Sports – Page 620 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers Storm Past Michigan, 84-51

Posted on January 30, 2014January 30, 2014

Lincoln – All-American Jordan Hooper erupted for 25 points and 10 rebounds to join an elite trio of Nebraska legends with 2,000 points and 1,000 boards, as the Huskers rolled to an 84-51 win over Michigan Wednesday.

On a night when Nebraska honored 2010 All-American Kelsey Griffin with her jersey retirement, Hooper joined Griffin and Karen Jennings as the only Huskers in history with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Hooper notched her ninth double-double of the season, grabbing her 10th rebound with just over four minutes left in the game to reach 1,000 for her career.

She exited the game soon after, finishing the night with 2,053 points, passing Griffin on NU’s all-time scoring list with her second three-pointer in the first half. Hooper moved into No. 3 on the Husker career scoring list and is tied with the 1993 Wade Trophy winner Jennings at No. 3 on the career rebounding chart. Hooper also became just the fifth Big Ten player in history to achieve the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound combined milestones.

As momentous as the historic night by Griffin and Hooper was, it was secondary to the performance of the Big Red. Nebraska improved to 14-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten by putting together its best overall effort of the season. Michigan slipped to 14-7 overall and 5-3 in the conference with their first true road loss of the season.

“That was really fun,” Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. “We played really well at both ends. I thought we attacked really well and passed the ball extremely well. I’m not sure how much better we can play, but we’re going to try.”

Hooper hit 9-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-of-6 three-pointers. Tear’a Laudermill matched her career high with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, including three straight threes to open the second half to put Michigan away, after Nebraska led 44-26 at the half.

Sophomore point guard Rachel Theriot produced her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 11 assists. Junior forward Emily Cady had her streak of five straight double-doubles snapped with 12 points and seven rebounds, but added six assists while going 5-of-10 from the field.

Junior Hailie Sample completed a strong defensive performance with eight points on 4-of-4 shooting, while pulling down six boards and dishing out two assists. As a team, Nebraska shot a sizzling 53.3 percent from the field, including 11-of-29 from three-point range. NU was also 9-of-10 from the free throw line. NU’s starters went 30-of-47 from the floor.

Nebraska’s offensive success started with its attack mentality and precision passing. The Big Red dished out a season-high 27 assists while committing just seven turnovers – NU’s second-best turnover mark of the year. The Huskers had 27 assists on 32 made baskets.

Nebraska’s 84 points were the second-most allowed by Michigan, trailing only the 86 scored by No. 2 Notre Dame on Dec. 14. The Wolverines had been allowing just 57.7 points per game in Big Ten play.

On the flip side, Nebraska held Michigan to just 36.4 percent (20-55) from the field, including 5-of-12 from three-point range. The Wolverines were 6-of-9 at the line. Nebraska dominated the boards, 38-28, against a Michigan team that entered the game with better than a plus-nine rebound margin per game on the season. The Wolverines also managed just seven assists, while committing 11 turnovers.

Nicole Elmblad led Michigan with 16 points, while Siera Thompson and Shannon Smith each managed 10 points.

Michigan led 6-5 early, but a Theriot three gave Nebraska the lead for good with 16:21 to play in the first half. The Wolverines trailed 10-8 with 13:45 left after a jumper by Elmblad, but Theriot hit another three to spark a 9-0 Husker run that included a jumper by Hooper to give NU its first double-digit lead at 19-8.

Hooper finished with 15 in the first half, while Theriot had all 10 of her points before the break to stake NU to a 44-26 halftime edge.

Laudermill opened the second half by giving NU its first 20-point edge with her first three of the game just 31 seconds after halftime. The lead hovered between 20 and 26 the rest of the game, until a Laudermill layup pushed it to 77-49 with 4:12 left. A pair of Brandi Jeffery free throws pushed it to 30 for the first time at 79-49 with 3:27 remaining and grew as large as 35 on the first Big Ten points of Hannah Tvrdy’s career on a layup with 28 seconds left made it 84-49.

Nebraska returns to Big Ten road action on Saturday at Iowa. Tip-off with a hot Hawkeyes squad is set for 2 p.m. with live radio coverage on the Husker Sports Network and free live audio on Huskers.com. Iowa improved to 17-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Ten with a win at Minnesota on Wednesday. The Hawkeyes have won three straight games and five of their last six in the Big Ten.

Huskers Battle Fighting Illini on Saturday

Posted on January 30, 2014January 30, 2014

No. 8 Nebraska (10-1, 4-1 Big Ten) looks to continue its momentum from last weekend’s wins when the Huskers battle 17th-ranked Illinoison Saturday afternoon at Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill.

