The St. Joseph School District hasn't ever had a sanctioned middle school or junior high football program, but that'll be changing soon.

The school board last year approved the creation of two junior high football teams, involving seventh and eighth grade students, starting in the 2022-23 school year.

Spring Garden and Truman Middle School will combine for one team, while Bode and Robidoux Middle School combine for another. Dr. Robert Sigrist, the district's director for student services, updated the board Monday night on what this program will look like.

Sigrist says this fills a long-time need in the community.

"It's been a gap for a few years in St. Joe," he said. "This is a great opportunity for us to get a large number of kids active and involved in something. Also, we think the gravy of that is we think it'll also help us from a competitive standpoint."

The team colors will be in teal and gray - same color scheme as the St. Joseph School District. The mascots, which were chosen by district students, are 'Panthers' and 'Jaguars.'

"We wanted to make sure that we didn't do anything that was skewed toward any one of the high schools," Sigrist said. "The district's logo is teal and gray, and we thought, 'what a great opportunity to use that color scheme for uniforms.'"

The goal is to have about 60 players per team, involving seventh and eighth graders. The Panthers and the Jaguars will both have an 'A' and a 'B' team - the 'A' team having the top players on it. Sigrist the 'A' and 'B' teams will not be based on age level.

"We're not necessarily going to say it's eighth grade-seventh grade," Sigrist said. "It's similar to what we've done in basketball the last few years. If our seventh graders are able to compete on the A team, we do that. We want kids to be able to compete at the level they can compete at."&nbsp;

St. Joseph's junior high students used to participate in Bantam football - a volunteer-based youth program that filled the need for middle school football for years - until it fell off about six years ago.

That could be part of why St. Joseph high school football hasn't had as much success as nearby programs like East Buchanan or Maryville.

Benton, Lafayette and St. Joseph Central all had losing records in football in 2020. The Cardinals haven't had a winning season since 2010. For Central, not since 2013.

The Irish have had the most success with nine winning seasons since 2010, including four playoff wins in the last six years and a 6-4 mark in 2021.

Middle school football had been a discussion in the St. Joseph District for years. The discussion really ramped up within the past year and earned unanimous approval from the board in 2021.

The cost of starting junior high football will be about $100,000. While uniforms and equipment need to be ordered, Sigrist says the other big piece to figure out is where these junior high teams will practice.

"The Truman-Spring Garden team will practice there," Sigrist said. "There's an area there behind Truman that'll be a good practice. Then, the Robidoux-Bode team will practice behind Robidoux. There's some good space up there."

Now with the board's approval, the district is also looking to hire coaches for the junior high program - a position that previously didn't exist.

"We hadn't a position in the district of middle school football coach," Sigrist said. "So, we kind of had to go through that (approval process). It was a formality, but we are taking applications right now for both head and assistant coaches for those programs."

While being more competitive at the high school level is an incentive, Sigrist says the far more important motivation for this is giving the city's youth an extra opportunity to compete, develop and succeed overall.

"It's going to have 120 kids engaged and involved in an activity," Sigrist said. "All of the research indicates that kids who are involved in activities, their attendance is better. Their grades are better. Everything is a positive for them in terms of school. It gives them more opportunities to be engaged at school."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629517591243.jpeg" alt="Stock photo by by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo by by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph School District hasn't ever had a sanctioned middle school or junior high football program, but that'll be changing soon.The school board last year approved the creation of two junior high football teams, involving seventh and eighth grade students, starting in the 2022-23 school year.Spring Garden and Truman Middle School will combine for one team, while Bode and Robidoux Middle School combine for another. Dr. Robert Sigrist, the district's director for student services, updated the board Monday night on what this program will look like.Sigrist says this fills a long-time need in the community."It's been a gap for a few years in St. Joe," he said. "This is a great opportunity for us to get a large number of kids active and involved in something. Also, we think the gravy of that is we think it'll also help us from a competitive standpoint."The team colors will be in teal and gray - same color scheme as the St. Joseph School District. The mascots, which were chosen by district students, are 'Panthers' and 'Jaguars.'"We wanted to make sure that we didn't do anything that was skewed toward any one of the high schools," Sigrist said. "The district's logo is teal and gray, and we thought, 'what a great opportunity to use that color scheme for uniforms.'"The goal is to have about 60 players per team, involving seventh and eighth graders. The Panthers and the Jaguars will both have an 'A' and a 'B' team - the 'A' team having the top players on it. Sigrist the 'A' and 'B' teams will not be based on age level."We're not necessarily going to say it's eighth grade-seventh grade," Sigrist said. "It's similar to what we've done in basketball the last few years. If our seventh graders are able to compete on the A team, we do that. We want kids to be able to compete at the level they can compete at."&nbsp;St. Joseph's junior high students used to participate in Bantam football - a volunteer-based youth program that filled the need for middle school football for years - until it fell off about six years ago.That could be part of why St. Joseph high school football hasn't had as much success as nearby programs like East Buchanan or Maryville.Benton, Lafayette and St. Joseph Central all had losing records in football in 2020. The Cardinals haven't had a winning season since 2010. For Central, not since 2013.The Irish have had the most success with nine winning seasons since 2010, including four playoff wins in the last six years and a 6-4 mark in 2021.Middle school football had been a discussion in the St. Joseph District for years. The discussion really ramped up within the past year and earned unanimous approval from the board in 2021.The cost of starting junior high football will be about $100,000. While uniforms and equipment need to be ordered, Sigrist says the other big piece to figure out is where these junior high teams will practice."The Truman-Spring Garden team will practice there," Sigrist said. "There's an area there behind Truman that'll be a good practice. Then, the Robidoux-Bode team will practice behind Robidoux. There's some good space up there."Now with the board's approval, the district is also looking to hire coaches for the junior high program - a position that previously didn't exist."We hadn't a position in the district of middle school football coach," Sigrist said. "So, we kind of had to go through that (approval process). It was a formality, but we are taking applications right now for both head and assistant coaches for those programs."While being more competitive at the high school level is an incentive, Sigrist says the far more important motivation for this is giving the city's youth an extra opportunity to compete, develop and succeed overall."It's going to have 120 kids engaged and involved in an activity," Sigrist said. "All of the research indicates that kids who are involved in activities, their attendance is better. Their grades are better. Everything is a positive for them in terms of school. It gives them more opportunities to be engaged at school."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph School District gives update on new junior high football teams

The Missouri Western men's basketball team got off to a strong start, playing their first game in 11 days Monday, but Fort Hays State (14-3, 8-3 MIAA) built a 17-point second half lead, and held on for a 76-71 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

In a game that had been postponed from Jan. 15, Missouri Western (8-10, 4-6 MIAA) started off strong, jumping out to a 13-5 lead in the first five minutes.

Fort Hays State responded, going on a 14-3 run later in the first half to go up 36-25 with 2:05 left until halftime. The Griffons punched right back, ending the first on an 8-0 run and trailing only 36-33 at the break.

"The way we started the game is what we're capable of," Missouri Western men's coach Will Martin said. "All of the credit in the world to our guys who are stepping up."

Missouri Western was without starting guard Reese Glover and starting forward Alex John Monday.

The Tigers, who won their third straight game overall, started the second half on a 15-7 run and went up 51-40 with 14:53 left. Both teams traded baskets for awhile after that, but Hays' lead eventually ballooned to 68-51 with 6:10 remaining.

Missouri Western, who lost its sixth in a row, did not quit. Key three-pointers in the final four minutes by Taye Fields, Q Mays and Zion Swader put the Griffons back in contention.

