12/4/24 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Wednesday
4 December 2024 Sports
From Wayne Mausser:
The Packers held their last full practice Tuesday in preparation for Thursday night’s matchup in Detroit against the Lions.
The Packers are hoping to step up their rush defense against the Lions whose rushing attack is led by the speedy Jahmyr Gibbs David Montgomery and the physical David Montgomery.
Defending the run has been one of the Green Bay Packers’ weaknesses over the last several years.
Not so much lately, though.
Green Bay limited San Francisco to 16 carries for 44 yards in a 38-10 rout of the 49ers on Nov. 24, with two-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey gaining 31 yards on 11 attempts. Four nights later, the Packers beat Miami 30-17 by holding the Dolphins to 39 yards on 14 carries.
It was the first time since 1995 — and only the second time since 1950 — that the Packers had allowed fewer than 45 yards rushing in back-to-back games within the same season
he Lions were the first team since the 1975 Miami Dolphins to rush for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of their first 11 games. The streak ended on Thanksgiving when the Lions rushed for 194 yards but didn’t have a touchdown on the ground in a 23-20 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay outrushed Detroit 138-124 in the Packers’ 24-14 loss to the Lions on Nov. 3 at Lambeau Field. Montgomery rushed for 73 yards while Gibbs ran for 65 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs has 973 yards this season, which ranks fourth in the NFL.
Montgomery ran for a combined 192 yards and four touchdowns in the Lions’ two games against the Packers last season. Green Bay’s run defense has come a long way since.
The Packers have allowed 106.6 yards rushing per game this season, which ranks eighth in the league. The Packers haven’t closed a season in the top 10 in run defense since 2016 and have finished outside the top 20 in four of the last six years, including 26th in 2022 and 28th in 2023.
Cornerback Corey Balentine (knee) and linebacker Edgerin Cooper (hamstring) did not practice on Tuesday. The Lions listed four players who did not participate.
lVadislav Goldin scored a career-high 24 points – including three straight baskets inside down the stretch – and Michigan defeated No. 11 Wisconsin 67-64 on Tuesday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Michigan (7-1, 1-0) won its sixth straight and handed Wisconsin (8-1, 0-1) its first loss of the season.
Goldin, a 7-foot-1 graduate student who followed new Michigan coach Dusty May from Florida Atlantic, scored 17 points after halftime and put the Wolverines ahead for good on a layup with 1:35 left.
Danny Wolf added 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists, five blocks and three steals for Michigan. John Tonje scored 18 and John Blackwell 16 for Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit missed three shots in the last 73 seconds that would have tied the game or put the Badgers ahead.
Michigan led 67-64 when Goldin missed the front end of a one-and-one with 2.6 seconds left. Tonje got about one-third of the way up the court before firing a desperation shot that bounced off the back rim at the buzzer.
Both teams play again Saturday, with Michigan hosting Iowa, and Wisconsin visiting No. 5 Marquette.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points and Damian Lillard had 27, lifting the surging Milwaukee Bucks to a 128-107 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night and into the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Milwaukee’s Gary Trent Jr. scored 16 points, Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince each scored 14 and A.J. Green added 11.
The Bucks, who won East Group B with a 4-0 record, have won seven straight and nine of 10.
Detroit was eliminated from the NBA Cup, dropping to 3-1 in the tournament. Cade Cunningham scored 23 points, Tobias Harris had 16, Tim Hardaway scored 15 and Jalen Duren added 11 for the Pistons.
The Bucks host Atlanta on Wednesday night.
High School Boys Basketball (Tues.)
