March 2019 – Page 56 – St. Joseph Post Archive

No. 18 K-State rolls past Oklahoma to win share of Big 12 title

Posted on March 9, 2019

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — There was one thing Kansas State seniors Barry Brown, Dean Wade and Kamau Stokes wanted to cross off their lists as they played their final home game for the Wildcats: win a Big 12 regular-season title.

Check.

Stokes scored 19 points and No. 18 Kansas State clinched a share of the conference title with a 68-53 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday night.

Brown added 15 points and Wade had 11 as the Wildcats (24-7, 14-4) finished atop the conference for the second time in 42 years, and first since 2013.The three seniors capped senior night by hoisting the Big 12 title in front of a sold-out crowd after winning just five conference games their freshman year.

“It was tough to only win five games that year,” Brown said. “When we came, this program was rebuilding and we knew that, but they allowed us to come in and play and get better every year.”

Kansas State is co-champions with No. 8 Texas Tech (26-5, 14-4), which topped Iowa State 80-73 earlier Saturday.

Kristian Doolittle scored 14 points and Jamal Bieniemy 12 for the Sooners (19-12, 7-11).

“We were down by 10 at the half, so obviously didn’t do what we needed,” coach Lon Kruger said. “They dictated pretty much throughout the game, but they are a good team.”

Kruger won two conference championships when he played at Kansas State in 1972 and `73.

“Just respect for what Bruce Weber has done,” he said. “He has been fantastic throughout his career and to win a conference championship is great for Bruce.”

K-State was dominant on the offensive boards, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring 16 second-chance points.

The Wildcats also used nine three pointers, including four from Stokes and held the Sooners to only five.

Stokes started the second half by scoring eight straight points in a 10-1 run for the Wildcats, which gave K-State a 42-23 lead with 17 minutes to play. The Wildcats never looked back and led by as many as 29 in the win.

“I told them those first five minutes were very important,” Weber said. “To do something special, it doesn’t come easy. But this was easier than I thought it would be.”

Brady Manek was ejected late in the second half after a flagrant 2 foul.

As Brown and Wade walked off the court one final time, they both kissed the Powercat logo in the middle of the floor to show their appreciation of K-State.

“It’s been an incredible ride here at Bramlage and it means so much to cap it off being Big 12 champs,” Wade said. “It’s been an incredible journey and you couldn’t write it any better way.”

It’s tough to make a run in the NCAA Tournament, but Weber thinks this Wildcat grouped is equipped to do anything.

“We told our guys this is one phase of our mission this year,” he said. “We have to keep moving forward, there’s a lot more stuff to add to their rings.”

BIG PICTURE

Oklahoma: The Sooners are playing much better since the middle of February and look much better than they did six games ago.

K-State: Won their first Big 12 regular-season title in six years and the second under Weber. K-State has won five of its last six games heading into the conference tournament.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma: Takes on 10th-seeded West Virginia on Wednesday night in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri.

K-State: Will play the winner of No. 8 seed TCU and ninth-seeded Oklahoma State on Thursday.

— Associated Press —

Missouri women fall to top-seeded Mississippi State in SEC semifinals

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer has reached this point before. He’d like a much different ending Sunday at the Southeastern Conference tournament championship.

Teaira McCowan had 27 points and 16 rebounds while teammate Anriel Howard had 19 points and 10 boards as the fifth-ranked Bulldogs pulled away from Missouri 71-56 on Saturday to advance to their fourth consecutive finals appearance. And Schaefer urged his team to take that last step to a title after losing the past three championship games to South Carolina.

“I’m tired of having confetti hit my backside as I walk to the locker room,” Schaefer said.

He told his players soon after the game. “It’s one more for the rest of your life,” he said. “What have you got?”

In McCowan and Howard, the Bulldogs (29-2) have one of the most potent combos in the SEC. The two have combined for 89 points and 45 rebounds in two tournament games. And the two are developing a stronger bond each time they hit the court, Schaefer said.

“They’re finally getting some chemistry between them,” he said. “Enjoying the success of each other.”

McCowan is the 6-foot-7 force underneath who won SEC player of the year this week. Howard is a grad transfer from Texas A&M who has worked to fit into a veteran team that had reached the Final Four each of the previous two seasons.

“To be able to be out there together every day (at practice), you’ll get chemistry eventually,” Howard said. “We’re showing we can be a pretty good duo.”

They were that against Missouri (23-10), the only SEC opponent to defeat them the past two regular seasons.

