Sports – Page 599 – North Platte Post Archive

2014 Winter Olympic Medals Table

Posted on February 23, 2014

By The Associated Press
At Sochi, Russia
Final (98 events)
Nation	G	S	B	Tot
Russia	13	11	9	33
United States	9	7	12	28
Norway	11	5	10	26
Canada	10	10	5	25
Netherlands	8	7	9	24
Germany	8	6	5	19
Austria	4	8	5	17
France	4	4	7	15
Sweden	2	7	6	15
Switzerland	6	3	2	11
China	3	4	2	9
South Korea	3	3	2	8
Czech Republic	2	4	2	8
Slovenia	2	2	4	8
Japan	1	4	3	8
Italy	0	2	6	8
Belarus	5	0	1	6
Poland	4	1	1	6
Finland	1	3	1	5
Britain	1	1	2	4
Latvia	0	2	2	4
Australia	0	2	1	3
Ukraine	1	0	1	2
Slovakia	1	0	0	1
Croatia	0	1	0	1
Kazakhstan	0	0	1	1

5 Things to Know About the Sochi Olympics

Posted on February 23, 2014

SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Fast five, Sunday edition: Five things to know about the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

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CLOSING CEREMONY: The chief creative director of the opening and closing ceremonies in Sochi poked fun at the festivities ahead of the curtain-setting bash, wearing a white T-shirt with a depiction of the opener’s four Olympic ring flub. Asked whether organizers would feature the rings glitch at the closing ceremony Sunday night, Konstantin Ernst said: “I’m not going to tell you!”

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RUSSIAN VICTORY: The host nation is finishing strong at the Sochi Games. The Russians swept the podium in the men’s 50-kilometer cross-country race and also won gold in the four-man bobsled on the final day of the games. The performances helped the Russians finish with the most gold medals (13) and most total medals (33) of any nation four years after the country’s worst Winter Games performance ever.

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BACH’S IMPRESSION: IOC President Thomas Bach says the Sochi Olympics have showcased the “amazing” transformation of the city from a fading resort to a modern Winter Games wonderland. Bach says Sochi has staged excellent games that prove it was a sound decision to award Russia the games seven years ago. He says Sochi used to be an “old, Stalinist-style sanatorium city where you entered the room and you were looking at the roof so you would not be hit by something falling down. It was terrible.”

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GOLD MEDAL HOCKEY: The final medals of the Sochi Games were awarded at a men’s hockey final between Canada and Sweden, with Canada winning gold after beating Sweden 3-0. Sweden took home silver. The game lacked the excited atmosphere of games played by Russia, the hockey-loving host nation.

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DUERR DOPING CASE: Austrian cross-country skier Johannes Duerr was kicked out of the games after testing positive for the blood booster EPO. It is the fifth doping case — and most serious so far — at the Olympics. Austrian Olympic Committee President Karl Stoss called it a “black day” for the country’s sports program. Duerr finished eighth in the men’s skiathlon Feb. 9 and was tested seven days later in Austria, where he had flown back for training.

Farewell, Sochi! Russia Closes Costliest Olympics

Posted on February 23, 2014

SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Flushed with pride after a spectacular showing at the costliest Olympics ever, Russia is preparing to celebrate 17 days of sport-driven global unity with a farewell show that hands off the Winter Games to their next host: Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The closing ceremony starts at 20:14 local time precisely (11:14 a.m. ET). The time is a nod to the year that President Vladimir Putin seized upon to remake Russia’s image with the Olympics’ power to wow and concentrate global attention and massive resources.

IOC President Thomas Bach is expected to use the closing ceremony to deliver an upbeat verdict on the games, his first as International Olympic Committee president.

One of Sochi’s big successes was security. Feared attacks by Islamic militants who had threatened to target the games didn’t materialize.

Stars Outlast Storm In Front Of Sold Out Crowd

Posted on February 22, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm (18-27-2) battled hard but ultimately fell short, losing 5-4 to the Lincoln Stars (16-22-7) in front of a sold out crowd of 4,025 on ‘Pack It In Purple’ night at the Viaero Event Center on Saturday.

