DETROIT – The Tigers have made their first splash signing of the offseason.

On Saturday, they reached an agreement on a one-year deal worth $11 million with veteran leverage reliever Kenley Jansen, per multiple reports and confirmed by the Detroit News.

The deal, which will include an option for 2027, is pending a physical.

Jansen, 38, has 476 career saves over 16 seasons, posting a 2.57 ERA and 0.962 WHIP. Only Mariano Rivera (652), Jeff Hoffman (601) and Lee Smith (478) have more saves than Jansen.

He’s been remarkably consistent and durable the last five seasons, averaging, at ages 32 through 37, 60 games, 58 innings and 33 saves.

His money pitch is a 93-mph cutter which he threw 81% of the time last year and limited hitters to a .164 average.

The only sign of his advanced age was a decrease in missed bats. His strikeout rate fell to a career-low 24% last year, with a 25.8% whiff rate. He had a 71% fly ball rate against him last year with a career-worst 91.5-mph average exit velocity and 44.6% hard-hit rate.

The Tigers hit three homers against him in a six-run inning back on May 2. After that outing, though, Jansen locked in. Over his final 53 games, he posted 23 saves in 24 attempts with a 1.97 ERA. He didn’t give up a run in his final 10 outings.

Under manager AJ Hinch, the Tigers haven’t deployed a traditional closer and that’s not likely to change. Jansen will join Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan, who agreed to a two-year deal worth $19 million Tuesday night, in the back end of the Tigers’ bullpen.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Divine Ugochukwu scored a career-high 23 points and No. 9 Michigan State overcame a sloppy performance to beat Penn State 76-72 on Saturday.

Jaxon Kohler posted his fifth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Carson Cooper added 10 points for the Spartans (9-1, 2-0 Big Ten), who committed a season-high 17 turnovers and trailed for long stretches in both halves.

They were able to bear down, however, and avoid a second-straight loss after falling to No. 4 Duke on Monday.

Freddie Dilione scored a career-high 22 points, Kayden Mingo added 11 and Ivan Juric had 10 for the Nittany Lions (8-3, 0-2), who led by as many as nine in the first half and then by three with five minutes left four days after getting blown out by Indiana 113-72.

But thanks to some timely shooting by Ugochukwu, who went 8 for 10 from the floor, including 5 for 5 from 3-point range, Michigan State quickly made up its 39-36 halftime deficit against a team that usually plays the Spartans tightly.

Seven of the last nine games in the series were decided by single-digits. With six lead changes, including four in the final 12 minutes, this one was trending that way until Ugochukwu got open early in the second half and again down the stretch.

The sophomore made the Spartans’ first three shots in the opening three minutes of the second, then sunk his fourth 3-pointer with 3:27 left to give Michigan State the lead for good.

Ugochukwu provided some cushion and made it 72-67 with his final deep make just over 2:30 later.

Dilione made a jumper and added a 3-pointer to get it back to a two-point game, but Ugochukwu nailed a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to seal the Spartans’ fifth-straight win against Penn State.

Up next

Michigan State hosts Toledo on Tuesday.

Penn State and Pitt play on Sunday, Dec. 21, at the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

— By TRAVIS JOHNSON, Associated Press

ROCHESTER HILLS – The height and length advantage Stoney Creek held over Rochester Adams translated in expected ways when the two rivals met Friday night.

Toss in the benefit the Cougars had of already playing two games compared to the fact that it was the Highlanders’ season debut, and it all helped Stoney leave Adams with a 43-32 road victory in the crossover matchup.

With the win, Stoney has nine in a row over Adams, who last beat the Cougars 43-27 on Jan. 24, 2020 at Oakland University.

It would have been the second game of the year for the Highlanders, but the cancelation of Wednesday’s game with Bloomfield Hills due to the wintery conditions eliminated a chance to get some more reps in before facing one of their city rivals.

“I won’t make any excuses for our unforced turnovers and things like that we could have done better,” Adams first-year head coach Justin Howard said. “But I would have loved to have one game under our belts so we could go to the drawing board before (this). But (Stoney’s a) great team. They’re tall, they rebound, move the ball very well.”

The Cougars, on the other hand, had the fortune of already playing two games this week — both wins — against Walled Lake Northern and Lakeland before this.

“Oh yeah, it helps,” Cougars head coach Columbus Williams said. “We went out and played a tough Northern team, which gave us a gritty win. Then we went to Lakeland and had another gritty win, and it just got us prepared for the moment and got us prepared for when they had that little rush at the end. We didn’t panic. It’s just normal basketball.”

Stoney’s lead grew to as large as 16 points in the fourth, but as Williams referenced, Adams made a late push in the final 2:30 that began with a 3-pointer by senior Nora Camaj, one of just two triples in the entire game by either team.

Two more turnovers forced by Adams led to baskets by junior London Guthrie and senior Nadia Heppner and allowed the Highlanders to get it within nine points on several occasions, but the Cougars never let it get within two possessions in the final minute.

“You gotta love rivalry games,” said Williams, indicating it played a part in the fight Adams showed to make it a game late. “I think when he called a timeout, it got his girls up, especially the seniors. We’ve been blessed to knock them off the last couple years, and I know they wanted to beat us, so they gave us a good little push there.”

The reason for so few 3-pointers? Stoney is happily to utilize its frontcourt advantage (provided by Calista, Izzy and Abby Ivezaj) against most teams, and that length led to four or five shots by Adams that were blocked or altered around the perimeter.

Howard and the Highlanders won’t see too much verticality like that in the OAA Blue this season, but regardless, it provides a good test. “Early in the year, you don’t even want to talk about moral wins, but we did a lot of positive things tonight, especially (against) a team a couple of levels above us … And I think, too, trying to change the system a little bit from last year is tough on a new coach and players that are used to moving a certain way, so I’m trying to add a little bit movement to it. Just a little more practice (needed),” he said.

Senior Faith Zoldos led the Highlanders with eight points, while classmates Raegan Jerrell and Alyssa Stephens added six. Stoney Creek senior Jadelynn Freeman led all scorers with 16, and junior teammate Samantha Fulkerson added nine in the win.

Photo gallery of Rochester Adams vs. Stoney Creek in OAA girls hoops crossover action

"We've just got to keep cleaning up on our guards," Williams said. "We've got a young point guard in Samantha, teaching her the ways. She's the next one up and we've just got to keep working with her, keep getting her to identify the defenses and where we need to go with the basketball, where to go with the hot hand, just kind of get her going."

Stoney finished third in the OAA Red last season, but should contend for the title this year with the teams it finished behind last winter, Clarkston and West Bloomfield.

