FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State rallied late but came up two points short of a Top 10 upset, falling to No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul, 70-68, on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Radisson Hotel Roseville Classic in St. Paul, Minn.

A physical game that saw a combined 53 fouls called, the Tigers (1-1) lost the rebounding battle, 44-34 and were undone by CU’s 46.8 percent field goal percentage.  FHSU shot 32.3 percent from the field and were much improved from the free throw line, hitting 20-of-29 (69 percent).

FHSU’s largest lead of the night came early in the first (17:17) after a jumper from Keriann Shaw made it 3-0.  The Golden Bears answered to tie it at 5-all before climbing to an 8-5 lead.  A three-pointer from Chelsea Mason stopped a 5-0 burst for CU and set in motion back-and-forth play that brought the game near the six-minute mark with FHSU trailing, 23-21.  At that point, CU pulled away on a 9-3 run to take a 32-24 lead.

A three-pointer from Mason stopped the spurt, and two free throws by the Golden Bears sent the game to the break with FHSU trailing, 34-27.

Out of the pause, a three-pointer from CU’s Amanda Barton gave the Golden Bears their largest lead of the night (10), 37-27, but Bohuslavsky answered with a jumper of her own at 18:47 to start the Tigers climb back into contention. Over the next 6:40 of game time, FHSU doubled up CU in scoring (14-7) to cut the deficit to one, eventually taking the lead on a jumper from Nikola Kacperska (47-46) at 10:11.

FHSU stayed close over the next five minutes of action, when Shaw’s free throw at 5:36 gave FHSU its final lead of the night (54-53), as CU answered on free throws from Lauren Shiflett less than 30 seconds later to start an 8-2 run for the Golden Bears, during which six points came from Anika Whiting.  CU soon stretched that lead to eight (65-57) with 2:17 to play in the game, but the Tigers would not go quietly.

Free throws from Kate Lehman brought the game to 67-61, the pressing defense of Beth Bohuslavsky yielded a steal and two free throws for FHSU – shrinking the deficit to four with 1:16 on the clock.  The Tigers forced another turnover less than 10 seconds later – this time coming on a steal for Shaw, but three missed field goals on the ensuing possession (which lasted over 30 seconds) proved fatal for FHSU.

After a foul, CU’s Ameshia Kearney made just one of two free throws with 21 seconds to go, Bohuslavsky raced down the court to hit a layup (68-65) with 15 seconds to go, but Mishayla Jones’ free throws on the other end put CU back up by five (70-65). As time expired, Bohuslavsky found the net on a three-pointer, sending the game to final at 70-68.

FHSU forced 23 turnovers and scored 15 points off turnovers in the game, totaling nine steals as a team.

Bohuslavsky led the Tigers with 16 points on the evening, adding two assits with two steals while playing a team-high 32 minutes. Chelsea Mason (13 points) and Kacperska (10 points) were the other Tigers to hit double-digits, as each added two assists.  Kacperska’s three steals was tied for the team-lead with Shaw, who had six points and four rebounds.

Lehman fell just short of a double-double in her second consecutive game – scoring nine points with 10 rebounds in the loss (after scoring 24 points with nine rebounds on Friday evening). She was voted to the All-Tournament Team for her performance on the weekend, joining Lizzy Jeronimus (Pittsburg State), Kylie Gafford (Pittsburg State), Mishayla Jones (CU) and Whiting (voted most valuable player) on the honor roll.

Fort Hays State hosts McPherson College this week for its home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 19.  Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. from Gross Memorial Coliseum.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Fort Hays States scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions racing out to a 28-3 halftime lead and defeat Central Missouri 45-17 Saturday on a cold day at Walton Stadium Warrensburg, Missouri. Quarterback Treveon Albert threw scoring strike to Garrison Hendricks and Ed Williams and Quinten Darby added a pair of short TD runs helping the Tigers take control early.

The victory is the Tigers seventh of the season (7-4), giving them their first seven-win campaign since 1996. It is also their first win over the Mules (7-4) since joining the MIAA in 2006, snapping and eight-game losing streak. FHSU finishes in a fourth place tie in the MIAA standings, their highest finish ever.

Chris Brown Postgame Interview

The Mules moved to ball deep into Tiger territory on the first possession of the third quarter but fullback Sean Gorman fumbled which was recovered by linebacker Brock Long at the one yard line.

Central’s first touchdown came on a blocked punt midway through the third quarter, but FHSU responded with a seven-play which resulted in a 33 yard Drew O’Brien field goal.

Game Highlights

Ed Williams hauled in a 19-yard TD pass and Ed Smith an eight yard TD run for the final margin.

The Tigers finish with 384 yards of total offense, 289 on the ground. Ed Smith led the Tigers rushing attack with 144 yards on 12 carries. Kenneth Iheme added 114 yards on 29 carries.

Treveon Albert  completed nine of 17 passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State men’s basketball dropped to 0-2 to open the 2014-15 season with an 83-71 loss to Minnesota State-Moorhead on Saturday (Nov. 15) in Maryville, Mo. The Dragons shot 54.3 percent from the field and drained 11 3-point field goals on their way to a 2-0 start to the year.

Coach Johnson’s Post game Interview

MSU-Moorhead controlled the game throughout, taking the lead for good at the 17:45 mark of the first half. The Dragons pushed the lead to double figures at the 12:31 mark of the first half and never let the Tigers closer than seven points the remainder of the opening frame. MSU-Moorhead led 42-32 at the half.

