Weekday Morning Sports – Wednesday 12/10/14

Sports Radio 1400 WSJM @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Wednesday, December 10, 2014

MLB – AP source: Lester, Cubs agree to $155M deal
A person familiar with the negotiations says pitcher Jon Lester has agreed to a $155 million, six-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the agreement had not been announced. The deal contains an option for 2021 that, if it becomes guaranteed, would make the deal worth $170 million over seven seasons.

MLB – White Sox making moves at winter meetings
The Chicago White Sox are making the biggest moves at the winter meetings, trying to regain relevance in the AL Central. Hours after reaching a $46 million, four-year deal with closer David Robertson, Chicago acquired starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija from the Oakland Athletics as part of a six-player trade. In Tuesday’s other significant swap, the Arizona Diamondbacks sent All-Star catcher Miguel Montero, who is owed $40 million over the next three seasons, to the Chicago Cubs for a pair of prospects. Coming off consecutive playoff appearances that followed a 20-year drought, the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a $39 million, three-year deal to keep left-hander Francisco Liriano. The deals for Robertson and Liriano were disclosed by people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because they had not been announced.

NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Chicago Blackhawks 3, New Jersey Devils 2 – Shootout

Blackhawks 3, Devils 2 – SO – Blackhawks win 7th straight with SO victory
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane scored in a shootout, and the Chicago Blackhawks earned their seventh straight victory with a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. Bryan Bickell and Duncan Keith had goals in regulation for Chicago, whose winning streak matches the NHL high for this season. Scott Darling made 22 saves. The loss spoiled the first NHL start for Devils goalie Keith Kincaid, who made 37 saves, but was no match for the Chicago stars in the shootout. Jordin Tootoo and Stephen Gionta scored for New Jersey. and Steve Bernier added two assists for the Devils, who were trying for back to back wins.

Tonight
Toronto Maple Leafs at Detroit Red Wings, 8:00 p.m.

NHL – Commissioner: No relocation plans for any NHL team
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is playing down the possibility of relocating struggling franchises in Arizona and Florida. One day after putting the brakes on the prospect of expansion, Bettman reaffirmed Panthers owner Vinny Viola’s commitment to South Florida. There had been reports that Panthers ownership was trying to position the franchise for a move either to Quebec City or Las Vegas, two locales actively pursuing a hockey team. Bettman says Tuesday that “there’s nothing imminent that’s happening.” Deputy commissioner Bill Daly dismissed the idea altogether, saying Arizona and Florida are not moving.

NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Portland Trail Blazers 98, Detroit Pistons 86

Blazers 98, Pistons 86 – Blazers win fifth straight, Pistons’ skid hits 13
LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Wesley Matthews scored 19 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers picked up their fifth straight victory with a 98-86 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. Detroit lost its 13th in a row, one short of the franchise record set in 1979-80 and tied in 1993-94. Those were both aging teams, with the second group marking the end of the Bad Boys era at the Palace. The current Pistons haven’t had a winning season or won a playoff game in seven years. Greg Monroe had 22 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, which only got 40 points from its starting lineup.

Tonight
Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.

NCAA Basketball – Men’s
Last Night
Eastern Michigan 45, Michigan 42
(25) Notre Dame 93, Mount St. Mary’s 67

EMU 45, Michigan 42 – Eastern Michigan beats Michigan 45-42
Eastern Michigan, got 11 points from Jordan Price, and used strong rebounding and a slow shooting night from Michigan to hand the Wolverines their second upset loss at home in four days, beating the crosstown foe 45-42 on Tuesday night. Caris LeVert scored seven of his 10 points in the second half, but missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game with 22 seconds to go. Zak Irvin finished with 10, after missing all four of his first-half shots. Derrick Walton added nine, and the Wolverines shot just 32.6 percent from the field. The Wolverines (6-3) are left reeling. After beating Syracuse 68-65 last Tuesday, they have dropped two straight to New Jersey Institute of Technology and Eastern Michigan.

Notre Dame 93, Mt. St. Mary’s 67 – Vasturia leads Irish in rout of Mount St. Mary’s
Steve Vasturia scored a career-high 19 points to lead No. 25 Notre Dame to a 93-67 win over Mount St. Mary’s yesterday. The Irish used a 30-4 first half run to turn a four-point contest into a blowout before halftime. Chris Martin finished with 19 points for the Mountaineers.

NCAA Basketball – Big Ten tournament at MSG in 2018
The Big Ten keeps moving eastward. Commissioner Jim Delaney said Tuesday the men’s basketball tournament will be played at Madison Square Garden in 2018. Delaney says league play will start in December during the 2017-2018 season_ earlier than usual _ to accommodate the Garden. The arena has a long-term deal with the Big East for its men’s basketball tournament. That means there will be a week between the Big Ten championship and the NCAA tournament’s Selection Sunday. The Big Ten tournament will be in Chicago in 2015, Indianapolis in 2016 and Washington in 2017.

