Sports – Page 346 – North Platte Post Archive

Chiefs’ Eric Berry Diagnosed with Cancer

Posted on December 8, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs safety Eric Berry has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease and will begin chemotherapy for what doctors called a “very treatable and potentially curable” form of cancer.

Hodgkin’s disease is a form of lymphoma originating in white blood cells.

Berry had been undergoing tests at Emory University in Atlanta since an MRI exam nearly two weeks ago showed a mass on the right side of his chest that was suspected to be lymphoma.

Berry said in a statement that he will “embrace this process and attack it the same way I do everything else in life. God has more than prepared me for it.”

The former All-Pro safety has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Don “Fox” Bryant Services

Posted on December 8, 2014December 8, 2014

Don 'Fox' Bryant (Photo from Twitter) — Don ‘Fox’ Bryant (left) (Photo from Twitter)

The celebration of life service for Don “Fox” Bryant will be Friday, Dec. 12 at 1:30 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 4530 A St., Lincoln, Nebraska.

(A private family interment will be held Friday morning at Lincoln Memorial Park).

Visitation will be Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home, 4040 A St., Lincoln, Nebraska.

Visitation will continue Thursday evening at Christ United Methodist Church Gymnasium (4530 A St.) with the family present from 5-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to University of Nebraska College of Journalism to establish a scholarship in his name, Christ United Methodist Church or Lincoln Municipal Band.

The family welcomes condolences, stories and recollections of Fox at www.bmlfh.com.

If anyone would like to send written condolences to either Don’s wife, Pedie Bryant, or his son, Bill Bryant, I will be happy to provide their addresses via email to you.

Holmgren, Martz to Coach All-Stars

Posted on December 8, 2014

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Mike Holmgren and Mike Martz will serve as head coaches for the fourth annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

The game, sponsored by the NFL Players Association, will be played Jan. 17 at the StubHub Center.

Holmgren, one of the masters of the West Coast offense who led Green Bay to the 1996 NFL championship, will coach the American team. Martz, the offensive coordinator of the Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf in the late 1990s and early 2000s, will coach the National team.

For one week preceding the bowl, players will receive an in-depth introduction to the union.

Only draft-eligible players will be invited to the all-star game.

Osborne Wishes Riley ‘The Very Best’ with Huskers

Posted on December 8, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Tom Osborne echoed much of the Nebraska fan base with his reaction to the hiring of Mike Riley as the Cornhuskers’ new football coach.

In an email to The Associated Press on Monday, the coach who led Nebraska to three national titles wrote, “I don’t know Mike Riley. I wish him the very best.”

Riley, who comes from Oregon State, will be the fourth Huskers coach since Osborne ended his coaching career in 1997. Osborne, as athletic director, hired Riley’s predecessor, Bo Pelini.

Riley said at his introductory news conference Friday that he keeps one of Osborne’s books on his shelf. He said when he was coaching in the Canadian Football League, Osborne called him to recommend a player. Riley said that’s the only time he talked to Osborne.

All 10 Baseball Hall Candidates Fall Short

Posted on December 8, 2014

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The baseball Hall of Fame’s Golden Era committee has failed to elect any of the 10 candidates from a group whose primary contributions were from 1947-72.

The Hall announced the results Monday as the annual winter meetings began.

Dick Allen and Tony Oliva each received 11 of 16 votes, one shy of the 75 percent needed for election. Jim Kaat appeared on 10 ballots, Maury Wills nine and Minnie Minoso eight.

Ken Boyer, Gil Hodges, Billy Pierce and Luis Tiant each received three or fewer votes, as did the late Cincinnati Reds general manager Bob Howsam.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will announce its vote Jan. 6. Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz are the top newcomers. Craig Biggio, who fell two votes short of the 75 percent needed in the 2014 balloting, tops the holdovers.

Kentucky Unanimous No. 1 in AP Poll, Duke No. 2

Posted on December 8, 2014

Kentucky is still No. 1, and this time on top of every ballot.

The Wildcats (9-0) became a unanimous No. 1 team in the new AP poll Monday, getting the first-place votes on all 64 ballots cast.

Syracuse spent two weeks as a unanimous No. 1 last season.

Wisconsin had been getting some first-place votes before its 80-70 loss last week to Duke. The Badgers slipped from second to fifth in the new rankings.

Duke (8-0) replaced Wisconsin at No. 2, jumping ahead of No. 3 Arizona (8-0), which stayed undefeated with a 66-63 overtime victory against No. 9 Gonzaga over the weekend.

Louisville was up one spot to fourth. Virginia, Villanova, Texas, Gonzaga and Kansas rounded out the top 10.

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 7, 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 (64)	9-0	1,600	1
2. Duke	8-0	1,518	4
3. Arizona	8-0	1,486	3
4. Louisville	7-0	1,319	5
5. Wisconsin	8-1	1,316	2
6. Virginia	9-0	1,285	7
7. Villanova	8-0	1,173	10
8. Texas	7-1	1,155	6
9. Gonzaga	7-1	1,145	9
10. Kansas	6-1	1,083	11
11. Wichita St.	5-1	929	8
12. Ohio St.	6-1	808	14
13. Utah	6-1	717	25
14. Iowa St.	5-1	668	20
15. Butler	7-1	593	23
16. Oklahoma	5-2	557	22
17. Washington	7-0	428	—
18. San Diego St.	6-2	390	13
19. Maryland	8-1	370	21
20. Miami	8-1	359	15
21. North Carolina	6-2	350	12
22. West Virginia	8-1	313	16
23. N. Iowa	8-0	232	—
24. St. John’s	6-1	211	—
25. Notre Dame	8-1	200	—

Others receiving votes: Michigan St. 120, Illinois 91, Georgetown 62, Iowa 60, Seton Hall 57, Baylor 49, TCU 45, Colorado St. 28, Arkansas 22, California 19, Michigan 14, Creighton 7, VCU 6, LSU 5, Indiana 3, NC State 3, Old Dominion 2, Dayton 1, Yale 1.

