Sports – Page 670 – North Platte Post Archive

No. 16 NPCC Lady Knights Host Hampton Inn Classic to Open Season

Posted on October 30, 2013October 30, 2013

The No. 16 North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team open up their season at home this Friday and Saturday as they host the Hampton Inn Classic November 1 and 2.

The Lady Knights are ranked 16th in the pre-season NJCAA Division II rankings. It marks the first ranking at any time in program history.

The Lady Knights will start their season Friday night as they host Midland University JV at 7:30 p.m. As part of the Hampton Inn Classic Eastern Wyoming College and Fort Carson will precede the Lady Knights opener as they play at 5:30 p.m.

The Hampton Inn Classic continues on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. as Midland University JV faces Eastern Wyoming College. The Lady Knights face Fort Carson at 3 p.m. to conclude the Hampton Inn Classic.

The Lady Knights look to defend their Region IX Division II championship and District F Playoff victory that earned them a spot in the NJCAA Division II National Championships. The Lady Knights look to improve on their 15-16 record from a year ago.

DaVontaye Merritt returns as the Lady Knight’s second leading scorer and rebounder at 12.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The Lady Knights also return their third leading scorer Courtney Widick (9.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and assist leader and fifth leading scorer Jordan Dickerson (3.4 apg, 7.7 ppg). Samantha Hyatt (2.2 ppg) also returns for the Lady Knights. Nine new freshmen join the program for the 2013-14 season.

The Lady Knights return to action the following weekend as they travel to Norfolk for the Hawks Classic where they will face Des Moines Area Community College and Iowa Lakes Community College on November 8 and 9. The Lady Knights next home game is November 19 at 5 p.m. as they host Northeast Community College.

AP Nebraska High School Football Rankings

Posted on October 30, 2013October 30, 2013

Here are the Associated Press Nebraska high school football rankings in Classes A through D2. Listings include name of school, season record, previous week’s ranking, previous opponent and result, and next opponent. (NR_Not ranked). The rankings are based on a formula that includes ratings from the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star plus experts for each class. Class A: Dale Miller, Grand Island Independent. Class B: Jeff Fielder, Scottsbluff Star-Herald. Class C1: Tom Behmer, Norfolk Daily News. Class C2: Brent Wasinius, Fremont Tribune. Class D1: Mark Obermeier, North Platte Telegraph. Class D2: Nick Blasnitz, Hastings Tribune.

CLASS A

1. Millard West, (8-1), 1, def. Bellevue East 55-26, Kearney.

2. Omaha North (8-1), 6, Millard North 38-24, Bellevue East.

3. Omaha Westside (8-1), 4, Papillion-LaVista South 42-27, Lincoln Southwest.

4. Millard North (4-5), 3, lost to Omaha North 38-24, Lincoln East.

5. Papillion-La Vista (6-3), 8, def. Millard South 22-19, Omaha Central.

6. Omaha Burke (6-3), 10, def. Bellevue West 38-37, Lincoln Southeast.

7. Grand Island (8-1), 7, def. Lincoln High 51-21, Bellevue West.

8. Omaha Central (6-3), 9, def. Creighton Preparatory School 28-7, at Papillion-La Vista.

9. Creighton Preparatory School (6-3), 2, lost to Omaha Central 28-7, Papillion-La Vista South.

10. Bellevue West (6-3), 5, lost to Omaha Burke 38-37, at Grand Island.

Others receiving votes: Lincoln East.

CLASS B

1. Gretna (9-0), 1, def. Mount Michael Benedictine 52-12, Omaha Gross Catholic.

2. Omaha Skutt Catholic (8-1), 2, def. Omaha Gross Catholic 24-14, Norris.

3. Ralston (8-1), 3, Omaha Roncalli Catholic 70-41, Elkhorn.

4. York (8-1), 6, def. Aurora 33-14, Scottsbluff.

5. Elkhorn (6-3), 8, Elkhorn South 28-21, at Ralston.

6. McCook (8-1), 7, def. Lexington 26-13, Crete.

7. Norris (6-3), 9, def. Seward 37-15, at Omaha Skutt Catholic.

8. Aurora (7-2), 5, lost to York 33-14, Plattsmouth.

9. Omaha Gross Catholic (5-4), 4, lost to Omaha Skutt Catholic 24-14, at Gretna.

10. Beatrice (6-3), NR, def. Crete 19-14, Elkhorn South.

Others receiving votes: Elkhorn South.

