Winter Sports 2014 Preview

C2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

WINTER SPORTS

the north platte telegraph

’Dogs seek state berth

North Platte has a tougher schedule, but welcomes challenge

year but I think this year is a unique challenge because we play some new The North Platte boy’s teams. The teams we habasketball squad will look ven’t played before will to improve on its 16-8 re- only make us better. cord and a state tourna“We’re excited about the ment appearance of a year opportunity and the chalago. With major schedule lenges with playing these changes though, it will be teams. It’s going to pro- consistent in the paint. very challenging for the vide a better path for us “We have lost Luke Bulldogs. to be prepared for the post Wright so that will hurt, Dropped from the 2013 season.” but Darian has grown a schedule little bit and gotten a little are Class stronger. We will count In the paint B schools on him to be a consistent Hastings, Back to patrol the mid- force inside and guard Lexingdle for the Bulldogs will be some big guys. He will ton and 6 foot, 7 inch senior Drew need to get some rebounds McCook Callaghan.

Callaghan and play for us underand teams led North Platte with a neath.” added are 15 points-per-game averOmaha age, 299 total rebounds, Matt On the perimeter Creigh40 steals and 98 blocked Kaminski North Platte shot 38 perton Prep, shots. Helping Callaghan Omaha in the paint is 6-3 senior cent from behind the arc last season. The Bulldogs Bryan, Omaha Westside, Darian Allberry. both Papillion schools and “We’re excited about return three experienced Millard West and Millard Drew Callaghan coming guards and will look to South. back. He had a tremen- again be a threat from “This is the most dif- dous season last year as long distance.

“We have Shane Mauch, ficult schedule I think far as rebounding and North Platte has ever blocked shots. Statisti- Brady Anderson and Kade had,” said third-year Bull- cally, he broke some re- Erickson all returning with significant playing dogs’ head coach Matt cords,” said Kaminski.

Kaminski. “We’re excited “He had a good summer time,” Kaminski said. “All and played a lot of basket- three can shoot the ball about it.

“We were fortunate to ball so we’re counting on very well.

“Shane and Kade have have some success last him to be our rock and be

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Photo courtesy of George Hipple

the ability to hit five or six 3s any night. Brady has improved his outside game with his shooting and confidence along with the defensive game he brings. We’re hoping they improve and make some big jumps this year.”

Erickson was 55-of-144 behind the arc in leading the Bulldogs in 2012-13 and averaged 11.1 points per game. Mauch made 23-of-59 3s and averaged 7.5 ppg while Anderson scored 104 points a year ago.

Defense The Bulldogs outscored their opponents on an average of 55-48 a year ago.

North Platte will look for more of the same this season.

“We just focus on team defense and really work hard on the fundamentals,

the positioning and what our scheme is: trying to funnel the ball and keep it where we want and attack people,” Kaminski said. “I don’t think we’re going to be a team that presses a whole lot. I think we have a solid half-court defense.

“The teams we’re going to play this year are very athletic.

“Defensive transition is going to be key. I think if we can pick people up fast and force them to play against our set defense, it will be a big advantage for us.”

Offense There is no mistake where the Bulldogs’ offense will begin.

“A lot of things we do will have to go through Drew inside. For being a big kid, he is an excellent passer and is going to be

able to find those shooters with their feet set,” said Kaminski.

“I think a key for us is to execute and make teams play defense. When we need to work the ball for a good shot, we need to attack — making smart decisions and getting high-percentage shots.

“We always want to push the ball and be the aggressor. I don’t think we are a run-and-gun team, but I do think we want to attack when we have those number situations. Offensively, the most important thing is to be aggressive.”

“We’re counting on [Drew, Shane, Brady and Kade] to be leaders for us,” said Kaminski. “With their experience, their leadership is contagious for the young guys and the guys we need for the depth on our bench.”

Lady Bulldogs return perimeter, short on height

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

As with the North Platte boy’s team, the Lady Bulldogs will face a different looking schedule for the 2013-14 season. Gone are a majority of the Class B competitors and trips to Omaha will become common.

Mark Woodhead, in his 12th year as Lady Bulldogs’ head coach, looks forward to the challenge of playing the metro teams.

“Everybody I’ve Mark talked to Woodhead says it’s like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. We go to Omaha five times,” Woodhead said.

“We drop McCook, Lexington and Hastings. In the past, I didn’t take anything as an easy game, but I think those would be a little easier than playing the likes of the metro teams.”

The Lady Bulldogs finished the 2012-13 season with an 11-12 record.

In the paint The Lady Bulldogs will need to find a replacement for last season’s post player with the graduation of Ashten Hernandez. Woodhead said there might be several names thrown into the mix.

“We played it by com-

Photo courtesy of George Hipple

mittee,” Woodhead said of the Lady Bulldogs exhibition game against Sidney.

“We started Taylor Johnson, then Jessy Hunt came in and Hannah Wilke also played some post.

“Right now we’re just trying to feel our way through. We’ll play at least two girls. Jessy will get time, Taylor will get time and Hannah is in a nice situation where if we need to have her play on the outside, she can do that also.”

plenty of talent returning this season. Seniors Madalynn Doughty, Allison Sawyer and Sally Hengen, along with junior Kaitlynn Harvey, were all in the starting lineup a year ago.

Harvey led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring in 2012-13 with 251 points.

Doughty was next with 178 points, while Hengen had 127 and Sawyer scored 92 points.

“Actually, that is probably our strength with four girls returning from last year who started,” WoodOn the perimeter head said of his perimeter The perimeter will see players. “Against Sidney,

“Because of our lack of size we’re going to play some run-and-jump in the full and half court — primarily half court now,” said Woodhead.

“We just have to create a little bit of chaos because of our size and maybe get some buckets in transition that way.

Defense “Primarily we’ll play Size could be a factor for man [defense], but we’ll North Platte on defense. mix a little zone in.”

With Hunt the only athlete taller than 6 feet, at 6-1, the Lady Bulldogs will Offense rely on speed and quickNorth Platte will not be ness on the floor. Johnson limited at the offensive is the Lady Bulldogs’ next end of the court. Woodtallest player at 5-11. head said he will have

we shot the ball pretty well.

“Sally had 17 points, Madalynn had 12 and Ali had eight. I think Ali had the first two or three shots down the floor and Kaitlynn is just an excellent shooter.”

several offenses to draw from.

“Right now, we basically have three different things we can do,” Woodhead said. “We have the passing game we did last year with four out and one in. We run a little bit of flex and some motion.

If we have two bigs in, we’ll have two wings and a point.

“We don’t want to spread ourselves too thin so we’ll hang our hat on the passing game, but we at least have the other offenses we can go to in a jam.”

Buy local sports pictures at www.nptelegraph.com Good Luck This Season All Area Teams

Located in the SW Corner of I-80 & S. Hwy 83 (Next to the Holiday Inn Express)

308-532-8400 or 1-800-900-5669

Supporting North Platte • St. Pat’s and surrounding Area Athletes

WINTER SPORTS

the north platte telegraph

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

C3

Photo courtesy of George Hipple

Top dog missing from North Platte squad By roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

t

For the first time in several years the North Platte wrestling team doesn’t have an alpha male on the roster.

Between Zack Denney and Grant Holscher — who now are on the rosters at Chadron State and University of Nebraska-Kearney — North Platte for six seasons has had “the guy” in the wrestling room.

Now, that top dog is not there.

“We don’t have that guy this year,” said North Platte head coach Dale Hall. “We have a balanced team with several guys who have qualified for the state

and Shawn Roblee at 152.

“We’ve got a good group of experienced wrestlers coming back,” Hall said. “Right now, we’re open in a couple of weights, but we’ll have a full team for districts.”

Also returning is starter David Mata and non-starters Alex Guerra and Alex Murphy. Senior Tyler Bornsen and junior Jobie Loving have had impacts early in the season for Hall.

“Tyler Bornsen hasn’t wrestled since eighth grade,” the coach said. “He’s 7-1 on the season and has really impressed me.”

While the Bulldogs didn’t

tournament in the past.

“It will give us a balance this year, but we won’t have that guy we know will go to state and have a chance to win.”

Aaron Houser, a senior 126-pounder, might be the best bet for North Platte. He is a state medalist for Dale the Bulldogs and Hall a two-time state qualifier.

Also returning state qualifiers are Dylan Petersen at 132 pounds, Colton Thompson at 138

Class A

School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: GNAC Classification: A Head Coach: Dale Hall Team Strengths: The strength of the team will be in the middle weights with our returning state qualifiers, Dylan Petersen (132), Colton Thompson (138) and Shawn Roblee (152) as well as returning state medalist Aaron Houser (126). Many of the wrestlers went to multiple camps/clinics during the summer and have imporved as wrestlers from those ecperiences.

Team Concerns: Lack of ecperience in some weights and not much depth.

Season Outlook: We have half of our team returning from last year and need to find replacements for the wrestlers who graduated.

Our team will be very inexperienced in some weights, but we should be able to fill all the weights by the end of the season.

Starters and Key Reserves: David Mata (120), Aaron Houser (126), Dylan Petersen (132), Colton Thompson (138), Austin Matthews (145), Shawn Roblee (152), Alek Morales (285). Jobie Loving, Tyler eBornsen.

Comments: The team will have some open weight classes early in the season because of lack of experience and the states weight manabement program. however when we get into late Dec. and Jan. the weight classes should start to fill up. We don’t have as much depth as we have had in the past, but I like the quality of kids we have.

Class B School: Gothenburg Nickname: Swedes Conference: Southwest Classification: B Head Coach: Tom Scott Team Strengths: Middle weights Team Concerns: Upper weights 220, 285 no ecperience.

Season Outlook: Lot of young wrestlers and hope build on success of previous year.

Starters and Key Re-

serves: 126-Tyler Alvarez; 138-Talbot Buckholz; 145-Jayden Miller; 170-Skyler Kottwitz; 182-Tyson Miller; 195-Dalton Sylvan.

Skylar Kottwitx returning state qualifier.

School: Lexington Nickname: Minutemen Conference: GNAC Classification: B Head Coach: Joey Morrison Season Outlook: This should be an exciting year for us. We have a lot of returning experience and also a lot of new faces on our team. Practice has been great so far and everyone is very positive about the outlook for this season, both individually and as a team.

We are eager to get the season started with our first competition being against Broken Bow on Dec. 5th.

Starters and Key Reserves: Mike Nguyen, Alm Alvarez, Dakota Hernandez, Mario Barraza, Edwin Perdomo and Luis Nunez.

Class C School: Valentine Nickname: Badgers Conference: Southwest Classification: C Head Coach: Shane Allison Team Strengths: Work ethic and senior leadership.

Team Concerns: No heavy weight.

Season Outlook: We look solid from 106-220. We should be near the top at state.

Starters and Key Reserves: Brian Sliger, Cameron Perrett, Trevor Bakaske, Jacob Hand, Nate O’Kief, Tristan Eklund, Lance Hockenbary, Nick Ormesher, Colby Lamb, Jake Fulton. Noah Eklong and Hudson Pearman.

