Sports – Page 317 – North Platte Post Archive

North Platte Community College Hosts Special Olympics Night

Posted on January 12, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights will host the Laramie County Golden Eagles on Wednesday at McDonald – Belton Gymnasium.

The game has been designated as “Special Olympics Night.”

There will be a reception for the Special Olympic Athletes in the VIP room starting at 6:00 p.m. They will be recognized during halftime of the game, and then an autograph session with the men’s basketball team after the game.

The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois in 1968. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was a driving force in its development.

The game will feature the Knights and the Golden Eagles in a key National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South sub-regional game.

The Knights are 12-4 overall and 5-1 in the sub-region. The Golden Eagles are 14-4 and 5-1 in sub-region play. Both teams are tied for first in the sub-region standings along with Northeastern Junior College. The top four teams in both the North and South sub-region will host first round games on their home floor for the Region IX tournament.

The Knights are led in scoring by Cameron Williams, who is averaging 22.4 points per game. Shyquinn Dix and Marco Pascolo are the other Knights in double figures. Dix is averaging 12.1 points per game and Pascolo is averaging 11.4 points per game.

The Golden Eagles have four players scoring in double figures and are led by Spencer Svelcar with a 15.5 point per game average. Other Golden Eagles in double figures are Darien Fernandez is averaging 15.4 points per game, Kamari Robinson averaging 12.6 points per game, and Alexis Dargenton averaging 12.1 points per game.

The game may be heard on ESPN 1410 radio or at www.northplattepost.com . It will be live streamed at www.coachesaid.com . Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CST.

NPCC Lady Knights Volleyball Signs Palmer

Posted on January 12, 2015

The North Platte Community College Women’s Volleyball team recently signed Josie Palmer from Brady, Nebraska for the upcoming 2015 season.

Palmer is new head coach Alexa Hopping’s first recruit. She is a 6’0 Middle Hitter from Brady.

The Brady High School Eagles were 21-8 on the season and qualified for the state volleyball tournament.

In the state tournament game against Ansley-Litchfield, Palmer had six kills, two blocks, two service aces, and one set assist.

For her career, Palmer had 263 kills, 55 blocks, 24 service aces, and 173 digs.

Her senior year, Palmer was Honorable Mention to the 2014 Associated Press D-1All-State Volleyball Team. Palmer was also named to the D-1 Third Team All-State team by Nebraska Prep Volleyball.

“I am excited for her height and experience,” Hopping said. “She started all four years of high school on a competitive high school team and will be an impact player for us.”

Olympians Lolo Jones, Jordan Burroughs Join State Games of America Team

Posted on January 12, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (January 9, 2015) — Olympic hurdler and bobsledder Lolo Jones and Olympic wrestler Jordan Burroughs are encouraging eligible athletes from across the country to join them at the 2015 State Games of America (SGA) in Lincoln, Nebraska, July 28–August 2, 2015. Jones and Burroughs will appear at the opening ceremonies and host events for 2015 SGA competitors.

The State Games of America is the largest Olympic-style sports festival in the nation. The 2015 SGA is expected to draw 20,000 athletes to compete in more than 60 sports. Most of the competitions are organized by age divisions and skill levels.

Jones competed in the Iowa Games after her high school career in Des Moines and says the event was her first exposure to a broader range of competitors. She calls the State Games of America concept “brilliant” because the opportunity to perform with athletes from around the country can bring out the best in competitors. She says the SGA also offers an experience similar to the Olympics.

“It’s quite thrilling. You get to meet people from different places who are training hard and trying to do their best at a sport they love, just like you,” said Jones. “It opens a floodgate of new friendships. Some of my best friends are people that I never would have met if we hadn’t competed against each other.”

Burroughs continues to train and compete with Team USA and is an assistant coach for the University of Nebraska wrestling team. He competed collegiately for Nebraska, where he won two national titles. Following his college career, he successfully transitioned to international competition winning a World Championship in 2011 and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2012.

Burroughs will conduct a wrestling clinic for 2015 SGA competitors on July 30. Jones will meet athletes and fans during an event at the track and field venue.

