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.

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

<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.

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.

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.

Patrick Mahomes sets NFL record, Chiefs beat Raiders to claim first round bye

It’s a rivalry restored this weekend in the MIAA as Northwest Missouri State gets set to host Missouri Western in basketball Saturday.

The Bearcat men are once again a force to be reckoned with. Ranked No. 5 in the country, Northwest is 13-1 overall 6-1 in the MIAA.

Ben McCollum, now in his 14th year as head coach at Northwest, says he has a team that can share the basketball effectively and develop the right habits.

"We're a very unselfish team," McCollum told KFEQ Radio. "We've got good kids. Pretty tough kids.&nbsp; I think the big thing for us is to continue to develop quality habits and bring effort every single game, every day, every practice. Like any team, if you can do that more consistently and just get better at what you're good at, eventually good things can happen."

Leading the way for Northwest is senior and St. Joseph native Diego Bernard, who made the decision to use his fifth year of eligibility and come play for the Bearcats one final season.

Not surprisingly, it’s worked out. Northwest is tied for first in the MIAA standings, and the Bearcats seem ready to compete for a fourth straight national championship.

McCollum says Bernard has become the natural leader of the team, and not just because of his playing ability.

"He's the heart and soul of the team, just because of the energy he can supply," McCollum said of Bernard. "For us, he supplies it every day. He's been great as far as being a leader this season. He's allowed the other guys to be comfortable because of his energy and toughness and mentality."

The Missouri Western men, meanwhile, are getting ready for their toughest test of the season so far.

The Griffons are 7-5 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA after a 62-61 loss to Rogers State and a 75-73 loss to Northeastern State over this past week - both at home.

Missouri Western coach Will Martin says there's a lot his team can learn from those experiences.

"There's nobody who wants to win more than me," Martin said on the Missouri Western Coaches' Luncheon Tuesday. "It's probably an unhealthy obsession how bad I want to win, and that's what we're here to do. But for me, it's always about the deeper lessons for life."

Missouri Western seeks its first win over Northwest in men's hoops since January 2013. The Griffons haven't won in Maryville since January 2009. Northwest has won 21 straight games in this series.

Coach Martin knows that his team needs to start delivering on their end of this rivalry at some point.

"We have to start doing our part on the basketball end when it comes to that rivalry," Martin admitted. "It's hard to call it a rivalry when they've won 20 straight games against us. We have to do our part, and that's what we intend to do when we go down there and when we get them again at home."

&nbsp; Missouri Western will host Northwest on February 18.

A big X-factor for Missouri Western Saturday, though, could be junior forward JaRon Thames. The St. Louis native played in all 31 games last year and started 18 of them, scoring a career-high 27 points against the Bearcats last February.

Thames has played 22 minutes in four games this year. He's been limited with a hand injury, but he had his best outing of the season Monday against Northeastern State, coming off the bench and scoring 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting in just six minutes.

"It's been hard for (Thames) to go through the psychological and physical battle of getting injured and reinjured and not knowing if he was going to be able to play at all this year," Martin said. "I'm really, really proud of his response. He just gives us a different mojo on the floor. When he's on the floor, you feel like you can get a bucket."

Missouri Western women's basketball once again trending up The Missouri Western women's basketball team finds themselves, once again, in a pretty strong position entering the back half of the season.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Griffons are 12-4 overall and 6-2 in the MIAA following a 74-53 win over Northeastern State in St. Joseph Monday. It’s their fifth straight win and Missouri Western is now tied for third in the MIAA standings.&nbsp;

 Heading into this portion of the season, head coach Candi Whitaker wants her team to show consistent intensity in each game.

"I always want our team to compete like they're competing for a national championship every time they hit the floor," Whitaker said. "It's challenging at times when you're playing a team and it's a bit lopsided, but we just have to have more discipline."

Still, coming off of a Central Region title and 24 wins last year, the Griffons are riding high in early 2023.

