HOISINGTON – The TMP-Marian Monarchs opened the game on a 9-2 run and had three players score in double-figures as they beat Smoky Valley 60-35 Saturday to claim the 3A sub-state championship.
Bill Meagher postgame
It took both teams a couple of minutes to get their offense settle in before Smoky Valley grabbed an early 2-0 lead. That would be there only lead of the day.
After they were held scoreless for the first 2:15 of the game Ryan Karlin converted on a layup that sparked a 9-1 run for the Monarchs to end the first quarter with a 9-3 lead.
Karlin hit his second first-half three to open the second quarter as the Monarchs outscored Smoky Valley 9-3 to open the second quarter. A Jared Mayers field goal helped the Moanrchs build a 12-point lead with under five minutes to play in the first-half. TMP’s largest lead of the first-half came at the break at 24-10.
Coming out of the halftime break Mayers scored the first five points of the quarter helping the Monarchs build a 29-10 lead.
Smoky Valley was able to trim the deficit to 13 lead in the third but a late field goal by Bryce Seib gave TMP a 39-24 lead through three quarters.
In the fourth quarter it was Carson Jacobs’ turn to lead the Monarchs, he scored eight straight to open the quarter to put TMP back up by 17.
The Monarchs extended their lead in the fourth quarter and went on to pick up the 60-35 win.
Game highlights
Mayers lead the Monarchs with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while Karlin added 14 and Jacobs had 12.
The Monarchs improve to 13-11 with the win and are headed back to the 3A state tournament in Hutchinson next week.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted suspect on additional charges after a Thursday chase.
Burnett -photo Sedgwick Co.
Just before 2p.m. Thursday police on patrol observed a stolen Honda Civic in the 1oo block of East Kincaid in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. During an attempt to conduct a traffic stop, the suspect later identified as 49-year-old Frank Burnett, 49, sped away from police.
The short vehicle pursuit ended in the dead-end street in the 200 block of South Wichita. Burnett fled from the car but officers chased him down as he boarded an Envision Bus in the company parking lot in the 2300 block of South Water. Officers located drugs, paraphernalia and a large knife in the area where Burnett was arrested.
He was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges that included aggravated weapons violations, possession of meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property, evade and elude, other traffic violations and outstanding warrants, according to Davidson.
Burnett has over twenty convictions that include theft, burglary, assault, obstruction, aggravated battery, criminal damage and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
HAYS, Kan. – Brady Werth scored 20 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds and Fort Hays State used 63-percent shooting in the second half to rally past Pittsburg State 71-61 Saturday in front of 3,175 Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum.
Werth went 7-for-10 from the floor in the second half to become the 21st player in Tiger history to eclipse 1,000 points in a career.
Mark Johnson Postgame Interview
Brady Werth Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Tigers (18-10, 12-7 MIAA) got off to a hot start hitting nine of their first 16 shots and building an early five-point lead. They closed the half hitting only one of their last 16 shot and trailed by nine at halftime.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from A.J. Walker pushed the Gorillas (16-12, 9-10 MIAA) lead to 15 forty-five seconds into the second half.
The Tigers responded with a 25-9 run and took a 51-50 lead on a Brady Werth jumper with 9:50 to play.
Pitt State tied the game 58-58 on two Demetrius Levarity free throws with 5:30 to play. The Tigers then scored the next 13 points and built their big lead of 13 on a pair or Trey O’Neil free throws.
O’Neil finished with 13 points and Nyjee Wright added 11.
The Gorillas tandem of Grant Lozoya and Donavan Franklin, who averaged close to 44 points combined were held to a combined 20 on 8-of-26 shooting.
FAIRWAY, Kan. (AP) — Police have identified a man shot and injured in a gun battle with police across the street from an elementary school in suburban Kansas City.
Ruffin -photo Johnson Co.Law enforcement on the scene across from Highlands Elementary School image courtesy KCTV
Fairway police say 26-year-old Dylan Ruffin was injured Friday afternoon when he exchanged gunfire with officers who had been called to the home he was in directly across the street from Highlands Elementary School in the Shawnee Mission School District. Video shows a man believed to be Ruffin exiting the home and pointing a gun at officers, who fired, hitting Ruffin. No one else was injured.