"Man, it's going to be tough, but I'm excited for it," Williams said. "I think we've got a good group and we'll give it a good battle this year. That's one of our goals, to win the Red."

Adams ended last year 10-11 and right in the middle of the OAA Blue standings. It figures to be a deep, competitive division again.

"I think the expectation is, if I can get the players to run the offense, simplify it a bit, we should be able to compete in the Blue this year," said Howard, who was the program's JV coach previously. "I love what I saw tonight, now we're just going back and fixing one thing at a time."

Howard's Highlanders are back in action Monday at home against Utica. The Cougars get back on the court when they travel to Goodrich next Wednesday.

The Tigers on Friday cleared a spot on their 40-man roster to accommodate reliever Kyle Finnegan.

They swung a minor league deal with the Blue Jays, sending right-handed reliever Chase Lee to Toronto for 25-year-old lefty Johan Simon.

Simon posted a 3.42 ERA and averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings last season, climbing three levels to finish in Double-A.

Lee, 27, made his big-league debut last season, posting a 4.10 ERA in 37.1 innings.

The Tigers signed Finnegan on Tuesday night for two years and $19 million.

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell on Friday delivered some discouraging news regarding All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph.

Joseph (knee), who has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, was a limited participant at practice on Wednesday before being a non-participant the following day. Campbell said Joseph suffered a “setback.”

When asked if Joseph could be a candidate for injured reserve, Campbell said: “Could be. I mean, could be. We’re at the backend of the season now. Anything, even if it’s not technically long term, becomes long term because we don’t have many games left.”

“It bothers him,” Campbell said of Joseph’s knee. “That’s the best way to say it.”

Joseph hasn’t played since the Lions visited the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 12.

Despite both starting safeties dealing with significant injuries — Brian Branch recently had surgery to repair his Achilles — Campbell said he’s not worried about the position because, “I really do trust the guys that are going back there for us, I do, man. What you lose in a couple areas, you may gain in other areas having some of these guys back there.”

Does Campbell have any long-term concerns about the NFL’s best safety tandem?

“I can’t get to next year right now,” Campbell said. “I’m not even thinking about next year right now. My focus is, right now, L.A. and then beyond. Once we get through this one, then we’re onto the next one.”

More injury updates

S Thomas Harper (brain): Harper suffered a concussion in the first quarter of Detroit’s game against the Dallas Cowboys last Thursday. Campbell entered the week unsure if Harper could clear concussion protocol prior to the Rams game, but he was optimistic Friday.

“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him. We’ll see,” Campbell said. “I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) has been taking reps, (Avonte) Maddox’s been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys, and they’re getting valuable reps. So, we’re good.”

OT Taylor Decker (shoulder): Decker missed his third consecutive practice Friday, as he continues to manage a nagging shoulder injury. He’s questionable for Sunday, as are Harper (concussion), offensive linemen Kayode Awosika (foot) and Christian Mahogany (fibula), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle) and tight end Shane Zylstra (knee).

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State’s football program, built on strong play in the trenches, has a rich history with accomplished players being nominated for — and several times winning—  the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award.

Past Bulldog recipients of the prestigious award, which is given to the top lineman in NCAA Division II football, include Austin Edwards, in 2019; Dylan Pasquali, in 2021; and Caleb Murphy, in 2022.

This season, Ferris State offensive lineman Tim Anderson has become the latest Bulldog nominated for the award as one of eight 2025 national finalists, putting him on a short list for Friday’s announcement, when it was revealed that the Rochester Adams graduate was named this year’s winner.

Anderson, a 6-foot-6 senior, 305-pound senior, didn’t hesitate in his response when asked about becoming one of the final eight for the award.

“This means a lot, and I’m super thankful, but I know I wouldn’t be there without the other guys on our offensive line,” he said. “The only reason that I’ve gotten noticed is because all five guys on our offensive line are out there and playing dominant football. I hope this shows how good our offensive line is, because it’s not just me. It’s about everyone on our offensive line and everyone on our offense working together.”

That starting lineup for “The Nasty Boys,” the name that the offensive line has embraced, includes Tim’s twin, Bob Anderson, with Dayne Arnett, Jarvis Windom and Ben Przytula. Tim shared the pride he feels in the depth the unit has developed that has helped fuel the team’s scoring punch. The Bulldogs are the nation’s leading scoring offense, averaging 53.8 points and totaling 751 points this season through 14 games.

Ferris State’s offensive numbers have contributed to the announcement of Tim as a finalist for an award named in honor of the late Gene Upshaw, who was not only an All-Pro lineman for the Oakland Raiders but also later served as the executive director of the NFL Players Association for 25 years. A former standout offensive lineman at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville), Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 in his first year of eligibility.

The Gene Upshaw Award is presented annually by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

The Bulldogs’ offensive line unit has been a big part of the Bulldogs’ offensive success.

Ferris State’s offense ranks third nationally in rushing offense, averaging 306.5 yards per game. That rushing offense also includes 63 touchdowns on 4,291 yards.

Anderson earned first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors and was named the GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year. He further received Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region Three First-Team recognition for his gridiron play during the 2025 campaign.

Inside the Ewigleben Sports Complex walls, Anderson frequently walks past a large trophy case that includes replicas of the Gene Upshaw Award trophies won by Edwards, Pasquali and Murphy. Those honorees stand as a reminder.

“It means a lot to be in a program that has such a great history of linemen,” said Anderson, who was a decorated athlete during his prep days at Adams. “For us, being able to carry on that tradition is important. We’re thankful to be a part of it.”

During this playoff run, led by the strong line play, Ferris State scored 65 points against Northwood (Nov. 22), 56 against Ashland (Nov. 29) and 52 against Minnesota State (Dec. 6) in three wins.

The Bulldogs were scheduled to take on Newberry in the NCAA Division II National Semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Top Taggart Field.

ALLEN PARK — It should come as no surprise that one of the toughest and most determined players in recent Detroit Lions history is playing the best football of his career as he nears 38 years old.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, now in his 17th NFL season, might even earn his first MVP.

But his former team, the 8-5 Lions, will try to crater his case this Sunday at SoFi Stadium in a matchup that now feels all too familiar after recent playoff and opening-night run-ins, both in Detroit — and both Detroit victories.

These two sides have each proved their point. The Rams won a Super Bowl with Stafford, and the Lions beat L.A. when it mattered on that cold, cold night in January 2024, exercising several generations of demons in the process. Then they won another to open the 2024 season for good measure.