Class D School: Maxwell Nickname: Wildcats Conference: SPVA Classification: D Head Coach: Ryan Jones Team Strengths: Experience. Nine returning starters and 11 returning letter winners.

Team Concerns: Open in the light weights.

Season Outlook: 17

do well in the season-opening tournament in Kearney, North Platte went 5-0 during the Chieftain Duals, winning the event.

“We have some skilled wrestlers and we have a good group of kids,” Hall said. “It’s going to be a tough challenge for us this season.”

North Platte is participating in the Flatwater Fracas in Grand Island on Friday and Saturday. Home events for the Bulldogs this season are a dual against Kearney and hosting the GNAC Conference meet on Feb. 8.

“We’ve got a chance to be a really good team by the end of

the year,” Hall said. “There are several wrestlers who could have great seasons, but we need to avoid injuries and we need to avoid letdowns.

“So far, I’ve seen them wrestle really well and wrestle below their ability. We need to see the exceptional come through and the lackluster go away. These guys are capable of doing so well, it’s scary.

“No, we don’t have that guy we know is going to go to state and place. We do, however, have a bunch of guys who are capable of becoming one of those guys as the year goes along.”

WRESTLING

on the roster but no light weights. Could hurt dual team. Strong tournament team with major experience returning. Look to improve on ninth place team finish and sixth place state dual finish.

Starters and Key Reserves: Ryan McKeeman, Josh Meyers, Ethan Lunkwitz, Taylor Sturdivant, Jacob Whisenhunt, Wyatt Strickland, Taylor McKeeman, Houston Crane, Charle Kesterson.

School: Medicine Valley Nickname: Raiders Conference: RPAC Classification: D1 Head Coach: Clint Hostick School: Mullen Nickname: Broncos Conference: Loup Valley & Sandhills Classification: D Head Coach: Russ Monette Team Strengths: I have a few that are very experienced and should do well, and a few that are inecperenced and will learn from the experienced ones.

Team Concerns: We are bunched up in weight classes.

Starters and Key Reserves: Dalton Zimmerman, Garret Cox, Hunter Spurlin, Gideon Monette, Brandon Johnson.

School: Wauneta-Palisade Nickname: Broncos Conference: RPAC Classification: D Head Coach: Chad Cochran Team Strengths: Our new guys are eager to learn and have a lot of enthusiasm going into the season Team Concerns: We are young and inexperienced.

Season Outlook: We have a lot of newcomers to the sport of wrestling. With these guys I am focused on just getting them some experience and confidence to roll over into next season and further into the future.

Our one returner is at the same weight class as last year and we should see some success this year.

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph Starters and Key ReKevin Wood of St. Pat’s tries to get the attention of one of his wrestlers during the serves: Cody Barrett, St. Pat’s Dual Tournament last week. The Irish finished second in the annual event, Joseph Sramek, Gage Crowell, Jake Day. pleasing Wood.

MILLER REPAIR LLC NEW, USED OR REBUILT TRACTOR PARTS

GOOD LUCK WILDCATS! Maxwell, NE • 308-582-4303 www.millerrepair.com

C4

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

WINTER SPORTS

the north platte telegraph

Wildcats ready for boy’s basketball season Excitement is the name of the game at Maxwell High School in the boys basketball program. Head coach Travis Klein said his team was ready for the season to start.

“We have a lot of key players returning from last year,” Klein said.

“There is a lot of youth who gained a bunch of valuable experience a season ago playing as freshmen and sophomores.

“We are hopeful that experience pays off. It is key, I think, for us to get off to a good start and play well, have success and build some confidence within the team.”

Miller, a 6-3 sophomore, started as a freshman last season and averaged 10 points Travis and eight Klein rebounds a game.

“Zac has good hands and is a really good passer out of the post,” the coach said. “Jeremiah came off the bench and used his body well inside on the glass.

“Bryson is a young man who brings a lot of hustle and energy to the floor, and Hunter is very athletic and he is improving each and every day.”

In the paint

On the perimeter

“We really like our depth at the post,” said Klein. “We have four quality players who will play inside and what is great for us is they will all bring something different to the floor.”

Zac Miller, Jeremiah Keith, Bryson Keller and Hunter Schlicker will be counted on to defend the middle of the paint.

Klein said the Wildcats also have depth at the guard spot with two returning starters.

Starting at the point for the Wildcats will be Zach Gregg.

“Zach also has the ability to stretch the floor and be a zone breaker,” Klein said. “Marcus Miller also started for us as a freshman last year. Marcus is

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Photo courtesy of Don Milroy

a smart player and understands the game very well.”

Two sophomores, Kevin Hancock and Blaker Morrissey, will be counted on to play mainly on the perimeter.

“Kevin was our first guard off the bench as a freshman last year,” said

Klein. “He was one of our better on-ball defenders.

And Blaker will get a lot of minutes for us this season.”

push the ball on offense as play dictates.

“We plan to play up tempo this season,” said Klein. “I think we are best when we are in transition Defense and when we’re able to get early looks at the basket.

Match-ups and players “Our half-court offense on the floor will determust improve as the seamine the Wildcats de- Offense The Wildcats look to son goes on.” fense.

“A lot of what we do defensively will be determined by what personnel we have on the floor,” Klein said. “Also, it will depend on what matchups we have from game to game.”

Maxwell grapplers might have best of both worlds fifth last season at the state tournament and wrestles 132 pounds. JuMost coaches don’t like nior Jaylon Sturdivant is surprises. In Maxwell a two-time state tournawrestling coach Ryan ment qualifier and will Jones’ case, he doesn’t wrestle at 152 pounds for mind. the Wildcats.

Jones expected his Jacob Whisenhunt and Wildcats Taylor McKeeman also wrestling return as state qualifiers. team to be Whisenhunt wrestles at a good tour160 pounds and McKeenament man at 170 pounds. team, but “These four have all to strugdone well,” Jones said. gle in dual “They will be the leaders matches for this team this year.” due to few Other returning letter Ryan lightweight winners are Ryan McKwrestlers. Jones eeman, Josh Meyers, “I thought we’d be a better Christian Simmons, Wytournament team, but att Strickland. Kenny Eswe’re 8-2 in duals,” Jones sman, Houston Crane and said. “We lost to a Class C Charley Kesterson.

“The team is pretty team by four points and to a full-squad Class B junior set,” Jones said. “No one is looking to move weight varsity by nine points.

“If we had a full squad, I classes as there is no where for anyone to move bet we’d be 10-0.”

It might be the experi- to.

“If someone wanted to ence the Wildcats return that is helping them ear- move up or down, there’s ly in the year. Maxwell someone waiting there has nine starters and 11 in that weight class, so returning letter winners I think everyone is set this season. Four are re- where they are.”

The Wildcats will be turning state qualifiers.

Ethan Lunkwitz placed looking to improve as the By roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Photo courtesy of Don Milroy

Lady ’Cats are ready Tracy Blake leads the team in rebounds.

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

As the 2013 basketball season has begun, the Maxwell Lady On the Perimeter Wildcats are trying to “Anna Crane, Blake, Bailee Keller improve on their 4-17 and Rachel Stubbs are my perimeter record of a year ago. players,” said Armour.

Head coach Mitch Armour said depth will be Defense a concern for his squad Armour said, “We mainly play a as the Lady Wildcats must rely on inexperi- man-to-man defense.” enced players to step Mitch up.

Armour Offense About the Maxwell offensive strategy, Armour said, “We look for good Ally Hazen and Josie Cox will play ball movement and try to stay aggresin the post for Maxwell. Armour said sive.”

In the Paint

season progresses. Maxwell’s district wrestling tournament this year is at Amherst, the four-time defending state champions in Class D. “We are in such a tough district,” Jones said. “We have to be ready by the time the district tournament rolls around.”

Last year the Wildcats had a goal of being in the first State Dual Tournament in Kearney. They made it, but Jones isn’t looking for a return.

“For us to finish in the wild card to get a spot might be a reach,” the coach said. “Would I like to go again? Sure, why not? But I don’t know if that’s a realistic goal.”

The Wildcats will continue to grow, however.

This season Maxwell will host three wrestling duals.

“We will host Ogallala on Thursday,” Jones said.

“Then we got two more in January.

“I’m proud of where we are as a program. I’m proud of our kids. I just hope we continue to move forward and continue to grow.”

Want to purchase local sports pictures? www.nptelegraph.com has sports pictures for sale.

Go to Photo Galleries and find your favorite player, coach or band member.

Please wait two weeks from event for pictures to be available for purchase on our web site. We strive to have pictures available as soon as possible, but it often takes time for galleries to be uploaded.

Photo courtesy of Don Milroy

www.nptelegraph.com

GOOD LUCK SAILORS!!

Good Luck Area Teams!

1711 East 8th Street • North Platte, NE 308.532.1274

WINTER SPORTS

the north platte telegraph

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

C5

nIrish blending youth and experience this season

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

St. Pat’s enters the boy’s basketball season with just three seniors on the team.

Jacob Cook, Alex Harms and Mark Mayfield all have distinctive roles on the team.

Mayfield is the scorer, Harms is the rebounder and energy guy and Cook is the solid back- Bill up who O’Malley comes in and helps keep the team steady.

“Jacob Cook is a good, solid basketball player,” said Irish head coach Bill O’Malley. “He understands what we’re doing, he knows his role and he does a great job for us.”

While Harms and Mayfield may get more of the headlines, it’s the unsung players who hold a team together.

“No matter what we try

to do, it would be harder if we didn’t have Jacob,” O’Malley said. “He’s perfect in the role we ask of him. He’s steady, he knows what we want from him and he does his job.

“It’s players like him that make successful teams.”

While Harms and Mayfield are the only two returning starters for the Irish, Andrew O’Neill and Drew McClellen are returning letterwinners and both are starting this season.

McClellen is the team’s point guard, while O’Neill has been in double figures scoring in most of the Irish’s early games.

Sophomore Bryce Byrn is the other new backcourt starter.

“We’ve got new guys who are getting into the offense,” O’Malley said.

“O’Neill’s doing what we expected of hims scoring and Bryce is a really good shooter.

“Drew’s been doing a good job at the point for us. We have several new

Mark Obermeier / The North Platte Telegraph

pieces, but we’ve got some season is over.

“Cory is just a sophogood experience and a good balance of talented more, but he’s going to guys and role players who play a big role for us this season,” the coach said. are really important.

“We have to allow these “He’s finding his way guys time to get comfort- right now, but he’s goable in their roles on the ing to be important, just watch.” team.”

While new offensive Cory Clinch is one of those newcomers that pieces get figured out, the O’Malley believes will Irish will rely on defense have an impact before the early in the season.

season moves along, his team will continue to improve.

“We have nine underclassmen on the varsity,” O’Malley said. “We need to develop as a team and we need to develop our junior varsity.

“That’s key to what we want to do and where we want to be by the end of the season.”

Irish wrestlers seeking state tourney medals

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

g t s

h e e -

“Keeping in good defensive discipline is key for us,” O’Malley said. “When we’re playing well, we’re playing well defensively.

