Dave Riggert – Page 486 – St. Joseph Post Archive

K-State falls on the road at No. 17 Iowa State 80-61

Posted on February 27, 2016February 27, 2016

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jameel McKay looked rejuvenated. Hallice Cooke was a factor for the first time in months.

Iowa State finally got the bench production it’s been looking for heading into March.

Matt Thomas scored 20 points and Georges Niang added 17 and 17th-ranked Iowa State rolled past Kansas State 80-61 on Saturday night, clinching its fifth straight 20-win season.

McKay added 14 points with 17 rebounds off the bench for the notoriously-thin Cyclones (20-9, 9-7 Big 12), who got 24 points from their reserves and outscored the Wildcats by 18 in the second half.

“This is the time of year you have to have your team figured out,” Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said. “The second half, you saw us at a really good clip offensively and defensively.”

Iowa State strung together 13-0 runs in each half, which proved to be the difference. The Wildcats pulled as close as 65-59 before backup Hallice Cooke’s 3 with just under four minutes left swung momentum back in favor of the Cyclones.

D.J. Johnson had 22 with nine boards for Kansas State (15-14, 4-12), which shot just 4 of 18 from 3-point range.

“It’s all the little details that make the difference in the game,” Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said, pointing to Monte Morris’s buzzer-beating 3 to end the first half when K-State had a foul to give. “It’s a shame because our guys work so hard. They give themselves a chance. But you’ve got to be smart.”

Iowa State’s dream of a share of the Big 12 title ended last weekend when Kansas secured its 12th league win.

But the Cyclones are still hoping they have a big run left in them.

Beating K-State was a necessary start.

Two consecutive 3s from Thomas in the left corner put Iowa State ahead 45-39 early in the second half. Cooke, who has mostly struggled in his first season with the Cyclones after transferring from Oregon State, then drilled one from that exact spot to make it 48-39.

Deonte Burton’s first basket, an emphatic one-handed dunk, pushed Iowa State’s lead to 60-45. K-State answered with seven straight and Niang was forced to the bench with his fourth foul with 7:27 left. But McKay followed Cooke’s huge 3 with a dunk as the Cyclones pulled away.

Cooke finished with 10 points after being held scoreless for four straight games.

“He was a huge spark off the bench,” Thomas said. “I think he can be that for us every night.”

TIP-INS

Iowa State: Niang started for the 120th time Saturday. … All five Cyclones starters entered play averaging at least 10 points and four boards a game. … Thomas completed a rare four-point play to give Iowa State its first lead, 17-14. He later moved into seventh place in school history on made 3s.

Kansas State: The Wildcats played their 13th ranked team this season, surpassing the school record of 12 set in 2010-11 and 2014-15. … K-State forced 13 turnovers against one of the best teams in the Big 12 at securing the ball.

COURTSIDE

McKay was suspended for two games for violating team rules, and he was bounced from the starting lineup upon his return. McKay finally returned to his earlier form against the Wildcats, and the Cyclones hope it’ll be a turning point. McKay’s double-double was his sixth of the year but just his first since January 6.

QUOTABLE

“My focus was as good as it’s been all year. I just came out and wanted to play with energy,” McKay said. “I need people to know that I’m going to give 100 percent effort every time I’m on the court.”

UP NEXT

The Cyclones close out their home schedule Monday night against Oklahoma State.

Kansas State hosts TCU on Wednesday.

— Associated Press —

Area High School Basketball Scores – Friday, February 26

Posted on February 26, 2016

REGULAR SEASON
BOYS
Central 57 (15-10, 5-5 Suburban)
Ruskin 49

GIRLS
Central 66 (19-6, 7-3 Suburban)
Ruskin 45

DISTRICTS
CLASS 3 DISTRICT 15 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Lawson 45
Chillicothe 41

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 15 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Chillicothe 54
Trenton 26

CLASS 2 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
North Platte 53
South Harrison 52

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 16 BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
North Andrew 64
Mound City 45

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 15 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jefferson 62
North Harrison 45

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 14 GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Winston 54
Pattonsburg 40

Western drops home opener to Washburn in 10 innings

Posted on February 26, 2016

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team surrendered three runs in the top of the 10th inning to drop its first home game of the season Friday 6-3 to Washburn.

