March 2015 – Page 30 – North Platte Post Archive

Three Huskers Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals

Posted on March 19, 2015

St. Louis, Mo. – Robert Kokesh (174), James Green (157) and Anthony Abidin (141) each advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships during Session II of the tournament on Thursday night.

Kokesh, the top seed at 174 pounds, picked up his second major decision of the day with his 11-0 triumph over Purdue’s Chad Welch. Kokesh outscored his two opponents 20-0 on Thursday and will face eighth-seeded Tyler Wilps of Pittsburgh in Friday morning’s quarterfinals.

Green, a three-time All-American, also notched a pair of bonus-point wins at 157 pounds on Thursday. He won a 20-5 technical fall over Drexel’s Noel Blanco after his major decision in the first session. Green will battle No. 12 seed Mitchell Minotti of Lehigh in Session III.

Abidin, the No. 9 seed at 141 pounds, topped eighth-seeded Geo Martinez of Boise State in the second round by a 6-4 decision. Abidin is set to grapple against top-seeded Logan Stieber of Ohio State on Friday morning.

Austin Wilson (165), TJ Dudley (184) and Aaron Studebaker (197) each won in Session I, but fell in the second round to seeded opponents. Dudley fell by a narrow decision to top-seeded Gabe Dean of Cornell, Studebaker lost to No. 2 seed Morgan McIntosh of Penn State, 14-5, and Wilson fell to 15th-seeded Ethan Ramos of North Carolina, 6-3. All three Huskers will wrestle in the consolation bracket in Session III on Friday.

Tim Lambert (125), Eric Montoya (133) and Collin Jensen (HWT) each rebounded from a first-round loss with a win in the consolation bracket.

Nebraska is tied for fifth as a team with 18 points. Ohio State leads the team race with 23 points, while Iowa (21) and Oklahoma State (19.5) round out the top three.

Friday’s action begins with Session III at 10 a.m. (CT) on ESPNU and ESPN3. Session IV, also set for Friday, starts at 7 p.m. The championship semifinals will be broadcasted on ESPN and all matches will be streamed on ESPN3.

NCAA Championships
March 19-21, 2015
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Mo.

125 pounds
First Round: #2 Nahshon Garrett (CORN) by dec. over Tim Lambert (NEB), 10-6
Consolation First Round: Tim Lambert (NEB) by major dec. over #15 Chasen Tolbert (UV), 9-1

133 pounds
First Round: #6 Earl Hall (ISU) by dec. over Eric Montoya (NEB), 7-4
Consolation First Round: Eric Montoya (NEB) by dec. over Zach Synon (MIZZ), 4-0

141 pounds
First Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by major dec. over Nick Lawrence (PUR), 8-0
Second Round: #9 Anthony Abidin (NEB) by dec. over #8 Geo Martinez (BSU), 6-4

157 pounds
First Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by major dec. over Markus Scheidel (COL), 13-4
Second Round: #4 James Green (NEB) by tech. fall over Noel Blanco (DREX), 20-5

165 pounds
First Round: Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over #2 Michael Moreno (ISU), 7-5
Second Round: #15 Ethan Ramos (UNC) by dec. over Austin Wilson (NEB), 6-3

174 pounds
First Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Taylor Massa (MICH), 9-0
Second Round: #1 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by major dec. over Chad Welch (PUR), 11-0

184 pounds
First Round: #16 TJ Dudley (NEB) by major dec. over Ophir Bernstein (BRO), 9-0
Second Round: #1 Gabe Dean (CORN) by dec. over #16 TJ Dudley (NEB), 9-8

197 pounds
First Round: #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB) by dec. over Jake Smith (WVU), 3-1
Second Round: #2 Morgan McIntosh (PSU) by major dec. over #15 Aaron Studebaker (NEB), 14-5

Heavyweight
First Round: #6 Adam Coon (MICH) by pin over Collin Jensen (NEB), 4:29
Consolation First Round: Collin Jensen (NEB) by dec. over Nathan Butler (STAN), 5-3

Harden’s Career-Best 50 leads Rockets over Nuggets 118-108

Posted on March 19, 2015

HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden scored a career-high 50 points with 10 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 118-108 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.

Harden eclipsed his previous career-best of 46, set in 2013, on a free throw with about a minute remaining. On Houston’s next possession, Trevor Ariza found him in the corner and he swished a 3 under heavy pressure, to make it 50.

Six straight points by the Nuggets cut the lead to 8 with about five minutes left when the Rockets made the next five points, capped by a step back jump shot from Harden, to make it 104-91. Harden scored seven points after that to secure the victory.

It was the 29th game Harden had at least 30 points.

Rockies Reliever Betancourt Hit in Jaw by Liner

Posted on March 19, 2015

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt was struck in the jaw by a line drive and walked off with a bruise Thursday in Colorado’s 13-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.

The 39-year-old Betancourt was hit in the sixth inning by Brett Eibner’s liner. He was checked by a trainer before leaving the mound.

Betancourt made his fourth spring appearance for the Rockies. He was their closer in 2012-13 before needing Tommy John surgery, was out of the majors last season and is a non-roster invite this year.

Nolan Arenado hit two homers and drove in five runs. Matt McBride also homered for Colorado.

Rockies starter Jordan Lyles pitched four perfect innings. Royals starter Jason Vargas was tagged for nine runs and nine hits, including three home runs, in 1 2-3 innings.

Kendrys Morales homered for the Royals.

