KANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western men's basketball team led for more than 33 minutes, and held on to beat Washburn 69-63 in the opening round of the MIAA men's basketball tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Wednesday.

The Griffons (14-15, 10-13 MIAA) got off to a 12-5 start, but trailed 30-28 at halftime after the Ichabods ended the first half on a 6-0 run.

Washburn (14-15, 11-12 MIAA) went up by four points early in the second half, but Missouri Western responded with an 8-0 run to go up 36-32 with 17:03 left.

The Griffons never trailed after that. Missouri extended their lead to 53-43 with 8:45 remaining.

Washburn closed the gap, but the Griffons again pushed the lead to 62-54 with 2:11 left. The Ichabods got a three-pointer from Jaden Monday and a pair of free throws from Connor Deffebaugh to make it a 64-63 ballgame with 34 seconds to go.

However, Alex John had a fast break dunk off of a pass from JaRon Thames to put the Griffons up 66-63 with 25 seconds left. Then, Thames and Fields combined to make 3-of-4 free throw attempts in the final 20 seconds to put the game on ice.

The Griffons struggled at the free throw line throughout the entire second half Wednesday. Missouri Western finished the game 13-of-24 at the charity stripe, including just 9-of-20 in the second half.

"Anytime you can get a conference win in the conference tournament on a neutral court, it's extremely difficult to do," Missouri Western assistant coach Jon Hood said. "It was fun to watch and to be a part of.&nbsp; Just have to come out and do it again tomorrow."

Julius Dixon led Missouri Western in scoring with a career-high 20 points on a career-best five made three-pointers. Fields had a game-high 16 rebounds to go with 15 points, tallying his sixth double-double of the season.

"(Fields, Thames) and Julius were locked in and they had a look like, 'Alright, this is going to be a special day," Hood said. "I know Taye and (JaRon) didn't like how it ended down here last year with Rogers State (in the first round)."

Thames had 13 point and a career-best seven steals, while Zion Swader ended with 11. The Griffons nabbed 13 steals and held Washburn to 37.3 percent shooting.

Andrew Orr led Washburn with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tyler Nelson had 14.

Missouri Western now advances to the MIAA tournament quarterfinals to face No. 1 seed Northwest Missouri State on Thursday at noon. The Bearcats (27-2) had a first-round bye.

The Bearcats have won 23 straight meetings against the Griffons, and ended their season on a 13-game winning streak. Northwest has also won six of the last seven MIAA tournament crowns.

Still, on February 18, Missouri Western hung in until the end against Northwest in a 68-59 loss to the Bearcats in St. Joseph. Hood is hopeful that the Griffons' extra game this week could help them in a big way.

"I like our guys' attitude that they have," Hood said. "I like the guys' preparation they're putting in. Now, we just have to show it in the game. We played them very well in the first half at our place, and that was a fun game to be a part of. Not the result we wanted, but we're going to build on that and we have the momentum."

Tip-off in Thursday's quarterfinal is set for noon. Coverage on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) starts at 11:30 a.m.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677709335868.jpeg" alt="Julius Dixon (0) goes up for a dunk in Missouri Western's 69-63 win over Washburn at the MIAA tournament in Kansas City Wednesday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Julius Dixon (0) goes up for a dunk in Missouri Western's 69-63 win over Washburn at the MIAA tournament in Kansas City Wednesday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY - The Missouri Western men's basketball team led for more than 33 minutes, and held on to beat Washburn 69-63 in the opening round of the MIAA men's basketball tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City Wednesday.The Griffons (14-15, 10-13 MIAA) got off to a 12-5 start, but trailed 30-28 at halftime after the Ichabods ended the first half on a 6-0 run.Washburn (14-15, 11-12 MIAA) went up by four points early in the second half, but Missouri Western responded with an 8-0 run to go up 36-32 with 17:03 left.The Griffons never trailed after that. Missouri extended their lead to 53-43 with 8:45 remaining.Washburn closed the gap, but the Griffons again pushed the lead to 62-54 with 2:11 left. The Ichabods got a three-pointer from Jaden Monday and a pair of free throws from Connor Deffebaugh to make it a 64-63 ballgame with 34 seconds to go.However, Alex John had a fast break dunk off of a pass from JaRon Thames to put the Griffons up 66-63 with 25 seconds left. Then, Thames and Fields combined to make 3-of-4 free throw attempts in the final 20 seconds to put the game on ice.The Griffons struggled at the free throw line throughout the entire second half Wednesday. Missouri Western finished the game 13-of-24 at the charity stripe, including just 9-of-20 in the second half.Still, they made enough when it counted."Anytime you can get a conference win in the conference tournament on a neutral court, it's extremely difficult to do," Missouri Western assistant coach Jon Hood said. "It was fun to watch and to be a part of.&nbsp; Just have to come out and do it again tomorrow."Julius Dixon led Missouri Western in scoring with a career-high 20 points on a career-best five made three-pointers. Fields had a game-high 16 rebounds to go with 15 points, tallying his sixth double-double of the season."(Fields, Thames) and Julius were locked in and they had a look like, 'Alright, this is going to be a special day," Hood said. "I know Taye and (JaRon) didn't like how it ended down here last year with Rogers State (in the first round)."Thames had 13 point and a career-best seven steals, while Zion Swader ended with 11. The Griffons nabbed 13 steals and held Washburn to 37.3 percent shooting.Andrew Orr led Washburn with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tyler Nelson had 14.Missouri Western now advances to the MIAA tournament quarterfinals to face No. 1 seed Northwest Missouri State on Thursday at noon. The Bearcats (27-2) had a first-round bye.The Bearcats have won 23 straight meetings against the Griffons, and ended their season on a 13-game winning streak. Northwest has also won six of the last seven MIAA tournament crowns.Still, on February 18, Missouri Western hung in until the end against Northwest in a 68-59 loss to the Bearcats in St. Joseph. Hood is hopeful that the Griffons' extra game this week could help them in a big way."I like our guys' attitude that they have," Hood said. "I like the guys' preparation they're putting in. Now, we just have to show it in the game. We played them very well in the first half at our place, and that was a fun game to be a part of. Not the result we wanted, but we're going to build on that and we have the momentum."Tip-off in Thursday's quarterfinal is set for noon. Coverage on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) starts at 11:30 a.m.Interview with Jon Hood<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-MBB-assistant-coach-Jon-Hood---3123-e1vnc6g" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677709766291.jpeg" alt="Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. JosephPost @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western MBB outlasts Washburn in MIAA tournament, face Bearcats Thursday

KANSAS CITY - Bishop LeBlond got off to a decently strong start, and fended off a furious charge from Polo late in a 49-39 victory at Staley High School Tuesday in a Class 2 state sectional.

LeBlond (26-3) led 27-19 at halftime and then 40-29 early in the fourth. Everything seemed to be going the Golden Eagles' way, but a 10-0 run by Polo made it a 40-39 game in the closing minutes.

LeBlond weathered the storm, and ended the game on a 9-0 run of their own to put the game out of reach.

The Golden Eagles made 7-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter alone and were 14-of-18 in the whole game.

Senior Shae Lewis scored a team-high 15 points - 11 of that came in the first quarter. Senior Tatum Studer scored 13 of her 14 points in the second half.

Junior Kaleigh Ziesel added nine points. Senior Chloe Gilbert led Polo with 15. Junior Hanna Vaught had 12. The LeBlond defense turned Polo over 16 times.

LeBlond is back in the state quarterfinals for a third straight year. This time, they'll see Miller (25-4) at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Miller defeated Archie Tuesday in sectionals, 52-40.

East Buchanan loses back-and-forth battle with South Harrison

South Harrison got off to a 9-1 start in the first quarter, and finished strong in a 52-46 win over East Buchanan in a Class 3 state sectional game at Staley High School Tuesday.

South Harrison (23-5) led 24-19 at the break, but then trailed East Buchanan 35-34 at the start of the fourth.

East Buchanan (23-5) led by as many as four, but South Harrison managed to tie and eventually retake the lead in the fourth. The game featured six ties and five lead changes in all.

South Harrison jumped back in front 44-40 and then eventually 50-44 in the waning minutes. East Buchanan's top scorer, senior Gracie Kelsey, was somewhat limited with three first half fouls.