Western's last prayer was a clutch three by Swader with 24 seconds left, which made it a 74-69 ballgame. After Hays went 1-for-2 at the free throw line with 20 seconds to go, the Griffons had the ball back and got a key layup from fields, but it came with only six seconds left, and Western still trailed 75-71.

Missouri Western passed and shared the ball well through the day, ending with 10 assists.

"We did more of a small ball lineup today to get the ball moving a little bit more and it did," Martin said. "It looked good, but we have to execute for 40 minutes. I'm proud of our effort, but we have to execute.

"I'm proud of our team and I'm proud of our effort, but we have to execute for all 40 minutes. The ball moved a lot better today, but we still had 14 turnovers."

Mays, who missed Western's previous game against Kearney 11 days ago due to COVID, returned to the lineup Monday and led his team with 18 points. Fields came off the bench to score 15 points for a second consecutive game to go with six rebounds.

JaRon Thames was also solid with 14 points and six boards. First-team all-MIAA forward Jared Vitztum led four Tigers in double figures with 18 points and 10 rebounds - his ninth double-double of the season.

Nyjee Wright had 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Hays also won the rebounding battle 27-21, including 7-2 on the offensive glass.

"(Hays) did a really good job of getting their players into situations," Martin said. "Vitzum had 18 (points) on 7-of-15 shooting."

Missouri Western has a quick turnaround, going on the road Wednesday to face Central Missouri. The women lead things off at 5:30 and the men will follow at 7:30. Both games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643076732523.jpeg" alt="JaRon Thames. Stock photo via GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>JaRon Thames. Stock photo via GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western men's basketball team got off to a strong start, playing their first game in 11 days Monday, but Fort Hays State (14-3, 8-3 MIAA) built a 17-point second half lead, and held on for a 76-71 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse.In a game that had been postponed from Jan. 15, Missouri Western (8-10, 4-6 MIAA) started off strong, jumping out to a 13-5 lead in the first five minutes.Fort Hays State responded, going on a 14-3 run later in the first half to go up 36-25 with 2:05 left until halftime. The Griffons punched right back, ending the first on an 8-0 run and trailing only 36-33 at the break."The way we started the game is what we're capable of," Missouri Western men's coach Will Martin said. "All of the credit in the world to our guys who are stepping up."Missouri Western was without starting guard Reese Glover and starting forward Alex John Monday.The Tigers, who won their third straight game overall, started the second half on a 15-7 run and went up 51-40 with 14:53 left. Both teams traded baskets for awhile after that, but Hays' lead eventually ballooned to 68-51 with 6:10 remaining.Missouri Western, who lost its sixth in a row, did not quit. Key three-pointers in the final four minutes by Taye Fields, Q Mays and Zion Swader put the Griffons back in contention.Western's last prayer was a clutch three by Swader with 24 seconds left, which made it a 74-69 ballgame. After Hays went 1-for-2 at the free throw line with 20 seconds to go, the Griffons had the ball back and got a key layup from fields, but it came with only six seconds left, and Western still trailed 75-71.Missouri Western passed and shared the ball well through the day, ending with 10 assists."We did more of a small ball lineup today to get the ball moving a little bit more and it did," Martin said. "It looked good, but we have to execute for 40 minutes. I'm proud of our effort, but we have to execute."I'm proud of our team and I'm proud of our effort, but we have to execute for all 40 minutes. The ball moved a lot better today, but we still had 14 turnovers."Mays, who missed Western's previous game against Kearney 11 days ago due to COVID, returned to the lineup Monday and led his team with 18 points. Fields came off the bench to score 15 points for a second consecutive game to go with six rebounds.JaRon Thames was also solid with 14 points and six boards. First-team all-MIAA forward Jared Vitztum led four Tigers in double figures with 18 points and 10 rebounds - his ninth double-double of the season.Nyjee Wright had 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Hays also won the rebounding battle 27-21, including 7-2 on the offensive glass."(Hays) did a really good job of getting their players into situations," Martin said. "Vitzum had 18 (points) on 7-of-15 shooting."Missouri Western has a quick turnaround, going on the road Wednesday to face Central Missouri. The women lead things off at 5:30 and the men will follow at 7:30. Both games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU men get off to strong start, can't overcome late deficit against Fort Hays State

KANSAS CITY (AP) — In a never-say-die showdown between two of the NFL’s top teams, and two of its bright young quarterbacks, the Bills and Chiefs played a classic Sunday night decided by one of them calling tails and the other making him pay for it.

Josh Allen’s decision on the overtime coin toss was his only mistake for Buffalo all night.

Patrick Mahomes promptly followed it by marching Kansas City downfield against the NFL's top-ranked but exhausted defense, then finding Travis Kelce in the corner of the end zone from 8 yards, giving the Chiefs a memorable 42-36 victory — and never giving his burgeoning rival an opportunity with the ball.

“It worked out well for us this time,” said Mahomes, who has his team playing in its fourth consecutive AFC title game. “When you have two teams going back and forth, it stinks when you don't get to see the other guy go. But all you can do is play the rules the way the rules are explained, and that's what we did.”

Did it perfectly, too, setting up a showdown next Sunday against Cincinnati for another trip to the Super Bowl.

“The guys didn’t flinch,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said “You talk about an epic game, well, that’s the way the players took it. They had tremendous respect for Buffalo and they knew it was going to be a battle and they kept going.”

What was Reid’s advice for Mahomes down the stretch?

“When it’s grim, be the grim reaper, and go get it,” Reid said. “He made everyone around him better.”

The lead changed hands three times in the final two minutes of regulation, and there were 25 points scored over that stretch. Harrison Butker, who earlier had missed a field goal and extra point, drilled a 49-yarder as time expired to force the extra session, and when the Chiefs won the coin toss, Mahomes took care of the rest.

He finished with 378 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a 64-yarder to Tyreek Hill during the thrilling final minutes of regulation and the clutch throw to Kelce that sent players streaming off the bench.

“We got tremendous leaders on both sides of the ball, whether it's offense, defense or special teams,” Hill said. “Nobody panicked. Nobody was like, ‘Oh, the game is over, there’s 13 seconds left.' We just made plays.”

Allen did everything he could to prevent another season-ending loss inside Arrowhead Stadium. He threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis with 1:54 left in the regulation, then another to Davis — his playoff-record fourth TD catch of the game — with 13 seconds remaining in regulation.

Allen's only mistake? His coin toss call.

He finished with 329 yards passing, and Davis with eight catches for 201 yards, as the Bills lost their ninth straight road playoff game — a streak that includes last year's loss to Kansas City in the AFC title game.

All told, Mahomes and Allen each threw for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns, completed at least 70% of their passes without an interception, and — get this — led their teams with at least 65 yards rushing.

No other quarterback in NFL history has accomplished those feats in a game, regular season or postseason.

It was a playoff game for the history books, but the first 58 minutes few will remember The final two minutes and overtime, few will forget.

The Chiefs were leading 26-21 when Allen, who had been nearly perfect all night, connected with Davis for the third time in the game — a fourth-and-13 dart finished off a 17-play, 75-yard drive and gave the Bills the lead.

Not to be outdone, the Chiefs answered when Mahomes found Hill over the middle. The fleet-footed wide receiver ran away from cornerback Levi Wallace for a 64-yard touchdown that gave Kansas City the right lead back.

Then it was the Bills’ turn again: Allen threw a 28-yard pass to Davis, hit him again for 12 yards, then found Emmanuel Sanders along the sideline to give McDermott’s team a chance with 17 seconds on the clock.

Allen hit Davis right between the numbers, their 19-yard strike giving him the postseason-record — but not the victory.

