Matchup

When Women's Big 5 teams play each other, the least predictable matchup is usually between Temple and St. Joseph's. "Records don't mean anything when we play," said Temple junior guard Pam Balogh, whose team will visit St. Joe's today at 1 p.m. for an Atlantic 10 contest. This will not be a city-series game, however. That comes later next month when the two meet at Temple. St. Joseph's (7-1 conference, 12-5 overall), which took over second place in the league after winning at upstart George Washington, 81-70, Thursday night, is looking to solidify its position.

  Baylor vs. Xavier is more than an undercard to the highly anticipated Kentucky-Indiana rematch. The No. 3 seed Bears and Musketeers, the No. 10 seed, are building their own impressive resumes heading into their round of 16 matchup Friday night for a spot in Sunday's South Regional final in Atlanta. Baylor (29-7) is one win away from its second regional final in three years. Xavier (23-12) is playing in the round of 16 for the fourth time in five years. Only Kansas, Michigan State, and North Carolina can share that claim.

So much time has passed since Mike Keenan jumped ship in New York that the Rangers' first shot at him was far from a clash of the titans. The Blues' Geoff Courtnall and the Rangers' Jeff Beukeboom traded goals in a 1-1 tie at St. Louis last night. "There's been so much time and distance between the spring of 1994 and now and so many changes," Keenan said. "It really didn't have the emotional impact you would expect. " Keenan left to become the Blues' general manager and coach in July 1994, a month after leading the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

A showdown between the Public League's top scorers fizzled before the first shot was even taken. Engineering & Science's John Cox and Northeast's Randy Dukes entered yesterday's game between the two teams dead even in the race for the scoring title, with 257 points in eight games (32.1 average). Dukes shot 6-for-22 from the floor (1-for-5 on three-pointers) and 5-for-8 from the line for 18 points in a 65-56 loss at Northeast. Cox went scoreless. He never stepped on the court.

LeBron James versus Kevin Durant. It is the story of these NBA Finals. Except to the guys who share the top billing. One of them will emerge with his first championship and probably the title of best player in the game. It could be James, the three-time MVP. Or it might be Durant, the league's scoring champion the last three seasons. All they know is whoever it is won't have done it alone. "Everybody is going to make the most out of the matchup of me versus LeBron, but it's the Thunder versus the Heat," Durant said Monday.

Clay Hamlin and Gary Van Arkel joined Chris Sanni and Jason Hackin in the final round of the Philadelphia Clay Court Tennis Doubles Championship yesterday as each side scored straight-set victories at the Cynwyd Club. They meet today at 11 a.m. SQUASH RACQUETS Margaret Pilling recovered after losing the first two games to defeat Whitney Stewart, 3-9, 4-9, 9-7, 9-6, 9-5, in the women's Class A quarterfinals of the Quaker State Softball Squash Racquets Championships yesterday at the Berwyn Squash & Fitness Club.

The physical interplay between Charles Barkley and Charles Oakley - which was more akin to wrestling than basketball at times during the New York Knicks' 102-96 opening-game victory over the 76ers on Thursday night - could be the most crucial matchup as the first-round playoff series continues today (Channel 10, 3:30 p.m.). Oakley held Barkley to 22 points and 12 rebounds, and that's significant considering the way the Sixers' co-captain bludgeoned the Knicks during the regular season.

History was made when Luis Pujols' Detroit Tigers took the field last night against Tony Pena's Kansas City Royals. The two became the first Dominican-born managers to oppose each other in a major league game. Pena and Pujols, who were both catchers, took over as first-time managers after the start of the season. Manny Ramirez was back in the lineup for Boston after a six-week stint on the disabled list with a broken left index finger. Ken Griffey Jr. was placed on the 15-day DL, the second time this season the Cincinnati Reds have lost the outfielder to injury.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant was just 5 years old the last time it happened, so it's no surprise he is unable to remember such a matchup. When Durant and Miami Heat forward LeBron James meet in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena, it will be the first time the top two players at one position have faced off on this stage since centers Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1993. The matchup has grabbed all the attention, but the participants refuse to play into the story line.

BRAHIEME JACKSON hit a game-tying trey at the end of regulation last night and Bishop McDevitt rallied in overtime to top Riverside, 61-55, in a PIAA Class AA boys' basketball second-round matchup at Bethlehem Liberty. Jackson's three from the top of the key with 3.6 seconds left in the fourth helped erase an 11-point deficit. The senior forward finished with a team-high 24 points. Carl Garner scored seven of his 19 points in the extra period and knocked down five free throws. It's the first time in school history McDevitt has advanced to the state quarterfinals.

At Marlins Park, Miami. Monday at 7:10 p.m. LHP Cole Hamels (1-6, 4.61 ERA) vs. Miami RHP Alex Sanabia (2-6, 5.00).   Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. RHP Tyler Cloyd (0-0, 2.84) vs. Miami RHP Jose Fernandez (2-2, 3.48).   Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. LHP Cliff Lee (4-2, 2.83) vs. Miami RHP Kevin Slowey (1-4, 3.44).

The suicide squeeze is one of the riskiest plays in baseball, fraught with downside if the batter can't lay down an adequate bunt. For Woodstown, it was a reliable offensive strategy Wednesday, bringing in both of its runs in a 10-inning, 2-1 victory over visiting Glassboro in a Tri-County Conference Diamond Division matchup. After the Bulldogs opened the scoring in the top of the fifth inning, Woodstown's Bailey Gibson sprinted home from third on a squeeze, with Kenny Blocksom putting down a clean bunt.