For all of the simmering emotions that’ll exist in this game — from Stafford, from Rams coach Sean McVay, from Lions quarterback Jared Goff — the reality is this rivalry is being increasingly defined by two great teams being in each other’s way of a Super Bowl year after year.

“We played them in that playoff game, was such a big deal. The next year, played them again and that felt like even less,” Goff said this week. “So now it’s even further removed, and —  yeah, they’re a really good team and we’ll have our hands full.”

This one matters a lot; a loss wouldn’t devastate Detroit’s playoff hopes, but a win to reach 9-5 would springboard the odds. The Rams, meanwhile, are currently the NFC’s No. 1 seed and would like to stay in that spot.

And yet, even strictly in those contexts, it’s still Goff and Stafford in the center of the ring.

No looking back

Stafford’s status entering the season was up in the air. He was dealing with a herniated disc in his back that was treated with an epidural. At age 37, there was plenty of speculation whether Stafford had already played his last game.

Fast forward four months, and Stafford has not only been completely healthy this season; he’s been one of the best players in all of football. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think he’s just starting to enter his prime.

Stafford’s 35 touchdown passes lead the next closest (Goff and Dak Prescott, 26) by a whopping nine touchdowns. He also leads the league in passer rating (113.1). His 258.0 yards per game are fourth; and he’s thrown just four interceptions.

“He’s playing as good as anybody at the position right now, that’s the bottom line,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said.

The further we get away from the trade that altered both franchises’ trajectories, the less these now-yearly matchups are centered around it. It’s now been nearly five full years since the Lions traded Stafford to the Rams in exchange for Goff, two first-rounders and a third-round pick.

Goff, now in his fifth season with Detroit, has played more games as a Lion (78) than he did as a Ram (69). He’s long been ready to move past the trade and the emotions that came with it, especially since he and the Lions expelled their trauma in the playoff win against L.A.

And Stafford, for all of the jaw-dropping statistics he put up during his time with the Lions, has now achieved most of the crowning achievements of his career — plus all of the playoff success — with the Rams.

“I feel that way,” Stafford said this week, asked if the Lions have become just another team. “When I flip the (Lions’) tape on, I don’t think about all the guys that I used to play with because hardly any of them are still playing on the team. The biggest thing for me is watching them play, and they jump off the tape. They’re fast. They’re physical. They’re well-coached. … It’s another really good, complete football team.”

Goff, meanwhile, has held up his own end of the bargain. He led the Lions to two of their best seasons during the Super Bowl era in 2023 and 2024.

This year, he’s survived the loss of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the retirement of All-Pro center Frank Ragnow, plus a midseason play-caller change. Goff is tied for second in completion rate (70.1%) and touchdowns (26), and fifth in yards per game (256.5).

“He’s a true professional. … He’s seen a lot of ball. He doesn’t blink. He doesn’t blink,” Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said. “I mean, there’s times where he’s getting his butt kicked, he just gets right back up. That’s one of his strengths; he’s mentally tough. And his preparation is the key to our success.”

When the two teams meet in Inglewood, Calif., this Sunday, the game will likely be defined by which quarterback has a better day at the office.

Goff climbs the charts

When Stafford was drafted No. 1 overall by the Lions in 2009, the decision wasn’t as cut and dry as history would have you believe. Stafford certainly doesn’t forget that a strong contingent of the Lions’ fanbase wanted the team to instead draft linebacker Aaron Curry out of Wake Forest.

“I remember about 50% of the fans in Detroit not wanting me to go there,” Stafford said this week.

It all worked out for Detroit: Curry wound up going three picks later to the New York Jets at No. 4, and played just four seasons before retiring to begin his coaching career in 2013.

Stafford smashed the Lions’ franchise records for passing yards (45,109) and touchdowns (282). But the team never figured itself out around him, resulting in just four winning seasons over 12 years. The Lions were 0-3 in playoff games started by Stafford.

Off in the distance, a challenger is beginning to emerge for the most productive quarterback in franchise history. Goff, 31, is second in both passing yards (20,221) and touchdowns (141) with plenty of football ahead of him. And while he still has a long way to go to match those ridiculous numbers, the fact of the matter is that Goff has already accomplished more in a Lions uniform, from a team perspective, than Stafford ever did.

This Sunday at SoFi Stadium, legacies aren’t on the line, like they were back in the 2023 Wild Card round. Whichever team loses will still have a chance to make the playoffs and reach or win the Super Bowl. The personal feelings have subsided as years have gone by.

But make no mistake about it: the Goff and Stafford trade is still at the center of every game these two teams will play.

“I know it feels like a win for us,” Campbell said, nearly five years later. “I’m sure they do, too.”

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Pontiac Notre Dame Prep was rewarded with five selections on the 2025 Michigan Sports Writers Division 5-6 All-State football team after a second consecutive trip to Ford Field.

Three from the Irish – quarterback Sam Stowe, receiver Drake Roa, and linebacker Brody Sink – were first-team picks, while the duo of offensive lineman Jack Williams and defensive lineman Henry Ewles earned second-team nods. All five are seniors.

ND Prep’s QB1, Stowe threw for 2,761 yards and 41 touchdowns (with only five INTs), also finding the end zone with his legs four times. He’ll graduate as the program’s all-time leader in both career passing yards and TDs.

One of his favored targets, Roa finished the season with 70 catches, good for 975 yards and 16 receiving TDs. Another of them, Sink (who had over 100 receiving yards and a TD reception in the state final), earned plaudits on the defensive side of the ball for having over 100 tackles, as well as two sacks, one forced fumble and a pair of recoveries.

The 6-5, 225-pound Williams was a two-way player along the Irish fronts, as was Ewles, who ended the year with over 70 tackles (including eight in the state final), three sacks, and like Sink, a forced fumble and two recoveries.

In addition to the Irish handful, Hazel Park running back Montrell Parker was a first-team pick by writers.

Parker, a senior for a Vikings team that bowed out in the playoffs to ND Prep, carried the ball 179 times for 1,820 yards – amounting to over a first down per carry – and reached paydirt 23 times.

The Michigan Sports Writers all-state teams — formerly the Associated Press teams — are voted on by a panel of sportswriters from around the state.

 

—————

The 2025 Michigan Sportswriters Division 5-6 All-State football team, which was selected by a panel of sports writers from around the state.

