By JEFF LATZKE

The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs opened the Western Conference finals resembling the past champions who’ve been there so many times before.

The Memphis Grizzlies looked like the first-timers still trying to adapt to their first conference finals appearance.

Tony Parker had 20 points and nine assists, Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points and the Spurs struck first by beating Memphis 105-83 on Sunday.

San Antonio raced out to a 17-point lead in the first quarter, then came up with a response when Memphis rallied to get within six in the second half. Both teams pulled their starters with over 5 minutes left and the Spurs leading by 21.

“I can promise you this: Nobody’s happy in our locker room because we were up 2-0 (in the West finals) last year and we lost,” Parker said. “It’s just one game. It means nothing. We still have a long way to go.”

The Spurs avoided a repeat of their Game 1 loss when the teams met two years ago in the first round. The Grizzlies went on to knock San Antonio out of the playoffs as the top seed that time.

Memphis has lost its opener in each round in this year’s playoffs, recovering from an 0-2 hole in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers and an 0-1 deficit against Oklahoma City in the West semifinals.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in San Antonio.

“We just didn’t play well. It’s not anything specific,” coach Lionel Hollins said. “It’s just that we were running too fast, we missed some layups, we were taking bad shots and our defense was really awful. And the Spurs played well.”

The NBA’s stingiest defense wasn’t up to its usual standards, allowing the Spurs to hit 53 percent of their shots and a franchise postseason-record 14 3-pointers while All-Star power forward Zach Randolph struggled. Randolph had just two points, getting his only basket with 9:26 left in the game.

He had a playoff-best 28 points and 14 rebounds in his last game, as Memphis eliminated defending West champ Oklahoma City in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies started to rally as soon as Randolph came out of the game for the first time in the second half. Quincy Pondexter made a baseline cut for a layup off Darrell Arthur’s pass, then hit back-to-back 3-pointers during a 10-0 burst. Jerryd Bayless’ 2-handed fast-break dunk off a steal got the Grizzlies within 62-56 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.

The comeback was short-lived, though.

Bayless missed a 3-pointer on the next trip and Manu Ginobili made one at the opposite end to spark an 11-1 response that immediately restored the Spurs’ lead to 16 by the end of the quarter. Leonard hit a pair of 3-pointers and Gary Neal had one as San Antonio kept pouring it on in the fourth.

The four regular-season meetings were all won by the team with more points in the paint but perimeter shooting proved to be a bigger factor in the playoff opener. Memphis, which was second in the NBA by holding opponents to 33.8-percent shooting on 3-pointers, let San Antonio make 13 of its first 24 from behind the arc and finish 14-of-29.

Danny Green connected three times and scored 16 and Matt Bonner hit four of his five attempts for 12 points.

Pondexter led Memphis with 17 points, Marc Gasol scored 15 and Mike Conley had 14 points and eight assists.

Lady Pirates slide by Ottoville

CONTINENTAL — Continental’s fast-pitch unit rode the 5-hit shutout pitching of senior Leva Weller to hand Ottoville a 4-0 Putnam County League loss Saturday at Continental.

NWC Track and Field Championship Meet

Spencerville’s Moeller Memorial Stadium

Thursday and Saturday

Girls Team Rankings: Spencerville 166, Columbus Grove 116, Bluffton 78, Lincolnview 54.5, Ada 51.5, Lima Central Catholic 49, Allen East 46, Jefferson 43, Paulding 41, Crestview 15.

Boys Team Rankings: Columbus Grove 127, Lima Central Catholic 108, Spencerville 89.5, Ada 79, Bluffton 63, Lincolnview 62.5, Crestview 51, Jefferson 38, Allen East 24, Paulding 21.

For The Delphos Herald

LIMA — Friday night’s racing marked the 78th anniversary of oval track competition at the legendary Speed plant in western Allen County.

It also proved to be a throwback to the previous season. Todd Sherman and Shawn Valenti are returning track champions from 2012, while Sprint car ace Randy Hannagan was the touring NRA Sprint Invaders titlist from last year. All three veterans proved dominant again in posting triumphs over quality fields of race cars.

A slick racing surface triggered a handful of caution periods at the start of the Budweiser Thunderstocks 15-lap feature. Second-row starters Chris Douglas and then Brad Conover led the stocks around through the first two circuits. By the time a third early race restart began, the field had dwindled to 16 cars. A fourth early race restart saw Valenti power to the front from the outside and once he attained the lead position, the 7-time winner from 2012 was on his way to a first checkered flag of 2013.

Jeff Koz and Conover produced a spirited battled for the second position but neither genuinely threatened Valenti.

“It was hard to get some rhythm going early (with the yellows),” said Valenti of Fostoria. “When I really got going, I just started hitting my laps and tried to keep this thing rolling. Getting this win early despite all the rainouts is a great way to get started at this point in the season.”

