Sports – Page 328 – North Platte Post Archive

Minnesota Knocks Off No. 12 Nebraska 72-69

Posted on December 29, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Amanda Zahui B. scored 20 points — including a pair of free throws with 6 seconds left — and blocked a last-second shot to secure Minnesota’s 72-69 win over No. 12 Nebraska on Monday in both team’s Big Ten opener.

Zahui B. was 7 of 11 from the floor and added 15 rebounds. Shayne Mullaney had 18 points for Minnesota (12-1).

Nebraska (10-2) led 67-61 with 2:46 left after Tear’a Laudermilk’s 3-pointer. But Minnesota clawed back with a 9-0 run, including a jumper and pair of free throws from Shae Kelley, to take a three-point lead with 17 seconds left.

Allie Havers’ short jumper made it 70-69 with 8 second remaining. After trading timeouts, Laudermilk put Zahui B. at the line. She made both, then on the other end blocked Emily Cady’s last-second bid to preserve the upset.

Cady paced Nebraska with 21 points and had 14 rebounds.

Lady Dawgs Advance to GNAC Semis, Boys Drop to Consolation (Updated Brackets)

Posted on December 29, 2014

The first round of the 2014-15 Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference tournaments saw the North Platte Lady Bulldogs basketball team advance to the semifinals and the North Platte boys fall to the consolation bracket on Monday in Hastings.

The second-seeded Lady Dawgs beat No. 7 seed McCook 48-22 to begin the tournament. Senior Jessy Hunt paced North Platte with 17 points. Fellow senior Kaitlynn Harvey had 11 points and junior Allison Kuenle was also in double-figures with 10 points in the win.

The Lady Bulldogs advance to the semifinals to play the third-seeded Kearney Bearcats. Kearney beat No. 6 seed Scottsbluff 73-24 in Monday’s first round. Tuesday’s semifinal game is at 2:00 pm at Hastings High School and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 with the pregame show starting at 1:45 pm. An updated bracket can be seen below.

The North Platte Bulldogs boys basketball team didn’t fare as well as the girls in the GNAC first round. The Dawgs lost to rival Kearney 58-43. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs were led by junior Rashawn Bryant with 13 points and senior Tra Harris came off the bench to score 11 points in the loss to the third-seeded Bearcats. North Platte lost senior center Josh Merz to an ankle injury in the second quarter and he didn’t return to the game.

The Dawgs play McCook in the consolation semifinals on Tuesday. The seventh-seeded Bison lost to No. 2 seed Scottsbluff 66-32 Monday. The North Platte-McCook game tips off at 3:45 and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1410, following the girls game.

Blues’ Brodeur Earns NHL Record 125th Shutout in Win over Avs

Posted on December 29, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Martin Brodeur stopped all 16 shots he faced and recorded his NHL-record 125th shutout and 691st victory as the St. Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Monday night.

Dmitrij Jaskin, Chris Butler and Vladimir Tarasenko scored, and Paul Stastny had two assists for the Blues, who snapped a four-game losing streak (0-3-1) and avenged a 5-0 loss at Colorado on Dec. 23.

Jaskin beat Semyon Varlamov in between his pads for his third goal of the season 28 seconds into the second period, and Butler backhanded a shot over Varlamov’s shoulder for his first goal at 4:30 for St. Louis (22-11-3), 13-4-1 at home.

Tarasenko scored his team-leading 22nd goal from the high slot with 4:35 remaining.

The Avalanche (13-14-8) have dropped two straight after going 4-0-2 in their previous six games.

Husker Fans Pay Bill for Fired Pelini’s Meeting with Players

Posted on December 29, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A group of 51 Nebraska fans has paid the bill for Bo Pelini’s unauthorized use of a high school auditorium to meet with his players after his firing.

Lincoln Public Schools associate superintendent Liz Standish said Monday her office received a $262.50 money order from Brooklyn, New York, last week.

Cornhuskers fan Sarah Krusemark organized the online campaign that raised $810 through donations of $5 to $50. Krusemark plans to send the extra money to the Team Jack Foundation for pediatric brain cancer research.

An unidentified North Star High School staff member initially received the bill after failing to follow protocol in allowing Pelini to use the auditorium.

An audiotape from the meeting revealed Pelini’s expletive-filled criticism of athletic director Shawn Eichorst. Pelini is now the coach at Youngstown State.

Royals Announce Deal with Right-Hander Volquez

Posted on December 29, 2014

Edinson Volquez with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals have announced the signing of right-hander Edinson Volquez to a $20 million, two-year contract that includes a mutual option for the 2017 season.

Volquez will make $7.5 million in 2015 and $9.5 million in 2016 under the deal announced Monday. His option year is worth $10 million with a $3 million buyout.

Volquez fills the last big hole by taking James Shields’ spot in the rotation. Shields became a free agent and it was unlikely the Royals would be able to keep him.

The Royals have already signed designated hitter Kendrys Morales and outfielder Alex Rios to fill two of their other pressing needs. They also signed pitcher Kris Medlen, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and could help contribute midway through the season.

Lions DT Suh Suspended for Playoff Game

Posted on December 29, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) â Detroit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been suspended for this Sunday’s wild-card playoff game against Dallas for a violation of safety-related playing rules against Green Bay in the season finale.

The league announced Monday that Suh was suspended for stepping on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ left leg twice, once with each foot. Suh also applied pressure and pushed off Rodgers’ unprotected leg with his left foot, violating unnecessary roughness rules, the league said in a statement.