 

DIVISON 5-6

Player of the year: Jacob Timmer, Grand Rapids West Catholic

Coach of the Year: Rob Beaudrie, Newport-Monroe Jefferson

First Team All-State

QB – Sam Stowe, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

QB – Luke Beaudrie, Newport-Monroe Jefferson

RB – Montrell Parker, Hazel Park

RB – Ethan King, Belding

RB – Brody Corneau, Almont

RB – Galvin Albring, Ida

WR – Ezra Rowekamp, Kalamazoo United

WR – Drake Roa, Pontiac Notre Dame

WR – Jamison Pelt, Saginaw Swan Valley

WR – Evan Szalay, Flat Rock

OL – Sullivan Garvin, Allegan

OL – Matt Mazur, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard

OL – Garrett Russell, Traverse City St. Francis

OL – Antwon Baker, Jackson Lumen Christi

OL – Luke Purvis, Frankenmuth

DL – Kenneth McClinton, Detroit Denby

DL – Andre Meade, Kent City

DL – M.J. Dailey, Montrose

DL – Corde Anderson, Whitehall

DL – Logan Evans, Richmond

DL – Calvin Marshall, Ogemaw Heights

LB – Cohen Ferqueron, Almont

LB – Jael Djouguem, Grand Rapids West Catholic

LB – Brody Sink, Pontiac Notre Dame

LB – Brayden Sweeney, Grand Rapids Catholic Central

LB – Sean Walicki, Jackson Lumen Christi

DB – Corie Kanitz, Ogemaw Heights

DB – Matthew Bacholzky, Almont

DB – Hunter Wilkinson, Kalkaska

DB – Kam Reynolds, Saginaw Swan Valley

ATH – Cash Tedford, Frankenmuth

ATH – Keegan McCue, Kalamazoo United

K – Landon Smith, Grand Rapids West Catholic

Second Team All-State

QB – Hadyn Hinkle, Michigan Center

QB – Grady Augustyn, Grand Rapids West Catholic

QB – Lleyton Hoard, Frankenmuth

RB – Kyle Greiner, Hart

RB – Jackson Malburg, Armada

WR – Austin Schwartz, Grayling

WR – Brennan Forward, Michigan Center

WR – James Milanovich, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard

WR – JJ Hollister, Richmond

OL – Zack Williams, Pontiac Notre Dame

OL – Braxton O’Bryant, Ovid-Elsie

DL – Chris Fox, Michigan Center

DL – Henry Ewles, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

DL – Cash Cooper, Jackson Lumen Christi

LB – Colton Goethals, Kingsley

LB – Elon Jones, Ogemaw Heights

DB – Razach Spillers, Flint Elite

Honorable Mention All-State

QB – Jackson Herder, Kalamazoo United

RB – Paul Sattler, Jackson Lumen Christi; Collin Abram, Grand Rapids West Catholic; Gavin Lewis, Kingsley; Ca’Mari Reese, Muskegon Orchard View; Kamall Hillard, Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Jack Deitsch, Reed City; Michael Reid, Detroit Central.

OL – Trevor Rawson, Kent City; Ethan Hock, Ogemaw Heights

LB – Isaac Fair, Whitmore Lake; Preston Six, Oakridge; Luke Joslyn, Caro

ATH – Griffin O’Neal, Montrose; Evan DellAngelo, Negaunee

Madison’s Nehemiah Patman, WOLL’s Jack Miller voted to D7-8 squad by Michigan Sports Writers

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — John Gibson made 39 saves for his first NHL shutout in nearly three years, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Monday night.

James van Riemsdyk, Andrew Copp, Nate Danielson and Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings (16-11-3), who moved from just outside the crowded Eastern Conference playoff picture into first place in the Atlantic Division.

Detroit has earned at least one point in five consecutive games and is 3-0-1 since an 0-3-1 slide.

The 32-year-old Gibson improved to 7-7-1 in his first season with the Red Wings after 12 with Anaheim. It was his 25th career shutout and first since a 2-0 win for the Ducks over Dallas on Jan. 4, 2023. He is 13-5-2 against Vancouver with four shutouts.

Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen was removed after making 10 saves on 13 shots over two periods. Nikita Tolopilo stopped all six shots he faced in the third.

Vancouver (11-16-3) went 0 for 3 with the man advantage and has gone six games without a power-play goal. Detroit was 0 for 2.

In a fast-moving first period, the Canucks outshot the Red Wings 11-6. But the visitors opened the scoring when van Riemsdyk tapped a loose puck at the net front past Lankinen for his fourth goal in four games.

Late in the second, Copp and Danielson scored 37 seconds apart. Copp’s third of the season was a backdoor tap-in off a pass from defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Danielson’s second career goal was a net-front tip off Sandin-Pellikka’s point shot.

Sandin-Pellikka’s two primary assists gave him his first multipoint night in 30 NHL games.

Larkin added an empty-net goal in the third.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was held without a point for the sixth straight game, tying the longest drought of his career in April 2023.

Vancouver center Elias Pettersson missed his second game in a row with an upper-body injury.

Detroit has won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 16 and 18.

Up next

Red Wings: Visit the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night in the fourth of a six-game trip.

Canucks: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night to finish a four-game homestand.

If you’re a fan of rivalries and parity in boys hoops, this year’s OAA White Division is the place.

It’s a league that looks a bit different than last winter, with Lake Orion and Oxford as the only holdovers. But partially by way of the fact that it includes two fewer teams this season, it figures to be quite the wide-open race for the crown.

That should leave at least a few programs believing it can be kings, including Rochester.

It’s a challenge the Falcons appear well-suited for judging by their 3-0 start. That includes a win each over a MAC Gold (St. Clair Shores Lakeview), White (Utica) and Red (Chippewa Valley) team. All of those victories have come by at least 20 points, so early results, including the most recent one, a 66-46 triumph over the Big Reds last Saturday, have been promising.

While Rochester’s first half against Chippewa Valley may have been more ho-hum, a 30-point third quarter was convincing evidence of what the Falcons can do in an eight-minute span.

The Falcons earned their seat at the table by going 13-1 in the Blue Division (the only defeat a 53-29 loss to runner-up Pontiac) to earn themselves promotion, though a portion of the foundation was laid even before that.

“I mean, it started a few years back,” Rochester head coach Nick Evola said. “A lot of these guys are three-year varsity guys, and they took their lumps early, but they’ve always competed, you know? They were a little young a few years ago, but all of that has prepped them. They have a relentless work ethic and they come out here and they love each other. They’re a tight-knit group and they play for each other. No one cares who’s got the most points.”

The eye test seems to support Evola’s claim that his squad has great balance on offense. Senior Logan Pleasant, one of those experienced returners, provided outside shooting in the Utica win, but even when Rochester’s deep ball wasn’t the bread and butter in the most recent win, the length of its forwards and the will to drive and draw fouls presented the opposition problems.

“We have multiple guys that can do multiple things — inside-out, mid-range — so it makes it tough (defending us) because everyone’s contributing and you can’t just focus on one guy,” Evola said.

