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

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.

Thursday, June 03, 2010  The group behind the Web site SendLeBrontoChicago.com has paid for a billboard in downtown Chicago pleading with "King James" to leave Cleveland for the Windy City.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010  In his first interview since the Cavs' season ended with a shocking, second-round loss to Boston, James told CNN's Larry King that Cleveland "does have an edge" to re-sign him.

Friday, May 28, 2010  A path through the lane suddenly opened up before Ron Artest. Kobe Bryant's missed 3-pointer dropped right into his hands, and Artest's awkward layup banked neatly through the net as the buzzer sounded.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010  The Phoenix Suns got a decisive performance from their hustling bench to overcome Kobe Bryant's 38-point, 10-assist performance and beat the Lakers 115-106 in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday 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.