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Timely baskets from guard Vanessa Collier, a fine all-around effort from forward Kelsey Erdman, and scrappy defensive play enabled the River Hill girls basketball team to come away with a 47-46 win over visiting Centennial in Howard County play last night. Collier scored a team-high 13 points -- including a three-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to give River Hill a 43-40 lead -- and Erdman added 10 points and 13 rebounds as the No. 15 Hawks were able to avenge an early-season loss to the Eagles.

SEATTLE -- Sometimes, it has been quick and sudden. Sunday, it took closer Chris Ray just seven pitches to blow a one-run lead as he gave up a game-winning, two-run home run in the ninth inning to Los Angeles Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero. Other times, the Orioles' meltdown has been protracted and unpredictable. Monday night, the Orioles had a one-run lead over the Seattle Mariners in the eighth inning, and setup man Chad Bradford had gotten two quick outs. It appeared Ray would get the ball in the ninth with another one-run lead to protect.

ORONO, Maine -- With cold winds whipping rain across Morse Field yesterday, scoring opportunities were limited. So with Maine leading by a point and only 2:02 remaining in the game, Towson football coach Gordy Combs decided to go for a two-point conversion and the lead. Villanova@Towson Saturday, noon, 1570 AM

From an environmental point of view, the decision by Baltimore schools CEO Andres Alonso not to keep trying to get the lead out of school drinking fountains and to put bottled water in coolers in all schools may be disappointing. After all, the packaging and disposal of bottled water are taking an increasing toll on the environment. So it seems a shame to add to that burden when good tap water is available, as it is in Baltimore. But the coolers are somewhat more environmentally friendly than individual bottles, and after 15 years of fighting a losing battle, switching to coolers is more realistic and practical.

The matchup between Ravens left offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney will be worth the price of admission on Saturday. Because Freeney beat Ogden so badly in the past two meetings, I think Ogden took it personally, and that's part of the reason he hired a trainer in the offseason. Ogden has a lot of pride, and Freeney will see a new Ogden on Saturday. This time, Freeney won't have the home crowd as an advantage. He won't be able to beat Ogden off the ball because of crowd noise.

With senior forward Deanna Dydynski's 17 points leading a balanced attack and a defense at its harassing best, the No. 14 Mount Hebron girls basketball team opened its season with a comfortable 59-27 home win over Howard County rival River Hill last night. The Vikings forced 36 turnovers and spread the floor on offense to attack zone defense of the No. 12 Hawks. Mount Hebron made 21 of 29 free-throw attempts to contribute to the win. Senior forward Monica Zabel added 13 points, Qiana Coleman had nine and Brittany Bowen scored eight.

LOS ANGELES -- The California attorney general and the Los Angeles city attorney filed a lawsuit yesterday against Mattel Inc., Toys R Us Inc. and 18 other companies, accusing them of making or selling products that contain "unlawful quantities of lead." The move follows major recalls of toys, lunch boxes, children's jewelry and other goods during the past year by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington. The suit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court under California's Proposition 65 law, would force manufacturers and retailers to adopt procedures for inspecting products to make sure they are safe.

KIBERA, Kenya -- Machete-wielding youths rioted in Kenya yesterday as each party vying for the presidency declared its candidate the winner, threatening an election that was initially praised by international observers. In early results, challenger Raila Odinga had led President Mwai Kibaki by several hundred thousand votes, but by late yesterday, Odinga's lead had dwindled. Amid opposition accusations of fraud, ethnic riots exploded in several cities. In Odinga's strongholds, supporters from his Luo tribe looted businesses and set fire to shops and houses belonging to Kikuyus, the tribe associated with Kibaki.

The Private Clubs team collected four points from the six matches that went to the 18th green, and took a 7-5 lead over the Publinx side on the first day of their fifth annual Challenge Cup at Pine Ridge Golf Course yesterday.The Municipal players forged a 3 1/2-2 1/2 lead after the morning better-ball pairings, but the opposition used some late heroics in the afternoon foursomes to gain its lead. The matches conclude today with 12 singles pairings at Hillendale Country Club.U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur: Baltimorean Andrea Kraus stumbled down the stretch, but her par-equaling 72 was enough to share the lead after the first round of on-site qualifying in Atlanta.

