CLAREMORE, OK - The Missouri Western women's basketball team overcame a somewhat rocky start in the first half and played a fluid second half, taking down Rogers State 68-53 on Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center.

The Griffons (22-5, 16-3 MIAA) got down 9-2 to start the game, but responded by going up 25-14 with 7:05 left in the second quarter.

Rogers State (4-20, 2-16 MIAA) battled back, ending the second half on a 6-0 run and the Hillcats only trailed 30-26 at the break.

"The first half, we just made terrible decisions," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said frankly. "We were forcing it to the diver who wasn't open. We were just out of sync and out of rhythm."

Missouri Western was electric out of the gate in the second half, starting the third quarter on a 18-4 run to go up 50-32 with three minutes left in the third.

The lead grew to 60-39 with 8:03 remaining. Rogers closed a bit late, getting back to within 14, but the Griffons made three of their last four shots from the field to insure victory.

"I thought we played much better in the second half," Whitaker said. "I thought we responded, picked it up. I thought we had more people be present, make plays defensively that led to baskets for us to kind of pull away."

Junior Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western with 23 points on a 4-of-10 effort from three. She also had a career-high five steals. Junior Connie Clarke finished with 15 points, all in the second half, on 7-of-9 shooting. She also had six rebounds.

Sophomore Abby Bala came off the bench for 12 points and a career-best five assists. Sophomore Alyssa Bonilla had seven points and seven assists off the bench as well.

Missouri Western was outstanding on defense throughout, scoring 27 points off of 19 Rogers State turnovers. The Griffons nabbed 14 steals and scored 28 fast break points. The Hillcats were held to just 30.2 percent shooting on the day.

Missouri Western has now won four straight games and 15 of their last 16. The Griffons will play their final three regular season games at home to round out the month of February.

"I've just really loved how our schedule kind of unraveled," Whitaker said. "It was hard in the front end and we were on the road a bit more, but to end at home in February is really nice. The bye week is coming for us at a great time. I think we need it."

Missouri Western men get hot early, crumple late against Rogers State

Missouri Western was lights out from the floor in the first half, shooting north of 60 percent from the field, and from three, to build a 39-32 halftime lead.

Rogers State, however, started the second half on a 7-0 run, and took their first lead of the second half at 59-57 with 4:58 to play. The Hillcats (13-11, 9-9 MIAA) never trailed again, and ended strong in a 71-61 win over the Griffons in Claremore Saturday.

Rogers State, who's now won the last three meetings against Missouri Western, ended the game on a 19-4 run over the final 7:42.

"In that second half, I feel like we did a really poor job guarding," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "One-on-one matchups, gap defense, team defense and they made us pay. You can't allow a team, especially at their crib, to go on a 19-4 run to end the game."

Missouri Western (11-13, 7-11 MIAA) shot 65 percent from the field in the first half, including 7-of-11 from three, to get out in front early. The Griffons held a lead for more than 27 minutes of Saturday's game.

Missouri Western, however, was unable to maintain that early momentum, shooting just 28.6 percent from the field in the second half. Rogers State, meanwhile, shot 58.3 percent over the final 20 minutes.

Chris Whitaker led the Hillcats with 20 points. Joey Soracco had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Rogers State was also a solid 14-of-18 at the free throw line.

Julius Dixon led three Griffons in double figures with 13 points. Junior Reese Glover came off the bench to score 12 points, including three made triples. Sophomore Taye Fields had 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Griffons saw a three-game winning streak halted, but with Northeastern State losing to No. 4 Northwest Missouri State Saturday, Missouri Western is still in 10th place in the MIAA standings. The top 10 teams in the 14-school league make it to the conference tournament in Kansas City.

Missouri Western will now play out the rest of their regular season with four straight games at home.

"They know the weight of each game," Martin said of his team. "We're excited to watch the film and find ways to get better."

Both the Griffon men and women host rival Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, February 18. The women tip at 1:30, and the men follow at 3:30. Both games are on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676162912204.png" alt="Missouri Western women's basketball coach Candi Whitaker addresses her team during a timeout at the Claremore Expo Center on Saturday. Photo by Derek Zimmerman-Guyer." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western women's basketball coach Candi Whitaker addresses her team during a timeout at the Claremore Expo Center on Saturday. Photo by Derek Zimmerman-Guyer.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostCLAREMORE, OK - The Missouri Western women's basketball team overcame a somewhat rocky start in the first half and played a fluid second half, taking down Rogers State 68-53 on Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center.The Griffons (22-5, 16-3 MIAA) got down 9-2 to start the game, but responded by going up 25-14 with 7:05 left in the second quarter.Rogers State (4-20, 2-16 MIAA) battled back, ending the second half on a 6-0 run and the Hillcats only trailed 30-26 at the break."The first half, we just made terrible decisions," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said frankly. "We were forcing it to the diver who wasn't open. We were just out of sync and out of rhythm."Missouri Western was electric out of the gate in the second half, starting the third quarter on a 18-4 run to go up 50-32 with three minutes left in the third.The lead grew to 60-39 with 8:03 remaining. Rogers closed a bit late, getting back to within 14, but the Griffons made three of their last four shots from the field to insure victory."I thought we played much better in the second half," Whitaker said. "I thought we responded, picked it up. I thought we had more people be present, make plays defensively that led to baskets for us to kind of pull away."Junior Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western with 23 points on a 4-of-10 effort from three. She also had a career-high five steals. Junior Connie Clarke finished with 15 points, all in the second half, on 7-of-9 shooting. She also had six rebounds.Sophomore Abby Bala came off the bench for 12 points and a career-best five assists. Sophomore Alyssa Bonilla had seven points and seven assists off the bench as well.Missouri Western was outstanding on defense throughout, scoring 27 points off of 19 Rogers State turnovers. The Griffons nabbed 14 steals and scored 28 fast break points. The Hillcats were held to just 30.2 percent shooting on the day.Missouri Western has now won four straight games and 15 of their last 16. The Griffons will play their final three regular season games at home to round out the month of February."I've just really loved how our schedule kind of unraveled," Whitaker said. "It was hard in the front end and we were on the road a bit more, but to end at home in February is really nice. The bye week is coming for us at a great time. I think we need it."Missouri Western men get hot early, crumple late against Rogers StateMissouri Western was lights out from the floor in the first half, shooting north of 60 percent from the field, and from three, to build a 39-32 halftime lead.Rogers State, however, started the second half on a 7-0 run, and took their first lead of the second half at 59-57 with 4:58 to play. The Hillcats (13-11, 9-9 MIAA) never trailed again, and ended strong in a 71-61 win over the Griffons in Claremore Saturday.Rogers State, who's now won the last three meetings against Missouri Western, ended the game on a 19-4 run over the final 7:42."In that second half, I feel like we did a really poor job guarding," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "One-on-one matchups, gap defense, team defense and they made us pay. You can't allow a team, especially at their crib, to go on a 19-4 run to end the game."Missouri Western (11-13, 7-11 MIAA) shot 65 percent from the field in the first half, including 7-of-11 from three, to get out in front early. The Griffons held a lead for more than 27 minutes of Saturday's game.Missouri Western, however, was unable to maintain that early momentum, shooting just 28.6 percent from the field in the second half. Rogers State, meanwhile, shot 58.3 percent over the final 20 minutes.Chris Whitaker led the Hillcats with 20 points. Joey Soracco had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Rogers State was also a solid 14-of-18 at the free throw line.Julius Dixon led three Griffons in double figures with 13 points. Junior Reese Glover came off the bench to score 12 points, including three made triples. Sophomore Taye Fields had 10 points and eight rebounds.The Griffons saw a three-game winning streak halted, but with Northeastern State losing to No. 4 Northwest Missouri State Saturday, Missouri Western is still in 10th place in the MIAA standings. The top 10 teams in the 14-school league make it to the conference tournament in Kansas City.Missouri Western will now play out the rest of their regular season with four straight games at home."They know the weight of each game," Martin said of his team. "We're excited to watch the film and find ways to get better."Both the Griffon men and women host rival Northwest Missouri State on Saturday, February 18. The women tip at 1:30, and the men follow at 3:30. Both games are on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western WBB wins at Rogers State, Griffon men fall late against Hillcats

Patrick Mahomes dominated the voting for the NFL MVP award. Now, he’ll try to break the MVP curse. Mahomes, who also won MVP in 2018, easily outdistanced Jalen Hurts Thursday, receiving 48 of 50 first-place votes from a nationwide panel.

Mahomes will try and become the first NFL MVP since Kurt Warner in 1999 to win the Super Bowl in the same year.

 Mahomes earned 490 points to 193 for Hurts, who got one first-place vote. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs face Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. central. Coverage on KFEQ (680, 95.3) Sunday starts at 1 p.m.