The Griffons tied the game at three in the bottom of the ninth. D’Andre Heggie led off the ninth with a pinch hit double to the right field corner. Marcus Brown entered as a pinch runner for Heggie and scored three batters later when Orencio Fisher roped his first hit of the day into left for a single. The first two Washburn batters in the 10th singled before the third reached on a fielder’s choice. An error charged to Jeremy Alvarado at third base allowed Washburn’s fourth run to score. Richard Peoples would allow two more in the inning on a double and another on a sacrifice fly. Peoples took the loss and fell to 1-1 on the year.

Cosimo Cannella went 2-3 for Missouri Western, also drawing a walk, scoring a run and riving one in. Landon Mason finished 2-4. Weston Caindec got the start and went six innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. Two of the runs came in the first on a two-out home run to left. Preston Bailey allowed two hits and struck out four in three innings of relief.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mustangs adds another home game to raise money for Military All-Stars

Posted on February 26, 2016

The defending MINK League champions added another game to an outstanding home slate for the 2016 schedule.

The St. Joseph Mustangs are proud to host the U.S. Military All-Stars on July 11.

General admission to the game is free with a donation to the U.S. Military All-Stars at the gate. This marks the third time the all-stars have played St. Joseph.

“The kindness the people of St. Joseph show year after year with their donations is heartwarming and much-needed,” Tank Stone, vice president of the all-stars, said.

The Military All-Stars will be followed by a film crew as they tour the country. The all-stars are part of a documentary showcasing the baseball team that also serves its country.

Mustangs’ general manager Ky Turner is excited for the support St. Joseph offers to be displayed nationally.

“We’re excited to show the great city of St. Joseph in the documentary with a huge crowd of people who support the Mustangs, but more importantly, our service men and women. The ceremonies and atmosphere before and during this game are unlike any other game we will play,” Turned stated.

The U.S. Military All-Stars are a barnstorming baseball team that was established in 1990. The military squad has played in 45 states and 12 countries over the last 25 years.

The additional game for the Mustangs gives the team 31 home regular season contests for 2016. St. Joe has posted a 46-14 record at Phil Welch Stadium over the past two championship seasons.

— Mustangs Press Release —

Bearcats get a walk-off win against Northeastern State

Posted on February 26, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team got a walk off single from Kevin Handzlik in the bottom of the ninth to beat Northeastern State, 5-4, on Friday afternoon at Bearcat Field.

The Bearcats moved to 6-4 and 1-0 in MIAA play. The RiverHawks fall to 6-4 overall and are 0-1 in conference action.

Northeastern State scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 4-3 lead but Northwest got two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the win.

Bryce Shea pitched 1.1 innings of relief for the win. He retired the last four batters of the game for Northwest with a strikeout.

Northwest scored five runs on nine hits. The Bearcats got two runs in the third, one in the seventh and two in the ninth. The RiverHawks scored one in the first and three in the eighth and finished with three hits. Neither team had an error.

Ozzie Adams was 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Nick Gotta drew a pair of walks and got two RBI, including a walk to score the tying run in the ninth.

Derek Meyer was 2-for-3 as was Kolby Greenslade, who also scored a run, while Garrett Fort was 1-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.

Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Handzlik was 1-for-1 with the ninth inning walk off single. Aaron Barratt scored a run as a pinch runner in the seventh.

Joseph Hietpas started and went 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Only one of the runs was earned. He had eight strikeouts and walked two.

The Bearcats got on the board in the third as Fort singled to lead off. Fort went to third on an Adams single, who went to second on the throw. Gotta hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Fort to tie it, 1-1. Adams moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a Hrdlicka single to right, giving Northwest a 2-1 lead.

Meyer led off the seventh with an infield single and Barratt came in to pinch run. Greenslade laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Barratt to second and he went to third on a Fort ground out. With two down, Adams singled to left, giving Northwest a 3-1 lead.

Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Zachary Douglas led off by getting hit by a pitch. After working a full count, Greenslade lined a ball at the third baseman who was playing in for the bunt. The ball got away for a single, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Fort reached on a fielder’s choice on a bunt back to the pitcher who threw to third to get Douglas out. With one down, Adams was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gotta then drew a walk to tie the game, 4-4. Handzlik, who entered the game earlier as a pinch runner, laced a ball between short and third to drive in Fort for the winning run.

