HAYS, Kan. – Due to weather and field-related issues for the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Fort Hays State is pushing its first two MIAA doubleheaders this weekend back a day to Saturday and Sunday (Mar. 11-12). Since Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western are traveling to play both FHSU and UNK this weekend, adjustments were made in order to have the teams play consecutive days. Fort Hays State will now be hosting Northwest Missouri State on Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Following that, the Tigers will play host to Missouri Western in a doubleheader on Sunday at 12 p.m. This is the first weekend of conference play for all four teams.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678307167173.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. – Due to weather and field-related issues for the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Fort Hays State is pushing its first two MIAA doubleheaders this weekend back a day to Saturday and Sunday (Mar. 11-12). Since Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western are traveling to play both FHSU and UNK this weekend, adjustments were made in order to have the teams play consecutive days. Fort Hays State will now be hosting Northwest Missouri State on Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Following that, the Tigers will play host to Missouri Western in a doubleheader on Sunday at 12 p.m. This is the first weekend of conference play for all four teams.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🥎 FHSU softball pushes weekend games back a day

The Phillipsburg Lady Panthers take on
the Riley County Lady Falcons in the opening round of the 3A state tournament on Wednesday in Hutchinson.

Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. from the Hutchinson Sports Arena

Our coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. with Sean Boston on 96.9 KFIX.

You can listen online <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">HERE</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678296272370.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Phillipsburg Lady Panthers take on
the Riley County Lady Falcons in the opening round of the 3A state tournament on Wednesday in Hutchinson.Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. from the Hutchinson Sports ArenaOur coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. with Sean Boston on 96.9 KFIX.You can listen online <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">HERE</a>

🏀🎙️ LISTEN - 3A State: Phillipsburg vs. Riley County

8U Boys 125 Riggens Pfanenstiel's place is 1st

10U Girls 60 Addyson Harding's place is 3rd

10U Girls 65 Prestigious Connally's place is 4th

10U Girls 100 Dynasty Connally's place is 3rd

10U Boys 76 Braxton Delzeit's place is 4th

10U Boys 110 Damian Chartier's place is 3rd

10U Boys 110 George Stecklein's place is 1st

12U Girls 80 Lily Balandran's place is 3rd

12U Girls 85 Chassidy Carlisle's place is 5th

12U Girls 85 Audrey Yarmer's place is 4th

12U Girls 115 Chloe Hearld's place is 2nd

12U Girls 130 Ayva Silva-Thomas's place is 3rd

14U Girls 97 Emersyn Copper's place is 3rd

14U Girls 97 Kenlee Vehige's place is 2nd

14U Girls 101 Alyssa Harding's place is 3rd

14U Girls 105 Kylah Clingingsmith's place is 3rd

14U Girls 110 Shea Augustine's place is 2nd

14U Girls 119 Madison Polson's place is 4th

14U Girls 136 Timber Lovewell's place is 3rd

14U Girls 145 Lexia Barnett's place is 1st

14U Boys 80 Gaven Deneault's place is 1st

14U Boys 175 Jonathan Rigler's place is 1st

14U Boys 205 Jaxson Chartier's place is 1st

HS Girls 115 Sarah Zimmerman's place is 1st

HS Girls 140 Katie Gutierrez's place is 1st

HS Boys 113 Elijah McCullough's place is 2nd

HS Boys 120 Tacoma Augustine's place is 3rd

HS Boys 138 Harley Zimmerman's place is 1st

HS Boys 190 Israel Zimmerman's place is 2nd

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678293484240.png" alt="Rudy Washburn was the State Runner Up in the 6 and under state championships last Sunday in Mulvane. " />
 <figcaption>Rudy Washburn was the State Runner Up in the 6 and under state championships last Sunday in Mulvane. </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678293530516.png" alt="Hays Wrestling Club female wrestlers won the Jeanie Dey Girls Team trophy at the District 4 Championships last Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Hays Wrestling Club Girl wrestlers have won this trophy back-to-back years." />
 <figcaption>Hays Wrestling Club female wrestlers won the Jeanie Dey Girls Team trophy at the District 4 Championships last Saturday at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Hays Wrestling Club Girl wrestlers have won this trophy back-to-back years.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678293614573.png" alt="2023 State Qualifiers will compete in Topeka this weekend. Below is a list of State Qualifiers for Hays Wrestling Club and their finish at districts. " />
 <figcaption>2023 State Qualifiers will compete in Topeka this weekend. Below is a list of State Qualifiers for Hays Wrestling Club and their finish at districts. </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>2023 Hays Wrestling Club State Team</h2>8U Girls 65 Zoie Ruiz's place is 5th8U Boys 58 Breck Simon's place is 3rd8U Boys 58 Jaxon Jacobs's place is 4th8U Boys 125 Riggens Pfanenstiel's place is 1st10U Girls 60 Addyson Harding's place is 3rd10U Girls 65 Prestigious Connally's place is 4th10U Girls 85 Avryn Beiker's place is 1st10U Girls 100 Dynasty Connally's place is 3rd10U Boys 70 Walker Hobbs's place is 4th10U Boys 76 Braxton Delzeit's place is 4th10U Boys 95 Andy Klein's place is 3rd10U Boys 110 Damian Chartier's place is 3rd10U Boys 110 George Stecklein's place is 1st10U Boys 130 Braylan Witt's place is 4th12U Girls 80 Lily Balandran's place is 3rd12U Girls 85 Chassidy Carlisle's place is 5th12U Girls 85 Audrey Yarmer's place is 4th12U Girls 95 Shaely Shuck's place is 5th12U Girls 115 Chloe Hearld's place is 2nd12U Girls 130 Ayva Silva-Thomas's place is 3rd12U Boys 84 Kade Simon's place is 2nd12U Boys 150 Brian Prough's place is 3rd12U Boys 190 Athan Witt's place is 5th14U Girls 97 Emersyn Copper's place is 3rd14U Girls 97 Kenlee Vehige's place is 2nd14U Girls 101 Alyssa Harding's place is 3rd14U Girls 105 Kylah Clingingsmith's place is 3rd14U Girls 110 Shea Augustine's place is 2nd14U Girls 119 Madison Polson's place is 4th14U Girls 136 Timber Lovewell's place is 3rd14U Girls 145 Lexia Barnett's place is 1st14U Boys 80 Gaven Deneault's place is 1st14U Boys 120 Jace Myers's place is 3rd14U Boys 175 Jonathan Rigler's place is 1st14U Boys 205 Jaxson Chartier's place is 1stHS Girls 115 Sarah Zimmerman's place is 1stHS Girls 120 Tionna Napue's place is 2ndHS Girls 125 Addison Otte's place is 3rdHS Girls 135 Lexi Burton's place is 2ndHS Girls 140 Ava Ruiz's place is 2ndHS Girls 140 Katie Gutierrez's place is 1stHS Boys 113 Elijah McCullough's place is 2ndHS Boys 120 Tacoma Augustine's place is 3rdHS Boys 138 Harley Zimmerman's place is 1stHS Boys 190 Israel Zimmerman's place is 2nd

🤼‍♂️ 2023 Hays Wrestling Club set to compete at state

TMP-Marian senior Braydon Binder signed a letter of intent
to continue his academic and powerlifting career at Ottawa University Tuesday.

Binder won a state powerlifting title as a junior and last
fall he set a national record for bench in September.

Binder will take part in the High School Nationals later this month in South Carolina.

TMP-Marian senior Braydon Binder signed a letter of intent
to continue his academic and powerlifting career at Ottawa University Tuesday.Binder won a state powerlifting title as a junior and last
fall he set a national record for bench in September.<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/1463716957&color=%232a4d75&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-814667509/3-7-23-braydon-binder" title="3-7-23 - Braydon Binder" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">3-7-23 - Braydon Binder</a></div></div>Binder will take part in the High School Nationals later this month in South Carolina.<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/1463720425&color=%232a4d75&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-814667509/3-7-23-austin-tatro" title="3-7-23 - Austin Tatro" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">3-7-23 - Austin Tatro</a></div></div>

🏋️ TMP's Binder set to lift at Ottawa

MANHATTAN, Kan. – First-year head coach Jerome
Tang as well as seniors Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell
earned recognition on the AP All-Big 12 Teams announced on Tuesday (March 7).

All three repeated their honors from the league coaches, as
Tang was honored as the conference’s Coach of the Year, while Johnson was named
the Newcomer of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team selection, along with
Nowell, in voting by media that regularly cover the Big 12.

Johnson and Kansas’ Jalen Wilson, who repeated his
Player of the Year honor from the league coaches, were both unanimous First
Team selections, while Nowell, Baylor’s Adam Flagler and Texas’ Marcus
Carr rounded out the First Team. Kansas’ Gradey Dick and Kevin
McCullar Jr. highlighted the Second Team, along with TCU’s Damion Baugh
and Mike Miles Jr. and Baylor’s Keyonte George.

Tang, who earlier in the day was named a finalist for
several National Coach of the Year honors, including the Ben Jobe Award (top
minority Division I coach), Joe B. Hall Award (top first-year head coach) and
the Jim Phelan Award, becomes the seventh head coach in school history to earn
conference Coach of the Year honors, including the third in the Big 12 era
(joining Frank Martin and Bruce Weber). He joins Bruce Weber
(2013) as the only coaches to be chosen for the distinction in their first
seasons.

After being picked 10th in the preseason Big 12
poll with just two returning players, Tang has guided the Wildcats to 23 wins
so far this season and a tie for third place with an 11-7 record in the
nation’s toughest conference. His 23-8 record currently ties Missouri’s Dennis
Gates, Xavier’s Sean Miller and Duke’s Jon Scheyer for the
best mark by a first-year Division I head coach this season. His 23 wins tie Bob
Huggins for the second-most by a first-year head coach in school history,
while he is the fifth K-State head coach to win 20 games in his first season.

Johnson and Nowell are the 14th duo in school
history to both be selected first team all-conference, including just the
second in the Big 12 era, joining Barry Brown Jr. and Dean Wade in
2018-19. They are just the seventh and eighth K-State players in the Big 12 era
to earn First Team honors by the league coaches. 

Johnson is the 13th Wildcat since 1970 to be
voted as the league’s Newcomer of the Year and the third in the Big 12 era to
be selected for the honor by the AP, joining Jeremiah Massey (2004) and Denis
Clemente (2009).

A 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward from Norfolk, Va., Johnson is
currently averaging a team-best 17.8 points on 51.9 percent (203-of-391) from
the field, including 42.4 percent (42-of-99) from 3-point range, and 72.5
percent (103-of-142) from the free throw line, to go with a team-best 7.0
rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 34 minutes per game. He is one of only
two players (Kansas’ Jalen Wilson) to rank in the top-5 in the Big 12 in
scoring and rebounding both in overall and league-only games.

A 5-foot-8, 160-pound point guard from Harlem, N.Y., Nowell
is averaging 17 points on 37.6 percent (146-of-388) from the field, including
35.6 percent (74-of-208) from 3-point range, and 88.5 percent (162-of-183) from
the free throw line to go along with a Big 12-best 7.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds
and 2.5 steals in 36.4 minutes per game. He ranks in the Big 12’s top-3 in 13
categories, including tops in assists (238), assists/game, free throws (162)
and free throw attempted (183), free throw percentage, steals (76), steals/game
and minutes.

