A strong number of area high school girls’ wrestlers punched their ticket to the state tournament over the weekend at the District 4 meet at Oak Park High School.

100 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Delaney Smith with a first place medal at Districts in just her second year of wrestling.

105 pounds - Lafayette’s IsaBella Mendoza is state bound after a second place finish. It’s Mendoza’s second straight season making state. Cameron’s Ashley Yamat is also headed to state for a second time after finishing fourth at districts at 105.

110 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Haley Sampson is state bound for a fourth straight year and has secured 100 straight wins. Sampson finished fourth in her district bracket Saturday.

115 pounds - Mid Buchanan’s Ariana Hartingtan is going to state after finishing fourth at districts.&nbsp;

135 pounds - Benton’s Tatum Levendahl is headed to state for a second year in a row after she placed third at districts. McKayla Knight of Lathrop is also headed to state after finishing fourth in the same weight class.&nbsp;

141 pounds - Mid Buchanan’s Layson Hafley is headed to state after placing 3rd at districts. She medaled fifth at state last season. Also, Lathrop’s Sierra Brassfield is state bound with a fourth place finish.

The Dragons finished fourth as a team Saturday with 110.5 points - just nine points away from a team district title.

149 pounds - Cameron’s Justice Brewer is headed to state after a second place finish.

159 pounds - Savannah’s Taylor Owen is going to state with a fourth place district finish.

174 pounds - Plattsburg’s Payge Fuller is headed to state again after winning her district bracket. Fuller medaled 5th at state last season.

194 pounds - Cameron’s Hollie Hedgpath is state bound after a third place finish at districts. Hedpath qualified for state last year at 174.

State wrestling is February 17th-19th for all boys and girls’ classes at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1613872777702.jpeg" alt="Mid-Buchanan's Haley Sampson (top) is headed to state for a fourth straight year. Stock photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Mid-Buchanan's Haley Sampson (top) is headed to state for a fourth straight year. Stock photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostA strong number of area high school girls’ wrestlers punched their ticket to the state tournament over the weekend at the District 4 meet at Oak Park High School.100 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Delaney Smith with a first place medal at Districts in just her second year of wrestling.105 pounds - Lafayette’s IsaBella Mendoza is state bound after a second place finish. It’s Mendoza’s second straight season making state. Cameron’s Ashley Yamat is also headed to state for a second time after finishing fourth at districts at 105.110 pounds - Mid-Buchanan’s Haley Sampson is state bound for a fourth straight year and has secured 100 straight wins. Sampson finished fourth in her district bracket Saturday.115 pounds - Mid Buchanan’s Ariana Hartingtan is going to state after finishing fourth at districts.&nbsp;135 pounds - Benton’s Tatum Levendahl is headed to state for a second year in a row after she placed third at districts. McKayla Knight of Lathrop is also headed to state after finishing fourth in the same weight class.&nbsp;141 pounds - Mid Buchanan’s Layson Hafley is headed to state after placing 3rd at districts. She medaled fifth at state last season. Also, Lathrop’s Sierra Brassfield is state bound with a fourth place finish.The Dragons finished fourth as a team Saturday with 110.5 points - just nine points away from a team district title.149 pounds - Cameron’s Justice Brewer is headed to state after a second place finish.159 pounds - Savannah’s Taylor Owen is going to state with a fourth place district finish.174 pounds - Plattsburg’s Payge Fuller is headed to state again after winning her district bracket. Fuller medaled 5th at state last season.194 pounds - Cameron’s Hollie Hedgpath is state bound after a third place finish at districts. Hedpath qualified for state last year at 174.State wrestling is February 17th-19th for all boys and girls’ classes at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643345949771.jpeg" alt="Benton's Tatum Levendahl (right) is headed to state for a second straight year. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Benton's Tatum Levendahl (right) is headed to state for a second straight year. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mid-Buchanan, Cameron, St. Joseph schools sending several girls' wrestlers to state

Missouri Western (18-3, 12-3 MIAA) ended its women's game Saturday on an 11-1 run, turning a close game into a decently comfortable 68-52 win over Northwest Missouri State at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday.

The No. 22 Griffons grabbed their sixth consecutive victory and avenged a 49-46 loss to the Bearcats in Maryville from earlier this season in December.

Northwest (14-7, 9-6 MIAA) had the upper hand early, getting off to a 5-0 start and leading 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.

The Griffons grabbed their first lead at the 8:14 mark of the second quarter off of a Corbyn Cunningham layup, and never trailed after that. Missouri Western ended the second on a 9-2 run to lead it 34-24 at the break.

The Bearcats trailed 50-40 entering the fourth, and got to within 52-48 with 7:23 to go, but were outscored 16-4 the rest of the way. In fact, Northwest had only one made field goal in the final 7:23 and got outscored 11-1 in the closing 5:08.

Missouri Western switched to a zone defense to prevent Northwest from backing down to the rim, and forced the Bearcats into contested jump shots. Northwest shot just 3-of-11 from the field in the fourth quarter.

"We went to a zone," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker explained afterward. "(Northwest) had shooters on the floor, it was a gamble, but man we brought the energy. We played unbelievable in our zone, our guards were flying around, we did a fantastic job. Turned them over, rebounded out of it and put us in transition."

Cunningham finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds - her third double-double of the season and fifth time scoring 20 or more this season.

"Corbyn was amazing," Whitaker continued, "and I can't say enough about her. This is the Corbyn we know and this is the Corbyn we need. And it was the difference."

"I think we came with good energy," Cunningham said. "Great energy actually. We picked ourselves up from our start and had just a good collective win."

Connie Clarke had 12 points and 14 rebounds for her fifth double-double this season. Brionna Budgets scored nine points to go with four steals. Mychaell Gray had eight points, while Jordan Cunningham had seven.

The win now puts Missouri Western into second place in the MIAA standings - one game behind first place Fort Hays State (19-2, 13-2 MIAA).

"We sleep a lot better at night when we win," Whitaker said. "Excited that we continue to give ourselves a chance. Our kids know how good this league is. They actually follow it much closer than I do."

The Griffon women will next play in Joplin on Thursday against Missouri Southern (15-5, 12-3 MIAA). The Lions have won eight straight, including a 66-61 win over Central Missouri Saturday. Tip-off in Thursday's game is set for 5:30 p.m.

MWSU men hang tough for awhile, Northwest reels off late run

Missouri Western went blow-for-blow with No. 4 Northwest for awhile Saturday in the men's game, trailing by just eight with 6:31 to go, but the Bearcats (21-2, 14-1 MIAA) reeled off a 14-0 run in less than three minutes and pulled away late for an 84-53 win Saturday.

The Griffons led for 2:20 in the first half and only trailed 35-32 at halftime. Northwest started the second half on a 10-3 run, but Missouri Western (9-12, 5-8 MIAA) weathered the storm and stayed within single digits for awhile longer before Northwest went on their run.

The Bearcats shot an impressive 21-of-30 in the second half and turned the ball over only eight times all game. Northwest also outscored Western 46-28 in the paint.

"We did such a good job guarding the perimeter, and they hurt us in the paint," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said, after the Griffons held Northwest to just three of their first 15 shots from three to start the game. "They did a good job of taking advantage of just how heavy we were trying to guard the perimeter."

Western was led by JaRon Thames, who dumped in a career-high and game-high 27 points on a remarkable 10-of-12 shooting effort. Q Mays scored 15 points - all in the second half. Taye Fields came off the bench for 11 points and seven rebounds.

Wes Dreamer led four Bearcats in double figures with 23 points. Trevor Hudgins had 21, while Diego Bernard and Luke Waters each had 11. Bernard finished with a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds as well.

The win is Northwest's fifth straight overall and their 20th straight against the Griffons.

Missouri Western, who's 1-8 in their last nine games, begin a busy stretch of nine games in 20 days on Tuesday, when they travel to Edmond to face No. 16 Central Oklahoma (19-3, 14-2 MIAA) in a makeup game. Tip-off is set for 3:30.

