Basketball – Page 64 – North Platte Post Archive

Nebraska Signs Georgetown’s Moses Abraham Ayegba

Posted on April 24, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Moses Abraham Ayegba (EYE-eg-buh) of Georgetown has signed transfer papers to play at Nebraska for one season.

Ayegba will graduate from Georgetown with a degree in economics next month and be eligible to play for the Cornhuskers in 2014-15.

The 6-foot-9, 247-pound Ayegba played in 31 games for the Hoyas last season, averaging 1.9 points and 2.8 rebounds. He was second on the team with 23 blocked shots.

Nebraska coach Tim Miles said Thursday that Ayegba provides a physical presence inside and can affect the game on the defensive end with his rebounding and shot blocking. Miles said Ayegba is capable of improving on the offensive end.

Nebraska assistant Kenya Hunter coached Ayegba for three seasons on Georgetown’s staff.

Knights Named to The World Herald’s All-Nebraska Teams, Montalvo & Merritt First-Team

Posted on April 21, 2014

North Platte – Ethan Montalvo and DaVontaye Merritt were both named to The World Herald’s All-Nebraska Junior College teams published by the Omaha World Herald over the weekend. Montalvo is joined by teammates Cameron Williams and Tim Simmons on the second-team along with Jake Maslo and Marco Pascolo as Honorable Mentions. Merritt is joined by Courtney Widick on the second-team along with Jordan Dickerson and April Stull as Honorable Mention.

The First-Team All-Nebraska selection for Ethan Montalvo, a sophomore from Omaha Bryan, adds to his long list of honors from the season. Montalvo was named an All-American Honorable Mention, All-Region IX, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC. Montalvo averaged 18.9 ppg and is the Knights 5th All-Time leading scorer with 1,171 career points. Montalvo has signed to play basketball at Division I Texas State University next year.

Tim Simmons, a sophomore from Stamford, Conn., was named Second-Team All-Nebraska after averaging 11.8 points per game for the Knights and being their defensive stopper. Simmons was also named to the All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC Second-Team. Simmons is the Knights 40th All-Time leading scorer with 700 career points.

Cameron Williams, a freshman from Omaha South, was also named Second-Team All-Nebraska after averaging 13.7 points per game for the Knights. Williams was also named to the All-NCCAC First-Team. Williams scored 439 points during his freshman campaign.

Jake Maslo, a sophomore from Omaha Bryan, and Marco Pascolo, a freshman from Udine, Italy, were both named All-Nebraska Honorable Mention. Maslo averaged 6.5 points per game for the Knights while Pascolo scored 11.0 points per game.

DaVontaye Merritt, a sophomore from Plantation, Florida, was named First-Team All-Nebraska after averaging 16.0 points per game for the Lady Knights. Merritt was also named to the All-Region IX Division II Team, All-Region IX Division II Tournament Team and the All-NCCAC Team. Merritt is the Lady Knights 3rd All-Time leading scorer with 863 career points.

Courtney Widick, a sophomore from Brady, was named Second-Team All-Nebraska after averaging 9.5 points per game for the Lady Knights. Widick was also named to the All-Region IX Division II Team, All-Region IX Division II Tournament Team and the All-NCCAC Team. Widick is the Lady Knights 18th All-Time leading scorer with 570 career points.

Jordan Dickerson, a sophomore from Westminster, Colo., and April Stull, a freshman from Sweeney, Texas, were both named All-Nebraska Honorable Mention. Dickerson averaged 8.6 points per game for the Lady Knights while Stull scored 11.3 points per game.

Click here to read the full article.

NBA Playoff Schedule

Posted on April 18, 2014

All Times EDT
FIRST ROUND
(x-if necessary)
Saturday, April 19

Brooklyn at Toronto, 12:30 p.m.

Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 3:30 p.m.

Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Memphis at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 20

Dallas at San Antonio, 1 p.m.

Charlotte at Miami, 3:30 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Portland at Houston, 9:30 p.m.