St. Joseph PostPatrick Mahomes dominated the voting for the NFL MVP award. Now, he’ll try to break the MVP curse. Mahomes, who also won MVP in 2018, easily outdistanced Jalen Hurts Thursday, receiving 48 of 50 first-place votes from a nationwide panel.Mahomes will try and become the first NFL MVP since Kurt Warner in 1999 to win the Super Bowl in the same year. Mahomes earned 490 points to 193 for Hurts, who got one first-place vote. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs face Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. central. Coverage on KFEQ (680, 95.3) Sunday starts at 1 p.m.

Patrick Mahomes wins second career NFL MVP award

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Missouri Western women's basketball team built a 16-point lead in the second half and held on for a 68-58 win at Northeastern State on Thursday at the NSU Event Center in Tahlequah.

The Griffons (21-5, 15-3 MIAA) never trailed in Thursday's game, but the Riverhawks (6-15, 3-14 MIAA) hung around throughout, trailing only 35-30 at halftime.

Missouri Western started the second half with an 18-7 run to go up 53-37 with 6:13 left in the third quarter. Northeastern State limited the damage, though, and trailed 58-46 entering the fourth.

The Riverhawks got to within nine at 64-55 with 3:49 to go, but they never got closer. The Griffons got key stops late, and scored 18 points off of 15 Northeastern State turnovers.

"We strung together enough to win the game," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "That's a little bit of the story this time of year."

Junior Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western in scoring with 14 points. She also had six rebounds. Junior Johnni Gonzalez had 13, while junior Connie Clarke had 10.&nbsp;

Clarke and Budgets only played nine minutes each in the first half after they each picked up two early fouls. That opened the door for six other Griffons to get in the scoring column, and Missouri Western posted 17 total bench points.&nbsp;

"That's what teams have to do," Whitaker added. "That's why you have more than five players. We've relied so heavily on Bri and Connie all year, and they didn't have as great of performances as they typically do, and that happens. They're human, but your teammates have to pick it up, and I thought we did that, especially in the first half."

The Missouri Western women have now won 14 of their last 15 games, and they've now won 10 of the last 11 meetings against Northeastern State.&nbsp;

Missouri Western men shut down Northeastern State defensively

The Missouri Western men's basketball team held Northeastern State to just 31.9 percent shooting, and the Griffons pulled away down the stretch in a 54-41 win at the NSU Event Center Thursday.

It marks the lowest scoring output by a Missouri Western opponent all season.

"The focus all week was defense," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "So, for us to be able to come out and do that on the road, I'm so proud of our guys for buying into that. It's hard when you have a game plan where you're trying to slow the game down to keep a very prolific offense from being efficient."

The Griffons (10-12, 7-10 MIAA) grabbed an early lead with a 7-0 run in the opening minutes, and they never trailed after. Missouri Western made 6-of-13 three-point attempts in the first half, and led the Riverhawks 28-22 at the break.

The Griffons pushed that lead to 38-28 with 14:54 remaining, and it was never really close after that. The lead for Missouri Western ballooned to 52-34 with 2:04 to play.

Sophomore Julius Dixon led Missouri Western offensively with 13 points. Sophomore Reed Kemp had 11 on 3-of-4 shooting from three. Junior Will Eames had seven points and a team-best 10 rebounds.

Missouri Western was facing a Northeastern State team that had only eight players available. The Riverhawks were without lead scorer Christian Cook, and starting guard Rashad Perkins was held to just three points in 15 minutes off the bench.

The Riverhawks (10-11, 7-10 MIAA) have now lost four straight games and six of their last seven.

Missouri Western, meanwhile, has now won three straight games as they continue to help their case for an MIAA tournament berth.

"We don't change our approach, we don't change our process," Martin said. "But, as you get down the stretch of the season, the weight of the ball becomes a little heavier, because there's ramifications. We're going to have be tough, be gritty, be mature and find a way to win."

Both Missouri Western teams head to Claremore, Oklahoma Saturday to face Rogers State. The women play at 1:30, and the men follow at 3:30. Both games are on KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676006809822.png" alt="Photo by Derek Zimmerman-Guyer." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Derek Zimmerman-Guyer.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostTAHLEQUAH, OK - The Missouri Western women's basketball team built a 16-point lead in the second half and held on for a 68-58 win at Northeastern State on Thursday at the NSU Event Center in Tahlequah.The Griffons (21-5, 15-3 MIAA) never trailed in Thursday's game, but the Riverhawks (6-15, 3-14 MIAA) hung around throughout, trailing only 35-30 at halftime.Missouri Western started the second half with an 18-7 run to go up 53-37 with 6:13 left in the third quarter. Northeastern State limited the damage, though, and trailed 58-46 entering the fourth.The Riverhawks got to within nine at 64-55 with 3:49 to go, but they never got closer. The Griffons got key stops late, and scored 18 points off of 15 Northeastern State turnovers."We strung together enough to win the game," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "That's a little bit of the story this time of year."Junior Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western in scoring with 14 points. She also had six rebounds. Junior Johnni Gonzalez had 13, while junior Connie Clarke had 10.&nbsp;Clarke and Budgets only played nine minutes each in the first half after they each picked up two early fouls. That opened the door for six other Griffons to get in the scoring column, and Missouri Western posted 17 total bench points.&nbsp;"That's what teams have to do," Whitaker added. "That's why you have more than five players. We've relied so heavily on Bri and Connie all year, and they didn't have as great of performances as they typically do, and that happens. They're human, but your teammates have to pick it up, and I thought we did that, especially in the first half."The Missouri Western women have now won 14 of their last 15 games, and they've now won 10 of the last 11 meetings against Northeastern State.&nbsp;Missouri Western men shut down Northeastern State defensivelyThe Missouri Western men's basketball team held Northeastern State to just 31.9 percent shooting, and the Griffons pulled away down the stretch in a 54-41 win at the NSU Event Center Thursday.It marks the lowest scoring output by a Missouri Western opponent all season."The focus all week was defense," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "So, for us to be able to come out and do that on the road, I'm so proud of our guys for buying into that. It's hard when you have a game plan where you're trying to slow the game down to keep a very prolific offense from being efficient."The Griffons (10-12, 7-10 MIAA) grabbed an early lead with a 7-0 run in the opening minutes, and they never trailed after. Missouri Western made 6-of-13 three-point attempts in the first half, and led the Riverhawks 28-22 at the break.The Griffons pushed that lead to 38-28 with 14:54 remaining, and it was never really close after that. The lead for Missouri Western ballooned to 52-34 with 2:04 to play.Sophomore Julius Dixon led Missouri Western offensively with 13 points. Sophomore Reed Kemp had 11 on 3-of-4 shooting from three. Junior Will Eames had seven points and a team-best 10 rebounds.Missouri Western was facing a Northeastern State team that had only eight players available. The Riverhawks were without lead scorer Christian Cook, and starting guard Rashad Perkins was held to just three points in 15 minutes off the bench.The Riverhawks (10-11, 7-10 MIAA) have now lost four straight games and six of their last seven.Missouri Western, meanwhile, has now won three straight games as they continue to help their case for an MIAA tournament berth."We don't change our approach, we don't change our process," Martin said. "But, as you get down the stretch of the season, the weight of the ball becomes a little heavier, because there's ramifications. We're going to have be tough, be gritty, be mature and find a way to win."Both Missouri Western teams head to Claremore, Oklahoma Saturday to face Rogers State. The women play at 1:30, and the men follow at 3:30. Both games are on KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU women's, men's basketball pick up wins at Northeastern State Thursday

National Signing Day has come and gone, and the Missouri Western football team has pieced together its first recruiting class under new head coach Tyler Fenwick.

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/a28c5fdd-308e-43b5-985a-b685b936874d">Hired in early December</a>, Fenwick put together a staff of seven full-time assistants, and together, this staff signed 25 players - 11 on offense and 14 on defense. Coach Fenwick commends his staff for getting this class together in such a short amount of time.

"I couldn't have put together a better staff that was able to hit the ground running," Fenwick told reporters. "Getting on kids who they had already been recruiting, and just be able to build those relationships at a different school in a sense, and they did a phenomenal job."

The most recruited position was linebacker. The Griffons signed seven of them in all. Fenwick says a schematic change on defense was the main reason for this. Offensive line is also a position he hopes to fill more as well.

"Us moving from a 4-2-5 to a 3-4," he said, "kind of changes things a little bit. We're young on the offensive line currently, so we'll pry do a little more transfer stuff just so we have some classes we have to fill in there."

The Griffons also signed three receivers, two running backs, two tight ends and a quarterback. Fenwick says the main thing they’d been seeking on offense in this class is speed.

