Oklahoma tops Kansas to end Jayhawks’ run of Big 12 regular-season titles at 14 years
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – Kristian Doolittle had 24 points and 11 rebounds to help Oklahoma beat No. 13 Kansas 81-68 on Tuesday night and end the Jayhawks’ run of Big 12 regular-season titles at 14 years.
The last time Kansas didn’t at least tie for the conference crown, Oklahoma State won it outright in 2003-04. Now, Kansas State and Texas Tech remain in contention for the championship. The fans knew – they chanted “streak is over” in the closing minutes.
Brady Manek scored 21 points and Rashard Odomes added 12 for Oklahoma (19-11, 7-10 Big 12), which boosted its chances of earning an NCAA Tournament bid.
Dedric Lawson, the Big 12’s leading scorer, had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Kansas (22-8, 11-6). David McCormack added 18 points for the Jayhawks.
Manek scored 10 early points to help the Sooners roll out to a 23-7 lead. Kansas crept back into the game before a dunk by Manek put the Sooners up 30-18.
In a perfect example of the way the first half went, the Sooners ran the shot clock down so far that the student section started counting. As time ran out, Doolittle bulled his way through Kansas’ defense for a layup to put the Sooners up 41-22. The Sooners led 41-28 at the break.
Oklahoma poured it on in the second half. A 3-pointer by Odomes pushed the Sooners’ lead to 59-37, and Oklahoma remained in control the rest of the way.
BIG PICTURE
Kansas: Sure, the Jayhawks lost a road game to a team that has caught fire late in the season and likely will reach the NCAA Tournament. But the way they lost should be a concern, as should the close call in a win over struggling Oklahoma State last Saturday. Kansas doesn’t look like Kansas right now.
Oklahoma: The Sooners finally got that marquee win they have been looking for during conference play. The Sooners had lost five straight at one point, but now have won four of five. They head toward the postseason with momentum this season.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Kansas will likely drop for this one because the game was more lopsided than the final score indicates. Kansas trailed by 19 with 1:53 to go before a late flurry.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Markis McDuffie had 16 points as Wichita State defeated East Carolina 72-55 on Tuesday night.
Asbjorn Midtgaard had 11 points and three blocks for Wichita State (16-13, 9-8 American Athletic Conference). Dexter Dennis added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Isaac Fleming had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Pirates (10-19, 3-14). Shawn Williams added 12 points. Rico Quinton had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
The Shockers improve to 2-0 against the Pirates for the season. Wichita State defeated East Carolina 65-49 on Feb. 6. Wichita State finishes out the regular season against Tulane on the road on Saturday. East Carolina finishes out the regular season against Connecticut at home on Sunday.
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) – Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow, keeping the six-time All-Star off the field for the entire 2019 season.
The decision was made after Perez received a second opinion Tuesday from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ team physician. Perez hurt the elbow during a workout last week.
Perez hit just .235 last season, but he had 27 homers and drove in 80 runs while providing a solid and calming presence behind the plate. The MVP of the 2015 World Series, the 28-year-old Perez was being counted upon to help the rebuilding Royals take the steps necessary to return to the postseason.
Now, Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria are expected to share time behind the plate this season.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a banner year on the court, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team picked up seven All-MIAA honors when they were released on Tuesday (March 5) by the league office. Senior forward Tatyana Legette was named the 2018-19 MIAA Women’s Basketball Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-MIAA first team roster, while head coach Tony Hobson earned his third MIAA Coach of the Year honor.
Legette was one of five Tiger student-athletes to earn a spot on an All-MIAA team, joined by Kacey Kennett on the second team, Lanie Page on the third team and honorable mention accolades for Carly Heim and Belle Barbieri.
The Tigers picked up five all-conference nods for the second year in a row and the fifth time in program history. It is the first time the Tigers have placed three players on the first-through-third teams of an all-conference list since 1993-94.
