Starting Lineup: Millikin coach Lori Kerans announces retirement and four other sports stories to start your day

After 32 years, Lori Kerans to retire from coaching, stay at Millikin

She took the job at age 21 and after 32 years as Millikin University’s head women’s basketball coach, Lori Kerans is stepping down. But while she is retiring from coaching, she is not leaving Millikin.

Kerans, 54, said Monday she will become Millikin’s director of Alumni Engagement. She’ll coach the remaining three games this season before beginning her new role on March 19.

Also, H&R Executive Sports Editor Mark Tupper wrote that in 44 years working at the Herald & Review, he's not met a more genuine and decent person than Lori Kerans.

Sullivan pulls sectional upset

Sullivan grabbed the lead in the third quarter and held on to beat top-seeded Marshall 45-41 to advance to its first sectional final since the 2001-02 season.

In other girls postseason games on Monday, Okaw Valley and Teutopolis advanced to the sectional finals, and MacArthur and Mount Zion stayed alive in regional play.

Here are 10 stories to watch entering Spring Training

As Spring Training begins, the real intrigue is as much about who’s not in camp as who is there.

There are still signings that could take place and dramatically affect the outlook of one team or another, so while acknowledging that many scenarios could change before Opening Day, here are the Top 10 storylines around the majors going into Spring Training.

Darvish signing should concern Cards

Columnist Ben Frederickson writes that the Cubs don't need Yu Darvish to be Max Scherzer in order to once again treat the Cardinals like a bug on the windshield, something to wipe off during a trip to bigger and better things.

The Cubs just need Darvish to stay healthy, not tip his pitches, and prove that his past postseason struggles were more fluke than foreshadowing.

If he can do that, look out.

LaVine's big play ignites Bulls

Zach LaVine broke for a tiebreaking dunk after stealing an inbounds pass in the closing seconds, Lauri Markkanen scored 21 points and the Bulls beat the Orlando Magic 105-101 on Monday night.