Sports – Page 342 – North Platte Post Archive

Abdullah, Pierson-El Receive All-America Honors

Posted on December 11, 2014

Nebraska standouts Ameer Abdullah and De’Mornay Pierson-El each received All-America honors on Thursday for their outstanding 2014 performances.

Abdullah was named a second-team All-America running back by CBS Sports.com, while Pierson-El was honored by USA Today as the second-team All-America return specialist.

A senior from Homewood, Ala., Abdullah rushed for 1,523 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2014, including four 200-yard rushing games. Abdullah also became Nebraska’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards, while ranking second on the school’s career rushing yardage list.

Abdullah is one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, which will be announced tonight. He has also received All-Big Ten honors for the past three seasons and was a third-team AP All-American in 2013.

Big Ten running backs Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin) and Tevin Coleman (Indiana) were the first-team selections on the CBS Sports.com All-America team, while Abdullah was joined on the second team by James Connor of Pittsburgh.

De'Mornay Pierson-El — De’Mornay Pierson-El

Pierson-El had a record-setting season as a punt returner in his first year in the Nebraska program. He led the nation in total punt return yards with 589 yards on 33 returns, an average of 17.8 yards per return. Pierson-El’s punt return yardage total is more than 200 yards higher than any other player in the nation and his average ranks third in the nation.

Pierson-El also returned three punts for a touchdown, including a pair of returns of 80 yards or more. The three punt return touchdowns ties for the national lead and is one off the Nebraska school season record.

Pierson-El was one of only two freshmen on the USA Today All-America first or second team squads, joining Alabama punter JK Scott, who was a first-team choice.

Additional All-America teams will be announced in the coming days.

AP Source: Morales, Royals Reach $17M, 2-Year Deal

Posted on December 11, 2014

Kendrys Morales with the Los Angeles Angels in 2012

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says slugger Kendrys Morales and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement with the AL champions was subject to him passing a physical.

Morales figures to take over at designated hitter from Billy Butler, who left as a free agent and agreed to a $30 million, three-year deal with Oakland.

Morales will get $6.5 million next year and $9 million in 2016. The deal includes an $11 million mutual option for 2017 with a $1.5 million buyout. Morales can make an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses in each of the first two seasons based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 375 and $100,000 apiece for 400 and each additional 25 until 550.

Dec. 27 Storm Game To Begin At 3:05 PM

Posted on December 11, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm have moved up their scheduled game with the Sioux City Musketeers on Dec. 27 to a matinee start of 3:05 p.m.

The game, which was originally scheduled to start in the evening, will begin earlier to allow for fans to watch the University of Nebraska football team play in the Holiday Bowl.

In addition, the “Daddy Daughter Princess Night” promotion will be moved to Jan. 3 when Tri-City takes on Omaha at 7:05 p.m.

As part of the promotion, the Storm will have characters from Disney’s “Frozen” on hand to greet fans. The game will also include themes from the movie.

Tri-City is currently preparing for a weekend series against the Youngstown Phantoms. Friday’s game gets underway at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s contest starts at 3:05.

For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011 or visit www.stormhockey.com.

PETA Wants Raccoon-Killing Huskers Player Punished

Posted on December 11, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The president of an animal rights group wants Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst to punish a football player for killing a raccoon that bit him during his attempt to take a picture of himself with the animal.

Jack Gangwish spotted the raccoon on the side of a road near Lincoln on Dec. 3 and stopped to take a selfie. When Gangwish approached, the raccoon bit him on the calf. Gangwish used a wrench from his truck to kill the raccoon.

PETA president Ingrid Newkirk wrote to Eichorst: “It’s time for acts of cruelty to animals committed by players to be taken extremely seriously, and with violence in football culture now under the microscope, this is the time to address the issue.”

A message was left for Eichorst on Thursday.

NPCC Lady Knights Travel to York College JV

Posted on December 11, 2014

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights hope to improve their 7-5 record as they travel to York, Nebraska to face the York College Junior Varsity Lady Panthers on Friday, December 12. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CST.

The Lady Panthers JV are 1-5 coming into the contest, losing earlier in the season to Northeastern Junior College 94-56. The Knights beat Northeastern Tuesday night at home 63-55.

The Lady Panthers are averaging 44.7 points per game and giving up 83 points per game.

The Lady Knights are averaging 62.8 points per game and allowing 60.1 points per game.

The Lady Knights are led by sophomore April Stull. Stull is averaging 17.1 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game, and 1.4 blocks per game.

Aliyah Brown is second in scoring, averaging 9.8 points per game. Brown also averages 3.5 steals and 2.1 assists per game.

