Friday State Sports Briefs: Bucks play Wizards tonight

• Basketball

Basketball

Talk about it

MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Bucks will try to go 2-1 tonight when they host the Washington Wizards. The Bucks are coming off a three-point win over Minnesota in their home opener on Tuesday.

The Wizards are 0-2 after losing by 18 to Atlanta on Wednesday night. And they blew a 21-point lead in their opener, falling to New Jersey by six. Second-year point guard had 20 points and six assists in his last outing. Brandon Jennings has led Milwaukee in scoring so far. Bucks’ forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has missed two games with knee tendinitis, and he was limited at practice yesterday. Forward Carlos Delfino practiced after getting over a sprained right wrist, and he hopes to make his regular season debut tonight. And Bucks’ rookie forward Tobias Harris is still out with muscle soreness and the effects of his recent dehydration. He hopes to make his NBA debut next week.

______________________________________________________________

The Phoenix Suns hope Michael Redd can give them a scoring boost. The Suns signed the former Bucks’ guard yesterday to a one-year contract for the veterans’ minimum of $1.3 million dollars. Redd averaged 20 points a game in 11 seasons with Milwaukee, and he was the team’s last All-Star in 2004. But he has only played in 61 games in the last three seasons, after tearing ligaments in his left knee in both 2009 and 2010. Redd said the Suns brought him in on Tuesday to quote, “see if I still had some juice in the tank.” Jared Dudley is currently the starting shooting guard for Phoenix, which is 0-2 going into a game at New Orleans tonight.

_______________________________________________________________

The UW-Green Bay men's basketball team lost their first Horizon League game of the season, 53-49 at Butler last night. The Phoenix trailed by two points with 20 seconds left when Kameron Woods hit a three for the Bulldogs. Kam Cerroni made two free throws to cut the margin to three. But Ronald Nored made a free throw in the final seconds to seal the victory for Butler. The Bulldogs only shot 31-percent from the floor, but Green Bay was worse at 28-percent. Nored and Andrew Smith each scored 13 for Butler, which improved to 1-1 in conference play and 7-7 overall. For the Phoenix, Alec Brown scored 13 and Brennan Cougill had 13 rebounds. Green Bay dropped to 2-1 in the Horizon League and 6-7 overall. They’ll play at Valparaiso tomorrow.

________________________________________________________________

The 18th-ranked UW-Green Bay women are still undefeated, after winning their Horizon League opener 80-63 at home over Illinois-Chicago. The Phoenix have now won 27 straight regular season conference games. And they haven’t lost a league opener since joining the NCAA’s Division-One in 1987. Illinois-Chicago never made a basket outside the paint in the first 13 minutes – but the Flames only trailed by eight at halftime. Green Bay took control with an 11-4 run to open the second half. Sarah Eichler scored a career-high 19 points for UWGB. Their leading scorer, Julie Wojta, only had two points in the first half due to foul trouble. But she ended up with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Jasmine Bailey had 18 points and 10 boards. But she also committed 10 turnovers, as Illinois-Chicago fell to 0-1 in the conference and 7-5 overall. Green Bay is now 11-0, and will host Loyola tomorrow.

_______________________________________________________________

The UW-Milwaukee women are 0-1 in the Horizon League, after dropping an 81-73 home contest to Loyola. The Panthers almost caught up after being down by 18 in the second half. They trailed by four in the final minute, but the Ramblers made free throws to extend their margin of victory. Courtney Lindfors scored 23 points for Milwaukee, which dropped to 4-7 overall. Two Loyola players had double-doubles. Simone Law had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Lauren Hibbard added 13 points and 10 boards off the bench. Loyola evened its overall record to 6-6. Milwaukee will host Illinois-Chicago tomorrow. The University of Wisconsin women will open their Big Ten schedule tonight at home against Ohio State.

_________________________________________________________________

The four smallest Wisconsin high schools with boys’ and girls’ basketball teams are playing in their own holiday event in Mercer. It’s called the “Best with the Least” tournament – and like all holiday tournaments, the teams are competing for trophies and bragging rights. South Shore High School in Port Wing has just 43 students. Butternut has 53. Phelps and Mercer have 35 each. For the boys, Mercer and Phelps won their opening round games yesterday to advance to today’s title contest. Butternut and Phelps will compete for the girls’ title. South Shore Superintendent Clendon Gustafson came up with the idea for the tournament after his school forfeited the Division-Five sectionals last year. That was because nine of the 11 players went on a band trip.

