Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008

Leading Off

MERCED EYES FIRST D-I SOCCER CROWN

Merced High has never won a Sac-Joaquin Section boys' soccer championship, but the Bears (21-1-2) hope to end that drought today when they face Davis-Yolo (21-2-1) in the Division I final at Folsom High at 6 p.m. Both teams won semifinal matches in the penalty-kick round. In other finals at Folsom, Tioga (19-5) faces Sacramento Country Day (17-4-2) in D-VII at 10 a.m. and Mariposa (14-8-3) faces San Juan (11-5-3) in D-VI at noon. Tioga and Mariposa are shooting for their first championships, as well.

QUESTIONNAIRES FOR WINTER SOUGHT

With the winter sports season approaching, The Bee is preparing previews for wrestling, and boys and girls basketball. Requests for information have been sent to coaches at all Stanislaus District high schools and the deadline for returning questionnaires is Thursday. Forms should be e-mailed to wdeboard@modbee.com or faxed to 238-4551, care of Will DeBoard. Coaches who did not receive questionnaires should contact The Bee as soon as possible.

NBA SUSPENDS 3 IN SUNS-ROCKETS TIFF

The NBA has suspended Steve Nash and Matt Barnes of Phoenix and Rafer Alston of Houston for their roles in a fight. Alston and Barnes were suspended for two games without pay and Nash for one. The league also fined Shaquille O'Neal $35,000 and Tracy McGrady $25,000 on Friday for their actions during the Rockets' 94-82 win in Phoenix on Wednesday.

RAIDERS MAY SWAP STARTING WIDEOUTS

There's a chance two players who haven't touched a football in two weeks could start at wide receiver for the Raiders. Javon Walker is out with a bone separation in his left ankle and needs surgery. The other starter, rookie Chaz Schilens, has been limited in practice all week by a sprained ankle. That could lead to some shuffling of the receiver rotation. Ashley Lelie will start for Walker. Ronald Curry (pictured), the team captain who was inactive for last weekend's game against Carolina, will start for Schilens if his ankle is still bothering him.