Sports digest 3/21/02

AREA

ST. VINCENT STARTS STRONG, DEFEATS PERRYVILLE

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Defending Class 1A state champion St. Vincent made a big season debut in less than ideal conditions.

Andrew Prost and Wes Richardet, returning from last year's team, led the way with 35 and 37 in cool, rainy weather on the par-35 Perryville Country Club course.

Perryville's Justin Dreyer and Nick Erlacker paced the Pirates with 41 each.

Notre Dame track teams finish third, fourth

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Notre Dame's girls finished third and the boys were fourth in a five-team meet that mraked the school's return to track and field.

Notre Dame last had a boys' track team in 1982.

Lauren Beussink recorded the girls only first place with win in the 800 meters.

On the boys' side, Notre Dame's sprinters dominated with Adam Pransanphanich capturing the 100 meters and Tyler Cuba the 200. The 800 relay team also won.

Central golfers fall to Sikeston in opener

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Cape Central dropped its season opener by a narrow margin at the Sikeston Country Club.

Sikeston's Tanner Fritz earned medalist honors with a 36, while Cape Central's Todd Obergoenner led the Tigers with a 37.

ELSEWHERE

BASKETBALL

Michael Jordan scored seven points against the Nuggest after the Washington activated him from the injured list earlier than expected. Jordan was originally expected to miss a month after having surgery on his right knee Feb. 27.

NBA commissioner David Stern said hurdles remain for relocating the Hornets from Charlotte. Stern said the Hornets owners and local officials still must prove the city and the region can support an NBA team long-term. More multiyear corporate sponsorship agreements are needed, along with more commitments for club seats, suites and general seating tickets, he said.

NBA owners are expected to vote on the move April 8 or 9.

Colleges

After back-to-back 20-loss seasons, Rick Bender was fired as Washington's men's basketball coach. Bender, 44, had a 116-142 record in nine seasons coaching the Huskies, taking the team to the NCAA tournament in 1998 and '99.

Swimming

Aaron Peirsol set a world record in the men's 200-meter backstroke, finishing nearly 5 seconds ahead of his closest competitors in the Spring National Championships at Minneapolis. Peirsol finished in 1 minute, 55.15 seconds to break the record of 1:55.87 set by Lenny Krayzelburg in 1999.

-- From staff, wire reports