A lifetime of gymnastics helped lead her to a track and field scholarship
Alicia Hall has no time to sit still. On a typical Monday, she goes from senior year classes at Oakland Mills High School in Howard County to track practice to club gymnastics and then finally back home around 9 p.m.. When she's at track and not actively practicing or competing, she can often be found in a handstand. In her own words, Hall loves to 'defy gravity.'
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Pacers Knew Big Things Were Possible, Used Special Night To Prove It
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 31: The Indiana Pacers celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after the ... More 125-108 win against the New York Knicks in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 31, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by) INDIANAPOLIS – In a sea of Indiana Pacers players, staffers, executives, luminaries, and family members, Tyrese Haliburton raised the Bob Cousy Trophy high on Saturday night. He and the Pacers had just topped the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, meaning the Pacers will be playing in the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history. Celebrations had been going on for exactly 30 minutes when Myles Turner, the Pacers starting center for the last 10 years, exited the floor. Moments earlier, he was hugging his dad. Now, he was high-fiving fans and friends on his way back to the locker room. 'Four more, baby! Four more,' he exclaimed. 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A group that can combine those feelings is hard to build. Some teams are too excited simply to be in the playoffs – some Pacers players admitted the team had too much of that vibe in 2024. Other teams look past their accomplishments and aren't able to relish in each other's success. It takes the right blend of people and talents to craft a run like the one the Pacers are in the middle of. Turner, the one who struck that balance perfectly as he walked off the floor with pep in his step, realized his team was special almost two years ago. Ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Pacers were ready to launch. They added talent in the offseason and had postseason goals. Ahead of that campaign, the team organized a trip to Nashville, Tennessee to get together ahead of the season. They bonded and worked hard on the hardwood. Star guard Tyrese Haliburton and the newly-added Bruce Brown were the leaders when it came to planning that trip. Turner showed up and was struck by the attendance. 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His passion is unmatched, and when he was traded to the Pacers three years ago he knew it was a special team. That means more coming from Nesmith, who previously played for a Boston Celtics team that reached the NBA Finals in 2022. He'd seen a top-tier roster up close. When he came to Indiana, he felt he was looking at another. 'I thought ever since I got here, we just had a special group,' he said, sitting at his locker after the Game 6 victory. Even when the team was 9-14 to start 2024-25, Nesmith remembered that there was internal belief from the team that they could reach this level. They were right. 'We just get working and get better day after day after day. This is just a combination of everybody's hard work,' Nesmith added. He had a meaningful conversation with President Of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard on the court after the conference finals victory – Pritchard believed in Nesmith back in 2022 and acquired him in a trade that changed the trajectory of the Pacers. 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Winning a conference is a big deal that should be celebrated – five franchises have never done that. But Haliburton has made it clear for years that the Pacers are thinking bigger. So there was a celebration on Saturday night as the Pacers won the Eastern Conference Finals. But it was brief. And there was champagne in the Pacers locker room after the game, but nobody drank any. In fact, they chose the opposite. 'We poppin' this after we win four more,' forward Obi Toppin said. That's the Pacers new goal, and they have all come to believe it's possible over the years.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Orioles reinstate Colton Cowser from the injured list prior to 6-game road trip
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles reinstated Colton Cowser from the 60-day injured list Monday, bringing back the outfielder prior to a six-game road trip out West. Baltimore was off Monday before facing the Mariners and Athletics on this trip. The last-place Orioles are coming off a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Cowser has been out with a broken left thumb. He hasn't played since May 30. Baltimore designated utilityman Cooper Hummel for assignment. Cowser hit 24 home runs last season, finishing second in the American League rookie of the year vote. ___ AP MLB:
