February 2015 – Page 40 – North Platte Post Archive

Legends Weekend Set for Feb. 22 vs. Iowa

Posted on February 14, 2015

Lincoln – The Nebraska basketball program will honor one of its most colorful personalities for its annual Legends Weekend game against Iowa on Sunday, Feb. 22. Tipoff for the matchup is at 2 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena and will be carried on BTN and the Husker Sports Radio Network.

Legends Weekend has quickly become a popular event on the schedule, as nearly 50 former players have signed up for the 2015 event. The weekend’s activities include a team reception with the Husker coaches and staff on Saturday night, halftime recognition during the Iowa game as well as opportunities to watch the Huskers practice and interact with the current Husker team.

In addition, the Huskers have partnered with adidas on a special jersey to wear for the occasion. Details on the jersey will be announced next week.

This year’s event will celebrate the career of Jerry Bush, who guided the Husker basketball program from the 1954-55 season to the 1962-63 campaign. Bush was affectionately known as the “Big Bear of the Coliseum” for his colorful personality and uncanny ability to fashion upsets during his nine seasons at Nebraska.

Bush, who was chosen to the Nebraska Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, guided Nebraska to several memorable wins in his tenure, including wins over No. 3 Kansas and No. 1 Kansas State in consecutive games during the 1957-58 season. The 43-41 win over the Wilt Chamberlain-led Kansas squad came on Jim Kubacki’s jumper with two seconds left, while the 55-48 triumph over a Bob Boozer-led Kansas State squad marked the Huskers’ first-ever win over a No. 1 team on the hardwood.

Bush coached All-American Herschell Turner, who earned first-team All-Big Eight honors in 1960 and became the first Husker to score 1,000 career points. In addition, Bush’s tenure also featured Rex Ekwall, who is still Nebraska’s rebounding leader, as he averaged 10.4 rebounds per game during his three seasons (1955-57) in the program. In all, nine of his former players have joined Bush in the Nebraska Basketball Hall of Fame.

An outstanding college player at St. John’s, Bush came to Nebraska from the University of Toledo, where he guided the Rockets to a 129-59 record in seven seasons, including the school’s first Mid-American Conference Championship in 1953-54.

Bush, who passed away at age 62 in 1976, is a member of the athletic hall of fame at both St. John’s and Toledo and will be represented by his daughters Karen Hoiberg & Jane Loewe as well as several family members who will be in town for the event.

NPCC Knights Upset By Eastern Wyoming

Posted on February 14, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights were upset by the Eastern Wyoming Lancers Friday night at the Verl Petsch Jr Activities Center and Gymnasium 59-58.

The Lancers started off the scoring by jumping out to a 5-0 lead. The Knights led at halftime 27-26.

In the second half the Knights led by as much as eight, 48-40 and had a 58-54 lead with 1:01 left to play.

The Lancers cut the lead to 58-56 with 17.4 seconds left. Cameron Williams of the Knights was fouled and sent to the free throw line. Williams missed the front end of a one and one and Eastern Wyoming got the rebound. The Lancers set up a play for the final shot and with 1.1 seconds left Rich Williams drained a three-pointer to give the Lancers the win. Matt Thomas put up a shot at the buzzer that hit the back of the rim.

The Knights fall to 20-5 and 10-2 in the Region IX South Sub-region. The Lancers are 8-18 overall and 2-11 in Sub-region play

The Knights were led in scoring by Williams with 20 points. With the 20 points, Williams has scored exactly 1000 points in his career as a Knight. The only other Knight to score in double figures was CJ Polk who scored 11 points. Polk, Riley Rice and Marco Pascolo led the Knights in rebounding with five each. Polk also dished out three assists along with Thomas.

The Lancers had two players in double figures led by Williams with 21 points. Arthur Santanna had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Knights look to get back on the winning track when they play Western Nebraska on Saturday, Feb. 14 at the Cougar Palace in Scottsbluff. Game time is at 4:00 p.m. CST. The game may be heard on ESPN Radio 1410. It can also be heard on www.northplattepost.com.