"It's going to be a grind and it's going to be a gauntlet," Martin said of the upcoming schedule. "It starts with UCO who I think is playing as good as anybody in the league. So, that'll be a great test for us."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644124712288.jpeg" alt="Jaelyn Haggard (2) dribbles during Missouri Western's 68-52 win over her former team Northwest Missouri State. Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Jaelyn Haggard (2) dribbles during Missouri Western's 68-52 win over her former team Northwest Missouri State. Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western (18-3, 12-3 MIAA) ended its women's game Saturday on an 11-1 run, turning a close game into a decently comfortable 68-52 win over Northwest Missouri State at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday.The No. 22 Griffons grabbed their sixth consecutive victory and avenged a 49-46 loss to the Bearcats in Maryville from earlier this season in December.Northwest (14-7, 9-6 MIAA) had the upper hand early, getting off to a 5-0 start and leading 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.The Griffons grabbed their first lead at the 8:14 mark of the second quarter off of a Corbyn Cunningham layup, and never trailed after that. Missouri Western ended the second on a 9-2 run to lead it 34-24 at the break.The Bearcats trailed 50-40 entering the fourth, and got to within 52-48 with 7:23 to go, but were outscored 16-4 the rest of the way. In fact, Northwest had only one made field goal in the final 7:23 and got outscored 11-1 in the closing 5:08.Missouri Western switched to a zone defense to prevent Northwest from backing down to the rim, and forced the Bearcats into contested jump shots. Northwest shot just 3-of-11 from the field in the fourth quarter."We went to a zone," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker explained afterward. "(Northwest) had shooters on the floor, it was a gamble, but man we brought the energy. We played unbelievable in our zone, our guards were flying around, we did a fantastic job. Turned them over, rebounded out of it and put us in transition."Cunningham finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds - her third double-double of the season and fifth time scoring 20 or more this season."Corbyn was amazing," Whitaker continued, "and I can't say enough about her. This is the Corbyn we know and this is the Corbyn we need. And it was the difference.""I think we came with good energy," Cunningham said. "Great energy actually. We picked ourselves up from our start and had just a good collective win."Connie Clarke had 12 points and 14 rebounds for her fifth double-double this season. Brionna Budgets scored nine points to go with four steals. Mychaell Gray had eight points, while Jordan Cunningham had seven.The win now puts Missouri Western into second place in the MIAA standings - one game behind first place Fort Hays State (19-2, 13-2 MIAA)."We sleep a lot better at night when we win," Whitaker said. "Excited that we continue to give ourselves a chance. Our kids know how good this league is. They actually follow it much closer than I do."The Griffon women will next play in Joplin on Thursday against Missouri Southern (15-5, 12-3 MIAA). The Lions have won eight straight, including a 66-61 win over Central Missouri Saturday. Tip-off in Thursday's game is set for 5:30 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644124661801.jpeg" alt="Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>MWSU men hang tough for awhile, Northwest reels off late runMissouri Western went blow-for-blow with No. 4 Northwest for awhile Saturday in the men's game, trailing by just eight with 6:31 to go, but the Bearcats (21-2, 14-1 MIAA) reeled off a 14-0 run in less than three minutes and pulled away late for an 84-53 win Saturday.The Griffons led for 2:20 in the first half and only trailed 35-32 at halftime. Northwest started the second half on a 10-3 run, but Missouri Western (9-12, 5-8 MIAA) weathered the storm and stayed within single digits for awhile longer before Northwest went on their run.The Bearcats shot an impressive 21-of-30 in the second half and turned the ball over only eight times all game. Northwest also outscored Western 46-28 in the paint."We did such a good job guarding the perimeter, and they hurt us in the paint," Missouri Western coach Will Martin said, after the Griffons held Northwest to just three of their first 15 shots from three to start the game. "They did a good job of taking advantage of just how heavy we were trying to guard the perimeter."Western was led by JaRon Thames, who dumped in a career-high and game-high 27 points on a remarkable 10-of-12 shooting effort. Q Mays scored 15 points - all in the second half. Taye Fields came off the bench for 11 points and seven rebounds.Wes Dreamer led four Bearcats in double figures with 23 points. Trevor Hudgins had 21, while Diego Bernard and Luke Waters each had 11. Bernard finished with a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds as well.The win is Northwest's fifth straight overall and their 20th straight against the Griffons.Missouri Western, who's 1-8 in their last nine games, begin a busy stretch of nine games in 20 days on Tuesday, when they travel to Edmond to face No. 16 Central Oklahoma (19-3, 14-2 MIAA) in a makeup game. Tip-off is set for 3:30."It's going to be a grind and it's going to be a gauntlet," Martin said of the upcoming schedule. "It starts with UCO who I think is playing as good as anybody in the league. So, that'll be a great test for us."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western women, Northwest men pull away late for Saturday wins

Luke Theis has been named director and head coach of&nbsp;Griffon Esports&nbsp;at Missouri Western State University. Theis has served as interim director since September.

“Luke has been an important part of the Griffon Esports program from the beginning, and has provided outstanding leadership over the last several months,” said Theresa Grosbach, interim director of athletics. “I’m excited that he’s accepted the position on a permanent basis, and know that he will continue to lead our program to new heights.”

“I am beyond excited to continue the work we started with the esports program,” Theis said in a statement. “In 2015, when I stepped on campus as a student, I hoped one day Missouri Western would have an esports program. Never would I have thought I would be in this position today. I am honored to provide students an opportunity to pursue their passion of gaming and assist them on the journey to get their degree.”

Under Theis’ leadership as interim director this fall, several Griffon Esports varsity teams have had competitive success:

The Griffon Esports program has hosted events for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YWCA Choices and Decisions program, and assists with esports programs at St. Joseph Parks and Recreation, Central High School and LevelUp Arena in Overland Park, Kansas.

In 2021, Griffon Esports produced two 24-hour live stream events in a partnership with Extra Life, raising a total of more than $5,200 for the Children’s Miracle Network.

As the graduate assistant, Theis led Coaching Coaches - a program that equipped student coaches with the tools to coach varsity teams. He also coordinated the summer youth camp last July.&nbsp;

Theis was a punter on the Griffon football team as an undergraduate. He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology in 2020, and is in his second year in the Master of Applied Science-Sport and Fitness Management program.

Missouri Western launched its team-based competitive video gaming program in Fall 2020. Missouri Western has also added an Esports Management concentration to its Recreation Sport Management major.

The Griffon Esports Arena in the Blum Student Union is open to all students, faculty and staff six days a week. It was dedicated on March 4, 2021.

To celebrate the first anniversary, the arena will host a Griffon Esports Experience for prospective students this March 4.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644007849198.jpeg" alt="Luke Theis. Photo via Missouri Western." />
 <figcaption>Luke Theis. Photo via Missouri Western.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostLuke Theis has been named director and head coach of&nbsp;Griffon Esports&nbsp;at Missouri Western State University. Theis has served as interim director since September.“Luke has been an important part of the Griffon Esports program from the beginning, and has provided outstanding leadership over the last several months,” said Theresa Grosbach, interim director of athletics. “I’m excited that he’s accepted the position on a permanent basis, and know that he will continue to lead our program to new heights.”“I am beyond excited to continue the work we started with the esports program,” Theis said in a statement. “In 2015, when I stepped on campus as a student, I hoped one day Missouri Western would have an esports program. Never would I have thought I would be in this position today. I am honored to provide students an opportunity to pursue their passion of gaming and assist them on the journey to get their degree.”Under Theis’ leadership as interim director this fall, several Griffon Esports varsity teams have had competitive success:<ul>
 <li>The Overwatch team advanced to the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference Championship in Florence, South Carolina, the first postseason appearance and first in-person event in the brief history of the Griffon Esports program.</li><li>The League of Legends team won the ECAC Pink Division Championship with a 3-1 victory over Bloomfield College in the championship match.</li><li>The Fortnite team reached the ECAC Semifinals, finishing 9th out of more than 50 teams competing.</li>
 </ul>The Griffon Esports program has hosted events for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YWCA Choices and Decisions program, and assists with esports programs at St. Joseph Parks and Recreation, Central High School and LevelUp Arena in Overland Park, Kansas.In 2021, Griffon Esports produced two 24-hour live stream events in a partnership with Extra Life, raising a total of more than $5,200 for the Children’s Miracle Network.As the graduate assistant, Theis led Coaching Coaches - a program that equipped student coaches with the tools to coach varsity teams. He also coordinated the summer youth camp last July.&nbsp;Theis was a punter on the Griffon football team as an undergraduate. He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology in 2020, and is in his second year in the Master of Applied Science-Sport and Fitness Management program.Missouri Western launched its team-based competitive video gaming program in Fall 2020. Missouri Western has also added an Esports Management concentration to its Recreation Sport Management major.The Griffon Esports Arena in the Blum Student Union is open to all students, faculty and staff six days a week. It was dedicated on March 4, 2021.To celebrate the first anniversary, the arena will host a Griffon Esports Experience for prospective students this March 4.&nbsp;

Luke Theis named as Missouri Western esports director, head coach

Rivalry games always create extra excitement. Even if one or both teams are down.

