JOPLIN, Mo. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team fell just short Saturday (Feb. 18) against Missouri Southern, falling 61-58 on the road. The back-and-forth contest was close all afternoon, featuring 10 lead changes and five ties while neither side led by more than nine points all day. The Tigers (19-10, 14-7 MIAA) fell behind by eight in the first quarter after MSSU (22-6, 14-6 MIAA) knocked down 50 percent from the floor over the first 10 minutes.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/brooke-loewe/6850">Brooke Loewe</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jessie-sallach/6847">Jessie Sallach</a>&nbsp;both hit jumpers early in the second quarter to close within three before the Lions pushed their advantage back to eight.

Fort Hays State scored the final five points of the first half to make it a one possession game at intermission, 34-31, after holding MSSU scoreless for the final three minutes of the second quarter. The Tigers pushed the run to 10-0 after scoring the first five out of the locker room, taking a 36-34 lead. The lead changed hands three more times in the quarter, with the Lions up 49-48 heading into the fourth quarter. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kate-dilsaver/6841">Kate Dilsaver</a>&nbsp;hit a pair of free throws early in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers back in front, 50-49, but the Lions soon regained the lead for good.

Both teams cranked up the pressure on defense in the fourth quarter, with FHSU hitting 25 percent from the floor over the final 10 minutes compared to a 30 percent shooting effort from the Lions. The Tigers forced four turnovers and did not make any turnovers of their own, but the home team did just enough to hang on for the win. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>&nbsp;recorded her second double-double of the road trip, putting up 18 points and 11 rebounds while adding two assists. Loewe scored a career-high 11 points after hitting two 3-pointers, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/6845">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;chipped in 13 points. The Tigers will wrap up the regular season next Saturday (Feb. 25) at No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney before opening the postseason in the 2023 MIAA Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinals on Friday, March 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676787991196.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State guard Brooke Loewe drives to the basketball in an NCAA basketball game vs. Minnesota State on November 18, 2022 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State guard Brooke Loewe drives to the basketball in an NCAA basketball game vs. Minnesota State on November 18, 2022 in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsJOPLIN, Mo. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team fell just short Saturday (Feb. 18) against Missouri Southern, falling 61-58 on the road. The back-and-forth contest was close all afternoon, featuring 10 lead changes and five ties while neither side led by more than nine points all day. The Tigers (19-10, 14-7 MIAA) fell behind by eight in the first quarter after MSSU (22-6, 14-6 MIAA) knocked down 50 percent from the floor over the first 10 minutes.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/brooke-loewe/6850">Brooke Loewe</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jessie-sallach/6847">Jessie Sallach</a>&nbsp;both hit jumpers early in the second quarter to close within three before the Lions pushed their advantage back to eight.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1450200007&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/2-18-23-fhsu-wbkb-coach-int" title="Tony Hobson Postgame at Missouri Southern State (Feb. 18, 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Tony Hobson Postgame at Missouri Southern State (Feb. 18, 2023)</a></div></div>Fort Hays State scored the final five points of the first half to make it a one possession game at intermission, 34-31, after holding MSSU scoreless for the final three minutes of the second quarter. The Tigers pushed the run to 10-0 after scoring the first five out of the locker room, taking a 36-34 lead. The lead changed hands three more times in the quarter, with the Lions up 49-48 heading into the fourth quarter. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kate-dilsaver/6841">Kate Dilsaver</a>&nbsp;hit a pair of free throws early in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers back in front, 50-49, but the Lions soon regained the lead for good.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1450193122&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/2-18-23-fhsu-wbkb-v-misss-state-hilights" title="Fort Hays State WBB Highlights at Missouri Southern State (Feb. 18, 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State WBB Highlights at Missouri Southern State (Feb. 18, 2023)</a></div></div>Both teams cranked up the pressure on defense in the fourth quarter, with FHSU hitting 25 percent from the floor over the final 10 minutes compared to a 30 percent shooting effort from the Lions. The Tigers forced four turnovers and did not make any turnovers of their own, but the home team did just enough to hang on for the win. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>&nbsp;recorded her second double-double of the road trip, putting up 18 points and 11 rebounds while adding two assists. Loewe scored a career-high 11 points after hitting two 3-pointers, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/6845">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;chipped in 13 points. The Tigers will wrap up the regular season next Saturday (Feb. 25) at No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney before opening the postseason in the 2023 MIAA Women's Basketball Championship quarterfinals on Friday, March 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tiger women come up just short at Missouri Southern

YUKON, Okla. – Fort Hays State dropped its final two games of the Raising Cane's Softball Festival on Saturday (Feb. 18). The Tigers fell 5-1 to East Central, then 9-1 in six innings to Arkansas Tech. FHSU is now 3-5 on the season. East Central 5, Fort Hays State 1 The FHSU bats struggled in their first contest of the day, recording only two hits against East Central. Only one run of six in the game was earned as errors proved costly for FHSU. After hitting a home run in the first inning, East Central picked up four more unearned runs over the second and third innings to create enough of a pad for its first win of the season. FHSU picked up its only run in the second inning. FHSU scored its lone run on a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lilliana-ramirez-johnson/7093">Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson</a>&nbsp;RBI double in the second inning with two outs, right after&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;reached base on a fielding error.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/reese-curry/7079">Reese Curry</a>&nbsp;had the only other hit for the Tigers. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/morgan-schmidt/7087">Morgan Schmidt</a>&nbsp;threw the first 1.2 innings for FHSU, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-carlson/7078">Bailey Carlson</a>&nbsp;threw the final 5.1 innings and allowed a run (not earned) on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Taia Harris of East Central fell one out shy of qualifying for the win. She went 3.2 innings with one run allowed on one hit and three walks. She struck out three. Taryn O'Brien picked up the win in 3.1 innings of relief, allowing a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. Arkansas Tech 9, Fort Hays State 1 Fort Hays State struggled to find runs once more in their final contest of the weekend, falling by run-rule 9-1 to Arkansas Tech. The Golden Suns moved up 1-0 in the bottom of the first with a solo home run before FHSU scored its only run of the game in the top of the second. ATU scored eight unanswered runs the rest of the way to move to 8-5 on the season. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/madison-pierce/7086">Madison Pierce</a>&nbsp;led off the second inning with a double and came in to score on a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lilliana-ramirez-johnson/7093">Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson</a>&nbsp;RBI single. Ramirez-Johnson had two of five hits for the Tigers in the game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/adysen-burghart/7077">Adysen Burghart</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/peyton-shepard/7094">Peyton Shepard</a>&nbsp;had one hit each. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savanah-egger/7081">Savanah Egger</a>&nbsp;pitched the first 4.0 innings for FHSU, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and a walk. She struck out three batters.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-carlson/7078">Bailey Carlson</a>&nbsp;threw the final 1.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Fort Hays State returns to action next weekend at the Washburn Tournament in Topeka, Kan. (Feb. 24-26).&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676788401107.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State freshman pitcher Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State freshman pitcher Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsYUKON, Okla. – Fort Hays State dropped its final two games of the Raising Cane's Softball Festival on Saturday (Feb. 18). The Tigers fell 5-1 to East Central, then 9-1 in six innings to Arkansas Tech. FHSU is now 3-5 on the season. East Central 5, Fort Hays State 1 The FHSU bats struggled in their first contest of the day, recording only two hits against East Central. Only one run of six in the game was earned as errors proved costly for FHSU. After hitting a home run in the first inning, East Central picked up four more unearned runs over the second and third innings to create enough of a pad for its first win of the season. FHSU picked up its only run in the second inning. FHSU scored its lone run on a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lilliana-ramirez-johnson/7093">Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson</a>&nbsp;RBI double in the second inning with two outs, right after&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;reached base on a fielding error.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/reese-curry/7079">Reese Curry</a>&nbsp;had the only other hit for the Tigers. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/morgan-schmidt/7087">Morgan Schmidt</a>&nbsp;threw the first 1.2 innings for FHSU, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-carlson/7078">Bailey Carlson</a>&nbsp;threw the final 5.1 innings and allowed a run (not earned) on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Taia Harris of East Central fell one out shy of qualifying for the win. She went 3.2 innings with one run allowed on one hit and three walks. She struck out three. Taryn O'Brien picked up the win in 3.1 innings of relief, allowing a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. Arkansas Tech 9, Fort Hays State 1 Fort Hays State struggled to find runs once more in their final contest of the weekend, falling by run-rule 9-1 to Arkansas Tech. The Golden Suns moved up 1-0 in the bottom of the first with a solo home run before FHSU scored its only run of the game in the top of the second. ATU scored eight unanswered runs the rest of the way to move to 8-5 on the season. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/madison-pierce/7086">Madison Pierce</a>&nbsp;led off the second inning with a double and came in to score on a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lilliana-ramirez-johnson/7093">Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson</a>&nbsp;RBI single. Ramirez-Johnson had two of five hits for the Tigers in the game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/adysen-burghart/7077">Adysen Burghart</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/peyton-shepard/7094">Peyton Shepard</a>&nbsp;had one hit each. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savanah-egger/7081">Savanah Egger</a>&nbsp;pitched the first 4.0 innings for FHSU, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and a walk. She struck out three batters.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-carlson/7078">Bailey Carlson</a>&nbsp;threw the final 1.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Fort Hays State returns to action next weekend at the Washburn Tournament in Topeka, Kan. (Feb. 24-26).&nbsp;&nbsp;

🥎 Tigers struggle to score runs Saturday in Oklahoma

Fort Hays State (18-8, 13-7 MIAA) at Missouri Southern (16-9, 12-7 MIAA) Saturday, February 18 - 3:30 p.m. Joplin, Mo. - Leggett and Platt Center Radio: KJLS (103.3)

<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> The Fort Hays State men's basketball team returns to the court Saturday afternoon at Missouri Southern. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. inside the Leggett and Platt Center. FHSU is looking to even the season series with Missouri Southern and lead the Lions by just a half game in the MIAA standings. The Tigers are 18-8 overall, 13-7 in the MIAA, while the Lions are 16-9 overall, 12-7 in the MIAA. Missouri Southern took the first meeting with FHSU this season by a score of 68-56 in Hays. It snapped a three-game win streak for FHSU against MSSU. The Tigers won the last meeting with the Lions in Joplin back during the 2020-21 season by a score of 102-94 in overtime.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jared-vitztum/6468">Jared Vitztum</a>&nbsp;each had 32 points in that game. FHSU remains a half game back of third place in the MIAA standings, currently held by Lincoln and Emporia State. Missouri Southern sits in sixth a half game back of FHSU. The Tigers are coming off a 71-49 win at Pittsburg State on Thursday night. The win gave the Tigers a season sweep of the Gorillas, which is has done to four opponents now this season. That list also includes Central Missouri, Lincoln, and Newman. The Lions are coming off an 86-59 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night in Joplin. After facing the Tigers on Saturday, Missouri Southern has to play at Washburn and Northwest Missouri State next week. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;is now just one assist away from another milestone in his career at FHSU. He is looking to become just the fourth player in program history with at least 1,000 points and 300 assists. That group includes Raymond Lee (1,615 pts, 899 ast), Craig Nicholson (1,449 pts, 628 ast), and Mark Wilson (1,631 pts, 556 ast). Hammeke looks to become just the ninth player in program history to have 300 career assists. Hammeke passed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season in a win at Newman and now has 1,064 for his career. Hammeke continues to lead the Tigers at 16.1 points and 3.6 assists per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/gabe-pieschl/6904">Gabe Pieschl</a>&nbsp;is the top rebounder for FHSU at 5.8 per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/elijah-nnanabu/6902">Elijah Nnanabu</a>&nbsp;is close to averaging double figures in scoring at 9.9 points per game, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/bjarni-jonsson/6901">Bjarni Jonsson</a>&nbsp;averages 8.7 and shoots over 50 percent beyond the 3-point line.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/traejon-davis/6896">Traejon Davis</a>&nbsp;is the top scorer off the bench at 6.9 points per game. Winston Dessesow leads the Lions in scoring at 13.0 points per game, followed by Vinson Sigmon Jr. at 12.4 and Avery Taggart at 11.6.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676672083222.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State forward Traejon Davis (2) is guarded by Nebraska-Kearney's Winston Cook (14) in an MIAA game in Hays, Kan. on January 14, 2023. (FHSU Athletics photo/Madison Shapland)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State forward Traejon Davis (2) is guarded by Nebraska-Kearney's Winston Cook (14) in an MIAA game in Hays, Kan. on January 14, 2023. (FHSU Athletics photo/Madison Shapland)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFort Hays State (18-8, 13-7 MIAA) at Missouri Southern (16-9, 12-7 MIAA) Saturday, February 18 - 3:30 p.m. Joplin, Mo. - Leggett and Platt Center Radio: KJLS (103.3)<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> The Fort Hays State men's basketball team returns to the court Saturday afternoon at Missouri Southern. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. inside the Leggett and Platt Center. FHSU is looking to even the season series with Missouri Southern and lead the Lions by just a half game in the MIAA standings. The Tigers are 18-8 overall, 13-7 in the MIAA, while the Lions are 16-9 overall, 12-7 in the MIAA. Missouri Southern took the first meeting with FHSU this season by a score of 68-56 in Hays. It snapped a three-game win streak for FHSU against MSSU. The Tigers won the last meeting with the Lions in Joplin back during the 2020-21 season by a score of 102-94 in overtime.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jared-vitztum/6468">Jared Vitztum</a>&nbsp;each had 32 points in that game. FHSU remains a half game back of third place in the MIAA standings, currently held by Lincoln and Emporia State. Missouri Southern sits in sixth a half game back of FHSU. The Tigers are coming off a 71-49 win at Pittsburg State on Thursday night. The win gave the Tigers a season sweep of the Gorillas, which is has done to four opponents now this season. That list also includes Central Missouri, Lincoln, and Newman. The Lions are coming off an 86-59 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night in Joplin. After facing the Tigers on Saturday, Missouri Southern has to play at Washburn and Northwest Missouri State next week. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;is now just one assist away from another milestone in his career at FHSU. He is looking to become just the fourth player in program history with at least 1,000 points and 300 assists. That group includes Raymond Lee (1,615 pts, 899 ast), Craig Nicholson (1,449 pts, 628 ast), and Mark Wilson (1,631 pts, 556 ast). Hammeke looks to become just the ninth player in program history to have 300 career assists. Hammeke passed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season in a win at Newman and now has 1,064 for his career. Hammeke continues to lead the Tigers at 16.1 points and 3.6 assists per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/gabe-pieschl/6904">Gabe Pieschl</a>&nbsp;is the top rebounder for FHSU at 5.8 per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/elijah-nnanabu/6902">Elijah Nnanabu</a>&nbsp;is close to averaging double figures in scoring at 9.9 points per game, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/bjarni-jonsson/6901">Bjarni Jonsson</a>&nbsp;averages 8.7 and shoots over 50 percent beyond the 3-point line.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/traejon-davis/6896">Traejon Davis</a>&nbsp;is the top scorer off the bench at 6.9 points per game. Winston Dessesow leads the Lions in scoring at 13.0 points per game, followed by Vinson Sigmon Jr. at 12.4 and Avery Taggart at 11.6.