"We set out to find some speed we could add to the skill positions," he said. "There's some receivers who can really go. There's a couple of running backs. One that's extremely fast and one that's bigger, stronger. We kind of have that balance between speed and physicality that we can put back there and that'll be good for the future."

Of the 25 signees, eight are from Texas and seven are from Missouri. Several of Fenwick’s assistants have recruiting ties in the Lone Star State. But for Fenwick, simply getting back out to area high schools in northwest Missouri brought back memories of his time as Missouri Western's offensive coordinator under coach Jerry Partridge from 2007-2012.

"When I started getting out to go see a kid or whatever, it brought back some memories," Fenwick said. "Traveling down with other coaches. Coach Partridge and some of those other guys. Seeing games and stuff. Just a lot of familiarity and easy to get around, because you know where you're going."

Fenwick says he and the staff may still bring in some transfers after a full evaluation of the current roster during spring practice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675888101390.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western head football coach&nbsp; Tyler Fenwick speaking during National Signing Day on February 1. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western head football coach&nbsp; Tyler Fenwick speaking during National Signing Day on February 1. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostNational Signing Day has come and gone, and the Missouri Western football team has pieced together its first recruiting class under new head coach Tyler Fenwick.<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/a28c5fdd-308e-43b5-985a-b685b936874d">Hired in early December</a>, Fenwick put together a staff of seven full-time assistants, and together, this staff signed 25 players - 11 on offense and 14 on defense. Coach Fenwick commends his staff for getting this class together in such a short amount of time."I couldn't have put together a better staff that was able to hit the ground running," Fenwick told reporters. "Getting on kids who they had already been recruiting, and just be able to build those relationships at a different school in a sense, and they did a phenomenal job."The most recruited position was linebacker. The Griffons signed seven of them in all. Fenwick says a schematic change on defense was the main reason for this. Offensive line is also a position he hopes to fill more as well."Us moving from a 4-2-5 to a 3-4," he said, "kind of changes things a little bit. We're young on the offensive line currently, so we'll pry do a little more transfer stuff just so we have some classes we have to fill in there."The Griffons also signed three receivers, two running backs, two tight ends and a quarterback. Fenwick says the main thing they’d been seeking on offense in this class is speed."We set out to find some speed we could add to the skill positions," he said. "There's some receivers who can really go. There's a couple of running backs. One that's extremely fast and one that's bigger, stronger. We kind of have that balance between speed and physicality that we can put back there and that'll be good for the future." Of the 25 signees, eight are from Texas and seven are from Missouri. Several of Fenwick’s assistants have recruiting ties in the Lone Star State. But for Fenwick, simply getting back out to area high schools in northwest Missouri brought back memories of his time as Missouri Western's offensive coordinator under coach Jerry Partridge from 2007-2012."When I started getting out to go see a kid or whatever, it brought back some memories," Fenwick said. "Traveling down with other coaches. Coach Partridge and some of those other guys. Seeing games and stuff. Just a lot of familiarity and easy to get around, because you know where you're going."Fenwick says he and the staff may still bring in some transfers after a full evaluation of the current roster during spring practice.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Tyler Fenwick exercises Texas ties, signs plethora of LBs in his first MWSU class

Special Olympics Missouri is a non-profit that works with Special Olympics U.S.A. to support athletes and help them achieve their dreams in various Olympic sports. Sixteen Olympic sports to be exact.

A 26-year-old Savannah man is headed to Berlin, Germany this coming June to compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Powerlifting, representing Team U.S.A. That man is Charlie Phillips, who in November, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/006860e1-a568-4dcf-a93a-aabb013a8341">earned his spot in the games at the Special Olympics USA Team Trials</a> in San Antonio.

Phillips had a top squat of 182.5 kilograms and a top deadlift of 227.5. kilos. He also bench pressed 130 kilos during the trials.

Melody Prawitz, Director for the North Area of Special Olympics Missouri, says Team U.S.A. only allotted for so many athletes from the state to have a chance to qualify for the world games. One of those spots just happened to be for powerlifting.

"Team U.S.A. only gave us so many slots," Prawitz said on KFEQ's The Hotline. "They give each state slots. We got the powerlifting slot. Of course, Charlie was right there on the spot. So, we got to nominate him from this area and he had to go to a couple of training camps and see if his personality works with the other athletes, if he can follow directions. So, he did very well."

Prawitz, and Phillips himself will tell you, qualifying for the World Games has long been Phillips’ goal.

"He has been waiting to go to the World Games for a very long time," Prawitz said. "He's really excited and Charlie is a 'Facebooker.' He's on Facebook and he already knows all of the other players who will be there with him. He knows his coaches. He's so thrilled. Our job is to now raise the funds to get him there."

"I've been working so hard to achieve my goals," <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/490ff825-74ad-4f90-b7f4-562bcab7f41c">Phillips said in a September interview</a>. "This is one of my dreams. Ever since I started Special Olympics, I told my parents, my siblings, I said, 'One day, I will go to a World Games.'

Prawitz says a big goal now for Special Olympics Missouri is raising enough money to pay for Phillips’ travel to Berlin for the World Games this June. The World Games run June 17-25.

One of Special Olympics’ biggest benefactors in the local area is the St. Joseph Sertoma Club, whose annual Flag Project helps provide the funding needed for things like the athlete’s medals, travel expenses and more.

"I just want to say thank you to the Sertoma Club," Prawitz said, "because without their support, it'd be a little harder to get those medals and take care of the athletes. So, they do make it a little easier with their contribution to us."

Any business interested in participating in that Flag Project can contact Truman Hardy with the Sertoma Club at 816-244-9148.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675885609495.jpeg" alt="Charlie Phillips will compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin June 17-25. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Charlie Phillips will compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin June 17-25. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSpecial Olympics Missouri is a non-profit that works with Special Olympics U.S.A. to support athletes and help them achieve their dreams in various Olympic sports. Sixteen Olympic sports to be exact.A 26-year-old Savannah man is headed to Berlin, Germany this coming June to compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Powerlifting, representing Team U.S.A. That man is Charlie Phillips, who in November, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/006860e1-a568-4dcf-a93a-aabb013a8341">earned his spot in the games at the Special Olympics USA Team Trials</a> in San Antonio.Phillips had a top squat of 182.5 kilograms and a top deadlift of 227.5. kilos. He also bench pressed 130 kilos during the trials.Melody Prawitz, Director for the North Area of Special Olympics Missouri, says Team U.S.A. only allotted for so many athletes from the state to have a chance to qualify for the world games. One of those spots just happened to be for powerlifting."Team U.S.A. only gave us so many slots," Prawitz said on KFEQ's The Hotline. "They give each state slots. We got the powerlifting slot. Of course, Charlie was right there on the spot. So, we got to nominate him from this area and he had to go to a couple of training camps and see if his personality works with the other athletes, if he can follow directions. So, he did very well."Prawitz, and Phillips himself will tell you, qualifying for the World Games has long been Phillips’ goal."He has been waiting to go to the World Games for a very long time," Prawitz said. "He's really excited and Charlie is a 'Facebooker.' He's on Facebook and he already knows all of the other players who will be there with him. He knows his coaches. He's so thrilled. Our job is to now raise the funds to get him there.""I've been working so hard to achieve my goals," <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/490ff825-74ad-4f90-b7f4-562bcab7f41c">Phillips said in a September interview</a>. "This is one of my dreams. Ever since I started Special Olympics, I told my parents, my siblings, I said, 'One day, I will go to a World Games.'Prawitz says a big goal now for Special Olympics Missouri is raising enough money to pay for Phillips’ travel to Berlin for the World Games this June. The World Games run June 17-25.One of Special Olympics’ biggest benefactors in the local area is the St. Joseph Sertoma Club, whose annual Flag Project helps provide the funding needed for things like the athlete’s medals, travel expenses and more."I just want to say thank you to the Sertoma Club," Prawitz said, "because without their support, it'd be a little harder to get those medals and take care of the athletes. So, they do make it a little easier with their contribution to us."Any business interested in participating in that Flag Project can contact Truman Hardy with the Sertoma Club at 816-244-9148.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674152767106.jpeg" alt="Charlie Phillips powerlifting at USA Games in 2018. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Charlie Phillips powerlifting at USA Games in 2018. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Special Olympics Missouri raising funds for Charlie Phillips' World Games trip

The Lafayette girls' basketball team kept things close throughout the first half against Benton, only trailing the No. 3 Cardinals 32-25 at halftime.

Benton (17-3) outscored Lafayette 21-9 in the third quarter, however, and the Cardinals ended up with a 69-48 win over the Irish at Lafayette High School on Tuesday night.

