MHSAA Clears Fall Playoff Resumption – Sunday Sports Wrap

High School

The Michigan High School Athletic Association says it’s ready to proceed with the postseason tournaments for three fall sports.

The football, volleyball and Lower Peninsula girls swimming and diving competitions were interrupted when the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services suspended face-to-face high school activities in November.

Athletes on teams competing in the tournament will be part of a pilot COVID-19 testing program using BinaxNOW antigen tests that produce results within 15 minutes.

Football teams may resume non-contact practices beginning Monday. Tests will be administered Wednesday, and full-contact drills may resume after a first round of negative results.

The football playoffs will resume January 9th, with the 11-player semifinals and the eight-player finals on June 16th, and the 11-player championships January 22nd and 23rd.

Dates for the resumption of the volleyball and swimming tournaments have not been released. The Calumet High School volleyball team is slated to face Beaverton in the quarterfinals.

The current MDHHS Epidemic Order is scheduled to expire January 15th. If restrictions on high school sports are not extended, tournament teams will be able to practice outside the restrictions of the testing program, and winter sports teams will be able to begin practices.

NBA

The Detroit Pistons couldn’t hold a late lead, and fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers 128-119 in double overtime last evening. Jerami Grant led Detroit with 28 points, and Blake Griffin added 26. Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya both left the game with ankle injuries.

The Pistons will visit the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow night.

NFL

The Detroit Lions were humiliated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 47-7 yesterday. Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes in the first half. Blaine Gabbert replaced him at halftime, and tossed two more. The two combined for 491 passing yards. Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford left the game early with an ankle injury. The Lions’ only score came on a 74-yard Jamal Agnew punt return in the third quarter.

In last night’s contest, Ryan Fitzpatrick came off the bench to lead the Miami Dolphins to a 26-25 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Jason Sanders’ 44-yard field goal with one second remaining sealed the win.

The Green Bay Packers host the Tennessee Titans tonight. Coverage begins at 7:30 on 99.3 The Lift.

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