The Bearcats and the RiverHawks continue the three-game series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri baseball wins series opener against Hofstra

Posted on February 26, 2016

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mizzou Baseball used a season-high nine walks and scored a season-high 12 runs to back another sensational start from senior RHP Reggie McClain (Duluth, Ga.) to earn a 12-2 win in the series opener against Hofstra on Friday (Feb. 26) at City of Palms Park. McClain tossed his second career complete game, allowing no earned runs while striking out a career-high six in his second win of the season. He has not walked a batter in 41.0 career innings when pithing on a neutral site and is 5-0 with 0.00 ERA in such outings.

Freshmen Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) and Ian Nelson (Lake St. Louis, Mo.) each reset career-highs in RBIs and hits and classmate Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) tallied his first career multi-hit game to spark the offense. In all, Mizzou’s three freshmen in the lineup drove in eight of the 12 runs. Senior Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) also added a double and a single for his second multi-hit game of the season and SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) extended his hitting streak to six games and added two RBI in the win.

McClain needed just nine pitches to get through the first inning, tallying a pair of strikeouts in the opening frame. He then threw just 11 pitches in the second inning and picked up another strikeout as he was dealing early. McClain was snake-bitten a bit in the third inning, taking a comebacker off the leg. That run came around to score after an error and a big-hop ground ball to third, giving Hofstra an early 1-0 lead.

Mizzou then put two men on in the bottom of the third on a hit by Nelson and a hit-batter. That brought Howard to the dish, but he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

The Tigers did not threaten again until the bottom of the fifth. Lavy reached on a leadoff error and Wednesday’s hero Sharp singled into right to put runners on the corners with one down for Nelson. He tallied an RBI single and Brumfield followed with an RBI double to give Mizzou a 2-1 lead. Mizzou threatened to break the game open, but couldn’t tack on more runs.

Hofstra tied the game in the next half inning, using two hits and an error to plate a run. Mizzou got a big double play on a flyout to center, throwing the trail runner out at second base, and McClain picked up a strikeout to get out of the inning.

In the sixth, Mizzou picked up right where it left off in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs, with the big hit coming from Lavy – a double to right center. Sharp then drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run and Nelson hit a ground ball out to the right side to plate another run, giving Mizzou a 4-2 lead. The Tigers then drew three bases-loaded walks to plate three more runs, scoring five runs on just one hit. Hofstra issued four walks and a hit batter in inning.

Mizzou added to the lead in the seventh inning, using a two-run single from Brumfiled and then added three more in the ninth.

Mizzou will play a doubleheader against Hofstra tomorrow beginning at noon (CT). Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) and Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) will get the starts for Mizzou.

— Mizzou Athletics —

MWSU tennis shuts out Truman State Friday

Posted on February 26, 2016February 26, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, MO. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team earned a dominating 9-0 victory over Truman State to move their record to 4-0 on the season.

The Griffons earned three wins in doubles competition. Yasmine El Ghazi and Sofia Aguilera took the No. 1 doubles match 8-4. The No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches earned 8-4 victories as well over the Bulldogs to give the Griffons a 3-0 lead heading into singles matches.

Singles action saw the Griffons sweep play on all six courts. Sofia Aguilera controlled her match from the start with a 6-0, 6-2 victory and Yasmine El Ghazi followed suit with a 6-1, 6-3 win at the No. 2 singles spot. Denise Chiao and Joanna Roman Abreu also earned convincing wins over their opponents in the No. 4 and No. 5 spot. Lindsay Beger earned a victory over Elise Mousseau 1-6, 6-4, 10-6 to complete the Griffon sweep.

Singles competition
1. Aguilera, Sofia (MWSU) def. Lauren Jin (TSU) 6-0, 6-2
2. El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Marisa Thome (TSU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) def. Lindsey Schlichting (TSU) 6-4, 6-7, 10-7
4. Abreu Roman, Joanna (MWSU) def. Savannah Everett (TSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Chiao, Denise (MWSU) def. Holly Cantalupo (TSU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Beger, Lindsay (MWSU) def. Elise Mousseau (TSU) 1-6, 6-4, 10-6

Doubles competition
1. Aguilera, Sofia/El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Lindsey Schlichting/Marisa Thome (TSU) 8-4
2. Abreu Roman, Joanna/Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) def. Maura Dunn/Lauren Jin (TSU) 8-4
3. Chiao, Denise/Smith, Meara (MWSU) def. Savannah Everett/Elise Mousseau (TSU) 8-4

The Griffons will be at home on Sunday, March 13 at 12 p.m. against Lindenwood for their next match.