Huskers Happy to Dance in South Carolina

Posted on March 19, 2015

Columbia, S.C. – Nebraska Coach Connie Yori and the Huskers met the media and held their first practice at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday in preparation for Friday’s game against Syracuse in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The ninth-seeded Huskers (21-10, 10-8 Big Ten) will battle eighth-seeded Syracuse (21-9, 11-5 ACC) in Friday’s first round at approximately 6:30 p.m. (central).

The game between Nebraska and the Orange will follow Friday’s first game between No. 1 seed South Carolina (30-2, 15-1 SEC) and 16th-seeded Savannah State (21-10, 13-3 MEAC), which will tip at 4:05 p.m. (central). Both games will be televised live by ESPN2.

Yori addressed members of the media in the official NCAA Press Conference at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday afternoon, prior to Nebraska’s practice. She was joined by Nebraska senior forwards Emily Cady and Hailie Sample, who both will be playing in the 132nd games of their Husker careers. For Cady, it will be her school-record-tying 132nd consecutive start.

Cady said the Huskers were proud to be competing in their fourth straight NCAA Tournament.

“We take a lot of pride in it. We’ve worked really hard to get to the point that we’re at,” Cady said. “It’s humbling and we’re really, really proud of it.”

Sample said the Big Red, who advanced to the 2013 NCAA Sweet 16 and 2014 NCAA Second Round, were thrilled with another postseason opportunity.

“I think we’re just excited in general,” Sample said. “We’re thinking about the game at hand.”

Yori said the Huskers were thrilled to be in South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m just glad we’re here. I’m just happy to be in the NCAA Tournament, and I think we all feel that way,” Yori said. “The first game is going to be incredibly difficult because I think the two teams are very evenly matched.”

Seventh-Year Linebacker Reggie Walker Joins Broncos

Posted on March 19, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with free agent linebacker/special teamer Reggie Walker on a one-year contract.

Walker is a seventh-year player who played the last two seasons in San Diego after four years in Arizona.

Walker has played in 75 regular season games with a half-dozen starts, all in 2013. His best season was 2013, when he had a career-high 36 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery.

For his career, he has 73 tackles, 3 1-2 sacks, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 25 special teams stops.

He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State in 2009.

Police: 5 High School Students Accused in Murder Plot

Posted on March 19, 2015

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Five students at a high school in Tucson are in custody for allegedly conspiring to kill another student on campus.

Tucson police say the five were arrested Wednesday night and booked into the Pima County Jail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

They say the arrested Flowing Wells High students are two 17-year-old girls, two 15-year-old boys and an 18-year-old boy.

Police went to the school Wednesday after another student told the Flowing Wells administrative staff of the alleged plan.

Detectives did interviews and learned five students were involved in a weeklong plan to kill another student they were having problems with, and one of the five brought a knife to school.

Police say Flowing Wells administrative staff found that student and discovered a knife in his possession.

Navy Identifies SEAL Killed in Training Accident

Posted on March 19, 2015

CORONADO, Calif. (AP) — Navy officials say a SEAL killed when his parachute malfunctioned during training in Southern California was a 29-year-old Colorado man who completed basic training to become a SEAL last year.

Naval Special Warfare Group One said Thursday that Jason Kortz of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, died from injuries sustained during the accident in Perris on Wednesday. The Navy is investigating why the parachute malfunctioned. It released no further details.

Naval Special Warfare Group One is the Coronado-based SEALs group to which the sailor was assigned.

Kortz enlisted in the Navy in 2012 and completed basic training for the SEALs last year in Coronado.

He is survived by his wife, parents and brother.

Lincoln Remodeling Company Found in Violation of EPA Rules

Posted on March 19, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln remodeling company has agreed to replace windows in homes it renovated after a federal agency said the business failed to comply with a safety rule.

The Midwest branch of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that a 2012 inspection at RDF Inc., doing business as Lincoln-based Paul Davis Restoration, violated a rule requiring specific training for contractors working on pre-1978 residences. The company agreed to pay more than $3,000 in a penalty and spend more than $27,300 to replace windows at former job sites.

The EPA said RDF failed to employ lead-safe work practices. The agency says certification and training ensures that common renovation and repair activities minimize the creation and dispersal of lead dust.

RDF offers emergency repairs for fire and water-damaged homes.

Trial Ends in Lawsuit Targeting Nebraska Funeral Protest Law

Posted on March 19, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The federal trial has ended in a lawsuit challenging Nebraska’s law requiring picketers to stay at least 500 feet from funerals.

The trial ended Thursday after attorneys for Topeka-Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church and the state, Omaha Police Department and Douglas County District Attorney’s Office rested. U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp dismissed the Douglas County prosecutor’s office from the lawsuit following testimony.

The church protests at funerals throughout the country using anti-gay chants and signs because it believes God is punishing U.S. military members and others for defending a nation that tolerates homosexuality.

The church reasons that the Nebraska law is selectively enforced and is unconstitutionally infringes on its free-speech rights.

Smith Camp will decide the case sometime after both sides submit closing briefs over the next three months.

Nebraska Lawmakers Rev Up Debate Over Motorcycle Helmets

Posted on March 19, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have revved up a new debate over the state’s motorcycle helmet law.

Senators who want to abolish the 1989 law argued Thursday that it infringes on a personal freedom. Its defenders argue it saves lives and helps contain Medicaid and insurance costs that would increase with more traumatic brain injuries.

Motorcyclist groups have tried for more than two decades to repeal the law without success, but came close in recent years with turnover in the Legislature.

Sen. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins says he introduced the bill because riders should have the freedom to decide for themselves.

Medical and traffic-safety groups argue that Nebraska already lacks services for residents with brain injuries, and eliminating the helmet requirement would only worsen the problem.