Benton came out firing early, getting off to an 11-2 start. Lafayette (7-15) answered back quickly with a 13-3 run to briefly take the lead, but the Cardinals still led 16-15 entering the second quarter.

With the game still up for grabs at the start of the second half, Benton was able to get out in transition a bit more, and their offense had an overall better flow to it. A pair of big threes by sophomore Andrea Simmons helped the Cardinals build a 53-34 advantage headed to the fourth.

The Irish never got any closer, and Benton walked away with a 21-point win. Senior Kelsey Johnson led the scoring with 16 points. Fellow senior Peyton Anderson had 14. Simmons had 14 as well, while freshman Eliana Arambula scored 13.

"We've always in the past had a couple of pretty big scorers," Anderson said. "I feel like this year, points are spread and everyone is getting baskets here and there, and that's what we needed from (Arambula and Simmons) especially."

Junior Honor Mannings led Lafayette with 16 points. The win for Benton is their fifth straight and their eighth win in their last nine games. It's also the eighth straight for the Cardinals against their North Side rival.

Things are trending the right way as the regular season enters its final couple of weeks, but Benton head coach Chris Michaels says the team will always be looking for ways to improve.

"We haven't really shown a perfect game," he said. "I'll be honest, I don't know if we will. It's pretty hard to be perfect. Specifically, when you play good teams. We're excited to see what happens with our growth, because we're going to keep growing from where we are right now."

The Benton girls are home to Maryville Friday. Lafayette is home to Bishop LeBlond on Thursday.

Lafayette boys create separation, hold off Benton in the end

Lafayette scored 20 points in the third quarter to go up 10 entering the fourth quarter, and the Irish were able to hold their lead for the remainder of the game in a 71-65 win over Benton in the North Side on Tuesday.

The Irish (13-6) trailed Benton 18-16 at the end of the first, but led 33-30 at halftime after a very back-and-forth first half. The game featured 12 lead changes in all.

Lafayette head coach Kevin Bristol challenged his team to be more aggressive on defense in the second half.

"The second half, we improved it," Bristol said of his team's defensive effort. "Still not where I want it to be, but we improved it. I would say offensively, same thing. We didn't shoot too well in the first half, but we were able to make points in the right way and get downhill."

The Cardinals (9-11) were held to just two made field goals in the third quarter, while Lafayette made four three-pointers in the third to build a multi-possession lead.

Benton didn't go down without a fight. The Cardinals hit three triples in the fourth quarter to pull back to within single digits, but Lafayette was a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line in the final quarter, helping the Irish to preserve a victory.

Senior Mikey Thomas also had a critical 'and one' in the final minute to help the Irish stay up by two possessions.

Senior and Missouri Western signee Camden Bennett led the way with 27 points, including five made three-pointers. Thomas had 17, while fellow senior George Galloway had 12.

"I'm really proud of us," Bennett said. "We pushed through, especially towards the end. We just have to be smarter about certain things and play a little harder defense toward the end. I think we can do a little more than what we've shown, but overall, we did pretty good toward the end."

Freshman Lincoln Goodwin led Benton with 16 points. Sophomore Myles Bachali had 12. Lafayette has now topped Benton in boys' basketball in 26 of the last 27 meetings.

Lafayette heads to Bishop LeBlond Friday. Benton is home to Maryville on Friday as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675829169274.jpeg" alt="Benton's Kelsey Johnson puts up a layup in the first half of the Cardinals' 69-48 win at Lafayette Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Kelsey Johnson puts up a layup in the first half of the Cardinals' 69-48 win at Lafayette Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Lafayette girls' basketball team kept things close throughout the first half against Benton, only trailing the No. 3 Cardinals 32-25 at halftime.Benton (17-3) outscored Lafayette 21-9 in the third quarter, however, and the Cardinals ended up with a 69-48 win over the Irish at Lafayette High School on Tuesday night.Benton came out firing early, getting off to an 11-2 start. Lafayette (7-15) answered back quickly with a 13-3 run to briefly take the lead, but the Cardinals still led 16-15 entering the second quarter.With the game still up for grabs at the start of the second half, Benton was able to get out in transition a bit more, and their offense had an overall better flow to it. A pair of big threes by sophomore Andrea Simmons helped the Cardinals build a 53-34 advantage headed to the fourth.The Irish never got any closer, and Benton walked away with a 21-point win. Senior Kelsey Johnson led the scoring with 16 points. Fellow senior Peyton Anderson had 14. Simmons had 14 as well, while freshman Eliana Arambula scored 13."We've always in the past had a couple of pretty big scorers," Anderson said. "I feel like this year, points are spread and everyone is getting baskets here and there, and that's what we needed from (Arambula and Simmons) especially."Junior Honor Mannings led Lafayette with 16 points. The win for Benton is their fifth straight and their eighth win in their last nine games. It's also the eighth straight for the Cardinals against their North Side rival.Things are trending the right way as the regular season enters its final couple of weeks, but Benton head coach Chris Michaels says the team will always be looking for ways to improve."We haven't really shown a perfect game," he said. "I'll be honest, I don't know if we will. It's pretty hard to be perfect. Specifically, when you play good teams. We're excited to see what happens with our growth, because we're going to keep growing from where we are right now."The Benton girls are home to Maryville Friday. Lafayette is home to Bishop LeBlond on Thursday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675829669314.jpeg" alt="Eliana Arambula." />
 <figcaption>Eliana Arambula.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675829692605.jpeg" alt="Peyton Anderson (left) shoots for three." />
 <figcaption>Peyton Anderson (left) shoots for three.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675829719876.jpeg" alt="Jazlyn King (22) brings the ball up the floor in the second half." />
 <figcaption>Jazlyn King (22) brings the ball up the floor in the second half.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675829813454.jpeg" alt="Modesta Wilhemsen (20)." />
 <figcaption>Modesta Wilhemsen (20).</figcaption>
 </figure>Lafayette boys create separation, hold off Benton in the endLafayette scored 20 points in the third quarter to go up 10 entering the fourth quarter, and the Irish were able to hold their lead for the remainder of the game in a 71-65 win over Benton in the North Side on Tuesday.The Irish (13-6) trailed Benton 18-16 at the end of the first, but led 33-30 at halftime after a very back-and-forth first half. The game featured 12 lead changes in all.Lafayette head coach Kevin Bristol challenged his team to be more aggressive on defense in the second half."The second half, we improved it," Bristol said of his team's defensive effort. "Still not where I want it to be, but we improved it. I would say offensively, same thing. We didn't shoot too well in the first half, but we were able to make points in the right way and get downhill."The Cardinals (9-11) were held to just two made field goals in the third quarter, while Lafayette made four three-pointers in the third to build a multi-possession lead.Benton didn't go down without a fight. The Cardinals hit three triples in the fourth quarter to pull back to within single digits, but Lafayette was a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line in the final quarter, helping the Irish to preserve a victory.Senior Mikey Thomas also had a critical 'and one' in the final minute to help the Irish stay up by two possessions.Senior and Missouri Western signee Camden Bennett led the way with 27 points, including five made three-pointers. Thomas had 17, while fellow senior George Galloway had 12."I'm really proud of us," Bennett said. "We pushed through, especially towards the end. We just have to be smarter about certain things and play a little harder defense toward the end. I think we can do a little more than what we've shown, but overall, we did pretty good toward the end."Freshman Lincoln Goodwin led Benton with 16 points. Sophomore Myles Bachali had 12. Lafayette has now topped Benton in boys' basketball in 26 of the last 27 meetings.Lafayette heads to Bishop LeBlond Friday. Benton is home to Maryville on Friday as well.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675830656077.jpeg" alt="Camden Bennett (35)." />
 <figcaption>Camden Bennett (35).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675830681112.jpeg" alt="Carson Schmidt (2)." />
 <figcaption>Carson Schmidt (2).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675830700982.jpeg" alt="Denver Domann." />
 <figcaption>Denver Domann.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675830717199.jpeg" alt="George Galloway (14)." />
 <figcaption>George Galloway (14).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675830749044.jpeg" alt="Mikey Thomas goes up for a contested shot." />
 <figcaption>Mikey Thomas goes up for a contested shot.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675830779140.jpeg" alt="Zach Smith (10)." />
 <figcaption>Zach Smith (10).</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Benton girls roll against Irish, Lafayette boys outlast the Cardinals Tuesday

Two basketball teams who have perfect records, who both happen to be called the Eagles and who both happen to bear a purple color scheme, walk into a gym.

No, that's not a joke. That's exactly what happened Monday, as Class 2 and No. 1 ranked Bishop LeBlond took on Class 1 and No. 2 ranked Meadville at Grace Gymnasium.