Lake Country Lutheran 69, Kettle Moraine Lutheran 53
Plymouth 87, Menasha 74
Green Bay Preble 96, Green Bay East 41
Green Bay West 79, Luxemburg-Casco 64
Wausau East 69, New London 51
Seymour 89, Denmark 69
Pulaski 72, Shawano 47
Fox Valley Lutheran 56, Xavier 54
Cedar Grove-Belgium 60, North Fond du Lac 47
Sheboygan Lutheran 73, Winnebago Lutheran 63
Oshkosh North 74, Manitowoc Lincoln 53
Stevens Point 72, Kimberly 63
Appleton East 39, Marshfield 37
Brookfield East 62, Fond du Lac 57
Appleton West 79, Wautoma 44
Appleton North 77, Bay Port 72
Wrightstown 65, Kewaunee 64
Peshtigo 69, Marinette 65
Adams-Friendship 61, St. Ambrose Academy 20
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 81, Mauston 60
Westfield 80, Wild Rose 21
Central Wisconsin Christian 64, Dodgeland 60
Horicon 56, Lourdes Academy 42
Oakfield 60, Hustisford 42
Wayland Academy 58, Valley Christian 42
Fall River 75, Cambria-Friesland 57
Pardeeville 59, Markesan 47
Princeton/Green Lake 53, Montello 45
Randolph 40, Rio 31
Girls:
Westfield 65, Ripon 46-Bryn Carlson led the Tigers with 18 points as Ripon drops to 1-2 on the season. Westfield had three players in double figures led by Haddie Showen’s 30 points as the Pioneers improve to 3-1.
Berlin 48, Kewaskum 35
Kettle Moraine Lutheran 50, Waupun 46
Winneconne 64, Plymouth 38
New London 82, Green Bay Southwest 20
Pulaski 45, Seymour 38
Oostburg 70, Shawano 49
West De Pere 62, Bay Port 57
Campbellsport 52, Mayville 48
Laconia 77, Omro 47
Lomira 52, Winnebago Lutheran 39
St. Mary’s Springs 56, North Fond du Lac 30
Kimberly 54, Appleton East 45
Neenah 75, Appleton North 59
Oshkosh North 53, Appleton West 34
Fond du Lac 56, Kaukauna 49
Hortonville 68, Oshkosh West 46
Clintonville 53, Little Chute 37
Freedom 51, Denmark 47
Fox Valley Lutheran a51, Oconto Falls 31
Luxemburg-Casco 43, Marinette 36
Wrightstown 79, Waupaca 46
Lodi 67, Adams-Friendship 49
Mauston 63, Sparta 39
Wisconsin Dells 46, Sauk Prairie 36
Two men directly involved in the Packers return to prominence are now finalists for the Pro Football Hall Of Fame Class of 2025. Former Head Coach Mike Holmgren and star receiver Sterling Sharpe were named finalists on Tuesday in different categories, but they are competing against each other to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
Holmgren and Sharpe join Ralph Hay (Contributor category), and Maxie Baughan and Jim Tyrer (Seniors category). For the first time, the Finalists from these categories are competing directly against each other under bylaws the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors that were approved earlier this year. Each member of the Selection Committee may vote for only three of the five Finalists. Under the new bylaws, a maximum of three (3) of this year’s Finalists can be elected. If none of the five individuals receives 80% approval, then the one who receives the most support would be elected to the Class of 2025.
Holmgren coached the Packers from 1992-98, with six playoff appearances and a Super Bowl XXXI victory, while losing in Super Bowl XXXII. He then coached in Seattle for 10 seasons, appearing in Super Bowl XL. He also won 2 Super Bowls as an assistant with the 49ers. Among the other Coaching semifinalists that did not make the cut were Tom Coughlin, Mike Shanahan, and George Siefert, all of whom won 2 Super Bowls as a Head Coach, 1 more than Holmgren.
Sharpe made five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro squads during his seven-year career (1988-94) with the Packers, 2 of those honors with Holmgren as his head coach. Sharpe led the NFL in receiving 3 times in his career, which was cut short by a neck injury. His 18 touchdown receptions in his final season are still good for third best in league history. His career totals include 595 receptions for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns. He still ranks 3rd in Packers history in receptions and receiving yards.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 will be announced during the “NFL Honors” show Feb. 6, during Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans. The class will be enshrined in August in Canton.
College Basketball (Tues.)
UW0-Oshkosh 91 Ripon 83
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