Storm forward Chase Berger had two power play goals and an assist in the loss, while Chris Wilkie had a goal and an assist and Conner Valesano scored his first goal in a Tri-City uniform.

The opening period saw the two teams combine for a total of six goals. The Stars opened the scoring when Dominick Sacco beat Storm goaltender Hayden Lavigne 5:39 into the game.

Tri-City responded with a power play tally from Berger, who deflected a Jalen Schulz shot past Lincoln netminder Michael Bitzer. Defenseman Kevin Kerr picked up the second assist on the play.

Sacco put Lincoln back in the lead with his second tally of the game at 15:34 of the first, but Wilkie tied the contest at 2-2 with a deflection under Bitzer less than three minutes later.

In the final minute and a half of the first, the Stars got goals from Brandon Smith and Max Humitz to take a 4-2 lead into the intermission.

Storm head coach Jim Hulton pulled Lavigne from the game to start the second, replacing him with Jacob Johansson.

The Storm had total control of the middle frame, outshooting Lincoln 12-1, but only got one goal to show for their efforts. Berger’s second power play tally of the night got Tri-City within one at 4-3.

Both teams scored within a minute of each other in the beginning of the third, which left the Storm down a goal. Lincoln got the game winner from forward Thomas Carey at 2:05 of the final period. Valesano responded at 2:48 with his ninth tally of the season. Assists on the Storm’s fourth of the night went to Garrett Gamez and Fredric Larsson.

Lincoln was able to hold on to their one-goal lead and earned a split in the weekend home-and-home series with a 5-4 win.

Johansson finished the night with 16 saves during the final 40 minutes after Lavigne made nine stops during the first period.

The two teams will meet again on Friday night in Lincoln at the Ice Box for a 7:05 p.m. start.

Tri-City is back at home on Saturday night to face the Fargo Force, also at 7:05. The Storm will finish the weekend on Sunday afternoon in another tilt with Fargo which gets underway at 3:05.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Joey DiBenedetto and Nolan Aibel, along with defensemen Cutler Martin, Sean Lang and Tory Dello…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period

Lincoln – Dominick Sacco (Connor Frantti, Tristan Rostagno) 5:39

Tri-City – Chase Berger (power play) (Jalen Schulz, Kevin Kerr) 11:04

Lincoln – Dominick Sacco (Thomas Carey) 15:34

Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (Chase Berger, Patrick Curry) 18:02

Lincoln – Brandon Smith (power play) (unassisted) 18:33

Lincoln – Max Humitz (Dominick Sacco) 19:40

2nd Period

Tri-City – Chase Berger (power play) (Jalen Schulz, Chris Wilkie) 17:36

3rd Period
Lincoln – Thomas Carey (Brandon Smith) 2:05
Tri-City – Conner Valesano (Garrett Gamez, Fredric Larsson) 2:48

PENALTIES

1st Period
Lincoln – Tristan Rostagno (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 6:00
Lincoln – Tristan Rostagno (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 6:00
Lincoln – Keegan Ward – (Interference), 2 min, 9:41
Tri-City – Drew Mayer – (Slashing), 2 min, 18:35

2nd Period

Lincoln – Luke Shiplo – (Holding), 2 min, 2:34

Lincoln – John Simonson – (Tripping), 2 min, 17:10

3rd Period

Tri-City – Ryan McMurphy – (Tripping), 2 min, 5:16
Tri-City – Austin Poganski – (Checking From Behind), 2 min, 12:04
Tri-City – Austin Poganski – (Checking From Behind) (Misconduct), 10 min, 12:04

Power Play

Lincoln – 1/3
Tri-City – 2/4

Shots

Lincoln: 13, 1, 16 = Total: 30
Tri-City: 13, 12, 12 = Total: 37

Saves

Lincoln – Hayden Lavigne – 9/13, Jacob Johansson – 16/17
Tri-City – Michael Bitzer – 33/37

Rockies’ Gonzalez Staying in Left Field

Posted on February 22, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss says slugger Carlos Gonzalez will remain in left field rather than move over to center to replace Dexter Fowler.

Moving CarGo to center had been a strong possibility ever since the Rockies traded Fowler to Houston over the winter. Weiss revealed the decision Saturday.

