Wednesday, at 7 p.m., with the other semifinal Thursday at 8 p.m. The finals will be Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

SE volleyball signs players

Southeast Missouri State University volleyball coach Cindy Gannon has announced the signing of four recruits for the 2002 season. All are high school seniors.

The Otahkians landed Katie Markovich, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter/middle blocker from Kansas City, Mo.; Jill Waltsak, a 6-foot outside hitter from Kansas City, Kan.; Jill Miller, a 5-9 outside hitter from Muncie, Ind.; and Sara Long, a 5-10, middle blocker/outside hitter from Ashland, Ill.

"We are very excited about these players coming in," said Gannon. "They all have extensive club playing experience and are very athletic."

Reports: Panthers fire coach, GM

TORONTO -- The Florida Panthers, tied for the fewest victories in the NHL, fired coach Duane Sutter and president and general manager Bill Torrey, two Canadian sports networks reported Sunday.

The team scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. today to "announce a series of changes in the operations department," Panthers spokesman Mike Hanson said.

The Panthers replaced Sutter with Mike Keenan while assistant general manager Chuck Fletcher was promoted to general manager on an interim basis, TSN and Sportsnet said on their Web sites. Sportsnet said the Panthers signed Keenan to a multiyear deal.

Sportsnet cited unidentified NHL sources. TSN did not specify its sources.

The Panthers are 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 6-15-2-3 record.

Braves, Smoltz agree on contract

ATLANTA -- John Smoltz, who thrived with Atlanta after being moved to the bullpen, agreed to a $30 million, three-year contract with the Braves on Sunday.

The free agent pitcher was courted by several teams to resume his former role as a starter. He decided to stay with the Braves, who wanted him to remain a closer after he saved 10 games in 11 chances this past season.

Smoltz has spent his entire 14-year career with the Braves. He won the Cy Young Award in 1996.

The three-year contract includes salaries of $10 million in each of the next three seasons, and a $12 million team option for 2005.

-- From staff, wire reports