A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas
JANUARY 2017
After a state football championship, Cullen Grabast and the Osborne Bulldogs are ‌
The Hays Daily News
A look inside this issue
Volume 6, Issue 11 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright Š 2016 Harris Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Sports Ink. is a registered trademark of The Hays Daily News, 507 Main, Hays, KS 67601 (785) 628-1081.
For starters
Mike
Kessinger
Jorge Esparza Esparza, a 5-foot-11 junior for the Wheatland-Grinnell High School boys’ basketball team, got off to a hot start for the Thunderhawks. 7KURXJK ÆYH JDPHV (VSDUza averaged 19.4 points per game, with seven rebounds per night. He made RI ÆHOG JRDOV LQ ÆYH JDPHV KLWWLQJ IURP 3-point range. He scored 29 points in a season-opening win against Golden Plains, where he made six 3-pointers. On Dec. 13, Esparza VFRUHG LQ D ORVV WR (OOLV LQ WKH ÆIWK game of the season. He made three 3s in the contest.
Conner Keith The top returning player of the Hill City girls’ basketball team in 2016-17, Keith averaged 16.3 points per contest through the Ringnecks’ ÆUVW WKUHH JDPHV +LOO &LW\ started 2-1 with a loss to TMP-Marian, the No. 2 ranked team in Class 3A, where Keith was contained to just eight points. In the two wins, Keith scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, in victories against Stockton and Oberlin. Through three games, the senior made 11 3-pointers, and hit 41 percent of her shots.
Dayton Porsch Porsch, a junior at 132 pounds for the Hoxie High School wrestling team, is off to a hot start for the Indians. Ranked No. 1 in the weight class, Porsch won two early-season tournaments — the Hoxie Invitational and the Clay Center Invitational. His win in the Clay Center meet came via 3-2 decision against Riley Tubbs, the No. 2 ranked wrestler at 132 pounds from Wabaunsee. Porsch won the state championship in 3-2-1A in 2016 at 120 pounds with just one loss.
Hadley Gillum Gillum, a junior for the Fort Hays State University men’s basketball team, played a big role in the Tigers’ 6-4 start. The second-leading scorer on the team, the Plainville High School graduate, averaged 13.6 points per JDPH LQ WKH ÆUVW JDPHV for FHSU, starting all 10. He KLW SHUFHQW RI KLV ÆHOG goals and was 19 of 24 from the free throw line. He also QRWFKHG KLV ÆUVW GRXEOH GRXble with 13 points and 13 rebounds in a win against Newman on Nov. 20. Later, he got his second with 20 points and 10 boards in an 89-82 win against Washburn.
Bulldogs look to build on recent success
Page 6
January 2017
SPORTS INK.
Commentary
Vinny
Benedetto
Page 12
January 2017
SPORTS INK.
The Closer
Nick
McQueen