CLEVELAND: It seems intentional at this point. Regardless of how well the Cavaliers play, regardless how lopsided the score, they’re going to find something they don’t like.

David Blatt didn’t like the fast-and-loose 3-pointers in the first half. LeBron James “blew a gasket” while ahead by 26 points in the second half.

With the East showing early signs of vast improvement over last season and the Golden State Warriors charging out to a perfect start, the Cavaliers have no room to slip, regardless of who is healthy and who isn’t. So this is the standard now: Keep going, keep fighting, keep working. No matter how many wins, no matter the score, it’s not good enough.

The Cavs are an East-leading 10-3 — and they’re doing it without four of the top eight in their rotation — but it’s hard to know that these days. They led an Atlanta Hawks team that won 60 games last season by 26 points in the third quarter Saturday night and James was so upset with how they were playing he stomped off the court and earned a technical.

“I blew a gasket,” he said without elaborating what had him fuming.

Similarly, Blatt found plenty he didn’t like. The Cavs shot 20 3-point shots by halftime and Blatt thought a number of them were ill-advised. He didn’t like the defense in the second half or the general sloppiness with the ball.

Yet this is a team now down to its third point guard and playing Jared Cunningham 20 minutes. Cunningham was a camp invite who is on his fifth team in four years and was once cut by the dysfunctional Sacramento Kings.

So where is the bar now? Where is the level of expectation for this injury-ravaged team biding its time until they’re healthy? Not even Blatt seems sure.

“Honestly for us right now and the situation we’re in, the bar we are looking at is Monday against Orlando,” Blatt said. “I really don’t feel comfortable or confident to talk beyond that. I don’t know who is going to play Monday. I do know the guys that will play are going to come to play. How do I project out from that? I don’t know. I just don’t know. I do believe when we get everybody back and get some time together we are going to be good like we were last year and hopefully beyond that because we’re deeper.”

That depth is on full display right now. Little-used veterans such as James Jones and Anderson Varejao are making big contributions now that they’re needed.

Jones made two 3-pointers within his first minute on the floor Saturday and Varejao continues to impress despite being virtually ignored through the first 10 games. He scored seven points and grabbed three rebounds Saturday, made another elbow jumper and completed a three-point play after James zipped a patented pocket pass to Varejao as he slashed to the rim.

The play ended with Varejao on his back crashing into the stanchion. James quickly helped him up and gave him an endearing pat on the back of his head.

At various points last season, Blatt used injuries as an excuse for the Cavs’ struggles. Not anymore. Of all the mantras Blatt learned during his first season in the NBA, the league’s longstanding motto of “next man up” was high on that list.

“We’re missing a lot of guys right now. A lot of very, very significant players,” Blatt said. “But the other guys are stepping up and doing the job and not asking for any quarter, they’re not asking for any breaks. They’re just going out there and playing and I think that speaks volumes to the type of players and people they are.”

Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.

BEREA: Nose tackle Danny Shelton has beaten himself up at times for lacking production during his rookie season with the Browns, but defensive line coach Anthony Weaver isn’t sweating it.

That’s because Weaver said he still believes Shelton can meet the expectations placed on him as the 12th overall pick in the draft.

The Browns have whiffed on so many first-round selections during the expansion era, it’s easy for outsiders to quickly — and perhaps prematurely — dismiss Shelton as a bust.

Weaver wouldn’t dare follow suit.

“As high as your expectations are for Danny, they’re even higher for himself. He wants to be a perennial Pro Bowler,” Weaver said Wednesday before the 2-8 Browns began their bye-week break. “He wants to have sack numbers for a nose guard. He wants all those things and because he has that want-to and that will and that desire to do big things and be great, the sky is the limit for him, and I look forward to watching his career progress.”

Shelton has said there’s “nothing really that stands out” about his first professional season, explaining his desire to watch himself on film and “see a different player.”

“Like any rookie, he’s had ups and downs throughout,” Weaver said. “But, overall, I think he’s played very well.

“As a nose guard, you’d like him to have more sacks and things like that, but ... I’m extremely pleased with where he’s at.”

Shelton has lamented his lack of plays in the backfield — he has no sacks and three tackles for loss — through 10 games.

“It’s not even a problem,” Weaver said. “He just has very high expectations of himself. He’s a guy that wants to go out there and make every single play, and that’s how you wish all those guys were.”

Weaver said Shelton should be compared to defensive tackles with similar body types who have played in similar schemes. He pointed to Haloti Ngata, drafted 12th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2006 and who’s now with the Detroit Lions, and Domata Peko, drafted in the fourth round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006.

Ngata, a five-time Pro Bowler, had 20 tackles and an interception through his first 10 games. He started every game as a rookie and finished with 31 tackles, including one sack.

Peko had 28 tackles, including a half sack, in his first 10 games. He appeared in all 16 games with one start as a rookie and posted 43 tackles, including 2½ sacks, to go along with a forced fumble.

Shelton has started all 10 games and has 20 tackles.

“That’s kind of a grunt position,” Weaver said. “Sometimes the numbers aren’t there. Those guys get a lot of recognition when you start winning.”

Shelton has admitted the run defense ranking last in the NFL (138.8 rushing yards surrendered per game) upsets him. It also finished 32nd out of 32 teams last season (141.6).

Weaver, though, refused to pin blame on Shelton. He pointed out the Miami Dolphins are ranked 31st against the run (135.6 rushing yards allowed per game) after finishing 24th (121.1) last season despite signing four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh this past March.

“Danny’s done really well against the run — solid,” Weaver said. It takes two [blockers] the majority of the time in order to contain him. Otherwise, he’s going to make a play.

“This game is so unique where you need all 11 [defenders to stop the run]. It’s never one guy that’s going to be a quick fix. It’s going to take us all, coaches included.”

In the spring, Weaver said he thought Shelton had “all the potential in the world to be a three-down player” because of the way he collapsed the pocket as a pass rusher at the University of Washington. Coach Mike Pettine and General Manager Ray Farmer sent the same message to Browns fans after the franchise chose Shelton, who had 93 tackles, including 16½ for loss and nine sacks, last season for the Huskies.

However, the Browns have barely used Shelton on third down. In fact, he has merely been a part-time player, logging 332-of-698 snaps (47.6 percent).

So why aren’t the Browns giving Shelton a chance to be the three-down player they advertised?

“I don’t think it’s anything Danny has or hasn’t done more than Randy Starks has been to two Pro Bowls who has gotten sacks in this league who has gone out there and gotten quarterback hits,” Weaver replied in his recent meeting with reporters. “You have Desmond Bryant, Xavier Cooper, guys who were brought here specifically to get after the passer, and I just haven’t had to use Danny in that role.

“Now with [a knee] injury to Starks [occurring Nov. 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers], that role will be ramped up for [Shelton].”

Weaver rejected the suggestion conditioning could be an issue for the 6-foot-2, 339-pound Shelton.

“He’s not close to having the highest fat level in my defensive line,” Weaver said. “He works hard at it. He’s always on the treadmill doing those things. I know he might not look the part, but he can run all day and play every snap if need be.”

One of Shelton’s technical flaws the Browns have publicly acknowledged is his tendency to raise his pad level. The importance of staying low in the trenches is Football 101.

“He’s just been so physically imposing his entire life that he can get by sometimes, particularly in the college level, with lesser technique,” Weaver said. “Throughout training camp and all those things, he was getting by, and sometimes he wasn’t going against fourth- and fifth-year guys in the preseason because those guys don’t play. When you’re going against a guy that understands leverage, hand placement, all those things, that’s been in the league for three or four years, they got him a couple times. That’s going to happen to all rookies.”