__________________________________________________________________

University of Wisconsin linebacker Kevin Claxton has missed the last two practices with a lingering leg injury. But the senior says he expects to play in Monday’s Rose Bowl Game against Oregon. Sophomore Conor O’Neill has filled in during the last two days – but O’Neill says Claxton has been practicing for most of the Badgers’ bowl preparation. Claxton is third on the Badgers with six-and-a-half tackles for losses, and he’s fifth in total tackles with 47. Meanwhile, the Badgers had more conditioning drills yesterday, so they can have the stamina to deal with Oregon’s fast-paced offense.

____________________________________________________________________

Organizers are trying to arrange an alternative starting line for the American Birkebeiner cross country ski races in northwest Wisconsin. The foundation which runs the event has announced plans to buy 80 acres near Cable to set up a trail-head. The annual races normally start near the Telemark Lodge. But the status of the resort and its ownership are uncertain going into February's Birkie. And the foundation says a backup is needed in case the event loses its access to that land or others near the starting line. It would cost an estimated quarter-million dollars to buy the alternative property. And Bayfield County would need to approve a five-mile connector trail to the trail-head. It would be open year-round so skiers, snow-shoers, hikers, and mountain bike riders could also use it.

____________________________________________________________________

SCORES

In men’s college basketball…

UW-Parkside 62, Wayne State 52

Mary Hardin-Baylor 70, UW-Stout 57

Ripon 113, Mount Aloysius 92

UW-Platteville 73, Albion 61

UW-La Crosse 73, Kalamazoo 44

UW-Eau Claire 81, Judson 64

UW-River Falls 77, Macalester 58

Concordia-Mequon 76, UW-Oshkosh 72

Saint Norbert 71, Northland 53

Lakeland 88, Trine 75

Carthage 76, Geneva 48

________________________________________

In women’s college basketball…

UW-Green Bay 80, Illinois-Chicago 63

Loyola 81, UW-Milwaukee 73

UW-Parkside 61, Indiana Northwest 48

UW-Stevens Point 62, Wellesley 43

Washington-Saint Louis 61, UW-Oshkosh 48

UW-Platteville 54, California-Santa Cruz 47

UW-Whitewater 64, Concordia-Texas 61

UW-Superior 63, Saint Mary’s of Minnesota 56

UW-Eau Claire 72, Southwestern 62

UW-La Crosse 67, Luther 47

Carthage 75, UW-River Falls 68 in overtime

East Texas Baptist 74, Northland 63 in overtime

Centre 70, Ripon 56

Alverno 107, Caltech 34

__________________________________________

Wisconsin boys' high school basketball

Colby 50, Phillips 40

Gillett 61, Laona 54

Lancaster 61, Potosi 51

Marinette 77, Menominee Michigan 57

Medford 70, Rib Lake 26

Milwaukee King 77, Richland Center 67

Mineral Point 55, Belmont 45

Monroe 44, Elkhorn 42

Northland Pines 67, Watersmeet, Mich. 44

Oshkosh Valley Christian 56, Lincoln Hills 41

Plymouth 61, West Bend West 52

Sheboygan North 61, Kimberly 52

BRC/WVC Classic Day

Hudson 57, Wausau West 26

Marshfield 74, Chippewa Falls 61

Merrill 54, Superior 49

Rhinelander 52, Eau Claire Memorial 41

Schofield D.C. Everest 53, Eau Claire North 30

Wausau East 69, Menomonie 64

Brookfield Central Holiday Tournament

Brookfield Central 76, Glendale Nicolet 51

Milwaukee Bay View 49, Hartford 46

Brookfield East Holiday Tournament

East Troy 74, Milwaukee Riverside 71, OT

Racine William Horlick 64, Brookfield East 46

