KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Alex Smith and Jamaal Charles make the headlines for the Kansas City Chiefs and rightfully so. The quarterback and running back are the biggest names on one of the NFL’s surprise teams.

However, it’s been a cast of misfits that has fueled the Chiefs’ run toward the playoffs.

Take safety Quintin Demps, who three years ago was playing in the UFL. Not only does he have three interceptions, he also returned a kickoff for a touchdown last Sunday against Washington.

Or try Sean McGrath, who was plucked off waivers before the season. The former Henderson State – yes, Henderson State – standout has been the team’s most reliable tight end.

Big names? Surely not. But they’ve been the unsung heroes leading a dramatic turnaround.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Abilene 15, Rock Creek 14
Andale 57, Winfield 40
Ashland 66, Ingalls 50
Baileyville-B&B 50, Doniphan West 37
Beloit 70, Clay Center 52
Blue Valley Southwest 66, William Chrisman, Mo. 45
Buhler 66, Smoky Valley 43
BV Northwest 71, Bishop Miege 39
Cair Paravel 67, Veritas Christian 45
Centralia 54, Axtell 52
Concordia 52, Republic County 42
Council Grove 72, Royal Valley 57
El Dorado 52, Salina Sacred Heart 45
Falls City, Neb. 68, Hiawatha 61
Gardner-Edgerton 71, Mill Valley 70
Goddard-Eisenhower 72, Hutchinson 54
Halstead 70, Bennington 57
Hanover 53, Washington County 37
Holton 50, Topeka Hayden 49
Immaculata 55, Maranatha Academy 41
Jackson Heights 67, Mission Valley 39
Kapaun Mount Carmel 48, Wichita South 41
Lansing 60, Shawnee Heights 48
Lawrence Free State 71, Topeka Seaman 48
Liberal 50, Guymon, Okla. 43
Linn 51, BV Randolph 38
Maize 65, Andover 63
Minneapolis 64, Solomon 36
Moscow 76, Rolla 34
Nemaha Valley 70, Wamego 68
Rossville 53, Chapman 45
Salina Central 67, Andover Central 55
Silver Lake 66, Perry-Lecompton 62, 2OT
SM Northwest 62, Washburn Rural 43
South Barber 67, Burlington, Okla. 43
Stratton, Colo. 77, Heartland Christian 24
Sunrise Christian 75, St. John’s Military 23
Triplains-Brewster 37, Logan 35
Troy 64, Wetmore 42
Valley Heights 86, St. Xavier 25
Wabaunsee 66, Chase County 54
Wichita Campus 41, Arkansas City 39
Wichita Defenders 84, Hartford 50
Wichita East 56, Wichita Bishop Carroll 47
Wichita Heights 69, Wichita North 63, OT
Wichita Northwest 62, Wichita West 49
Amos Morris/George Stephens Classic
Central Plains 61, Phillipsburg 54, OT
Plainville 81, Ellsworth 67
Brewster (SageBrush)Tournament
Stockton 64, St. Francis 44
Weskan 78, Healy 13
Caldwell Tournament
Argonia 44, Norwich 42
Caldwell 54, Central Burden 21
Cheney Tournament
Wichita Collegiate 68, Cheney 61
Cheney Tournament
Pool Play
Pool B
Valley Center 49, Chaparral 44
Cimarron Tournament
Cimarron 61, Wichita County 27
South Gray 66, Deerfield 44
Circle Tournament
Circle 71, Wichita Independent 68
Eudora Tournament
Bonner Springs 73, Paola 67
Eudora 59, KC Harmon 52
Garden Plain Tournament
Emporia 43, Rose Hill 40
Hesston 63, Garden Plain 39
Goessel Tournament
Hutchinson Central Christian 64, Goessel 46
Little River 57, Burrton 39
Herington Tournament
Rural Vista 61, Wakefield 37
Humboldt Tournament
Humboldt 61, Uniontown 52
Kingman Tournament
Haven 49, Medicine Lodge 43
Kingman 69, Sterling 33
Lakeside Tournament
Osborne 46, Thunder Ridge 41
Larned Tournament
Larned 67, Kiowa County 40
Linn County Tournament
Drexel, Mo. 71, Pleasanton 47
Marion Tournament
Berean Academy 63, Belle Plaine 30
McCook Cattle Trail Tournament
Oberlin-Decatur 79, Dundy County-Stratton, Neb. 0
Moundridge Tournament
Hillsboro 59, Lyons 44
Moundridge 47, Inman 39, OT
Oxford Tournament
Oxford 48, Flinthills 21
Quinter Tournament
Dighton 55, Quinter 23
Ellis 71, Cheylin 51
Hoxie 55, Wheatland-Grinnell 31
Rawlins County 54, Golden Plains 41
St. Mary’s Tournament
Onaga 38, St. Mary’s 27
St. Paul Tournament
Columbus 60, Derby 58
Trego Tournament
Smith Center 50, Trego 30
Western Plains 50, Hodgeman County 42
