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Category: Lafayette

Lafayette hires Ryan Nichols as boys’ basketball coach

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Ryan Nichols
Ryan Nichols

The Lafayette head boys basketball coach and an assistant coach were approved for hire after the Board of Education Work Session on Wednesday.

Lafayette High School announced Ryan Nichols as head boys basketball coach and Michael Gholston Jr. as assistant coach.

“Coach Nichols will be a great fit for our program,” said Dr. Tyran Sumy, Lafayette principal. “We look forward to Coach Nichols and Coach Gholston joining our storied basketball program. We are proud to welcome them to our northside family.”

Nichols has been the head basketball coach at Oak Park High School since 2012. In his first year, Oak Park improved from a 5-win team to 11 wins. Nichols also groomed several players for the college ranks. From 2009-2012, Nichols was the head coach at DeKalb High School, and led the team to two district and sectional championships, set a school record of 26 wins, and finished with a seventh place ranking in his final season.

Nichols holds a Masters of Science in Education from Rockhurst University, and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2004.

“I have always admired the tradition, pride, and success of the Lafayette basketball program,” said Coach Nichols. “What Chris, Daryl, and the players have accomplished over the last nine years has been incredible. I’m honored to have the opportunity to carry the torch for this great program and its rich history.”

Michael Gholston, Jr. is currently the head junior varsity and assistant varsity coach at Raytown South High School. During the 2014-15 school year, he served as head junior varsity basketball coach and assistant varsity for Oak Park High School.

Gholston holds a Masters of Science in Sport Studies and Athletic Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and received his BA in Communications Studies from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2012.

Chris Neff resigns as boys basketball coach at Lafayette

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LafayetteClick here to listen to Dave Riggert’s interview with Chris Neff

The head coach of the boys basketball program at Lafayette High School has resigned. Chris Neff sent a letter to the St. Joseph School District Thursday morning, to take a position in the North Kansas City School District.  He will be the head boys basketball coach at Staley High School.

“It has been a pleasure to work in the Saint Joseph School District for the past nine years,” Neff wrote in his resignation letter. “I would like to thank each of you for all that you have allowed me to do and all that you have done for me within the district. I am forever grateful for all that we have accomplished and how we have grown. The relationships that my family and I have through our time in St. Joseph will always be cherished and have helped to mold us into the people we are today.”

Coach Neff was hired in 2007 as a math teacher and head basketball coach. Neff’s accomplishments as head coach at Lafayette high School include, among others:

• 2016 Class 4 Final Four, 2nd Place
• 2014 Class 4 Final Four, 2nd Place
• 2011 Class 4 Final Four, 4th Place
• 7 MEC Championships: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• 6 District Championships: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016
• 2013-2014 St. Joseph Sports, Inc., Coach of the Year

“We certainly have big shoes to fill at Lafayette High School. The students and staff will miss Coach Neff. He was the driving force for our success in the basketball program and we congratulate him on moving to the next level. We thank him for his tireless efforts to make our basketball program one of the best,” said Tyran Sumy, Principal.

Springfield selected to host MSHSAA basketball and football championships

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MSHSAASpringfield, Missouri – The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) announced late Friday that Springfield will be the host city for the 2018-2022 Boys & Girls State Basketball Championships and 2016 State Football Championships.

“We’re excited about coming down to Springfield,” said Kerwin Urhahn, MSHSAA Executive Director. “It’s a high-school rich environment and southwest Missouri supports high school sports very well. We’re looking forward to having all of our participants experience that excitement and enthusiasm first hand. We also appreciate all the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis has done for us in football and all that Mizzou has done in basketball over the years. We greatly value those partnerships and their support.”

In a competitive bid process, bids were submitted by the Springfield Sports Commission and the Convention & Visitors Bureau with facilities at Missouri State University (MSU) serving as the venues. Supporting entities include the City of Springfield, Greene County, Springfield Hotel Lodging Association, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Elliott Lodging, Hammons Hotels & Resorts, O’Reilly Hospitality Management, Chevy Dealers of the Ozarks, Buffalo Wild Wings with numerous other organizations providing promotional support.

“We’re delighted Springfield was selected,” said Tracy Kimberlin, president/CEO of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, which manages the Springfield Sports Commission. “With the cooperation and partnership of MSU and many other businesses and organizations, we submitted a proposal showing very strong community-wide support for hosting the state championships.”