Just ask unranked Auburn how much they'd have loved to beat Alabama in overtime this past November and spoil the Crimson Tide's playoff plans. Ask North Carolina basketball fans, and they'd likely say a win over Duke, regardless of record, is huge.

Ask Mizzou fans, and they can probably tell you the exact day when they last won the Border War with Kansas. Any rivalry is great. Even better when both teams are playing well.

In northwest Missouri, the Missouri Western-Northwest Missouri State rivalry has a similar feel. Proximity. Play every year in multiple sports. High stakes battles.

Both sides look forward to it and circle it, even if the matchups in football and men's basketball have been quite one-sided in favor of the Green and White for the better part of a decade.

This weekend, however, the rivalry takes on a different feel. It's the women's basketball game that's the main event, and it's been awhile since that's been the case.

Both the Bearcats and No. 22 Griffons are having terrific seasons. Missouri Western (17-3, 11-3 MIAA) is off to its best start since 2015-16, and Northwest (14-6, 9-5 MIAA) is off to its best start in 11 years and seeking just its third winning season since 2010.

The two collide in a battle of top MIAA teams on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

"I look at us two programs on the women's side here," Northwest women's coach Austin Meyer said, "and this is probably the first time in, I don't know maybe ever, where both teams come into the game with good records and both in the top 5-6 in the league."

It's been since the 2010-11 season that both teams met in February and had winning records. The last time they met in February and were both at least six games above .500?

You have to go all the way back to the 03-04 season. February 25, 2004. Northwest was 18-6 and Missouri Western 18-7. The Bearcats came into St. Joseph and won 67-66 in overtime before winning an MIAA tournament title less than two weeks later.

It also happened on February 21, 2007. No. 2 Missouri Western (27-1) beat Northwest (16-10) 77-58 in a year where both teams went on to make the NCAA tournament, though all 30 of MWSU's wins in 2006-07 were vacated due to NCAA violations.

2006-07 was the last time both Western and Northwest women's basketball made the NCAA tournament in the same season.

Both teams have had good years since then, but both have had their struggles, too. Missouri Western had three straight losing seasons from 2007-2010 and again in 2011-12 and 13-14 before three straight winning seasons, including two 20-win campaigns, under coach Rob Edmisson from 2014-17.

Northwest enjoyed three straight winning seasons from 2005-2008, but haven't finished with a winning record since 2012-13. Being six games above .500 in February is something the Bearcats haven't experienced much lately in women's hoops.

Just the second time since 2010, in fact. All five of the Bearcats' conference losses this year have been by seven points or fewer.

"We've been in games," Meyer said. "There's some games we haven't closed, but we've had some good wins as well. Some good road wins. Happy with where we're at, but on the women's side, it's such a deep league there's so many good teams and obviously Western is up there."

Western is 11-3 in the MIAA - tied with UCM, Fort Hays State, Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Southern for most conference wins as of Thursday. A deep league indeed.

Northwest and Missouri Western met once this season in Maryville on Dec. 18, 2021. The Bearcats improved to 9-2 in a 49-46 defensive struggle for both teams. It was Missouri Western's first loss and their lowest scoring output of the season in a game where both teams shot below 30% from the field.

"(The Bearcats) have a unique style in how they play," Missouri Western head coach Candi Whitaker said. "They're playing really well. They have good size. They're big at the guards, they're big inside and they try and use that size to make things hard at the rim. You have to play with tempo, and we didn't really execute well up there (in December)."

Northwest boasts the best scoring defense in the MIAA, allowing a stingy 54.7 points per game, while only scoring 60.7 per night themselves. Missouri Western, on the other hand, leads the league with 78.1 points per contest, including 10 games with 80 or more.

"They are really good in the open floor," Meyer said of Western. "I mean, they're good in the half court as well, but they get out in transition. So, if you can limit them from getting easy buckets and make them go against your half court defense, I think you have a better chance."

It's a clash of styles when these two meet. Missouri Western plays a fast pace in the full court and will beat opponents in transition. Northwest slows things down and plays an effective half court offense and presses hard on defense. Whatever the Bearcats did the last time out, it slowed down an otherwise lethal MWSU offense.

How do the Griffons turn the tide on Saturday?

"We have to try to score," Whitaker laughed. "We had some people (in December) not really even look at the hoop. So, you have to try and score."

Seeing a high-stakes Northwest/Western battle in sports is nothing new. Seeing a high stakes battle in women's basketball with both teams solidly in the upper half of the MIAA late in the season?

That is pretty new, and should be pretty enjoyable for both the fans and players.

"I think it'll be fun," Meyer said. "This is a year where both teams are playing well and Candi has done a great job there. They're playing as well as anybody in the league. So, hopefully we can come out and play hard and compete and get after it."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643923670414.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostRivalry games always create extra excitement. Even if one or both teams are down.Just ask unranked Auburn how much they'd have loved to beat Alabama in overtime this past November and spoil the Crimson Tide's playoff plans. Ask North Carolina basketball fans, and they'd likely say a win over Duke, regardless of record, is huge.Ask Mizzou fans, and they can probably tell you the exact day when they last won the Border War with Kansas. Any rivalry is great. Even better when both teams are playing well.In northwest Missouri, the Missouri Western-Northwest Missouri State rivalry has a similar feel. Proximity. Play every year in multiple sports. High stakes battles.Both sides look forward to it and circle it, even if the matchups in football and men's basketball have been quite one-sided in favor of the Green and White for the better part of a decade.This weekend, however, the rivalry takes on a different feel. It's the women's basketball game that's the main event, and it's been awhile since that's been the case.Both the Bearcats and No. 22 Griffons are having terrific seasons. Missouri Western (17-3, 11-3 MIAA) is off to its best start since 2015-16, and Northwest (14-6, 9-5 MIAA) is off to its best start in 11 years and seeking just its third winning season since 2010.The two collide in a battle of top MIAA teams on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the MWSU Fieldhouse."I look at us two programs on the women's side here," Northwest women's coach Austin Meyer said, "and this is probably the first time in, I don't know maybe ever, where both teams come into the game with good records and both in the top 5-6 in the league."It's been since the 2010-11 season that both teams met in February and had winning records. The last time they met in February and were both at least six games above .500?You have to go all the way back to the 03-04 season. February 25, 2004. Northwest was 18-6 and Missouri Western 18-7. The Bearcats came into St. Joseph and won 67-66 in overtime before winning an MIAA tournament title less than two weeks later.It also happened on February 21, 2007. No. 2 Missouri Western (27-1) beat Northwest (16-10) 77-58 in a year where both teams went on to make the NCAA tournament, though all 30 of MWSU's wins in 2006-07 were vacated due to NCAA violations.2006-07 was the last time both Western and Northwest women's basketball made the NCAA tournament in the same season.Both teams have had good years since then, but both have had their struggles, too. Missouri Western had three straight losing seasons from 2007-2010 and again in 2011-12 and 13-14 before three straight winning seasons, including two 20-win campaigns, under coach Rob Edmisson from 2014-17.Northwest enjoyed three straight winning seasons from 2005-2008, but haven't finished with a winning record since 2012-13. Being six games above .500 in February is something the Bearcats haven't experienced much lately in women's hoops.Just the second time since 2010, in fact. All five of the Bearcats' conference losses this year have been by seven points or fewer."We've been in games," Meyer said. "There's some games we haven't closed, but we've had some good wins as well. Some good road wins. Happy with where we're at, but on the women's side, it's such a deep league there's so many good teams and obviously Western is up there."Western is 11-3 in the MIAA - tied with UCM, Fort Hays State, Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Southern for most conference wins as of Thursday. A deep league indeed.Northwest and Missouri Western met once this season in Maryville on Dec. 18, 2021. The Bearcats improved to 9-2 in a 49-46 defensive struggle for both teams. It was Missouri Western's first loss and their lowest scoring output of the season in a game where both teams shot below 30% from the field."(The Bearcats) have a unique style in how they play," Missouri Western head coach Candi Whitaker said. "They're playing really well. They have good size. They're big at the guards, they're big inside and they try and use that size to make things hard at the rim. You have to play with tempo, and we didn't really execute well up there (in December)."Northwest boasts the best scoring defense in the MIAA, allowing a stingy 54.7 points per game, while only scoring 60.7 per night themselves. Missouri Western, on the other hand, leads the league with 78.1 points per contest, including 10 games with 80 or more."They are really good in the open floor," Meyer said of Western. "I mean, they're good in the half court as well, but they get out in transition. So, if you can limit them from getting easy buckets and make them go against your half court defense, I think you have a better chance."It's a clash of styles when these two meet. Missouri Western plays a fast pace in the full court and will beat opponents in transition. Northwest slows things down and plays an effective half court offense and presses hard on defense. Whatever the Bearcats did the last time out, it slowed down an otherwise lethal MWSU offense.How do the Griffons turn the tide on Saturday?"We have to try to score," Whitaker laughed. "We had some people (in December) not really even look at the hoop. So, you have to try and score."Seeing a high-stakes Northwest/Western battle in sports is nothing new. Seeing a high stakes battle in women's basketball with both teams solidly in the upper half of the MIAA late in the season?That is pretty new, and should be pretty enjoyable for both the fans and players."I think it'll be fun," Meyer said. "This is a year where both teams are playing well and Candi has done a great job there. They're playing as well as anybody in the league. So, hopefully we can come out and play hard and compete and get after it."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU, Northwest women's game Saturday features a rare, high stakes battle