“We’re in the right position and we’re keeping the ball on the perimeter.

When we do that, we’re able to transition better and get better looks offensively.”

O’Malley believes as the

Mark Obermeier / The North Platte Telegraph

Lady Irish a much different team By roger Bluhm

t

s sports@nptelegraph.com e - Don’t believe much can change y in a year’s time? Take a moment t to read the names of the St. Pat’s Lady Irish basketball roster. e Gone are the Boucher, t names e Byrn, Allberry and e Mandy O’Malley. y Starters now inf clude Saner, Caudillo and Nozicka.

- “It’s a big dif. ference from last l year,” admitted St. Nathan - Pat’s head coach Nathan Stienike. Stienike a “We’ve had a lot of . turnover on the roster and we’re n very young.”

The lone starter back for the e Lady Irish is center Brittany Lawm rence. Anna O’Malley, a junior, t steps into a starting role at guard e and takes over a leadership role as o well.

“Anna O’Malley is a floor general,” Stienike said. “She doesn’t want to lose. With her, Brittany and Bree [Saner], we have three good leaders who will keep us headed in the right direction.”

Joining O’Malley in the backcourt is Toni Caudillo.

“Toni’s been a reserve for us in the past,” Stienike said. “She’s stepped up and has been playing well for us as a starter.

“She’s got a pretty shot and we need her to keep playing as she has.”

Junior Katie Slattery is one of only a handful of experienced varsity players on the bench for the Lady Irish.

The rest of the varsity is made of freshmen and sophomores who will be brought into games as much as possible throughout the season. They are sophomore Peyton Irish and freshmen Amanda McClellen, Rebecca Pasquinelly and Alli Skala.

“We’ve played some tough teams right out of the gate and I’ve had a shorter bench than I like,” Stienike said. “We’ll be getting these girls into games and some experience as the season progresses.

“Starting with Sutherland and Hershey, it’s been hard to get them in the game.”

Stienike has also seen his involvement change this season.

“It’s totally different,” the coach said. “Last year, the team was experienced and they knew what to do in every situation.

“This year, we have a talented group, but they are getting experience. They are going to develop as the year progresses and I’ve got to develop along with them to make sure we’re getting as much as we can out of the group.

“It’s a big change from last year to this year. It’s going to be a fun, exciting year and I have confidence this group will be successful.”

GIRL’S BASKETBALL

Class A

Class B

Schmidt.

School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: GNAC Classification: A Head Coach: Mark Woodhead Player to Watch: Sally Hengen, Kaitlynn Harvey - These two are hard practice players and lead by example.

Team Strengths: No superstar, they will need to play together.

Team Concerns: Post play.

Season Outlook: We will play hard everynight. Hopefully wins will come from great effort and playing together.

Key Game: Rivalry-Kearney.

Toughest opponent-Millard West, Lincoln Northeast. Conference-Norfolk. Districts set a the end of the year.

Starters and Key Reserves: Madalynn Doughty, Allison Sawyer, Marisha Martinez, Hannah Hays, Rachel Kosmacek, Hannah Wilke, Sally Hengen, Taylor Johnson and Jessy Hunt.

School: McCook Nickname: Lady Bison Conference: GNAC Classification: B Head Coach: Jeff Ellis Player to Watch: Brenleigh Daum - Dynamic, aggressive and good scorer.

Team Strengths: Returning letter winners (Seniors). Brenleigh Daum and Molly Sughroue both guards in front court.

Team Concerns: Lack of depth, size and varsity experience.

Season Outlook: Excited to get rolling, a lot of unknown. Graduated all five senior starters off last years team. Coming off back-two-back district titles, but need girls to step up and establish themselves.

Key Game: Tough GNAC conference-Kearney, North Platte, Norfolk and Columbus. B-6 district opponents-Sidney, Gering, Alliance and Scottsbluff.

Starters and Key Reserves: Brenleigh Daum, Kaity Elder, Molly Sughroue, Madi Garcia and Tiara

Class C School: Ogallala Nickname: Indians Conference: Southwest Classification: C1 Head Coach: Chris Mestl Team Concerns: Experience, Scoring, ball handling and Depth.

Starters and Key Reserves: We return no players that have quality starting experience from a team that went 8-13 last year. Jenna Paloucek, Sophia Arensdorf, Jensen Geisert, Maaika Mestl, Shelby Welsh and Allison Knaggs.

Nathan Chrisman has wrestled varsity for St. Pat’s for four seasons. Last year he and Trey Dodson, a junior, advanced to the state tournament.

This year the pair are looking for medals.

Chrisman and Dodson are the leaders for St. Pat’s.

Chrisman wrestles at 120 pounds, while Dodson is at 126.

“Nathan Kevin and Trey have won Wood a lot of matches for us,” said St. Pat’s head coach Kevin Wood. “They are our leaders and they’re starting out well for us.”

The Irish have 10 wrestlers on varsity this season, with Chrisman the only senior.

“It’s a little different,” Wood said of having just one senior on the team.

“Nathan has done a good job. He’s not the most vocal leader, but he’s stepped up in practice and in matches.”

Woods has also been happy with juniors Alec Mackley and Ryan Dilley, who have done well early this season at 170 and 160 pounds, respectively.

“Those two guys are really winning a lot of matches for us early,” Woods said. “They are wrestling at a high level.”

The Irish are back in

Class D this season after wrestling in Class C a year ago.

“It helps us,” Wood said of the class change.

“We’re hoping for a good season and the change should help.”

While the Irish have wrestled in a couple of tournaments this season, Woods said with a young team practice might be more important.

“It’s a trade off,” he said of wrestling so many matches. “We need practice to work on things and learn, but we need matches to wrestle against others and learn different things.

“We need practice as much as we need matches and if we’re wrestling in events, we’re not practicing.”

While the Irish are limited in numbers and open at some weight classes, they were able to place second in their annual dual tournament last week.

“I’m very happy with how we wrestled and how the day turned out,” Wood said. “Beating Hershey, which we weren’t sure we could pull off, was super.

“Going into the final with Lexington JV, we knew we were only wrestling nine matches. I felt it would be great if we could win five, and we won six.

“I was real pleased.”

The Irish will be wrestling at the Kearney Catholic Invite on Saturday and will be hosting the D4 District Tournament in February.

School: Chase County Nickname: Longhorns Conference: SPVA Classification: C1 Head Coach: Nancy Sorensen Team Strengths: The team has good numbers.

We have several players returning with experience.

Please see GIRL’S, Page C6

Shirley Kissinger GRI, SFR

530-1391 532-1810 www.kissingerhomes.com

An independently owned and operated firm.

810 S. Dewey North Platte, NE

Courtesy photo

WINTER SPORTS

GIRL’S BASKETBALL

Team Concerns: The team’s concern is getting everyone healthy and injury free.

Season Outlook: Due to the mix of returning letterwinners and incoming freshmen the team will have new chemistry. We have a challenging schedule that the girls will fave. We are looking forward to an improved year.

Classification: D-2 Head Coach: J.D. Furrow Player to Watch: Kelsey Thompson-Kelsey is a leader of our team.

She is fundamentally very strong, and she works well both with and without the ball in her hands.

Team Strengths: Depth and Speed.

Team Concerns: New coach and learning curve for the girls.

Season Outlook: We would lik to improve on last years mark, and build a foundation for success now and in the future.

School: Gothenburg Nickname: Swedes Conference: Southwest Classification: C1 School: Brady Head Coach: Chris Lecher Nickname: Eagles Season Outlook: We will have a Conference: Sandhills good group of returning letter winners Classification: D1 with quite a bit of experience. HopefulHead Coach: Lance Arterburn ly we can develop some of our youngPlayer to Watch: Madison Elliott er players to add a little more depth.

Great leader, great skill set.

Starters and Key Reserves: (ReTeam Strengths: Depth and expeturning Starters) Regan Geiken, Aryn rience.

Meisinger. (Returning letter winners) Team Concerns: Foul trouble.

Emily Franzen, Taylor Mroczek, KynSeason Outlook: Improving on our dal Holme, MaKaela Franzen, Amanda weakness.

Kowalewski.

Key Game: Wauneta-Palisade, Sandhills/Thedford.

School: Hershey Starters and Key Reserves: Valerie Nickname: Lady Panthers Most, Carissa Rayburn, Sydney WidConference: SPVA ick, Alexis Mann, Autumn Hild, Josie Classification: C1 Palmer and Madison Elliott.

Head Coach: Jeremy Thomas Player to Watch: Maegan Hiatt School: Cambridge Maegan is one that puts many hours Nickname: Trojans in the gym. She has built up her game Conference: RPAC and talent to one of the best players in Classification: D1 the state. Great leader on and off the Head Coach: Brett Webster court.

Player to Watch: Kadee Long - She Team Strengths: Depth and expehas worked hard and is ready to lead rience from our third place finish last our team. year at State.

Team Strengths: Depth and quickTeam Concerns: Learning to gel ness. as a new team after losing three very Team Concerns: Being able to put talented seniors from last year. ball in the hole.

Season Outlook: Working hard evStarters and Key Reserves: Kadee eryday to getting back to Lincoln and contending for a State Championship. Long, Breanna Eubanks, Mikayla Kent, Sloan Johnson, Sheldon Cross, Key Game: Every game on the Rhiley Fiene, Kayla Shaner, Alea ShaSchedule. ner and Marlana Kent.

Starters and Key Reserves: Meagna Hiatt, Maddie Seamann, Tayler School: Creek Valley Baker, Ryce Troyer, Mariah DeMoude, Nickname: Storm Brooke Munsen, Bobbi Brannan, Conference: MAC Tessa Otzel, Taylor Mustion, Hannah Classification: D1 Johnson, Treyana Miller.

Head Coach: Bill Wilber Player to Watch: Summer Mueller School: Perkins County - Defense-Hustle-Leader. All ConferNickname: Plainsmen ence first team, Player of the year. Set Conference: SPVA two school records. Avg. 15.4 points Classification: C2 per game.

Head Coach: Deanne Bishop Team Strengths: Speed, Defense.

Season Outlook: We return quite a Team Concerns: Free throws. few letterwinners with varisty experiSeason Outlook: Should be better ence. However, we gradated our top than last year. Everybody is back. four scorers and top three rebounder Starters and Key Reserves: Sumfrom last season. We are looking to mer Mueller, Jerry Straber, Shania capitalize on this teams speed to creBrown, Hannah Schievelbein, Jill ate offense and provide good defenBehrends, Madison Blackwelder, Stef sive pressure.

Mitchell and Jessie Straben.

School: SMC School: Hayes Center Nickname: Cyclones Nickname: Cardinals Conference: Loup Valley Conference: RPAC Classification: C2 Classification: D2 Head Coach: Ryan Smith Head Coach: Matt Cox Player to Watch: Samantha Riedel Player to Watch: Colby Cox and KaHigh intensity, good leader and works sey Clifford - Both girls are returning hard. starters. They have a grat vision on Team Strengths: Depth looks to the court and an ability to see things be good this year. We have a lot of for each other. girls who are good enough to see the Team Concerns: We are very low court. on numbers this year so our biggest Team Concerns: Youth could be a factor. We have many underclassmen concerns are staying healthy and out on the roster. With a coaching change of foul trouble.