Police say Ruffin was treated at a hospital and released. He is charged with three counts of aggravated assault on an officer and weapons counts. He is being held in the Johnson County Adult Detention Center on $500,000 bond.
In preparation for tonight’s blizzard (Sat., March 2), Hays Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood has declared the City of Hays to be under a Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency. During a Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency, it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any street designated as an emergency snow route.
The City of Hays Public Works Department and Hays Police Department are requesting your assistance with snow removal along emergency snow routes. Please take the appropriate measures and move your vehicle from the snow route at this time. Should you take no action and allow your vehicle to remain parked on an emergency snow route, you risk receiving a citation and/or having your vehicle towed at your expense.
This Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency shall remain in effect until such time that the Hays City Manager deems the Winter Storm Traffic Emergency terminated.
Since winter precipitation continues to fall and conditions are expected to worsen through the day, the Hays Police Department is asking that motorists avoid travel if at all possible. Those that must travel are advised to do so with caution, and are encouraged to give themselves extra time to reach their destination. Please remember to drive slow, pay attention to vehicles in front of you, and allow for extra stopping distance. The public’s cooperation is greatly appreciated throughout this winter storm.
Below is a link to the City of Hays website that has a map of the snow routes:
HAYS, Kan. – Tatyana Legette paid tribute to fellow senior Carly Heim who is out for the season with a knee injury by wearing her No. 13 jersey. Legette then tied her career-high with 25 points along with 11 rebounds and six assists to lead the third-ranked Tigers to a 67-62 win over Pittsburg State in front of 3,017 Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum.
Tony Hobson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
After exchanging a couple of baskets to start the game, the Tigers (27-1, 18-1 MIAA) used runs of 8-0 and 9-0 to go up 14 after the first quarter.
Legette’s 3-pointer with 6:08 to play in the second quarter pushed the lead to 16 but the Gorillas (21-7, 13-6 MIAA) closed the quarter on a 13-4 run to pull within seven. They outscored the Tigers 8-5 to start the third quarter to pull within three at 41-38 with 6:21 to play in the third. It was still a three-point game at the 5:44 mark when FHSU went on an 8-2 run to build a nine-point lead at the end of the quarter.
Hailey Walker’s second 3-pointer of the game early in the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 12. Pitt State would close within four with 1:37 to play but Walker and Whitney Randall went 4-for-6 at the line over the final 40 seconds to secure the victory.
Lanie Page added 11 points. Kasey Kennett added nine points and Walker added eight off the bench.
The Tigers will be the No. 1 seed at next week’s MIAA Tournament and play at 6 pm Friday.
BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team earned their first victory on Saturday (Mar. 2), defeating Southwest Baptist 10-7. The Tigers (1-13, 1-5 MIAA) ended a 29-game losing skid with the victory, while the Bearcats dipped to 8-7 on the year and 3-3 in conference action.
The Bearcats plated the first run of the afternoon in the first inning on an RBI single to left field from Carl Schwettmann. Fort Hays State immediately fired back in the home half with a 3-spot as two-hole hitter Garrett Francis reached base with a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch and then crossed home when Ryan Stoecklein lifted a ball to centerfield, grabbing his first of three runs batted in on the day. The Tigers continued the two-out rally as Taylan Mullins-Ohm ripped a double down the left field line and Landon Erway fired a 2-RBI single to center, giving the Tigers the 3-1 edge after one frame.
In the second frame, SBU plated another run before the Tigers pushed across a pair in the home half. Jake Taylor and Cody Starkel lead off the inning with back-to-back singles before Ryan Grasser placed a single into right field, scoring Starkel and Francis.
FHSU took momentum back in the fourth with a four-run frame. Tyler Olson produced a lead-off single before Francis delivered an infield single to third base. Grasser patiently earned a walk, loading the bases. Stoecklein added two more in the run column after placing a double into left field. A few batters later, Jared Maneth plated Erway and Stoecklein with a single of his own. FHSU tacked on another run in the fifth when Grasser doubled to the gap in left center, scoring Francis from first and giving the Tigers a 10-2 advantage after five innings of action.
SBU came storming back with a four-run sixth, chasing starter Cody Rottinghaus. Cole Zimmerman pitched the rest of the way shutting down the Bearcats and limiting them to only one more run in the ninth.