NPCC to Host Northeastern Junior College

Posted on December 8, 2014

The North Platte Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams will host Northeastern Junior College Tuesday, December 9 at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

Tip-offs for the games will be at 5:30 p.m. CST for the women’s game and 7:30 p.m. CST for the men’s game.

The Lady Knights come into the game 6-5. They are led in scoring by sophomore April Stull, who is averaging 17.4 points per game. Stull is also leading the Lady Knights in rebounding with 8.8 rebounds per game.

The Plainswomen are 12-2 and currently on a seven game winning streak. They are led by Arianne Sheka with 13.2 points per game and eight rebounds per game. Other Plainswomen scoring in double figures are: Brooke Blair, with 10.5 points per game, Danielle Rinaldo with 10.5 points per game, and Cierra Davis with 10.2 points per game. Davis also leads the team in rebounds with 9.1 rebounds per game.

The men’s game is a key matchup in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South Sub-Region. The Knights are currently 2-1 in sub-region play, while the Plainsmen are leading the sub-region at 3-0.

The Knights (8-2) are led in scoring by sophomore Cameron Williams, who is averaging 19.2 points per game. Williams is also currently leading the Region IX south sub-region in scoring. Other Knights scoring in double figures are Marco Pascolo, with 12.4 points per game, and Shyquinn Dix, with 11.3 points per game. Pascolo is also leading the Knights in rebounding with 8.2 rebounds per game.

The Plainsmen (10-3) have one player averaging in double figures, Shikei Blake with 17. 1 points per game. Blake also leads the Plainsmen in rebounding with 7.2 rebounds per game.

During halftime of the men’s game will be the recognition of North Platte Community College head volleyball coach Sally Thalken. Thalken is retiring from coaching after 34 years with a 921-610 record.

Both games may be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or online at www.northplattepost.com. The games will also be live streamed at www.coachesaid.com .

Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors Approves Enhanced Concussion Protocols

Posted on December 8, 2014

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C) held its annual December meeting in Indianapolis on Sunday, December 7, and took another step toward improving student-athlete welfare when it approved a conference recommendation to establish enhanced concussion protocols.

The concussion protocols will move from best practices and minimum requirements for schools to regulatory standards by the conference. In addition, the COP/C unilaterally adopted the establishment of an independent neutral athletic trainer in the replay booth with their own monitor and the ability to directly contact officials on the field. The independent neutral athletic trainer will be in addition to the continued presence of on-field doctors and athletic trainers from each institution.

The enhanced concussion protocols will be incorporated by reference into the existing conference-wide concussion management policy and will include reporting requirements, disciplinary action for non-compliance and a higher level of accountability for conference member institutions.

The adoption of enhanced concussion protocols is the latest step by the conference to further ensure the safety of student-athletes. In May 2010, the Big Ten became the first conference to establish a conference-wide concussion management plan for use by conference institutions. In April 2011, the Big Ten and the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) conducted the first of a series of head injury summits at the conference office, with 40-plus attendees across several disciplines. In June 2012, the Big Ten and Ivy League, in conjunction with the CIC, announced plans to engage in a co-sponsored, cross-institutional research collaboration to study the effects of head injuries in sports.

Storm Return Home For 3-Game Week

Posted on December 8, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – After wrapping up a four-game road stretch with their first win in Dubuque since the 2000-01 season, the Tri-City Storm are back in Kearney and will host three home games during the upcoming week.

Tri-City will see division-rival Lincoln on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m., before the Youngstown Phantoms come to town for a weekend series on Fridayand Saturday.

The Storm are 1-0 against the Stars this season, having defeated them 4-3 at the Ice Box in Lincoln on Sept. 26.

Friday’s game will be one day short of a full calendar year since Tri-City and Youngstown met at the Viaero Event Center. On Dec. 13, 2013, the Storm defeated the Phantoms 6-5 in overtime, before finishing a sweep the next day with a 3-1 victory.

Former Storm forward Joel L’Esperance was the hero of the weekend, scoring a hat trick in the first contest that included the game-winner in overtime, before adding two more goals in Saturday’s matinee.

Through 20 games this season, Tri-City has been led offensively by Chris Wilkie, who has 12 goals and five assists. Forward Jake Wahlin has been Wilkie’s main playmaker, as he leads the team with 13 assists. Defenseman Bobby Nardella has provided an offensive spark from the back end, leading the blueline corps with 14 points.

Goaltender Alec Dillon has shouldered most of the load between the pipes, posting a record of 9-4-2 with a goals against average of 2.14 and a save percentage at .923.

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

Nebraska-Washington Set for 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU

Posted on December 8, 2014

The 14th-seeded Nebraska volleyball team will face No. 3 seed Washington on Friday at 8:30 p.m. (CT) in the Seattle Regional at Alaska Airlines Arena.

The match will be televised on ESPNU with Sam Gore and Holly McPeak on the broadcast. It is the first time ESPNU has aired a regional semifinal. The rest of the Sweet 16 matches will be streamed at ESPN3.com.

The first match, BYU vs. sixth-seeded Florida State, will begin at 6 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed at ESPN3.com. The Nebraska match will begin at either 8:30 p.m. or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first match, whichever is longer.

Friday’s winners will meet in the regional final on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. (CT).