Tony Hobson guided the Tigers to a 27-1 overall record in 2018-19, the fewest losses in a regular season in program history. Fort Hays State finished the difficult MIAA slate 18-1, earning 18 conference wins for the third time in the last five years. An MIAA team has reached 18 league victories just eight times since the Tigers joined the MIAA in 2006-07, with no other school reaching the milestone more than once. Hobson led the Tigers to their eighth-straight 20-win season, extending the longest such streak in program history. Before this stretch began in 2011-12, the team reached the 20 win plateau eight times in its first 42 years of existence. Hobson became the all-time winningest coach in Fort Hays State earlier this season when he earned his 218th victory as a Tiger. He also earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Tatyana Legette has been a constant force for the Tigers all season, leading the team in points, rebounds and assists. She scored in double figures 21 times in the regular season, including three games of 20 or more points. The forward averaged 13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game over the 28 contests to date, making her the lone MIAA player to rank in the top 11 in all three categories. She was also among the league’s best on the defensive end, ranking sixth in the league with 1.6 blocks per game and 14th with 1.4 steals each night. Legette brought her A-game night in and night out when it came to league play, boosting her averages to 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists against MIAA opponents. It is the third time Legette has earned All-MIAA status after picking up second team honors as a junior and an honorable mention selection following her sophomore campaign.
This is the sixth All-MIAA first team honor for the Tigers, and the second time a Tiger has been named MIAA Player of the Year (Lehman, 2014-15).
Kacey Kennett was named to the second team after earning honorable mention status a year ago. The junior averaged 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per night, ranking third on the team in both categories. Kennett knocked down 38 three-pointers on the year, making at least one long-range attempt in all but six contests. The Olathe, Kan. native hit more than 35 percent from behind the arc, third best on the team. She added 39 steals, swiping 1.4 steals every outing.
Lanie Page picked up All-MIAA honors for the second year in a row, earning a spot on the third team after being named honorable mention as a sophomore. The Wamego, Kan. native tallied 333 points in the regular season, ranking second on the team with an average of 11.9 points per outing. Page scored 20 or more points a team-best five times, including a career-high 23 points against Rockhurst. She poured in a team-high 47 three-pointers, making at least one shot from behind the arc in all but five contests. Page ranked second with a free throw percentage of 81.4 percent. In addition to adding 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists every game, the junior was a leader on the defensive end. She paced the team with 45 steals and 45 blocks on the year, ranking in the top 10 in the conference in both category.
Carly Heim picked up honorable mention for the third year in a row. The senior served as the team’s floor general until an untimely injury in early February. She averaged a team-high 1.7 steals in her 20 appearances, ranking seventh in the MIAA. Heim added 7.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per outing. The Hoxie, Kan. native dished out multiple assists in all but five her appearances, including nine games with three or more dimes.
Belle Barbieri picked up her first All-MIAA award after taking a major step forward in her junior season. After averaging just over three points per game in her first two seasons, the Abilene, Kan. native quickly became a double-double threat as a junior. Barbieri ranked third on the team with an average of 10.4 points per contest while ranking second with 6.5 rebounds each game. The forward grabbed 73 offensive rebounds on the year, fourth most in the conference. Barbieri posted 17 double-digit games, third most on the team, while posting the first four double-doubles of her career.
Legette and Heim become the fifth and sixth Tigers to earn a trio of All-MIAA honors, joining Kate Lehman, Jill Faxon, Beth Bohuslavsky and Katelyn Edwards.