Craig Long, CFO at MSHSAA, said the organization was impressed by the amount of community support and they’re looking forward to returning to Springfield.

“We’re humbled by the magnitude of community support that was evident in the proposal that came from the Springfield community and we’re excited about the championships being at Missouri State University,” Long said.

The basketball championships will be at JQH Arena and Hammons Student Center and football at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.

“We are very excited after 20-plus years to have the MSHSAA football and basketball championships coming back to Springfield and Missouri State,” said MSU Executive Director of JQH Arena & Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and Operations Keith Boaz. “We look forward to providing first-rate facilities and making the state championship experience a memorable one for the students and participating schools.”

“Missouri State University is thrilled to be selected as the host site for Missouri’s premier high school state championship events,” said Missouri State Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “This has certainly a collaborative effort between the City of Springfield, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Springfield Sports Commission and the University, and we are proud these events have finally returned to Springfield and the great facilities on our campus. We look forward to serving as the hosts for high school basketball and football fans across the state.”

During the five years the basketball championships are in Springfield, more than 40,000 people will attend the events each year. Attendance at the football event will be about 25,000 people this fall.

“The Springfield Sports Commission and its board of directors are honored and excited to be the host of the state basketball championships,” said Lance Kettering. “Special recognition goes to the staff at Missouri State University for allowing the opportunity to bid on and ultimately host this event in Springfield. The Sports Commission does not control the athletic venues when we are submitting a bid, it’s paramount for organizations to work together to bring championship-level events to Springfield.”

Columbia hosted State Basketball Championship events for boys from 1973 through 1988 and 1992 to present and for girls from 1980 through 1988 and 1992 to present.

Springfield has hosted the State Basketball Championships at the following venues:

– Central High School – 1939, 1943-1945

– McDonald Arena – 1941, 1942, 1947-1950, 1956 and 1964

– Hammons Student Center – 1983, 1985-1991 (Boys & Girls)

The Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis has hosted the football championships since 1996. Springfield last hosted the football event in 1995 at the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex at Missouri State University.

Springfield has hosted football at the following venues:

– John F. Kennedy Stadium in 1968

– Briggs Stadium/Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex 1971 and 1988-1995

MSHSAA is the governing body for high school activities in Missouri with about 580 high schools as members. The organization conducts championship-level activities in 23 activities, including sports and academic events.

— Springfield Sports Commission News Release —

Fighting Irish fall to Vashon in Class 4 state title game

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Click to listen to Lafayette head coach Chris Neff on postgameLafayette

The Lafayette boys’ basketball team came up short in their bid for a state championship Saturday in Columbia as they lost the Class 4 title game to Vashon 69-58 inside Mizzou Arena.

The Fighting Irish finish as the state runner-up for the second time in three years as they end the season 28-4.

Lafayette got out to a great start Saturday as they went ahead 17-9 late in the first quarter, but Vashon scored the final four points of the first and then outscored the Irish 21-8 in the second quarter to take a 34-25 lead to the locker room at halftime.

LHS pulled to within six points several times in the third quarter, but could never get any closer as Lafayette struggled all night at the free throw line.

The Fighting Irish finished the game 21-of-42 from the foul line and because of that they were never able to make a serious run at the Wolverines in the fourth quarter.

Vashon wins its 12th state title in school history as Lafayette is still in search of its first since 1976.

Diego Bernard led LHS with 25 points, while Caleb Bennett scored 16.

Lafayette lost just four games all season, and all four teams they lost to when on to play for a state championship in their respective state and class.  Two of the teams won state titles and two teams finished as the runner-up.  It was the fifth all-time appearance in the Final Four for the Fighting Irish and third in the last six seasons.

Lafayette rolls past Helias in the Class 4 semifinals; will play Vashon for state title

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LafayetteView highlights from Lafayette’s victory over Helias.

The Lafayette boys’ basketball team will play in a state championship game for the second time in three seasons as they were able to defeat Helias Catholic 68-51 in the Class 4 semifinals Friday inside Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The Fighting Irish will play Vashon (25-4) in the state title game Saturday at 8:10 p.m. as the Wolverines were able to take down Sikeston in overtime in the other Class 4 semifinal 69-66.