The issue hindered Shelton most when he faced the Denver Broncos’ zone-blocking scheme Oct. 18. Since then, Weaver said Shelton has showed “marked improvement” in the area.

“Now that he’s playing with lower pads, he’s knocking guys back,” Weaver said. “He’s getting back to the Danny of old.”

And Weaver is convinced that’s a good sign. Time will tell whether he’s right.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.

FOOTBALL

OHSAA Playoffs

DIVISION I

State Semifinals/Regional Finals

(Games at 7 p.m. Saturday)

Home teams listed first

Region 1

1 Lakewood St. Edward (12-1) vs. 2 Stow (12-0) at Parma Byers Field

1 Cincinnati Colerain (12-1) vs. 3 Huber Heights Wayne (13-0) at Mason Dwire Field at Atrium Stadium

DIVISION II

State Semifinals

(Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday)

Home teams listed first

1 Perry (11-2) vs. 5 Hudson (11-2) at Solon Stewart Field

2 Perrysburg (13-0) vs. 1 Cincinnati La Salle (11-2) at Piqua Alexander Stadium, Purk Field

DIVISION III

(Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday)

1 Archbishop Hoban (12-1) vs. 3 Zanesville (12-1) at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

2 Toledo Central Catholic (11-2) vs. 3 Trotwood-Madison (10-3) at Sidney Memorial Stadium

DIVISION IV

(Games at 7 p.m. Saturday)

1 Steubenville (12-0) vs. 5 Youngstown Ursuline (8-5) at Boardman New Spartan Stadium

1 Middletown Bishop Fenwick (13-0) vs. 1 Columbus Bishop Hartley (9-3) at Wilmington Alumni Field

DIVISION V

(Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday)

1 Milan Edison (12-1) vs. 3 Canton Central Catholic (9-3) at Wooster Triway Jack Miller Field

3 Coldwater (13-0) vs. 1 Wheelersburg (13-0) at Xenia Doug Adams Stadium

DIVISION VI

(Games at 7 p.m. Saturday)

1 Kirtland (12-1) vs. 3 Grandview Heights (12-1) at Mansfield Madison Ram Field at StarTek Stadium

1 Maria Stein Marion Local (12-1) vs. 2 Defiance Tinora (11-1) at Wapakoneta Harmon Field

DIVISION VII

(Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday)

1 Danville (13-0) vs. 2 Mogadore (12-1) at Orrville Red Rider Stadium

3 Fort Recovery (11-2) vs. 1 McComb (12-1) at Lima Senior Spartan Stadium

———

Basketball

GIRLS

Schedule

Monday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Buckeye at Cloverleaf

Cloverleaf at Buckeye

Firestone at East, 6:30 p.m.

Garfield at Buchtel, 6:30 p.m.

Kenston at Walsh Jesuit

Maplewood at Windham

Mogadore at Field

North at Kenmore, 6:30 p.m.

Northwest at Marlington

Our Lady Of The Elms at Tallmadge

Salem at East Liverpool Beaver Local, 7:15 p.m.

———

Tuesday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Aurora at Nordonia

Black River at New London

Dalton at Rittman, 7 p.m.

Hudson at Copley

Kent Roosevelt at Jackson

Louisville at Lake

Massillon at Barberton

Medina at Stow, 7 p.m.

Northwestern at Waynedale

Norwayne at Chippewa

Rootstown at Burton Berkshire

Shaker Heights at St. Vincent-St. Mary

Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown at Revere

Smithville at Hillsdale

Springfield at Waterloo

Streetsboro at Parma Padua, 7 p.m.

Tuslaw at St. Thomas Aquinas

West Holmes at Triway

Wooster at Mansfield Madison

———

Wednesday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Brunswick at Parma Heights Holy Name

Buchtel at GlenOak

Canfield at West Branch

Carrollton at Dover, 7:15 p.m.

Cloverleaf at Crestwood

CVCA at Marlington

East Canton at Berlin Hiland, 7 p.m.

Ellet at Our Lady of the Elms, 6 p.m.

Elyria at Walsh Jesuit, 6:30 p.m.

Fairless at New Philadelphia

Field at Tallmadge

Cloverleaf at Crestwood

Newcomerstown at Sandy Valley

North Royalton at Perry, 2:30 p.m.

Norton at Manchester

Woodridge at Canton South

———

Friday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Carrollton at West Holmes

Garrettsville at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 4:30 p.m.

Massillon at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 4:30 p.m.

Northwest at Norwayne

Orrville at Barberton

Ravenna at Southeast

Woodridge at CVCA

———

Saturday’s Games

(All games 2:30 p.m., unless noted)

Aurora at Parma

Alliance at Canton South, 1:30 p.m.

Archbishop Hoban at Cloverleaf, 7:30 p.m.

Brunswick at Shaker Heights

Buchtel at Wooster, 7:30 p.m.

Buckeye at Columbia

Canton McKinley at Perry

Copley at Norton, 7 p.m.

Crestwood at Middlefield Cardinal, 6:30 p.m.

Cuyahoga Falls at Ellet

East Canton at Ridgewood

Fairless at Canton Central Catholic, 11:30 p.m.

Garfield Heights at Twinsburg, 7:30 p.m.

Garrettsville, Massillon at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 3 p.m.

GlenOak at North Canton Hoover

Highland at Medina, 7:15 p.m.

Mapleton at Northwestern

Minerva at West Branch, 1:30 p.m.

Painesville Riverside at Hudson, 7 p.m.

Parma Padua at Brecksville

Revere at North Royalton

Salem at Louisville, 1:30 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas at Newton Falls.

Sandy Valley at Berlin Hiland

Woodridge at CVCA, 1 p.m.

———

BOYS

Schedule

Friday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Alliance at Sugarcreek Garaway

Archbishop Hoban at Kenmore

Canfield at Salem

Canton Central Catholic at Columbus Bishop Ready

Garrettsville at Marlington

Highland at Nordonia

Hubbard at Southeast, 6:30 p.m.

Indian Creek at Carrollton

Norton at Northwest

Olmsted Falls at Strongsville

Perry at Louisville

St. Thomas Aquinas at Minerva

Tuslaw at Dalton

Wadsworth at Firestone, 7 p.m.

West Branch at Hanoverton United

———

Saturday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Black River at Rittman

Buckeye at Norwayne

Green at Stow

Heartland Christian at Rootstown

Lake at East, 7 p.m.

Newton Falls at Waterloo

Perry at Louisville

Woodridge at Crestwood

Beacon Journal staff writer

Robbers broke into three Akron businesses this weekend and rammed stolen construction equipment into the front of a business to steal a safe near the site of a recent fatal plane crash.

According to Akron police, unknown perpetrators broke into the garage at Osborne Stone on Darrow Road in the Ellet area and stole two pieces of construction equipment and a cutting torch. One of the pieces of equipment was flipped onto the adjacent Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway tracks and the other was driven on the tracks about 300 yards, doing extensive damage, according to the police report.

A call to the police was placed at 8:15 a.m. Saturday morning, so police say the crimes likely occurred Friday night or early Saturday morning.

The construction equipment was then used to remove the front of the J. Bowers Construction Co. building on Mogadore Road, where a safe was removed from the building and placed in a vehicle. That vehicle was stolen from Gary’s Car Kare, also on Mogadore Road.

Police said the vehicle was recovered on Gilchrist Road. The safe had been cut open.

Police are investigating the incidents.

The break-ins and damage are not far from the site of a recent fatal Akron plane crash. After the crash, J. Bowers Construction’s surveillance video, which captured the crash, was turned over to authorities. The video, only seconds long, shows the plane in the far-left corner of the screen crashing into an apartment building and then a plume of smoke. All nine passengers — a pilot, co-pilot and executives from a Florida real-estate company — were killed on Nov. 10 when the plane crashed into the four-unit building on Mogadore Road.

