A 26-year-old Special Olympian from Savannah is seeing his dreams become a reality after being selected to compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin 2023.

“I want to thank all the people who helped me get here,” Charlie Phillips said in a news release from Special Olympics Missouri.

Phillips earned his spot after proving himself at the Special Olympics USA Team Trials in San Antonio, Texas in November, finishing the weekend with the top squat of 182.5 kg as well as the top deadlift of 227.5. kg

Phillips also bench pressed 130 kg during the trials.  

“It was a lot of fun,” Phillips said. “I got to meet a lot of athletes from different states.” 

Phillips was the only Special Olympics Missouri athlete to be nominated for the games in Berlin. He learned about his initial nomination in September while attending a Missouri Western State University football game. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/490ff825-74ad-4f90-b7f4-562bcab7f41c">Read more about that here</a>.

Phillips grew up in Pennsylvania, where he got his start with Special Olympics Pennsylvania 15 years ago. In 2010, he participated in his first-ever Special Olympics USA games as part of the Pennsylvania track team. Once he moved to Missouri, Phillips didn't skip a beat. 

In 2018, he was back at the USA games as a powerlifter for Special Olympics Missouri.  In his career, Phillips has participated in five different sports: basketball, track, soccer, flag football, and powerlifting. 

The Special Olympics World Games in Berlin will begin this June.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674152767106.jpeg" alt="Charlie Phillips powerlifting at USA Games in 2018/ Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Charlie Phillips powerlifting at USA Games in 2018/ Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA 26-year-old Special Olympian from Savannah is seeing his dreams become a reality after being selected to compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin 2023.“I want to thank all the people who helped me get here,” Charlie Phillips said in a news release from Special Olympics Missouri.Phillips earned his spot after proving himself at the Special Olympics USA Team Trials in San Antonio, Texas in November, finishing the weekend with the top squat of 182.5 kg as well as the top deadlift of 227.5. kgPhillips also bench pressed 130 kg during the trials. “It was a lot of fun,” Phillips said. “I got to meet a lot of athletes from different states.” Phillips was the only Special Olympics Missouri athlete to be nominated for the games in Berlin. He learned about his initial nomination in September while attending a Missouri Western State University football game. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/490ff825-74ad-4f90-b7f4-562bcab7f41c">Read more about that here</a>.Phillips grew up in Pennsylvania, where he got his start with Special Olympics Pennsylvania 15 years ago. In 2010, he participated in his first-ever Special Olympics USA games as part of the Pennsylvania track team. Once he moved to Missouri, Phillips didn't skip a beat. In 2018, he was back at the USA games as a powerlifter for Special Olympics Missouri. In his career, Phillips has participated in five different sports: basketball, track, soccer, flag football, and powerlifting. The Special Olympics World Games in Berlin will begin this June.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674152861903.jpeg" alt="Charlie Phillips lifting during the Special Olympics Team Trials in San Antonio/ Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Charlie Phillips lifting during the Special Olympics Team Trials in San Antonio/ Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>

Savannah man achieves dream: earns spot in Special Olympics World Games

The NFL announced Thursday that the Kansas City Chiefs have been designated to play one of two international games in Germany during the 2023 season. The date, time and opponent for the game are being finalized and will be announced by the NFL at a later date.

“We are incredibly excited to put the Kansas City Chiefs and all of Chiefs Kingdom on the international stage with a Germany game in 2023,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a statement.

“We’ve aggressively pursued this opportunity because we know how passionate German fans are about NFL football and we’re committed to the international growth of the game as well as our brand. We think we’ll be able to provide the right mix of opportunities for our existing Season Ticket Members and domestic fans while also creating unique experiences that will make this memorable for German fans as well.”

This contest will mark the third regular season international game in franchise history for Kansas City. The Chiefs previously played the Detroit Lions at London’s Wembley Stadium on November 1, 2015 and the Los Angeles Chargers at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on November 18, 2019, and won both of those contests.

Chiefs' chairman and CEO Clark Hunt sits on the NFL’s International Committee and served as the committee’s Chairman from 2011-18. Since 2011, the league has hosted 37 regular season games internationally, and all 32 teams have played overseas.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe NFL announced Thursday that the Kansas City Chiefs have been designated to play one of two international games in Germany during the 2023 season. The date, time and opponent for the game are being finalized and will be announced by the NFL at a later date.“We are incredibly excited to put the Kansas City Chiefs and all of Chiefs Kingdom on the international stage with a Germany game in 2023,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a statement.“We’ve aggressively pursued this opportunity because we know how passionate German fans are about NFL football and we’re committed to the international growth of the game as well as our brand. We think we’ll be able to provide the right mix of opportunities for our existing Season Ticket Members and domestic fans while also creating unique experiences that will make this memorable for German fans as well.”This contest will mark the third regular season international game in franchise history for Kansas City. The Chiefs previously played the Detroit Lions at London’s Wembley Stadium on November 1, 2015 and the Los Angeles Chargers at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on November 18, 2019, and won both of those contests.Chiefs' chairman and CEO Clark Hunt sits on the NFL’s International Committee and served as the committee’s Chairman from 2011-18. Since 2011, the league has hosted 37 regular season games internationally, and all 32 teams have played overseas.

Chiefs set to play game in Germany in 2023

Girls' basketball Benton 61 Mid-Buchanan 14. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/761aeea8-3c0c-4755-98f9-8df5c98ccdfe">Full coverage here</a>. St. Joseph Christian 52 North Harrison 8 Mound City 60 Stewartsville-Osborn 32 North Andrew 53 Stanberry 21 East Atchison 57 South Holt 27 Savannah 38 Summit Christian Academy 22

Boys’ basketball Benton 61 Mid-Buchanan 41. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/761aeea8-3c0c-4755-98f9-8df5c98ccdfe">Full coverage here</a>. Winnetonka 58 St. Joseph Central 49 Bishop LeBlond 69 Lawson 48 Gardner Edgerton 63 Savannah 33 East Buchanan 69 Cameron 66 St. Joseph Christian 71 North Harrison 51 Stewartsville-Osborn 36 Mound City 34 North Andrew 62 Stanberry 41 South Holt 74 East Atchison 59

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674046497694.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostGirls' basketball Benton 61 Mid-Buchanan 14. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/761aeea8-3c0c-4755-98f9-8df5c98ccdfe">Full coverage here</a>. St. Joseph Christian 52 North Harrison 8 Mound City 60 Stewartsville-Osborn 32 North Andrew 53 Stanberry 21 East Atchison 57 South Holt 27 Savannah 38 Summit Christian Academy 22Boys’ basketball Benton 61 Mid-Buchanan 41. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/761aeea8-3c0c-4755-98f9-8df5c98ccdfe">Full coverage here</a>. Winnetonka 58 St. Joseph Central 49 Bishop LeBlond 69 Lawson 48 Gardner Edgerton 63 Savannah 33 East Buchanan 69 Cameron 66 St. Joseph Christian 71 North Harrison 51 Stewartsville-Osborn 36 Mound City 34 North Andrew 62 Stanberry 41 South Holt 74 East Atchison 59

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard - January 17, 2023

The Benton girls' basketball team grabbed a 20-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and kept things rolling in a 61-14 takedown of Mid-Buchanan at Springer Gymnasium Tuesday night.

The Cardinals (13-3) went up 38-8 at halftime and then 54-11 headed to the final period. Mid-Buchanan (6-11) never scored more than four points in a quarter.

Senior and Missouri Western signee Kelsey Johnson led four Benton players in double figures with 14 points. Freshman Eliana Arambula was close behind with 13.

"It was a really good win," Arambula said. "(Mid-Buchanan) is still a good team. The fact that we could still be up by that much was a pretty good thing, because they're a pretty good team."

Senior Peyton Anderson and sophomore Andrea Simmons each contributed 12 points. Benton was also a perfect 11-for-11 at the free-throw line Tuesday.

Jordan Thornton led Mid-Buchanan with four points.

It was a nice bounce back win for Benton, who fell just shy of a Kearney tournament title against Liberty North this past Friday.

The Benton girls stay home to face Notre Dame de Sion Friday.