The first appearance for Sprint cars with the new season on the LMP 1/4-mile saw 21 cars make the starting field. Leipsic veteran Butch Schroeder roared to the lead from his inside second-row position, with outside front-row starter Hannagan following closely behind. Similar to the Thunderstocks earlier, the racing surface was challenging through the opening go-rounds of the 25-lap feature event. When the racing finally settled into a rhythm, both Schroeder and Hannagan were storming around the cushion and had made it a 2-car affair.

Following a caution for a spin on lap number 12, Hannagan slipped around Schroeder on the backside of the racetrack for the pass. The California native and longtime Indiana resident never looked back in posting the win in his Yoakam Motorsports #22H machine. It was his 10th career victory at the track, including seven last season.

“I thought I might get him earlier than I did,” pondered Hannagan in the winner’s circle afterward. “A couple of those restarts, I really missed my re-entry, but then I was able to race him (Schroeder) off of (turn) two and got around him in three. Dennis Yoakam gives me a really good car and this has been a good effort with our team.”

The ultra-competitive K & N Modifieds had a 20-car field for the 20-lap feature and the theme of the evening maintained with former champions dominating. Indiana’s Sherman bolted to the lead at the start from his outside row-two slot and ultimately never surrendered the preferred position. It was a lengthy struggle to secure this win, although mostly as a result of numerous caution periods both early and late in the race. Jeff Babcock and Greg Amick produced some excellent side-by-side action for the runner-up position until they were both taken out by a late race collision.

Three-time defending champion Sherman immediately headed for the bottom of the track, which for him was clearly the fastest path around the track.

“I talked to my crew guys who were watching the sprint cars,” said the driver of the Frickers #65 Modified. “They said ‘stay in the middle of the track to the low side’ and then after a few laps, I just went right to the bottom. I just love the competition at this track. There are a lot of good cars here but I sure wish Terry (Hull) was here.”

Hull, a multi-time former track champion, is battling some medical issues and has yet to compete in 2013.

The win for Sherman is the 33rd of his LMP career. Hull leads the all-time list with 34.

Limaland Motorsports Park returns to action on Friday for the Memorial Cup with the K & L Ready Mix NRA Sprint Invaders vs. Sprints on Dirt. Also, the K&N UMP Modifieds and Budweiser Thunderstocks will compete. Gates open at 5 p.m. with hot laps beginning at 6:30 p.m. Racing begins promptly at 7:30 p.m.

All the latest news and information about America’s premier quarter-mile dirt track can be found at www.limaland.com. You can also find 2013 Limaland Motorsports Park on Facebook and Twitter.

Limaland Motorsports Park - Friday’s Results

Bud Thunderstocks

Heats (8 Laps - Top 8 Transfer)

Heat 1: 1. 7C-Jordon Conover; 2. 57S-Billy Siferd; 3. 8C-Brad Conover; 4. 48-Tim Cole; 5. 27-Frank Paladino; 6. OO-Tommy Klein; 7. 1-Anthony Flannery; 8. 21H-Dave Hollon.

Heat 2: 1. 22T-Tony Anderson; 2. 16-Jeff Koz; 3. 82-Chris Douglas; 4. 6-Emily Gade; 5. 19-Bill Reimund; 6. OOM-Bryan Martin; 7. 32-Scott Boyd Jr.

Heat 3: 1. 7B-Shawn Valenti; 2. 93-Zack Gustatson; 3. 01C-Andrew Clark; 4. O1-Jordan Shipley; 5. 89-Keith Shockency; 6. 26-Justin Long; 7. 2-Ray Seach.

A-Main - (12 Laps) [#]-Starting Position: 1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[8]; 2. 7C-Jordon Conover[10]; 3. 22T-Tony Anderson[9]; 4. 16-Jeff Koz[6]; 5. 8C-Brad Conover[4]; 6. 93-Zack Gustatson[5]; 7. 82-Chris Douglas[3]; 8. 6-Emily Gade[11]; 9. 2-Ray Seach[21]; 10. 48-Tim Cole[1]; 11. 19-Bill Reimund[14]; 12. 1-Anthony Flannery[19]; 13. 89-Keith Shockency[15]; 14. 32-Scott Boyd Jr[20]; 15. OOM-Bryan Martin[17]; 16. 01C-Andrew Clark[2]; 17. 57S-Billy Siferd[7]; 18. O1-Jordan Shipley[12]; 19. 27-Frank Paladino[13]; 20. OO-Tommy Klein[16]; 21. 26-Justin Long[18].

K & N Modifieds

Heats: (8 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)

Heat 1: 1. 22-Andy Bibler; 2. 27A-Greg Amick; 3. 22T-Tony Anderson; 4. L5-Casey Luedeke; 5. 18N-Derrick Noffsinger; 6. 10-Brett Miller; 7. 6-David Sibberson; 8. 23J-Jon Henry.