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty

Beacon Journal staff report

State Route 5 in Portage County’s Paris Township will be closed for a few days in both directions after a tanker crashed and caught fire Sunday morning.

Officials with the Ohio State Highway Patrol said there were no injuries. The driver was able to escape the vehicle, which caught on fire between mile post 11 and 12.

At about 6:35 a.m. Sunday, the tanker traveling eastbound drove off the side of the roadway and struck a guardrail. The crash overturned the tanker and the guardrail ripped the tanker open, igniting 8,000 pounds of fuel, said Sgt. Troy Homrighausen of the Ravenna Post of the Highway Patrol.

A significant amount of fuel spilled onto both sides of the roadway and some got into a nearby creek. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has put up a dam to stop the fuel from reaching a nearby reservoir, authorities said.

“It’ll take a couple of days (to repair) damage to the road...the road is melted,” said Homrighausen.

It took more than two hours to extinguish the fire.

Authorities are recommending that drivers use the detour via state Route 14 and Interstate 76.

A proposed settlement in FirstEnergy Corp.’s controversial rate plan pending in front of state regulators could be filed in coming days.

But even if a settlement between Akron-based FirstEnergy and other parties is filed, the ultimate decision maker is the five-member Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and that will take time, said a PUCO spokesman.

FirstEnergy’s rate case, which has been pending since August of last year in front of the PUCO and just completed two months of hearings, has been controversial with opponents, who call it a “coal bailout.”

The company said its request would allow continued operation of the two higher-cost plants, although less expensive energy may be available today on the open market. The company has said it cannot afford to keep the two plants operating without additional customer support.

Opponents say the proposal will cost customers $3.1 billion over 15 years, while the company says it will save customers $2.1 billion.

At least one opponent, the Sierra Club, on Wednesday, said it withdrew from the settlement talks and said others followed their lead.

Discussions for a settlement, often called a stipulation, are normal parts of cases, said Matt Schilling, PUCO spokesman.

The PUCO staff is a part of the settlement discussions, as are many parties to the case, said Schilling.

“In any stipulation, the commission can accept it outright, reject it outright, or modify it based on the case record,” he said. With time for comments on any settlement, there is no time frame that is set determining when the commission must act, he said.

The PUCO staff acts as expert witnesses and is “one of the many parties that advises the commission. The commission is not bound by anything the staff does, but does take their opinion, like everyone else’s, into consideration,” he said.

FirstEnergy spokesman Todd Schneider said the electric utility is in discussions with “key parties” to reach a “positive outcome.”

“We’re confident we will reach a settlement that will serve the best interests of Ohio’s electric customers and retain key power plants that employ thousands of Ohioans,” he said.

Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Senior Campaign Representative Dan Sawmiller said his organization formally withdrew from talks on Wednesday.

“The expedited discussion with FirstEnergy and the PUCO staff amounted to nothing more than being asked to agree to a pre-negotiated, back-room deal that would harm Ohio’s businesses and homeowners. Any proposed deal that would bail out uneconomic coal and nuclear plants has no chance of survival, and the commission should forcefully reject it. If the commission moves forward with the staff’s proposal, the Sierra Club and Earthjustice will fight this back-room deal to its ultimate defeat.”

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty.

Diebold Inc. worked hard to woo German ATM maker Wincor Nixdorf.

For now the two companies are, in the words of Diebold Chief Executive Officer Andy Mattes, “frenemies.” In the last two years, the companies started collaborating in some areas while also remaining strong competitors.

Mattes saw where joining made sense for both businesses. For one, there was little global geographic overlapping of each company’s top markets for automated teller machines and related technologies.

So, Mattes said, “I popped the question.”

Wincor Nixdorf’s leadership said yes this summer, setting in motion a series of events that led to Monday’s official announcement that Green-based Diebold will buy Wincor Nixdorf for $1.8 billion, including debt, with the deal expected to close next year.

Frenemies no longer, the newly combined company, to be renamed Diebold Nixdorf, will keep its corporate headquarters in Green and its status as an Ohio-registered company, Mattes said during part of a wide-ranging interview this week with local media. He noted that he moved his family to Ohio several months ago.

Diebold Nixdorf will have an estimated $5.2 billion in annual revenue, putting it in reach of being listed on the Fortune 500 of the world’s largest corporations, Mattes said. Both companies have annual revenue of about $2.6 billion.

“This is good for us. This is good for Ohio,” Mattes said. “We’re driving our own destiny in an industry that is changing.”

The German-born Mattes called the upcoming merger transformational for both companies and also for the industry. It’s the largest deal in the more than 150-year history of Diebold. Mattes, a former Hewlett-Packard and Siemens executive, was hired as Diebold’s CEO in 2013, succeeding Thomas Swidwarski who was fired in January that year in part because the company missed earnings targets and in part because Diebold was transforming too slowly into a software-focused business.

Mattes said he is excited about what’s to come.

“It’s a consolidation and combination of two companies that fit extremely well together,” Mattes said. “They’re very complementary, nearly like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle with Diebold being very strong in the Americas, Wincor Nixdorf being very strong in Europe.”

The two companies have great product portfolios, he said, with the merger also serving Diebold’s efforts to become a services-led, software-enabled company. After the merger, the company will get about 56 percent of revenue from services and software, with 44 percent from hardware — Diebold’s long-term goal is to get 60 percent of revenue from software and services.

Among the merger benefits will be $160 million in annual cost savings, Mattes said.

The annual dividend will be cut from $1.15 a share to about 40 cents per share, with money diverted to pay down debt over the next several years, Mattes said.

In addition to expected improvements in profitability, the deal “extends the runway for many years to come and it gives us a great springboard for innovation and growth,” he said.

The two companies started working together fairly recently, with Diebold supplying some components for Wincor Nixdorf ATMs and included creating the ATM Security Association.

“We developed quite a good working relationship,” Mattes said. “Over time, we developed more respect, more understanding for each other. And then we started talks on and off. Just like in real life, it takes a few tries until you get to the point. We got really serious about the conversations in summer of this year. And then spent a lot of time working on what is called a business combination agreement. ... Think about it as a playbook or road map of how we want to run our company once the deal gets consummated.”

It covers such things as management philosophy and raises confidence that the merger will achieve the goals sought, he said.

“Of course, we went through a very lengthy diligence process,” Mattes said. “You really want to make sure you fully appreciate what each side has.”

Mattes said he has worked on other mergers and acquisitions in his decades-long corporate career. Probably 99 percent of the work to complete the merger remains to be done, he said.

The larger Diebold Nixdorf will be better poised to participate in the ongoing changes in financial services and banking, such as increased branch automation, mobile payments and retail markets, Mattes said. Diebold Nixdorf’s competitors won’t be so much other ATM manufacturers but well-known information technology firms in what is a $60 billion a year market, he said.

Diebold is now in the middle of the “walk” phase of the “crawl, walk, run” plan to transform into what Mattes has termed “Diebold 2.0”.

The Diebold-Wincor Nixdorf merger amounts to a “doubling down” on what they know so well, Mattes said. “We clearly want to be the powerhouse in these industries.”

Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him @JimMackinnonABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/JimMackinnonABJ. His stories can be found at www.ohio.com/writers/jim-mackinnon.

Nick Jackson got plenty of advice beforehand.

His big moment would be over in the blink of an eye.

Savor it. Take it all in, he was told.

So that’s what he did.

As the Ohio State University sousaphone player marched into place to dot the “i” in the Script Ohio in September at Ohio Stadium, he soaked up the experience.

“I still remember every detail about it,” said Jackson, 22, a Jackson High School graduate and Ohio State senior.