Missouri Western head football coach&nbsp;Matt Williamson&nbsp;and his staff announced the program's 2022 recruiting class on Wednesday during National Signing Day.

The Griffons got signatures from 24 players from nine different states, including five offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, four defensive backs, three quarterbacks, two receivers, two linebackers and several more.

"Really fired up about the type of kids we got," Williamson said in a press conference Wednesday. "We got some really talented players. Great people, but awesome students, too. So, just the typical fit for Missouri Western."

Among those in Missouri Western's 2022 class are three St. Joseph natives and members of the Lafayette football team - quarterback <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/eaa027b2-b105-430d-8bc4-74f9d7897e13">Jaron Saunders</a>, receiver Carlos Cortez and offensive lineman Quentin Garrett.

All three were first-team all MEC Conference and all-city honorees in 2021. Saunders boasts over 4,000 career passing yards, including a state record 698 yards in a win over Atchison last September.

"We wanted to get on them early," Williamson said of those Lafayette seniors. "They were some of the earliest ones we offered in our class, just because I did want to keep them here. They know what St. Joe is, what it stands for and it's important to them and that's why they wanted to stay and wanted to be a Griffon." Western is coming off of a 6-5 season in 2021, winning four of their last five games and graduated just four starters. Two big pieces to replace are on defense in All-American cornerback Sam Webb and second-team all-MIAA linebacker Evan Chohon, who led MWSU and was third in the nation with 116 total tackles.

Linebacker Terrance March, defensive end Chris Blakeney and punter all Jack Rasmussen graduated, while placekicker Thomas Kopcho, who got the starting nod for the back half of 2021, transferred out.

Of the 117 players on Missouri Western's 2021 roster, 73 of them were freshmen. At least 20 of those 73 saw regular playing time or even started. With this abundance of young talent and experience returning for 2022 and beyond, including a group of seven transfers, Williamson is optimistic for the long-term future. "We've got a great team coming back," Williamson beamed. "We've just added a bunch of transfers and we added a bunch of high schools. So, we've got an even better team coming back, but we'll always keep our eyes open and keep the road open to see if someone can't come in and make a huge impact on our football team."

Coach Williamson recently added three new coaching staff members - outside linebackers coach Hassan Belton (grad assistant), offensive assistant Justin Stolberg (grad assistant) and tight ends coach Moses Harper. Harper, a full-time hire, just had his first day on the job Tuesday.

Stolberg comes from Mississippi State, playing quarterback for the Bulldogs and spending time as a student assistant for coach Mike Leach.

Harper comes to Missouri Western from William Jewell, where he spent four years as the offensive line coach. His prior experience includes time as an offensive coordinator at the junior college level in Kansas at Fort Scott Community College and Coahoma Community College in Mississippi.

Sam Webb in the East-West Shrine Bowl

Corner and All-American Sam Webb, who played his final game as a Griffon in November, will participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Thursday in Las Vegas - an annual all-star game for the best college football players in the nation.

Webb has already been getting looks and Williamson has been fielding calls from various position coaches around the NFL, inquiring about Webb's abilities.

"It's going to be great to see him compete against some elite of elite football players in the country," Williamson said about Webb. "That's where, in my opinion, that Missouri Western brand is going to be stamped when he plays in that game, because he's going to make plays. He's going to have success and put himself in a good situation."

The Shrine Bowl is at 7 p.m. central Thursday and will be televised on the NFL Network. Webb also played in the Hula Bowl - a college football all-star game in Orlando back on January 15.

Webb was a first-team all-MIAA selection in 2019 and preseason All-American in 2021. He finished his time at Missouri Western with 109 career tackles, seven career picks and 39 passes defended. His 6-2, 195-pound frame makes him an attractive choice in the secondary for NFL scouts. 2022 Missouri Western signing class&nbsp; -numbers by position

2022 Missouri Western football signing class

Colton Allen QB 6-3 195 Highlands Ranch, Co&nbsp;/ Valor Christian HS - 2400 career passing yards - 23 TDs in 2021, state runner-up

Carlos Cortez WR 5'10 170 St. Joseph, Mo. / Lafayette HS - First-team all conference, all-district, first-team all-city - Highest GPA on the team

Seth Cromwell RB 5'10 210 Littleton, Co. / Columbine HS - 1st-team all state, 108 rush yards per game - 3x 1st-team all conference - 2x all-state, all-state academic team

Grant Finley DL 6'4 242 St. Louis, Mo. / Chaminade HS - 2x second-team all state

Chris Floyd, Jr.&nbsp;WR 6'2 195 Springfield, Mo. / Glendale HS - 2x 1st-team all conference - 2nd-team all state

Quentin Garrett OL 6'2 277 St. Joseph, Mo. / Lafayette HS - 1st team all-MEC&nbsp; - 2x all district and all city

Preston Gregg K 6'3 180 Dallas, Tx. / Lake Dallas HS - Texas 5A 1st-team all state

Michael Haggerty TE 6'4 200 Lee's Summit Mo. / St. Michael HS - 2nd team all-state - 2x all district first-team

Chase Hammond LB 6'0 190 Lee's Summit Mo. / Lee's Summit West - 2x all-state

TreVon Holmes DB 5'11 185&nbsp; Wynne, Ar. / Wynne HS - 5a Defensive Player of the Year Finalist

Connor Holt OL 6'4 275 Festus, Mo. / Festus HS - all-district, region, conference - 2x Lineman of the Year

Jake Leader DB 6'2 190 Lincoln, Ne. / Lincoln Southwest HS - 2x all-conference and all-city - 185 career tackles

Nicc Oliver DB 5'10 175 Fort Worth, Tx. / North Crowley HS - 1st team all-district

Sam Pezdirtz DB 5'11 175 Englewood, Co.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cherry Creek HS - 2x all-conference

Will Pickard LB 6'2 205 Tulsa, Ok. / Bishop Kelley HS - state track qualifier

Jaron Saunders QB 6'1 180 St. Joseph, Mo. / Lafayette HS - 2021 all-city player of the year - 4,053 career passing yards

Eli Scott QB 6'2 195 Louisville, Ky. / Eastern HS - 3,400 career passing yards - 1,000 career rushing yards

Khalid Sereal DL 6'4 215 Dickinson, Tx. / Dickinson HS - all-state, 2x all-district

Autin Sohl OL 6'4 280 Plattsmouth, Ne. / Plattsmouth HS - 2x all-state honorable mention

Joe Turner OL 6'5 295 Assumption, Ia. / Assumption HS - 1st-team all state - district lineman of the yer

Jonas Vickers OL 6'3 305 Derby, Ks. / Derby HS - 2x all-state, 3x all-conference - 3x state champion, 46-3 career record

Braxton White DL 6'4 220 Texarkana, Tx. / Texarkana Texas HS - four-sport athlete

Cam Whitt TE 6'4 225 St. Charles, Mo. / St. Dominic - all-district, all-conference

Braydon Wickliffe DL 6'1 285 Goddard, Ks. / Goddard HS

 - KFBCA 1st-team all state - 244 career tackles, 16.5 sacks, 3 blocked FGs

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643845476866.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western football coach Matt Williamson addresses the media on National Signing Day Wednesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western football coach Matt Williamson addresses the media on National Signing Day Wednesday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph Post