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Galena vs. Oswego, ppd.
Parsons vs. Baxter Springs, ppd.
Frontenac vs. Labette County, ppd. to Dec 12.
Girard vs. Pittsburg, ppd. to Dec 11.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Abilene 47, Rock Creek 30
Ashland 37, Ingalls 36
Atchison 50, Pleasant Ridge 47
Attica 61, Elk Valley 31
Baileyville-B&B 41, Doniphan West 23
Beloit 51, Clay Center 22
Bishop Miege 53, BV Northwest 38
Buhler 65, Smoky Valley 45
Burlington, Okla. 53, South Barber 43
Cair Paravel 54, Veritas Christian 32
Caney Valley 60, Neodesha 36
Cedar Vale/Dexter 60, Udall 38
Centralia 53, Axtell 49
Concordia 53, Republic County 48
Council Grove 49, Royal Valley 46
Derby 45, Goddard 38
Fairfield 56, Chase County 39
Falls City, Neb. 68, Hiawatha 61
Fowler 55, Minneola 41
Gardner-Edgerton 35, Mill Valley 34
Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 36, Tescott 33
Goddard-Eisenhower 43, Hutchinson 37
Goessel 48, Hutchinson Central Christian 12
Guymon, Okla. 39, Liberal 28
Horton 46, Atchison County 40
Immaculata 35, Maranatha Academy 31
Junction City 66, Lawrence 63
Kapaun Mount Carmel 55, Wichita South 39
Linn 54, BV Randolph 28
Maize 69, Andover 43
Minneapolis 64, Solomon 36
Moscow 49, Rolla 44
Natoma 60, Flint Hills Job Corps 20
Perry-Lecompton 48, Silver Lake 38
Salina Central 50, Andover Central 41
Shawnee Heights 66, Lansing 55
Sunrise Christian 32, KC East Lions 18
Topeka Hayden 44, Holton 28
Topeka Seaman 53, Lawrence Free State 39
Valley Heights 73, St. Xavier 15
Wabaunsee 50, Chase County 49
Wamego 47, Nemaha Valley 31
Washburn Rural 51, SM Northwest 50
Washington County 58, Hanover 24
West Franklin 49, Wellsville 43
Wichita Bishop Carroll 51, Wichita East 27
Wichita Campus 64, Arkansas City 39
Wichita Defenders 37, Hartford 32
Wichita Northwest 67, Wichita West 21
Winfield 52, Andale 46
Brewster (Sagebrush) Tournament
Liberty (Joes) / Stratton, Colo. 53, Heartland Christian 17
Stockton 47, St. Francis 28
Triplains-Brewster 51, Logan 37
Weskan 51, Healy 24
Caldwell Tournament
Caldwell 52, Central Burden 27
Norwich 50, Argonia 32
Chapman Tournament
Salina Sacred Heart 36, El Dorado 33
Cheney Tournament
Pool Play
Pool A
Cheney 58, Wichita Collegiate 28
Pool B
Valley Center 42, Chaparral 12
Cimarron Tournament
Meade 67, Deerfield 21
Sublette 45, Wichita County 21
Circle Tournament
Circle 52, Wichita Independent 34
Fairfield Tournament
Fairfield 56, Chase 39
Otis-Bison 30, Cunningham 26
Garden Plain Tournament
Emporia 60, Rose Hill 41
Hesston 61, Garden Plain 37
Goessel Tournament
Little River 40, Burrton 20
Herington Tournament
Rural Vista 49, Wakefield 33
Humboldt Tournament
Erie 57, Crest 24
Kingman Tournament
Haven 57, Medicine Lodge 30
Sterling 61, Kingman 45
Lakeside Tournament
Osborne 44, Thunder Ridge 31
Tipton Catholic 57, Lakeside 24
Larned Tournament
Larned 34, Kiowa County 19
Spearville 52, Kinsley 36
Lincoln Tournament
Central Plains 55, Phillipsburg 41
Ellsworth 61, Plainville 32
Linn County Tournament
Drexel, Mo. 53, Pleasanton 34
Marion Tournament
Berean Academy 44, Belle Plaine 17
McCook Cattle Trail Tournament
Hayes Center, Neb. 43, Oberlin-Decatur 41
Moundridge Tournament
Hillsboro 50, Lyons 30
Moundridge 50, Inman 21
Oxford Tournament
Oxford 53, Flinthills 45
Paola Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Eudora 39, Highland Park 33
Quinter Tournament
Dighton 50, Wheatland-Grinnell 23
Ellis 92, Cheylin 37
Golden Plains 50, Rawlins County 39
Hoxie 94, Quinter 23
Skyline Tournament
Pratt Skyline 48, Stafford 18
Pretty Prairie 27, Sedgwick 24
Trego Tournament
Hodgeman County 34, Western Plains 26
Smith Center 50, Trego 38
Tri-County Classic
Halstead 52, Bennington 39
Minneapolis 59, Solomon 28
Yates Center Tournament
Marais des Cygnes Valley 92, Altoona-Midway 12
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Galena vs. Oswego, ppd.
Baxter Springs vs. Parsons, ppd.
Frontenac vs. Labette County, ppd. to Dec 12.