Season Outlook: We have seven it could take a few games to get on very athletic girls. We will have some track. things to work on early in the year, but Season Outlook: I gelieve we have if we can stay injury fee we should be a good team and a hardworking one competitive come sub districts. as well. We need to keep getting Starters and Key Reserves: Colby better if we want to win the close ones and knock off some of the better Cox, Kasey Clifford, Kaitlin Howard, Andrea Wach, Megan Christner and teams.

Whitney Rosno.

Key Game: Both Brady and Sandhills/Thedford should be tough oppoSchool: Hyannis nents this season.

Nickname: Longhorns Starters and Key Reserves: Kadee Conference: Sandhills Cutler, Samantha Riedel, Ashley Starr, Classification: D2 Jacque Sonnenfeld, Mariah Fowler, Head Coach: Chris Kraus Haley Paben, Mckensie Burnside, Season Outlook: We have the Hannah Hargager, Natalie Jones, potential to be a good team. A big key Taylor Morris and Tristan Haake. for our girls is to get some confidence early in our season. I feel that our School: Valentine abilty to hit our outside shots will also Nickname: Badgers add to our confidence. We also heed Conference: Southwest to wourk on our quickness as a team.

Classification: C1 Starters and Key Reserves: SavanHead Coach: Dan Wolken na Janison, Hannah Haney, Shantel Player to Watch: Emily Perrett Roseberry, Brandi Schaack.

Leader, active defensively, averaged 12 points a game season.

School: Maxwell Team Strengths: Aggressive and Nickname: Wildcats can push the ball.

Conference: SPVA Team Concerns: Scoring from in the Classification: D-1 paint.

Head Coach: Mitch Armour Season Outlook: We should be very Team Concerns: Lack of depth competitive.

Starters and Key Reserves: Josie Key Game: Ainsworth - Rival, MinCox, Anna Crane, Tracy Blake, Bailee den - Toughest opponent. Ainsworth, Keller, Rachel Stubbs. Kyra Frisbie, Minden, Gothenburg. Chadron - DisAlly Hanzen. trict Matchup Starters and Key Reserves: School: Maywood Madison Kelber, Brianna Bussinger, Nickname: Tigers McKenzie Anderson, Emily Medley, Conference: RPAC Sheyanne Long, Emily Perrett, BritClassification: D2 tney O’Kief, Lindsey Fay, Nicole Lurz, Head Coach: Kim Stengel Shaniya Denaeyer, Jalynn Willcuts, Team Strengths: Our positive enerMacey Mathis, Bailey Dexter, Bailey gy and great attitudes Leonard.

Season Outlook: We are excited to get another season started. We pracClass D tice working together and working School: Anselmo-Merna hard everyday. We plan to continue Nickname: Coyotes that through the season in pursuit of Conference: Loup Valley Confersuccess. ence Starters and Key Reserves: Abby

✮

• Weekly Consignment Auction • New & Used Furniture

2006 E. 4th

✮

ISABELL’S AUCTION CENTER

• Estate/Personal Property Auctions • Your Location or Our Location

(308) 532-6944

Werkmeister, Justine Stone, Katelynn Gerlach, Brooke Moore, Bailey Brown, Tyler Esslinger, Marisa Foster, Breanna Phillips, Corey Eshleman, Lyda Fritsche.

School: Medicine Valley Nickname: Raiders Conference: RPAC Classification: D1 Head Coach: Derek Bantam Player to Watch: Grayce Jorgensen - She is our best all-around player from last years team.

Team Concerns: Depth Season Outlook: We lost two great senior leaders from last years team.

We have a good nucleus returning and we have some newcomers coming in to help fill some holes. We hope to be competitive in each game we play.

Starters and Key Reserves: Grayce Jorgensen, Starla Henderson, Regan Garey, Shaylee Schoeder and Jessa Lemon.

School: Paxton Nickname: Tigers Conference: RPAC Classification: D2 Head Coach: Billy O’Connor Player to Watch: Taylor Holzfaster Team leader in scoring and rebounds.

First team RPAC as a junior.

Team Strengths: Defense Team Concerns: Rebounding, shooting.

Season Outlook: We could be a good team if we continue to improve shooting.

Key Game: Wauneta-Palisade - state team last year, in our distirct. Dundy County-Stratton - RPAC champions last year.

Starters and Key Reserves: Taylor Holzfaster, Austin Hackney and Darlee Schow. Mackenize Walker (transfer from Arthur County) Emma Holz, Nicole Keller and Leanne Gamet.

School: St. Pat’s Nickname: Lady Irish Conference: SPVA Classification: D-1 Head Coach: Nathan Stienike Player to Watch: Anna O’Malley Plays with lots of energy and has a love for the game.

Team Strengths: Defensively we look to be strong. Great leaders and very coachable underclassmen.

Team Concerns: Lack of experience.

Season Outlook: We look to be good defensively and offensively we look for improvement throughout the year. Tough SPVA and D1-11 sub district with Sutherland and Brady.

School: South Platte Nickname: Blue Knights Conference: Minuteman Activities Conference Classification: D-2 Head Coach: Ken Bartels Season Outlook: We return all five starters from a year ago. If we can stay healthy and develop depth from our underclassmen, we could push for top place in the Minuteman Activities Conference.

Starters and Key Reserves: Lindsey Kotschwar, Jordyn Bartles, Stephanie McClung, Adalinda Dickmander, Bethany Spencer, Grace Kotschwar, Zoe Buntain. Tessa Triplette, Tiffany Hill, Alexis Wolford.

School: Sutherland Nickname: Sailors Conference: SPVA Classification: D1 Head Coach: Jason Gunderson Season Outlook: There a lot of unknowns going into this year. With only three returning players with varsity experience, there will be competitive battles to see who will fill the open spots. Sutherland’s weakness this year will be getting comfortable and familiar playing with each other.

This will be the first year that this group of girls will be on the court at the same time. Strengths this year will be, we have good set of leaders that schould make the transition smooth.

Sutherland will hav a larger number of players (30) out this year.

Key Game: St. Pat’s, Ogallala, Gothenburg, Hershey and SPVA Tourney.

Starters and Key Reserves: Sam Staggs, Jalyne Schuster and Kaley Stokey. Morgan Simposon, Kenzie White, Ali Meyer and Allison Stewart.

School: Wallace Nickname: Wildcats Conference: RPAC Classification: D2 Head Coach: Shannon Messersmith Team Strengths: Depth, quickness, experience and competitiveness.

Team Concerns: Early on conditioning.

Season Outlook: It should be a succssful season. The girls have been working extremely hard.

Key Game: Wauneta Palisade (Conference and District). Dundy County-Stratton (Conference).

Starters and Key Reserves: Starters-Sara Hubbard, Christina Daniels.

Key Players-Paige Aylward, Alex Lundval, Morgan Messersmith, Haley Storm and Michayla Sheets.

the north platte telegraph

BOY’S BASKETBALL t

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

t

C6

Class A School: North Platte Nickname: Bulldogs Conference: GNAC Classification: A Head Coach: Matt Kaminski Player to Watch: Drew Callaghan - Player of the year last year.

Team Strengths: Experience Team Concerns: New schedule, Developing inexperienced and younger players.

Season Outlook: Excited about the opportunity to compete against bigger schools.

Starters and Key Reserves: Drew Callaghan, Kade Erickson, Brady Anderson, Shane Mauch.

Class B School: Lexington Nickname: Minutemen Conference: GNAC Classification: B Head Coach: Jeremy Wieseler Season Outlook: We look to be much improved for the 2013-2014 season. We had a great summer, and develop well both as players and a team throughout the course of the summer. There is finally starting to be a “buzz” around the boys basketball program now and most importantly the players are beginning to expect mor out of themselves. We have raised our level of play over the last couple of seasons and look to be competitive in 2013-2014.

Starters and Key Reserves: Lewis Lewis, Ted Berke, Arliss Alvarez, Kolin Kenton, Trevor McKeone, Marco Muniz, Brody Lauby.

Class C School: Gothenburg Nickname: Swedes Conference: Southwest Classification: C-1 Head Coach: Roger Koehler Player to Watch: Adam Speck Season Outlook: We enter the season with a positive outlook. We have a good nucleus of returning player along with some good young players. We will bane a good mix of size and developing guards.

Starters and Key Reserves: Blake Ristine, Nathan Graham, Ross Ostendorf, Roy Slack, Tanner Borchardt, Connor Schwanz.

School: Hershey Nickname: Panthers Conference: SPVA Classification: C-1 Head Coach: Dustin Jorgenson Team Strengths: Feel we will be a good defensive team.

Team Concerns: Taking care of the ball.

Season Outlook: We just have to get better everyday.

Key Game: Each game is going to be a test, play a very tough schedule.

Starters and Key Reserves: Tanner Kosmicki, Landan Maassen, Josh Margritz, Ariel Quiroga, Gaige Marshall, Logan Weir, Baylor Hellmuth, Alex Czarnick, Dustin Streeter, Dijon Roberts.

School: Ogallala Nickname: Indians Conference: Southwest Classification: C-1 Head Coach: Matt VanEngen Season Outlook: With four returning starters back we look to be much imporved from last years 2-19 record. We will need guys off the bench to step up and help provide depth.

Starters and Key Reserves: Adam Crandall, Dylan Folchert, Alex Ewert, Jordan Cogdill, Dalton Jarosz.

School: SMC Nickname: Cyclones Conference: Sandhills Classification: C-2 Head Coach: Alan Miller Team Strengths: Lots of experience with 12 of the 19 out are juniors and seniors.

Team Concerns: Coaching change for the players to become comfortable with.

Season Outlook: Potential to be very competitive.

Key Game: Our conference is very balanced this year.

Starters and Key Reserves: Alex Hinkle, Luke Walz, Jesse Paxton. Laramie Fowler, Logan Palsen, Ross Johnson, Caleb Kleewein.

Class D School: Brady Nickname: Eagles Conference: Sandhills Classification: D-1 Head Coach: David Jacobs Season Outlook: We will be fairly inexperenced and young but we still expect to be very competitive in our area.

Key Game: Wallace, St. Pat’s, Paxton Starters and Key Reserves: Troy Lusk, Nate Sitorius. Austin Widick, Chase Viter, Eric Roe, Brant May, Trevor Mann.

School: Creek Valley Nickname: Storm Conference: Minute Man Classification: D-1 Head Coach: Roger Behrends Player to Watch: Lane Godfrey - Excellent skills.

Could play for anyone around.

Team Strengths: Kids are playing together well.

Team Concerns: Lack of experience and depth.

Season Outlook: We will get better as the season goes on. Hope to be very competitive at sub-district time.

Starters and Key Reserves: Lane Godfrey, Colin Brott, Brett Godfrey, Dane McConnell, Wyatt McMillen. Roy Koech, Maverick Widdowson.