K-State has clinched a bye to the quarterfinals of the
Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship as the No. 3 seed and will play No. 6 seed and
No. 22/22 TCU (20-11, 9-9 Big 12) at 8:30 p.m., CT on Thursday, March 9. The
tournament begins Wednesday, March 8 with two first-round games.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678276016116.jpeg" alt="Kansas State Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State AthleticsMANHATTAN, Kan. – First-year head coach Jerome
Tang as well as seniors Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell
earned recognition on the AP All-Big 12 Teams announced on Tuesday (March 7).All three repeated their honors from the league coaches, as
Tang was honored as the conference’s Coach of the Year, while Johnson was named
the Newcomer of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team selection, along with
Nowell, in voting by media that regularly cover the Big 12.Johnson and Kansas’ Jalen Wilson, who repeated his
Player of the Year honor from the league coaches, were both unanimous First
Team selections, while Nowell, Baylor’s Adam Flagler and Texas’ Marcus
Carr rounded out the First Team. Kansas’ Gradey Dick and Kevin
McCullar Jr. highlighted the Second Team, along with TCU’s Damion Baugh
and Mike Miles Jr. and Baylor’s Keyonte George.Tang, who earlier in the day was named a finalist for
several National Coach of the Year honors, including the Ben Jobe Award (top
minority Division I coach), Joe B. Hall Award (top first-year head coach) and
the Jim Phelan Award, becomes the seventh head coach in school history to earn
conference Coach of the Year honors, including the third in the Big 12 era
(joining Frank Martin and Bruce Weber). He joins Bruce Weber
(2013) as the only coaches to be chosen for the distinction in their first
seasons.After being picked 10th in the preseason Big 12
poll with just two returning players, Tang has guided the Wildcats to 23 wins
so far this season and a tie for third place with an 11-7 record in the
nation’s toughest conference. His 23-8 record currently ties Missouri’s Dennis
Gates, Xavier’s Sean Miller and Duke’s Jon Scheyer for the
best mark by a first-year Division I head coach this season. His 23 wins tie Bob
Huggins for the second-most by a first-year head coach in school history,
while he is the fifth K-State head coach to win 20 games in his first season.Johnson and Nowell are the 14th duo in school
history to both be selected first team all-conference, including just the
second in the Big 12 era, joining Barry Brown Jr. and Dean Wade in
2018-19. They are just the seventh and eighth K-State players in the Big 12 era
to earn First Team honors by the league coaches. Johnson is the 13th Wildcat since 1970 to be
voted as the league’s Newcomer of the Year and the third in the Big 12 era to
be selected for the honor by the AP, joining Jeremiah Massey (2004) and Denis
Clemente (2009).A 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward from Norfolk, Va., Johnson is
currently averaging a team-best 17.8 points on 51.9 percent (203-of-391) from
the field, including 42.4 percent (42-of-99) from 3-point range, and 72.5
percent (103-of-142) from the free throw line, to go with a team-best 7.0
rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 34 minutes per game. He is one of only
two players (Kansas’ Jalen Wilson) to rank in the top-5 in the Big 12 in
scoring and rebounding both in overall and league-only games.A 5-foot-8, 160-pound point guard from Harlem, N.Y., Nowell
is averaging 17 points on 37.6 percent (146-of-388) from the field, including
35.6 percent (74-of-208) from 3-point range, and 88.5 percent (162-of-183) from
the free throw line to go along with a Big 12-best 7.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds
and 2.5 steals in 36.4 minutes per game. He ranks in the Big 12’s top-3 in 13
categories, including tops in assists (238), assists/game, free throws (162)
and free throw attempted (183), free throw percentage, steals (76), steals/game
and minutes.K-State has clinched a bye to the quarterfinals of the
Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship as the No. 3 seed and will play No. 6 seed and
No. 22/22 TCU (20-11, 9-9 Big 12) at 8:30 p.m., CT on Thursday, March 9. The
tournament begins Wednesday, March 8 with two first-round games.

🏀 KSU's Tang named AP Big 12 Coach of the Year; Johnson, Nowell first team

FORT SMITH, Ark. –Fort Hays State Men's Golf opened their 2023 spring season at the Hardscrabble Invitational, hosted by Arkansas-Fort Smith, at the Hardscrabble Country. The course was a par-70 layout with a total yardage of 6,783 yards. The Tigers finished the tournament in seventh place with&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/jacob-george/7105">Jacob George</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/jackson-rader/7110">Jackson Rader</a>&nbsp;both finishing in the top 30. George finished the opening round of the tournament tied for 15th&nbsp;after shooting a 73. George went on to shoot 77 and 81 in his final two rounds for a total of 231. The Winfield, Kansas native carded 26 pars and five birdies for the tournament. Rader finished just a few slots behind George on the leaderboard in a tie for 29th. Rader shot rounds of 76, 82, and 75, also with five birdies to go with 25 pars.&nbsp;&nbsp; The highlight of the tournament for Rader came on the 15th&nbsp;hole in the final round. After pars on four straight holes to open his round, the sophomore aced the 173-yard par 3 to put himself at 2-under par in the round before eventually finishing at 5-over for the day. Out of the entire field, only four players recorded an eagle, Rader being the only golfer to record a hole-in-one. The shot also served to be the first-ever ace in his playing career.&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/bryce-cowan/7104">Bryce Cowan</a>&nbsp;finished in a tie for 35th&nbsp;after shooting a total of 237 (77-82-78). He had four birdies throughout the tournament.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/august-nilsson/7111">August Nilsson</a>&nbsp;competed as an individual in the tournament and finished in 40th. He shot rounds of 80, 77, and 85 for a 242 total, while recording six birdies.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/parker-krob/7107">Parker Krob</a>&nbsp;finished 41st&nbsp;at 244 (81-81-82), sinking four birdies in the tournament.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/tanner-copeland/7103">Tanner Copeland</a>&nbsp;was 46th&nbsp;at 246 (82-78-86), also with four birdies in the tournament. Henderson State finished at the top of the team leaderboard, followed by Midwestern State and Central Oklahoma. As a team, Henderson State finished one stroke ahead of Midwestern State by posting a 27-over par. The Reddies had four players finish within the top-15 of the 49-man field.&nbsp;Henderson State is ranked No. 17 in the latest Golfstat rankings, while Midwestern State is No. 14. Miller Harris of Henderson State claimed the Hardscrabble Invitational individual title by shooting 2-under par through his three rounds. He was the only golfer in the field to finish under par, winning by four strokes. The Tigers will play in their second tournament of the spring on March 20-21 in Edmond, Oklahoma at the Broncho Invitational. The event will be at the Rose Creek Country Club.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678273625386.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFORT SMITH, Ark. –Fort Hays State Men's Golf opened their 2023 spring season at the Hardscrabble Invitational, hosted by Arkansas-Fort Smith, at the Hardscrabble Country. The course was a par-70 layout with a total yardage of 6,783 yards. The Tigers finished the tournament in seventh place with&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/jacob-george/7105">Jacob George</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/jackson-rader/7110">Jackson Rader</a>&nbsp;both finishing in the top 30. George finished the opening round of the tournament tied for 15th&nbsp;after shooting a 73. George went on to shoot 77 and 81 in his final two rounds for a total of 231. The Winfield, Kansas native carded 26 pars and five birdies for the tournament. Rader finished just a few slots behind George on the leaderboard in a tie for 29th. Rader shot rounds of 76, 82, and 75, also with five birdies to go with 25 pars.&nbsp;&nbsp; The highlight of the tournament for Rader came on the 15th&nbsp;hole in the final round. After pars on four straight holes to open his round, the sophomore aced the 173-yard par 3 to put himself at 2-under par in the round before eventually finishing at 5-over for the day. Out of the entire field, only four players recorded an eagle, Rader being the only golfer to record a hole-in-one. The shot also served to be the first-ever ace in his playing career.&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/bryce-cowan/7104">Bryce Cowan</a>&nbsp;finished in a tie for 35th&nbsp;after shooting a total of 237 (77-82-78). He had four birdies throughout the tournament.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/august-nilsson/7111">August Nilsson</a>&nbsp;competed as an individual in the tournament and finished in 40th. He shot rounds of 80, 77, and 85 for a 242 total, while recording six birdies.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/parker-krob/7107">Parker Krob</a>&nbsp;finished 41st&nbsp;at 244 (81-81-82), sinking four birdies in the tournament.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-golf/roster/tanner-copeland/7103">Tanner Copeland</a>&nbsp;was 46th&nbsp;at 246 (82-78-86), also with four birdies in the tournament. Henderson State finished at the top of the team leaderboard, followed by Midwestern State and Central Oklahoma. As a team, Henderson State finished one stroke ahead of Midwestern State by posting a 27-over par. The Reddies had four players finish within the top-15 of the 49-man field.&nbsp;Henderson State is ranked No. 17 in the latest Golfstat rankings, while Midwestern State is No. 14. Miller Harris of Henderson State claimed the Hardscrabble Invitational individual title by shooting 2-under par through his three rounds. He was the only golfer in the field to finish under par, winning by four strokes. The Tigers will play in their second tournament of the spring on March 20-21 in Edmond, Oklahoma at the Broncho Invitational. The event will be at the Rose Creek Country Club.&nbsp; &nbsp;

⛳ FHSU men finish seventh in spring opener, Rader sinks hole-in-one

OKLAHOMA CITY – Morgan Brasser&nbsp;of Fort Hays State made a second-round charge at the Diffee Ford Lincoln Invitational at the Lincoln Park Golf Course, a par-71 venue. Following a first-round 75, Brasser shot a 2-under par 69 in the second round to charge 12 spots up the leaderboard to a tie for fourth-place individually. She finished at 2-over par for the tournament. After going 1-over par through her first six holes played on Tuesday, Brasser went on a birdie binge with five in her next seven holes. Aside from her five birdies on the day, Brasser had one bogey, one double-bogey, and 11 pars in her second round. Brasser finished with a total of seven birdies for the tournament after carding two during her first-round 75. Brasser matched two of the seven nationally ranked players by Golfstat in the tournament field and topped three. The only two ranked players to finish higher were Henderson State teammates Gracen Blount (No. 48) and Allie Bianchi (No. 8), who finished first and second respectively. Blount was 3-under par and Bianchi was 2-under. Sidney Stramel of Arkansas-Fort Smith finished alone in third at even par. Fort Hays State as a team finished 15th&nbsp;with rounds of 327 and 325.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-golf/roster/shauna-lee/6949">Shauna Lee</a>&nbsp;tied for 58th&nbsp;with rounds of 80 and 83. She had two birdies in the tournament.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-golf/roster/aliyah-north/6953">Aliyah North</a>&nbsp;also had a pair of birdies in the tournament and shot rounds of 80 and 85 to finish in a tie for 68th. Lexi Ridder shot rounds of 92 and 88 to tie for 92nd. Henderson State, ranked fifth in NCAA Division II by Golfstat, won the team title by 20 strokes at 1-under par as a team. The Reddies shot a total of 567. Arkansas-Fort Smith, ranked 37th&nbsp;as a team, finished second at 587 (+19). The FHSU women's golf team returns to action on March 27-28 at the Holiday Inn Express Women's Spring Regional Preview in St. Joseph, Mo.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678225037193.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Morgan Brasser lines up a put. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Morgan Brasser lines up a put. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsOKLAHOMA CITY – Morgan Brasser&nbsp;of Fort Hays State made a second-round charge at the Diffee Ford Lincoln Invitational at the Lincoln Park Golf Course, a par-71 venue. Following a first-round 75, Brasser shot a 2-under par 69 in the second round to charge 12 spots up the leaderboard to a tie for fourth-place individually. She finished at 2-over par for the tournament. After going 1-over par through her first six holes played on Tuesday, Brasser went on a birdie binge with five in her next seven holes. Aside from her five birdies on the day, Brasser had one bogey, one double-bogey, and 11 pars in her second round. Brasser finished with a total of seven birdies for the tournament after carding two during her first-round 75. Brasser matched two of the seven nationally ranked players by Golfstat in the tournament field and topped three. The only two ranked players to finish higher were Henderson State teammates Gracen Blount (No. 48) and Allie Bianchi (No. 8), who finished first and second respectively. Blount was 3-under par and Bianchi was 2-under. Sidney Stramel of Arkansas-Fort Smith finished alone in third at even par. Fort Hays State as a team finished 15th&nbsp;with rounds of 327 and 325.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-golf/roster/shauna-lee/6949">Shauna Lee</a>&nbsp;tied for 58th&nbsp;with rounds of 80 and 83. She had two birdies in the tournament.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-golf/roster/aliyah-north/6953">Aliyah North</a>&nbsp;also had a pair of birdies in the tournament and shot rounds of 80 and 85 to finish in a tie for 68th. Lexi Ridder shot rounds of 92 and 88 to tie for 92nd. Henderson State, ranked fifth in NCAA Division II by Golfstat, won the team title by 20 strokes at 1-under par as a team. The Reddies shot a total of 567. Arkansas-Fort Smith, ranked 37th&nbsp;as a team, finished second at 587 (+19). The FHSU women's golf team returns to action on March 27-28 at the Holiday Inn Express Women's Spring Regional Preview in St. Joseph, Mo.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⛳ FHSU's Brasser charges to fourth-place finish in Oklahoma

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State had three wrestlers named to the All-MIAA Wrestling Team, released by the conference office on Tuesday (March 7). The Tigers had two first team selections and a co-second team selection.

Third-ranked&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/tereus-henry/7220">Tereus Henry</a>&nbsp;(197 pounds) earned first-team honors by going 4-0 in MIAA duals this season. Henry outscored MIAA opponents 34-7 in conference duals claiming one win via technical fall and a pair of decisions. The redshirt sophomore finished the regular season 34-3 and punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships by winning the regional title at the Super Region VI Championships in Chadron, Neb. The El Paso, Texas native led the team in total wins as well as wins by tech fall (7) and major decision (8).

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jacob-mitchell/7238">Jacob Mitchell</a>&nbsp;(141 pounds) also earned first team honors for posting a perfect record in conference duals. The former NJCAA national champion picked up one win via fall and one via decision in his three appearances. The Manhattan, Kan. native finished the season 6-12 overall tallying one win by fall, one by major decision, and two by decision.

