Dave Riggert – Page 794 – St. Joseph Post Archive

No. 10 Ravens fall to 24th-ranked Evangel in HAAC semifinals

Posted on March 7, 2014March 8, 2014

Despite rallying for 44 points in the second half of Friday night, fourth-seeded and No. 24-ranked Evangel ended the Benedictine men’s basketball teams run through the 2014 HAAC Tournament, 73-58.

Top-seeded and No. 10-ranked Benedictine (22-8) used a 44.8 percent shooting effort and went 5 of 10 from beyond the arc in the second half to outscore Evangel (23-9) 44-39 but couldn’t overcome a season low 14 points at the half to suffer the loss.

Evangel limited Benedictine to just four first-half field goals as they converted 11 to lead 34-14 at the break.

After John Harris Jr. knocked down the first basket of the game, a 3-pointer less than two minutes into the game, Evangel’s Billy Thomas II answered with the first of five first-half 3-pointers for the Crusaders.

After trading baskets and with the score remaining within a possesion, Evangel outscored Benedictine 22-6 over the final 14 minutes of the first half to break the game open.

By the midway point of the second half, Evangel pushed its lead to 29 points, their largest of the game.

At that point, Benedictine changed up their defense which sparked the offense over the final 10 mintues of the game.

The Ravens outscored the Crusaders 32-18 over those final 10 mintues of the game but could never get over the hump as Evangel managed just enough offense to keep Benedictine at arm’s length.

Zack Kleine, the HAAC Co-Player of the Year, scored a game-high 26 points for the Crusaders as Evangel finished with four players in double figures.

Benedictine’s Charlie Wallrapp led the Ravens with 13 points while Jonathan Anaekwe added 12.

The Ravens bench outscored the Crusaders 20-4, anchored by a career-high 11 points from Austin Eckert. Eckert scored all 11 points in the second half over 12 minutes of action as he helped spark Benedictine’s second-half rally. He converted three of Benedictine’s five second-half 3-pointers as the Ravens converted on 50 percent from beyond the arc in the second half.

The Ravens 22 wins moves this season to fourth on the Ravens single-season wins list. Benedictine will now wait for word on their seeding for the 77th annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Div. I National Tournament, which will be announced during a internet video stream selection show at 8 p.m. March 12.

Evangel advances to the HAAC Championship game against No. 25 and third-seeded MNU on Monday.

— BC Sports Information —

KU signee Cliff Alexander named Naismith High School Player of the Year

Posted on March 7, 2014March 7, 2014

Kansas men’s basketball signee Cliff Alexander has been named the Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Friday.

Currently listed as the No. 4 overall recruit by rivals.com, Alexander, a 6-9, 240-pound power forward from Curie High School in Chicago, was one of three finalists for the Naismith honor. An elite list that included fellow KU signee Kelly Oubre, a guard from Henderson, Nev.

Alexander, who was also named the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year on Friday, averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots in 2013-14, according to the Sun-Times.

Alexander is the second-straight Jayhawk to earn the Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year honor as current KU freshman guard Andrew Wiggins was the 2013 recipient. Alexander and Wiggins are the only KU players to earn the accolade since the inception of the award in 1987.

In addition to his Naismith honor, Alexander and Oubre will participate in the McDonald’s All-America Game on April 2 at the United Center in Chicago. The duo was also named to the USA Basketball Junior National Select Team which will take on the World Select Team in the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit on April 12 at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore.

— KU Sports Information —

Northwest baseball completes four-game sweep of Lincoln

Posted on March 7, 2014March 7, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team picked up a pair of MIAA victories over Lincoln on Friday afternoon at the LU Baseball Field. Northwest won game one 12-3 and followed it with an 11-7 victory in the night cap. Northwest is now 11-5 on the year and 8-2 in MIAA play. Lincolon drops to 0-10 overall and in conference action.

GAME ONE

Northwest scored the first three runs of the game and never trailed the rest of the way. Paul Johnson, Ryan Abernathy and Austin Wulff each recorded three hit games. Wulff crossed the plate three times and pinch hitter Luke Wilkinson had three RBI homerun in the ninth to seal the win. The Bearcats collected 14 hits and seven different players scored on the day.

Hondo Pearcy went 6.0 innings, allowing just three runs, two earned, on five hits. Andrew Trout finished out the final inning.