School: Elwood Nickname: Pirates Conference: FKC Classification: D-2 Head Coach: Kurt Banzhaf Please see BOY’S, Page C7

GOOD LUCK AREA TEAMS! Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Electrical

1719 Rodeo Rd (308) 534-7309

WINTER SPORTS

the north platte telegraph

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

C7

t

BOY’S BASKETBALL Season Outlook: We have a good group returning from last year. We look to improve throughout the season.

Starters and Key Reserves: Jacob Schmeeckle, Blake Summer, Zack Hackbart, Skyler Werger.

School: Hitchcock County Nickname: Falcons Conference: RPAC Classification: D-2 Head Coach: Mike Tines Season Outlook: We should be very competitive in every game this season. We return a lot of expereince and skill. Our bench should be very deep as well.

Key Game: Wallace, Wauneta-Palisade Starters and Key Reserves: Austin Blume, Daniel Arp, Nathan Rick, Alex Whipps. Justin Kershaw, Ryan Rogers, Jacke Viox, Morgen Wimer.

Photo courtesy of Misty Horn

Lady Eagles have experience post. Junior Josie Palmer, senior Alexis Mann and freshman Tara Callahan will roam the paint for Experience is the topic of conBrady. versation when talking about the “Josie and Alexis will get a lot of Brady Lady Eagles basketball the minutes in the post,” the coach squad. Head coach said. “We’ll rotate in Tara, and Lance Arterburn even though Madison Elliott is a has six seniors and guard, she can play in the middle two juniors who if needed.” will lead his team

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

through the 2013-14 season.

“We have a lot of girls who have experience,” Arterburn said. “Seven Lance of the girls have Arterburn started at one time or another and some have started for three years.”

On the perimeter

The perimeter is set with plenty of experience. With Brady using a single post most of the time, four girls will play on the perimeter.

Seniors Valerie Most, Sydney Widick and Carissa Rayburn, along with junior Autumn Hild, will be the mainstays.

“We like to play four out and In the paint one in,” Arterburn said. “We will The Lady Eagles, for the most look to attack when we can. All the part, will play one athlete in the girls can shoot the 3-ball.”

Defense Brady likes to use its defense to set up a potent offense. Look for the Lady Eagles to put plenty of pressure on their opponents.

“We want to press and we’ll primarily do that when we’re in a zone,” said Arterburn. “We’ll use a 1-2-1-1 zone press, but then pick up in a man-to-man at half court.”

Offense Offensively the Lady Eagles look to push the ball and are working toward consistency.

“Against a man-to-man, we like to play a four-high with screens away from the ball,” said Arterburn. “Kick the ball off and screen and roll. When we go against a zone, we like to play two posts.

We’ll look to penetrate on the weak side and attack with a skip pass out of a high-low.”

School: Maxwell Nickname: Wildcats Conference: SPVA Classification: D-1 Head Coach: Travis Klein Team Strengths: Depth. We will a 8-to-9 man rotation.

Depth was a big issue in the past.

Team Concerns: We need to become a better shooting and rebounding team to achieve team goals.

Season Outlook: Excited to get the season started. We return three starters and key bench players from last year that will be counted on to fill starting positions.

Starters and Key Reserves: Zach Gregg, Zac Miller, Marcus Miller. Jeremiah Keith, Kevin Hancock, Bryson Keller, Blaker Morrissey, Hunter Schleicher.

School: Maywood Nickname: Tigers Conference: RPAC Classification: D2 Head Coach: Charles Jones Team Strengths: Depth Team Concerns: Youth and size Season Outlook: We have a very youg team, we have 15 players and 10 are freshman and sophomores, our young players will have to play key roles in our success. We have a nice core of players coming back with varsity experience, six players who either started or played as some point during last season.

Key Game: All of our district matchups during the year.

Starters and Key Reserves: Jericho Vieyra, Jacob Dibbern, Quinton Phillips, Dalton Littell, Austin Phillips, Jace Walther, Bryar Gerlach, Tucker Hartley, Chase Senz, Gage Seiler.

School: Medicine Valley Nickname: Raiders Conference: RPAC Classification: D-1 Head Coach: Scott Johnson Season Outlook: We have a good nucleus of players and can be a very competitive group. It will take a little time to gel together with a new system.

Starters and Key Reserves: Marcus Florom, Sage Schmidt, Zach Hawke, Chase Barthel, Cody Aspenleiter, Zane Mickelsen, Keaton Lenz, TJ Aanenson.

School: St. Pat’s Nickname: Irish Conference: SPVA Classification: D-1 Head Coach: William O’Malley Season Outlook: Hope to compete for both conference and district.

Key Game: SPVA favorite-Chase County. District favorite Hemingford.

Starters and Key Reserves: Mark Mayfield, Alex Harms, Andrew O’Neill, Drew McClellen. Bryce Byrn, Jacob Cook, Cory Clinch.

School: Paxton Nickname: Tigers Conference: RPAC Classification: D-2 Head Coach: Jody Rhodes Team Strengths: Too early to tell.

Team Concerns: Too early to tell.

Season Outlook: Graduated seven seniors off last years state runner-up team but the returning lettermen are skilled players.

Starters and Key Reserves: Connor Merrill, Cody Blackwell, Justin Corfield, Rhett O’Connor, Brett Storer, Chance Morland.

Photo courtesy of Misty Horn

Young Eagles look to grow, soar

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Teams in Class D1 can expect the same from the Brady Eagles in the 2013-14 basketball season as they’ve seen in the past. The Eagles are young, with only two seniors on the squad, but their opponents can look forward to the Eagles being a hard-working and competitive squad. David David Jacobs, in Jacobs his third year at the helm of the Eagles, would expect no less. Jacobs directed the Eagles to a 15-8 record a year ago.

“We will be competitive and I can count on our kids to go out and play hard every night,” said Jacobs. “When you do that, good things can happen.

“We are dealing with a little inexperience, but the guys have been working real hard in practice and should continue to improve as the

year goes on.”

In the paint Austin Widick and Nate Sitorius will be counted on to patrol the paint for the Eagles. Sitorius, a 6-3 sophomore, was a part-time starter for Brady a season ago and averaged 4.2 points, .7 steals, one assist, .5 blocks and five rebounds.

Widick, a senior returning letterwinner, should also help Brady defend the lane.

Senior Eric Roe and sophomores Brant May and Alec TroBaugh could also contribute.

On the perimeter The Eagles will rely on two returning letterwinners to handle the ball on the perimeter. Troy Lusk, 6-0 junior, returns as a starter from 2012. Lusk is the top returning scorer for Brady, averaging 6.7 points a game. Lusk also averaged 1.8 steals, 1.2 assists and 1.2 rebounds.

Another junior. 6-2 Chase Viter, will also be counted on to help outside.

“Newcomers who could contribute are Trevor Mann, Jon Taullie, Cody Most, Dayne Porter and freshman Matthew Neiman,” said Jacobs.

Defense Jacobs looks to mix it up a little when defending the Eagles’ opponents.

“We will play a combination of defenses,” the coach said. “We’ll press and put up half-court pressure, using both a man-to-man and zone.

“Our kids have really bought into playing great defense. It’s something we take a lot of pride in at Brady.”

Offense Brady will continue to play a fast-paced game on offense.

“Offensively we want to push the ball when we can and also be able to score in our half-court sets,” said Jacobs. “Hopefully, tough defense will lead to some easy offense.”

School: Sutherland Nickname: Sailors Conference: SPVA Classification: D-1 Head Coach: Dan Dyer Player to Watch: Tyler Fear - He can provide us the best leadership and will be the player that the team will rely and lean on in close games.

Team Strengths: Return most players from last season.

Return our leading scorer Tyler Fear and our best post player in Calvin Carsten.

Team Concerns: Depth at the guard position. Balanced scoring from inside and outside.

Season Outlook: If we can take care of the ball better, finish around the basket, we are capable of being competitive this season.

Key Game: Rivalry-Hershey or Paxton. Toughest opponents-St. Pat’s, Bridgeport, Chase County and Kimball.

Conference matchup-all teams are tough. District matchup-St. Pat’s, Paxton, Maxwell and Brady.

Starters and Key Reserves: Possible Starters-Tyler Fear, Calvin Carsten, Kadin Copeland, Trey Rongisch, Brandon Slack or Zach McMillan. Reserves-Brook Blomstedt and Jordan Richardson.

School: Wallace Nickname: Wildcats Conference: RPAC Classification: D-2 Head Coach: Joe Hesse Player to Watch: Landon Swedberg - Four year starter.

Plays great on both ends. Returning first team RPAC player. Makes teammates better.

Team Strengths: Depth. Will have 10 or 11 guys get a crach at varsity games.

Team Concerns: Finishing games,. Playing well in the second half.

Season Outlook: Hopefully win more game than last year. Should be competitive in all our games.

Starters and Key Reserves: Landon Swedberg, John Marquardt, Shane Anders, Hayden Woodcox, Collin Swedberg, Jeff Harms, Dillon Koop, Andrew Gardner, Tanner Clough, Jacob Melton.

Good Luck AREA TEAMS! U-SAVE PHARMACY 211 West Leota

(308)532-0310 • 800-662-5060

C8

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

WINTER SPORTS

the north platte telegraph

Hershey wrestlers search for success

By ROgerBluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Photo courtesy of George Hipple

Lady Panthers look forward By roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

This proverb explains Hershey girl’s basketball. One of the most successful basketball programs in the area doesn’t seem to slow down, despite the changes to the lineup year after year.

This season’s Lady Panthers offer three seniors who Jeremy all have their plac- Thomas es with the team.

Point guard Maegan Hiatt, shart-shooter Tayler Baker and post player Maddie Seamann are looking to lead Hershey back to the state tournament.

“Maegan Hiatt is one of the best players in the conference and maybe one of the ten best in the state,” said Hershey coach Jeremy Thomas. “She’s a tremendous player who is the key for our team.

“Baker is a tremendous shooter

who has learned to get her own shot, but can still hit a spot-up shot when we need one. Maddie has grown so much over the last few years, but we need more out of her.

“I told her she didn’t play very well against Cozad — and she knew she hadn’t — and she came out against Brittany Lawrence and held her to four points and just a couple of rebounds.”

Hiatt was questionable to start the season for the Lady Panthers after breaking a hand during the volleyball season.

“She wasn’t cleared for the beginning of the season, but she could do dome drills,” Thomas said. “She was out there, doing whatever she could and pressing to get better before she was cleared.

“We knew she would be ready for the opener and she has been everything we needed her to be.

She’s a basketball player. She can handle the ball, be our point guard, direct the offense and be the point person on defense.”

While the three seniors all will have big roles this season, perhaps

the biggest role will go to sophomore Taylor Mustion.

“Taylor’s a slasher,” Thomas said. “She will drive inside and challenge the post players. She has tons of potential.

“She has lots of work to do, but I think she’s ready. She could be a key for us this season. She’s capable of scoring 10 points a game for us as well as being a person who drives and kicks out and gets us in our offense.”

