Blackhawks fall to Vegas; St. Joe beats Lakeshore for Schaffer’s 200th win – Friday Morning Sports Update

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NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Vegas Golden Knights 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1

Chicago Blackhawks’ Andreas Athanasiou (89) pressures Vegas Golden Knights’ Brayden Pachal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Golden Knights 4, Blackhawks 1 – Smith scores twice, Golden Knights top Blackhawks 4-1
Reilly Smith scored twice and rookie Logan Thompson made 23 saves to lead the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Smith got a short-handed goal in the second period while the last-place Blackhawks were using five forwards on their top power-play unit. He capped the scoring with an empty-netter for his 14th goal. Chandler Stephenson scored a power-play goal in the second for Vegas, and Phil Kessel tipped one home in the third. The Blackhawks have scored a total of five goals during a five-game slide. Chicago is 1-12-1 in its last 14.

Tonight
Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday
Ottawa at Detroit, 1:00 p.m.

Sunday
NY Rangers at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

NFL – National Football League – Week 15
Last Night
San Francisco 49ers 21, Seattle Seahawks 13

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) runs against Seattle Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton (57) during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

49ers 21, Seahawks 13 – Purdy, 49ers topple Seahawks 21-13, win NFC West
Rookie Brock Purdy a pair of touchdown passes to George Kittle, and the San Francisco 49ers won their first NFC West title since 2019, beating the Seattle Seahawks 21-13. Despite using their third starting quarterback this season, the 49ers continued to show they might be the class of the NFC alongside Philadelphia. San Francisco won its seventh straight, using its stifling defense to frustrate Seattle into countless mistakes. Playing on the road for the first time in his career, Purdy connected on his first 11 pass attempts. He finished 17 of 26 for 217 yards. Seattle lost for the fourth time in five games and its playoff hopes took another hit.

Saturday
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m.

Sunday
Detroit Lions at New York Jets, 1:00 p.m.            Rock 107 WIRX 12:00
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, 1:00 p.m.

NFL – Bears QB Justin Fields takes aim at 1,000-yard rushing mark
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields grew up as a fan of Michael Vick. He’s closing in on a feat accomplished only by Vick and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. Fields needs 95 yards rushing to become the third NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. The Bears face the Philadelphia Eagles and their intimidating pass rush on Sunday. The Bears have talked about cutting back on planned running plays by Fields. But he’s always a threat to scramble under pressure. His off-script runs have helped the Bears rank sixth in the NFL in third-down conversion rate.

NFL – Jets QB White has no doubt he’ll start Sunday vs. Lions
There’s no doubt in Mike White’s mind he’ll start at quarterback for the New York Jets on Sunday. White said Thursday he’s continuing to prepare to start against Detroit. He has said all week that is his mindset. White has been limited at practice this week after he was twice knocked from the Jets’ loss to the Bills in Buffalo last Sunday by big hits. He finished the game, but left the stadium in an ambulance to be examined at a hospital. White acknowledged he’ll likely wear some sort of protection around his midsection against Detroit.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Sacramento Kings at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m.
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m.
New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.

Sunday
New York at Indiana, 5:00 p.m.
Brooklyn at Detroit, 6:00 p.m.
Chicago at Minnesota, 7:00 p.m.

NCAAFB – College Football
Today
FBS Bowls
Miami (OH) vs. UAB, 11:30 a.m.                                    HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, Nassau
UTSA vs. Troy, 3:00 p.m.                                         Duluth Trading Cure Bowl, Orlando

Division III National Championship – Stagg Bowl
Mount Union vs. North Central, 7:00 p.m.                     Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD

Saturday
FBS Bowls
Cincinnati vs. Louisville, 11:00 a.m.                              Wasabi Fenway Bowl, Boston
Florida vs. (14) Oregon State, 2:30 p.m.                  SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, Las Vegas
Washington State vs. Fresno State, 3:30 p.m.          Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel, Los Angeles
Rice vs. Southern Miss, 5:45 p.m.                            LendingTree Bowl, Mobile, AL
SMU vs. BYU, 7:30 p.m.                                           New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque, NM
North Texas vs. Boise State, 9:15 p.m.                     Frisco Bowl Presented by SERVPRO, Frisco, TX

Division II National Championship
Ferris State vs. Colorado Mines, 1:00 p.m.                    McKinney ISD Stadium, McKinney, TX

NCAAFB – Coach Brees: Purdue brings back QB to assist at bowl game
Former Purdue quarterback Drew Brees is returning to his alma mater as a coach for the Jan. 2 Citrus Bowl game against No. 17 LSU. The retired NFL star will join new Purdue coach Ryan Walters as he settles into his new job. Walters says he grew up dreaming about following Brees’ career trajectory. Now the two will get acquainted as Brees moves back to Indiana for at least the next few weeks. Walters won’t be coaching the Boilermakers for the bowl game. That task falls to interim coach Brian Brohm. The Boilermakers are short-handed after Brian’s brother, Jeff, left for Louisville and took four assistants with him.