“I can’t wait,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward to being around other athletes who are pushing themselves to perform their best.”

Online registration is open at SGA2015.com, along with details regarding events and eligibility.

The State Games of America is sanctioned by the National Congress of State Games. The Nebraska Sports Council (NSC) will organize and oversee the event. The NSC’s Cornhusker State Games recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and is one of the largest State Games events in the nation.

Kentucky still No. 1 in AP Top 25 – Though not Unanimously

Posted on January 12, 2015

Kentucky remains No. 1 in the AP Top 25, though two overtime games loosened its hold on the top spot a bit.

The Wildcats (15-0) were atop 63 of 65 votes cast Monday, ending a run of five straight weeks as the unanimous No. 1. Kentucky beat Mississippi at home in overtime then won in double overtime at Texas A&M.

Virginia (15-0) earned the other two first-place votes and moved up a spot to No. 2 as the only other unbeaten team after Duke’s loss at North Carolina State.

Gonzaga was third, followed by Duke — which fell from second and was among five top-10 losers — and Villanova.

Northern Iowa, Oklahoma State and Wyoming were new to the poll, with 25th-ranked Wyoming in for the first time since 1988.

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 11, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

	Record	Pts	Prv
1. Kentucky (63)	15-0	1,623	1
2. Virginia (2)	15-0	1,561	3
3. Gonzaga	16-1	1,446	6
4. Duke	14-1	1,432	2
5. Villanova	15-1	1,358	8
6. Louisville	14-2	1,264	5
7. Wisconsin	15-2	1,200	4
8. Utah	13-2	1,185	9
9. Kansas	13-2	1,100	12
10. Arizona	14-2	1,037	7
11. Iowa St.	12-2	922	17
12. Notre Dame	15-2	903	13
13. Wichita St.	14-2	832	15
14. Maryland	15-2	801	11
15. North Carolina	12-4	719	18
16. West Virginia	14-2	627	14
17. VCU	13-3	578	20
18. Oklahoma	11-4	485	16
19. Arkansas	13-2	431	23
20. Texas	12-4	345	10
21. Seton Hall	13-3	298	19
22. Baylor	12-3	278	21
23. N. Iowa	14-2	212	—
24. Oklahoma St.	12-3	132	—
25. Wyoming	15-2	71	—

Others receiving votes: Ohio St. 70, Michigan St. 67, Dayton 55, Providence 17, Indiana 15, LSU 12, St. John’s 10, Alabama 7, Georgetown 7, NC State 6, Green Bay 3, Syracuse 3, Butler 2, Oregon 2, San Diego St. 2, TCU 2, Colorado St. 1, Davidson 1, Hofstra 1, Old Dominion 1, SMU 1.

This Week in Nebraska Athletics

Posted on January 12, 2015

Thursday, Jan. 15 Women’s Basketball Penn State (BTN) Pinnacle Bank Arena 6 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 15 Men’s Basketball at Wisconsin (ESPN2) at Madison, Wis. 8 p.m.

Fri.-Sun., Jan. 16-18 Bowling at Mid-Winter Classic at Jonesboro, Ark. Noon

Friday, Jan. 16 Track/Field Holiday Inn Invitational Devaney Indoor Track 4 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17 Rifle at West Virginia at Morgantown, W. Va. 8 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17 Track/Field Holiday Inn Invitational Devaney Indoor Track 11 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17 Men’s Tennis at Oklahoma State at Stillwater, Okla. 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17 Women’s Gymnastics Penn State (BTN) Devaney Center 3 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17 Men’s Gymnastics at Rocky Mountain Open at Colorado Springs, Colo. 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 18 Rifle at Akron at Akron, Ohio 8 a.m.

Monday, Jan. 19 Women’s Basketball Purdue (BTN) Pinnacle Bank Arena 6 p.m.

AP Source: Jack Del Rio to get 2nd Interview with Raiders

Posted on January 12, 2015

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio will have a second interview with the Oakland Raiders for their head coaching job.

A person with knowledge of the plans said Monday that Del Rio will interview with Oakland on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not releasing details on interviews.

