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Missouri Western softball moves up to No. 17 in NFCA Top 25

After winning four MIAA games last weekend the Missouri Western softball team moved up four sports to 17th in this weeks NFCA Division II Top 25 poll. The Griffons are currently 29-6 on the season and 12-2 in MIAA play. Western has won 15 of its last 17 games heading into this weeks action.

The Griffons will be on the road this weekend for two MIAA doubleheaders. On Friday, April 6 the Griffons will be in Pittsburg, Kan. taking on the Pittsburg State Gorillas (21-16, 8-0 MIAA). First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm from the PSU softball stadium. On Saturday, April 7 the Griffons will be in Joplin, Mo. taking on the Missouri Southern Lions (12-23, 4-4 MIAA). Game time is set for 1:00 pm at Lea Kungle & Gene Wild softball fields.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Chiefs re-sign defensive back Travis Daniels

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Wednesday that the club has re-signed unrestricted free agent defensive back Travis Daniels.

Daniels (6-1, 195) has appeared in 41 games (two starts) with Kansas City (2009-11). In three seasons with the Chiefs, Daniels has tallied 47 tackles (28 solo) with three INTs for 29 yards, eight passes defensed and two QB pressures. Additionally, he has recorded 12 special teams tackles for the club.

Over seven NFL seasons with Kansas City, Cleveland (2008) and Miami (2005-07), the Hollywood, Fla., native has 173 tackles (121 solo), six INTs for 60 yards, 27 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He also owns 17 special teams tackles.

Daniels originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick (104th overall) of Miami in 2005. He played in 33 games (26 starts) at LSU, recording 109 tackles, 2.0 sacks, two INTs and 38 passes defensed. Daniels prepped at South Broward High School in Hollywood, Fla.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

All-State High School basketball teams announced

The all-state basketball teams and final polls as selected by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

BOYS

CLASS 5

First Team

Nolan Berry, 6-8, jr., DeSmet
Jordon Granger, 6-8, sr., McCluer North
Ryan Rosburg, 6-10, sr., Marquette
Jalen Norman, 6-5, jr., Nixa
Shaquille Harrison, 6-3, sr., Lee’s Summit West
Ryan Rippee, 6-6, sr., Kickapoo
Tony Cochran, 5-10, sr., Vianney
T.J. Tisdell, 6-6, sr., Cape Girardeau Central
Will Harrington, 6-3, Sr., Lee’s Summit North
Deron Hill, 6-4, sr., Ruskin

Second Team

Austin Ruder, 6-2, jr., Nixa
Travis Jorgenson, 6-0, jr., Rock Bridge
Rayshawn Simmons, 6-3, sr., Webster Groves
Cameron Johnson, 6-3, sr., Glendale
Derek Deters, 6-3, sr., Troy Buchanan
Shun Williams, 6-5, jr., St. Joseph Central
Desmond Buerge, 6-5, sr., Carthage
Darrell Johnson, 6-8, sr., Parkway North
Marvin Clark, 6-6, jr., Blue Springs
DJ Booker, 6-2, sr., Blue Springs South

Coach of the Year

Randy Reed, McCluer North

Final Rankings
1. McCluer North    28-1
2. Nixa    30-2
3. Vianney    27-2
4. McCluer    25-4
5. Lee’s Summit West    27-4
6. Rock Bridge    24-5
7. Rockhurst
8. Marquette    20-12
9. Hazelwood Central    19-7
10. St. Joseph Central    21-6

CLASS 4

First Team

Dorial Green-Beckham, 6-6, sr., Hillcrest
Joe Young, 6-4, sr., Logan-Rogersville
Paul McRoberts, 6-3, sr., Soldan
Jared White, 6-2, sr., De Soto
Nick Yocum, 5-10, sr., Republic
Deion Hughes, 6-3, sr., Helias
Tyler Peterson, 6-3, sr., Savannah
Kevin Baker, 6-1, jr., Imagine Prep
Travon Williams, 6-3, sr., University City
Terry Jamison, 5-9, sr., Sikeston