🏀🎙️ LISTEN - Tiger men look for fourth straight win Saturday in Joplin

Fort Hays State (19-9, 14-6 MIAA) at Missouri Southern (21-6, 13-6 MIAA) Saturday, February 18, 2023 • 1:30 p.m. Joplin, Mo. • Leggett &amp; Platt Athletic Center Radio: KJLS (103.3)

<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> The Fort Hays State women's basketball team looks to complete the season sweep against Missouri Southern Saturday afternoon when the Tigers and Lions battle in Joplin, Mo. beginning at 1:30 p.m. Fort Hays State (19-9, 14-6 MIAA) enters the contest one-half game in front of the Lions (21-6, 13-6) in the league standings, with FHSU currently slotted fifth and MSSU sixth. The Tigers took care of business at home against the Lions last month, winning 72-54 behind a career-high 16 points from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kate-dilsaver/6841">Kate Dilsaver</a>&nbsp;(1/5/23). Fort Hays State buried 50.0 percent from the floor (25-of-50) while limiting MSSU to a shooting percentage of 35.5 percent (22-of-62). The Tigers and Lions are two of 10 teams listed in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, announced Wednesday by the NCAA office. Six MIAA programs are joined by three schools from the Northern Sun and one from the Great American Conference. Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA Network. Fans can purchase access to a single contest for $10, a month-long pass for $25 or a season-long, all-access pass for $125. Both the monthly and year-long passes gain access to any event in any sport streamed on The MIAA Network. Live radio coverage with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will be available over the air on KJLS 103.3 FM and online at hayspost.com. The Tigers and Lions both rank in the top five nationally in turnovers per game (MSSU 4th - 11.9 TO/g, FHSU 5th - 12.0 TO/g).&nbsp;The Tigers need one win to reach 20 victories for the 12th-consecutive season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sydney-golladay/6844">Sydney Golladay's</a>&nbsp;118 assists are second-most in the MIAA and 27th-most in Division II.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/6845">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;has 121 blocks in her career, tied for sixth-most in program history (Jamie Heiman, 1999-03). She is five blocks behind Tatyana Legette (2015-19), who ranks fifth all-time with 126 blocks. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>&nbsp;put up a career-high 30 points Thursday at Pittsburg State, the most points scored by a Tiger in over eight years. She became the 24th player in FHSU history to reach 1,000 career points last week against Newman. Hollenbeck is 48 points away from becoming the 25th Tiger to accomplish the feat. Fort Hays State is 38-19 all-time against Missouri Southern, including a 19-7 mark during the&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/tony-hobson/1136">Tony Hobson</a>&nbsp;era. Fort Hays State has won each of the last two matchups and nine of the last 10. The Tigers are 10-14 all-time in Joplin, including a 4-5 record under Hobson. FHSU has won two in a row on the road against the Lions. MSSU ranks fourth nationally with 11.9 turnovers per game, sixth with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.30 and ninth with 4.9 blocks per night. The Lions have the second-best scoring defense in the MIAA, limiting opponents to 58.1 points per game. The Lions are 11-3 at home this season. Lacy Stokes leads the MIAA and ranks sixth nationally with 147 assists. Madi Stokes' 61 blocks are tops in the MIAA and third-most in DII.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676671719388.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State guard Sydney Golladay (3) is guarded by Missouri Southern guard Lady Stokes in an MIAA game in Hays, Kan. on January 5, 2023. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State guard Sydney Golladay (3) is guarded by Missouri Southern guard Lady Stokes in an MIAA game in Hays, Kan. on January 5, 2023. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFort Hays State (19-9, 14-6 MIAA) at Missouri Southern (21-6, 13-6 MIAA) Saturday, February 18, 2023 • 1:30 p.m. Joplin, Mo. • Leggett &amp; Platt Athletic Center Radio: KJLS (103.3)<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> The Fort Hays State women's basketball team looks to complete the season sweep against Missouri Southern Saturday afternoon when the Tigers and Lions battle in Joplin, Mo. beginning at 1:30 p.m. Fort Hays State (19-9, 14-6 MIAA) enters the contest one-half game in front of the Lions (21-6, 13-6) in the league standings, with FHSU currently slotted fifth and MSSU sixth. The Tigers took care of business at home against the Lions last month, winning 72-54 behind a career-high 16 points from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kate-dilsaver/6841">Kate Dilsaver</a>&nbsp;(1/5/23). Fort Hays State buried 50.0 percent from the floor (25-of-50) while limiting MSSU to a shooting percentage of 35.5 percent (22-of-62). The Tigers and Lions are two of 10 teams listed in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, announced Wednesday by the NCAA office. Six MIAA programs are joined by three schools from the Northern Sun and one from the Great American Conference. Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA Network. Fans can purchase access to a single contest for $10, a month-long pass for $25 or a season-long, all-access pass for $125. Both the monthly and year-long passes gain access to any event in any sport streamed on The MIAA Network. Live radio coverage with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will be available over the air on KJLS 103.3 FM and online at hayspost.com. The Tigers and Lions both rank in the top five nationally in turnovers per game (MSSU 4th - 11.9 TO/g, FHSU 5th - 12.0 TO/g).&nbsp;The Tigers need one win to reach 20 victories for the 12th-consecutive season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sydney-golladay/6844">Sydney Golladay's</a>&nbsp;118 assists are second-most in the MIAA and 27th-most in Division II.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/6845">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;has 121 blocks in her career, tied for sixth-most in program history (Jamie Heiman, 1999-03). She is five blocks behind Tatyana Legette (2015-19), who ranks fifth all-time with 126 blocks. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>&nbsp;put up a career-high 30 points Thursday at Pittsburg State, the most points scored by a Tiger in over eight years. She became the 24th player in FHSU history to reach 1,000 career points last week against Newman. Hollenbeck is 48 points away from becoming the 25th Tiger to accomplish the feat. Fort Hays State is 38-19 all-time against Missouri Southern, including a 19-7 mark during the&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/tony-hobson/1136">Tony Hobson</a>&nbsp;era. Fort Hays State has won each of the last two matchups and nine of the last 10. The Tigers are 10-14 all-time in Joplin, including a 4-5 record under Hobson. FHSU has won two in a row on the road against the Lions. MSSU ranks fourth nationally with 11.9 turnovers per game, sixth with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.30 and ninth with 4.9 blocks per night. The Lions have the second-best scoring defense in the MIAA, limiting opponents to 58.1 points per game. The Lions are 11-3 at home this season. Lacy Stokes leads the MIAA and ranks sixth nationally with 147 assists. Madi Stokes' 61 blocks are tops in the MIAA and third-most in DII.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎙️ LISTEN - Tiger women take on Missouri Southern in Joplin Saturday

HAYS – After five straight on the road the TMP Monarchs boys
and girls basketball teams earned a doubleheader sweep of Norton Friday night
at Al Billinger Field House.

GIRLS: TMP 52, Norton 32 The TMP Lady Monarchs opened the game on a 17-3 run and
never looked back as they led wire-to-wire in a 52-32 victory.

Hannah Garcia gave the Monarchs (13-7, 7-3 MCL) an early 3-0
lead as the Monarchs made three first quarter three pointers and tied their season-high
with seven total three-point field goals in the game. 

Graycn Schippers and Brooke Koenigsman also connected on first
quarter three-pointers as TMP built a 17-5 lead through the first quarter.

Koenigsman added her second first-half three-pointer giving
TMP their largest lead of the first half at 20-5.

Norton (11-9, 6-4 MCL) was able to trim the TMP lead to
eight in the second quarter back Garcia connected on her second three-pointer
and Jaci VonLintel added a field goal at the end of the second quarter for a 27-16
halftime lead.

TMP held Norton to just two field goals in the third quarter,
outscoring the Lady Jays 10-4 for a 37-20 lead.

In the fourth quarter Graycn and her sister Claire Schippers
combined to score 13 of the Monarchs 15 points as TMP picked up their second
straight victory, 52-32.

VonLintel led all scorers with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Koenigsman added 11 points, Graycn Schippers finished with 10 points and Claire
Schippers logged a career-high 8 points.

BOYS: TMP 47, Norton 42 The TMP boys jumped out to an early lead but had to hold off
a Norton rally down the stretch for their 16th straight win. 47-42 Friday.

TMP (17-2, 10-0 MCL) opened the game on a 10-0 run with
Dylan Werth and Luke Rome each scoring four first quarter points as the Monarchs
jumped out to a 13-3 first quarter lead.

The Blue Jays (12-7, 7-3 MCL) were able to hold the senior
big guys at check for most of the second and third quarters and that allowed
Norton to trim an 11-point first half deficit to just three at halftime and two
through three quarters.

But with TMP up 35-33 heading into the fourth quarter Werth
got a pair of buckets and Rome and Landon Rozean added a fourth quarter field
goal down the stretch as the Monarchs cliched the 47-42 victory.

Kade Harris scored 11 of his team-high 15 points in the
first half, Werth recorded his ninth double-double and Griffin Schumacher
matched his career-high with nine points for TMP.

The Monarchs close out the regular season Tuesday with senior
night against Plainville.

HAYS – After five straight on the road the TMP Monarchs boys
and girls basketball teams earned a doubleheader sweep of Norton Friday night
at Al Billinger Field House.GIRLS: TMP 52, Norton 32 The TMP Lady Monarchs opened the game on a 17-3 run and
never looked back as they led wire-to-wire in a 52-32 victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1449688867&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/02-17-23-tmp-girls-post-game-interview" title="02 - 17 - 23 TMP&#x27;s Jaci VonLintel" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">02 - 17 - 23 TMP&#x27;s Jaci VonLintel</a></div></div>Hannah Garcia gave the Monarchs (13-7, 7-3 MCL) an early 3-0
lead as the Monarchs made three first quarter three pointers and tied their season-high
with seven total three-point field goals in the game. Graycn Schippers and Brooke Koenigsman also connected on first
quarter three-pointers as TMP built a 17-5 lead through the first quarter.Koenigsman added her second first-half three-pointer giving
TMP their largest lead of the first half at 20-5.Norton (11-9, 6-4 MCL) was able to trim the TMP lead to
eight in the second quarter back Garcia connected on her second three-pointer
and Jaci VonLintel added a field goal at the end of the second quarter for a 27-16
halftime lead.TMP held Norton to just two field goals in the third quarter,
outscoring the Lady Jays 10-4 for a 37-20 lead.In the fourth quarter Graycn and her sister Claire Schippers
combined to score 13 of the Monarchs 15 points as TMP picked up their second
straight victory, 52-32.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1449688783&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/02-17-23-tmp-girls-v-norton-highlights" title="02 - 17 - 23 TMP Girls V Norton Highlights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">02 - 17 - 23 TMP Girls V Norton Highlights</a></div></div>VonLintel led all scorers with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Koenigsman added 11 points, Graycn Schippers finished with 10 points and Claire
Schippers logged a career-high 8 points.BOYS: TMP 47, Norton 42 The TMP boys jumped out to an early lead but had to hold off
a Norton rally down the stretch for their 16th straight win. 47-42 Friday.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1449688966&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/02-17-23-tmp-boys-v-norton-post-interview" title="02 - 17 - 23 TMP Boys coach Bill Meagher" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">02 - 17 - 23 TMP Boys coach Bill Meagher</a></div></div>TMP (17-2, 10-0 MCL) opened the game on a 10-0 run with
Dylan Werth and Luke Rome each scoring four first quarter points as the Monarchs
jumped out to a 13-3 first quarter lead.The Blue Jays (12-7, 7-3 MCL) were able to hold the senior
big guys at check for most of the second and third quarters and that allowed
Norton to trim an 11-point first half deficit to just three at halftime and two
through three quarters.But with TMP up 35-33 heading into the fourth quarter Werth
got a pair of buckets and Rome and Landon Rozean added a fourth quarter field
goal down the stretch as the Monarchs cliched the 47-42 victory.Kade Harris scored 11 of his team-high 15 points in the
first half, Werth recorded his ninth double-double and Griffin Schumacher
matched his career-high with nine points for TMP.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1449689029&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/02-17-23-tmp-boys-v-norton-highlights" title="02 - 17 - 23 TMP Boys V Norton Highlights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">02 - 17 - 23 TMP Boys V Norton Highlights</a></div></div>The Monarchs close out the regular season Tuesday with senior
night against Plainville.

🏀Monarchs sweep Norton in return to MCL play

GARDEN CITY - Hays High was on the road Friday in Garden City for the first of three consecutive Western Athletic Conference games to end the regular season.

Girls: Hays 65, Garden City 49 Hays scored a season high 65 points in a 65-49 road win in Garden City.

It took a little while for the Indians to get their offense kicked into gear as Garden City jumped out to a 10-4 lead midway through the first quarter. Once Hays started hitting shots they didn't stop, ending the first quarter on a 13-5 run for a 19-13 lead.

Garden City cut into the Hays lead at 21-15 before the Indians erupted for a six minute run where they outscored the Buffaloes 18-5. Five different players contributed to the run and 39-20 halftime lead.&nbsp;

Like they did in Hays, Garden City mounted a comeback in the third quarter and got within 13 at 45-32 after trailing by 22 in the second quarter. Hays scored the last bucket of the third quarter and first six points of the fourth quarter to establish control of the game once again at 53-32.

The Indians made all 12 of their fourth quarter free throw attempts and 20 of 22 in the game for the 65-49 victory.

Molly Martin led three Indians in double figures at 17 points. Carly Lang scored 13 as did Jillyan Sheldon which matched a season high. Garden City got 17 points from Aileen Becerril and KJ Pinchon.

Hays improves to 11-7 and 3-3 in conference play. Garden City falls to 6-13 and 2-5.

Boys: #4-6A Graden City 56, Hays 48 Garden City held Hays to just two points over the final 2:55 on their way to a 56-48 win and the Western Athletic Conference title.

Hays and Garden City were tied seven times in the first half and exchanged the lead three times. Garden City led 11-9 after one quarter and 15-11 in the second quarter.

Hays answered with a 7-0 run for an 18-15 advantage which ended up being their largest lead of the game. Garden City finished the half on a 9-2 run over 3:22 for a 24-20 advantage.

The two teams exchanged the lead four more times and were tied twice in the third quarter. The final lead change came when Garden City went up 32-29 with 3:55 left in the third quarter. The Buffaloes once again led by four after the third quarter 39-35.

Hays could never regain the lead. The Indians trailed by seven before hitting three of four three pointers to counter four Garden City points to pull within two at 48-46 with 2:55 remaining.

