BOYS
Stewartsville 58, St. Joseph Christian 53
LIBERTY NORTH TOURNAMENT – Consolation
St. Joseph Central 55, Kansas City Central 53
GIRLS
St. Joseph Christian 32, Stewartsville 24
Author: Dave Riggert
Tigers’ Shane Ray named 1st Team Walter Camp All-American
What’s already been quite a week for Mizzou junior DE Shane Ray (Kansas City, Mo.) just got even better as he was this evening named a 1st-Team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The honor means that Ray becomes the 34th 1st-Team All-American in Mizzou Football history, and the eighth to play under Head Coach Gary Pinkel.
It marks the second-straight year that a Tiger defensive end has earned 1st-Team All-American acclaim, following Michael Sam in 2013. Ray is the first Tiger since DE Justin Smith (2000) to win All-American status in his junior season.
The good news continued a bountiful week of awards for Ray, who earlier was named the 2014 SEC Defensive Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and league coaches, in addition to earning 1st-Team All-SEC honors by both as well.
The awards are no surprise to anyone who has seen Ray wreak havoc on opposing offenses in 2014. He continued the building tradition of Mizzou’s outstanding defensive line play (#DLineZOU) of 2013 standouts Michael Sam and Kony Ealy, who were both first-team All-SEC picks a year ago. Ray, a first-year starter in 2014, set a school record with 14.0 quarterback sacks (topping the previous mark of 11.5), and he also totaled 21.0 tackles for loss, while ranking fifth on the team with his 61 tackles on the year. Ray leads the SEC and ranks 3rd nationally in sacks, while he ranks 2nd in the league, and 6th nationally in tackles for loss.
Ray becomes the eighth 1st-Team All-American at Mizzou under Gary Pinkel, joining previous honorees Martin Rucker, TE (2007), Jeremy Maclin, All-Purpose (2007, 2008), Chase Coffman, TE (2008), Danario Alexander, WR (2009), Grant Ressel, PK (2009), Michael Egnew, TE (2010) and Michael Sam, DE (2013).
The Tigers are off from practice until this Saturday, when they begin on-field preparations for the 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl against Minnesota, set for Jan. 1st in Orlando, Fla.
— MU Sports Information —
Kansas State’s Lockett earns Walter Camp All-America honor
For the second time in his distinguished career, Kansas State senior Tyler Lockett has been named a Walter Camp All-American, the Walter Camp Foundation announced Thursday evening during the ESPN College Football Awards Show.
With the honor, Lockett has earned All-America accolades from various organizations every year of his collegiate career, becoming the first player in Kansas State history to accomplish the feat. It is the second time Lockett has been named a Walter Camp All-American as he was the first-team kick returner as a true freshman in 2011.
Lockett earned second-team honors as both a wide receiver and kick returner from the Walter Camp Foundation, which is celebrating its 125th season compiling an All-America team in 2014. He is the third player ever to be named a Walter Camp All-American at two positions in the same year.
One of the most dynamic players in the nation, Lockett has averaged 170.6 all-purpose yards per game to rank fourth nationally and lead the Big 12 by nearly 20 yards per game. He leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally with 112.6 receiving yards per game, which is buoyed by a current streak of four-straight 100-yard contests. His 93 receptions and 1,351 yards this season are second in school history to another Walter Camp All-American, current Green Bay Packer receiver Jordy Nelson (2007).
Known mainly for his kickoff-return abilities entering the 2014 campaign, Lockett has been stellar during his first year as a full-time punt returner by leading the nation with a 19.0-yard average and two touchdowns. He tallied his first career punt-return touchdown against UTEP, a 58-yarder, while he returned a punt 43 yards for a score at West Virginia.
By being named to the Walter Camp All-America team, Lockett has been invited to the organization’s national awards banquet on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at the Yale University Commons in New Haven, Connecticut. In addition, the Foundation will recognize three individuals – broadcasting legend Verne Lundquist (Distinguished American), former Notre Dame and Pittsburgh Steeler standout running back Jerome Bettis (Man of the Year) and former Air Force All-American and Dallas Cowboy Chad Hennings (Alumnus of the Year) – with major awards.