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Marcus Foster had 18 points and Shane Southwell contributed 17 points and six rebounds as Kansas State beat South Dakota 64-62 on Tuesday night.

Kansas State (6-3) overcame a poor second-half performance from the foul line to top the Coyotes. While holding a 63-62 lead with 2 seconds left, Thomas Gipson converted on the first of two free throws to seal the victory.

Trevor Gruis matched his season high with 18 points for South Dakota (3-6), while Adam Thoseby added a season-high 16.

South Dakota opened strong, charging to a 15-4 lead with 10:59 remaining in the first half. Having returned four of its five starters from last season, the Coyotes used their experience to punish a depleted Kansas State frontcourt with 16 points in the paint in the first half.

The Wildcats twice cut the lead to three but South Dakota maintained a five-point advantage at the break.

In a foul plagued ballgame Junction City edged Lawrence High in girls basketball Tuesday night 66-63.

Thirty-seven fouls were called on the Lady Jays and 24 on Lawrence in the game, which saw Junction City lead by 10 points after one quarter, trail by eight in the third quarter, before rallying to pull out a three point victory.

Point guard Akia Fain led the offensive charge for the Lady Jays with 21 points. Program newcomer Shadaja Gamble scored 13 amd Abryana Dixon 10 points for Junction City.  Three Lady Jays fouled out, including Kori Kamm, Cassidy Meadows, and Kealee Rains, but a deep bench help secure the win. Eleven players saw action in the ballgame for Junction City.

The game was the season opener for Junction City. The Lady Jays play at Great Bend on Friday, and at Dodge City on Saturday. Lawrence fell to 0-2 on the season.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Scottie Wilbekin scored a career-high 18 points, Dorian Finney-Smith added 15 and No. 19 Florida held on to beat No. 13 Kansas 67-61 Tuesday night.

The Gators bounced back from a buzzer-beater loss at No. 9 Connecticut last week and extended their home-winning streak to 21 games. The latest victory came in the Big 12-SEC Challenge and surely will be meaningful when the NCAA tournament seeds are settled in March.

Wilbekin, who injured his right ankle against the Huskies eight days ago, made 7 of 12 shots and added six assists.

Freshman Andrew Wiggins led the Jayhawks (6-3) with 26 points and 11 rebounds – his first double-double and both career highs. Kansas has lost two straight.

The Gators (7-2) led by as many as 18 points in the first half, but Kansas made it 60-55 on Wiggins’ 3-pointer with 55.8 seconds remaining. It was his second 3 in the final 1:20.