That's because Mahomes wasn’t done conjuring up playoff magic. He found Hill for 19 yards, then hit Kelce for 25 more on a schoolyard-style play, giving Butker a chance to try a 49-yarder into a slight, chilly breeze as time expired.

Naturally, it split the uprights. Overtime.&nbsp;A fitting way to end a divisional-round weekend filled with last-second heroics.

The Chiefs will now get a visit from Cincinnati this Sunday, becoming the first franchise in NFL history to host four consecutive conference championship games.

The 49ers play the Rams for the NFC title in the nightcap.

St. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY (AP) — In a never-say-die showdown between two of the NFL’s top teams, and two of its bright young quarterbacks, the Bills and Chiefs played a classic Sunday night decided by one of them calling tails and the other making him pay for it.Josh Allen’s decision on the overtime coin toss was his only mistake for Buffalo all night.Patrick Mahomes promptly followed it by marching Kansas City downfield against the NFL's top-ranked but exhausted defense, then finding Travis Kelce in the corner of the end zone from 8 yards, giving the Chiefs a memorable 42-36 victory — and never giving his burgeoning rival an opportunity with the ball.“It worked out well for us this time,” said Mahomes, who has his team playing in its fourth consecutive AFC title game. “When you have two teams going back and forth, it stinks when you don't get to see the other guy go. But all you can do is play the rules the way the rules are explained, and that's what we did.”Did it perfectly, too, setting up a showdown next Sunday against Cincinnati for another trip to the Super Bowl.“The guys didn’t flinch,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said “You talk about an epic game, well, that’s the way the players took it. They had tremendous respect for Buffalo and they knew it was going to be a battle and they kept going.”What was Reid’s advice for Mahomes down the stretch?“When it’s grim, be the grim reaper, and go get it,” Reid said. “He made everyone around him better.”The lead changed hands three times in the final two minutes of regulation, and there were 25 points scored over that stretch. Harrison Butker, who earlier had missed a field goal and extra point, drilled a 49-yarder as time expired to force the extra session, and when the Chiefs won the coin toss, Mahomes took care of the rest.He finished with 378 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a 64-yarder to Tyreek Hill during the thrilling final minutes of regulation and the clutch throw to Kelce that sent players streaming off the bench.“We got tremendous leaders on both sides of the ball, whether it's offense, defense or special teams,” Hill said. “Nobody panicked. Nobody was like, ‘Oh, the game is over, there’s 13 seconds left.' We just made plays.”Allen did everything he could to prevent another season-ending loss inside Arrowhead Stadium. He threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis with 1:54 left in the regulation, then another to Davis — his playoff-record fourth TD catch of the game — with 13 seconds remaining in regulation.Allen's only mistake? His coin toss call.He finished with 329 yards passing, and Davis with eight catches for 201 yards, as the Bills lost their ninth straight road playoff game — a streak that includes last year's loss to Kansas City in the AFC title game.All told, Mahomes and Allen each threw for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns, completed at least 70% of their passes without an interception, and — get this — led their teams with at least 65 yards rushing.No other quarterback in NFL history has accomplished those feats in a game, regular season or postseason.It was a playoff game for the history books, but the first 58 minutes few will remember The final two minutes and overtime, few will forget.The Chiefs were leading 26-21 when Allen, who had been nearly perfect all night, connected with Davis for the third time in the game — a fourth-and-13 dart finished off a 17-play, 75-yard drive and gave the Bills the lead.Not to be outdone, the Chiefs answered when Mahomes found Hill over the middle. The fleet-footed wide receiver ran away from cornerback Levi Wallace for a 64-yard touchdown that gave Kansas City the right lead back.Then it was the Bills’ turn again: Allen threw a 28-yard pass to Davis, hit him again for 12 yards, then found Emmanuel Sanders along the sideline to give McDermott’s team a chance with 17 seconds on the clock.Allen hit Davis right between the numbers, their 19-yard strike giving him the postseason-record — but not the victory.That's because Mahomes wasn’t done conjuring up playoff magic. He found Hill for 19 yards, then hit Kelce for 25 more on a schoolyard-style play, giving Butker a chance to try a 49-yarder into a slight, chilly breeze as time expired.Naturally, it split the uprights. Overtime.&nbsp;A fitting way to end a divisional-round weekend filled with last-second heroics.The Chiefs will now get a visit from Cincinnati this Sunday, becoming the first franchise in NFL history to host four consecutive conference championship games.The 49ers play the Rams for the NFC title in the nightcap.

Chiefs top Bills in thrilling fashion, will now host Bengals in AFC title game

The Savannah school district has chosen its new mascot logo.

The school board announced during its Thursday night meeting that the new "Savage" logo will be a stand-alone 'S' with claw marks through it, replacing the Native American imagery.

The board voted unanimously in favor of this change.

More than 5,000 combined votes were cast by students, faculty and community members for their favorite designs, of which there were five finalists. The other finalists included a “Hawk/Falcon," “Lion,” “Sabretooth Tiger” and “Bison.”

The winning 'S' logo received 52.5% of the total vote.

The black and gold school colors, and the nickname "Savages" will be retained. The Savannah school board voted&nbsp;<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/db776f1c-5c82-46d3-9192-5fb6a33525ca">in April of last year</a>&nbsp;to retain the Savage name, but phase out&nbsp;the Native American imagery and symbolism associated with the mascot.

District spokesperson Jess Gillett says the final step will be replacing the equipment and uniforms that bear the original Native American mascot.

Gillett reiterated, just as the school board did at the time of their vote, not one cent of the school district's budget is going toward the mascot change.&nbsp;Instead, as it becomes necessary to replace items, the updated imagery will be used.

"Uniforms are on a five-year rotation," Gillett said. "So, when it's time for those uniforms to be replaced, we'll simply put the new mascot on the new uniform and move forward. And that's true of everything in the district. Gym floors, things like that. They'll just be replaced as they were already scheduled to be updated or replaced."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642810352861.png" alt="Savannah's new logo, as voted by the district and community members." />
 <figcaption>Savannah's new logo, as voted by the district and community members.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Savannah school district has chosen its new mascot logo.The school board announced during its Thursday night meeting that the new "Savage" logo will be a stand-alone 'S' with claw marks through it, replacing the Native American imagery.The board voted unanimously in favor of this change.More than 5,000 combined votes were cast by students, faculty and community members for their favorite designs, of which there were five finalists. The other finalists included a “Hawk/Falcon," “Lion,” “Sabretooth Tiger” and “Bison.”The winning 'S' logo received 52.5% of the total vote.The black and gold school colors, and the nickname "Savages" will be retained. The Savannah school board voted&nbsp;<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/db776f1c-5c82-46d3-9192-5fb6a33525ca">in April of last year</a>&nbsp;to retain the Savage name, but phase out&nbsp;the Native American imagery and symbolism associated with the mascot.District spokesperson Jess Gillett says the final step will be replacing the equipment and uniforms that bear the original Native American mascot.Gillett reiterated, just as the school board did at the time of their vote, not one cent of the school district's budget is going toward the mascot change.&nbsp;Instead, as it becomes necessary to replace items, the updated imagery will be used."Uniforms are on a five-year rotation," Gillett said. "So, when it's time for those uniforms to be replaced, we'll simply put the new mascot on the new uniform and move forward. And that's true of everything in the district. Gym floors, things like that. They'll just be replaced as they were already scheduled to be updated or replaced."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Savannah school board unveils new mascot logo at Thursday meeting

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay was charged with misdemeanor criminal damage to property after he broke a vacuum and other items during an argument, putting his status for Sunday's divisional round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in question

Gay pleaded not guilty Thursday and was expected to be released from jail later in the day.