NCAAMBKB – Men’s College Basketball
Saturday
Lipscomb at Michigan, 4:00 p.m.                          News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 3:30

Sunday
Western Michigan at Iowa State, 1:00 p.m.
Detroit Mercy at Eastern Michigan, 3:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Missouri State, 6:00 p.m.
Notre Dame at Georgia, 5:30 p.m.

NCAAWBKB – Women’s College Basketball
Saturday
Appalachian State at (19) Michigan, 12:00 p.m.
Eastern Michigan at Xavier, 1:00 p.m.
Western Michigan at Chicago State, 2:00 p.m

Sunday
Detroit Mercy at Michigan State, 3:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Eastern Illinois, 3:00 p.m.
(5) Notre Dame at (6) Virginia Tech, 4:00 p.m.

NCAA – Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker to be next NCAA president
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker will be the next president of the NCAA, replacing Mark Emmert as the head of the largest college sports governing body in the country. Baker, a Republican, has been governor of Massachusetts since 2015. He announced earlier this year he would not seek re-election. He will start the job in March 2023. Emmert announced he would step down earlier this year after 12 years of leading the NCAA. Battered by losses in the court and attacks by politicians, the NCAA is going through a sweeping reform, trying to decentralize the way college sports is governed.

NCAA – National labor board to look into rights of USC athletes
The National Labor Relations Board will investigate an unfair labor practice complaint involving the rights of University of Southern California football and basketball players. In February, the National College Players Association filed an unfair labor practice charge against USC, the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA alleging misclassification of college players as “student-athletes” and other violations. The NLRB’s Region 21 in Los Angeles will look into the complaint that covers football and men’s and women’s basketball players at the private school.

MLB – AP sources: Tigers agree to $8.5M contract with RHP Lorenzen
The Detroit Tigers have bolstered their rotation by agreeing to a one-year contract with right-hander Michael Lorenzen, according to a person familiar with the situation. Lorenzen will make $8.5 million and can earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on innings pitched, another person told The Associated Press on Thursday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. Lorenzen was 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts last season with the Los Angeles Angels. Since making his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2015, he is 31-29 with a 4.10 ERA.

MLB – Cubs add to bullpen, agree to deal with Boxberger
The Chicago Cubs have added bullpen help and agreed to a $2.8 million, one-year contract with veteran right-hander Brad Boxberger. The 34-year-old Boxberger was 4-3 with a 2.95 ERA and one save over 70 appearances and 64 innings with Milwaukee last season. An All-Star with Tampa Bay in 2015, he is 31-37 with a 3.44 ERA in 11 seasons with San Diego, the Rays, Arizona, Kansas City, Miami and the Brewers. Chicago relievers had a 4.12 ERA last season. The Cubs finished 74-88 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

ECHL – ECHL Hockey League
Tonight
Kalamazoo Wings at Iowa Heartlanders, 8:05 p.m.

AHL – American Hockey League
Tonight
Hartford Wolfpack at Grand Rapids Griffins, 7:00 p.m.

FIFA – World Cup 2020 – Qatar
Saturday
3rd Place Match
Croatia vs. Morocco, 10:00 a.m.

Sunday
World Cup Finals
France vs. Argentina, 10:00 a.m.

FIFA – Messi carries the weight of Argentina into World Cup final
As Lionel Messi approaches his second and likely last World Cup final the stakes could hardly be higher. The same goes for Argentina after more than 30 years of disappointment since it last won soccer’s ultimate prize. For Messi victory against France at Lusail Stadium on Sunday is a chance to finally get his hands on the one major trophy that has eluded him in his storied career. In doing so he would push ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo who has also never won a World Cup in the long-running rivalry between the two greatest players of their generation.