Second Team

Loomis Gerring, 6-5, sr., Grandview
Austin Reed, 6-2, sr., Mexico
Bryce Dolan, 6-0, sr., Borgia
Randy Holmes, 6-4, sr., Soldan
Cory Briggs, 6-3, sr., Moberly
Connor Fleming, 6-7, sr., Westminster Christian
Nathan Meystedt, 5-10, sr., Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau)
Garret Loew, 6-6, sr., Liberty North
Jared Greenlee, 6-4, sr., Marshfield
John Hall, 6-1, sr., Eldon

Coach of the Year

Justin Tatum, Soldan

Final Rankings
1. Soldan    25-5
2. Hillcrest    26-6
3. Liberty North    24-7
4. Imagine    23-9
5. Sikeston    23-5
6. Logan-Rogersville    21-8
7. Republic    21-6
8. Helias    20-9
9. Borgia    22-6
10. Marshfield    21-7

CLASS 3

First Team

Cameron Biedscheid, 6-8, sr., Cardinal Ritter
Greg Tucker, 6-2, sr., Charleston
Ben Denbow, 6-5, sr., Licking
Martez Harrison, 5-11, sr., University Academy
Cory Bower, 6-2, sr., East Buchanan
Broderick Newbill, 6-6, sr., Hogan Prep
Anthony Virdure, 5-11, jr., Lutheran North
Eli Sample, 6-3, sr., Crystal City
Eric Moles, 6-3, sr., Adrian
Shane Williams, 6-0, jr., Mount Vernon

Second Team

Maurice Mason, 6-2, sr., Hogan Prep
Tyrell Thirkield, 6-1, jr., Lafayette County
Darrell Monroe, 6-2, so., Caruthersville
Edin Mehmedovic, 6-4, so., Bayless
Scott Kroeger, 5-10, sr., Elsberry
Garrett McDowell, 6-2, jr., St. Pius X-Festus
Ryan Parham, 5-11, jr., Charleston
Nick Carlos, 6-7, jr., Southern Boone County
Jake Schannuth, 6-5, sr., Hermann
Zach Cotner, 6-0, sr., Scott City
Kody Ettinger, 5-8, jr., Cuba
Michael Fleshman, 6-0, sr., Cameron
Jerrod Harmon, 6-5, sr., Fair Grove
Skylar Knoll, 6-4, sr., Southwest (Washburn)
Derek Hutchins, 6-4, sr., Doniphan

Coach of the Year

Danny Farmer, Charleston

Final Rankings
1. Charleston    31-2
2. Hogan Prep    20-11
3. Lutheran North    25-8
4. Mount Vernon    25-6
5. Cardinal Ritter    21-6
6. Crystal City    25-6
7. California    20-10
8. Lafayette County    27-3
9. Elsberry    28-3
10. Cameron    22-7

CLASS 2

First Team

Jackson Conaway, 6-1, sr., Viburnum
Riley Jenkins, 6-1, sr., Norwood
Brent Bush, 6-1, sr., DeKalb
Austin Essick, 6-0, jr., Billings
Tim Looney, 6-0, sr., Greenwood
Brad Roberts, 6-3, so., Cairo
Jamie Massey, 6-7, jr., Holcomb
Bruce Marshall, 6-10, sr., Fayette
Zach Wyatt, 6-0, jr., Salisbury
Skylar Overlander, 6-0, sr., Lone Jack

Second Team

Milton Spaulding, 5-10, jr., Crossroads
Brady Chastain, 6-1, jr., Billings
Kaleb Harter, 6-0, sr., Billings
Austin Wyatt, 6-0, jr., Salisbury
Austin Francis, 6-6, jr., Salisbury
Dalton Mills, 6-1, jr., Polo
Jordan Pearson, 6-6, sr., Osceola
Jerome Thomas, 6-2, sr., Hayti
Adam Roe, 6-5, so., West Platte
Cody Rector, 6-4, sr., Van Buren