Rottinghaus (1-2) earned the victory on the hill, pitching 5.2 innings allowing five earned runs on five hits and punching out one strikeout. Zimmerman earned his first collegiate save by holding off the Bearcat offense in his 3.1 innings of work, allowing one run on three hits and striking out two batters.
Garrett Francis produced a season-high four runs in the contest scoring a run each time on base (one hit, two walks, one fielder’s choice). Both Grasser and Stoecklein picked up three-RBI days, while five Tigers earned two hits on the afternoon.
FHSU will gear up for Emporia State next weekend (Mar. 8-10). The Tigers and Hornets are scheduled to face off on Friday at 3 p.m. in Larks Park.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody. Just after 1a.m. Thursday, Westar Energy notified the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center of an individual attempting to steal items from their property located in the 5500 block of SE 2nd Street, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.
Brooks -photo Shawnee Co.
Westar personnel provided dispatch with information on a maroon Ford F150 on their property that did not belong.
Shawnee County Sheriff Deputies arrived in the area and were able to locate a vehicle matching the description provided by Westar personnel near NE K-4 HWY and Seward Avenue. A generator, tools, and other items that belonged to Westar Energy were located in the truck.
Deputies took David W. Brooks, 53 of Topeka, into custody and transported him to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Burglary- non dwelling (Felony), Theft, Criminal Damage and other Traffic Charges, according to Stallbaumer.
Things were supposed to be different on the Medicaid expansion this year.
Expansion advocates thought Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s election would elevate the issue to center stage. They figured that would all but guarantee that Kansas would join the ranks of expansion states — now numbering 37 plus the District of Columbia.
But so far this legislative session it’s been déjà vu all over again.
Republican leaders haven’t budged in their opposition. They’ve launched social media campaigns against expansion. Blasted the governor for low-balling its cost. And refused to hold hearings on her expansion bill.
They haven’t even responded to a letter that Kelly sent “respectfully” asking them to schedule hearings.
Noting the recent closure of a few more rural hospitals, Kelly wrote that communities served by other struggling hospitals “are counting on us to do something.”
She sent the letter on Feb. 19. She’s still waiting for a response.
Sensing they couldn’t avoid the issue entirely, GOP leaders OK’d Rep. Brenda Landwehr’s plan to hold a series of roundtable discussions on expansion to, as she puts it, “get the facts out on the table.”
Expansion advocates insist the facts are already well established and that they largely buttress their case. Even so, April Holman, the head of a coalition of advocacy groups lobbying for expansion, gave a politic answer when asked if she viewed Landwher’s roundtables as a delaying tactic.
“I’m going to take this at face value,” Holman said.
Unable to completely hide her frustration, she said the timing was “unfortunate.”
“We certainly would like to have seen this earlier in the year,” she said.
Landwher, the chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, has booked three days for the discussions, starting Wednesday.
Going in, Landwher said she’s trying to keep an open mind. But she says that absent compelling evidence to the contrary, she’s likely to oppose extending coverage to tens of thousands of low-income adults — those making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, about $17,000 per year for a single person or $35,000 for a family of four.
“It’s not children,” Landwher said. “It’s not pregnant women or the disabled. A lot of them are able-bodied (adults). So, why aren’t they working?”
While a majority of those who would benefit from expansion either have a job or are living in a household where at least one person works, that sentiment is at the heart of the opposition to expansion.
Medicaid, many opponents say, is for children and vulnerable Kansans, not adults they see as capable of working and purchasing private coverage.
Opponents also cite cost as an issue, noting that enrollment has exceeded expectations in most expansion states. Many also reject the claim that expansion would help struggling rural hospitals keep their doors open.
Finally, said Rep. Don Hineman, a Dighton Republican who supports expansion, many lawmakers have a rational fear of expanding an expensive entitlement program.
“As we’ve learned time and again, once you start a new government program there’s no going back,” Hineman said.
Advocates say they’re ready to address those concerns and others.
The Kansas Hospital Association has estimated that expansion would generate enough in savings, economic growth and existing fees to cover the state’s expansion costs with about $5 million to spare.