Monday, April 21

Memphis at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Golden State at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22

Atlanta at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Brooklyn at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 23

Charlotte at Miami, 7 p.m.

Dallas at San Antonio, 8 p.m.

Portland at Houston, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 24

Indiana at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Memphis, 8 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

Friday, April 25

Toronto at Brooklyn, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Washington, 8 p.m.

Houston at Portland, 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 26

Indiana at Atlanta, 2 p.m.

San Antonio at Dallas, 4:30 p.m.

Miami at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Memphis, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 27

Chicago at Washington, 1 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Golden State, 3:30 p.m.

Toronto at Brooklyn, 7 p.m.

Houston at Portland, 9:30 p.m.

Monday, April 28

Miami at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

x-Atlanta at Indiana, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Dallas, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 29

x-Washington at Chicago, TBD

x-Memphis at Oklahoma City, TBD

x-Golden State at L.A. Clippers, TBD

Wednesday, April 30

x-Charlotte at Miami, TBD

x-Brooklyn at Toronto, TBD

x-Dallas at San Antonio, TBD

x-Portland at Houston, TBD

Thursday, May 1

x-Indiana at Atlanta, TBD

x-Chicago at Washington, TBD

x-Oklahoma City at Memphis, TBD

x-L.A. Clippers at Golden State, TBD

Friday, May 2

x-Miami at Charlotte, TBD

x-Toronto at Brooklyn, TBD

x-San Antonio at Dallas, TBD

x-Houston at Portland, TBD

Saturday, May 3

x-Atlanta at Indiana, TBD

x-Washington at Chicago, TBD

x-Memphis at Oklahoma City, TBD

x-Golden State at L.A. Clippers, TBD

Sunday, May 4

x-Charlotte at Miami, TBD

x-Brooklyn at Toronto, TBD

x-Dallas at San Antonio, TBD

x-Portland at Houston, TBD

NBA Plans Expanded Programs with Military

Posted on April 18, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Army graduate Mike Krzyzewski will lead a U.S. national team practice at his alma mater, and the U.S. women will train at the Naval Academy as part of an increased partnership among the NBA, USA Basketball and the Department of Defense.

The NBA and its teams will also organize job fairs and other events to support military personnel in their transition back to civilian life.

The plans were announced Friday following the completion of the NBA’s board of governors meeting. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed owners at the meeting.

The U.S. men will hold an open practice at West Point on Aug. 18. The women will practice at Navy from Sept. 7-10 as both teams prepare to defend their world titles.

NPCC Lady Knights Sign Two to National Letters of Intent

Posted on April 18, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team announced the signing of two athletes to National Letters of Intent, Maddie Seamann of Hershey High School and T’Keyah Stapleton of Omaha Central High School. The two signees are the first of the 2014 class for the Lady Knights.

Seamann, a post player, joins the Lady Knights basketball program after helping lead the Hershey Lady Panthers to a 23-4 record during her senior year, including a SPVA Championship. Seamann averaged 8.5 points and 6.4 rebounds as a senior. During her junior year, the Lady Panthers finished third in Class C2 at the 2013 State Tournament and won the SPVA Tournament. The Lady Panthers also qualified for the 2012 State Tournament during Seamann’s sophomore year.

“Maddie will add depth to the post position on our team,” said head coach Richard Thurin. “I like her competitive spirit.”

Stapleton, a guard, joins the Lady Knights program after helping the Omaha Central Lady Eagles to a 29-1 record and the 2012 State Championship. She was awarded the 2012 Gilson Sixth Man Award for Class A as a senior.

“T’Keyah will add depth to the point guard position,” said Thurin. “I like her quickness and speed and ability to drive the basket and see the floor.”

NBA Playoffs Looking More Wide-Open than Expected

Posted on April 18, 2014

MIAMI (AP) — Before the season started, a poll suggested that the Miami Heat were the overwhelming favorite to win the NBA title, collecting a whopping 76 percent of ballots cast.

The voters weren’t some know-nothings, either.

No, this was a polling of NBA general managers.