In a high-paced affair in front of a packed house, Meadville (23-0) outscored LeBlond in the final quarter 11-2 and went onto win 49-43 at LeBlond High School on Monday night in a battle of unbeatens.

"(Meadville) executed their offense and scored and we didn't," LeBlond head coach Jackie Steltenpohl said, when asked about the fourth quarter. "They pressured us really well defensively and we weren't able to put the ball in the hole."

LeBlond (20-1) fell behind early and got down by as many as eight in the first half, but they hung in and only trailed 31-26 at the break.

The third quarter was LeBlond's best, as the Eagles started the second half on a 13-4 run to take a 39-35 lead.

In some ways, though, the third would end up being the toughest for LeBlond, as senior forward Emma Raines went down with an apparent knee injury late in the third and didn't return to the game.

"It always hurts to lose a player," Steltenpohl said. "Emma is a strong defender and rebounder, and she was getting those open shots. Having her go down early, it definitely kind of affected us mentally, and definitely physically with bodies on the floor."

The Eagles still led 41-38 entering the fourth, but Meadville eventually pulled back in front 45-43 and never looked back. LeBlond was limited to just two points over the final eight minutes, and Meadville made 7-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter alone to secure the win.

While Meadville was 11-for-20 on free throws Monday, LeBlond was just 2-of-4.

Freshman Madison Carvajal was outstanding for Meadville, as she finished with a game-high 23 points. She made 6-of-8 free throw attempts in the final quarter herself. Junior Korrie Holcer had 12 points.

Senior Tatum Studer led LeBlond with 14 points. Raines and junior Kaleigh Ziesel each scored eight. Meadville's press and overall tight defense kept LeBlond off balance throughout the game, as Meadville was able to force 21 turnovers.

It was an incredible run to start the season for LeBlond. The Golden Eagles ran the table at the Mound City Invitational, the LeBlond tournament and the Richmond tournament. One of their first 20 wins was a 39-35 triumph against No. 1 Tipton, who at the time was 17-0.

The first loss of the season always stings no matter what, but with still five games to go before districts, Steltenpohl knows that a game like Monday's can also be a big help down the road.

"Losing to a great team, it's always something where we can appreciate the opportunity to learn from our mistakes," she said. "Losing to that caliber of team is not necessarily a tough loss, but it's mentally and physically going to make us stronger for what's to come."

LeBlond is home to Cameron on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675737042176.jpeg" alt="LeBlond's Kaleigh Ziesel drives along the baseline in the first half of the Golden Eagles' 49-43 loss to still undefeated Meadville. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>LeBlond's Kaleigh Ziesel drives along the baseline in the first half of the Golden Eagles' 49-43 loss to still undefeated Meadville. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostTwo basketball teams who have perfect records, who both happen to be called the Eagles and who both happen to bear a purple color scheme, walk into a gym.No, that's not a joke. That's exactly what happened Monday, as Class 2 and No. 1 ranked Bishop LeBlond took on Class 1 and No. 2 ranked Meadville at Grace Gymnasium.In a high-paced affair in front of a packed house, Meadville (23-0) outscored LeBlond in the final quarter 11-2 and went onto win 49-43 at LeBlond High School on Monday night in a battle of unbeatens."(Meadville) executed their offense and scored and we didn't," LeBlond head coach Jackie Steltenpohl said, when asked about the fourth quarter. "They pressured us really well defensively and we weren't able to put the ball in the hole."LeBlond (20-1) fell behind early and got down by as many as eight in the first half, but they hung in and only trailed 31-26 at the break.The third quarter was LeBlond's best, as the Eagles started the second half on a 13-4 run to take a 39-35 lead.In some ways, though, the third would end up being the toughest for LeBlond, as senior forward Emma Raines went down with an apparent knee injury late in the third and didn't return to the game."It always hurts to lose a player," Steltenpohl said. "Emma is a strong defender and rebounder, and she was getting those open shots. Having her go down early, it definitely kind of affected us mentally, and definitely physically with bodies on the floor."The Eagles still led 41-38 entering the fourth, but Meadville eventually pulled back in front 45-43 and never looked back. LeBlond was limited to just two points over the final eight minutes, and Meadville made 7-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter alone to secure the win.While Meadville was 11-for-20 on free throws Monday, LeBlond was just 2-of-4.Freshman Madison Carvajal was outstanding for Meadville, as she finished with a game-high 23 points. She made 6-of-8 free throw attempts in the final quarter herself. Junior Korrie Holcer had 12 points.Senior Tatum Studer led LeBlond with 14 points. Raines and junior Kaleigh Ziesel each scored eight. Meadville's press and overall tight defense kept LeBlond off balance throughout the game, as Meadville was able to force 21 turnovers.It was an incredible run to start the season for LeBlond. The Golden Eagles ran the table at the Mound City Invitational, the LeBlond tournament and the Richmond tournament. One of their first 20 wins was a 39-35 triumph against No. 1 Tipton, who at the time was 17-0.The first loss of the season always stings no matter what, but with still five games to go before districts, Steltenpohl knows that a game like Monday's can also be a big help down the road."Losing to a great team, it's always something where we can appreciate the opportunity to learn from our mistakes," she said. "Losing to that caliber of team is not necessarily a tough loss, but it's mentally and physically going to make us stronger for what's to come."LeBlond is home to Cameron on Tuesday at 7 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675737500113.jpeg" alt="Emma Raines (12) puts up a running floater." />
 <figcaption>Emma Raines (12) puts up a running floater.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675737514409.jpeg" alt="Kendall Cathcart." />
 <figcaption>Kendall Cathcart.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675737529581.jpeg" alt="Shae Lewis." />
 <figcaption>Shae Lewis.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675737549013.jpeg" alt="Tatum Studer." />
 <figcaption>Tatum Studer.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond girls take first loss of the season to undefeated Meadville Monday

Five St. Joseph Central student athletes signed their national letters of intent for college athletics at Central High School on Monday morning.

All five had a joint signing ceremony at the school.

Danielle Burg, a goalkeeper, will play soccer at Park University in Parkville, Missouri. She plans to major in business with the hope of getting into law school at UMKC.

"The college, the campus, it's like a family already," Burg said of Park. "The coach there has already made me feel like family. We've been talking and chatting about the team there. A family environment and a smaller college is what I wanted."

Hannah Watson, a defensive specialist, will play volleyball at McKendree University in Illinois. She plans to major in psychology and minor in sociology.

"It's exciting and I'm proud of all of the athletes at Central who are able to do this," she said. "It's a big deal for all of us and it's cool that (this ceremony) is together."

Anthony Vassar, a receiver, will play football at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs - a team that won a JUCO national title this past season. He plans to study exercise science.

"They've sent countless people to DI (schools)," Vassar said of IWCC. "It does give me another chance to get into DI."

Nathan Mense will play football at William Jewell, while Luke Hass will play football at Graceland University in Iowa.

Mense, who started getting looks collegiately after his junior year, plans to study business to start out with at Jewell.

"I thought overall it was the best fit," Mense said, "looking at all of the schools. They have a new coaching staff in that's really committed to football. There were just too many pros to cons."

Hass will join up with former Missouri Western assistant&nbsp;Colin McQuillan at Graceland. McQuillan, the defensive run game coordinator at Graceland, was an assistant at MWSU from 2010-2012 and again from 2015-17. McQuillan was on the MWSU staff in his first stint together with Regi Trotter, who's been the head coach at Central since 2018.

"Coach McQuillin was a recruiting me and he was a very nice guy," Hass said. "Their facilities and coaching staff are amazing. It just felt like home."