Benton boys creates separation, pull away from Mid-Buchanan

The first quarter-and-a-half of Tuesday's boys' basketball showdown between Benton and Mid-Buchanan was a blow-for-blow battle. The game was tied 19-19 with 3:30 to go in the second quarter.

Sparked by a four-point play from freshman Lincoln Goodwin, Benton used a 6-0 run late in the second to go up 25-21 at halftime.

That was just the beginning, though, as the Cardinals (6-9) outscored the Dragons 23-10 in the third quarter and wound up with a 61-41 victory at Springer Gymnasium.

Benton got hot from downtown, knocking down eight total three-pointers. Goodwin led the Cardinals with 16 points, including three made triples.

"It was good," said Goodwin on the victory. "We all played together. It was teamwork. When you do that, you can accomplish anything. Just played well."

Senior Denver Domann followed with 12 points. Senior Adrian Byrd had nine, while junior Zach Smith tallied eight.

Senior Joe Clark led Mid-Buchanan with 22 points. The loss snapped what was a four-game winning streak for the Dragons.

The win for Benton, though, was a nice mental bounce back after taking a <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e4d7ff3b-92d4-420f-a281-995ba066e0d7">62-45 drubbing against Central</a> at home this past Saturday in the Cardinal Classic.

"We all wanted it bad," Goodwin said of Tuesday's game. "That one (against Central) stung pretty bad."

The Benton boys go to St. Michael the Archangel Friday. The Mid-Buchanan boys and girls both go to Lathrop Friday as well.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674014935001.jpeg" alt="Peyton Anderson (left) dribbles up the floor during Benton's 61-14 win over Mid-Buchanan Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Peyton Anderson (left) dribbles up the floor during Benton's 61-14 win over Mid-Buchanan Tuesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Benton girls' basketball team grabbed a 20-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and kept things rolling in a 61-14 takedown of Mid-Buchanan at Springer Gymnasium Tuesday night.The Cardinals (13-3) went up 38-8 at halftime and then 54-11 headed to the final period. Mid-Buchanan (6-11) never scored more than four points in a quarter.Senior and Missouri Western signee Kelsey Johnson led four Benton players in double figures with 14 points. Freshman Eliana Arambula was close behind with 13."It was a really good win," Arambula said. "(Mid-Buchanan) is still a good team. The fact that we could still be up by that much was a pretty good thing, because they're a pretty good team."Senior Peyton Anderson and sophomore Andrea Simmons each contributed 12 points. Benton was also a perfect 11-for-11 at the free-throw line Tuesday.Jordan Thornton led Mid-Buchanan with four points.It was a nice bounce back win for Benton, who fell just shy of a Kearney tournament title against Liberty North this past Friday.The Benton girls stay home to face Notre Dame de Sion Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674014987311.jpeg" alt="Andrea Simmons (23) fights off Mid-Buchanan's Liv Moeckli (3)." />
 <figcaption>Andrea Simmons (23) fights off Mid-Buchanan's Liv Moeckli (3).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674015012474.jpeg" alt="Avani Kendzora (15)." />
 <figcaption>Avani Kendzora (15).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674015036441.jpeg" alt="Eliana Arambula." />
 <figcaption>Eliana Arambula.</figcaption>
 </figure>Benton boys creates separation, pull away from Mid-BuchananThe first quarter-and-a-half of Tuesday's boys' basketball showdown between Benton and Mid-Buchanan was a blow-for-blow battle. The game was tied 19-19 with 3:30 to go in the second quarter.Sparked by a four-point play from freshman Lincoln Goodwin, Benton used a 6-0 run late in the second to go up 25-21 at halftime.That was just the beginning, though, as the Cardinals (6-9) outscored the Dragons 23-10 in the third quarter and wound up with a 61-41 victory at Springer Gymnasium.Benton got hot from downtown, knocking down eight total three-pointers. Goodwin led the Cardinals with 16 points, including three made triples."It was good," said Goodwin on the victory. "We all played together. It was teamwork. When you do that, you can accomplish anything. Just played well."Senior Denver Domann followed with 12 points. Senior Adrian Byrd had nine, while junior Zach Smith tallied eight.Senior Joe Clark led Mid-Buchanan with 22 points. The loss snapped what was a four-game winning streak for the Dragons.The win for Benton, though, was a nice mental bounce back after taking a <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e4d7ff3b-92d4-420f-a281-995ba066e0d7">62-45 drubbing against Central</a> at home this past Saturday in the Cardinal Classic."We all wanted it bad," Goodwin said of Tuesday's game. "That one (against Central) stung pretty bad."The Benton boys go to St. Michael the Archangel Friday. The Mid-Buchanan boys and girls both go to Lathrop Friday as well.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674015078093.jpeg" alt="Adrian Byrd (left)." />
 <figcaption>Adrian Byrd (left).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674015105089.jpeg" alt="Denver Domann (33)." />
 <figcaption>Denver Domann (33).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674015124421.jpeg" alt="Kruz Bigham (14)." />
 <figcaption>Kruz Bigham (14).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674015147325.jpeg" alt="Myles Bachali (1)." />
 <figcaption>Myles Bachali (1).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674015176998.jpeg" alt="Zach Smith (left)." />
 <figcaption>Zach Smith (left).</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Benton girls dominate, Benton boys pull away in second half in wins over Mid-Buchanan

The St. Joseph Central boys' basketball team took down the Benton Cardinals in the fifth annual Benton Boys Basketball Cardinal Classic, 63-45 at Springer Gymnasium Saturday.

Central (8-8) was led by Gabe Fields, who put up 26 points in the win. Brock Williamson was the next highest scorer for Central, putting up nine.

Lincoln Goodwin scored 13 points for the Cardinals (5-9) in the loss. Zach Smith added nine.

The game started out as a low scoring affair, with Central leading 8-4 after the first quarter, with Fields scoring four of the Indian’s eight points. Carson Schmidt scored all four points for the Cardinals in the first quarter.

The second quarter saw an offensive explosion for Central, as they put up 23 points over those eight minutes. This was partially fueled by a technical foul on Benton after a player threw the ball down the floor after the play was over, resulting in the Indians getting two extra free throws and the ball back.

Central went into halftime leading 31-18, and eventually led 42-26 headed to the fourth.

Benton never gave up, but tempers flared in the closing minutes of the game, as the Benton coach Jared Boone wanted a technical foul assessed to Central after a player tried a full-court shot after play was whistled dead. He argued it was similar to the incident in the second quarter where Benton was T-d up for throwing a ball down the floor.

Instead, Boone received two technicals after a heated argument with the officials, and was eventually ejected.

Despite some high drama at times against an intracity rival, Central coach&nbsp;Jacob Kimble was pleased with his team’s performance in the end.

“I thought we handled their pressure well, I thought we moved the ball well, and overall I’m just super proud of our guys," he said.

Kimble was very impressed by the play of Fields in particular.

(Fields) comes out here and takes care of business. He is a different type of athlete.”

Fields and&nbsp;Shadai Ndamboma were named to the All-Tournament team as well.

Fields says he knew there were going to be free throw opportunities down the stretch, and he didn’t feel any pressure, because he knew his teammates had his back.

“The ball’s going to find who it needs to find," Fields said. "Anybody (on this team) can shoot free throws. It only matters who gets fouled. We have faith in everybody, we have trust in each other.”

Central is home to Winnetonka Tuesday. Benton will host Mid-Buchanan on Tuesday as well.

