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EspañolQB Participation Stifles 2026 Combine Record
The 2026 NFL Combine saw an all-time achievement prevented due to quarterback participation. Officials confirmed that the lack of sufficient QBs in attendance meant the historic milestone could not be reached.
Mackinaw City girls get revenge on Lakers, Cedarville up next in semis
MACKINAW CITY – Jake Huffman knows his squad has come a long way this season.
But it’s districts where the Mackinaw City girls basketball coach hopes his team will be at its best.
At least for one round of postseason action, Huffman was thrilled about his Comets, who avenged a double-digit home loss to Mackinac Island earlier this campaign by getting revenge with a 52-36 victory over the Lakers in an MHSAA Division 4 first-round district clash on Monday, March 2.
“We’ve definitely figured it out a little bit, and we talked a lot about maintaining consistency and playing a game for 32 minutes,” Huffman said. “We’ve seen the ceiling, and we’ve seen the floor. There’s a lot of potential in this group when they’re playing well, and it’s about building that confidence in themselves."
The Comets (15-8) used a solid first quarter to build a 16-5 lead, but the Lakers (9-8) battled back behind the play of senior Lakelyn Bunker, who reached 1,000 career points during the second quarter. Just as important, she helped the Lakers close the gap to 23-20 by halftime.
Mackinaw City picked a perfect time to play its best quarter of the season in the third, using a 17-6 scoring advantage to take a commanding 40-26 lead into the last period.
In the fourth, the Comets controlled play, captured their eighth win in nine games, and set up a 6 p.m. district semifinal clash at Cedarville on Wednesday, March 4.
“This was a great win for us tonight,” Huffman said. “It shows a little bit of the growth that we’ve made this year, taking care of some of the little things that we need to take care of with our team, and a lot of it was energy. We talked at halftime about how we need to maintain that level of play, and I was really proud of how the girls came out in the third quarter and stayed after it.”
Freshman Emily Kruczynski finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and four steals for the Comets, who received 14 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and a steal from Rian Esper, 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals from Kenzlie Currie, and six points, 17 rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocks from Kerry-Ann Ming. Mackinaw City was rounded out by Poppy Wallace (three points, four rebounds, one assist), Ella Kruczynski (two points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal), and Elizabeth Kruczynski (one assist, one steal).
With momentum on their side, the Comets hope to pull an upset over a talented Cedarville (13-7) squad on Wednesday, but it’ll take an effort like the one they put in on Monday.
“I think we have a shot,” Huffman said. “It’s really about if we’re going to go out there, play for 32 minutes and take care of the basketball, and we have found success in games this year where we keep our turnovers down. If we go up there and handle that pressure that they’re going to bring, I think we can give them a game.”
Bunker led Mackinac Island with 18 points.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Mackinaw City girls basketball beats Mackinac Island in district clash
Celtics spoil return of Giannis, blowout Milwaukee Bucks on road
The Boston Celtics continue on their roll since the All-Star break, even more impressive on Monday night, on the second night of a back-to-back. Not only was it a home-away series for Boston who defeated the Sixers on Sunday then traveled to Milwaukee to face the Bucks, but they did so without Jaylen Brown or Neemias Queta in the lineup. On the other side, the Bucks saw the return of their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo who was capped at 25 minutes and finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
As it's been most of the season, when the Celtics have to have contributions from other role players, there have been multiple players who have stepped up when called upon to deliver. Six different Boston players scored in double figures, with Payton Pritchard leading the way with 25 points, while both Hugo Gonzalez and Derrick White added 18 points each.
Here's a quick recap of tonight's win over the Bucks:
Final score: Boston Celtics 108, Milwaukee Bucks 81
Keys to the game:
Contributions from everyone: The aforementioned six players in double figures shows exactly what this Celtics team has been built on all year, any player at any time mentality. They shot 43% from the field, and 40% from 3-point range, and only three players reaching over 30 minutes on the night.
Hugo Gonzalez's big game on both ends: Even with Payton Pritchard leading the way and Derrick White going for 18 points, no one had a game as good as Gonzalez on the night while getting a start for the night. Gonzalez put up 18 points and 16 rebounds, and then added to his stat line with three steals, two blocks, and 5 offensive rebounds on the night. Wherever the basketball was on Monday night, Gonzalez was not far behind.
Dominance in multiple areas: Not only did Boston win the game, but they did so by dominating the rebounds, points in the paint, and more assists, while having less turnovers as well. Boston's biggest lead was 31 points, while Milwaukee's biggest lead was just seven points on the night. The Celtics were close betting favorites before the game tipped off, but took control early on and did not let up throughout.
Highlight of the game: Hugo Gonzalez gets it done at both ends of the court
Hugo bringing that energy ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/8mUSD4jnPS
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 3, 2026
What's next: vs. Charlotte Hornets, Wednesday, March 4, 7:30PM ET
For the first time this season, the Boston Celtics will face a familiar face in former assistant coach Charles Lee and the Charlotte Hornets. In what will be the first of three matchups this season, the Celtics will face a young, upstart Hornets team led by a young trio of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and rookie Kon Knueppel who has taken the league by storm with his scoring abilities. The Hornets can undoubtedly put the ball in the basket, so this game could be a track meet, and it should be expected that Boston will see the returns of Neemias Queta and Jaylen Brown in this matchup.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics spoil return of Giannis, blowout Milwaukee Bucks on road
Blackhawks to Trade Dickinson Before NHL Deadline
Jason Dickinson, a $4.25 million defense-first center, is likely to be the next Chicago Blackhawks player moved before the NHL trade deadline. The Athletic's Chris Johnston lists Dickinson on his trade board, noting he's ideally suited for a bottom-six role on a strong team.
Despite producing limited offense, Dickinson brings strong underlying metrics, penalty-killing abilities, and can anchor a shutdown line. With his contract expiring and not fitting Chicago's future plans, the Blackhawks are expected to trade him to return value rather than lose him for nothing.
Oilers actually made it easier to trade Andrew Mangiapane by waiving him
Oilers actually made it easier to trade Andrew Mangiapane by waiving him originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Edmonton Oilers recently waived Andrew Mangiapane.
It seemed like an admission that they're giving up on him, and for the most part, that's the case.
He's not actually gone, though. He can just be sent to the AHL when he clears waivers. And that actually increases his trade value.
Why?
Because an acquiring team can now send Mangiapane straight to the AHL themselves.
"He’s unlikely to be claimed, but that doesn’t mean he won’t still be moved in a subsequent trade," The Athletic's Chris Johnston wrote in his latest trade board. "Quite the contrary, in fact, because an acquiring team can send Mangiapane directly to the AHL once he’s passed through waivers and would be in a position to get a sweetener from Edmonton for taking on his contract. Mangiapane’s game is a long way from the 35-goal season he had in 2021-22, but he did score 13 even-strength goals in Washington last season and was also deployed as a penalty killer on the league’s fifth-best unit. Edmonton is desperate to clear up cap space for other moves, so he has to go."
MORE: Maple Leafs getting help from Flyers to trade veteran center
Mangiapane has a cap hit of $3.6 million and is still under contract through the 2026-27 season.
That means that a team acquiring him might hope that a change of scenery at least provides him a bit of a jolt to be a slight NHL contributor at times in the next year-plus.
The Oilers will give up what they need to to clear his salary off the books, though, and now it's easier with him available to be placed in the AHL.
More NHL news:
- Oilers want 2 positions before the NHL trade deadline
- A salary cap rule may make 2 Flames trades difficult
- Canadiens know trade cost for Robert Thomas
- It'll be complicated to trade for Steven Stamkos
- Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
- Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future