Hometown Broadcasting Sports Thursday 12/9/21
9 December 2021 Sports
Sports for December 9th
Wisconsin is just beginning its Big Ten schedule, but already is establishing a reputation as a team that’s never out of a game — no matter how far it falls behind.
The 22nd-ranked Badgers won the Maui Invitational last month by erasing double-digit deficits in victories over Texas A&M and Saint Mary’s. They dug themselves an even deeper hole Wednesday night before rallying from 22 points down to beat Indiana 64-59 in their conference opener.
Johnny Davis scored 23 points and made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:18 left to help Wisconsin (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) win its sixth straight and match its biggest second-half comeback in school history.
The Badgers trailed 42-20 late in the first half and still trailed by 18 with less than 18 minutes left. Wisconsin also trailed by 18 in the second half of an 82-81 victory over Ohio State on Jan. 5, 1976. Wisconsin doesn’t keep track of its largest overall comebacks in school history, but this was the biggest deficit any Division I team has overcome in a victory this season. The stunning rally continued Wisconsin’s home domination of this series.
Wisconsin (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) has won 19 straight home games over Indiana, which hasn’t beaten the Badgers in Madison since a 69-59 decision on Jan. 25, 1998, the opening season of the Kohl Center. Indiana (7-2, 1-1) nearly ended the streak last year, but fell 80-73 at Wisconsin in double overtime. This loss proved even more painful.
Wisconsin had the game’s final 11 points and outscored Indiana 16-2 over the last 5 minutes, 50 seconds. Race Thompson had 12 points and Xavier Johnson 10 to lead Indiana, which missed 14 of its last 15 shots. The Hoosiers still led 59-57 when Davison forced a steal with 1:41 left. On the Badgers’ ensuing possession, center Chris Vogt passed to Davis, whose corner 3-pointer put Wisconsin ahead.
Wisconsin is at No. 21 Ohio State on Saturday.
Caleb Martin scored a career-high 28 points and the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-104 on Wednesday night. Starting for the injured Jimmy Butler, Martin shot 9 of 12 from the field, including 6 for 8 on 3-pointers, as the Heat tied a franchise record with 22 3s against the defending NBA champions. Kyle Lowry had 22 points and 13 assists and Max Strus scored all 16 of his points in the fourth quarter for Miami, which snapped a three-game home losing streak. Jrue Holiday scored 27 points and Khris Middleton finished with 20 for the Bucks. Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 15 points as Miami limited him to 4-of-13 shooting from the field. The Heat took the lead for good with nine straight points in the final 55 seconds of the third. Consecutive 3-pointers from Lowry and P.J. Tucker’s 3 at the buzzer put Miami ahead 83-77. Tucker finished with 13 points. Butler, the Heat’s leading scorer, aggravated an injury in Monday’s loss to Memphis. He had missed the previous four games because of a bruised tailbone. The Bucks continue their four-game road trip Friday at Houston.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says the off week has assisted him in his recovery from a toe injury, though it’s still painful enough to keep the reigning MVP from practicing. Rodgers wasn’t on the practice field Wednesday as the Packers (9-3) prepared for their Sunday night home game with the Chicago Bears (4-8). He practiced just once before a Nov. 21 loss at Minnesota and didn’t practice at all before a Nov. 28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Rodgers says he fractured his pinky toe while working out at home during his quarantine last month after testing positive for COVID-19. But the lack of practice time due to the injury hasn’t limited his effectiveness on Sundays.
The Packers’ quarterback depth has taken another hit this week with backup Jordan Love going on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The only other quarterback on the roster is Kurt Benkert, though the Packers signed Danny Etling to the practice squad Tuesday. Rodgers didn’t know how many more weeks he might have to deal with limited practice time due to the injury, though he said the extra rest he got during the off week should help in that regard.
The Bears often have brought out the best in Rodgers, who yelled “I still own you!” to the Soldier Field crowd after his fourth-quarter touchdown run in a 24-14 victory at Chicago on Oct. 17. Green Bay has gone 22-5 against the Bears in games that Rodgers has started. One of those five losses came when an injury knocked him out of the game after the Packers’ opening series.
CB Jaire Alexander returned to practice Wednesday as the 2020 Pro Bowl selection gets closer to a return from a shoulder injury that has him on injured reserve. Alexander hasn’t played since Oct. 3rd. Tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and WR Randall Cobb (core) didn’t practice.
In Thursday Night Football Pittsburg plays at Minnesota. The Steelers are 6-5-1 while the Vikings are 5-7. Minnesota lost at Detroit Sunday for the Lions first win of the season while the Steelers hung on at home to beat the Ravens in a must-win game for them.
One of Northeast Wisconsin’s own is now a member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The Brewers selected pitcher Caleb Boushley in the first round of the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft on Wednesday. The right-hander is from Hortonville and attended UW-La Crosse. He was previously with the San Diego Padres organization.
Sports for December 9th
Boys Basketball (Thurs.)
Markesan at Laconia
Saint Mary’s Springs at Oakfield
Randolph at Central Wisconsin Christian
Rio at Horicon
Girls Basketball (Thurs.)
Ripon at Winneconne
Berlin at Waupun
Kewaskum at Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Pittsville at Tri-County
Appleton West at Neenah
Adams-Friendship at Nekoosa
Westfield at Mauston
Wautoma at Wisconsin Dells
Tiger Woods said Wednesday he will play with his 12-year-old son, Charlie, next week in the PNC Championship. The 36-hole event begins Dec. 18 in Orlando and is for major champions and a family member. Last year, Woods and Charlie tied for seventh. It was the last time he played competitively before his Feb. 23 car crash that had him hospitalized and led to months of rehab for his right leg and foot.
Last week, Woods said he had a “long way to go” before he would be ready for PGA Tour golf but acknowledged that “hit-and-giggle” events could work. Woods will be allowed to use a golf cart.
High School Wrestling (Thurs.)
Ripon vs Winneconne-The meet can be heard on AM 1600/93.1 FM, WRPN.
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