Ransom Demand Was Bogus In Case Of Missing Teen, Police Say

BOCA RATON — Boca Raton junior running back Adon Elmon rushed for a game-winning 10-yard touchdown in overtime as the host Bobcats rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit for a thrilling 27-21 victory against Goleman in a Class 7A regional quarterfinal on Friday night. The Bobcats struggled on offense in the first half and trailed 21-7 at halftime, but junior quarterback Mason Chapman stepped up in the fourth quarter to help lead two scoring drives to force overtime. “Everyone knew that this could be the last game so we all came together and it was just a team effort,” Chapman said.

Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 124-111 victory over the Indiana Pacers: — Who was that masked man? — Well, actually, those masked men? — The difference is Jimmy Butler, sidelined again by his ankle sprain, was wearing a mask on the bench in solidarity. — Nikola Jovic was wearing it out of necessity. — And put together his best half of the season over Friday night’s opening two periods. — Requiring the additional protection after breaking his nose in a blood mess in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s overtime loss in Detroit, Jovic arguably was as aggressive as he has been all season in the first half. — Arguably even more so. — Uncertain of the fit of the specially molded protection, Jovic fiddled with it in the pregame locker room. — The 6-foot-10 first-round pick in 2022 then played as if he had no concern in the world. — For as much as he struggled as a starter, Jovic’s versatility paid dividends off the bench. — From there, Kevin Love took over with his offense at the start of the second half. — Love-followed-by-Jovic seems like the way to go going forward. — Even when Butler returns. — Which could be as soon as Sunday. — Butler will be back without a mask for that one. Related Articles Miami Heat | Heat bounce back from Detroit debacle with 124-111 NBA Cup win in Indiana Miami Heat | Heat find short game a work in progress; a potentially heartening Butler sighting Miami Heat | Heat’s Kel’el Ware maximizing his diet of what is being offered in rookie season Miami Heat | ASK IRA: Could Heat’s Tyler Herro prove to be one who got away from Blazers? Miami Heat | Heat to remain without Jimmy Butler as they attempt to shake off fiasco in Detroit — But after this one, the question is whether Jovic can be convinced to eventually part with his empowering protection. — With Butler again out, the Heat opened for a third consecutive game with a lineup of Love, Bam Adebayo, Haywood Highsmith, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier. — The game was Adebayo’s 500th career regular-season appearance. — Jaime Jaquez Jr.

INDIANAPOLIS — This time it didn’t matter whether Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had a timeout left at the end (he did). In need of bounceback after Tuesday night’s horrendous overtime loss in Detroit — decided on a technical foul for Spoelstra calling a timeout he did not have — the Heat got exactly that with a 124-111 victory Friday night over the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “Our response,” veteran big man Kevin Love said, “was very high level.” Spoelstra agreed. “I really commend our group,” he said.

By MICHELLE L. PRICE WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, to serve as his White House press secretary. Leavitt, 27, currently a spokesperson for Trump’s transition, would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Previously that distinction went to Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration. “Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,” Trump said in a statement.

Here's why an unbearable cough is surging in the Bay Area SFGATEWhooping Cough Is Soaring in the Bay Area. Here’s How to Get Vaccines KQEDWhooping cough cases surge in the Bay Area heading into winter San Francisco ChronicleHealth officials warn of increased whooping cough spread in local schools CNYcentral.comHelena doctor shares ways to avoid whooping cough as cases rise KTVH

Severe COVID-19 may shrink cancer tumors, early data suggest Livescience.comCOVID-19’s Surprising Effect on Cancer TIMEChicago Northwestern Medicine study shows severe COVID-19 may shrink cancer cells ABC7 ChicagoCOVID-19's silver lining? Researchers find the virus has ability to fight cancer Chicago Sun-TimesNorthwestern study links COVID-19 RNA to cancer-fighting cells FOX 32 Chicago