One component of the frontcourt and another of the veteran bunch, senior Anthony Chirco, scored 21 points against Chippewa Valley. He’s continued to improve as both a scorer and rebounder, and he echoed Evola’s comments on the cohesiveness of the side, saying, “This class is great. We’ve been playing together for a long time and I just think it shows and helps with our chemistry a lot.”

Some of the selflessness might even be considered hereditary. Junior Nate Tandy is one of two new starters along with sophomore Ben Bissett — Luke Lower, another senior and the team’s other returner in the starting five, scored 10 on the Big Reds — a year after Tandy’s brother, Jake, was a contributor for last year’s league champs.

Nate, who equaled Chirco’s 21 points against Chippewa Valley thanks in part to nine trips to the free-throw line, only played JV as a sophomore, but Evola and the coaching staff got him part-time reps practicing then with varsity, and it seems to have, along with some driveway battles over the years with his older brother, paid dividends.

“It’s a big leap,” Tandy said. “(Being mixed in last year), it helped mentally I would say just seeing what the varsity atmosphere is like. The first two games (this season), I was getting comfortable, and then I feel like (against Chippewa Valley) was my coming out game.”

Part of the intrigue of this year’s White Division is not just the perceived equality, or the introduction of OAA newcomer Waterford Mott (2-0, 1-0), but the fact that all three Rochester schools are paired together, which makes for rivalry battles where the stakes are increased.

“Obviously, last year, there may not have been many expectations for us coming off an eight-win season, but we knew what we were capable of and we got better,” Evola said. “But I’ve told them, not only are we now in a tougher league, we’re not under the radar. People know we’re going to come to work, and we’re going to take every team’s best shots. The league’s really tough, and it’s wide-open … and I think what’s cool about the league as well, it’s not just our rival schools, but it’s Lake Orion and Oxford, so everything’s kind of close proximity. It builds more rivalry, more cross-town travel, and I think it’s exciting.”

The feeling is shared by at least one of those rivals.

“We split with (Rochester and Stoney) last year, so certainly talent-wise, we’re right there,” Adams head coach Isaiah Novak said after his own team’s game at Saturday’s MAC/OAA Showcase hosted by Rochester. “Both teams are very well-coached, even with a new coach (Stoney’s Marko Tomich) coming in, I think he’s going to do a great job. It’s great too as far as fan engagement. I think all three schools struggle at times getting students to basketball games, but anytime we play against a Rochester school, we get a packed house, so I think it’s gonna be fun for everybody involved.”

That trio, including the Falcons, will have some time to continue and improve before those battles take place. The first of them, which sees the Cougars travel to Rochester, isn’t until Jan. 9.

ORLANDO — As rumors and made-up trade scenarios involving two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal swirl around these Winter Meetings, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris steadfastly refused to feed the frenzy.

“We don’t speculate on any players on our roster on trade talk,” Harris said in a 40-minute session with a group of beat reporters in the club’s suite at the Waldorf Astoria. “It’s not productive for us and it’s not fair to players on other teams.”

He did, though, acknowledge publicly that while he wasn’t necessarily seeking trade options, he was openly listening to them.

“I’ve been pretty clear since I’ve been here that I don’t believe in untouchables at any level or with anyone in our organization,” Harris said. “It’s not a commentary on Tarik Skubal specifically. It’s more of a blanket team-building approach. I can’t do my job without listening. I can’t do my job without exploring anything that may or may not have legs.

“Some are going to be very likely moves. Some are going to be extremely unlikely. But you can’t vet those opportunities unless you listen. That’s how we’re doing it.”

Harris, who officially announced the signing of 31-year-old right-hander Drew Anderson ($7 million with a $10 million club option for 2027), reiterated his desire to add pitching help, both in the rotation and bullpen.

Anderson, who spent the last two seasons in Korea, was in Tigers camp as a non-roster invitee before the 2024 season.

“He made a really good impression,” Harris said. “I think he worked really well with our pitching group and added some fastball velocity and fastball quality that he carried to Korea.”

Anderson added a swing-and-miss component to his repertoire last season, a kick-change, and struck out 245 hitters, second only to Cody Ponce, who signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Blue Jays.

“We feel like with the added swing-and-miss secondary pitch and the familiarity and combination of innings, he can be a real addition to our team,” Harris said. “He will come to camp as a starter.”

He joins Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Troy Melton, Keider Montero and Reese Olson in the rotation. Expect the list to grow throughout the winter.

“In the modern era, you need to attack it with quality and volume,” Harris said. “You can’t just chose between the two. In December, we’re generally just trying to add as much pitching as we possibly can, trusting that we’re going to figure it out in partnership with AJ (Hinch, manager).

“We’re just trying to load up on as much pitching as possible, understanding there’s going to be underperformance and, hopefully not, but injuries are a reality in our sport.”

No splash deals?

The Tigers have been linked in media speculation to high-end free agent starters like Ranger Suarez and Michael King. Harris said the club is always looking to add starters, but he talked more about loading up on depth than making any splash deals.

“It’s harder now given the makeup of our rotation,” Harris said. “Those starting pitchers might have to be optionable (have minor-league options). We may have to find non-roster options, things like that. But I think we are in a much healthier place with our rotation than we have been.

“But we’re going to keep adding.”

Same is true for the bullpen. There could be as many as seven spots open for competition this spring. Harris expects that particular market to lag into the new year.

External offensive upgrades?

Harris was also asked if it was necessary to look outside the organization to upgrade the offense.

“Yes,” he said. “But can we find those opportunities? I’m not sure.”

He went on to add, “I think the majority of our growth as an offense is going to come from within.”

In other words, if the right deal can be made for a legitimate offensive upgrade, either through trade or free agency, he will make it. But he expects the offense to get better with or without it.

“We have a young, deep collection of position players who are in slightly different stages of their young careers,” he said. “There is an older group that’s still very young and just entering their prime.”

Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter, who combined for 93 homers and 241 RBI last season, highlight that group.

“There is a group behind them that’s coming really fast and that’s gotten a lot of time under their belt,” Harris said.

That group includes Gold Glove-winning catcher Dillon Dingler, Parker Meadows, Colt Keith and Wenceel Perez.

“And there is a third group coming right behind them,” Harris said. “Some of the best prospects in baseball are really starting to make that leap into the big leagues.”

Among the prospects he’s referencing are Kevin McGonigle, Max Anderson and Hao-Yu Lee.

“We’re going to find a way to improve our offense without blocking those guys,” Harris said. “They are too important to both our present and our future. I used to talk about them solely as our future. Now they are about to be our present and our future.”

