This week’s edition of Sports Illustrated features members of Wichita State University’s unbeaten basketball team on the cover. The magazine is now on newsstands. The Shockers play Loyola Wednesday night.
Category: Sports
City High School Basketball Scores – Tuesday, Feb. 18
BOYS
Lafayette 68, Chillicothe 30
Savannah 55, Benton 39
Smithville 48, Bishop LeBlond 45
Truman 62, Central 45
St. Joseph Christian 56, South Holt 41
GIRLS
Benton 47, Savannah 13
Bishop LeBlond 54, Smithville 47
Chillicothe 57, Lafayette 43
Truman 68, Central 38
South Holt 41, St. Joseph Christian 24
Benedictine men move up to No. 11 in latest NAIA Top 25 poll
Riding a three-game winning streak heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, the Raven men’s basketball team continued to climb back up the NAIA Div. I Top 25 Coaches’ Poll on Tuesday afternoon when the Association released the eighth regular-season poll.
Benedictine (18-6) moved up to No. 11, taking over the HAAC’s top position in the poll after they were ranked No. 16 last week.
The Ravens received 175 points in the latest poll to move past HAAC No. 2 Culver-Stockton College, who received 150 points to drop from No. 10 last week to No. 12 this week.
Benedictine holds a one-game lead over the Wildcats and a two-game lead over Central Methodist University with four games remaining in HAAC play.
Central Methodist received 78 points to move into the Top 25 for the first time this season at No. 22. The Eagles were listed in the other’s receiving votes category last week.
Evangel University, who the Ravens also hold a two-game lead over the in the HAAC standings, fell from No. 17 in last weeks poll to the second team listed in the other’s receiving votes category. MNU, who knocked off Evangel last week before falling to Benedictine on Saturday, held on to the final spot in the other’s receiving votes category.
Three games separate the top five teams in the HAAC heading into the final four games of the regular season with Culver-Stockton, Central Methodist, Evangel and MNU chasing the Ravens.
As a team, Benedictine ranks second in NAIA Div. I in 3-point percentage (41.9), ninth in total rebound defense (31.1), 10th in field goal defense (40.5) and 11th in scoring defense per game (67.6).
Individually, forward Jallen Messersmith continues to hold ground among the top shot blockers at the NAIA Div. I level. He ranks fourth in blocks per game (2.4) and fifth in total blocks (51).
Guard Shawn Fleming Jr. continues to rank among the nations best 3-point shooters, ranking fourth in 3-point percentage (48.7).
Benedictine hosts Graceland University at 7:30 p.m. Thursday before hitting the road for back-to-back games. They travel to Marshall, Mo, on Sunday to take on Missouri Valley College at 4 p.m. and then remain on the road Feb. 27 to take on Culver-Stockton at 7:30 p.m.
The Ravens wrap up the 2013-14 regular season at home on Saturday, March 1 with a 4 p.m. game agianst Evangel in the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium. March 1 is Senior Day with the Ravens three seniors – Charlie Wallrapp, Steven O’Brien and Herb Khangura – being recognized for their contributions to the men’s basketball program between games with the women’s basketball seniors.
Thursday’s night match up with Graceland, who the Ravens beat 70-55 in Lamoni, Iowa, back on Jan. 16, will be live on BRSNtv. The live video link as well as the links for livestats and the KAIR 93.7 FM radio stream can be found on the scoreboard located at the top of the page at www.ravenathletics.com.
— BC Sports Information —
Wiggins’ layup lifts No. 8 Kansas past Texas Tech
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self felt more than a little fortunate that his No. 8 Jayhawks pulled out a 64-63 win against a very tough Texas Tech team.
Andrew Wiggins’ layup with 2 seconds left lifted Kansas to victory on Tuesday night.
“I think sometimes you could say they were a little lucky,” he said of the Red Raiders. “They threw some in at the end of the shot clock that maybe weren’t the highest percentage shots, and we were a little lucky that the ball just happened to bounce to Wigs there at the end. That’s part of it.
“We’ve been unlucky and we’ve been lucky before, and they usually balance out over time.”