Police in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, said the 23-year-old Gay was arrested Wednesday night. The total of damaged property amounted to $225, police said.

No drugs, alcohol or weapons were involved and no one was injured, police said.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay has been charged with misdemeanor criminal damage to property after he broke a vacuum and other items during an argument, authorities said.

Gay, 23, was arrested Wednesday night in Overland Park, Kansas, and had a court date scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Overland Park police said in an offense report that Gay damaged a vacuum and other property, causing total property damage of $225, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article257529423.html">reported</a>.

Gay's agents, Maxx Lepsettler and Ryan Rubin, said in a statement that Gay was visiting his son when he got into an argument with the child's mother, who called police.

The agents said Gay would likely pay a fine and replace the vacuum and “all should be resolved today with no further issues.”

The Chiefs, who play the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs on Sunday, said they were aware of the incident but did not plan to make further comment.

Gay, in his second season with the Chiefs, has played in 12 games this season, totaling 48 tackles and two interceptions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642726509970.png" alt="Gay-photo Johnson County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Gay-photo Johnson County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay was charged with misdemeanor criminal damage to property after he broke a vacuum and other items during an argument, putting his status for Sunday's divisional round playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in questionGay pleaded not guilty Thursday and was expected to be released from jail later in the day.Police in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, said the 23-year-old Gay was arrested Wednesday night. The total of damaged property amounted to $225, police said.No drugs, alcohol or weapons were involved and no one was injured, police said.----------OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay has been charged with misdemeanor criminal damage to property after he broke a vacuum and other items during an argument, authorities said.Gay, 23, was arrested Wednesday night in Overland Park, Kansas, and had a court date scheduled for Thursday afternoon.Overland Park police said in an offense report that Gay damaged a vacuum and other property, causing total property damage of $225, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article257529423.html">reported</a>.No drugs, alcohol or weapons were involved and no one was injured, police said.Gay's agents, Maxx Lepsettler and Ryan Rubin, said in a statement that Gay was visiting his son when he got into an argument with the child's mother, who called police.The agents said Gay would likely pay a fine and replace the vacuum and “all should be resolved today with no further issues.”The Chiefs, who play the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs on Sunday, said they were aware of the incident but did not plan to make further comment.Gay, in his second season with the Chiefs, has played in 12 games this season, totaling 48 tackles and two interceptions.

Chiefs linebacker enters plea for misdemeanor criminal damage

WICHITA, KS - Missouri Western used a 10-0 run in the second quarter and a 20-0 run in the third to put away Newman in a 70-37 blowout win at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita Thursday.

Playing in their first road game in over a month, the Griffons (13-3, 7-3 MIAA) were without head coach Candi Whitaker Thursday due to COVID-19 protocol. Assistant Emily Wacker was the acting head coach, as the Griffons broke a two-game losing skid and got their first road win in 2022.

"This kind of felt good to get some bounce back," Wacker said, "make some shots and get a little bit of a rhythm again."

Missouri Western got off to a 10-2 start, but Newman (2-16, 0-12 MIAA) hit back, trailing only 13-9 after the first quarter.

The Griffons took a double-digit lead for the first time off of a Jordan Cunningham three-pointer, giving MWSU a 30-18 lead with 2:36 to go until halftime.

Another three by Brionna Budgets in the final minute of the second quarter put the Griffons ahead 35-18 at halftime. After letting Newman score the first two points of the third quarter, the Griffons reeled off a monstrous 20-0 run in less than six minutes, putting the game away for good.

Western led 59-27 entering the fourth after outscoring the Jets 24-9 in the third quarter.

"I thought we competed really hard on the defensive end," Wacker said. "Once we got locked in there, that created offensive opportunities for us on the other end."

Fifteen Griffons played and 12 of them scored Thursday. Budgets scored a game-high 18 points, tying her season-high with four made three-pointers. Connie Clarke had nine points and a team-best seven rebounds.

Corbyn Cunningham scored eight, while Jaelyn Haggard scored seven points - all of that coming in the third quarter.

Missouri Western is back on the road to face Central Oklahoma (11-7, 7-5 MIAA) Saturday. Tip-off in that game is set for 1:30.

"(UCO) is a team we haven't faced yet," Wacker said. "So, we'll need to learn some new personnel and understand what they're trying to accomplish. It's a big test. UCO is a really good basketball team, so we'll need to be ready to go."

The Bronchos fell at home to Northwest Missouri State, 79-69, Thursday. The Missouri Western men did not play Thursday, nor will they Saturday.

The Griffon men are back in action at home on Monday, Jan. 24 to face Fort Hays State in a make-up game. Tip-off in that one is set for 3:30 at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Both games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642733386310.png" alt="Courtesy of GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostWICHITA, KS - Missouri Western used a 10-0 run in the second quarter and a 20-0 run in the third to put away Newman in a 70-37 blowout win at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita Thursday.Playing in their first road game in over a month, the Griffons (13-3, 7-3 MIAA) were without head coach Candi Whitaker Thursday due to COVID-19 protocol. Assistant Emily Wacker was the acting head coach, as the Griffons broke a two-game losing skid and got their first road win in 2022."This kind of felt good to get some bounce back," Wacker said, "make some shots and get a little bit of a rhythm again."Missouri Western got off to a 10-2 start, but Newman (2-16, 0-12 MIAA) hit back, trailing only 13-9 after the first quarter.The Griffons took a double-digit lead for the first time off of a Jordan Cunningham three-pointer, giving MWSU a 30-18 lead with 2:36 to go until halftime.It never got closer than that.Another three by Brionna Budgets in the final minute of the second quarter put the Griffons ahead 35-18 at halftime. After letting Newman score the first two points of the third quarter, the Griffons reeled off a monstrous 20-0 run in less than six minutes, putting the game away for good.Western led 59-27 entering the fourth after outscoring the Jets 24-9 in the third quarter."I thought we competed really hard on the defensive end," Wacker said. "Once we got locked in there, that created offensive opportunities for us on the other end."Fifteen Griffons played and 12 of them scored Thursday. Budgets scored a game-high 18 points, tying her season-high with four made three-pointers. Connie Clarke had nine points and a team-best seven rebounds.Corbyn Cunningham scored eight, while Jaelyn Haggard scored seven points - all of that coming in the third quarter.Missouri Western is back on the road to face Central Oklahoma (11-7, 7-5 MIAA) Saturday. Tip-off in that game is set for 1:30."(UCO) is a team we haven't faced yet," Wacker said. "So, we'll need to learn some new personnel and understand what they're trying to accomplish. It's a big test. UCO is a really good basketball team, so we'll need to be ready to go."The Bronchos fell at home to Northwest Missouri State, 79-69, Thursday. The Missouri Western men did not play Thursday, nor will they Saturday.The Griffon men are back in action at home on Monday, Jan. 24 to face Fort Hays State in a make-up game. Tip-off in that one is set for 3:30 at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Both games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western women dominate Newman on the road Thursday

Girls' basketball North Andrew 37 Stanberry 29. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/a425b56a-27c1-41b1-92a0-724f0f0abdc0">Full coverage here</a>. Bishop LeBlond 55 West Platte 36 St. Joseph Christian 48 North Harrison 23 Stewartsville-Osborn 58 South Holt 37 King City @ Pattonsburg - PPD to Feb. 7. Maysville @ Gallatin - PPD to Feb. 7. DeKalb @ East Atchison has been postponed to February 9. Richmond @ Mid-Buchanan has been postponed to February 2.

