Overtime

High School Football

Aiken takes home all-region honors

The Aiken Hornets swept all the major region 4-AAAA awards, including Carey Johnson being named coach of the year.

Terrance Smith was named offensive MVP, while George Mathis was tabbed defensive MVP.

Six other Aiken players were named to the all-region team, including: quarterback Olajuwon Paige; receiver Brian Leonardi; linemen Steve Lee and Brian Payton; defensive back Pelvin Johnson; and linebacker Jimmie Holmes.

Five South Aiken players made the team: running back Wade Arnold; defensive back Bernard West; linebacker Nate Powers; linemen Dekota Watson and Ben Anderson. North Augusta was represented with linemen Jason Ramey and Aikeem Jackson; receiver and C.J. Byrd.

Cycling

Hamilton dropped amid drug charges

Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton was fired by his cycling team two months after testing positive for blood doping.

The Swiss-based International Cycling Union, or UCI, said Tues­day the Phonak team told the governing body that the American rider's contract was terminated last week.

Phonak was denied a racing license by the UCI on Tuesday because of the team's doping problems. Hamilton and two other Phonak riders have been charged in drug cases in the past three months.

Hamilton tested positive for an illegal blood transfusion at the Spanish Vuelta in September, with both samples confirming the result. He faces a possible two-year ban if found guilty.

Baseball

Benitez nears deal to become a Giant

Free agent Armando Benitez and the San Francisco Giants worked Tuesday to finalize a three-year deal, a move that would stabilize the club's closer role that's been in flux since Robb Nen got injured two years ago.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported the deal would be for about $21 million.

Benitez bounced back from a subpar 2003 season to save 47 games and post a 1.29 ERA for the Florida Marlins this year.

- The Cincinnati Reds accomplished one of their top off-season priorities Tuesday by agreeing to an $8.2 million, two-year contract with right-hander Paul Wilson.

Wilson, 31, went 11-8 with a 4.36 ERA last season, making $3.5 million.

- Nomar Garciaparra was voted only a three-quarters World Series share by his former teammates on the Boston Red Sox.

Red Sox players voted full shares received $223,620 for Bos­ton's first World Series title since 1918, the commissioner's office announced Tuesday.

The longtime Boston shortstop, dealt to the Chicago Cubs right before the July 31 trading deadline, received $167,715.

College Basketball

Pacers, Jaguars return to action

Fresh off an upset of No. 1 California (Pa.) on Friday, the USC Aiken women's team (7-2) will play host to Catawba at 5:30 p.m. The Pacers (3-2) face the Catawba men at 7:30.

The 17th-ranked Augusta State women (3-2) play their home opener at 5:30 today against Morris College.

Olympics

Trial date set for U.S. swim champ

Michael Phelps' drunken driving trial is set for Dec. 29.

The 19-year-old Olympic swimming champion was stopped by a state trooper Nov. 4 for running a stop sign in Salisbury, Md.

Hockey

NHL won't accept luxury tax proposal

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reiterated the league's position that it won't consider the players' proposed luxury tax.

Bettman also reiterated that the owners don't have a drop-dead date for when they would have to pull the plug on the 2004-05 season.