Fourth-ranked&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/cade-lindsey/7240">Cade Lindsey</a>&nbsp;(174 pounds) was named a co-second team selection with fifth-ranked Anthony DesVigne of Central Oklahoma. Lindsey finished the MIAA dual schedule with a 2-1 record picking up wins by major decision and decision with his only loss coming to No. 3 Austin Eldredge of Nebraska-Kearney in a narrow 5-4 decision. Lindsey posted a 33-6 overall record this season and led the team with 14 wins by decision. The Derby, Kan. native will join Henry in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this weekend for the NCAA Championships after reaching the regional championship in Chadron.

Below is the 2023 All-MIAA Wrestling Team.

2023 MIAA Wrestling Post Season Awards Co-Wrestler of the Year&nbsp;– Billy Higgins, 184 lbs. – Nebraska Kearney Co-Wrestler of the Year&nbsp;– Shawn Streck, 285 lbs. – Central Oklahoma Freshman of the Year&nbsp;– Jevin Foust, 133 lbs. – Newman Coach of the Year&nbsp;– Todd Steidley, Central Oklahoma 2023 All-MIAA First Team 125 lbs. – Studd Morris – Central Oklahoma, Jr. 133 lbs. – Jevin Foust – Newman, Fr. 141 lbs. –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jacob-mitchell/7238">Jacob Mitchell</a>&nbsp;– Fort Hays State, Jr. 149 lbs. – Darick Lapaglia – Central Missouri, Jr. 157 lbs. – Gabe Johnson – Central Oklahoma, R-Fr. 165 lbs. – Briar Reisz – Nebraska Kearney, R-Fr. 174 lbs. – Austin Eldredge – Nebraska Kearney, R-Sr. 184 lbs. – Billy Higgins – Nebraska Kearney, R-Jr. 197 lbs. –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/tereus-henry/7220">Tereus Henry</a>&nbsp;– Fort Hays State, R-So. 285 lbs. – Shawn Streck – Central Oklahoma, Jr. 2023 All-MIAA Second Team 125 lbs. – Bishop Murray – Nebraska Kearney, R-Fr. 133 lbs. – Joseph Airola – Nebraska Kearney, Fr. 141 lbs. – Daniel DeRosier – Nebraska Kearney, R-Fr. 149 lbs. – John Burger – Nebraska Kearney, R-Sr. 157 lbs. – Teontae Wilson – Nebraska Kearney, R-Sr. 165 lbs. – Nolan Saale – Central Missouri, Jr. co-174 lbs. – Anthony DesVigne – Central Oklahoma, Jr. co-174 lbs. –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/cade-lindsey/7240">Cade Lindsey</a>&nbsp;– Fort Hays State, So. 184 lbs. – Alex Kauffman – Central Oklahoma, Sr. 197 lbs. – Emmanuel Skillings – Central Oklahoma, R-Fr. 285 lbs. – Lee Herrington – Nebraska Kearney, R-Sr.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678219327522.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsKANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State had three wrestlers named to the All-MIAA Wrestling Team, released by the conference office on Tuesday (March 7). The Tigers had two first team selections and a co-second team selection.Third-ranked&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/tereus-henry/7220">Tereus Henry</a>&nbsp;(197 pounds) earned first-team honors by going 4-0 in MIAA duals this season. Henry outscored MIAA opponents 34-7 in conference duals claiming one win via technical fall and a pair of decisions. The redshirt sophomore finished the regular season 34-3 and punched his ticket to the NCAA Championships by winning the regional title at the Super Region VI Championships in Chadron, Neb. The El Paso, Texas native led the team in total wins as well as wins by tech fall (7) and major decision (8).<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jacob-mitchell/7238">Jacob Mitchell</a>&nbsp;(141 pounds) also earned first team honors for posting a perfect record in conference duals. The former NJCAA national champion picked up one win via fall and one via decision in his three appearances. The Manhattan, Kan. native finished the season 6-12 overall tallying one win by fall, one by major decision, and two by decision.Fourth-ranked&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/cade-lindsey/7240">Cade Lindsey</a>&nbsp;(174 pounds) was named a co-second team selection with fifth-ranked Anthony DesVigne of Central Oklahoma. Lindsey finished the MIAA dual schedule with a 2-1 record picking up wins by major decision and decision with his only loss coming to No. 3 Austin Eldredge of Nebraska-Kearney in a narrow 5-4 decision. Lindsey posted a 33-6 overall record this season and led the team with 14 wins by decision. The Derby, Kan. native will join Henry in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this weekend for the NCAA Championships after reaching the regional championship in Chadron.Below is the 2023 All-MIAA Wrestling Team.2023 MIAA Wrestling Post Season Awards Co-Wrestler of the Year&nbsp;– Billy Higgins, 184 lbs. – Nebraska Kearney Co-Wrestler of the Year&nbsp;– Shawn Streck, 285 lbs. – Central Oklahoma Freshman of the Year&nbsp;– Jevin Foust, 133 lbs. – Newman Coach of the Year&nbsp;– Todd Steidley, Central Oklahoma 2023 All-MIAA First Team 125 lbs. – Studd Morris – Central Oklahoma, Jr. 133 lbs. – Jevin Foust – Newman, Fr. 141 lbs. –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jacob-mitchell/7238">Jacob Mitchell</a>&nbsp;– Fort Hays State, Jr. 149 lbs. – Darick Lapaglia – Central Missouri, Jr. 157 lbs. – Gabe Johnson – Central Oklahoma, R-Fr. 165 lbs. – Briar Reisz – Nebraska Kearney, R-Fr. 174 lbs. – Austin Eldredge – Nebraska Kearney, R-Sr. 184 lbs. – Billy Higgins – Nebraska Kearney, R-Jr. 197 lbs. –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/tereus-henry/7220">Tereus Henry</a>&nbsp;– Fort Hays State, R-So. 285 lbs. – Shawn Streck – Central Oklahoma, Jr. 2023 All-MIAA Second Team 125 lbs. – Bishop Murray – Nebraska Kearney, R-Fr. 133 lbs. – Joseph Airola – Nebraska Kearney, Fr. 141 lbs. – Daniel DeRosier – Nebraska Kearney, R-Fr. 149 lbs. – John Burger – Nebraska Kearney, R-Sr. 157 lbs. – Teontae Wilson – Nebraska Kearney, R-Sr. 165 lbs. – Nolan Saale – Central Missouri, Jr. co-174 lbs. – Anthony DesVigne – Central Oklahoma, Jr. co-174 lbs. –&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/cade-lindsey/7240">Cade Lindsey</a>&nbsp;– Fort Hays State, So. 184 lbs. – Alex Kauffman – Central Oklahoma, Sr. 197 lbs. – Emmanuel Skillings – Central Oklahoma, R-Fr. 285 lbs. – Lee Herrington – Nebraska Kearney, R-Sr.

🤼‍♂️ Tiger trio named to All-MIAA team

MANHATTAN – Senior&nbsp;Markquis Nowell&nbsp;became Kansas State’s first All-American in a decade on Tuesday morning when he was selected to the Third Team by&nbsp;The Sporting News.

Nowell was joined on the Third Team by Iowa’s&nbsp;Kris Murray, Kentucky’s&nbsp;Oscar Tshiebwe, Memphis’&nbsp;Kendric Davis&nbsp;and North Carolina’s&nbsp;Armando Bacot.

The First Team included Purdue’s&nbsp;Zach Edey, Indiana’s&nbsp;Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kansas’&nbsp;Jalen Wilson, Alabama’s&nbsp;Brandon Miller&nbsp;and Gonzaga’s&nbsp;Drew Timme. The Second Team consisted of UCLA’s&nbsp;Jaime Jaquez, Jr., Arizona’s&nbsp;Azoulas Tubelis, Houston’s&nbsp;Marcus Sasser, Penn State’s&nbsp;Jalen Pickett&nbsp;and Marquette’s&nbsp;Tyler Kolek.

Nowell is the first Wildcat to earn All-America honors since&nbsp;Rodney McGruder&nbsp;was an honorable mention selection by the AP in 2013. He is the ninth player in school history to be chosen an All-American by&nbsp;The Sporting News&nbsp;and the first since&nbsp;Jacob Pullen&nbsp;earned Third Team accolades in 2011.

The honors continued to pile up for the 5-foot-7, 160-pound point guard from Harlem, N.Y., who was named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award on March 6, a day after being selected to the All-Big 12 First Team as well as the All-Defensive Team by the league coaches. The 3-time Big 12 Player of the Week and consensus National Player of the Week on January 9 has also been chosen to the Midseason National Player of the Year Watch Lists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith Award.

Nowell is averaging 17 points on 37.6 percent (146-of-388) from the field, including 35.6 percent (74-of-208) from 3-point range, and 88.5 percent (162-of-183) from the free throw line to go along with a Big 12-best 7.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 36.4 minutes per game. He ranks in the Big 12’s top-3 in 13 categories, including tops in assists (238), assists/game, free throws made (162) and attempted (183), free throw percentage, steals (76), steals/game and minutes.

Nowell finished Big 12 play, ranking first in 6 categories, including scoring (19.5 ppg.), 3-point field goals/game (2.8), assists (7.2 apg.), steals (2.8 spg.), free throw percentage (91.1) and minutes (38.8 mpg.).

Nowell ranks third nationally in assists/game (7.7 apg.) and total assists (238), while he is among the top-20 in 5 other categories, including fifth in steals (76), eighth in steals/game (2.5 spg.), 13th&nbsp;in free throws made (162), 19th&nbsp;in minutes/game (36.3) and 20th&nbsp;in free throw percentage. He has 8 games of 10 or more assists this season, while he has 7 double-doubles (points/assists), including the school’s first 30-10 double-double with 32 points and 14 assists in the win at No. 19/16 Baylor on Jan. 7.

K-State has clinched a bye to the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship as the No. 3 seed and will play No. 6 seed and No. 22/22 TCU (20-11, 9-9 Big 12) at 8:30 p.m., CT on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678219171205.jpeg" alt="Markquis Nowell. Photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="http://k-statesports.com">k-statesports.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>Markquis Nowell. Photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="http://k-statesports.com">k-statesports.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>K-State SportsMANHATTAN – Senior&nbsp;Markquis Nowell&nbsp;became Kansas State’s first All-American in a decade on Tuesday morning when he was selected to the Third Team by&nbsp;The Sporting News.Nowell was joined on the Third Team by Iowa’s&nbsp;Kris Murray, Kentucky’s&nbsp;Oscar Tshiebwe, Memphis’&nbsp;Kendric Davis&nbsp;and North Carolina’s&nbsp;Armando Bacot.The First Team included Purdue’s&nbsp;Zach Edey, Indiana’s&nbsp;Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kansas’&nbsp;Jalen Wilson, Alabama’s&nbsp;Brandon Miller&nbsp;and Gonzaga’s&nbsp;Drew Timme. The Second Team consisted of UCLA’s&nbsp;Jaime Jaquez, Jr., Arizona’s&nbsp;Azoulas Tubelis, Houston’s&nbsp;Marcus Sasser, Penn State’s&nbsp;Jalen Pickett&nbsp;and Marquette’s&nbsp;Tyler Kolek.Nowell is the first Wildcat to earn All-America honors since&nbsp;Rodney McGruder&nbsp;was an honorable mention selection by the AP in 2013. He is the ninth player in school history to be chosen an All-American by&nbsp;The Sporting News&nbsp;and the first since&nbsp;Jacob Pullen&nbsp;earned Third Team accolades in 2011.The honors continued to pile up for the 5-foot-7, 160-pound point guard from Harlem, N.Y., who was named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award on March 6, a day after being selected to the All-Big 12 First Team as well as the All-Defensive Team by the league coaches. The 3-time Big 12 Player of the Week and consensus National Player of the Week on January 9 has also been chosen to the Midseason National Player of the Year Watch Lists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith Award.Nowell is averaging 17 points on 37.6 percent (146-of-388) from the field, including 35.6 percent (74-of-208) from 3-point range, and 88.5 percent (162-of-183) from the free throw line to go along with a Big 12-best 7.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 36.4 minutes per game. He ranks in the Big 12’s top-3 in 13 categories, including tops in assists (238), assists/game, free throws made (162) and attempted (183), free throw percentage, steals (76), steals/game and minutes.Nowell finished Big 12 play, ranking first in 6 categories, including scoring (19.5 ppg.), 3-point field goals/game (2.8), assists (7.2 apg.), steals (2.8 spg.), free throw percentage (91.1) and minutes (38.8 mpg.).Nowell ranks third nationally in assists/game (7.7 apg.) and total assists (238), while he is among the top-20 in 5 other categories, including fifth in steals (76), eighth in steals/game (2.5 spg.), 13th&nbsp;in free throws made (162), 19th&nbsp;in minutes/game (36.3) and 20th&nbsp;in free throw percentage. He has 8 games of 10 or more assists this season, while he has 7 double-doubles (points/assists), including the school’s first 30-10 double-double with 32 points and 14 assists in the win at No. 19/16 Baylor on Jan. 7.K-State has clinched a bye to the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship as the No. 3 seed and will play No. 6 seed and No. 22/22 TCU (20-11, 9-9 Big 12) at 8:30 p.m., CT on Thursday.