Hays would only score two points on a pair of free throws rest of the way and miss seven field goals. Garden City missed all four of their field goal attempts but made 8 of 12 free throws for the 56-48 victory.

Hays drops to 10-8 and 3-3 in conference play. Chason VanDerWege led the Indians with a second consecutive double-double at 13 points and 10 rebounds. Garden City was led by 21 points from Jace Steinmetz. The Buffaloes are 18-1 and 7-0 in conference play.

Hays heads back out on the road to Dodge City on Tuesday. They will wrap up the regular season with a home game against Great Bend on Friday the 24th.

GARDEN CITY - Hays High was on the road Friday in Garden City for the first of three consecutive Western Athletic Conference games to end the regular season.Girls: Hays 65, Garden City 49 Hays scored a season high 65 points in a 65-49 road win in Garden City.It took a little while for the Indians to get their offense kicked into gear as Garden City jumped out to a 10-4 lead midway through the first quarter. Once Hays started hitting shots they didn't stop, ending the first quarter on a 13-5 run for a 19-13 lead.Garden City cut into the Hays lead at 21-15 before the Indians erupted for a six minute run where they outscored the Buffaloes 18-5. Five different players contributed to the run and 39-20 halftime lead.&nbsp;Highlights<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1449674407&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/2-17-2023-hhs-girls-v-garden-city-highlights" title="2 - 17 - 2023 HHS Girls V Garden City HIGHLIGHTS" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">2 - 17 - 2023 HHS Girls V Garden City HIGHLIGHTS</a></div></div>Like they did in Hays, Garden City mounted a comeback in the third quarter and got within 13 at 45-32 after trailing by 22 in the second quarter. Hays scored the last bucket of the third quarter and first six points of the fourth quarter to establish control of the game once again at 53-32.The Indians made all 12 of their fourth quarter free throw attempts and 20 of 22 in the game for the 65-49 victory.Coach Len Melvin<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1449675094&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/2-17-2023-hhs-girls-coach-len-melvin-postgame-interview" title="2 - 17 - 2023 HHS Girls COACH Len Melvin POSTGAME Interview" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">2 - 17 - 2023 HHS Girls COACH Len Melvin POSTGAME Interview</a></div></div>Molly Martin led three Indians in double figures at 17 points. Carly Lang scored 13 as did Jillyan Sheldon which matched a season high. Garden City got 17 points from Aileen Becerril and KJ Pinchon.Hays improves to 11-7 and 3-3 in conference play. Garden City falls to 6-13 and 2-5.Boys: #4-6A Graden City 56, Hays 48 Garden City held Hays to just two points over the final 2:55 on their way to a 56-48 win and the Western Athletic Conference title.Hays and Garden City were tied seven times in the first half and exchanged the lead three times. Garden City led 11-9 after one quarter and 15-11 in the second quarter.Hays answered with a 7-0 run for an 18-15 advantage which ended up being their largest lead of the game. Garden City finished the half on a 9-2 run over 3:22 for a 24-20 advantage.Highlights<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1449680047&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/2-17-2023-hh-boys-v-garden-city-highlights" title="2 - 17 - 2023 HH Boys V Garden City HIGHLIGHTS" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">2 - 17 - 2023 HH Boys V Garden City HIGHLIGHTS</a></div></div>The two teams exchanged the lead four more times and were tied twice in the third quarter. The final lead change came when Garden City went up 32-29 with 3:55 left in the third quarter. The Buffaloes once again led by four after the third quarter 39-35.Hays could never regain the lead. The Indians trailed by seven before hitting three of four three pointers to counter four Garden City points to pull within two at 48-46 with 2:55 remaining.Hays would only score two points on a pair of free throws rest of the way and miss seven field goals. Garden City missed all four of their field goal attempts but made 8 of 12 free throws for the 56-48 victory.Coach Sean Dreiling<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1449676024&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/2-17-2023-hhs-boys-coach-sean-dreiling-postgame-interview" title="2 - 17 - 2023 HHS Boys COACH Sean Dreiling POSTGAME Interview" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">2 - 17 - 2023 HHS Boys COACH Sean Dreiling POSTGAME Interview</a></div></div>Hays drops to 10-8 and 3-3 in conference play. Chason VanDerWege led the Indians with a second consecutive double-double at 13 points and 10 rebounds. Garden City was led by 21 points from Jace Steinmetz. The Buffaloes are 18-1 and 7-0 in conference play.Hays heads back out on the road to Dodge City on Tuesday. They will wrap up the regular season with a home game against Great Bend on Friday the 24th.

🏀 Hays splits with Garden City; girls season high points in win

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer

Eric Bieniemy is finalizing terms of a deal to become the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was not yet completed. It’s expected to be done Saturday.

Bieniemy, a two-time Super Bowl-winning assistant with Kansas City, now gets the chance to show what he can do without Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

Bieniemy, who turns 54 in August, emerged from a pool of more than a half-dozen candidates as Washington's choice for the job following the Chiefs' second championship in his five seasons as their offensive coordinator. The longtime NFL assistant has interviewed for numerous head coaching jobs, but Reid calling plays for an offense featuring a two-time MVP in Mahomes clouded Bieniemy's stock.

The decisions by teams not to hire Bieniemy, who is Black, as a head coach have been an ongoing talking point for critics of the NFL's minority hiring practices.

Bieniemy will get the chance to call plays and run every aspect of Washington's offense under Ron Rivera, a defensive-minded coach and former linebacker who's going into his fourth season in charge of the team's football operations.

Bieniemy inherits second-year quarterback Sam Howell, who goes into spring as the starter, and an offense that includes running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson and top receiver Terry McLaurin.

A running back for nine seasons in the 1990s, Bieniemy has coached at the college and pro levels. He coached running backs with Kansas City for five years before being promoted to offensive coordinator and before that worked at the University of Colorado and for the Minnesota Vikings as a position coach

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676166710207.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Beniemy talks to the media before an NFL football workout Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Beniemy talks to the media before an NFL football workout Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports WriterEric Bieniemy is finalizing terms of a deal to become the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was not yet completed. It’s expected to be done Saturday.Bieniemy, a two-time Super Bowl-winning assistant with Kansas City, now gets the chance to show what he can do without Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.Bieniemy, who turns 54 in August, emerged from a pool of more than a half-dozen candidates as Washington's choice for the job following the Chiefs' second championship in his five seasons as their offensive coordinator. The longtime NFL assistant has interviewed for numerous head coaching jobs, but Reid calling plays for an offense featuring a two-time MVP in Mahomes clouded Bieniemy's stock.The decisions by teams not to hire Bieniemy, who is Black, as a head coach have been an ongoing talking point for critics of the NFL's minority hiring practices.Bieniemy will get the chance to call plays and run every aspect of Washington's offense under Ron Rivera, a defensive-minded coach and former linebacker who's going into his fourth season in charge of the team's football operations.Bieniemy inherits second-year quarterback Sam Howell, who goes into spring as the starter, and an offense that includes running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson and top receiver Terry McLaurin.A running back for nine seasons in the 1990s, Bieniemy has coached at the college and pro levels. He coached running backs with Kansas City for five years before being promoted to offensive coordinator and before that worked at the University of Colorado and for the Minnesota Vikings as a position coach

🏈 Commanders finalizing hire of Bieniemy as OC

BETHANY and YUKON, Okla. – Fort Hays State Softball fell twice on Friday (Feb. 17) in the Raising Cane's Softball Festival. Home runs (one in walk-off fashion) pushed the opposition to wins in both contests as the Tigers moved to 3-3 overall on the season. The Tigers fell to Southern Nazarene 7-6 after holding leads twice in the game, then fell to No. 16 ranked Southern Arkansas 8-2. Southern Nazarene 7, Fort Hays State 6 Playing on Southern Nazarene's home field in Bethany, the Tigers scored first to take a 1-0 lead after the top of the fourth.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lexi-mohr/7091">Lexi Mohr</a>&nbsp;put down a sacrifice bunt to drive in the run after the Tigers benefitted from an error in the inning. However, starting pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savanah-egger/7081">Savanah Egger</a>&nbsp;ran into some trouble in the fifth as SNU had a bases-clearing double and went on to score five in the inning and go up 5-1. The Tigers fought right back in the sixth with four runs to tie the game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/madison-pierce/7086">Madison Pierce</a>&nbsp;got the rally started with a double, then&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/aubrey-martinez/7090">Aubrey Martinez</a>&nbsp;followed with a single and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;walked. With the bases loaded,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/carly-stuke/7096">Carly Stuke</a>&nbsp;knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly RBI, then Mohr picked up her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly that was misplayed. With two outs,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/sarah-tiffany/7088">Sarah Tiffany</a>&nbsp;proved clutch with a two-RBI hit to tie the game. Tiger reliever&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-montoya/7092">Emma Montoya</a>&nbsp;was able to hold the Crimson Storm scoreless in the sixth, which gave the Tigers the chance to go back in front in the seventh. They made good on that opportunity when&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/reese-curry/7079">Reese Curry</a>&nbsp;walked with the bases loaded to put the Tigers up 6-5, set up by three singles from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/loren-beggs/7075">Loren Beggs</a>, Martinez, and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>. But the hopes of a comeback win were dashed in the bottom of the seventh when Hailey Evans hit a two-run homer to win the game 7-6 for SNU. Egger struck out six in her 4.1 innings of work, while Montoya took the loss in 1.2 innings of relief. Though she gave up the go-ahead run in the seventh, Olivia Hernandez got the win for SNU in an inning of relief. Southern Arkansas 8, Fort Hays State 2 Southern Arkansas, ranked No. 16 in the latest NFCA Division II national poll, remained undefeated on the season at 11-0 with an 8-2 win over FHSU in Yukon, Okla. Four home runs powered the Muleriders, which also proved to be the difference in the game. Southern Arkansas got off to a fast start in the first inning with four runs. After a Tiger throwing error, SAU had back-to-back RBI doubles and then a two-run homer to make it 4-0. After the Tigers picked up a run in the second, SAU hit a two-run homer in the fourth and a pair of solo homers in the seventh. The Tigers scored once more in the bottom of the seventh before the final out of the game. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/reese-curry/7079">Reese Curry</a>&nbsp;had both RBIs in the game for FHSU on singles.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/carly-stuke/7096">Carly Stuke</a>&nbsp;scored both times as she had a hit and a walk in the game to set up her run-scoring opportunities. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-carlson/7078">Bailey Carlson</a>&nbsp;threw the first 0.2 innings before handing the ball to&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/morgan-schmidt/7087">Morgan Schmidt</a>, who went the final 6.1 innings. Only one of Carlson's four runs yielded were earned. Schmidt mowed down 11 batters by strikeout in relief. Sydney Ward threw a complete game for SAU, striking out seven Tigers and scattering five hits. The Tigers look to bounce back on Saturday with a pair of games in Yukon. FHSU faces East Central at 10:30 a.m. before taking on Arkansas Tech at 1 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676688052937.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsBETHANY and YUKON, Okla. – Fort Hays State Softball fell twice on Friday (Feb. 17) in the Raising Cane's Softball Festival. Home runs (one in walk-off fashion) pushed the opposition to wins in both contests as the Tigers moved to 3-3 overall on the season. The Tigers fell to Southern Nazarene 7-6 after holding leads twice in the game, then fell to No. 16 ranked Southern Arkansas 8-2. Southern Nazarene 7, Fort Hays State 6 Playing on Southern Nazarene's home field in Bethany, the Tigers scored first to take a 1-0 lead after the top of the fourth.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lexi-mohr/7091">Lexi Mohr</a>&nbsp;put down a sacrifice bunt to drive in the run after the Tigers benefitted from an error in the inning. However, starting pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savanah-egger/7081">Savanah Egger</a>&nbsp;ran into some trouble in the fifth as SNU had a bases-clearing double and went on to score five in the inning and go up 5-1. The Tigers fought right back in the sixth with four runs to tie the game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/madison-pierce/7086">Madison Pierce</a>&nbsp;got the rally started with a double, then&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/aubrey-martinez/7090">Aubrey Martinez</a>&nbsp;followed with a single and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;walked. With the bases loaded,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/carly-stuke/7096">Carly Stuke</a>&nbsp;knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly RBI, then Mohr picked up her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly that was misplayed. With two outs,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/sarah-tiffany/7088">Sarah Tiffany</a>&nbsp;proved clutch with a two-RBI hit to tie the game. Tiger reliever&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-montoya/7092">Emma Montoya</a>&nbsp;was able to hold the Crimson Storm scoreless in the sixth, which gave the Tigers the chance to go back in front in the seventh. They made good on that opportunity when&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/reese-curry/7079">Reese Curry</a>&nbsp;walked with the bases loaded to put the Tigers up 6-5, set up by three singles from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/loren-beggs/7075">Loren Beggs</a>, Martinez, and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>. But the hopes of a comeback win were dashed in the bottom of the seventh when Hailey Evans hit a two-run homer to win the game 7-6 for SNU. Egger struck out six in her 4.1 innings of work, while Montoya took the loss in 1.2 innings of relief. Though she gave up the go-ahead run in the seventh, Olivia Hernandez got the win for SNU in an inning of relief. Southern Arkansas 8, Fort Hays State 2 Southern Arkansas, ranked No. 16 in the latest NFCA Division II national poll, remained undefeated on the season at 11-0 with an 8-2 win over FHSU in Yukon, Okla. Four home runs powered the Muleriders, which also proved to be the difference in the game. Southern Arkansas got off to a fast start in the first inning with four runs. After a Tiger throwing error, SAU had back-to-back RBI doubles and then a two-run homer to make it 4-0. After the Tigers picked up a run in the second, SAU hit a two-run homer in the fourth and a pair of solo homers in the seventh. The Tigers scored once more in the bottom of the seventh before the final out of the game. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/reese-curry/7079">Reese Curry</a>&nbsp;had both RBIs in the game for FHSU on singles.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/carly-stuke/7096">Carly Stuke</a>&nbsp;scored both times as she had a hit and a walk in the game to set up her run-scoring opportunities. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-carlson/7078">Bailey Carlson</a>&nbsp;threw the first 0.2 innings before handing the ball to&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/morgan-schmidt/7087">Morgan Schmidt</a>, who went the final 6.1 innings. Only one of Carlson's four runs yielded were earned. Schmidt mowed down 11 batters by strikeout in relief. Sydney Ward threw a complete game for SAU, striking out seven Tigers and scattering five hits. The Tigers look to bounce back on Saturday with a pair of games in Yukon. FHSU faces East Central at 10:30 a.m. before taking on Arkansas Tech at 1 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🥎 Tigers fall twice on first day of Raising Cane’s Softball Festival

The Hays High Indians travel to Garden City Friday night for a WAC showdown.