While the Lady Panthers aren’t as quick this season — having lost Daynlee Miller and Brooke Frederick to graduation — the defensive press is still in play.

“We won’t press as much as we did, because we’re not as quick,” Thomas said. “That might be better for us in the long run. We still have the press and we’re still dedicated to it, but we have to be smart and we have to make sure we take care of foul trouble.

“We aren’t as quick and we don’t have as much depth as we did last year, so the press will be there when we need it, but it won’t be used as often.”

The Hershey Panthers are building a wrestling program off the success of the football team.

Hershey head wrestling coach Erik Sokol knows the history of Hershey athletics and he knows what the success of the football team the last few seasons has done for other boy’s programs at the school.

“We’ve had a lot of success the last couple of years in football,” Sokol said.

“It’s built some confidence in Erik the boy’s Sokol programs here and a lot of our athletes are bringing that confidence into other sports.”

Like the Panthers wrestling team.

Hershey returns two wrestlers who qualified for state a season ago in 106-pounder Tucker Hicks and 138-pounder Chayton Crow. Crow may have startled some people when he declared publically last week his goal is to win a state championship, but it was no surprise to his coach.

“That’s Chayton,” Sokol said. “He’s very confident, he’s outspoken and he doesn’t filter what he says.

“He’s wrestled some tough matches and he’s always learning, always pressing. We often say ‘if it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger.’

Chayton lives that.”

Hicks, a senior, is also looking to do well this season.

“We’re a Class C school for wrestling,” Sokol said.

“It’s tough. Tucker has some very tough kids in his weight class and he’s going to work hard to get where he wants to be.”

Another wrestler that Sokol hopes breaks through to the state tournament this season is 285-pounder Lane Richardson, a sophomore.

“Lane was close to qualifying last year as a freshman,” the coach said.

“He’s still young, still mentally developing, but he’s going to be good and he’s getting there fast.”

An early-season surprise for Sokol has been 170-pound sophomore Wyatt McConnell.

‘Wyatt’s a strong kid,” Sokol said. “He’s started out really well, going 5-2 for us early in the season, “He’s really working hard and it’s showing.”

While the Panthers may be a stronger tournament team than a dual team, the Panthers are looking to build on the success of football and last year’s wrestling season.

“These kids have had a taste of success,” Sokol said. “Traditionally over the years, it’s been the girl’s teams that have been successful.

“These young men have had some success and they like it. It’s going to help us grow our programs and I hope our wrestling team builds on what we did last year and continues to grow in the future.”

L a

Photo courtesy of George Hipple

Sailors want to build on recent success

By ROGER BLUHM sports@nptelegraph.com

Photo courtesy of George Hipple

Panthers seeking scoring punch erts, Logan Weir, Gaige Marshall and Josh Margritz, many who flourished on the football field.

The Hershey Panthers have athOn the basketball court, these letes, but they may not have basathletes are good at defense and ketball players. rebounding, however, at least ear“That’s a fair statement,” said Hershey head coach Dustin Jor- ly in the season, scoring has been a problem. genson. “We have “Defense and rebounding is some great kids about effort and these kids always who work very give a good effort,” Jorgenson hard and will consaid. “We will continue to work on tinue to work as the the offensive and I believe we’ll get season progresses.” it figured out.

The Panthers “The attitude of the team is that roster is filled with we will succeed and I believe we upperclassmen who will.” have had success Dustin Jason Davis and Baylor Hellthe past few years Jorgenson muth are a pair of 6-foot, 3-inch on the football field post players who add depth as and some young post players who are just getting a freshmen to the Panthers front line. taste of varsity basketball action.

“We have quite a few seniors, Seniors Tanner Kosmicki, Landan Maassen, Dustin Streeter, but we have some youth too,” JorKalon Czarnick and Ariel Quiroga genson said. “It’s a good group.

“We can hang our hat on deare joined by juniors DiJon Rob-

By roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

fense, rebounding and effort early in the season and continue to work on our offense and scoring as the season progresses.

“The effort and the attitude are there. We will get things figured out.”

The Panthers have started the season 1-4, but the combined record of their opponents in the first five games is 13-6. The past two games have seen the Panthers lose to undefeated St. Pat’s and undefeated Paxton. On Thursday, the Panthers will travel to Kimball, which is 4-0 on the year.

“We play a tough schedule,” Jorgenson said. “It’s the best way to get better. We know what we need to do, we can see each game what happens and it will happen.

“The goal is to playing our best ball when sub-district play gets started. Hopefully, we’ll be the team no one wants to play in the postseason.”

In small schools, quality often is more important than quantity.

Sutherland’s wrestling team is only nine members, however, four of those nine are returning state tournament qualifiers from a year ago.

Collin Fleecs, Zachary Blake, Landan Fear and Nathaniel Foster all return for the Sailors.

“We’ve been pretty good starting off the year,” said Sutherland wres- Ryan tling coach Mraz Ryan Mraz.

“We’ll get a better idea of where we are on Saturday.”

The Sailors are hosting the 21-team Sutherland Invitational on Saturday.

“There are going to be some tough teams here,” Mraz said. “It should tell us where we’re at and where we need to be.”

Fleecs is a three-time state qualifier for the Sail-

ors’ wrestling team.

“Anything less than a medal would be a big disappointment for both of us,” Mraz said of his 132-pound wrestler. “He’s been right there the last couple of years, but just hasn’t gotten on the podium.

“I believe he will have a great year.”

The other five members of the Sailors wrestling team are Tydus Ditch, Nathan Fleecs, Blake Scott, Deondre VanDeWater and Bryson Dick.

VanDeWater and Dick return from last season, while the other three are new to the team this year.

Dick, a junior, has had a good start to the season, as has Nathan Fleecs, Collin’s younger brother.

“We’ve had a good start,” Mraz said. “We finished well in the Southwest Duals and in the Bronco Invitational at Mullen.

“I’ve had a few kids who surprised me and a few who have done as well as I expected them to.”

After hosting a district tournament the last few Please see SAILORS, Page C9

the north platte telegraph

WINTER SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

C9

Sailors looking for some help

By Roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Photo courtesy of Stephanie McCain

Lady Wildcats are quick, deep Alex Lundvall and juniors Morgan Messersmith and Haley Storm all started in The outlook for the the 2012-13 season.

Wallace Lady Wildcats is “Lundvall, Messerpositive. Five returning smith and Storm are reletterwinturning letterwinners ners will from last year,” said coach provide Messersmith. “They will plenty of provide us with quite a bit experiof experience.” ence for Junior Mickayla Sheets the Lady and freshman Maggie Wildcats.

May will also be counted “We on to help on the outside. also have

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Shannon some girls who Messersmith worked very hard over the summer to improve their skills,” said Wallace coach Shannon Messersmith. “Depth is one of our strengths, as well as quickness.”

In the paint The Lady Wildcats will rely on junior Christina Daniels and seniors Sara Hubbard and Paige Aylward to patrol the middle.

“Daniels and Hubbard are returning letterwinners and starters from last year,” Messersmith said. “They both provide a lot of experience and have started for two years.”

On the perimeter Three starters return on the perimeter for the Lady Wildcats. Senior

Defense The Lady Wildcats will basically defend their opponents in the half court.

Messersmith said Wallace will look to have a mixture of defenses.

“Defensively we will use a combination of both man and zone,” the coach said. “We will occasionally press.”

Offense The Lady Wildcats will also use a combination of offenses in their attack.

“We will push the ball when we can and will also exercise patience and score by running through our offenses,” Messersmith said.

“I’m excited about our freshman class,” said Messersmith. “Several of them could contribute as well.”

Ray Seifer / The Courier-Times

SAILORS from Page B1

seasons the Sailors will be on the road this year for the first weekend of the postseason. The Sailors will host the SPVA Conference Duals this year, including new conference member Kimball.

“I’d be surprised if we

can’t get at least the four returners back to state,” Mraz said. “I’d like to get more in and I would be disappointed if Collin doesn’t crash the medal stand this year.

“We’ve got some good kids and it’s going to be a fun year. We don’t have a lot of kids out for wrestling, but the ones we do have are a good group.”

Want to buy sports pictures? www.nptelegraph.com has sports pictures for sale.

Go to Photo Galleries and find your favorite player, coach or band member.

Please wait two weeks from event for pictures to be available.

www.nptelegraph.com

Sutherland boy’s basketball coach Dan Dyer is looking for some help.

The Sailors’ head coach knows he has Tyler Fear as his main weapon on offense and he knows Kadin Copeland will score sometimes.

“I just need one or two other offensive options,” Dyer said.

“Copeland flashes, but I need more consistency from him.

We need one or two other guys to Dan start scoring con- Dyer sistently and the guards need to play better.”

Fear is the constant for the Sailors, but the senior needs help if Sutherland is going to improve on its 3-19 record from a year ago.

“Fear is our leader and our best offensive weapon,” Dyer said. “But other teams are going to key on him and we need better options.

“If Fear is getting doubled, we need someone to hit an open shot.

We need offensive players to roll to the basket and take a pass and score.”

Dyer also must get full games from his squad. The Sailors have been in most games this year, but a bad stretch — often to start a

Ray Seifer / The Courier-Times

half or a quarter — has hampered their ability to get wins.

“We need to play four quarters,” the coach said. “We are in most games and we have a tough stretch where, for some reason, we haven’t done that. We haven’t put together a full four quarters yet.”

Despite the lapses, the Sailors have learned something about their team.

“We’re capable of playing with anyone,” Dyer said. “We’ve been in games against St. Pat’s and other schools. We can play with them, we just have to stay focused and play for four quarters.”

The problem is Sutherland isn’t a deep squad.

“We’re not real deep,” the coach said. “The kids are playing with a lot of intensity and I’m afraid because we don’t have a deep bench,

they’re running low on fuel.”

The good news for Dyer is that his team hasn’t checked out.

“This group is very coachable and they are working hard,” he said. “The more we play, the better we’re going to be. We need to keep working as a group and keep working hard.

“Tyler is a good leader. He gets them where they need to be in practice and in games. There is no doubt we’re going to be better at the end of the season.”

While the Sailors are in a tough sub-district, with St. Pat’s and Brady, Dyer said his team will keep improving and keep playing.

“If we learned anything with football, it’s that hard work pays off,” Dyer said. “We’re going to be the next boy’s program to turn the corner here.”

Lots of changes for Lady Sailors By roger Bluhm sports@nptelegraph.com

Things are different for the Lady Sailors this season.

Sutherland’s girl’s basketball team has been consistent for four years, but now, things are different. The Lady Sailors return three starters from last year’s squad, but the two faces who are not there were four-year contributors.

Sam Staggs, Jason Jalyne Schuster Gunderson and Kaley Stokey return for Sutherland — the three combined for 28 points a game last year. While Staggs and Schuster both averaged more than 11 points a game, Stokey is the point guard, leading the team a year ago in steals and assists.