Kelsey finished with a team-high 24 points, but she fouled out with just a couple of minutes left in the game.

South Harrison's star forward, junior Hannah Carter, took advantage of Kelsey's absence on the floor and dropped a game-high 27 points.

Both teams got into the double bonus in the end, but it was South Harrison who got more opportunities at the free throw line. The Bulldogs from Bethany finished 21-of-31 at the stripe. The Bulldogs from Gower were 16-of-26.

South Harrison was especially good at the free throw line late, going 12-of-16 in the fourth quarter alone.

East Buchanan ends another successful season, winning three district titles in the last four seasons. South Harrison advances to state quarterfinals to play El Dorado Springs on Saturday at 3:30 at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677646545091.jpeg" alt="LeBlond's Tatum Studer (14) shoots for three in Tuesday's state sectional against Polo at Staley High School. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>LeBlond's Tatum Studer (14) shoots for three in Tuesday's state sectional against Polo at Staley High School. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY - Bishop LeBlond got off to a decently strong start, and fended off a furious charge from Polo late in a 49-39 victory at Staley High School Tuesday in a Class 2 state sectional.LeBlond (26-3) led 27-19 at halftime and then 40-29 early in the fourth. Everything seemed to be going the Golden Eagles' way, but a 10-0 run by Polo made it a 40-39 game in the closing minutes.LeBlond weathered the storm, and ended the game on a 9-0 run of their own to put the game out of reach.The Golden Eagles made 7-of-8 free throws in the fourth quarter alone and were 14-of-18 in the whole game.Senior Shae Lewis scored a team-high 15 points - 11 of that came in the first quarter. Senior Tatum Studer scored 13 of her 14 points in the second half.Junior Kaleigh Ziesel added nine points. Senior Chloe Gilbert led Polo with 15. Junior Hanna Vaught had 12. The LeBlond defense turned Polo over 16 times.LeBlond is back in the state quarterfinals for a third straight year. This time, they'll see Miller (25-4) at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. with a trip to the Final Four on the line.Miller defeated Archie Tuesday in sectionals, 52-40.<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Shae-Lewis--Jackie-Steltenpohl---Bishop-LeBlond-postgame-22823-e1vm31o" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>East Buchanan loses back-and-forth battle with South HarrisonSouth Harrison got off to a 9-1 start in the first quarter, and finished strong in a 52-46 win over East Buchanan in a Class 3 state sectional game at Staley High School Tuesday.South Harrison (23-5) led 24-19 at the break, but then trailed East Buchanan 35-34 at the start of the fourth.East Buchanan (23-5) led by as many as four, but South Harrison managed to tie and eventually retake the lead in the fourth. The game featured six ties and five lead changes in all.South Harrison jumped back in front 44-40 and then eventually 50-44 in the waning minutes. East Buchanan's top scorer, senior Gracie Kelsey, was somewhat limited with three first half fouls.Kelsey finished with a team-high 24 points, but she fouled out with just a couple of minutes left in the game.South Harrison's star forward, junior Hannah Carter, took advantage of Kelsey's absence on the floor and dropped a game-high 27 points.Both teams got into the double bonus in the end, but it was South Harrison who got more opportunities at the free throw line. The Bulldogs from Bethany finished 21-of-31 at the stripe. The Bulldogs from Gower were 16-of-26.South Harrison was especially good at the free throw line late, going 12-of-16 in the fourth quarter alone.East Buchanan ends another successful season, winning three district titles in the last four seasons. South Harrison advances to state quarterfinals to play El Dorado Springs on Saturday at 3:30 at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677647531238.jpeg" alt="Gracie Kelsey dribbles in Tuesday's game against South Harrison at Staley High School. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>Gracie Kelsey dribbles in Tuesday's game against South Harrison at Staley High School. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond girls defeat Polo, East Buchanan falls to South Harrison in state sectionals

The MIAA released their all-conference basketball accolades and awards Tuesday.

In women’s basketball, Missouri Western’s Connie Clarke was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the MIAA. Clarke was the only player in the leagueto total over 200 defensive rebounds. Her 8.6 rebounds per game ranked third in the MIAA while her 83 steals on the season tied for the league high.

Offensively, Clarke's 14.2 points per game ranked sixth in the league. She finished the regular season with the second-best shooting percentage at52.4 percent. Elsewhere, Missouri Western’s Brionna Budgets was named first-team all-MIAA, while Johnni Gonzalez and Trinity Knapp were named honorable mention.

Clarke was named second-team all-MIAA for a second straight season as well.

On the men’s side, Northwest Missouri State swept all of the major awards, with St. Joseph native Diego Bernard earning Defensive Player and Player of the Year accolades.

Bennett Stirtz was named Freshman of the Year, and Ben McCollum is MIAA Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career.

Junior Wes Dreamer was also named as a second-team honoree for the Bearcats. Stirtz, on top of his freshman of the year title, was also named all-MIAA second team in his first year at Northwest.

Missouri Western's Will Eames and Julius Dixon earned all-MIAA honorable mention honors Tuesday. Eames has now earned all-conference honors three times in his career.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677619915137.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Connie Clarke (10) was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday. Stock photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Connie Clarke (10) was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday. Stock photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe MIAA released their all-conference basketball accolades and awards Tuesday.In women’s basketball, Missouri Western’s Connie Clarke was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the MIAA. Clarke was the only player in the leagueto total over 200 defensive rebounds. Her 8.6 rebounds per game ranked third in the MIAA while her 83 steals on the season tied for the league high.Offensively, Clarke's 14.2 points per game ranked sixth in the league. She finished the regular season with the second-best shooting percentage at52.4 percent. Elsewhere, Missouri Western’s Brionna Budgets was named first-team all-MIAA, while Johnni Gonzalez and Trinity Knapp were named honorable mention.Clarke was named second-team all-MIAA for a second straight season as well.On the men’s side, Northwest Missouri State swept all of the major awards, with St. Joseph native Diego Bernard earning Defensive Player and Player of the Year accolades.Bennett Stirtz was named Freshman of the Year, and Ben McCollum is MIAA Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career.Junior Wes Dreamer was also named as a second-team honoree for the Bearcats. Stirtz, on top of his freshman of the year title, was also named all-MIAA second team in his first year at Northwest.Missouri Western's Will Eames and Julius Dixon earned all-MIAA honorable mention honors Tuesday. Eames has now earned all-conference honors three times in his career.

Connie Clarke named Defensive Player of the Year, Bearcat men sweep major awards

The Missouri Western women's basketball team got down by 11 in the first half, rallied to take a five-point lead in the third quarter, but the Griffons fell 68-66 to Pittsburg State on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

Pitt State's Harper Schreiner rebounded a missed layup and her successful put-back with roughly one second to go was the difference in a tight game between two MIAA heavyweights.

Missouri Western (24-6, 18-4 MIAA) found themselves down 15-7 midway through the first quarter and then down 29-18 with 4:45 left in the second.

The Griffons, however, ended the first half on a 15-3 run to go up 33-32 at the break.

"The reason we overcame that deficit is because we found a group that would guard and play hard," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "When we started in a hole, that's valuable time and possessions you don't get back."

Missouri Western led by five points a couple of times in the third quarter, but Pitt (22-6, 17-5 MIAA) retook the lead at 45-43 with 3:37 left in the third after a three-pointer from Grace Pyle.

Down 53-49 entering the fourth, the Griffons tied the game at 66-66 with 14 seconds left, thanks to a Connie Clarke layup.

After a timeout, Pitt State got the ball down by the rim and missed their first two shot attempts, but a third chance by Schreiner just before the buzzer gave the Gorillas a 68-66 lead.

A half-second was put back on the clock, and the Griffons advanced the ball to the half court with a timeout. Jordan Cunningham tried to pass inside to Brionna Budgets, but the pass got tipped and time expired, securing a Pitt State win.

Pitt State outrebounded Missouri Western 39-28, and the Gorillas scored 15 second chance points on 13 offensive rebounds.

"There are just too many plays that we have to make," Whitaker said. "Whether it was a breakaway layup that we didn't finish, a free throw by a great free throw shooter that we didn't finish or a defensive assignment. You have to play as mistake free as possible against great teams."