You can follow St. Joseph Post on Twitter @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673802122084.jpeg" alt="Central's Gabe Fields (24) looks for an open teammate during Saturday's game at Benton. Photo by Riley Boyd." />
 <figcaption>Central's Gabe Fields (24) looks for an open teammate during Saturday's game at Benton. Photo by Riley Boyd.</figcaption>
 </figure>By RILEY BOYDSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Central boys' basketball team took down the Benton Cardinals in the fifth annual Benton Boys Basketball Cardinal Classic, 63-45 at Springer Gymnasium Saturday.Central (8-8) was led by Gabe Fields, who put up 26 points in the win. Brock Williamson was the next highest scorer for Central, putting up nine.Lincoln Goodwin scored 13 points for the Cardinals (5-9) in the loss. Zach Smith added nine.The game started out as a low scoring affair, with Central leading 8-4 after the first quarter, with Fields scoring four of the Indian’s eight points. Carson Schmidt scored all four points for the Cardinals in the first quarter.The second quarter saw an offensive explosion for Central, as they put up 23 points over those eight minutes. This was partially fueled by a technical foul on Benton after a player threw the ball down the floor after the play was over, resulting in the Indians getting two extra free throws and the ball back.Central went into halftime leading 31-18, and eventually led 42-26 headed to the fourth.Benton never gave up, but tempers flared in the closing minutes of the game, as the Benton coach Jared Boone wanted a technical foul assessed to Central after a player tried a full-court shot after play was whistled dead. He argued it was similar to the incident in the second quarter where Benton was T-d up for throwing a ball down the floor.Instead, Boone received two technicals after a heated argument with the officials, and was eventually ejected.Despite some high drama at times against an intracity rival, Central coach&nbsp;Jacob Kimble was pleased with his team’s performance in the end.“I thought we handled their pressure well, I thought we moved the ball well, and overall I’m just super proud of our guys," he said.Kimble was very impressed by the play of Fields in particular.(Fields) comes out here and takes care of business. He is a different type of athlete.”Fields and&nbsp;Shadai Ndamboma were named to the All-Tournament team as well.Fields says he knew there were going to be free throw opportunities down the stretch, and he didn’t feel any pressure, because he knew his teammates had his back.“The ball’s going to find who it needs to find," Fields said. "Anybody (on this team) can shoot free throws. It only matters who gets fouled. We have faith in everybody, we have trust in each other.”Central is home to Winnetonka Tuesday. Benton will host Mid-Buchanan on Tuesday as well.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673802268727.jpeg" alt="Benton's Denver Doman (33) goes up for a shot Saturday. Photo by Riley Boyd." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Denver Doman (33) goes up for a shot Saturday. Photo by Riley Boyd.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow St. Joseph Post on Twitter @StJosephPost.

Central pulls away for big win over Benton at Cardinal Classic Saturday

EDMOND, OK - The Missouri Western women's basketball team got off to a fast start and had a clean finish in a 71-55 win at Central Oklahoma Saturday.

The Griffons (15-4, 9-2 MIAA) led 23-8 at the end of the first quarter, but UCO (6-10, 3-9 MIAA) held Missouri Western to just 13 second quarter points and the Bronchos only trailed 36-25 at halftime.

Things got even more interesting in the third quarter, as UCO got to within 47-43 with 1:38 left in that period. The Griffons ended the third on a 6-0 run however, and they led by double digits for most of the time in the fourth.

A three-pointer by junior Brionna Budgets with 1:22 remaining put Missouri Western up 69-55 and essentially put it out of reach.

Budgets, who played only six minutes of the first half due to two early fouls, finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including a 3-of-4 effort from long range. She also had three blocks, three rebounds and two assists.

Junior Connie Clarke notched her ninth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Mary Fultz had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. Junior Trinity Knapp finished with 10 points and four boards herself.

Missouri Western won its eighth straight game Saturday, as they outrebounded UCO 47-39. The Griffons were 19-of-27 at the free throw line and had 16 assists, but they also committed 24 turnovers.

MWSU men hang with No. 7 UCO, fall short late

Missouri Western was in the lead for a total of 9:45 in the first half, and kept things to within single digits for most of the game Saturday, but No. 7 Central Oklahoma never trailed in the second half, and made 11 of their final 13 free throw attempts to down the Griffons 65-54 Saturday.

The Griffons got off to a great start, leading 16-9 with 8:49 left in the first half. UCO (17-1, 11-1 MIAA) responded and took a slim 29-26 lead into the locker room.

Missouri Western stayed with it and tied the game three separate times in the second half, but the Griffons (8-8, 4-6 MIAA) never led in the final 20 minutes.

It was still within reach late in the game, as Western trailed 58-51 with 1:43 remaining, but the Griffons had to foul the Bronchos to save time and UCO took advantage, making seven of their last eight free throws in the final minute-and-a-half to pull away.

Sophomore Julius Dixon led Missouri Western with a career-high 18 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three. Junior John Anderson Jr. came off the bench Saturday and had the best game of his Griffon career as well, scoring 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep. He also had two steals and three rebounds.

Missouri Western was a solid 10-of-22 from beyond the arc and they kept even with UCO in rebounding at 31-31, but the Bronchos were an efficient 47.9 percent from the field overall compared to 35.3 percent by Western.

UCO also outscored the Griffons in the paint 32-14.

While the Bronchos have won 10 straight games and are all alone in first place in the MIAA standings for the moment, Missouri Western has now dropped five of their last six, as they continue to operate without starting all-MIAA forward Will Eames, who's out with a hand injury.

Both Missouri Western teams return home Thursday to face Lincoln. The women play at 5:30 and the men follow at 7:30. Both games are on KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673801221077.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Jordan Cunningham shoots free throws during the Griffons' 71-55 win at Central Oklahoma Saturday. Photo by Paul Smith." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Jordan Cunningham shoots free throws during the Griffons' 71-55 win at Central Oklahoma Saturday. Photo by Paul Smith.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostEDMOND, OK - The Missouri Western women's basketball team got off to a fast start and had a clean finish in a 71-55 win at Central Oklahoma Saturday.The Griffons (15-4, 9-2 MIAA) led 23-8 at the end of the first quarter, but UCO (6-10, 3-9 MIAA) held Missouri Western to just 13 second quarter points and the Bronchos only trailed 36-25 at halftime.Things got even more interesting in the third quarter, as UCO got to within 47-43 with 1:38 left in that period. The Griffons ended the third on a 6-0 run however, and they led by double digits for most of the time in the fourth.A three-pointer by junior Brionna Budgets with 1:22 remaining put Missouri Western up 69-55 and essentially put it out of reach.Budgets, who played only six minutes of the first half due to two early fouls, finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including a 3-of-4 effort from long range. She also had three blocks, three rebounds and two assists.Junior Connie Clarke notched her ninth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Mary Fultz had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. Junior Trinity Knapp finished with 10 points and four boards herself.Missouri Western won its eighth straight game Saturday, as they outrebounded UCO 47-39. The Griffons were 19-of-27 at the free throw line and had 16 assists, but they also committed 24 turnovers.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-WBB-coach-Candi-Whitaker---UCO-postgame-1-14-23-e1th1cv" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>MWSU men hang with No. 7 UCO, fall short late<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673801281456.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Alex John (4) looks to put up a shot in the second half of Missouri Western's game against No. 7 Central Oklahoma. Photo by Paul Smith." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Alex John (4) looks to put up a shot in the second half of Missouri Western's game against No. 7 Central Oklahoma. Photo by Paul Smith.</figcaption>
 </figure>Missouri Western was in the lead for a total of 9:45 in the first half, and kept things to within single digits for most of the game Saturday, but No. 7 Central Oklahoma never trailed in the second half, and made 11 of their final 13 free throw attempts to down the Griffons 65-54 Saturday.The Griffons got off to a great start, leading 16-9 with 8:49 left in the first half. UCO (17-1, 11-1 MIAA) responded and took a slim 29-26 lead into the locker room.Missouri Western stayed with it and tied the game three separate times in the second half, but the Griffons (8-8, 4-6 MIAA) never led in the final 20 minutes.It was still within reach late in the game, as Western trailed 58-51 with 1:43 remaining, but the Griffons had to foul the Bronchos to save time and UCO took advantage, making seven of their last eight free throws in the final minute-and-a-half to pull away.Sophomore Julius Dixon led Missouri Western with a career-high 18 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three. Junior John Anderson Jr. came off the bench Saturday and had the best game of his Griffon career as well, scoring 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep. He also had two steals and three rebounds.Missouri Western was a solid 10-of-22 from beyond the arc and they kept even with UCO in rebounding at 31-31, but the Bronchos were an efficient 47.9 percent from the field overall compared to 35.3 percent by Western.UCO also outscored the Griffons in the paint 32-14.While the Bronchos have won 10 straight games and are all alone in first place in the MIAA standings for the moment, Missouri Western has now dropped five of their last six, as they continue to operate without starting all-MIAA forward Will Eames, who's out with a hand injury.Both Missouri Western teams return home Thursday to face Lincoln. The women play at 5:30 and the men follow at 7:30. Both games are on KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-MBB-coach-Will-Martin---UCO-postgame-1-14-23-e1th29m" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU WBB takes care of UCO, Griffon men fall short in close game with No. 7 Bronchos

WICHITA, KS - The Missouri Western women's basketball team used a big second quarter to pull away from Newman and ultimately secure a 74-52 win over the Jets at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita Thursday.