"I think our confidence level is very high," sophomore Abby Bala said after scoring a career-high 17 points against Northeastern State Monday. "I think we're all just on a roll and we'll be ready to keep it going."

Missouri Western assistant coach Emily Wacker says the team's depth and fast tempo on offense have, once again, been keys to success this year.

"Sharing the ball and being able to play a lot of people," Wacker said. "I think depth is something we've always talked about. Being able to continue to use that to our advantage is really important, especially as we get into January and February basketball."

The Griffons have 10 players who average more than 14 minutes per contest, with several players taking on bigger roles.

Junior and Missouri State transfer Trinity Knapp is one of them. The 6-2 forward has started eight games, is shooting north of 52 percent and leads the team with 14 total blocks.

Coach Wacker says Knapp has embraced her starting role.

"She looks to me like she's comfortable," Wacker said of Knapp, "and not in a bad way, but a good way. She's found a rhythm and a groove. She's not forcing, but taking what is presented to her and really finding her stride. I think the players around her are understanding where does Trinity want the ball and where is she going to be the most successful."

Another player taking on a bigger role is the aforementioned Abby Bala. She’s started each of the last four games, and is now second on the team with 20 made three-pointers. However, Bala says becoming a better defender is something she’s prioritized.

"Over the postseason and preseason, I really worked on my defense," Bala said. "Just to stay active with my feet and my hands. If you can play defense, you can play offense. It kind of goes hand-in-hand."

There’s still a long road ahead this year, and that journey starts Saturday in Maryville at Northwest Missouri State (7-6, 2-5 MIAA). Coach Whitaker says the Bearcats provide a unique challenge.

"(Northwest) wants it to be slow and they don't want to give you anything in transition," Whitaker noted. "They do a great job. They don't make mistakes on the offensive end. They rarely turn it over. They're unique. I'm glad we've had some time. One, to get a day off, and then also to prep."&nbsp;

Coach Wacker says the Griffons should win if they simply stick to what’s been working thus far.

"I think it's doing what we do best," Wacker said when asked what the key to victory is. "Just playing fast and playing with good energy. Sharing the basketball. That up tempo, fast-paced style of basketball, really we're at our best when we're doing that. Shooters stepping up with confidence and sharing the basketball."