Mississippi State will face either No. 15 Texas A&M or 10th-seeded Arkansas for the SEC tournament title. Four-time defending SEC tournament champion South Carolina was beaten by Arkansas in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Sophie Cunningham scored a season-high 33 points for Missouri (23-10). She had five of the Tigers’ nine 3-pointers before fouling out.

The Tigers bettered Mississippi State down low in their last meeting, McCowan bothered by fouls. This time, McCowan and Howard were relentless in attacking the basket and Mississippi State doubled up Missouri in points in the paint, 48-24.

Tigers coach Robin Pingeton said her team tried to attack McCowan in a similar fashion without much success. “We had our hands full,” she said. “We just didn’t do a good job with that.”

When Missouri cut a 16-point lead down to 43-38 off Cunningham’s 11 straight points late in the third quarter, SEC player of the year McCowan powered an 11-3 surge with eight points.

As they did in their quarterfinal win over Tennessee, the Bulldogs started slowly and with Cunningham scoring seven points for the Tigers, found themselves down 14-11. But as in the 83-68 win over the Lady Vols, the Bulldogs got it rolling in the second quarter.

McCowan was front and center in the charge with four baskets, all from close in. Howard did her thing from the outside, too, with a 3-pointer and another jumper to put Mississippi State up by 13.

McCowan accomplished her 26th game this season with double figure points and rebounds with 12 points and 10 boards by halftime.

BIG PICTURE

Missouri: The Tigers, led by three-time all-SEC first team selection Cunningham, will be a difficult out wherever they’re sent when NCAA women’s tournament selections are announced March 18. Cunningham was her team’s lone double-digit scorer. Missouri will need more production from the others if it hopes to stick around in the postseason.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs entered this week with a mission and have relentlessly moved forward toward their first-ever SEC tournament title. Howard, the Texas A&M grad transfer, has turned her game up another notch and seemed poised to take Mississippi State on a strong run through the NCAAs.

CUNNINGHAM LEGACY

Sophie Cunningham became her program’s all-time points leader in the semifinal loss. Cunningham has 2,157 points, surpassing Joni Davis’ mark of 2,126 set from 1981-85. Cunningham was pleased, but not ready to focus on the achievement. “I’m frustrated right now,” she said.

UP NEXT

Missouri will await a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Mississippi State plays either No. 15 Texas A&M or Arkansas in the championship Sunday.

— Associated Press —

Man sentenced in beating death of victim during NE Kansas burglary

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 32-year-old man was given the maximum sentence possible for beating a Kansas man to death during a burglary.

Howard Dale Burchfiel was sentenced Friday to 16 years for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated battery.

Topeka police say they found 66-year-old Allen Wichman injured after he was beaten in June 2017. He died the next month.

Shawnee County deputy district attorney Brett Watson noted that Burchfiel was convicted of attempted murder and given a lesser sentence in a 2009 case.

Watson said Wichman likely would be alive today if Burchfiel was given the standard or maximum sentence in that case.

Burchfiel said during the hearing that he accepts responsibility for Wichman’s death and apologized to his family.

Update: KHP identifies Kan. man who died in Brown County crash

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019

BROWN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Friday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Jeep Liberty driven by Clay Kim Smith, 65, Hiawatha, was northbound in the 2200 Block of King Fisher Road one mile south of Hiawatha.

The jeep veered off the road, struck the railroad track, a culvert and overturned in the ditch.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Chapel Oaks Mortuary. He was properly restrained at at the time of the accident, according to the KHP

————-

BROWN COUNTY — Authorities are investigating a fatal crash that occurred just before 10:30p.m. Friday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a vehicle was northbound in the 2200 Block of King Fisher Road one mile south of Hiawatha. The vehicle veered off the road, struck the railroad track, a culvert and overturned in the ditch.

The KHP has not released additional details including the name of the driver. Check St. Jo Post for more information as it becomes available.

No. 1 Bearcats defeat Lincoln to advance to fourth straight MIAA title game

Posted on March 9, 2019

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team advanced to the program’s 14th MIAA Tournament championship game with an 86-69 victory over the Lincoln University Blue Tigers on Saturday at Municipal Auditorium.

Northwest matched the program’s best ever start to a season with victory No. 31. The 1929-30 Bearcats finished their season at 31-0 under head coach Henry Iba.