The freshman finished with 19 points, and Joel Embiid matched his career high with 18 to lead the Jayhawks (20-6, 11-2). Kansas reached 20 wins for the 25th consecutive season, and 11 conference victories for the 20th straight year.
Texas Tech’s Robert Turner sank two free throws with 16 seconds left to put the Red Raiders up 63-62, but Kansas brought the ball up and got it inside to Wiggins for the win.
Jordan Tolbert scored 16 points and Dejan Kravic added 13 to lead Texas Tech (13-13, 5-8).
The Jayhawks own a two-game lead in the Big 12 after Texas fell 85-76 at Iowa State on Tuesday night.
“It’s big, it’s big, but it doesn’t mean anything unless we win Saturday,” Self said of Kansas’ home game against the Longhorns. “That’s the game that would give us some serious breathing room, although we’ve got a little bit now, and it was big tonight.
“I wasn’t banking on them losing, all I wanted to do was win two games this week, and if we were able to do that then it would be a great week.”
The score was tied nine times and the lead changed 13 times.
“I was impressed with Tubby (Smith’s) team and how hard they played and how well they defended, how well they rebounded,” Self said. “They’re going to get better. The guy knows how to win. He’s a proven winner. Those kids played hard.”
Kansas held an early 10-point lead but Texas Tech started hammering the ball inside to make the game tight.
“There wasn’t much to say,” Smith said of his team. “They’re down, they’re despondent because it’s a tough loss. They felt like they played well enough to get the win, but you’ve always have to finish the game the right way.”
Tolbert made a bucket as the shot clock expired with 2:51 left to put the Red Raiders up 59-55. But Wayne Seldon, Jr. hit a clutch 3-pointer to pull within 59-58. Turner answered with a basket, and Embiid sank two free throws to make it 61-60 with 1:22 remaining.
On the Red Raiders’ next possession, a scrum led to Kansas getting the ball. Embiid dunked it to put the Jayhawks up 62-61.
Turner then made his free throws, and Kansas called a timeout to draw up the play to Wiggins.
Kansas scored 22 points from the free throw line, and Texas Tech netted only nine.
Texas Tech came out after halftime and hit four of its first five shots. Kansas made only one basket in four attempts, allowing the Red Raiders to take their first lead since early in the game, 37-32.
Jordan Tolbert capped Texas Tech’s 8-2 run.
But the Red Raiders’ effective defense also created foul trouble. With more than 13 minutes remaining, Jaye Crockett, Kravic and Kader Tapsoba each had three fouls.
Texas Tech sent the Jayhawks to the line often in the second half. Five free throws — by Jamari Traylor and Wiggins — on three possessions pulled Kansas within 46-45 with about 11 minutes remaining. But the Jayhawks regained the lead for the first time in 11 minutes, 52-51, on a pair of free throws by Naadir Tharpe with 7:14 remaining.
But with Kravic back in, and after a turnover by Tharpe, the 7-foot senior tied the game at 53 on a layup with 5:34 left.
— Associated Press —
MWSU’s Bishop named MIAA Pitcher of the Week
Missouri Western senior pitcher Jackie Bishop has been named the MIAA/AstroTurf Pitcher of the Week for her 3-0 performance at the UAM 8-State Classic. This marks the 8th time in her career that she has earned this honor. Three times as a freshman and four times as a sophomore.
Bishop had an outstanding weekend in the 8-State Classic going a perfect 3-0 giving up zero earned runs. Bishop also pitched her second career no-hitter in a 8-0 victory over Ouachita Baptist on Saturday, February 15. She allowed just two runners on two walks. Her only other no-hitter was in her freshman campaign when she won a 2-0 decision against Southwest Baptist on April 4, 2011.
Bishop also threw a one hit shutout in her first victory of the classic over Upper Iowa. Bishop won her final game of the classic against Minnesota State by a score of 9-4. She has not giving up an earned run in 25 innings of play as she sits at 4-1 on the season. On the weekend she struck out 29 batters which included 11 against Minnesota State and nine against both Upper Iowa and Ouachita Baptist. The 5-8 senior pitcher is a native of Kirksville, Mo. where she competed at Kirksville High School.
