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Lightning
Lightning shoots, scores little
TAMPA -- As if John Tortorella needed to be reminded who can't play because of injuries, the Lightning coach spent several minutes in his office
after Thursday's game against Florida getting the latest update.

Prospal tries to fill void left by injuries
TAMPA -- As Fredrik Modin, Tim Taylor and other injured Lightning players heal, Vinny Prospal is taking advantage of their absence.

Devil Rays
Alderson cites key issue as a positive for Rays
ST. PETERSBURG -- A top Major League Baseball official said Thursday the Rays don't meet the current criteria to be considered a candidate for contraction.

College football
Bulls add an All-State LB to haul
TAMPA -- On signing day Wednesday, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said he wanted one more linebacker for his recruiting class, and he implied he knew whom he wanted it to be.

Intensity high, eyes peeled in drills
TALLAHASSEE -- Before beginning their offseason conditioning program for the first time since Devaughn Darling died Feb. 26, the Seminoles huddled Thursday morning for a prayer.

Motorsports
The year that changed NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH -- Even after Dale Earnhardt was killed, veteran NASCAR driver Mark Martin was not sure he wanted to wear one of those newfangled head and neck support devices.

Improved safety is 2002 goal
In response to Dale Earnhardt's death in a last-lap crash at the 2001 Daytona 500, several changes will make stock car racing safer for 2002.

College basketball
Payback is slow but ugly
DURHAM, N.C. -- After its worst half of the season, No. 1 Duke just went with the flow.

Traylor keys surge as FSU snaps skid
TALLAHASSEE -- April Traylor scored 16, all in the second half, to lead Florida State to a 60-55 win over Maryland Thursday.

Super Bowl XXXVI
Fan vote helps Brady eke out MVP
The balloting for MVP honors in Sunday's Super Bowl was close enough that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady can thank about 1,000 fans who voted online for his margin of victory over teammates Ty Law and Adam Vinatieri.

Running
Many men have shot at Gasparilla 15K title
Muchapiwa Mazano says forget it.

Bull bits
TAMPA -- Just when the South Florida women's basketball team was able to enjoy the return of one standout player, it lost another to injury.

Colleges
Baseball team must continue to improve
TAMPA -- The University of Tampa baseball team opened its season last weekend by winning two of three games against Lynn University, outscoring it 27-11 with plenty of solid performances spread around.

Florida softball
2001 RECORD: 37-28, 14-15 SEC.

Preps
Gibbs must forfeit its 10 hoop wins
Gibbs has forfeited all of its basketball victories this season and will probably have to forfeit some football wins for using an ineligible player.

Jesuit fights its way to a championship
TAMPA -- With his shoulder wrapped, inhibiting the use of his right arm, Jesuit sophomore Alex Enriquez won the 125-pound individual championship Thursday and helped his teammates to the team title.

Lakewood buries Bogie
Onetime district foes Lakewood and Largo, the county's two best teams, clinched spots in Saturday's Pinellas County Athletic Conference championship with wins Thursday.

Regional soccer roundup
Cougars' fire burns Seminole

Seminole pins down district win
SEMINOLE -- Pardon the Seminole wrestlers if they needed time to get re-acquainted with their county opponents Thursday.

Panthers run past tired Cougars for 74-51 win
TAMPA -- It was just before halftime when Plant found its groove -- the perfect no-look passes, the impenetrable defense, the back-to-back buckets.

Hillsborough regional soccer roundup
Cowboys knock off Manatee

Girls basketball district tournaments
Woodard lifts Bulls in final seconds

Girls basketball district tournaments
Clearwater receives boost from bench

Girls basketball district tournaments
Panthers deny Bears once more

Gator defense dominates in shutout of Hurricanes
LAND O'LAKES -- The scoreboard showed a 2-0 victory for Land O'Lakes against Citrus in Thursday's regional quarterfinal, and while both coaches figured the Gators could have scored six or seven goals, it was the zero that seemed most understated.

Gulf's one goal downs Pirates
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Alex Maric may not have played his best in Thursday's Region 2 quarterfinal against Crystal River.

Up 3-0, Bears hang on to beat Dreadnaughts
BROOKSVILLE -- The skill level, unlike the score, wasn't very close.

Spartan shorts
TAMPA -- University of Tampa senior guard Jon Brown has been named the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Month for January.