🏀 Nowell earns 3rd Team All-America honors from The Sporting News

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.&nbsp;– Kansas freshman Gradey Dick has been named one of five finalists for the 2022 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. Joining Dick as finalists are Adam Flagler (Baylor), Marcus Sasser (Houston), Isaiah Wong (Miami, Fla.) and Jordan Hawkins (UConn). This is the ninth year of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. Named All-Big 12 Second Team and to both the Big 12 All-Newcomer and All-Freshman teams, Dick leads KU with 73 threes made and has a 40.6 three-point shooting percentage. A three-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Dick is averaging 14.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The Wichita, Kansas, native ranks on the KU freshman lists in points (442, tied for 7th), scoring average (14.3, 5th), steals (45, 8th), free throw percentage (85.2%, 2nd), 3-point field goals (73, tied for 3rd&nbsp;with 79 being the record), 3-point field goals attempted (180, 3rd) and minutes played (1,006, 9th). Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, March 10, on&nbsp;<a href="http://hoophallawards.com/" target="_blank">hoophallawards.com</a>. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. This month, the finalists will be presented to West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Jerry West Award is composed of top men’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2023 Jerry West Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five. Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award are Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (2022), Chris Duarte, Oregon (2021), Myles Powell, Seton Hall (2020), RJ Barrett, Duke (2019), Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015). Ranked No. 3 nationally, Big 12 regular-season champion Kansas (25-6, 13-5) enters the 2023 Big 12 Championship as the No. 1 seed for the 18th time in the 27-year history of the league. The Jayhawks will face the winner of the No. 8 West Virginia vs. No. 9 Texas Tech game in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 9, at 2 p.m. (Central) at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The WVU-TTU contest will be played March 8 at 6 p.m., also at T-Mobile Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678218741479.jpeg" alt="Gradey Dick. Photo courtesy <a href="http://kuathletics.com">kuathletics.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>Gradey Dick. Photo courtesy <a href="http://kuathletics.com">kuathletics.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>KU AthleticsSPRINGFIELD, Mass.&nbsp;– Kansas freshman Gradey Dick has been named one of five finalists for the 2022 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. Joining Dick as finalists are Adam Flagler (Baylor), Marcus Sasser (Houston), Isaiah Wong (Miami, Fla.) and Jordan Hawkins (UConn). This is the ninth year of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award. Named All-Big 12 Second Team and to both the Big 12 All-Newcomer and All-Freshman teams, Dick leads KU with 73 threes made and has a 40.6 three-point shooting percentage. A three-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Dick is averaging 14.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. The Wichita, Kansas, native ranks on the KU freshman lists in points (442, tied for 7th), scoring average (14.3, 5th), steals (45, 8th), free throw percentage (85.2%, 2nd), 3-point field goals (73, tied for 3rd&nbsp;with 79 being the record), 3-point field goals attempted (180, 3rd) and minutes played (1,006, 9th). Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting starting Friday, March 10, on&nbsp;<a href="http://hoophallawards.com/" target="_blank">hoophallawards.com</a>. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. This month, the finalists will be presented to West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Jerry West Award is composed of top men’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2023 Jerry West Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five. Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award are Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (2022), Chris Duarte, Oregon (2021), Myles Powell, Seton Hall (2020), RJ Barrett, Duke (2019), Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015). Ranked No. 3 nationally, Big 12 regular-season champion Kansas (25-6, 13-5) enters the 2023 Big 12 Championship as the No. 1 seed for the 18th time in the 27-year history of the league. The Jayhawks will face the winner of the No. 8 West Virginia vs. No. 9 Texas Tech game in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 9, at 2 p.m. (Central) at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The WVU-TTU contest will be played March 8 at 6 p.m., also at T-Mobile Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 KU's Dick named Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year finalist

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer

Big 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson&nbsp;of Kansas is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year.

Kansas State senior forward Keyontae Johnson joined Wilson as the only unanimous first-team picks in the selections revealed Tuesday. Johnson, a transfer from Florida who has turned into a top player after a frightening collapse more than two years ago,&nbsp;was also selected as newcomer of the year in voting by a panel of 17 journalists who cover the league.

First-year Kansas State coach Jerome Tang was voted as coach of the year. After 19 seasons as an assistant for coach Scott Drew at Baylor, including the national championship two years ago, Tang directed the Wildcats to a 23-8 record in the regular season and third place in the Big 12 standings after being picked to finish last in a preseason poll of league coaches.

Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, goes into this week's Big 12 tournament leading the league with 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/35783985">The 6-6 Johnson</a>&nbsp;averages 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Texas graduate guard Marcus Carr, Baylor senior guard Adam Flagler and K-State junior guard Markquis Nowell round out the first-team picks. The 5-8 Nowell is the Big 12's top free-throw shooter (88.5%), and also leads the league with 7.7 assists and 2.5 steals a game.

The second-team picks are senior Damion Baugh and junior Mike Miles Jr. from TCU, along with Kansas freshman guard Gradey Dick, Baylor freshman guard Keyonte George and Kansas senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr., a transfer from Texas Tech.

Johnson got 13 of the 17 votes for newcomer of the year, while Baylor's George got the other four.

Tang was the overwhelming choice for top coach with 15 votes. The remaining two votes went to Texas interim coach Rodney Terry, who led the Longhorns to a second-place finish in the Big 12 following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-crime-top-25-college-basketball-today-chris-beard-violence-f0a49d336e406958ab92afcbe2225f76">December dismissal and eventual firing of Chris Beard</a>.

u-Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State, 6-6, 230, Sr., Norfolk, Virginia.

u-Jalen Wilson, Kansas, 6-8, 225, Jr., Denton, Texas.

Marcus Carr, Texas, 6-2, 175, Gr., Toronto.

Adam Flagler, Baylor, 6-3, 185, Sr., Duluth, Georgia.

Markquis Nowell, Kansas State, 5-8, 160, Sr./Jr., New York.

Damion Baugh, TCU, 6-4, 195, Sr., Nashville, Tenneseee.

Gradey Dick, Kansas 6-8, 205, Fr., Wichita, Kansas.

Keyonte George, Baylor, 6-4, 185, Fr., Lewisville, Texas.

Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas, 6-6, 210, Sr., San Antonio.

Mike Miles Jr., TCU, 6-2, 195, Jr., Dallas.

Coach of the year — Jerome Tang, Kansas State

Player of the year — Jalen Wilson, Kansas.

Newcomer of the year — Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677977817998.jpeg" alt="Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) drives in a Big 12 basketball game vs. Texas on Saturday, March 4, 2023 in Austin, Texas (Kansas Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (10) drives in a Big 12 basketball game vs. Texas on Saturday, March 4, 2023 in Austin, Texas (Kansas Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports WriterBig 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson&nbsp;of Kansas is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year.Kansas State senior forward Keyontae Johnson joined Wilson as the only unanimous first-team picks in the selections revealed Tuesday. Johnson, a transfer from Florida who has turned into a top player after a frightening collapse more than two years ago,&nbsp;was also selected as newcomer of the year in voting by a panel of 17 journalists who cover the league.First-year Kansas State coach Jerome Tang was voted as coach of the year. After 19 seasons as an assistant for coach Scott Drew at Baylor, including the national championship two years ago, Tang directed the Wildcats to a 23-8 record in the regular season and third place in the Big 12 standings after being picked to finish last in a preseason poll of league coaches.Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, goes into this week's Big 12 tournament leading the league with 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/35783985">The 6-6 Johnson</a>&nbsp;averages 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds.Texas graduate guard Marcus Carr, Baylor senior guard Adam Flagler and K-State junior guard Markquis Nowell round out the first-team picks. The 5-8 Nowell is the Big 12's top free-throw shooter (88.5%), and also leads the league with 7.7 assists and 2.5 steals a game.The second-team picks are senior Damion Baugh and junior Mike Miles Jr. from TCU, along with Kansas freshman guard Gradey Dick, Baylor freshman guard Keyonte George and Kansas senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr., a transfer from Texas Tech.Johnson got 13 of the 17 votes for newcomer of the year, while Baylor's George got the other four.Tang was the overwhelming choice for top coach with 15 votes. The remaining two votes went to Texas interim coach Rodney Terry, who led the Longhorns to a second-place finish in the Big 12 following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-crime-top-25-college-basketball-today-chris-beard-violence-f0a49d336e406958ab92afcbe2225f76">December dismissal and eventual firing of Chris Beard</a>.FIRST TEAMu-Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State, 6-6, 230, Sr., Norfolk, Virginia.u-Jalen Wilson, Kansas, 6-8, 225, Jr., Denton, Texas.Marcus Carr, Texas, 6-2, 175, Gr., Toronto.Adam Flagler, Baylor, 6-3, 185, Sr., Duluth, Georgia.Markquis Nowell, Kansas State, 5-8, 160, Sr./Jr., New York.—“u-” denotes unanimous selection.SECOND TEAMDamion Baugh, TCU, 6-4, 195, Sr., Nashville, Tenneseee.Gradey Dick, Kansas 6-8, 205, Fr., Wichita, Kansas.Keyonte George, Baylor, 6-4, 185, Fr., Lewisville, Texas.Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas, 6-6, 210, Sr., San Antonio.Mike Miles Jr., TCU, 6-2, 195, Jr., Dallas.___Coach of the year — Jerome Tang, Kansas StatePlayer of the year — Jalen Wilson, Kansas.Newcomer of the year — Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State.