CAPITOL HEIGHTS -- Central senior guard Alicia Clarke hadn't forgotten how her team's season ended a year ago at Centennial in the regional quarterfinals.So when the Eagles came to Central, where the Falcons have lost only twice in three seasons, for last night's Class 2A, South Region championship, Clarke was ready to return the favor.She did.Clarke went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and finished with 24 points to lead the Prince George's County school to a 66-54 victory and a trip to play Parkdside of Wicomico County in Friday's state tournament semifinal at UMBC.

A city jury awarded more than $2.5 million Tuesday to a pair of siblings who were poisoned by lead-based paint while living in a West Baltimore rowhouse that their mother had been told was "lead safe." The siblings, Dontae Wallace, 20, and Searra Wallace, 17, have permanent cognitive and behavioral disabilities that stem in part from being exposed to lead paint in the house their family rented from City Homes Inc., a nonprofit organization, for four years in the early 1990s, medical experts said in court.

Seton Keough's Asya Bussie took the lead from the start of last night's Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship. The 6-foot-4 senior center dominated the inside, played aggressive defense and stayed out of foul trouble in leading the No. 3 Gators to a 58-38 upset of No. 1 and six-time defending champion St. Frances at Stevenson University. Bussie had 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Gators won their first title since 2000, the inaugural season of the IAAM.

Coppin State got 27 points from Tywain McKee, but the host Eagles could not put the clamps on hot-shooting Norfolk State in losing, 87-77, yesterday. Michael Deloach scored 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting, leading five players in double figures for Norfolk State (3-10, 1-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). Coppin State (2-13, 0-2) has lost three in a row. The Spartans shot 64 percent - including 73 percent in the second half - to win at the Coppin Center for the first time since Dec. 1, 2001.

WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of Navy's 29-19 loss to Wake Forest yesterday in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium, emotions were raw for the Midshipmen. Only some of those feelings had to do with the game itself. There were the tears shed by first-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo, but there was also frustration spewed from quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada after his injury-marred season ended an otherwise spectacular career. Niumatalolo's eyes were still red and his cheeks moist after leaving the locker room.

In its first game, No. 5 Walbrook lost to a tough Northeast Catholic team from Philadelphia, learned a little bit about itself and got off on the wrong foot in what should be a promising season. Last night, the Warriors left no doubt who was the better team. Host Walbrook (2-1) used a high-octane offense and a tough zone defense to cruise to a 75-56 victory over rival Southwestern (1-2) in the night's final game at the Function at the Junction basketball mixer. Forward Roscoe Smith led Walbrook with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

8:30 p.m. [ESPN] A late-season Monday Night Football game between division rivals battling for the lead - no flex scheduling needed here. But for some of you, it won't be enough. You'll watch and then complain about Tony Kornheiser tomorrow.

George Mason scored the final nine points to hold off Mount St. Mary's, 72-60, in a nonconference matchup at the Patriot Center last night. Trailing 56-43 with 9:30 left in the game, the Mount went on a 17-7 run to cut the deficit to 63-60 after a three-pointer by Jean Cajou. George Mason answered with a long jumper from Cam Long on the next possession to start the game-deciding run. The Mount held a 32-30 lead early in the second half after a three-point play by Jeremy Goode, but the Patriots (4-1)

Mount St. Mary's spoiled the centennial anniversary of Loyola's first basketball season and started its own 100th season with a victory as the visiting Mountaineers outlasted the Greyhounds, 84-76, last night at sold-out Reitz Arena. The nonconference game was the 164th meeting between the two longtime in-state rivals. Junior point guard Jeremy Goode led the Mountaineers with a game-high 25 points and paced their transition game. Junior forward Kelly Beidler added 17 points for the Mount.

LeBron James equaled a season best with 41 points last night, finally putting the Milwaukee Bucks away with a steal and soaring dunk in the final minutes, and Mo Williams scored 16 against his former team as the host Cleveland Cavaliers won their fifth straight, 99-93. It was the third time in four games that James has scored 41. "I'm not doing it on purpose," he said. James scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and didn't come out in the second half while playing a season-high 43 minutes.

The stark contrast between the Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays seemed to find a temporary detour early in last night's game at Camden Yards. Considering how their respective seasons have gone, it's not surprising that both teams were rerouted. Or in the Orioles' case, routed. After staking rookie starter Radhames Liz to five runs in their first turn at the plate and a six-run lead after their second, the Orioles wound up losing, 11-6, before an announced 13,632, helping the Rays inch closer to celebrating their first American League East championship.