HOOPS: Summitt back at practice

Pat Summitt is glad to be back at practice with her Tennessee squad after revealing during the offseason that she’s been diagnosed with dementia. “That’s what I want to talk about, basketball, not dementia,” a fully-engaged Summitt said yesterday after the Lady Volunteers’ first practice of the 2011-12 season.

Summitt, 59, revealed to her team and the rest of the world in August that she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type, over the summer.

* Seimone Augustus scored 36 points to lead Minnesota’s second-half surge, and the Lynx moved within one win of their first WNBA title by beating the Atlanta Dream 101-95 in Game 2 of the league championship series at Minneapolis. Game 3 in the best-of-five matchup is set for tomorrow night in Atlanta.

* Brittney Griner scored 16 of her 22 points in the second half in the U.S.’ 80-76 loss to Ros Casares Valencia (Spain). Renee Montgomery and Sophia Young each added 12 points for the U.S.

* Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea and Miami Heat point guard Carlos Arroyo will play for Puerto Rico at this month’s Pan American Games.

HOCKEY: Crosby skates but waits

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby skated with the team yesterday, but still doesn’t know when he will be able to play in a game. The star center has been sidelined since Jan. 5 because of post-concussion symptoms. Crosby hasn’t been cleared for contact in practice and will miss at least the first few games of the regular season, which opens tonight.

* Researchers studying the brain of seven-time All-Star Rick Martin found damage consistent with the trauma they found in other former NHL players. The difference is Martin wasn’t a fighter. Martin is the first non-enforcer who has been diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy by researchers at a Boston University brain bank. Martin died of a heart attack at the age of 59 in March.

BLOTTER: Miles facing gun rap

Prosecutors filed a felony weapons charge of unlawful use of a weapon, carrying a maximum four years in jail, against former NBA player Darius Miles for allegedly trying to take a loaded handgun through security at a St. Louis airport two months ago.

* Olympic gymnastics champion Paul Hamm pleaded not guilty to assault and two other misdemeanor charges in Ohio. He is accused of kicking a taxi driver in suburban Columbus, damaging a cab window and refusing to pay a $23 fare.

* Former Syracuse University linebacker Malcolm Cater was sentenced to one to three years in state prison for a burglary spree on campus at the end of the regular season last year.

ETC.: McCarver out two games

Fox analyst Tim McCarver will miss the first two games of the ALCS because of a medical procedure and will be replaced by former Red Sox manager Terry Francona. The network said McCarver would have a “minor heart-related procedure” later this week.

* Andy Murray overcame an early break in the third set to beat Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 and reach the second round of the Japan Open in Tokyo.

* Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who lost his starting job after two games and then had season-ending shoulder surgery, plans to transfer.