“As good as these three players are, they are still learning,” said Sutherland coach Jason Gunderson. “They are learning to play off each other and with each other and without Sam Kennedy and

Ray Seifer / The Courier-Times

Joli Hopping, the two starters we graduated.

“Everything is different.”

While Gunderson believes the three will provide leadership and scoring for the Lady Sailors, it will take some time for the trio to fully work together.

“They are going to have to work together different,” Gunderson said. “Last year, we had another guard in Hopping and Sam in the post.

“Now, there is different pres-

sure. They have to work together to get each other open. They’ll need to read each other and go with the hot hand each game.”

The three have stepped up in practice and games as leaders.

“They do a good job being leaders,” Gunderson said. “I’ve told them, they’ve seen as much as I have the last few years on the basketball court that they are coaches on the court.

“As far as leadership. they are doing great.”

Wildcats seeking improvement

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

The Wallace Wildcats will look to improve on their 14-9 record from the 2012-13 season.

The Wildcats return four-year starter Landon Swedberg. Swedberg was first-team all-conference in the RPAC last year.

Wallace coach Joe Hesse will have 10 or 11 athletes who should get a crack at playing in the varsity contests.

“We hope to improve on our record this year,” Hesse said. “We have some Joe tough games on our schedule, but Hesse we expect to be competitive in all of them.”

Photo courtesy of Stephanie McCain

the Wildcats.

“Landon is a good slasher and he’s got a good shot,” said Hesse.

Jon Marquardt, 6-0 senior, will also be counted on In the paint to carry the load outside the paint.

Swedberg should be a common figure in the lane Collin Swedberg (5-10) and Tanner Clough (5-9) are for the Wildcats. Hesse said the 6-1 senior is the Wild- a couple of athletic sophomores who will see time on cats’ best scorer and could be tough to stop in the the perimeter for Wallace. post.

“Shane Anders is about 6-2 and a thick kid,” Defense Hesse said. “He could help us out there, but he’s a pretty good shooter and we would like to keep on Wallace is looking to finish games strong in the the perimeter. We have three other kids, Andrew 2013-14 season and improve its play in the second Gardner (6-3), Dillon Koop (6-4) and Jeff Harms (6-2), half. Defensively, the Wildcats will rely on several who have all shown some flashes and could see some sets to accomplish their goal. serious varsity time.”

On the perimeter

Offense

Depth might allow the Wildcats to run the floor as Swedberg will also pull duty on the perimeter for the season progresses.

GOOD LUCK

LONGHORNS!!

Good Luck!

All Area Teams!

600 EAST FRANCIS - NORTH PLAT TE, NE (308) 534-1873 • (800) 815-6266 • Fax: (308) 534-1866

C10

WINTER SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

the north platte telegraph

New coach leading North Platte swimmers

By Mark OBermeier sports@nptelegraph.com

Dec. 19 Boys High School Basketball Holdrege at North Platte (Soph) Amherst at Anslemo-Merna Sutherland at Wallace St. Pat’s at Gothenburg Hyannis at Crawford Yuma, Co at Chase County Girls High School Basketball Holdrege at North Platte (Soph) Amherst at Anslemo-Merna St. Pats at Gothenburg Hyannis at Crawford Sutherland at Wallace

Photo Courtesy of George Hipple

Jahnke said. “Several swimmers — Landon Jahnke, who was close to qualifying [for state] in the 500 last year, is coming back. Johnna Gifford is back and was close in the 50 free.

“We have some young swimmers who are pretty exciting with Syble Heffernan, Johnny Guethlein and Morgan Hansen back to the sport.

“They didn’t swim last year. It’s good to have them back.”

Returning letterwinners for the Bulldogs are Kelly Fitzpatrick and Gif-

t

The North Platte swimming and diving team will see a new coach taking over the helm in 2013-14.

Long time head coach Jon Beggs retired after last year’s season and Brian Jahnke is his replacement.

Jahnke is excited to take over the head spot.

“Somebody said, ‘How is it to fill the shoes of John Beggs,’” Jahnke said. “I’m not even trying to fill those shoes. I’m just excited to have the opportunity to take over an established Brian program Jahnke and work with these kids.”

North Platte lost 14 seniors to graduation a year ago, but Jahnke is optimistic about the coming season. Currently, the Bulldogs have 20 girls and 12 boys on the squad.

“We have quite a bit of experience coming back,”

Although the diving team is only four strong, Jahnke feels a state berth is not out of the question.

“I have four divers this year,” Jahnke said. “Two boys are Tanner Malmkar and Ben Jolliffe — seniors this year with a lot of experience.

“Tanner was seven points shy of reaching the state tournament last year, so that’s a goal of his. They both have been working really hard.

“Two new divers this year are Jacob Nila and Morgan Raska. Both are working hard on their

dives.

“We’re waiting for the first competition to see how they will do.”

One obstacle the swim team will have to overcome is they cannot host an official meet.

“One of the biggest challenges for us is the depth of our pool is not legal,” said Jahnke. “We aren’t able to practice dive starts in the shallow end [because it is not deep enough] so we do that in the deep end.

“One of the biggest challenges will be the kids getting a real feel for starts.

Going to their first competition will be the first time they’ll truly start at the depth for a race.”

Jahnke has received plenty of help when coming up with workouts for his athletes. “[The kids] are swimming hard and working really hard,” Jahnke said.

“I was fortunate to get some sample workouts from coaches in the east.

“I have put those [workouts] together with what I wanted for workouts.

We’re starting to incorporate them into our workouts also.”

WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULE

Minatare at Arthur County Ainsworth at Broken Bow Loomis at Cambridge High School Wrestling McCook at Valentine Flatwater Fracas at Grand Island (North Platte, Lexington) Sutherland Invite (Anslemo-Merna, South Loup, Sutherland, Maxwell, Hyannis, Mullen, Perkins County, Chase County, Hershey) High School Swimming McCook Double Dual (North Platte, Scottsbluff)

Dec. 21

Boys High School Basketball North Platte at Columbus High School Wrestling Northwest at Lexington North Platte at McCook Hershey at Ogallala (9/10) Dundy County-Stratton at North Platte JV at Aurora/ Perkins County Crete Loomis at Brady Garden County Tri (SidSEM Basketball Tourney at ney, Hershey) Sumner (Anslemo-Merna Eustis-Farnam at Elm Ogallala at Maxwell Creek Cody-Kilgore at Colome, Dec. 20 SD Boys High School Paxton at South Platte Basketball Sandhills/Thedford at Lincoln North Star at CWC North Platte Creek Valley at Banner Hershey at Kimball County Valentine at St. Pat’s Hitchcock County at MediPerkins County at Ogallala cine Valley Brady at Hitchcock Holdrege at McCook County Gordon-Rushville at Medicine Valley at South Mullen Loup ?

Wauneta-Palisade at SEM Basketball Toureny at Hayes Center Sumner (Anslemo-Merna, Broken Bow at St. Paul Elwood Maywood at Eustis-FarGirls High School nam Basketball Mullen at Cody-Kilgore North Platte at Columbus Gothenburg at Holdrege Hershey at Ogallala Paxton at Maxwell SEM Basketball Tourney South Platte at Waune(Anselmo-Merna, Elwood ta-Palisade Cody-Kilgore at Colome, Minatare at Arthur County SD Ainsworth at Broken Bow Eustis-Farnam at Elm Loomis at Cambridge Creek Hayes Center at SutherGordon-Rushville at land Mullen Dundy County-Stratton at Girls High School Perkins County Basketball Paxton at South Platte Lincoln North Star at Northwest at Lexington North Platte Hitchcock County at MediHershey at Kimball cine Valley Valentine at St. Pat’s Holdrege at McCook Brady at Hitchcock Wauneta-Palisade at County Hayes Center Paxton at Maxwell Arthur County at Sioux Medicine Valley at South County Loup Broken Bow at St. Paul SEM Basketball Tourney (Anslemo-Merna, Elwood High School Wrestling Mullen at Cody-Kilgore Flatwater Fracas at Grand Maywood at Eustis-FarIsland (North Platte nam Kearney Catholic Invite Gothenburg at Holdrege (St. Pat’s Perkins County at Ogallala Sutherland Invite (HerSandhills/Thedford at shey, Creek Valley, Perkins CWC County, Sandhills/Thedford, SMC at Twin Loup SMC, Medicine Valley, South Platte at WauneSutherland ta-Palisade Cambridge Invite (Elwood,

GOOD LUCK

ford on the girl’s side and Ethan Darling, Landon Jahnke, Tanner Malmkar and Ben Jolliffe for the boys.

The coach said strengths could lie with the relays.

“I’m pretty excited about our relays — the 200-medly relay for the boys and girls and the free relay for the girls and boys,” the coach said. “We have some strong swimmers in those relays.

“Once again, we have some in the individual events also who I feel are going to be real strong.”

PLAINSMEN!!

Eustis-Farnam, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade) Sidney/Bridgeport Invite (Hyannis, Mullen) Valentine Invite (Valentine, McCook, Broken Bow, Cozad, Gothenburg)

Dec. 27 Boys High School Basketball Chadron Rotary Tourney (Valentine) Maxwell Booster Club Tourney (SMC, Brady, South Loup, Maxwell) Stuart Holiday Tourney (Cody-Kilgore) Arapahoe Holiday Tourney (Hitchcock County) Girls High School Basketball Chadron at Rotary Tourney (Valentine) Maxwell Booster Club Tourney (Brady, Maxwell, South Loup, SMC) Arapahoe Holiday Tourney (Hitchcock County)

Dec. 28 Boys High School Basketball Chadron Rotary Tourney (Valentine) Maxwell Booster Club Tourney (SMC, Brady, South Loup, Maxwell) Elwood at Southwest Hayes Center at Maywood Arapahoe Holiday Tourney (Hitchcock County) Girls High School Basketball Chadron Rotary Tourney (Valentine) Maxwell Booster Club Tourney (Brady, Maxwell, South Loup, SMC) Stuart Holiday Tourney (Cody-Kilgore) Elwood at Southwest Hayes Center at Maywood Arapahoe Holiday Tourney (Hitchcock County)

Dec. 30 Boys High School Basketball Kearney Catholic Holiday Tourney at Kearney (St. Pat’s, Ogallala) Girls High School Basketball Kearney Catholic Holiday Tourney at Kearney (St. Pat’s, Ogallala) High School Wrestling North Platte at Grand Island

Dec. 31 Boys High School Basketball Kearney Catholic Holiday Tourney at Kearney (St. Pat’s, Ogallala)

Girls High School Basketball Kearney Catholic Holiday Tourney at Kearney (St. Pat’s, Ogallala)

Jan. 2 Boys High School Basketball GNAC at Scottsbluff (North Platte, Lexington, McCook) Cabela’s Holiday Shootout (Hershey, Gothenburg, Chase County) Perkins County Tourney at Grant (Perkins County, Wallace, Sandhills/Thedford, Cambridge) Girls High School Basketball GNAC at Scottsbluff (Lexington, North Platte, McCook) Cabela’s Holiday Shootout (Hershey, Gothenburg, Chase County) Perkins County Tourney at Grant (Perkins County, Wallace, Sandhills/Thedford, Cambridge)

Jan. 3 Boys High School Basketball GNAC at Scottsbluff (North Platte, Lexington, McCook) Cabela’s Holiday Shootout (Hershey, Gothenburg, Chase County) Perkins County Tourney at Grant (Perkins County, Wallace, Sandhills/Thedford, Cambridge) Brady Holiday Tourney (Brady, Anslemo-Merna, Eustis-Farnam, Wauneta-Palisade) Gibbon at Elwood Arthur County at Hyannis Paxton Holiday Tourney (Maywood, Paxton, Mullen) Creek Valley at Haxtun, Colo.