Saturday's games start at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Both will be broadcast live on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) with coverage starting at 1 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673028736171.jpeg" alt="The Missouri Western women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season last year at Bearcat Arena when Northwest handed the Griffons a 49-46 loss in Maryville in December 2021. Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>The Missouri Western women's basketball team suffered their first loss of the season last year at Bearcat Arena when Northwest handed the Griffons a 49-46 loss in Maryville in December 2021. Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt’s a rivalry restored this weekend in the MIAA as Northwest Missouri State gets set to host Missouri Western in basketball Saturday.The Bearcat men are once again a force to be reckoned with. Ranked No. 5 in the country, Northwest is 13-1 overall 6-1 in the MIAA.Ben McCollum, now in his 14th year as head coach at Northwest, says he has a team that can share the basketball effectively and develop the right habits."We're a very unselfish team," McCollum told KFEQ Radio. "We've got good kids. Pretty tough kids.&nbsp; I think the big thing for us is to continue to develop quality habits and bring effort every single game, every day, every practice. Like any team, if you can do that more consistently and just get better at what you're good at, eventually good things can happen."Leading the way for Northwest is senior and St. Joseph native Diego Bernard, who made the decision to use his fifth year of eligibility and come play for the Bearcats one final season.Not surprisingly, it’s worked out. Northwest is tied for first in the MIAA standings, and the Bearcats seem ready to compete for a fourth straight national championship.McCollum says Bernard has become the natural leader of the team, and not just because of his playing ability."He's the heart and soul of the team, just because of the energy he can supply," McCollum said of Bernard. "For us, he supplies it every day. He's been great as far as being a leader this season. He's allowed the other guys to be comfortable because of his energy and toughness and mentality."The Missouri Western men, meanwhile, are getting ready for their toughest test of the season so far.The Griffons are 7-5 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA after a 62-61 loss to Rogers State and a 75-73 loss to Northeastern State over this past week - both at home.Missouri Western coach Will Martin says there's a lot his team can learn from those experiences."There's nobody who wants to win more than me," Martin said on the Missouri Western Coaches' Luncheon Tuesday. "It's probably an unhealthy obsession how bad I want to win, and that's what we're here to do. But for me, it's always about the deeper lessons for life."Missouri Western seeks its first win over Northwest in men's hoops since January 2013. The Griffons haven't won in Maryville since January 2009. Northwest has won 21 straight games in this series.Coach Martin knows that his team needs to start delivering on their end of this rivalry at some point."We have to start doing our part on the basketball end when it comes to that rivalry," Martin admitted. "It's hard to call it a rivalry when they've won 20 straight games against us. We have to do our part, and that's what we intend to do when we go down there and when we get them again at home."&nbsp; Missouri Western will host Northwest on February 18. A big X-factor for Missouri Western Saturday, though, could be junior forward JaRon Thames. The St. Louis native played in all 31 games last year and started 18 of them, scoring a career-high 27 points against the Bearcats last February.Thames has played 22 minutes in four games this year. He's been limited with a hand injury, but he had his best outing of the season Monday against Northeastern State, coming off the bench and scoring 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting in just six minutes."It's been hard for (Thames) to go through the psychological and physical battle of getting injured and reinjured and not knowing if he was going to be able to play at all this year," Martin said. "I'm really, really proud of his response. He just gives us a different mojo on the floor. When he's on the floor, you feel like you can get a bucket."Coach interviews<div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Northwest-Missouri-State-MBB-coach-Ben-McCollum-e1t4k1d" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></ifra</div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/MWSU-Coaches-Luncheon-1323---MBB-coach-Will-Martin-e1t4k9g" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Missouri Western women's basketball once again trending up The Missouri Western women's basketball team finds themselves, once again, in a pretty strong position entering the back half of the season.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Griffons are 12-4 overall and 6-2 in the MIAA following a 74-53 win over Northeastern State in St. Joseph Monday. It’s their fifth straight win and Missouri Western is now tied for third in the MIAA standings.&nbsp; Heading into this portion of the season, head coach Candi Whitaker wants her team to show consistent intensity in each game."I always want our team to compete like they're competing for a national championship every time they hit the floor," Whitaker said. "It's challenging at times when you're playing a team and it's a bit lopsided, but we just have to have more discipline."Still, coming off of a Central Region title and 24 wins last year, the Griffons are riding high in early 2023."I think our confidence level is very high," sophomore Abby Bala said after scoring a career-high 17 points against Northeastern State Monday. "I think we're all just on a roll and we'll be ready to keep it going."Missouri Western assistant coach Emily Wacker says the team's depth and fast tempo on offense have, once again, been keys to success this year."Sharing the ball and being able to play a lot of people," Wacker said. "I think depth is something we've always talked about. Being able to continue to use that to our advantage is really important, especially as we get into January and February basketball."The Griffons have 10 players who average more than 14 minutes per contest, with several players taking on bigger roles.Junior and Missouri State transfer Trinity Knapp is one of them. The 6-2 forward has started eight games, is shooting north of 52 percent and leads the team with 14 total blocks.Coach Wacker says Knapp has embraced her starting role."She looks to me like she's comfortable," Wacker said of Knapp, "and not in a bad way, but a good way. She's found a rhythm and a groove. She's not forcing, but taking what is presented to her and really finding her stride. I think the players around her are understanding where does Trinity want the ball and where is she going to be the most successful."Another player taking on a bigger role is the aforementioned Abby Bala. She’s started each of the last four games, and is now second on the team with 20 made three-pointers. However, Bala says becoming a better defender is something she’s prioritized."Over the postseason and preseason, I really worked on my defense," Bala said. "Just to stay active with my feet and my hands. If you can play defense, you can play offense. It kind of goes hand-in-hand."There’s still a long road ahead this year, and that journey starts Saturday in Maryville at Northwest Missouri State (7-6, 2-5 MIAA). Coach Whitaker says the Bearcats provide a unique challenge."(Northwest) wants it to be slow and they don't want to give you anything in transition," Whitaker noted. "They do a great job. They don't make mistakes on the offensive end. They rarely turn it over. They're unique. I'm glad we've had some time. One, to get a day off, and then also to prep."&nbsp;Coach Wacker says the Griffons should win if they simply stick to what’s been working thus far."I think it's doing what we do best," Wacker said when asked what the key to victory is. "Just playing fast and playing with good energy. Sharing the basketball. That up tempo, fast-paced style of basketball, really we're at our best when we're doing that. Shooters stepping up with confidence and sharing the basketball."Saturday's games start at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Both will be broadcast live on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) with coverage starting at 1 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673028926962.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western's Reese Glover goes up for a basket in last season's game at Bearcat Arena. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western's Reese Glover goes up for a basket in last season's game at Bearcat Arena. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Northwest, Missouri Western ready to battle at Bearcat Arena Saturday