Florida closed it out from the free throw line – barely.

 

Former Junction City Blue Jay and current Kansas State safety Ty Zimmerman has been named to

the Associated Press All-Big 12 first team.  He is joined on the first team by teammates Tyler Lockett and Ryan Mueller.

Zimmerman is a 2008 graduate of Junction City High School. During his senior season as a Blue Jay he helped lead Junction City to the Class 6A state championship.

Zimmerman is also the first four-time all conference honoree in Kansas State University history. he picked up his second-straight First team All-Big 12 designation during his senior year.

For Kansas State, Lockett was named to the first team as both a wide receiver and all-purpose player. Mueller, ranks first in the Big 12 with 18.5 tackles for loss an second in the league with 11.5 sacks.

Three K-State players received second team all-conference mention including center B. J. Finney, offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas, and linebacker Blake Slaughter.

The Saint Xavier High School Lady Rams basketball team defeated Smokey Valley Home Educators 40-36 at Flint Hills Christian Manhattan in the SHEA Tournament Saturday.  In boys action Saint X fell to the Smokey Valley Home Educators 40-30.

The Junction City Blue Jays finished seventh out of 14 teams at the Gardner-Edgerton wrestling tournament Saturday.

Junction City finished with 109 points.  Southeast Polk Iowa captured first place with 213 points. Omaha Skutt Catholic was second with 179.5 points, followed by St. James Academy with 147.5, Iowa City West 141.5, Platte County 125.5,  and Baldwin finished sixth with 110 points.

Manhattan finished seventh with 104.5 points. The Indians were followed by Olathe North with 98, Gardner-Edgerton 94, Dodge City 90, Seaman 88.5, Pittsburg 60, and Lawrence Free State with 50.5.   One team from Union High School in Oklahoma was unable to make the trip due to bad weather.

For Junction City, Devonte Wilson at 182 pounds finished second in that weight class. Six other Blue Jays medaled. They included Micah Felton, who fourth at 170 pounds, Lake Deam fourth at 113, Kayne Hutchinson fifth at 220, Jake Bazan sixth at 128, and Xavier DeGuzman sixth at 145 pounds.

Junction City will compete in the Clay Center Invitational next Saturday.

The Junction City Blue Jay wrestling team will be in the Kansas City area on Saturday to compete in a tournament at Gardner Edgerton.

Junction City opened the season Thursday night with a pair of victories in a double dual with Clay Center and Chapman.  Junction City defeated Clay Cener 63-15 and Chapman 52-15.

Blue Jays who went 2-0 in the double dual included Gary Joint at 106 pounds, Lake Deam 113, Gabe Padilla 120, Jhade Gray 126, Alex McCready 132, Jake Bazan 138, Xavier Deguzman 145, Jaron McCall 160, Micah Felton 170, Devonte Wilson 182, and Kayne Hutchinson at 220 pounds.

Friday night area high school basketball scores:

Boys:

–Manhattan 80 Derby 63

–Lawrence 78 Junction City 41

–Council Grove 68  Osage City 61

–Holton 55 Wamego 46

–Beloit 63 Concordia 48

–Royal Valley 57 Herington 21

–Sylvan-Lucas 57 Wakefield 45

–Topeka West 66 Hayden 54

–Desoto 68 Riley County 39

–Clifton-cLyde 43 Blue Valley Randolph 37

–Abilene 60 Smoky Valley 33

–Veritas Christian 58 Saint Xavier 38

–Salina Sacred Heart 68 Solomon 32

Girls:

–Derby 53 Manhattan 47

–Emporia 47 Lawrence 45

–CLifton-Clyde 51 Blue Valley Randolph 34

–Council Grove 68 Osage City 28

–Abilene 48 Smoky Valley 40

–Royal Valley 47 Herington 34

–Salina Sacred Heart 45 Solomon 30

–Sylvan-Lucas 43 Wakefield 31

–Topeka High 61 Lawrence Free State 46

–Hayden 72 Topeka West 33

–Seaman 58 Olathe North 25

–Wamego 45 Holton 35

–Riley County 60 Newton 30

–Veritas Christian 44 Saint Xavier 18