CLASS 4 DISTRICT 16 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Lafayette 70
Chillicothe 58
CLASS 5 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Staley 48
Central 32
Author: Dave Riggert
No. 14 Mizzou women lose to 19th-ranked Georgia in SEC Quarterfinals
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Que Morrison scored 16 points, and 19th ranked Georgia upset No. 14 Missouri 55-41 Friday night in the Southeastern Conference women’s tournament quarterfinals.
With the win, third-seeded Georgia (25-5) reached the semifinals for the first time since 2013. The Lady Bulldogs will play eighth-ranked South Carolina, a 73-62 winner over Tennessee, on Saturday.
The Lady Bulldogs took control by outscoring Missouri 20-9 in the third quarter. Missouri led 25-22 when Caliya Robinson’s jumper with 7:33 put Georgia ahead to stay, and the Lady Bulldogs took a 40-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
Mackenzie Engram added 14 points, and Taja Cole had 13 for Georgia.
Missouri (24-7) never got closer than five in the fourth quarter with Georgia holding the Tigers to a season-worst 27.1 percent shooting for the game.
Jordan Frericks led Missouri with 10 points before fouling out with 1:15 left. Sophie Cunningham also fouled out for the Tigers.
— Associated Press —
Missouri Western adds Andre Crenshaw to football coaching staff
ST. JOSEPH – Griffon football head coach Matt Williamson has named Andre Crenshaw as the team’s new special teams coordinator and running backs coach.
Crenshaw comes to Missouri Western after spending the 2017 season at Tennessee Tech where he coached running backs, returners, and specialists.
Before his time at Tennessee Tech he had a two-season stint at Morehead State where he also coached the running backs, returners and specialists. With the Eagles, Crenshaw helped recruit student-athletes, monitored their academic performance, broke down game film and put together scouting reports. He also helped oversee training and developed game plans.
Prior to his tenure in Kentucky, Crenshaw was a graduate assistant, overseeing the running backs and specialists at Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, South Dakota, then was also the running backs and athletes coach at Riggs Football Academy in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
At Dakota Wesleyan, he helped develop Francois Barnaud, who became the school’s leading rusher in just two seasons, picking up 1,893 yards as a junior and 1,409 yards as a senior, the top two seasons in program history. He led the NAIA and Great Plains Athletic Conference in rushing as a junior, was a second-team All-American selection and twice named all-conference.
A native of Lancaster, California, Crenshaw rushed for more than 500 yards and accumulated more than 1,000 career all-purpose yards during a four-year (2006-09) career at Oregon. He rushed for a career-best 133 yards and two touchdowns at Washington as a sophomore in 2007. He totaled more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground as a senior at Antelope Valley High School.
Crenshaw earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Oregon in 2010 and a Master’s degree in educational policy and administration from Dakota Wesleyan 2015.
— MWSU Athletics —
Missouri State comes up short in MVC quarters against Southern Illinois
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Sean Lloyd Jr.’s 13 points led five players in double figures and No.2 seed Southern Illinois defeated seventh-seeded Missouri State 67-63 in a quarterfinal game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday night.
Kavion Pippen scored 11 points and Armon Fletcher, Aaron Cook and Tyler Smithpeters each scored 10 for the Salukis (20-12).
Lloyd’s 3-pointer with 6:18 left gave Southern Illinois a 63-49 lead before the Bears climbed within a basket with a 12-0 run. Jarred Dixon made a jump shot and a layup while Jarrid Rhodes made a pair of free throws and two jumpers during the stretch.
Cook’s layup made it 65-61 and Dixon responded with two foul shots. Cook missed a jumper but on Missouri State’s following possession, Smithpeters came up with a steal and Lloyd laid it in with six seconds left to end it.
Rhodes scored 21 points, Dixon added 16 and Alize Johnson collected 11 rebounds.
— Associated Press —
MWSU baseball drops opener at No. 16 Southern Indiana
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – One inning created a gap Griffon baseball (5-9) couldn’t close Friday in the opening game of a three-game series at No. 16 Southern Indiana (5-2). Missouri Western lost its fourth-straight game, 8-1.
Southern Indiana scored six — five with two-out — runs in the bottom of the first on Carson Dwyre (2-1) who suffered his first loss of the season. After Southern Indiana tied the game at one in the first, Dwyre struck out Southern Indiana’s designated hitter for the second out. Four-straight Screaming Eagle singles with two outs drove in five more runs in the inning and proved to be enough to hold off Missouri Western.
NOTABLES
- It was the seventh game this season against a team currently ranked in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. MWSU is 1-6 in those games
- Maurice Bruce and Michael Miller both went 2-for-4 in the game. Bruce drove in the Griffon run
- MWSU batters struck out 10 times in the game while walking once
- Dwyre went 4 1/3, allowing six runs – one earned – on six hits. He struck out five and walked one
- The Griffons were charged with three errors in the game
- Kellan Richards struck out two in 1 2/3 innings of relief. He’s now struck out five batters in 5 1/3 innings
UP NEXT
Game two of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3.