The dual between the Huskers and Fighting Illini is set for a 4 p.m. CT broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The commentary will be provided by Tim Johnson (play-by-play), Jim Gibbons (color analyst) and Shane Sparks (sideline reporter). The matchup can also be tracked on Twitter by following @HuskerWrestling, and scoring will be available on TrackWrestling.com.

The all-time series between the schools is tied at 3-3-0, with Nebraska posting the most recent victory in a thrilling 18-15 triumph over the Illini at the NU Coliseum last season. All five of Nebraska’s ranked wrestlers won their matches to spark the upset of then-No. 5 Illinois in front of 1,365 fans.

This season, Nebraska enters the matchup after knocking off a pair of ranked Big Ten foes on the road last weekend. On Friday, Jan. 24, the Huskers took down then-No. 11 Ohio State, 28-12, in Columbus, Ohio. Two days later, Nebraska cruised past then-No. 21 Purdue by a 28-9 margin in West Lafayette, Ind.

Tim Lambert (125), Shawn Nagel (133) and TJ Dudley (184) each earned pins over the weekend and are each projected to start on Saturday afternoon against Illinois. Lambert, the No. 9 wrestler by InterMat, will face defending national champion Jesse Delgado in Champaign.

Nagel, a senior, will also take on a ranked grappler as he takes the mat against No. 11 Zane Richards. No. 9 Dudley is set to face redshirt freshman Nikko Reyes.

Top-ranked 157-pounder James Green enters the weekend with a perfect 24-0 mark as he faces No. 13 Jackson Morse on Saturdayafternoon. Green leads a trio of Husker juniors in the top five who will compete this weekend.

No. 4 Robert Kokesh (174) wrestles Tony Dallago, while No. 5 Jake Sueflohn (149) grapples against Caleb Ervin. At 197 pounds, Nebraska could start either Caleb Kolb or Spencer Johnson. Additional Huskers scheduled to wrestle on Saturday include Colton McCrystal (141), Austin Wilson (165) and Collin Jensen (HWT).

Utah Ape Hopes to Pick Super Bowl Winner Again

Posted on January 30, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — If you’re still waiting to make a prediction on Sunday’s Super Bowl, you may want to hold off until Thursday when a Utah ape who has correctly picked the winner six straight years makes his selection.

The ape, named Eli, will choose between papier mache helmets of the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks Thursday morning at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. Zookeepers let the full grown orangutan loose in the room with the helmets and the one he touches first is his pick.

Erica Hansen of Hogle Zoo says Eli sometimes waits and thinks it over. Last year, though, he charged right out and knocked over a papier mache goal post decorated with the Ravens logo.

Hansen says interest and excitement about Eli’s Super Bowl pick has increased as his streak grows.

Bobcats Beat Nuggets Behind Jefferson’s 35 Points

Posted on January 30, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Al Jefferson matched a season high with 35 points, including a key basket in the final seconds, and the Charlotte Bobcats hung on to beat the Denver Nuggets 101-98 on Wednesday night.

Jefferson, who has scored 20 points or more in 10 straight games, also had 11 rebounds for his 14th double-double in his last 22 games.

Gerald Henderson and Ramon Sessions each added 16 points for the Bobcats who beat the Nuggets in Denver for only the second time in eight games here.

Randy Foye scored 33 points to lead Denver, which was without leading scorer Ty Lawson (left shoulder). His replacement, Nate Robinson, was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a left knee sprain.

2014 Nebraska Coaches Association Softball & Volleyball All-Star Rosters Announced (Updated)

Posted on January 30, 2014January 30, 2014

The Nebraska Coaches Association (NCA) is pleased to announce the athletes and coaches for the 2014 NCA Softball and Volleyball All-Star games. The coaches are NCA members selected by their coaching peers. The athletes, graduating seniors, are selected by a committee of NCA member coaches. Athletes will be placed on specific teams in June.

The 31^st Annual NCA All-Star Volleyball match will be played at Lincoln North Star High School on Tuesday, July 22.

The 10^th Annual NCA All-Star Softball Doubleheader will be played at the University of Nebraska’s Bowlin Stadium onWednesday, July 23.