Clarke led Missouri Western in scoring with 16 points. Cunningham and Budgets each had 13. Pyle led Pitt State with 20 points. Tristan Gegg had 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three.

The Griffons are the No. 3 seed in the MIAA tournament and will face No. 6 seed Fort Hays State in quarterfinals on Friday night at 8:15 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

"They are great kids," Whitaker said of her team, "and I know they'll take responsibility for their missed assignments and lack of execution here and there. I think this game could have been ours, and we didn't play as well as we needed to."

MWSU men dominate against Pitt State, punch ticket to MIAA tourney

Win and you're in. That was the mantra for Missouri Western men's basketball Saturday. Beat Pittsburg State, and you clinch your spot in the MIAA tournament.

The Griffons (13-15, 9-13 MIAA) understood the assignment.

Missouri Western jumped on Pitt State from the get-go, and the Griffons cruised to a 69-45 win over Gorillas at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Senior Day Saturday.

Pitt State (8-20, 5-17 MIAA) shot just 6-of-22 from the field in the first half, allowing Western to take a 34-15 advantage into the locker room.

The lead ballooned to 65-33 with 7:05 left, and the Griffons were able to empty their bench, honor their seniors and have some fun in their regular season finale.

"The goal every year is for Senior Night to not be the last game for your seniors," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "You have the formality and the nice jerseys and the flowers and you do all of that, but our goal was to extend the season for the seniors. I thought those three played really well today."

Missouri Western's seniors, Will Eames, Alex John and John Anderson Jr., all started and scored Saturday. John led the way for the seniors with four points.

"We needed it," John said of the win. "We punched our ticket (to the MIAA tournament). It was really good to see the guys come together and decide, 'Hey, we need this win.' It was good."

Eames had three points, five boards, three assists and two blocks.

JaRon Thames led Missouri Western Saturday with 18 points and nine rebounds. Julius Dixon finished with 14 and Zion Swader added 13. In all, nine Griffons scored and 13 of them played.

Defensively, the Griffons held the Gorillas to just 32.7 percent shooting, including 19.2 percent from three.

"I thought for the whole game, the guys were locked in on the defensive end of the floor," Martin said. "Especially the first half, our team defense and one-on-one matchups, which I thought had tailed off the last few games."

In a season full of ups and downs, the Griffons locked up the No. 9 seed in the MIAA tournament and will face No. 8 seed Washburn on Wednesday at noon at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

The Griffons come in with some newfound confidence, having won their final two games of the regular season.

"To be able to have a little bit of momentum going into the postseason, I think it does give you somewhat of a competitive advantage," Martin said. "I think the experience of this week, playing three games in four days, and playing back-to-back (days), I think that can help us in postseason play, but we'll be focused on Wednesday."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677371732889.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Connie Clarke (10) puts up a shot during the Griffons' 68-66 loss to Pittsburg State on Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Connie Clarke (10) puts up a shot during the Griffons' 68-66 loss to Pittsburg State on Saturday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team got down by 11 in the first half, rallied to take a five-point lead in the third quarter, but the Griffons fell 68-66 to Pittsburg State on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.Pitt State's Harper Schreiner rebounded a missed layup and her successful put-back with roughly one second to go was the difference in a tight game between two MIAA heavyweights.Missouri Western (24-6, 18-4 MIAA) found themselves down 15-7 midway through the first quarter and then down 29-18 with 4:45 left in the second.The Griffons, however, ended the first half on a 15-3 run to go up 33-32 at the break."The reason we overcame that deficit is because we found a group that would guard and play hard," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "When we started in a hole, that's valuable time and possessions you don't get back."Missouri Western led by five points a couple of times in the third quarter, but Pitt (22-6, 17-5 MIAA) retook the lead at 45-43 with 3:37 left in the third after a three-pointer from Grace Pyle.Down 53-49 entering the fourth, the Griffons tied the game at 66-66 with 14 seconds left, thanks to a Connie Clarke layup.After a timeout, Pitt State got the ball down by the rim and missed their first two shot attempts, but a third chance by Schreiner just before the buzzer gave the Gorillas a 68-66 lead.A half-second was put back on the clock, and the Griffons advanced the ball to the half court with a timeout. Jordan Cunningham tried to pass inside to Brionna Budgets, but the pass got tipped and time expired, securing a Pitt State win.Pitt State outrebounded Missouri Western 39-28, and the Gorillas scored 15 second chance points on 13 offensive rebounds."There are just too many plays that we have to make," Whitaker said. "Whether it was a breakaway layup that we didn't finish, a free throw by a great free throw shooter that we didn't finish or a defensive assignment. You have to play as mistake free as possible against great teams."Clarke led Missouri Western in scoring with 16 points. Cunningham and Budgets each had 13. Pyle led Pitt State with 20 points. Tristan Gegg had 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three.The Griffons are the No. 3 seed in the MIAA tournament and will face No. 6 seed Fort Hays State in quarterfinals on Friday night at 8:15 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City."They are great kids," Whitaker said of her team, "and I know they'll take responsibility for their missed assignments and lack of execution here and there. I think this game could have been ours, and we didn't play as well as we needed to."MWSU men dominate against Pitt State, punch ticket to MIAA tourneyWin and you're in. That was the mantra for Missouri Western men's basketball Saturday. Beat Pittsburg State, and you clinch your spot in the MIAA tournament.The Griffons (13-15, 9-13 MIAA) understood the assignment.Missouri Western jumped on Pitt State from the get-go, and the Griffons cruised to a 69-45 win over Gorillas at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Senior Day Saturday.Pitt State (8-20, 5-17 MIAA) shot just 6-of-22 from the field in the first half, allowing Western to take a 34-15 advantage into the locker room.The lead ballooned to 65-33 with 7:05 left, and the Griffons were able to empty their bench, honor their seniors and have some fun in their regular season finale."The goal every year is for Senior Night to not be the last game for your seniors," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "You have the formality and the nice jerseys and the flowers and you do all of that, but our goal was to extend the season for the seniors. I thought those three played really well today."Missouri Western's seniors, Will Eames, Alex John and John Anderson Jr., all started and scored Saturday. John led the way for the seniors with four points."We needed it," John said of the win. "We punched our ticket (to the MIAA tournament). It was really good to see the guys come together and decide, 'Hey, we need this win.' It was good."Eames had three points, five boards, three assists and two blocks.JaRon Thames led Missouri Western Saturday with 18 points and nine rebounds. Julius Dixon finished with 14 and Zion Swader added 13. In all, nine Griffons scored and 13 of them played.Defensively, the Griffons held the Gorillas to just 32.7 percent shooting, including 19.2 percent from three."I thought for the whole game, the guys were locked in on the defensive end of the floor," Martin said. "Especially the first half, our team defense and one-on-one matchups, which I thought had tailed off the last few games."In a season full of ups and downs, the Griffons locked up the No. 9 seed in the MIAA tournament and will face No. 8 seed Washburn on Wednesday at noon at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.The Griffons come in with some newfound confidence, having won their final two games of the regular season."To be able to have a little bit of momentum going into the postseason, I think it does give you somewhat of a competitive advantage," Martin said. "I think the experience of this week, playing three games in four days, and playing back-to-back (days), I think that can help us in postseason play, but we'll be focused on Wednesday."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677371618669.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Alex John (4) rings the bell after the Griffons' 69-45 win over Pittsburg State on Senior Day at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Alex John (4) rings the bell after the Griffons' 69-45 win over Pittsburg State on Senior Day at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>Postgame interviews<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSUs-Alex-John---Pitt-State-postgame-22523-e1vh88n" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-MBB-coach-Will-Martin---Pitt-State-postgame-22523-e1vh869" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU WBB falls in last second to Pitt State, Griffon men dominate Pitt on Senior Day

Savannah High School reported that Athletic Director Chad Dreyer died unexpectedly&nbsp;Friday evening.

The school notified families in the district via email. School officials say counselors will be available Monday morning to aid grieving students and staff members.

A Savannah alum, Dreyer had worked with the school since 2002. He was named as Savannah's A.D. in February 2016. He also served as an assistant on the football team.