Coach of the Year

Kendall Tilley, Billings

Final Rankings
1. Billings    29-3
2. Salisbury    30-2
3. Norwood    27-3
4. Hayti    22-10
5. Sturgeon    25-3
6. Osceola    21-11
7. DeKalb    26-3
8. Holcomb    23-6
9. Cairo    20-10
10. Richland    21-8

CLASS 1

First Team

Dominique Porter, 5-11, sr., Scott County Central
CJ Bolton, 6-4, jr., Drexel
Forrest Hicks, 6-7, sr., St. Joseph Christian
Colton Hartley, 6-1, jr., Mercer
Jesse Utt, 6-4, jr., Braymer
LaMarcus Steward, 5-9, sr., Scott County Central
Alex Oserowsky, 6-3, sr., Thomas Jefferson Independent
Chris Pavy, 5-10, sr., Risco
Mike Buerge, 6-3, sr., Climax Springs
Dillon Yung, 6-3, sr., Glasgow

Second Team

Derek Smith, 6-0, jr., Meadville
James Macklin, 6-3, sr., North Pemiscot
Lucas Schawang, 6-1, jr., Mound City
Clayton Schieber, 5-11, sr., Jefferson
Blake Seba, 6-2, sr., Drexel
Adam Teague, 5-6, sr., Fair Play
Klayton Kuschel, 6-7, sr., Chamois
Ryan Loethen, 6-1, sr., St. Elizabeth
JJ Chatfield, 6-4, sr., Marion County
Peyton Swift, 6-0, sr., La Plata

Coach of the Year

Kenyon Wright, Scott County Central

Final Rankings
1. Scott County Central    22-10
2. Drexel    26-5
3. Glasgow    26-6
4. Eminence    23-7
5. Marion County    27-2
6. St. Joseph Christian    24-8
7. Meadville    29-1
8. Climax Springs    24-6
9. Jefferson    22-8
10. Fair Play    25-3

GIRLS

CLASS 5

First Team

Megan Deines, 6-0, sr., Glendale
Maddie Stock, 6-1, jr., St. Joseph’s Academy
Sophie Cunningham, 6-0, fr., Rock Bridge
Mikala McGhee, 5-11, sr., Pattonville
Taylor Manuel, 6-3, sr., Incarnate Word
Annie Armstrong, 5-8, sr., Kickapoo
Marina Laramie, 6-1, sr., Fort Zumwalt West
Lindsey Cunningham, 6-0, sr., Rock Bridge
Tyonna Snow, 5-9, sr., Blue Springs
Emiah Bingley, 5-7, sr., Lee’s Summit West

Second Team

Imani Johnson, 6-0, so., Lee’s Summit North
Napheesa Collier, 6-0, fr., Jefferson City
Andi Haney, 5-7, jr., West Plains
Hannah Cook, 5-11, so., Ozark
Aubrey Buckley, 6-1, so., Parkview
Dru Haertling, 5-8, sr., Jackson
Sydney Stipanovich, 6-3., jr, St. Joseph’s Academy
Jordynn Martin, 5-9, sr., Lafayette (Wildwood)
Karyla Middlebrook, 5-8, jr., Blue Springs
Sharese Jones, 5-8, sr., Francis Howell Central

Coach of the Year

Jill Nagel, Rock Bridge

Final Rankings
1. Rock Bridge    26-3
2. Blue Springs    26-5
3. Incarnate Word    26-7
4. St. Joseph’s Academy    25-5
5. Fort Zumwalt West    26-7
6. Ozark    25-5
7. Kirkwood    24-4
8. Glendale    22-4
9. Nixa    21-6
10. Carthage    21-8