The game was against Northern Illinois. There were 104,095 fans. And the temperature was in the low 70s.

Jackson plans to cherish every second at Saturday’s Ohio State-Michigan game, too.

Jackson, who grew up in Tallmadge before moving to Jackson Township, will be one of two marching band members to dot the “i” as the band performs a double Script Ohio at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Script Ohio tradition dates back nearly 80 years, with a fourth-year musician following the drum major around until he breaks off the final “o,” falls into position on the “i” and takes a bow.

It’s considered a great honor.

Jackson’s first time was special because it was before an adoring home crowd and his family was there.

This time will be different because it’s on enemy soil with Ohio State’s biggest rival, but still special nonetheless.

“I’m really excited for the game coming up because it’s such an intense game,” Jackson said. “The fans are always really heated. And tensions are flaring up before the game. I’m going to make sure I never forget that experience when it happens because it’s easy to let it fly by you.”

Jackson dreamed of dotting the “i” while he was in the high school band.

He was a saxophone player when he arrived at Jackson High but then-band director Thomas Holliday convinced him to take on the sousaphone, a form of tuba.

Holliday, now an adjunct instructor at Kent State University’s Stark campus, recalled having too many saxophone players. He saw talent in Jackson and convinced him to learn the sousaphone.

“He’s a very bright young man and very talented young man,” he said. “He’s a very good musician and ... I’m not surprised at all [that he was chosen].”

Holliday noted that Jackson is his sixth former Jackson High student to dot the “i” at Ohio State.

Jackson will graduate after this semester with a degree in jazz studies. He wants to return to Ohio State to study classical music composition, with his ultimate goal to work in the entertainment industry scoring music for film and television.

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.

Have a nice holiday for a good cause

Up early to get the turkey in the oven? You have a couple of opportunities to do good before sitting down to dinner:

• The Thanks4Giving All-Star Football Game is at 10:30 a.m. in Bulldogs Stadium at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, featuring many of Summit County’s top seniors, with proceeds going to charity. Game-day tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students, children and senior citizens. Spectators are encouraged to bring canned food items to donate to the North American Indian Cultural Center in Tallmadge.

• The Home Run for the Homeless begins at 9 a.m. at Gennesaret’s Family Nutritional Center, 419 W. Exchange St., Akron. Race-day registration is $25 beginning at 7:15 a.m. www.gennesaret.net.

• Cheer on the participants in the annual Meadows Turkey Bowl beginning at 8 a.m. at the home of Mike Meadows, 3075 Hood Road, Medina. Now in its 26th year, the friendly game has raised more than $800,000 for St. Vincent de Paul. Or you can stay in your warm house and donate at www.meadowsturkeybowl.com.

One thing NOT to do today:

Serve your guests undercooked turkey. The USDA advises making sure the internal temperature of the bird has reached a minimum of 165 degrees. Check with a meat thermometer in the innermost part of the thigh, the innermost part of the wing and the thickest part of the breast.

The Ohio Department of Education plans to roll out last year’s school report cards in two segments with the first release coming in January — about half a school year later than usual.

After a year of new and rigorous testing in 2014-15 that resulted in parent and teacher blowback, Ohio lawmakers in July canceled their contract with the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, better known as PARCC.

The consortia developed and sold Ohio its English and Math tests as states joined in an effort to establish national academic standards. Parents and teachers said the tests consumed too much time.

The results from those tests are a major factor in the report cards, which usually come out in August or September.

Report cards have shifted to a letter grade system for multiple categories. The Ohio Department of Education, which expects proficiency scores to be lower in the next report cards, is blaming PARCC for the slow turnaround.

In a statement this week, the ODE acknowledged that the change in tests was expected to cause delays, but “unexpected, multi-week delays caused by the late delivery of PARCC results pushed these timelines back further.”

“Next year, the ... schedule will be similar to that of previous years and the 2016 report card release will be no later than Sept. 15, 2016,” the department said.

This school year, Ohio will use tests developed by AIR, or the American Institutes for Research. This test company designed Ohio’s new social studies and science tests. It will deliver all state tests next year.

Individual school districts were to begin review of last year’s test data this month so that they can identify errors before report cards are released. Some are already reporting issues a week after release of raw proficiency scores.

Akron’s director of curriculum and instruction, Ellen McWilliams, said the school district’s PARCC data is “relatively clean” while the data from AIR — which is the company hired by the state for next year — are “missing thousands of records.”

The public will see results on three component grades on Jan. 14, including how well elementary students are reading, whether schools are hitting graduation targets and if graduates are prepared for college and the workforce.

A second set of grades to be released Feb. 25 will cover achievement (which typically favors wealthier schools), learning gains (developed to control for poverty) and whether subsets of students based on race, poverty and other factors are catching up to higher-performing students. Information on the performance of gifted students and how districts spend money will also become available.

Lastly, the department will release new report cards on career-education programs — formerly known as joint vocational schools — and dropout recovery charter schools, which are exempt from closure for two more years.

Though giving A’s and F’s may grab the attention of parents and prospective home buyers, legislators have postponed many penalties for teachers, schools and administrators as the state continues its rocky transition to a new report card system and testing regimen.

Doug Livingston can be reached at 330-996-3792 or dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @DougLivingstonABJ.

LOS ANGELES: The big Thanksgiving getaway went into full swing Wednesday with drivers delighted by the lowest November gas prices in years and many airline passengers undaunted by terrorism fears and long lines at security checkpoints.

At the White House, President Barack Obama said there is no “specific and credible” intelligence indicating a plot against the U.S. and assured anxious Americans: “While the threat of terrorism is a troubling reality of our age, we are both equipped to prevent attacks and we are resilient in the face of those who would try to do us harm.”

“And that’s something we can all be thankful for,” he added as one of the biggest travel periods of the year got underway.

Nearly 47 million Americans are expected to take a car, plane, bus or train at least 50 miles from home over the long holiday weekend, according to AAA. That’s the most travelers since 2007, a rise attributed to an improving economy and the cheapest gasoline for this time of year since 2008.

Chuck Ansbacher, a 34-year-old Brooklyn resident, said recent terror attacks in Africa and Paris didn’t faze him when it came to travel. He was still flying with his parents and sister from New York’s LaGuardia Airport for the annual family Thanksgiving in Burlington, N.C.

“We’ve traveled on this day every year of my entire life, so we weren’t going to not do it,” Ansbacher said. “It looks like a lot of people had the same thought because the airport’s packed.”

Joyce Landeck was about four hours into her nearly 1,100-mile Indianapolis-to-Denver drive when she made a pit stop in Missouri to find gas for $1.62 a gallon.

“Oh, yeah,” she said while clutching the leash of her travel partner, a Doberman named Murphy Brown. “It’s really, really nice when it costs 30 bucks to fill the tank.”

Erin Goff makes the trip from Lake Panasoffkee, Fla., to Wichita, Kan., nearly every year and occasionally flies but decided “I wanted no part of that” this time for fear of a terrorist attack.

While taking a break in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, she marveled at the price of gas. “It’s going to cost about half of what it cost a year ago or two years ago.”

Some users of the popular navigation app Waze reported problems with it while driving Wednesday, including error messages that read, “Could not find a route.” Waze spokeswoman Julie Mossler blamed heavy demand and said the Google-owned service added more technical support and cleared up the problem around midday after at least an hour.

In the West, drivers faced fresh snowfall in California’s Sierra Nevada and rain in the San Francisco Bay Area. Motorists in Montana and Wyoming were warned of icy roads after wintry storms moved through. Travelers heading out on Thanksgiving Day could see 8 inches of snow in the Denver area.

Anyone heading to a major airport should factor in 50 extra minutes on the road, according to the traffic data company INRIX. And then there’s the time spent going through security.