"The entire Savannah R3 community extends our sincerest condolences to the Dreyer family and friends," said school officials in an email Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677296097092.jpeg" alt="Chad Dreyer." />
 <figcaption>Chad Dreyer.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSavannah High School reported that Athletic Director Chad Dreyer died unexpectedly&nbsp;Friday evening.The school notified families in the district via email. School officials say counselors will be available Monday morning to aid grieving students and staff members.A Savannah alum, Dreyer had worked with the school since 2002. He was named as Savannah's A.D. in February 2016. He also served as an assistant on the football team."The entire Savannah R3 community extends our sincerest condolences to the Dreyer family and friends," said school officials in an email Friday.

Savannah High School announces death of Athletic Director Chad Dreyer Friday

ROSENDALE - North Andrew and Bishop LeBlond have found each other quite a bit in the postseason lately.

The two schools played for an 8-man football state championship this past December, and the Cardinals and Eagles battled on the hardwood for a boys' basketball district title for a third straight year Friday.

LeBlond found themselves down 24-17 early in the third, but a 16-3 run changed the Eagles' fortunes, as LeBlond led 33-27 at the start of the fourth quarter and never looked back in a 51-37 victory at North Andrew High School Friday.

North Andrew (17-8) shut LeBlond down early, holding the Eagles to just two made field goals in the first quarter.

The second quarter was tight throughout, but North Andrew's Collin Patterson hit a corner three at the buzzer to give the Cardinals a 20-17 halftime lead.

"That first half, we had a lot of young guys and a lot of nerves," LeBlond head coach Mitch Girres said. "We just tried to get through the first half. We go into halftime down three. We talked about being more physical and rebounding the ball, and I thought we did a much better job in the second half of sitting down and guarding, keeping the ball out of the paint and not letting them get easy ones."

North Andrew got quick layups from Patterson and Hayden Ecker to begin the third quarter, giving the Cardinals a 24-17 edge.

That's when LeBlond (18-9) finally found its groove on offense, scoring 16 points in the third quarter and pulling ahead 33-27 by the start of the fourth.

North Andrew got down 39-28 early in the fourth before calling timeout. The Cardinals got back to within single digits and trailed 43-35 with 1:56 remaining, but LeBlond got into the bonus and took advantage.

The Eagles were a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line in the second half.

"They stepped up and made free throws down the stretch," Girres said. "Really, we had some guys step up tonight that I'm super proud of."

Sophomore Cooper Waterman led LeBlond Friday with 15 points - all in the second half. Fellow sophomore Jacob Winkelbauer finished with 11.

"In the first half, we really couldn't make a shot," Waterman said. "In the second half, once we made a couple of shots, we got it down and we were just ready to win."

Senior Jake Korell logged nine points, while fellow senior Kohen Sumpter added six more off the bench.

"That kid works so hard," Girres said. "I'm super proud of him."

Sophomore Braxon Linville led North Andrew with a game-high 16 points. Ecker ended up with 12 in his final high school game.

This marks back-to-back district titles for LeBlond boys' basketball, who beat North Andrew in St. Joseph in last year's title game 39-33.

It's also nice redemption for LeBlond, considering the Eagles lost a district title game at North Andrew, 47-45, back in late February 2021.

"And in football, losing to them in the state championship," Winkelbauer noted. "We wanted to get them back for that."

Up next for LeBlond is arguably the toughest team in the Class 2 bracket - top ranked and undefeated Plattsburg. The Tigers (28-0) beat West Platte in the C2D15 title Friday, 53-47.

LeBlond will see Plattsburg in state sectionals on Monday night at 6 p.m. at Staley High School.

"It's another opportunity to play an unbelievably good team," Girres said. "It's going be tough. They haven't lost a game all year. We're going to have to figure it out. We're going to enjoy this one while we can, and try to prepare with a short turnaround on Monday."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677293568122.jpeg" alt="The 2022-23 Bishop LeBlond boys' basketball team is the champion of Class 2 District 16. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>The 2022-23 Bishop LeBlond boys' basketball team is the champion of Class 2 District 16. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostROSENDALE - North Andrew and Bishop LeBlond have found each other quite a bit in the postseason lately.The two schools played for an 8-man football state championship this past December, and the Cardinals and Eagles battled on the hardwood for a boys' basketball district title for a third straight year Friday.LeBlond found themselves down 24-17 early in the third, but a 16-3 run changed the Eagles' fortunes, as LeBlond led 33-27 at the start of the fourth quarter and never looked back in a 51-37 victory at North Andrew High School Friday.North Andrew (17-8) shut LeBlond down early, holding the Eagles to just two made field goals in the first quarter.The second quarter was tight throughout, but North Andrew's Collin Patterson hit a corner three at the buzzer to give the Cardinals a 20-17 halftime lead."That first half, we had a lot of young guys and a lot of nerves," LeBlond head coach Mitch Girres said. "We just tried to get through the first half. We go into halftime down three. We talked about being more physical and rebounding the ball, and I thought we did a much better job in the second half of sitting down and guarding, keeping the ball out of the paint and not letting them get easy ones."North Andrew got quick layups from Patterson and Hayden Ecker to begin the third quarter, giving the Cardinals a 24-17 edge.That's when LeBlond (18-9) finally found its groove on offense, scoring 16 points in the third quarter and pulling ahead 33-27 by the start of the fourth.North Andrew got down 39-28 early in the fourth before calling timeout. The Cardinals got back to within single digits and trailed 43-35 with 1:56 remaining, but LeBlond got into the bonus and took advantage.The Eagles were a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line in the second half."They stepped up and made free throws down the stretch," Girres said. "Really, we had some guys step up tonight that I'm super proud of."Sophomore Cooper Waterman led LeBlond Friday with 15 points - all in the second half. Fellow sophomore Jacob Winkelbauer finished with 11."In the first half, we really couldn't make a shot," Waterman said. "In the second half, once we made a couple of shots, we got it down and we were just ready to win."Senior Jake Korell logged nine points, while fellow senior Kohen Sumpter added six more off the bench."That kid works so hard," Girres said. "I'm super proud of him."Sophomore Braxon Linville led North Andrew with a game-high 16 points. Ecker ended up with 12 in his final high school game.This marks back-to-back district titles for LeBlond boys' basketball, who beat North Andrew in St. Joseph in last year's title game 39-33.It's also nice redemption for LeBlond, considering the Eagles lost a district title game at North Andrew, 47-45, back in late February 2021."And in football, losing to them in the state championship," Winkelbauer noted. "We wanted to get them back for that."Up next for LeBlond is arguably the toughest team in the Class 2 bracket - top ranked and undefeated Plattsburg. The Tigers (28-0) beat West Platte in the C2D15 title Friday, 53-47.LeBlond will see Plattsburg in state sectionals on Monday night at 6 p.m. at Staley High School."It's another opportunity to play an unbelievably good team," Girres said. "It's going be tough. They haven't lost a game all year. We're going to have to figure it out. We're going to enjoy this one while we can, and try to prepare with a short turnaround on Monday."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294449206.jpeg" alt="Braxon Linville (right)." />
 <figcaption>Braxon Linville (right).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294468238.jpeg" alt="Jake Korell (20)." />
 <figcaption>Jake Korell (20).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294495966.jpeg" alt="Landon Gardner puts up a contested shot." />
 <figcaption>Landon Gardner puts up a contested shot.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294530185.jpeg" alt="Gunner Lawrence (20)." />
 <figcaption>Gunner Lawrence (20).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294545832.jpeg" alt="Collin Patterson." />
 <figcaption>Collin Patterson.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677294569727.jpeg" alt="LeBlond coach Mitch Girres after cutting down the net." />
 <figcaption>LeBlond coach Mitch Girres after cutting down the net.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond turns game around in second half, beats North Andrew for district title Friday

The Kansas City Chiefs have promoted from within, promoting Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator to replace Eric Bieniemy.

The 44-year-old Nagy was the Chiefs' offensive coordinator under Andy Reid in 2016 and 2017. Nagy then left for four seasons to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

He was 34-31 in the regular season with the Bears, guiding them to the NFC North title in his first season in 2018, when he was named NFL Coach of the Year. Nagy was fired by the Bears after a 6-11 season in 2021.

 He returned to the Chiefs last year as quarterbacks coach and senior offensive assistant. Nagy has also previously coached under Reid for three seasons in Philadelphia.

