Michael Wagaman, Author at The Rapid City Post

Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie (1) drives to the basket against Louisville guard Isaac McKneely (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif., Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Freshman Ebuka Okorie leads Stanford to an 80-76 win over No. 16 Louisville

January 2, 2026

Freshman Ebuka Okorie scored 28 points, Benny Gealer made a crucial pair of free throws with 8.2 seconds left, and Stanford beat No. 16 Louisville 80-76. Okorie shot 9 of 18 and went 8 of 10 on free throws in 38 minutes to pace Stanford to its first win over a ranked opponent since beating then-No. 4 Arizona on Dec. 31, 2023. It was Stanford’s first victory in five meetings with Louisville, an ACC rival as of last season. Ryan Conwell scored 18 points on 6-of-21 shooting for Louisville, which fell short in coach Pat Kelsey’s first attempt at his 300th victory.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) attempts a layup over Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Brown scores 29 points and Celtics pull away in 4th quarter for 120-106 win over Kings

January 1, 2026

Jaylen Brown had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics pulled away down the stretch to beat the Sacramento Kings 120-106. Brown shot 11 of 25, including 1 for 9 from 3-point distance, but made six free throws and added four assists before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. The four-time All-Star has been on a scoring tear lately, pouring in 20 or more points in 12 of his last 15 games. Derrick White had 16 points and seven assists as Boston improved to 3-1 on its five-game trip. Payton Pritchard added 16 points and six assists. DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 25 points. The Kings have lost four of five and nine of 11.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots between Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Curry scores 39 in return but Timberwolves top Warriors 127-120 without Edwards

December 12, 2025

Rudy Gobert had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo made a clutch 3-pointer with 28 seconds remaining and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 127-120. Stephen Curry scored 39 for the Warriors after missing the previous five games with a bruised left quadriceps, but Minnesota held on even without injured star Anthony Edwards, who sat out with a sore right foot. DiVincenzo finished with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists in the first meeting between the teams since the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors in the second round of the playoffs last season. Julius Randle had 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Minnesota. Naz Reid added 18 points and seven assists off the bench.

Detroit Red Wings center Emmitt Finnie, left, celebrates with goaltender Cam Talbot after the Red Wings defeated the San Jose Sharks following a shootout of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

James van Riemsdyk’s shootout goal lifts Red Wings over Sharks 3-2

November 2, 2025

James van Riemsdyk scored in the fourth round of a shootout, lifting the Detroit Red Wings past the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Sunday night. Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond both had goals as the Red Wings won their fourth in five games. Goalie Cam Talbot made 16 saves and stopped all four shots by San Jose during the shootout. Sam Dickinson scored his first career goal with 3:05 remaining forced overtime. Jeff Skinner also scored for the Sharks.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani follows through on his pitch to a San Francisco Giants batter during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Shohei Ohtani pitches 3 scoreless innings against the Giants

July 12, 2025

Shohei Ohtani pitched three scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants as the Dodgers star continues to work his way back from elbow surgery. Working as an opener for the fifth time this season, Ohtani threw 36 pitches, 25 for strikes while serving as Los Angeles’ opener for the fifth time this season. He allowed one hit and struck out the side on 12 pitches in the first inning when his fastball was twice clocked at 99.9 mph. The Giants only two runners against Ohtani came on a four-pitch walk to Jung Hoo Lee in the second inning and Mike Yastrzemski’s single in the third.

San Francisco Giants' Patrick Bailey runs home to score after hitting a three-run inside the park home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Giants catcher Bailey makes history with game-ending, inside-the-park home run

July 8, 2025

Patrick Bailey’s entrance into the Major League Baseball record books began with a tight swing that sent a fastball from Phillies reliever Jordan Romano into Triples Alley. It ended with Bailey chugging his way around third base then getting mobbed at home plate by his teammates after becoming the third catcher in major league history to hit a game-ending, inside-the-park home run. It was also the first time in nearly nine years that a player has hit a walk-off, inside-the-park home run in the majors. Cleveland’s Tyler Naquin was the last to do so on Aug. 19, 2016.