GAME TWO

Northwest jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on the Blue Tigers but Lincoln responded with four runs in the third, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead into the seventh. But timely hitting for the Bearcats pushed across three runs in the top of the seventh and added two more in the eighth for the win. Northwest finished the game with 14 hits.

Blane Reutter picked up his second win of the season, coming in relief of starter Kole Klocko and Rob Henrichs. Reutter pitched 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on two hits with three strikeouts. Klocko and Henrichs each had four strikeouts on the day. Abernathy continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-5 with four runs scored and a pair of RBI. Paul Johnson was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Eric McGlauflin was 3-for-5 with four RBI and one run scored.

Northwest will play a Wednesday game at William Jewell on Wednesday, March 12, in Liberty, Mo., before returning home to host Southwest Baptist starting on Friday, March 14.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Lafayette defeats Chillicothe in district semifinal; will meet Savannah for title

Posted on March 6, 2014

The Lafayette boys’ basketball team advanced to the Class 4 District 16 tournament championship with a 54-40 victory over Chillicothe Thursday night.

The Fighting Irish improve to 21-4 and they’ll play Savannah in the title game Friday night after the Savages beat Smithville 56-50 in the second semifinal at Lafayette High School.

Lafayette fell behind early to Chillicothe 12-5, but they used a 19-2 run and eventually led 24-17 at halftime.

After the Hornets pulled to within four points early in the third quarter, the Irish went on an 18-4 run and their lead grew to as many as 20 points, 46-26, before winning by 14.

Billy Cook, Chester Goudeau and Xavier Kurth led Lafayette as they each scored 12 points.

In the second semifinal, Savannah trailed 10-8 early in the second quarter, but used a 7-0 run and never gave the lead back.

Bert Ernst led the way for the Savages with 18 points and Jesse Dickens scored 13.

Savannah improves to 16-10 this season.

The two championship games on Friday from the Class 4 District 16 tournament will be live on 680 KFEQ. The girls title game will tip at 5:30 p.m. as Benton will meet Lafayette. And then Lafayette battles Savannah in the boys championship at 8:00 p.m.

Elshwere Thursday night, the Central girls had their season come to an end as they fell to North Kansas City, 67-57, in the Class 5 District 15 semifinals.

The Indians finished with a 15-11 record.

Benedictine women end season with loss to Missouri Valley in HAAC quarterfinals

Posted on March 6, 2014March 7, 2014

The Benedictine women’s basketball season drew to a close on Thursday night at the hands of Missouri Valley College in the HAAC Tournament Quarterfinals.

Fifth-seeded Missouri Valley (19-10) took advantage from the charity stripe in a game that saw a combined 61 fouls called to earn a 77-71 win over fourth-seeded Benedictine (20-11).

While the season concludes earlier than expected for the Ravens, the 20 wins marks the eighth time under head coach Chad Folsom that Benedictine has reached 20 wins in a season.

The tone for the game was set early as the two teams combined for more fouls than points over the first six minutes of the game.

When Benedictine’s Alexa Taff knocked in a 3-point to put the Ravens in front 5-2 with 14 minutes and 36 seconds left in the first half, the two teams had already been called for eight combined fouls.

The two teams continued to battle through the fouls, three ties and four lead changes before Benedictine pushed ahead by as much as seven points just over midway through the half.

Missouri Valley closed within two points but couldn’t get any closer as the Ravens sat on a 30-25 lead at halftime.

At the half, Benedictine held a slight advantage from the charity stripe, converting on 10 of 16 to Missouri Valley’s 8 of 13. Both teams were limited to single-digit field goals at the half.

Missouri Valley scored the first seven points of the second half to erase Benedictine’s halftime lead and take a three-point lead just 90 seconds in.

The Ravens answered the first run of the second half by the Vikings with one of their own.

Benedictine outscored Missouri Valley 14-5 over the next eight minutes to pull in front by nine points.

The Ravens remained in the lead until the seven-minute mark when the Vikings broke through the games sixth tie to take a 53-52 lead with six minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the game.

Benedictine remained within a possesion of Missouri Valley until they were forced to foul over the games final minutes which allowed the Vikigns to seal the game from the free throw line.