Things seem quite a bit different now. The Heat don’t seem like locks for a third straight title anymore. San Antonio and Indiana are top seeds. Brooklyn, Chicago, the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City, Golden State, Houston, Portland and the Heat all figure to have a legitimate chance at being the club to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a couple of months.

Usually, the NBA playoffs aren’t so wide open. Things might change over the next couple of months.

“There are 16 teams that have a chance to win it,” said Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, whose team is seeded No. 2 in the West. “If you’re in the playoffs, you have a chance. There are some good teams. Any team can beat each other. The West is deep. There are two teams that are really good that didn’t make it and had great years. It’s definitely open. There’s a lot of good basketball teams that are fighting for the championship.”

For as good as San Antonio and Indiana were all year — well, for most of the year in Indiana’s case, before the Pacers faltered down the stretch — it’s never a certainty that the No. 1 seeds reach the NBA Finals. It’s happened that way only 11 times in the last 35 years.

Then again, the last time that there wasn’t either a No. 1 or a No. 2 in the title series was 1978. So while upsets can happen, it’s not all that common to see bracket craziness — akin to a No. 7 and No. 8 seeds Connecticut and Kentucky playing for the NCAA title earlier this month — happening in the same NBA playoff season.

“It is going to be tremendous from a fans’ standpoint, watching,” Golden State coach Mark Jackson said. “It going to be a lot of fun.”

Brooklyn’s Jason Kidd has plenty of postseason experience as a player. He believes the NBA championship is up for grabs, but also probably knows history doesn’t favor his sixth-seeded club.

Since 1979, only five teams seeded No. 4 or lower in their conference have reached the finals. But Kidd sees reason for hope.

“It’s always wide open,” said Kidd, the first-year coach of the Nets — a veteran-laden team put together to win a title this season. “You guys sometimes limit it to just two teams but guys that are playing on a daily basis in the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference feel like they’ve got a chance.”

This year, that doesn’t just seem like coach speak.

Take the East. On paper, the biggest mismatch is No. 1 Indiana against No. 8 Atlanta, especially because the Hawks are the only sub-.500 team in the playoffs. And just a couple weeks ago, the Hawks went to Indianapolis and absolutely embarrassed the Pacers, running out to a 32-point halftime lead in one of the more stunning games of the entire NBA season.

“There’s some good teams out there,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “Every team in the playoffs have given us some problems. We’ve been able to win against them as well. But it’s certainly shaped out to be a good conference.”

No. 5 Washington won the season series over No. 4 Chicago. Out West, the third-seeded Clippers and sixth-seeded Golden State split four meetings. Memphis ousted Oklahoma City a year ago and those clubs meet in the first round. And San Antonio’s quest to avenge last year’s loss in the NBA Finals starts against Dallas — the last team to beat Miami in a seven-game series, winning the title in 2011.

So there are some good stories, and there’s intrigue with every first-round series.

That doesn’t mean everyone in the league thinks it’ll be a year laden with surprises. Philadelphia coach Brett Brown put it simply — to him, the game changes in the playoffs, period.

“The regular season and the playoffs are like two different sports,” Brown said. “If you put me in a bubble and you drag me out in May, I can say this is different than the game I’m seeing in November. It’s just entirely different.”

That’s why Brown, a former Spurs assistant, thinks there’s a very small number of teams capable of winning it all.

“To be the last man standing is so ridiculously hard,” Brown said. “People have no idea what it’s like to play in June.”

Ethan Montalvo Inks Letter of Intent with Division I Texas State

Posted on April 17, 2014

North Platte – Sophomore Ethan Montalvo signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday afternoon on National Signing Day with the Texas State University Bobcats, a NCAA Division I school located in San Marcos, Texas.

“It’s an awesome feeling to be signed to a D1 school,” said Montalvo. “My dreams have come true and I am really excited for the next two years to compete at the highest level.”

Montalvo was named to the 2013-14 Honorable Mention All-American Team earlier this week, becoming 8th player in program history to be named an All-American.

Along with being named an All-American, Montalvo was named All-Region IX 1st Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1st Team. As a freshman, Montalvo was All-Region IX 2nd Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1st Team.