The girls game will tipoff at approximately 6:00 with the boys to follow from Garden City High School.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480670">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

The Hays High Indians travel to Garden City Friday night for a WAC showdown.The girls game will tipoff at approximately 6:00 with the boys to follow from Garden City High School.Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480670">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480670?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>

🏀🎥 WATCH LIVE Hays High at Garden City

The TMP-Marian Monarchs return home Friday night for a Mid-Continent League matchup with the Norton Bluejays.

The girls game is scheduled to tipoff at 6:00 p.m. with the boys to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Our coverage begins at 5:40 p.m. with the Hertz Rental Car Pregame Show on 99.5 KHAZ.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/530828">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

The TMP-Marian Monarchs return home Friday night for a Mid-Continent League matchup with the Norton Bluejays.The girls game is scheduled to tipoff at 6:00 p.m. with the boys to follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.Our coverage begins at 5:40 p.m. with the Hertz Rental Car Pregame Show on 99.5 KHAZ.Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/530828">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/530828?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>

🏀🎥 WATCH LIVE Thomas More Prep-Marian v Norton

By NATE KING Salina Post

Season tickets for Salina's only indoor professional football league team, <a href="https://www.salinaliberty.com/">Salina Liberty</a>, are now on sale. Season and single game tickets are on sale through the Tony's Pizza Events Center Box Office,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/">www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com</a>, (785) 826-7200.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Salina Liberty's head coach is Heron O'Neil. This season is his sixth season with the Salina Liberty. O'Neil led Salina Liberty to the 2022 championship. He is the second winningest coach in the Champions Indoor Football league.&nbsp;

Spectators who haven't witnessed indoor football, should prepare for an action packed thrill ride said Salina Liberty team owner, Dan Mendicina.

"Indoor football is exhilarating, and definitely more fast paced than outdoor football," Mendicina said. "When you attend one of the Salina Liberty games you will feel like you're on the field itself, it is that action packed and fun to watch."&nbsp;

Located at the crossroads of Interstate 7o and Interstate 135, Salina serves as a regional hub for central Kansas. No matter where you are visiting from, Salina has what you and your family need to make your visit memorable and comfortable. Salina Liberty welcomes fans from all across Kansas and beyond. 

For more information&nbsp; about Salina's hotel accommodations, restaurants, and more check out the VisitSalina brochure <a href="https://issuu.com/salinaareachamberofcommerce/docs/2022visitsalinaguide_jan?fr=sMTY2ZjQ1ODk0Mjg">here</a>.

$60 for blue level – save $12 over single ticket prices

$90 for red level – save $12 over single ticket prices

$150 for yellow level – save $30 over single ticket prices (this level is very limited)

-first right to keep seats for any playoff games

-first right to keep seats for the next season

To learn more about indoor football and the Salina Liberty team, check out their website <a href="https://www.salinaliberty.com/">here</a>.

By NATE KING Salina PostSeason tickets for Salina's only indoor professional football league team, <a href="https://www.salinaliberty.com/">Salina Liberty</a>, are now on sale. Season and single game tickets are on sale through the Tony's Pizza Events Center Box Office,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/">www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com</a>, (785) 826-7200.&nbsp; &nbsp;Salina Liberty's head coach is Heron O'Neil. This season is his sixth season with the Salina Liberty. O'Neil led Salina Liberty to the 2022 championship. He is the second winningest coach in the Champions Indoor Football league.&nbsp;Spectators who haven't witnessed indoor football, should prepare for an action packed thrill ride said Salina Liberty team owner, Dan Mendicina."Indoor football is exhilarating, and definitely more fast paced than outdoor football," Mendicina said. "When you attend one of the Salina Liberty games you will feel like you're on the field itself, it is that action packed and fun to watch."&nbsp;Located at the crossroads of Interstate 7o and Interstate 135, Salina serves as a regional hub for central Kansas. No matter where you are visiting from, Salina has what you and your family need to make your visit memorable and comfortable. Salina Liberty welcomes fans from all across Kansas and beyond. For more information&nbsp; about Salina's hotel accommodations, restaurants, and more check out the VisitSalina brochure <a href="https://issuu.com/salinaareachamberofcommerce/docs/2022visitsalinaguide_jan?fr=sMTY2ZjQ1ODk0Mjg">here</a>.<h2>Salina Liberty home game schedule</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676575510983.png" alt="Salina Liberty's 2023 home game schedule. Photo courtesy Salina Liberty" />
 <figcaption>Salina Liberty's 2023 home game schedule. Photo courtesy Salina Liberty</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Salina Liberty season ticket pricing</h2>$60 for blue level – save $12 over single ticket prices$90 for red level – save $12 over single ticket prices$150 for yellow level – save $30 over single ticket prices (this level is very limited)<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676565614669.jpeg" alt="Seating map for Salina Liberty&nbsp; indoor football at Tony's Event Center. Individual ticket pricing- $30 per yellow level ticket, $17 per red level ticket and&nbsp; $12 per blue level ticket.&nbsp;&nbsp;Photo courtesy Tony's Event Center&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Seating map for Salina Liberty&nbsp; indoor football at Tony's Event Center. Individual ticket pricing- $30 per yellow level ticket, $17 per red level ticket and&nbsp; $12 per blue level ticket.&nbsp;&nbsp;Photo courtesy Tony's Event Center&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Benefits of purchasing season tickets-save money over single ticket prices-you get the same seat all season long-first right to keep seats for any playoff games-first right to keep seats for the next seasonTo learn more about indoor football and the Salina Liberty team, check out their website <a href="https://www.salinaliberty.com/">here</a>.

🏈 Season tickets for Salina Liberty indoor football on sale now!

NEW YORK — Live, from New York, it's...Travis Kelce? Apparently so...

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580356184731.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK — Live, from New York, it's...Travis Kelce? Apparently so...<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/tkelce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tkelce</a> announces that he will be hosting <a href="https://twitter.com/nbcsnl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbcsnl</a> with musical guest <a href="https://twitter.com/KelseaBallerini?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KelseaBallerini</a> on March 4th! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FallonTonight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FallonTonight</a> <a href="https://t.co/PeeEMc7ASw">pic.twitter.com/PeeEMc7ASw</a>&mdash; The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) <a href="https://twitter.com/FallonTonight/status/1626403759981985793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🏈 CHIEFS: Kelce to host SNL in March

&nbsp; PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men's basketball team turned in a dominating defensive performance in a 71-49 win at Pittsburg State on Thursday evening. The Tigers improved to 18-8 on the season and 13-7 in the MIAA, while the Gorillas fell to 6-19 overall and 3-16 in the MIAA. The Tigers scored the first seven points of the game and went on to hold the Gorillas to just three points over the first nine and a half minutes of action. FHSU led 20-3 before PSU made its second field goal of the game. The FHSU lead reached 22 at 33-11 and FHSU went on to eventually lead by 20, 37-17, at the half. The Tigers shot 55.2 percent in the opening frame and held the Gorillas to just 28 percent from the field.

The Tiger lead never dipped back inside 20 the rest of the way. FHSU enjoyed its largest lead of 29 points twice inside the final six minutes of the game before the final margin ended at 22. FHSU picked up a regular season sweep of an opponent for the third straight game. FHSU finished at 50.9 percent as a team from the field, while holding PSU to 34.9 percent. The Tigers also won the battle on the boards by 11, 35-24, and were +6 in turnover margin for the game. They forced the Gorillas into 20 turnovers. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;led the Tigers with 19 points, followed by&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/elijah-nnanabu/6902">Elijah Nnanabu</a>&nbsp;with 13 and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/bjarni-jonsson/6901">Bjarni Jonsson</a>&nbsp;with 11.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/iyen-enaruna/6907">Iyen Enaruna</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/lucas-hammeke/6898">Lucas Hammeke</a>&nbsp;both pulled down six rebounds to lead the Tigers. The Hammeke brothers and Nnanabu notched three assists apiece. The Tigers held the Gorillas from having any players reach double figures in scoring. Tane Prictor led Pitt State with nine points.

Fort Hays State now turns its focus to a showdown with Missouri Southern on Saturday in Joplin. The Tigers will be looking to even the score with the Lions this year after Missouri Southern won earlier this season in Hays. The game will also be key for the MIAA standings as Missouri Southern sits just a half game back of FHSU. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Leggett and Platt Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676608535051.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State guard Kaleb Hammeke (5) goes in for a layup in an MIAA basketball game vs. Central Missouri on December 31, 2022 in Warrensburg, Mo. (FHSU Athletics photo/Seth Kincaid)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State guard Kaleb Hammeke (5) goes in for a layup in an MIAA basketball game vs. Central Missouri on December 31, 2022 in Warrensburg, Mo. (FHSU Athletics photo/Seth Kincaid)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Athletics&nbsp; PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men's basketball team turned in a dominating defensive performance in a 71-49 win at Pittsburg State on Thursday evening. The Tigers improved to 18-8 on the season and 13-7 in the MIAA, while the Gorillas fell to 6-19 overall and 3-16 in the MIAA. The Tigers scored the first seven points of the game and went on to hold the Gorillas to just three points over the first nine and a half minutes of action. FHSU led 20-3 before PSU made its second field goal of the game. The FHSU lead reached 22 at 33-11 and FHSU went on to eventually lead by 20, 37-17, at the half. The Tigers shot 55.2 percent in the opening frame and held the Gorillas to just 28 percent from the field.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1448853979&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/02-16-23-coach-johnson-interview" title="Mark Johnson Postgame at Pittsburg State (Feb. 16, 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Mark Johnson Postgame at Pittsburg State (Feb. 16, 2023)</a></div></div>The Tiger lead never dipped back inside 20 the rest of the way. FHSU enjoyed its largest lead of 29 points twice inside the final six minutes of the game before the final margin ended at 22. FHSU picked up a regular season sweep of an opponent for the third straight game. FHSU finished at 50.9 percent as a team from the field, while holding PSU to 34.9 percent. The Tigers also won the battle on the boards by 11, 35-24, and were +6 in turnover margin for the game. They forced the Gorillas into 20 turnovers. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;led the Tigers with 19 points, followed by&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/elijah-nnanabu/6902">Elijah Nnanabu</a>&nbsp;with 13 and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/bjarni-jonsson/6901">Bjarni Jonsson</a>&nbsp;with 11.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/iyen-enaruna/6907">Iyen Enaruna</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/lucas-hammeke/6898">Lucas Hammeke</a>&nbsp;both pulled down six rebounds to lead the Tigers. The Hammeke brothers and Nnanabu notched three assists apiece. The Tigers held the Gorillas from having any players reach double figures in scoring. Tane Prictor led Pitt State with nine points.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1448854021&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/02-16-23-fhsu-mbkb-vs-pittsburg-state-highlights" title="Fort Hays State MBB at Pittsburg State Highlights (Feb. 16, 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State MBB at Pittsburg State Highlights (Feb. 16, 2023)</a></div></div>Fort Hays State now turns its focus to a showdown with Missouri Southern on Saturday in Joplin. The Tigers will be looking to even the score with the Lions this year after Missouri Southern won earlier this season in Hays. The game will also be key for the MIAA standings as Missouri Southern sits just a half game back of FHSU. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Leggett and Platt Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tigers dominant in win at Pittsburg State

PITTSBURG, Kan. - Fort Hays State sophomore Katie Wagner&nbsp;scored a career-high 30 points in Thursday evening's 76-66 loss to Pittsburg State (Feb. 16). Wagner is the first Tiger to score 30 or more points in eight years (Kate Lehman, 31 pts vs MSSU, 1/3/15). The Tigers struggled out of the gate, falling behind 23-12 after the first quarter. FHSU turned the ball over six times over the first 10 minutes before righting the ship over the rest of the game, finishing the night with 13 turnovers, just one over their season average.

Fort Hays State cut within six in the second quarter after 3-pointers from Ellie Stearns and Emma Ruddle, but Pittsburg State scored the final four points to lead by 10 at intermission, 38-28. Wagner took over in the second half, scoring 24 of her 30 points over the final 20 minutes. She helped the Tigers to a 10-2 run after scoring eight early points in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to four in the process. She later hit back-to-back buckets to cut within three, but each time PSU answered with a 3-pointer to keep the Tigers at bay. A pair of baskets from Jessie Sallach&nbsp;bookending the end of the third quarter had the Tigers back within four, 53-49, before the home team scored six in a row to push the lead back to double figures. Wagner helped the Tigers make one final push, scoring nine points over the next five possessions while the Tiger defense limited PSU to just two points over the stretch. The final basket, a step-back 15-footer, gave Wagner a career-high 27 points and had the Tigers within one possession with just under five minutes to play, 61-58. But the Tigers were never able to get over the hump, with PSU going 13-of-15 from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the win.

Wagner also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, recording her ninth double-double of the season and the 20th of her career. Sydney Golladay&nbsp;distributed seven assists and poked away a team-high two steals. Sallach was the only other Tiger that reached double figures in the points column, scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. The Tigers outshot their opponent in a loss for the second game in a row, knocking down 44.3 percent (27-of-61) compared to 43.9 percent for the Gorillas (25-of-57). Both sides grabbed 35 rebounds, including FHSU scoring 10 second-chance points on eight offensive rebounds. Fort Hays State will wrap up the weekend Saturday (Feb. 18) at Missouri Southern beginning at 1:30 p.m. before traveling to Kearney, Neb. to conclude the regular season a week later (Feb. 25) against the Lopers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676607461834.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsPITTSBURG, Kan. - Fort Hays State sophomore Katie Wagner&nbsp;scored a career-high 30 points in Thursday evening's 76-66 loss to Pittsburg State (Feb. 16). Wagner is the first Tiger to score 30 or more points in eight years (Kate Lehman, 31 pts vs MSSU, 1/3/15). The Tigers struggled out of the gate, falling behind 23-12 after the first quarter. FHSU turned the ball over six times over the first 10 minutes before righting the ship over the rest of the game, finishing the night with 13 turnovers, just one over their season average.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1448853946&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/02-16-23-coach-hobson-interview" title="Tony Hobson Postgame at Pittsburg State (Feb. 16, 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Tony Hobson Postgame at Pittsburg State (Feb. 16, 2023)</a></div></div>Fort Hays State cut within six in the second quarter after 3-pointers from Ellie Stearns and Emma Ruddle, but Pittsburg State scored the final four points to lead by 10 at intermission, 38-28. Wagner took over in the second half, scoring 24 of her 30 points over the final 20 minutes. She helped the Tigers to a 10-2 run after scoring eight early points in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to four in the process. She later hit back-to-back buckets to cut within three, but each time PSU answered with a 3-pointer to keep the Tigers at bay. A pair of baskets from Jessie Sallach&nbsp;bookending the end of the third quarter had the Tigers back within four, 53-49, before the home team scored six in a row to push the lead back to double figures. Wagner helped the Tigers make one final push, scoring nine points over the next five possessions while the Tiger defense limited PSU to just two points over the stretch. The final basket, a step-back 15-footer, gave Wagner a career-high 27 points and had the Tigers within one possession with just under five minutes to play, 61-58. But the Tigers were never able to get over the hump, with PSU going 13-of-15 from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the win.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1448854051&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/02-16-23-fhsu-wbkb-vs-pittsburg-state-highlights" title="Fort Hays State WBB at Pittsburg State Highlights (Feb. 16, 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State WBB at Pittsburg State Highlights (Feb. 16, 2023)</a></div></div>Wagner also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, recording her ninth double-double of the season and the 20th of her career. Sydney Golladay&nbsp;distributed seven assists and poked away a team-high two steals. Sallach was the only other Tiger that reached double figures in the points column, scoring 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. The Tigers outshot their opponent in a loss for the second game in a row, knocking down 44.3 percent (27-of-61) compared to 43.9 percent for the Gorillas (25-of-57). Both sides grabbed 35 rebounds, including FHSU scoring 10 second-chance points on eight offensive rebounds. Fort Hays State will wrap up the weekend Saturday (Feb. 18) at Missouri Southern beginning at 1:30 p.m. before traveling to Kearney, Neb. to conclude the regular season a week later (Feb. 25) against the Lopers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Wagner's 30 points not enough for Tigers at Pitt State

By HILLEL ITALIE Associated Press

NEW YORK — Tim McCarver, the All-Star catcher and Hall of Fame 
broadcaster who during 60 years in baseball won two World Series titles 
with the St. Louis Cardinals and had a long run as the one of the 
country's most recognized, incisive and talkative television 
commentators, died Thursday. He was 81.