No. 11 K-State will take on No. 14 UCLA in the 2015 Valero Alamo Bowl on Friday, January 2, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The game, which kicks off at 5:45 p.m., will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Tyler Lockett’s Career All-America Honors
2011: Walter Camp (First Team KR); Sports Illustrated (Second Team KR)
2012: Sports Illustrated (Honorable Mention KR)
2013: Football Writers Association of America (Second Team WR); Sports Illustrated (Honorable Mention All-Purpose)
2014: Walter Camp (Second Team WR and KR)
— KSU Sports Information —
Nebraska’s Riley announces hiring of four assistant coaches
University of Nebraska Head Football Coach Mike Riley announced on Thursday the hiring of four assistant football coaches that will help lead the Husker football program into the future. All four assistant coaches worked for Riley at Oregon State, and all have proven track records as great coaches, teachers, mentors and outstanding recruiters.
The full-time coaches announced on Thursday include defensive assistants Mark Banker and Trent Bray, offensive assistant Mike Cavanaugh, and one of the nation’s most respected special teams experts in Bruce Read. No coordinator designations, other than special teams, have been made to this point.
The staff members Coach Riley added on Thursday have a combined 97 years of coaching experience and a combined 45 years working with Riley, including time at Oregon State and the San Diego Chargers.
“I am excited to have the first pieces in place regarding our staffing,” Riley said. “I’m very excited about the coaches that are on board right now. I’ve worked with them and trust them and know the kind of work they do. They are excited to represent the University of Nebraska and our football program, and we are fortunate to have them on staff.”
Mark Banker has worked with Riley for 18 seasons, including 14 seasons together at Oregon State, where Banker served as defensive coordinator. Banker worked strictly as defensive coordinator since 2012, but also spent time coaching the Beaver linebackers and safeties during his time on Riley’s staff.
Under Banker’s direction, the Beaver defense was regularly among the top units in the Pac-12 Conference. More than 70 of Banker’s defenders have earned all-conference honors during his tenure in Corvallis.
The Oregon State defense has ranked near the top of the Pac-12 in total defense several times under Banker, most recently ranking third in 2012. Banker’s 2007 Beaver defense led the nation in rushing defense and ranked eighth nationally in total defense.
Trent Bray has spent the past three seasons tutoring linebackers at Oregon State. In his first season on the Beaver staff in 2012, Oregon State ranked second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense and third in total defense, rushing defense and pass defense. Bray also coached linebackers at Arizona State from 2009 to 2011.
Bray was a standout linebacker for the Beavers from 2002 to 2005. In his career he totaled 337 tackles to rank among the top 10 tacklers in Oregon State history. He earned Pac-10 all-conference honors as both a junior and senior.
Mike Cavanaugh has spent the past 10 seasons on Riley’s staff, coaching the Beaver offensive line. Cavanaugh also spent time in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers, and has several collegiate coaching stops, including six years as the offensive line coach at Hawaii.
The play of Cavanaugh’s offensive lines has helped the Beavers to record-setting offensive numbers. Quarterback Sean Mannion set single-season and career Pac-12 records for passing yards, while also paving the way for several all-conference runners. Beaver running backs Yvenson Bernard and Jacquizz Rodgers each produced three 1,000-yard rushing seasons behind Cavanaugh-coached lines. Cavanaugh’s offensive lines were also regularly among the league’s best at protecting the passer, and 23 of his players earned all-conference honors in the past decade.
Bruce Read has focused on special teams throughout his 29 years in coaching. Most recently, Read has been on Riley’s Oregon State staff since 2009, Read’s third stint at Oregon State. He also coached the Beaver special teams in 1997 and 1998, and from 2004 to 2006. The OSU special teams have achieved numerous school records under Read’s direction, including James Rodgers becoming the school’s career all-purpose yardage leader in 2011, partially fueled by 2,385 career return yards.
Read was also on Riley’s San Diego Chargers staff and was an NFL special teams assistant with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.