But the Rockies later acquired Drew Stubbs from Cleveland, and Stubbs can platoon in center with Corey Dickerson or Charlie Blackmon, who can back up all three outfield spots.

Gonzalez said he’d be fine with a move to center field so long as he didn’t bounce back and forth as he had earlier in his career. He said that affected him both physically and mentally.

Gonzalez is a three-time Gold Glove winner.

No. 18 NPCC Knights Sophomores End Career Undefeated at Home, Win NCCAC

Posted on February 22, 2014

North Platte – The No. 18 North Platte Community College men’s basketball team (25-4, 12-4 South Sub-Region, 5-1 NCCAC) defeated the Southeast Community College Storm (19-11, 0-6 NCCAC) by a score of 106-63 to earn the team’s second straight undefeated season at home. The Knights’ sophomores are the first class to ever not lose a home game during their career. The victory also sews up the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference (NCCAC) championship for the Knights.

“This is a special group of sophomores,” said head coach Kevin O’Connor. “We tell our kids to do things the right way and the wins and losses will take care of themselves and this group definitely did that.”

The Knights won the NCCAC with a 5-1 record. McCook Community College finished in second place with a 4-2 record with Central Community College in third place with a 3-3 record and Southeast is fourth with a 0-6 record.

The Knights got off to fast start in the first half and never looked back en route to the 43 point victory. The Knights used a 25-3 run to turn a 17-12 lead into a 56-17 lead with two minutes to play in the first half. Cameron Williams scored 26 first half points on six of seven shooting from behind the 3-point line. Ethan Montalvo was also in double-figures with 10 points.

In the second half, it was more of the same as the Knights continued to fire on all cylinders and extended their lead. The Knights broke the century mark on a steal and lay-up from sophomore Marcus Linson.

Williams finished with a career-high 33 points and also had 3 assists. Montalvo finished with 19 points and Aireon Porter was also in double-figures with 10 points. Linson finished with a career-high seven points.

John Swift and Logan Dorn each scored 13 points to lead the Storm.

The Knights will return to action on March 1 when they compete in the Region IX Tournament. The bracket for the tournament will be released early next week.

NPCC Lady Knights Win School’s First NCCAC Title

Posted on February 22, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team (15-12, 3-1 Region IX Division II, 4-2 NCCAC) defeated the Southeast Community College Lady Storm (17-13, 1-3 Region IX Division II, 3-3 NCCAC) to win the Region IX Division II regular season and claim the #1 seed by winning 59-35.

The victory gives the Lady Knights a 3-1 record in Region IX Division II and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming tournament. The Lady Knights will host the winner of No. 3 seed Southeast Community College (1-3) and No. 2 seed Central Community College (2-2). Southeast and Central will play in Columbus on Feb. 27. The winner will then travel to North Platte on March 3 to play for the Region IX Division II Championship.

North Platte Community College wins the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference with the victory today with a 4-2 record. Southeast Community College and Central Community College tie for second with 3-3 records. McCook Community College finishes at 2-4 in the NCCAC. The conference championship is the first in school history for the Lady Knights basketball team.

The game started off with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm as four and a half minutes into the game the Lady Storm led 2-5. A 3-point shot by Courtney Widick started a 17-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 20-5 lead. The Lady Knights would continue their strong play as they held the Lady Storm to only five more points in the first half to take a 32-10 lead into the locker room behind 17 points from Courtney Widick.

In the second half the two teams played back and forth with the Lady Storm never able to get any closer to threaten the Lady Knights.

Widick led the way for North Platte as she finished with 18 points. DaVontaye Merritt had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, as did April Stull who finished with 11 point and 12 rebounds.

Meshia Smith and Cymela Hunter led the Lady Storm with seven points each.

Managers Get to Try Out Replay in Spring

Posted on February 22, 2014

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Major league teams will each have at least five games this spring where managers can challenge plays as part of the major expansion of instant replay which begins this season.

Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez is looking forward to getting acquainted with it and says he’ll “challenge everything, just to get a feel for it” in those five games.

