Clukey to continue luge career

READFIELD (AP) — Julia Clukey is planning to slide on the World Cup circuit with the U.S. women’s national luge team this winter, and says her career decisions will be made on a year-to-year basis going forward.

Clukey was on the 2010 Olympic team, and missed qualifying for the 2014 Sochi Games by 0.013 seconds. She has not decided if she will try to qualify for the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Clukey made the announcement Tuesday at her annual summer camp for girls in Readfield, not far from her hometown of Augusta.

Clukey was named to USA Luge’s national team for the fall half of the upcoming schedule this spring. The World Cup season starts in Austria in late November.

Eubanks named new Red Claws president

PORTLAND (AP) — The Maine Red Claws have a new president.

The team announced Tuesday that Dajuan Eubanks will succeed Bill Ryan Jr., who was president for the past two seasons. Ryan retains his roles as chairman and principal owner.

Ryan said Eubanks, who takes over day-to-day operations, “has been with us since the very beginning of this franchise and has been an integral part of our success.”

The Red Claws launched in the 2009-10 season as part of the NBA Development League team. Two years ago the team became a Boston Celtics single-franchise affiliate.

LeBron opts out of contract with Heat

MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James delivered his message loud and clear, without actually saying a word.

He’s willing to leave Miami, if that’s what it will take to win more championships. And what happens next will likely be up to not just the Heat, but Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh as well.

Through his agent, James informed the Heat he has decided to opt out of the final two years of his contract, a move that means he becomes a free agent on July 1. He will be able to sign with any team, including Miami, and Heat President Pat Riley said he “fully expected” James to take advantage of his early termination option.

James ”“ who averaged 27.1 points this past season ”“ was owed $42.7 million for the next two seasons, though that seems irrelevant in the sense that he’ll be getting plenty of money from the Heat or someone else for years to come.

U.S. defeats Canada for Under-18 title

COLORADO SPINGS, Colo. (AP) — The United States finished off a series of romps in the FIBA Americas Under-18 championships Tuesday night, beating Canada 113-79 for the gold medal.

The Americans used a well-rounded offense in which five players scored in double digits. Justise Winslow of Houston had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the United States. Winslow is headed to Duke.

Second place is Canada’s best showing at the tournament. Dillon Brooks led Canada with 27 points.