— MWSU Athletics —

KU football adds Joe DeForest as special team coordinator

Posted on February 26, 2016February 26, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas football head coach David Beaty announced that Joe DeForest has joined the KU coaching staff and will serve as the Jayhawks’ special teams coordinator. In addition to his role as special teams coordinator, DeForest will be an assistant coach on the defensive side of the ball.

Known nationally for his special teams expertise, DeForest brings with him 26 years of collegiate coaching experience, including having coached in 13 bowl games. He was named a Rivals.com Top 25 recruiter in 2004, 2006 and 2008, and has coached 28 all-conference performers, 10 All-Americans and 11 players who have gone on to play professionally.

“We are excited to add Joe to our staff,” said Beaty, who is in his second season at the helm of the Jayhawk program. “His special teams units have been among the top in every category throughout his time in the Big 12. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will help our program moving forward.”

DeForest joins Beaty’s staff after spending the previous four seasons at West Virginia. In his first season at WVU in 2012, DeForest was associate head coach/defensive coordinator, while also coaching the safeties. He then served as special teams coordinator and coached the safeties from 2013-15.

During his time at WVU, DeForest mentored two special teams players – Mario Alford (kickoff returner) and Josh Lambert (kicker) – to All-America honors. Lambert was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2014. In addition, he guided Lambert and punter Nick O’Toole to All-Big 12 honors, while also coaching safety Karl Joseph to All-Big 12 accolades.

Prior to his time in Morgantown, DeForest spent 11 seasons on the staff at Oklahoma State, where he worked under Les Miles from 2001-04, and then under current Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy. At OSU, DeForest was the associate head coach, special teams coordinator and safeties coach from 2005-11. From 2001-05, he was the special teams coordinator and secondary coach.

DeForest coached three different Cowboys to Big 12 Special Teams Player-of-the-Year honors over his last four years at OSU: return man Dez Bryant in 2008, kicker Dan Bailey in 2010 and kicker/punter Quinn Sharp in 2011. During his OSU tenure, he also coached the all-time leaders in kick return touchdowns: Perrish Cox took four back for scores from 2006-09, and Justin Gilbert best that total with six touchdowns from 2010-13.

In 2011, DeForest was part of the OSU staff that produced one the finest seasons in the school’s history. The Cowboys finished 12-1 overall, won the Big 12 Conference championship, defeated Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl and finished as the No. 3-ranked team nationally in both major polls.

He served as position coach for a pair of All-Americans, safety Markelle Martin (AFCA) and kicker Quinn Sharp (FWAA). Martin finished with 74 tackles, including five tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Sharp was the No. 3-ranked punter in the nation, tied for No. 7 in field goals made per game and No. 5 in scoring.

In 2010, DeForest had one of the top special teams units in the nation. Bailey won the prestigious Lou Groza Award, and Sharp earned first team All-America (FWAA) honors. His unit accounted for two kick return touchdowns, a punt return touchdown and two blocked punt returns for touchdowns. Defensively, his safeties Johnny Thomas and Martin both returned interceptions for touchdowns.

His 2008 special teams units were as equally impressive. The Cowboys boasted the No. 2 punt return unit in the nation, the No. 6 punt unit and the No. 18 kick return squad.

Punter Matt Fodge was named the recipient of the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s top punter; Bryant, OSU’s punt returner, earned the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year Award, and Cox collected All-America honors as a kick returner.

Cox set a Big 12 record with two kick returns for touchdowns that season to give him four career kick returns for touchdowns, a figure that at one time led all active NCAA players. In 2007 he was one of only three players in the nation to return a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown.

In 2006, the Cowboys ended the year No. 8 nationally in kickoff returns, No. 27 in punt returns, and had some of the nation’s standout special teams performers. Cox was named a freshman All-American after finishing No. 14 nationally in punt returns; Grant Jones, a second team All-American, was No. 13 in kickoff returns and Fodge was named a second team All-American after ending the season No. 8 in punting.