Boys' basketball Benton 64 Lincoln College Prep 63 - OT Junction City 90 St. Joseph Central 47 at the Basehor-Linwood tournament. Central faces Piper on Friday. Bishop LeBlond 50 Lawson 43 Center 65 Maryville 43 Mound City 83 Northeast Nodaway 48. The girls’ matchup between those two was canceled. Stanberry 57 North Andrew 41 St. Joseph Christian 62 North Harrison 39 Stewartsville-Osborn 68 South Holt 47 Plattsburg 68 Northland Christian 50 King City @ Pattonsburg - PPD Maysville @ Gallatin - PPD Richmond @ Mid-Buchanan has been postponed to February 2. DeKalb @ East Atchison has been postponed to February 9.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostGirls' basketball North Andrew 37 Stanberry 29. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/a425b56a-27c1-41b1-92a0-724f0f0abdc0">Full coverage here</a>. Bishop LeBlond 55 West Platte 36 St. Joseph Christian 48 North Harrison 23 Stewartsville-Osborn 58 South Holt 37 King City @ Pattonsburg - PPD to Feb. 7. Maysville @ Gallatin - PPD to Feb. 7. DeKalb @ East Atchison has been postponed to February 9. Richmond @ Mid-Buchanan has been postponed to February 2.Boys' basketball Benton 64 Lincoln College Prep 63 - OT Junction City 90 St. Joseph Central 47 at the Basehor-Linwood tournament. Central faces Piper on Friday. Bishop LeBlond 50 Lawson 43 Center 65 Maryville 43 Mound City 83 Northeast Nodaway 48. The girls’ matchup between those two was canceled. Stanberry 57 North Andrew 41 St. Joseph Christian 62 North Harrison 39 Stewartsville-Osborn 68 South Holt 47 Plattsburg 68 Northland Christian 50 King City @ Pattonsburg - PPD Maysville @ Gallatin - PPD Richmond @ Mid-Buchanan has been postponed to February 2. DeKalb @ East Atchison has been postponed to February 9.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard - January 18, 2022

ROSENDALE - North Andrew used a 14-0 run in the first half to grab an early lead, and fended off a couple of late runs from Stanberry to beat the Bulldogs, 37-29, Tuesday night at North Andrew High School.

This comes after Stanberry defeated North Andrew, 36-31, in the Stanberry tournament semifinals just last Thursday.

Stanberry (11-3) scored the first two baskets of the game and went ahead 4-0 in the opening three minutes, but North Andrew (11-5) quickly bounced back, leading 10-4 after the first quarter and eventually 14-4 early in the second.

"We got off to a really good start offensively," North Andrew head coach Craig Walker said. "Offensively, seeing the ball go in the basket is a big thing for our team. Never worried about our girls competing on the defensive side. Did what we asked of them tonight and they pulled it out at the end there."

The Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run after a timeout to get back to within two possessions, but a three-pointer by North Andrew's Brylie Brincks put the Cardinals up 21-14 at the half.

Stanberry didn't go down easy. The Bulldogs opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run, all scored by Lexi Craig, to tie the game at 21, but Brincks hit two big threes in the third quarter to give the Cardinals a 27-23 advantage entering the fourth.

"I think we really pulled together as a team," Brincks said. "We kind of struggled a little bit in the third quarter, but we really challenged ourselves and came back and worked as a team."

Neither team could score a whole lot in the closing minutes, but North Andrew made 6-of-8 free throws in the final quarter to maintain their lead after only getting to the foul line once in the first three quarters.

"Taking care of the basketball, being strong and making the free throws at the end," Walker said. "The girls did what we needed them to get done. So proud of them."

Brincks led the Cardinals with 13 points. Freshman Madison Lillard had nine - all from beyond the arc.&nbsp;

Craig led Stanberry with 19 points - 13 of which came in the second half. Amelia Wallace had the other 10 points for the Bulldogs.

Stanberry, who saw a six-game win streak snapped, is home to King City Friday. North Andrew, winner of two in a row, is home to North Harrison Friday as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642560379288.jpeg" alt="Stanberry's Lexi Craig (24) gets swarmed by several North Andrew defenders in the second half. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Stanberry's Lexi Craig (24) gets swarmed by several North Andrew defenders in the second half. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostROSENDALE - North Andrew used a 14-0 run in the first half to grab an early lead, and fended off a couple of late runs from Stanberry to beat the Bulldogs, 37-29, Tuesday night at North Andrew High School.This comes after Stanberry defeated North Andrew, 36-31, in the Stanberry tournament semifinals just last Thursday.Stanberry (11-3) scored the first two baskets of the game and went ahead 4-0 in the opening three minutes, but North Andrew (11-5) quickly bounced back, leading 10-4 after the first quarter and eventually 14-4 early in the second."We got off to a really good start offensively," North Andrew head coach Craig Walker said. "Offensively, seeing the ball go in the basket is a big thing for our team. Never worried about our girls competing on the defensive side. Did what we asked of them tonight and they pulled it out at the end there."The Bulldogs went on an 8-2 run after a timeout to get back to within two possessions, but a three-pointer by North Andrew's Brylie Brincks put the Cardinals up 21-14 at the half.Stanberry didn't go down easy. The Bulldogs opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run, all scored by Lexi Craig, to tie the game at 21, but Brincks hit two big threes in the third quarter to give the Cardinals a 27-23 advantage entering the fourth."I think we really pulled together as a team," Brincks said. "We kind of struggled a little bit in the third quarter, but we really challenged ourselves and came back and worked as a team."Neither team could score a whole lot in the closing minutes, but North Andrew made 6-of-8 free throws in the final quarter to maintain their lead after only getting to the foul line once in the first three quarters."Taking care of the basketball, being strong and making the free throws at the end," Walker said. "The girls did what we needed them to get done. So proud of them."Brincks led the Cardinals with 13 points. Freshman Madison Lillard had nine - all from beyond the arc.&nbsp;Craig led Stanberry with 19 points - 13 of which came in the second half. Amelia Wallace had the other 10 points for the Bulldogs.Stanberry, who saw a six-game win streak snapped, is home to King City Friday. North Andrew, winner of two in a row, is home to North Harrison Friday as well.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642558673762.jpeg" alt="Brylie Brincks goes up for a basket in the first half." />
 <figcaption>Brylie Brincks goes up for a basket in the first half.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642560442977.jpeg" alt="Madison Lillard (right) dribbles in the corner during the first half." />
 <figcaption>Madison Lillard (right) dribbles in the corner during the first half.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

North Andrew sinks five three-pointers, upsets No. 6 Stanberry Tuesday

It's practically déjà vu for Missouri Western men's basketball.

January 14, 2021. No. 16 Missouri Western is on the road, facing Nebraska-Kearney, down a couple of players due to COVID-19. The Lopers come away with a 75-67 upset, and the Griffons go on pause the following day after playing nine conference games.

January 13, 2022. Missouri Western is down four players due to COVID-19 protocol, and Nebraska-Kearney comes away with an 81-79 win in St. Joseph. The Griffons go on pause the following day after playing nine conference games.

"I mean, it's eerily similar to last year," Missouri Western head coach Will Martin said in his second season. "It's crazy how the universe works. We were at Kearney last year. Kearney was here this year before we shut down. And it looks like we'll have a similar type of comeback in terms of teams that we'll play."

The parallels to last season run deeper. When Western came out of quarantine in 2021, they resumed play with games against Central Missouri and Lincoln.

The Griffons are scheduled, this year, to resume play on January 26 against Central Missouri and January 29 against Lincoln.