🏀 Kansas star Jalen Wilson named AP Big 12 player of the year

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State was just three outs away from a ninth-straight win, but Northwestern Oklahoma State rallied to force extra innings and snapped FHSU's eight-game win streak in eight innings. The Rangers went on to win game two as well, spoiling the Tigers' home-opening doubleheader on Monday. NWOSU won by scores of 3-2 (8 inn.) and 6-2. FHSU is now 11-7 overall on the season. Northwestern Oklahoma State 3, Fort Hays State 2 (8 inn.) <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savanah-egger/7081">Savanah Egger</a>&nbsp;continued her magic in the pitching circle for the first six innings of game one, running her scoreless innings streak to 32 in a row. The Tigers built a 2-0 lead for her to that point. However, she was rudely greeted in the seventh inning with a leadoff single and triple to snap the streak, then the Rangers plated the tying run to force extra innings. NWOSU went on to get an unearned run on Egger in the eighth inning with the international tiebreaker format of placing a runner on second to start the inning. The Rangers found a way to get their runner home, while the Tigers were unable to do the same in the bottom half of the inning. Egger moved to 5-3 on the season with the tough loss. FHSU built its lead with a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;RBI single in the fourth and a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/madison-pierce/7086">Madison Pierce</a>&nbsp;RBI double in the fifth.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/loren-beggs/7075">Loren Beggs</a>&nbsp;scored both of the Tiger runs. Egger allowed just two hits over the first six innings until the NWOSU offense magically came to life in the seventh. Egger got a pop up to fight off NWOSU's first game-tying chance in the seventh, but a line drive off the glove of Beggs at third base in fair territory found its way down the left field line for a double to tie the game. FHSU had a chance to win the game in the seventh.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lilliana-ramirez-johnson/7093">Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson</a>&nbsp;singled to open the inning and the right fielder booted the ball to give her an extra base.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/adysen-burghart/7077">Adysen Burghart</a>&nbsp;pinch ran and got to third on a wild pitch. However, the Tigers did not put the ball in play over the next two batters as reliever Ireland Caro recorded two strikeouts before getting a ground out to end the threat. Caro would go on to pick up her third win of the season. NWOSU doubled home its go-ahead run in the eighth. The Tigers got their runner to third on a ground out to the right side, but then could not get the run in with a shallow fly out and a ground out over the final two at bats. Northwestern Oklahoma State 6, Fort Hays State 2 Northwestern Oklahoma carried over its confidence from game one and managed to spoil the Tigers' day with three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to build a 4-0 lead. The Tigers cut back into the lead with a pair of single runs in the fifth and sixth, but NWOSU strung together a two-out walk, single, and double to get the two runs back in the top of the seventh. FHSU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning, but hit into a game-ending double play. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/sarah-tiffany/7088">Sarah Tiffany</a>&nbsp;had an RBI single in the fifth and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;picked up an RBI in the sixth on a fielder's choice. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-carlson/7078">Bailey Carlson</a>&nbsp;took the loss allowing three runs in 3.2 innings. She allowed five hits, a walk, and struck out three.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-montoya/7092">Emma Montoya</a>&nbsp;threw 3.1 innings of relief, allowing three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Ireland Caro tossed a complete game against the Tigers in the second contest after holding them scoreless over the final two innings of the first contest. She scattered six hits and walked one, while recording only one strikeout. The Tigers look to bounce back from the setbacks when they start MIAA play on Friday with Northwest Missouri State coming to Hays. The Tigers and Bearcats start their doubleheader on Friday (Mar. 10) at 1 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678187524225.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson (7) bats during a scrimmage this fall at the Tiger Stadium in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson (7) bats during a scrimmage this fall at the Tiger Stadium in Hays, Kan. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State was just three outs away from a ninth-straight win, but Northwestern Oklahoma State rallied to force extra innings and snapped FHSU's eight-game win streak in eight innings. The Rangers went on to win game two as well, spoiling the Tigers' home-opening doubleheader on Monday. NWOSU won by scores of 3-2 (8 inn.) and 6-2. FHSU is now 11-7 overall on the season. Northwestern Oklahoma State 3, Fort Hays State 2 (8 inn.) <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savanah-egger/7081">Savanah Egger</a>&nbsp;continued her magic in the pitching circle for the first six innings of game one, running her scoreless innings streak to 32 in a row. The Tigers built a 2-0 lead for her to that point. However, she was rudely greeted in the seventh inning with a leadoff single and triple to snap the streak, then the Rangers plated the tying run to force extra innings. NWOSU went on to get an unearned run on Egger in the eighth inning with the international tiebreaker format of placing a runner on second to start the inning. The Rangers found a way to get their runner home, while the Tigers were unable to do the same in the bottom half of the inning. Egger moved to 5-3 on the season with the tough loss. FHSU built its lead with a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;RBI single in the fourth and a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/madison-pierce/7086">Madison Pierce</a>&nbsp;RBI double in the fifth.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/loren-beggs/7075">Loren Beggs</a>&nbsp;scored both of the Tiger runs. Egger allowed just two hits over the first six innings until the NWOSU offense magically came to life in the seventh. Egger got a pop up to fight off NWOSU's first game-tying chance in the seventh, but a line drive off the glove of Beggs at third base in fair territory found its way down the left field line for a double to tie the game. FHSU had a chance to win the game in the seventh.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lilliana-ramirez-johnson/7093">Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson</a>&nbsp;singled to open the inning and the right fielder booted the ball to give her an extra base.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/adysen-burghart/7077">Adysen Burghart</a>&nbsp;pinch ran and got to third on a wild pitch. However, the Tigers did not put the ball in play over the next two batters as reliever Ireland Caro recorded two strikeouts before getting a ground out to end the threat. Caro would go on to pick up her third win of the season. NWOSU doubled home its go-ahead run in the eighth. The Tigers got their runner to third on a ground out to the right side, but then could not get the run in with a shallow fly out and a ground out over the final two at bats. Northwestern Oklahoma State 6, Fort Hays State 2 Northwestern Oklahoma carried over its confidence from game one and managed to spoil the Tigers' day with three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to build a 4-0 lead. The Tigers cut back into the lead with a pair of single runs in the fifth and sixth, but NWOSU strung together a two-out walk, single, and double to get the two runs back in the top of the seventh. FHSU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning, but hit into a game-ending double play. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/sarah-tiffany/7088">Sarah Tiffany</a>&nbsp;had an RBI single in the fifth and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;picked up an RBI in the sixth on a fielder's choice. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-carlson/7078">Bailey Carlson</a>&nbsp;took the loss allowing three runs in 3.2 innings. She allowed five hits, a walk, and struck out three.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-montoya/7092">Emma Montoya</a>&nbsp;threw 3.1 innings of relief, allowing three hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Ireland Caro tossed a complete game against the Tigers in the second contest after holding them scoreless over the final two innings of the first contest. She scattered six hits and walked one, while recording only one strikeout. The Tigers look to bounce back from the setbacks when they start MIAA play on Friday with Northwest Missouri State coming to Hays. The Tigers and Bearcats start their doubleheader on Friday (Mar. 10) at 1 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🥎 Tigers win streak snapped by Rangers

Sarah Zimmerman went 31-1 this past season and won her first state title at the 6-5A State tournament. Now the Hays High Indian has a new title to add to the list.&nbsp; The Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association has named Zimmerman one of two KWCA 6-5A Girls Senior Wrestlers of the Year.&nbsp;

Zimmerman, a four time state placer and two time runner-up, recently signed with Simpson College to continue her wrestling career.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/17940d9c-5bd9-45c7-9438-3db7036b9eb3">The First: Sarah Zimmerman to wrestle at Simpson College</a>

Hannah Jackson of Leavenworth also received the honor.

Hoxie's Derek Johnson was named 3-2-1A Boys Senior Wrestler of the Year. Hoxie head coach Mike Porsche is the Coach of the Year.

Johnson is a four time station champion and Hoxie set the state record for most team points in a state tournament. Johnson will continue his career at St. Cloud State.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677695301105.jpeg" alt="Hays High's Sarah Zimmerman signs a letter of intent to wrestle at Simpson College at Hays High School on March 1, 2023." />
 <figcaption>Hays High's Sarah Zimmerman signs a letter of intent to wrestle at Simpson College at Hays High School on March 1, 2023.</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostSarah Zimmerman went 31-1 this past season and won her first state title at the 6-5A State tournament. Now the Hays High Indian has a new title to add to the list.&nbsp; The Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association has named Zimmerman one of two KWCA 6-5A Girls Senior Wrestlers of the Year.&nbsp;Zimmerman, a four time state placer and two time runner-up, recently signed with Simpson College to continue her wrestling career.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/17940d9c-5bd9-45c7-9438-3db7036b9eb3">The First: Sarah Zimmerman to wrestle at Simpson College</a>Hannah Jackson of Leavenworth also received the honor.Hoxie's Derek Johnson was named 3-2-1A Boys Senior Wrestler of the Year. Hoxie head coach Mike Porsche is the Coach of the Year.Johnson is a four time station champion and Hoxie set the state record for most team points in a state tournament. Johnson will continue his career at St. Cloud State.

🤼‍♀️ Sarah Zimmerman KWCA Wrestler of the Year; Hoxie duo honored

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Softball is moving its home opener up a day due to forecasted temperatures. Instead of the original scheduled date of Tuesday (Mar. 7), the home-opening doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State will now be on Monday (Mar. 6). Game times remain the same at 1 and 3 p.m. Live streaming of the games will be available on The MIAA Network, which is now a pay-for subscription service for softball and baseball. Here is the pricing structure for 2022-23. Link for the stream is provided above.

Live stats will also be available at the links provided above.



FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Softball is moving its home opener up a day due to forecasted temperatures. Instead of the original scheduled date of Tuesday (Mar. 7), the home-opening doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State will now be on Monday (Mar. 6). Game times remain the same at 1 and 3 p.m. Live streaming of the games will be available on The MIAA Network, which is now a pay-for subscription service for softball and baseball. Here is the pricing structure for 2022-23. Link for the stream is provided above.<ul>
 <li>Individual Broadcast Pass: $10</li><li>Monthly Access Pass: $25</li><li>All-Access Pass: $125</li><li>Individual Broadcast Download: $10</li>
 </ul>Live stats will also be available at the links provided above.

🥎FHSU softball home opener moves up due to forecasted weather

The TMP-Marian Monarchs boys basketball team is the two-seed
in the 2A state basketball tournament set to get underway Wednesday in
Manhattan. 

The Monarchs got back to the state tournament for the third straight
season and the fifth time in the last six years by winning the Ellis sub-state
on Saturday.

At 21-2 TMP and as the two-seed, TMP will take on the
seven-seed Horton in the first round at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum
in Manhattan.

The TMP-Marian Monarchs boys basketball team is the two-seed
in the 2A state basketball tournament set to get underway Wednesday in
Manhattan. The Monarchs got back to the state tournament for the third straight
season and the fifth time in the last six years by winning the Ellis sub-state
on Saturday.At 21-2 TMP and as the two-seed, TMP will take on the
seven-seed Horton in the first round at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum
in Manhattan.<figure>
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🏀TMP boys No. 2 seed at 2A state tournament

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🏀Area teams set for basketball state tournament action

EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State homered twice in the rubber match against Emporia State, but fell victim to three big innings and fell 15-4 to the Hornets. The Tigers moved to 8-12 overall and 1-5 in MIAA play, while the Hornets moved to 7-12 overall and 3-3 in conference action.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/isaiah-ural/7272">Isaiah Ural</a>&nbsp;put the Tigers on the board in the opening frame with a solo homer to left center, but the Hornets responded with a seven-run bottom of the first. FHSU narrowed the ESU lead in the next frame when&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/emile-boies/7253">Emile Boies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/ridge-stephens/6828">Ridge Stephens</a>&nbsp;each drew a walk before&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/colter-maldonado/7264">Colter Maldonado</a>&nbsp;blasted a three-run bomb over the left field wall.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/andrew-hansen/7259">Andrew Hansen</a>&nbsp;held the Hornets scoreless into the fifth inning, but a two-run homer and a single plated four runs in the frame for ESU. Emporia State led 11-4 going into the bottom of the seventh. In what would become the final inning, the Hornets scored four more runs on a single and a walk off three-run home run to enact the 10-run rule after seven.

Hansen allowed four runs on four hits through 4.1 innings on the mound, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/jake-campbell/6805">Jake Campbell</a>&nbsp;recorded three strikeouts in 1.1 frames. Hansen also struck out five batters in his appearance.

Ural finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Tigers. Boies, Stephens, and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/ed-scott/6827">Ed Scott</a>&nbsp;each drew a walk.

The Tigers will be back in action next weekend when they host Rogers State for a three-game conference series (March 10-12) at Larks Park.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678069460944.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsEMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State homered twice in the rubber match against Emporia State, but fell victim to three big innings and fell 15-4 to the Hornets. The Tigers moved to 8-12 overall and 1-5 in MIAA play, while the Hornets moved to 7-12 overall and 3-3 in conference action.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/isaiah-ural/7272">Isaiah Ural</a>&nbsp;put the Tigers on the board in the opening frame with a solo homer to left center, but the Hornets responded with a seven-run bottom of the first. FHSU narrowed the ESU lead in the next frame when&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/emile-boies/7253">Emile Boies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/ridge-stephens/6828">Ridge Stephens</a>&nbsp;each drew a walk before&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/colter-maldonado/7264">Colter Maldonado</a>&nbsp;blasted a three-run bomb over the left field wall.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/andrew-hansen/7259">Andrew Hansen</a>&nbsp;held the Hornets scoreless into the fifth inning, but a two-run homer and a single plated four runs in the frame for ESU. Emporia State led 11-4 going into the bottom of the seventh. In what would become the final inning, the Hornets scored four more runs on a single and a walk off three-run home run to enact the 10-run rule after seven.Hansen allowed four runs on four hits through 4.1 innings on the mound, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/jake-campbell/6805">Jake Campbell</a>&nbsp;recorded three strikeouts in 1.1 frames. Hansen also struck out five batters in his appearance.Ural finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Tigers. Boies, Stephens, and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/ed-scott/6827">Ed Scott</a>&nbsp;each drew a walk.The Tigers will be back in action next weekend when they host Rogers State for a three-game conference series (March 10-12) at Larks Park.

⚾ Tigers drop series finale at Emporia State

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a game that came down to the wire…twice, No. 2 seeded Central Missouri escaped with a 66-64 win over No. 6 seed Fort Hays State in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals on Saturday night (Mar. 4).&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jessie-sallach/6847">Jessie Sallach</a>&nbsp;buried a 3-point shot just before the horn of regulation to force overtime, but had their chance of a repeat as tournament champs dashed when Ashley Tull happened to be in the right spot to gather a deflected ball for a buzzer-beating layup in the extra frame. The Tigers jumped out to an early 9-3 lead about three minutes into the contest with help from a pair of jumpers and a three-pointer from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sydney-golladay/6844">Sydney Golladay</a>&nbsp;nailed another three to put the Tigers ahead 14-7 at the end of the first.

After an&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/emma-ruddle/6846">Emma Ruddle</a>&nbsp;layup to open the second quarter, the Tigers went into a drought going scoreless until midway through the period. In that time, UCM went on a 9-0 run to tie the game. The teams traded blows until a three by the Jennies put them ahead with a minute before the half. A pair of Wagner free throws would bring the Tigers within one but the Jennies dropped in a layup as time expired to take a 25-22 lead into the break.

