Sports – Page 519 – North Platte Post Archive

US Players Prepare for Anything from Referees

Posted on June 13, 2014

SAO PAULO (AP) — The U.S. players are preparing for any circumstance when it comes to calls by the referees in the World Cup.

They saw just what can happen in Thursday’s opener, when Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 with the help of a debated call by referee Yuichi Nishimura of Japan.

It was on the Americans’ minds Friday as they prepared to depart from their Sao Paulo headquarters for Natal. They play their Group G opener Monday night against Ghana, which eliminated the U.S. the past two World Cups.

Midfielder Jermaine Jones says he especially must be careful considering his penchant for yellow cards.

Vickerson Eager to Join Comeback Express

Posted on June 13, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Kevin Vickerson thought he’d be back on the football field by now.

Instead, he spends his days rehabbing his right hip, which was dislocated seven months ago in New England, and working on his strength and conditioning so that he hold can up 700 pounds of double teams like he used to when he anchored Denver’s defense.

It’s not the wait or the weights that are the hardest part for Vickerson, but “watching the Super Bowl,” he said, “and not being out there with my guys.”

On occasion he finishes his work with the athletic trainer and the strength and conditioning coach early enough to wander onto the fields at the Broncos training facility.

Those days are bittersweet.

Chiefs Release Flowers after Voluntary Workouts

Posted on June 13, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs released cornerback Brandon Flowers on Friday, shortly after finishing up three weeks of voluntary workouts in which the former starter was conspicuously absent.

Kansas City has been bumping up against the salary cap, so the move to part ways with Flowers was largely expected. He was due to make $5.25 million this season, and the former starter carried a salary cap number of $10.5 million next season.

The decision to release Flowers will save the Chiefs about $7.25 million this season and $7.5 million next season. That money could be used to help the Chiefs sign quarterback Alex Smith and linebacker Justin Houston to contract extensions.

Both of them are in the final year of their contracts.

Huskers Post NCAA’s Largest Basketball Attendance Increase Since 2007

Posted on June 13, 2014

Lincoln – For the Nebraska men’s basketball program, the 2013-14 season was a record-setting one at the box office, as the Huskers enjoyed the largest average attendance increase in college basketball over the last seven years.

The Huskers ranked 13th in the final NCAA attendance rankings released Friday, averaging a school-record 15,419 fans per game as 246,702 fans saw Husker basketball during the first season at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Nebraska increased its average attendance by 5,067 fans per game in 2013-14, the largest single-season increase by a Division I program in men’s basketball since Virginia averaged 5,725 more fans per game during the 2006-07 season, its first season at John Paul Jones Arena. Nebraska’s attendance increase marks only the eighth time (by seven schools) where attendance has increased by more than 5,000 fans per game since the 1999-2000 season.

The 2013-14 season is also the highest Nebraska has been ranked in average attendance since the NCAA expanded the attendance list from 10 teams beginning with the 1977-78 season. NU’s previous best was 18th in 1978-79, and the Huskers had ranked in the top-20 three other times, most recently in 1993-94.

Nebraska broke its single-game attendance five times in 2013-14, capped by a school-record crowd of 15,998 against ninth-ranked Wisconsin in the regular-season finale on March 9. The Huskers easily shattered since-season records for both average attendance (13,537) and total attendance (213,715), both of which were set during the 1992-93 season.

Nebraska was one of seven Big Ten teams to rank in the top-18 nationally in average attendance. The Big Ten led the nation in average attendance for the 38th consecutive season with13,354 fans per game, setting a record for the highest average attendance by any conference in NCAA history.

Reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year Tim Miles begins his third season at Nebraska after leading the Huskers to a 19-13 record and the school’s first NCAA appearance since 1998 last season. The Huskers return all five starters from a team that finished fourth in the Big Ten with an 11-7 Big Ten mark, including All-American candidate Terran Petteway, who averaged a Big Ten-high 18.1 points per game while adding 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Junior wing Shavon Shields also earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors after averaging 12.8 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per contest. In all, the Huskers return over 80 percent of its scoring, including seven of its top eight scorers, and top-five rebounders from a year ago.

Local Active Military and Veterans to be Recognized at West Nebraska All Star Games

Posted on June 13, 2014

SCOTTSBLUFF—Local active military and veterans will be recognized at the West Nebraska All Star Football Game, Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Bearcat Stadium. This will be the third year that veterans have been recognized at the game.

All active military and veterans will receive free admission to both the All Star Volleyball game to be held at CougarPalace at 2 p.m. and to the football game that evening at 7 p.m. by showing their military identification. Spouses of all active military and veterans will also receive free admission to both games.