CLASS 4

First Team

Shanity James, 6-0, sr., Miller Career
Kindred Wesemann, 5-7, jr., Pleasant Hill
Alice Heinzler, 5-6, jr., Republic
Sadie Stipanovich, 6-3, jr., Westminster Christian
Brittany Harris, 6-0, jr., Dexter
Olivia Hackmann, 5-9, sr., Helias
Maddie Nelson, 5-7, jr., Smithville
Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, so., Marshfield
Brittany Atkins, 5-10, sr., Lincoln Prep
Sarah Magana, 5-6, sr., Bolivar

Second Team

Sarah Kreul, 5-6, jr., Republic
McKenzie Russell, 5-7, jr., Kirksville
Courtney Powell, 5-8, sr., Westminster Christian
McKenzie Haddox, 5-7, sr., Borgia
Liticia Allen, 5-5, sr., Moberly
Alex Rohlfing, 5-8, sr., Duchesne
Corri Hamilton, 5-10, sr., Fulton
Grace Keane, 5-9, jr., Notre Dame de Sion
Kati Davis, 5-11, sr., Owensville
Camilla Neumann, 5-11, sr., Van Horn

Coach of the Year

Kris Flood, Republic

Final Rankings
1. Republic    23-8
2. Smithville    26-6
3. Miller Career    23-6
4. Westminster Christian    26-5
5. Pleasant Hill    25-3
6. Dexter    24-5
7. Helias    21-8
8. Bolivar    20-7
9. Borgia    24-4
10. Kirksville    23-4

CLASS 3

First Team

Kara Johnson, 5-10, sr., Principia
Danielle Goodman, 5-10, sr., Mount Vernon
Lexie Oak, 5-11, sr., KC-St. Pius X
Rachel Gall, 6-4, sr., Hallsville
Elsie Greenwood, 5-9, jr., Hamilton
Garrett Burton, 5-6, sr., Stockton
Katie Gettinger, 5-7, sr., West County
Katie Hogan, 6-2, sr., Scott City
Ashli Burton, 5-6, sr., Stockton
Benesha Childress, 5-9, jr., New Madrid County Central

Second Team

Hunter Yoakum, 5-7, jr., Dixon
Bekah Bade, 5-7, sr., Springfield Catholic
Liz Gilman, 5-9, jr., Principia
Brittany Harris-Conway, 5-9, sr., St. James
LeeAnn Polowy, 5-7, so., Blair Oaks
Anna Curtis, 5-7, sr., Cameron
Kayla Glenn, 5-6, sr., Lawson
Tori Cole, 6-1, jr., Twin Rivers
Tamiaya Henderson, 5-11, jr., Mount Vernon
Leann Lansdown, 5-6, sr., Seymour
Amelia Bramer, 5-10, sr., Mount Vernon
Sydney Deeken, 6-0, so., California
Lexi Morris, 5-8, fr., Clearwater
Ashton Luttrull, 5-8, jr., Highland
Morgan Kensinger, 6-2, jr., Fair Grove

Coach of the Year

Doug Hepler, Mount Vernon

Final Rankings
1. Mount Vernon    26-7
2. Stockton    24-8
3. Hallsville    26-6
4. Seymour    30-2
5. Principia    26-4
6. California    21-8
7. Lawson    25-5
8. Hermann    26-2
9. Cameron    24-5
10. Crystal City    24-6

CLASS 2

First Team

Lauren Jaeger, 6-0, sr., Clopton
Chelsey Kroese, 5-11, sr., Harrisburg
Addy Roller, 5-7, sr., Purdy
Emilee Buckler, 5-9, sr., North Platte
Rachel Steinhoff, 5-6, so., New Haven
Erin Bollmann, 5-9, sr., Meadow Heights
Carrie Shephard, 5-8, so., South Pemiscot
Natalie Fleming, 5-9, jr., Silex
Josie Young, 5-8, fr., Marionville
Larra Kubinski, 6-2, sr., Crocker