2018-19 MIAA Women’s Basketball Postseason Awards Player of the Year – Tatyana Legette – Fort Hays State, Senior
Defensive Player of the Year – Jessica Wayne – Emporia State, Junior
Freshman of the Year – Kaylee DaMitz – Pittsburg State Coach of the Year – Tony Hobson – Fort Hays State
All-MIAA First Team
Paige Redmond – Central Missouri, Senior
Morgan Fleming – Central Missouri, Junior
Tyra Jones – Emporia State, Senior Tatyana Legette – Fort Hays State, Senior
Kallie Bildner – Lindenwood, Junior
Katrina Roenfeldt – Missouri Western, Junior
Reflects Tie In Voting
All-MIAA Second Team
Jessica Wayne – Emporia State, Junior Kacey Kennett – Fort Hays State, Junior
Chelsey Henry – Missouri Southern, Senior
Shelby Lopez – Pittsburg State, Senior
Reagan Phelan – Washburn, Junior
All-MIAA Third Team
Megan Skaggs – Central Missouri, Junior
Micayla Haynes – Central Oklahoma, Junior Lanie Page – Fort Hays State, Junior
Maya Williams – Pittsburg State, Sophomore
Caylee Richardson – Southwest Baptist, Senior
All-Defensive Team
Megan Skaggs – Central Missouri, Junior
Madison Lee – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Jessica Wayne – Emporia State, Junior
Melia Richardson – Missouri Western, Senior
Joi Bertrand – Northeastern State, Senior
Honorable Mention All-MIAA Central Missouri: Sydney Crockett – Senior Central Oklahoma: Ireon Smith – Junior Emporia State: Addie Lackey – Senior, Emily Miller – Senior, Tiana Moala – Senior Fort Hays State: Carly Heim – Senior, Belle Barbieri – Junior Lincoln: Zhanesha Dickerson – Senior Lindenwood: Lexie Moe – Senior, Charisse Williams – Senior Missouri Southern: Chasidee Owens – Junior Missouri Western: Brittany Atkins – Senior, Melia Richardson – Senior Nebraska Kearney: Brooke Carlson – Freshman, Maegan Holt – Freshman, Kelsey Sanger – Sophomore Northeastern State: Cailyn Long – Senior, Cenia Hayes – Sophomore Pittsburg State: Athena Alvarado – Junior, Kaylee DaMitz – Freshman Southwest Baptist: Laura Vierkant – Junior Washburn: Hunter Bentley – Sophomore, Taylor Blue – Senior, Alexis McAfee – Junior
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State had three players named to the 2018-19 All-MIAA Men’s Basketball Team on Tuesday (Mar. 5). Brady Werth headlines the Tiger selections, earning first team honors, while Marcus Cooper and Kyler Kinnamon each received honorable mention selections.
Werth helped the Tigers to a fourth-place finish in the MIAA this year, leading the team in points and rebounds. Werth averages 16.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game entering the MIAA Tournament this week. He is 11th in the MIAA in scoring and sixth in rebounding, while ranking third in total blocked shots with 35. He scored in double figures in 24 of 28 games during the regular season and has a 19-game streak of reaching double figures going into the MIAA Tournament. He also produced five double-doubles in points and rebounds during the regular season. He reached a season-high 27 points twice this year and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds in the regular season finale. Werth gives FHSU its third All-MIAA First Team selection in the last four years after Rob Davis earned the honor in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Cooper receives an honorable mention nod after averaging 12 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during the regular season. He ranked second on the team in steals with 35. Cooper scored in double figures 17 times during the regular season, while pulling down at least five rebounds in a game 10 times. He scored over 20 points in a game five times, with a season-high of 26 points.
Kinnamon receives an honorable mention selection after averaging 7.1 points and 4.4 assists per game during the regular season. He dished out at least three assists in a game 23 times, including a career-high 12 in a win over Central Oklahoma at home. Kinnamon became the fourth player in program history to reach 400 assists, now with 422 in his career. He has 124 assists this year and has dished out over 120 each of the last two years. He scored in double figures eight times with a season high of 16 points.
Below is the 2018-19 All-MIAA Men’s Basketball Team.
