Basketball – Page 61 – North Platte Post Archive

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.

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.

Leonard, Record Half Help Spurs Roll in Game 3

Posted on June 10, 2014

MIAMI (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 29 points, and the San Antonio Spurs made an NBA Finals-record 75.8 percent of their shots in the first half in a 111-92 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night that gave them a 2-1 lead.

The Spurs made 19 of their first 21 shots and finished 25 of 33 in the first half, bettering the 75 percent shooting by Orlando against the Lakers in the 2009 finals.

Leonard finished 10 of 13 after two quiet games in San Antonio. Danny Green and Tony Parker each had 15 points and Tim Duncan scored 14.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade had 22 points for the Heat, who host Game 4 on Thursday.

Former Bulldog Leads Gold Team to Victory in the Mid-Plains Area All-Star Game

Posted on June 9, 2014June 9, 2014

North Platte Community College hosted the eighth annual Mid-Plains Area All-Star Games on Friday at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium and former North Platte High athlete Kade Erickson led the way for Team Gold in the boys game.

Erickson was part of the second unit for the Gold Team, but that didn’t stop him from stealing the show in Friday’s boys All-Star game. Erickson led all scorers with 20 points as he led his team to a 95-91 win over Team Black. Erickson knocked down four three-pointers in the game and also hit two clutch free throws late to help secure the win. He didn’t start the game but his coach Dave Jacobs, from Brady High School, went with the five players who had the hot hand for the final five minutes and Erickson’s 12 second-half points led the way.

The North Platte Bulldogs were well represented in the game for the Black Team as well. Drew Callaghan led Black with 18 points and was the second-highest scoring player in the game. Callaghan also won the three-point contest that took place at halftime. He beat out his teammate Hayden Cahoy, from Overton High School, for the three-point title.

There were multiple players from area schools that competed in the game. For the Gold Team Landon Swedberg from Wallace High School scored six points and Mark Mayfield from North Platte St. Patrick’s added four points to go along with Erickson’s 20. The Black Team was led by Callaghan’s 18 and followed up by Tyler Fear from Sutherland High School, who had nine points. Hershey High School’s Landan Maassen scored five points and Alex Harms from North Platte St. Patrick’s added two points.

The girls All-Star game was the first game of the night and Team Black won it going away, 67-43. The score was much closer at halftime as Black led the Gold Team 36-29 before pulling away early in the second half.

Tailor Lee from Wauneta-Palisade led all scorers with 12 points for Team Black. The Black Team had four players in double-figures. Former North Platte Lady Bulldog Allison Sawyer scored 11 points, future North Platte Lady Knight from Hershey High School Maddie Seamann scored 11 points and Creek Valley’s Summer Mueller scored 10. The Gold team was led by another future Lady Knight, Sarah Mahr from Sydney High School scored 11 points.

The girls game featured even more players from area schools. For Team Gold Brady High School’s Madison Elliott scored eight points, her high school teammate and future Lady Knight volleyball player Valerie Most scored seven points, Hershey’s Maegan Hiatt scored four points, Madalynn Doughty from North Platte High scored two points and her high school teammate Sally Hengen also played for Team Gold.

The Black Team had Seamann’s and Sawyer’s 11 points apiece along with nine points from Sam Staggs from Sutherland High School. Staggs’ high school teammate, Jalyne Schuster scored three points and from North Platte St. Patrick’s Bree Saner also played in the game.

The girls game featured a trick play from the Gold Team. Hengen went down on all fours underneath the basket as Hiatt drove, jumped off of Hengen’s back and very nearly dunked it. The ball went in the hoop as her hand touched the rim.

Staggs won the three-point contest during halftime of the girls game. She beat Hiatt in the finals.

A list of area players for both the boys and girls teams that competed and will be playing a sport in college next season are listed below.

Boys

Drew Callaghan, North Platte High School – Basketball at Hastings College
Alex Harms, North Platte St. Patrick’s High School – Football at University of Nebraska Kearney

Girls

Maddie Seamann, Hershey High School – Basketball at North Platte Community College
Madalynn Doughty, North Platte High School – Soccer at University of Nebraska Kearney
Valerie Most, Brady High School – Volleyball at North Platte Community College

James Carries Heat past Spurs to Tie NBA Finals

Posted on June 8, 2014

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — LeBron James had 35 points and 10 rebounds in a powerful bounce back from cramps in the opener, and the Miami Heat tied the NBA Finals with a 98-96 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 on Sunday night.