Nagy played quarterback at the University of Delaware, where Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was one of his receivers. Bieniemy, the Chiefs' offensive coordinator over the past five seasons, recently took a similar position with the Washington Commanders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677277439621.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs have promoted from within, promoting Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator to replace Eric Bieniemy.The 44-year-old Nagy was the Chiefs' offensive coordinator under Andy Reid in 2016 and 2017. Nagy then left for four seasons to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears.He was 34-31 in the regular season with the Bears, guiding them to the NFC North title in his first season in 2018, when he was named NFL Coach of the Year. Nagy was fired by the Bears after a 6-11 season in 2021. He returned to the Chiefs last year as quarterbacks coach and senior offensive assistant. Nagy has also previously coached under Reid for three seasons in Philadelphia.Nagy played quarterback at the University of Delaware, where Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was one of his receivers. Bieniemy, the Chiefs' offensive coordinator over the past five seasons, recently took a similar position with the Washington Commanders.

Chiefs promote Matt Nagy to offensive coordinator position

The medal matches for Class 1 girls and Class 1 and 2 boys' wrestling took place at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena Thursday, with numerous area wrestlers competing for hardware.

Below is a look at how the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post competitors fared.

100 pounds - Savannah’s Jade Brundige, a freshman, won gold, pinning&nbsp;Rachel Loganbill of Tipton in her title match. Brundige ends the season at 42-4.

Makenna Alden of Lafayette medaled 5th at 100 pounds, becoming the second female wrestler in Lafayette history to medal at state. Alden ends her senior year at 39-14.

105 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Delanie Smith made history Thursday, becoming the first female wrestler in school history to take first at state. Smith beat&nbsp;Alyssa King of St. Charles in a 6-1 decision in the title match. Smith wraps her sophomore campaign at 46-3.

125 pounds - North Andrew’s Jaclyn Riedinger medaled 5th. The senior ends the year at 38-6.

135 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Kalli Schuster quickly became the second female wrestler in school history to win gold at state, topping&nbsp;Elizabeth Henderson of El Dorado Springs 7-0 in the final. Schuster ends her senior year at 46-6.&nbsp;

140 pounds - Benton’s Tatum Levendahl finished second after getting pinned in the title match. Levendahl has qualified for state each of the last three years and finishes her senior year with a 43-7 record.

235 pounds - Cameron’s Hollie Hedgpath finished second after getting pinned in her title match. Hedgpath is a three-time state medalist and ended her senior season with a 44-4 record.

106 pounds - Gallatin's Eli Sperry medaled 4th. A freshman, Sperry ended his season at 33-6.

120 pounds - Maysville's Cooper Berry medaled third. The senior ends his season at 41-8.

138 pounds - Draken Bennett of Maysville medaled 5th. The junior ends the season at 32-11.

157 pounds - Brendan Barton of Maysville medaled 6th. The junior ends the year at 40-10.

175 pounds - Logan Bottcher of Gallatin medaled 6th after a medical forfeit. Bottcher, who medaled 4th the season prior, ends his senior year at 25-9.

190 pounds - Max Heintz of Maysville is a state runner-up. Heintz ends his junior year at 38-13.

215 pounds - Plattsburg's Dakota Rankin medaled 4th after a 1-0 loss in his medal match. Rankin ends his junior season at 35-14.

285 pounds - Gallatin's Gabriel Parker medaled 3rd with a pin over Maysville's Konnor Watkins in the medal match. Parker ends the year at 22-6, while Watkins ends his senior year at 38-17.

106 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Grant Schuster medaled 5th. The sophomore finished the year at 29-16.

113 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Spencer Cunningham medaled third after getting a pin his medal match. Cunningham is now a two-time state medalist after he won gold as a freshman last year at 106 pounds.

120 pounds - Savannah's Creighton Cook medaled 6th. Cook finished his sophomore year at 47-11.

132 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Ryder Coons medaled third with a 6-3 decision in his medal match. Coons earned his second career state medal.

144 pounds - Savannah's Lincoln LaFave medaled 6th. The freshman ends the season at 39-17.

150 pounds - Benton’s Bishop Rush finished second, falling in the title match in a 13-4 major decision. Rush, who medaled 4th at state last season and surpassed 100 career wins this season, finished his senior year at 49-5.

165 pounds - Lafayette’s Jay Greiner is a state champion for the second straight year. Greiner pinned Zach Rackers of Blair Oaks, who came into the match at 53-0.

Greiner, a four-time state medalist and a University of Chicago wrestling signee, finished his senior year at 59-0. Greiner broke the state record in career wins and wins in a single season.

Staying at 165 pounds, Mid-Buchanan's Colton Kirkham medaled 5th. Kirkham has now medaled at state three times. He ends his junior year at 36-10.

175 pounds - Jackson Perkins of Lafayette medaled 3rd. Zach Kelly of Mid-Buchanan medaled 4th in that class. It’s Kelly’s second career state medal.

190 pounds -&nbsp; Savannah’s Cooper Burnsides finished second after falling 11-3 in a major decision in his title match. Burnsides earned his second career state medal and finished his junior season at 48-7.

Staying at 190 pounds, Mid-Buchanan’s Wade Stanton medaled 3rd after a first period pin in his medal match. It’s his third career state medal. Stanton, a two-time state champion, ends his senior year at 41-3. He's signed to wrestle at William Jewell next year.

215 pounds - Owen Stockbauer of Mid-Buchanan medaled 4th. A two-time state qualifier, Stockbauer ends his junior year at 37-14.

285 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Seth Cruz medaled 3rd. It’s his third career state medal. Cruz ended his senior year at 38-10.