UCM held on to its lead until&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kate-dilsaver/6841">Kate Dilsaver</a>&nbsp;knocked in a three to put the Tigers ahead 31-29 midway through the third. A clutch three-pointer from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/megan-earney/6842">Megan Earney</a>&nbsp;and another pair of free throws from Wagner helped push the Tigers to a 40-37 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Jennies went on a 7-0 run over a five-minute stretch to lead 53-46 with 1:40 remaining in regulation. The Tigers were able to chip away and get back within one late. After a pair of UCM free throws to make the margin three with ten seconds remaining, the Tigers had one final possession. Bottled up out front,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sydney-golladay/6844">Sydney Golladay</a>&nbsp;was able to find&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jessie-sallach/6847">Jessie Sallach</a>&nbsp;who dribbled herself into a position to sink a rainbow from just beyond the top of the arc to send the game to overtime.

The Jennies struck first in extra time, but the Tigers took the lead on a jumper from Golladay and another three from Earney. The teams traded punches over the last two minutes and Wagner found&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/clary-donica/6854">Clary Donica</a>&nbsp;for a critical layup with about 10 seconds to go tying the game, but UCM had the final possession and it had a stroke of luck when a deflected ball found the hands of the aforementioned Tull for the aforementioned game-winner with 0.2 seconds remaining.

Wagner finished with a team high 25 points, shooting 50 percent from the floor, 2-for-2 beyond the arc, and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. Wagner also grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds to collect her 11th&nbsp;double double of the season. Earney finished 3-of-5 from three to finish with nine points. Olivia Nelson led the Jennies with 20 points, followed by Tull with 14. Brooke Littrell and Cierra Smith both had 10. The Tigers had the strongest strength of schedule in the Central Region of Division II. Unfortunately, they dropped seven contests by three points or less to teams ahead of them in the region rankings. That group included&nbsp;Augustana, Minnesota State, Nebraska-Kearney, Missouri Western, Missouri Southern, and Central Missouri twice.

The Tigers were ranked No. 10 in the latest Central Region rankings and a GAC team will take an automatic bid and leave a very deserving team among the top eight out of the NCAA Tournament. Unless the Tigers did enough to elevate into the top seven of the region rankings, it is likely that FHSU saw its season come to a close at 20-12 overall. The NCAA Selection Show will begin at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night on NCAA.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677999946700.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State's Katie Wagner (23) and Sydney Golladay prepare to play defense in an MIAA Tournament semifinal game with Central Missouri on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State's Katie Wagner (23) and Sydney Golladay prepare to play defense in an MIAA Tournament semifinal game with Central Missouri on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsKANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a game that came down to the wire…twice, No. 2 seeded Central Missouri escaped with a 66-64 win over No. 6 seed Fort Hays State in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals on Saturday night (Mar. 4).&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jessie-sallach/6847">Jessie Sallach</a>&nbsp;buried a 3-point shot just before the horn of regulation to force overtime, but had their chance of a repeat as tournament champs dashed when Ashley Tull happened to be in the right spot to gather a deflected ball for a buzzer-beating layup in the extra frame. The Tigers jumped out to an early 9-3 lead about three minutes into the contest with help from a pair of jumpers and a three-pointer from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/katie-wagner/6848">Katie Wagner</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sydney-golladay/6844">Sydney Golladay</a>&nbsp;nailed another three to put the Tigers ahead 14-7 at the end of the first.<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/1461649306&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-814667509/3-4-23-fhsu-wbkb-assistant-coach-int" title="3 - 4-23 FHSU WBKB Assistant Coach Int" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">3 - 4-23 FHSU WBKB Assistant Coach Int</a></div></div>After an&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/emma-ruddle/6846">Emma Ruddle</a>&nbsp;layup to open the second quarter, the Tigers went into a drought going scoreless until midway through the period. In that time, UCM went on a 9-0 run to tie the game. The teams traded blows until a three by the Jennies put them ahead with a minute before the half. A pair of Wagner free throws would bring the Tigers within one but the Jennies dropped in a layup as time expired to take a 25-22 lead into the break.UCM held on to its lead until&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kate-dilsaver/6841">Kate Dilsaver</a>&nbsp;knocked in a three to put the Tigers ahead 31-29 midway through the third. A clutch three-pointer from&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/megan-earney/6842">Megan Earney</a>&nbsp;and another pair of free throws from Wagner helped push the Tigers to a 40-37 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Jennies went on a 7-0 run over a five-minute stretch to lead 53-46 with 1:40 remaining in regulation. The Tigers were able to chip away and get back within one late. After a pair of UCM free throws to make the margin three with ten seconds remaining, the Tigers had one final possession. Bottled up out front,&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/sydney-golladay/6844">Sydney Golladay</a>&nbsp;was able to find&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jessie-sallach/6847">Jessie Sallach</a>&nbsp;who dribbled herself into a position to sink a rainbow from just beyond the top of the arc to send the game to overtime.<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/1461659293&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-814667509/3-4-23-fhsu-wbkb-v-miss-s-hilights" title="Fort Hays State WBB Highlights vs. #10 Central Missouri (Mar. 4, 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State WBB Highlights vs. #10 Central Missouri (Mar. 4, 2023)</a></div></div>The Jennies struck first in extra time, but the Tigers took the lead on a jumper from Golladay and another three from Earney. The teams traded punches over the last two minutes and Wagner found&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/clary-donica/6854">Clary Donica</a>&nbsp;for a critical layup with about 10 seconds to go tying the game, but UCM had the final possession and it had a stroke of luck when a deflected ball found the hands of the aforementioned Tull for the aforementioned game-winner with 0.2 seconds remaining.Wagner finished with a team high 25 points, shooting 50 percent from the floor, 2-for-2 beyond the arc, and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. Wagner also grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds to collect her 11th&nbsp;double double of the season. Earney finished 3-of-5 from three to finish with nine points. Olivia Nelson led the Jennies with 20 points, followed by Tull with 14. Brooke Littrell and Cierra Smith both had 10. The Tigers had the strongest strength of schedule in the Central Region of Division II. Unfortunately, they dropped seven contests by three points or less to teams ahead of them in the region rankings. That group included&nbsp;Augustana, Minnesota State, Nebraska-Kearney, Missouri Western, Missouri Southern, and Central Missouri twice.The Tigers were ranked No. 10 in the latest Central Region rankings and a GAC team will take an automatic bid and leave a very deserving team among the top eight out of the NCAA Tournament. Unless the Tigers did enough to elevate into the top seven of the region rankings, it is likely that FHSU saw its season come to a close at 20-12 overall. The NCAA Selection Show will begin at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night on NCAA.com.

🏀 Tiger women come up short in overtime against No. 10 UCM

ELLIS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs are headed to the state tournament
for the fifth time in six years after a 57-36 win
over the Hoxie Indians to claim the 2A Ellis sub-state championship.

The first quarter of Saturday’s sub-state championship game
featured three ties to open the game before Hoxie took a 9-6 lead with just
over 4:10 to play. That’s when TMP’s Dylan Werth scored six straight to end the
quarter putting TMP up 14-11 at the end of the first quarter. A lead they never
relinquished the rest of the way.

Werth scored all 14 of the Monarchs first quarter points in
route to a career-high 33 points for the 6’8 senior.

Hoxie closed within one to open the second quarter but TMP’s
Joey Mindrup hit his first of three pointers in the game to put TMP up 17-13.

Hoxie pulled back within a point but Mindrup hit a second
straight three pointer sparking 20-5 run to end the third quarter and start the
fourth helping the Monarchs extend their lead to 40-25 on Mindrup’s third three
of the game.

The Monarchs controlled the fourth quarter down the stretch
on their way to the 57-36 victory.

Werth scored a career-high 33 points and finished with 11
rebounds. Mindrup added nine points and Landon Rozean finished with eight
points. 

The Monarchs have won 20 straight and will head into the 2A
state tournament in Manhattan with a record of 21-2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677990743427.png" alt="Courtesy TMP Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy TMP Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs are headed to the state tournament
for the fifth time in six years after a 57-36 win
over the Hoxie Indians to claim the 2A Ellis sub-state championship.<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/1461566896&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-814667509/03-04-23-tmp-v-hoxie-post-game-int" title="03 - 04 - 23 TMP v Hoxie Postgame Bill Meagher" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">03 - 04 - 23 TMP v Hoxie Postgame Bill Meagher</a></div></div>The first quarter of Saturday’s sub-state championship game
featured three ties to open the game before Hoxie took a 9-6 lead with just
over 4:10 to play. That’s when TMP’s Dylan Werth scored six straight to end the
quarter putting TMP up 14-11 at the end of the first quarter. A lead they never
relinquished the rest of the way.Werth scored all 14 of the Monarchs first quarter points in
route to a career-high 33 points for the 6’8 senior.Hoxie closed within one to open the second quarter but TMP’s
Joey Mindrup hit his first of three pointers in the game to put TMP up 17-13.Hoxie pulled back within a point but Mindrup hit a second
straight three pointer sparking 20-5 run to end the third quarter and start the
fourth helping the Monarchs extend their lead to 40-25 on Mindrup’s third three
of the game.The Monarchs controlled the fourth quarter down the stretch
on their way to the 57-36 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/1461566950&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-814667509/03-04-23-tmp-v-hoxie-highlights" title="03 - 04 - 23 TMP v Hoxie Highlights" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">03 - 04 - 23 TMP v Hoxie Highlights</a></div></div>Werth scored a career-high 33 points and finished with 11
rebounds. Mindrup added nine points and Landon Rozean finished with eight
points. The Monarchs have won 20 straight and will head into the 2A
state tournament in Manhattan with a record of 21-2.

🏀 TMP headed back to state with win over Hoxie

WICHITA - Hays High was in Wichita for Sub-State Championship basketball on Saturday to play the top seed in 5A West Kapaun Mt. Carmel.

Hays grabbed an early six point lead but a 17-2 Kapaun run put the Crusaders up for good winning 75-46 over Hays.

The Indians made five of their first six field goals and grabbed a 12-6 lead on their second three pointer in the first four minutes. The offense though went dry for Hays as they missed their next five field goal attempts and made just two of six free throws over the next 6:15.&nbsp;

During that stretch Kapaun scored 17 points and built a 23-14 advantage. The Indians trailed by nine but gave up 9-0 run to end the first half and trailed 40-22 at halftime.

Kapaun's offense never faltered in the second half added 35 more points over the next two quarters. Hays was never closer than 17 points in the final two quarters.

Kapaun moved on to the 5A State Tournament with a 75-46 win over the Indians.

Jack Weimer scored 10 points to lead the Indians who end their season at 13-9. Four Crusaders scored in double figures led by the 18 of Will Anciaux. Kapaun heads to the state tournament at 21-1.

WICHITA - Hays High was in Wichita for Sub-State Championship basketball on Saturday to play the top seed in 5A West Kapaun Mt. Carmel.Hays grabbed an early six point lead but a 17-2 Kapaun run put the Crusaders up for good winning 75-46 over Hays.The Indians made five of their first six field goals and grabbed a 12-6 lead on their second three pointer in the first four minutes. The offense though went dry for Hays as they missed their next five field goal attempts and made just two of six free throws over the next 6:15.&nbsp;During that stretch Kapaun scored 17 points and built a 23-14 advantage. The Indians trailed by nine but gave up 9-0 run to end the first half and trailed 40-22 at halftime.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/1461547543&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-814667509/3-4-2023-hays-high-boys-basketball-v-kapaun-highlights" title="3 - 4-2023 Hays High Boys Basketball V Kapaun HIGHLIGHTS" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">3 - 4-2023 Hays High Boys Basketball V Kapaun HIGHLIGHTS</a></div></div>Kapaun's offense never faltered in the second half added 35 more points over the next two quarters. Hays was never closer than 17 points in the final two quarters.Kapaun moved on to the 5A State Tournament with a 75-46 win over the Indians.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/1461552667&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-814667509/3-4-2023-hhs-boys-coach-sean-dreiling-postgame-interview" title="3 - 4-2023 HHS Boys Coach Sean Dreiling POSTGAME INTERVIEW" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">3 - 4-2023 HHS Boys Coach Sean Dreiling POSTGAME INTERVIEW</a></div></div>Jack Weimer scored 10 points to lead the Indians who end their season at 13-9. Four Crusaders scored in double figures led by the 18 of Will Anciaux. Kapaun heads to the state tournament at 21-1.