Hass, who switched from tight end to offensive line, will study digital content creation.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @KFEQMatt, Tommy @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675715587474.jpeg" alt="From left to right: Luke Hass,&nbsp;Nathan Mense, Danielle Burg, Hannah Watson and Anthony Vassar. Photo by Matt Pike." />
 <figcaption>From left to right: Luke Hass,&nbsp;Nathan Mense, Danielle Burg, Hannah Watson and Anthony Vassar. Photo by Matt Pike.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZAC and MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostFive St. Joseph Central student athletes signed their national letters of intent for college athletics at Central High School on Monday morning.All five had a joint signing ceremony at the school.Danielle Burg, a goalkeeper, will play soccer at Park University in Parkville, Missouri. She plans to major in business with the hope of getting into law school at UMKC."The college, the campus, it's like a family already," Burg said of Park. "The coach there has already made me feel like family. We've been talking and chatting about the team there. A family environment and a smaller college is what I wanted."Hannah Watson, a defensive specialist, will play volleyball at McKendree University in Illinois. She plans to major in psychology and minor in sociology."It's exciting and I'm proud of all of the athletes at Central who are able to do this," she said. "It's a big deal for all of us and it's cool that (this ceremony) is together."Anthony Vassar, a receiver, will play football at Iowa Western in Council Bluffs - a team that won a JUCO national title this past season. He plans to study exercise science."They've sent countless people to DI (schools)," Vassar said of IWCC. "It does give me another chance to get into DI."Nathan Mense will play football at William Jewell, while Luke Hass will play football at Graceland University in Iowa.Mense, who started getting looks collegiately after his junior year, plans to study business to start out with at Jewell."I thought overall it was the best fit," Mense said, "looking at all of the schools. They have a new coaching staff in that's really committed to football. There were just too many pros to cons."Hass will join up with former Missouri Western assistant&nbsp;Colin McQuillan at Graceland. McQuillan, the defensive run game coordinator at Graceland, was an assistant at MWSU from 2010-2012 and again from 2015-17. McQuillan was on the MWSU staff in his first stint together with Regi Trotter, who's been the head coach at Central since 2018."Coach McQuillin was a recruiting me and he was a very nice guy," Hass said. "Their facilities and coaching staff are amazing. It just felt like home."Hass, who switched from tight end to offensive line, will study digital content creation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675716914602.jpeg" alt="Anthony Vassar (center)." />
 <figcaption>Anthony Vassar (center).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675716932490.jpeg" alt="Danielle Burg." />
 <figcaption>Danielle Burg.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675716950528.jpeg" alt="Hannah Watson." />
 <figcaption>Hannah Watson.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675716966728.jpeg" alt="Luke Hass." />
 <figcaption>Luke Hass.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675717053615.jpeg" alt="Nathan Mense." />
 <figcaption>Nathan Mense.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on Twitter @KFEQMatt, Tommy @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Five St. Joseph Central athletes sign for college sports Monday

The Missouri Western women's basketball team dominated for much of the first half and pulled away late for a 76-60 win over Emporia State at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Saturday.

The Griffons (20-5, 14-3 MIAA) jumped out to a 21-8 lead at the end of the first and were rolling in the second quarter, going up 45-19 with 1:19 left before halftime.

Emporia State (12-11, 7-10 MIAA) gave it their all in the third quarter, outscoring the Griffons in that time 17-11 and getting the game to within 52-41 with 50 seconds left in the third.

The Hornets then got to within 12 with 4:49 left in the game, but Missouri Western made the final push to put the game out of reach. An 8-0 run put the Griffons ahead 71-51 with 2:57 to go.

"Great win," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "Emporia is a talented team. They give you a different look than everyone else in the league. They look like they're in a zone (defense) when really they're in a man, and I think we prepared hard for that."

Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western with 24 points, including a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line. Connie Clarke logged her 11th double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 boards. Mary Fultz came off the bench for 13 points and nine rebounds.

"This is group is super special and is really fun to be a part of," Fultz said. "To show how much we grow every single year and what we really can accomplish, we could be unstoppable."

The Griffons outrebounded Emporia State 49-39 and logged 19 assists to just 11 turnovers. Missouri Western outscored Emporia in the paint 42-26 and the Griffons managed 23 fast break points.

"I thought we were fantastic in the first half in transition," Whitaker noted. "Just had some beautiful passing and running the floor. We went into a little lull went they went triangle-and-two (on defense), but when we started running our man actions, we started getting better looks in rhythm and better opportunities to rebound."

Tre'Zure Jobe led three Hornets in double figures with 26 points.

The win on Saturday gives Missouri Western at least 20 wins for the third time in four seasons - all under Whitaker's direction.

"That's kind of the marker on if you've had a good season," she said. "It's a big deal for programs to win 20 games every year and hopefully we can string them together."&nbsp;

Missouri Western men survive back-and-forth battle to top Emporia

The Missouri Western men's basketball team led by eight in the first half, trailed by eight in the second and waded through 12 lead changes and four ties to top the Hornets 65-60 on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Missouri Western (10-12, 6-10 MIAA) ended Saturday's game on a 9-2 run over the final 3:27. The Griffons also knocked down 14-of-17 free throws in the second half were 15-of-19 from the stripe on the day.

"Just really proud of our guys," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "Credit to Emporia State. That's a great team. They have a lot of great individual players on that team, starting with Owen Long. We gave Julius (Dixon) that matchup, and he did an unbelievable job."

Dixon led the Griffons with 19 points, including a 3-of-8 effort from beyond the arc. Junior Will Eames came off the bench for 17 points and nine rebounds in his second game back from injury after a seven-game hiatus.

"(Will) impacts the game in so many ways," Martin said. "You see how much we've missed Will. You look back, it wasn't just Will. We had some other injuries and illnesses, but you see how impactful it is when you lose your leader."

Sophomore Taye Fields scored nine points to go with a game-high 15 rebounds.

Owen Long, Emporia's leading scorer who leads the league with 71 made three-pointers, was held to just five points on 0-of-5 shooting from distance.

Alijah Comithier led Emporia with 21 points. Peyton Rogers-Schmidt scored 14.

It was a big, much needed week for Missouri Western who entered the week riding a six-game losing streak. The Griffons are still 11th in the MIAA standings with six games remaining in the regular season.

"I told the guys that we have to treat this like the NBA playoffs," Martin said. "We said tonight was game one. We better win the series and get at least four wins to put us in a decent spot."

"I think we just have to stay the course really," Dixon added. "We know what all we've been through and with us being with each other, I feel like that helps us get over our humps and stuff like that."

Both Missouri Western teams hit the road Thursday to face Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The women play at 5:30, and the men follow at 7:30. Both games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675557548449.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Mary Fultz rings the bell after the Griffons' 76-60 win over Emporia State Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Mary Fultz rings the bell after the Griffons' 76-60 win over Emporia State Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team dominated for much of the first half and pulled away late for a 76-60 win over Emporia State at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Saturday.The Griffons (20-5, 14-3 MIAA) jumped out to a 21-8 lead at the end of the first and were rolling in the second quarter, going up 45-19 with 1:19 left before halftime.Emporia State (12-11, 7-10 MIAA) gave it their all in the third quarter, outscoring the Griffons in that time 17-11 and getting the game to within 52-41 with 50 seconds left in the third.The Hornets then got to within 12 with 4:49 left in the game, but Missouri Western made the final push to put the game out of reach. An 8-0 run put the Griffons ahead 71-51 with 2:57 to go."Great win," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "Emporia is a talented team. They give you a different look than everyone else in the league. They look like they're in a zone (defense) when really they're in a man, and I think we prepared hard for that."Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western with 24 points, including a 7-for-7 effort at the free throw line. Connie Clarke logged her 11th double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 boards. Mary Fultz came off the bench for 13 points and nine rebounds."This is group is super special and is really fun to be a part of," Fultz said. "To show how much we grow every single year and what we really can accomplish, we could be unstoppable."The Griffons outrebounded Emporia State 49-39 and logged 19 assists to just 11 turnovers. Missouri Western outscored Emporia in the paint 42-26 and the Griffons managed 23 fast break points."I thought we were fantastic in the first half in transition," Whitaker noted. "Just had some beautiful passing and running the floor. We went into a little lull went they went triangle-and-two (on defense), but when we started running our man actions, we started getting better looks in rhythm and better opportunities to rebound."Tre'Zure Jobe led three Hornets in double figures with 26 points.The win on Saturday gives Missouri Western at least 20 wins for the third time in four seasons - all under Whitaker's direction."That's kind of the marker on if you've had a good season," she said. "It's a big deal for programs to win 20 games every year and hopefully we can string them together."&nbsp;Missouri Western men survive back-and-forth battle to top EmporiaThe Missouri Western men's basketball team led by eight in the first half, trailed by eight in the second and waded through 12 lead changes and four ties to top the Hornets 65-60 on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.Missouri Western (10-12, 6-10 MIAA) ended Saturday's game on a 9-2 run over the final 3:27. The Griffons also knocked down 14-of-17 free throws in the second half were 15-of-19 from the stripe on the day."Just really proud of our guys," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "Credit to Emporia State. That's a great team. They have a lot of great individual players on that team, starting with Owen Long. We gave Julius (Dixon) that matchup, and he did an unbelievable job."Dixon led the Griffons with 19 points, including a 3-of-8 effort from beyond the arc. Junior Will Eames came off the bench for 17 points and nine rebounds in his second game back from injury after a seven-game hiatus."(Will) impacts the game in so many ways," Martin said. "You see how much we've missed Will. You look back, it wasn't just Will. We had some other injuries and illnesses, but you see how impactful it is when you lose your leader."Sophomore Taye Fields scored nine points to go with a game-high 15 rebounds.Owen Long, Emporia's leading scorer who leads the league with 71 made three-pointers, was held to just five points on 0-of-5 shooting from distance.Alijah Comithier led Emporia with 21 points. Peyton Rogers-Schmidt scored 14.It was a big, much needed week for Missouri Western who entered the week riding a six-game losing streak. The Griffons are still 11th in the MIAA standings with six games remaining in the regular season."I told the guys that we have to treat this like the NBA playoffs," Martin said. "We said tonight was game one. We better win the series and get at least four wins to put us in a decent spot.""I think we just have to stay the course really," Dixon added. "We know what all we've been through and with us being with each other, I feel like that helps us get over our humps and stuff like that."Both Missouri Western teams hit the road Thursday to face Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The women play at 5:30, and the men follow at 7:30. Both games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675556898565.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Julius Dixon (center) celebrates with his team following the Griffons' 65-60 win over Emporia State Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Julius Dixon (center) celebrates with his team following the Griffons' 65-60 win over Emporia State Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU women, men's basketball score home wins over Emporia State Saturday

CHILLICOTHE - The Benton girls' basketball team withstood an early fight from Chillicothe, and pulled away down the stretch for a big, 56-43 win at Chillicothe on Friday night.

