Jeff Arenz Sports Editor dnsports@conleynet.com (262) 513-2665
SECTION B
DAILY NEWS
Crossword ..........................2B Business ............................4B Classifieds..........................5B
SPORTS
SATURDAY September 19, 2020
GMTODAY.COM
NBA
Giannis wins historic second straight MVP By Tim Reynolds AP Basketball Writer
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Giannis Antetokounmpo’s historic year earned him a historic awards sweep. The Milwaukee forward is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, receiving that award Friday. He got the Defensive Player of the Year award earlier in these NBA playoffs. The 25-year-old Antetokounmpo becomes just the third player in league history to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, joining only Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. Associated Press “Michael Jordan, one of the best Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo wins his second players who’s ever done it, if not the straight NBA MVP award. best,” Antetokounmpo said. “Hakeem,
MLB
a guy that I look up to, he came from where I’m from, Nigeria, where I have roots. ... Just being in the same sentence with them, that means a lot to me.” Antetokounmpo — who was in his native Athens, Greece, with his family when the award was announced — received 85 votes from the 100-person panel of global sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league, plus the one additional vote granted by winning fan balloting. “It feels good to get this award announced when I’m back home,” Antetokounmpo said, after telling NBA Commissioner Adam Silver — who was in possession of the trophy Friday — to hang on to the hardware until he returns to the U.S. “I’m going to ship it to Greece,” Sil-
ver said during the televised announcement show on NBA TV. “No, don’t do that,” Antetokounmpo replied. “I’ll come get it when the season starts.” LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers got the other 15 first-place votes and finished second, and James Harden of the Houston Rockets finished third. James has been first, second or third in the MVP voting now 11 times in his career, and Harden has been a top-three finisher in each of the last four seasons. Antetokounmpo’s numbers this season were unprecedented, with averages of 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. Nobody had ever averaged those numbers over a full
NFL
See GIANNIS, PAGE 2B
PREP SPORTS
Packers wary of Lions
Slam helps State Brewers swimming rally, beat Both games last year came down to game-winning FGs moved to Royals Waukesha By Steve Megargee AP Sports Writer
By Steve Megargee AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE — Jacob Nottingham hit a grand slam and Orlando Arcia added a three-run shot as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied from an early four-run deficit and beat the Kansas City Royals 9-5 on Friday night. Nottingham’s two-out blast to left off Danny Duffy (3-4) capped a six-run rally in the fourth inning that put the Brewers ahead for good. The comeback had begun when Christian Yelich led off the fourth with his 150th career homer. Kansas City’s Salvador Perez went 4 of 5 with a homer, double, two runs and four RBIs. Drew Rasmussen (1-0) pitched one inning of scoreless relief to earn the win. Six Brewers relievers held Kansas City to one run over the last six innings. Friday’s game started the Brewers’ final home series before they close the regular season with three games at Cincinnati and five at St. Louis. The Brewers (24-26) are chasing the Reds (26-26) and Cardinals (24-24) for second place in the National League Central behind the Chicago Cubs (31-20). The top two teams in each division earn automatic playoff berths this season. Kansas City took an early lead off Brewers starter Adrian Houser as the first three batters of the game all scored. After Whit Merrifield singled and Adalberto Mondesi walked to open the game, Perez doubled them home. A one-out single by Hunter Dozier put runners on the corners. When Dozier stole second, Nottingham’s throw bounced into center field, allowing Perez to score from third. The Royals made it 4-0 when Perez singled home Mondesi in the third.