Second Team

Meagan Claxton, 5-5, sr., Fordland
Taylor Cook, 5-10, sr., Lesterville
Hannah Yelton, 5-5, sr., Newburg
Cailyn Long, 5-11, fr., Sparta
Emily Case, 5-8, sr., Richland
Sammie Jo Copeland, 6-0, jr., Polo
Torri Blythe, 5-8, jr., Maysville
Kori Dodson, 5-7, sr., Liberal
Brittany Higgins, 5-9, sr., Sweet Springs
Whitney Welker, 5-9, sr., Meadow Heights

Coach of the Year

Dan Bachmeier, Harrisburg

Final Rankings
1. Harrisburg    29-2
2. New Haven    18-13
3. Marionville    22-11
4. North Platte    26-5
5. Meadow Heights    22-5
6. Clopton    24-5
7. Purdy    24-6
8. Crocker    24-6
9. Maysville    23-5
10. Fordland    24-6

CLASS 1

First Team

Tristan Carrasquillo, 5-9, sr., Verona
Kendall Hart, 5-10, sr., Montrose
Sierra Michaelis, 5-10, jr., Mercer
Jessica Redd, 6-1, sr., Marion County
Heather Harman, 5-9, so., Walnut Grove
Megan Rosenbohm, 5-8, so., Nodaway-Holt
Miranda Brandt, 5-10, jr., Chamois
Kelsey Williams, 5-6, sr., Eminence
Jamie Hale, 5-10, sr., Chadwick
Kendle Schieber, 5-7, sr., Jefferson

Second Team

Randi Lee Plunkett, 5-10, sr., Marion County
Michaela Daniels, 5-6, sr., Hale
Courtney Owens, 5-11, jr., Mercer
Alexa Taff, 5-4, sr., St. Joseph Christian
Cheyenne Baxter, 6-1, jr., Norborne
Courtney Coulter, 5-6, sr., Eminence
Amy Oleynik, 6-0, sr., Otterville
Machela VanGennip, 5-8, jr., Delta
Cortney Roberts, 5-7, sr., Southwest Livingston
Nikki Fuemmeler, 6-0, so., Glasgow

Coach of the Year

Jeff Williams, Eminence

Final Rankings
1. Eminence    29-1
2. Walnut Grove    26-6
3. Marion County    30-1
4. Montrose    27-1
5. Jefferson    28-4
6. Mercer    28-1
7. Chamois    23-5
8. Chadwick    23-6
9. St. Joseph Christian    22-7
10. Glasgow    23-5

Griffon golfers finish 2nd at Green & Gold Classic; Northwest wins title

The Missouri Western women’s golf team came up just short in the Green and Gold Spring Shootout finishing second with a two day total of 662 (333-329). The Griffons tied the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats on day two as both teams fired 329 but Northwest fired 328 on Monday giving them the victory with a two day total of 657. Lincoln University, William Jewell College and Graceland University finished with 694, 744 and 783 respectively. Day two was played at Fairview Golf Course in St. Joseph, Mo. while day one was at Mozingo Lake Golf Course in Maryville, Mo.

The Griffons had four players in the top ten individually with Natalie Bird finishing in 3rd with a 162 (82-80) while Casi Webb finished just one stroke back of her with a 163 (80-83) putting her in fourth. Sarah Campbell had her best finish of her career playing as an individual finishing in 5th place with a 165 (88-77).  Her 77 was the low round of day two. Kristen Cooley was the final Griffon in the top ten tying for 8th with 173 (84-83).

Shelby Stone finished in 13th with a 173 (92-81) while Darcy Smith finished in a tie for 16th with an 177 (87-90). Britni Nikes fired a 182 (92-90) while Lauryn Huske-Davies finished with a 191 (97-94).

The winner of the event was Kaitlyn Schwartze of Lincoln firing a two day total of 160 (77-83).

The Griffons will play in the Avila Spring Invitational on Monday, April 9 and Tuesday, April 10 in Kansas City, Mo. The event will be played at Fred Arbanas-Longview Lake Golf Course.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western’s Bishop earns weekly MIAA honor

For the third time this season and first since February 21 Missouri Western sophomore pitcher Jackie Bishop has been named MIAA softball Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 27-April 2, as selected by a conference SID panel. This week she shares the honors with Pittsburg State pitcher Jessica Barnes.

