The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Thursday, August 05, 2010  Shaquille O'Neal has changed The Big Three of the Boston Celtics into a Very Big Four. The 7-foot-1, 325-pound center in the twilight of a brilliant career is coming to the Eastern Conference champions.

Friday, June 18, 2010  Kobe Bryant sprinted after the ball, which Lamar Odom joyously flung downcourt to burn the remaining seconds in Game 7 of the NBA finals. With the celebration starting behind him, Bryant chased it down and then held it aloft to his teammates.

Thursday, June 17, 2010  Kobe Bryant yawned when he leaned back on the Los Angeles Lakers' bench to watch his teammates running through their final practice of the season. That cool outer demeanor revealed none of the urgency running through Bryant's head.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010  With an emphatic, historic blowout win in Game 6 Tuesday night, Los Angeles earned the right to host the grand finale to both the NBA season and this scintillating chapter in the league's most glamorous rivalry.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010  The Celtics will have to overcome their unimpressive record in closeout playoff games away from Boston to finish off the Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA finals on Tuesday night.

Monday, June 14, 2010  Paul Pierce scored 27 points to help Boston withstand 38 points from Kobe Bryant to beat the Lakers 92-86 on Sunday night and move within one victory of an unprecedented 18th NBA title.

Friday, June 11, 2010  "We're going to try and establish the fact that we're going back to L.A. with a 3-2 lead," Jackson said Friday. "We believe we can do it. We felt we let one get away last night."

Friday, June 11, 2010  Glen "Big Baby" Davis led the Celtics bench on a game-changing run Thursday night, scoring half of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as Boston pulled away from the Los Angeles Lakers to win 96-89.

Wednesday, June 09, 2010  Derek Fisher rallied his teammates with a motivational speech on the bench during the break before the fourth quarter. Then he went out and showed them how it's done.

Monday, June 07, 2010  Somewhere during the second quarter in Game 2 of the NBA finals, Ray Allen slipped into that shooting zone only visited by real-life superstars and movie characters.

Friday, June 04, 2010  Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and the defending champion Lakers did a remarkable job of the dirty work in a 102-89 victory over Boston in Game 1 on Thursday night.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010  Pierce scored 28 points, Rajon Rondo had 25 and the revived Celtics again avoided a late collapse to take a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference finals with a 95-92 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Monday, May 17, 2010  Ray Allen scored 25 points, Paul Pierce had 22 and the Celtics used smothering defense to beat the Orlando Magic 92-88 on Sunday in the Eastern Conference finals opener.

Friday, May 14, 2010  UPDATED 3:45 p.m. CDT. The Cleveland Cavaliers are keeping coach Mike Brown — for now. Team owner Dan Gilbert refuted a report Friday that Brown had been fired.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010  His team down by 27 points and a promising season suddenly in peril, LeBron James walked off the floor to a smattering of boos and rows of empty seats.