Sports – Page 597 – North Platte Post Archive

St. Patty’s Beatdown 2 to Donate Portion of Proceeds to Adopt-A-Backpack

Posted on February 26, 2014

Midwest Championship Fighting is pleased to announce that they will be donating a portion of the ticket and concession proceeds from its upcoming fight to North Platte’s “Adopt-A-Backpack” program.

the next event, MCF9 St. Patty’s Beatdown 2, is set for Saturday, March 15. MCF owner Russ Jones wanted to find a way to benefit the “Adopt-A-Backpack” program.

“Given that we didn’t do the Hoggy Doggy Splash this year, I wanted to make sure I found a way to give to the backpack program,” Jones said. “I believe in the theory behind it greatly and hope that it helps the less fortunate kids of our community.”

The Beatdown Bash, North Platte’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day party, has a slate of fights second to none. Matchmaker Kelly Wiseman has put together a fight card that includes many local fighters, including Justin Thompson, Anthony Cox, Ryan MacDonald, Mark Hooper, Brandon Bringewitt, Mercedes Timmerman, Delfino Benitez, Joe Sabala, and Martin Sellers.

The main event features North Platte’s Justin Thompson versus Omaha’s Duane Johnson for the MCF Amateur Welterweight Title. Wiseman said this fight has been building for months.

“The hype and build-up for this bout started at MCF8 in September 2013 when Johnson defeated Justin’s younger brother, Derek Thompson, by technical knockout,” Wiseman said. “The trash talking by Johnson started on social media immediately following the announcement of this title bout.”

Three other local fighters will fight for MCF amateur titles as current MCF Lightweight Champion Anthony Cox makes his first title defense, Ryan MacDonald relinquishes his MCF Featherweight Title to fight for the MCF Bantamweight Title, and Mark Hooper fights for the vacated Featherweight Title. MCF9 also features to return of Brandon Bringewatt to the cage.

The MCF Ring Girl competition will be held Saturday, March 8 at the Touchdown Club.

Tickets are available at Jones Law Office and cagetix.com

The Dawgs Get the Top No. 3 Seed Going in to Districts

Posted on February 26, 2014

The North Platte Bulldogs boys basketball team are the No. 3 seed in the A-1 District tournament going in to postseason play.

The district assignments for classes A and B were released on Tuesday by the NSAA. North Platte was the 15th-ranked team in the NSAA points system and as a result is the top No. 3 seed. The Dawgs will play the last No. 2 seed, Lincoln High, in the first round of the A-1 District tournament. The host school is the No. 1 overall seed, Omaha Benson, which plays Bellevue East in the first round.

The first round of the district tournament is Saturday, March 1 at Omaha Benson High School. No. 1 Benson (21-3) and No. 4 Bellevue East (0-22) play at 1:00 pm followed by a 3:00 pm tip-off between No. 2 Lincoln High (10-13) and No. 3 North Platte (11–13). The district championship game will be played Monday, March 3 at 5:30 pm at Omaha Benson High School.

The Bulldogs and the Links of Lincoln High have already faced each other once this season. North Platte was dominant in the game with a 67-48 win over Lincoln on January 24 at the Dawg House at North Platte High School. Kade Erickson led the way in that game for the Dawgs with 21 points and five assists. Drew Callaghan added 16 points, seven rebounds and five blocks, and Shane Mauch was also in double-figures with 13 points.

The bracket for the A-1 District Tournament can be seen below.

North Platte Community College Foundation Sponsors NPCC Knights Halftime Shootout

Posted on February 26, 2014

Shootout winner Jacee Kershaw (right) poses with Carol Bodeen, MPCC area director of development.

A halftime shootout, sponsored by the North Platte Community College Foundation, was on tap for those who attended the NPCC Knights men’s basketball game on Feb. 19.

“It was a great night, not only for the students but for all those who came out and helped with the event,” said Josh York, NPCC Assistant Housing Director/Student Activities. “We had 40 individuals sign up for the halftime shootout. The four names drawn to participate were Jacee Kershaw, Daisy Garcia, Siarra Velasquez and Michael Driskell.”

According to York, each participant had 30 seconds to make a layup, free-throw, and a three-pointer.

“Our first winner of a $25 gift card to the NPCC Bookstore was Jacee, who made it through in one time around. The three remaining contestants then had one more opportunity to go through the competition. Daisy ended up winning our second prize which was a $10 gift certificate to the NPCC Bookstore. Michael and Siarra made it interesting, but could not make that last shot to capture the second prize.”

York was quick to give praise to the NPCC Foundation Board and Carol Bodeen, Area Director of Development, for their help in making the event a success.

Lillard Leads Portland Past Denver 100-95

Posted on February 26, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Damian Lillard made up for the absence of fellow All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge by scoring 31 points in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 100-95 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.

Lillard scored 12 in the third quarter when it looked as if the Blazers were headed for a blowout win, but he saved his biggest shots for late in the fourth after the Nuggets had trimmed an 18-point deficit to two.

The Blazers again went with a smaller lineup with Aldridge missing his fourth straight game with a strained left groin, and Dorell Wright helped make up for Aldridge’s team-high 23.9 points and 11.4 rebounds by giving Denver another long-range shooter to defend.

Randy Foye led Denver with 17 points.

NBA: No Serious Discussions About 4-point Line

Posted on February 26, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA players won’t be pulling up for a 4-point shot anytime soon.

