BASKETBALL

Rift may widen between Hawks, civil rights leaders

A scheduled meeting between Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin and Atlanta civil rights leaders was canceled, leading one of the leaders to say his community was greatly offended.

The Rev. Markel Hutchins announced Wednesday’s meeting was called off “at the last minute.” He later said he received a call from Hawks spokesman Garin Narain on Tuesday night asking that it be postponed.

Civil rights leaders asked for the meeting to discuss what Hutchins describes as the team’s disrespect for people of color. The request followed racially charged comments by Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson and General Manager Danny Ferry.

• The Golden State Warriors signed free-agent guard Leandro Barbosa to a contract.

Barbosa played in 20 games for Phoenix last season, averaging 7.5 points.

WORLD CUP: France upset Spain 65-52 in front of its stunned fans in the quarterfinals at Madrid, and will face Serbia in the semifinals on Friday.

HOCKEY

NHL: Center Saku Koivu, who was the first European-born player to serve as captain of the Montreal Canadiens and also overcame cancer during his career, announced his retirement after 18 NHL seasons, the last five with Anaheim.

• Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau agreed to a two-year contract extension.

TENNIS

TASHKENT OPEN: Defending champion Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia endured 11 double faults and unrelenting pressure on serve to beat 2010 champ Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals in Uzbekistan.

Jovanovski next runs into Urszula Radwanska, the Pole who beat fifth-seeded Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-3, 6-3.

CYCLING

SPANISH VUELTA: John Degenkolb of Germany sprinted to win the 17th stage in A Coruna, Spain, while Alberto Contador maintained the red leader’s jersey with four days to go.

GOLF

U.S. MID-AMATEUR: Scott Harvey and Brad Nurski have reached the championship match in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The winner earns a spot in the 2015 Masters.

Harvey, 36, of Greensboro, North Carolina, won his quarterfinal match, 7 and 6, over Denver Haddix of Lexington, Kentucky.

Harvey had a tougher time in the semis. He won five straight holes for a 3-and-2 win over 2005 Mid-Am champ Kevin Marsh.

PREP SCHOOLS

FIELD HOCKEY: Julia Mini converted a penalty stroke 56 seconds into overtime to lift Berwick Academy to a 1-0 victory over Pingree in an Eastern Independent League opener at South Berwick.

GIRLS’ SOCCER: Kat Reid scored in the sixth minute and Berwick Academy beat Cushing Academy 1-0 at Ashburnham, Massachusetts.

BOYS’ SOCCER: Liam Cusack and Harry Copeland scored to lift Pingree to a 2-0 win over host Berwick Academy in an Eastern Independent League opener.

– From staff and news services