Huskers Open 2015 with 2-0 Win at UNLV

Posted on February 14, 2015

Las Vegas, Nev. – In front of a sellout crowd of 3,173 fans, the first sellout in Earl E. Wilson Stadium history, the Nebraska baseball team posted a 2-0 shutout win over the UNLV Rebels to open the 2015 season. With Nebraska’s pitching staff keep the Rebels’ offense off balance, while Ryan Boldt drove in the eventual game-winning run in the top of the fifth with a two-out single.

The opening-game shutout marked Nebraska’s first since 1995 when the Huskers beat Nebraska-Kearney 9-0.

After posting a 9-1 record last season when he was an unanimous All-Big Ten pick and third-team All-American, Chance Sinclair picked up his 10^th career win on Friday night. The senior right hander got stronger as the game went on, as he retired eight of the final nine batters he faced. Sinclair gave NU 5.2 shutout innings, with seven strikeouts and no walks. It was Sinclair’s second-highest career strikeout total, trailing his 10-strikeout performance against Illinois last season.

Sophomore Jake Hohensee took over for Sinclair in the sixth and tossed 2.1 innings of no-hit relief behind a career-high five strikeouts. Senior Josh Roeder then took the mound in the ninth and picked up his 19^th career save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Nebraska’s pitching staff combined for 14 strikeouts and no walks on the night.

UNLV’s Zak Qualls started for the Rebels after missing the past two years and unfortunately only lasted five pitches before leaving the game with an arm injury. Ben Wright took over for the Rebels and tossed 5.0 innings, giving up one run on five hits and one walk. Bryan Bonnell kept UNLV in the game down the stretch, as he tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.

The Huskers scored their first run of the 2015 season in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Blake Headley. After Tanner Lubach worked a walk to load the bases with one out, Headley lifted a pitch from Wright into deep right-center field that easily scored Austin Darby, who led off the game with a walk.

Holding a 1-0 lead and coming off a 1-2-3 inning headed into the bottom of the fourth, Sinclair got into a jam when he gave up a single and double to start the inning, which put runners on second and third with no out. The senior stayed calm and responded with two straight strikeouts along with a fly out to strand both runners. The NU offense fed off the momentum and added a run in the top of the fifth on a two-out single by Boldt that scored Luis Alvarado to put the Huskers ahead, 2-0.

Sinclair got the first two outs of the sixth before Edgar Montes ripped a single that snapped Sinclair’s streak of eight-straight batters retired. Hohensee took the mound and quickly ended the Rebel threat with a flyout. Hohensee returned for the seventh and struck out the side to keep Nebraska on top 2-0 through seven innings, before notching a perfect eighth inning with two more strikeouts. Roeder closed out the game with a flyout and back-to-back strikeouts.

The Huskers return to Earl E. Wilson Stadium tomorrow afternoon for game two of this weekend’s three-game series with the Rebels. Senior Kyle Kubat is scheduled to take the mound, with first-pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. (CT).

NPCC Lady Knights Lose to Eastern Wyoming

Posted on February 14, 2015

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights were defeated by the Eastern Wyoming Lady Lancers 63-53 on Friday Night at the Verle Petsch Jr. Activities Center and Gymnasium.

The Lady Lancers led 13-11 with 14:25 to play in the first half. The Lady Knights outscored the Lady Lancers the remainder of the half 26-14 to take a 37-27 lead at the half.

During the second half the Lady Lancers outscored the Lady Knights 36-16 to get the win.

The Lady Knights in the first half shot 14 for 35 from the floor and five for eight from behind the arc. In the second half they made six field goals out of 25 attempts and one for seven from the arc.

The Lady Knights were led in scoring by April Stull who finished with 18 points. Aliyah Brown finished with 11 points . Sarah Mahr led the Lady Knights in rebounding with 10 rebounds.

The Lady Lancers had four players score in double figures led by Jordan Nelson with 16 points. The others were Kara Babula with 14, Asia Roper with 12, and Joanna Perez with 11. Babula led the Lady Lancers in rebounding with 6 rebounds.

The Lady Knights return to action Sunday on the road against Doane College JV. Next Friday the Lady Knights return to McDonald-Belton Gymnasium to face Southeast Community College in a very important matchup in the Region IX Division II standings. The night is designated as “Girl Scout Night” and Elementary Night. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. CST.

Storm Win Big In Front Of Sell Out Crowd

Posted on February 14, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. – In front of a sell out crowd of 4,256, the Tri-City Storm (25-11-5) scored three goals in the opening period and held on to defeat the Omaha Lancers (22-13-5) by a score of 5-1 on Friday night at the Viaero Event Center.