The Griffons will return to action this weekend participating in the St. Cloud State Dome Tournament. They will play four games all against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams. On Friday, February 21 they take on Concordia-St. Paul at 1 pm on Saturday, February 22 they take on Wayne State (Neb.) at 10 am and on Sunday, February 23 the Griffons will play Augustana (SD) at 1 pm and St. Cloud State at 3 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —
KU’s Ellis named Big 12 Co-Player of the Week
Kansas sophomore F Perry Ellis has been named the co-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Player of the Week in a vote by a media panel which covers the conference. Ellis, who is winning the honor for the second time, both this season, shared the accolade with Baylor sophomore Isaiah Austin.
Ellis averaged 25.5 points and 9.5 rebounds as the Jayhawks dropped an 85-82 overtime decision at Kansas State before defeating TCU, 95-65, in Lawrence. The 6-8, Wichita, Kan., native turned in his top effort against the Horned Frogs, scoring a career-high 32 points on 13-of-15 (.867) shooting. For the week, he shot 64.3 percent (18-of-28), including 2-of-3 (.667) from three-point range, while converting 13-of-16 (.813) from the free throw line. Ellis has four double-doubles this year, including 19 points and 11 rebounds at Kansas State, and has led the Jayhawks in scoring each of the last two contests.
Ellis, freshmen Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid have earned Big 12 weekly honors twice this season. Wiggins and Embiid have been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week twice in 2013-14.
Kansas (19-6, 10-2) will play at Texas Tech (13-12, 5-7) on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. (Central) on the Big 12 Television Network.
— KU Sports Information —
Blind man hits 3-point shot at Mo. college game (VIDEO)
A Springfield man who is blind and mentally impaired is getting some national attention and a year’s worth of McDonald’s value meals after hitting a 3-point shot during halftime of a college basketball game.
Fans at a College of Ozarks basketball game cheered wildly Saturday when 54-year-old Michael Quin hit the shot. A video of the shot got attention on some social media sites during the weekend.
Quin had a series of falls beginning six years ago, causing him to go blind in 2010 and lose much of his mental capacity.
He joined Champion Athletes of Ozarks, which helps disabled people participate in sports.
Quin says he likes basketball and was excited about his shot _ as well as the free food from McDonald’s.
Griffon baseball defeats SW Minnesota; falls in extra innings to Emporia
The Missouri Western baseball team split two very competitive games on Sunday afternoon in Emporia. The Griffons scored the final four runs in a 4-2 victory over the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs before giving up the final three runs in a 10-9 extra inning loss against the Emporia State Hornets. The Griffons fall to 2-3 with the loss.
Game 1
MWSU 4, Southwest Minnesota State 2
The Missouri Western baseball team was able to win a pitchers dual against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs. David Chew hit a two RBI single in the bottom of the 8th inning giving the Griffons the 4-2 victory. Mason Queen pitched an outstanding game in relief going 5.1 innings giving up just two hits while striking out six. He improves to 1-0 with the victory.
The Mustangs jumped out a 2-0 lead in the 4rd inning capitalizing on two hits and two Griffon errors.
The score stayed 2-0 until the fourth inning when Chew walked and Will Carter hit his first homer of his career tying the score at two after four inning of play.
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the 8th when Trevor LaHonta walked and stole second. Cody Childs reached on an error by the first baseman. LaHonta and Childs advanced a base on a wild pitch and then Chew got the game winning single giving the Griffons the 4-2 lead.
Tyler Sanders came in to get the save for the Griffons. He pitched one inning getting strike out and two ground outs to end the game. It is Sanders first save of his career.
Matt Russell started the game for the Griffons going 2.2 innings giving up two hits and one earned run while striking out three. Russell did struggle finding the plate walking four.
James Callahan went seven innings for the Mustangs giving up two hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Brandyn Olsen got the loss going just 1/3 of an inning. Southwest Minnesota State had four hits with Jordan Kontz going 2-for-3. They fall to 1-3 with the loss.