Leading 18-7 at the end of the first, the Griffons (14-4, 8-2) put up 22 second quarter points to go up 40-19 at halftime.

Newman kept pace with Missouri Western in the second half, but the Jets (6-9, 3-7 MIAA) never really chipped away at their large deficit.

Fourteen Griffons played and 11 of them scored Thursday. Junior Brionna Budgets led the way with a game-high 21 points. She was a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line.

Freshman Cleao Murray had 13 points on a pair of made threes. Junior Connie Clarke had a team-high nine rebounds to go with six points.

The Griffons totaled 33 bench points and were a solid 17-of-20 from the foul line as a team.

Missouri Western also outrebounded Newman 42-30, and shot 44.1 percent from the field.

The Griffons have now won seven straight games, and they improve to 8-0 against Newman all-time.

MWSU men get down early, rally comes up short against Newman

Thursday's game reflected an all too similar pattern for Missouri Western men's basketball this season. The Griffons got down early, fought back, but came up short.

Missouri Western, trailing 36-17 with 1:50 to go until halftime, got to within 54-49 with 7:43 left in the game, but the Griffons never got closer, as Newman ended the game on a 12-2 run over the final 3:59 to beat Missouri Western 71-55 Thursday.

Missouri Western (8-7, 4-5 MIAA) struggled to make baskets throughout the night, shooting 32.8 percent from the field, including 6-of-26 from three.

The Griffons were 2-of-11 from three in the second half, and they hit just one of their last nine attempts from long range as they attempted to rally.

Conversely, Newman (6-10, 2-8 MIAA) shot well throughout, making 54.5 percent of their baskets, including 8-of-18 from deep. The Jets were also a solid 15-of-20 at the free throw line. The Griffons were 11-of-18 at the stripe.

Sophomore Taye Fields led Missouri Western with 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Julius Dixon logged 12 points and four boards.

Junior Reese Glover finished with six points on a pair of made threes. He's now the all-time leader in career three-pointers at Missouri Western with 235, surpassing Cole Clearman's previous record of 233.

Sophomore Stevie Strong led four Jets in double figures with 13 points and nine rebounds.

The Griffons were without starting forward Will Eames (hand injury) and starting center Matt Nunez (stomach bug) Thursday. Missouri Western has now dropped four of their last five games.

Both Griffon teams head to Edmond, Oklahoma Saturday to face Central Oklahoma. The women's game starts at 1:30 p.m. The men's game will follow at 3:30 p.m. Both are on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

The Broncho men, ranked No. 7 in the country, are now 16-1 following their 69-58 win over No. 4 Northwest Missouri State in Edmond Thursday. The Bearcats fall to 14-2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673584506709.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Abby Bala (22) dribbles in the first half during the Griffons' 74-52 triumph over Newman in Wichita Thursday. Photo by Paul Smith." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Abby Bala (22) dribbles in the first half during the Griffons' 74-52 triumph over Newman in Wichita Thursday. Photo by Paul Smith.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostWICHITA, KS - The Missouri Western women's basketball team used a big second quarter to pull away from Newman and ultimately secure a 74-52 win over the Jets at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita Thursday.Leading 18-7 at the end of the first, the Griffons (14-4, 8-2) put up 22 second quarter points to go up 40-19 at halftime.Newman kept pace with Missouri Western in the second half, but the Jets (6-9, 3-7 MIAA) never really chipped away at their large deficit.Fourteen Griffons played and 11 of them scored Thursday. Junior Brionna Budgets led the way with a game-high 21 points. She was a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line.Freshman Cleao Murray had 13 points on a pair of made threes. Junior Connie Clarke had a team-high nine rebounds to go with six points.The Griffons totaled 33 bench points and were a solid 17-of-20 from the foul line as a team.Missouri Western also outrebounded Newman 42-30, and shot 44.1 percent from the field.The Griffons have now won seven straight games, and they improve to 8-0 against Newman all-time.Candi Whitaker postgame<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-WBB-coach-Candi-Whitaker---Newman-postgame-11223-e1tduuf" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>MWSU men get down early, rally comes up short against NewmanThursday's game reflected an all too similar pattern for Missouri Western men's basketball this season. The Griffons got down early, fought back, but came up short.Missouri Western, trailing 36-17 with 1:50 to go until halftime, got to within 54-49 with 7:43 left in the game, but the Griffons never got closer, as Newman ended the game on a 12-2 run over the final 3:59 to beat Missouri Western 71-55 Thursday.Missouri Western (8-7, 4-5 MIAA) struggled to make baskets throughout the night, shooting 32.8 percent from the field, including 6-of-26 from three.The Griffons were 2-of-11 from three in the second half, and they hit just one of their last nine attempts from long range as they attempted to rally.Conversely, Newman (6-10, 2-8 MIAA) shot well throughout, making 54.5 percent of their baskets, including 8-of-18 from deep. The Jets were also a solid 15-of-20 at the free throw line. The Griffons were 11-of-18 at the stripe.Sophomore Taye Fields led Missouri Western with 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Julius Dixon logged 12 points and four boards.Junior Reese Glover finished with six points on a pair of made threes. He's now the all-time leader in career three-pointers at Missouri Western with 235, surpassing Cole Clearman's previous record of 233.Sophomore Stevie Strong led four Jets in double figures with 13 points and nine rebounds.The Griffons were without starting forward Will Eames (hand injury) and starting center Matt Nunez (stomach bug) Thursday. Missouri Western has now dropped four of their last five games.Both Griffon teams head to Edmond, Oklahoma Saturday to face Central Oklahoma. The women's game starts at 1:30 p.m. The men's game will follow at 3:30 p.m. Both are on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).The Broncho men, ranked No. 7 in the country, are now 16-1 following their 69-58 win over No. 4 Northwest Missouri State in Edmond Thursday. The Bearcats fall to 14-2.Will Martin postgame<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-MBB-coach-Will-Martin---Newman-postgame-11223-e1tduv8" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673585392416.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Reese Glover (3) takes what would end up being his 234th career made three-pointer - the three he needed to break the all-time record for most made three pointers in a career in Missouri Western men's basketball history. Photo by Paul Smith." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Reese Glover (3) takes what would end up being his 234th career made three-pointer - the three he needed to break the all-time record for most made three pointers in a career in Missouri Western men's basketball history. Photo by Paul Smith.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU women's basketball scores big win at Newman, Griffon men fall to Jets

Gower, MO - It wasn't easy, but the East Buchanan girls' basketball team secured their 12th win of the season on Tuesday night in Gower.&nbsp; The Bulldogs took on a tough defensive Maryville team, and came away with a 49-46 victory.&nbsp;

Bulldogs Head Coach Cori Elms says she thought that both teams played incredibly hard on the night. &nbsp;

"We always talk about making sure that we have teams like Maryville on our schedule so that we can prepare ourselves for the playoffs, just the physicality, the athleticism, and just the pressure that they put on us, " Elms tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

"Just to be able to have different options to score that's something that we needed to be able to see, so I was proud of our team defense and just being able to attack, and we had a lot of young ladies step up offensively."&nbsp;

The game started off pretty smoothly for the Lady Bulldogs. Junior Angelina Engnes hit two early three-point shots, and Junior Hilarry Elifrits also hit one to help the East Buchanan to an early 15-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. &nbsp;

But the Spoofhounds would storm back in the second, outscoring the Bulldogs 15-7, largely thanks to Sophomore Jalea Price's five points, and at halftime, East Buchanan held a slim 22-19 lead. &nbsp;

There was a rare sight this season for Bulldogs fans at halftime when they looked at the scoreboard- the number zero next to Senior Gracie Kelsey's name.&nbsp; Kelsey says Maryville's defense did a good job of defending her, but commended her teammates for the way they stepped up. &nbsp;

"They were running such a good defense and had other people step up and score big buckets for us," Kelsey says. "Gina and Hilarry hit some big-time threes, and then Brookie J (Freshman Brooklynn Johnson) came in and got a good rebound that we really needed and we were able to secure it and get free throws off it, so other people were able to step up and do their job when I couldn't."&nbsp;

A rough first half didn't deter Kelsey, though. She came out scoring fast and furious in the second half, quickly scoring seven points. Yet, the Spoofhounds wouldn't go away, keeping it close, thanks to seven points from Senior Rylee Vierthaler.&nbsp; But at the end of the third, the Bulldogs still led 36-33. &nbsp;

The final frame got even more interesting.&nbsp; Elifrits would open the scoring in the quarter for the Bulldogs hitting a big three, immediately prompting a Spoofhoud timeout with 6:16 left in the game.&nbsp; Out of the timeout, Maryville looked unstoppable, scratching and clawing even closer, trailing just by one point with 2:21 left in the game.