Gonzalez, Houston manager Bo Porter and officials from the Tigers and Nationals met with MLB executives Joe Torre and Tony La Russa for almost three hours Friday afternoon to go over the replay rules.

The new rules allow each manager to challenge one call a game. If he wins the first one, he’ll earn another challenge. The crew chief can request a review after the seventh inning if the manager has used his challenges.

Cleaning up Language Could be Part of NFL Changes

Posted on February 22, 2014February 26, 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL competition committee may attempt to clean up the language on the field next season.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, one of the committee members, told reporters Saturday the league is looking at ways to reduce the use of racial and gender-related slurs sometimes used during games. Newsome is in Indianapolis for the NFL’s scouting combine.

No votes will be held on any potential rules changes until next month’s owners meetings in Orlando, Fla.

Newsome noted the concerns of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a group of minority coaches and front-office, scouting and game-day NFL officials. He also said game officials told the committee what they sometimes hear on the field and that microphones around the field often capture what is being said.

Area High School Basketball Roundup February 17-22

Posted on February 21, 2014February 21, 2014

Area high school basketball scores for the week of February 17-22.

Friday, February 21

Boys Basketball

North Platte 44 Millard West 38

No. 4 (D1) St. Patrick’s 59 Hayes Center 29

Loomis 50 Maxwell 43

Chase County 51 Sutherland 33

Sandhills/Thedford 67 Brady 51

Wallace 66 Creek Valley 48

Gothenburg 53 Ogallala 37
Tanner Borchardt was dominant with 27 points and 11 rebounds in the win over the Indians. Dawson Graham was also in double-figures for the Swedes with 11 points.

Girls Basketball

No. 4 (A) Millard West 65 North Platte 46

Thursday, February 20

Girls Basketball

D1-11 Subdistrict

No. 2 Sutherland 43 No. 1 St. Patrick’s 28

The Lady Sailors handed St. Pat’s a rare loss this season and advanced to the D1-6 District Finals against Hemingford. The Lady Irish will depend on a wild-card berth to make the state tournament.

C1-11 Subdistrict

No. 1 Hershey 41 No. 3 Gothenburg 30

The Lady Panthers advance to the C1-6 District Finals with a win over the Lady Swedes, whose season came to an end. Hershey will play Chadron for the right to go to the state tournament. Regan Geiken led all scorers with 15 points for Gothenburg. Aryn Meisinger was also in double-figures with 10 points for the Lady Swedes. Maddie Seamann led Hershey with 13 points.

Tuesday, February 18

Girls Basketball

D1-11 Subdistrict

No. 1 St. Patrick’s 59 No. 4 Maxwell 44
The Lady Irish advance to the D1-11 Subdistrict finals with a 15-point win over the Lady Wildcats, whose season came to an end in Gothenburg. St. Pat’s will play second-seeded Sutherland on Thursday in Gothenburg at 7:00 pm.

No. 2 Sutherland 57 No. 3 Brady 50
The Lady Sailors advance to the D1-11 Subdistrict final to face St. Pat’s after ending Brady’s season. The Lady Eagles 19-win season came to an end in Gothenburg.

C1-11 Subdistrict

No. 1 Hershey 58 No. 5 Cozad 36
The Lady Panthers advance to the C1-11 Subdistrict finals with a dominant win over Cozad in Sutherland. Hershey advances to play Gothenburg in Sutherland on Thursday at 7:30.

No. 3 Gothenburg 39 No. 2 Ogallala 19
The Lady Swedes upset Ogallala with a dominant 20-point win. Mady Vogel led the way with 13 points and six rebounds to lead Gothenburg to the C1-11 Subdistrict finals against Hershey on Thursday at 7:30 in Sutherland.

D2-9 Subdistrict

No. 2 Hayes Center 50 No. 3 Wallace 35
The Lady Wildcats season came to an end at the hands of Hayes Center in the D2-9 Subdistrict semifinals.

Monday, February 17

Girls Basketball

Maxwell 48 Medicine Valley 21
The fourth-seeded Lady Wildcats advanced in the D1-11 Subdistrict tournament with a dominant win over Medicine Valley. Maxwell advances to play top-seed St. Patrick’s on Tuesday at 5:45 pm in Gothenburg.