Missouri Valley connected on 24 of 33 at the free throw line in the second half and converted on 50 percent from the floor to end Benedictine’s tournament run.

Despite only converted one more field goal than the Ravens in the second half as Benedictine connected on 12 of 32 from the floor, the Vikings were able to hold off a last-second run by the Ravens from the charity stripe.

Justice Payne led four Ravens in double figures with 15 points. Jackie Ziesel finished with 11 points while Alex Taff and Chayla Rutledge each scored 10 points.

Missouri Valley was led by the game-high 19-point effort of Gabi Morales.

— BC Sports Information —

Bearcat baseball takes two from Lincoln Thursday

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team won both games of a Thursday doubleheader against Lincoln, 9-2 and 7-1, respectively. The wins move Northwest to 9-5 overall and 6-2 in MIAA play. Lincoln is now 0-8 and 0-6 in MIAA play.

GAME ONE

Ryker Fox went 5.0 innings to pick up his third win of the year, giving up two runs on just three hits with four strikeouts. Tanner Smith finished off thelast two innings of the seven inning first game.

The Bearcats jumped out to an 8-0 lead, scoring in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings. In the second, a Zach Ferreira double cleared the bases,scoring Derek Meyer, Jon Pomatto and Steve Garber. In the third, Austin Wulff hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Paul Johnson. That same inning Eric McLaughlinscored on a wild pitch from Lincoln. Ferreira picked up another RBI in the fourth, doubling to score Meyer to give Northwest a 6-0 lead. In the fifth,Garber singled to score McGlauflin and Wulff scored on a fielder’s choice on Pomatto. Lincoln would score two runs in the sixth but Northwest tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as Pomatto scored on a Brandon Huske groundout.

Northwest outhit Lincoln, 10-4.

GAME TWO

Austin Warren turned in a complete game performance to give Northwest a 7-1victory to close out the day. Warren, who allowed just one unearned run, walked just one batter and gave up five hits while striking out three for his first victory of the year. Northwest picked up 12 hits and drew four walks.

In the third, Northwest scored the first run of the game as McGlauflin doubled to center scoring Johnson. Neither team was able to score again until the eighth when the Bearcats came alive, scoring four times to take a firm hold on the game. With the bases loaded, Pomatto doubled to score Wulff and McGlauflin. Blake Hardegree grounded out, scoring Garber and a Ferreira single scored Pomatto to give Northwest a 5-0 lead. In the top of the ninth with Lincoln still scoreless, Wulff blasted his team-leading third home run, scoring Abernathy after a Blue Tiger error extended the inning. The lone blemish onWarren’s day on the mound came in the ninth as an error to lead off the inning eventually came back to score on an RBI single with one out. Warren got thelast two Lincoln batters to fly out to end the nine inning game.

The Blue Tigers and the Bearcats will play a double header Saturday beginning at noon.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Chiefs release LB Robert James & TE Dominique Jones

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014

The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that the club has released linebacker Robert James and tight end Dominique Jones.

James (5-11, 224) has seen action in 19 contests in four NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2013), Baltimore Ravens (2013) and Atlanta Falcons (2009, 2011-12). He played in the Chiefs Wild Card game against the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 4 after joining the club as a free agent on Dec. 31, 2013. James originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick (138th overall) of the Atlanta Falcons in the 2008 NFL Draft. He served the majority of his time with the Falcons on the club’s practice squad before being acquired off waivers by Baltimore on Sept. 1, 2013. He was released by the Ravens on Sept. 11. James played collegiately at Arizona State University and prepped at Maryvale High School in Phoenix, Ariz.

Jones (6-3, 270) has played in 12 games (three starts) in two NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs (2013) and the Indianapolis Colts (2012-13). He owns three receptions for 42 yards (14.0 avg.). He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Colts on April 30, 2012. He played collegiately at Shepherd University where he totaled 34 receptions for 403 yards and nine touchdowns his senior season. The San Diego, Calif., native prepped at Horizon Christian Academy.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Missouri agrees to contract extension with Gary Pinkel through 2020

Posted on March 6, 2014

The University of Missouri System Board of Curators has approved an amended contract for Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel that will keep him patrolling the Mizzou sideline through Dec. 31, 2020. With the new agreement, Pinkel’s guaranteed salary will increase to $3.1 million, up from $2.8 million, while his assistant coaching staff will receive an increase in their salary pool to $3.2 million, up from the previous amount of $2.66 million.

