The junction City Blue Jays open play in the Tournament of Champions in Dodge City Thursday night.

Junction City meets Claflin – Central Plains in a first round game at 7 p.m.

Central Plains is 8-1 on the season, ranked number three in Class 2A in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll. Blue Jay coach Pat Battle said the matchup will be interesting. “They’re very good.  ” Battle added, ” This is a bunch of kids who won state in football. They’re a team that’s a lot like us. I mean they’ve got a lot of kids who can shoot the basketball. They’re quick, they’re athletic, and they know how to win.”

Other first round matchups find Bishop Carroll playing Shawnee Mission South on the same side of the bracket as Junction City. The other side of the bracket has Dodge City against Newton, and Derby against Wichita North.

This is the 72nd year for the Tournament of Champions.

You can hear the Blue Jay games in the tournament on The Talk of JC, KJCK AM.

The Saint Xavier High School boys basketball team lost to the Smoky Valley Home Educators Tuesday night 64-21.

The Saint Xavier Middle School Lady Rams defeated Heritage Christian 23-7, while the Middle School boys defeated Heritage Christian 33-10.

 

 

K-State Athletics will celebrate the accomplishments of legendary coach Fred “Tex” Winter on Saturday with the dedication of the drive leading to the Wildcats’ Basketball Training Facility in his name.

Winter will join another K-State coaching legend, Jack Hartman, with having a drive at the K-State Sports Complex designated in his honor. “Jack Hartman Drive” leads to Bramlage Coliseum on the west from College Avenue while “Tex Winter Drive” will lead to Bramlage and the Basketball Training Facility from the east at Gate 7 off Kimball Avenue. A limestone sign at the entrance will designate “Tex Winter Drive.”

The unveiling of the “Tex Winter drive” sign will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday prior to K-State’s game with Oklahoma State in conjunction with the school’s annual Men’s Basketball Legends Weekend. The ceremony is open to the public, and will include comments from Ernie Barrett, who played and coached with Winter, along with athletics director John Currie.

Winter led the Wildcats to a 261-118 record from 1954 to 1968, which included eight Big Seven / Eight Conference titles and two Final Fours ( 1959 and 1964 ). He was enshrined into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City in  2010 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. He is also a member of the state of Kansas and Kansas State University Sports Halls of Fame.

Winter, who will turn 93 on Jan. 28, is retired and lives in Manhattan with his son, Brian.

Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz is the new chair of the NCAA Board of Governors, which is the highest-ranking committee for the nation’s premiere collegiate athletics organization.

The board established Schulz as its newest leader on Friday during the 2015 NCAA Convention. He will serve as chair until January 2017, and will help to oversee association-wide issues.

“I am honored with the appointment to chair the board of governors and I look forward to bringing together athletics and academics in this leadership role, ” Schulz said. “The opportunity to serve as chair is an opportunity to strengthen the interconnectivity between intercollegiate athletics and the campus community, which is key as K-State becomes a Top 50 public research university by 2025.”

The board of governors includes 20 presidents and chancellors from all three divisions. Schulz replaces Lou Anna Simon, the president of Michigan State University, who has chaired the committee since August 2012.

Since 2012 Schulz has represented the Big 12 Conference as a member of the Division I Board of Directors and has served on the NCAA Executive Committee, which became the board of governors in October.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs announced Tuesday that Tyler Bray has torn the ACL in his left knee, putting his future with the franchise in doubt and creating space for Terrelle Pryor at backup quarterback.

Bray spent last season on injured reserve after spraining an ankle in preseason. The move allowed the Chiefs to keep him along with Alex Smith, Chase Daniel and Aaron Murray. Pryor, a former Raiders quarterback, recently agreed to a deal with the Chiefs.

Among the players that Kansas City signed to futures deals was wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers. The former star began his career at Tennessee but transferred to Tennessee Tech after admitting to failing several drug tests.

He played for Buffalo and Indianapolis. In five games with the Colts, he had 14 catches for 192 yards.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Monte Morris hit a floater with 37 seconds left and No. 9 Iowa State held off Kansas State 77-71 on Tuesday night, moving into a tie for first place in the Big 12.

Jameel McKay had 15 points off the bench for the Cyclones (14-3, 4-1), who joined No. 11 Kansas atop the league. Iowa State beat Kansas in Ames 86-81 on Saturday.

Kansas State turned it over at mid-court after Morris put the Cyclones ahead 73-69. That miscue allowed Iowa State to seal the game at the line.

Nino Williams had a season-high 22 points for Kansas State (11-8, 4-2), whose winning streak was snapped at four games.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 19 points, converting two driving layups in the closing minutes, and No. 11 Kansas held on after blowing a 20-point first-half lead for an 85-78 victory over No. 19 Oklahoma on Monday night.

