New Orleans Pelicans hoping to break three-game road losing streak visiting the Portland Trailblazers Saturday

 

The 11-13 New Orleans Pelicans, who have lost their last three road games in a five-game swing, return to action tomorrow night, taking on the 22-5 Portland Trailblazers. Pels' power forward Anthony Davis returned to the lineup Wednesday night after missing seven games due to a broken bone in his non-shooting hand. Davis was sharp in his return, registering a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 108-95 loss to the L. A. Clippers. Pelicans' shooting guard Eric Gordon, who is averaging  15.3 points per game, is struggling with his shot on the current road trip, hitting just .29 percent. Overall, Gordon is connecting on 42.6 percent of his shots. Gordon said, "I've got  to find a way to break through, to get a rhythm. Whether it's easy baskets or getting to the free throw line."

MHS Lady Skippers cruise past Northshore in basketball

The Mandeville Lady Skippers cruised past the Northshore Lady Panthers 56-19 Tuesday in district play sparked by Elise Reilly's 25 points on 8-of-9 shooting including 4-of-5 from behind the three point arc. Reilly averages 17.9 points per game. Leah Sulzer chipped in with seven points and three rebounds. The Lady Skippers built a 30-13 halftime advantage. Mandeville outscored Northshore 26-6 in the second half improving to 9-4.    

Archbishop Hannan and Covington High football appearing on Northshore Sports from WOW Cafe in Covington

 

Listeners can join me tonight on Northshore Sports airing from 6:30 to 8 o'clock from WOW Cafe at the Clarion Inn & Suites on Highway 190 in Covington. Tonight we'll be featuring a couple of our St. Tammany Parish football teams, which excelled during the recently concluded high school season. The Archbishop Hannan Hawks, who finished 11-3, making their way to the Division III state championship game in the Superdome will be on hand along with head coach Pat Lambert. The Hawks will be our first guests followed by the Covington High Fighting Lions, state semifinalists under first-year head coach Greg Salter. The Lions finished 9-5 falling to Parkway 28-27 in the semifinals. 

Saints name rookie Terron Armstead starting left tackle

Saints' rookie third-round draft pick Terron Armstead named as starting left tackle.

The Saints' brain trust, head coach Sean Payton, continues to make key decisions late in the season. Payton named rookie third-round draft pick Terron Armstead out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff as the starting left tackle, who will attempt to protect the blind side of Drew Brees in a critical road test against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Payton benched starting left tackle in last Sunday's 27-16 road loss to the St. Louis Rams after the coach said he had seen enough with Brown being beaten by the Rams' pass rush on play after play. Armstead, 6-5, 304 pounds, excited pro scouts as he ran the fastest 40-time by an offensive lineman in the history of the history of the NFL scouting combine, posting a 4.71 clocking. Payton said, "I think Terron's improved during the course of the season, being it taking scout-team reps, some work with the offense. Payton referred to Armstead as a talented, smart player. On the heels of releasing place kicker Garrett Hartley on Tuesday, Payton said, it was "real difficult" to release the six-year Saints' veteran kicker. "He's an extremely talented player, he's going to play in this league, I think, for quite a long time and have success," Payton added. Thirty-six year old veteran kicker Shayne Graham will take over for Hartley. In another move Tuesday, the Saints released veteran corner back Chris Carr and signed veteran safety Eric Frampton, who will see time on special teams. The 10-4 Saints are focused on traveling to Carolina to battle the Panthers with the winner taking the NFC South title and earning a No. 2 seed.     

Anthony Davis returns to New Orleans Pelicans' lineup

Pelicans' power forward Anthony Davis

The New Orleans Pelicans welcomed the return of power forward Anthony Davis last night, but they
fell 108-95 going down to Chris Paul and L. A. Clippers. Davis was strong in his return recording a double-double with a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds after missing seven games with a broken bone in his non-shooting hand. The Pelicans slipped to 11-13 dropping their third straight road game. Ryan Anderson delivered 17 points and nine rebounds adding three more treys. Jrue Holiday contributed a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists. The Clippers' Blake Griffin produced a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while center DeAndre Jordan turned in a quality effort scoring 14 points with a game-high 20 rebounds and five blocks. Paul netted 12 points and dished off 11 assists. The Pels are off until a Saturday road encounter with the Portland Trailblazers.