2018-19 MIAA Men’s Basketball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year – Joey Witthus – Northwest Missouri, Senior
Defensive Player of the Year – Ryan Hawkins, Sophomore
Freshman of the Year – Trevor Hudgins – Northwest Missouri
Coach of the Year – Ben McCollum – Northwest Missouri
2019 Men’s Basketball All-MIAA Teams First Team Brady Werth – Fort Hays State, Senior
Cam Martin – Missouri Southern, Sophomore
Trevor Hudgins – Northwest Missouri – Freshman
Joey Witthus – Northwest Missouri – Senior
Javion Blake – Washburn – Senior
Second Team
Adarius Avery – Central Oklahoma, Senior
Terrance Smith – Lincoln, Senior
Brad Newman – Lindenwood, Senior
Lavon Hightower – Missouri Western, Senior
Ryan Hawkins – Northwest Missouri, Sophomore
Third Team
Elyjah Clark – Missouri Southern, Junior
Caleb Smith – Northeastern State, Junior
Donovan Franklin – Pittsburg State, Senior
Grant Lozoya – Pittsburg State, Senior
Karim Mouliom – Southwest Baptist, Senior
All-Defensive Team
Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri, Freshman
Ryan Hawkins – Northwest Missouri, Sophomore
Jonell Burton – Lincoln, Junior
Karim Mouliom – Southwest Baptist, Senior
David Salach – Washburn, Senior
Honorable Mentions Central Missouri: Daniel Farris – Sophomore, Jafar Kinsey – Senior, Jacob Lowrance – Senior Emporia State: Kooper Glick – Senior, Julius Jackson – Senior Fort Hays State: Marcus Cooper – Senior, Kyler Kinnamon – Senior Lincoln: Jonell Burton – Junior, Amariontez Ivory – Senior, Grant Olsson – Senior Lindenwood: Chandler Diekvoss – Senior, TJ Crockett – Sophomore Missouri Southern: Kinzer Lambert – Junior, Braelon Walker – Junior Missouri Western: Tyrell Carroll – Freshman, Bryan Hudson – Senior Nebraska Kearney: AJ Jackson – Junior, Kanon Koster – Freshman Northeastern State: Josh Ihek – Junior Northwest Missouri: Diego Bernard – Freshman, Ryan Welty – Junior Washburn: Tyler Geiman – Sophomore, David Salach – Senior
The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will enter the postseason ranked third in both national polls, released Tuesday (March 5). The Tigers are third in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll for the third time this season while they sit third in the D2SIDA National Media Poll for the fourth week in a row and fifth time overall.
After two wins last week, the Tigers have won 10 games all-time when ranked third in the coaches poll, tied for the most wins at any spot in the standings (10-2 when ranked third, fourth 10-1). Overall, Fort Hays State is 78-23 when ranked in the top 25.
This is the third time Fort Hays State has entered the MIAA Championships ranked nationally. The Tigers are 3-2 in the conference tournament as a nationally ranked team, entering the 2015 tournament ranked sixth and the 2016 tournament ranked 16th.
Fort Hays State is the top-ranked team among both MIAA and Central Region rivals. Central Missouri is ranked 24th in this week’s coaches poll and 21st in the media variety. Southwestern Oklahoma State is ranked eighth according to the coaches and fifth in the media poll.
The Tigers head into postseason play Thursday (March 7) when they take on the winner of Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Western in the MIAA Championship quarterfinals. First tip from historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. is set for 6 p.m.
The complete national polls for March 5, 2019 can be found below.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State women’s basketball senior Tatyana Legette standout performance in her final two regular season home games has earned Legette her third MIAA Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week honor of the season, announced Tuesday (March 5) by the league office. It is the fifth time the forward has earned the honor in her illustrious career.
Legette did all she could to ensure the Tigers would complete the regular season undefeated at home, posting 14 points, eight rebounds four assists and two blocks in a 20-point win over Missouri Southern before recording a Senior Day performance for the ages.
Donning fellow senior Carly Heim’s No. 13, the Topeka, Kan. native matched her career high with 25 points in her final regular season home contest. Legette added 10 rebounds, recording her 20th career double-double, while dishing out six assists and swiping two steals to help the Tigers pull out a win over Pittsburg State.