McCarver's death was 
announced by baseball's Hall of Fame, which said he died Thursday 
morning due to heart failure in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was with 
his family.

Among the few players to appear in major league games 
during four decades, McCarver was a two-time All Star who worked closely
 with two future Hall of Fame pitchers: The tempestuous Bob Gibson, whom
 McCarver caught for St. Louis in the 1960s, and the introverted Steve 
Carlton, McCarver's fellow Cardinal in the '60s and a Philadelphia 
Phillies teammate in the 1970s.

He switched to television soon 
after retiring in 1980 and called 24 World Series for ABC, CBS and Fox, a
 record for a baseball analyst on television.

“I think there is a 
natural bridge from being a catcher to talking about the view of the 
game and the view of the other players,” McCarver told the Hall in 2012,
 the year he and Joe Buck were given the Ford C. Frick Award for 
excellence in broadcasting. “It is translating that for the viewers. One
 of the hard things about television is staying contemporary and keeping
 it simple for the viewers.”

McCarver became best known to 
national audiences for his 18-year partnership on Fox with play-by-play 
man Buck. McCarver moved to Fox in 1996 when it began televising 
baseball and called his final World Series in 2013.

“I learned 
really fast that if you were in his inner circle, he would be a fierce 
defender of you and for you,” Buck said Thursday. "He taught me how to 
deal with criticism because he had been criticized, his whole broadcast 
career. And sometimes it was because he was a teacher of the game. If 
some player or manager didn’t manage or play the way he thought the game
 should be played, he let a national audience know it. He was always the
 first one in the clubhouse the next day. If that person had something 
to say back to him, he would engage and stood his ground, but it was 
fair.

“He taught me a lot about the game, but he taught me as much or more about how to broadcast on a on a national level.”

Commissioner
 Rob Manfred said in a statement that McCarver was “a respected teammate
 and one of the most influential voices our game has known.”

Six 
feet tall and solidly built, McCarver was a policeman’s son from 
Memphis, who got into more than a few fights while growing up but was 
otherwise playing baseball and football and imitating popular 
broadcasters, notably the Cardinals’ Harry Caray. He was signed while 
still in high school by the Cardinals for $75,000, a generous offer for 
that time; just 17 when he debuted for them in 1959 and in his early 20s
 when he became the starting catcher.

McCarver attended segregated
 schools in Memphis and often spoke of the education he received as a 
newcomer in St. Louis. His teammates included Gibson and outfielder Curt
 Flood, Black players who did not hesitate to confront or tease 
McCarver. When McCarver used racist language against a Black child 
trying to jump a fence during spring training, Gibson would remember 
“getting right up in McCarver’s face.” McCarver liked to tell the story 
about drinking an orange soda during a hot day in spring training and 
Gibson asking him for some, then laughing when McCarver flinched.

“It
 was probably Gibby more than any other Black man who helped me to 
overcome whatever latent prejudices I may have had,” McCarver wrote in 
his 1987 memoir “Oh, Baby, I Love It!”

Few catchers were strong 
hitters during the ’60s, but McCarver batted .270 or higher for five 
consecutive seasons and was fast enough to become the first in his 
position to lead the league in triples. He had his best year in 1967 
when he hit .295 with 14 home runs, finishing second for NL Most 
Valuable Player behind teammate Orlando Cepeda as the Cardinals won 
their second World Series in four years.

McCarver met Carlton when
 the left-hander was a rookie in 1965 “with an independent streak wider 
than the Grand Canyon,” McCarver later wrote. The two initially clashed,
 even arguing on the mound during games, but became close and were 
reunited in the 1970s after both were traded to Philadelphia. McCarver 
became Carlton’s designated catcher even though he admittedly had a 
below average throwing arm and overall didn’t compare defensively to the
 Phillies’ regular catcher, Gold Glover Bob Boone.

“Behind every 
successful pitcher, there has to be a very smart catcher, and Tim 
McCarver is that man,” Carlton said during his Hall of Fame induction 
speech in 1994. “Timmy forced me pitch inside. Early in my career I was 
reluctant to pitch inside. Timmy had a way to remedy this. He used to 
set up behind the hitter. There was just the umpire there; I couldn’t 
see him (McCarver), so I was forced to pitch inside.”

McCarver 
liked to joke that he and Carlton were so in synch in the field that 
when both were dead they would be buried 60 feet, 6 inches apart, the 
distance between the rubber on the pitching mound and home plate.

During
 a 21-year career, when he also played briefly for the Montreal Expos 
and Boston Red Sox, McCarver batted .271 and only twice struck out more 
than 40 times in a season. In the postseason, he averaged .273 and had 
his best outing in the 1964 World Series, when the Cardinals defeated 
the New York Yankees in seven games. McCarver finished 11 for 23, with 
five walks, and his 3-run homer at Yankee Stadium in the 10th inning of 
Game 5 gave his team a 5-2 victory.

Younger baseball fans first 
knew him from his work in the broadcast booth, whether local games for 
the New York Mets, Yankees, Philadelphia and San Francisco, as Jack 
Buck’s partner on CBS (1990-91) or with son Joe Buck for Fox from 
1996-2013. McCarver won six Emmys and became enough of a brand name to 
be a punchline on “Family Guy”; write a handful of books, make cameos in
 “Naked Gun,” “Love Hurts” and other movies and even record an album, 
“Tim McCarver Sings Songs from the Great American Songbook.”

Knowledge
 was his trademark. In his spare time, he visited art museums, read 
books and could recite poetry from memory. At work, he was like a 
one-man scouting team, versed in the most granular details, and spent 
hours preparing before each game. At times, he seemed to have psychic 
powers. In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, the score was tied at 2 
between the Yankees and Arizona, and New York drew in its infield with 
the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth. Mariano Rivera 
was facing Luis Rodriquez.

“Rivera throws inside to left-handers,”
 McCarver observed. “Left-handers get a lot of broken-bat hits into 
shallow outfield, the shallow part of the outfield. That’s the danger of
 bringing the infield in with a guy like Rivera on the mound.”

Moments later, Gonzalez’s bloop to short center field drove in the winning run.

“When
 you the consider the pressure of the moment,” ESPN’s Keith Olbermann 
told The New York Times in 2002, “the time he had to say it and the 
accuracy, his call was the sports-announcing equivalent of Bill 
Mazeroski’s home run in the seventh inning to defeat the Yankees in 
1960.”

Many found McCarver informative and entertaining. Others 
thought him infuriating. McCarver did not cut himself short whether 
explaining baseball strategy or taking on someone’s performance on the 
field. “When you ask him the time, (he) will tell you how a watch 
works,” Sports Illustrated’s Norm Chad wrote of him in 1992. The same 
year his criticism of Deion Sanders for playing two sports on the same 
day led to Atlanta outfielder/Falcons defensive back’s dumping a bucket 
of water on his head. In 1999, McCarver was fired by the Mets after 16 
seasons on the air.

The Mets said in a statement that McCarver 
gave Mets an insightful, humorous and knowledgeable behind the scenes 
look into the game.

“Some broadcasters think that their 
responsibility is to the team and the team only,” McCarver told the 
Times soon after the Mets let him go. “I have never thought that. My No.
 1 obligation is to the people who are watching the game. And I’ve 
always felt that praise without objective criticism ceases to be praise.
 To me, any intelligent person can figure that out.”

After 
retiring from Fox's national broadcasts, McCarver announced part-time 
for Fox Sports Midwest and worked the occasional Cardinals game before 
sitting out the 2020 season because of concerns about COVID-19. Besides 
the Frick award, he was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame, in 
2017.

“By the time I was 26 I had played in three World Series and
 I thought, ’Man this is great, almost a World Series every year,” he 
said during his acceptance speech. “Uh-uh. The game has a way of keeping
 you honest. I never played in another World Series.”

McCarver is survived by his daughters Kathy and Kelley, and grandchildren Leigh and Beau.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676581001538.jpeg" alt="Baseball announcer Tim McCarver poses in the press box before the start of Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Oct. 2, 2003 in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)" />
 <figcaption>Baseball announcer Tim McCarver poses in the press box before the start of Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Oct. 2, 2003 in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By HILLEL ITALIE Associated PressNEW YORK — Tim McCarver, the All-Star catcher and Hall of Fame 
broadcaster who during 60 years in baseball won two World Series titles 
with the St. Louis Cardinals and had a long run as the one of the 
country's most recognized, incisive and talkative television 
commentators, died Thursday. He was 81.McCarver's death was 
announced by baseball's Hall of Fame, which said he died Thursday 
morning due to heart failure in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was with 
his family.Among the few players to appear in major league games 
during four decades, McCarver was a two-time All Star who worked closely
 with two future Hall of Fame pitchers: The tempestuous Bob Gibson, whom
 McCarver caught for St. Louis in the 1960s, and the introverted Steve 
Carlton, McCarver's fellow Cardinal in the '60s and a Philadelphia 
Phillies teammate in the 1970s.He switched to television soon 
after retiring in 1980 and called 24 World Series for ABC, CBS and Fox, a
 record for a baseball analyst on television.“I think there is a 
natural bridge from being a catcher to talking about the view of the 
game and the view of the other players,” McCarver told the Hall in 2012,
 the year he and Joe Buck were given the Ford C. Frick Award for 
excellence in broadcasting. “It is translating that for the viewers. One
 of the hard things about television is staying contemporary and keeping
 it simple for the viewers.”McCarver became best known to 
national audiences for his 18-year partnership on Fox with play-by-play 
man Buck. McCarver moved to Fox in 1996 when it began televising 
baseball and called his final World Series in 2013.“I learned 
really fast that if you were in his inner circle, he would be a fierce 
defender of you and for you,” Buck said Thursday. "He taught me how to 
deal with criticism because he had been criticized, his whole broadcast 
career. And sometimes it was because he was a teacher of the game. If 
some player or manager didn’t manage or play the way he thought the game
 should be played, he let a national audience know it. He was always the
 first one in the clubhouse the next day. If that person had something 
to say back to him, he would engage and stood his ground, but it was 
fair.“He taught me a lot about the game, but he taught me as much or more about how to broadcast on a on a national level.”Commissioner
 Rob Manfred said in a statement that McCarver was “a respected teammate
 and one of the most influential voices our game has known.”Six 
feet tall and solidly built, McCarver was a policeman’s son from 
Memphis, who got into more than a few fights while growing up but was 
otherwise playing baseball and football and imitating popular 
broadcasters, notably the Cardinals’ Harry Caray. He was signed while 
still in high school by the Cardinals for $75,000, a generous offer for 
that time; just 17 when he debuted for them in 1959 and in his early 20s
 when he became the starting catcher.McCarver attended segregated
 schools in Memphis and often spoke of the education he received as a 
newcomer in St. Louis. His teammates included Gibson and outfielder Curt
 Flood, Black players who did not hesitate to confront or tease 
McCarver. When McCarver used racist language against a Black child 
trying to jump a fence during spring training, Gibson would remember 
“getting right up in McCarver’s face.” McCarver liked to tell the story 
about drinking an orange soda during a hot day in spring training and 
Gibson asking him for some, then laughing when McCarver flinched.“It
 was probably Gibby more than any other Black man who helped me to 
overcome whatever latent prejudices I may have had,” McCarver wrote in 
his 1987 memoir “Oh, Baby, I Love It!”Few catchers were strong 
hitters during the ’60s, but McCarver batted .270 or higher for five 
consecutive seasons and was fast enough to become the first in his 
position to lead the league in triples. He had his best year in 1967 
when he hit .295 with 14 home runs, finishing second for NL Most 
Valuable Player behind teammate Orlando Cepeda as the Cardinals won 
their second World Series in four years.McCarver met Carlton when
 the left-hander was a rookie in 1965 “with an independent streak wider 
than the Grand Canyon,” McCarver later wrote. The two initially clashed,
 even arguing on the mound during games, but became close and were 
reunited in the 1970s after both were traded to Philadelphia. McCarver 
became Carlton’s designated catcher even though he admittedly had a 
below average throwing arm and overall didn’t compare defensively to the
 Phillies’ regular catcher, Gold Glover Bob Boone.“Behind every 
successful pitcher, there has to be a very smart catcher, and Tim 
McCarver is that man,” Carlton said during his Hall of Fame induction 
speech in 1994. “Timmy forced me pitch inside. Early in my career I was 
reluctant to pitch inside. Timmy had a way to remedy this. He used to 
set up behind the hitter. There was just the umpire there; I couldn’t 
see him (McCarver), so I was forced to pitch inside.”McCarver 
liked to joke that he and Carlton were so in synch in the field that 
when both were dead they would be buried 60 feet, 6 inches apart, the 
distance between the rubber on the pitching mound and home plate.During
 a 21-year career, when he also played briefly for the Montreal Expos 
and Boston Red Sox, McCarver batted .271 and only twice struck out more 
than 40 times in a season. In the postseason, he averaged .273 and had 
his best outing in the 1964 World Series, when the Cardinals defeated 
the New York Yankees in seven games. McCarver finished 11 for 23, with 
five walks, and his 3-run homer at Yankee Stadium in the 10th inning of 
Game 5 gave his team a 5-2 victory.Younger baseball fans first 
knew him from his work in the broadcast booth, whether local games for 
the New York Mets, Yankees, Philadelphia and San Francisco, as Jack 
Buck’s partner on CBS (1990-91) or with son Joe Buck for Fox from 
1996-2013. McCarver won six Emmys and became enough of a brand name to 
be a punchline on “Family Guy”; write a handful of books, make cameos in
 “Naked Gun,” “Love Hurts” and other movies and even record an album, 
“Tim McCarver Sings Songs from the Great American Songbook.”Knowledge
 was his trademark. In his spare time, he visited art museums, read 
books and could recite poetry from memory. At work, he was like a 
one-man scouting team, versed in the most granular details, and spent 
hours preparing before each game. At times, he seemed to have psychic 
powers. In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, the score was tied at 2 
between the Yankees and Arizona, and New York drew in its infield with 
the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth. Mariano Rivera 
was facing Luis Rodriquez.“Rivera throws inside to left-handers,”
 McCarver observed. “Left-handers get a lot of broken-bat hits into 
shallow outfield, the shallow part of the outfield. That’s the danger of
 bringing the infield in with a guy like Rivera on the mound.”Moments later, Gonzalez’s bloop to short center field drove in the winning run.“When
 you the consider the pressure of the moment,” ESPN’s Keith Olbermann 
told The New York Times in 2002, “the time he had to say it and the 
accuracy, his call was the sports-announcing equivalent of Bill 
Mazeroski’s home run in the seventh inning to defeat the Yankees in 
1960.”Many found McCarver informative and entertaining. Others 
thought him infuriating. McCarver did not cut himself short whether 
explaining baseball strategy or taking on someone’s performance on the 
field. “When you ask him the time, (he) will tell you how a watch 
works,” Sports Illustrated’s Norm Chad wrote of him in 1992. The same 
year his criticism of Deion Sanders for playing two sports on the same 
day led to Atlanta outfielder/Falcons defensive back’s dumping a bucket 
of water on his head. In 1999, McCarver was fired by the Mets after 16 
seasons on the air.The Mets said in a statement that McCarver 
gave Mets an insightful, humorous and knowledgeable behind the scenes 
look into the game.“Some broadcasters think that their 
responsibility is to the team and the team only,” McCarver told the 
Times soon after the Mets let him go. “I have never thought that. My No.
 1 obligation is to the people who are watching the game. And I’ve 
always felt that praise without objective criticism ceases to be praise.
 To me, any intelligent person can figure that out.”After 
retiring from Fox's national broadcasts, McCarver announced part-time 
for Fox Sports Midwest and worked the occasional Cardinals game before 
sitting out the 2020 season because of concerns about COVID-19. Besides 
the Frick award, he was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame, in 
2017.“By the time I was 26 I had played in three World Series and
 I thought, ’Man this is great, almost a World Series every year,” he 
said during his acceptance speech. “Uh-uh. The game has a way of keeping
 you honest. I never played in another World Series.”McCarver is survived by his daughters Kathy and Kelley, and grandchildren Leigh and Beau.