Nebraska knocked out of Big Ten quarterfinals by No. 15 Michigan
NEW YORK (AP) — Maybe the most familiar fight song in college sports filled Madison Square Garden as Michigan turned the last six minutes of its Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against Nebraska into garbage time.
“Hail to the victors valiant,” the many Michigan fans sang as they were able to start turning their attention to a semifinal on Saturday that will bring a little extra juice to the Garden. For just the second time, Michigan and Michigan State will meet in the Big Ten Tournament.
“It’s a rivalry game, even though it’s postseason you want to come out and have a sense of urgency and be ready for a fight,” Michigan guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman said after the 15th-ranked Wolverines eliminated the fourth-seeded Cornhuskers 77-58 on Friday.
Abdur-Rahkman scored 21 points and Moe Wagner had 20 as fifth-seeded Michigan (26-7) dealt a significant blow to Nebraska’s NCAA hopes.
Michigan and Michigan State’s only other meeting in the Big Ten Tournament came in the 2014 championship game at Indianapolis. The Spartans won 69-55.
“I expect it to be really exciting,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “I think there will be a lot of Michigan fans here, but I expect Michigan State fans to travel well. I don’t know the numbers, but we are in New York City. Our alums and our fans are.”
The Michigan fans had plenty of time to sit back and enjoy Friday’s game against Nebraska.
Wagner and Abdur-Rahkman were both limited by foul trouble in Michigan’s opening tournament victory against Iowa on Thursday. The Wolverines’ stars fouled out in the overtime game against the Hawkeyes, but Michigan survived without them.
Against the Huskers (22-10), Wagner and Abdur-Rahkman were full-go and Nebraska could not do much to stop them. Wagner drove the baseline for a dunk late in the first half that helped the Michigan go up 34-24 at the break.
Abdur-Rahkman’s 3 with 6:01 left in the second half made it 61-42 for the Wolverines, giving their fans the opportunity to sing and chant “N-I-T” at Nebraska.
Isaiah Roby and James Palmer Jr. led Nebraska with 16 points each.
BIG PICTURE
Michigan: The Wolverines lost by 20 at Nebraska back in January in one of their worst offensive showings of the season. Abdur-Rahkman said Michigan failed to adjust to the Huskers’ defensive switches. “I think we just seen it a lot more. As of late, teams have been trying to switch out their defenses against us,” Abdur-Rahkman said.
Whatever the issue was in Lincoln, it was solved the second time around. The Wolverines got to the basket effectively in the first half, and the 3-point shooting that was off against Iowa (3 for 19) was on against Nebraska (11 for 23).
Nebraska: Selection Sunday is more than a week away with the Big Ten playing its tournament earlier than usual to get it into the Garden. It figures to be an uneasy wait for coach Tim Miles and his Huskers.
“I think we’re just going to wait to see what happens,” Palmer said. “Whether it’s the NCAA — which I think we should be. But we’re just going to wait this week and see what happens.”
Despite a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten, and winning eight of nine to end the regular season, many projections have Nebraska firmly on the bubble for an at-large NCAA bid.
“Well, I believe we’re an NCAA Tournament team now,” Miles said. “That was — we just ran into a buzz saw with Michigan, but I don’t think that undoes what we’ve already accomplished.”
The Huskers best regular-season victory is probably against Michigan. They had a close loss against Kansas and the Big Ten schedule did them no favors, giving them road games at Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State with no return home games.
If Nebraska is left out, the Big Ten is looking at getting only four teams in the tournament, barring an upset winner at the Garden.
UP NEXT
Michigan: The Wolverines beat the Spartans 82-72 in January at East Lansing.
Nebraska: NCAA or NIT?
— Associated Press —
Northwest baseball hammers Fort Hays State 13-1
The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team defeated Fort Hays State, 13-1, in a seven-inning game on Friday at Larks Park in Hays, Kan.
The Bearcats improve to 7-6 overall and 4-0 in MIAA play.
Alixon Herrera drove in four runs, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles and a walk.
Joseph Hietpas threw the complete 7.0 innings. He struck out 13, allowing one run on seven hits. He allowed just one walk.
Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored five runs in the second, four in the third and four in the fifth. Fort Hays scored its lone run in the first inning.
– The Bearcats had 13 runs on 10 hits with no errors. The Tigers scored one run on seven hits and committed three errors.
– Logan Rycraft was 2-for-5 with three runs driven in. He hit a double, scored a run and also reached on a walk.
– Kevin Handzlik went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
– Hudson Bilodeau was 1-for-3 with two runs driven in. He was also hit by a pitch.
– Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-2, drawing four walks. He scored twice.
– Mondesi Gutierrez scored a pair of runs, going 1-for-2. He drew two walks and was hit by a pitch.