The Mid-Buchanan boys finished second in the team standings with 135.5 points - 10 points shy of what would have been their third consecutive state title. Of the nine Dragons who qualified for state, eight of them medaled.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677215105020.jpeg" alt="Lafayette wrestler Jay Greiner stands atop the podium after his second career state title Thursday at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbia. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Lafayette wrestler Jay Greiner stands atop the podium after his second career state title Thursday at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbia. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe medal matches for Class 1 girls and Class 1 and 2 boys' wrestling took place at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena Thursday, with numerous area wrestlers competing for hardware.Below is a look at how the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post competitors fared.Class 1 girls100 pounds - Savannah’s Jade Brundige, a freshman, won gold, pinning&nbsp;Rachel Loganbill of Tipton in her title match. Brundige ends the season at 42-4.Makenna Alden of Lafayette medaled 5th at 100 pounds, becoming the second female wrestler in Lafayette history to medal at state. Alden ends her senior year at 39-14.105 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Delanie Smith made history Thursday, becoming the first female wrestler in school history to take first at state. Smith beat&nbsp;Alyssa King of St. Charles in a 6-1 decision in the title match. Smith wraps her sophomore campaign at 46-3.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Your 1st EVER Mid-Buchanan Girls State Champion Delanie Smith!!!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OutWorkEm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OutWorkEm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MBDragonSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MBDragonSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/KK8QSZnrH4">pic.twitter.com/KK8QSZnrH4</a>&mdash; Dragon Wrestling (@MB_Wrestling) <a href="https://twitter.com/MB_Wrestling/status/1628912159479500801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>125 pounds - North Andrew’s Jaclyn Riedinger medaled 5th. The senior ends the year at 38-6.135 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Kalli Schuster quickly became the second female wrestler in school history to win gold at state, topping&nbsp;Elizabeth Henderson of El Dorado Springs 7-0 in the final. Schuster ends her senior year at 46-6.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ladies and gentleman your 2nd EVER MB Girls State Champion Kalli Schuster!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OutWorkEm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OutWorkEm</a> <a href="https://t.co/2fKfmlEfu1">pic.twitter.com/2fKfmlEfu1</a>&mdash; Dragon Wrestling (@MB_Wrestling) <a href="https://twitter.com/MB_Wrestling/status/1628930706381438976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>140 pounds - Benton’s Tatum Levendahl finished second after getting pinned in the title match. Levendahl has qualified for state each of the last three years and finishes her senior year with a 43-7 record.235 pounds - Cameron’s Hollie Hedgpath finished second after getting pinned in her title match. Hedgpath is a three-time state medalist and ended her senior season with a 44-4 record.Class 1 boys106 pounds - Gallatin's Eli Sperry medaled 4th. A freshman, Sperry ended his season at 33-6.120 pounds - Maysville's Cooper Berry medaled third. The senior ends his season at 41-8.138 pounds - Draken Bennett of Maysville medaled 5th. The junior ends the season at 32-11.157 pounds - Brendan Barton of Maysville medaled 6th. The junior ends the year at 40-10.175 pounds - Logan Bottcher of Gallatin medaled 6th after a medical forfeit. Bottcher, who medaled 4th the season prior, ends his senior year at 25-9.190 pounds - Max Heintz of Maysville is a state runner-up. Heintz ends his junior year at 38-13.215 pounds - Plattsburg's Dakota Rankin medaled 4th after a 1-0 loss in his medal match. Rankin ends his junior season at 35-14.285 pounds - Gallatin's Gabriel Parker medaled 3rd with a pin over Maysville's Konnor Watkins in the medal match. Parker ends the year at 22-6, while Watkins ends his senior year at 38-17.Class 2 boys106 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Grant Schuster medaled 5th. The sophomore finished the year at 29-16.113 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Spencer Cunningham medaled third after getting a pin his medal match. Cunningham is now a two-time state medalist after he won gold as a freshman last year at 106 pounds.120 pounds - Savannah's Creighton Cook medaled 6th. Cook finished his sophomore year at 47-11.132 pounds - Mid-Buchanan's Ryder Coons medaled third with a 6-3 decision in his medal match. Coons earned his second career state medal.144 pounds - Savannah's Lincoln LaFave medaled 6th. The freshman ends the season at 39-17.150 pounds - Benton’s Bishop Rush finished second, falling in the title match in a 13-4 major decision. Rush, who medaled 4th at state last season and surpassed 100 career wins this season, finished his senior year at 49-5.165 pounds - Lafayette’s Jay Greiner is a state champion for the second straight year. Greiner pinned Zach Rackers of Blair Oaks, who came into the match at 53-0.Greiner, a four-time state medalist and a University of Chicago wrestling signee, finished his senior year at 59-0. Greiner broke the state record in career wins and wins in a single season.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BACK-2-BACK!!! Jay Greiner leaves his mark on Missouri high school wrestling.☘️🤼‍♂️ -2-time state champ -most wins (season and career) -most pins in season -most consecutive pins -most matches wrestled in career -most matches wrestled w/o being pinned <a href="https://t.co/FL8z7O5bMI">pic.twitter.com/FL8z7O5bMI</a>&mdash; Lafayette High School (@LHSIrish) <a href="https://twitter.com/LHSIrish/status/1628947304890699777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Staying at 165 pounds, Mid-Buchanan's Colton Kirkham medaled 5th. Kirkham has now medaled at state three times. He ends his junior year at 36-10.175 pounds - Jackson Perkins of Lafayette medaled 3rd. Zach Kelly of Mid-Buchanan medaled 4th in that class. It’s Kelly’s second career state medal.190 pounds -&nbsp; Savannah’s Cooper Burnsides finished second after falling 11-3 in a major decision in his title match. Burnsides earned his second career state medal and finished his junior season at 48-7.Staying at 190 pounds, Mid-Buchanan’s Wade Stanton medaled 3rd after a first period pin in his medal match. It’s his third career state medal. Stanton, a two-time state champion, ends his senior year at 41-3. He's signed to wrestle at William Jewell next year.215 pounds - Owen Stockbauer of Mid-Buchanan medaled 4th. A two-time state qualifier, Stockbauer ends his junior year at 37-14.285 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Seth Cruz medaled 3rd. It’s his third career state medal. Cruz ended his senior year at 38-10.The Mid-Buchanan boys finished second in the team standings with 135.5 points - 10 points shy of what would have been their third consecutive state title. Of the nine Dragons who qualified for state, eight of them medaled.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677215483312.jpeg" alt="Mid-Buchanan poses with their second place team trophy at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbia. Photo courtesy of KQTV." />
 <figcaption>Mid-Buchanan poses with their second place team trophy at the MSHSAA state wrestling championships in Columbia. Photo courtesy of KQTV.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Jay Greiner goes out on top, Mid-Buchanan boys finish second at state wrestling

The Missouri Western men's basketball team overcame a hot shooting start from Nebraska-Kearney, and the Griffons outscored the Lopers 54-40 in the second half on their way to an 83-78 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Thursday.

Nebraska-Kearney (5-22, 3-18 MIAA) shot 55.2 percent from the field in the first half, and jumped out to a 36-23 lead with 3:02 left in the first half. Missouri Western trailed 38-29 at halftime.

The Griffons (12-15, 8-13 MIAA) began chipping away at the deficit early in the second half, and eventually took the lead at 61-59 with 5:53 left to play.

Kearney hung in for a bit longer, but a monster three-pointer by Julius Dixon put Missouri Western up 74-65 with only 1:06 left in the game.&nbsp;

The Griffons got in the bonus fairly early in the second half and took advantage, knocking down 21-of-25 free throw attempts in the win.

"I'm proud of the resiliency and the fortitude," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "I'm proud of guys stepping up and making plays. We were hard on the guys for free throws. It's a confidence thing, and we changed our mindset a little bit."

Junior JaRon Thames led four Griffons in double figures with 23 points and 11 rebounds - his second double-double of the season and the fourth of his career.

"We knew we had to get this one today if we want to make the conference tournament," Thames said on his 22nd birthday. "(Kearney) hit shots early, so we knew we had to buckle down and guard and play defense and run the offense. We took our time on offense and got stops in the second half."

Taye Fields also had a double-double Thursday with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Dixon finished with 16 points, while Zion Swader had 14 points on a perfect 8-for-8 effort at the charity stripe.

Darrian Nebeker led Nebraska-Kearney with a game-high 30 points - 21 of that came in the first half. The Lopers made 11 threes and shot 49.2 percent from the field.

The Griffons, meanwhile, shot 52.8 percent on the day, and outscored the Lopers 44-26 in the paint.

Thursday's win was vital for Missouri Western, as they try to take one of the last two spots left in the MIAA tournament field.

The top eight teams in the league have already clinched their spot, while the Griffons, Central Missouri and Northeastern State battle over the ninth and tenth spots.

As of now, Missouri Western sits ninth in the standings. Northeastern State is right behind them in 10th, but a Griffon win over Pittsburg State Saturday would lock Missouri Western into the conference tournament next week in Kansas City.

"I'm not a hopeful person, but I'm a faithful person," Martin said. "I have faith in this team, I have faith in every individual and our story is still being written."

"We have to make a choice," Thames added. "We have to come in, buckle down, guard, make the right reads and play for each other and play for the staff and play for the fans. We have to make a choice and we made a choice in the second half to turn it around and get the win."

Both the Missouri Western men's and women's basketball teams round out the regular season on Saturday when they host Pittsburg State. The women's game tips at 1:30, and the men follow at 3:30.

