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At Final Four, Houston slowing Duke’s Cooper Flagg could come down to a stopper named Joseph Tugler

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Pretty much every basketball fan has heard of Duke’s Cooper Flagg. Nowhere near as many have heard of Houston’s Joseph Tugler. If the Cougars are going to spring an upset over the Blue Devils in the all-1-seed Final Four on Saturday, it will almost surely be because one of the country’s best defenders, Tugler, figured a way to hold down the country’s best overall player, Flagg. Duke is a 5 1/2-point favorite over Houston, which boasts the nation’s best defense. The winner will play either Florida or Auburn for the national title on Monday.

Dawn Staley has South Carolina one win away from a 3rd NCAA Tournament title in 4 years

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Dawn Staley and South Carolina are one win away from joining an elite group of programs in women’s basketball history with a third national championship in four seasons. Only two other schools have accomplished that feat, UConn and Tennessee. The Huskies, led by coach Geno Auriemma, stand in the way with the teams set to play Sunday for the NCAA title. It’s been nine years since Auriemma’s team won a championship, which capped off a run of four consecutive titles from 2013-16. That win was the most recent of the record 11 national titles that Auriemma has won in his four decades at the school.

Shohei Ohtani throws second bullpen since resuming mound ramp up

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Shohei Ohtani threw a 26-pitch bullpen session before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the Philadelphia Phillies, another step toward his mound return. Recovering from right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023, the two-way star threw his second bullpen session since resuming his pitching ramp up. He paused after his mound session on Feb. 25 to prepare for opening day as a hitter, then threw a bullpen on March 29. He incorporated splitters on Saturday. When Ohtani is ready for game pitching, the Dodgers plan to use a six-man rotation.

Wayne Gretzky has been helping Alex Ovechkin long before this record goal chase

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wayne Gretzky made his first in-person appearance during Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of the NHL career goals record in time to watch him tie it with No. 894. But Gretzky has been advising and helping Ovechkin from afar for much longer. Gretzky provided help when Ovechkin stalled out short of 800 goals, and he tried to keep him loose with the record approaching. Now, the “Great One” will follow the chase to New York on Sunday as Ovechkin takes his first opportunity at getting No. 895 and the record all to himself.

Brian Harman survives the wind and leads Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Brian Harman was never happier with a round at even-par 72. The Valero Texas Open was a beast in the third round with 30 mph win that made the TPC San Antonio play so difficult that only six players broke par. Harman played bogey-free over the final 13 holes and leads by three shots. He’s aiming for his first victory since winning the British Open in 2023. Andrew Novak hit a tee off the wall and onto the green for birdie at the 16th. He shot 69 and was three back. Tom Hoge shot 68 and was four behind.

Carla Bernat Escuder leans on her Spanish roots to win Augusta National Women’s Amateur

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Carla Bernat Escuder has won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur by coming from two shots behind with a 68 at the home of the Masters. She knows the tournament usually starts on the back nine and that’s what stands out. The Spaniard hit a brilliant flop shot on No. 10 to save par and was on her way. Defending champion Lottie Woad made a double bogey on the same hole and never caught up. The charge came from Asterisk Talley. She got within one shot of the lead but couldn’t give herself a good look at birdie on the 18th.

Hamlin looks to back up Martinsville win with one at Darlington Raceway, where he’s won four times

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin is coming off a victory and heading to one of his most successful tracks in Darlington Raceway. That does not mean he’s coming in overconfident. Hamlin said he’s continually self-scouting, no matter how successful he’s been because he wants to ensure he’s doing all he can to make the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team perform at its best. Count on the 44-year-old Hamlin to bring that renewed confidence to Darlington, where he leads all current drivers with four victories.

Paige Bueckers’ UConn resume is missing an NCAA title. She says others can ponder her legacy

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Paige Bueckers’ UConn resume has one glaring omission: She hasn’t been able to lead the storied women’s basketball program to a 12th NCAA title. Whether she can do that on Sunday against South Carolina — which is trying to win its third in four years — remains to be seen. Bueckers wants to win one, but says she will leave it to others to decide to look back and ponder about her impact at UConn.

Penguins’ Crosby and Stars Dadonov have a dueling hat tricks game 16 years after Sid’s with Ovechkin

DALLAS (AP) — Sidney Crosby took part in another dueling hat tricks game with a Russian opponent 16 years after his memorable one in the playoffs against Alex Ovechkin. Crosby finished off his hat trick with an empty-netter to seal the Pittsburgh Penguins’ victory at the Dallas Stars after Evgenii Dadonov also scored three goals. Crosby and Ovechkin each had a had trick in Game 2 of the Penguins’ 2009 playoff series against the Washington Capitals. This one came less than 24 hours after Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record. Crosby brushed off any connection between his scoring and Ovechkin’s milestone.

Boutier outlasts Boutier in 28 holes in longest match in T-Mobile Match Play history

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — Celine Boutier outlasted Ashleigh Buhai on the 28th hole Saturday in the longest match in the five-year history of the T-Mobile Match Play, sending the Frenchwoman to quarterfinals. The previous record was 22 holes, set twice. Boutier faced Madelene Sagstrom later Saturday. Sagstrom also needed extended time, beating Carlota Ciganda in 19 holes. Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul routed Nataliya Guseva 8 and 7. Thitikul is the only remaining player ranked in the top 10. Seven of the eight in the field were eliminated Friday on the final day of round-robin play, including No. 1 and defending champion Nelly Korda.