⚾Tim McCarver, big league catcher and broadcaster, dies at 81

KANSAS
CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals
have announced that Manager Ned
Yost has been voted into the
Royals Hall of Fame. He will become the elite group’s 27th inductee during
on-field ceremonies prior to the Royals Sept. 2, 2023 game at Kauffman Stadium
vs. the Boston Red Sox.

Yost
was elected in his first ballot appearance in a vote of living Royals Hall of
Fame Members, and members of the Royals Hall of Fame Executive Board, select
members of the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of
America, Kansas City media representatives, current Royals front office staff
with 15 years of service or more, and Royals fans via an on-line vote. To be
eligible for the ballot, Royals Alumni must have been active with the ballclub
for at least three (3) seasons and accumulated a minimum of 1,500 plate
appearances or 300 innings pitched or managed the equivalent of three full
seasons. Eligible alumni shall have ceased to be an active on-field member of
the Royals (or for any other Major League organization) in the role for which
they are being considered for at least three (3) calendar years preceding the
election. Eligible alumni must be named on at least seventy-five percent (75%)
of all ballots cast to be elected. Yost received (88.2%) support.

The
16th full-time manager in team history, Yost was named to the post on May 13,
2010, and five years later became the winningest skipper in franchise history
by defeating the only other club he managed, the Milwaukee Brewers, 3-2 on June
18, 2015, for his 411th win, surpassing the mark previously held by fellow
Royals Hall of Famer Whitey
Herzog.

Yost,
68, led the Royals to a 22-9 postseason record for a .710 winning percentage,
which set an MLB mark for managers who have managed at least 20 postseason games.
His 2014 club was the first in Major League history to begin the postseason
with eight consecutive victories, winning the Wild Card Game at home over
Oakland, followed by sweeps of the Los Angeles Angels (3-0) in the Division
Series and the Baltimore Orioles (4-0) in the Championship Series.

The
following season, he managed the Royals to their second World Series title,
defeating Houston in the Division Series (3-2) and Toronto (4-2) in the
Championship Series, followed by a 4-1 series win over the New York Mets to
bring Kansas City its second World Series Championship and first since 1985.

Yost
is the Royals all-time leader in managerial wins (746) and was the first
skipper to lead the Royals to consecutive World Series appearances. He finished
his career 32nd all-time in games managed in MLB history, with 2,544, three
more than National Baseball Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver. Yost
also finished 45th all-time in MLB history with 1,203 managerial wins.

Previous
Royals Hall of Fame inductees include: 1986:
Pitcher Steve Busby and Outfielder Amos Otis 1987:
Manager Dick Howser, Second Baseman Cookie Rojas and Pitcher Paul Splittorff 1989:
Pitcher Dennis Leonard and Designated Hitter Hal McRae 1992:
Club President Joe Burke, Pitcher Larry Gura and Shortstop Fred Patek 1993:
Owner Ewing Kauffman 1994:
Third Baseman George Brett 1995:
Second Baseman Frank White 1996:
Royals First Lady Muriel Kauffman and first baseman John Mayberry 1998:
Relief pitcher Dan Quisenberry 2000:
Manager Whitey Herzog and outfielder Willie Wilson&nbsp; 2003:
Pitcher Jeff Montgomery 2004:
Radio Announcer Denny Matthews 2005:
Pitcher Bret Saberhagen 2006:
Pitcher Mark Gubicza 2008:
Scout Art Stewart 2011:
Pitcher Kevin Appier 2012:
Groundskeeper George Toma 2015:
First Baseman/DH Mike Sweeney

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676568078774.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City RoyalsKANSAS
CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals
have announced that Manager Ned
Yost has been voted into the
Royals Hall of Fame. He will become the elite group’s 27th inductee during
on-field ceremonies prior to the Royals Sept. 2, 2023 game at Kauffman Stadium
vs. the Boston Red Sox.Yost
was elected in his first ballot appearance in a vote of living Royals Hall of
Fame Members, and members of the Royals Hall of Fame Executive Board, select
members of the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of
America, Kansas City media representatives, current Royals front office staff
with 15 years of service or more, and Royals fans via an on-line vote. To be
eligible for the ballot, Royals Alumni must have been active with the ballclub
for at least three (3) seasons and accumulated a minimum of 1,500 plate
appearances or 300 innings pitched or managed the equivalent of three full
seasons. Eligible alumni shall have ceased to be an active on-field member of
the Royals (or for any other Major League organization) in the role for which
they are being considered for at least three (3) calendar years preceding the
election. Eligible alumni must be named on at least seventy-five percent (75%)
of all ballots cast to be elected. Yost received (88.2%) support.The
16th full-time manager in team history, Yost was named to the post on May 13,
2010, and five years later became the winningest skipper in franchise history
by defeating the only other club he managed, the Milwaukee Brewers, 3-2 on June
18, 2015, for his 411th win, surpassing the mark previously held by fellow
Royals Hall of Famer Whitey
Herzog.Yost,
68, led the Royals to a 22-9 postseason record for a .710 winning percentage,
which set an MLB mark for managers who have managed at least 20 postseason games.
His 2014 club was the first in Major League history to begin the postseason
with eight consecutive victories, winning the Wild Card Game at home over
Oakland, followed by sweeps of the Los Angeles Angels (3-0) in the Division
Series and the Baltimore Orioles (4-0) in the Championship Series.The
following season, he managed the Royals to their second World Series title,
defeating Houston in the Division Series (3-2) and Toronto (4-2) in the
Championship Series, followed by a 4-1 series win over the New York Mets to
bring Kansas City its second World Series Championship and first since 1985.Yost
is the Royals all-time leader in managerial wins (746) and was the first
skipper to lead the Royals to consecutive World Series appearances. He finished
his career 32nd all-time in games managed in MLB history, with 2,544, three
more than National Baseball Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver. Yost
also finished 45th all-time in MLB history with 1,203 managerial wins.Previous
Royals Hall of Fame inductees include: 1986:
Pitcher Steve Busby and Outfielder Amos Otis 1987:
Manager Dick Howser, Second Baseman Cookie Rojas and Pitcher Paul Splittorff 1989:
Pitcher Dennis Leonard and Designated Hitter Hal McRae 1992:
Club President Joe Burke, Pitcher Larry Gura and Shortstop Fred Patek 1993:
Owner Ewing Kauffman 1994:
Third Baseman George Brett 1995:
Second Baseman Frank White 1996:
Royals First Lady Muriel Kauffman and first baseman John Mayberry 1998:
Relief pitcher Dan Quisenberry 2000:
Manager Whitey Herzog and outfielder Willie Wilson&nbsp; 2003:
Pitcher Jeff Montgomery 2004:
Radio Announcer Denny Matthews 2005:
Pitcher Bret Saberhagen 2006:
Pitcher Mark Gubicza 2008:
Scout Art Stewart 2011:
Pitcher Kevin Appier 2012:
Groundskeeper George Toma 2015:
First Baseman/DH Mike Sweeney

⚾ Ned Yost elected into Royals Hall of Fame

Fort Hays State (17-8, 12-7 MIAA) at Pittsburg State (6-18, 3-15 MIAA) Thursday, February 16 - 7:30 p.m. Pittsburg, Kan. - John Lance Arena Radio: KJLS (103.3)

<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Fort Hays State Men's Basketball heads on the road this week with its first stop at Pittsburg State on Thursday evening. The Tigers enter the contest at 17-8 overall, 12-7 in the MIAA, while the Gorillas are 6-18 overall, 3-15 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at John Lance Arena. The Tigers enter this week looking to improve their position for seeding in the MIAA Tournament, which will take place the first week of March in Kansas City. The Tigers have mathematically locked up a spot in the tournament and currently sit among a tight race for third in the conference standings. FHSU is only a half game back of Emporia State and Lincoln, which sit in a tie for third at 12-6. Missouri Southern is hot on the heels of FHSU at 11-7 in the conference and the teams will meet on Saturday in Joplin. FHSU is coming off a pair of home wins last week over Lincoln and Central Missouri. The results gave FHSU a sweep of both opponents for the regular season and it will be looking for another regular season sweep of an opponent in this contest. FHSU defeated Pittsburg State earlier this season in Hays by a score of 83-55. The Tigers have won the last two contests played between the teams. Pittsburg State won the last meeting between the teams in Pittsburg back in 2020-21 by a score of 79-68. Pittsburg State enters this game on a three-game losing skid. The Gorillas lost on the road at Central Missouri and Lincoln before falling in their most recent game to Missouri Southern at home in overtime. The Gorillas have allowed 80 or more points in eight straight games. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;is nearing another milestone for his career, just four assists shy of 300. He is looking to become just the fourth player in program history with at least 1,000 points and 300 assists. That group includes Raymond Lee (1,615 pts, 899 ast), Craig Nicholson (1,449 pts, 628 ast), and Mark Wilson (1,631 pts, 556 ast). Hammeke can become just the ninth player in program history to have 300 career assists. Hammeke passed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season in a win at Newman and now has 1,045 for his career. Hammeke leads the Tigers at 16.0 points and 3.6 assists per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/gabe-pieschl/6904">Gabe Pieschl</a>&nbsp;leads the team in rebounding at 5.9 per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/elijah-nnanabu/6902">Elijah Nnanabu</a>&nbsp;ranks second on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/bjarni-jonsson/6901">Bjarni Jonsson</a>&nbsp;is third at 8.6 per game and shoots a team-best 52.5 percent beyond the 3-point line.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/traejon-davis/6896">Traejon Davis</a>&nbsp;has the best field goal percentage on the team at 59.8 and averages 7.0 points per game. Deshaun English II leads Pittsburg State in scoring at 15.0 points per game, while Quentin Hardrict averages 13.7 and leads the MIAA in assists at 4.8 per game.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676482828140.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State center Iyen Eneruna (31) goes up for a shot in an MIAA basketball game vs. Central Missouri in Hays, Kan. on Saturday, Febraury 11, 2023. (FHSU Athletics photo/Madison Shapland)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State center Iyen Eneruna (31) goes up for a shot in an MIAA basketball game vs. Central Missouri in Hays, Kan. on Saturday, Febraury 11, 2023. (FHSU Athletics photo/Madison Shapland)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFort Hays State (17-8, 12-7 MIAA) at Pittsburg State (6-18, 3-15 MIAA) Thursday, February 16 - 7:30 p.m. Pittsburg, Kan. - John Lance Arena Radio: KJLS (103.3)<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Fort Hays State Men's Basketball heads on the road this week with its first stop at Pittsburg State on Thursday evening. The Tigers enter the contest at 17-8 overall, 12-7 in the MIAA, while the Gorillas are 6-18 overall, 3-15 in the MIAA. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at John Lance Arena. The Tigers enter this week looking to improve their position for seeding in the MIAA Tournament, which will take place the first week of March in Kansas City. The Tigers have mathematically locked up a spot in the tournament and currently sit among a tight race for third in the conference standings. FHSU is only a half game back of Emporia State and Lincoln, which sit in a tie for third at 12-6. Missouri Southern is hot on the heels of FHSU at 11-7 in the conference and the teams will meet on Saturday in Joplin. FHSU is coming off a pair of home wins last week over Lincoln and Central Missouri. The results gave FHSU a sweep of both opponents for the regular season and it will be looking for another regular season sweep of an opponent in this contest. FHSU defeated Pittsburg State earlier this season in Hays by a score of 83-55. The Tigers have won the last two contests played between the teams. Pittsburg State won the last meeting between the teams in Pittsburg back in 2020-21 by a score of 79-68. Pittsburg State enters this game on a three-game losing skid. The Gorillas lost on the road at Central Missouri and Lincoln before falling in their most recent game to Missouri Southern at home in overtime. The Gorillas have allowed 80 or more points in eight straight games. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;is nearing another milestone for his career, just four assists shy of 300. He is looking to become just the fourth player in program history with at least 1,000 points and 300 assists. That group includes Raymond Lee (1,615 pts, 899 ast), Craig Nicholson (1,449 pts, 628 ast), and Mark Wilson (1,631 pts, 556 ast). Hammeke can become just the ninth player in program history to have 300 career assists. Hammeke passed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season in a win at Newman and now has 1,045 for his career. Hammeke leads the Tigers at 16.0 points and 3.6 assists per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/gabe-pieschl/6904">Gabe Pieschl</a>&nbsp;leads the team in rebounding at 5.9 per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/elijah-nnanabu/6902">Elijah Nnanabu</a>&nbsp;ranks second on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/bjarni-jonsson/6901">Bjarni Jonsson</a>&nbsp;is third at 8.6 per game and shoots a team-best 52.5 percent beyond the 3-point line.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/traejon-davis/6896">Traejon Davis</a>&nbsp;has the best field goal percentage on the team at 59.8 and averages 7.0 points per game. Deshaun English II leads Pittsburg State in scoring at 15.0 points per game, while Quentin Hardrict averages 13.7 and leads the MIAA in assists at 4.8 per game.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎙️ - LISTEN - FHSU men begin road stretch at Pittsburg State Thursday