The Cardinals (16-3) won their fourth straight game and secured their second win over the Hornets this season. Benton, ranked No. 3 in Class 4, now controls their own destiny in the Class 4 District 16 standings.

"It was super fun," sophomore Andrea Simmons said after. "I'm really excited to see (Chillicothe) again in districts."

The first quarter was a low-scoring, back and forth affair, with both teams turning each other over a handful of times. Chillicothe (15-4) used a 7-0 run in the first quarter to grab an early 11-7 lead.

That didn't last long, as back-to-back three-pointers from senior and Missouri Western signee Kelsey Johnson helped give the Cardinals a 15-11 lead entering the second quarter.

Benton ended up leading 20-11 after a 13-0 run prompted a Chillicothe timeout early in the second. The Hornets were held to just five second quarter points and the Cardinals led 26-16 at the break.

"I feel like our offense was sparked, because defensively, we sat down and defended," Benton coach Chris Michaels said. "Even when (Chillicothe) went on runs, we kept them to shorter runs than what it has been."

Chillicothe came out with energy in the third quarter. The Hornets got the ball to start the second half and cut the lead to 26-21. A three-pointer by Benton's Andrea Simmons, however, immediately pushed the lead back to eight points.

Chilli got back to within two possessions a couple more times in the third, but Benton still managed to lead 38-28 at the start of the fourth.

Both teams got into the one-and-one bonus fairly early in the fourth, and it was Benton that took advantage. The Cardinals made 10 out of 13 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter alone. Benton was 15-of-20 at the line on the night. Chillicothe, meanwhile, was 13-of-18.

"One of our goals is always to make more free throws than the other team attempts," Michaels pointed out. "That's a big deal for us. We remind our girls of that very much throughout the game. Finishing is the bigger part. You can get to the line, but not making them would not help us. So, making them when you get there."

Benton led by as many as 16 with 2:34 to play, and the game was never in doubt after that. Simmons led the Cardinals with 14 points. Johnson and Peyton Anderson each scored 12.

"It was really good for us to settle down and focus on our shot," Simmons said. "It's what we've been working on in practice and free throws are really important."

Senior Avery Morlock had nine points, while freshman Eliana Arambula had seven. Kayanna Cranmer led Chillicothe with 15. Lyla Beetsma finished with 10. The Cardinals unofficially forced 17 Chillicothe turnovers.

Benton snapped what was an eight-game winning streak for Chillicothe. The Cardinals, who have now won six of their last seven, have just six games left in the regular season - a road game at Lafayette Tuesday and then a string of five consecutive home games starting with Maryville on Feb. 10.

The final stretch before Benton starts the postseason with a trip to what would be the third straight Final Four in mind.

"There's nine girls (on our team) who have been to a Final Four," Michaels said, "seven of them have played in the Final Four and five of them who played in two. You don't get experience like that just walking into practice gyms. So, no matter what happens, we keep reminding them that 'no matter what you see on the floor, you've been in worse.'"

Boys FINAL Friday: Benton 52 Chillicothe 39

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675481904580.jpeg" alt="Benton's Kelsey Johnson (left) tries to put up a tough shot in the second half of the Cardinals' 56-43 win at Chillicothe Friday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Kelsey Johnson (left) tries to put up a tough shot in the second half of the Cardinals' 56-43 win at Chillicothe Friday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostCHILLICOTHE - The Benton girls' basketball team withstood an early fight from Chillicothe, and pulled away down the stretch for a big, 56-43 win at Chillicothe on Friday night.The Cardinals (16-3) won their fourth straight game and secured their second win over the Hornets this season. Benton, ranked No. 3 in Class 4, now controls their own destiny in the Class 4 District 16 standings."It was super fun," sophomore Andrea Simmons said after. "I'm really excited to see (Chillicothe) again in districts."The first quarter was a low-scoring, back and forth affair, with both teams turning each other over a handful of times. Chillicothe (15-4) used a 7-0 run in the first quarter to grab an early 11-7 lead.That didn't last long, as back-to-back three-pointers from senior and Missouri Western signee Kelsey Johnson helped give the Cardinals a 15-11 lead entering the second quarter.Benton ended up leading 20-11 after a 13-0 run prompted a Chillicothe timeout early in the second. The Hornets were held to just five second quarter points and the Cardinals led 26-16 at the break."I feel like our offense was sparked, because defensively, we sat down and defended," Benton coach Chris Michaels said. "Even when (Chillicothe) went on runs, we kept them to shorter runs than what it has been."Chillicothe came out with energy in the third quarter. The Hornets got the ball to start the second half and cut the lead to 26-21. A three-pointer by Benton's Andrea Simmons, however, immediately pushed the lead back to eight points.Chilli got back to within two possessions a couple more times in the third, but Benton still managed to lead 38-28 at the start of the fourth.Both teams got into the one-and-one bonus fairly early in the fourth, and it was Benton that took advantage. The Cardinals made 10 out of 13 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter alone. Benton was 15-of-20 at the line on the night. Chillicothe, meanwhile, was 13-of-18."One of our goals is always to make more free throws than the other team attempts," Michaels pointed out. "That's a big deal for us. We remind our girls of that very much throughout the game. Finishing is the bigger part. You can get to the line, but not making them would not help us. So, making them when you get there."Benton led by as many as 16 with 2:34 to play, and the game was never in doubt after that. Simmons led the Cardinals with 14 points. Johnson and Peyton Anderson each scored 12."It was really good for us to settle down and focus on our shot," Simmons said. "It's what we've been working on in practice and free throws are really important."Senior Avery Morlock had nine points, while freshman Eliana Arambula had seven. Kayanna Cranmer led Chillicothe with 15. Lyla Beetsma finished with 10. The Cardinals unofficially forced 17 Chillicothe turnovers.Benton snapped what was an eight-game winning streak for Chillicothe. The Cardinals, who have now won six of their last seven, have just six games left in the regular season - a road game at Lafayette Tuesday and then a string of five consecutive home games starting with Maryville on Feb. 10.The final stretch before Benton starts the postseason with a trip to what would be the third straight Final Four in mind."There's nine girls (on our team) who have been to a Final Four," Michaels said, "seven of them have played in the Final Four and five of them who played in two. You don't get experience like that just walking into practice gyms. So, no matter what happens, we keep reminding them that 'no matter what you see on the floor, you've been in worse.'"Boys FINAL Friday: Benton 52 Chillicothe 39<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675483296791.jpeg" alt="Andrea Simmons." />
 <figcaption>Andrea Simmons.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675483318844.jpeg" alt="Avery Morlock." />
 <figcaption>Avery Morlock.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675483343614.jpeg" alt="Eliana Arambula." />
 <figcaption>Eliana Arambula.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675483368149.jpeg" alt="Peyton Anderson drives through the lane in traffic." />
 <figcaption>Peyton Anderson drives through the lane in traffic.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Benton knocks down free throws late to secure key win at Chillicothe Friday

Bishop LeBlond senior Lane Harshman helped put Golden Eagle football on a strong path forward in 2022 along with a class of eight other seniors.

Harshman's contributions were enough to earn him an offer from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. Harshman signed his NLI for DWU on Thursday.

"It's a big relief," Harshman said, "because for awhile there, I didn't know where I was going. It's crazy. Coming into high school, I had never played football before. I never considered it before until sophomore year and coach (Chuck) Davis talked to me after some basketball games and told me to come out and play football, and here I am."

Harshman was part of a LeBlond team that went 10-4 this past fall. It marked the best season possibly ever for the Golden Eagles, as they advanced to their first ever state championship game and won a district title for the first time since 1993.

