Sports: Pistons win; move up in standings

NBA/Pistons

The Pistons stopped Oklahoma City’s eight game winning streak as they beat the Thunder 88-82.  Oklahoma City rested stars Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, and the Thunder scored only nine points in the third quarter en route to their lowest-scoring game of the season. Marcus Morris led four Pistons in double figures with 24 points. Andre Drummond had yet another double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Pistons.  Tobias Harris added 17 points.  Their win, combined with a Pacers loss moved Detroit into seventh place in the East at 40-and-35.  The Pistons close out the 9-game home stand on Friday against Dallas and then head to Chicago on Saturday.

Red Wings

The Red Wings lost a crucial game, 4-3 in Montreal.  The Red Wings were down 2-0, but came scored three unanswered power play goals to take a 3-2 lead.  But Montreal came back with two for the win. Gustav Nyquist, Anthony Mantha and Mike Green scored in the second for Detroit, which outshot Montreal 42-27.   The loss drops the Wings to 38-28-and-11. They are still tied with the Flyers for the final wildcard spot in the East with 87 points.  They are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in 24 years. The Wings return to the ice Friday when they host the Wild.

Tigers

The Tigers and Blue Jays were rained out Tuesday. Victor Martinez lined out to shortstop in his only at-bat Tuesday afternoon before the game was called with the Tigers leading 2-0.  Martinez took at-bats in minor-league games for three consecutive days leading up to his return to the lineup Tuesday, after dealing with a mild left hamstring strain.  The Tigers return to action this evening when they take on the Orioles in Sarasota.

Tigers Trade Catcher

When the Tigers signed switch-hitting Jarod Saltalamachia to be their backup catcher, Bryan Holaday became expendable.   In spite of a good spring, Holaday was traded to the Rangers Tuesday.  The Tigers get light-hitting minor league catcher Bobby Wilson and starting right-handed pitcher Myles Jaye.  Holaday, a Texas native who played college ball at Texas Christian University, was grateful for his time in Detroit but happy to be headed home.

Big Ten Basketball

Michigan junior forward Ricky Doyle has been granted a release from his scholarship and will transfer for his final two seasons of collegiate eligibility.  This comes a day after guard Spike Albrecht received a graduate transfer.

Michigan State senior guard Denzel Valentine has won yet another player of the year award on Tuesday, this time from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Valentine is the third MSU player to win the award, after Shawn Respert in ‘95, and Draymond Green in 2012.  Valentine is also a finalist for the Oscar Robinson and Naismith awards, which will be handed out this weekend. He was also named Monday as one of the final five finalists for the Wooden Award, which will be presented next Friday in Los Angeles.

Women’s Basketball

Michigan plays in the Women's National Invitational Tournament semifinal round. They'll travel to play at Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday night.

Softball

The KCC Softball team is 12-2 after a sweep of Lake Michigan Community College, by scores of 10-0 and 12-7.   Makayla Craun just missed a 5-inning no-hitter for the win.   The Bruins overcame a 5-1 deficit and 5 team errors to come back and win the nightcap.

KCC has signed 10 players for next year, including four from Battle Creek.  Pennfield seniors Alexa Stephenson and Jessica Roan along with Lakeview seniors Kimberly Kucharczyk and Madison Wilson have signed their National Letters of Intent to play at KCC.

Athens and Colon split a pair; Athens won game 12-8 in game 2.  Colon won game 1 6-0.

Vicksburg swept Marshall.

Girls’ Soccer

Quincy 10, Marshall Academy 0.

Girls’ Tennis

Marshall 8, Leslie 0.

NCAA Tourney

Villanova will take on Oklahoma and North Carolina will face Syracuse in the Final Four on Saturday in Houston.