Monsters fall to Grand Rapids, 4-3, in shootout

The Monsters came back from an early 2-0 deficit to send the game to overtime, but lost, 4-3, in a shootout at Grand Rapids Dec. 29.

Cleveland (17-12-4) tied the game, 2-2, early in the third period before tying it again late in regulation, but the Griffins’ Chris Terry scored in the shootout to give Grand Rapids the win.

Sonny Milano, Doyle Somerby and Kole Sherwood each scored for Cleveland and Eric Levine had 29 saves.

The Monsters are off until the new year when the host Utica Jan. 5 at The Q. College basketball NO. 16 KENTUCKY TOPS

LOUISVILLE IN BLUEGRASS RIVALRY >> Tyler Herro had a career-high 24 points, Keldon Johnson added 15 and No. 16 Kentucky beat Louisville, 71-58, in this fierce Bluegrass rivalry.

A close game for 10 minutes quickly swung toward the Wildcats (10-2) behind an 11-0 run for a 31-17 lead. The spurt typified their success on both ends. They kept the Cardinals (9-4) from passing and driving inside and grabbed offensive rebounds leading to second and third chances.

Herro thrived the most, making 10 of 13 from the field with four 3-pointers to pass his previous best of 18 achieved twice, most recently on Dec. 1 against UNC Greensboro. Johnson was just 5 of 13 but helped Kentucky keep a double-digit lead for much of the final 30 minutes. The Wildcats won their third in a row overall and 10th of 12 in the Bluegrass rivalry.

Christen Cunningham had a season-high 20 points and Jordan Nwora 17 for Louisville, which shot just 36 percent in having its three-game winning streak stopped. NBA WIZARDS’ JOHN WALL

NEEDS SURGERY ON LEFT HEEL >> Washington point guard John Wall has been told that he needs surgery to address bone spurs in his left heel, a procedure that would keep the fivetime All-Star sidelined for at least six months.

Wizards coach Scott Brooks said it is “likely” that Wall will have the surgery, though the team’s medical staff was still collecting information and going through all possible options with their point guard before finalizing any decision. The Wizards were at home for a game with Charlotte on Saturday night.

Wall went to Wisconsin to see Green Bay Packers associate team physician Dr. Robert Anderson on Saturday. Surgery and other options were discussed at that meeting with Anderson, who is considered an elite doctor when it comes to athletes dealing with foot and ankle problems as evidenced by a client list that has included, among others, Cam Newton, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Derek Jeter.

Wall played in 32 of Washington’s 36 games this season entering Saturday, averaging 20.7 points and 8.7 assists even while dealing with the heel pain which has been an issue for him many times over the past two to three years.

Wall was limited to 41 games last season, mostly because of surgery on his left knee. He also underwent surgeries on both knees in 2016. Skiing AMERICAN MIKAELA SHIFFRIN WINS RECORD

36TH WORLD CUP SLALOM >> Mikaela Shiffrin became the most successful female slalom skier in the 52-year history of the World Cup by winning the last race of 2018 on Saturday.

The American built on a big first-run lead to beat Petra Vlhova of Slovakia by 0.29 seconds and Wendy Holdener of Switzerland by 0.38 for her 36th slalom victory.

Shiffrin previously shared the record with Marlies Raich. Competing as Marlies Schild, the Austrian won 35 times before retiring in 2014.

Only Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark has won more World Cup slaloms 40, between 1974 and 1987.

Shiffrin also became the first skier, male or female, to win 15 World Cup races in a single calendar year, moving one victory past men’s overall champion Marcel Hirscher of Austria.