Cambridge Tournament

Cambridge 67, Monticello 52

Destiny 57, Edgerton 45

Clayton Tournament

Boyceville 39, Clayton 49

Drummond 65, Turtle Lake 53

Frederic 52, Bruce 49

Solon Springs 61, Clear Lake 24

Spring Valley 53, Prairie Farm 38

Cuba City Tournament

Cuba City 79, Milwaukee Academy of Science 53

Dodgeland Tournament

CEO Leadership Academy 74, Dodgeland 51

Random Lake 54, Milwaukee University School 51

Fond du Lac Tournament

Fond du Lac 51, Baraboo 44

Fort Atkinson Tournament

Lake Geneva Badger 47, Whitewater 39

Fort Atkinson 63, Lakeside Lutheran 60

Homestead Tournament

Madison East 49, Randolph 48

Hustiford Tournament

Juda 56, Hustisford 32

Kewaskum 62, Horicon 52

La Farge Tournament

Independence 52, Cashton 47

Royall 64, La Farge 45

Lake Mills Holiday Tournament

Lake Mills 57, Walworth Big Foot 41

Wisconsin Dells 64, Orfordville Parkview 38

Lakeland Tournament

Auburndale 45, Lakeland 43, OT

Luther Tournament

Elk Mound 60, Melrose-Mindoro 34

Onalaska Luther 79, Coulee Region Christian 14

Marathon Tournament

Marathon 58, Athens 46

Mercer Tournament

Mercer 53, Butternut 49

Phelps 48, South Shore 45

Palmyra Tournament

Beloit Turner 64, Johnson Creek 44

Young Coggs Prep 47, Palmyra-Eagle 32

Pardeeville Tournament

Pardeeville 57, Rio 46

Sentry Classic Holiday Tournament

Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 55, Milwaukee Custer 49

Sheboygan North Shootout Tournament

Oostburg 58, Sturgeon Bay 54

Sheboygan North 61, Kimberly 52

Tri-County Tournament

Wautoma 49, Necedah 45

Wabasha-Kellogg Tournament

Houston, Minn. 53, Alma/Pepin 48

Waterford Tournament

Racine Washington Park 61, Waterford 50

Webster Tournament

Grantsburg 74, Pine City, Minn. 36

West Allis Hale Tournament

West Allis Hale 71, Brookfield Academy 56

Wilmot 78, Milwaukee North 59

West De Pere Tournament

Little Chute 58, Green Bay East 55

West De Pere 56, Kewaunee 27

Westby Holiday Tournamnet

Westby 70, Bangor 59

Winona State Tournament

La Crosse Logan 72, Faribault, Minn. 37

White Bear Lake, Minn. 62, Holmen 52

____________________________________________

Girls' high school basketball

Boyceville 62, Somerset 43

Green Bay Notre Dame 72, Southern Door 38

Ithaca 51, Cassville 17

Jefferson 63, Milwaukee Marshall 32

Johnson Creek 31, Williams Bay 27

Juda 38, Palmyra-Eagle 12

La Crosse Central 41, Onalaska 26

Medford 67, Rib Lake 16

Menominee, Mich. 30, Marinette 28

Potosi 59, Lancaster 53

Shiocton 59, Marion 42

Southwestern 62, Argyle 56

Spencer 52, Cashton 30

Waukesha South 64, Madison Memorial 23

West Bend West 55, Campbellsport 49

Whitefish Bay Dominican 40, Wauwatosa West 21

Wisconsin Dells 50, Portage 46

Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 51, Superior 38

Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 54, Iola-Scandinavia 31

Ashwaubenon Holiday Classic

Slinger 46, Ashwaubenon 32

Algoma 52, Beaver Dam 43

Beloit Memorial Tournament

Milton 43, Waukesha West 29

Sussex Hamilton 77, Beloit Memorial 22

Cambridge Tournament

Cambridge 41, Winnebago Lutheran 37

Edgerton 70, Hustisford 30

Cedarburg Holiday Tournament

West Bend East 42, Greendale 33

Plymouth 57, Cedarburg 35

Sentry Classic Holiday Tournament

Amherst 55, Nekoosa 44

Cuba City Tournament

River Ridge 61, Milwaukee Academy of Science 19

Cuba City 45, Brodhead 42

Durand Tournament

Durand 39, Mondovi 34, OT

Fall Creek 45, Bloomer 35

Fort Atkinson Tournament