Quoting Nebraska’s New Assistant Coaches
Mark Banker
“I’m very excited to join the University of Nebraska family, and be a part of a football program with such an extensive tradition of excellence on the football field and in the classroom. Specifically as a defensive coach, it is an honor to be a part of the Blackshirts and I look forward to helping continue that tradition.”
Trent Bray
“It is an honor to be here at Nebraska in a program with such great history and legacy. I am very excited to get started. I have great faith in and loyalty to Coach Riley and the opportunity to continue to work with him at a place like Nebraska is an unbelievable opportunity.”
Mike Cavanaugh
“I am more than excited to be with Coach Riley at the University of Nebraska. The tradition of excellence here is amazing. I am really honored to be able to work with the offensive line at a program with such a history of success in that area.”
Bruce Read
“This is a great opportunity to be a part of a program with such outstanding tradition and success like the University of Nebraska. I am really excited to be here and it is an honor to be able to continue to work with Coach Riley. I have been with him a lot of years and he provides a great environment for coaches and student-athletes. It is fun to go to work for him every day of the year.”
— NU Sports Information —
No. 10 Jayhawks hang on for road win at Georgetown
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brannen Greene went 5 for 5 from 3-point range and scored a career-high 19 points Wednesday night as No. 10 Kansas made a basketball statement with a 75-70 win over Georgetown, even as Hoyas players were making a societal statement by wearing “I CAN’T BREATHE” T-shirts for the national anthem.
Greene scored 16 in the second half, including two free throws that helped clinch the game in the final minute. Frank Mason added 14 points, and Perry Ellis had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Jayhawks (7-1), who have won six straight.
Joshua Smith scored 20 points to lead the Hoyas (5-3), whose other losses came against No. 4 Wisconsin and No. 15 Butler.
Minutes before the opening tip, Georgetown’s entire roster emerged for the final warmups wearing black, short-sleeve T-shirts with the words “I CAN’T BREATHE” in white.
The players kept the T-shirts on during the anthem and pregame handshakes, then took them off for the announcement of the starting lineups.
They became the latest notable athletes to display words on warmups or other equipment in recent days, echoing the last words spoken by Eric Garner as police were attempting to arrest him in New York in July. A grand jury decided last week not to indict the officers involved in his death.
Then came the game, which didn’t flow as much as it lurched along, with 33 combined turnovers, yet only 39 combined points off those turnovers. There were 58 free throws taken. Key players for both teams — Greene and Georgetown’s Mikael Hopkins — had four fouls by midway through the second half. The leading scorers for both teams entering the game had off-nights, with Ellis going 4 for 15 from the field and Georgetown’s D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera 3 for 15.
But it was suspenseful. The game was tied six times in the second half, and the outcome wasn’t settled until the final few seconds — with the officials’ indecision over an out-of-bounds call helping to make the difference.
Cliff Alexander hit two free throws with one minute left to make give the Jayhawks a 70-67 lead. Georgetown’s Smith then committed the 33rd turnover of the game as the Hoyas tried to feed the ball inside, and Mason made one of two free throws with 27 seconds to play for a four-point lead.
After Georgetown’s Isaac Copeland missed a 3-point attempt, the ball went out of bounds — and none of the three officials ruled whose possession it was. They still couldn’t tell after looking at the replay, so they called it a jump ball, a crucial decision because it gave Kansas the ball on the alternating possession rule.
Greene then made two free throws with 15.3 seconds remaining to make it a six-point lead, effectively sealing the outcome.
TIP-INS
Kansas: Junior forward Jamari Traylor was suspended for the game after he was arrested over the weekend for interfering with a police officer near the Jayhawks’ campus. He is due in court Dec. 23. … This was Kansas’ fifth game away from home this season, but the first one not to be played at a neutral site. … The game completed a home-and-home series; Kansas thumped Georgetown 86-64 at Lawrence last season.
Georgetown: It should be no surprise that coach John Thompson III would allow his players to make a societal statement. His father, longtime Hoyas coach John Thompson Jr., was known for taking controversial positions during a Hall of Fame career, especially in support of minorities. Most famously, the elder Thompson walked off the court before a home game in 1989 to protest NCAA Proposition 42, which restricted the criteria under which athletes could receive scholarships.