Bishop ran her record to 15-2 last week, pitching her 15th and 16th complete games of the season. The sophomore from Kirksville, Mo., gave up just two hits in 13 innings of work while striking out 18, including 12 in the Griffons’ 3-1 victory against Fort Hays State. Bishop went seven innings, giving up just a triple against Fort Hays State, and went six innings giving up just two hits in the 8-0 victory over Washburn. She has pitched five shutouts on the season and struck out 154 batters.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Rain forces cancellation of Central Oklahoma Invite for MWSU men’s golf team

Rain forced the cancellation of the final round of the Central Oklahoma Invitational Tuesday. The Griffons fired a total of 650 (328-322) finishing in 17th place.

Monday’s two rounds counted as the final results for the scheduled 54-hole tournament, with St. Edward’s winning the 17-team event with a 587 total, followed by Oklahoma Christian (589) and Central Oklahoma (595).

Baer Aneshansley of Central Oklahoma fired rounds of 69-72 Monday sharing the individual lead at three-under-par 141 with Colorado State-Pueblo’s Scott Wyers, but Aneshansley earned the victory in a scorecard playoff.

Tyler Gast was the Griffons highest finisher tying for 51st place with a 158 (77-81).

Western will be in action next on Monday, April 9 and Tuesday, April 10 participating in the Washburn Tournament in Topeka, Kan. The event will be played at the Topeka Country Club.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Western soccer announces 2012 summer camp dates

Missouri Western head women’s soccer coach Chad Edwards has announced 2012 summer camp dates. There will be two camps with a day camp going from June 25 – June 28 and a team camp starting on June 28 and going through July 1.

Day Camps
June 25 – 28: 9 am – 12 pm
The Missouri Western State University Soccer Camp provides boys and girls, ages 6-13, the opportunity to receive four full days of high level soccer instruction in a fun, rewarding environment.

The most important coaching objective is to combine fun with quality teaching. Camp will focus on development of the player’s technical ability. Topics covered will include dribbling, passing, receiving, and shooting. On-field coaches will help develop a better understanding of tactical play through small-sided games.

Fun activities will also be included as the part of the daily routine.

All levels of players will be challenged to improve their play. Each camper will be evaluated and placed with similar age and ability.

The camp cost is $80 and registration is due one week prior to camp dates. For more information please contact head coach Chad Edwards at 816-271-5902 or email [email protected]

Team Camps
June 28 – July 1
High School Team Camps are designed to allow the player and coaches to train in a demanding, college type environment with the focus on growing individually and as a team. Every team will train with a college coach assigned to them during the day and play games each evening.

*Individual players are encouraged to sign up as well and will be placed on a team the first day of camp.

A College Search Forum will be conducted that allows players to have a better understanding of recruiting, the demands of being a student athlete, and the difference between various levels of play. Peer talks between current Missouri Western players and campers will be held to answer any questions campus may have.

GOALKEEPER TRAINING – ALL SESSIONS
Goalkeeper training will be an important feature and emphasis of our camps. Keepers will train separately from field players and then be involved in small-sided full field games each day. Our goal keeping staff will cover the technical, tactical, physical, and mental aspects of the position.

The camp cost is $250 for commuter and $300 for resident. The camp runs from 8 am – 9 pm each day with lunch and dinner provided. Registration is due one week prior to camp dates. For more information please contact head coach Chad Edwards at 816-271-5902 or email [email protected]

ALL CAMPS INCLUDE:
Camp T-shirt – Top-level instruction
Scrimmages – Skill Building Drills
Excellent Facilities – Water Bottle

Chad is entering his 2nd season as Head Coach of the Missouri Western Griffons after serving as the assistant at Avila University for 3 years.