Heat 2: 1. 5X-Jerry Bowersock; 2. 44-Zack Schroeder; 3. 20-Kody Weiswner; 4. 19B-Brandon Ordway; 5. 63-Troy Stewart; 6. 8C-Corey Bevard; 7. 21S-Mike Hohlbein.

Heat 3: 1. 65-Todd Sherman; 2. 7B-Jeff Babcock; 3. 69-Tommy Beezley; 4. 93-Tyler Stump; 5. 83K-Josh Kehle; 6. 20K-Bill Keeler; 7. 25-Josh Lolmaugh.

Heat 4: 1. 28-Chad Rosenbeck; 2. 17T-Ryan Ordway; 3. 3W-Dillon Woodling; 4. OO-Dwight Niehoff; 5. 33-Clint Reagle; 6. 46-Andrew Johnston; 7. F16-Jake Ruefer.

B-Main - (10 Laps - Top 4 Transfer): 1. F16-Jake Ruefer; 2. 20K-Bill Keeler; 3. 10-Brett Miller; 4. 18N-Derrick Noffsinger; 5. 6-David Sibberson; 6. 23J-Jon Henry; 7. 46-Andrew Johnston; 8. 83K-Josh Kehle; 9. 8C-Corey Bevard; 10. 63-Troy Stewart; 11. 25-Josh Lolmaugh; 12. 33-Clint Reagle; 13. 21S-Mike Hohlbein.

A-Main - (20 Laps) [#]-Starting Position: 1. 65-Todd Sherman[4]; 2. 44-Zack Schroeder[1]; 3. 22T-Tony Anderson[9]; 4. 69-Tommy Beezley[11]; 5. 5X-Jerry Bowersock[5]; 6. 10-Brett Miller[19]; 7. 22-Andy Bibler[6]; 8. L5-Casey Luedeke[13]; 9. 28-Chad Rosenbeck[3]; 10. 20-Kody Weiswner[10]; 11. OO-Dwight Niehoff[16]; 12. 19B-Brandon Ordway[14]; 13. 17T-Ryan Ordway[8]; 14. 3W-Dillon Woodling[12]; 15. 18N-Derrick Noffsinger[20]; 16. 7B-Jeff Babcock[7]; 17. 27A-Greg Amick[2]; 18. 20K-Bill Keeler[18]; 19. F16-Jake Ruefer[17]; 20. 93-Tyler Stump[15].

Elwer Fence Sprints

Heats (8 Laps)

Heat #1: 1. 27-Beau Stewart; 2. 11- Tim Allison; 3. B20-Butch Schroeder; 4. 57-Mike Dunlap; 5. 28H-Hud Hoirton; 6. 22R -Kevin Roberts; 7. 23M-Jack Miller; 8. 4J-Bob Gehr.

Heat #2: 1. 7-Darren Long; 2. 22D-Dennis Yoakam; 3. 22H-Randy Hannagan; 4. 6S-JR Stewart; 4. 23-Devon Dobie; 5. 12-Nick Roberts; 6. 17-Jared Horstman; 7. 2S-Kyke Sauder.

Heat #3: 1. 49-Shawn Dancer; 2. 35-Ron Blair; 3. 10J-Jarrod Delong; 4. 7C-Max Stambaugh; 5. 2-Brent Gehr; 6. 34-Jimmy Snead; 7. 31N-Greg Nichols.

A-Main – (25 Laps)[#]-Starting Position: 1. 22H-Randy Hannagan[2]; 2. B20-Butch Schroeder[3]; 3. 49-Shawn Dancer[7]; 4. 27-Beau Stewart[9]; 5. 11-Tim Allison[6]; 6. 17-Jared Horstman[20]; 7. 7-Darren Long[8]; 8. 23-Devon Dobie[14]; 9. 22R-Kevin Roberts[16]; 10. 57-Mike Dunlap[10]; 11. 12-Nick Roberts[17]; 12. 10J-Jarrod Delong[1]; 13. 22D-Dennis Yoakam[5]; 14. 2-Brent Gehr[15]; 15. 34-Jimmy Snead[18]; 16. 4J-Bob Gehr[21]; 17. 28H-Hud Horton[13]; 18. 35-Ron Blair[4]; 19. 6S-Jr Stewart[11]; 20. 7C-Max Stambaugh[12]; 21. 23M-Jack Miller[19].

By KEVIN WANNEMACHER

DHI Correspondent

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HAVILAND – Jefferson’s softball crew struggled in the field and at the plate on Saturday in softball action as the Wildcats were swept at Wayne Trace by scores of 7-0 and 6-0.

The red and black committed 10 errors that led to 11 unearned runs on the day and just could not generate offense to overcome the mistakes, managing only six hits offensively as the Raiders completed the season with a record of 12-8.