BRIEFS

YMCA hoop

results

In Biddyball action, Correll Insurance (MVPs Mark Lyons and Ayrion Strong) played Blakely Funeral Home (MVPs Caleb Upchurch and Tanner Whelchel) and the Elk's Lodge (MVPs Mason Solomon and Joey Larsen) played the Ruppe Rental Nets (MVPs Zach Rogers and Mason Jolly).

In intermediate league action, Ace Hardware Bulls (MVPs Cody Bailey and Jordan Crocker) defeated the Village School (MVPs Mariah Skinner and John Skinner), and Hamrick's Kids (MVPs Heath Mullinax and Samantha Stepp) defeated Clearview Window Tinting (MVPs Andy Benton and Trent Solomon).

In the Youth Division, Sanders Bros. (Josh Sereno and Clay Childers) defeated Timken (MVPs Camron Farley and Nicholas Wells) and Daddy Joe's (MVPs Dylan Stepp and Hasten Mullinax) downed Cline Brandt and Kochenower (MVPs Makayla Wilson and Brett Ward).

Clemson athletes

post record GPAs

Clemson's athletes have set a record with a 2.87 grade-point average for the fall semester.

School officials say Clemson's 15 sports program also had the most athletes named to the President's List in a semester.

The football team had a 2.53 grade point average - its third best on record and best ever for a fall semester.

The baseball team had a 2.76 grade point average, and the men's basketball team had a 2.41 GPA for the semester.

Six Clemson teams had grade point averages of 3.0 or better.

The women's soccer team had the top team GPA at 3.32. The men's tennis team was the best among the men's programs with a 3.24 GPA.

O'Neal on the

trading block

Shaquille O'Neal is prepared for the Miami Heat to trade him, a confidant of the 14-time All-Star center told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

O'Neal's associate, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to reveal anything publicly, indicated a move could be imminent.

''Shaq thinks something will happen,'' the associate said.

The Miami Herald reported earlier Tuesday that the Heat are in ''serious and ongoing'' trade negotiations with the Phoenix Suns. A Heat spokesman said the team had no comment, and several Suns officials didn't immediately return phone calls from The AP.

The Herald report said the Suns would send Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami in exchange for O'Neal, who is averaging a careerlow 14.2 points and has been sidelined for the past two weeks by a lingering hip injury.

Clemens repeats

denial under oath

Roger Clemens' most meaningful denial of drug use so far was also the most well-guarded.

The star pitcher gave a sworn deposition for about five hours to congressional lawyers behind closed doors Tuesday, addressing his former personal trainer's allegations. And this time, Clemens was under oath.

''I just want to thank the committee, the staff that I just met with. They were very courteous,'' the seven-time Cy Young Award winner said, wearing a pinstriped gray suit instead of a pinstriped New York Yankees uniform. ''It was great to be able to tell them what I've been saying all along - that I've never used steroids or growth hormone.''

Tuesday's deposition was the first time Clemens faced legal risk if he were to make false statements. Home run king Barry Bonds, another player linked to steroid use, was indicted in November on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice for telling a grand jury in 2003 that he didn't knowingly take performanceenhancing drugs.