*Q2 Mobile News

Montana sports update

Posted: Jul 15, 2010 8:55 AM
Updated: Jul 15, 2010 8:55 AM

Drew Brees ends former UM guard's ESPY hopes

HELENA - Drew Brees has spoiled former University of Montana guard Anthony Johnson's bid to win an ESPY Award, given by ESPN.

Johnson was nominated in the Best Championship Performance category for his efforts in the Big Sky Conference title game against Weber State in March.

Johnson scored 34 of his career-high 42 points in the second half, including Montana's final 21 points as the Grizzlies rallied from a 22-point deficit for a 66-65 win.

Despite the effort, the award went to the New Orleans Saints quarterback, who won three other ESPYs, including male athlete of the year.

, MSU-JOHNSON HONORED

NABC honors former MSU forward Johnson

BOZEMAN - The National Association of Basketball Coaches has named former Montana State forward Branden Johnson to the Honors Court for being "one of the top student-athletes in college basketball."

Johnson qualified by posting a grade-point average of 3.2 or better as a varsity player during his junior or senior year. The native of Yakima, Wash., averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Bobcats as a senior last season and led the team with 20 blocked shots and 91 3-pointers.

Johnson is one of just five Big Sky players and 185 NCAA Division I players to earn the award.

, EAST WEST SHRINE

Butte hosting East-West Shrine Game

BUTTE - The East-West Shrine all-star football game is being played in Butte for the first time, after years of being held in Great Falls.

The 64th annual version of the game kicks off Saturday at 7 p.m. at Bulldog Memorial Stadium at East Middle School in Butte.

Tickets are $15 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission.

Montana's is the oldest continuous single-state sponsored Shrine high school all-star game in the country.

Players and cheerleaders will be honored at a banquet Friday evening and a parade is scheduled for Saturday morning. Over the years, the game has raised more than $1 million for the Shrine Children's Hospital in Spokane, Wash.

, MONTANA SIGNS

UM football signs 4 recruits

MISSOULA - Montana football coach Robin Pflugrad has announced the signing of four recruits, including reserve players transferring from UCLA and the University of Washington.

Pflugrad says wide receiver Antwon Moutra from UCLA and defensive tackle Tyrone Duncan from Washington will join the Griz this fall, along with junior college transfers Andrew Badger and Houston Roots. All four will be juniors at UM.

Moutra played in 10 games as a freshman at UCLA, but only caught two passes for the Bruins in two seasons. He had 1,448 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns as a senior at Culver City (Calif.) High School.

Duncan, who is from Westlake, Calif., played in six games last season for the Huskies and had one tackle.

Badger played strong safety at College of the Sequoias and had 50 tackles, 20 pass breakups, five tackles for a loss, two forced fumble and an interception as a sophomore.

Roots is a cornerback who had 59 tackles, 10 pass deflections, five sacks and two interceptions last year at Sierra College.

, TOUR DE FRANCE

RadioShack's Paulinho wins 10th stage of Tour

GAP, France - Team RadioShack has its hopes pinned on Butte-native Levi Leipheimer, who is sixth overall after the 10th stage of the Tour de France.

Lance Armstrong's squad got its first taste of success at this year's Tour Wednesday, when Sergio Paulinho of Portugal captured the stage.

Armstrong fell out of contention in the first Alpine stage on Sunday after getting tangled up in three crashes and losing crucial minutes against the top contenders.

Leipheimer came in 23rd in Wednesday's stage. That didn't bump him from his sixth-place spot. He's 3:59 behind front-runner Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.

Thursday's 11th stage is a mostly flat 114.65-mile route from Sisteron to Bourg-les-Valence that has one midgrade climb.

Topics: Sports Right Now, KTVQ, Montana