For the week, Legette averaged 19.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 rebounds.
This is the second year in a row that Legette has earned athlete of the week honors following the final week of the regular season.
Legette is one of three players in the league to earn the honor three times this season (Tyra Jones, ESU and Kallie Bildner, LWU). Along with Belle Barbieri’s weekly honor in February, Fort Hays State was one of two MIAA schools to earn four weekly accolades alongside Emporia State.
Legette and the third-ranked Tigers will now set their sights on Kansas City and the MIAA Championship tournament. Top-seeded Fort Hays State will open postseason play on Thursday (March 7) at 6 p.m. inside historic Municipal Auditorium. The Tigers will take on the winner of No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 9 Missouri Western.
No. 18 Kansas State is still tied for the Big 12 lead with one game left in the regular season after a 64-52 win at TCU. Barry Brown had 16 points to lead four Wildcats in double-figure scoring.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Barry Brown had 16 points to lead four Kansas State players in double figures and the 18th-ranked Wildcats beat TCU 64-52 on Monday night to maintain a share of the Big 12 lead with one game remaining in the regular season.
Kansas State (23-7, 13-4 Big 12) went ahead to stay with a tiebreaking 13-4 run to end the first half, then scored the first 10 points after halftime.
Kamau Stokes added 15 points for the Wildcats, who remained tied with No. 8 Texas Tech (25-5, 13-4) atop the Big 12 standings. The Red Raiders, who won by 15 at slumping TCU on Saturday, finished a 70-51 home win over Texas only minutes after the K-State game ended.
Kevin Samuel had 17 points and seven rebounds to lead TCU (18-12, 6-11), while RJ Nembhard scored 12 points.
After TCU’s Desmond Bane made a second-chance 3-pointer with 4:47 left in the first half to tie the game at 23, the Wildcats started their game-turning run.
Dean Wade, who scored all of his nine points before halftime, assisted on a 3-pointer by Stokes before the 6-foot-10 senior who was the preseason All-Big 12 player of the year had a steal. Wade and Brown then traded passes down the court before Wade slammed the ball home.
Stokes hit a 3 that beat the shot clock just before halftime for a 36-27 lead at the break.
K-State led by as many as 21 points before TCU reeled off 10 points in a row, a streak that finally ended when Mike McGuirl stopped underneath and passed out to Makol Mawien for a 13-foot jumper in the lane.
Xavier Sneed had 11 points and Mawien 10.
BIG PICTURE
Kansas St.: The Wildcats have a chance to win their second Big 12 title. They were co-champions in 2012-13, coach Bruce Weber’s first season, when they shared the title with Kansas – the 14-time defending champion that won the last five titles outright. K-State started 0-2 in the Big 12 when Wade was out with a foot injury, but is 13-2 in conference play since.
TCU: The Horned Frogs lost for the sixth time in seven games, a stretch that has taken them to the NCAA Tournament bubble. Before that, they seemed to be well on their way to their second consecutive NCAA Tournament after ending a two-decade drought last year.
SENIOR NIGHT
TCU seniors Alex Robinson and JD Miller were recognized before the game. Robinson, who is from Fort Worth but played his first college season for Texas A&M, is TCU’s career assist leader at 628. Miller has played in all 133 games since he got on campus, three short of Brandon Parrish’s school record of 136.
UP NEXT
Kansas State wraps up the regular season Saturday at home against Oklahoma, on senior day for starters Wade, Brown and Stokes.
TCU plays its regular-season finale Saturday at Texas, another NCAA Tournament bubble team.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State head baseball coach Jerod Goodale has announced the signing of 14 student-athletes that will join the Tigers in the fall of 2019. This year’s initial signing class includes eight true freshmen and six transfers, six pitchers, three outfielders, two infielders, two utility players and one catcher and four sets of teammates.
“We are extremely excited about the guys we have signed so far,” said Goodale. “It is a deep and talented group with a good combination of high school and junior college transfers. All 14 players will have an immediate impact on our program moving forward.