In 2005, Daniel McLemore accumulated the second-most kickoff return yards (638) in OSU history. DeForest also oversaw the development of walk-on kicker Bruce Redden, who connected on 11-of-14 field goals for the year.

In 2004, the Cowboys led the Big 12 and were No. 10 nationally in punt returns, averaging 14.7 yards per return, No. 26 in net punting and No. 38 in kickoff returns.

When DeForest arrived in Stillwater in 2001, his impact was felt immediately, as Oklahoma State improved in every statistical category, going from No. 78 to No. 10 in net punting, from No. 67 to No. 12 in punt returns and from No. 92 to No. 3 in kickoff returns. Returner Chris Massey led the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 34.8 yards per return.

Prior to his tenure at Oklahoma State, DeForest served stints at Duke (1994-2001) as the special teams’ coordinator and linebackers coach. He was the outside linebackers coach at Rice from 1992-94 and the offensive graduate assistant (RB) there from 1990-92. He began his coaching career at Titusville High School in Titusville, Fla., in 1988 and served two years as the outside linebackers coach.

While at Duke in 2000, the Blue Devils finished No. 6 nationally in net punting and 15th in kickoff returns. Punter Brian Morton was No. 2 in the nation in punting, averaging 45.2 yards per kick, while Kyle Moore (No. 9) and Chris Douglas (No. 45) both ranked in the Top 50 in kickoff returns. Trevor Cobb was the 1991 Doak Walker Award winner as one of DeForest’s pupils at Rice.

DeForest is a 1987 graduate of University of Southwest Louisiana (now known as University of Louisiana) with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He was a four-year starter and was twice named to the all-Southern and all-Louisiana independent teams. He also was a two-year lettermen as a pitcher on the Ragin Cajuns’ baseball squad. He received the first annual President’s Cup, signifying the University’s top male athlete.

He played two years of professional football as an outside linebacker and deep snapper, first for the Houston Oilers (NFL) and New Orleans Saints (NFL) in 1987 and then finished career with the Calgary Stampeders (CFL) in 1988.

— KU Athletics —

Area High School Basketball Scores – Thursday, February 25

Posted on February 25, 2016February 25, 2016

REGULAR SEASON BOYS
Lafayette 79 (23-3)
Van Horn 56

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 16 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Maryville 58
Bishop LeBlond 49

East Buchanan 47
St. Pius X 37

CLASS 2 DISTRICT 16 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Hamilton 56
North Platte 30

Mid-Buchanan 58
Gallatin 53

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS SEMIFINALS
Mound City 60
Nodaway-Holt 26

North Andrew 62
South Nodaway 49

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 15 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Stanberry 74
North Nodaway 28

Jefferson 57
Worth County 47

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 14 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Winston 71
King City 31

DeKalb 54
St. Joseph Christian 41

St. Joseph Mustangs to host 2nd Annual Fan Fest

Posted on February 25, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — For the second year in a row, the St. Joseph Mustangs will have the chance to meet their fans face to face just before they kick off a new baseball season.

The second annual Mustangs Fan Fest and Media Day will be held Tuesday, May 31 at East Hills Shopping Center from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

“We’re going to make sure this is a trip you’ll want to bring the family to, with all kinds of fun activities, just like a Mustangs game at Phil Welch Stadium,” noted Mustangs general manager Ky Turner.

The free event will give fans the chance to get to know the new crop of players — and see some familiar faces — with a news conference open to the public, and an autograph session featuring the entire team and coaching staff.

Along with games and prize giveaways, fans will also have the chance to showcase their musical talents during National Anthem auditions. Jeremy Eaton, the owner of The Griffey School for the Arts, will lead the group of judges as local singers and musicians can win the chance to perform the Star-Spangled Banner before a Mustangs game this summer.

“They were blown away by the response we had last year at the event, and we’re excited to team up with Jeremy once again,” Turner added.

The Mustangs Fan Fest ramps up excitement into the team’s season opener the next day — a June 1 meeting with the Boulder Collegians at Phil Welch Stadium. It marks the eighth summer of St. Joseph Mustangs baseball at the historic stadium. St. Joe’s won back-to-back MINK League titles, and four in the last five years.

Mustangs merchandise will also be for sale at Fan Fest.

For information on season tickets for 2016, call the front office at (816) 279-7856.

— Mustangs Press Release —