Witherspoon

Catholic University outscored Goucher College 7-1 in the final three minutes of overtime last night to take a 91-87 victory over the home team and clinch the Capital Athletic Conference championship.Tied at 86 with three minutes to play in the extra period, the Cardinals took the lead for good on a driving basket by Sean Tuohey with 2: 06 to play.After Goucher's Bakari Ward, who led all scorers with 27 points, missed on the next Gophers possession, senior Shawn Kane opened a four-point edge for the visitors with a running bank shot that made it 90-86 with 1: 12 left.

WASHINGTON -- The Goucher College men's basketball team will gather on its campus for a 6: 45 p.m. conference call today that will determine the Gophers' NCAA Division III tournament fate.All signs point to an at-large invitation into the 48-team field, but Goucher must wait because nationally eighth-ranked Catholic earned the Capital Athletic Conference's automatic bid with its 19th straight victory, a 74-73 decision over the Gophers in the league's tournament final last night before 1,025 at DuFour Center.

A 24-year-old West Baltimore man -- who rode his bicycle alongside an acquaintance's car and killed him by firing two bullets into his head in what prosecutors called retaliation for a previous shooting -- was sentenced yesterday to life in prison.Baltimore Circuit Judge Gary I. Strausberg also sentenced Acheme N. Witherspoon to a concurrent term of 15 years for using a handgun in the commission of a violent crime for the the slaying of Dante Giles, in the early hours of a July morning two years ago."

Becky Dowling scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Navy to a 70-43 win over visiting Sacramento State College in women's basketball yesterday. Dowling also had four steals, which gives her 197 in her career -- one shy of the school record.Sophomore Erica Hayes chipped in 10 points for the Midshipmen (4-0).UMBC 52, Bucknell 35: The Retrievers held the visiting Bison to just nine first-half points, setting a school record.Franklin and Marshall 64, Salisbury State 51: Brandy Burkett's 18 points led the host Diplomats (1-1)

Just when it looked as if Goucher was about to extend its trip through the Eastern Region of the NCAA Division III tournament, the visiting Alvernia Crusaders wouldn't allow it.The Gophers were leading, 40-32, after a quick start in the second half, but Alvernia took control of the game with a 17-6 run over the next eight minutes and ousted the Gophers, 60-55, at Goucher last night."

Three men have been charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Reisterstown restaurant owner during an apparent robbery Monday night.Norris Witherspoon, 44, who lives in the 2800 block of Ruscombe Lane in Baltimore and owns The Spoonery restaurant in the 10500 block of Reisterstown Road, was in very critical condition yesterday at Sinai Hospital.Charged in the shooting were Russell Smith, 40, of the 1100 block of Southlawn Drive in Laurel; Von Tyler, 30, of the 4900 block of Iverson Place in Temple Hills; and Norris Peoples, 33, of the 300 block of Talbot Court in Abingdon.

Jeniful "Jim" Witherspoon, 44, Social Security workerJeniful "Jim" Witherspoon, a retired Social Security Administration employee, died of emphysema Wednesday at Joseph Richey Hospice in Baltimore. He was 44 and lived in Cedonia.He went to work for SSA as a clerk typist in 1975 and was an environmental technician when he retired this year.Born in Havre de Grace, he graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1970 and moved to Baltimore several years later.A gospel music lover, Mr. Witherspoon was a member of St. John's Christian Community Church, 1208 E. Lanvale St.Services will be held at noon tomorrow at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 520 Lewis St., Havre de Grace.

Goucher coach Leonard Trevino said forward Tavar Witherspoon will be his team's go-to guy this season. Johns Hopkins found out why last night.Witherspoon, a 6-foot-4 junior forward, scored eight of his team's 10 overtime points and made a clutch steal in the final seconds to help host Goucher defeat Johns Hopkins, 72-68, at the Sports & Recreation Center.The extra period belonged to Witherspoon, a Calvert Hall graduate. He scored the first points of the overtime and later made two free throws with 25 seconds left to break a 68-68 tie.Johns Hopkins (2-1)

Stand-up comedian and actor John Witherspoon will perform at Washington's Improv Comedy Theater today through Sunday. Witherspoon, who co-starred with Eddie Murphy in the film "Vampire in Brooklyn," has proved to be a natural at ad-libbing. Aside from roles in "House Party" and "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka," Witherspoon also co-starred in Robert Townsend's "Hollywood Shuffle," which had no script!He also appears as "Pops" on WB Network's "Wayans Brothers."The performances will run at 8:30 p.m. today and Sunday (tickets $17)

Goucher College advanced to the second round of the NCAA men's Division III tournament with a 67-60 victory over Cabrini (Pa.) College before a home crowd of more than 1,000 last night.The Gophers (23-5), seeded second in the Middle Atlantic Region, will play host to Alvernia (Pa.), tomorrow night at 7: 30. Alvernia defeated Lebanon Valley, 69-55, last night.Goucher led 58-47 with 3: 40 remaining in regulation, but Cabrini fought back to make it a 62-58 game with 46 seconds left. Free throws by Bakari Ward (Arundel)

Reese Witherspoon's kids are at that age - the one where they discover a movie they like and proceed to watch it over and over and over again. Her daughter, Ava, 9, and son, Deacon, 5, don't get bored of their favorites and don't find themselves satisfied with a third viewing. They just get excited to watch it again. So it's no surprise that the Oscar winner, 33, is particularly concerned with the quality of children's entertainment, choosing to work back to back on animated feature films.