Missouri Western head football coach&nbsp;Matt Williamson&nbsp;and his staff announced the program's 2022 recruiting class on Wednesday during National Signing Day.The Griffons got signatures from 24 players from nine different states, including five offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, four defensive backs, three quarterbacks, two receivers, two linebackers and several more."Really fired up about the type of kids we got," Williamson said in a press conference Wednesday. "We got some really talented players. Great people, but awesome students, too. So, just the typical fit for Missouri Western."Among those in Missouri Western's 2022 class are three St. Joseph natives and members of the Lafayette football team - quarterback <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/eaa027b2-b105-430d-8bc4-74f9d7897e13">Jaron Saunders</a>, receiver Carlos Cortez and offensive lineman Quentin Garrett.All three were first-team all MEC Conference and all-city honorees in 2021. Saunders boasts over 4,000 career passing yards, including a state record 698 yards in a win over Atchison last September."We wanted to get on them early," Williamson said of those Lafayette seniors. "They were some of the earliest ones we offered in our class, just because I did want to keep them here. They know what St. Joe is, what it stands for and it's important to them and that's why they wanted to stay and wanted to be a Griffon." Western is coming off of a 6-5 season in 2021, winning four of their last five games and graduated just four starters. Two big pieces to replace are on defense in All-American cornerback Sam Webb and second-team all-MIAA linebacker Evan Chohon, who led MWSU and was third in the nation with 116 total tackles.Linebacker Terrance March, defensive end Chris Blakeney and punter all Jack Rasmussen graduated, while placekicker Thomas Kopcho, who got the starting nod for the back half of 2021, transferred out.Of the 117 players on Missouri Western's 2021 roster, 73 of them were freshmen. At least 20 of those 73 saw regular playing time or even started. With this abundance of young talent and experience returning for 2022 and beyond, including a group of seven transfers, Williamson is optimistic for the long-term future. "We've got a great team coming back," Williamson beamed. "We've just added a bunch of transfers and we added a bunch of high schools. So, we've got an even better team coming back, but we'll always keep our eyes open and keep the road open to see if someone can't come in and make a huge impact on our football team."New staff membersCoach Williamson recently added three new coaching staff members - outside linebackers coach Hassan Belton (grad assistant), offensive assistant Justin Stolberg (grad assistant) and tight ends coach Moses Harper. Harper, a full-time hire, just had his first day on the job Tuesday.Stolberg comes from Mississippi State, playing quarterback for the Bulldogs and spending time as a student assistant for coach Mike Leach.Harper comes to Missouri Western from William Jewell, where he spent four years as the offensive line coach. His prior experience includes time as an offensive coordinator at the junior college level in Kansas at Fort Scott Community College and Coahoma Community College in Mississippi.Sam Webb in the East-West Shrine BowlCorner and All-American Sam Webb, who played his final game as a Griffon in November, will participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Thursday in Las Vegas - an annual all-star game for the best college football players in the nation.Webb has already been getting looks and Williamson has been fielding calls from various position coaches around the NFL, inquiring about Webb's abilities."It's going to be great to see him compete against some elite of elite football players in the country," Williamson said about Webb. "That's where, in my opinion, that Missouri Western brand is going to be stamped when he plays in that game, because he's going to make plays. He's going to have success and put himself in a good situation."The Shrine Bowl is at 7 p.m. central Thursday and will be televised on the NFL Network. Webb also played in the Hula Bowl - a college football all-star game in Orlando back on January 15.Webb was a first-team all-MIAA selection in 2019 and preseason All-American in 2021. He finished his time at Missouri Western with 109 career tackles, seven career picks and 39 passes defended. His 6-2, 195-pound frame makes him an attractive choice in the secondary for NFL scouts. 2022 Missouri Western signing class&nbsp; -numbers by position<ul>
 <li>24 Total Signees</li><li>24 High School Recruits</li><li>5 Offensive Linemen</li><li>4 Defensive Linemen</li><li>4 Defensive Backs</li><li>3 Quarterbacks</li><li>2 Wide Receivers</li><li>2 Linebackers</li><li>1 Running Back</li><li>1 Kickers</li><li>9 Missouri Recruits</li><li>Hometowns cover 9 states</li>
 </ul>2022 Missouri Western football signing classColton Allen QB 6-3 195 Highlands Ranch, Co&nbsp;/ Valor Christian HS - 2400 career passing yards - 23 TDs in 2021, state runner-upCarlos Cortez WR 5'10 170 St. Joseph, Mo. / Lafayette HS - First-team all conference, all-district, first-team all-city - Highest GPA on the teamSeth Cromwell RB 5'10 210 Littleton, Co. / Columbine HS - 1st-team all state, 108 rush yards per game - 3x 1st-team all conference - 2x all-state, all-state academic teamGrant Finley DL 6'4 242 St. Louis, Mo. / Chaminade HS - 2x second-team all stateChris Floyd, Jr.&nbsp;WR 6'2 195 Springfield, Mo. / Glendale HS - 2x 1st-team all conference - 2nd-team all stateQuentin Garrett OL 6'2 277 St. Joseph, Mo. / Lafayette HS - 1st team all-MEC&nbsp; - 2x all district and all cityPreston Gregg K 6'3 180 Dallas, Tx. / Lake Dallas HS - Texas 5A 1st-team all stateMichael Haggerty TE 6'4 200 Lee's Summit Mo. / St. Michael HS - 2nd team all-state - 2x all district first-teamChase Hammond LB 6'0 190 Lee's Summit Mo. / Lee's Summit West - 2x all-stateTreVon Holmes DB 5'11 185&nbsp; Wynne, Ar. / Wynne HS - 5a Defensive Player of the Year FinalistConnor Holt OL 6'4 275 Festus, Mo. / Festus HS - all-district, region, conference - 2x Lineman of the YearJake Leader DB 6'2 190 Lincoln, Ne. / Lincoln Southwest HS - 2x all-conference and all-city - 185 career tacklesNicc Oliver DB 5'10 175 Fort Worth, Tx. / North Crowley HS - 1st team all-districtSam Pezdirtz DB 5'11 175 Englewood, Co.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cherry Creek HS - 2x all-conferenceWill Pickard LB 6'2 205 Tulsa, Ok. / Bishop Kelley HS - state track qualifierJaron Saunders QB 6'1 180 St. Joseph, Mo. / Lafayette HS - 2021 all-city player of the year - 4,053 career passing yardsEli Scott QB 6'2 195 Louisville, Ky. / Eastern HS - 3,400 career passing yards - 1,000 career rushing yardsKhalid Sereal DL 6'4 215 Dickinson, Tx. / Dickinson HS - all-state, 2x all-districtAutin Sohl OL 6'4 280 Plattsmouth, Ne. / Plattsmouth HS - 2x all-state honorable mentionJoe Turner OL 6'5 295 Assumption, Ia. / Assumption HS - 1st-team all state - district lineman of the yerJonas Vickers OL 6'3 305 Derby, Ks. / Derby HS - 2x all-state, 3x all-conference - 3x state champion, 46-3 career recordBraxton White DL 6'4 220 Texarkana, Tx. / Texarkana Texas HS - four-sport athleteCam Whitt TE 6'4 225 St. Charles, Mo. / St. Dominic - all-district, all-conferenceBraydon Wickliffe DL 6'1 285 Goddard, Ks. / Goddard HS

 - KFBCA 1st-team all state - 244 career tackles, 16.5 sacks, 3 blocked FGsYou can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western announces 24 players in 2022 signing class Wednesday

Girls' basketball St. Joseph Central 43 Lee’s Summit 34 Benton 66 Cameron 26 St. Joseph Christian 57 North Andrew 23 DeKalb 55 North Nodaway 47 East Buchanan 44 Stewartsville-Osborn 29 Platte Valley 59 Mound City 20 South Holt 56 Nodaway Valley 45

Boys' basketball Benton 78 Cameron 39 Bishop LeBlond 48 East Buchanan 33 Lafayette 59 Savannah 31 North Kansas City 75 St. Joseph Central 41 Worth County 77 King City 32 DeKalb 58 North Nodaway 48 North Andrew 71 St. Joseph Christian 52. 30 points for Owen Graham. Mound City 79 Platte Valley 60 South Holt 68 Nodaway Valley 64