The Griffons have had four games postponed this month due to COVID protocol. Their home game against Missouri Southern on Jan. 3 was pushed to Jan. 17 due to COVID within the Lions' program - only to be postponed a second time due to COVID in the Griffons' program.

Further, a home game against Fort Hays State and road trips to Newman and Central Oklahoma have been postponed to future dates still to be determined.

"So now, we're having to reschedule a scheduled game," Martin said. "The reality is, there could be some more shutdowns across the league. We cross our fingers and pray that doesn't happen, but it could be a reality. So, we have to be flexible and adaptive."

Missouri Western won six straight games earlier this season before this current five-game losing skid.

Last year, the Griffons were on a four-game winning streak before losing to Kearney, shutting down and losing six more in a row before turning things around and winning five of their next six to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010-11.

"I do think our experience through this, the staff and the players, we'll be more positioned to bounce back quicker than we did last year," Martin said. "It's another small hump in the road that we're going to have to navigate through, but I think this team will come back on the other side stronger than ever."

Missouri Western men's basketball certainly isn't alone in dealing with the complications of an ongoing pandemic. They're also not alone in wanting to achiever their ultimate goals going forward.

Prioritizing safety, and getting the whole regular season schedule in before the end of February.

"The health and safety of the student-athletes comes first," Martin pointed out. "But if we reschedule these games and get them all in, and I'm confident we will, because of what this league and what this school and what teams across the MIAA have proven through experience last year."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639934022302.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt's practically déjà vu for Missouri Western men's basketball.January 14, 2021. No. 16 Missouri Western is on the road, facing Nebraska-Kearney, down a couple of players due to COVID-19. The Lopers come away with a 75-67 upset, and the Griffons go on pause the following day after playing nine conference games.January 13, 2022. Missouri Western is down four players due to COVID-19 protocol, and Nebraska-Kearney comes away with an 81-79 win in St. Joseph. The Griffons go on pause the following day after playing nine conference games."I mean, it's eerily similar to last year," Missouri Western head coach Will Martin said in his second season. "It's crazy how the universe works. We were at Kearney last year. Kearney was here this year before we shut down. And it looks like we'll have a similar type of comeback in terms of teams that we'll play."The parallels to last season run deeper. When Western came out of quarantine in 2021, they resumed play with games against Central Missouri and Lincoln.The Griffons are scheduled, this year, to resume play on January 26 against Central Missouri and January 29 against Lincoln.The Griffons have had four games postponed this month due to COVID protocol. Their home game against Missouri Southern on Jan. 3 was pushed to Jan. 17 due to COVID within the Lions' program - only to be postponed a second time due to COVID in the Griffons' program.Further, a home game against Fort Hays State and road trips to Newman and Central Oklahoma have been postponed to future dates still to be determined."So now, we're having to reschedule a scheduled game," Martin said. "The reality is, there could be some more shutdowns across the league. We cross our fingers and pray that doesn't happen, but it could be a reality. So, we have to be flexible and adaptive."Missouri Western won six straight games earlier this season before this current five-game losing skid.Last year, the Griffons were on a four-game winning streak before losing to Kearney, shutting down and losing six more in a row before turning things around and winning five of their next six to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010-11.Can that happen again?"I do think our experience through this, the staff and the players, we'll be more positioned to bounce back quicker than we did last year," Martin said. "It's another small hump in the road that we're going to have to navigate through, but I think this team will come back on the other side stronger than ever."Missouri Western men's basketball certainly isn't alone in dealing with the complications of an ongoing pandemic. They're also not alone in wanting to achiever their ultimate goals going forward.Prioritizing safety, and getting the whole regular season schedule in before the end of February."The health and safety of the student-athletes comes first," Martin pointed out. "But if we reschedule these games and get them all in, and I'm confident we will, because of what this league and what this school and what teams across the MIAA have proven through experience last year."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU men's basketball face COVID scenario eerily similar to last year

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Chiefs were going nowhere on offense against Pittsburgh early Sunday night, so coach Andy Reid had wide receiver Mecole Hardman take a shotgun snap and hand off to running back Darrel Williams on a trick play.

Their exchange hit the ground, T.J. Watt picked it up and returned the fumble for a touchdown.

It was precisely the kind of play that should have energized the heavy underdogs, playing in a tough environment on the road, but it wound up doing something else entirely. It ticked off Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

He proceeded to throw for 404 yards and five scores, leading Kansas City to the end zone on six straight possessions after the turnover, and the Chiefs cruised through the second half for a 42-21 wild-card victory at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday night.

“We were all pissed at ourselves,” Mahomes said. “We weren't playing with enough energy. We weren't playing at a high enough level. We all motivated ourselves. Everyone was talking to each other, and we came out with a different urgency.”

Byron Pringle caught touchdown passes from both Mahomes and Kelce, and Jerick McKinnon and Tyreek Hill also had scoring catches, while the Chiefs (13-5) shut down the retiring Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense.

The performance not only sent Kansas City into the divisional round of the playoffs, it also turned next Sunday night's game against Buffalo — a rematch of last year's AFC title game — into appointment viewing. The Bills had a similarly easy time with their 47-17 victory over New England on Saturday.

“When you’ve been to the Super Bowl the last two years and you walk off that field with a loss last year, you want to go back and get that revenge, get that win,” Mahomes said. "We have the Bills coming here this next week and we’re going to have to play our best football.”

Roethlisberger, who acknowledged the Steelers (9-8-1) were “not a very good football team” this week, wasn't very good in his own right. The 39-year-old quarterback was 29 of 44 for 215 yards with two meaningless TD passes late in the game, providing the coda to a career that includes six Pro Bowl trips and two Super Bowl wins.

The Chiefs welcome Buffalo next Sunday night in the AFC divisional round. The Bills won in Arrowhead 38-20 in October. Mahomes threw three TD passes in a 38-24 victory for the AFC crown last January.

Kickoff in Sunday's game is set for 5:30 central. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY (AP) — The Chiefs were going nowhere on offense against Pittsburgh early Sunday night, so coach Andy Reid had wide receiver Mecole Hardman take a shotgun snap and hand off to running back Darrel Williams on a trick play.Their exchange hit the ground, T.J. Watt picked it up and returned the fumble for a touchdown.It was precisely the kind of play that should have energized the heavy underdogs, playing in a tough environment on the road, but it wound up doing something else entirely. It ticked off Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.He proceeded to throw for 404 yards and five scores, leading Kansas City to the end zone on six straight possessions after the turnover, and the Chiefs cruised through the second half for a 42-21 wild-card victory at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday night.“We were all pissed at ourselves,” Mahomes said. “We weren't playing with enough energy. We weren't playing at a high enough level. We all motivated ourselves. Everyone was talking to each other, and we came out with a different urgency.”Byron Pringle caught touchdown passes from both Mahomes and Kelce, and Jerick McKinnon and Tyreek Hill also had scoring catches, while the Chiefs (13-5) shut down the retiring Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense.The performance not only sent Kansas City into the divisional round of the playoffs, it also turned next Sunday night's game against Buffalo — a rematch of last year's AFC title game — into appointment viewing. The Bills had a similarly easy time with their 47-17 victory over New England on Saturday.“When you’ve been to the Super Bowl the last two years and you walk off that field with a loss last year, you want to go back and get that revenge, get that win,” Mahomes said. "We have the Bills coming here this next week and we’re going to have to play our best football.”Roethlisberger, who acknowledged the Steelers (9-8-1) were “not a very good football team” this week, wasn't very good in his own right. The 39-year-old quarterback was 29 of 44 for 215 yards with two meaningless TD passes late in the game, providing the coda to a career that includes six Pro Bowl trips and two Super Bowl wins.The Chiefs welcome Buffalo next Sunday night in the AFC divisional round. The Bills won in Arrowhead 38-20 in October. Mahomes threw three TD passes in a 38-24 victory for the AFC crown last January.Kickoff in Sunday's game is set for 5:30 central. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">VICTORY MOOOOOD 😎 <a href="https://t.co/JwUKZ4rsRj">pic.twitter.com/JwUKZ4rsRj</a>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1482943011033997314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Chiefs overcome slow start, blow out Steelers to advance to divisional round

It was high-level basketball on both ends of the floor Saturday between No. 2 Fort Hays State and No. 22 Missouri Western in the first half.