UP NEXT
Kansas plays Utah at Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday.
Georgetown hosts Radford on Saturday.
— Associated Press —
Benedictine men now ranked No. 6 in NAIA Top 25 poll
Off to an 8-2 start, the Benedictine Men’s Basketball team moved to No. 6 this week when the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the first regular-season Div. I Men’s Basketball Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
Benedictine moved down two spots into a tie with Talladega (Ala.) for the No. 6-spot with 198 points.
The Ravens are the highest-rated member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference in the first regular season poll.
Evangel University slipped from No. 20 to No. 24 while Culver-Stockton College fell from No. 24 to No. 25.
Heading into the final weeks of December, the Ravens are ranked fifth in scoring defense per game (59.2) and field goal percent defense (0.362). They are also ranked sixth in free throw percentage at 74.6 percent.
Individually, Jallen Messersmith ranks fourth in NAIA Div. I in blocks (25) and blocks per game (2.5).
The Ravens host NAIA Div. II York (Neb.) College at 7 p.m. Tuesday inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.
— BC Sports Information —
Missouri’s Pinkel, Ray, Murphy earned individual SEC honors
The Mizzou Football program earned quite a bounty of individual awards today as the Southeastern Conference announced that Head Coach Gary Pinkel has been voted by league coaches as the 2014 SEC Coach of the Year. In addition, junior DE Shane Ray (Kansas City, Mo.) has been selected as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, while senior back Marcus Murphy (DeSoto, Texas) has been named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.
Pinkel won coach of year honors after leading his Tigers to a 10-3 regular season and a second-straight SEC Eastern Division title, thanks to a 7-1 league record. Mizzou entered the season picked fourth in the SEC East by pre-season pollsters, a year after going 12-2 in 2013. Under Pinkel’s watch, Mizzou has now won conference divisional titles in five of the last eight seasons (2007, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014), which is tied for most in the nation during that stretch (along with Alabama and Florida State). Additionally, the Tigers’ 75 wins from 2007-14 is the 5th-most among FBS “power five” conferences.
This is the second time that Pinkel has won conference coach of the year honors at Mizzou. He won the same distinction in 2007 in the Big 12 Conference for leading Mizzou to a 12-2 record and a #1 national ranking late in the season. It marks the fifth time a Tiger coach has won conference coach of the year honors, and Pinkel is the first to win twice (Al Onofrio-1972; Warren Powers-1983; Larry Smith-1997; Gary Pinkel-2007, 2014).
Ray’s honor means that he is now the league’s unanimous defensive player of the year, as he’s been voted as such by both the Associated Press and league coaches.
Ray emerged from the shadow of 2013 standouts Michael Sam and Kony Ealy, who were both first-team All-SEC picks a year ago, and forged his own path, breaking records along the way. The first-year starter set a school record with 14.0 quarterback sacks, and he also totaled 21.0 tackles for loss, while ranking fifth on the team with his 61 tackles on the year. Ray leads the SEC and ranks 3rd nationally in sacks, while he ranks 2nd in the league, and 6th nationally in tackles for loss.
He is now the third Tiger to ever win conference defensive player of the year honors, matching former standouts Jeff Gaylord (A.P. – 1981) and Sam (A.P./Coaches – 2013).
Murphy’s award comes a day after he was twice named a first-team All-SEC performer by league coaches – on offense as an all-purpose back, and on special teams as a return specialist. Murphy emerged as one of the nation’s most versatile players and dangerous return men, as he ranks second in the SEC in all-purpose average (131.9 yds.). He is the only player in the nation to score TDs in 2014 via all four all-purpose categories: Rushing (4), Kickoff Returns (2), Punt Returns (1) and Receiving (1), and improved from 2nd-Team All-SEC acclaim in 2013.
Mizzou is off from practice until this Saturday, when they begin on-field preparations for the 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl against Minnesota, set for Jan. 1st in Orlando, Fla.
— MU Sports Information —
Five Griffons named to the Don Hanson All-Super Region 3 team
Five members of the 2014 Missouri Western football team have been named to the Don Hansen All-Super Region Three Team.