Chris Bosh made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining for the Heat, who have won 13 straight following a loss in the postseason. Just like last year, they rebounded from a loss to the Spurs in the opener.

Bosh had 18 points for the Heat, who host Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Tony Parker scored 21 points and Tim Duncan had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Spurs, who had won eight straight at home by 15 more points.

Huskers Football and Baseball Commit Selected in Second Round by Brewers

Posted on June 6, 2014

Lincoln – Nebraska baseball and football signee Monte Harrison was selected 50^th overall in the MLB First-Year Player Draft on Thursday night by the Milwaukee Brewers. Harrison was the ninth pick in the second round and it’s the highest that an incoming Husker has been picked since Bubba Starling was selected fifth overall by the Kansas City Royals in 2011. Starling went on to sign a professional contract with the Royals.

Scheduled to play both football and baseball at Nebraska, Harrison was tabbed as a first-team All-American by Perfect Game in 2014. The 6-2 product of Lee’s Summit West High School in Lee’s Summit, Mo., was ranked as the 31^st best high school prospect in the country and the No. 4 outfielder nationally by Perfect Game.

As a junior in 2013, Harrison hit .457, while driving in 33 runs and scoring 36. He had 12 doubles, three triples and six home runs and also stole 25 bases.

On the football field, Harrison helped his team to a 13-1 record and a Class 5 state title. Harrison’s explosiveness helped Lee’s Summit West dominate during its playoff run, winning all five games by at least 28 points. Harrison finished the season with 60 receptions for 1,007 yards, an average of 16.8 yards per catch, and had 13 receiving touchdowns. Harrison also rushed for 198 yards and 12 touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass.

Harrison now has until July 18 to sign a contract with the Brewers.

Spurs Handle Heat, Win 110-95 in NBA Finals Game 1

Posted on June 6, 2014

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Tim Duncan had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat 110-95 on Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals inside a sweltering AT&T Center.

With an air conditioning failure making it feel like basketball in a sauna and causing LeBron James to battle cramps that knocked him out of the game’s decisive stretch, the Spurs pulled away to win the opener of the first finals rematch since 1998.

Manu Ginobili had 16 points and 11 assists, and Tony Parker added 19 points and eight assists for the Spurs, who shot 59 percent and improved to 6 for 6 in NBA Finals Game 1s.

James finished with 25 points but played only 33 minutes, and Miami was outscored 36-17 in the fourth quarter.

Big Ten Announces Extension of Football Championship Games in Indianapolis and Basketball Tournaments in Chicago and Indianapolis

Posted on June 5, 2014

Rosemont, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference announced today that the Council of Presidents/Chancellors unanimously approved a recommendation from university administrators for future Big Ten Football Championship Games to be held in Indianapolis and for upcoming Big Ten Basketball Tournaments to be hosted by both Chicago and Indianapolis.

The Big Ten Football Championship Game will remain at Lucas Oil Stadium through the 2021 season. The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will rotate between Chicago and Indianapolis, with the United Center hosting the event in 2019 and 2021 and Bankers Life Fieldhouse serving as the tournament’s home in 2020 and 2022. Bankers Life Fieldhouse will also host the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament from 2017 through 2022.

“The Big Ten Conference and member institutions are excited to return to Chicago and Indianapolis for future football championship games and basketball tournaments,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. “These two cities have been tremendous hosts and partners with first-class facilities and an outstanding base of Big Ten alumni and fans who support conference events. We are proud of the history that we have developed with these two great cities and look forward to maintaining a significant presence in both locations.”

“To announce today that our community will host the first 11 Big Ten Football Championship Games at Lucas Oil Stadium and consistently bring the premier basketball events of the country’s marquee conference to Bankers Life Fieldhouse is simply incredible,” said Allison Melangton, Indiana Sports Corp President. “We continue to enjoy an amazing partnership with the Big Ten Conference, and we thank Commissioner Delany and the university leadership for placing their trust in Indianapolis once again. Locally, the support we receive from our financial partners, government entities, venues, committee members, and volunteers allows us to continually host the nation’s best events. It is truly a team effort.”