In Atlanta, traveler Fatima Boyd said Transportation Security Administration officers were thorough but friendly.

“I think they’re making sure that everybody has safe travels and in great hands and nothing crazy goes on during the holidays,” she said. “So that’s a plus.”

TORONTO: Thirty-six thoughts for 36 baskets in a 103-99 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Drake night at Air Canada Centre Wednesday…

1. Maybe they were tired. Maybe the injuries caught up with them. Maybe it was the bigs. Maybe it was poor rotations defensively. Maybe the East is legitimately improved. All of that was thrown around as possible reasons for this loss, but LeBron James was having none of it.

2. “It’s not an excuse,” James said of fatigue and injuries. “We have to hold each other more accountable, we have to play better. And we will. But I don’t think we improved tonight.”

3. The Cavs fell to 3-4 on the road, which seems troubling. They join the Miami Heat as the only first-place teams with a losing road record. Of course, it’s still early, the Cavs haven’t been whole at any point yet and they still have the best overall record in the East.

4. They were just 3 of 16 in the fourth before making their last four shots, but the game was over by then. Blatt blamed that on fatigue and thought guys just ran out of gas.

5. Kevin Love had 21 points and 13 rebounds, but didn’t think the offensive side is what hurt them despite the terrible shooting. He thought the rotations were off and the Cavs allowed too many and-ones. Indeed, the Raptors had three attempts at three-point plays just in the game’s final 6 1/2 minutes. They shot just 12 of 22 from the line or else the game would’ve been over much sooner.

6. “Our rotations weren’t quite there and I felt overall we just need to play more physical,” Love said. “We let too many and-ones happen with too many guys close to the basket.”

7. Bismack Biyombo will never be confused as an adequate offensive player, but he had three big baskets in the fourth. Kyle Lowry, an All-Star last season, had 20 points and five assists in the second half, including a big three-point play late in the fourth.

8. “The bigs, we’re playing soft. It’s on the bigs,” Tristan Thompson said. “That’s our job. We got to play physical, be a force in the paint and we’re just not doing that right now.”

9. The Raptors induced six and-ones – all in the second half. Lowry had three of the six.

10. “If we’re going to foul, we’ve got to make it count,” Thompson said. “I’m not saying hurt anyone, but you can’t give up and-ones. That’s not acceptable. That’s on the bigs. That’s on me, K-Love, Andy, that’s on us when we play soft.”

11. Physicality was a big talking point for James. LeBron and Love were the only two Cavs players to shoot free throws, an odd quirk for which Blatt didn’t really have an answer. Some Cavs players didn’t get calls at the rim, but it was clear the Raptors were attacking more. The Raptors nearly doubled the Cavs in paint scoring, 52-28.

12. “It’s all mindset,” James said of physical play. “It comes from within. I’ve always had it, my upbringing had me like that. It’s either you got it or you don’t.”

13. Right now it’s clear he doesn’t think the Cavs have it, but he’s hopeful they’ll develop it. Perhaps it’s something else that will change when the Cavs are whole. They seem tired at times of talking about injuries, but Matthew Dellavedova’s absence certainly seemed to hurt on Lowry.

14. He scored 14 points in the third quarter and 20 in the second half mostly by attacking. Jared Cunningham struggled at both ends and certainly struggled with Lowry. Cunningham started at point guard because Dellavedova wasn’t available and Blatt wanted to ease Mo Williams back into the lineup. Cunningham led the Cavs in shots during the first half and struggled defensively in the second.

15. “No excuse to be made,” Blatt said. “We didn’t have Delly tonight, we had to do the job with the guys that are out there. But (Lowry) is a good player and I thought we did a good job on him early, but he got us late. No question.”

16. Cunningham and Lowry seemed to get into it late in the third when they barked back and forth. Lowry gave Cunningham an elbow and Cunningham retaliated with a one-armed shove, but Cunningham said after the game there was nothing going on.

17. “He had some good looks, but he’s an All-Star point guard,” Cunningham said. “He played well for his team tonight. He’s quick, he gets around the lane and he played a good game.”

18. The Cavs’ locker room remained closed for an inordinate amount of time after the loss. “Lot of sadness,” one player said before James Jones, J.R. Smith, Kevin Love, Mo Williams and James seemed to have an impromptu discussion in the middle of the locker room about defense.

19. The East certainly looks improved, at least in the early stages. Nine teams enter Thanksgiving with a winning record and 11 are .500 or better – this from a conference that routinely sends a team with a losing record into the playoffs. The West, conversely, has just six teams with winning records.

20. “It’s great for the Eastern Conference,” James said. “There’s always been a lot of shade thrown at our conference the last few years, so it’s great to see that our side is definitely picking it up and playing at a high level.”

21. Blatt agreed. “I think there’s a lot of very good teams in the East, unbeknownst to many,” Blatt said. “There’s a lot of good teams.”

22. Despite the injuries, it’s clear James isn’t tolerating losing. He has been irritated after losses and even after some wins. He is trying to hold this team to a higher standard and not letting them use injuries as an excuse. I wrote for weeks the Cavs were content to hit doubles, to make par and move onto the next hole. That’s no longer true. James is trying to stoke a fire every night.

23. The latest was the awkward start to the game, when the Cavs took the floor before the Raptors were even done with introductions. It led to this strange sight of dancers having to dance around the players with neither side budging an inch.

24. The Cavs are 3-4 on the road, which would be more concerning if they were fully healthy. But James seems annoyed by it nonetheless.

25. “We gotta have a bunker mentality when you go on the road,” he said. “You’ve gotta understand it’s you guys vs. everyone else, vs. the fans, vs. the opposing group. Adversity is going to happen. You have to have a bunker mentality and understand that it’s just us. It’s something we have to learn how to play on the road again which we did last year. At some point we just learned how to start winning again on the road and we haven’t been able to do it thus far.”

26. James played Wednesday with messages scribbled on his shoes honoring Ebony Nettles-Bey, an 18-year-old standout Wisconsin high school basketball player who died Wednesday from complications of a rare cancer. Her public battle with the disease lasted two years following her diagnosis in late September 2013. James met Nettles-Bey prior to a game at Milwaukee in 2014 when he was still with the Heat.

27. Chatted with Tristan Thompson briefly before the game regarding all the rumors surrounding him last summer and the Raptors’ interest in bringing him home through free agency. They already have Canadians Cory Joseph and Anthony Bennett, while Sim Bhullar is on the Raptors’ D-League team. Let’s not get into the whole Andrew Wiggins to Toronto murmurs, which surfaced long ago and already has the Timberwolves fairly paranoid.

28. The only way Thompson to Toronto seemed viable was if Thompson took the Cavs’ qualifying offer last summer, which would’ve made him an unrestricted free agent next year. He said Wednesday he didn’t have much interest in that.

29. “I never thought about it,” he said. “My whole thing was to focus on getting better and whenever my situation was handled, my business was handled, that’s when I was going to get back on the court. Whenever it was, so be it. I’m glad it’s here in Cleveland.”

30. Thompson watched James’ homecoming last season up close, but didn’t seem overly motivated by the idea of a homecoming of his own after growing up in nearby Brampton.

31. “As a kid I always watched the Raptors growing up and was a fan of the Raptors,” he said. “When we were in the playoffs our first couple years I definitely cheered them on … But I’m a Cleveland guy and that’s where my heart’s at.”

32. Dellavedova’s loss was evident in the second half when Lowry got loose. Missing Wednesday will give him three full days off to rest his sore left calf prior to Friday’s game at Charlotte. The Cavs then return home to face the Brooklyn Nets Saturday.

