prep SPRING sports

Wave runner Max Holman

wins in Hattiesburg meet

n Tupelo High distance runner Max Holman won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs Saturday at the University of Southern Mississippi High School Invitational in Hattiesburg.

Holman, a junior running unattached, won the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 25.80 seconds and the 3,200 meters in 9:45.48.

Jeff Wilson, a sophomore for the Golden Wave, placed sixth in the 1,600 meters in 4:43.60 and sixth in the 800 meters in 2:07.52.

John Pitts 3/9/09

Shockwave swimmers

qualify for nationals

n Tupelo swimmers John Servati and Hannah Wilson posted USA Speedo Junior National qualifying times this past weekend at a sectional meet in Raleigh, N.C.

Servati broke three Mississippi records to qualify in the 100 backstroke (51.61), 200 backstroke (1:49.42) and 200 freestyle (1:41.33).

Wilson qualified in the 100 freestyle (51.94).

The qualifying times for the Shockwave team members came in the Southern Zone Eastern Sectional Meet.

college baseball

No. 24 Ole Miss returns to play vs. Austin Peay

n OXFORD - Coming off a weekend sweep of Vermont, the Ole Miss baseball Rebels are back on the field today and Wednesday with home games against Austin Peay.

First pitch for both games is 6:30 p.m., and the series will be the last tune-up before SEC play begins this weekend. Ole Miss opens league action at Vanderbilt.

The Rebels (7-3) remain No. 14 in the Baseball America Top 25.

Austin Peay, of the Ohio Valley Conference, is 5-6 after winning two of three at home against Iowa over the weekend.

n Mississippi State returns to action at Dudy Noble Field this week, hosting Valparaiso (4-6) in a day/night doubleheader Wednesday before launching SEC competition Friday in Starkville with a three-game series against South Carolina (8-1).

Pro hockey

Montreal fires Carbonneau; Gainey takes over as coach

n MONTREAL - Guy Carbonneau was fired as coach of the struggling Montreal Canadiens, hockey's most historic franchise that is in danger of missing the playoffs in its 100th season.

The timing of Monday's move was a bit surprising because the Canadiens are in a playoff position and there are only 16 games left in the regular season.

General manager Bob Gainey, who handed the coaching duties over to Carbonneau three years ago, will return behind the bench when Montreal hosts Edmonton tosday.

The Canadiens started Monday in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but they were only two points above the postseason cutoff.

pro basketball

Barkley freed after 3 days in jail on DUI charges

n PHOENIX - Former NBA star Charles Barkley was released from jail Monday after serving a three-day sentence on a drunken-driving conviction.

Barkley, a TNT studio analyst, reported to the jail Saturday morning wearing a blue warm-up suit with red stripes. He was not required to wear a jail uniform or the county's signature pink underwear because he got work release, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said.

Barkley spent about 36 hours in jail after getting 12 hours of work release on Sunday and Monday. He was housed in a separate tent from the other inmates for his safety, and meals were brought to him.

Celtics without 5 players for Miami on Wednesday

n WALTHAM, Mass. - The Boston Celtics' biggest opponent right now is the training room.

The Celtics will not dress five players when they play at the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.

Coach Doc Rivers on Monday ruled out Rajon Rondo and Glen 'Big Baby' Davis after both sprained their right ankles over the weekend. They join superstar Kevin Garnett, Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen on the sidelines.

Daily Journal, The Associated Press