Forward Nick Master scored twice in the win, while captain Garrett Gamez had a goal and an assist and defenseman Bobby Nardella had three helpers.

Alec Dillon started the game between the pipes for the Storm, but was forced to leave midway through the second period due to injury. Jared Rutledge shut the door in relief, preserving the early Tri-City lead. Both netminders finished the game with 13 saves.

Storm forward Chris Wilkie opened the scoring at 7:08 of the first, scoring his 24th goal of the season on the power play with a shot through traffic that got by Omaha goalie Zach Driscoll. Assists on the tally went to Mason Appleton and Nardella.

Wilkie now leads the USHL with 12 power play goals on the season.

Omaha tied the game at 1-1 with a power play goal of their own by Anthony Angello at 12:09, but it was the only offense the Lancers could muster on the night.

Tri-City took the lead when Master scored his first of the game just over two minutes after the Lancers had found the equalizer. The Broomall, Penn. native finished off a perfect passing play from Gamez and Nardella to make it 2-1 Storm.

Later in the period, Gamez scored his 10th goal of the year with assists from Appleton and Nardella. The defenseman started the play by intercepting a pass in neutral ice and moving into the Omaha zone. After finding Appleton, the Green Bay, Wis. native had room to shoot, but elected to pass down low to Gamez, who tapped the puck in for the score.

Master gave Tri-City insurance in the middle period, scoring his second of the night and 15th of the season unassisted on a breakaway.

Storm forward Kyle Eastman sealed the victory with an unassisted empty net goal late in the third period. The tally was the Angola, N.Y. native’s second of the season.

With the win, the Storm have a home record of 15-3-2 in 20 contests at the Viaero Event Center this season.

Tri-City still has hold of second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 55 total points. They remain four points behind first-place Sioux City.

The Storm will finish their weekend with a game against the Musketeers at the Tyson Event Center on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Nolan Aibel and Jake Wahlin, along with defenseman Gordi Myer…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (power play) (Bobby Nardella, Mason Appleton) 7:08
Omaha – Anthony Angello (power play) (unassisted) 12:09
Tri-City – Nick Master (Garrett Gamez, Bobby Nardella) 14:33
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (power play) (Mason Appleton, Bobby Nardella) 17:48

2nd Period

Tri-City – Nick Master (unassisted) 3:09

3rd Period
Tri-City – Kyle Eastman (empty net) (unassisted) 16:22

PENALTIES

1st Period
Omaha – Shane Gersich – (Slashing), 2 min, 7:00
Tri-City – Cody Milan – (Boarding), 2 min, 10:45
Tri-City – Conner Valesano – (Head Contact), 2 min, 14:51
Omaha – Drew Best – (Hooking), 2 min, 17:35

2nd Period

Tri-City – Kyle Eastman – (Holding), 2 min, 1:00
Omaha – Nick Rivera – (Charging), 2 min, 9:57
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Hooking), 2 min, 9:57
Tri-City – Jalen Schulz – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 10:38
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Roughing), 2 min, 11:04
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Roughing), 2 min, 11:04
Omaha – Hank Crone – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 14:37
Omaha – Hank Crone – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 14:37

3rd Period
Omaha – Michael Bigelbach – (Tripping), 2 min, 1:35
Tri-City – Matthew Freytag – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 3:00
Omaha – Anthony Angello – (Holding), 2 min, 4:59
Omaha – Brian Williams – (Fighting), 5 min, 13:35
Omaha – Brian Williams – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 13:35
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Fighting), 5 min, 13:35
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Fighting) (Misconduct), 10 min, 13:35

Power Play

Omaha – 1/5

Tri-City – 2/5

Shots

Omaha: 12, 9, 6 = Total: 27
Tri-City: 10, 9, 3 = Total: 22

Saves
Omaha – Zach Driscoll – 17/21
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 13/14, Jared Rutledge – 13/13

Wiggins leads World Team past US in Rising Stars Challenge

Posted on February 14, 2015February 14, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Andrew Wiggins scored 22 points, Rudy Gobert added 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots, and the World team beat the U.S. 121-112 on Friday night in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend.

Wiggins, the No. 1 pick from Canada who plays for Minnesota, was chosen as the game’s MVP.