Game 2
Emporia State 10, MWSU 9 (10 innings)
The Griffons came oh so close to complete their second comeback of the day but three late runs by Emporia State downed the Griffons 10-9 in 10 innings. The Griffons finished with 10 hits and three home runs in the game. Jerad Hawkins picks of the loss pitching 1.1 innings giving up two hits and one earned run. He falls to 1-1 with the loss.
In a crazy back and forth game the Hornets jumped out to the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Justin Harris reached on an error by the Griffon second baseman and later scored on a single by Dean Long. The Griffons responded in the second as Ryan Degner reached on an error and scored on a ground out by Zach Kroymann. The score was tied at one after an inning and a half.
In the bottom of the second inning mistakes and walks hurt the Griffons as Emporia State scored two runs on a Todd Schultz single and another on a ground out by Justin Harris making it 4-1 Hornets after two. ESU put another run on the board in the third when Toby Cornejo double scoring Mason Fischer giving the Hornets the 5-1 lead after three.
In the fifth the Hornets went up by another run when Wade Hanna doubled in Fischer giving the Hornets the 6-1 lead. ESU kept up the scoring in the 7th as Hanna hit a SAC fly puting the Hornets up 7-1.
In the top of the 8th the Griffon offense finally got going as Dylan Koch led off with a single which was followed by a Trevor LaHonta double. With one out Chew singled in Koch cutting the score to 7-2 in favor of the Hornets. The next two batter used the long ball cutting the score to 7-6. Degner blasted a three run homer while Jake Schrader blasted a solo.
Matt Estes reached on an error by the catcher which scored Zach Kroymann tying the game at seven. Two batters later Koch reached on an ESU error which scored Estes giving the Griffons the 8-7 lead. The score stayed that way until the top of the 9th when Schrader hit another homer giving the Griffons the 9-7 lead heading to the bottom of the 9th. Schrader has four hits on the season with all of them being homers.
In the 9th the Hornets tied the score after David Richards blasted a two run homer off Sanders. In the tenth the Griffons stranded two runners before the Hornets rallied with two outs in the 10th getting the victory. Hawkins walked long and then back-to-back singles by Richards and Price Jacobs helped ESU move to 3-0 on the season.
Eight Griffons had hits in the game with LaHonta and Schrader each getting two. Degner and Schrader each scored two runs. CJ Koehler started the game going three innings giving up five hits and five earned runs while striking out two. Tyler Tuepker and Grant Woods both pitched two innings giving up two hits apiece and one earned run. Sanders pitched 1.1 innings giving up two hits and two earned runs while Kyle Kelly and Josh Lansangan walked the only batter they faced.
ESU had 13 hits in the game with Levi Parker going 3-for-5 while Long and Richards each had two hits. Jarrod Miller started the game going 6.0 innings giving up one earned run and two hits while striking out four. Garrett Bane got the victory going 1/3 of an inning.
The Griffons will open up MIAA play next weekend with a four game series against the Northeastern State RiverHawks. The two teams are scheduled to play in St. Joseph, Mo. with the first game on Friday, February 21 at 2:00 pm at the Griffon Baseball Field.
— MWSU Sports Information —
Missouri Western softball wins final two games in Arkansas
The Missouri Western softball team had its offense come alive on the final day of the 8-State Classic scoring 19 runs and getting 24 hits in two victories. The Griffons defeated Minnesota State-Mankato 9-4 and Illinois-Springfield 10-5 improving to 7-3 on the season and going 5-1 in the classic.
Game 1
MWSU 9, Minnesota State 4
In the first game of the day the Griffons got 11 hits in the contest which led to a 9-4 victory over the Mavericks. Tiffany Gillaspy and Michelle Stevenson both hit homers in the victory.
Things looked good early for the Griffons scoring the first four runs of the game. The Griffons got on the board in the second when Brooke Schaben led off with a single and later scored on a Kat Steponovich single to right field giving the Griffons the 1-0 lead. The Griffons tacked on another in the 3rd when Gillaspy homered to left center giving Missouri Western the 2-0 lead.
