Joe Harris, 32, one of the stars of Tony Bennett’s early years coaching the Virginia Cavaliers, has announced his retirement after 10 NBA seasons.
Having played 504 NBA games, Harris stands fifth all-time in NBA 3-point accuracy at 43.6% and has the best percentage among players with at least 1,000 3-point baskets.
During the 2019 all-star weekend, he defeated Golden State legend Stephen Curry while winning the 3-point shooting contest. (Curry is 12th in the accuracy list and first all-time in 3-point baskets.)
Harris was drafted 33rd overall in 2014 by Cleveland and spent 1 1/2 seasons there, but he played for the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-23 and is the franchise’s all-time leader in 3-point baskets.
He grew up in the state of Washington and intended to play for Bennett at Washington State, but when the coach moved to Virginia, Harris came along. He was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference player in 2013 and a second-team All-ACC player in ’14, when he earned ACC Tournament MVP honors and led UVA to its first conference tourney title since 1976.
BASEBALL
Party Animals level sold-out ‘Banana Ball’ series in Norfolk
Before the second of three sold-out crowds at Norfolk’s Harbor Park, the Party Animals evened their “Banana Ball” series with the Savannah Bananas by beating them 5-2 Saturday night.
These are the first games the barnstorming team has played in Virginia, though the first iteration of the Bananas was part of the Coastal Plain League, which includes the Peninsula Pilots.
The rubber game of the three-game series, part of the Banana Ball World Tour, is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
Amid constant music, improvised dancing and choreographed dances, the teams combined for 28 trick plays, setting an all-time record. The starting shortstops — Chase Achuff of the Party Animals and Ryan Cox of the Bananas — tied the single-game mark by executing six trick plays each.
Fittingly, the Party Animals ended the game with a behind-the-back force play on a grounder to short in the ninth inning.
As part of “Banana Ball” rules, fans recorded outs by catching foul balls in the stands.
According to Bananas TV, Savannah is 42-24 for the year, including 30-21 against the Party Animals. The Party Animals are 30-33 for the year.
HORSE RACING
Gallardo wins twice at Colonial Downs
Jockey Antonio Gallardo won two races Saturday at Colonial Downs in New Kent County.
Lazio, the 3-5 favorite, won the fourth race with Gallardo aboard. Lazio is trained by Mary Lightner and owned by Shooting Star Thoroughbreds LLC.
Gallardo won again in the eighth race, this time in a photo finish. At 6-1 odds, he was aboard Echo Lane, trained by Rohan Crichton and owned by Anthony Rogers.
For Flying took Saturday’s opener, winning at 2-1 odds against. Victor Carrasco rode the winner, who is owned by Newstead Stables LLC and trained by Graham Motion.
Ready for Peace won the second race as an 8-5 favorite. Horacio Karamanos won the victor, who is trained by Ignacio Correas and owned by Ikhana Farm.
Friday, Ben Curtis went on the dirt and rode both of the day’s first two winners. Thrilla, an even-money favorite owned by Brad Allshouse and trained by Keith Desormeaux, took the first race. Continuity, trained by Eddie Kenneally, won the second race at 7-2 odds.
Augustin Stables’ As Catch Can won the seventh race as the 4-5 favorite. Vincent Cheminaud was aboard a horse trained by Jonathan Thomas.
Cap’n Dusty, owned by Big Lick Farm and with Jorge Ruiz, prevailed as the 3-1 favorite in the sixth race. Sarah Nagle trains the victor.
Binnie, owned by Morgan’s Ford Farm and ridden by Jevian Toledo, won the third race. Brittany Russell trains the 9-2 winner.
AUTO RACING
Rain forces VMS to cancel after qualifying and heats
Virginia Motor Speedway finished qualifying and heats for all divisions, but heavy rain prompted organizers to cancel the rest of the Commonwealth Clash program on the dirt track in Middlesex County.
The speedway will return to racing Aug. 24 to host its championship night. All five of the weekly divisions’ champs will be crowned: Pro Late Model, Sportsman, Modified, Limited Stock Car and JuiceBox.