All five Northwest starters scored in double figures with senior Joey Witthus (23) and freshman Diego Bernard (21) leading the way. It’s the first time since Jan. 31 against Pittsburg State that Northwest had five players reach double figures. Redshirt freshman Trevor Hudgins scored 17 points, handed out seven assists and tallied five steals.

Lincoln (18-12 overall) scored the game’s first six points only to see Northwest come roaring back with a 27-2 run. Northwest buried four of its first five three-point attempts and turned a 6-0 deficit into a 27-8 lead with 12:37 left in the opening half.

The Bearcats led by as many as 22 in the opening 20 minutes at 43-21 with 1:16 left before halftime. Northwest would lead 43-26 at the break.

Northwest extended the lead back to 22 points in the second half at 60-38 on a three-pointer from sophomore Ryan Hawkins with 14:36 to play in the game. Lincoln would pull to within 14 points on two occasions in the second half, but could get no closer.

Northwest shot 50.0 percent from the field, while limiting Lincoln to 43.9 percent shooting. Northwest out-rebounded Lincoln, 38-31.

Northwest will take on the winner of the Washburn-Pittsburg State game in Sunday’s MIAA Tournament championship game. Tip is set for 1 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.

NOTES: Northwest has won 28 straight games on neutral floors – the longest active streak in the nation … Northwest has won a league-best seven MIAA Tournament titles … Northwest will look to become the first MIAA school to win four straight postseason tournament crowns on Sunday.

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou drops regular season finale at home to Ole Miss 73-68

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Breein Tyree scored 21 points, Devontae Shuler knocked down clutch baskets late and Ole Miss defeated Missouri 73-68 on Saturday to snap its three-game losing streak.

Missouri had a shot to tie the game with fewer than 20 seconds left, but Rebels’ forward Bruce Stevens stuffed Jordan Geist’s layup attempt and guard Terence Davis knocked down a pair of free throws to secure an Ole Miss victory.

Mississippi trailed 34-26 at halftime but Tyree’s 3-pointer tied it at 46 with 12:20 remaining and another 3-pointer gave Ole Miss the lead, 60-59 with 5:03 to go. Later, it was sophomore guard Shuler who put the Rebels up two points with a fast-break layup with 1:28 remaining. He then knocked down a fadeaway jumper on Ole Miss’ next possession to extend the team’s lead to four with 52 seconds left.

In scraping by, Ole Miss (20-12, 10-8 Southeastern Conference) picked up a road win that was crucial in locking down an NCAA Tournament bid.

Missouri (14-16, 5-13) was looking to win its third straight game and move to .500. Freshman Xavier Pinson scored a career-high 20 points and his rookie counterpart Torrence Watson added 14.

BIG PICTURE

Ole Miss: The Rebels were safely in the NCAA Tournament for much of February, but a recent three-game losing streak started to move them closer to the bubble. Breaking that skid with a win against Missouri likely secured their tournament bid.

Missouri: The Tigers failed to reach .500 and couldn’t win on the team’s senior day, but its two leading scorers were freshmen. The future has looked bright for Missouri in its last couple of games.

UP NEXT

Ole Miss will play Thursday in the SEC Tournament. The Rebels tied Mississippi State as the sixth-place team in the conference standings.

Missouri will play Wednesday in the tournament as a 12 seed against Georgia.

— Associated Press —

No. 13 Kansas tops Baylor 78-70 to finish undefeated at home

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Dedric Lawson scored 23 points, including 11 of 12 from the free-throw line, to help No. 13 Kansas beat Baylor 78-70 Saturday and stay undefeated at home.

The performance came hours after Lawson was announced on the ballot for the Wooden Award.

Yet on senior night in Allen Fieldhouse, a trio of Kansas freshmen impressed. Devon Dotson, David McCormack and Quentin Grimes had 15, 12 and nine points, respectively. Kansas (23-8, 12-6 Big 12) fielded no seniors for the first time since 2007. The Jayhawks lone senior Lagerald Vick left the team earlier this season for personal reasons.

Jared Butler led the way for Baylor (19-12, 10-8 Big 12), scoring a career-high 31 points in 36 minutes. It was a big game for the freshman, who was averaging 9.6 points.

Kansas took advantage of Baylor’s zone defense throughout the game, scoring 36 points in the paint. That included 18 of Kansas’ 32 points in the first half. Baylor’s strong rebounding presence was heavily tested, and both teams finished with 43.

Kansas led 32-29 at halftime. A four-point possession five minutes in the second half turned the game in the Jayhawks’ favor.