A special recognition ceremony will take place prior to the West Nebraska All Star Football Game. All active military and veterans in attendance at the football game will be recognized on the field prior to the kickoff. Veterans are asked to be at Bearcat Stadium by 6:40 p.m. so that they can be escorted onto the field.

State Games Discount Deadline is Monday, June 16

Posted on June 13, 2014

Lincoln–The discount deadline to register for the 30^th Anniversary Cornhusker State Games is Monday, June 16. After June 16, entry fees increase by $5 for most individual sports and $3 per person for most team events. June 30 is the final deadline for most sports. Those interested can register or find more information at CornhuskerStateGames.com.

The Games, most of which take place July 18-27, includes competition for athletes of all ages and abilities in 65 sports at venues in Lincoln, Omaha and surrounding communities. Officials said entries are on pace to top 13,000 with athletes from 145 different Nebraska communities already registered as of June 12. Last year’s total was 12,343.

Nebraska Sports Council officials also announced that Joy Patten, General Manager of Three Eagles Communications in Lincoln, has been named the Honorary Chair of the 2014 Games. Patten will declare the Games open upon the lighting of the caldron at the Opening Ceremonies on July 18 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Three Eagles, which includes the KFRX, KIBZ, KZKX and KTGL FM radio stations and KLMS and KFOR AM stations, has been a media partner of the Nebraska Sports Council for many years, but Patten also has a family connection to the Games. Her father, Albert Rosenbohm, has directed the Horseshoe Pitching tournament since it became part of the Games in 1986.

Owens Named Nebraska Director of Basketball Operations

Posted on June 13, 2014

Lincoln – Nebraska men’s basketball coach Tim Miles announced Friday that Teddy Owens has been named Director of Operations for the Husker basketball program.

“Teddy will be terrific as our Director of Operations. It is a challenging job, but one he will handle well,” Miles said. “In this role, we rely on him to be a liaison for our program both on campus and in the community, and Teddy possesses both the personality and organization skills to make sure our program is running smoothly.”

Owens served as administrative coordinator for the Huskers during the 2013-14 season, assisting Coach Miles and his staff in daily operations, on-campus recruiting, student-athlete outreach, social media initiatives and other program events such as Legends Weekend and the Husker Buddies youth camp.

Owens replaces Jayden Olson, who was named an assistant coach at North Dakota State earlier this spring.

Before joining the Nebraska staff in July of 2013, Owens spent two seasons working as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma under Lon Kruger. While at Oklahoma, he was in charge of on-campus recruiting tours for recruits and family members, created recruiting pieces, assisted in individual workouts and practices and helped coordinate Oklahoma’s summer basketball camps. The Sooners went 20-12 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2012-13.

In addition to his work at Oklahoma, Owens spent three seasons as the basketball coach at Lincoln Christian in Tulsa, Okla., compiling a 48-27 record leading the school to a pair of Class 2A state tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010. He also was an assistant coach at Holland Hall Preparatory and Tulsa Edison High Schools. He served as a student manager at Oklahoma State during the 2003-04 season, when the Cowboys went 31-4, won the Big 12 title and reached the Final Four.

Owens received his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Oklahoma State and his master’s degree in human relations from Oklahoma in May of 2013. He is the son of former Kansas basketball coach Ted Owens, who went 348-182 in 19 seasons at Kansas from 1965 to 1983. The elder Owens won six Big Eight titles and reached the Final Four with the Jayhawks in 1971 and 1974.

He and his wife Ashley have one son, Layton Bracket.

Spurs Take 3-1 Lead with 107-86 Victory over Heat

Posted on June 12, 2014

MIAMI (AP) — Kawhi Leonard had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs dominated the Miami Heat again in a 107-86 victory Thursday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

Tony Parker added 19 points for the Spurs, who can win their fifth championship with a victory at home in Game 5 on Sunday.

LeBron James had 28 points and eight rebounds for the Heat, but Dwyane Wade was just 3 for 13 for 10 points as the Heat were routed at home for the second straight game.

The Heat would have to become the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to win their third straight championship.

First Nationals use a Walkoff to Win the First Two in Colorado

Posted on June 12, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals Seniors team won the first two games they played at a tournament in Canon City, Colo. on Thursday.

North Platte (12-10) played Canon City, Colo. to start the tournament and beat them 5-1. The First Nationals wasted no time jumping out to an early lead by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning en route to the win. Jack Kenny led the way at the plate by hitting an RBI triple in the first inning and scoring a run. Kenny’s triple was the only extra-base hit of the game for North Platte. Drew Callaghan and Luke Volz each had two hits in the game. Marcos Silos shut down Canon City from the mound. Silos pitched six innings, giving up just one unearned run on one hit while earning the win.

