Sports – Page 332 – North Platte Post Archive

NFL Domestic Violence is AP Sports Story of Year

Posted on December 23, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL’s troubles with domestic violence have been selected the sports story of the year in an annual vote conducted by The Associated Press.

Ninety-four ballots were submitted from U.S. editors and news directors. Voters were asked to rank the top 10 sports stories of the year, with the first-place story receiving 10 points, the second-place story nine points and so on.

NFL domestic violence received 659 points and 29 first-place votes in the results announced Tuesday.

The No. 2 sports story was Clippers owner Donald Sterling being forced out by the NBA after his racist statements. It received 518 points.

Bengals Blow Lead but Beat Broncos to Clinch Playoff Berth

Posted on December 23, 2014

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals have clinched an AFC playoff berth by rallying in the fourth quarter of a 37-28 triumph over the Denver Broncos.

Dre Kirkpatrick grabbed two of Peyton Manning’s four interceptions and sealed the victory by returning the first for a 30-yard touchdown with 2:41 left. It came about five minutes after Mike Nugent put the Bengals back on top with a 23-yard field goal.

Jeremy Hill sparked the Bengals’ offense with 147 yards on 22 carries. Hill scored Cincinnati’s first touchdown on an 85-yard run in the first quarter, 23 seconds after Aqib Talib (ah-KEEB tah-LEEB’) brought back an Andy Dalton interception 33 yards for a score.

Cincinnati watched a 27-14 lead evaporate while Manning hit Emmanuel Sanders for a pair of third-quarter touchdowns. Manning was 28 of 44 for 311 yards as the 11-4 Broncos failed to wrap up a first-round bye.

The Bengals are 10-4-1 and will play the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the AFC North title on Sunday.

Hornets top Nuggets 110-82 for Third Straight Win

Posted on December 22, 2014

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Al Jefferson scored 22 points, Kemba Walker added 18 points and nine assists, and the Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to a season-high three games with a 110-82 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.

Rookie P.J. Hairston recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Jefferson and Walker combined to shoot 15 of 25 from the field and didn’t play in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand.

Charlotte improved to 3-0 since Gerald Henderson replaced the injured Lance Stephenson in the starting lineup. Stephenson, who has been the subject of trade rumors, is out at least one more game with a groin injury.

Ty Lawson had 18 points for Denver.

Lions’ Raiola Suspended 1 Game for Stomping on Opponent

Posted on December 22, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola has been suspended for one game after he stomped on Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson on Sunday.

The punishment was handed down by Merton Hanks, the NFL’s Vice President of Football Operations, comes following Raiola’s sixth rules violation related to player safety.

The Lions play the Green Bay Packers in the season finale Sunday with the NFC North division title at stake. Raiola can appeal the suspension, but until then he cannot attend team meetings, practices nor have any contact other than that related to offsite medical care.

Lady Bulldogs Earn GNAC No. 2 Seed, Boys get No. 6 Seed

Posted on December 22, 2014

The brackets for the 2014 Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference boys and girls basketball tournaments were released on Monday and the North Platte Lady Bulldogs are the No. 2 seed in the girls bracket and the Bulldogs boys are the No. 6 seed.

The 2014 GNAC Tournament will take place in Hastings, Monday, December 29-Wednesday, December 31.

The Lady Dawgs are the No. 2 seed with a 4-2 record to start the season. The defending GNAC Champion Norfolk is the No. 1 seed, also with a 4-2 record. The two teams have two common opponents so far this season. North Platte lost at Lincoln East 63-53 and beat Columbus at home 57-52. Norfolk beat Columbus on the road 48-44 and lost at home vs. Lincoln East 54-43.

North Platte will play seventh-seeded McCook in the first round of the tournament on Monday, December 29 at 2:00 pm. The game will be played in the South Gym in Hastings and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or online at northplattepost.com. The Lady Dawgs are led by senior Kaitlynn Harvey, who is averaging 17 points per game and 2.5 steals. Fellow senior Jessy Hunt is averaging 12.8 points and nine rebounds per game. McCook is currently 3-3 on the season. The bracket for the girls tournament can be seen below.

The North Platte Bulldogs boys basketball team is the No. 6 seed in next week’s tournament and will play third-seeded Kearney in the first round. The game will tip-off at 3:45 on Monday, December 29 in the South Gym in Hastings. The game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or online at northplattepost.com. The Dawgs are 1-5 on the season and are led by junior Rashawn Bryant with 13 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Senior Shane Mauch is also averaging in double-figures with 10.5 points per game to go along with 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

The defending GNAC Champion Norfolk is the No. 1 seed on the boys side as well, with Scottsbluff as the No. 2 seed. The boys bracket can be seen below.