2014 NCA Volleyball All-Stars

COACHES

RED TEAM
Head Coach	Gary Bender, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
Assistant Coach	Kurt Polt, Giltner

BLUE TEAM
Head Coach	Matt Koehn-Fairbanks, St. Paul
Assistant Coach	Terri Neujahr, Waverly

PLAYERS

Alexis Anderson	Millard West	MH
Alex Banker	Omaha Skutt Catholic	S/RS
Carlie Bauer	Minden	OH
Olivia Boender	Waverly	OH
Payton Chohon	Columbus Scotus	MH
Maci Coffey	Blue Hill	RS
Shayla Conner	Kearney Catholic	S
Ellie Geyer	Humphrey/LHF	S
Aspen Green	Lincoln North Star	OH
Emily Gregan	Elkhorn South	RS
Erin Gross	Tekamah-Herman	MH
KaseyHohlen	Norris	MH
Mercedes Lassen Brittany Lawrence Liz Loseke	St. Paul North Platte St. Patrick’s Columbus Lakeview	Lib MH OH
Allison Mason	Bertrand	Lib
Kenzie May	Southwest	OH
Natalie Mickelson	Gretna	Lib
Dani Most	Giltner	OH
Morgan Nikkila	Hastings St. Cecilia	OH
Sydney O’Shaughnessy	Omaha Marian	S
Katie Placke	Northwest	RS
Erin Sorahan	Northwest	OH
Taylor Thiele	Aurora	OH
Sydney Townsend	Lincoln Pius X	Lib
Toni Tupper	Lincoln Northeast	OH/RS
Marysa Wilkinson	Lincoln Southwest	MH
Tara Ziegelbein	Lincoln Lutheran	MH

2014 NCA Softball All Stars

COACHES

RED TEAM
Head Coach	Dave Prokesh, Northwest
Assistant Coach	Danyel Seevers, York

BLUE TEAM
Head Coach	Keith Engelkamp, Omaha Skutt Catholic
Assistant Coach	Chuck Hughes, Norfolk
PLAYERS

Faith Cain	Millard West	1B
Karlye Cygan	Lincoln Southwest	OF/P
Maddy Ethen	Elkhorn South	OF
Emily Franzen	Gothenburg	1B
Brittany Gill	Lincoln Southwest	OF
Kasey Heath	Seward	C/3B
Jaylee Hinrichs	Lincoln Southeast	P
Kaylan Jablonski	Skutt Catholic	P/1B
Bailee Jensen	Papillion-La Vista South	C/IF
Taylor Kadavy	York	P
Jessica Kleine	Grand Island	1B/P
Emma Kwapnioski	Norfolk	3B
Nicki Larsen	Waverly	P
Megan May	Lincoln Southeast	C
Gina Metzler	Papillion-La Vista	OF
Paige Nekola	Papillion-La Vista South	CF
Libby Norvell	Grand Island	C
Taylor Otte	Wahoo	SS/2B/OF
Kira Ramirez	Milford	1B
Kylie Rome	Blair	3B
Shelby Schacher	Northwest	C
Kylie Schwarting	Papillion-La Vista	OF/3B/SS
Albany Starman	Beatrice	OF
Madison Unzicker	Millard South	C
Christy Warnock	Millard North	OF
Lauren Wegner	Omaha Central	SS
Katelyn Wobken	Logan View/Scribner-Snyder	C/U
Michaela Woodward	Norris	P/1B
Jalyn Zeiss	Wayne	SS
Corrin Ziepke	Elkhorn South	3B/OF

Colorado Governor Renames Peaks for Broncos

Posted on January 29, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is taking Super Bowl hoopla to new heights.

He announced Wednesday that he’s temporarily re-naming Colorado’s highest mountains for each member of the Denver Broncos. The state is home to more than 50 mountains over 14,000 feet, called “14-ers” by locals.

Hickenlooper renamed the tallest mountain, Mt. Elbert, for Peyton Manning, while Zane Beadles and other members of the offensive line are getting the Collegiate Peaks range. Capitol Peak, considered to be the most difficult to climb, was temporarily renamed for Champ Bailey. Longs Peak went to long kicker Matt Prater.

In his proclamation, the brewpub pioneer also takes a dig at Seattle, noting that it makes some “OK beer.”

Huskers Host Hoosiers Thursday Night

Posted on January 29, 2014

The Nebraska basketball team looks for its third win in the last four games on Thursday night, as the Huskers welcome Indiana to Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. and the game will be carried nationally on BTN (Ch. 610 on DirecTV, Chs. 439 and 9500 on Dish; Chs. 2, 1333 on Time Warner Cable) with Dave Revsine and Jim Jackson on the call. The game will also be available online and on mobile devices on BTN2Go.

A limited number of returned tickets are available for Thursday’s game starting at $10. They can be purchased by calling 1-800-8-BIGRED or (402) 472-3111 or at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Ticket Office beginning 90 minutes prior to tipoff, if available.