Expansion opponents are dismissive of those estimates but KHA says they’re based on what actually happened in expansion states.
Montana, for instance. Its expansion costs totaled $576.9 million in fiscal year 2017, according to a recent report from The Commonwealth Foundation. But with the federal government covering 95 percent of those costs the state’s obligation was $24.5 million. It covered that with $25.2 million in savings and offsets, leaving the state with a surplus of $700,000.
Sara Collins, a health care expert at The Commonwealth Fund and one of the authors of the report, will be in Kansas to participate in the roundtable discussions.
The KHA also has data to rebut the claim that Medicaid expansion would do little to help struggling rural hospitals. While it’s true that reversing recent reductions in Medicare payments would do more, expansion would still be significant.
In recent testimony to the House Rural Revitalization Committee, KHA President Tom Bell said expansion dollars would offset about 18 percent of the uncompensated care costs of urban hospitals. He said the same offset for rural hospitals would be 26 percent and climb to almost 45 percent for the frontier hospitals that operate in the most sparsely populated areas of the state.
It’s always good to get the facts on the table. The question is, are lawmakers open to being persuaded by them?
Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
STILLWATER, Okla. – Trailing by three points with four minutes remaining in regulation, Kansas held Oklahoma State scoreless through the final buzzer as the No. 15/16 Jayhawks outlasted the Cowboys, 72-67, Saturday afternoon inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. Redshirt-junior Dedric Lawson scored 20 points and added a season-high-tying 15 rebounds to collect his 18th double-double, while freshman guard Quentin Grimes connected on four 3-pointers en route to a 17-point performance.
The win moved the Jayhawks to 22-7 on the year and to 11-5 in league play, keeping them within a game of the Big 12 lead. Oklahoma State fell to 10-19 in its 2018-19 season and 3-13 in conference play.
With the Jayhawks trailing by five points, 62-57, with under six minutes remaining in the game, the KU defense came up tough down the back stretch to help the Crimson and Blue close out a key road victory. Freshman Ochai Agbaji cut his team’s deficit to two points with one of his 3-pointers on the day, before Devon Dotson knotted the score up 30 seconds later with a drive to the basket, pulling the two teams level at 62-62 with just over five minutes remaining.
Oklahoma State’s Curtis Jones, who was one of two Cowboys to lead his team with 19 points, swished a fade away jumper from the top of the key to put his team back on top as the clock ticked under five minutes. On OSU’s next possession, Cameron McGriff, the other Cowboy to tally 19 points, converted on an and-one opportunity to give his team a three-point advantage, 67-64, with 4:04 remaining in regulation.
McGriff’s free throw would be the Cowboys’ final point of the game.
After a pair of empty possessions by both teams, Grimes knocked down one his biggest 3-pointers of the season, pulling the two teams level for the fifth and final time on the day, 67-67, with 2:42 to play.
Kansas kept the Cowboys off the board on their next possession and before Grimes drove to the basket and drew a foul on the Jayhawks’ next trip down the floor. The freshman out of The Woodlands, Texas, hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to put KU ahead with 98 ticks on the clock to go.
The Jayhawk defense came up with two more stops, which included forcing an OSU shot clock violation as the game entered its final minute. Lawson and Agbaji then hit a pair of three throws apiece to give their team the cushion it needed to close out the 72-67 victory, just KU’s second win in Stillwater in its last six tries.
The Kansas freshmen got the Jayhawks out to a quick start after the opening tip-off, scoring each of the team’s 19 points. Grimes contributed seven points in the opening seven minutes, including his 3-pointer at the 13:02 mark, to put Kansas ahead 14-8. But shortly thereafter, the league’s top 3-point shooting team began to live up to its billing. The Cowboys hit 7-of-9 shots, including three 3-pointers, during a four-minute stretch to explode on a 13-0 run. The OSU spurt gave the home side a seven-point lead, 21-14, with just over eight minutes to play in the half.
Kansas responded with a 12-6 run to pull itself within a point of the Cowboys. Lawson tallied six points while Grimes and Agbaji each connected from 3-point range as KU got to within 27-26 less than three minutes later.
OSU hit two more triples in the next two minutes to regain the momentum. Both offenses cooled however, over the final minutes of the opening frame as the Cowboys took a 37-32 lead into the halftime locker room.
