Hockey

Goalie Jon Horrell is returning to play for the Wichita Thunder. General manager Joel Lomurno has expressed the need for an additional goalie, given Tim Boron's uncertain status.

A late-season addition in 2006-07, Horrell was impressive, going 3-1-1 with a 2.41 goals-against average. The next season he was 3-19-1 with a 4.23 goals against. Horrell was 12-4-2 for Bossier-Shreveport last season. This year, he was released by the Gwinnett Gladiators after playing one game.

Basketball

The Newman men improved to 2-0 with a 77-50 victory over Bethel on Wednesday. Chip Steven scored a game-high 16 points for Newman, Keaton Schultz had 12 and Jake Darby added 11. Brody Grove scored 12 for Bethel.

* The Butler men beat Independence 84-69. DuShawn Brooks led the Grizzlies with 17 points and Anthony Cousin had 16.... The Independence women beat Butler 82-63 behind 24 points from Sadie Webb. Abby Fawcett scored 28 for Butler.

Soccer

France qualified for its fourth consecutive World Cup when officials missed an obvious hand ball by Thierry Henry that led to William Gallas' overtime goal in a 1-1 tie against Ireland on Wednesday night.

"He almost caught it and walked into the net with it," said Robbie Keane, who had put the Irish ahead in the 33rd minute.

Soccer does not allow officials to use video replay, although the assistant referees can point out infractions to the referee.

"I will be honest, it was a hand ball. But I'm not the ref," Henry said. "I played it. The ref allowed it. That's a question you should ask him."

Greece, Slovenia, Portugal, Algeria and Uruguay also advanced to next year's tournament on the final day of qualifying, completing the field for next year's tournament in South Africa.

The 32 nations will be drawn into eight groups on Dec. 4 in Cape Town, and the first World Cup on the African continent opens June 11.

Volleyball

Eighth-ranked Iowa State swept Kansas 25-17, 25-20, 25-20 in Ames, Iowa. Paige Mazour and Allison Mayfield each had 10 kills for KU.

* Pittsburg State senior outside hitter Pamela Cartagena was chosen MIAA player of the year. Cartagena and Emporia State's Erica Shepard were the only unanimous selections on the all-conference team. ESU and PSU will play at 5 p.m. today in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in Warrensburg, Mo.; Washburn will play Nebraska-Omaha.

Football

The Oakland Raiders benched former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell, handing the starting quarterback job to journeyman Bruce Gradkowski. Coach Tom Cable made the announcement of the change following practice as the Raiders (2-7) prepare to play the Cincinnati Bengals. Cable said this was not a temporary move, that his plan is to stick with Gradkowski. Russell has completed 46.8 percent of his passes this season, with nine interceptions and five lost fumbles and the second worst passer rating in the league, 47.7.

Track and field

Gender tests on South African world champion Caster Semenya have not been completed, the International Association of Athletics Federations said. The IAAF had been expected to announce its findings on Friday, but instead said it would not discuss her medical tests. The 18-year-old Semenya won the women's 800-meter world title in August in a season's best 1 minute, 55.45 seconds, but her accomplishment was overshadowed by gender-test revelations.

Golf

Jiyai Shin can become the first rookie in more than three decades to win the Player of the Year award with a strong performance at the LPGA Tour Championship, which begins today outside of Houston. The 21-year-old Korean will face a star-packed field at The Houstonian Country Club, where the $225,000 first prize would help her end Lorena Ochoa's reign over the women's tour. Ochoa has been the player of the year the past three seasons.