SPORTS DIGEST

Nehemiah of Monessen holding 3 on 3 basketball tournament

Nehemiah of Monessen Community Development will sponsor a 3 on 3 basketball tournament at noon April 12 for boys and girls grades 6-8 at the Monessen Civic Center, 861 Donner Ave., Monessen. Signups will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the civic center. See Linda Carson. Charge is $5 per child registration fee, game $3 admission fee.

Ovechkin scores twice to tie Gretzky WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record by scoring the 893rd and 894th of his career, the second being the game winner, as the Washington Capitals rallied to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Friday night.

Ovechkin scored No. 894 on the power play with 13:47 left in regulation to put Washington ahead after Dylan Strome tied it earlier in the third period. The 39-year-old Russian superstar also opened the scoring with his 893rd less than four minutes in.

It all came with Gretzky in attendance for the first time during this chase. He should be there Sunday at the New York Islanders when Ovechkin has his next chance to make hockey history.

Martin Fehervary also scored and Charlie Lindgren, playing because No. 1 goaltender Logan Thompson is out with injury, made 19 saves to help the Eastern Conference and Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals win for just the second time in six games. Ryan Leonard scored his first career goal into an empty net with 1:36 left to seal it.

Julio Jones announces retirement

ATLANTA (AP) — Julio Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and the leading receiver in Atlanta Falcons history, announced his retirement on Friday.

Jones, 36, did not play in 2024 after playing in 11 games, including four starts, and catching 11 passes for 74 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 with Philadelphia.

Jones played for Atlanta from 2011-2021, setting franchise records with 848 catches for 12,896 yards. He had 60 touchdown catches with the Falcons and was a two-time first-team All-Pro. He earned three second-team All-Pro honors.