Lafayette trailed 15-13 after the first quarter to Helias Friday night, but they used an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter and they never trailed after that.

LHS took a 27-23 lead to the half and they took command of the game in the third quarter with a 10-2 run and they led by double figures the rest of the game. Lafayette made 18-of-20 free throws in the fourth quarter to cap off the win.

Sterling Hick led the Fighting Irish with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Caleb Bennett added 15 and Diego Bernard scored 14 points.

Lafayette is now 28-3 as they’ll try and win the schools second state championship and first since 1976. The Irish lost in the title game in 2014 to Republic 45-42.

The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ or you can click here to listen.

Benton girls, Lafayette boys advance to the Class 4 Final Four

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BHSLHSIn 2014 when the Benton girls and Lafayette boys basketball teams advanced to their respective Class 4 Final Fours, that was the first time in the history of high school basketball in St. Joseph that two programs in the city each advanced to the Final Four in the same season.  Two years later, the two programs have done it again.

Both teams played their Class 4 Quarterfinal game Saturday in Independence at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.  The Benton girls improved to 29-0 with a 45-22 victory over Grain Valley, while the Lafayette boys used a big second half to defeat Raytown South 57-42 and they’re now 27-3 this season.

Benton led wire-to-wire but they took control of their game with the Eagles in the third quarter after Grain Valley pulled to within six points, 24-18, early in the third, but the Cardinals went on an 18-1 run and outscored Grain Valley 21-4 to end the game.

Daejah Bernard led Benton with 12 points, while Kylee Williams added ten.  The Cardinals advance to their fourth Final Four under head coach Brett Goodwin and they’ll play Owensville in the second semifinals next Friday.  The game will tip at 4:15 p.m. and it’ll be broadcast on 680 KFEQ.  Incarnate Word will meet MICDS in the other Class 4 girls semifinal.

The Lafayette boys used another big fourth quarter to seal another postseason win.  In a back-and-forth game for three quarter, the Fighting Irish led 33-30 after three and then exploded for a 13-2 run to start the fourth quarter and they outscored Raytown South 24-12 in the final period to secure their fifth trip in school history to the Final Four.  It’s the third in nine seasons for head coach Chris Neff.

Diego Bernard led Lafayette with 22 points and Sterling Hicks scored 11, all in the fourth quarter.  The Irish will face off with Helias Catholic in their semifinal game Friday at 7:45 p.m. and it’ll be broadcast on 680 KFEQ.  Sikeston will play Vashon in the first boys Class 4 semifinal prior to the Lafayette game.

Lafayette uses big fourth quarter to defeat Lincoln Prep in Class 4 Sectional

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LafayetteClick here to watch postgame interview with Chris Neff

The Lafayette boys basketball team outscored Lincoln Prep 35-15 in the fourth quarter to defeat the Tigers 77-56 in their Class 4 Sectional at Staley High School Tuesday.

The third-ranked Fighting Irish improve to 26-3 and they will play Raytown South (17-11) in the Class 4 Quarterfinals at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence on Saturday at 7:45 p.m.

Lafayette raced out to a 21-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and then took a 33-17 with about two minutes to go in the first half.  Lincoln Prep battled back though as they closed the first half on a 9-0 run and then used an 11-1 run to start the second half to take a three point lead.  The Tigers led 41-38 late in the third quarter and then the Irish dominated the rest of the game.

LHS scored the final four points of the third and never trailed again as they outscored Lincoln Prep 35-15 in the final quarter.

Caleb Bennett led Lafayette with 28 points, Gary Wilkinson added 16, Diego Bernard scored 11 and Sterling Hicks had 10.

Lafayette’s quarterfinal game with Raytown South will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ on Saturday.

Area High School District Basketball Scores – Thursday, March 3

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riggertBasketballCLASS 4 DISTRICT 16 BOYS SEMIFINALS
Lafayette 59 (24-3)
Kearney 46

Benton 63 (20-6)
Smithville 48

CHAMPIONSHIP – Saturday, 6:00 PM
Lafayette vs. Benton – Live on 680 KFEQ

CLASS 5 DISTRICT 16 GIRLS SEMIFINALS
Central 73 (20-6)
Park Hill South 47

Staley 48
Park Hill 41

CHAMPIONSHIP – Friday, 5:00 PM
Central vs. Staley – Live on ESPN 1550

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