Harris also cited the return of second baseman Gleyber Torres and a hopefully healthy Matt Vierling as other components of an improved offense.

“I wouldn’t rule out external additions to upgrade the offense,” he said. “But I think we have a lot of momentum here and the gains we’ve seen in our offense the last couple of years have come from trusting them and saving opportunity for them and watching them blossom into the players they are now.”

DETROIT — Each time Cade Cunningham steps onto the floor, his talents put him up against the best defenders the league has to offer. On a nightly basis, Cunningham focuses on maintaining his All-NBA status against numerous defenders, but he is “thankful” that he doesn’t have to account for Isaiah Stewart.

Cunningham has been teammates with Stewart since the Detroit Pistons drafted him as the No. 1 pick in 2021. Over the years, he has watched as Stewart established himself as one of the league’s premier defenders.

This season, Stewart’s defensive production has been a central part of the Pistons’ best start in 20 years. With a 19-5 record, Detroit ranks fourth in the league in defense, posting a net rating of 111.3 while holding opponents to 113.3 points per game. The Pistons’ defensive success has been a collaborative effort, but no player has been at the forefront of the team’s defense than Stewart.

“He has always been big-time. I played against him in high school, and he was always a presence down there,” Cunningham said. “We have put Stew in so many positions and made him have to figure it out, and he always does. His feel for the game and IQ are super slept on. He just knows where to be and when to be there. That’s why he can make so many plays.”

Stewart is an elite defender, demonstrating the versatility necessary for today’s NBA. He is a big man who can switch on ball and defend guards out on the perimeter, while his hustle and activity help the Pistons get stops through deflections and 50-50 balls.

He has shown every attribute that has led his teammates to campaign for Defensive Player of the Year honors. In November, Stewart was a finalist for Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month — an award that went to the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes.

However, no defensive skill set has been displayed more prominently than Stewart’s ability to protect the rim. His shot-blocking has led coach J.B. Bickerstaff to deem Stewart as “the best defensive center in the league.”

“It means a lot because he sees it every single day,” Stewart said. “He knows how much I care about defense and how I have a real passion for that side of the ball. He knows that and he appreciates that, and that means a lot to me.”

Not on ‘Beef Stew’

Stewart had a career year on the defensive end last season. He registered a career-high 1.4 blocks per game and led all reserves in the category while ranking 11th league-wide. However, 24 games into this season, Stewart is on the trajectory to surpass last year’s success.

He is currently tied with Alex Sarr for third in the league for blocked shots, averaging 2.0 rejections per game — trailing only Victor Wembanyama (3.6) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (2.4). Stewart has stood out among his peers for his shot-blocking, erasing numerous dunk attempts.

“How much he cares about it. There will never be a shot that goes up that Stew doesn’t contest,” Ausar Thompson said. “So, for him to sacrifice his body, put his body on the line every night — it’s beautiful to watch.”

Stewart, a 6-foot-8 big man, has acknowledged that his stature makes him an easy target for players seeking a quick highlight dunk, but he often wins his one-on-one battles at the rim.

“I feel like some players seek it out, while others get there and then don’t know what to do,” Stewart said. “Then they would usually pass the ball, which helps us out on defense.”

Stewart has rejected a dozen dunk attempts this season, resembling the likes of Ben Wallace during his heyday in Detroit. In the Pistons’ 122-116 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Stewart blocked two dunk attempts, one of which was against Shaedon Sharpe, who has established himself as one of the league’s most gifted dunkers.

The moment occurred midway through the fourth quarter when Sharpe attempted a one-handed dunk over Stewart, who blocked it with the tips of his fingers. The rejected accounted for one of the four blocks Stewart had on the night, marking the fourth time this season he finished a game with four or more rejections.

“He has the best timing in the league. No one time dunks and layups better than he does,” Cunningham said. “It is honestly kind of scary. It is almost like he has finger tips made of vibranium … I think he is the best defensive player in the league.”

Stewart’s rim protection is a testament to his fearlessness of ending up on the wrong side of the highlight, but it is also an example of his ability to apply the lessons he learned throughout his six-year career. There was a time when Stewart found himself on the wrong end of a poster. Instead of shying away from the moment, Stewart used those experiences to learn how to find his timing and patience.

However, his shot-blocking also demonstrates Bickerstaff’s system. By orchestrating a defensive scheme to get the most out of his players, Bickerstaff quickly realized that Stewart had the intangibles to serve as Detroit’s most reliable defensive anchor.

“We put a lot of responsibility on them. They have to communicate with everybody, and their job is to protect the rim and the paint,” Bickerstaff said. “If you put guys who have the talent that these big guys have in those positions, it gives them opportunities to be playmakers, and it gives them the opportunities to dictate how games go.”

Stewart had a seamless transition when adapting to Bickerstaff’s technique last year. He felt Bickerstaff’s philosophies played to his strengths, which demand physicality, rebounding, rim protection and screen setting.

He has since catapulted up the list as one of the NBA’s best defenders, with the potential to receive some form of league recognition come mid-May.

“He is the most versatile center as a defender in the league. There is not a guy out on the perimeter or the post that he cannot guard,” Bickerstaff said. “He means so much to us because he is the guy who has to erase things, cover up things, and he takes on so many assignments. There are so many things that we ask him to do. I am hard-pressed to find a better defensive center than him in the league.”

EAST LANSING — In the aftermath of his team’s first loss of the season, a 66-60 loss to No. 4 Duke, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo just kept on coming back to one particular issue: free throw cutouts.

His Spartans work on them every practice. Non-negotiable. And yet there were multiple that Michigan State missed, including two that led to putbacks for Duke phenom Cameron Boozer as he and the Blue Devils rallied in the second half for a road win.

Free-throw cutouts may take the brunt of Izzo’s criticism, but they are just one of the details that went foul on Saturday. Poor closeouts early, missed layups late, a few untimely fouls (some, albeit, on questionable calls) left Michigan State battling its own minor mistakes. And against a Duke team that has the talent to repeat last year’s Final Four appearance, well, that won’t make the cut.

“This is what we’ve said all along: Our margin for error is slim,” Izzo said.

Michigan State has proven a lot nine games into the season. It’s gritty, feisty, with a deep lineup led by a talented frontcourt and a bulldog point guard. Its four returners — point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., forwards Coen Carr and Jaxon Kohler plus center Carson Cooper — provide a foundation from which a different cast of characters can step in and complete the picture against any sort of team. It got Michigan State three ranked wins before December, but against Duke the limitations showed.