Menomonee Falls 61, Kenosha Bradford 18

Fort Atkinson 41, Lakeside Lutheran 31

Franklin Holiday Tournament

Hartland Arrowhead 60, Franklin 49

Waunakee 38, Wisconsin Lutheran 30

Milwaukee Pius 60, Middleton 46

Glendale Nicolet 50, Oshkosh Lourdes 39

Gresham Tournament

Menominee Indian 61, Wisconsin Valley Lutheran 36

Hopkins Tournament

Milwaukee King 98, Hutchinson, Minn. 68

Iowa-Grant Tournament

North Crawford 50, Kickapoo 34

North Crawford 50, Iowa-Grant 41

Lake Geneva Badger Tournament

East Troy 56, Grafton 47

Lake Geneva Badger 61, Catholic Central 48

Lake Mills Holiday Tournament

Clinton 51, Westfield 47

Lake Mills 61, Omro 34

Lakeland Tournament

Prentice 46, Washburn 39

Merrill 55, Lakeland 34

Luther Tournament

Elk Mound 63, Melrose-Mindoro 46

Pittsville 58, Onalaska Luther 36

Marathon Tournament

Weyauwega-Fremont 43, Marathon 36

Marshfield Tournament

Green Bay Preble 72, Marshfield 53

Oshkosh West 39, Wausau Newman 37

Mercer Tournament

Butternut 45, Mercer 29

Phelps 39, South Shore 36, OT

Milwaukee South Tournament

Kewaskum 53, Milwaukee St. Joan Antida 19

Milwaukee Madison 51, Milwaukee South 37

North Fond du Lac Tournament

Hartford 51, North Fond du Lac 37

Pecatonica Tournament

Pecatonica 50, Weston 20

Mineral Point 33, River Ridge 32

Roseville Tournament

Eau Claire Regis 68, Burnsville Minnesota 36

Sentry Classic Holiday Tournament

Amherst 55, Nekoosa 44

UW-Stout Tournament

Colfax 44, Minong Northwood 27

Wabasha-Kellogg Tournament

Watertown 73, Alma-Pepin 42

Wausau East Tournament

Eau Claire Memorial 47, Wausau East 41

Wausau West 54, Rice Lake 51

Webster Tournament

Grantsburg 44, Pine City, Minn. 28

Webster 38, Hinckley-Finlayson, Minn. 21

West De Pere Tournament

Kewaunee 43, Wrightstown 28

Winona State Tournament

Holmen 55, Winona, Minn. 42

___________________________________________

Boys' high school hockey

Janesville 4, Waukesha Catholic Memorial-Milwaukee Pius XI 0

Milwaukee University School 9, Mt. Carmel, Ill. 3

Neenah-Hortonville 3, Chippewa Falls 0

Onalaska 5, La Crosse Aquinas 0

Somerset 2, Breckenridge, Minn. 1

Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 5, Tomah 2

Baraboo-Portage Tournament

Baraboo-Portage 3, McFarland 0

Hilltopper Holiday Classic

Proctor, Minnesota 7, Madison Edgewood 4

Delano/Rockford, Minn. 9, Appleton United 0

Superior 3, Mankato West, Minn. 2, OT

Duluth Marshall, Minn. 5, Green Bay Notre Dame 3

Marshfield Tournament

Fox Cities 6, Altoona 1

Marshfield 1, Eau Claire Regis/McDonell/Bloomer 0

Oshkosh 2, Antigo 0

Rice Lake Tournament

Amery 3, Hayward 2

Rice Lake 5, Burnett County Blizzard 1

Rochester Kiwanis Tournament

Eau Claire Memorial 1, Prior Lake, Minn. 0, OT

New Richmond 5, Rochester John Marshall, Minn. 2

Schofield D.C. Everest Tournament

Lakeland 3, Chequamegon/Phillips 3

Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs 4, Green Bay United 3

Verona 7, Schofield D.C. Everest 0

Spooner Tournament

Northland Pines 7, Ashland 3

Wisconsin Dells Tournament

Sauk Prairie 8, Grafton 1

Beaver Dam 3, Viroqua 2

Wisconsin Dells-Reedsburg 5, Kenosha 2

_____________________________________________

Girls' high school hockey

New Richmond 7, Luverne, Minn. 2

Schwan -Red Division

St. Croix Valley Fusion 6, St. Louis Park, Minn. 1

Schwan Cup-White Division

USM 2, Richfield, Holy Angels, Minn. 1

Appleton United 6, St. Francis/North Branch, Minn. 1

Hudson 7, Fairmont Area, Minn. 0