CLASS C1

1. Boone Central/Newman Grove (8-0), 1, def. Grand Island Central Catholic 35-7, Valentine.

2. Cozad (8-0), 2, def. Ogallala 57-12, Minden.

3. Syracuse (8-0), 3, def. Lincoln Lutheran 53-7, Raymond Central.

4. Norfolk Catholic (6-2), 5, def. Wayne 57-6, Gibbon.

5. Pierce (6-2), 9, def. West Point-Beemer 41-14, at Ogallala.

6. Adams Central (7-1), 7, def. St. Paul 49-7, Chadron.

7. Bishop Neumann (5-3), 8, def. Boys Town 60-14, Logan View.

8. Ashland-Greenwood (7-1), NR, def. Wahoo 7-6, Boys Town.

9. Gothenburg (6-2), NR, def. Kearney Catholic 28-27 (2 OT), Chase County.

10. Columbus Lakeview (6-2), NR, def. Columbus Scotus 17-16, Columbus Scotus.

Others receiving votes: Lincoln Christian, Kearney Catholic.

CLASS C2

1. Doniphan-Trumbull (8-0), 1, def. Ravenna 38-0, Centura.

2. Battle Creek (8-0), 7, def. Lutheran High Northeast 41-3, Bayard.

3. Archbishop Bergan (7-1), 3, def. Centennial 48-7, Weeping Water.

4. Blue Hill (7-1), 6, def. Wood River 41-6, Kimball.

5. Lutheran High Northeast (7-1), 2, lost to Battle Creek 41-3, Johnson County Central.

6. Hastings St. Cecilia (6-2), 8, def. Thayer Central 40-0, Thayer Central.

7. Sutton (6-2), 9, def. Superior 50-7, Southern Valley.

8. Hershey (8-0), 10, def. North Platte St. Patrick’s 25-14, West Holt.

9. Malcolm (6-2), NR, def. Aquinas Catholic 14-12, Ponca.

10. Aquinas Catholic (6-2), 4, lost to Malcolm 14-12, Oakland-Craig.

Others receiving votes: Hartington Cedar Catholic, North Platte St. Patrick’s, Oakland-Craig, Omaha Brownell-Talbot.

CLASS D1

1. Exeter-Milligan (8-0), 1, def. Pawnee City 60-8, Hartington.

2. Howells-Dodge (8-0), 2, def. Clarkson/Leigh 42-18, Clarkson/Leigh.

3. Creighton (8-0), 3, def. Niobrara/Verdigre 84-6, Bloomfield.

4. Bruning-Davenport/Shickley (8-0), 4, def. Harvard 44-19, Neligh-Oakdale.

5. Overton (8-0), 5, def. Alma 67-7, Clearwater/Orchard.

6. High Plains Community (7-1), 6, Nebraska Christian 53-6, Emerson-Hubbard.

7. Guardian Angels Central Catholic (7-1), 7, def. Omaha Nation 76-0, at Heartland.

8. Randolph (7-1), 8, def. Pender 78-26, McCool Junction.

9. Elm Creek (7-1), 9, def. Southwest 69-36, Niobrara/Verdigre.

10. Hemingford (8-0), 10, def. Maxwell 64-30, Franklin.

Others receiving votes: Freeman.

CLASS D2

1. Falls City Sacred Heart (8-0), 1, def. Deshler 74-0, Kenesaw.

2. Wynot (8-0), 2, def. Wausa 74-58, Wausa.

3. Giltner (7-1), 3, def. Cedar Valley 80-13, Lawrence-Nelson.

4. Shelton (7-1), 6, def. Wilcox-Hildreth 66-22, Sandhills/Thedford.

5. Humphrey St. Francis (7-1), 5, def. Bancroft-Rosalie 34-14, Bancroft-Rosalie.

6. Nebraska Lutheran (8-0), 9, Parkview Christian 48-12, Osceola.

7. Fullerton (6-2), 8, def. Pleasanton 63-22, Parkview Christian.

8. Lyons-Decatur Northeast (7-1), 10, bye, at Meridian.

9. Stuart (7-1), NR, def. Osmond 42-6, Garden County.

10. Lawrence-Nelson (6-2), NR, def. Amherst 22-14, at Giltner.

Others receiving votes: Amherst, Wallace.