In 2013, Pinkel directed one of the greatest seasons in Mizzou history, as his Tigers went 12-2 and won the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title (his fourth division title in the past seven years), reaching the SEC Championship Game in the program’s second year in the league. Mizzou would go on to win the 2014 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, and finish with a final ranking of fifth – the second-highest finish to a season by any Tiger team.

The Cotton Bowl victory was also historic, as it made Pinkel the winningest coach in Mizzou history. With a record of 102-63 in 13 seasons here, Pinkel passed legendary coach Don Faurot, who went 101-79-10 in 19 seasons at MU from 1935-42 and 1946-56. Pinkel’s overall career record as a head coach sits at 175-100-3 in 23 seasons.

Since 2007, Mizzou is the only program in the country to rank in the top-10 nationally in wins, while also ranking in the top-five in both Academic Progress Rate, as well as first-round NFL draft picks. Mizzou Athletics is currently in the midst of a $200 million facilities improvement process – largely related to football – as a sign of its commitment to competing in the SEC and on the national level.

Mizzou’s football program led the SEC in APR in the most recent report, and 95 of the last 97 players who have exhausted their eligibility since 2008 have gone on to earn their degrees from MU.

“It is important for us to be able to recognize what Gary and his staff have achieved for the University of Missouri,” said Director of Athletics Mike Alden. “We’re very grateful to the Board of Curators and University leadership for their support of our program, which is among the best in the nation both academically and competitively,” he said.

“I’m very honored and proud to be the coach at Mizzou, and I appreciate the opportunity,” said Pinkel. “We will work very hard to continue to build our program and to graduate our players. It’s important for our program to keep moving forward and build on a solid foundation. I’m pleased that my assistant coaches continue to get recognized for the work they do. We are fortunate to have a great staff at Mizzou,” he said.

In the past fiscal year (FY13), the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, which is self-funded, reimbursed the campus $13.6 million for: student-athlete tuition, fees, room and board, as well as campus services such as security, parking, and utilities. In fiscal year 2016, Athletics will contribute an additional $500,000 annually to the Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence, which is used to enhance academic opportunities on campus. The amount of this contribution may vary in future years based on the success of Athletic programs and increasing revenues.

— MU Sports Information —

All-Big 12 Women’s Basketball Awards handed out

Posted on March 6, 2014March 6, 2014

Big 12 regular season co-champions Baylor and West Virginia swept the individual honors in highlighting the 2013-14 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Awards.

Mike Carey earned his first Big 12 Coach of the Year award in West Virginia’s second season as a Conference member. Senior guard Taylor Palmer was selected for the Sixth Man Award.

Baylor senior guard Odyssey Sims garnered both Big 12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year while her teammate forward Nina Davis was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The honors were voted on by the league’s head coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

WVU is 271-144 under the direction of Carey, who is in his 13th season at the helm of the program. He guided this year’s Mountaineer team to a share of its first Big 12 title with a 16-2 conference record and the squad is currently 27-3 overall. West Virginia enters the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship on a 10-game win streak and is 5-1 this season against Top 25 opponents.

Sims leads the nation in scoring with 29.6 points and has registered four 40-point outings. She is also averaging 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals. Sims is currently fifth in the Big 12 in career points with 2,366 and 10th in career assists with 612. She has connected on .453 percent of her field goal attempts this season, including .421 from beyond the arc. Sims has been named Big 12 Player of the Week seven times as a senior.

Davis is the Big 12’s top rebounder with 9.0 per game and most accurate shooter with a .596 field goal percentage. She is second on the Lady Bears and ninth in the Conference in scoring with 14.3 points and has 10 double-doubles, good for second in the league. She has started 25 of 30 games in her rookie season and earned seven Big 12 Freshman of the Week awards.

As the first player off the bench, Palmer averages 10.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 21.7 minutes of action for West Virginia. She is second on the team in three-pointers made (49) and recorded her 1,000-career point earlier in the season. Her 1.6 three-pointers per game rank 10th in the Big 12 and her .778 free-throw percentage is also 10th.