The Huskers (10-9, 2-5 B1G) come off one of their finest offensive efforts of the season, knocking off Minnesota, 82-78 on Sunday. The Huskers shot 50 percent from the field, including 11-of-22 from 3-point range, and used a career night from sophomore Terran Petteway to subdue the Gophers. Petteway hit 10-of-15 shots from the field, including four 3-pointers, while also going 11-of-14 from the foul line. His 35-point night was the highest in conference action, while the Huskers’ 82 points were the most in a conference game since 2011.

Petteway has been one of the best newcomers in the Big Ten, as the 6-foot-6 guard/forward is third in the conference in scoring at 18.2 points per game and has reached double figures in each of the last 15 games. In Big Ten games, he has been even better, ranking second in scoring (19.2 ppg), eighth in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and 10th in field goal percentage (.495).

The Huskers have been tough in their new home, going 9-1 in the first season at Pinnacle Bank Arena with the only loss coming in a 71-70 setback to Michigan on Jan. 9.

Indiana (13-7, 3-4 Big Ten) comes to Lincoln after turning in one of its best defensive performances of the year, holding Illinois to 46 points in a 56-46 victory. The Hoosiers, who snapped a two-game losing streak, held Illinois to 33 percent shooting and out-rebounded the Illini, 42-28. Sophomore Yogi Ferrell led IU with 17 points and five assists, and ranks among the Big Ten leaders in both scoring (17.5 ppg) and assists (4.0 apg).

By the Numbers
.818 – Nebraska’s winning percentage in games decided by five points or less under Tim Miles. The Huskers are 9-2 in such games over the last two seasons.

4 – Nebraska’s last five games have all been decided by six points or less.

8.5 – Rebounds per game for Shavon Shields over Nebraska’s last four games. He has at least six rebounds in each of those games, including a season-best 10 at Penn State on Jan. 23.

35 – Points by Terran Petteway against Minnesota, the second-highest scoring effort in the Big Ten this season. Petteway is also the only Big Ten player with multiple 30-point games this season.

1944 – The last time Nebraska and Indiana met when neither team was ranked (prior to the AP poll starting).

No. 20 Creighton Beats St. John’s 63-60

Posted on January 29, 2014January 29, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — St. John’s dared Doug McDermott to beat the Red Storm. He did.

McDermott hit a falling-away, 25-footer with 2.5 seconds left to finish his season-high 39-point night, and No. 20 Creighton won 63-60 after squandering all of an 18-point lead Tuesday.

It was the second time this season McDermott won a game in the last seconds. He did it against Saint Joseph’s in November.

“At home this is the best feeling I’ve ever had,” McDermott said. “That Saint Joe’s one was pretty good, too. This tops it.”

The two-time returning All-America carried his team to its 13th win in 14 games, keeping the Bluejays (18-3, 8-1) in first place in the Big East. St. John’s (12-9, 2-6), playing in Omaha for the first time since 1966, had its three-game winning streak end.

McDermott bounced back from a tough shooting game in a win over Georgetown on Saturday to turn in one of his greatest all-around performances.

The Red Storm had just tied the game on Rysheed Jordan’s two free throws before McDermott took a pass from Jahenns Manigat on the left wing. Isaiah Zierden set a screen for McDermott, and he got off his fade-away 3-pointer just as shot-blocking specialist Chris Obekpa broke through to wave a hand in his face.

“Big-time shot by a big-time player,” St. John’s coach Steve Lavin said.

The Red Storm had a last chance to tie, but Phil Greene IV’s shot at the buzzer didn’t even touch the net.

It was a fitting end for McDermott, whose monster game offset an otherwise poor offensive showing by the Bluejays.

St. John’s defensive strategy was to take away all the complementary pieces of Creighton’s offense.

“We have the best player in America as a great counter for that,” Manigat said.

In particular, the Red Storm took away Ethan Wragge, who tied a school record with nine 3-pointers in a 28-point win over Villanova last week.

“Last week was Ethan Wragge Week across the country,” Creighton coach Greg McDermott said, “so I would certainly think about doing the same thing, especially if you have the length and athletic ability that coach Lavin has. Doug hit some tough shots. As a defense, that’s what you’re after.”

McDermott was making a lot of those tough shots and had his seventh 30-point game of the season. He finished 15 of 26 from the field, including 5 of 9 on 3s. He had six rebounds, including a couple of big ones late.

The rest of the Bluejays shot 8 of 21 from the field, and the team committed 17 turnovers that St. John’s converted into 21 points. The Red Storm outscored Creighton 18-0 on fast breaks.