Both games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677211382288.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's JaRon Thames (24) puts up a shot in Thursday's 83-78 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's JaRon Thames (24) puts up a shot in Thursday's 83-78 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western men's basketball team overcame a hot shooting start from Nebraska-Kearney, and the Griffons outscored the Lopers 54-40 in the second half on their way to an 83-78 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse on Thursday.Nebraska-Kearney (5-22, 3-18 MIAA) shot 55.2 percent from the field in the first half, and jumped out to a 36-23 lead with 3:02 left in the first half. Missouri Western trailed 38-29 at halftime.The Griffons (12-15, 8-13 MIAA) began chipping away at the deficit early in the second half, and eventually took the lead at 61-59 with 5:53 left to play.Kearney hung in for a bit longer, but a monster three-pointer by Julius Dixon put Missouri Western up 74-65 with only 1:06 left in the game.&nbsp;The Griffons got in the bonus fairly early in the second half and took advantage, knocking down 21-of-25 free throw attempts in the win."I'm proud of the resiliency and the fortitude," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said. "I'm proud of guys stepping up and making plays. We were hard on the guys for free throws. It's a confidence thing, and we changed our mindset a little bit."Junior JaRon Thames led four Griffons in double figures with 23 points and 11 rebounds - his second double-double of the season and the fourth of his career."We knew we had to get this one today if we want to make the conference tournament," Thames said on his 22nd birthday. "(Kearney) hit shots early, so we knew we had to buckle down and guard and play defense and run the offense. We took our time on offense and got stops in the second half."Taye Fields also had a double-double Thursday with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Dixon finished with 16 points, while Zion Swader had 14 points on a perfect 8-for-8 effort at the charity stripe.Darrian Nebeker led Nebraska-Kearney with a game-high 30 points - 21 of that came in the first half. The Lopers made 11 threes and shot 49.2 percent from the field.The Griffons, meanwhile, shot 52.8 percent on the day, and outscored the Lopers 44-26 in the paint.Thursday's win was vital for Missouri Western, as they try to take one of the last two spots left in the MIAA tournament field.The top eight teams in the league have already clinched their spot, while the Griffons, Central Missouri and Northeastern State battle over the ninth and tenth spots.As of now, Missouri Western sits ninth in the standings. Northeastern State is right behind them in 10th, but a Griffon win over Pittsburg State Saturday would lock Missouri Western into the conference tournament next week in Kansas City."I'm not a hopeful person, but I'm a faithful person," Martin said. "I have faith in this team, I have faith in every individual and our story is still being written.""We have to make a choice," Thames added. "We have to come in, buckle down, guard, make the right reads and play for each other and play for the staff and play for the fans. We have to make a choice and we made a choice in the second half to turn it around and get the win."Both the Missouri Western men's and women's basketball teams round out the regular season on Saturday when they host Pittsburg State. The women's game tips at 1:30, and the men follow at 3:30.Both games will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-MBB-coach-Will-Martin---UNK-postgame-22323-e1veoro" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSUs-JaRon-Thames---UNK-postgame-22323-e1veost" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western men's basketball scores key win over Nebraska-Kearney Thursday

By RUDI KELLER <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/22/sports-wagering-video-lottery-compete-for-attention-in-missouri-senate-hearing/">Missouri Independent</a>

In Jefferson City, the fight over whether or how to expand gambling – sports wagering, video lottery games, or both – <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/16/sports-wagering-video-lottery-games-again-in-conflict-as-legislature-prepares-for-2023-session/">is a test of political power</a>.

But prevailing in the political 
contest isn’t important to April Kabrick, a co-owner of Boozers Bar 
&amp; Grill in Liberty. She just wants to keep her restaurant in 
business without breaking the law. And she sees video lottery as a new 
source of revenue.

“Video lottery would be a game 
changer for us,” Kabrick told the Senate Appropriations Committee during
 a hearing Wednesday morning. “We have been trying to get this for 
several years.”

The committee heard testimony on three bills – one that would <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44557">legalize sports betting</a>, one that would <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44506">legalize video lottery games</a> and one that <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44644">would allow both</a>.
 The committee took no votes, and Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield,
 said he needed to consult with members to decide which of the bills 
should move forward.

Sports wagering is moving faster in the Missouri House, where a vote on <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/08/lawmakers-renew-push-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">two bills heard Feb. 8 </a>is set for Thursday in the House Emerging Issues Committee.

Almost every state on Missouri’s 
border allows sports wagering, and hundreds of thousands of Missourians 
already have accounts with legal sports books. But because of 
geofencing, which is the ability to block activities online based on the
 location of the device being used, state residents must visit one of 
those adjoining states to place a legal bet.

From the start of the NFL season – 
which corresponded with the legalization of sports wagering in Kansas – 
through Dec. 31, roughly <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/08/lawmakers-renew-push-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">8.7 million attempts to make a bet</a>
 from within Missouri were blocked. If approved this year, Missouri’s 
sports wagering law would take effect in late August, just as the 2023 
NFL season is starting.

The two bills with sports wagering 
heard Wednesday are nearly identical in their provisions. Casino 
companies and major sports teams back the standalone version sponsored 
by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, and told the committee that they 
did not like the idea of it being combined with video lottery, as it is 
in the bill sponsored by Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg.

Legalizing sports wagering will help 
end the illegal market and keep Missourians who want to bet within the 
state’s boundaries, Luetkemeyer told the committee.

The goal, he said, is to “compete with and eventually crowd out the illegal market.”

The sports wagering provisions of the
 Senate bills heard Wednesday and the House bills up for a committee 
vote have the backing of all major league sports franchises in the state
 and most of the casinos. The bills would allow anyone over 21 to 
download a sports wagering application to their phone or computer and 
place bets from anywhere within the state.&nbsp;

The net revenue after paying winners 
and accounting for customer incentives would be taxed at 10%. At that 
tax rate, the bills are estimated to generate $22 million to $30 million
 annually for state education and veterans programs.&nbsp;

Casinos pay 21% tax on the net 
revenue from slot machines and table games. Sen. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s 
Summit, asked why the rate on sports wagering should be lower than on 
other gambling.

Casinos know they will always win 
more from gamblers on slots and table games than they pay out, said Mike
 Winter, lobbyist for the Missouri Gaming Association. Sports wagering 
is less certain.

“This is not a high profit business,”
 Winter said. “We are essentially trying to get bets on both sides. 
There is a different theory on table games and slot machines. Those are 
predictable outcomes.”

Other identical or nearly-identical provisions in the bills include:&nbsp;

The video lottery provisions in 
Hoskins’ bill are almost identical to the standalone language in 
legislation offered by Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis. The terminals would 
be allowed in bars, liquor stores, restaurants, truck stops and 
fraternal organizations.

The estimated revenue from video 
lottery games dwarfs the amounts the state could realize from sports 
wagering. May’s bill would generate <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2023-1/0365S.01I.ORG.pdf">about $141 million annually</a>
 for state education programs and another $20 million for local 
governments. The estimates are nearly the same for the similar 
provisions of Hoskins’ bill.

Allowing regulated and taxed video 
lottery games would be a new source of revenue and crowd out the 
machines offering cash prizes that have <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/02/24/deskins-gum-dispenser-1913-ruling-seen-as-key-to-missouri-illegal-gambling-cases/">proliferated in convenience stores</a> and other locations in recent years, May said.

“We’ve got big businesses that want sports books,” May said. “We need to help small businesses.”

That was the message from Kabrick, 
who said she has not allowed the “gray market” machines into her 
business because she is worried about being prosecuted for illegal 
gambling. Along with the licenses for her business, she said, she has a 
realtor’s license and is certified to be a substitute teacher.