NEW YORK — The NFL has canceled the Bills and Bengals' week 17 game and announced their plans for playoff scenarios. 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed all clubs of his decision on Thursday, after speaking with the Bills, the Bengals and NFL Players Association leadership.

“This has been a very difficult week,” Goodell said. “We continue to focus on the recovery of Damar Hamlin and are encouraged by the improvements in his condition as well as the tremendous outpouring of support and care for Damar and his family from across the country.  We are also incredibly appreciative of the amazing work of the medical personnel and commend each and every one of them.”

Canceling the game between the Bills and Bengals creates potential competitive inequities in certain playoff scenarios. The NFL says that in an effort to mitigate those "inequities," NFL clubs will consider Friday in a Special League Meeting a resolution recommended by the Commissioner and approved today by the Competition Committee, consisting of two elements: 

The AFC Championship Game will be played at a neutral site if the participating teams played an unequal number of games and both could have been the number one seed and hosted the game had all AFC clubs played a full 17-game regular season. Those circumstances involve Buffalo or Cincinnati qualifying for the game as a road team and are listed below:

Buffalo and Kansas City both win or both tie in week 18 – a Buffalo vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site.

Buffalo and Kansas City both lose in week 18 and Baltimore wins or ties – a Buffalo vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site.

Buffalo and Kansas City both lose in week 18 and Cincinnati wins – a Buffalo or Cincinnati vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site.

If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati in Week 18 it will have defeated Cincinnati, a divisional opponent, twice but will not be able to host a playoff game because Cincinnati will have a higher winning percentage for a 16-game schedule than Baltimore will for a 17-game schedule. 

If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati and if those two clubs are scheduled to play a Wild Card game against one another, the site for that game would be determined by a coin toss. 

If Cincinnati wins the Week 18 game or if Baltimore and Cincinnati are not scheduled to play one another in the Wild Card round, the game sites would be determined by the regular scheduling procedures.