ROBERT MULLIGAN, 83 Directed "To Kill a Mockingbird" Robert Mulligan, the Academy Award-nominated director of To Kill a Mockingbird who later helped launch the career of Reese Witherspoon, died Saturday at his home in Lyme, Conn. He had suffered from heart disease, his wife, Sandy, said yesterday. Mr. Mulligan was nominated for an Oscar for To Kill a Mockingbird, the adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a child's world shaken by the racism of a Southern town.

On October 18, 2008 YVONNE P. WITHERSPOON, beloved mother of Cynthia (Cindy) Davis. On Thursday, friends may call at VAUGHN C. GREENE FUNERAL SERVICES (RANDALLSTOWN), 8728 Liberty Road from 4:00-8:00 p.m. On Friday, Mrs. Witherspoon will lie in state at Epworth Chapel, Liberty Rd. & St. Lukes Lane, where the family will receive friends from 11:00-11:30 a.m. with services to follow. Inquiries to 410-655-0015.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: The roughly 40,000 of you who will visit the Hippodrome Theatre in the next two weeks will deliberate on a controversial case. You must carefully weigh the evidence and render a verdict on whether Legally Blonde: The Musical is a tasteless rip-off or a clever homage. I submit that, despite some mitigating factors to the contrary, the creative team of the stage show should be convicted of aesthetic violations. With two exceptions, the score runs the gamut of vapid to bland.

On December 13, 2007, WILLIAM WITHERSPOON, JR.; beloved father of Cynthia Robinson. On Wednesday, friends may call Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Services (West), 5151 Baltimore National Pike, where the family will receive friends from 3 to 8 P.M. On Thursday, the family will receive friends at Vaughn C. Greene West Chapel from 10:30 to 11 A.M. with services to follow. Inquiries to (410) 233-2400.

Reese Witherspoon may be the closest thing to a lock in this year's Oscar race, having won every acting award short of the Razzie for her portrayal of steel magnolia June Carter in Walk the Line. The National Society of Film Critics, San Francisco Film Critics, New York Film Critics Circle, Boston Society of Film Critics ... all have named Witherspoon the best actress of 2005. And she's earned the plaudits; her Carter is a welcome source of strength and stability in the film, as she struggles to steady the roller-coaster life of music legend Johnny Cash.

On March 13, 2005, GLORIA ROBERSON, loving mother of Gloresa Sinclair, Ethelene Witherspoon, Catriena Bacon, Kenya Roberson, Jervin Sinclair, Maurice Witherspoon and Oashimar Roberson. She is also survived by sisters Helen Johnson, Patricia Thornton, Charlene Sinclair and brother Lacy Sinclair. Devoted friends Kittie and Hazel and a host of other relatives and friends. Friends may call at the FAMILY OWNED MARCH FUNERAL HOME WEST, INC., 4300 Wabash Avenue, on Thursday after 9 A.M., where the family will receive friends on Friday at 11:30 A.M. followed by funeral services at 12 noon.

On February 24, 2005, ROY L., beloved husband of Belinda Witherspoon. Visitation at 2140 N. Fulton Avenue on Tuesday 2 to 8 P.M. The family will receive friends at First John Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1801 E. Preston St., on Wednesday day at 10 A.M. Funeral at 11 A.M.

On January 28, 2005 WILLIE H., beloved husband of Ardella R. Witherspoon. Also survived by five sons, Michael Wise, Robert, Steven, Wesley and Anthony Witherspoon, four daughters Crystal Butler, Patricia, Sandra and Yolonda Witherspoon. His companion Gladys Nutt. Two brothers and seven sisters. Friends may call at the Wylie Funeral Home, P.A., 638 N. Gilmor Street, on Tuesday 5 to 8 P.M. Family will receive friends on Wednesday 10:30 A.M. Funeral 11 A.M. at Unity United Methodist Church, 1433 Edmondson Avenue.

If heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon beats up on James Daniels in their scheduled four-rounder tomorrow night, he can recommend a prescription for pain relief. Nicknamed "The Mensa with Muscle," the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Witherspoon expects to graduate with a degree in pharmaceutical marketing in May from St. Joseph's University, where he is on an academic scholarship. But first, the 23-year-old has elected to graduate into the professional boxing ranks. He will make his debut in a fight that takes place at the Washington Convention Center on the undercard of a main event between former World Boxing Organization 140-pound champion DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley and Darryll Tyson.