Perry Ellis added 16 points, Cliff Alexander had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Brannen Greene scored 12 for the Jayhawks (15-3, 4-1 Big 12), who bounced back from a loss Saturday night at Iowa State by beating Oklahoma (12-6, 3-3) for the 14th straight time at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Sooners nearly pulled off an improbable comeback, going on a 21-3 run early in the second half to get back into the game. But after taking a 71-69 lead with just under 4 minutes to go, the Jayhawks – energized by their student body back on campus – used a 13-5 spurt to regain control.

The Jayhawks put the game away from the foul line in the final minute.

Tipoff 6 p.m. CT
COACHES

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)

Overall: 371-183 (17^th year)

at K-State: 58-28 (3^rd year)

1. Iowa State: 3-3

 

Iowa State: Fred Hoiberg (Iowa State ’95)

Overall: 103-50 (5th year)

At Iowa State: 103-50 (5th year)

1. K-State: 6-5

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (11-7, 4-1 Big 12)

G – #1 Jevon Thomas (6.0 ppg., 3.7 apg.)

G – #2 Marcus Foster (13.6 ppg., 2.2 rpg.)

G – #25 Wesley Iwundu (5.6 ppg., 3.3 rpg.)

F – #11 Nino Williams (10.9 ppg., 4.8 rpg.)

F – #42 Thomas Gipson (11.2 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)

 

9/12 Iowa State (13-3, 3-1 Big 12)

G – #11 Monte Morris (10.1 ppg., 5.9 apg.)

G – #15 Naz Long (13.0 ppg., 3.3 rpg.)

G – #13 Bryce Dejean-Jones (12.9 ppg., 6.0 rpg.)

F – #31 Georges Niang (14.9 ppg., 5.4 rpg.)

F – #22 Dustin Hogue (11.4 ppg., 5.0 rpg.)

 

INSIDE THE SERIES

Overall: K-State leads 136-82 (ISU leads 21-19 in Big 12 era)

In Manhattan: K-State leads 79-25 (W, 80-73, 3/1/2014)

In Ames: K-State leads 50-47 (L, 75-81, 1/25/2014)

Last Meeting: Iowa State, 91-85, 3/13/2014 (Kansas City, Mo.)

Weber vs. Iowa State: 3-3 (0-2 on the road)

Hoiberg vs. K-State: 6-5 (4-2 at home)

Weber vs. Hoiberg: Hoiberg leads 3-2 (2-0 at home)

 

LAST GAME SUMMARY

K-State 63, 22/23 Baylor 61

Game 18  *  Bramlage Coliseum  *  January 17, 2015

Kansas State used a 17-2 run in the second half to take down No. 22/23 Baylor, 63-61, for its fourth straight win on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 12,528 at Bramlage Coliseum. The victory was the 11th in the last 14 home games against Top 25 opponents, including the sixth in a row. Down by as much as 14 in the first half, K-State captured its first lead, 53-51, with 6:24 left on a pair of Justin Edwards’ free throws. The Wildcats shot 59.1 percent (13-of-22) after halftime, including 11-of-16 from the free throw line, to secure the victory down the stretch. The 14-point deficit overcome for victory tied for the 12th-largest in school history and the largest since rallying from a 15-point deficit against Charleston Southern on Nov. 11, 2011.  Senior Nino Williams led the way with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while sophomore Marcus Foster added 11 points.

 

GAME 19 – QUICK HITTERS

• Kansas State (11-7, 4-1 Big 12) returns to the road on Tuesday night, as the Wildcats travel to Ames, Iowa to face No. 9/12 Iowa State (13-3, 3-1 Big 12) at 6 p.m. CT.  The game will air nationally on ESPN2 with Dave Flemming (play-by-play) and Miles Simon (analyst) on the call.
• K-State currently sits in first place in Big 12 at 4-1, a half-game ahead of second-place Iowa State and Kansas, which are 3-1. It marks the third straight season that the Wildcats have opened league play at 4-1.
• Tuesday’s game continues one of the most daunting stretches in school history, as the Cyclones will be the second of back-to-back ranked teams with a stretch of 4 in a 5-game span. Saturday’s foe – Oklahoma State – fell out of the Top 25 and is the top receiving votes getter in the AP poll.
• K-State is 103-223 all-time against AP Top 25 teams, including 2-1 this season. The Wildcats are 40-117 against AP Top 10 teams, including 5-9 vs. the No. 9 team. The team did knock off No. 16/18 Oklahoma, 66-63, on the road in OT on Jan. 10, but have not beaten a Top 10 opponent on the road since a 78-68 win over No. 3 Missouri on Feb. 21, 2012.
• K-State leads the series with Iowa State, 136-82, including 50-47 in games played in Ames. However, the Cyclones are 21-19 in the Big 12 era and have won 5 of the last 7, including 3 in a row at Hilton Coliseum. The teams each won on their home court in 2014 before Iowa State posted a 91-85 win in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship.
• K-State has won 4 straight in Big 12 play since the loss at Oklahoma State in the opener on Jan. 3. The Wildcats have done it on the defensive end, holding these 4 Big 12 foes to 57.0 points on 38.3 percent shooting, including 30.6 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks 1st in scoring defense (57.0) in Big 12-only games, while is 2nd in turnovers forced (68).
• K-State has held 11 consecutive opponents to 65 points or less, which is the longest such streak in school history since the Wildcats did it in 18 straight games from Nov. 27, 1982 to Jan. 29, 1983.
• After allowing 71.8 points on 49.1 percent shooting in the first 6 games, the Wildcats have been much improved on defense in the last 12 games, allowing just 57.7 points on 41.7 percent shooting from the field.
• K-State is averaging 72.0 points on 50.4 percent shooting, including 42.8 percent from 3-point range, with 16.0 assists in its 11 wins and 55.4 points on 38.3 percent shooting, including 27.3 percent from long range, with 10.3 assists in its 7 losses.