“We feel that this group, combined with the addition of a few more pieces, has a chance to do some special things during their time here in Hays. They will be pivotal in getting the program back to a level we all want it to be.
“Our coaching staff has put in a lot of hard work and effort to assemble a class this big and I can’t thank them enough. We are all looking forward to getting them here in the fall and getting to work.”
Additional signees will continue to be released throughout the spring.
Drake Angeron | Outfielder | Morgan City, La. (Dodge City CC)
Drake Angeron will be a sophomore for the Tigers in the fall after competing with Dodge City (Kan.) Community College for one season. He was a two-sport athlete at Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, La., where he competed in baseball and football. The outfielder helped the Eagles to back-to-back state title games, winning the 2016 championship before finishing runner-up in 2017. He earned All-State honors as a senior while twice picking up all-district honors (2016, 2017).
Zach Berg | Right-handed Pitcher | Parker, Colo. (Western Nebraska CC)
Zach Berg is the first of two signees from Western Nebraska Community College. He was named to the All-Nebraska JUCO baseball team by the Omaha World Herald as an honorable mention selection following his freshman season. The right-handed pitcher tossed 39.2 innings, picking up two wins and one save while striking 31 and walking 12. Berg also played in the Region IX All-Star Game in 2018. He was a two-time baseball academic All-State selection at Chaparral High School in Parker, Colo.
Griffin Brunson | Utility | Garden City, Kan. (Garden City CC)
Griffin Brunson has signed with the Tigers after two seasons at Garden City (Kan.) Community College. The utility player took to the field in 52 games last year, recording a batting average of .267 and an on-base percentage of .410. He swiped 15 bases and was caught stealing only once. Brunson scored 52 runs, third-most for the Broncbusters. A native of Garden City, Kan., Brunson earned first team all-conference and all-area honors three times each. He was also a two-year letterwinner on the basketball court.
Jacob Callaway | Catcher | Broomfield, Colo. (Holy Family HS)
Jacob Callaway joins the Tigers from Holy Family (Colo.) High School. The Brighton, Colo. native served as baseball team captain as a junior in 2018, helping the Tigers to a fifth-place finish in the 4A State tournament. The catcher accumulated a .539 on-base percentage in his junior season. He also played football at Holy Family while playing summer ball with the Slammers.
Jake Campbell | Right-handed Pitcher | Fort Collins, Colo. (Rocky Mountain HS)
Jake Campbell will head to Hays after graduating from Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, Colo. The right-handed pitcher was a second team All-State selection following his junior season in 2018. He helped the Lobos to the 5A State Championship in 2017. Campbell has been an academic All-State selection after each of his first three seasons and once earned academic duel sport All-State honors.
Cade Flaherty | Right-handed Pitcher/Infielder | Omaha, Neb. (Burke HS)
Cade Flaherty signs with the Tigers from Burke High School in Omaha, Neb. He helped the Bulldogs to a fourth-place finish in the 2018 Nebraska Class A state tournament while playing on the winning team in the 2018 American Legion state championship. The right-handed pitcher has excelled in the classroom, earning AP Scholar distinction while serving as a member of the National Honor Society.
Hunter Igo | Infielder | Derby, Kan. (Derby HS)
Hunter Igo will head across the state after a successful career at Derby High School in Derby, Kan. The infielder earned honorable mention all-league honors while lettering in baseball three times. Igo will also play football at Fort Hays State after earning numerous accolades with the Panthers, including a spot on the Topeka Capital Journal Top 11 Team for the entire state of Kansas and a pair of state titles.
Tanner Lukowski | Utility/Right-handed Pitcher | Omaha, Neb. (Skutt Catholic HS)
Tanner Lukowski joins the Tigers from Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha, Neb. Lukowski picked up numerous honors as a junior in 2018, earning academic All-State honors, all-conference and all-region honors and All-State honors from Prep Baseball Report. He batted .372 with 21 RBI as a junior while compiling a 2-0 record with two saves and a 2.85 ERA on the mound.