“Hosting the Big Ten Tournament in 2013 was an amazing experience for Chicago and with our hundreds of thousands of Big Ten alumni, the city was buzzing with excitement,” said Chicago Sports Commission Executive Director Kara Bachman. “We eagerly await the tournament’s return to our world-class city in 2015, and with it look forward to seeing an even broader, national fan base with the additions of Rutgers and Maryland, two great institutions with strong alumni networks in Chicago. We applaud Commissioner Delany’s vision and can’t wait to see it further realized in 2019 and 2021 when the tournament returns to the United Center. ”

The inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game was held at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2011, the start of a five-year agreement with Indianapolis which now extends through 2021. The annual championship game has featured four different teams in the first three years, with two appearances each by Michigan State and Wisconsin and one trip for both Nebraska and Ohio State. The Badgers were victorious in the first two title contests, while the Spartans earned the win last December. The 2013 Big Ten Football Championship Game produced the highest attendance yet, with 66,002 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament has been held in either Chicago or Indianapolis through the first 17 years of its existence. The annual event returns to the United Center for the ninth time in 2015 and will be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for the 10th time in 2016, before making its first appearance on the East Coast when the 2017 event is held at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The site of the 2018 tournament will be announced at a later date. Six Big Ten programs have officially won the tournament, including Michigan State claiming a fourth crown in March. Each of the last two tournaments have been sold out, including a conference record of more than 124,000 fans at the United Center in 2013 and over 111,000 fans at Bankers Life Fieldhouse earlier this year, the largest attendance in Indianapolis. More than 1.6 million fans have enjoyed the tournament since the inaugural event in 1998.

The Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament has been played in Indianapolis in 18 of 20 years since 1995. Bankers Life Fieldhouse has hosted the tournament in 12 of the last 13 seasons, while Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill., served as the event’s home in 2013 and will host again in 2015. Seven different Big Ten teams have claimed the tournament title, including Nebraska winning the event for the first time in March. The Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament has averaged more than 30,000 fans each year, including each of the last six events held in Indianapolis, with a tournament record attendance of 38,748 in 2012.

Mid-Plains Area All-Star Game Set For Friday

Posted on June 4, 2014

North Platte – The Eighth Annual Mid-Plains Area All-Star Game is all set to be played this Friday, June 6 at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium in North Platte. The girls game is set to tip at 6 p.m. and the boys game to follow at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $5 with all participants selling tickets and tickets available at the door. The rosters for all four teams are included below.

GIRLS BLACK TEAM

Jaylen	Schuster	Sutherland High School
Allison	Sawyer	North Platte High School
Abbie	Fanning	Wauneta-Palisade High School
Kaitlin	Martin	Sandhills-Thedford High School
Summer	Mueller	Creek Valley High School
Tailor	Lee	Wauneta-Palisade High School
Justine	Stone	Maywood High School
Jerry	Straber	Creek Valley High School
Maddie	Seamann	Hershey High School
Samantha	Staggs	Sutherland High School
Breelyn	Saner	North Platte Saint Patrich High School

Coach Bill Wilber Creek Valley High School

GIRLS GOLD TEAM

Madalynn	Doughty	North Platte High School
Samantha	Carlson	Cozad High School
Brenleigh	Daum	McCook High School
Kadee	Long	Cambridge High School
Shelby	Vogel	Kimball High School
Maegan	Hiatt	Hershey High School
Molly	Sughroue	McCook High School
Madison	Elliott	Brady High School
Sally	Hengen	North Platte High School
Valerie	Most	Brady High School
Sarah	Mahr	Sidney High School

Coach Lance Arterburn Brady High School

BOYS BLACK TEAM

Cole	Taylor	Sandhills-Thedford High School
Tanner	Fuelberth	Ainsworth High School
Hayden	Cahoy	Overton High School
Connor	Merrill	Paxton High School
Quin	Conner	Valentine High School
Eamon	Schwarz	South Loup High School
Landan	Maassen	Hershey High School
Lane	Godfrey	Creek Valley High School
Tyler	Fear	Sutherland High School
Lewis	Lewis	Lexington High School
Alex	Whipps	Hitchcock County High School
Seth	Gohl	Hayes Center High School
Drew	Callaghan	North Platte High School
Dylan	Brenner	Leyton High School
Alexander	Harms	North Platte Saint Patrick High School

Coach Mike Tines Hitchcock County High School

BOYS GOLD TEAM

Adam	Crandall	Ogallala High School
Matthew	McLeod	Ainsworth High School
Caden	Weverka	Arapahoe High School
Kaleb	DeCora	Bridgeport High School
Kade	Erickson	North Platte High School
Bryant	Knigge	Potter-Dix High School
Brennen	Cruise	Leyton High School
Landon	Swedberg	Wallace High School
Justus	Wallin	Chase County High School
Mark	Mayfield	North Platte Saint Patrick High School
Mack	Alspaugh	McCook High School
Jake	Reader	Kimball High School
Joel	Shafer	Overton High School
Tye	Spies	Mullen High School

Coach David Jacobs Brady High School