FIFA – France struck by cold virus ahead of World Cup final
A cold virus has run through the France squad though coach Didier Deschamps expects all his players to be healthy for the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday. Defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot were isolated this week and rested for the 2-0 win over Morocco in the semifinals. Deschamps says “it’s flu season now, and in that sense, we have to be careful.” The coach says the players’ immune systems are run down by the physical toll of World Cup games. He says air conditioning that’s routine in Qatar and at stadiums could also be having an effect.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
SMAC
St. Joseph 58, Lakeshore 51

  • St. Joe coach Gregg Schaffer picked up his 200th win as the Bears defeated Lakeshore 58-51 on Thursday.  St. Joe put three starters in double figures as Chase Sanders had 19, including three 3-pointers and was 6 of 7 from the free throw line.  Joron Brown scored 15 and Matt Lanier had 11.   The Bears improve to 2-2 on the season.  Lakeshore was led by JJ Frakes game high 21 points, and 16 points from Jack Carlisle, the Lancers fall to 0-3 on the season.

Mattawan 66, Portage Central 56
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 57, Portage Northern 54
Battle Creek Lakeview 51, Battle Creek Central 50
Kalamazoo Central 64, Gull Lake 43

Lakeland
Benton Harbor 85, Dowagiac 33

Girls Basketball
BCS
Michigan Lutheran 37, New Buffalo 6
River Valley 44, Our Lady of the Lake 24

  • River Valley had three starters in double figures in a 44-24 win over Our Lady of the Lake, Kayanna Lance led the Mustangs with a game high 16 points, while Lexie McCarty scored 15 points, and Nat Heckathorn added 11. Claire Jollay scored 11 to lead the Lakers.

Lakeland
Benton Harbor 55, Dowagiac 37
Buchanan 49, Brandywine 45 – OT

Southwest 10
Bloomingdale 54, Comstock 28
Marcellus 35, Centreville 32
Hartford 47, Decatur 26
Mendon 28, White Pigeon 21

Non-Conference
Cassopolis 39, Berrien Springs 29

  • Grace Constable had 11 points for the Shamrocks in the loss.

Lawrence 36, Bangor 28

Friday
Boys Basketball
Wolverine
Sturgis at Niles, 7:15 p.m.
Otsego at Edwardsburg, 7:15 p.m.
Plainwell at Paw Paw, 7:15 p.m.
Vicksburg at Three Rivers, 7:15 p.m.

Lakeland
Brandywine at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m.

BCS
River Valley at Our Lady of the Lake, 7:00 p.m.
Michigan Lutheran at New Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Countryside at Covert, 6:00 p.m.
Eau Claire at Howardsville Christian, 7:30 p.m.

SAC
South Haven at Watervliet, 7:00 p.m.
Coloma at Fennville, 7:30 p.m.
Gobles at Martin, 7:30 p.m.
Schoolcraft at Lawton, 7:30 p.m.
Delton-Kellogg at Black River, 7:30 p.m.
Galesburg-Augusta at Saugatuck, 7:30 p.m.
Parchment at Constantine, 7:30 p.m.
Kal. Hackett at Kal. Christian, 7:30 p.m.

Southwest 10
Bloomingdale at Comstock, 7:30 p.m.
Decatur at Hartford, 7:30 p.m.
Centreville at Marcellus, 7:30 p.m.
Mendon at White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m.

Non-Conference
Berrien Springs at Cassopolis, 7:00 p.m.
Lawrence at Bangor, 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball
SMAC
Lakeshore at St. Joseph, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Central at Mattawan, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Northern at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 7:00 p.m.
B.C. Lakeview at Battle Creek Central, 7:00 p.m.
Gull Lake at Kalamazoo Central, 7:00 p.m.

Wolverine
Sturgis at Niles, 6:00 p.m.
Otsego at Edwardsburg, 6:00 p.m.
Plainwell at Paw Paw, 6:00 p.m.
Vicksburg at Three Rivers, 6:00 p.m.

SAC
Allegan at Bridgman, 6:00 p.m.
Coloma at Fennville, 6:00 p.m.
Gobles at Martin, 6:00 p.m.
Schoolcraft at Lawton, 6:00 p.m.
Delton-Kellogg at Black River, 6:00 p.m.
Galesburg-Augusta at Saugatuck, 6:00 p.m.
Parchment at Constantine, 6:00 p.m.
Kal. Hackett at Kal. Christian, 6:00 p.m.

Non-Conference
Our Lady of the Lake at Berrien Springs, 7:00 p.m.
Eau Claire at Howardsville Christian, 6:00 p.m.