Jordon McFarland | Right-handed Pitcher | Brighton, Colo. (Holy Family HS)
Jordon McFarland is the second signee from Holy Family (Colo.) High School. The right-handed pitcher was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a junior in 2018, compiling a 2.09 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 50.1 innings of work. The Brighton, Colo. native helped the Tigers to a fifth-place finish in the 4A State tournament.
Hunter Parker | Right-handed Pitcher | Aurora, Colo. (Western Nebraska CC)
Hunter Parker is the second pitcher to sign with the Tigers from Western Nebraska Community College. The Aurora, Colo. native was selected to participate in the Region IX All-Star Game as a freshman after striking out 51 batters over 44.2 innings of work. The righty ranked third on the team with a 10.3 K/9 rate.
Jason Robertson | Outfielder/Right-handed Pitcher | Flower Mound, Texas (Marcus HS)
Jason Robertson heads to Hays from Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. The outfielder/right-handed pitcher earned one letter with the Marauders while playing with Richard Austin Baseball in the summer.
Corbin Truslow | First Baseman | Georgetown, Texas (Garden City CC)
Corbin Truslow joins the Tigers via Garden City (Kan.) Community College. The first baseman earned first team all-conference and all-region honors as a freshman in 2018 after clubbing 18 home runs, ranking 13th nationally. He finished the year batting .366 with 14 doubles, three triples, 75 RBI and a .485 on-base percentage. Truslow was a member of the football team at Colorado School of Mines for one year before transferring to GCCC. A native of Georgetown Texas, Truslow was a three-sport standout at East View High School, earning first team all-district honors in baseball while also excelling in football and track and field.
Padraic Walsh | Right-handed Pitcher | Aurora, Colo. (Dodge City CC)
Padraic Walsh is the second Conquistador to sign with the Tigers, heading to Hays from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. The righty was named All-KJCCC honorable mention following his freshman season, appearing in 10 games while making five starts. Walsh accumulated a record of 4-1, posting an ERA of 4.54 over 35.2 innings of work. He struck out 32 batters on the year while walking just 12. The Aurora, Colo. native earned three baseball letters at Smoky Hill High School, earning second team all-league honors as a senior after earning honorable mention status as a junior. Walsh also played basketball for two seasons in high school.
Jaxson Webb | Outfielder/Right-handed Pitcher | Lawrence, Kan. (Lawrence Free State HS)
Jaxson Webb has signed with the Tigers after playing at Lawrence Free State High School. The Lawrence, Kan. native started every game in center field for the Firebirds last spring, helping Free State to a regional championship. Webb also participated in football, basketball and scholar’s bowl. Additional honors include scholar-athlete of the month by MidCo Sports Network and football all-conference honors.
Hays High’s Tradgon McCrae has been named to the first team of the All-Western Athletic Conference basketball team. McCrea averaged 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and hit a team-high 42 three-pointers.
Dodge City’s Noah Sowers is the WAC Player of the Year. Garden City’s Jacy Holloway is the Coach of the Year.
WAC Player of the Year: Noah Sowers-Dodge City
WAC Coach of the Year: Jacy Holloway-Garden City
All-WAC First Team
Noah Sowers (Sr)-Dodge City
Alex Schremmer (Jr)-Great Bend
Tradgon McCrae (Sr)-Hays
Kyler Lamb-Garden (Sr) City
Carlos Acosta (Jr)-Garden City
All-WAC Second Team
Broday Sumner (Jr)-Liberal
Jarrod Springston (Sr)-Garden City
Adrian Mendoza (Sr)-Dodtg City
Dalton Miller (Jr)-Great Bend
John Johnson (Jr)-Dodge City
The Monarchs season continued Saturday with a convincing 60-35 win over Smoky Valley to claim the 3A sub-state championship. TMP had three players in double-figures as Jared Mayers recored 17 points and 10 rebounds, Ryan Karlin finished with 14 and Carson Jacobs had 12 points.