Brooklyn’s Bojan Bogdanovic of Croatia, playing on his home court, and Chicago’s Nikola Mirotic from Montenegro each added 16 points for the World.

Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and Zach LaVine of Minnesota each scored 22 points for the U.S. team in the game between rookies and second-year players.

Cornhuskers Crush Cardinal on Senior Night

Posted on February 14, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. – No. 10 Nebraska (12-1, 8-1 Big Ten) cruised to its eighth consecutive dual win with a 30-6 triumph over Stanford on Senior Night at the Devaney Center.

Senior All-Americans James Green (157) and Robert Kokesh (174), wrestling in their final home dual, each won in bonus-point fashion. Green earned 10 takedowns in the opening bout en route to a 23-8 technical fall over Josh Lauderdale. Kokesh, the top-ranked wrestler in the nation at 174 pounds, rolled to a 14-5 major decision over Keaton Subjeck in the third match of the night.

No. 15 TJ Dudley also added bonus points with his pin against Ryan Davies at 184 pounds in 5:58. Ranked Huskers Aaron Studebaker (14th at 197), Collin Jensen (17th at heavyweight), Tim Lambert (12th at 125) and Anthony Abidin (8th at 141) each collected decisions over the course of the next five bouts to extend the lead.

Sophomore Justin Arthur won the final match of the night by a 7-3 decision over Garrett Schaner at 149 pounds. Junior Austin Wilson (165) and sophomore Eric Montoya (133) each fell by narrow decisions.

Head Coach Mark Manning picked up his 199th dual win at Nebraska, which ties him for first in school history with Tim Neumann.

The Huskers hit the road next weekend for a pair of matches on Saturday, Feb. 21. NU battles Drexel at 10 a.m. (CT) in Philadelphia, Pa., before facing Princeton at 6 p.m. in Princeton, N.J.

No. 10 Nebraska 30, Stanford 6
Friday, Feb. 13, 2015
Devaney Center, Lincoln, Neb.
Attendance: 1,241

Results
157: #3 James Green (NEB) by tech. fall over Josh Lauderdale (STAN), 23-8 (NEB 5, STAN 0)
165: #14 Jim Wilson (STAN) by dec. over Austin Wilson (NEB), 6-3 (NEB 5, STAN 3)
174: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Keaton Subjeck (STAN), 14-5 (NEB 9, STAN 3)
184: #15 TJ Dudley (NEB) by pin over Ryan Davies (STAN), 5:58 (NEB 15, STAN 3)
197: #14 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by dec. over Garet Krohn (STAN), 4-2 (NEB 18, STAN 3)
HWT: #17 Collin Jensen (NEB) by dec. over Nathan Butler (STAN), 7-3 (NEB 21, STAN 3)
125: #12 Tim Lambert (NEB) by dec. over Evan Silver (STAN), 3-1 (NEB 24, STAN 3)
133: Connor Schram (STAN) by dec. over Eric Montoya (NEB), 4-3 (NEB 24, STAN 6)
141: #8 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by dec. over Mason Pengilly (STAN), 6-1 (NEB 27, STAN 6)
149: Justin Arthur (NEB) by dec. over Garrett Schaner (STAN), 7-3 (NEB 30, STAN 6)

Iowa Claims Big Ten Wrestling Dual Meet Championship

Posted on February 14, 2015

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Top-ranked Iowa clinched the outright Big Ten Wrestling Dual Meet Championship with its 22-9 win over No. 16 Michigan on Friday evening. The regular season conference title marks the seventh in the past eight years for the Hawkeyes. Iowa finished the conference season with a 9-0 record and currently sits at 14-0 overall.

The Hawkeyes claimed seven bouts against the Wolverines, with wins from Thomas Gilman (125), Cory Clark (133), Josh Dziewa (141), Brandon Sorensen (149), Nick Moore (165), Michael Evans (174) and Nathan Burak (197).

The 2015 Big Ten Wrestling Championships will be held from March 7-8 at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Last season, Penn State won its fourth straight Big Ten Championships title, while Iowa leads all schools with 34 Big Ten Championships titles.

NPCC Knights Softball Lose Two against Grayson College in Heartbreakers

Posted on February 14, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights lost a couple of heartbreakers to the Grayson College Lady Vikings 7-6 and 11-10 in eight innings to drop to 0-6 on the season.