BTN to Offer Extensive Basketball Coverage, Including Live from Media Day

Posted on October 30, 2013

CHICAGO – With basketball season around the corner, BTN will cover the nation’s best basketball conference like no other network, with live coverage of media day, season-long pregame and postgame shows and studio and original programs, including the return of BTN’s Emmy-Nominated original series, The Journey: Big Ten Basketball 2014.

On Thursday, BTN will provide live television and streamed coverage of the Big Ten’s 2013 Basketball Media Day. For the first time, BTN and BTN2Go will provide live coverage of the men’s coaches’ press conferences, while both the men’s and women’s coaches’ press conferences will be streamed live, free of charge, on BTN.com via the Big Ten Digital Network (BTDN). Mike Hallwill be in-studio hosting the day’s coverage beginning at 9 AM ET.

BTN studio and original programs returning January 2014 include:

· Big Ten Basketball Report – Airing Thursday evenings with hosts Hall and analysts Stephen Bardo, Shon Morris and Dick Weiss, former longtime New York Daily News sports columnist and member of the College Basketball Writers’ Hall of Fame, who joins BTN analysts this season.

· Big Ten Basketball & Beyond – Airing Sunday nights with host Dave Revsine and analysts Jim Jackson and the Sporting News’Mike DeCourcy.
· #BTNLive – Airing Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and also simulcast Monday through Friday on FOX Sports Radio with hosts Revsine, Pizzo and Hall and a rotating slate of analysts.
· The Journey: Big Ten Basketball 2014 – Airing Sundays and debuting on Jan. 12, 2014

BTN will televise 67 men’s conference basketball matchups this season, including four Big Ten Tournament games and an additional number of non-conference games. BTN’s “Super Wednesday” lineup, sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings, will feature key matchups all season long. In addition, the network will have games on Tuesdays and Thursdays, presented by Quicken Loans, and frequent doubleheaders on Saturdays and Sundays. Additionally, The Big Ten Tip-Off Show airs game days on Wednesdays and Saturdays and The Big Ten Finale airs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during the season.

BTN will air 43 conference, six non-conference and 10 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament games this season. The women’s basketball season will tip off at Noon ET on Nov. 17 with defending Big Ten Champion Penn State hosting eight-time NCAA Champion Connecticut. The Big Ten Women’s Sports Report airs before games on Thursdays during conference play.

About BTN: A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, BTN is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 800 events, all in HD, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. BTN2Go is the 24/7 simulcast of BTN that delivers live and on-demand programming via the internet, smartphones and tablets to customers of participating video providers. Events include football, men’s and women’s basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events; studio shows; and classic games. The network televises and streams more Olympic sporting events and women’s sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation’s finest universities. The groundbreaking Student U initiative provides real-world experience for students interested in careers in sports television. The network is in more than 52 million homes across the United States and Canada, including carriage by all the major video distributors, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Communications, Comcast Xfinity, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, Rogers Cable, Shaw and Shaw Direct (Canada) and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America. For additional information, go to www.BTN.com.

NPCC Lady Knights Head to Region IX Division II Tournament

Posted on October 30, 2013

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team (20-13) heads to Beatrice Thursday morning to begin play in the Region IX Division II Tournament. No. 14 Central Community College Lady Raiders (25-10), the Southeast Community College Lady Storm (12-17) and the Dawson Community College Lady Buccaneers (6-25) are competing for the Region IX Division II crown.

The four teams will play a round-robin with the top two teams advancing to a Championship game. Whoever emerges from the round-robin with the #1 seed will need to be beaten twice by the #2 seed to earn the Region IX Division II Tournament Title.

On Thursday October 31 the Lady Knights will face host Southeast Community College at 7 p.m. to open the round-robin portion of the tournament. The Lady Knights have defeated the Lady Storm twice this season defeating Southeast in four sets on the road (27-29, 25-18, 25-19, 25-23) and five sets at home (24-26, 25-11, 20-25, 25-20, 15-13).

The Lady Knights return to action Friday morning as they play No. 14 Central Community College at 11 a.m. The Lady Knights have split with the Lady Raiders in their two meetings this season as they won at home in five (15-25, 28-26, 25-22, 19-25, 15-13) and lost on the road in three (16-25, 20-25, 21-25).

The Lady Knights will conclude the round-robin portion of the tournament as against Dawson Community College at 7 p.m. Friday evening. The Lady Knights have not faced the Lady Buccaneers yet this season.

