Sports Round-Up by Paul Beitler

Bluffton, Norwell fans invited
The Norwell Football Club is inviting Norwell and Bluffton fans to a hog roast/pork dinner before the Bluffton vs. Norwell boys’ basketball game from 4:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, in the Norwell cafeteria. The meal will include a pork sandwich, corn, sauerkraut, applesauce, potato chips, and a drink. Tickets are $7 in advance and are available from all Norwell football players until Thursday, Dec. 23. Tickets also may be ordered by calling Tom Neuenschwander at 260-622-4169. Tickets will be $8 at the door.

Bluffton girls fall against Eastbrook
The Bluffton girls’ basketball team made a run in the last quarter, but the Eastbrook Panthers held off the Tigers for a 50-45 victory on Tuesday night at Upland.
Danielle Gerdt led the Panthers (5-4) with 18 points and Lauren Heeter added 12 points.
The Tigers (2-10) were paced by Gina Eisenhut with 11 points. The sophomore center was 5 of 6 from the field.
Skila Betancourt added 9 points and 9 rebounds for the Tigers. Kara Fiechter netted 8 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. She also had 5 assists and 3 steals.
Sheena Steffen contributed 8 points and 5 rebounds for Bluffton. Shayna LaVine had 7 points and Leah Tullis tossed in 2 points. Marci Mettler pulled down 6 rebounds and Eisenhut 4.
Eastbrook took a 19-8 lead in the first period and led 27-23 at halftime.
The Panthers led 41-33 after the end of three periods.
Cassie Young added 9 points for the Panthers. Kerri Guffey had 6, Halee Bischoff 3 and Korisa Kitts 2.
Eastbrook’s junior varsity team edged the Tigers 17-15.

Jackson against Christmas games
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Phil Jackson says humbug to the NBA’s Christmas schedule.
The 11-time NBA champion coach restated his longtime opposition to Christmas games Tuesday night before his Los Angeles Lakers faced the Milwaukee Bucks in their final tuneup before Saturday’s visit from the Miami Heat.
“It’s like Christian holidays don’t mean to them anything any more,” Jackson said. “Just go out and play and entertain the TV. It’s really weird, but it is what it is. We have to go to work and make the best of it.”
Jackson is the son of two Christian ministers, and he famously wrote a book on his spiritual growth related to basketball.

Yankees slash
payroll spending
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees lowered spending on players by $12 million this year, cutting payroll by $5 million and slashing their MLB-leading luxury tax by more than $7 million.
New York was hit with an $18 million luxury tax by the league. The tax was New York’s lowest since 2003 and down from $25.7 million last year, when the Yankees won the World Series.
Boston is the only other team that will have to pay.