Once again in the 4th the Griffons put runs on the board. With one out Morgan Rathmann got hit by a pitch then stole second and scored on a two run homer by Stevenson giving the Griffons the 4-0 lead after four.
The score stayed that way until the 6th when the Mavericks finally got to Jackie Bishop. The Mavericks got a two RBI double by Anna Cole and an RBI single by Kelly Wood cutting the Griffons lead to 4-3.
The Griffons stayed calm and in the sixth they exploded for five runs in four hits. Singles by Fleschner and Stevenson scored the first two runs of the inning. A passed ball scored Fleschner before Kailey Green got two RBI on a single giving the Griffons the 9-3 lead after six.
The Mavericks got one more run in the sixth but would not get any closer as Bishop improves to 4-1 on the season. Bishop went all seven innings giving up seven hits while striking out 11. She did not give up a run as they were all unearned. The single she gave up in the fifth was the first hit by her opponents 12 innings and the runs in the 6th were the first runs scored on her in 23 innings. She has not given up an earned run in 25 innings.
Four Griffons got two hits in the game as Stevenson knocked in three and scored two runs. Rathmann went 2-for-2 with two runs scored while Fleshner and Schaben were the other Griffons with two hits.
Coley Ries got the loss for MSU going 5.1 innings giving up 10 hits and eight earned runs with four strikeouts. MSU had seven hits with Samantha Holien and Kelly Wood each getting two. The Mavericks fall to 2-6 with the loss.
Game 2
MWSU 10, Illinois-Springfield 5
In game two the Griffons offense stayed hot getting 13 more hits. Green led the charge with three hits and four RBI. Stevenson and Gillaspy each had two hits while pitcher Janie Smith helped herself out with two hits and two RBI.
The Griffons jumped all over the PrairieStars scoring five runs on six hits in the first inning. After a walk leading off the game by Fleschner the Griffons got four straight singles scoring their first three runs. Smith and Rathmann got the Griffons final two hits which both scored runs for the Griffons. After a half inning the Griffons led 5-0.
Illinois-Springfield did not get rattled as they took advantage of a walk and a Griffon error scoring four runs on two hits. Chelsea Minor’s single to right center scored two of the four runs.
In the 2nd the Griffons extended their lead by one when Gillaspy hit her second homer of the day giving MWSU the 6-4 lead after two. The Griffons scored another run in the 4th on two hits. Green singled in Stevenson giving Missouri Western the 7-4 lead after four innings.
In the 5th the bats continued to stay hot as Smith hit her first career homer to center field and then Rathmann scored on a double by Fleschner opening up a 9-4 lead after four and a half innings of play. Once again USI responded when Minor scored on a single by Molly Manietta which cut the lead to 9-5 after five.
The Griffons tacked on more on in the 7th and Smith shut UIS down in the 7th giving MWSU the five run victory.
Smith improves to 3-2 on the season going all seven inning giving up eight hits while striking out two.
UIS falls to 3-2 on the season while Alex Smith falls to 1-2 going all seven inning giving up 13 hits and nine earned runs with four strike outs. Minor led the way with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI for UIS.
The Griffons return to action next weekend when they take part in the St. Cloud State Dome Tournament. The Griffons open up the weekend on Friday, February 21 with a game against Concordia-St. Paul at 1:00 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —
Mizzou Fans “Stand With Sam”
A controversial Topeka church traveled to Columbia, Missouri to picket Saturday in the aftermath of a Mizzou football player’s announcement that he is gay.
But, as has been the case in many recent protests, the picketers were outnumbered by counter-protesters from the school, many of them wearing “Stand With Sam” pins, buttons and shirts.
Michael Sam made headlines when he “came out” earlier this week. Sam is a highly touted defensive end for the Missouri Tigers football team.
Local media reports indicate there were hundreds if not thousands of people lining up in support of Mr Sam to form a human wall along South Providence Road.
Inside the arena, Sam received a standing ovation when he appeared on the arena video boards during Missouri’s basketball game against Tennessee on Saturday.
The All-American, who could became the first openly gay player in the NFL, later a blew a kiss to the student section and shook hands with fans.
Sam and the football team were honored at halftime for their Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State.