Del Rio met with Raiders owner Mark Davis during the Broncos’ bye week. With Denver being eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday, Del Rio is available for a second interview and will be able to sit down with general manager Reggie McKenzie as well.

Del Rio was head coach in Jacksonville for nine seasons before spending the past three as defensive coordinator in Denver.

FASTHockey To Provide Free Live Broadcast of Top Prospects Game

Posted on January 12, 2015

DUBUQUE, Ia. – The 2015 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m. will be streamed live and free of charge by FASTHockey, the league’s online broadcast partner.

Storm broadcaster Jared Shafran will appear as part of the live coverage during the broadcast, acting as a rinkside reporter throughout the night.

Shafran is in his third season as the radio voice of the Storm and has called the action for more than 150 USHL contests on the team’s radio partner, The Breeze 94.5 FM. He has previously been involved with league events as he was a studio host for the 2014 USHL Draft show, and provided on-air coverage of USHL players that were selected during the 2014 NHL Draft in Philadelphia. Shafran is a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston.

Three Tri-City Storm skaters were among the 40 players chosen to take part in the game, including defenseman Tory Dello and forwards Matthew Freytag and Chris Wilkie. All three will play for “Team West” in the contest.

It is the third time the league will conduct the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which will showcase many of the top players in the USHL who are eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft in Sunrise, Fla. June 26-27. The USHL set a record in 2014, seeing 35 players from the 2013-14 season selected by NHL clubs.

Fans can visit FASTHockey.com to access the free broadcast.

Tri-City will head to Bloomington this weekend for their first ever games with the Thunder. Saturday’s game starts at 7:05 p.m., while Sunday’s game begins at 3:00.

Petteway leads Nebraska past Illinois, 53-43

Posted on January 11, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Terran Petteway scored 18 points and Nebraska built an 11-point lead midway through the second half and held off Illinois 53-43 on Sunday night.

Nebraska (10-6, 2-2 Big Ten) made four of four free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win. The Huskers shot and made just one free throw in the first 38 minutes of the game.

Illinois (11-6, 1-3) cut the Nebraska lead to six late in the game but struggled to hit shots. The Fightin’ Illini made just 15 of 55 and didn’t have a basket after the 3:14 mark until Aaron Cosby’s short jumper with :14 left.

Nebraska took the first double-digit lead of the game on Petteway’s 3-pointer with 16:48 left that put the Huskers up 34-24 with 16:48 remaining. But Illinois’ Kendrick Nunn countered with a 3 on the Ilini’s next possession.

NPCC Lady Knights host Northwest Kansas

Posted on January 11, 2015

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights will host the Northwest Kansas Technical College Lady Mavericks Monday, January 12 at the McDonald – Belton Gymnasium.

The Lady Knights are 9-6 on the season. The Lady Mavericks are 4-14.

The Lady Knights are led in scoring by April Stull with a 16.4 average. Aliyah Brown is averaging 9.7 points per game.

Stull has 574 career points which places her in 17^th place on the North Platte Community College career scoring list.

Nyachiang Bile leads the Lady Mavericks in scoring with a 13.8 average.

The game will be live streamed on www.coachesaid.com.

Tip – off is set for 6:00 p.m. CST

Manning’s Future Murky after Another Playoff Disappointment

Posted on January 11, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Peyton Manning hedged on returning next year to play for the Denver Broncos.

Following a 24-13 loss to Indianapolis in the AFC divisional playoffs on Sunday, the 38-year-old, five-time MVP was asked if he planned to return for the 2015 season.

“I guess I just can’t give that simple answer, I’m processing it,” Manning said. “So, I can’t say that.”

As recently as Christmas Eve, Manning said he planned on being back next season if the Broncos wanted him.

Manning went 26 for 46 for 211 yards and a touchdown against the Colts. He struggled to find his rhythm, as has been the case since mid-November, when the Broncos started running the ball more.

He said he’s been dealing with a thigh bruise since the Dec. 14 game against the Chargers, but said it felt good enough to play with coming into the playoffs.