Baylor forward Flo Thamba was called for a flagrant one foul after the referees deemed he purposely pushed his hand into the face of Lawson. He made both free throws and was fouled again by Thamba after the inbounds play, with Lawson making both again.

Kansas took a 44-35 lead after the possession and maintained it the rest of the game.

With their Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal opponents already decided and neither team playing for the regular-season title, there was little at stake aside from an improved resume come Selection Sunday.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: The Jayhawks finish the season 16-0 in Allen Fieldhouse, marking the 20th time in program history that Kansas has done so. It’s the first time since 2015-16 than Kansas has accomplished the feat and the seventh time during the Bill Self era.

Baylor: Despite the loss, the Bears finished the Big 12 regular season with double-digit wins for the sixth time in 10 seasons. Before 2010, they hadn’t finished conference play with double-digit wins since 1988 when they competed in the Southwest Conference.

UP NEXT

Kansas: The Jayhawks enter as the No. 3 seed in the Big 12 Tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. They will play 6th-seeded Texas on Thursday.

Baylor: Will play Iowa State on Thursday in the Big 12 Tournament.

— Associated Press —

Spring forward: Set clocks ahead 1 hour

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — Time to abide by the adage to spring forward (though it’s not yet spring).

The shift from standard to daylight saving time comes at 2 a.m. local time Sunday across most of the United States. Consider setting clocks an hour ahead before bed Saturday night.

Daylight will begin to last longer into the evening but the sun will take an hour longer to emerge in the morning.

No time change is observed in Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas.

Standard time returns Nov. 3.

AP source: Chiefs sign RB Hyde to $2.8M contract for 2019

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019

Kansas City, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs bolstered their young, relatively unproven backfield Saturday by signing veteran running back Carlos Hyde to a $2.8 million contract for the 2019 season.

The deal includes $1.6 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms were not disclosed.

The 28-year-old Hyde was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday, and the Chiefs moved swiftly in inviting him for a visit. They were seeking help behind Damien Williams and Darrel Williams, who became their top two running backs when Kareem Hunt was released last season.

“We certainly like a bigger back,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said during last week’s scouting combine. “I certainly have a thing for 220-pound backs that can run and catch and block.”

The 6-foot, 229-pound Hyde certainly fits that mold.

He was a second-round pick of the 49ers in 2014, and he came within 50 yards of eclipsing 1,000 twice during his four-year stay in San Francisco. Hyde signed a $15 million, three-year deal with the Browns last season, but he appeared in just six games before a midseason trade to Jacksonville.

Hyde wound up making two starts and appearing in eight games for the Jaguars, though he never made much of an impact. He finished with 58 carries for 189 yards and never reached the end zone, and the Jaguars decided Friday to release him when no trade opportunities materialized.

Still, he represents a low-risk, high-upside addition to a dynamic Chiefs offense.

With league MVP Patrick Mahomes under center, the Chiefs shattered just about every franchise record — and quite a few NFL marks — while reaching the AFC title game last season. And while most of their pressing issues lie on defense, Veach and Chiefs coach Andy Reid said they’d be open to any offseason moves that could potentially put them over the hump.

Damien Williams is expected to remain the starter after he assumed Hunt’s job, and he gouged Indianapolis for 129 yards rushing in the playoffs. In fact, Williams was so steady that Kansas City signed him in December to a two-year extension worth up to $8.1 million.

“He just needed an opportunity. And when the opportunity presented itself, he kind of took it and ran with it. That is why we extended him,” Veach said. “He’s always been a talented player. He can run, catch and block. He can really do everything. He was great on special teams. I would say going into the offseason and going into the 2019 season, it’s Damien’s job to lose.”

He’ll have a little more competition now, though.

— Associated Press —

University in Kansas will add eSports for the 2019-20 school year

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. (AP) — Baker University will become the eighth school in Kansas to join a national association for collegiate eSports.

The school in Baldwin City announced Friday that Baker would add eSports for the next school year.

Athletic Director Nate Houser announced that Toby Ebel was will the university’s first eSports coach. He has served many roles at Baker since 2001, many involving technical and website positions.

The Wildcats will compete in three different games in their inaugural season. The games will be announced at a later date.

Baker will join the National Association of Collegiate Esports. It also will be the sixth school in the Heart of America Conference to add eSports.

Baker will also be the sixth school within the Heart of America Athletic Conference to add eSports.