33. “Obviously I want to play but you’ve got to be smart about it,” he said. “There’s no point trying to play now and then missing three or four games because you do it worse. Hopefully missing this game now and getting an extra day or two of rest should hopefully clear it up.”

34. The Cavs are staying overnight in Toronto and flying Thanksgiving morning to Charlotte for Friday’s game. They’ll hold some form of a Thanksgiving dinner as a team, likely at the hotel, but that’s about it.

35. “I wish all of our guys could be home to be with their families,” Blatt said. “But we’ll have a little get together and enjoy the holiday a little bit. But that’s the NBA schedule. We’re not (home).”

36. Happy Thanksgiving. Talk to you Friday from Charlotte.

REPORTING 
SCORES

Schools are encouraged to report scores by email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com, by fax at 330-996-3629 or by phone at 330-996-3800. Please report scores from home and away games and from wins and losses and include statistics from both teams. Let your athletic director and coach know if you do not see your school’s result.

NOMINATE 
ATHLETES

Coaches are encouraged to submit nominations for the High School Spotlight by noon on Mondays. Please email bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com with the nominee’s name, school, grade, accomplishments for the week and, most important, a color headshot (a jpeg image).

FOOTBALL

State Playoffs

DIVISION I

State Semifinals/Regional Finals

Home teams listed first

(Games at 7 p.m. Saturday)

Region 1

1 Lakewood St. Edward (12-1) vs. 2 Stow (12-0) at Parma Byers Field

1 Cincinnati Colerain (12-1) vs. 3 Huber Heights Wayne (13-0) at Mason Dwire Field at Atrium Stadium

———

DIVISION II

State Semifinals

(Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday)

1 Perry (11-2) vs. 5 Hudson (11-2) at Solon Stewart Field

2 Perrysburg (13-0) vs. 1 Cin. La Salle (11-2) at Piqua Alexander Stadium, Purk Field

———

DIVISION III

(Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday)

1 Archbishop Hoban (12-1) vs. 3 Zanesville (12-1) at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

2 Toledo Central Catholic (11-2) vs. 3 Trotwood-Madison (10-3) at Sidney Memorial Stadium

———

DIVISION IV

(Games at 7 p.m. Saturday)

1 Steubenville (12-0) vs. 5 Youngstown Ursuline (8-5) at Boardman New Spartan Stadium

1 Middletown Bishop Fenwick (13-0) vs. 1 Columbus Bishop Hartley (9-3) at Wilmington Alumni Field

———

DIVISION V

(Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday)

1 Milan Edison (12-1) vs. 3 Canton Central Catholic (9-3) at Wooster Triway Jack Miller Field

3 Coldwater (13-0) vs. 1 Wheelersburg (13-0) at Xenia Doug Adams Stadium

———

DIVISION VI

(Games at 7 p.m. Saturday)

1 Kirtland (12-1) vs. 3 Grandview Heights (12-1) at Mansfield Madison Ram Field at StarTek Stadium

1 Maria Stein Marion Local (12-1) vs. 2 Defiance Tinora (11-1) at Wapakoneta Harmon Field

———

DIVISION VII

(Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday)

1 Danville (13-0) vs. 2 Mogadore (12-1) at Orrville Red Rider Stadium

3 Fort Recovery (11-2) vs. 1 McComb (12-1) at Lima Senior Spartan Stadium

———

BASKETBALL

GIRLS

WALSH JESUIT 49, ELYRIA 39

Elyria 14 8 12 05 — 39

Walsh Jesuit 16 8 13 12 — 49

ELYRIA — Middlebrooks 6-2-16, Hammons 1-0-2, Rudolph 2-3-7, McIntoch 3-0-6, Hargar 2-0-4, Farris 2-0-4. Totals: 16 5-11 39.

WALSH JESUIT (2-0) — Bouchy 4-1-11, Rodgers 2-0-5, Sapp 5-0-13, Gee 3-2-8, Alessio 2-0-4, Stein 2-2-6, Martonchik 1-0-2. Totals: 19 5-7 49.

3-point goals: Sapp 3, Bouchy 2, Middlebrooks 2, Rodgers. Fouls: 12-12. JV score: Walsh Jesuit, 54-22.

TALLMADGE 49, FIELD 31

Field 7 04 12 08 — 31

Tallmadge 8 11 19 11 — 49

FIELD (0-2) — Piacella 6-3-15, Coleamn 2-1-6, Morrow 2-0-4, Boyd 1-0-2, Harland 1-0-2, Lowden 1-0-2. Totals: 13 4-11 31.

TALLMADGE (3-0) — Ayres 5-0-13, McGhee 4-1-9, Strallka 4-0-9, Johnson 3-0-6, Haught 1-4-6, Warmenhoven 1-0-2, Perrin 1-0-2, Gardella 1-0-2. Totals: 20 5-9 49.

3-point goals: Ayres 3, Stralka, Coleman. Fouls: 14-14. Rebounds: Fie., 25 (Piacella 7), Tall. 30 (McGhee 8). Turnovers: Fie., 21-14. JV score: Tallmadge, 48-23.

PERRY 46, NORTH ROYALTON 42

North Royalton 15 6 10 11 — 42

Perry 10 15 11 10 — 46

NORTH ROYALTON (0-2) — Lebo 6-1-15, White 3-6-13, Parks 5-1-11, Lineweaver 1-0-3, Chuppa 0-0-0. Totals: 15-8-17 42.

PERRY (2-0) — Ca. Pireu 6-6-18, R. Pieru 1-2-4, Layton 1-0-2, Borck 2-2-8, Morosko 4-0-8, St. Jean 3-0-6. Totals: 17 10-13 46.

3-point goals: Lebo 2, White, Linewaever, Borck 2. Fouls: Per., 14-12. Rebounds: NR 27(White 10, Per. 22 (Ka. Pieru 9). Turnovers: 6-6.

WEST BRANCH 46, CANFIELD 31

Canfield 7 09 7 08 — 31

West Branch 12 13 9 12 — 46

CANFIELD (1-1) — Hayley 0-1-1, Kaleel 1-2-4, Baker 2-0-4, Stanic 3-1-7, Coonce 3-0-6, Sammarone 4-0-9. Totals: 13 4-8 31.

WEST BRANCH (1-0) — Rito 2-0-4, Menegay 0-1-1, Manning 6-5-19, Hovorka 0-1-1, Tennefoss 1-0-3, Hahn 2-0-4, Walsh 3-0-6, Rankin 3-0-8. Totals: 17 7-8 46.

3-point goals: Manning 2, Rankin 2, Tennefoss, Sammarone. Fouls: WB, 14-9. Rebounds: Can., 26 (Coonce 9); WB, 23 (Rankin 5). JV score: West Branch, 26-24.

NORTON 55, MANCHESTER 49

Norton 4 17 12 22 — 55

Manchester 6 12 15 16 — 49

NORTON — K. Hosey 5-2-13, Housley 4-0-9, Miller 1-0-2, Shearer 2-1-5, Kraus 1-0-2, P. Hosey 3-2-9, Ad. Murowski 1-3-5, Howell 4-0-8, Al. Murowski 1-0-2 . Totals: 22 8-30 55.

MANCHESTER (0-2) — Ferguson 4-7-15, Campbell 3-1-7, Cowles 3-3-9, Thorn 1-0-3, VanScoy 4-0-9, Fern 2-0-6. Totals: 17 11-33 49.

3-point goals: Fern 2, Thorn, VanScoy, Housley, K. Hosey, P. Hosey. Fouls: Not., 27-25. JV score: Norton won.

CLOVERLEAF 58, CRESTWOOD 45

Cloverleaf 12 16 19 11 — 58

Crestwood 13 10 06 16 — 45

CLOVERLEAF (3-0) — Civittolo 6-5-22, Limas 4-2-10, Miglich 2-4-9, Illig 4-0-8, Barnum 2-0-4, Winnicki 2-0-4, Jordan 0-1-1. Totals: 20-12-58.