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643807328827.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostGirls' basketball St. Joseph Central 43 Lee’s Summit 34 Benton 66 Cameron 26 St. Joseph Christian 57 North Andrew 23 DeKalb 55 North Nodaway 47 East Buchanan 44 Stewartsville-Osborn 29 Platte Valley 59 Mound City 20 South Holt 56 Nodaway Valley 45Boys' basketball Benton 78 Cameron 39 Bishop LeBlond 48 East Buchanan 33 Lafayette 59 Savannah 31 North Kansas City 75 St. Joseph Central 41 Worth County 77 King City 32 DeKalb 58 North Nodaway 48 North Andrew 71 St. Joseph Christian 52. 30 points for Owen Graham. Mound City 79 Platte Valley 60 South Holt 68 Nodaway Valley 64

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area high school scoreboard  - February 1, 2022

TOPEKA - The Missouri Western women's basketball team played arguably its most complete game of the year Tuesday in an 80-47 road win at Washburn at Lee Arena. The No. 22 Griffons (17-3, 11-3 MIAA) came out fast and never slowed down, getting off to an 18-5 start in the first five minutes and not looking back. "I thought it was a big time win," head coach&nbsp;Candi Whitaker&nbsp;said. "We really set the tone in all aspects of the game and really controlled the game from start to finish. Our tempo was fantastic and I think we wore them down in transition." The Griffons shot 49.2% from the field and 46% (6-13) from three-point land, while holding the Ichabods (9-10, 7-6 MIAA) to just 33% shooting and forcing 18 turnovers. &nbsp; "We just did a great job defensively as a unit and on individuals," Whitaker said. &nbsp;"We didn't make a lot of mistakes." Brionna Budgetts&nbsp;scored 13 of her game-high 19 points (6-9 FG, 3-4 3PT)&nbsp;&nbsp;in the first quarter to help Western take early control. &nbsp;Connie Clarke&nbsp;added 15 points and 7 rebounds, while&nbsp;Jaelyn Haggard&nbsp;chipped in 11 points off the bench, including a pair of made threes.

Corbyn Cunningham chipped in eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The win is Missouri Western's fifth straight and their 11 MIAA wins is tied for most in the league.

"I really feel like this team really wants it," Whitaker said. "How they prep and their energy on the bus and when they got off the bus. I told them they're probably the loosest group I've ever coached and I'm learning to adjust and adapt to that. It's when they're at their best, they're having a lot of fun playing basketball and it shows." The Griffons return home on Saturday for a huge rivalry showdown with Northwest Missouri State. Tip-off from the MWSU Fieldhouse is set for 5 p.m.

The Bearcats (14-6) beat the Griffons 49-46 in their last meeting in Maryville on Dec. 18.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643805455363.png" alt="Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western with 19 points in an 80-47 win at Washburn Tuesday. Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western with 19 points in an 80-47 win at Washburn Tuesday. Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostTOPEKA - The Missouri Western women's basketball team played arguably its most complete game of the year Tuesday in an 80-47 road win at Washburn at Lee Arena. The No. 22 Griffons (17-3, 11-3 MIAA) came out fast and never slowed down, getting off to an 18-5 start in the first five minutes and not looking back. "I thought it was a big time win," head coach&nbsp;Candi Whitaker&nbsp;said. "We really set the tone in all aspects of the game and really controlled the game from start to finish. Our tempo was fantastic and I think we wore them down in transition." The Griffons shot 49.2% from the field and 46% (6-13) from three-point land, while holding the Ichabods (9-10, 7-6 MIAA) to just 33% shooting and forcing 18 turnovers. &nbsp; "We just did a great job defensively as a unit and on individuals," Whitaker said. &nbsp;"We didn't make a lot of mistakes." Brionna Budgetts&nbsp;scored 13 of her game-high 19 points (6-9 FG, 3-4 3PT)&nbsp;&nbsp;in the first quarter to help Western take early control. &nbsp;Connie Clarke&nbsp;added 15 points and 7 rebounds, while&nbsp;Jaelyn Haggard&nbsp;chipped in 11 points off the bench, including a pair of made threes.Corbyn Cunningham chipped in eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The win is Missouri Western's fifth straight and their 11 MIAA wins is tied for most in the league."I really feel like this team really wants it," Whitaker said. "How they prep and their energy on the bus and when they got off the bus. I told them they're probably the loosest group I've ever coached and I'm learning to adjust and adapt to that. It's when they're at their best, they're having a lot of fun playing basketball and it shows." The Griffons return home on Saturday for a huge rivalry showdown with Northwest Missouri State. Tip-off from the MWSU Fieldhouse is set for 5 p.m.The Bearcats (14-6) beat the Griffons 49-46 in their last meeting in Maryville on Dec. 18.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western women dominate Washburn on the road Tuesday

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady, the most successful quarterback in NFL history, has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year career.

“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” Brady wrote in a lengthy post on Instagram. “I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”

Brady has long stated his desire to spend more time with his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, and three children despite still playing at the top of his game.

The 44-year-old Brady goes out after leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title last season and NFC South championship this season.

News of Brady’s pending retirement leaked Saturday. His family and the Buccaneers denied that he had made a final decision, and he said Monday night on his SiriusXM podcast he wasn’t ready to finalize his plans.

“I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions,” Brady said in his post. “And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”

Brady thanked the Buccaneers organization, his teammates, ownership, general manager Jason Licht, coach Bruce Arians, his trainer Alex Guerrero, agents Don Yee and Steve Dubin and his family in his nine-page post. He didn’t mention the New England Patriots, where he spent his first 20 seasons and won six Super Bowls. Of course, Brady thanked the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick after he left the team to sign with the Buccaneers in March 2020.

“To the Glazer family, thank you for taking a chance on me and supporting me,” Brady said of the Bucs’ owners. “I know I was demanding at times, but you provided everything we needed to win, and your ownership was everything a player could ask for.”

Brady said he’s still figuring out how he’ll spend his time but he plans to be involved in his TB12 health and wellness company, Brady clothing line and NFT company.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643486871781.jpeg" alt="Tom Brady.&nbsp;All-Pro Reels,&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons" />
 <figcaption>Tom Brady.&nbsp;All-Pro Reels,&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption>
 </figure>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady, the most successful quarterback in NFL history, has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year career.“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” Brady wrote in a lengthy post on Instagram. “I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”Brady has long stated his desire to spend more time with his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, and three children despite still playing at the top of his game.The 44-year-old Brady goes out after leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title last season and NFC South championship this season.News of Brady’s pending retirement leaked Saturday. His family and the Buccaneers denied that he had made a final decision, and he said Monday night on his SiriusXM podcast he wasn’t ready to finalize his plans.That came Tuesday morning.“I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions,” Brady said in his post. “And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”Brady thanked the Buccaneers organization, his teammates, ownership, general manager Jason Licht, coach Bruce Arians, his trainer Alex Guerrero, agents Don Yee and Steve Dubin and his family in his nine-page post. He didn’t mention the New England Patriots, where he spent his first 20 seasons and won six Super Bowls. Of course, Brady thanked the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick after he left the team to sign with the Buccaneers in March 2020.“To the Glazer family, thank you for taking a chance on me and supporting me,” Brady said of the Bucs’ owners. “I know I was demanding at times, but you provided everything we needed to win, and your ownership was everything a player could ask for.”Brady said he’s still figuring out how he’ll spend his time but he plans to be involved in his TB12 health and wellness company, Brady clothing line and NFT company.___

Officially official: Tom Brady retires after 22 seasons, 7 Super Bowl titles

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs followed perhaps the greatest 13 seconds in franchise history in the divisional round against the Bills with 13 seconds late in the first half of the AFC title game against Cincinnati that they'd rather just forget.

Not to mention most of the next 30 minutes and overtime.

In a loss both heartbreaking and humiliating, one of the league's prolific offenses failed to put the game away just before the break Sunday, then never reached the end zone in the second half. The Bengals took advantage of Kansas City's many mistakes to dig out of a 21-3 hole, force overtime and watch Evan McPherson drill a 31-yard field goal for a 27-24 victory, giving the long-downtrodden franchise its first conference championship in 33 years.

“It's definitely disappointing,” said Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns but also had two second-half interceptions, including one in overtime that gave the Bengals the chance to drive for the win.

“With this group of guys we have,” Mahomes said, “we expect to win that game and anything less is not success.”

As the Bengals spilled off the sideline in celebration, the Chiefs slumped in their seats — a complete reversal of the previous week, when the Chiefs beat the Bills in overtime in one of the most exhilarating games in NFL history.

Making the about-face all the more shocking was that it was the Chiefs' offense that let them down.