🏀 Hot start not enough for Hays versus Kapaun

LIBERTY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Softball improved to 11-5 overall on the season by sweeping a doubleheader at William Jewell College on Saturday. The Tigers recorded their sixth shutout in the last seven games with a 2-0 win in game one, then held on for a 4-3 win in game two for the sweep. Game 1: Fort Hays State 2, William Jewell 0 <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savanah-egger/7081">Savanah Egger</a>&nbsp;continued her dominant scoreless streak, now at 26 consecutive innings after a complete game shutout in the first contest. It marked her fourth-straight shutout going back to last week when she had three at the Washburn Invitational. The Tigers spotted Egger a run early when&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/peyton-shepard/7094">Peyton Shepard</a>&nbsp;legged out an infield hit to start the game, stole a base, moved up to third on a ground out, then scored on&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/loren-beggs/7075">Loren Beggs'</a>&nbsp;groundout to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. FHSU added its other run in the fifth when&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;led off with a single, moved up to second on a groundout, then came in to score from second on a fumbled cutoff throw following a single by&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lexi-mohr/7091">Lexi Mohr</a>. Egger's streak was tested in the fourth when the Cardinals led off the inning with a single and double. But Egger responded with a pop up, a strikeout, and another pop up to dance out of danger. She scattered six hits for the game and allowed just one walk, while striking out six. She moved to 5-2 on the season. Game 2: Fort Hays State 4, William Jewell 3 William Jewell took an early 1-0 lead in the second contest with a home run in the first inning, but the Tigers responded with three in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. William Jewell made things interesting late getting pair of runs in the seventh before&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-montoya/7092">Emma Montoya</a>&nbsp;entered to get the last two outs, holding off a potential tie or walk-off. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/carly-stuke/7096">Carly Stuke</a>&nbsp;led off the fourth with a single and came in to score on an&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/aubrey-martinez/7090">Aubrey Martinez</a>&nbsp;RBI double.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lexi-mohr/7091">Lexi Mohr</a>&nbsp;singled before a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lilliana-ramirez-johnson/7093">Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson</a>&nbsp;RBI groundout gave the Tigers the lead. A throwing error by the pitcher on a grounder off the bat of&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/peyton-shepard/7094">Peyton Shepard</a>&nbsp;allowed&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/reese-curry/7079">Reese Curry</a>&nbsp;to motor around to score from second.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/madison-pierce/7086">Madison Pierce</a>&nbsp;set up the single run in the fifth with a double.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/sydnee-hoffman/7083">Sydnee Hoffman</a>&nbsp;pinch ran for her and came in to score on an RBI single by Stuke. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/morgan-schmidt/7087">Morgan Schmidt</a>&nbsp;was motoring along with another high-strikeout performance until running into some trouble in the seventh. She tied her career high for strikeouts with 12 over 6.1 innings, but handed the ball to&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-montoya/7092">Emma Montoya</a>&nbsp;who preserved Schmidt's win by getting the final two outs of the game. William Jewell already scored two runs against Schmidt in the seventh and then had runners at second and third before Montoya came in to stop the rally. Montoya got a strikeout, allowed a free pass that loaded the bases, but then got a pop out to end the game. Schmidt allowed only four hits to 24 batters faced and moved to 2-1 on the season. The Tigers will play at home for the first time this season on Tuesday (Mar. 7) with a doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State. First pitch at Tiger Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678000203439.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsLIBERTY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Softball improved to 11-5 overall on the season by sweeping a doubleheader at William Jewell College on Saturday. The Tigers recorded their sixth shutout in the last seven games with a 2-0 win in game one, then held on for a 4-3 win in game two for the sweep. Game 1: Fort Hays State 2, William Jewell 0 <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/savanah-egger/7081">Savanah Egger</a>&nbsp;continued her dominant scoreless streak, now at 26 consecutive innings after a complete game shutout in the first contest. It marked her fourth-straight shutout going back to last week when she had three at the Washburn Invitational. The Tigers spotted Egger a run early when&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/peyton-shepard/7094">Peyton Shepard</a>&nbsp;legged out an infield hit to start the game, stole a base, moved up to third on a ground out, then scored on&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/loren-beggs/7075">Loren Beggs'</a>&nbsp;groundout to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. FHSU added its other run in the fifth when&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/regan-curry/7080">Regan Curry</a>&nbsp;led off with a single, moved up to second on a groundout, then came in to score from second on a fumbled cutoff throw following a single by&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lexi-mohr/7091">Lexi Mohr</a>. Egger's streak was tested in the fourth when the Cardinals led off the inning with a single and double. But Egger responded with a pop up, a strikeout, and another pop up to dance out of danger. She scattered six hits for the game and allowed just one walk, while striking out six. She moved to 5-2 on the season. Game 2: Fort Hays State 4, William Jewell 3 William Jewell took an early 1-0 lead in the second contest with a home run in the first inning, but the Tigers responded with three in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. William Jewell made things interesting late getting pair of runs in the seventh before&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-montoya/7092">Emma Montoya</a>&nbsp;entered to get the last two outs, holding off a potential tie or walk-off. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/carly-stuke/7096">Carly Stuke</a>&nbsp;led off the fourth with a single and came in to score on an&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/aubrey-martinez/7090">Aubrey Martinez</a>&nbsp;RBI double.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lexi-mohr/7091">Lexi Mohr</a>&nbsp;singled before a&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/lilliana-ramirez-johnson/7093">Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson</a>&nbsp;RBI groundout gave the Tigers the lead. A throwing error by the pitcher on a grounder off the bat of&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/peyton-shepard/7094">Peyton Shepard</a>&nbsp;allowed&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/reese-curry/7079">Reese Curry</a>&nbsp;to motor around to score from second.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/madison-pierce/7086">Madison Pierce</a>&nbsp;set up the single run in the fifth with a double.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/sydnee-hoffman/7083">Sydnee Hoffman</a>&nbsp;pinch ran for her and came in to score on an RBI single by Stuke. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/morgan-schmidt/7087">Morgan Schmidt</a>&nbsp;was motoring along with another high-strikeout performance until running into some trouble in the seventh. She tied her career high for strikeouts with 12 over 6.1 innings, but handed the ball to&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/emma-montoya/7092">Emma Montoya</a>&nbsp;who preserved Schmidt's win by getting the final two outs of the game. William Jewell already scored two runs against Schmidt in the seventh and then had runners at second and third before Montoya came in to stop the rally. Montoya got a strikeout, allowed a free pass that loaded the bases, but then got a pop out to end the game. Schmidt allowed only four hits to 24 batters faced and moved to 2-1 on the season. The Tigers will play at home for the first time this season on Tuesday (Mar. 7) with a doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State. First pitch at Tiger Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🥎 FHSU runs win streak to eight with sweep of William Jewell

&nbsp; KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State fell to No. 12/14 ranked Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals on Saturday (Mar. 4). The Tigers held an eight-point halftime lead only to see the Bronchos slip by in the second half and hold on by a score of 55-51. FHSU moved to 21-9 overall, while UCO moved to 26-4 and will play Northwest Missouri State in the championship game Sunday. This was the first time this season FHSU lost a game that it led at halftime. The Tigers were 18-0 up until Saturday when holding the halftime advantage.

Fort Hays State started the game red hot, hitting nine of its first 13 shots from the field. The Tigers had a 10-point lead of 17-7 about six and a half minutes into the game, but UCO chipped away to get the lead down to just one with two minutes before halftime. The Tigers responded with a 7-0 run to end the half and lead 30-22 at halftime. After the Tigers led by eight nearly six minutes into the second half, UCO used a 12-2 run from the 14:16 to 10:34 marks of the second half to grab a one-point lead. It was a tight battle the rest of the way, but UCO took the lead for good with 9:30 to go in the game on a Cam Givens layup. The Bronchos had a seven point lead with 5:33 to play, but the Tigers responded with a 6-0 run to get it back to one with about three and half minutes to go. The Bronchos managed to hold on as both teams clamped down defensively over the final three minutes. The Tigers unfortunately went scoreless over the final 3:41 of the game and the Bronchos were able to make a pair of free throws with eight seconds remaining to put the game on ice.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;had a good look at a three from the left wing with about 10 seconds to go, but unfortunately was a bit strong on the attempt before UCO secured the rebound and hit the clinching free throws.

Hammeke led the Tigers with 11 points, followed by&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/gabe-pieschl/6904">Gabe Pieschl</a>&nbsp;with nine.&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/bjarni-jonsson/6901">Bjarni Jonsson</a>&nbsp;each had eight. The Tigers were a bit better than the Bronchos in field goal percentage, 43.5 to 39.2. Both teams made 20 field goals, but UCO made one more 3-point shot and three more free throws in the game to account for the four-point final margin. The Tigers were No. 10 in the latest NCAA Central Region rankings and have to hope for a massive jump in their region formula to get into the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection in the Central Regional. The eighth spot will already be taken by the automatic qualifier from the Great American Conference as No. 1 seed and No. 3 region-ranked Southern Nazarene was upset in the opening round. A GAC team that was not in the final set of region rankings will get in automatically for a second-straight year, which could spell heartbreak for the Tigers once again. The NCAA selection show is on Sunday night (Mar. 5) at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677974613365.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State guard Kaleb Hammeke attacks the Central Oklahoma defense in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 4, 2023 in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State guard Kaleb Hammeke attacks the Central Oklahoma defense in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 4, 2023 in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU Athletics&nbsp; KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State fell to No. 12/14 ranked Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals on Saturday (Mar. 4). The Tigers held an eight-point halftime lead only to see the Bronchos slip by in the second half and hold on by a score of 55-51. FHSU moved to 21-9 overall, while UCO moved to 26-4 and will play Northwest Missouri State in the championship game Sunday. This was the first time this season FHSU lost a game that it led at halftime. The Tigers were 18-0 up until Saturday when holding the halftime advantage.<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/1461502861&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-814667509/3-4-23-fhsu-mbkb-coach-interview" title="Fort Hays State MBB Press Conference vs. #12 Central Oklahoma (Mar. , 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State MBB Press Conference vs. #12 Central Oklahoma (Mar. , 2023)</a></div></div>Fort Hays State started the game red hot, hitting nine of its first 13 shots from the field. The Tigers had a 10-point lead of 17-7 about six and a half minutes into the game, but UCO chipped away to get the lead down to just one with two minutes before halftime. The Tigers responded with a 7-0 run to end the half and lead 30-22 at halftime. After the Tigers led by eight nearly six minutes into the second half, UCO used a 12-2 run from the 14:16 to 10:34 marks of the second half to grab a one-point lead. It was a tight battle the rest of the way, but UCO took the lead for good with 9:30 to go in the game on a Cam Givens layup. The Bronchos had a seven point lead with 5:33 to play, but the Tigers responded with a 6-0 run to get it back to one with about three and half minutes to go. The Bronchos managed to hold on as both teams clamped down defensively over the final three minutes. The Tigers unfortunately went scoreless over the final 3:41 of the game and the Bronchos were able to make a pair of free throws with eight seconds remaining to put the game on ice.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kaleb-hammeke/6897">Kaleb Hammeke</a>&nbsp;had a good look at a three from the left wing with about 10 seconds to go, but unfortunately was a bit strong on the attempt before UCO secured the rebound and hit the clinching free throws.<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/1461500698&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-814667509/3-4-23-fhsu-mbkb-v-uco-hilights" title="Fort Hays State MBB Highlights vs. #12 Central Oklahoma (Mar. 3, 2023)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Fort Hays State MBB Highlights vs. #12 Central Oklahoma (Mar. 3, 2023)</a></div></div>Hammeke led the Tigers with 11 points, followed by&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/gabe-pieschl/6904">Gabe Pieschl</a>&nbsp;with nine.&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/bjarni-jonsson/6901">Bjarni Jonsson</a>&nbsp;each had eight. The Tigers were a bit better than the Bronchos in field goal percentage, 43.5 to 39.2. Both teams made 20 field goals, but UCO made one more 3-point shot and three more free throws in the game to account for the four-point final margin. The Tigers were No. 10 in the latest NCAA Central Region rankings and have to hope for a massive jump in their region formula to get into the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection in the Central Regional. The eighth spot will already be taken by the automatic qualifier from the Great American Conference as No. 1 seed and No. 3 region-ranked Southern Nazarene was upset in the opening round. A GAC team that was not in the final set of region rankings will get in automatically for a second-straight year, which could spell heartbreak for the Tigers once again. The NCAA selection show is on Sunday night (Mar. 5) at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 No. 12 Central Oklahoma rallies to clip Tiger men in MIAA semifinals