East Buchanan still held a 48-46 lead with 16.7 seconds left.&nbsp; Out of a Maryville timeout, the ball would go back to the Bulldogs with 9.7 seconds left and a home crowd in Gower growing increasingly loud.

After a Bulldogs timeout, Kelsey got fouled and was sent to the line, converting one free throw and pushing the lead to 49-46. &nbsp;

East Buchanan was led in scoring by Kelsey, who in the second half alone scored 15 points, while Elifrits scored 13. Price led the Spoofhounds in scoring with 13. Senior Anastyn Pettlon added 12. &nbsp;

Coach Elms says she was glad to see other girls step up on the offensive side of the ball, especially in a time when everyone is focused on Kelsey. &nbsp;

"You know ,they do kind of take that a little personal for good reason, but also when you have a player like Gracie that's drawing that much attention, you have to have other young ladies that are willing to take shots and getting them to be willing to take those shots is something we've had to focus on," Elms says. "And so, Gina hitting those two threes early in the game, really for her to hit those was huge for us."&nbsp;

The Lady Bulldogs are now 12-1 on the season with their only loss coming to Lathrop in the KCI Tournament, which they avenged just a month later beating the Lady Mules 42-35 last week.&nbsp; East Buchanan is also 4-0 on the season against Class 4 opponents with wins over Cameron, St. Pius X and Savannah as well. &nbsp;

Elms says while they don't pay attention to what class an opponent is in; she knows winning those games is very important. &nbsp;

"We're not necessarily worried about class size we're playing, what we're worried about is are things that we're doing to prepare ourselves for the playoffs," Elms says. "And so, that's really important to us as we look at our district our district has a lot of teams in it, it could go a lot of different directions, so we have to do everything we can to be able to match the physicality, match the athleticism, and try to play both ends of the floor." &nbsp;

The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action next Thursday, against another Class 4 opponent, as they travel to Chillicothe.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673409266733.jpeg" alt="Junior Angelina Engnes takes a three point shot, one of two she hit early in the first quarter/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Junior Angelina Engnes takes a three point shot, one of two she hit early in the first quarter/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostGower, MO - It wasn't easy, but the East Buchanan girls' basketball team secured their 12th win of the season on Tuesday night in Gower.&nbsp; The Bulldogs took on a tough defensive Maryville team, and came away with a 49-46 victory.&nbsp;Bulldogs Head Coach Cori Elms says she thought that both teams played incredibly hard on the night. &nbsp;"We always talk about making sure that we have teams like Maryville on our schedule so that we can prepare ourselves for the playoffs, just the physicality, the athleticism, and just the pressure that they put on us, " Elms tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post."Just to be able to have different options to score that's something that we needed to be able to see, so I was proud of our team defense and just being able to attack, and we had a lot of young ladies step up offensively."&nbsp;The game started off pretty smoothly for the Lady Bulldogs. Junior Angelina Engnes hit two early three-point shots, and Junior Hilarry Elifrits also hit one to help the East Buchanan to an early 15-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. &nbsp;But the Spoofhounds would storm back in the second, outscoring the Bulldogs 15-7, largely thanks to Sophomore Jalea Price's five points, and at halftime, East Buchanan held a slim 22-19 lead. &nbsp;There was a rare sight this season for Bulldogs fans at halftime when they looked at the scoreboard- the number zero next to Senior Gracie Kelsey's name.&nbsp; Kelsey says Maryville's defense did a good job of defending her, but commended her teammates for the way they stepped up. &nbsp;"They were running such a good defense and had other people step up and score big buckets for us," Kelsey says. "Gina and Hilarry hit some big-time threes, and then Brookie J (Freshman Brooklynn Johnson) came in and got a good rebound that we really needed and we were able to secure it and get free throws off it, so other people were able to step up and do their job when I couldn't."&nbsp;A rough first half didn't deter Kelsey, though. She came out scoring fast and furious in the second half, quickly scoring seven points. Yet, the Spoofhounds wouldn't go away, keeping it close, thanks to seven points from Senior Rylee Vierthaler.&nbsp; But at the end of the third, the Bulldogs still led 36-33. &nbsp;The final frame got even more interesting.&nbsp; Elifrits would open the scoring in the quarter for the Bulldogs hitting a big three, immediately prompting a Spoofhoud timeout with 6:16 left in the game.&nbsp; Out of the timeout, Maryville looked unstoppable, scratching and clawing even closer, trailing just by one point with 2:21 left in the game.East Buchanan still held a 48-46 lead with 16.7 seconds left.&nbsp; Out of a Maryville timeout, the ball would go back to the Bulldogs with 9.7 seconds left and a home crowd in Gower growing increasingly loud.After a Bulldogs timeout, Kelsey got fouled and was sent to the line, converting one free throw and pushing the lead to 49-46. &nbsp;East Buchanan was led in scoring by Kelsey, who in the second half alone scored 15 points, while Elifrits scored 13. Price led the Spoofhounds in scoring with 13. Senior Anastyn Pettlon added 12. &nbsp;Coach Elms says she was glad to see other girls step up on the offensive side of the ball, especially in a time when everyone is focused on Kelsey. &nbsp;"You know ,they do kind of take that a little personal for good reason, but also when you have a player like Gracie that's drawing that much attention, you have to have other young ladies that are willing to take shots and getting them to be willing to take those shots is something we've had to focus on," Elms says. "And so, Gina hitting those two threes early in the game, really for her to hit those was huge for us."&nbsp;The Lady Bulldogs are now 12-1 on the season with their only loss coming to Lathrop in the KCI Tournament, which they avenged just a month later beating the Lady Mules 42-35 last week.&nbsp; East Buchanan is also 4-0 on the season against Class 4 opponents with wins over Cameron, St. Pius X and Savannah as well. &nbsp;Elms says while they don't pay attention to what class an opponent is in; she knows winning those games is very important. &nbsp;"We're not necessarily worried about class size we're playing, what we're worried about is are things that we're doing to prepare ourselves for the playoffs," Elms says. "And so, that's really important to us as we look at our district our district has a lot of teams in it, it could go a lot of different directions, so we have to do everything we can to be able to match the physicality, match the athleticism, and try to play both ends of the floor." &nbsp;The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action next Thursday, against another Class 4 opponent, as they travel to Chillicothe.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673409331717.jpeg" alt="Gracie Kelsey shoots a floater over two Maryville defenders/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Gracie Kelsey shoots a floater over two Maryville defenders/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>

East Buchanan girls basketball earns hard fought win over Maryville Tuesday

The Missouri Western men's basketball team found themselves down 8-2 in the first 2.5 minutes of Tuesday's game against Fort Hays State, but quickly, the Griffons turned the tide.

In fact, Missouri Western flat out locked down Fort Hays State for most of the first half. The Griffons held the Tigers to just five points through the final 16:08 of the first half to go up 12 at the break, and Missouri Western held on late for a 62-55 win on Tuesday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The game was postponed from Dec. 10 due to a COVID-19 shutdown within the Missouri Western program last month.

The Griffons (8-6, 4-4 MIAA) led by as many as 17 before Hays got to within 56-50 with 36 seconds left. Hays fought to the end, but Missouri Western was a solid 8-of-9 at the free throw line in the second half to close it out.

