Hancock Falls in Hockey Semifinal – Saturday Sports Wrap

Click on the highlights for more details.

High School
The Hancock hockey team lost a hard-fought 2-1 decision to Detroit Country Day in the state tournament semifinals yesterday. After a scoreless opening stanza, Trevor Tchida gave the Bulldogs a brief lead in the second period, with assists from Alex Nordstrom and Austin Salani. The Yellowjackets tied the contest late in the second, netted the game-winner late in the third, and held off a furious Hancock power play flurry in the final two minutes. Country Day outshot the Bulldogs 33-26. Hancock finishes the season with a record of 24-6. Country Day will meet Livonia Churchill for the state title this afternoon.

In Class D boys tournament basketball…
– Dollar Bay-Tamarack City remained unbeaten, and claimed a district title with a 69-46 victory over Ontonagon last night. Jaden Janke led the Blue Bolts with 22 points. Jacob Iacono added 16 points, and Devin Schmitz had 15. Dollar Bay-Tamarack City will face Rapid River in the regional semifinal Monday night at 8:00 at Negaunee.
– Ewen-Trout Creek shut down Wakefield-Marenisco 49-21 to win their district title last night. Jake Witt scored 21 for the Panthers, who will take on Carney-Nadeau Monday at 6:00 in the other regional semifinal at Negaunee.

In Class C boys action, Indian River Inland Lakes won its district title last night, defeating Harbor Springs 70-60. Inland Lakes will face Calumet in the regional semifinal Monday at 7:30 at Marquette. Broadcast coverage will begin around 7:10 on KBear 102.3 and KBear102.com. Iron Mountain will play Westwood in the other regional semifinal.

Finlandia
The Finlandia University baseball team lost both ends of a doubleheader against Hiram College yesterday, 7-6 and 12-1. Joey Krug hit a three-run home run in the first game. The Lions will take on Baruch College from New York City in a doubleheader today in Fort Myers.

The Finlandia softball team had yesterday off, and will continue its Florida schedule today with games against Rutgers-Newark and Marian University.

MTU/NMU
The Michigan Tech women’s basketball team fell to Grand Valley State 75-54 in their opening-round game at the NCAA Division Two tournament in Ashland, Ohio, last night. The Huskies led early, but the Lakers pulled away in the second quarter, and Tech was not able to challenge again. Brenna Heise led MTU with 14 points. The Huskies finish the season with a record of 23-6, and were Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division champions, but lost three of their last four contests.

The MTU hockey team dropped the first game of its best-of-three Western Collegiate Hockey Association semifinal series against Minnesota State 2-1 last night. MSU scored in the first and second periods. The Huskies broke through with a Joel L’Esperance goal midway through the third period, but were unable to force overtime. Devin Kero made 26 saves for Tech. Game two of the series will be played in Mankato tonight.

Northern Michigan University routed 17th-ranked Bowling Green State University 6-1 in the opening match of their WCHA semifinal series last night. The second game of that set will be played tonight in Marquette.

GLHL
The result of the Portage Lake Pioneers’ game against the Marquette Mutineers last night was not reported. The Pioneers host the Monroe Blues tonight.

The Calumet Wolverines ripped the short-handed Blues 15-1 last night. The gives Calumet their first regular-season Great Lakes Hockey League title since 2002. The Wolverines will visit the Eagle River Falcons tonight.

NHL
The Detroit Red Wings lost their sixth straight game last night, falling 3-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Darren Helm and Andreas Athanasiou scored for the Wings. Jared Coreau made 33 saves. Detroit visits the San Jose Sharks Monday night. Pregame coverage begins at 10:10 on 99.3 The Lift.

NBA
The Detroit Pistons snapped their four-game slide with a 99-83 victory over the Chicago Bulls last night. Blake Griffin scored 25 points. The Pistons are off until Tuesday, when they visit the Utah Jazz. Pregame coverage will begin at 8:35 on 99.3 The Lift.

MLB
In spring training baseball, the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets played to a 4-4 tie yesterday. Starting pitcher Michael Fulmer gave up a run on three hits over three innings. JaCoby Jones homered. The Tigers face the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon.

The Tigers have signed a minor-league deal with veteran catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. He’s expected to begin the season at Toledo, but will be available as insurance if James McCann or John Hicks should be injured. Saltalamacchia played for Detroit in the 2016 season. He was out of baseball for much of last season, after he was cut by the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Milwaukee Brewers lost 2-0 to the Oakland Athletics yesterday. Both of Oakland’s runs came in the first inning off Yovani Gallardo, who went on to complete three innings. The Brewers take on the Colorado Rockies this afternoon.

Youth Hockey
At the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Bantam 14U B State Tournament at the Houghton County Arena, yesterday…
– Calumet Auto Pro opened play in Pool A with a 6-4 victory over the Alpena Cougars. Auto Pro will face the Metro Junior Jets this morning at 7:00, and will complete pool play against the Westland Storm this afternoon at 2:15.
– In Pool B yesterday, Copper Country American Forest Management skated to a 5-5 tie with the HB Warriors. Copper Country will face the Mount Pleasant Patriots this afternoon at 12:15, and will conclude pool play against the Lansing Senators tonight at 7:30.

Check the full schedule and results here. Select “Youth Non-National Bound”, then select “Bantam 14U B”.

Great Bear Chase
More than 700 skiers have signed up for today’s Great Bear Chase on the Swedetown Trails. The 50k Skiathlon will start at 8:30, with the starts of the other races spread out over the following 50 minutes. All races will start and finish along Spruce Street in Calumet. Spectators are welcome at the finish line. Check the schedule and full race results here.

NFL
The Green Bay Packers have traded cornerback Damarious Randall to the Cleveland Browns. In exchange, the Packers will receive quarterback DeShone Kizer. Kizer started 15 games for the winless Browns last season, in his second year out of Notre Dame. The Packers and Browns reportedly also will switch their fourth and fifth-round picks in the upcoming draft, giving Green Bay the first selection on Day Three of the draft. The move gives Green Bay some additional salary cap space for the upcoming free agent signing window.

Email sports news and game results to mornings@up.net.