Texas State University competes in the Sun Belt Conference where they finished the year 8-23 under first-year head coach Danny Kaspar.

“We are extremely excited to add someone the caliber of Ethan Montalvo to the Texas State Basketball family,” said assistant coach Talvin Hester. “We expect Ethan to make an immediate impact in our backcourt with his overall basketball skill set.”

“In addition, he brings a great attitude, high basketball IQ and a competitive edge to Bobcat Nation. He’s a winner. Ethan won in high school and at NPCC. We look forward to Ethan instilling some of that winning culture and attitude to our team next season.”

This season Montalvo led the Knights in scoring at 18.9 points per game and in steals at 2.2 per game while also contributing 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Montalvo finishes his career with 1,173 points to finish 5th All-Time and ties Chase Grabau, Ben Wilson and Aboubacar Casse for most games played in a Knights uniform at 68. Montalvo started every single game of his Knights career.

“We will miss Ethan Montalvo here in North Platte,” said assistant coach Nathan Wieseler “but we are very excited for him to continue his career at Texas State. The staff at Texas State has done a great job recruiting him and has made sure he knew he was their top priority at his position since September. We know that Ethan will have a very successful career as a Bobcat!”

Montalvo has been a part of the most successful two year stretch in program history as the Knights compiled a 57-11 record during his career, including a Region IX Championship in 2013 and National Tournament appearance. The 57 wins are the most in program history in a two year stretch and the 11 losses are the fewest. Montalvo has never known defeat at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium finishing a perfect 28-0 in two years, also a school record.

Girl’s Memorial Being Held at Basketball Arena

Posted on April 17, 2014

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — An 8-year-old Michigan State basketball fan whose battle with cancer inspired the team’s players, coaches and many more beyond the hardwood is to be honored by thousands of her closest friends at a memorial service in East Lansing.

Lacey Holsworth’s family wants those attending the event Thursday at the Breslin Center basketball arena to wear bright colors and smiles in celebration of her life.

Lacey died at her home in nearby St. Johns on April 8. The little girl affectionately known as “Princess Lacey” had neuroblastoma, a nerve-cell cancer. She wore a blond wig because chemotherapy took her hair.

Lacey met Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne during one of her hospital stays, and their friendship quickly blossomed. She became a valued member of the Spartan family.

Crawford’s 41 Points Leads Warriors over Nuggets

Posted on April 17, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Jordan Crawford scored a career-high 41 points and Harrison Barnes added 30 as a squad of Golden State backups beat the Denver Nuggets 116-112 Wednesday night.

Crawford beat his previous career high of 39 points set against Miami on March, 30, 2011, when he was with Washington. He surpassed it with a runner that put the Warriors ahead for good at 110-108.

Randy Foye, who led Denver with 32 points, raced downcourt in response but his finger-roll rimmed out and Golden State corralled the rebound.

With 30 seconds left, Barnes sank a free throw and Draymond Green swooped in to tip in his errant second shot, giving the Warriors a 113-108 lead.

Crawford and Steve Blake each missed a free throw over the next 14 seconds, giving the Nuggets an opening. Green was whistled for goal-tending on Foye’s 3-pointer with seven seconds left but the call was overturned upon review, leaving the Nuggets trailing 115-112.

Guard from NJ power St. Anthony Signs with Huskers

Posted on April 16, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Point guard Tarin Smith of powerhouse St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, N.J., has signed a letter of intent to play at Nebraska.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Smith helped the Friars to a 53-7 record in his two years as a starter and consecutive state runner-up finishes.

Nebraska coach Tim Miles said Wednesday that Smith is a “complete package” as a point guard. Smith averaged 15 points, four rebounds and four assists as a senior. He scored in double figures in all but two games.

Smith picked Nebraska over Mississippi, Providence and Duquesne. He has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

Smith is the second member of the Cornhuskers’ recruiting class, joining 6-foot-10 center Jacob Hammond of Comanche, Okla., who signed in the fall.