The Griffons were also an efficient 9-of-16 from three through the whole 40 minutes, helping them to snap a three-game losing skid.

"I'm just proud of our team," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said after on KFEQ Radio. "Just staying connected and staying committed. It's hard when you go on losing streaks like that. It's really hard. We have to get better. We have to take care of the ball, which we didn't do a phenomenal job of, especially in the second half.

But, the commitment these guys have, the intensity and intentionality they bring every single day, has been consistent."

Missouri Western was without their all-MIAA starting forward and team captain Will Eames Tuesday, who was sidelined with a hand injury sustained in the second of Saturday's game at Northwest Missouri State.

As a result, junior forward JaRon Thames got his first start of the season and rose to the occasion, leading the Griffons with 15 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

It was Thames' third career double-double in a season where he was shelved for much of November and December with a hand injury.

"I feel like we played hard as a team," Thames said. "We knew it was going to be a 'grind it out' defensive game. We knew we had to come in, locked in, laser focused and get the job done. We just knew we had to come and get a win today."

Sophomore Julius Dixon had 13 points on 3-for-3 shooting from downtown, while junior Reese Glover had 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from long range.

Glover is now up to 233 made three-pointers at Missouri Western in his fourth year in the program. That ties the school record set by Cole Clearman for most threes made in a Griffon career, and Glover still has half of this season ahead of him.

"Really proud of Reese and I hope he breaks that record at Newman," Martin said of Glover's achievement.

Sophomore Taye Fields turned in a gritty effort Tuesday, scoring five points to go with seven assists, seven rebounds and two steals.&nbsp;

Sophomore Kaleb Hammeke led Fort Hays State with a game-high 16 points. Sophomore Elijah Nnanabu scored 15. Hays was held to 34.5 percent shooting from the field, and just 4-of-23 from three.

Western also outrebounded Hays 37-30, and shot 44.4 percent from the field.

The win is Missouri Western's first of 2023 and it was a nice bounce back after a one-point loss to Rogers State, a two-point loss to Northeastern State and then a 23-point loss at Northwest Missouri State.

"I'm proud of our guys," Martin reiterated. "We still have to get a lot better. We have to take care of the basketball, but the way we guarded in the first half and holding them to 15 points. That gives me a lot of optimism. That shows me we have kids who are gritty."

Both the Missouri Western men's and women's basketball teams go on the road Thursday to face Newman. The games start at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Both games are on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673399932224.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Reese Glover (left) and JaRon Thames (right) ring the bell following the Griffons' 62-55 win over Fort Hays State on Tuesday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Reese Glover (left) and JaRon Thames (right) ring the bell following the Griffons' 62-55 win over Fort Hays State on Tuesday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western men's basketball team found themselves down 8-2 in the first 2.5 minutes of Tuesday's game against Fort Hays State, but quickly, the Griffons turned the tide.In fact, Missouri Western flat out locked down Fort Hays State for most of the first half. The Griffons held the Tigers to just five points through the final 16:08 of the first half to go up 12 at the break, and Missouri Western held on late for a 62-55 win on Tuesday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.The game was postponed from Dec. 10 due to a COVID-19 shutdown within the Missouri Western program last month.The Griffons (8-6, 4-4 MIAA) led by as many as 17 before Hays got to within 56-50 with 36 seconds left. Hays fought to the end, but Missouri Western was a solid 8-of-9 at the free throw line in the second half to close it out.The Griffons were also an efficient 9-of-16 from three through the whole 40 minutes, helping them to snap a three-game losing skid."I'm just proud of our team," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said after on KFEQ Radio. "Just staying connected and staying committed. It's hard when you go on losing streaks like that. It's really hard. We have to get better. We have to take care of the ball, which we didn't do a phenomenal job of, especially in the second half.But, the commitment these guys have, the intensity and intentionality they bring every single day, has been consistent."Missouri Western was without their all-MIAA starting forward and team captain Will Eames Tuesday, who was sidelined with a hand injury sustained in the second of Saturday's game at Northwest Missouri State.As a result, junior forward JaRon Thames got his first start of the season and rose to the occasion, leading the Griffons with 15 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.It was Thames' third career double-double in a season where he was shelved for much of November and December with a hand injury."I feel like we played hard as a team," Thames said. "We knew it was going to be a 'grind it out' defensive game. We knew we had to come in, locked in, laser focused and get the job done. We just knew we had to come and get a win today."Sophomore Julius Dixon had 13 points on 3-for-3 shooting from downtown, while junior Reese Glover had 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from long range.Glover is now up to 233 made three-pointers at Missouri Western in his fourth year in the program. That ties the school record set by Cole Clearman for most threes made in a Griffon career, and Glover still has half of this season ahead of him."Really proud of Reese and I hope he breaks that record at Newman," Martin said of Glover's achievement.Sophomore Taye Fields turned in a gritty effort Tuesday, scoring five points to go with seven assists, seven rebounds and two steals.&nbsp;Sophomore Kaleb Hammeke led Fort Hays State with a game-high 16 points. Sophomore Elijah Nnanabu scored 15. Hays was held to 34.5 percent shooting from the field, and just 4-of-23 from three.Western also outrebounded Hays 37-30, and shot 44.4 percent from the field.The win is Missouri Western's first of 2023 and it was a nice bounce back after a one-point loss to Rogers State, a two-point loss to Northeastern State and then a 23-point loss at Northwest Missouri State."I'm proud of our guys," Martin reiterated. "We still have to get a lot better. We have to take care of the basketball, but the way we guarded in the first half and holding them to 15 points. That gives me a lot of optimism. That shows me we have kids who are gritty."Both the Missouri Western men's and women's basketball teams go on the road Thursday to face Newman. The games start at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Both games are on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Junior-JaRon-Thames---Missouri-Western-vs--Fort-Hays-State-postgame--1-10-23-e1taui9" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-mens-basketball-coach-Will-Martin---Fort-Hays-State-postgame-1-10-23-e1taujo" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western turns in strong defensive effort in win over Fort Hays State Tuesday

Lafayette senior and three-time state wrestling medalist Jay Greiner will continue his athletic and academic career at the University of Chicago.

 After verbally announcing his commitment in December, Greiner signed his national letter of intent at Lafayette High School Monday to make it official. Greiner says it’s the fulfillment of a dream he’s had for years.

"Chicago has been a dream of mine for a few years now," Greiner said. "I've been looking at them since eighth grade. To even have this opportunity is just incredible and I am truly blessed."

The top student in his class, Greiner plans to study either computer science or business economics. Greiner medaled second at state in both his freshman and sophomore year, and then took gold in 2022 as a junior behind a state record 61 wins last season.

He's now piled up 195 career wins, which right now is tied for 12th most in state history. He's also on the verge of breaking another state record, as he's amassed 27 consecutive pins. One more would be a record.

This year, he’s a perfect 32-0 with a large chunk of the season still to go. Lafayette head wrestling coach Josh Walters says Greiner is a role model in every way - not just because of his wrestling ability.

"I've spent the last four years with this young man and his father," Walters said. "We have grown to be very close. This young man, I couldn't say more. He is the nicest, the smartest, the most talented. I have no words on how great this individual is now and how great he will be in the future."

Greiner’s father, Jason, is an assistant on the Lafayette varsity team and has coached Jay throughout his whole life. Jay says he and everyone who's supported him through the years has played a major role in getting him to where he is now.

"My father, all through growing up," Jay said. "Not only being a role model, but a coach. Changing my life athletically. Life goes in steps, and that's what I've learned. It doesn't just happen. It takes time and it's been a long road. I love everyone who's helped me along the way."

Walters says the Greiner family trusted in God's plan when they were figuring out where Jay might go to college, and how could be successful as a wrestler and as a full-time student.

"God has meant to put (Jay) at the University of Chicago," Walters said. "I told (Jason), 'Have faith, that's where he's going to be.' When (Jay) came to Lafayette, I talked to him for a long time about where he was going to go (for college). He had like four places, and I go, 'I really think God has meant for him to be here.' I think God's plan has been lived by the Greiner family."

Greiner is also a two-time MEC Conference and city wrestling champion. With the city, conference, district and sectional meets still to come this seasob, Greiner says he's been taking every opportunity to savor his final year as a high school wrestler.