“If you had told me we would be outscored 21-4 on points off turnovers and 18-0 on fast breaks,” Greg McDermott said, “I wouldn’t have thought we would have been sitting here talking about a victory.”

D’Angelo Harrison scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half to lead St. John’s. Obekpa and Jordan had 11 apiece and JaKarr Sampson added 10.

Creighton led by 18 points with 12 minutes to play, but the Red Storm came back with runs of 11-2 and 12-2. Sampson tied it 58-all, but McDermott answered with a left-handed floater.

Austin Chatman fouled Jordan with 11.1 seconds left, and the freshman made both free throws to set up McDermott’s dramatic shot.

“I’m proud of the fight and resiliency we showed coming back from 18 down,” Lavin said. “That was impressive, but not enough to get over the hump. That’s because we buried ourselves earlier in the game.”

McDermott scored every way imaginable, from in close to well beyond the 3-point line.

He flashed a baby hook along the baseline and even led a fast break, only to have the ball stripped as he went down hard, drawing a round of boos at CenturyLink Center. He grimaced as he got up but stayed in the game.

Wragge had difficulty getting open all night. Orlando Sanchez, Sampson and others took turns denying him the ball, and the Red Storm did a good job switching defenders when the Bluejays tried to set up a screen.

Wragge’s first 3-pointer came just over 5 minutes into the second half, and that was after he broke free from Sampson, who had grabbed a handful of his jersey.

“There aren’t a bunch of nights like this, not where I shoot 26 shots,” Doug McDermott said. “They took a lot of our shooters and made it hard to get them openings. My teammates told me to keep shooting. Who knows? Next game I could shoot 10 times.”

Manning’s ‘Omaha!’ Shouts Worth Multimillions in Free Publicity to City, Expert Says

Posted on January 29, 2014January 29, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Unless Peyton Manning changes his habits, the Super Bowl-watching world will get to hear “Omaha!” again and again this Sunday.

The Denver Broncos quarterback’s word choice at the line of scrimmage has cast a bright light on the Midwestern city over the past few weeks. Omaha has been mentioned thousands of times on Twitter and in media stories, and visitors have included ESPN and the NFL Network.

A company that monitors the breadth and impact of print, broadcast and social media exposure for about 700 clients says the mentions have been worth $619 million in publicity value to Omaha.

Todd Murphy of Universal Information Services says the free advertising number is based on a formula that takes into account the potential number of people exposed to the message through broadcast, print and web traffic.

NPCC Lady Knights Score 99 Points in Win Over York JV

Posted on January 29, 2014January 31, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team (10-9, 1-1 Region IX Division II, 1-1 NCCAC) defeated the York College JV Lady Panthers easily Tuesday evening at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium 99-51 as all 20 players who suited up scored in the game.

The Lady Knights scored early and often Tuesday night as they opened up an early lead over the Lady Panthers and never looked back. The Lady Knights raced out to a 24-2 lead before the York JV scored their second basket of the game. The Knight then scored nine straight before a York JV free throw made it 33-5.

The Lady Knights held the Lady Panthers under 10 points until a driving lay-up with 7:02 remaining in the first half made the score 40-10. The Lady Knights took a 56-16 lead into the locker room as 11 players scored in the half.

The second half was more back and forth as the Lady Knights won the half 43-35. The Lady Knights only turned the ball over 11 times and out-rebounded the Lady Panthers 51-31. For the game, the Lady Knights shot 55 percent from the field and 43 percent from the 3-point line.

All 12 players scored for the Lady Knights who were led by DaVontaye Merritt’s 18 points on 9 of 10 shooting. Courtney Widick score 17 points while Samantha Hyatt and Alleyah Evans both scored 10. Kristian Roth had 10 rebounds for the Lady Knights.

All eight players suited up for the Lady Panthers scored. Darbi Klinkhammer led the way with 17 points while Liz Maher scored 14.

“Tonight was a good opportunity to get a lot of girls playing time,” said head coach Richard Thurin. “It was great to have everyone score and we are very excited for tomorrow’s game.”

The Lady Knights return to action tomorrow as they host the McCook Community College Lady Indians (3-18, 0-2 NCCAC) at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Knights finish out the week hosting Central Community College (16-6, 1-0 Region IX Division II, 2-0 NCCAC) on Saturday Feb. 1 at 1 p.m.

The game with Central Community College will also be the annual Girl Scout Night with Girl Scouts getting into the game. After the game, the Lady Knights will sign autographs for the Girl Scouts.

Both games will be broadcast live online with links available on the Knights website (www.npccknights.com) through the partnership with Coaches Aid and ASBN. The game with McCook Community College will also be broadcast live on ESPN 1410 radio and online.