North Platte’s matches on Friday can be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 with Robert Lovell on the call.

Should the Lady Knights finish in the top two teams after the round-robin they will play on Saturday October 2 at 1 p.m. for the Region IX Championship with the No. 2 seed needing to win two games to capture the title. The winner will advance to the District G Playoff to compete for a birth in the National Division II Tournament. The championship will also be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 if the Lady Knights are playing for the title.

Huskers Focus on Execution Against Northwestern

Posted on October 30, 2013

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its week of preparation for Saturday’s Big Ten conference home matchup with Northwestern on Tuesday afternoon. The team practiced in full pads for just over two hours inside the Hawks Center and outside at the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Fields.

Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck addressed the media after practice, beginning with the status of junior running back Ameer Abdullah, who did not practice on Tuesday.

“He’ll be fine,” Beck said. “He’s been playing great for us, but he’s just beat up a little bit. He’ll be ready to roll. Playing the way he is, as long as he’s getting his reps mentally, I know physically he’ll be ready.”

Abdullah is having a tremendous 2013 season, accumulating 981 yards and six touchdowns on the ground for the Huskers. The junior is averaging 7.4 yards per carry, which is almost two and a half yards more than he did in his 1,137-yard effort a season ago.

An even bigger question mark for the Huskers is the status of senior quarterback Taylor Martinez. However, according to Coach Beck, quarterbacks Tommy Armstrong and Ron Kellogg are both ready to step up if needed.

“Both Tommy (Armstrong) and Ron (Kellogg) have done a good job this week,” Beck said. “They’ve had to be here before with Taylor Martinez’s injury. They know they have to get themselves ready. Both their work habits and their study of the game are really good, and we’ll just have to see how it plays out.”

Injuries have been a problem for Nebraska this season. In addition to seeing limited playing time from Martinez, the Huskers lost senior offensive lineman Spencer Long for the season against Purdue. On Tuesday Coach Beck commented on the impact Long’s absence has had on the squad.

“It’s tough losing an All-American and three-year starter,” Beck said. “It’s tough losing that guy, not only for him, but also for (Andrew Rodriguez). It’s like losing your partner. You hate for that to happen, but sometimes it does.”

Despite the shifting and redefining of players’ roles due to injuries, Coach Beck still expects a high level of performance. Beck expressed that on Tuesday, noting the areas he thinks the Huskers will need to improve the most in order to get a victory against Northwestern on Saturday.

“We need to execute,” Beck said. “We have to throw the ball on time better, we have to protect better and we have to be more consistent in the running game.”

Nebraska will hit the practice field again on Wednesday as the team moves closer to its fourth conference game of the season. The Huskers will face the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast regionally on BTN/BTN2Go.com.

Olympic Team USA Uniforms Get Made in USA Label

Posted on October 29, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — Team USA will now wear the Made in the USA label.

Every article of clothing made by Ralph Lauren for the U.S. Olympic athletes in Sochi has been made by domestic craftsman and manufacturers.

Ralph Lauren Corp. used more than 40 vendors, from ranchers in the rural West to yarn spinners in Pennsylvania to sewers in New York’s Garment District for the closing ceremony outfits unveiled Tuesday. The ensemble includes a navy peacoat with a red stripe, a classic ski sweater with a reindeer motif and a hand-sewn American flag, and a tasseled chunky-knit hat.

During the 2012 games in London, it was a flashpoint in the media and among Washington politicians that much of the U.S. apparel was made overseas, especially China.

Loss to Gophers Exposes Problems for Pelini

Posted on October 29, 2013

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is looking for answers after his team’s confounding 34-23 loss to Minnesota.

The Cornhuskers (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten) host Northwestern (4-4, 0-4) on Saturday needing a win to stay in the thick of the Legends Division race.

The week didn’t start well for quarterback Taylor Martinez, who had a hip pointer added to his list of ailments. He also is batting shoulder and toe problems and is listed day to day.

Nebraska also is looking to shore up its run defense after allowing a season-high 271 yards on the ground to the Gophers.

Pollmiller, Rolfzen Earn Big Ten Weekly Honors

Posted on October 28, 2013October 29, 2013

Nebraska junior Mary Pollmiller and freshman Kadie Rolfzen were honored by the Big Ten Conference on Monday. Pollmiller was named the league’s Setter of the Week, while Rolfzen earned Freshman of the Week accolades. Both Pollmiller and Rolfzen helped the Huskers to victories over Iowa (3-0) and Ohio State (3-1) last week.