"I really didn't notice it was over until recently," he said. "I'm kind of trying to make the most of it. Working hard, even when I don't want to. Even when I don't feel like it, I want to make the most of it no matter what."

When Greiner is finished at Lafayette, Walters will not only remember his years with Jay fondly, but he will also be able to reap the rewards of a strong culture that Greiner helped establish in the North Side.

"Day in and day out, the kids see it every single day and they just want to be more like him," Walters said of Greiner. "He is great and anytime someone is looking up to someone so great, they just become better."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673306390763.jpeg" alt="Lafayette's Jay Greiner (center, white shirt) signs his national letter of intent for University of Chicago wrestling at Lafayette High School Monday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Lafayette's Jay Greiner (center, white shirt) signs his national letter of intent for University of Chicago wrestling at Lafayette High School Monday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostLafayette senior and three-time state wrestling medalist Jay Greiner will continue his athletic and academic career at the University of Chicago. After verbally announcing his commitment in December, Greiner signed his national letter of intent at Lafayette High School Monday to make it official. Greiner says it’s the fulfillment of a dream he’s had for years."Chicago has been a dream of mine for a few years now," Greiner said. "I've been looking at them since eighth grade. To even have this opportunity is just incredible and I am truly blessed."The top student in his class, Greiner plans to study either computer science or business economics. Greiner medaled second at state in both his freshman and sophomore year, and then took gold in 2022 as a junior behind a state record 61 wins last season.He's now piled up 195 career wins, which right now is tied for 12th most in state history. He's also on the verge of breaking another state record, as he's amassed 27 consecutive pins. One more would be a record.This year, he’s a perfect 32-0 with a large chunk of the season still to go. Lafayette head wrestling coach Josh Walters says Greiner is a role model in every way - not just because of his wrestling ability."I've spent the last four years with this young man and his father," Walters said. "We have grown to be very close. This young man, I couldn't say more. He is the nicest, the smartest, the most talented. I have no words on how great this individual is now and how great he will be in the future."Greiner’s father, Jason, is an assistant on the Lafayette varsity team and has coached Jay throughout his whole life. Jay says he and everyone who's supported him through the years has played a major role in getting him to where he is now."My father, all through growing up," Jay said. "Not only being a role model, but a coach. Changing my life athletically. Life goes in steps, and that's what I've learned. It doesn't just happen. It takes time and it's been a long road. I love everyone who's helped me along the way."Walters says the Greiner family trusted in God's plan when they were figuring out where Jay might go to college, and how could be successful as a wrestler and as a full-time student."God has meant to put (Jay) at the University of Chicago," Walters said. "I told (Jason), 'Have faith, that's where he's going to be.' When (Jay) came to Lafayette, I talked to him for a long time about where he was going to go (for college). He had like four places, and I go, 'I really think God has meant for him to be here.' I think God's plan has been lived by the Greiner family."Greiner is also a two-time MEC Conference and city wrestling champion. With the city, conference, district and sectional meets still to come this seasob, Greiner says he's been taking every opportunity to savor his final year as a high school wrestler."I really didn't notice it was over until recently," he said. "I'm kind of trying to make the most of it. Working hard, even when I don't want to. Even when I don't feel like it, I want to make the most of it no matter what."When Greiner is finished at Lafayette, Walters will not only remember his years with Jay fondly, but he will also be able to reap the rewards of a strong culture that Greiner helped establish in the North Side."Day in and day out, the kids see it every single day and they just want to be more like him," Walters said of Greiner. "He is great and anytime someone is looking up to someone so great, they just become better."Interviews<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Lafayette-senior-Jay-Greiner-e1t9fo3" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Lafayette-head-wrestling-coach-Josh-Walters-e1t9fq2" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643346143188.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615507796288.jpeg" alt="Lafayette's Jay Greiner (right) squares off against Camden Meeks of Blair Oaks in a state semifinal match in 2021. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Lafayette's Jay Greiner (right) squares off against Camden Meeks of Blair Oaks in a state semifinal match in 2021. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673307761227.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673307779774.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Lafayette senior, star wrestler Jay Greiner signs to University of Chicago Monday

MARYVILLE - It took the Missouri Western women's basketball team a little while to get going Saturday against Northwest Missouri State.

But once they got going, the Griffons were tough to stop.

A three-pointer by junior Jordan Cunningham with 6:59 left in the second quarter gave Missouri Western its first lead at 14-12, and the Griffons (13-4, 7-2 MIAA) never looked back in a 55-37 win over Northwest at Bearcat Arena in Maryville Saturday.

The Griffons outscored Northwest 18-3 in the second period after trailing 10-7 at the end of the first.

"I thought our defense is why the middle (of the game) was so good," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "We sped the game up, we got more possessions, we used our length and athleticism to turn them over and make them take a quicker shot."

Missouri Western picked up where they left off after halftime, scoring 26 third quarter points and shooting 62.5 percent from the field during that time.

The Griffons led by as many as 26 before Northwest (7-7, 2-6 MIAA) narrowed the gap a bit, outscoring Missouri Western 12-4 in the final quarter.

Still, the Griffons held Northwest to 28.6 percent shooting from the field and Missouri Western scored 22 points off of 17 Bearcat turnovers.

Junior Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western in scoring with a game-high 15 points. Junior Connie Clarke logged her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Junior Jordan Cunningham and freshman Kassandra Caron each scored 10 points off the bench.

"I thought both Jordan and Kassie were huge for us," Whitaker said, "at a time when we were struggling. It was a tight ball game and we weren't making shots (early on) and weren't getting to multiple sides, and both of them made huge plays and had shots go down."

Sophomore Molly Hartnett led Northwest eight points. Sophomore Caely Kesten scored seven.

Saturday's win is now the sixth straight for the Griffons, as they claimed their first win in Bearcat Arena since January 2020. The 37 points also ties the fewest Missouri Western has ever allowed in an MIAA game.

The Griffons have real momentum as they head out on the road to face Newman Thursday and Central Oklahoma Saturday.

"We're getting close to the halfway point (of the season)," Whitaker said. "Every game is important in this league. It's so important to stay focused on that. I think that teams that get their eye off of the next opponent can let things slip up. Our entire focus will be on Newman, then UCO and just take it game-by-game."

Northwest men end first half on a 23-2 run, Bearcats roll to victory

Missouri Western came to play in the first 10.5 minutes of Saturday's game, trading baskets with No. 5 Northwest and even leading 16-14 with 9:24 left in the first half.

The Bearcats (14-1, 7-1 MIAA) then found their groove and never let up, ending the first half on a 23-2 run. Northwest led 37-18 at halftime and cruised to an 87-64 win at Bearcat Arena Saturday.

Missouri Western committed 12 first half turnovers, and the Bearcats hit six of their first nine shots from downtown.

"I thought once we were able to get clicking a bit more on offense, I thought that helped a ton," Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. "I thought we got out in front of (Missouri Western's) angles quite a bit. I thought we were able to defend them pretty good."

Missouri Western played much better offensively in the second half, shooting 59.1 percent in the final 20 minutes and connecting on 15-of-20 free throws during that time as well.

The Griffons committed only three turnovers in the second half after giving up 12 in the first 20 minutes.

"So when we just hand them those possessions, it's hard for me to evaluate where our offense is," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "We turned the ball over three times in the second half and scored 46 points. I'll continue to say it - we have to value possessions and take care of the basketball."

The Bearcats kept up their pace on offense down the stretch, shooting 64.3 percent in the second half and 63.3 percent on the day. Northwest also knocked down 14-of-26 shots from long range.

Junior Wes Dreamer led five Bearcats in double figures with 17 points. Dreamer alone was 5-of-8 from three. Senior Diego Bernard had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Sophomore Mitch Mascari scored 13 points, junior Luke Waters scored 12 while freshman Bennett Stirtz had 11.

Junior JaRon Thames played a season-high 27 minutes and scored a season-high 17 points to lead Missouri Western. Thames has been coming off of a left hand injury.

Sophomore Taye Fields had 15 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Sophomore Julius Dixon finished with 14 points.

The Griffons shot 46.5 percent from the field and were 17-of-24 at the free throw line Saturday.