"(That team) showed the younger kids coming up that we can compete," LeBlond head coach Chuck Davis said. "In the past, if you won a district game or two, that was an accomplishment. But, now the bar has been set a little higher and (Lane) is a big part of that, because he's a competitor."

Harshman primarily played corner for LeBlond on defense, accounting for 38 total tackles in his senior year. He had been hampered by injury early in the season, but Davis says Harshman came back stronger than ever.

"He got hurt week one," Davis said of Harshman. "Dislocated rib, which is a big one to come back from. To come back the way he did and re-earn his starting spot and help us make it to the state championship was pretty cool and he's a hard worker. I didn't have any doubt in my mind he'd be able to do this."

Harshman isn't the biggest player on the field at 5-7 and 140 pounds, but he felt an immediate connection with the coaching staff and facilities once he went on a visit to Mitchell.

"They reached out and I went there," Harshman said. "Everything felt right with the coaches and I really liked the staff they had on hand. I got to talk to some of the other players. It just felt comforting. Like I was welcomed there."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675374499613.jpeg" alt="Bishop LeBlond's Lane Harshman signs his national letter of intent for Dakota Wesleyan football on Thursday with family by his side. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Bishop LeBlond's Lane Harshman signs his national letter of intent for Dakota Wesleyan football on Thursday with family by his side. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBishop LeBlond senior Lane Harshman helped put Golden Eagle football on a strong path forward in 2022 along with a class of eight other seniors.Harshman's contributions were enough to earn him an offer from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. Harshman signed his NLI for DWU on Thursday."It's a big relief," Harshman said, "because for awhile there, I didn't know where I was going. It's crazy. Coming into high school, I had never played football before. I never considered it before until sophomore year and coach (Chuck) Davis talked to me after some basketball games and told me to come out and play football, and here I am."Harshman was part of a LeBlond team that went 10-4 this past fall. It marked the best season possibly ever for the Golden Eagles, as they advanced to their first ever state championship game and won a district title for the first time since 1993."(That team) showed the younger kids coming up that we can compete," LeBlond head coach Chuck Davis said. "In the past, if you won a district game or two, that was an accomplishment. But, now the bar has been set a little higher and (Lane) is a big part of that, because he's a competitor."Harshman primarily played corner for LeBlond on defense, accounting for 38 total tackles in his senior year. He had been hampered by injury early in the season, but Davis says Harshman came back stronger than ever."He got hurt week one," Davis said of Harshman. "Dislocated rib, which is a big one to come back from. To come back the way he did and re-earn his starting spot and help us make it to the state championship was pretty cool and he's a hard worker. I didn't have any doubt in my mind he'd be able to do this."Harshman isn't the biggest player on the field at 5-7 and 140 pounds, but he felt an immediate connection with the coaching staff and facilities once he went on a visit to Mitchell."They reached out and I went there," Harshman said. "Everything felt right with the coaches and I really liked the staff they had on hand. I got to talk to some of the other players. It just felt comforting. Like I was welcomed there."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675375945274.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond's Lane Harshman signs NLI for Dakota Wesleyan football Thursday

The Missouri Western women's basketball team used a strong second half effort to pull away from Washburn in a 67-47 win over the Ichabods on Wednesday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Both teams were limited offensively in the first half, as the Griffons led 23-17 at halftime. Missouri Western (19-5, 13-3 MIAA) settled in during the second half, scoring 44 points over the final two quarters combined, including 26 in the fourth.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675317006287.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Brionna Budgets led the Griffons with 29 points Thursday to eclipse 1,000 points in her career and help Missouri Western to a 67-47 win over Washburn Wednesday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Brionna Budgets led the Griffons with 29 points Thursday to eclipse 1,000 points in her career and help Missouri Western to a 67-47 win over Washburn Wednesday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team used a strong second half effort to pull away from Washburn in a 67-47 win over the Ichabods on Wednesday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse.Both teams were limited offensively in the first half, as the Griffons led 23-17 at halftime. Missouri Western (19-5, 13-3 MIAA) settled in during the second half, scoring 44 points over the final two quarters combined, including 26 in the fourth."I just thought we really settled in and were much better the second half," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "I thought Johnni (Gonzalez) was a big key to that. She did a fantastic job of finding shooters, making decisions and getting us into a much better offense the second half."Defensively, the Griffons forced 22 turnovers and held Washburn to just 34 percent shooting from the field, including 3-of-11 from three.Missouri Western's Brionna Budgets led the way with a game-high 29 points. The effort was enough to put her over 1,000 points in her Griffon career."It felt really good," Budgets said. "Just getting back into the flow of things. We had kind of been sick the last couple of days. Everyone was just playing strong, fighting through it, and staying true to ourselves."Junior Connie Clarke was equally impressive with 17 points and 16 rebounds - her 10th double-double of the season. Clarke also logged a team-best six steals.Whitaker says Clarke and Budgets were equally important in the winning effort Wednesday."I thought (Connie) was really good the entire game," Whitaker said. "And then Bri got hot and is starting to play like we know Bri can. She really found her rhythm, and she played really hard defensively. When Bri plays hard defensively, I feel like we're going to win."The win put Missouri Western back in the win column after the Griffons absorbed a 91-55 loss at No. 13 Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday - a loss that snapped an 11-game winning streak."We were rough at times but I thought our effort was good," Whitaker said. "I thought we battled. I saw a lot of people being physical. Did a lot of good things. Just looking forward to continuing to get better and coaching this group."<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-WBB-coach-Candi-Whitaker-2123---Washburn-postgame-e1ubi98" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-junior-Brionna-Budgets-2123---Washburn-postgame-e1ubia5" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Griffon men outlast Washburn in OT, snap losing streakThe Missouri Western men weathered a series of runs from Washburn Wednesday, and were able to go on a critical run of their own when they needed it most.The Griffons, down 65-55 with three minutes left in regulation, went on a 14-4 run to force overtime. Down 80-79 with 11 seconds left, Missouri Western snatched one from the jaws of defeat Wednesday, as JaRon Thames' layup with 2.5 seconds remaining lifted the Griffons to an 81-80 overtime win over the Ichabods at the MWSU Fieldhouse.The victory snaps what was a six-game losing streak for the Griffons, and ended a five-game winning streak for Washburn."They just continue to fight and continue to believe," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "This is a really good Washburn team. We took, we say a full 40 minutes, but it took an extra five minutes. The guys just fought. They fought hard and these kids earned this one."After getting down 17-7 in the opening eight minutes, Missouri Western (9-12, 5-10 MIAA) responded and ended up leading 34-30 at halftime.Washburn (10-10, 7-7 MIAA) opened the second half on an 8-0 run to retake the lead, but once again the Griffons weathered the storm and hung in for much of the second half.Suddenly, the Griffons were down 63-53 with 3:47 to play. After critical buckets from Thames, Will Eames, Julius Dixon and Taye Fields, Missouri Western led 69-68 with 48 seconds left in regulation before Washburn tied the game again at the free throw line.Washburn took its first lead of the OT period with 11 seconds left, thanks to an Andrew Orr layup, but Thames took the ball up the floor the other way and hit the go-ahead shot off the glass with just 2.5 to go.Washburn called their last timeout and were able to get the ball across midcourt, but a shot in the lane from Jarmell Johnson missed short, preserving victory for the Griffons.Thames came off the bench Wednesday and scored 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting. Julius Dixon finished with a career-high 19 points. Eames, who had missed the previous seven games with a hand injury, had an outstanding return with 12 points and eight rebounds."It was so fun being out there," Eames said. "There's no pressure on me out there. I feel like I could go be myself. My team has my back. They lived with my mistakes early on, but when it was overtime, it felt like I had been playing all year."Fields was key especially down the stretch with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.Missouri Western is back in the win column and certainly more dynamic with a healthy Will Eames back in the fold. With seven games left, the Griffons are not only in contention to make the MIAA tournament, but to overall have a strong finish to their 2022-23 campaign."You can turn this into momentum, but it's not momentum yet," Martin said. "It feels like momentum after all that we've been through, but if you have two good days of practice and can get it done against Emporia, that's two (in a row) and you're one day at a time and one game at a time."Both Missouri Western teams stay home Saturday to host Emporia State. The women's game starts at 1:30, and the men's will follow at 3:30. Both games are on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675314492966.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's JaRon Thames scored a team-high 21 points, including the go-ahead shot in overtime, to help lift the Griffons to an 81-80 win over Washburn Wednesday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's JaRon Thames scored a team-high 21 points, including the go-ahead shot in overtime, to help lift the Griffons to an 81-80 win over Washburn Wednesday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-MBB-coach-Will-Martin-2123---Washburn-postgame-e1ubib0" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-junior-Will-Eames-2123---Washburn-postgame-e1ubibt" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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