WEDNESDAY'S BRIEFS: Miller taking jump shots, still sidelined

Talk about it

For the first time since injuring his right thumb prior to the NBA season, Mitchell native Mike Miller was back taking jump shots at the Miami Heat’s practice court at AmericanAirlines Arena, it was reported by Ira Winderman on the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s website Tuesday afternoon.

Miller’s return is still scheduled to be some time in January.

After being signed by Miami in the offseason, Miller tore a ligament and sustained a fracture in his thumb during a preseason drill against LeBron James. The thumb got snagged in a uniform.

Winderman, who is in his 23rd season covering the Heat for the Sun Sentinel, said in his report that Miller had to stop during the shooting drill to re-adjust a brace on his hand.

Rotert gets weekly conference honor

By The Daily Republic

BROOKINGS — Salem native Kristin Rotert has been named co-Summit League women’s basketball player of the week after helping South Dakota State University split two games last week.

Rotert averaged 20 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent (12 of 23) from the field and posting an 82-percent mark (14 of 17) from the free-throw line.

Rotert scored a game-high 22 points in a 73-70 win over Illinois State on Nov. 24. She had 18 points, including two 3-pionters in a 70-51 loss to Middle Tennessee State on Sunday.

DWU dual pushed back to Thursday

By The Daily Republic

A scheduling conflict has pushed the Dakota Wesleyan University wrestling team’s dual with Jamestown College (N.D.) back one day.

The two teams were originally set to match up in Jamestown today. Instead, the dual will be wrestled at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The Tigers are 1-1 this season.

David, Martinez honored by Big 12

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David and quarterback Taylor Martinez have won individual Big 12 awards in a vote of the coaches.

David is the newcomer of the year and Martinez is offensive freshman of the year.

David leads the Cornhuskers with 128 tackles, and his 10.7 average per game is tops in the conference and 15th nationally. He’s the first Nebraska player to record 100 tackles since Barrett Ruud in 2004.

Martinez has 14 rushes of at least 20 yards, including six touchdown runs of 40 yards or longer. He’s averaging 7.3 yards a carry and needs 26 yards to hit the 1,000 mark.

Packers, Williams agree to extension

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have agreed to a contract extension with cornerback Tramon Williams.

Agent Rodney Williams called it a fair deal for both sides, given the current uncertainty over the NFL’s labor situation. And Williams said his client was happy to be staying in Green Bay.

“Definitely,” Rodney Williams said. “That was his intention the entire time. He wanted to stay there.”

Williams, a fourth-year player out of Louisiana Tech, was regarded as a reliable No. 3 cornerback before veteran Al Harris sustained a season-ending knee injury late last season. Williams became a full-time starter, and coaches say his coverage skills have come to rival those of fellow Packers cornerback Charles Woodson.

Williams’ agent did not disclose terms of the deal, which was reported on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s website earlier Tuesday. According to that report, the deal is worth $33.074 million and extends through 2014.

Tramon Williams was hoping for a long-term deal heading into this season, but instead signed a restricted free agent tender offer from the team. Williams said earlier this month that he didn’t want to be distracted by his contract situation, but made it clear that he wanted to stay.

“I mean, come on, it’s Green Bay — one of a kind,” Williams said. “Obviously, that’s the case. I want to be here. But it’s not up to me.”

Williams has started all 11 games for the Packers this season, with 46 tackles, a team-high four interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He also is the Packers’ primary punt returner.

Tags: mike miller, college wrestling, sports, heat, rotert, salem, jacks, tigers