The league denied Tuesday that any serious discussions had been held about that or expanding the court.

ESPN.com reported that president of operations Rod Thorn and vice president Kiki Vandeweghe, during an interview at All-Star weekend, said the league had discussed both possibilities.

In a statement posted on Twitter, league spokesman Tim Frank says “No one at the NBA, nor the competition committee, has had any serious conversations about increasing the size of the floor or adding a 4-point line.” Frank adds “Rod Thorn and Kiki Vandeweghe were entertaining a line of questioning about out of the box ideas and ESPN.com chose to make a story that doesn’t exist.”

Rockies’ Tulowitzki: Winning Will End Jeter Talk

Posted on February 25, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki grew up idolizing Derek Jeter. It’s the reason he wears No. 2.

Now Tulowitzki hears daily chatter about possibly taking over for the retiring Jeter at shortstop in New York.

Tulowitzki says it’s an “honor” to be mentioned as Jeter’s possible replacement. But that doesn’t mean the three-time All-Star shortstop wants to leave Denver.

It’s just that he knows after four straight years out of the playoffs, after all the injuries that have sidelined him, this season could determine his future.

The 29-year-old Tulowitzki still has seven years left on a $157.5 million contract that runs through the 2020 season, a figure that will weigh on the Rockies if they don’t contend soon.

Torre: Banning Home Plate Collisions Not Realistic

Posted on February 25, 2014

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Joe Torre says Major League Baseball’s playing rules committee leaned toward banning all home plate collisions but concluded it would be unrealistic because contact between catchers and baserunners is sometimes unavoidable.

Torre, MLB’s executive vice president for baseball operations, spoke Tuesday at San Diego’s spring training facility before meeting with representatives from eight clubs training in Arizona. Torre was there to answer questions and address concerns regarding the new collision rule, which was announced Monday, and expanded instant replay for umpirest replay.

Torre said when it came to the rule on home plate collisions he had to “put the uniform back on” because there is never a perfect play at the plate and throws can make contact unavoidable.

MLB could not have implemented the rule this year without approval from the players’ association.

Rockies’ Chacin Out at Least Another Week

Posted on February 25, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin will be sidelined at least another week with a sore throwing shoulder.

The Rockies learned the results of Chacin’s MRI on Tuesday morning. The team announced he has right shoulder inflammation, but no structural damage.

Chacin was Colorado’s top right-handed starter in 2013, going 14-10 with a 3.47 ERA. But he was limited since the start of spring training and had yet to throw off the mound before he was shut down on Sunday.

Chacin said Tuesday that his shoulder was feeling better, but the injury could prevent him from being ready for the start of the regular season.

Big Ten Totals 20 Medals at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi

Posted on February 25, 2014

Rosemont, Ill. — Eighteen current and former Big Ten student-athletes, coaches and university students earned 20 Olympic medals at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games held February 7-23 in Sochi, Russia. The conference brought home medals in both men’s and women’s ice hockey, bobsled and ice dancing, including five gold, 11 silver and four bronze. Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin each saw its Olympic competitors bring home medals. Minnesota led all schools with five participants and one coach medaling, while participants from Michigan and Wisconsin took home five medals each.

The Big Ten was well represented in the women’s ice hockey final, as the United States challenged Canada in the gold-medal game. The Canadians came out on top, 3-2, in an overtime contest for the gold behind the play of former Ohio State forward Natalie Spooner and former Wisconsin defenseman Meaghan Mikkelson. Fellow Badgers Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight and Jessie Vetter and former Gophers Megan Bozek, Gigi Marvin and Anne Schleper took home the silver skating for the United States. Current student-athletes Amanda Kessel and Lee Stecklein and assistant coach Robb Stauber, all from Minnesota, also earned silver as members of Team USA.

On the men’s side, two Big Ten representatives took part in the final, with Canada defeating Sweden, 3-0. Former Michigan State student-athlete Duncan Keith helped Team Canada to the gold medal, while former Michigan standout Carl Hagelin took home the silver skating for Sweden.

In ice dancing, Meryl Davis and Charlie White added four medals to the Wolverines’ lot. The pair became the first American ice dancing duo to capture Olympic gold. They also helped Team USA to a bronze medal in the inaugural team figure skating competition.

Former Illinois track & field athlete Aja Evans and Nebraska football player Curtis Tomasevicz each earned bronze medals in bobsled. Evans placed third in the USA-2 sled, helping Team USA to two medals in women’s bobsledding for the first time. Tomasevicz was part of the USA-1 team that snagged the bronze medal in four-man bobsled with a time of 3:40.99, beating Russia-2 by 0.03 seconds.

Big Ten student-athletes and coaches have been a part of the Olympic experience on more than 1,370 occasions, including many taking multiple trips to the international event. That list of conference standouts has accumulated at least 480 medals, including 248 gold.

Spring Turkey Hunting Workshops Scheduled

Posted on February 25, 2014

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host five spring turkey hunting workshops across the state to help prepare hunters for the upcoming seasons.

The workshops are March 13 in North Platte, March 15 at Ponca and Platte River state parks, March 20 in Chadron and April 8 in Lincoln.

The free workshops are open to all turkey hunters, regardless of experience and will feature Game and Parks specialists covering strategies, equipment, biology and tips to becoming a successful turkey hunter.

Registration at HuntSafeNebraska.org is required. A park entry permit is required at the Ponca SP and Platte River SP workshops.