Pollmiller paced the Husker offense last week, averaging 12.3 assists per set and helped Nebraska to a .345 team hitting percentage. She recorded a double-double against the Buckeyes, with 53 assists and 11 digs. The honor marks her second career Big Ten weekly award.

Rolfzen posted a .449 hitting percentage on the week, totaling 27 kills and 21 digs and averaging 3.9 kills and 3 digs per set. She recorded the fifth double-double of her career against the Hawkeyes with 11 kills and 12 digs. The honor marks the first Big Ten weekly award of her career.

This week the Huskers host the Illinois Fighting Illini on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. The match will air on the Big Ten Network. Nebraska is home on Saturday, Nov. 2 as the Northwestern Wildcats will come to the Devaney Center for a 7:30 p.m.match.

2013 Big Ten Volleyball Players of the Week

Sept. 2 P: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

D: Bethany Yeager, Sr., IOWA

S: Taylor Sherwin, Jr., OSU

F: Maddie Mayers, ILL

Sept. 9 P: Kaitlyn Leary, Sr., OSU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Lexi Dannemiller, Jr., MICH

F: Abby Cole, MICH

Sept. 16 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

D: Faye Adelaja, Fr., PUR

S: Taylor Sherwin, Jr., OSU

F: Amber Rolfzen, NEB

Faye Adelaja, PUR

Sept. 23 P: Stephanie Holthus, Sr., NU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Caleigh Ryan, Fr., NU

F: Caleigh Ryan, NU

Sept. 30 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

D: Ashley Wittman, Sr., MINN

S: Mary Pollmiller, Jr., NEB

F: Haleigh Nelson, WIS

Oct. 7 P: Lauren Wicinski, Sr., MSU

Kelsey Robinson, Sr., NEB

D: Meghan Haggerty, So., NEB

S: Micha Hancock, Jr., PSU

F: Amber Rolfzen, NEB

Oct. 14 P: Katie Slay, Sr., PSU

D: Tori Dixon, Sr., MINN

S: Micha Hancock, Jr., PSU

F: Caleigh Ryan, NU

Oct. 21 P: Val Nichol, Jr., PUR

D: Annemarie Hickey, Sr., WIS

S: Lexi Dannemiller, Jr., MICH

F: Hannah Tapp, MINN

Oct. 28 P: Ashley Wittman, Sr., MINN

D: KiKi Jones, Jr., PUR

S: Mary Pollmiller, Jr., NEB

F: Kadie Rolfzen, NEB

Johnson Named B1G Freshman of the Week

Posted on October 28, 2013October 29, 2013

Lincoln – Nebraska soccer freshman forward Jaycie Johnson was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the third time this season as announced by the Conference office on Monday. Johnson earned the award after notching a pair of scores, including the game winner in the 103rd minute, to defeat No. 16 Penn State in thrilling fashion on Sunday.

Johnson, the Lake Winnebago, Mo. native, leads the Huskers in goals with nine and has amassed four game-winning tallies in her freshman season.

Johnson was named Big Ten Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week earlier this year on Aug. 26 and also claimed first-year honors on Sept. 23 as the freshman continues to be a big-time contributor for the first-place Huskers.

Nebraska (14-3-1, 9-1-0 Big Ten) will battle Indiana in Lincoln this Friday at 4 p.m. as the Huskers look to wrap up its first Big Ten title with a victory.

Nebraska-Michigan Game

Posted on October 28, 2013

The Big Ten Conference announced on Monday that Nebraska’s Nov. 9 game at Michigan will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET in Ann Arbor) and will be televised on either ABC or ESPN. The network determination will be made following this weekend’s games.

This will mark the third consecutive year the Nebraska-Michigan game has been carried on the ESPN family of networks. In 2011, Nebraska and Michigan were televised on ESPN, and last year Nebraska’s win in Lincoln was on ESPN2.

Nebraska will play host to Northwestern this Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised by BTN with kickoff set for shortly after 2:30 p.m.

Game times for Nebraska’s matchups against Michigan State (Nov. 16) and Penn State (Nov. 23) will be announced six to 12 days in advance of kickoff. The Nov. 29 regular-season finale against Iowa is set for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff with television coverage provided by ABC.