Kansas blitzed Oklahoma State after the restart to get itself back in control of the game. After OSU’s Thomas Dziagwa netted a jumper in the paint to put his team on top 39-32, the Jayhawks erupted on a 16-2 run to turn a seven-point deficit into a seven-point lead. Including his two free throws at the 13:22 mark to give KU a 48-41 lead, Lawson added seven points during the run to go along with threes from Grimes and Agbaji.
But once again, Oklahoma State’s prowess from long range got the Cowboys back into the game. OSU hit four 3-pointers over the next three minutes, including Jones, who connected on one of his four triples on the day to tie the game at 55-55 just over midway through the second half.
OSU built a five-point lead twice over the next two minutes, but the KU defense finally managed to put a clamp on the Cowboy shooters. Oklahoma State went 2-of-9, while Kansas outscored OSU 15-5 over the final six minutes of regulation.
Lawson collected his Big 12-leading 18th double-double after posting a game-high 20 points and 15 rebounds. The Memphis, Tennessee, native also was perfect from the free throw line, hitting each of his nine tries from the stripe. Grimes was next on the KU scoresheet with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and a 4-of-7 clip from 3-point range. Agbaji rounded out the Jayhawks’ double-figure scorers with 11 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 33-year-old woman injured in an Olathe apartment fire has died.
Crews on the scene of Thursday’s apartment fire-photo Olathe Fire Department
Alexandria Armstrong died Friday at a hospital where she had been taken in critical condition Thursday night after being pulled from the burning building.
Firefighters say the fire started in Armstrong’s apartment and appears to have been accidental. Investigators believe a damaged electrical cord ignited a couch and other nearby items.
JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have arrested a fugitive wanted in multiple Kansas counties.
According to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse, registered sex offender, Eric Paul Shoemaker, 43, Great Bend, was arrested at a Denison residence after the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received information that he was in the area.
Shoemaker -photo Jackson Co.
Deputies approached a residence where Shoemaker was seen. He refused to come to the door. Deputies who communicated with Shoemaker at length were able to convince him to surrender peacefully.
Shoemaker had outstanding warrants in Barton, Pawnee, and Ford counties for failing to register as a sex offender, probation violations, and failing to appear on a domestic battery charge.
He is being held in the Jackson County Jail without bond.
He has a conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a 15-year-old victim, according to the Kansas Public Offender Registry.
The Fort Hays State University Foundation has welcomed Darci Cain to its staff as associate vice president of development.
“Growing up in western Kansas, Fort Hays State University was instrumental in shaping my vision of higher education and its opportunities,” said Cain. “I am excited to be a part of the university and enhance the visibility of the achievements accomplished while aligning passions for the future.”
As a member of the FHSU Foundation team, Cain will be responsible for raising endowment, capital, and other financial support to meet the funding needs of the university. Fort Hays State is in the midst of the largest fundraising campaign in school history – the Journey campaign – with a goal of raising $100 million in support of scholarships, academics, student life and athletics.
Cain will also lead planned giving efforts for the Foundation. Whether a donor chooses to provide student scholarships, fund a program or enhance an initiative that meets their interests, through the generous donation of land to Fort Hays State, appreciated securities, or charitable IRA rollover, Cain will be on hand to assist in the process.
Cain has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years and was most recently employed as a financial advisor at Werth Wealth Management of Hays. She worked in the banking industry as a vice president and trust officer. In addition, she spent almost eight years dedicated to higher education and charitable philanthropy at the Kansas State University Foundation with a significant amount of her time spent within their gift planning department.
Cain is a graduate of Tabor College with two bachelor’s degrees in business administration, one with an emphasis in economics and the other in office administration. She has also obtained certification to be designated as a Certified Trust and Financial Officer.
Established in 1945, the FHSU Foundation is committed to cultivating lasting relationships with alumni, friends, corporations and other organizations who have a passion for Fort Hays State and who want to continue its legacy of excellence. As an independent, non-profit organization, the Foundation’s donors have an impact on all facets of university life, and their support continues to translate into success for students and the FHSU learning environment. To learn more about the FHSU Foundation and the Journey Campaign, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu, call 785-628-5620 or email [email protected].