The Lady Knights return home on January 9, 2015 when they play Colorado Christian Junior Varsity.

Chandler, Afflalo lead Nuggets over Heat, 102-82

Posted on December 11, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Wilson Chandler scored 17 points, Arron Afflalo had 16 and the Denver Nuggets beat the Miami Heat 102-82 on Wednesday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

Chris Bosh had 14 points to lead Miami, which has dropped four of its last five on the road after starting the season 5-2 away from home. The Heat are in the middle of a stretch of eight of 10 games on the road.

Denver has been streaky in the first quarter of the season. The Nuggets lost six straight, won five in a row to go above .500, but followed that with the four-game slide.

The Nuggets led 79-62 after three quarters and then opened the fourth with a 14-4 run to pull away.

NPCC Outshoots Northwest Kansas Tech

Posted on December 10, 2014

The North Platte Community College defeated the Northwestern Kansas Technical College Mavericks 81-68 Wednesday night at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

In the first half the Mavericks jumped out to a 28-15 lead. The Knights went on a 19-5 run to take the lead 34-33. The Knights maintained the lead to take a 42-38 halftime lead.

Three point shooting was prevalent in the first half as the Knights shot 7 of 15 three pointers and the Mavericks shot 6 of 13 three pointers.

In the second half the Mavericks only made 2 of 11 from behind the arc while the Knights made 4 of 11.

The Knights never trailed in the second half, leading by as much as 18 (74-56).

Cameron Williams, once again led the Knights in scoring with 30 points. Williams has scored 30 or more points in the last three games. He also contributed with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

The Knights had three other players to score in double figures. Shyquinn Dix with 11 points, Marco Pascolo and CJ Polk, each with 10 points. Pascolo also grabbed 9 rebounds.

Freshman Matt Thomas scored 9 points and handed out 7 assists.

The Mavericks had four players in double figures. DeAngelo Stewart and Montrell Williams each had 13 points. Daniel Ramis had 11 points and James Sylvester had 10 points to pace the Mavericks.

The Mavericks fall to 9-6 on the season.

The Knights improve to 10-2 on the season. They return to action on Saturday, December 13 as they host the Conquistadors of Dodge City Community College.

Earlier in the year, the Knights beat the Conquistadors on a shot with 1.4 seconds to go by Marco Pascolo, 70-68.

The game may be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or on the internet at www.northplattepost.com. It will also be video streamed at www.coachesaid.com .

Tip-off will be at 7:00 p.m. CST

D1 Newcomer Incarnate Word Shocks Nebraska 74-73

Posted on December 10, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Kyle Hittle hit a contested baseline jumper after Nebraska’s Terran Petteway threw away an inbound pass, and Incarnate Word upset Nebraska 74-73 on Wednesday night for the biggest victory in the Cardinals’ one-plus seasons making the transition from Division II to Division I.

The Cornhuskers looked like they might survive after Shawn Johnson made 2 of 3 free throws to leave Incarnate Word (6-1) down a point with 6.7 seconds left.

But Petteway threw to no one on the inbound play, and the ball rolled out of bounds near the half court line. Mitchell Badillo inbounded to Hittle, who took two steps and made his 10-footer along the baseline.

Petteway’s desperation shot at the buzzer was short.

Jontrell Walker scored 19 points to lead five Incarnate Word players in double figures. Shavon Shields had 19 to lead the Huskers (5-3).

Heisman Finalists Headline College Football Awards

Posted on December 10, 2014

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper are up for three of the 10 awards that will be handed out during Thursday night’s College Football Awards Show at Disney.

Mariota is a finalist for both the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and the Maxwell Award as the nation’s outstanding collegiate player. He’s also the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday.

The O’Brien Award has been a Heisman predictor recently, with the previous four recipients going on to win the Heisman.

Cooper, one of three Heisman finalists along with Mariota and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, is trying to become the first Alabama player to win the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver.

Delaney Suggests Committee Could Tweak Rankings

Posted on December 10, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney says the College Football Playoff selection committee could be better served grouping teams in tiers rather than ranking them early in the season.

“It seemed to me there are some rankings that are fairly clear,” Delaney said Wednesday at the Intercollegiate Athletics Forum, sponsored IMG and Sports Business Journal in Manhattan. “But more often than not you have insufficient data points.”

Delaney said he wants to hear from the selection committee first before making any decisions about changes.

Selection committee chairman and Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long says the 12-member committee will meet in April and discuss possible recommendations for changes to the selection process, though he doesn’t expect to suggest wholesale changes.