Chad has 4 years of collegiate playing experience at the Division II level and is a member of the State of Missouri ODP coaching staff. He holds both USSF and NSCAA coaching licenses/ diplomas and currently coaches for the KC Legends Soccer Club.

Other staff will include both current and former Griffons players along with college coaches throughout the Midwest.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Griffon golfers sit in 2nd after first day of Green & Gold Classic

Missouri Western junior Casi Webb sits in third place after round one of the Green and Gold Classic firing 80 on a windy day one at the Mozingo Lake Golf Course in Maryville, Mo.. She is three strokes back of Kaitlyn Schwartze (77) of Lincoln for first place and two strokes back of Taylor Gard (78) of Northwest Missouri State.

As a team the Griffons (333) sit in second place just five strokes back of Northwest Missouri State (328). The Griffons are eight strokes ahead of Lincoln (341) while William Jewell and Graceland round out the field with 377 and 390 respectively.

Natalie Bird is in a tie for 4th with an 82 as Kristen Cooley is in 7th with an 84. Darcy Smith and Shelby Stone fired 87 and 92 respectively. Sarah Campbell, Britni Nikes and Lauryn Huske-Davies are playing as individuals. Campbell is in a tie for 13th with an 88 while Nikes and Huske-Davies fired 92 and 97 respectively.

Teams will play the final round Tuesday in St. Joseph at the Fairview Golf Course. It will be a shotgun start at 9:30 am.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Jayhawks’ rally falls short against Kentucky in NCAA title game

No matter where Anthony Davis and his buddies go to make their millions, their ol’ Kentucky home will long remember this championship season.

The Wildcats hit the jackpot with their lottery picks Monday night, ignoring Davis’ bad shooting night and parlaying a roster full of NBA talent into a 67-59 victory over Kansas for the team’s eighth national title — and its first since 1998.

The one-and-doners did it in a wire-to-wire victory — a little dicey at the end — to cap a season in which anything less than bringing a title back to the Bluegrass State would have been a downer. They led coach John Calipari to his first title in four trips to the Final Four with three different schools.

“This is not about me. This is about these 13 players,” Calipari said. “This is about the Big Blue Nation.”

Doron Lamb, a sophomore with first-round-draft-pick possibilities, led the Wildcats (38-2) with 22 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers that put them up by 16 with 10 minutes left.

The Jayhawks (32-7), kings of the comeback all season, fought to the finish and trimmed that deficit to five with 1:37 left. But Kentucky made five free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Davis’ fellow lottery prospect, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, was another headliner, creating space for himself to score all 11 of his points in the first half.

Davis, meanwhile, might have had the most dominating six-point night in the history of college basketball, earning the nod as the most outstanding player. He finished with 16 rebounds, six blocks, five assists and three steals — and made his only field goal with 5:13 left in the game. It was a surefire illustration of how the 6-foot-10 freshman can exert his will on a game even on a rare night when the shot isn’t falling.

“Well, it’s not me, it’s these guys behind me,” Davis said after his 1-for-10 performance. “They led us this whole tournament. This whole game I was struggling offensively, and I told my team, every time down, you all score the ball; I’m just gonna defend and rebound.”

So much easier when you’ve got teammates like this. Davis is the likely first pick in the draft should he choose to come out, and Kidd-Gilchrist won’t be far behind. Another first-round prospect, freshman Marquis Teague, had 14 points. And yet another, sophomore Terrence Jones, had nine points, seven rebounds and two of Kentucky’s 11 blocked shots.

“We’ve got a lot of great players on this team,” Teague said. “Other players stepped up and made plays. He had confidence in us to make plays and that’s what we tried to do.”

Kansas also has a lottery pick in AP All-American Thomas Robinson. But he was harassed all night by Davis and Jones and finished with 18 points and 17 rebounds on a 6-for-17 shooting night.

The Jayhawks won the “B” League this year, as Calipari avenged a final-game loss to Bill Self back in 2008 when Cal was coaching the Tigers. Not a bad season in Lawrence, though, considering where KU began.