The Ins and Outs of the Playoff Races

Posted on December 22, 2014

With five of the six playoff slots in the NFC and four in the AFC decided, some would think much of the drama of the schedule’s final week has been removed.

Think again.

All nine of the teams already qualified for the Super Bowl chase have something to play for on Sunday.

Start with the defending league champion Seahawks (11-4). Excluding any Week 17 ties in the multitude of scenarios, Seattle not only will get the NFC West title by beating St. Louis, but also home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Not a pleasant thought for its opponents.

New England (12-3) doesn’t need anything else to happen but to beat visiting Buffalo on Sunday to clinch staying home for the AFC playoffs.

Kentucky Maintains Stranglehold on Top 25

Posted on December 22, 2014

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 21, 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)	12-0	1,625	1
2. Duke	10-0	1,548	2
3. Arizona	12-0	1,502	3
4. Louisville	10-0	1,344	4
5. Virginia	11-0	1,336	6
6. Wisconsin	10-1	1,322	5
7. Villanova	11-0	1,214	7
8. Gonzaga	11-1	1,170	8
9. Texas	10-1	1,149	9
10. Kansas	9-1	1,096	10
11. Wichita St.	8-1	966	11
12. Iowa St.	9-1	821	13
13. Washington	10-0	798	16
14. Utah	8-2	796	14
15. Maryland	11-1	678	17
16. Notre Dame	11-1	536	21
17. St. John’s	9-1	517	20
18. West Virginia	10-1	464	22
19. Oklahoma	7-3	436	15
20. North Carolina	8-3	414	24
21. Ohio St.	9-2	411	12
22. Baylor	9-1	203	—
23. N. Iowa	10-1	162	—
24. Colorado St.	11-0	144	—
25. TCU	11-0	120	—

Others receiving votes: Georgetown 85, San Diego St. 72, VCU 70, California 32, Miami 27, Arkansas 22, Indiana 11, LSU 7, Old Dominion 7, Florida 4, Penn St. 4, Oklahoma St. 3, Seton Hall 3, Butler 2, Minnesota 2, Davidson 1, Valparaiso 1.

2014 Provides Plenty of Eye Candy for Sports Fans

Posted on December 22, 2014

New York Giants Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with a one-hand catch against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 23. (Photo from ESPN.com)

Some of them won the game, some of them saved the game and others made for some very impressive eye candy.

Odell Beckham Jr., James Rodriguez, Richard Sherman and Aaron Harrison were among those who put their distinctive stamp on sports in 2014 with shots, catches and plays that nearly broke the internet and led off all the highlight shows.

Beckham’s catch blew up almost within minutes of happening. The Giants receiver regularly practices the one-handed grab and put it to use with the catch of the year against the Cowboys.

Richard Sherman’s game-saving swataway from Michael Crabtree in the NFC championship game wrapped up Seattle’s trip to the Super Bowl. Moments later, his postgame interview drew even more attention.

In back-to-back NCAA tournament games, Kentucky freshman Aaron Harrison drained a 3-pointer to win.

The prettiest goal at the World Cup? No question, it was scored by Colombia’s James Rodriguez.

Hopping Named New NPCC Volleyball Coach

Posted on December 22, 2014

Kevin O’Connor, North Platte Community College Men’s Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director has announced the hiring of Alexa Hopping, as the new Head Women’s Volleyball Coach.

Hopping replaces Sally Thalken, who retired following the season after 34 years of coaching; and will take over duties immediately.

Hopping played volleyball for the Lady Knights during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. During the 2009 season Hopping was named to the Nebraska Community College Athletic Association All-Conference team, as well as the National Junior College Athletic Association All Region IX team.

During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Hopping served as the assistant coach for the Lady Knights Volleyball team.
Further details may be released closer to the 2015 Fall Volleyball season.

Iginla helps Avalanche beat Red Wings 2-1 in Shootout

Posted on December 21, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — Jarome Iginla scored in the ninth shootout round to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night.

Iginla got a wrist shot past Petr Mrazek, who had turned away six straight Avalanche shooters. Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene also scored in the tiebreaker as Colorado ended a three-game road trip with five points.

Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar had shootout goals for Detroit, which fell to 1-7 this season in the tiebreaker.