CRESTWOOD (0-2) — Hoffman 5-4-14, Klatik 2-0-6, Kulla 2-0-4, Cymanski 5-2-13, Walker 3-0-6, Cox 1-0-2. Totals: 17-6-45.

3-point goals: Civittolo 5, Klatik 2, Miglich, Cymanski. Fouls: Cre., 15-14. Rebounds: Clo. 36 (Jordan 11), Cre. 55. Turnovers: Cre., 23-17. JV score: Cloverleaf, 33-23.

Late Tuesday

TUSLAW 58, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 50

Tuslaw 10 15 23 10 — 58

STA 13 12 09 16 — 50

TUSLAW — F. Lau 3-5-11, Kohler 1-0-3, S. Lau 3-2-10, Neubauer 2-2-8, Koons 3-0-8, Maj. Sales 2-0-4, May. Sales 7-0-14. Totals: 21-9-58.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS — M. Rhodes 2-7-11, Dempsey 3-0-7, Rorie 1-1-3, Mosher 3-0-6, Hiesland 9-3-21, A. Rhodes 1-0-2. Totals: 19-11-50.

3-point goals: S. Lau 2, Neubauer 2, Koons 2, Kohler, Dempsey.

———

Schedule

Friday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Carrollton at West Holmes

Garrettsville at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 4:30 p.m.

Massillon at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 4:30 p.m.

Northwest at Norwayne

Orville at Barberton

Ravenna at Southeast

Woodridge at CVCA

———

Saturday’s Games

(All games 2:30 p.m., unless noted)

Aurora at Parma

Alliance at Canton South, 1:30 p.m.

Archbishop Hoban at Cloverleaf, 7:30 p.m.

Brunswick at Shaker Heights

Buchtel at Wooster, 7:30 p.m.

Buckeye at Columbia

Canton McKinley at Perry

Copley at Norton, 7 p.m.

Crestwood at Middlefield Cardinal, 6:30 p.m.

Cuyahoga Falls at Ellet

East Canton at Ridgewood

Fairless at Canton Central Catholic, 11:30 a.m.

Garfield Heights at Twinsburg, 7:30 p.m.

Garrettsville, Massillon at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 3 p.m.

GlenOak at North Canton Hoover

Highland at Medina, 7:15 p.m.

Mapleton at Northwestern

Minerva at West Branch, 1:30 p.m.

Painesville Riverside at Hudson, 7 p.m.

Parma Padua at Brecksville

Revere at North Royalton

Salem at Louisville, 1:30 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas at Newton Falls.

Sandy Valley at Berlin Hiland

Woodridge at CVCA

———

BOYS

Schedule

Friday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Alliance at Garaway

Archbishop Hoban at Kenmore

Canfield at Salem

Canton Central Catholic at Columbus Bishop Ready

Garrettsville at Marlington

Highland at Nordonia

Hubbard at Southeast, 6:30 p.m.

Indian Creek at Carrollton

Norton at Northwest

Olmsted Falls at Strongsville

Perry at Louisville

St. Thomas Aquinas at Minerva

Tuslaw at Dalton

Wadsworth at Firestone, 7 p.m.

West Branch at Hanoverton United

———

Saturday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Black River at Rittman

Buckeye at Norwayne

Green at Stow

Heartland Christian at Rootstown

Lake at East, 7 p.m.

Newton Falls at Waterloo

Perry at Louisville

Woodridge at Crestwood

———

BOWLING

BOYS

NORTON 2,515, RAVENNA 1,751

High Games: Smith (N) 224; Stoffer (R) 179. High Series: Smith (N) 419; Stoffer (R) 317. JV Score: Norton, 1,596-1,546.

FOOTBALL

State Playoffs

Friday’s Games

DIVISION II

State Semifinals

Home teams listed first

(All games at 7:30 p.m.)

1 Perry (11-2) vs. 5 Hudson (11-2) at Solon Stewart Field

2 Perrysburg (13-0) vs. 1 Cin. La Salle (11-2) at Piqua Alexander Stadium, Purk Field

———

DIVISION III

1 Archbishop Hoban (12-1) vs. 3 Zanesville (12-1) at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

2 Toledo Central Catholic (11-2) vs. 3 Trotwood-Madison (10-3) at Sidney Memorial Stadium

———

DIVISION V

1 Milan Edison (12-1) vs. 3 Canton Central Catholic (9-3) at Wooster Triway Jack Miller Field

3 Coldwater (13-0) vs. 1 Wheelersburg (13-0) at Xenia Doug Adams Stadium

———

DIVISION VII

1 Danville (13-0) vs. 2 Mogadore (12-1) at Orrville Red Rider Stadium

3 Fort Recovery (11-2) vs. 1 McComb (12-1) at Lima Senior Spartan Stadium

———

Saturday’s Games

DIVISION I

State Semifinals/Regional Finals

(All games at 7 p.m.)

Home teams listed first

Region 1

1 Lakewood St. Edward (12-1) vs. 2 Stow (12-0) at Parma Byers Field

1 Cincinnati Colerain (12-1) vs. 3 Huber Heights Wayne (13-0) at Mason Dwire Field at Atrium Stadium

———

DIVISION IV

1 Steubenville (12-0) vs. 5 Youngstown Ursuline (8-5) at Boardman New Spartan Stadium

1 Middletown Bishop Fenwick (13-0) vs. 1 Columbus Bishop Hartley (9-3) at Wilmington Alumni Field

———

DIVISION VI

1 Kirtland (12-1) vs. 3 Grandview Heights (12-1) at Mansfield Madison Ram Field at StarTek Stadium

1 Maria Stein Marion Local (12-1) vs. 2 Defiance Tinora (11-1) at Wapakoneta Harmon Field

———

BASKETBALL

GIRLS

Schedule

Friday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Carrollton at West Holmes

Garrettsville at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 4:30 p.m.

Massillon at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 4:30 p.m.

Northwest at Norwayne

Orville at Barberton

Ravenna at Southeast

Woodridge at CVCA

———

Saturday’s Games

(All games 2:30 p.m., unless noted)

Aurora at Parma

Alliance at Canton South, 1:30 p.m.

Archbishop Hoban at Cloverleaf, 7:30 p.m.

Brunswick at Shaker Heights

Buchtel at Wooster, 7:30 p.m.

Buckeye at Columbia

Canton McKinley at Perry

Copley at Norton, 7 p.m.

Crestwood at Middlefield Cardinal, 6:30 p.m.

Cuyahoga Falls at Ellet

East Canton at Ridgewood

Fairless at Canton Central Catholic, 11:30 a.m.

Garfield Heights at Twinsburg, 7:30 p.m.

Garrettsville, Massillon at Sam’s Pizza Classic, at Chippewa, 3 p.m.

GlenOak at North Canton Hoover

Highland at Medina, 7:15 p.m.

Mapleton at Northwestern

Minerva at West Branch, 1:30 p.m.

Painesville Riverside at Hudson, 7 p.m.

Parma Padua at Brecksville

Revere at North Royalton

Salem at Louisville, 1:30 p.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas at Newton Falls.

Sandy Valley at Berlin Hiland

Woodridge at CVCA

———

BOYS

Schedule

Friday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Alliance at Garaway

Archbishop Hoban at Kenmore

Canfield at Salem

Canton Central Catholic at Columbus Bishop Ready

Garrettsville at Marlington

Highland at Nordonia

Hubbard at Southeast, 6:30 p.m.