Kansas lost four of its top five scorers off last year’s roster. There were times early in the season when Self and his old buddy and mentor, Larry Brown, would stand around at practices and wonder if this was a team that could even make the tournament. It did. Won its eighth straight conference title, too.

None of this, however, was for the faint of heart. The Jayhawks trailed by double digits in three of their five tournament games leading to the final and played every game down to the wire. They fell behind by 18 late in the first half of this one and this time, there was no big comeback to be made; not against these guys.

“We came up short, but I don’t think we lost. I think they just beat us,” Self said.

Davis realized early this was no shoot-first night for him at the Superdome. Sporting his near-unibrow, which the UK Wildcat mascot also decided to paste on, he endured the worst shooting night of a short college career in which he makes 64 percent. No big deal. He set the tone early on defense, swatting Robinson’s shot twice, grabbing rebounds, making pretty bounce passes for assists.

Early in the second half, he made a steal that also could have been an assist, knocking the ball out of Robinson’s hands and directly to Jones, who dunked for a 46-30 lead.

Then, finally. With 5:13 left in the game, he spotted up for a 15-foot jumper from the baseline that swished for a 59-44 lead, putting a dagger in one of Kansas’ many comebacks.

“He was terrific,” Self said. “The basket he made was one of the biggest baskets of the game.”

The crowd, a little more full of Kentucky fans than Kansas, went crazy. If this guy only stays one year and only makes one shot, they’re fine with that.

It’s the new normal at Kentucky, where Adolph Rupp set a standard, Rick Pitino lived up to it for a while, then Calipari — hardly the buttoned-down type — was hired to bring back the glory.

He goes for the best player, no matter what their long-term goals.

Normally, the prospect of losing all those players in one swoop would have people thinking about a tough rebuilding year.

But Cal has mastered the art of rebuilding on the fly.

He’s the coach who brings in the John Walls, Brandon Knights and Derrick Roses (at Memphis) for cups of coffee, lets them sharpen up their resumes, then happily says goodbye when it becomes obvious there’s nothing left for them to do in school.

Last year, the formula resulted in a trip to the Final Four that ended with a crushing loss to Connecticut in the semifinals.

This year, Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist came to Lexington with big-time bona-fides, and they didn’t disappoint. Kentucky lost only twice all season — once on a buzzer-beater at Indiana, the second time last month in the SEC tournament title game to Vanderbilt.

The Vandy loss might have been, as Calipari put it, just what the doctor ordered for a team that could sometimes border on arrogance.

They rebounded nicely for the real tournament, and through it all, the coach refused to apologize for the way he recruits or how he runs his program. Just playing by the rules as they’re set up, he says, even if he doesn’t totally agree with them. Because he refuses to promise minutes or shots to any recruit and demands teamwork out of all of them, he says he comes by these players honestly.

He has produced nine first-round picks in the last four drafts with a few more coming. This latest group will have an NCAA title in tow and the everlasting love of a fan base that bleeds basketball.

“I don’t know of any team that has sacrificed for each other like this team and they deserve this moment, they really do,” Calipari said.

— Associated Press —

MWSU men’s golf team struggles at Central Oklahoma Invite

The Missouri Western men’s golf team struggled on day one of the Central Oklahoma Invitational in Oklahoma City, Okla. Western is in 17th place firing a two round 650 (328-322) on the opening day. The Griffons are four strokes back of Missouri Southern (646) for 16th place. The leader of the event is St. Edwards firing a 587 (290-297) two strokes better than Oklahoma Christian’s 589 (294-295).

Tyler Gast sits in a tie for 51st place with a 158 (77-81) while James O’Brian, Logan Gilliland, Scott Sheldon and Stephen Culver 160, 162, 172 and 173 respectively for Western.

Baer Aneshansley of Central Oklahoma and Scott Wyers of Colorado St-Pueblo are tied for the lead firing 141’s.

The teams will play the final round of the event Tuesday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

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