. Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets impr

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Field hockey has not been one of the most successful Olympic sports for the United States. Neither the men nor the women have ever won a medal, unless the Olympics were held in Los Angeles. The men won their only bronze in 1932, and the women won their only bronze in 1984. It was difficult enough that I recall tales from the 1996 Olympic of players having to beat snakes with their sticks while practicing at the training center.The women finished dead last at the 2012 Olympics in London after finishing eighth in 2008. They did not compete in the two Olympics previous to that.The sport is improving, however, at least on the womens side. The American women won the championship at last summers Pan Am Games in Toronto by beating rival Argentina. They finished third in the Champions Trophy event in London this summer (with Argentina winning). They have risen to No. 5 in the world rankings. They showed they are a force to be reckoned with here by beating world No. 2-ranked Argentina 2-1 on Saturday in their opening Pool B game of these Olympics.How have they gotten better? Part of it is drawing determination from the poor London 2012 showing. Much of it also is Craig Parnham, who played for Great Britain in two Olympics and took over as coach after the London Games.Hes great. The entire coaching staff is great, goalkeeper Jackie Briggs said. Craig, [assistant coach] Janneke Schopman and our trainer, they work so well together, and they balance each other out. They give us a lot of confidence and let us set the standard. And thats what we have to live up to.More weight drills, conditioning and scientific training have made a difference as well. Players say everything is closely tracked and monitored. Briggs said if they were lifting at 100 percent before, they are at 110 percent now.We really had to grind it out it, she said. It wasnt easy. It was just work, work, work. We just keep going.There wasnt a large crowd for Saturdays game, and not surprisingly, most of the fans were for neighboring country Argentina. When the small group of American fans cheered U-S-A! U-S-A! the Argentinians booed just as loudly, if not more so.The U.S. and Argentina have a fierce rivalry. They have played for the gold medal at every Pan Am Games competition except 1991. Argentina also won every time until 2011, when the U.S. finally beat them. The U.S. came through again last summer.It is a huge rivalry, Briggs said. Theyre an amazing team, and they always give us a great game. We know them inside and out because we play them pretty frequently. They didnt have Carla Rebecchi at Pan Ams, so that hurt them a little bit. Shes back here, so that made them better here. We tried to deny her the ball a little bit. We were outstanding with our one-to-one defense and coverage all over the field.Playing on a blue turf field that made the game seem as if it were at Boise State, the two teams squandered several scoring opportunities in the first two periods and were tied 0-0 at halftime. Argentina took an apparent 1-0 lead early in the third period, but that goal was taken away when a referee video review ruled that the shot should not count. The U.S. responded quickly, with a goal from Katie Reinbrecht in the 35th minute to take a 1-0 lead, then extended it to 2-0 with a goal by Michelle Kasold on a penalty corner.Argentina scored to make it close with barely over three minutes left, but the U.S. held firm for the victory.We had to defend well, Parnham said. We did that, and that gave us a nice platform to build off. Even before halftime, I thought we created some really good opportunities to score, and that continued into the second half.The schedule doesnt get a lot easier for the U.S., which faces No. 3 Australia on Monday in its next Pool B game. The Netherlands, the gold medal team in 2008 and 2012 and currently ranked No. 1, is in Pool A. The top four teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals.With the way the U.S. has improved since London, dont be surprised to see the Americans going very deep and perhaps up on the podium for the first time in 32 years -- even though these Olympics arent in Los Angeles. JaMychal Green Jersey . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Johnathan Motley Clippers Jersey . LOUIS -- St. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/Terance-Mann-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jerome Robinson Clippers Jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Rodney McGruder Clippers Jersey . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Xavier Cooks scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to help Winthrop down Division III member Ferrum College 66-47 on Saturday to win its fifth-straight season opener.Ferrum led early until Winthrops Joshua Davenport tied it at 20 with a dunk and sparked 12-0 run the Eagles rode to a 30-22 halftime lead. Cooks jumper put the Eagles up 49-37 midway through the second half and Winthrop continued to steadily pull away.Winnthrop shot 45 percent from the field but made only 2 of 21 3-point attempts.ddddddddddddCooks made all five of his free-throw attempts and the Eagles finished 12 of 15 (80 percent) from the line.Josh Dudley scored 17 points for Ferrum, which was outrebounded 41-24 and shot 32 percent from the field. DAndre Mullen had three steals. ' ' '