Game Highlights

FHSU cut the lead to single figures three times in the first 10 minutes, but the Dragons had an answer every time to push the lead back to double figures. Scoring went back-and-forth for the majority of the second half as the Tigers couldn’t find a run to put pressure on MSU-Moorhead.

Aaron Lien had the hot hand for MSU-Moorhead from the outside with 26 points, hitting 6-of-8 3-point field goal attempts. He finished 9-of-14 from the field and 2-of-3 at the free-throw line. Post player Isaac Sevlie had 16 points, going a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line. Jordan Riewer had 12 points, Ngijol Songolo had 11, and Urbane Bingham had 10.

Craig Nicholson and Royce Williams led the way for FHSU, each with 14 points. Nicholson had six assists and Williams added five. Jake Stoppel scored 13 points off the bench and Tomislav Gabric had 11. Jeremy Wilson led FHSU in rebounds with seven.

The Tigers will look to get on track in their home opener against Central Christian College on Wednesday (Nov. 19) at 7:30 pm.

FHSU Athltics

Fort Hays State used double-digit scoring efforts from three Tigers to pick up a 71-65 season opening win over Bemidji State on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Radisson Hotel Roseville Classic in St. Paul, Minn.

FHSU (1-0) led by as many as 15 in the game, but was forced to hang on late as BSU (0-1) kept the game close down to the wire.

The Tigers stormed out of the gate, jumping out to a 12-4 lead in the first four minutes before stretching their lead to 15 (25-10) just eight minutes in.  That dominance, however, would not last as BSU answered with three consecutive three-pointers as part of a 15-1 run that cut the lead to one (26-25) at 7:29.  A free throw and a layup from Kate Lehman put the Tigers back up by four, though BSU trailed by two twice more in the half (29-27 and 32-30).  Inside 35 seconds to play, a four-point burst to end the half sent the Tigers to the break up six, 36-30.

Out of the pause, again started hot, using an 11-4 run (including nine unanswered) over the first 3:37 of the final period to push the lead back to double-digits 47-34. After BSU shrunk the Tigers’ lead to six (42-48) at 14:37, three-pointers from Jill Faxon and Chelsea Mason provided an answer to push the lead back above 10 – where it stayed until 3:32 when a layup from BSU’s Sierra Senske brought the score to 65-56.

Inside 30 seconds to go, FHSU looked to be in control with a 10-point lead, but a jump shot from Tatum Sheley and a layup from Aimee Pelzer in a three-second span pulled the Beavers within striking distance (68-62). Nikola Kacperska hit one of two free throws on the other end to put the lead back at seven, but Sheley’s three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining continued to keep BSU close, down 69-65. Beth Bohuslavsky sealed the game with 12 seconds on the clock, however, hitting both free throws and sending the Tigers towards their 10th consecutive season-opening win.

Although the Tigers lost the turnover battle, 18-17, they did outscore BSU 19-12 in points off turnovers, including a 14-4 advantage in the second half.  On the boards, FHSU was dominant, outhustling the Beavers 52-39 overall and 21-11 on the offensive end.

Both squads shot well from the field, hitting over 38 percent of their field goals, though FHSU shot just 47.6 percent from the charity stripe (10-21).

Lehman just missed a double-double for the evening, pacing the Tigers with 24 points and nine rebounds – adding three blocks in 29 minutes on the floor.  Bohuslavsky matched the rebounding effort with nine boards of her own, adding five points and a team-high seven assists.

Faxon’s 21 points tied a career-high (set last season against Oklahoma-Panhandle State), as the sophomore hit 5-of-9 from three-point range while pulling down six rebounds and dishing out five assists.

Elle Stein was the other Tiger to hit double-digit in scoring, adding 11 to the winning effort in her Fort Hays State debut.

Under head coach Tony Hobson, FHSU is now 7-0 in season openers.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Upper Iowa’s Jace Hanna hit four free throws in the final 10 seconds to hold Fort Hays State at bay as the Peacocks defeat the Tigers 86-83 in the season opener for both Friday at Bearcat Arena in Maryville, Missouri. The win avenges FHSU’s 97-90 overtime win over UIU a year ago in Marshall. Minnesota.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Fort Hays State used 50-percent shooting in the first half in building a 40-37 halftime lead, but the Peacocks used a 9-0 run early in the second half to build an eight-point lead. Back-to-back Jared Tadlock baskets gave the Tigers a 66-65 lead with 8:49 to play. A Carson Parker layup gave Upper Iowa the lead for good with 2:39 to play.
Game Highlights

FHSU had a chance to tie with 0:14 to play, but Craig Nicholson missed the first of two free throws. His off-balance three at the horn came up short ending the Tigers hopes of forcing overtime.

Nicholson led all scoring with 24 points and seven assists. Dom Samac added 12 and Royce Williams 10. Both battled foul trouble throughout the game, playing a combined 38 minutes.

The Tigers shot only 35-percent in the second half and finish 42-percent for the game including 4-of-16 from 3-point range. FHSU did hit 23-of-26 free throws.

UIU shot 48-percent from the floor and was 9-for-23 from beyond the arc. They were led by Jimmy Roth who scored 18.