GREEN BAY — The past two games between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions exemplified the biggest difference between these two teams. Green Bay has an uncanny ability to win close games. Detroit keeps finding new ways to lose them. The Packers swept their two regular-season meetings with the Lions last year despite never leading either game until Mason Crosby made a game-winning field goal as time expired. They meet again Sunday in Green Bay’s home opener. “It was pretty much a miracle that we were able to win both those games,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. The Lions are trying to bounce back after blowing a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 27-23 loss to Chicago last week. That marked Detroit’s 10th consecutive defeat, a skid that began last November. “It doesn’t matter if you lose it, win it, win it by 10, lose it by 10, whatever it is, lose a close one, win a close one,” Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “You’ve got to move on to the next one. Shoot, lucky for us, Green Bay gets our attention pretty quick.” Green Bay went 9-1 last year in games decided by eight points or fewer before opening this season with a 43-34 victory at Minnesota. Detroit had a 2-0-1 record early last season with a pair of three-point victories, but has since gone 1-9 in games decided by eight points or fewer. The Lions have lost 11 games they led in the fourth quarter under coach Matt Patricia, who just took over in 2018. Detroit will have a tough time building a lead against a Green Bay offense operating at peak efficiency. Aaron Rodgers threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns without an interception against the Vikings. Davante Adams caught 14 passes to tie Don Hutson’s
Daily News
tackle Billy Turner sat out the Vikings game with a knee problem, and his status for Sunday’s game is uncertain. The Packers’ injuries on the offensive line could create an opportunity for tackle Rick Wagner, who was Detroit’s starting right tackle from 2017-19 before getting released in March.
Wednesday. Detroit’s cornerback situation should get a boost from rookie Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 overall pick from Ohio State. Okudah has been practicing this week after missing the Bears game with a hamstring injury.
Cornerback Concerns
Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander will have a tough time matching what he accomplished in the season opener. Alexander had a sack, interception and safety against the Vikings to
WAUKESHA — At the WIAA Board of Control meeting Friday, it approve the relocation of the state tournaments that usually take place in Madison, and one state championship is in Waukesha. The board supported moving the State Girls Swimming and Diving Championships to be held at Waukesha South. Other state championships that moved was State Girls Golf at Blackwolf Run in Kohler and the State Girls Individual and Team Tennis tournaments will be held at the Lake Geneva Tennis Club for Division 1 and at Sports Core in Kohler for Division 2. The board suspended a pair of tournament procedure regulations for 2020-21 only. The number of teams prescribed for tournament assignments and divisional placements was removed with flexibility given to the Executive Staff to determine the structure of the tournaments. In addition, the team or individual most recently defeated in the Tournament Series will be afforded the opportunity to advance if defeated by a team or individual unable to advance because of COVID-19 related circumstances. The board also approved a number of other pandemicassociated rule alterations for this school year only. It grants coaches additional unrestricted out-of-season contact during the school year and prior to the start of their respective season. A one week no-contact period immediately before the start of the season remains unchanged. The additional coaching contact is limited to a school’s own studentathletes, and it may not involve students or teams from outside the school. Coaches of teams in the alternate fall sports seasons
See PACKERS, PAGE 3B
See STATE, PAGE 3B
Associated Press
Green Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander, left, intercepts a pass intended for Minnesota wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) during an NFL game Sunday in Minneapolis. 78-year-old franchise singlegame record. But the Packers are taking nothing for granted. “Quite frankly, they should have won last week,” LaFleur said. “There’s no doubt about it. And they definitely could have beaten us twice last year. So you know we’ve got a big task in front of us.” Here are some things to know heading into the Lions-Packers game.
O-Line Uncertainty The Packers lost starting right guard Lane Taylor to a season-ending knee injury against Minnesota. Right
Detroit has hamstring issues with its cornerbacks. The Lions placed Justin Coleman on injured reserve and are unsure of Desmond Trufant’s status after he was unable to practice
Alexander’s Encore
PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: KETTLE MORAINE LUTHERAN
Chargers seek to convert experience into victories By Jeff Arenz dnsports@conleynet.com 262-513-2665
five of their nine games while averaging 14.9 points a year ago. The KML defense allowed an average of 39.7 points. But Kren likes the chemistry his players have formed. They are determined to turn things around and happy to be back on the field. “A number of our returning starters were varsity players as sophomores,” Kren said. “They know what I am all about and they know the direction that I am trying to take this program. We are very fortunate to have these seniors as leaders this year. The team chemistry so far has been very good with them.”
