4/5/22 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Tuesday
5 April 2022 Sports
Sports for April 5th
Kansas brought its fourth NCAA title back home Monday thanks to a second-half flurry that erased a 16-point deficit and eventually overcame North Carolina 72-69 in an epic battle of power programs.
David McCormack scored the go-ahead bucket from close range with 1:21 left, then another at the 22-second mark to put the Jayhawks ahead by three. North Carolina missed its final four shots, including Caleb Love’s desperation 3 at the buzzer. His heave barely grazed rim after officials ruled that Kansas guard DaJuan Harris Jr., stepped out on an inbounds pass with 4.3 seconds left. The Tar Heels went scoreless over the final 1:41.
After McCormick’s go-ahead bucket, Love’s shot got blocked but North Carolina got an offensive rebound and fed to Armando Bacot under the bucket. But the big man lost his footing and turned it over, then limped off the court, unable to return. That put Brady Manek, not as good a defender, on McCormack, and the Kansas big man backed in Manek for the shot that put the Jayhawks ahead by three.
McCormack and Jalen Wilson led KU with 15 points each. Christian Braun scored 10 of his 12 in the second half and transfer Remy Martin had 11 of his 15 over the final 20 minutes, as the Jayhawks turned what looked like a lost cause into one of the sweetest wins ever. Ochai Agjabi, the team’s lone All-American, finished with 12 points and found breathing room after UNC’s lockdown guard, Leaky Black, got his fourth foul 6 minutes into the second half.
Carolina had scored 16 straight points late in the first half to open a 40-25 advantage at the break, but top-seeded KU (34-6) went on a 31-10 run over the opening 10 minutes of the second to take a six-point lead and set up a fantastic finish. The Jayhawks outscored North Carolina 47-29 in the second half. Ochai Agjabi, the team’s lone All-American, finished with 12 points and found breathing room after UNC’s lockdown guard, Leaky Black, got his fourth foul 6 minutes into the second half.
Bacot had 15 points and 15 rebounds to become the first player to record double-doubles in all six tournament games. He finished the season with 31 double-doubles, but it was not enough. Carolina was trying to join 1985 Villanova as only the second 8 seed to win March Madness. Instead, the Tar Heels (29-10) fell one win short and dropped to 6-6 all-time in title games. This was their record 21st — and possibly most unlikely — trip to the Final Four. They made it to the final by beating Duke in a back-and-forth thriller and sending Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski into retirement.
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz says his confidence hasn’t wavered even during an offseason in which Oklahoma transfer Caleb Williams’ name got mentioned as his potential replacement. Mertz is now working with a new receiving corps and new offensive coordinator as he attempts to gain consistency and live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his arrival. Mertz owns a 13-7 record as Wisconsin’s starting quarterback. Mertz has thrown 16 touchdown passes with four interceptions in the 13 wins. He has thrown 12 interceptions and three touchdown passes in the seven losses.
The Bucks are on the road tonight against the Bulls. Milwaukee is 3-0 against Chicago and will be trying to complete a regular-season sweep of the series. The Bucks are coming off 118-112 loss to the Mavericks on Sunday. Milwaukee (48-30) is tied with Philadelphia for third place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Boston and 2 ½ behind Miami heading into the final week of the regular season.
The Brewers came back from a 5-2 deficit to edge the Rockies 8-7 in Cactus League Baseball on Monday. Omar Narvaez hit his first home run of the spring, a two-run shot in the sixth inning for the Brewers. Milwaukee managed 12 hits. Starter Wily Peralta pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up five runs, all earned, on six hits, striking out five and walking one. Brad Boxberger (1-1) picked up the win and Jandel Gustave registered his first save. Colorado starter Germaiin Marquez went five innings, giving up two runs, both earned, on three hits while striking out eight and walking three. Charlie Blackmon hit a solo homer in the seventh inning for the Rockies. The Brewers (6-9) host the Royals (8-7) this afternoon with the first pitch at 2:10.
The Cleveland Browns filled a major need, signing free agent punter Corey Bojorquez to a two-year contract. Bojorquez spent last season with Green Bay. He averaged 46.5 yards on 53 punts, including a season-best 82 yarder. The 25-year-old also spent three years with Buffalo, so he’s used to the windy conditions he’ll likely face during home games in Cleveland. In 2020, Bojorquez led the NFL with a gross average of 50.8 yards. He’s also had three punts blocked, including one in Green Bay’s playoff loss to San Francisco last season. The Packers signed former Chicago Bears punter Pat O’Donnell last month.
The Wautoma Hornets softball game that was scheduled to be played in Amherst this afternoon, will now be a home game. Game time is 4:30 p.m.
One of the NFL’s all-time leading ground gainers, Frank Gore has let it be known that his days on the gridiron are coming to a close. However, it would seem Gore’s days in the boxing ring are just getting going.
Gore is set to make his professional boxing debut on May 14 in Jackson, Mississippi on a Gamebred Promotions card, the promotion announced Monday. An opponent is yet to be announced for Gore, who is 38, but will turn 39 on fight night, as it also happens to be his birthday. The event will be streamed on FITE. This past week, Gore announced his intentions to sign a one-day deal with the San Francisco 49ers and then retire. Gore is a 16-season NFL veteran who’s played for five teams and churned out 16,000 yards rushing in his career, which is third all time and trails only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton in the league history books.
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