Suh, who will be reinstated next Monday, can appeal the suspension within three days. He can ask for an expedited appeal, which would be heard by either Derrick Brooks or Ted Cottrell, hearing officers employed by the NFL and the players’ union.

Davis Wins AP Female Athlete of the Year Honors

Posted on December 29, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Little League star Mo’ne Davis is The Associated Press 2014 Female Athlete of the Year.

A vote by U.S. editors and news directors selected Davis over second-place finisher Mt. St. Joseph freshman Lauren Hill — who played her first college basketball game while battling brain cancer — and three-time winner Serena Williams.

Davis, just 13, is the youngest winner ever. She became an instant celebrity in August when she became the first girl to win a Little League World Series game. In the opening game for Philadelphia’s Taney Dragons, she threw a shutout and struck out eight, giving “throw like a girl” a whole new meaning.

Davis says baseball isn’t her best sport. In eighth grade, she is currently playing point guard for her high school varsity basketball team.

Kentucky Still Unanimous No. 1 in AP Top 25

Posted on December 29, 2014

Kentucky is still undefeated and again the unanimous No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 poll.

The Wildcats (13-0) got all 65 first-place votes Monday, marking the fourth week in a row they were No. 1 on every ballot cast. They have been the top team for all eight polls this season.

Duke (10-0), which was idle last week, remained second. Virginia (11-0) was third and Wisconsin (12-1) fourth. Both are up two spots from last week.

Louisville (11-1) slipped one spot to fifth after its 58-50 home loss Saturday to Kentucky, ahead of Villanova (12-0) and Gonzaga (12-1).

Arizona (12-1), after a 71-67 loss to UNLV, dropped five spots from third to eighth.

Georgetown (8-3) was the only poll newcomer at No. 25, replacing still-undefeated TCU.

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 28, 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 (65)	13-0	1,625	1
2. Duke	10-0	1,559	2
3. Virginia	11-0	1,457	5
4. Wisconsin	12-1	1,395	6
5. Louisville	11-1	1,327	4
6. Villanova	12-0	1,316	7
7. Gonzaga	12-1	1,249	8
8. Arizona	12-1	1,243	3
9. Iowa St.	9-1	1,005	12
10. Utah	9-2	956	14
11. Texas	10-2	903	9
12. Maryland	12-1	869	15
13. Kansas	9-2	775	10
14. Notre Dame	12-1	709	16
15. St. John’s	11-1	690	17
16. Wichita St.	10-2	630	11
17. West Virginia	11-1	584	18
18. Oklahoma	8-3	530	19
19. North Carolina	9-3	483	20
20. Ohio St.	11-2	435	21
21. Washington	11-1	253	13
22. Baylor	10-1	238	22
23. N. Iowa	11-1	216	23
24. Colorado St.	13-0	194	24
25. Georgetown	8-3	140	—

Others receiving votes: TCU 132, VCU 101, San Diego St. 40, Arkansas 27, George Washington 7, LSU 7, Old Dominion 7, Penn St. 5, UNLV 5, Indiana 4, Florida 2, Minnesota 2, Stanford 2, Army 1, California 1, Davidson 1.

Kenny Bell to Play in East-West Shrine Game

Posted on December 29, 2014

TAMPA, Fla. (December 29, 2014) – Kenny Bell, University of Nebraska wide
receiver, has accepted an invitation to play in the 90th East-West Shrine
Game®. The Game will be held January 17, 2015 at Tropicana Field in
St.Petersburg, Fla., kicking off at 4 p.m. EST and televised live on NFL
Network.

Bell joins an elite list of football greats, such as John Elway, Tom
Brady, Brett Favre, and 70 NFL Hall of Famers, who have played in the
East-West Shrine Game in addition to more than 265 East-West Shrine Game
alumni currently on NFL rosters.

“The most important aspect of East-West Shrine Game has always been
supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children,” said East-West Shrine Game
Executive Director Harold Richardson. “But during game week, it also
affords our players a terrific opportunity to showcase their talents and
get their first glimpse of life in the NFL . ‘Just Like on Sunday.'”

While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together
for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, an
international pediatric specialty health care system.

“We hope our supporters all over the country will come out and enjoy this
exciting game,” said Douglas E. Maxwell, president and CEO of Shriners
Hospitals for Children. “Our health care system depends on the generosity
of our supporters, and this game is one of our signature events
benefitting Shriners Hospitals for Children.”

Those who would like to support Bell and the East-West Shrine Game can
do the following:
Attend the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg on Saturday, January 17
at 4 p.m. EST, tune in to watch the game on NFL Network, or listen live on
the East-West Shrine Game Radio Network.
East-West Shrine Game tickets are on sale now through all Ticketmaster
outlets. Fans can purchase tickets for the January 17, 2015 game online
at www.shrinegame.com, or www.ticketmaster.com.
Game tickets are $15 general admission tickets (price does not include
service fees).

Lowry’s Double-Double leads Raptors over Nuggets, 116-102

Posted on December 28, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Kyle Lowry had 30 points and 11 assists, and the Toronto Raptors beat the Denver Nuggets 116-102 on Sunday night.

Lou Williams had 31 points to help the Raptors, the top team in the Eastern Conference, get the season series sweep with Sunday’s win.

The Raptors have won seven of eight.

Ty Lawson led Denver with 28 points and Wilson Chandler had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Kenneth Faried, who had 26 points and a career-best 25 rebounds in Friday’s win over Minnesota, had 17 points and 19 rebounds for the Nuggets, who have lost three of four.