NCAA Basketball – Women’s
Last Night
Princeton 85, Michigan 55
Eastern Michigan 88, Madonna University 68

Tonight
(5) Notre Dame at (25) Depaul, 9:15 p.m.

NCAA Football – Michigan’s Funchess declares for NFL draft
Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess has declared for the 2015 NFL draft. The junior had 62 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns this season. Funchess had 126 receptions for 1,715 yards and 15 touchdowns in 37 career games at Michigan.

NFL – Newton recovering after crash
A Carolina Panthers spokesman says quarterback Cam Newton will remain hospitalized overnight after suffering fractures to his lower back in a two-car crash near the team’s stadium early Tuesday morning. Spokesman Charlie Dayton says Newton was in fair condition, had no other internal injuries and would not need surgery. The injury is similar to what Dallas quarterback Tony Romo has been playing through, but Dayton said it was unclear if Newton would be able to practice or play Sunday against the Buccaneers.

NFL – Manziel to start
Rookie Johnny Manziel will make the first start of his NFL career when the Browns take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Cleveland on Sunday. Manziel gets the nod over Brian Hoyer, who has led the Browns to a 7-6 record but has played poorly the last five games. Manziel has been on the field for just 18 plays this season, including a relief role in which he completed 5 of 8 passes and scored on a 10-yard touchdown run against Buffalo.

Minor League Hockey
Tonight

AHL – American Hockey League
Lake Erie at Grand Rapids, 7:00 p.m.

ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
Gwinnett at Kalamazoo, 7:00 p.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
St. Joseph 68, Coloma 49
St. Joe opened the season with a 68-49 non-conference win over Coloma. The Bears went on a 12-0 run to start the game and led by as many as 24. Mac Shimulunas led St. Joe with a game high 27 points. The Comets got 21 points from Auston Rushing.

Lakeshore 63, South Haven 25
Rubin Conway led three Lakeshore players in double figures with 19 points as the Lancers defeated South Haven 63-25. Braden Burke added 14 points and Jake Bushu had 13. Alec Washegisic and Deon Cooper had 5 points each to lead the Rams.

New Buffalo 76, Berrien Springs 67
Jarek Hotwagner had a game high 28 points and Marques Artz scored 20 points to lead New Buffalo to a 76-67 win over Berrien Springs. Bo Taylor led the Shamrocks with 20 points.

Eau Claire 48, Watervliet 46
With the game tied at 46, Eau Claire connected on 2 free throws with 0.2 seconds left to pull out a 48-46 win over Watervliet. Tarontae Townsend had 11 points to lead the Beavers. Bradley Alden had a game high 15 for Watervliet.

Other Scores
Lake Michigan Catholic 68, Grace Christian 11
Southfield Bradford Academy 59, Dream Academy 26
Buchanan 58, White Pigeon 44
Bridgman 53, Bangor 42
Brandywine 56, Hartford 44
Dowagiac 98, Cassopolis 73
Paw Paw 67, Mattawan 60
Saugatuck 46, Wyoming Lee 31
Vicksburg 53, Schoolcraft 41
Hamilton 51, Allegan 18
Jackson 55, Battle Creek Central 53
Kalamazoo Central 74, Portage Central 35
Kalamazoo Hackett 72, Gobles 45
Otsego 53, Holland Christian 48
Plainwell 64, Portage Northern 58
Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 70, Fennville 69
Battle Creek Harper Creek 82, Covert 55
Coldwater 64, Battle Creek Lakeview 58

Girls Basketball
South Bend St. Joseph 58, Lakeshore 48
Lakeshore falls to 2-1 on the season after a 58-48 loss to South Bend St. Joseph. Sarah Dubbert had 14 points to lead Lakeshore in the loss.

St. Joseph 55, Coloma 10
St. Joe improves to 3-0 on the season after a 55-10 blowout at Coloma. Shelby Madison had a game high 15 points to lead the Lady Bears who led 30-3 at the half.

Watervliet 45, Marcellus 33
Lexi Kieft had 13 points to lead Watervliet in a 45-33 win over Marcellus

Michigan Lutheran 70, Eau Claire 14
Emily Witkowski had a game best 17 points as Michigan Lutheran defeated Eau Claire 70-14. Erika Rosenbaum added 12 points and Olivia Gallagher chipped in 10 points for the Titans.

Other Scores
Kalamazo Hackett 48, New Buffalo 39
Niles 56, Dowagiac 22
Buchanan 45, Berrien Springs 27
Gobles 70, Bloomingdale 19
Hamilton 36, Allegan 15
Kalamazoo Central 80, Portage Central 39
Mattawan 53, Paw Paw 45
Plainwell 47, Portage Northern 43
Gull Lake 55, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg 50
White Pigeon 37, Constantine 35
Holland Christian 47, Otsego 39
Comstock 57, South Haven 44
Battle Creek Central 34, Battle Creek Harper Creek 32
Battle Creek Lakeview 55, Coldwater 34
Decatur 45, Hartford 41
Fennville 48, Martin 30
Lawrence 33, Lawton 28