The difference between the two teams showed in the second half. Down three at the break, Duke leaned on its star forward Boozer, who scored 16 in the second half alone, and 14 of the first 17 points his team scored that half. He took the game over, even as Michigan State tried to pull away with a pair of 3s from freshman Jordan Scott (one of those contributors who can step in depending on the night). Down five, Boozer slashed through the lane for a layup and banging a 3 in two possessions.

And Boozer had those two putbacks. Those pesky putbacks that drove Izzo wild.

“We know coming into these games that the margin for error is as close to zero as you possibly can (get),” Cooper said. “I think there was little lapses where we got a little relaxed. And that was on our scouting report, like three times, was never relax.”

Michigan State couldn’t relax, because for most of the game it was a one- or two-shot affair. On a night when its pace setter Fears shot 0-for-10, — even missing an uncontested layup at the final buzzer — its offense still found enough to stay close. But winning needed more. It needed perfection on an imperfect night.

There’s a sense of pressure that comes from Michigan State’s construction. When there is no player who can put an entire offense on its back, every bucket is hard-fought. Changes in tactics can really hurt. Like when Duke switched to zone down the stretch and pulled away. Poor shooting, especially at shooting guard, proved the Spartans’ great flaw.

These are the kind of experiences that also can steer this group in a higher direction. Pressure felt is pressure learned from, and while veterans on the team have a grasp on how to deal with it, there’s a sense that some new contributors have a ways to go.

“We do feel that pressure,” Kohler said. “I would say that for the young and new guys, they don’t quite understand it the way me, Coop, Fears and Coen understand it, because I don’t think they quite understand the impact that it has on a game that can be won or lost. And when that happens, the first person that we get on is ourselves.”

Mistakes happen in any human endeavor. Fighting them is the great challenge, a battle that Izzo has made a career contesting. Michigan State can get on itself for sloppy details, but hanging tough against a team like Duke isn’t all discouraging.

“It probably will be encouraging, like, in a few days,” Carr said. “But right now, it’s probably not the way we would be looking at it as of right now. … We were never not in the game. Just a lot of little things that we know we can fix. And that’s kind of, I guess, the good part about it.”

The margin for error is small, but it’s better than no margin at all.

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA says it will include three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every game at next year’s World Cup, not just those played in hot weather.

The referee will stop the game 22 minutes into each half for players to take drinks, regardless of the temperature, the host country — the United States, Canada or Mexico — or whether the stadium has a roof and air conditioning.

The change may also be a hit with broadcasters, since it makes the game schedule more predictable. FIFA said it was first announced when the governing body’s chief tournament officer for the 2026 World Cup, Manolo Zubiria, attended a meeting with broadcasters.

He indicated that referees may have some flexibility if there’s a stoppage shortly before the 22-minute mark for an injury.

“This will be addressed on the spot with the referee,” Zubiria said.

FIFA said the move is a “streamlined and simplified version” of an earlier practice of having breaks after 30 minutes over a certain temperature threshold, once set at 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) on the wet bulb global temperature system.

The change comes after heat and humidity affected players during some games at this year’s Club World Cup in the U.S.

At that tournament, FIFA reacted by lowering the threshold for cooling or water breaks and also placing more water and towels around the edge of the field.

Heat has long been an issue at major soccer tournaments. Amid concerns ahead of the 2014 World Cup, a Brazilian court ordered FIFA to make its recommended breaks mandatory or face fines.

ANN ARBOR — Ask any Michigan coach or player about forward Morez Johnson Jr., you’re bound to hear the same description.

Take a spin around the Crisler Center media room following Saturday’s smackdown of Rutgers in the Big Ten opener, for example. After Johnson poured in 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the floor in 24 minutes to go along with four rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot, guards L.J. Cason, Elliot Cadeau and Roddy Gayle Jr. all offered a similar assessment about their teammate.

“He’s just a dog,” Cadeau said. “He can guard all five positions. I think that’s what makes him different. We can put him on the point guard, and he’ll lock up a point guard.”

Across the room from Cadeau, Gayle and Cason echoed that sentiment.

“I feel like he’s our junkyard dog,” Gayle said. “You really can’t stop him. He’s just too physical, too forceful.”

Added Cason: “He’s just a dog on the boards. He plays hard and wants to win.”

It’s fitting that Cadeau, Cason and Gayle touched on different areas, considering all the different ways that Johnson impacts the game.

He’s the team’s enforcer on defense and, along with center Aday Mara, a vaunted rim protector. He’s a bully in the paint on offense who has no issue scoring over defenders or through contact. He’s a handful on the glass on both ends.

He’s a big reason why, entering play Sunday, the Wolverines lead the nation in 2-point defense (37.5%) and rank second in 2-point offense (64.9%) per KenPom, in addition to posting a plus-13 rebounding margin per game, a mark that’s tied for the fifth-best nationally.

Gayle can at least sympathize with what opponents have to go through with Johnson.

“I deal with it every day in practice, especially when we play games. Sometimes I’m at the four and it’s like, ‘What am I going to do?’” Gayle said. “I get a glimpse of what these other teams get to experience and when you piss him off, he’s a whole other animal.”

Throughout Michigan’s blazing 8-0 start, Johnson has been playing at a high level and Saturday was the latest demonstration.

He hounded the Scarlet Knights on the perimeter and in the paint. His defense generated offense, like when he turned a steal near midcourt into a fast-break layup. He ran the floor in transition. He finished at the basket on pick-and-rolls and through double-teams. At no point was he ever hunting his own shot.

“When you look at our good possessions in Vegas (at the Players Era tournament), a lot of times we got layups and dunks because of his seals, because of his screens, because of his rim runs,” coach Dusty May said. “He does a lot of extremely visible and invisible plays.”

On numerous occasions against Rutgers, Johnson got inside position and sealed off his defender, which led to easy buckets at rim. There were also several times he had to go up to grab a contested post entry pass that led to more paint points.

“He loves contact. I think that’s first and foremost,” May said. “He wins every catch. Our guys have a lot of confidence to throw him the ball, because if it’s a 50-50 ball, a 60-40 ball, a 70-30 ball and he’s at a disadvantage, he typically wins those catches and turns them into baskets.

“There’s trust that’s developed throughout the season … and Morez has certainly earned the trust of his teammates that he’s going to play the right way, play with efficiency.”

Given Johnson’s elite finishing inside — his 68.7% field goal percentage ranks fifth in the Big Ten — and improved free-throw shooting, it almost seems unfair when he’s knocking down 3-pointers.

Heading into the Rutgers contest, Johnson had attempted two 3-pointers all season after not attempting one last season at Illinois and missed both. Against Rutgers, he knocked down both of his 3-point tries from straightaway.

