MINOT, ND – Bismarck Century remains atop both Class A Basketball Polls. The polls are voted on by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

 

 

               (First Place Votes)    Record    Points    Last Week
1. Bismarck Century (17)           7-0           85            1
2. Mandan (1)                             7-0            68            2
3. Minot High                               8-1           50            3
4. Fargo Davies                          8-2           34            4
5. Grand Forks Red River          6-2           15            5

 

Others receiving votes: Bismarck Legacy (5-3)

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               (First Place Votes)    Record    Points    Last Week
1. Bismarck Century (16)           5-2           84           1
2. Grand Forks Red River (1)     9-0           64           4
3. Bismarck Legacy                   7-0            52           3
4. Minot High                               7-2            34           2
5. Fargo Davies                          8-1           19           RV

 

Others receiving votes: West Fargo (7-2)

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MSU MEN’S HOCKEY

 

UNION LAKE, Mich. – Minot State University starts 2023 in the top spot in the 2022-2023 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s Division 1 Ranking. The Beavers are undefeated in Men’s Division I action this season and No. 1 for the fifth consecutive ranking period. Minot State is 18-1 on the season with their only loss coming to two-time defending DII national champ the University of Mary. Adrian College remains No. 2 and Liberty University No. 3. The University of Jamestown jumps four spot to No. 4 with Nevada-Las Vegas rounding out the top 5. Minot State is heading to Oklahoma this weekend for the University of Central Oklahoma Showcase, the Beavers will spar with the 10th-ranked Illinois State University Redbirds (Friday at noon), the 8th-ranked Bronchos of University of Central Oklahoma (Saturday, 7:45 p.m.), and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (Sunday, 2:45 p.m.) for a three game-series.

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TIMBERWOLVES-PISTONS

 

DETROIT (AP) — Saddiq Bey scored 31 points and the Detroit Pistons rallied to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 135-118. Bojan Bogdanovic added 27 points for the shorthanded Pistons, who were down 10-0 in the first three minutes. Four other players had at least 13 points. Anthony Edwards scored 20 for Minnesota, which had won four straight since a 116-104 loss to Detroit on New Year’s Eve. D’Angelo Russell added 19 and Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 14 rebounds. Edwards missed the third quarter with hip soreness and Russell picked up two fouls early in the period, sending him to the bench with four. Without them, Minnesota struggled at both ends of the floor, allowing the Pistons to take a 94-81 lead with three minutes left in the period. The Pistons outscored Minnesota 36-23 in the third to take a 101-87 lead. Edwards returned for the fourth, scoring 15 points, but Detroit was never threatened. UP NEXT: Timberwolves host the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

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VIKINGS-PLAYOFFS

 

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — When the Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Giants three weeks ago, they allowed plenty of pressure on quarterback Kirk Cousins — including four sacks. Minnesota was down one starting offensive lineman in the game; center Garrett Bradbury, who missed the Vikings’ final five games of the regular season. Minnesota’s offensive line is in more flux as the two teams match up again in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday afternoon. The Vikings are without standout right tackle Brian O’Neill for the rematch and they still have uncertainty at center. Bradbury (back) could possibly return Sunday afternoon after returning to practice on a limited basis Wednesday.

 

Backup tackle Blake Brandel, who started three games in place of injured left tackle Christian Darrisaw earlier this season before sustaining a knee injury, was designated to return from injured reserve and is expected to be available Sunday. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m looking at it like Blake is 100% ready to go now,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. “We’ll just see how he responds to some real work. We’re going to be full-speed today and padded up tomorrow, so we’ll get to see some real, tangible evidence of what he can do for us Sunday, as well as some other guys.”

 

O’Neill and Austin Schlottman, who started at center for Bradbury against New York, were put on injured reserve last week. The Vikings started third-string center Chris Reed and backup tackle Oli Udoh against Chicago in the regular-season finale. Bradbury’s potential return would be a boost. “He’ll practice today in a limited capacity and then we’ll just see how he feels after,” O’Connell said. “I know he’s been feeling really good, it’s been positive reports and kind of the mindset of trying to go this week. But as I’ve said with multiple other injuries this year, we won’t put Garrett in a position unless we think he can succeed and be healthy doing so, so it’ll be something we work through throughout the week.”

 

Safety Harrison Smith (knee) and linebacker Brian Asamoah (knee) were also limited in practice Wednesday. Smith was inactive for the regular-season finale against Chicago. Cornerback Cameron Dantzler Sr. was held out of practice Wednesday due to a personal matter, while defensive lineman James Lynch (shoulder) returned to practice for the first time since being injured against the Giants.

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TWINS-CORREA

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Forget about RBIs and OPS. Carlos Correa’s free-agent destination was decided by MRIs. At the end of the most convoluted high-profile free-agent negotiation in baseball history, the small-market Minnesota Twins ended up with the All-Star shortstop — and not the San Francisco Giants or New York Mets — because of their doctors’ comfort with Correa’s surgicaly repaired right leg. San Francisco balked at finalizing a $350 million, 13-year contract with the 28-year-old, and then the Mets hesitated to close a $315 million, 12-year deal, both after a scan of Correa’s tibia alarmed their physicians. As it turned out, those concerns cost Correa over $100 million in guaranteed money.

 

Correa, best known as the shortstop for the 2017 World Series champion Houston Astros, spent 2022 with Minnesota. The team’s medical staff, having examined the two-time All-Star several times over the past year, felt more comfortable with the ankle, which was repaired in 2014. And so the Twins went ahead with a $200 million, six-year agreement that was finalized Wednesday — 29 days after Correa agreed with the Giants and 21 days after he struck a deal with the Mets.