Mahomes was 18 of 21 for 220 yards and three scores in the first half, finding Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce for big gains almost at will. His quarterback rating was nearly perfect, as was the Kansas City offense, and coach Andy Reid's team built a 21-10 lead and was 30 minutes away from a third straight trip to the Super Bowl.

The only flub came when the Chiefs had the ball first-and-goal at the Bengals 5 with — you guessed it — 13 seconds left, the exact same amount of time it took them to drive 44 yards for the field goal to force overtime against Buffalo.

This time, Mahomes threw incomplete on first down. Then he completed a short pass to Hill, who was stopped short of the goal line as the clock expired, and Kansas City squandered a chance to extend its lead.

“We were trying to score a touchdown,” Reid said, “so any way we could score a touchdown, we were trying. In hindsight, I would tell you the passes weren't working. We should try to run it. We were just trying to get in the end zone.”

It turned out to be a harbinger of the rest of the game.

The Chiefs punted on each of their first two second-half possessions. The third ended when Mahomes had a pass batted in the air and caught by 311-pound defensive tackle B.J. Hill, setting up Joe Burrow's touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase and the ensuing 2-point conversion that tied the game 21-all heading to the fourth quarter.

Then the Chiefs' offensive line, which had run over the Bengals in the first half, began letting them down. Hill and Trey Hendrickson combined on a sack to force a three-and-out, then Hendrickson had a sack of his own to force another three-and-out, that one giving the Bengals an opportunity to march downfield for a go-ahead field goal.

The Chiefs finally showed some resolve, answering 21 straight points by Cincinnati with a long drive of their own. But the red zone left them seeing red one more time: With first-and-goal and less than 2 minutes left, Jerick McKinnon was stuffed and Mahomes was sacked by Sam Hubbard on back-to-back plays.

The Chiefs were fortunate that Harrison Butker, whose 49-yarder sent the Chiefs to overtime with Buffalo, calmly drilled another one from 44 yards at the opposite end of the field to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

And it appeared fate was shining on the Chiefs once again when backup Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen called heads and the coin flip landed tails — the exact opposite result of the previous week, when Bills quarterback Josh Allen called tails and the Chiefs took the only possession of overtime for the winning score.

That's where the similarities ended, though.

Mahomes threw an incomplete pass, then nearly had a pass picked by Bengals cornerback Eli Apple, before launching a throw toward Hill down the sideline. The ball was batted in the air by Jessie Bates III, who was perfectly position to make the play, and into the waiting hands of Bengals safety Vonn Bell.

Burrow and the Bengals didn't give Kansas City another chance.

With the game now sudden death, they breezed downfield and into the range of McPherson, who turned around in triumph even before his winning kick had passed through the uprights inside stunned Arrowhead Stadium.

“You know, deflated would be a good way to describe it,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “But I'm proud of the way we continued to fight throughout the season. I'm proud of the way we stuck together, proud of our coaches, proud of the way we continue to take bullets for us. It's a lot of good to think about. I'm grateful for the opportunity. But I think any time you come up short, you know you could be better, it's obviously deflating.”

St. Joseph PostKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs followed perhaps the greatest 13 seconds in franchise history in the divisional round against the Bills with 13 seconds late in the first half of the AFC title game against Cincinnati that they'd rather just forget.Not to mention most of the next 30 minutes and overtime.In a loss both heartbreaking and humiliating, one of the league's prolific offenses failed to put the game away just before the break Sunday, then never reached the end zone in the second half. The Bengals took advantage of Kansas City's many mistakes to dig out of a 21-3 hole, force overtime and watch Evan McPherson drill a 31-yard field goal for a 27-24 victory, giving the long-downtrodden franchise its first conference championship in 33 years.“It's definitely disappointing,” said Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns but also had two second-half interceptions, including one in overtime that gave the Bengals the chance to drive for the win.“With this group of guys we have,” Mahomes said, “we expect to win that game and anything less is not success.”As the Bengals spilled off the sideline in celebration, the Chiefs slumped in their seats — a complete reversal of the previous week, when the Chiefs beat the Bills in overtime in one of the most exhilarating games in NFL history.Making the about-face all the more shocking was that it was the Chiefs' offense that let them down.Mahomes was 18 of 21 for 220 yards and three scores in the first half, finding Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce for big gains almost at will. His quarterback rating was nearly perfect, as was the Kansas City offense, and coach Andy Reid's team built a 21-10 lead and was 30 minutes away from a third straight trip to the Super Bowl.The only flub came when the Chiefs had the ball first-and-goal at the Bengals 5 with — you guessed it — 13 seconds left, the exact same amount of time it took them to drive 44 yards for the field goal to force overtime against Buffalo.This time, Mahomes threw incomplete on first down. Then he completed a short pass to Hill, who was stopped short of the goal line as the clock expired, and Kansas City squandered a chance to extend its lead.“We were trying to score a touchdown,” Reid said, “so any way we could score a touchdown, we were trying. In hindsight, I would tell you the passes weren't working. We should try to run it. We were just trying to get in the end zone.”It turned out to be a harbinger of the rest of the game.The Chiefs punted on each of their first two second-half possessions. The third ended when Mahomes had a pass batted in the air and caught by 311-pound defensive tackle B.J. Hill, setting up Joe Burrow's touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase and the ensuing 2-point conversion that tied the game 21-all heading to the fourth quarter.Then the Chiefs' offensive line, which had run over the Bengals in the first half, began letting them down. Hill and Trey Hendrickson combined on a sack to force a three-and-out, then Hendrickson had a sack of his own to force another three-and-out, that one giving the Bengals an opportunity to march downfield for a go-ahead field goal.The Chiefs finally showed some resolve, answering 21 straight points by Cincinnati with a long drive of their own. But the red zone left them seeing red one more time: With first-and-goal and less than 2 minutes left, Jerick McKinnon was stuffed and Mahomes was sacked by Sam Hubbard on back-to-back plays.The Chiefs were fortunate that Harrison Butker, whose 49-yarder sent the Chiefs to overtime with Buffalo, calmly drilled another one from 44 yards at the opposite end of the field to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.And it appeared fate was shining on the Chiefs once again when backup Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen called heads and the coin flip landed tails — the exact opposite result of the previous week, when Bills quarterback Josh Allen called tails and the Chiefs took the only possession of overtime for the winning score.That's where the similarities ended, though.Mahomes threw an incomplete pass, then nearly had a pass picked by Bengals cornerback Eli Apple, before launching a throw toward Hill down the sideline. The ball was batted in the air by Jessie Bates III, who was perfectly position to make the play, and into the waiting hands of Bengals safety Vonn Bell.Burrow and the Bengals didn't give Kansas City another chance.With the game now sudden death, they breezed downfield and into the range of McPherson, who turned around in triumph even before his winning kick had passed through the uprights inside stunned Arrowhead Stadium.“You know, deflated would be a good way to describe it,” Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “But I'm proud of the way we continued to fight throughout the season. I'm proud of the way we stuck together, proud of our coaches, proud of the way we continue to take bullets for us. It's a lot of good to think about. I'm grateful for the opportunity. But I think any time you come up short, you know you could be better, it's obviously deflating.”

Chiefs offense stalls in second half, Bengals come back to win AFC title game

The Missouri Western women's basketball team let the Lincoln Blue Tigers hang around for three quarters, but a 28-6 barrage in the fourth led to an 84-53 win for the No. 25 Griffons at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday.

After beating Lincoln by 36 points on Dec. 9 in Jefferson City, the Griffons (16-3, 10-3 MIAA) struggled to create separation early, as Lincoln (5-15, 1-13 MIAA) made seven threes in the first half and led it briefly in the first quarter, but the Griffons ended the second quarter on an 8-0 run to go up 41-31 at the break.

"I was not real happy first half," Missouri Western women's coach Candi Whitaker admitted. "I just did not feel like we were locked in. Making really bad decisions defensively. Not chasing a shooter. Not in a stance. Not ready to navigate a ball screen."

The third quarter was still a back-and-forth affair, as the Blue Tigers outscored the Griffons 16-15 in the third and Missouri Western led 56-47 entering the fourth.

The Griffons then started the fourth quarter on a 20-2 run and led 76-49 with 3:36 to go. Missouri Western shot 11-of-15 from the field in the fourth quarter, while Lincoln was 3-of-14 in that same span.

"Really proud of how they finished," Whitaker said. "I mean, they figured it out and got better in the fourth quarter. But, it took us awhile."