North Platte’s second game of the day was closer than the first, but still resulted in a First Nationals victory as they beat Carlsbad, N.M. 4-3. Carlsbad jumped on top of North Platte 2-0 after the first inning and led 3-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. Callaghan reached on an error to begin the bottom of the seventh followed by back-to-back singles by Ty Brockmoller and Silos. Austin Chitty hit a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one run before Carlsbad got the second out of the inning with a strikeout. Alec Wesslund then hit an RBI double to tie the game before Kenny hit a walkoff single to win it.

Brockmoller earned the win on the mound by pitching a complete game and giving up three runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out four batters.

The First Nationals continue play in the Canon City tournament on Friday. North Platte plays Longmont, Colo. at 5:45 pm then they have an off day Saturday before wrapping up the tournament on Sunday.

Gamez Develops Unique Bond With Storm Staff

Posted on June 12, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – When Storm forward Garrett Gamez got a call telling him he’d won a USHL award last week, he was more excited for the voice on the other end of the line.

Gamez was being honored with the league’s Curt Hammer Award for the 2013-14 season. The award is presented annually to recognize the USHL player who distinguishes himself both on and off the ice by demonstrating outstanding performance skills, leadership, pride, and determination.

The voice notifying him belonged to Alicia Korte, the Director of Group Sales and Fan Relations for the central Nebraska franchise.

“When Alicia told me the news we were both ecstatic,” Gamez said. “But I was more excited for her than myself.”

In existence since the 1988-89 season, the award is given in memory of the late Curt Hammer, who served as President of the Des Moines Buccaneers for three seasons (1984-87) and also held the role of Secretary for the USHL. It was established to honor his commitment to the League and the perseverance he displayed in continuing his work through hockey while battling cancer.

“There’s no way I could have won it without her,” Gamez said. “It’s an award that we won together. I’m not the only one being recognized, it’s our whole team.”

The two have enjoyed working together since the Chino Hills, Calif. native joined the roster in the fall of 2012. During the past season, they took the community initiative to new heights, making appearances all throughout the region.

“The first year when Garrett got here he was still in high school, but you could tell that he was a great kid,” Korte said. “He was very outgoing, had a positive attitude and an overall happiness to be here. He wanted to be here; he wanted to be active and make a good impression not only with our staff, but as a leader in the community.”

Gamez had the same feelings about the work Korte is doing with the team’s community relations efforts.

“She makes it so much fun when we go out in the community,” Gamez said. We’re always meeting new people and Alicia constantly has a happy attitude which is awesome. She’s a person that lightens up your day when you’re with her and it has been really easy to work together. I have a lot of respect for her and she’s just a great person.”

The 19-year-old’s favorite trips were to preschools, where he would play with a younger audience who were thrilled at his presence.

“It was really to see smiles on the kids’ faces,” Gamez said. “We play with them, read with them, color with them, whatever they want and the kids have an absolute blast. I remember one time one of the kids had a missing tooth just like me. I was popping my tooth out in front of him and we took a nice picture together. The kids never give you a break. We do whatever we can to make their day.”

One of the events that stuck out most during his two-year career with the team was volunteering at the Good Samaritan Hospital Cancer Center’s Simply Pink Fashion Show.

“We got to dress up and walk cancer survivors across the stage and honor what they’ve done and what they’ve been through,” Gamez said. “That was one of the things that really hit home for me. My family has a history of cancer, so that was something I really wanted to help out with.”

Other community activities for Gamez during the USHL season included participation in a barn painting project that benefitted the Central Nebraska Make-A-Wish program and volunteering hours with the Salvation Army bell-ringing initiative.

“Garrett has such a great attitude,” Korte said. “I can’t think of a player who wanted this more. It’s just refreshing to see such a great kid receive this honor. I can’t wait to see what he does not only next season, but in the future both on and off the ice.”

In his second USHL season, Gamez was the team’s second-leading scorer with 34 points (6g, 28a) over 57 games. After being held off the scoresheet over his first 16 games of the season, he put up 23 points (4g, 19a) over the next 21 contests.

Gamez will be back on the ice with his team next week when the Storm will hold tryout camp June 16-21 in Las Vegas. The forward plans on returning to Kearney and continuing his work in the community for a third season during 2014-15.

“I’m super excited for the upcoming season,” Gamez said. It will be a great fight during camp to see who makes it and who doesn’t. I feel like this will be my most influential year in the league. We have a lot of guys coming back and there are a lot of new players joining the team. I plan on being a leader and competing for a Clark Cup championship at the end of it all.”