The Monarchs improved to 13-11 with the win and are headed back to the 3A state tournament in Hutchinson this week as the #8 seed. They will take on #1 Maur Hill – Mount Academy out of Atchison.
Plainville Cardinals Wichita Co. Sub-State Champions
You can listen to the game on 99.5 KHAZ, the home of Monarch athletics, starting at 6:10pm. with the pregame show.
Plainville & Ness City boys, Trego girls advance to state tournament in Hays
The Plainville Cardinal boys held off Ellis on Saturday in Leoti 69-56 to win the Wichita County 2A sub-state and advance to the state tournament in Hays this week. Plainville defeated Smith Center 76-64 in the first round and Hoxie 76-73 in the semi-final. Senior Tanner Copeland lead Plainville in scoring with 26 (8 in the fourth quarter). Sophomore Clay Pelton made five three-pointers in the contest to finished with 15.
Plainville will be the #8 seed in Hays and will take on #1 Inman on Wednesday at 6:30pm. You can listen to the game on 101.9 The Bull KKQY.
Trego Golden Eagles Wichita Co. sub-state champs
The Trego Golden Eagle girls advanced to the 2A state tournament after defeating Plainville 42-26 in Leoti on Saturday. Plainville lead Trego 19-18 at half but the Golden Eagles held Plainville to just seven points to outscore them 24-7 in the second half. Sophomore Emma Day scored 13 points for Trego, junior Libby Frost finished with 12 points. The Golden Eagles as a team grabbed 35 rebounds. The Golden Eagles are the #2 seed at the state tournament in Hays.
They will take on #7 Stanton County Thursday at 6:30pm. You can listen to the game on 101.9 The Bull KKQY.
The Ness City boys won the Meade sub-state on Saturday with a 66-58 win over Lakin to advance to Hays. Senior Andres Rios lead the way with 22 points and nine rebounds. Senior John Pfannenstiel nearly had a triple-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds and nine assists. The Eagles forced Lakin into 17 turnovers and shot 48% from the field.
Ness City comes into Hays as the #4 seed and will play Bishop Seabury Academy on Wednesday at 8:15pm. You can listen to the game on 101.9 The Bull KKQY.
Osborne boys, Thunder Ridge girls advance to 1A state tournament in Dodge City
Ness City Meade sub-state champions
Thunder Ridge will be the #5 seed and take on #4 South Central Wednesday at 8:15 pm. Osborne is the #2 seed and will play #7 Lebo Thursday at 3:00 pm. Both games can be heard on 96.9 KFIX.
OVERTIME
The Fort Hays State men and women basketball teams will play in the MIAA tournament in Kansas City this week. The Tiger men will be the #4 seed and take on #5 Lincoln at 12 pm. on Friday. The Tiger women will be the #1 seed and take on the winner of Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Western on Thursday at 6 pm. You can listen to both games on Tiger Radio Mix 103. Full brackets/schedules for the MIAA tournament can be found here.
Have highlights you want to share for next week’s Hoops Highlights? Email them to C.D. DeSalvo. Photos are encouraged!
A team, front row: Brett Schumacher, Charlie Roe, Jack Weimer, Brantlee Staab, Cooper Sanders; back row: Coach Cade Scott, Colin Clark, Ethan Marshall, Braxton Banker, Malik Bah, Ben Zimmerman and Jaiden Desaire.
The Hays Middle School seventh-grade basketball A and B teams won their first WAC championships this season, with a combined record of 26-4.
Cade Scott coached the A team, and Ben Oberle coached the B team.
B team, front row: Tanner Boxberger, Derek Quach, Kyler Riggs, Jaxon Zimmerman, Dylan Stahl and Lex Lummus; back row, Kelby Hammerschmidt, Rhett Shelton, Nate Henderson, Bryan Camera, Henry Fitzthum, Corbin Werth and Coach Ben Oberle.
