Sports

Richmond Rockets win big, run streak to five

The Richmond Rockets improved to 10-3 on the season with a dominating win over the Sacramento Heatwave Saturday night. The final score was 120-102, with the Rockets leading throughout. The Rockets swept the two-game home set against Sacramento, with Saturday’s win on the heels of a 102-90 drubbing of the Heatwave at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium on Friday night. “This win further establishes ourselves as a dominant force in the Pacific North Conference,” team president said Keith Hazell as time…

Kennedy high gym renamed in honor of ‘Dolly’

Dolly Felix made a difference, and now her name graces the building where she touched so many lives. About 300 people packed the John F. Kennedy High School gymnasium Saturday for a ceremony dedicating the hardwood floor facility in the former teacher and coach’s honor. The building was officially dedicated the “Coach Dolly Felix Gym.” A teacher and coach whose career in public education in Richmond spanned more than 50 years, Felix died in June, 2011, after a battle with…

Candy Cane Classic Basketball Tournament to be held this weekend

The 30th annual McKelvey and Banks Candy Cane Classic Basketball Tournament will be held Friday through Sunday. Boys and girls ages 14 and under will compete in three divisions from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. in the Police Activities League gym, Richmond Recreation Center gym and Richmond Auditorium. Trophies will be awarded to the first and second place winners in each division. The event began in 1981 as a way to get all the Richmond community center basketball teams together during winter…

A morning at Golden Gate Fields: Thoroughbreds, luck and the future of Northern California racing

Ed Moger, a Richmond resident and horse trainer, sat alone among the rows of grandstand seats high above Golden Gate Fields. One hand grasped a stopwatch and the other pressed binoculars to his eyes as he scanned the bustling track, waiting for his horses to come out for an early gallop. It was a cold, dreary morning in the Bay Area, but Golden Gate Fields was wide-awake. At 6 a.m., the skies may have been dark, but the track glowed…

Richmond Rockets suffer first loss to San Francisco Rumble

For the Richmond Rockets, it was a game of two halves. And a Richmond audience of roughly 800 people did not want to believe the second half Friday night: the Rockets led by 20 points for most of the first half, and kept the lead for most of the second half. But for the last five minutes, the San Francisco Rumble controlled the game to defeat the Rockets 107-97. “We just didn’t play well in the second half,” Coach Lamar…

Piedmont defeats Kennedy, keeping Eagles from playoffs

The Piedmont Highlanders defeated the Kennedy Eagles 37-31 in a tough, physical, closely fought game Thursday. The Eagles’ playoff hopes ended on a cold night on the manicured fields of Piedmont High School.

The game started well for Kennedy with two quick running touchdowns. The 14-0 lead lasted until the Highlanders struck back in the waning minutes of the first quarter. But the Highlander passing game, led by quarterback Eric Huppert, was nearly flawless, and Piedmont piled on the points. Two quick scores near the end of the first half ran the Highlander lead to 27-14.

Rockets blast off: team wins first game of the season

This was a night for the underdogs. The Richmond Rockets, the city’s new American Basketball Association team, defeated reigning conference champs the Bay Area Matrix 78-71 in their debut game. “I’m overwhelmed and overjoyed,” said owner Eric Marquis just seconds before the end of the game. When the final buzzer went off he yelled, “I do believe we just won,” before running off to high-five his staff. For the Rockets, the win comes after a week of uncertainties. How many…