JACKSON — With eight starters returning on both sides of the ball, Kettle Moraine Lutheran coach David Kren is looking for improvement from the Chargers in 2020. “We are very excited with the amount of experience we have coming back,” said Kren, entering his third season at KML. “Although our numbers are low with 28 players at the varsity level, we have eight starters back on offense and defense. We hope they step up and run things well for us.” Kettle Moraine Lutheran navigated through a 1-8 sea- OFFENSE son in 2019, including a 1-6 mark in the East Central Quarterback Senior Nick Nimann comConference. The Chargers scored seven points or less in pleted 32 of 99 passes for 469
yards with four touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2019. He returns after being Kettle Moraine Lutheran’s secondleading rusher, gaining 382 yards and six touchdowns on 79 carries.
Running Backs Top rusher Joey Ehlke, a senior, returns to the backfield after running for 757 yards and six touchdowns on 121 carries. Junior Ben Zylka, the Chargers’ thirdleading rusher, is back after getting 60 carries for 259 yards and two touchdowns in 2019.
Wide Receivers KML’s top receiver — Jacob Stoltz — graduated after a senior campaign that saw him catch 10 passes for 168 yards and three TDs. He was a second team All-ECC
KETTLE MORAINE LUTHERAN CHARGERS 2020 OUTLOOK COACH: David Kren, third season (2-16) at KML. 2019 RECORD: 1-8 overall, 1-6 East Central Conference. 2019 FINISH: Did not qualify for WIAA playoffs. KEY PLAYER GRADUATED: WR/DB Jacob Stoltz (10 receptions, 168 yards, three TDs; 28 tackles; second team All-ECC at wide receiver). KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: Seniors — QB/DB Nick Ninmann, RB/LB Joey Ehlke, WR/DB Ethan Draeger, WR/LB Magrady Ellis, OL/DL Andrew Brandmeier, OL/DL Sam Rodriguez, OL/DL Conner Tanck. Juniors — RB/DB Ben Zylka, WR/DB Mason Knueppel, WR/DB Spencer Stern. KEY PLAYERS EMERGING: Senior — RB/DL Levi Vagnini. Junior — RB/LB Brady Herman. Sophomore — OL/DL Hunter Abitz. 2020 SCHEDULE Sept. 25: at Plymouth, 7 p.m.
performer. Ehlke and Zylka combined to catch 10 passes out of the backfield for 185 yards and one touchdown. They will be joined by seniors Ethan Draeger and Magrady Ellis,
Oct. 2: SHEBOYGAN FALLS, 7 p.m. Oct. 9: at Berlin, 7 p.m. Oct. 16: PORT WASHINGTON, 7 p.m. Oct. 23: at Omro, 7 p.m. Oct. 30: KEWASKUM Nov. 6: LAKESIDE LUTHERAN, 7 p.m. NOTE: East Central Conference members Ripon and Waupun have chosen to play football next spring. Former ECC members Campbellsport and Winneconne have been reassigned to other conferences this season. Port Washington and Sheboygan Falls have been assigned to the ECC in 2020. 2019 RESULTS Aug. 23: Winnebago Lutheran 48, KML 6 Aug. 30: Watertown Luther Prep 42, KML 19 Sept. 6: Winneconne 35, KML 7 Sept. 13: KML 56, Waupun 20 Sept. 20: Kewaskum 43, KML 0 Sept. 27: Ripon 48, KML 13 Oct. 4: Plymouth 44, KML 0 Oct. 11: Campbellsport 32, KML 26 Oct. 18: Berlin 45, KML 7
Brandmeier, Sam Rodriguez and Conner Tanck and sophomore Hunter Abitz. Kettle Moraine Lutheran gained 2,065 yards and averaged 229.4 yards per game in 2019.
DEFENSE Linemen
Rodriguez and Brandmeier are among the Chargers set to see action on the defensive line. Rodriguez had 32 tackles, 19 solo stops and two tackles for loss while Brandmeier added 22 tackles, 11 solo and one tackle for loss a year ago. Senior Levi Vagnini is back on the KML roster after takand juniors Mason Knueppel ing a year off. In 2018, he and Spencer Stern in the recorded 37 tackles, 20 solo receiving corps. stops, three tackles for loss, recovered two fumbles and Linemen forced two more. The KML offensive line See CHARGERS, PAGE 3B will include seniors Andrew