"They kept fighting the entire 40 minutes," Martin said of his team. "It makes me proud as a coach. I don't want to lose. None of us do. We're ultimate competitors, but to have a team, no matter what the score is, they're going to continue to fight. That means a lot to me."

Missouri Western has now lost three straight, and also dropped their 22nd in a row to the Bearcats.

The Missouri Western men start a busy week on Tuesday at home with a makeup game against Fort Hays State. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. Both Griffon teams then head to Wichita Thursday to face Newman.

"It never gets easier in this league," Martin said. "You can't circle any games as wins. They're all tough. This is a tough stretch for us and it'll test our character and our grit."

Those games Thursday start at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. All of the games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673142089269.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western freshman Kassandra Caron&nbsp; (42) scored a career-high 10 points in the Griffons' 55-37 win at Northwest Missouri State Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western freshman Kassandra Caron&nbsp; (42) scored a career-high 10 points in the Griffons' 55-37 win at Northwest Missouri State Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMARYVILLE - It took the Missouri Western women's basketball team a little while to get going Saturday against Northwest Missouri State.But once they got going, the Griffons were tough to stop.A three-pointer by junior Jordan Cunningham with 6:59 left in the second quarter gave Missouri Western its first lead at 14-12, and the Griffons (13-4, 7-2 MIAA) never looked back in a 55-37 win over Northwest at Bearcat Arena in Maryville Saturday.The Griffons outscored Northwest 18-3 in the second period after trailing 10-7 at the end of the first."I thought our defense is why the middle (of the game) was so good," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "We sped the game up, we got more possessions, we used our length and athleticism to turn them over and make them take a quicker shot."Missouri Western picked up where they left off after halftime, scoring 26 third quarter points and shooting 62.5 percent from the field during that time.The Griffons led by as many as 26 before Northwest (7-7, 2-6 MIAA) narrowed the gap a bit, outscoring Missouri Western 12-4 in the final quarter.Still, the Griffons held Northwest to 28.6 percent shooting from the field and Missouri Western scored 22 points off of 17 Bearcat turnovers.Junior Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western in scoring with a game-high 15 points. Junior Connie Clarke logged her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 rebounds.Junior Jordan Cunningham and freshman Kassandra Caron each scored 10 points off the bench."I thought both Jordan and Kassie were huge for us," Whitaker said, "at a time when we were struggling. It was a tight ball game and we weren't making shots (early on) and weren't getting to multiple sides, and both of them made huge plays and had shots go down."Sophomore Molly Hartnett led Northwest eight points. Sophomore Caely Kesten scored seven.Saturday's win is now the sixth straight for the Griffons, as they claimed their first win in Bearcat Arena since January 2020. The 37 points also ties the fewest Missouri Western has ever allowed in an MIAA game.The Griffons have real momentum as they head out on the road to face Newman Thursday and Central Oklahoma Saturday."We're getting close to the halfway point (of the season)," Whitaker said. "Every game is important in this league. It's so important to stay focused on that. I think that teams that get their eye off of the next opponent can let things slip up. Our entire focus will be on Newman, then UCO and just take it game-by-game."Postgame interviews<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-freshman-Kassandra-Caron---Northwest-Missouri-State-postgame-e1t727t" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-WBB-coach-Candi-Whitaker---Northwest-Missouri-State-postgame-e1t724d" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Northwest men end first half on a 23-2 run, Bearcats roll to victory<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673146475700.jpeg" alt="JaRon Thamesgoes up for a shot during Missouri Western's 87-64 loss at No. 5 Northwest Missouri State Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>JaRon Thamesgoes up for a shot during Missouri Western's 87-64 loss at No. 5 Northwest Missouri State Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>Missouri Western came to play in the first 10.5 minutes of Saturday's game, trading baskets with No. 5 Northwest and even leading 16-14 with 9:24 left in the first half.The Bearcats (14-1, 7-1 MIAA) then found their groove and never let up, ending the first half on a 23-2 run. Northwest led 37-18 at halftime and cruised to an 87-64 win at Bearcat Arena Saturday.Missouri Western committed 12 first half turnovers, and the Bearcats hit six of their first nine shots from downtown."I thought once we were able to get clicking a bit more on offense, I thought that helped a ton," Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. "I thought we got out in front of (Missouri Western's) angles quite a bit. I thought we were able to defend them pretty good."Missouri Western played much better offensively in the second half, shooting 59.1 percent in the final 20 minutes and connecting on 15-of-20 free throws during that time as well.The Griffons committed only three turnovers in the second half after giving up 12 in the first 20 minutes."So when we just hand them those possessions, it's hard for me to evaluate where our offense is," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "We turned the ball over three times in the second half and scored 46 points. I'll continue to say it - we have to value possessions and take care of the basketball."The Bearcats kept up their pace on offense down the stretch, shooting 64.3 percent in the second half and 63.3 percent on the day. Northwest also knocked down 14-of-26 shots from long range.Junior Wes Dreamer led five Bearcats in double figures with 17 points. Dreamer alone was 5-of-8 from three. Senior Diego Bernard had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists.Sophomore Mitch Mascari scored 13 points, junior Luke Waters scored 12 while freshman Bennett Stirtz had 11.Junior JaRon Thames played a season-high 27 minutes and scored a season-high 17 points to lead Missouri Western. Thames has been coming off of a left hand injury.Sophomore Taye Fields had 15 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Sophomore Julius Dixon finished with 14 points.The Griffons shot 46.5 percent from the field and were 17-of-24 at the free throw line Saturday."They kept fighting the entire 40 minutes," Martin said of his team. "It makes me proud as a coach. I don't want to lose. None of us do. We're ultimate competitors, but to have a team, no matter what the score is, they're going to continue to fight. That means a lot to me."Missouri Western has now lost three straight, and also dropped their 22nd in a row to the Bearcats.The Missouri Western men start a busy week on Tuesday at home with a makeup game against Fort Hays State. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. Both Griffon teams then head to Wichita Thursday to face Newman."It never gets easier in this league," Martin said. "You can't circle any games as wins. They're all tough. This is a tough stretch for us and it'll test our character and our grit."Those games Thursday start at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. All of the games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).Postgame interview<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-MBB-coach-Will-Martin---Northwest-Missouri-State-postgame-e1t728b" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU WBB dominates down the stretch, Bearcat men rout Griffons Saturday

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes set the NFL record for total yards in a season, and the Kansas City Chiefs rolled to a 31-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday to lock up the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes set the NFL record for total yards in a season, and the Kansas City Chiefs rolled to a 31-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday to lock up the AFC’s No. 1 seed.Mahomes passed for 202 yards and rushed for 29 against the Raiders, giving him 5,608 total yards this season. That surpassed the record of 5,562 yards set by Drew Brees in 2011 with the New Orleans Saints.More than setting the mark, Mahomes helped ensure the top seed for the Chiefs (14-3) and a bye in the first round of the playoffs, which begin next weekend. Kansas City, however, is not assured of home-field advantage throughout the postseason.Because Monday night’s Buffalo-Cincinnati game was canceled, the Chiefs could wind up playing the Bills or Bengals in the AFC championship on a neutral field. The Buffalo-Cincinnati game initially was postponed after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest. Hamlin remains in critical condition, but is improving.The Chiefs matched their franchise record for regular-season victories, set in 2020, and they set a team mark with their 17th consecutive game of at least 300 yards of offense.The Raiders (6-11) ended their first season under coach Josh McDaniels with three consecutive losses and four defeats in five games. They made the playoffs a year ago, but now face serious questions at quarterback, offensive line and throughout the defense.Jarrett Stidham started his second game in a row in place of the sidelined Derek Carr, and this performance didn’t go nearly as well as the first one. Stidham completed 22 of 36 passes for 219 yards with a touchdown and interception. He was sacked six times.A week ago, he threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-34 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers.Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who was dealing with hip and oblique injuries as well as a reported family emergency, was a game-day decision but played. He rushed for 45 yards and could possibly win the NFL rushing title with 1,653 yards.But Jacobs fell short of the franchise rushing record of 1,759 yards set by Marcus Allen in 1985. This was potentially Jacobs’ final game as a member of the Raiders because his fifth-year option was not picked up. His performance this season has given Las Vegas officials plenty to consider.

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