EMPORIA, Kan. -&nbsp;The Fort Hays State baseball team hung on for a 4-3 win over Emporia State on Saturday. Solid pitching by both squads kept the score close before the Tigers took the lead for good in the sixth. The Tigers improved to 8-11 overall and&nbsp;1-4 MIAA while the Hornets fall to 6-12 this season and&nbsp;2-3 in league play. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/elliott-herrmann/7260">Elliott Herrmann</a>&nbsp;singled home&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/trey-degarmo/7257">Trey DeGarmo</a>&nbsp;to give the Tigers an early lead in the opening frame, but the Hornets tied it up by taking advantage of three free trips in the home half. The teams traded punches again in the fourth as&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/mikey-felton/6810">Mikey Felton</a>&nbsp;collected an RBI single before ESU bounced back with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/zach-berg/6803">Zach Berg</a>&nbsp;started on the mound for the Tigers, allowing two runs (one earned) across three innings.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/daniel-bebee/7252">Daniel Bebee</a>&nbsp;took over in the fourth and made another strong showing, allowing only one run and scattering a pair of hits over 5.1 frames to collect his first win of the season. Berg and Bebee struck out three batters each in their stints on the mound. The Hornets took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on another RBI single, but the Tigers would answer in the following half-inning with four hits and two runs. Felton opened the inning with a single up the middle before&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/colter-maldonado/7264">Colter Maldonado</a>&nbsp;moved him over with a single of his own. DeGarmo tied the game with a two-out single past the pitcher, bringing Felton in to score.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/isaiah-ural/7272">Isaiah Ural</a>&nbsp;followed with the go-ahead RBI, driving in&nbsp;Maldonado on a single to right to give the Tigers a 4-3 lead. Bebee&nbsp;faced just four batters in the seventh and retired the side in order in the eighth to keep the Tigers in front, but allowed two runners to reach base with one out in the ninth. Tiger head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/justin-wichert/1135">Justin Wichert</a>&nbsp;then came out to swap pitchers, giving&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/emile-boies/7253">Emile Boies</a>&nbsp;took the ball for the Tigers with two outs to go. After starting the game at third base, Boies struck out both batters he faced to secure the win for the Tigers and claim his third save of the year. Herrmann, DeGarmo, Ural, and Felton each recorded a pair of hits and drove in a run in the win. The series will conclude tomorrow with the rubber match slated to start at 1 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678000406600.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsEMPORIA, Kan. -&nbsp;The Fort Hays State baseball team hung on for a 4-3 win over Emporia State on Saturday. Solid pitching by both squads kept the score close before the Tigers took the lead for good in the sixth. The Tigers improved to 8-11 overall and&nbsp;1-4 MIAA while the Hornets fall to 6-12 this season and&nbsp;2-3 in league play. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/elliott-herrmann/7260">Elliott Herrmann</a>&nbsp;singled home&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/trey-degarmo/7257">Trey DeGarmo</a>&nbsp;to give the Tigers an early lead in the opening frame, but the Hornets tied it up by taking advantage of three free trips in the home half. The teams traded punches again in the fourth as&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/mikey-felton/6810">Mikey Felton</a>&nbsp;collected an RBI single before ESU bounced back with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning. <a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/zach-berg/6803">Zach Berg</a>&nbsp;started on the mound for the Tigers, allowing two runs (one earned) across three innings.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/daniel-bebee/7252">Daniel Bebee</a>&nbsp;took over in the fourth and made another strong showing, allowing only one run and scattering a pair of hits over 5.1 frames to collect his first win of the season. Berg and Bebee struck out three batters each in their stints on the mound. The Hornets took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on another RBI single, but the Tigers would answer in the following half-inning with four hits and two runs. Felton opened the inning with a single up the middle before&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/colter-maldonado/7264">Colter Maldonado</a>&nbsp;moved him over with a single of his own. DeGarmo tied the game with a two-out single past the pitcher, bringing Felton in to score.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/isaiah-ural/7272">Isaiah Ural</a>&nbsp;followed with the go-ahead RBI, driving in&nbsp;Maldonado on a single to right to give the Tigers a 4-3 lead. Bebee&nbsp;faced just four batters in the seventh and retired the side in order in the eighth to keep the Tigers in front, but allowed two runners to reach base with one out in the ninth. Tiger head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/justin-wichert/1135">Justin Wichert</a>&nbsp;then came out to swap pitchers, giving&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/emile-boies/7253">Emile Boies</a>&nbsp;took the ball for the Tigers with two outs to go. After starting the game at third base, Boies struck out both batters he faced to secure the win for the Tigers and claim his third save of the year. Herrmann, DeGarmo, Ural, and Felton each recorded a pair of hits and drove in a run in the win. The series will conclude tomorrow with the rubber match slated to start at 1 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⚾ Tigers even series with win over Hornets

By JIM VURTUNO AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sir'Jabari Rice scored 23 points and a smothering defensive effort carried No. 9 Texas to a 75-59 win over No. 3 Kansas on Saturday that earned the Longhorns a second-place finish in the Big 12.

Kansas, which had already secured the league championship earlier in the week, had its seven-game winning streak snapped.

Texas entered the day in a three-way tie for second but the win and losses by Kansas State and Baylor left the Longhorns alone in the spot.

Tyrese Hunter made 9 of 10 free throws and scored 20 points for the Longhorns (23-8, 12-6).

Big 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson led Kansas (25-6, 13-5) with 23 points and 10 boards.

Texas swarmed Kansas with a defensive effort that frustrated Wilson and the Jayhawks from the opening tip.

Kansas scored just 12 points over the first 12 minutes and missed nine of 12 3-point attempts in the half. Wilson, who scored just two points when Kansas beat Texas on Feb. 6, struggled to find open shots or even open passes.

Hunter made consecutive deep 3-pointers late in the half as Texas built a 32-24 lead at the break.

The Longhorns quickly stretched the lead in opening minutes of the second half. Dylan Disu scored the first five points after halftime, and Rice's 3-pointer pushed the lead to 15.

Kansas got within eight when Gradey Dick made consecutive 3-pointers, his first baskets of the game, before Texas answered with six consecutive points. Rice then ran off seven straight points, including a 3-pointer from the left corner, and Texas led 68-52 with 3:30 to play.

Kansas: The Big 12 champs won a league many consider the toughest in the country and are still a contender for a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament. The defending national champions head into the Big 12 tourney having won nine of their last 12.

Texas: Interim coach Rodney Terry's future with the program was probably always going to depend on the Longhorns' postseason success. He might have eased that pressure had Texas won at least a share of the program's first conference title in 15 years. But finishing second with an emphatic win over the league champ is better than many would have predicted when Texas fired coach Chris Beard in midseason.

The Big 12 Tournament starts Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas will be the No. 1 seed. Texas will be No. 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677977817998.jpeg" alt="Kansas guard Jalen Wilson (10) drives in a Big 12 basketball game vs. Texas on Saturday, March 4, 2023 in Austin, Texas (Kansas Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas guard Jalen Wilson (10) drives in a Big 12 basketball game vs. Texas on Saturday, March 4, 2023 in Austin, Texas (Kansas Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM VURTUNO AP Sports WriterAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sir'Jabari Rice scored 23 points and a smothering defensive effort carried No. 9 Texas to a 75-59 win over No. 3 Kansas on Saturday that earned the Longhorns a second-place finish in the Big 12.Kansas, which had already secured the league championship earlier in the week, had its seven-game winning streak snapped.Texas entered the day in a three-way tie for second but the win and losses by Kansas State and Baylor left the Longhorns alone in the spot.Tyrese Hunter made 9 of 10 free throws and scored 20 points for the Longhorns (23-8, 12-6).Big 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson led Kansas (25-6, 13-5) with 23 points and 10 boards.Texas swarmed Kansas with a defensive effort that frustrated Wilson and the Jayhawks from the opening tip.Kansas scored just 12 points over the first 12 minutes and missed nine of 12 3-point attempts in the half. Wilson, who scored just two points when Kansas beat Texas on Feb. 6, struggled to find open shots or even open passes.Hunter made consecutive deep 3-pointers late in the half as Texas built a 32-24 lead at the break.The Longhorns quickly stretched the lead in opening minutes of the second half. Dylan Disu scored the first five points after halftime, and Rice's 3-pointer pushed the lead to 15.Kansas got within eight when Gradey Dick made consecutive 3-pointers, his first baskets of the game, before Texas answered with six consecutive points. Rice then ran off seven straight points, including a 3-pointer from the left corner, and Texas led 68-52 with 3:30 to play.BIG PICTUREKansas: The Big 12 champs won a league many consider the toughest in the country and are still a contender for a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament. The defending national champions head into the Big 12 tourney having won nine of their last 12.Texas: Interim coach Rodney Terry's future with the program was probably always going to depend on the Longhorns' postseason success. He might have eased that pressure had Texas won at least a share of the program's first conference title in 15 years. But finishing second with an emphatic win over the league champ is better than many would have predicted when Texas fired coach Chris Beard in midseason.UP NEXTThe Big 12 Tournament starts Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas will be the No. 1 seed. Texas will be No. 2.

🏀 Longhorns snap No. 3 Kansas seven-game win streak

By JOHN RABY AP Sports Writer

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Emmitt Matthews’ last regular-season home game at West Virginia was even better than he had envisioned.

Matthews played for Washington a year ago before returning to West Virginia, where he had spent his first three seasons. When Washington's Senior Day ceremony was held almost a year ago to the day, Matthews said he closed his eyes and imagined being back in Morgantown.

On Saturday his eyes were wide open and his smile went from ear to ear as he and five other seniors walked onto the court with loved ones during pregame introductions. And their energy eventually translated into one of their best efforts of the season.

Matthews, Erik Stevenson and Kedrian Johnson led an offensive onslaught in their home finale Saturday and West Virginia gave its NCAA Tournament hopes a big boost with an 89-81 victory over No. 11 Kansas State.

Matthews, who played all 40 minutes, then joined Stevenson, Johnson and West Virginia’s other seniors to sing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” one last time in their own arena before going into the student section to celebrate.

“This is everything I imagined and then some,” Matthews said.

Stevenson finished with 27 points, Johnson added 23, Matthews had 20 points and Tre Mitchell scored 14 for West Virginia (18-13, 7-11 Big 12), which has won three of four heading into the conference tournament.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677974140498.jpeg" alt="Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson (11) drives to the basketball in a Big 12 basketball game vs. West Virginia on March 3, 2023 in Morgantown, W.Va. (Kansas State athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson (11) drives to the basketball in a Big 12 basketball game vs. West Virginia on March 3, 2023 in Morgantown, W.Va. (Kansas State athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RABY AP Sports WriterMORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Emmitt Matthews’ last regular-season home game at West Virginia was even better than he had envisioned.Matthews played for Washington a year ago before returning to West Virginia, where he had spent his first three seasons. When Washington's Senior Day ceremony was held almost a year ago to the day, Matthews said he closed his eyes and imagined being back in Morgantown.On Saturday his eyes were wide open and his smile went from ear to ear as he and five other seniors walked onto the court with loved ones during pregame introductions. And their energy eventually translated into one of their best efforts of the season.Matthews, Erik Stevenson and Kedrian Johnson led an offensive onslaught in their home finale Saturday and West Virginia gave its NCAA Tournament hopes a big boost with an 89-81 victory over No. 11 Kansas State.Matthews, who played all 40 minutes, then joined Stevenson, Johnson and West Virginia’s other seniors to sing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” one last time in their own arena before going into the student section to celebrate.“This is everything I imagined and then some,” Matthews said.Stevenson finished with 27 points, Johnson added 23, Matthews had 20 points and Tre Mitchell scored 14 for West Virginia (18-13, 7-11 Big 12), which has won three of four heading into the conference tournament.“That was special, for sure,” said Stevenson, who made 11 of 22 field goal tries, including five 3-pointers, and has averaged nearly 25 points over his last five games. “I can tell you that basket gets bigger and bigger every time I make one. I've just got to credit my teammates for finding me.”Before a sellout crowd, West Virginia rallied from 10 points down to take a 39-37 halftime lead and never trailed after that, shooting 58% (15 of 26) from the floor in the second half.Kansas State (23-8, 11-7) was within 61-57 when Johnson blocked Markquis Nowell’s layup attempt, and Stevenson hit a 3-pointer at the other end of the court. Stevenson hit another 3 less than 2 minutes later for a 69-59 lead with 8:49 remaining.Kansas State went scoreless over a nearly three-minute stretch and the Mountaineers padded their lead at the free-throw line, going 7 of 8 en route to their largest lead, 84-69, with 2:42 left.“They played like seniors on Senior Night are supposed to play, so credit to them,” Kansas State coach Jerome Tang said. “What they were able to do, especially in the second half, we couldn't guard them. They were really good.”Kansas State saw its four-game winning streak snapped. Nowell and Keyontae Johnson each scored 24 points for the Wildcats and Cam Carter finished with 13.SILLS OUTKansas State guard Desi Sills missed the game because he was attending a funeral. Tang said he'll be back for the Big 12 tournament.POLL IMPLICATIONSKansas State could drop a few spots in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">AP Top 25</a>&nbsp;poll.BIG PICTUREKansas State: The Wildcats scored the first eight points of the game but couldn’t keep the momentum going. Despite the loss, Kansas State capped its best regular season since 2018-19, when they went 24-7.West Virginia: The Mountaineers had a 22-9 advantage at the free-throw line and forced 20 turnovers. West Virginia committed four turnovers in the second half after committing 12 before halftime.“That was pretty much the focus at halftime was to stop turning the ball over," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. "I think the majority of our turnovers led to their scoring in the first half.”We've gotten a lot better. Our older guys have really stepped up."UP NEXTBoth teams play in the Big 12 tournament that starts Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri. The Wildcats have a first-round bye.