May noted the goal is to have all five guys on the court be capable of knocking down deep balls. And if Johnson adds a respectable 3-point shot to his arsenal, May added it can make teams “more skittish” toward helping at the rim, which can cause a “chain reaction” that opens driving lanes for others.

Yet, Johnson has already provided a noticeable ripple effect throughout the team with his fierce, nasty nature on the floor.

“I think our team has adopted his personality. We don’t have a rugged group by nature. We have some guys that have grown into being tough, rugged dudes,” May said last week. “But Morez, every single minute of every single day he brings a physicality and intensity, a serious approach to everything that he does.”

So far, Johnson has been doing it all — and perhaps even more than anyone May has ever coached before.

“(Assistant coach) Kyle Church and I have worked together for a million years. He said we’ve never had one of those. We’ve never had … a guy that impacts the game in so many ways,” May said. “And now, because of his work and the staff’s ability to help him get better, he’s playing well out of the short rolls, he’s adding to his game.

“The sky is the limit for Morez. … He does so much but he’s also so selfless.”

ROCHESTER HILLS – The banked 3-pointer by Rochester Adams senior Josiah Fazecas to close the first quarter of Saturday’s MAC/OAA Showcase game against Dakota had teammates in a frenzy and the Highlanders feeling good.

Dakota head coach Paul Tocco, whose team trailed 13-6 at that point, wasn’t quite as enthused about those opening eight minutes.

“I thought we came out lethargic and a little lazy in the first quarter,” Tocco said. “Credit to Adams, who played really hard. They moved the ball well, played disciplined basketball. We didn’t come out with our normal enthusiasm.”

The tables turned swiftly as the Cougars outscored Adams 17-2 in the second quarter, the catalyst for their 60-53 win over the Highlanders at Rochester High School.

Simply put, Tocco said his team “played Dakota basketball” in that second stanza.

Highlanders junior Cannon Flynn scored his team’s only points early in that second quarter, but he collected his third foul that subjected him to the bench for the final four minutes before halftime.

“They got up and pressured us and we couldn’t get into any of our sets, our actions,” Highlanders head coach Isaiah Novak said. “We really rely on attacking closeouts, getting into space and knocking down shots, and we had a really tough time creating advantageous situations for ourselves. Then when we did and got the open shot, they just weren’t falling for us tonight. I think we probably missed five layups in the first half. And it was hard to get those layups, right? So we just didn’t take advantage of the options we did have.”

Novak was reluctant to place too much blame on the foul trouble of his standout player and lone returning starter for his team’s struggles, though it was clear what impact he had when he was on the floor. Flynn scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the second half of the loss.

“A lot of what we do goes through (Cannon), but in some ways, these early season challenges are a good thing,” Novak said. “There’s gonna be times throughout the season where he’s in foul trouble or something else happens and he’s got to be on the bench. Although they’re difficult when you reflect on one game, I think in the overall season, things like that can be challenges that can be good for us in the long run.”

Photos of Dakota vs. Rochester Adams in boys basketball action at the MAC/OAA Showcase

While that disparity in the second quarter didn't put the game away for the Cougars, they continued to utilize a balanced offensive effort in the third when they outscored Adams 21-13 to effectively put the game to bed.

"I've got nine seniors, and I've never coached (that many seniors) before," Tocco said. Five (start) and any one of them can play on the floor at a time. I have really good underclassmen as well, so we've got a really deep team."

One of those seniors, Tovin Williams, led Dakota with 13 points, while classmates Brayden Lee and Benji Jackson added 11 and nine, respectively. Seniors Daniel Terski and Zeke Wilson each finished with 10 for Adams.

The Cougars (2-1) also won at this event last year, beating Lake Orion as part of an 8-1 start. They finished the year just 14-10, though Tocco attributes that just as much to a difficult set of league opponents as anything. "If you look at the Red, you're looking at Warren Lincoln, back-to-back state titles. Grosse Pointe South, a very well-coached team, a lot of good pieces. Chippewa's athletic, Roseville are a really good team this year, and Port Huron Northern, they beat us last year (in districts), it was tough to beat them. So it's a tough MAC Red, and coming back (this year) it's even tougher, so we've got to get ready for that play, and that's what we're doing playing in tournaments and and against good teams like Adams right now."

As to what the Cougars can do to improve upon last year's 3-7 league mark and how they're better this go-around, he added, "We're better defensively this year in our half-court defense. We have five guys that are locked in like we were in that second quarter. And we probably want to start and finish quarters a little better, or start and finish games better. I won't say I'm not happy to win, but we didn't start well and didn't finish well (tonight)."

Novak didn't want to use the fact that his team was coming off a game against Clarkston (a 68-44 loss) on Friday night, though said it could have played into some tired legs for the Highlanders (1-1). "It's possible, but we know the challenges that come with scheduling the way we do," he said. "You're playing Clarkston and Dakota, those are two of the best teams in Macomb and Oakland County, and playing back-to-back makes it even more difficult, but I think it's an opportunity for our kids to come out and know where we're at compared to the best. It exposed our weaknesses early, and now we can identify them and work on them, hopefully correct al ot of those things before we get into the league."

Adams continues with another non-league game on Tuesday at home against Birmingham Seaholm. The Cougars resume play on Wednesday with a MAC Crossover at Utica Ford.

DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 23 points and 12 assists and the Detroit Pistons beat Milwaukee 124-112 on Saturday night to end the Bucks’ 15-game winning streak in Detroit.

Milwaukee came into the season with a 13-game winning streak against the Pistons, but Detroit has won two of three this season.

Jalen Duren had 16 points and 16 rebounds for Detroit, which has won four of five to improve to 19-5, with the only loss coming on Wednesday night in Milwaukee. Isaiah Stewart added 19 points.

Kevin Porter Jr. had a season-high 32 points for the Bucks, who have lost 10 of 12. Kyle Kuzma added 15 points.

Detroit shot 57.1% (20-35) from the floor in the first half, including 50% (7-14) on 3-pointers, but only built a 61-56 lead thanks to 13 turnovers that led to 20 Milwaukee points. Cunningham had 15 points and eight assists while Porter scored 19 on 7-8 shooting.

The Pistons started the third quarter with a 13-3 run to take a 74-59 lead, and Milwaukee was still down by 10 going into the fourth.

The Bucks never threatened in the fourth, trailing by 25 when both teams started emptying the benches. Pistons guard Marcus Sasser made his season debut, having missed the first 23 games with a hip injury.

Up next

Bucks: Host Boston on Thursday night.

Pistons: Host Atlanta on Friday night.