Fort Hays State (19-8, 14-5 MIAA) at Pittsburg State (19-5, 14-4 MIAA) Thursday, February 16, 2023 • 5:30 p.m. Pittsburg, Kan. • John Lance Arena Radio: KJLS (103.3)

<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> The Fort Hays State women's basketball team hits the road for the final three games of the regular season beginning with a Thursday evening contest at Pittsburg State (Feb. 16). First tip from John Lance Arena is slated for 5:30 p.m. Fort Hays State (19-8, 14-5 MIAA) is one-half game behind the Gorillas (19-5, 14-4 MIAA) in the league standings with two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Tigers within reach of first place in the standings, but would need help to get there. FHSU is 1.5 games behind third-place Central Missouri, two games behind Missouri Western and three games behind Nebraska-Kearney. The Tigers and Gorillas are two of 10 teams listed in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, announced Wednesday (Feb. 15) by the NCAA office. Six MIAA programs are joined by three schools from the Northern Sun and one from the Great American Conference. Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA Network. Fans can purchase access to a single contest for $10, a month-long pass for $25 or a season-long, all-access pass for $125. Both the monthly and year-long passes gain access to any event in any sport streamed on The MIAA Network. Live radio coverage with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will be available over the air on KJLS 103.3 FM and online at hayspost.com. Fort Hays State ranks fourth in the country with just 12.0 turnovers per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/emma-ruddle/6846">Emma Ruddle</a>&nbsp;has knocked down a trio of 3-pointers in four-straight games.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>&nbsp;averages 16.0 points in three games against the Gorillas, scoring in double figures all three times.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/6845">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;averages 13.3 ppg against PSU. Both have one 20-point game against the Gorillas. Hollenbeck has 121 blocks in her career, tied for sixth-most in program history (Jamie Heiman, 1999-03). She is five blocks behind Tatyana Legette (2015-19), who ranks fifth all-time with 126 blocks. Wagner became the 24th player in FHSU history to reach 1,000 career points last week against Newman. Hollenbeck is 53 points away from becoming the 25th Tiger to accomplish the feat. The Tigers need one win to reach 20 victories for the 12th-consecutive season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II. The Tigers had a nine-game winning streak against Pittsburg State snapped last month when the Gorillas beat FHSU by 22 points (1/7/23), their largest margin of victory in series history. The Tigers are 34-28 all-time against PSU, while the Gorillas lead in games played in Pittsburg, 16-12. FHSU is 13-14 against the Gorillas during the Hobson era, including a 3-8 mark on the road. FHSU has won two in a row on the road against PSU. Pittsburg State boasts three of the top 10 scorers in the MIAA, with Karenna Geber (15.1 ppg) ranking sixth, Tristan Gegg (15.0 ppg) ranking seventh and Grace Pyle (14.1 ppg) ranking 10th in the league. The Gorillas have the top scoring offense in the league, ranking 11th nationally with 79.0 points per game. PSU allows 68.4 points per contest, fourth-most in the conference. The Gorillas rank sixth in DII with a plus-9.5 rebounding margin. Tristan Gegg hits 3.04 3-pointers per game, tops in the MIAA and ninth-most nationally.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676514151219.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State guard Megan Earney (34) drives past Pittsburg State's Tristan Gegg (10) in an MIAA basketball game in Hays, Kan. on January 7, 2023. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State guard Megan Earney (34) drives past Pittsburg State's Tristan Gegg (10) in an MIAA basketball game in Hays, Kan. on January 7, 2023. (FHSU Athletics photo/Nicole Heitmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFort Hays State (19-8, 14-5 MIAA) at Pittsburg State (19-5, 14-4 MIAA) Thursday, February 16, 2023 • 5:30 p.m. Pittsburg, Kan. • John Lance Arena Radio: KJLS (103.3)<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KJLS">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> The Fort Hays State women's basketball team hits the road for the final three games of the regular season beginning with a Thursday evening contest at Pittsburg State (Feb. 16). First tip from John Lance Arena is slated for 5:30 p.m. Fort Hays State (19-8, 14-5 MIAA) is one-half game behind the Gorillas (19-5, 14-4 MIAA) in the league standings with two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Tigers within reach of first place in the standings, but would need help to get there. FHSU is 1.5 games behind third-place Central Missouri, two games behind Missouri Western and three games behind Nebraska-Kearney. The Tigers and Gorillas are two of 10 teams listed in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, announced Wednesday (Feb. 15) by the NCAA office. Six MIAA programs are joined by three schools from the Northern Sun and one from the Great American Conference. Live video of the conference clash will be available on The MIAA Network. Fans can purchase access to a single contest for $10, a month-long pass for $25 or a season-long, all-access pass for $125. Both the monthly and year-long passes gain access to any event in any sport streamed on The MIAA Network. Live radio coverage with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock will be available over the air on KJLS 103.3 FM and online at hayspost.com. Fort Hays State ranks fourth in the country with just 12.0 turnovers per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/emma-ruddle/6846">Emma Ruddle</a>&nbsp;has knocked down a trio of 3-pointers in four-straight games.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>&nbsp;averages 16.0 points in three games against the Gorillas, scoring in double figures all three times.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/olivia-hollenbeck/6845">Olivia Hollenbeck</a>&nbsp;averages 13.3 ppg against PSU. Both have one 20-point game against the Gorillas. Hollenbeck has 121 blocks in her career, tied for sixth-most in program history (Jamie Heiman, 1999-03). She is five blocks behind Tatyana Legette (2015-19), who ranks fifth all-time with 126 blocks. Wagner became the 24th player in FHSU history to reach 1,000 career points last week against Newman. Hollenbeck is 53 points away from becoming the 25th Tiger to accomplish the feat. The Tigers need one win to reach 20 victories for the 12th-consecutive season. Their current streak of 11 such seasons is the longest active streak in Division II. The Tigers had a nine-game winning streak against Pittsburg State snapped last month when the Gorillas beat FHSU by 22 points (1/7/23), their largest margin of victory in series history. The Tigers are 34-28 all-time against PSU, while the Gorillas lead in games played in Pittsburg, 16-12. FHSU is 13-14 against the Gorillas during the Hobson era, including a 3-8 mark on the road. FHSU has won two in a row on the road against PSU. Pittsburg State boasts three of the top 10 scorers in the MIAA, with Karenna Geber (15.1 ppg) ranking sixth, Tristan Gegg (15.0 ppg) ranking seventh and Grace Pyle (14.1 ppg) ranking 10th in the league. The Gorillas have the top scoring offense in the league, ranking 11th nationally with 79.0 points per game. PSU allows 68.4 points per contest, fourth-most in the conference. The Gorillas rank sixth in DII with a plus-9.5 rebounding margin. Tristan Gegg hits 3.04 3-pointers per game, tops in the MIAA and ninth-most nationally.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀🎙️ LISTEN - Tiger women take on Gorillas Thursday

Swimmers from the Hays Hurricanes as part of the Western Kansas Swim Club returned home after a successful USA swimming, Missouri Valley District swim meet in Wichita. 

The WKSC team took third place overall with only six swimmers. Up against much larger teams the WKSC swimmers racked up team points with several District Champion swims, many of which also qualified team members for the upcoming Missouri Valley Championship swim meet in Lenexa. 

Participating members from the Hays Hurricanes included Braylee Carper, Wyatt Dixson, Lane Dixson, and Breckyn Martin. The head coach of the Hays Hurricanes — Kendra Clary, along with the WKSC head coach Aleisha Stepp — have been working hard to prepare these young athletes for these highly competitive swim meets.

Braylee Carper had several impressive PRs, making it to finals and placed in the top eight in the 100 breast and 200 free for girls 13/14. Wyatt Dixson also had PRs in the boys 13/14 placing second in the 200 back and will be swimming the 200 back and 100 fly at Champs. Lane Dixson was the boys 9/10 District champion in the 50 back, 100 back, and 200 free. He will be swimming several events at Champs including the 100 IM, 50 and 100 fly, 100 free, 50 and 100 back, and 200 free. Breckyn Martin was the girls 9/10 District champion in the 100 free and runner up in the 50 free. She will be swimming the 50 and 100 free and 50 fly at Champs. 

The other two outstanding WKSC participants also included Thaxton Freeman of the Ulysses Sharks and Emma Kirchoff of Garden City. Thaxton set new PRs, made finals, and placed in the top 8 for the boys 13/14 200IM, 100 back and 100 free. Emma was the District champion for the 200IM, 100 breast, 50 free, and 50 breast. Emma will also be swimming at Champs in several events. 

"Together these six swimmers along with their amazing coaches are proud of their 3rd place finish at the District Championship meet," the organization said in a news release. "WKSC swimmers and coaches are looking forward to Champs the first weekend in March. The Hays Hurricane swim team has a bright future ahead and can not wait to see more team members participate in meets and more future swimmers join the club."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676478414122.png" alt="From left: Hays coach Kendra Clary, Breckyn Martin, Lane Dixson, Wyatt Dixson, Emma Kirchoff, Braylee Carper, Thaxton Freeman, Western Kansas Coach Aleisha Stepp / Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>From left: Hays coach Kendra Clary, Breckyn Martin, Lane Dixson, Wyatt Dixson, Emma Kirchoff, Braylee Carper, Thaxton Freeman, Western Kansas Coach Aleisha Stepp / Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedSwimmers from the Hays Hurricanes as part of the Western Kansas Swim Club returned home after a successful USA swimming, Missouri Valley District swim meet in Wichita. The WKSC team took third place overall with only six swimmers. Up against much larger teams the WKSC swimmers racked up team points with several District Champion swims, many of which also qualified team members for the upcoming Missouri Valley Championship swim meet in Lenexa. Participating members from the Hays Hurricanes included Braylee Carper, Wyatt Dixson, Lane Dixson, and Breckyn Martin. The head coach of the Hays Hurricanes — Kendra Clary, along with the WKSC head coach Aleisha Stepp — have been working hard to prepare these young athletes for these highly competitive swim meets.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676478864045.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Braylee Carper had several impressive PRs, making it to finals and placed in the top eight in the 100 breast and 200 free for girls 13/14. Wyatt Dixson also had PRs in the boys 13/14 placing second in the 200 back and will be swimming the 200 back and 100 fly at Champs. Lane Dixson was the boys 9/10 District champion in the 50 back, 100 back, and 200 free. He will be swimming several events at Champs including the 100 IM, 50 and 100 fly, 100 free, 50 and 100 back, and 200 free. Breckyn Martin was the girls 9/10 District champion in the 100 free and runner up in the 50 free. She will be swimming the 50 and 100 free and 50 fly at Champs. The other two outstanding WKSC participants also included Thaxton Freeman of the Ulysses Sharks and Emma Kirchoff of Garden City. Thaxton set new PRs, made finals, and placed in the top 8 for the boys 13/14 200IM, 100 back and 100 free. Emma was the District champion for the 200IM, 100 breast, 50 free, and 50 breast. Emma will also be swimming at Champs in several events. "Together these six swimmers along with their amazing coaches are proud of their 3rd place finish at the District Championship meet," the organization said in a news release. "WKSC swimmers and coaches are looking forward to Champs the first weekend in March. The Hays Hurricane swim team has a bright future ahead and can not wait to see more team members participate in meets and more future swimmers join the club."

🏊 Hays Hurricanes fare well in Wichita swim meet

Due to necessary repairs on the tower for 101.9 The Bull, Friday's Area Game Of The Week between Phillipsburg and Hoxie will air on Mix 103.

The broadcast begins with with Game Day Live at 5:15 p.m. Friday.

Due to necessary repairs on the tower for 101.9 The Bull, Friday's Area Game Of The Week between Phillipsburg and Hoxie will air on Mix 103.The broadcast begins with with Game Day Live at 5:15 p.m. Friday.

🏀 Eagle Area Game of the Week moves to Mix 103

INDIANAPOLIS - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team is one of 10 teams currently under consideration for selection into the 2023 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships, announced Wednesday (Feb. 15) by the NCAA office. In recent years the NCAA has released the first set of region rankings in alphabetical order before announcing the teams in rank order in subsequent releases. The Tigers are one of six MIAA programs in the region's top 10, joined by three schools representing the Northern Sun and one institution from the Great American Conference. The Tigers are 19-8 on the year, including a 17-8 record against Division II opponents and a 17-7 in-region record. Fort Hays State has played the third-toughest strength-of-schedule in the region, a number that will only increase after final two weeks of the regular season. Fort Hays State has been selected to play in each of the last five regional championships and in seven of the last eight tournaments. FHSU has been the top overall seed in the region three times over the last eight years and has played in a trio of regional finals. Fort Hays State's final three opponents of the year are all listed in the rankings, including Pittsburg State, Missouri Southern and Nebraska-Kearney. FHSU will open the final stretch on Thursday (Feb. 16) at Pittsburg State beginning at 5:30 p.m. 2023 NCAA DII Central Region Rankings - February 15 School • Overall DII Record • In-Region Record Augustana (South Dakota) • 19-4 • 19-4 Central Missouri • 18-3 • 18-3 Fort Hays State • 17-8 • 17-7 Minnesota Duluth • 22-3 • 22-3 Minnesota State Mankato • 20-3 • 20-3 Missouri Southern State • 20-5 • 18-5 Missouri Western • 20-5 • 19-5 Nebraska-Kearney • 22-3 • 22-3 Pittsburg State • 17-5 • 17-5 Southern Nazarene • 19-4 • 19-4 *teams listed in alphabetical order*&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676514442938.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State center Olivia Hollenbeck (33) goes up for a rebound in an NCAA II basketball game vs. Minnesota State in Hays, Kan. on November 18, 2022. (FHSU Athletics photo/Madison Shapland)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State center Olivia Hollenbeck (33) goes up for a rebound in an NCAA II basketball game vs. Minnesota State in Hays, Kan. on November 18, 2022. (FHSU Athletics photo/Madison Shapland)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsINDIANAPOLIS - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team is one of 10 teams currently under consideration for selection into the 2023 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships, announced Wednesday (Feb. 15) by the NCAA office. In recent years the NCAA has released the first set of region rankings in alphabetical order before announcing the teams in rank order in subsequent releases. The Tigers are one of six MIAA programs in the region's top 10, joined by three schools representing the Northern Sun and one institution from the Great American Conference. The Tigers are 19-8 on the year, including a 17-8 record against Division II opponents and a 17-7 in-region record. Fort Hays State has played the third-toughest strength-of-schedule in the region, a number that will only increase after final two weeks of the regular season. Fort Hays State has been selected to play in each of the last five regional championships and in seven of the last eight tournaments. FHSU has been the top overall seed in the region three times over the last eight years and has played in a trio of regional finals. Fort Hays State's final three opponents of the year are all listed in the rankings, including Pittsburg State, Missouri Southern and Nebraska-Kearney. FHSU will open the final stretch on Thursday (Feb. 16) at Pittsburg State beginning at 5:30 p.m. 2023 NCAA DII Central Region Rankings - February 15 School • Overall DII Record • In-Region Record Augustana (South Dakota) • 19-4 • 19-4 Central Missouri • 18-3 • 18-3 Fort Hays State • 17-8 • 17-7 Minnesota Duluth • 22-3 • 22-3 Minnesota State Mankato • 20-3 • 20-3 Missouri Southern State • 20-5 • 18-5 Missouri Western • 20-5 • 19-5 Nebraska-Kearney • 22-3 • 22-3 Pittsburg State • 17-5 • 17-5 Southern Nazarene • 19-4 • 19-4 *teams listed in alphabetical order*&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 FHSU women under consideration in initial region rankings

Several area wrestlers remain ranked in the latest Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association rankings released Wednesday.