Indian Creek at Carrollton

Norton at Northwest

Olmsted Falls at Strongsville

Perry at Louisville

St. Thomas Aquinas at Minerva

Tuslaw at Dalton

Wadsworth at Firestone, 7 p.m.

West Branch at Hanoverton United

———

Saturday’s Games

(All games 7:30 p.m., unless noted)

Black River at Rittman

Buckeye at Norwayne

Green at Stow

Heartland Christian at Rootstown

Lake at East, 7 p.m.

Newton Falls at Waterloo

Perry at Louisville

Woodridge at Crestwood

An Amber Alert was canceled on Thanksgiving after two missing boys were safely found in a minivan shortly after it drove from Stark County into Tuscarawas County.

The boys’ mother was taken into custody, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said in a release.

The Amber Alert was issued at 12:31 a.m. on Thanksgiving by Belmont County for the boys, ages 6 and 8. Police identified the mother, from Flushing, Ohio, as the suspect who took the boys in a blue Dodge minivan.

The Canton post of the Highway Patrol received two calls at 11:37 a.m. from motorists on Interstate 77 southbound saying they were following the suspect vehicle.

The minivan was stopped without incident as it crossed over into Tuscarawas County on I-77.

The mother and children were taken to the Highway Patrol’s New Philadelphia post and were met by detectives from the Flushing Police Department. Police had not filed charges as of late afternoon on Thanksgiving.

WASHINGTON: A man draped in an American flag climbed over the fence at the White House on Thursday, prompting a lockdown as the first family celebrated Thanksgiving.

The man was immediately apprehended and taken into custody pending criminal charges, the Secret Service said in a statement. The incident took place about 2:45 p.m.

An image of a man atop a section of fence in front of the North Lawn was posted on the website of television station WJLA. Another image showed the man standing on the lawn with his arms raised in victory.

The north and south fence lines at the White House were temporarily closed, Secret Service spokesman Robert Hoback said. In the hours after the incident, numerous armed security personnel were seen along the streets and sidewalks outside the executive mansion.

President Barack Obama and his wife and daughters were spending the holiday at the White House.

FAIRLAWN: For many shoppers, Black Friday is more than just about spending money.

It’s about spending time with friends and family — while spending money as they shop, of course.

Chris Maxim, 55, of Akron, and nieces Aliviah Chaplain, 19, and Isabel Chaplain, 14, both of Tallmadge, say it’s become a tradition for them to get together to shop on the day after Thanksgiving.

“It’s an aunt-niece kind of thing,” Maxim said while they browsed at Me Gifts inside Summit Mall.

They’ve been shopping together on Black Friday for six or seven years, they said. This year, they started out at 5 a.m. and planned to keep going until after lunch, when they figured they would be done for the day.

By 9 a.m., they had gotten nearly everything on their wish lists.

“We’re shopping for both presents and what we need,” Aliviah Chaplain said.

Summit Mall opened at 6 a.m. Friday. The mall also had Thanksgiving evening hours until 1 a.m.

Me Gifts co-owner Este­ban Lopez noticed a dip in mall customers in the morning this year — possibly because more stores are opening on Thanksgiving night.

“It’s not as crazy today,” he said.

His store sells exotic hardwood gifts such as puzzle boxes, jewelry boxes, shot glasses, cutting boards and mugs, all of which can be engraved.

Other regular Black Friday shoppers also reported that the mall seemed to be less busy than in past years — at least in the early morning.

Friends Elaine Daubenmire, 39, of Bath Township, Tiffany Ervin, 38, of Millersburg, Tabitha Hawkins, 37, of Killbuck, and Lisa Mast, 37, of Berlin, Ohio, said they thought the mall was closed when they first pulled up because of the lack of cars in the parking lot.

Daubenmire, Tiffany and Mast have been shopping together for four years on Black Friday. Their tradition includes going to the mall and Aurora Farms Premium Outlets, and getting sushi for lunch.

“We don’t wait in long lines,” Daubenmire said. “We just come out for the fun of it.”

Hawkins, who woke up at 2 a.m. to meet her friends, took part in her first Black Friday excursion.

“It’s great,” she said. “Lots of fun.”

Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.

CHICAGO: Over the past five years, American Express has dangled a carrot to encourage cardholders to patronize independent stores on Small Business Saturday: statement credits from $10 to $30.

As the sixth annual homage to mom-and-pop shops starts Saturday, AmEx cardholders who make a conscious decision to forgo the big chains must settle for a warm-and-fuzzy feeling.

AmEx, a longtime promoter of Small Business Saturday, isn’t making the incentive widely available this year, according to its website.

“This year we are not offering a statement credit offer on Small Business Saturday,” the company said on the “Shop Small” section of its website. The company’s @ShopSmall Twitter page addressed questions from consumers asking about the credit.

American Express said it would continue to promote Small Business Saturday through local and national advertising.

An Akron police officer shot and wounded a man Friday afternoon during a chase in which he allegedly jumped into a cruiser and tried to run over a cop.

David Duffield, whose last known address was on Nestor Avenue, had nonlife-threatening injuries and was listed in stable condition at Akron General Medical Center, police said. No officers were hurt.

The officer who shot Duffield is a 16-year veteran; the officer was not named. The officer will be placed on paid administrative leave, according to a news release from Akron police.

Police asked the Ohio Bureau of Investigation to assist at the scene.

Events started shortly after 1 p.m. when police said they went to the 800 block of Carnegie Avenue to check on a report of a possibly suicidal 22-year-old man who had a handgun. The Portage County Sheriff’s Office had an arrest warrant for Duffield on a charge of violating a protection order, police said.

Police saw Duffield run out of a house on Stanwood Avenue. Officers chased him but lost sight of him.

Police said Duffield then jumped into one of the cruisers and tried to drive away, with officers chasing the vehicle on foot.

Duffield put the cruiser in reverse, sped up and tried to back over an officer, according to Akron police.

“An officer fired rounds at the suspect, striking the suspect one time in the upper shoulder,” according to the department news release. “The officer jumped out of the way of the cruiser, while the suspect continued to accelerate in reverse.”

The cruiser then drove over a curb into a fence, hit a fire hydrant across from 900 Ivor Ave. and stopped, police said.

Police took Duffield into custody and administered first aid until paramedics arrived, police said.

Akron police said that at 6:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office reported to Akron police that the man was violent and threatening to harm himself after leaving a house in Green. Police said they were unable to find the man that night.

Ohioans were urged to avoid the 13th letter of the alphabet and to refrain from wearing pleated khakis on Scarlet Letter Saturday in a procla*ation released by Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Lt. Gov. *ary Taylor.

The letter of the alphabet after L and before N was stricken from the resolution and the resulting press notice released Friday in connection with the rivalry football ga*e on Saturday between Ohio State University and “That School Up North.”

Kasich and Taylor hailed the unique styles of the great Ohio-born coaches involved in The Ga*e: Ji* Tressel’s sweater vest, Woody Hayes’ signature glasses and Barberton-born Bo Sche*bechler’s ti*eless hat.

But they took several shots at That School Up North’s first-year coach, Ji* Harbaugh, and his signature fashion look.

They urged Ohioans to avoid wearing pleated khakis like those that Harbaugh reportedly purchased at Wal-*art for $8 a pair.

Harbaugh’s style, they said, recalls “guys standing around, being very casual and witty on a front porch in a 1991 Dockers’ co**ercial, which offended Jerry Seinfeld in the episode The Phone *essage.”

“The dull, earthly gar*ent *ay be workplace appropriate for Jake fro* State Far*, but coaches sporting them in a ‘shirts vs. skins’ pickup ga*e should stick to the ‘shirts’ tea*,” Kasich and Taylor said in the resolution.

They declared a Scarlet Letter Saturday in 2013. Ohio State won that contest: 42-41 in That City Up North.