Corbyn Cunningham, who had a double-double against Lincoln in the last meeting, finished with a game-high 20 points to go with eight rebounds Saturday. Connie Clarke finished with 15 points, seven boards, two assists, two blocks and a steal.

Brionna Budgets had 14 points - all in the second half. Mary Fultz came off the bench to score 12 points to go with three rebounds.

"It started off kind of slow," Fultz said of Saturday's game after having her best scoring output against a conference opponent this season. "It was really hard for us to find a rhythm, but it really showed us how much grit we have that we can come back and pull through and win by a good amount. Showed the depth we have and showed what we can do."

The win is Missouri Western's fourth straight, and it gives them regular season series sweeps against both UCM and now Lincoln.

The Griffon women head to Washburn (9-9, 7-5 MIAA) Tuesday for a makeup game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 8. Tip-off from Lee Arena in Topeka Tuesday is set for 5:30. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).

The Ichabod women won their fourth straight Saturday, knocking off Central Oklahoma 98-93 in overtime in Topeka.

MWSU men break losing skid, outlast Lincoln late

The Missouri Western men had to survive a late charge from Lincoln the last time the two teams met in Jefferson City on Dec. 9, and the Griffons escaped with a 78-76 win.

Missouri Western (9-11, 5-7 MIAA) was caught in another back-and-forth affair with the Blue Tigers, but used a 9-2 run late in the second half and made 10-of-13 free throws in the final 20 minutes to beat Lincoln, 65-58, Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The win is Missouri Western's first in the 2022 calendar year and snapped a seven-game losing streak that dated back to Dec. 18.

"This team just continues and continues and continues to fight," head coach Will Martin said. "It may not look that pretty on the court, but when you look at it objectively and see what these guys are battling through, it's pretty impressive."

Western got off to a rocky start, trailing 13-4 with 13:44 left in the first half. Starter Caleb Bennett went to the bench in that time with three early fouls, including a technical.

 The Griffons, despite shooting 9-for-29 in the first half, scored 19 points off of 15 Lincoln turnovers in the first half alone to tie the game at 27 at halftime.

The first 12 minutes of the second half was very back-and-forth, as the game featured eight ties and 15 lead changes in all. The Griffons reclaimed the lead at 49-46 with 7:05 to go, thanks to a three-pointer from freshman Zion Swader.

Missouri Western would not lose the lead after that.

"When you drop a few games, you start to feel like you're never going to win again," Martin said. "I'm proud of our guys for not giving into the narrative and giving into that mindset and having a victor's mentality instead of a victim's mentality."

The Griffons outrebounded the Blue Tigers 36-30, and turned 22 Lincoln turnovers into 19 points. Missouri Western also made 17-of-22 free throws to secure the win.

Will Eames had a game-high 18 points to go with five rebounds. JaRon Thames had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double this season. The 10 rebounds also tie a career-high for Thames.

In his first career start, Swader finished with nine points and two steals. Taye Fields had four points and seven rebounds. Q Mays came off the bench Saturday for nine points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.

"I love that our freshmen and young guys are stepping up," Martin said. "We need our upperclassmen to step up as well. I thought Will (Eames) did a really good job, I thought JaRon did a really good job. And I thought in the minutes he played, Q was really good as well."

The Griffon men now prepare to battle No. 5 Northwest Missouri State (19-2, 12-1 MIAA) in a rematch Saturday. Tip-off in that game is set for 7 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637644303901.jpeg" alt="Corbyn Cunningham (center, shooting). Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Corbyn Cunningham (center, shooting). Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri Western women's basketball team let the Lincoln Blue Tigers hang around for three quarters, but a 28-6 barrage in the fourth led to an 84-53 win for the No. 25 Griffons at the MWSU Fieldhouse Saturday.After beating Lincoln by 36 points on Dec. 9 in Jefferson City, the Griffons (16-3, 10-3 MIAA) struggled to create separation early, as Lincoln (5-15, 1-13 MIAA) made seven threes in the first half and led it briefly in the first quarter, but the Griffons ended the second quarter on an 8-0 run to go up 41-31 at the break."I was not real happy first half," Missouri Western women's coach Candi Whitaker admitted. "I just did not feel like we were locked in. Making really bad decisions defensively. Not chasing a shooter. Not in a stance. Not ready to navigate a ball screen."The third quarter was still a back-and-forth affair, as the Blue Tigers outscored the Griffons 16-15 in the third and Missouri Western led 56-47 entering the fourth.The Griffons then started the fourth quarter on a 20-2 run and led 76-49 with 3:36 to go. Missouri Western shot 11-of-15 from the field in the fourth quarter, while Lincoln was 3-of-14 in that same span."Really proud of how they finished," Whitaker said. "I mean, they figured it out and got better in the fourth quarter. But, it took us awhile."Corbyn Cunningham, who had a double-double against Lincoln in the last meeting, finished with a game-high 20 points to go with eight rebounds Saturday. Connie Clarke finished with 15 points, seven boards, two assists, two blocks and a steal.Brionna Budgets had 14 points - all in the second half. Mary Fultz came off the bench to score 12 points to go with three rebounds."It started off kind of slow," Fultz said of Saturday's game after having her best scoring output against a conference opponent this season. "It was really hard for us to find a rhythm, but it really showed us how much grit we have that we can come back and pull through and win by a good amount. Showed the depth we have and showed what we can do."The win is Missouri Western's fourth straight, and it gives them regular season series sweeps against both UCM and now Lincoln.The Griffon women head to Washburn (9-9, 7-5 MIAA) Tuesday for a makeup game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 8. Tip-off from Lee Arena in Topeka Tuesday is set for 5:30. The game will be carried on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3).The Ichabod women won their fourth straight Saturday, knocking off Central Oklahoma 98-93 in overtime in Topeka.MWSU men break losing skid, outlast Lincoln lateThe Missouri Western men had to survive a late charge from Lincoln the last time the two teams met in Jefferson City on Dec. 9, and the Griffons escaped with a 78-76 win.Missouri Western (9-11, 5-7 MIAA) was caught in another back-and-forth affair with the Blue Tigers, but used a 9-2 run late in the second half and made 10-of-13 free throws in the final 20 minutes to beat Lincoln, 65-58, Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.The win is Missouri Western's first in the 2022 calendar year and snapped a seven-game losing streak that dated back to Dec. 18."This team just continues and continues and continues to fight," head coach Will Martin said. "It may not look that pretty on the court, but when you look at it objectively and see what these guys are battling through, it's pretty impressive."Western got off to a rocky start, trailing 13-4 with 13:44 left in the first half. Starter Caleb Bennett went to the bench in that time with three early fouls, including a technical. The Griffons, despite shooting 9-for-29 in the first half, scored 19 points off of 15 Lincoln turnovers in the first half alone to tie the game at 27 at halftime.The first 12 minutes of the second half was very back-and-forth, as the game featured eight ties and 15 lead changes in all. The Griffons reclaimed the lead at 49-46 with 7:05 to go, thanks to a three-pointer from freshman Zion Swader.Missouri Western would not lose the lead after that."When you drop a few games, you start to feel like you're never going to win again," Martin said. "I'm proud of our guys for not giving into the narrative and giving into that mindset and having a victor's mentality instead of a victim's mentality."The Griffons outrebounded the Blue Tigers 36-30, and turned 22 Lincoln turnovers into 19 points. Missouri Western also made 17-of-22 free throws to secure the win.Will Eames had a game-high 18 points to go with five rebounds. JaRon Thames had 17 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double this season. The 10 rebounds also tie a career-high for Thames.In his first career start, Swader finished with nine points and two steals. Taye Fields had four points and seven rebounds. Q Mays came off the bench Saturday for nine points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block."I love that our freshmen and young guys are stepping up," Martin said. "We need our upperclassmen to step up as well. I thought Will (Eames) did a really good job, I thought JaRon did a really good job. And I thought in the minutes he played, Q was really good as well."The Griffon men now prepare to battle No. 5 Northwest Missouri State (19-2, 12-1 MIAA) in a rematch Saturday. Tip-off in that game is set for 7 p.m.The Bearcats, who beat Missouri Western 101-63 in Maryville on Dec. 18, thumped Central Missouri 89-49 at Bearcat Arena Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643508380599.jpeg" alt="JaRon Thames drives the lane Saturday. He finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 65-58 win over Lincoln Saturday. Photo courtesy of GoGriffons.com." />
 <figcaption>JaRon Thames drives the lane Saturday. He finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 65-58 win over Lincoln Saturday. Photo courtesy of GoGriffons.com.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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