<a href="https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/42b6-2322294/321A_Rankings_2.14.23.pdf?_gl=1*5v5lds*_ga*MjU3MDczOTczLjE2NzQ2NDYwODg.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS43LjEuMTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS4wLjAuMA..">321A Boys Rankings 02/15/2023</a> <a href="https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/c67c-2562176/22-23_5A_Rankings_Database_-_FINAL_SHEET__13_.pdf?_gl=1*16olalu*_ga*MjU3MDczOTczLjE2NzQ2NDYwODg.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS43LjEuMTY3NjQ3MjQ1Ni4wLjAuMA..">5A Boys Rankings 02/15/2023</a> <a href="https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/4f9a-2322299/4-1A_Girls_Rankings_22-23_-_FINAL_SHEET__2___2_.pdf?_gl=1*16iy4ic*_ga*MjU3MDczOTczLjE2NzQ2NDYwODg.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS43LjEuMTY3NjQ3MjQ2MS4wLjAuMA..">4-1A Girls Rankings 02/15/2023</a> <a href="https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/a087-2322302/2022-2023_Girls_5-6A_Rankings_Database_-_FINAL_SHEET__12_.pdf?_gl=1*a0tav0*_ga*MjU3MDczOTczLjE2NzQ2NDYwODg.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS43LjEuMTY3NjQ3MjQ2Ni4wLjAuMA..">6-5A Girls Rankings 02/15/2023</a>

Hays High has four ranked in Class 5A. Junior Harley
Zimmerman remains ranked No. 1 at 132, freshman Grady Lind is fifth at 106, junior
Elijah McCullough is sixth at 113 and senior Cyrus Vajner sixth at 126.

Senior Sarah Zimmerman is ranked No. 1 at 110 for the Hays
girls in 6-5A. Sophomore Tionna Napue is second at 115. Both were regional
champs this past Saturday at the Dodge City regional. 

Ellis continues to have two boys ranked in 3-2-1A. Junior
Mason Younger remains No. 1 at 126. Senior Jarrett Mader is second at 144.
Plainville also has two ranked. Senior Cohen Kaiser fourth at 132 and senior Kyle
Werner is second at 190. Hill City has three ranked. Sophomore Alexander Hamel
is ranked fourth at 106, sophomore Dayton Stephens is fourth at 150 and junior
Aiden Amrein is fifth at 165.

Stockton freshman Carolina Northrup is ranked sixth at 100
in 4-1A girls. Teammate Ashlyn Hahn is fourth at 120. Trego junior Adrian Wynn
is fourth at 115. Quinter freshman Cali Wagoner is third at 135, Ellis junior Kaydawn
Haag is fifth at 140, Plainville sophomore Zoe Brown is fifth at 145.

The Hoxie boys remain No. 1 in the 3-2-1A team rankings.
Norton is third, Smith Center fourth, Ellis eighth and Hill City ninth.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604497727867.jpeg" alt="KWCA Logo.jpg" />
 <figcaption>KWCA Logo.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Several area wrestlers remain ranked in the latest Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association rankings released Wednesday.<a href="https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/42b6-2322294/321A_Rankings_2.14.23.pdf?_gl=1*5v5lds*_ga*MjU3MDczOTczLjE2NzQ2NDYwODg.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS43LjEuMTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS4wLjAuMA..">321A Boys Rankings 02/15/2023</a> <a href="https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/c67c-2562176/22-23_5A_Rankings_Database_-_FINAL_SHEET__13_.pdf?_gl=1*16olalu*_ga*MjU3MDczOTczLjE2NzQ2NDYwODg.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS43LjEuMTY3NjQ3MjQ1Ni4wLjAuMA..">5A Boys Rankings 02/15/2023</a> <a href="https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/4f9a-2322299/4-1A_Girls_Rankings_22-23_-_FINAL_SHEET__2___2_.pdf?_gl=1*16iy4ic*_ga*MjU3MDczOTczLjE2NzQ2NDYwODg.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS43LjEuMTY3NjQ3MjQ2MS4wLjAuMA..">4-1A Girls Rankings 02/15/2023</a> <a href="https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/a087-2322302/2022-2023_Girls_5-6A_Rankings_Database_-_FINAL_SHEET__12_.pdf?_gl=1*a0tav0*_ga*MjU3MDczOTczLjE2NzQ2NDYwODg.*_ga_PQ25JN9PJ8*MTY3NjQ3MjQ0OS43LjEuMTY3NjQ3MjQ2Ni4wLjAuMA..">6-5A Girls Rankings 02/15/2023</a>Hays High has four ranked in Class 5A. Junior Harley
Zimmerman remains ranked No. 1 at 132, freshman Grady Lind is fifth at 106, junior
Elijah McCullough is sixth at 113 and senior Cyrus Vajner sixth at 126.Senior Sarah Zimmerman is ranked No. 1 at 110 for the Hays
girls in 6-5A. Sophomore Tionna Napue is second at 115. Both were regional
champs this past Saturday at the Dodge City regional. Ellis continues to have two boys ranked in 3-2-1A. Junior
Mason Younger remains No. 1 at 126. Senior Jarrett Mader is second at 144.
Plainville also has two ranked. Senior Cohen Kaiser fourth at 132 and senior Kyle
Werner is second at 190. Hill City has three ranked. Sophomore Alexander Hamel
is ranked fourth at 106, sophomore Dayton Stephens is fourth at 150 and junior
Aiden Amrein is fifth at 165.Stockton freshman Carolina Northrup is ranked sixth at 100
in 4-1A girls. Teammate Ashlyn Hahn is fourth at 120. Trego junior Adrian Wynn
is fourth at 115. Quinter freshman Cali Wagoner is third at 135, Ellis junior Kaydawn
Haag is fifth at 140, Plainville sophomore Zoe Brown is fifth at 145.The Hoxie boys remain No. 1 in the 3-2-1A team rankings.
Norton is third, Smith Center fourth, Ellis eighth and Hill City ninth.

🤼‍♂️ Area wrestlers represented in latest KWCA rankings

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Kansas guard Gradey Dick was the main target of jeers from Oklahoma State's noisy fans Tuesday night.

His outside shooting quieted the crowd. The freshman scored 17 of his season-high 26 points in the second half and the fifth-ranked Jayhawks rolled to an 87-76 victory over the Cowboys.

Dick said Oklahoma State's fans gave him energy.

“I love it,” he said. “I love it. I kind of like being, you know, the hated one going into (visiting arenas). And they were doing their little chants. But it definitely fuels the fire, for sure."

Dick made 10 of 17 field goal attempts, shooting 4 of 9 on 3-pointers. And his performance allowed Kansas to get away with a bit of an off night from the Big 12's leading scorer. Jalen Wilson had 14 points — nearly seven below his average coming in.

Wilson said Dick's production was exceptional, especially for a freshman.

“He did great,” Wilson said. “You guys have seen all year, he has no conscience when it comes to shooting the ball and that’s what makes a great shooter. Every time he shoots the ball, we think it’s going in just like he thinks it’s going in.”

Kansas shot 66% from the field in the second half to pull away from the Cowboys. Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense, but the Cowboys couldn't figure out the Jayhawks.

“We’ve got to defend better,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. “We’re a better defensive team than we showed. We just didn’t have our fastball tonight and our curveball wasn’t good enough.”

Kansas (21-5, 9-4 Big 12) has won three straight. The Jayhawks are tied with Texas and Baylor atop the conference standings.

Kalib Boone scored a career-high 27 points, John-Michael Wright had 18 and Bryce Thompson added 17 for Oklahoma State (16-10, 7-6).

Oklahoma State had won five straight, including victories over ranked opponents TCU and Iowa State. The Cowboys were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-iowa-state-cyclones-top-25-college-basketball-today-bryce-thompson-caleb-asberry-7a7ca5a4d4c362e3f6a2391afda0ecc5">coming off a 64-56 win at then-No. 11 Iowa State</a>.

But the Cowboys were again without senior guard Avery Anderson III, who remained out after having surgery on his left wrist.

Thompson lit up the Jayhawks early. The guard, who played at Kansas for a year before transferring to Oklahoma State, scored 14 points in the first 11 minutes to help the Cowboys take a 23-18 lead.

Kansas hung tough, and Dick's 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer gave the Jayhawks a 39-37 lead at the break.

“Obviously, it was a big play, kind of a breakdown in communication for us," Boynton said. "I think we had a mix-up in our defensive calls there and that should never happen. A guy who shoots that well is obviously pretty close to the top of the scouting report.”

Dick scored eight points in the first two minutes of the second half to help Kansas take a 52-44 lead, and the Jayhawks led by at least five the rest of the way.

Now, Oklahoma State will try to regain its footing.

“You can’t get too far down," Boynton said. "There’s still a lot of games left, a lot to play for with solid position. We’ve just got to get back to work.”

Kansas: The Jayhawks completed back-to-back road wins in Oklahoma against teams that have some big victories on their home courts. The Jayhawks beat Oklahoma on Saturday.

Oklahoma State: While this loss won't hurt perception of the Cowboys, they have three more regular-season games against ranked opponents, so every opportunity is critical.

Boone shot 10 of 15 and grabbed nine rebounds. He scored 25 points three games ago against TCU, then dropped to nine against Texas Tech and eight against Iowa State before Tuesday’s big performance.

Boynton on his team's effort: “I didn’t think as a team we necessarily met the moment collectively in a way that we gave ourselves the best chance to win."

Oklahoma State: Visits No. 22 TCU on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676460227979.png" alt="Kansas's Gradey Dick celebrates in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. (Kansas Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas's Gradey Dick celebrates in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. (Kansas Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports WriterSTILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Kansas guard Gradey Dick was the main target of jeers from Oklahoma State's noisy fans Tuesday night.His outside shooting quieted the crowd. The freshman scored 17 of his season-high 26 points in the second half and the fifth-ranked Jayhawks rolled to an 87-76 victory over the Cowboys.Dick said Oklahoma State's fans gave him energy.“I love it,” he said. “I love it. I kind of like being, you know, the hated one going into (visiting arenas). And they were doing their little chants. But it definitely fuels the fire, for sure."Dick made 10 of 17 field goal attempts, shooting 4 of 9 on 3-pointers. And his performance allowed Kansas to get away with a bit of an off night from the Big 12's leading scorer. Jalen Wilson had 14 points — nearly seven below his average coming in.Wilson said Dick's production was exceptional, especially for a freshman.“He did great,” Wilson said. “You guys have seen all year, he has no conscience when it comes to shooting the ball and that’s what makes a great shooter. Every time he shoots the ball, we think it’s going in just like he thinks it’s going in.”Kansas shot 66% from the field in the second half to pull away from the Cowboys. Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense, but the Cowboys couldn't figure out the Jayhawks.“We’ve got to defend better,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. “We’re a better defensive team than we showed. We just didn’t have our fastball tonight and our curveball wasn’t good enough.”Kansas (21-5, 9-4 Big 12) has won three straight. The Jayhawks are tied with Texas and Baylor atop the conference standings.Kalib Boone scored a career-high 27 points, John-Michael Wright had 18 and Bryce Thompson added 17 for Oklahoma State (16-10, 7-6).Oklahoma State had won five straight, including victories over ranked opponents TCU and Iowa State. The Cowboys were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-iowa-state-cyclones-top-25-college-basketball-today-bryce-thompson-caleb-asberry-7a7ca5a4d4c362e3f6a2391afda0ecc5">coming off a 64-56 win at then-No. 11 Iowa State</a>.But the Cowboys were again without senior guard Avery Anderson III, who remained out after having surgery on his left wrist.Thompson lit up the Jayhawks early. The guard, who played at Kansas for a year before transferring to Oklahoma State, scored 14 points in the first 11 minutes to help the Cowboys take a 23-18 lead.Kansas hung tough, and Dick's 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer gave the Jayhawks a 39-37 lead at the break.“Obviously, it was a big play, kind of a breakdown in communication for us," Boynton said. "I think we had a mix-up in our defensive calls there and that should never happen. A guy who shoots that well is obviously pretty close to the top of the scouting report.”Dick scored eight points in the first two minutes of the second half to help Kansas take a 52-44 lead, and the Jayhawks led by at least five the rest of the way.Now, Oklahoma State will try to regain its footing.“You can’t get too far down," Boynton said. "There’s still a lot of games left, a lot to play for with solid position. We’ve just got to get back to work.”BIG PICTUREKansas: The Jayhawks completed back-to-back road wins in Oklahoma against teams that have some big victories on their home courts. The Jayhawks beat Oklahoma on Saturday.Oklahoma State: While this loss won't hurt perception of the Cowboys, they have three more regular-season games against ranked opponents, so every opportunity is critical.STAT LINESBoone shot 10 of 15 and grabbed nine rebounds. He scored 25 points three games ago against TCU, then dropped to nine against Texas Tech and eight against Iowa State before Tuesday’s big performance.QUOTABLEBoynton on his team's effort: “I didn’t think as a team we necessarily met the moment collectively in a way that we gave ourselves the best chance to win."UP NEXTKansas: Hosts No. 9 Baylor on Saturday.Oklahoma State: Visits No. 22 TCU on Saturday.