– Landon Figg drew a walk and scored a run.
– Luke Hassman scored three times after reaching twice on walks and once on a hit by pitch.
– Aaron Barratt was hit by a pitch. He drove in a run and also scored a run.
– Hietpas set the Tigers down in order in the third and the fifth innings.
Key Northwest Innings
– Hassman and Herrera drew back-to-back walks to start the second. Handzlik laid a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up and Hrdlicka drew a walk to loadthe bases. Gutierrez drew a walk to force in Hassman to tie the game, 1-1. Barratt hit a grounder to short that scored Herrera but an error by the shortstop kept the bases loaded. Rycraft hit a 2-RBI single to drive in two more runs, forcing a pitching change. Bilodeau laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Barratt for Northwest’s fifth run.
– In the third, Hassman again led off with a walk. Herrera hit a double down the right field line to drive in Hassman. Handzlik followed it up with a single to score Herrera. Handdzlik was picked off but Hrdlicka drew a walk, forcing a pitching change. Gutierrez drew a walk and Barratt was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rycraft drew a walk to force in Hrdlicka. Bilodeau grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing Gutierrez to score.
– Rycraft started the fifth inning by working a full count and driving a ball into left field for a double. Bilodeau was hit by a pitch. Figg grounded into a fielder’s choice, forcing out Bilodeau at second. Hassman loaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch. Herrera cleared the bases with a double down the right field line, making it 12-1 Bearcats. Handzlik hit a single to right on an 0-2 pitch. An error by the right fielder allowed Herrera to score Northwest’s 13th run.
Up Next
– Game two of the three-game series takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
— Northwest Athletics —
K-State women rally past Kansas in Big 12 tournament opener
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Kaylee Page scored 20 points and Kayla Goth 19 to spark a fourth-quarter rally and Kansas State eliminated in-state rival Kansas 72-63 in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament Friday night.
No. 8 seed Kansas State (16-14) advances to meet top-seeded Baylor (18-12) in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
Page made five of Kansas State’s 8 3-pointers. Goth, the first player in the program’s history with 400 or more points and 175 assists in a season, was 5 of 7 from the field, made 7 of 11 free throws and had eight assists.
Peyton Williams scored 14 and Rachel Ranke 10 for the Wildcats.
Kansas (12-18), the 9 seed, held the lead for the first three quarters of play and half of the fourth quarter until Goth and Page wrapped 3-pointers around a Kansas miss for a 59-all tie. The consecutive treys capped an 11-3 run to pull even. The Wildcats outscored Kansas 13-4 down the stretch.
Tyler Johnson led the Jayhawks with 18 points. Kansas has lost nine straight games to Kansas State.
— Associated Press —
Griffons advance to MIAA Semifinals with another upset of 4th-seeded UCO
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The slipper fits for the Cinderella Griffons. Missouri Western, who is the No. 12 seed in the MIAA Tournament, knocked off 4th-seeded Central Oklahoma 49-46 in the quartefinals of the MIAA Tournament Thursday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.
The Griffons improve to 13-17, while UCO falls to 22-7.
Missouri Western became the first 12-seed to ever win an MIAA quarterfinal game and will now face the previous lowest seed to ever advance to the semifinals, No. 9-seed Lindenwood. The Lions made it to the semis for the second straight year as the 9-seed by upsetting No. 1-seed Central Missouri Thursday night. Missouri Western’s semifinal match-up with Lindenwood comes Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
Down by one at half, the Griffons outscored Central Oklahoma 29-25 in the second half. Two huge jumpers by Manaia Timson at the end of the third quarter gave the Griffons a 34-33 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Griffons stretched the lead to seven with 3:39 left in the game. Central Oklahoma cut the lead to two with 1:31 left, but Melia Richardson knocked down a pair of free throws with 21 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.
NOTABLES
– Richardson finished with a game-high 17 points
– Savannah Lentz scored nine points on 3-of-9 shooting from behind the arc
– KeShara Scott led MWSU with seven rebounds
– All three MWSU guards (Richardson, Lentz and Timson played all 40 minutes
– The Griffons held first team All-MIAA point guard Melinda Murillo to 4-of-10 shooting and forced her into four turnovers
– Central Oklahoma went 1-for-12 from three-point range
– Missouri Western led for exactly 20 minutes
UP NEXT
The Griffons play No. 9 seed Lindenwood in the MIAA Tournament semifinals inside Municipal Auditorium at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ AM.
— MWSU Athletics —
City High School District Basketball Scores – Thursday, March 1
THURSDAY’S RESULTS
CLASS 5 DISTRICT 16 BOYS SEMIFINAL
Oak Park 54
Central 32
CLASS 4 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Benton 58
Savannah 23
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
CLASS 5 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Central vs. Staley – 6:00 PM
CLASS 4 DISTRICT 16 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Lafayette vs. Chillicothe – 6:00 PM