Portland on NCAA's radar.

Byline: From Register-Guard and news service reports

PORTLAND - Portland is one of the cities in contention for first-round, second-round or regional NCAA men's basketball tournament games in 2009 or 2010, according to the Oregon Sports Authority.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

The Oregon Sports Authority and the host school, the University of Oregon, are expected to submit additional information to the NCAA in April.

Oregon legislators last year did away with a state lottery professional football betting game, called Sports Action, in order to lure such tournament games. Because of its anti-gambling stance, the NCAA has overlooked Oregon as a potential site.

The state hasn't played host to an NCAA men's basketball tournament since 1983, and the organization gives preference to sites that have gone the longest without playing host to tournament games.

``It took an incredible effort to put Oregon back in position to land the NCAA men's basketball tournament,'' Drew Mahalic, chief executive officer of the Oregon Sports Authority, told The Oregonian newspaper. ``We're excited to be named as a finalist by the NCAA and look forward to completing the final steps in the bid process.''

UO's Richards rests,

Davis bloodied in practice

Gabrielle Richards, the leading scorer and rebounder for the Oregon women's basketball team, sat out the Monday and Tuesday practices because of an ailing left foot, team officials said.

Richards has been bothered by the injury for much of the season but the 6-foot-3 sophomore center is expected to play in the Ducks' final two Pac-10 Conference regular-season games this week at McArthur Court, UO coach Bev Smith said.

Oregon plays host to USC on Thursday at 7 p.m. and UCLA on Saturday at 3 p.m. Saturday's game will be the last regular-season home game for four UO seniors - Chelsea Wagner, Brandi Davis, Kedzie Gunderson and Yadili Okwumabua.

Richards is averaging 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds. She has started 24 of the team's 26 games. Richards leads the Pac-10 in free-throw percentage (89.8) and is third in field-goal percentage (51.6).

Davis, a guard who is 13 points from a UO career total of 1,000, had her nose bloodied during a five-on-five session in Tuesday's practice. Davis, 10 three-pointers from breaking the Duck career record of 189 by Missy Croshaw (1990-94), returned to practice and will be available for the week's games.

Oregon has lost three straight and five of the past six games. The Ducks are eighth in the Pac-10 at 5-11 and 14-12 overall. They need one more win to clinch the 33-year-old program's 24th winning season.

Derry, Parnell, Allen

nominated for awards

Danny Derry of Oakland and Justin Parnell of Sutherlin are two of 1,500 male prep basketball players in the nation nominated for the McDonald's all-American boys basketball team. Mapleton's Shauna Allen was one of 1,000 girls nominated for the same award.

Parnell was the most valuable player of the Far West League as a junior and averaged 23.1 points per game as a senior as the Bulldogs earned a share of the league title. Derry helped the Oakers win a share of the Big Fir League title by leading the league with 22.5 points per game.

Allen led the Mountain West League with 16.6 points per game.

The top 12 boys and girls in the nation will be announced later this month when rosters are finalized for the McDonald's all-American games to be played on March 29 in San Diego.

Eugene Chargers sign

first basketball player

Ethnie Stubbs, who played his college basketball at St. Mary's College, has become the first athlete to sign with the Eugene Chargers of the International Basketball League as they approach their inaugural season.

Stubbs, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward and native of the Bahamas, was second-team all-West Coast Conference as a senior in 2002, averaging 13 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

"Ethnie brings a very explosive and exciting athletic talent to our team," Chargers general manager Tony Alvarez said. `Off the court, Ethnie is a very respectful and humble human being.'

Eugene opens its season against the Salem Stampede on April 7 at the Morse Event Center at 7:15 p.m.

Generals set schedule

for finals series

The Eugene Generals will open the best-of-five Western Division Junior-B hockey finals against Tri-City on Saturday at the Lane Ice Center at 7:30 p.m.

The second game will be in Eugene on Sunday at 3 p.m.

The series will move to Tri-City on March 3, with Games 4 and 5 the following two days if they are necessary.

Eugene (33-14) beat Puget Sound 2-1 in a three-game series last weekend to reach the Western Division finals.

OSU's Cheathem

kicked off football team

Oregon State football coach Mike Riley announced on Tuesday that Keston Cheathem, a transfer wide receiver from the University of Michigan who sat out last season because of NCAA regulations, has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.

Cheathem, from Mira Loma, Calif., has three years of eligibility remaining, OSU officials said. No further explanation of Cheathem's removal from the team was provided.

Pac-10 honors

OSU's Iapala in softball

Oregon State senior infielder Vanessa Iapala has been named the Pac-10 softball player of the week after batting .667, driving in seven runs, and hitting two homers and two doubles in the Beavers' five wins at the UNLV Desert Classic last weekend.

Iapala, from San Diego, Calif., is the all-time doubles leader for OSU with 45. Oregon State is 8-2 and has won eight straight games.