“We can’t compete with businesses 
that have decided to implement the gray machines,” Kabrick said. “The 
people want it. They are going to do it. We have to do something or we 
are just going to go out of business.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674082498165.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is introduced with his team before the start of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is introduced with his team before the start of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RUDI KELLER <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/22/sports-wagering-video-lottery-compete-for-attention-in-missouri-senate-hearing/">Missouri Independent</a>In Jefferson City, the fight over whether or how to expand gambling – sports wagering, video lottery games, or both – <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/16/sports-wagering-video-lottery-games-again-in-conflict-as-legislature-prepares-for-2023-session/">is a test of political power</a>.But prevailing in the political 
contest isn’t important to April Kabrick, a co-owner of Boozers Bar 
&amp; Grill in Liberty. She just wants to keep her restaurant in 
business without breaking the law. And she sees video lottery as a new 
source of revenue.“Video lottery would be a game 
changer for us,” Kabrick told the Senate Appropriations Committee during
 a hearing Wednesday morning. “We have been trying to get this for 
several years.”The committee heard testimony on three bills – one that would <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44557">legalize sports betting</a>, one that would <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44506">legalize video lottery games</a> and one that <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44644">would allow both</a>.
 The committee took no votes, and Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield,
 said he needed to consult with members to decide which of the bills 
should move forward.Sports wagering is moving faster in the Missouri House, where a vote on <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/08/lawmakers-renew-push-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">two bills heard Feb. 8 </a>is set for Thursday in the House Emerging Issues Committee.Almost every state on Missouri’s 
border allows sports wagering, and hundreds of thousands of Missourians 
already have accounts with legal sports books. But because of 
geofencing, which is the ability to block activities online based on the
 location of the device being used, state residents must visit one of 
those adjoining states to place a legal bet.From the start of the NFL season – 
which corresponded with the legalization of sports wagering in Kansas – 
through Dec. 31, roughly <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/08/lawmakers-renew-push-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">8.7 million attempts to make a bet</a>
 from within Missouri were blocked. If approved this year, Missouri’s 
sports wagering law would take effect in late August, just as the 2023 
NFL season is starting.<h2>‘Crowd out the illegal market’</h2>The two bills with sports wagering 
heard Wednesday are nearly identical in their provisions. Casino 
companies and major sports teams back the standalone version sponsored 
by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, and told the committee that they 
did not like the idea of it being combined with video lottery, as it is 
in the bill sponsored by Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg.Legalizing sports wagering will help 
end the illegal market and keep Missourians who want to bet within the 
state’s boundaries, Luetkemeyer told the committee.The goal, he said, is to “compete with and eventually crowd out the illegal market.”The sports wagering provisions of the
 Senate bills heard Wednesday and the House bills up for a committee 
vote have the backing of all major league sports franchises in the state
 and most of the casinos. The bills would allow anyone over 21 to 
download a sports wagering application to their phone or computer and 
place bets from anywhere within the state.&nbsp;The net revenue after paying winners 
and accounting for customer incentives would be taxed at 10%. At that 
tax rate, the bills are estimated to generate $22 million to $30 million
 annually for state education and veterans programs.&nbsp;Casinos pay 21% tax on the net 
revenue from slot machines and table games. Sen. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s 
Summit, asked why the rate on sports wagering should be lower than on 
other gambling.Casinos know they will always win 
more from gamblers on slots and table games than they pay out, said Mike
 Winter, lobbyist for the Missouri Gaming Association. Sports wagering 
is less certain.“This is not a high profit business,”
 Winter said. “We are essentially trying to get bets on both sides. 
There is a different theory on table games and slot machines. Those are 
predictable outcomes.”Other identical or nearly-identical provisions in the bills include:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>A
 deduction from net revenue for promotional costs such as free bets 
intended to draw gamblers. Luetkemeyer would phase out the deduction 
over four years, while Hoskins’ bill allows it permanently.</li><li>Exclusive
 rights to major sports teams to control advertising of sports books 
within a designated territory around their stadiums.</li><li>An
 allowance for each of the state’s casino companies to offer up to three
 betting platforms, or skins, and each major sports team to contract 
with one additional platform.</li>
 </ul><h2>‘Gray-market’ machines</h2>The video lottery provisions in 
Hoskins’ bill are almost identical to the standalone language in 
legislation offered by Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis. The terminals would 
be allowed in bars, liquor stores, restaurants, truck stops and 
fraternal organizations.The estimated revenue from video 
lottery games dwarfs the amounts the state could realize from sports 
wagering. May’s bill would generate <a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2023-1/0365S.01I.ORG.pdf">about $141 million annually</a>
 for state education programs and another $20 million for local 
governments. The estimates are nearly the same for the similar 
provisions of Hoskins’ bill.Allowing regulated and taxed video 
lottery games would be a new source of revenue and crowd out the 
machines offering cash prizes that have <a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/02/24/deskins-gum-dispenser-1913-ruling-seen-as-key-to-missouri-illegal-gambling-cases/">proliferated in convenience stores</a> and other locations in recent years, May said.“We’ve got big businesses that want sports books,” May said. “We need to help small businesses.”That was the message from Kabrick, 
who said she has not allowed the “gray market” machines into her 
business because she is worried about being prosecuted for illegal 
gambling. Along with the licenses for her business, she said, she has a 
realtor’s license and is certified to be a substitute teacher.“We can’t compete with businesses 
that have decided to implement the gray machines,” Kabrick said. “The 
people want it. They are going to do it. We have to do something or we 
are just going to go out of business.”

Sports betting, video lottery compete for attention in Mo. Senate hearing

The Missouri Western women's basketball team started off by hitting six of their first seven three-point attempts, and that was really just for starters.

The Griffons (24-5, 18-3 MIAA) led 55-23 at halftime and rolled the rest of the way in a 97-49 dismantling of Newman on Wednesday at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677129592435.jpeg" alt="Cleao Murray (12) brings the ball up the floor during Missouri Western's 97-49 win over Newman on Wednesday night. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Cleao Murray (12) brings the ball up the floor during Missouri Western's 97-49 win over Newman on Wednesday night. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team started off by hitting six of their first seven three-point attempts, and that was really just for starters.The Griffons (24-5, 18-3 MIAA) led 55-23 at halftime and rolled the rest of the way in a 97-49 dismantling of Newman on Wednesday at the Missouri Western Fieldhouse.Fourteen Griffons played, 12 of them scored and six of them finished with 10 or more points."Really great win and I think we have so many people playing really well right now," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "It's a great time. This is what you want to see. Everyone who came in made a play."Freshman Cleao Murray was the leader of the pack with a career-high 20 points on a career-high six made three-pointers."Obviously, you need to be playing your best right now," Murray said. "It's a big confidence booster for us to be heading into the postseason with such a good game."Missouri Western shared the ball extremely well, doling out 27 assists and scoring 59 bench points. The Griffons shot 54.3 percent from the field, including 13-of-27 from three.Johnni Gonzalez scored 11 points, while Trinity Knapp, Jordan Cunningham, Abby Bala and Alyssa Bonilla each finished with 10. Camille Evans had six points to go with a team-best six rebounds."Alyssa played really well," Whitaker noted. "Jordan played well. I mean, I just thought everyone played well."The Griffons were equally impressive on defense, scoring 35 points off of 23 Newman turnovers. The Jets (9-17, 6-15 MIAA) shot just 30.5 percent from the field, including 6-of-25 from three.Wednesday's win marks the largest margin of victory this season for Missouri Western. It's their sixth straight win, and they've now won 17 of their last 18 games. The Griffons now set their sites on the regular season finale against Pittsburg State (20-6) on Saturday in St. Joseph."I think practice is really important," Murray said. "The next two days for sure will be focused and we'll follow the game plan that coach (Whitaker) has ready for us."<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-WBB-coach-Candi-Whitaker---Newman-postgame-22223-e1vdatf" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-WBB-vs--Newman-postgame---Cleao-Murray-e1vdau6" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Griffon men drop close contest to Newman playing without EamesThe Missouri Western men's basketball team trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, led by four early in the second, but saw that lead slip away, as the Griffons fell to Newman 70-66 at the MWSU Fieldhouse Wednesday.Newman (9-18, 5-16 MIAA) held a lead for nearly 33 minutes, and the Jets were an impressive 23-of-28 at the free throw line.The Griffons (11-15, 7-13 MIAA) were without starting forward Will Eames Wednesday due to illness. Missouri Western overcame early adversity, however, and only trailed 34-32 at halftime.The Griffons opened the second half on a 7-1 run to go up 39-35 with 17:40 remaining, but the Jets managed to tie the game at 41-41 less than three minutes later.Wednesday's game featured six ties and four lead changes, but Newman never trailed in the final 14:52 of the game.Missouri Western got down 65-57 with 2:37 to go, but rallied late and tied the game at 66-66 with 27 seconds remaining after a layup from Ethan Kilgore.The Jets ran some time off the clock, as Stevie Strong got into the lane and put up a running floater to give Newman a 68-66 lead with less than three seconds left.Missouri Western tried to inbound the ball quickly, but a bad pass to Kilgore went out of bounds, and Newman sank a couple more free throws with 1.2 seconds left to go up four points.JaRon Thames led Missouri Western with 20 points and seven rebounds. Taye Fields had 15 points and seven boards. Julius Dixon logged 12 points, while Kilgore came off the bench for a season-high eight points and seven rebounds.The Griffons shot 41.3 percent from the field, but were only 4-of-24 from three."Instead of moving the ball to 2-3 sides and getting the right shot, I feel like we settled," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said.Strong led Newman with 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting at the free throw line. Latik Murphy finished with 13 points.Wednesday's loss amplifies the importance of Missouri Western's final two games.The Griffons, in all likelihood, have to win their final two contests on the regular season schedule to absolutely insure a spot in the MIAA tournament. They're now in a three-way tie with Central Missouri and Northeastern State for the 10th and final spot in the tournament."I told the guys that you have to wash it quick," Martin said of the loss. "We don't have time to do a teach tape on this. The guys, the staff, we have to move on to Kearney and we're still playing for a lot. So, it's tough in games like this, because you have zero time to marinate it."The Missouri Western men are back home Thursday to play Nebraska-Kearney in a makeup game. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. Coverage starts at 6 p.m. on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com).You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.