The teams went blow-for-blow and the Griffons gave the Tigers all they could handle in the first two quarters.

Missouri Western (12-3, 6-3 MIAA) trailed by just one point at halftime after six ties and four lead changes, but a 16-2 run to open the second half lifted Fort Hays State to a 74-61 win on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

"Super disappointed in the third quarter start," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "On defense, absolute zero communication, which is controllable. The difference is, they don't have me in their ear. They have to do it themselves in the third quarter, and they didn't."

The Griffons regathered themselves somewhat, scoring 13 points over the final 5:41 of the third quarter after just two points in the first 4:19 after halftime.

Still, Fort Hays State (15-1, 9-1 MIAA) led 55-43 entering the fourth, behind a 10-of-13 shooting effort in the third, and the Tigers eventually led 67-47 with 5:19 to go.

The Griffons did not quit, reeling off a 14-3 run to get to within 70-61 with 49 seconds left. Missouri Western, however, missed a number of free throws, and ran out of time down the stretch.

The Griffons were just 6-of-13 at the free throw line in the second half and 12-of-21 for the game. Missouri Western was also just 6-of-24 on two-point field goals in the second half.

"There's so much opportunity there," Whitaker said. "You have to make layups and you have to make free throws. You hope you shoot it better from the arc, but those two things have to be there consistently."

Freshman Josie Weishaar led the way for Western, tying her career-high with 16 points to go with five rebounds and two steals.

Connie Clarke and Brionna Budgets each had nine points for the Griffons. Jaelyn Haggard made a pair of second half threes and finished with seven points. Clarke and Corbyn Cunningham, two starters and two of the top scorers, spent a lot of time on the bench Saturday, as they each picked up a couple of early fouls.

Mound City native Kameron Freemyer played a season-high 20 minutes, scoring two points and collecting two rebounds.

"(Josie and Kameron), I thought, were just fantastic today," Whitaker said. "It speaks to their character. They haven't had that much opportunity this year and they just took advantage of it. Played with such heart and determination."

Hays was led by freshman Katie Wagner, who logged her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Whitney Randall scored 15 points to go with four steals, while Olivia Hollenbeck scored 14.

Western will begin a three-game road trip on Thursday when they go to Wichita to play Newman (2-14, 0-10 MIAA). Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642289691240.jpeg" alt="Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt was high-level basketball on both ends of the floor Saturday between No. 2 Fort Hays State and No. 22 Missouri Western in the first half.The teams went blow-for-blow and the Griffons gave the Tigers all they could handle in the first two quarters.Missouri Western (12-3, 6-3 MIAA) trailed by just one point at halftime after six ties and four lead changes, but a 16-2 run to open the second half lifted Fort Hays State to a 74-61 win on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse."Super disappointed in the third quarter start," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "On defense, absolute zero communication, which is controllable. The difference is, they don't have me in their ear. They have to do it themselves in the third quarter, and they didn't."The Griffons regathered themselves somewhat, scoring 13 points over the final 5:41 of the third quarter after just two points in the first 4:19 after halftime.Still, Fort Hays State (15-1, 9-1 MIAA) led 55-43 entering the fourth, behind a 10-of-13 shooting effort in the third, and the Tigers eventually led 67-47 with 5:19 to go.The Griffons did not quit, reeling off a 14-3 run to get to within 70-61 with 49 seconds left. Missouri Western, however, missed a number of free throws, and ran out of time down the stretch.The Griffons were just 6-of-13 at the free throw line in the second half and 12-of-21 for the game. Missouri Western was also just 6-of-24 on two-point field goals in the second half."There's so much opportunity there," Whitaker said. "You have to make layups and you have to make free throws. You hope you shoot it better from the arc, but those two things have to be there consistently."Freshman Josie Weishaar led the way for Western, tying her career-high with 16 points to go with five rebounds and two steals.Connie Clarke and Brionna Budgets each had nine points for the Griffons. Jaelyn Haggard made a pair of second half threes and finished with seven points. Clarke and Corbyn Cunningham, two starters and two of the top scorers, spent a lot of time on the bench Saturday, as they each picked up a couple of early fouls.Mound City native Kameron Freemyer played a season-high 20 minutes, scoring two points and collecting two rebounds."(Josie and Kameron), I thought, were just fantastic today," Whitaker said. "It speaks to their character. They haven't had that much opportunity this year and they just took advantage of it. Played with such heart and determination."Hays was led by freshman Katie Wagner, who logged her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Whitney Randall scored 15 points to go with four steals, while Olivia Hollenbeck scored 14.Western will begin a three-game road trip on Thursday when they go to Wichita to play Newman (2-14, 0-10 MIAA). Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western starts slow in the second half, falls short to No. 2 Fort Hays State

The Missouri Western women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with No. 16 Nebraska-Kearney for awhile, but the Lopers (13-2, 8-1 MIAA) grabbed a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and hung on for a 60-48 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse Thursday night.

In a battle of top 25 teams, No. 22 Missouri Western (12-2, 7-2 MIAA) started strong and hung with the Lopers early, leading 15-14 at the end of the first and only trailing 25-22 at the break.

But after seven ties and six lead changes in the first half, Nebraska-Kearney never lost the lead in the second half and led 44-36 entering the final quarter.

The Griffons, who lost at home for the first time this season Thursday, got to within 44-40 with 8:07 to go in the fourth, but that's as close as it would get for the rest of the game.

A three-pointer by Haley Simental put the Lopers ahead 56-44 with 3:35 remaining, and the Lopers led it by 10 or more the rest of the way.

Missouri Western shot just 8-of-23 in the second half, including 3-of-11 in the final quarter.

"I thought we had some opportunities that we left on the table," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "Missed some layups. We had some wide open looks from the arc. They just didn't go. We just didn't make some shots. I thought you could tell we were a young team late compared to (Kearney's) experience."

Simental and Elisa Backes led Nebraska-Kearney with 16 points each. Brook Carlson had 12 points to go with 11 rebounds.

Connie Clarke carried the load for Western, scoring a game-high 23 points to go with nine rebounds, but no other Griffon finished in double figures. Brionna Budgets finished with nine points. Trinity Knapp had five off the bench.

Missouri Western shot just 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the field, including just 1-of-11 from three. UNK shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52), including 6-of-19 from three.

Western men erase 23-point deficit, come up just shy at the end

It was tough sledding for the Missouri Western men before Thursday's game even started. The Griffons were without Alex John, Anthony Peacock, Q Mays and Caleb Bennett due to COVID protocol. Three starters, including two of the top three scorers.

Nebraska-Kearney pounced early, leading 30-7 with 8:25 to go in the first half. Will Martin had to call timeout. Suddenly, things changed.

"I felt like our emotions and our attitudes were, 'Oh we're down our three best players,'" Martin said of his team's start. "I said, 'Listen, I'm rocking with all you cats. We're not dodging from any smoke. There's a lot of teams that want to play this game.' And I said, 'I believe in you.'"