Kicker John Schmiemeier was named to the second team along with defensive back Michael Jordan and punter Scott Groner. Running back Raphael Spencer and offensive lineman Travis Anderson were both third team selections.
Schmiemeier was also named second team All-MIAA. The senior led the conference in field goal percentage (72%) and tied for the league lead in made field goals (18). The Fenton, Missouri native was also perfect on point after attempts and was named MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week twice.
Jordan adds to his list of postseason honors. The junior was also a first team AFCA All-American and first team All-MIAA pick in addition to making the DAKTRONICS All-Super Region 3 second team. His 16 passes defended were tops in the MIAA. He also tied for the MIAA lead with four interceptions this season. He took one of those interceptions back 39 yards for a touchdown at Washburn. He was the MIAA Freshman of the year and an honorable mention pick in 2012.
Groner was also a first team All-MIAA selection. He led the MIAA with a 42.2 yard per punt average. He boomed 15 kicks over 50 yards, including a long of 70 yards in the season opener against Central Missouri. The senior also forced 15 fair catches and induced just four touchbacks on 60 punts.
Spencer rushed for 1,126 yards on 243 carries on his way to being named first team All-MIAA. He also moved into third on the all-time rushing list at MWSU after his 145-yard rushing performance at Missouri Southern. The junior rushed for seven touchdowns and averaged 4.6 yards per carry and just over 102 yards per game.
Anderson was the other Griffon to land on the All-MIAA first team. The redshirt sophomore started all 11 games for the Griffons at left guard. He helped Spencer to another 1,000-yard season and also was a key part of an offensive line that allowed just 1.6 sacks per contest.
— MWSU Sports Information —
Nebraska gets upset by Division I newcomer Incarnate Word
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Kyle Hittle hit a contested baseline jumper after Nebraska’s Terran Petteway threw away an inbound pass, and Incarnate Word upset Nebraska 74-73 on Wednesday night for the biggest victory in the Cardinals’ one-plus seasons making the transition from Division II to Division I.
The Cornhuskers looked like they might survive after Shawn Johnson made 2 of 3 free throws to leave Incarnate Word (6-1) down a point with 6.7 seconds left.
But Petteway threw to no one on the inbound play, and the ball rolled out of bounds near the half court line. Mitchell Badillo inbounded to Hittle, who took two steps and made his 10-footer along the baseline.
Petteway’s desperation shot at the buzzer was short.
Jontrell Walker scored 19 points to lead five Incarnate Word players in double figures. Shavon Shields had 19 to lead the Huskers (5-3).
— Associated Press —
MWSU’s Rottinghaus, Faubel named Academic All-Americans
Missouri Western volleyball players Erica Rottinghaus and Sarah Faubel have been selected to the Capital One Academic All-America first-team. The seniors are the first Griffons to earn the honor since their coach, Marian Carbin (Broderick), was a first-team pick in 2005.
It’s the second All-American honor this season for Rottinghaus, who was also picked as an honorable mention on the AVCA All-American team, becoming the first Griffon to land that distinction since Shelly Lowery in 1995. She led the Griffons with 396 kills for a 3.6 average per set and ranked fifth in the MIAA in kills per set average. The Seneca, Kansas native was second on the team with 438.5 points and third with 59 total blocks. She was also second on the team with 279 digs. Rottinghaus was also named first team All-MIAA, fist team AVCA All-District, received an MIAA Scholar Athlete Award, first team CoSIDA Academic All-District and MIAA Academic Honor Roll. A health & exercise science major, Rottinghaus has a 3.92 GPA.
Along with being named first team CoSIDA Academic All-District, Faubel also received an MIAA Scholar Athlete Award, was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and was a second team All-MIAA pick. The senior finished her career as the Griffons all-time digs leader, finishing with 427 this season and 1,799 for her career. The Lincoln, Nebraska native averaged nearly four digs per set and committed just 24 reception errors for an average of .22 per set. A business major, Faubel has a 4.0 GPA.
— MWSU Sports Information —