Knights Head Coach Janell Higgins said “We lost a hard fought two games. Losing is tough and even harder when on the road but we are making strides forward every game. We hit the ball well today. Our defense was strong and weak at the same time. We made the tough plays and struggled to make the routine plays. Our girls showed a tremendous amount of fight and played as a team. I am very proud of them for their effort.”

In the first game the Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Sara Villalobos scored on a single by Shelby Clark. The Lady Vikings took the lead in the bottom half of the second scoring two runs.

The Knights took the lead in the top of the third with runs by Caroline Motis and Jazmin Chang on a single by Brittney Odum. Grayson tied the score in the bottom of the third when Whitlock doubled to center scoring Logan Pennartz.

The Knights scored three runs in the fifth inning by Andrea Quiroga, Jazmin Chang and Brittney Odum to give them a 6-4 lead. The Lady Viking’s Chelsea Whitlock scored on an error by the Knights in the fifth cutting the Knights lead to 6-5.

The Lady Vikings took the lead for good in the sixth inning on runs by Boyd and Pennartz on a single by Christina Guckes to centerfield.

Shannon Lieber took the loss for the Knights. Lieber pitched six innings, allowed eight hits, seven runs of which three were earned. Lieber struck out two and walked two.

The Lady Vikings’s Megan Rosewell pitched seven innings to get the win. Rosewell allowed only one earned run on four hits, striking out six Knights and walking two.

Andrea Quiroga led the Knights in game one offensively by going one for two with one run scored and a double and a stolen base.

In game two , Lady Vikings jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Knights battled back by scoring two runs in both the third and fourth innings to take a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Vikings took the lead, 8-4 with a six-run inning of its own in the fourth. The Lady Vikings scored on a solo home run by Jordan Gundersen, a single by Christina Guckes, and a single by Taren Dillion.

The Knights came back and cut into the Lady Viking lead when Tara Crouch singled. Shannon Lieber doubled scoring Crouch and then Sara Villalobos two-run homerun for three runs in the inning to make the score 8-7 in favor of the Lady Vikings. The Knights tied the score in the sixth on a run by Crouch on an error by the Lady Vikings leftfielder Rachel Morgan.

The Knights took the lead in the seventh when Sara Runia homered. In the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Vikings’ Marlee Boyd homered to tie the game and send the game to extra innings.

In the eighth inning the Knights scored the go ahead run when Shannon Lieber doubled and then scored on a single by Sara Runia. In the Lady Viking’s eighth Chelsea Whitlock singled to left field and was sacrificed to third by Brooklin Olson. With two outs in the inning, the game ended on a controversial home run by Goodman with Olson on base.

Shannon Lieber led the offense for the Knights in the second game going three for five with three doubles, three run scored and one run batted in. Sara Runia and Sara Villalobos added a home run each. Shelby Clark added a triple, scored a run and knocked one run in.

Baileigh Oleson pitched 7.2 innings but took the loss.

The Lady Vikings had three players with home runs: Marlee Boyd, McKensie Goodman, and Jordan Gunderson. Gunderson had three hits for the Lady Vikings in five at bats with two runs scored and two runs batted in.

McKensie Goodman picked up the win in relief. Goodman struck out five Knights in 3.2 innings pitched.

The Knights will finish up their weekend by travelling to play Murray State College in Oklahoma in a double header. Game times are at 2 pm. and 4 pm. CST.

Mo’ne Davis Outshines Kevin Hart at Celebrity All-Star Game

Posted on February 14, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Little League phenom Mo’ne Davis was pretty impressive on the basketball court, too.

Playing in the All-Star Celebrity Game against opponents more than twice her age, Davis momentarily silenced trash-talking “Wedding Ringer” star Kevin Hart, driving past him for an easy layup Friday night.

The 13-year-old blew past Hart, the game’s MVP for the fourth time, with a spectacular spin move. After the basket, Hart — who like Davis is from Philadelphia — said, “No excuses” as he tried to score on the other end.

Madison Sqaure Garden was abuzz with stars from the NBA, WNBA and Hollywood two nights before the NBA All-Star Game is played Sunday. But much of the attention was on the teenager, who got one of the loudest ovations from the crowd when she was introduced before the game.