NEW YORK — The NFL has canceled the Bills and Bengals' week 17 game and announced their plans for playoff scenarios. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed all clubs of his decision on Thursday, after speaking with the Bills, the Bengals and NFL Players Association leadership.“This has been a very difficult week,” Goodell said. “We continue to focus on the recovery of Damar Hamlin and are encouraged by the improvements in his condition as well as the tremendous outpouring of support and care for Damar and his family from across the country. We are also incredibly appreciative of the amazing work of the medical personnel and commend each and every one of them.”Canceling the game between the Bills and Bengals creates potential competitive inequities in certain playoff scenarios. The NFL says that in an effort to mitigate those "inequities," NFL clubs will consider Friday in a Special League Meeting a resolution recommended by the Commissioner and approved today by the Competition Committee, consisting of two elements: The AFC Championship Game will be played at a neutral site if the participating teams played an unequal number of games and both could have been the number one seed and hosted the game had all AFC clubs played a full 17-game regular season. Those circumstances involve Buffalo or Cincinnati qualifying for the game as a road team and are listed below:Scenario 1Buffalo and Kansas City both win or both tie in week 18 – a Buffalo vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site.Scenario 2Buffalo and Kansas City both lose in week 18 and Baltimore wins or ties – a Buffalo vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site.Scenario 3Buffalo and Kansas City both lose in week 18 and Cincinnati wins – a Buffalo or Cincinnati vs Kansas City championship game would be at a neutral site.If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati in Week 18 it will have defeated Cincinnati, a divisional opponent, twice but will not be able to host a playoff game because Cincinnati will have a higher winning percentage for a 16-game schedule than Baltimore will for a 17-game schedule. If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati and if those two clubs are scheduled to play a Wild Card game against one another, the site for that game would be determined by a coin toss. If Cincinnati wins the Week 18 game or if Baltimore and Cincinnati are not scheduled to play one another in the Wild Card round, the game sites would be determined by the regular scheduling procedures.

🏈 NFL releases scenarios after canceling Buffalo-Cincinnati game

The Lafayette boys came out flat Thursday, getting down 17-9 early in the second quarter. Irish coach Kevin Bristol called a timeout and had what he described as a "come to Jesus" moment with his team on the bench.

"We basically talked about not playing with energy," Bristol said. "If we come out and play with energy, those are the kind of things we can do. You always have to play with energy, especially in your house."

The Irish (6-4) brought the energy after that talk, reeling off a 15-1 run in the first half and leading 24-19 at the break. Lafayette led by as many as 21 in the second half and ended up with a 72-57 victory over the Spoofhounds at Lafayette High School Thursday night.

Lafayette's dominance was on display in the second half, as the Irish scored 48 points over the game's final 16 minutes. Senior Mikey Thomas was especially dominant, as he finished with a game-high 25 points - 19 of that came after halftime.

"We wanted to come out and have energy," Thomas said. "We love playing at home. We don't get to have very many home games. So, every home game we have, we cherish it and I think that's what gets us going."

Senior Camden Bennett scored 15 points, sophomore Antonio Williams had 10 while senior Connor Zeit had nine points on three straight three-pointers in the second half.

"I feel confident when my teammates can find me," Zeit said. "I'm always ready to knock down the shots. That's my role, so that's what I had to do."

Sophomore Peyton McCollum led Maryville (8-3) with 15 points. Junior Derek Quinlin had 13 points. Senior Caden Stoecklein and junior Delton Davis each had 10.

In a battle of top MEC contenders, Lafayette showed out on their home floor after a 1-2 showing in the Neosho Holiday Classic against top tier competition in late December.

"We pry won't see those types of teams (we saw at Neosho)," Bristol said. "So, we know that if we can compete with those guys, we know we can compete anywhere. Those were Class 6 and 5 teams (at Neosho). We were pry the smallest school down there, and we were able to compete. That's all we look for."

"That's one of the best teams in the league," Thomas said of Maryville. "That just gives us the confidence that we can run the table in the MEC."

Lafayette heads to Bishop LeBlond High School to play Omaha Roncalli (NE) in the Steve Vertin Classic on Saturday at 1 p.m. Maryville is home to Red Oak (IA) on Friday.

Maryville girls fend off late charge, survive Lafayette Thursday

Maryville led by as many as 14 in the second half before Lafayette made a great push, using a 14-2 run to tie the game at 37 with about a minute left.

Maryville senior Anastyn Pettlon, however, hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 46 seconds to go, and the Spoofhounds got four key free throws from Pettlon and senior Rylee Vierthaler in the final moments, as Maryville (5-5) held on for a 44-39 win Thursday.

Vierthaler led Maryville with 16 points. Pettlon finished with 15. Junior Talicia Byrd led Lafayette with 11 points. Junior Honor Mannings had 10.