 

THE OPPONENT: 9/12 IOWA STATE (13-3, 3-1 Big 12)

• No. 9/12 Iowa State enters Tuesday’s game with a 13-3 record after defeating No. 9/10 Kansas, 86-81, on Saturday before a College Gameday audience… The Cyclones won 10 of their first 11 games before dropping their non-conference finale to South Carolina, 64-60, on Jan. 3… The team has won 3 of their first 4 Big 12 games… They are a perfect 9-0 at home this season.
• The Cyclones are averaging a Big 12-best 80.3 points on 49 percent shooting, including 36 percent from 3-point range, with 36.2 rebounds, 18.6 assists, 6.4 steals and 3.7 blocks per game… They are allowing opponent 66.9 points per game on 40.9 percent shooting, including 32.1 percent from beyond the arc… The team is shooting 69.1 percent from the free throw line.
• Iowa State ranks 1st in the Big 12 in scoring offense, field goal percentage, 3-point field goals made (8.1), assists and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6)… The Cyclones are also 1st in the Big 12-only games in scoring offense (74.0), field goal percentage (47.8), 3-point field goals made (8.0), 3-point field goal percentage (41.6) and assists (17.5).

 

 

The Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Poll men’s basketball rankings are out.

Kentucky is number one and Virginia number two in both polls.

In the Associated Press poll the Kansas Jayhawks are ranked 11th and Wichita State 14th. In the USA Today poll Wichita State is ranked 13th while Kansas is ranked 14th.

UNDATED (AP) – It will be the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 49 in Arizona. The Seahawks advanced by pulling off the greatest halftime comeback in conference championship history. The Patriots did it with an old-fashioned blowout.

Russell Wilson hit Jermaine Kearse for a 35-yard touchdown at 3:19 of overtime to complete the Seahawks’ 28-22 win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC title game. The Seahawks managed to shake off five turnovers and a 16-0 halftime deficit to reach the Super Bowl for the second straight year.

The Packers led 16-0 until punter and holder Jon Ryan threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Garry Gilliam on a fake field goal with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter. Ryan’s toss sparked a comeback that topped the 15-point deficit the Colts overcame in defeating the Patriots in the 2006 AFC championship game.

Seattle continued to trail with just over two minutes remaining in regulation before scoring two touchdowns in a 44 seconds span. Wilson scored on a 1-yard run with 2:09 left, and the Seahawks regained possession at midfield following an onside kick. Marshawn Lynch gave Seattle its first lead on a 24-yard touchdown run that was followed by Wilson’s heave to Luke Willson for the two-point conversion, making it 22-19 with 1:25 to play.

Aaron Rodgers engineered a game-tying drive that was capped by Mason Crosby’s fifth field goal of the day, a 48-yard kick that forced overtime. Rodgers and the Packers never touched the ball again as Wilson drove the Seahawks downfield for a TD on the first possession of overtime.

The Patriots won the AFC championship as Tom Brady and LaGarrette Blount led their offense in a 45-7 romp over Indianapolis. Brady was 23 of 35 for 226 yards and three touchdowns in reaching the Super Bowl for the sixth time. He hit James Develin, Rob Gronkowski and Nate Solder for TDs before Blount provided the Patriots’ last two touchdowns. Blount ran for three scores while amassing 148 yards on 30 carries.

New England added to a 10-point lead by scoring touchdowns on its first four second-half possessions. Brady threw for TDs on the first two possessions before Blount rumbled into the end zone on the last two.

The Colts had just 209 yards of total offense and committed three turnovers in their first conference title game since Andrew Luck joined the team three years ago. Luck was just 12 of 33 for 126 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Pats played shutout ball after Zurlon Tipton’s one-yard scoring run late in the first half.

With his sixth Super Bowl berth, Brady surpassed John Elway for the most by a quarterback and tied defensive lineman Mike Lodish for most by any player. Belichick’s sixth visit tied him with Don Shula’s for most by a coach.

It was the second-most lopsided AFC championship victory ever, topped only by Buffalo’s 51-3 laugher against Oakland in 1991.