The Griffons ended the first half on a 28-11 run, willed themselves back into the game and hung in for the entire second half, but the Lopers (6-9, 2-7 MIAA) hung on late for an 81-79 win in St. Joseph Thursday.

Western used a 13-2 run to get back to within 32-20 with 5:41 left in the first half, prompting a UNK timeout. A Zion Swader three-pointer with just 10 seconds left in the half made it a 41-36 game at the break.

Nebraska-Kearney started the second half on a 9-3 run, and eventually went up 56-43 with 14:14 to go, thanks to a three-pointer from Sean Evans. Evans led the Lopers with a game-high 22 points.

Still trailing 70-63 with 6:27 to play, the Griffons really started to close the gap after several layups by JaRon Thames and Taye Fields made it a 74-71 game with 3:20 left.

Western finally grabbed the lead when Reese Glover hit an open floater in the lane to put the Griffons ahead 77-76 with just over a minute to go.

Nebraska-Kearney responded on the next possession, as Matt Brien hit a corner three with 42 seconds remaining to put the Lopers back up 79-77.

Thames tied it at 79 with a layup of his own with just 25 seconds left. He also got fouled and had a chance at a three-point play, but missed the ensuing free throw. Fields rebounded that miss, and had a chance at a go-ahead put back, but that too was off the mark.

With 15 seconds left, Nebraska-Kearney called timeout and eventually got the ball to Darrian Nebecker, who hit a go-ahead, long range jumper from the left side to put the Lopers back up 81-79. Nebecker finished with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting. He also had 11 rebounds.

With 4.1 seconds still to go, Western called a full timeout. Will Eames chucked the ball inbounds, halfway across the court to Thames, who dribbled in the lane and had a decent look at a tying shot from just a few feet away, but the shot missed off the iron and the Lopers held on.

"I thought he was right there," Martin said. "It's a good shot that I'll take. He had been hitting those all night. I'm so proud of this team. I don't care about the five-game losing streak. I am so proud of this team."

Heartbreak, perhaps. But, a gutsy effort by a team that was down four total players and three starters, and that got behind by 23 in the early going.

"I've never in my life been more proud of a team," Martin beamed. "Ever. We're down three starters, two seniors. We're out our leading scorer, our best defensive player. We came out and we fought, man. We fought. We fought and we battled."

Zion Swader broke out for a career-high 20 points to go with four steals. Taye Fields had his first career double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. JaRon Thames scored 17 points, tying his season-high. Will Eames chipped in 13 points, six rebounds and three steals.

Both Missouri Western teams are back home Saturday to host Fort Hays State. The women tip at 1:30, the men at 3:30. Both games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with No. 16 Nebraska-Kearney for awhile, but the Lopers (13-2, 8-1 MIAA) grabbed a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and hung on for a 60-48 win at the MWSU Fieldhouse Thursday night.In a battle of top 25 teams, No. 22 Missouri Western (12-2, 7-2 MIAA) started strong and hung with the Lopers early, leading 15-14 at the end of the first and only trailing 25-22 at the break.But after seven ties and six lead changes in the first half, Nebraska-Kearney never lost the lead in the second half and led 44-36 entering the final quarter.The Griffons, who lost at home for the first time this season Thursday, got to within 44-40 with 8:07 to go in the fourth, but that's as close as it would get for the rest of the game.A three-pointer by Haley Simental put the Lopers ahead 56-44 with 3:35 remaining, and the Lopers led it by 10 or more the rest of the way.Missouri Western shot just 8-of-23 in the second half, including 3-of-11 in the final quarter."I thought we had some opportunities that we left on the table," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker said. "Missed some layups. We had some wide open looks from the arc. They just didn't go. We just didn't make some shots. I thought you could tell we were a young team late compared to (Kearney's) experience."Simental and Elisa Backes led Nebraska-Kearney with 16 points each. Brook Carlson had 12 points to go with 11 rebounds.Connie Clarke carried the load for Western, scoring a game-high 23 points to go with nine rebounds, but no other Griffon finished in double figures. Brionna Budgets finished with nine points. Trinity Knapp had five off the bench.Missouri Western shot just 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the field, including just 1-of-11 from three. UNK shot 42.3 percent (22-of-52), including 6-of-19 from three.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642137659413.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Western men erase 23-point deficit, come up just shy at the endIt was tough sledding for the Missouri Western men before Thursday's game even started. The Griffons were without Alex John, Anthony Peacock, Q Mays and Caleb Bennett due to COVID protocol. Three starters, including two of the top three scorers.Nebraska-Kearney pounced early, leading 30-7 with 8:25 to go in the first half. Will Martin had to call timeout. Suddenly, things changed."I felt like our emotions and our attitudes were, 'Oh we're down our three best players,'" Martin said of his team's start. "I said, 'Listen, I'm rocking with all you cats. We're not dodging from any smoke. There's a lot of teams that want to play this game.' And I said, 'I believe in you.'"The Griffons ended the first half on a 28-11 run, willed themselves back into the game and hung in for the entire second half, but the Lopers (6-9, 2-7 MIAA) hung on late for an 81-79 win in St. Joseph Thursday.Western used a 13-2 run to get back to within 32-20 with 5:41 left in the first half, prompting a UNK timeout. A Zion Swader three-pointer with just 10 seconds left in the half made it a 41-36 game at the break.Nebraska-Kearney started the second half on a 9-3 run, and eventually went up 56-43 with 14:14 to go, thanks to a three-pointer from Sean Evans. Evans led the Lopers with a game-high 22 points.Still trailing 70-63 with 6:27 to play, the Griffons really started to close the gap after several layups by JaRon Thames and Taye Fields made it a 74-71 game with 3:20 left.Western finally grabbed the lead when Reese Glover hit an open floater in the lane to put the Griffons ahead 77-76 with just over a minute to go.Nebraska-Kearney responded on the next possession, as Matt Brien hit a corner three with 42 seconds remaining to put the Lopers back up 79-77.Thames tied it at 79 with a layup of his own with just 25 seconds left. He also got fouled and had a chance at a three-point play, but missed the ensuing free throw. Fields rebounded that miss, and had a chance at a go-ahead put back, but that too was off the mark.With 15 seconds left, Nebraska-Kearney called timeout and eventually got the ball to Darrian Nebecker, who hit a go-ahead, long range jumper from the left side to put the Lopers back up 81-79. Nebecker finished with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting. He also had 11 rebounds.With 4.1 seconds still to go, Western called a full timeout. Will Eames chucked the ball inbounds, halfway across the court to Thames, who dribbled in the lane and had a decent look at a tying shot from just a few feet away, but the shot missed off the iron and the Lopers held on."I thought he was right there," Martin said. "It's a good shot that I'll take. He had been hitting those all night. I'm so proud of this team. I don't care about the five-game losing streak. I am so proud of this team."Heartbreak, perhaps. But, a gutsy effort by a team that was down four total players and three starters, and that got behind by 23 in the early going."I've never in my life been more proud of a team," Martin beamed. "Ever. We're down three starters, two seniors. We're out our leading scorer, our best defensive player. We came out and we fought, man. We fought. We fought and we battled."Zion Swader broke out for a career-high 20 points to go with four steals. Taye Fields had his first career double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. JaRon Thames scored 17 points, tying his season-high. Will Eames chipped in 13 points, six rebounds and three steals.Both Missouri Western teams are back home Saturday to host Fort Hays State. The women tip at 1:30, the men at 3:30. Both games will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642135761146.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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