The Irish (5-8) take part in the Kearney Invitational from Jan. 9-14.&nbsp; Maryville is at East Buchanan on Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672979865069.jpeg" alt="Lafayette's Antonio Williams (4) dribbles in the first half of Thursday's game against Maryville. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Lafayette's Antonio Williams (4) dribbles in the first half of Thursday's game against Maryville. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Lafayette boys came out flat Thursday, getting down 17-9 early in the second quarter. Irish coach Kevin Bristol called a timeout and had what he described as a "come to Jesus" moment with his team on the bench."We basically talked about not playing with energy," Bristol said. "If we come out and play with energy, those are the kind of things we can do. You always have to play with energy, especially in your house."The Irish (6-4) brought the energy after that talk, reeling off a 15-1 run in the first half and leading 24-19 at the break. Lafayette led by as many as 21 in the second half and ended up with a 72-57 victory over the Spoofhounds at Lafayette High School Thursday night.Lafayette's dominance was on display in the second half, as the Irish scored 48 points over the game's final 16 minutes. Senior Mikey Thomas was especially dominant, as he finished with a game-high 25 points - 19 of that came after halftime."We wanted to come out and have energy," Thomas said. "We love playing at home. We don't get to have very many home games. So, every home game we have, we cherish it and I think that's what gets us going."Senior Camden Bennett scored 15 points, sophomore Antonio Williams had 10 while senior Connor Zeit had nine points on three straight three-pointers in the second half."I feel confident when my teammates can find me," Zeit said. "I'm always ready to knock down the shots. That's my role, so that's what I had to do."Sophomore Peyton McCollum led Maryville (8-3) with 15 points. Junior Derek Quinlin had 13 points. Senior Caden Stoecklein and junior Delton Davis each had 10.In a battle of top MEC contenders, Lafayette showed out on their home floor after a 1-2 showing in the Neosho Holiday Classic against top tier competition in late December."We pry won't see those types of teams (we saw at Neosho)," Bristol said. "So, we know that if we can compete with those guys, we know we can compete anywhere. Those were Class 6 and 5 teams (at Neosho). We were pry the smallest school down there, and we were able to compete. That's all we look for.""That's one of the best teams in the league," Thomas said of Maryville. "That just gives us the confidence that we can run the table in the MEC."Lafayette heads to Bishop LeBlond High School to play Omaha Roncalli (NE) in the Steve Vertin Classic on Saturday at 1 p.m. Maryville is home to Red Oak (IA) on Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672979937429.jpeg" alt="Camden Bennett (white jersey) drives for a layup." />
 <figcaption>Camden Bennett (white jersey) drives for a layup.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672980030570.jpeg" alt="Mikey Thomas (1)." />
 <figcaption>Mikey Thomas (1).</figcaption>
 </figure>Maryville girls fend off late charge, survive Lafayette ThursdayMaryville led by as many as 14 in the second half before Lafayette made a great push, using a 14-2 run to tie the game at 37 with about a minute left.Maryville senior Anastyn Pettlon, however, hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 46 seconds to go, and the Spoofhounds got four key free throws from Pettlon and senior Rylee Vierthaler in the final moments, as Maryville (5-5) held on for a 44-39 win Thursday.Vierthaler led Maryville with 16 points. Pettlon finished with 15. Junior Talicia Byrd led Lafayette with 11 points. Junior Honor Mannings had 10.The Irish (5-8) take part in the Kearney Invitational from Jan. 9-14.&nbsp; Maryville is at East Buchanan on Tuesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672980061478.jpeg" alt="Honor Mannings (24)." />
 <figcaption>Honor Mannings (24).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672980162139.jpeg" alt="Rylee Vierthaler (15)." />
 <figcaption>Rylee Vierthaler (15).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672980180019.jpeg" alt="Talicia Byrd (30)." />
 <figcaption>Talicia Byrd (30).</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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