2013-14 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Awards
Coach of the Year:   Mike Carey, West Virginia
Player of the Year:   Odyssey Sims, Baylor **
Freshman of the Year:   Nina Davis, Baylor
Defensive Player of the Year:   Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Sixth Man Award:   Taylor Palmer, West Virginia

All-Big 12 First Team (all honors listed alphabetical by school)
Player   School   Pos   Ht   Cl   Hometown
Nina Davis   Baylor   F   5-11   Fr   Memphis, Tenn.
Odyssey Sims ^~!**   Baylor   G   5-8   Sr   Irving, Texas
Hallie Christofferson ^   Iowa State   F   6-3   Sr   Hamlin, Iowa
Chelsea Gardner   Kansas   F   6-3   Jr   DeSoto, Texas
Aaryn Ellenberg ^~**   Oklahoma   G   5-7   Sr   Las Vegas, Nev.
Tiffany Bias %+**   Oklahoma State   G   5-6   Sr   Andover, Kan.
Zahna Medley   TCU   G   5-6   So   Springfield, Ill.
Nneka Enemkpali   Texas   F   6-1   Jr   Pflugerville, Texas
Asya Bussie   West Virginia   C   6-4   Sr   Randallstown, Md.
Bria Holmes **   West Virginia   G   6-1   So   New Haven, Conn.

All-Big 12 Second Team
Player   School   Pos   Ht   Cl   Hometown
Nikki Moody   Iowa State   G   5-8   Jr   Euless, Texas
Leticia Romero   Kansas State   G   5-8   Fr   Las Palmas, Spain
Morgan Hook   Oklahoma   G   5-10   Sr   Lowell, Ark.
Imani McGee-Stafford   Texas   C   6-7   So   Los Angeles, Calif.
Amber Battle   Texas Tech   G   5-9   Jr   Albuquerque, N.M.

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Niya Johnson (Baylor), Makenzie Robertson (Baylor), Natalie Knight (Kansas), Sharane Campbell (Oklahoma), Nicole Griffin (Oklahoma), Liz Donohoe (Oklahoma State), Brittney Martin (Oklahoma State), Chassidy Fussell (Texas)

Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Player   School   Pos   Ht   Cl   Hometown
Odyssey Sims   Baylor   G   5-8   Sr   Irving, Texas
Tiffany Bias   Oklahoma State   G   5-6   Sr   Andover, Kan.
Latricia Lovings   TCU   C   6-3   Sr   Fort Worth, Texas
Asya Bussie   West Virginia   C   6-4   Sr   Randallstown, Md.
Jess Harlee   West Virginia   F   6-1   Sr   Bel Air, Md.

Big 12 All-Freshman Team
Player   School   Pos   Ht   Hometown
Nina Davis **   Baylor   F   5-11   Memphis, Tenn.
Jadda Buckley   Iowa State   G   5-8   Mason City, Iowa
Seanna Johnson   Iowa State   G   5-10   Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Leticia Romero **   Kansas State   G   5-8   Las Palmas, Spain
Roshunda Johnson   Oklahoma State   G   5-7   Little Rock, Ark.

** Unanimous First Team Selection (coaches cannot vote for own players, unanimous denotes voted first team by other nine coaches)
^ 2012-13 All-Big 12 First Team Selection
% 2012-13 All-Big 12 Second Team Selection
~ 2011-12 All-Big 12 First Team Selection
+ 2011-12 All Big 12 Second Team Selection
! 2010-11 All-Big 12 First Team Selection

— Big 12 Press Release —

Bishop LeBlond boys fall to Barstow in Class 3 sectional

Posted on March 5, 2014

The Bishop LeBlond boys’ basketball team had its season come to an end Wednesday night as they lost to Barstow, 73-55, in the Class 3 sectional hosted by Excelsior Springs.

The Eagles finish the season with a 15-12 record, while Barstow improves to 25-2 and they’ll meet Summit Christian Academy in the quarterfinals Saturday.

Barstow ended the first quarter on a 10-1 run to take a 14-6 lead after one.

LeBlond pulled to within five points, 31-26, at halftime and got to within two points in the third quarter, but that’s as close as the Eagles would get.

Barstow’s Jacob Gilyard hit a three-pointer at buzzer to close out the third quarter and Bishop LeBlond trailed 58-47.

Quinten Obermier led the Eagles with 12 points and Connor Haynes added 11.