Girls High School Basketball GNAC at Scottsbluff (Lexington, North Platte, McCook) Cabela’s Holiday Shootout (Hershey, Gothenburg) Brady Holiday Tourney (Brady, Anselmo-Merna, Eustis-Farnam, Wauneta-Palisade) Gibbon at Elwood Arthur County at Hyannis Paxton Holiday Tourney (Maywood, Paxton, Mullen) Perkins County Tourney at Grant (Perkins County, Wallace, Sandhills/Thedford, Cambridge) High School Wrestling McCook Triangular (McCook, North Platte, Ogallala)

Good Luck All Area Teams

Jan. 4 Boys High School Basketball GNAC at Scottsbluff (North Platte, Lexington, McCook) Cabela’s Holiday Shootout (Hershey, Gothenburg, Chase County) Brady Holiday Tourney (Brady, Anselmo-Merna, Eustis-Farnam) SEM at Elwood Hyannis at Garden County Paxton Holiday Tourney (Maywood, Paxton, Mullen) Girls High School Basketball GNAC at Scottsbluff (Lexington, North Platte, McCook) Cabela’s Holiday Shootout (Hershey, Gothenburg) Brady Holiday Tourney (Brady, Anselmo-Merna, Eustis-Farnam, Wauneta-Palisade) SEM at Elwood Hyannis at Garden County Paxton Holiday Tourney (Maywood, Paxton, Mullen) High School Wrestling Sargent/Burwell at Valentine

Jan. 6 Boys High School Basketball SMC at Broken Bow Girls High School Basketball SMC at Broken Bow

Jan. 7 Boys High School Basketball Wallace at Medicine Valley Elwood at Alma McCook at Gothenburg Sutherland at Sandhills/ Thedford Creek Valley at Peetz, CO Norton, KS at Cambridge Chase County at Dundy County-Stratton Girls High School Basketball Elwood at Alma McCook at Gothenburg Hayes Center at St. Pat’s Sutherland at Sandhills/ Thedford Wallace at Medicine Valley Norton, KS at Cambridge High School Wrestling Decatur Community Triangular (McCook) Broken Bow at Ogallala Aurora Dual Tourney (Cozad)

Jan. 9 Boys High School Basketball South Loup at Sandhills/ Thedford

Amherst at Eustis-Farnam Bridgeport at Ogallala Girls High School Basketball South Loup at Sandhills/ Thedford Amherst at Eustis-Farnam Bridgeport at Ogallala High School Swimming North Platte at McCook

Jan. 10

X

Boys High School Basketball North Platte at Kearney Lexington at Lincoln Pius

McCook at Hershey St. Pat’s at Perkins County Anslemo-Merna at Twin Loup Arthur County at Wallace Cody-Kilgore at North Central Elwood at Maxwell Sutherland at Gothenburg South Platte at Hyannis Paxton at Maywood Sandhills/Thedford at Mullen Ogallala at Cozad Wauneta-Palisade at Hitchcock County Broken Bow at Holdrege Cambridge at Southwest Holyoke, Co at Chase County Hayes Center at Dundy Couty-Stratton

X

Girls High School Basketball North Platte at Kearney Lexington at Lincoln Pius

McCook at Hershey Gordon-Rushville at Valentine Elwood at Maxwell Anslemo-Merna at Twin Loup Cody-Kilgore at North Central Eustis Farnam at Pleasanton Sutherland at Gothenburg South Platte at Hyannis Maywood at Paxton Sandhills/Thedford at Mullen St. Pat’s at Perkins County Arthur County at Wallace Wauneta-Palisade at Hitchcock County Broken Bow at Holdrege Cambridge at Southwest Ogallala at Cozad High School Wrestling Burwell Invite (Anslemo-Merna, Valentine, Broken Bow) Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Western Nebraska CC Women’s College Basketball Doane College JV at

Please see WINTER, Page C11

GOOD LUCK AREA TEAMS

Quality Building Materials Since 1908.

www.abtbank.com

HOURS: M-F 8:00 am - 5:30 pm SAT. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 209 East 4th, North Platte • 1-800-967-1945 • 532-7500

810 E. Front Street North Platte, NE (877) 308.2249 • (308) 534.4151

WINTER SPORTS t

the north platte telegraph

NPCC

Jan. 11

Boys High School Basketball Papillion-LaVista South at North Platte Hastings at Lexington Hershey at Bridgeport Valentine at Minden Sutherland at Perkins County SMC at Maywood Brady at Arthur County SEM at South Loup Eustis-Farnam at Pleasanton Wallace at Mullen St. Mary’s at Cody-Kilgore Gothenburg at Centura Maxwell at Overton Cozad at St. Pat’s e Potter-Dix at South Platte Creek Valley at Minatare Sidney at McCook Southwest at Wauneta-Palisade Gibbon at Broken Bow Girls High School Basketball Papillion LaVista South at North Platte Hastings at Lexington Hershey at Bridgeport Valentine at Minden Brady at Arthur County Maxwell at Overton SEM at South Loup St. Mary’s at Cody-Kilgore Gothenburg at Centura SMC at Maywood Wallace at Mullen Cozad at St. Pat’s Sutherland at Perkins County Potter-Dix at South Platte Sidney at McCook Southwest at Wauneta-Palisade Gibbon at Broken Bow High School Wrestling Legend High School Invitational at Parker, Co (North Platte) Franklin Invite (St. Pat’s) Garden County Invite (North Platte JV, Creek Valley, Hyannis, Mullen, Perkins County, SMC, Sutherland) Beatrice Invite (Lexington) Ogallala Duals (Hershey, Gothenburg) Amherst Invite (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam, Sandhills/ Thedford, South Loup, Medicine Valley) Dundy County-Stratton (Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade) JR Durhan Wrestling at Norton KS (McCook) Norton, KS Invite (Cozad) High School Swimming Kearney Invite (North Platte Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Eastern Wyoming College Women’s College Basketball NPCC at Eastern Wyoming College

Jan. 13 Boys High School Basketball North Platte (Soph) at Kearney Banner County at Hyannis Girls High School Basketball North Platte (Soph) at Kearney Banner County at Hyannis

Jan. 14 Boys High School Basketball Kearney Catholic at Lexington Hershey at Sutherland Valentine at Winner, SD Elwood at Anslemo-Merna Maxwell at Maywood St. Pat’s at Mullen Hitchcock County at Dundy County-Stratton Wood River at Broken Bow Southern Valley at Chase County Medicine Valley at Hayes Center

C11

WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULE

Girls High School Basketball Kearney Catholic at Lexington Hershey at Sutherland Valentine at Winner, SD Maxwell at Maywood Elwood at Anselmo-Merna St. Pats at Mullen Hitchcock County at Dundy County-Stratton Wood River at Broken Bow

Jan. 15 Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Laramie County CC

Jan. 16 Boys High School Basketball Chase County at Perkins County Eustis-Farnam at Alma South Platte at Wallace Hay Springs at Cody-Kilgore Cozad at Gothenburg Creek Valley at Paxton Girls High School Basketball Hay Springs at Cody-Kilgore Eustis-Farnam at Alma Cozad at Gothenburg Chase County at Perkins County South Platte at Wallace Creek Valley at Paxton High School Wrestling Lexington at Cozad SMC at Maxwell

Jan. 17 Boys High School Basketball North Platte at Grand Island Hershey at Valentine Perkins County at Wauneta-Palisade Mullen at SMC Brady at Hayes Center South Loup at Maxwell Sandhills/Thedford at Anselmo-Merna Wallace at Paxton Cody-Kilgore at Hyannis Elwood at Arapahoe Gothenburg at Chase County Maywood at Arthur County St. Pat’s at Overton Alma at Hitchcock County Hastings at McCook Broken Bow at Centura Cambirdge at Sutherland Sidney at Ogallala Girls High School Basketball North Platte at Grand Island Hershey at Valentine Brady at Hayes Center South Loup at Maxwell Maxwell at South Loup Sandhills/Thedford at Anslemo-Merna Cody-Kilgore at Hyannis Elwood at Arapahoe Gothenburg at Chase County Cody-Kilgore at Hyannis Maywood at Arthur County Mullen at SMC St. Pat’s at Overton Perkins County at Wauneta-Palisade Alma at Hitchcock County Hastings at McCook Wallace at Paxton Broken Bow at Centura Cambridge at Sutherland Sidney at Ogallala High School Wrestling East West Challenge at Lexington (North Platte, Lexington, Gothenburg) Mustang Invite at Sumner (North Platte JV, Wallace at Paxton SEM Invite (St. Pat’s, Elwood, South Loup) Minden Invite (Broken Bow, Cozad) Elm Creek Invite (Medicine Valley) High School Swimming Lincoln High Diving Invite (North Platte, McCook)

Want sports pictures? www.nptelegraph.com has sports pictures for sale.

Go to Photo Galleries and find your favorite player.

Please wait two weeks from event for pictures to be available.

Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Southeast Community College Women’s College Basketball NPCC at Southeast CC

Jan. 18 Boys High School Basketball Norfolk at North Platte Norfolk at North Platte (Soph) Lexington at Sidney Hershey at Broken Bow Ogallala at Valentine SMC at Ansley-Litchfield South Loup at Brady Wilcox-Hildreth at Eustis-Farnam Loomis at Elwood St. Pat’s at Southwest Arthur County at Mullen Ainsworth at Cozad McCook at Minden Wauneta-Palisade at Garden County Hayes Center at Cambridge Girls High School Basketball Norfolk at North Platte Norfolk at North Platte (Soph) Lexington at Sidney Hershey at Broken Bow Ogallala at Valentine South Loup at Brady Loomis at Elwood Wilcox-Hildreth at Eustis-Farnam Arthur County at Mullen St. Pat’s at Southwest SMC at Ansley-Litchfield McCook at Minden Wauneta-Palisade at Garden County Hayes Center at Cambridge High School Wrestling Chase County Invite (Hershey, Hitchcock County, Perkins County, Wauneta-Palisade) Sandhills/Thedford Invite (Sandhills/Thedford, St. Pat’s, Anslemo-Merna, Creek Valley, Eustis-Farnam, Mullen, SMC, Medicine Valley, Sutherland) Gibbon Invite (Elwood) DCHS Wrestling Invite (McCook) Shelton/Kenesaw Invite (South Loup) Schuyler Invite (Valentine) High School Swimming Lincoln High Swimming Invite (North Platte, McCook) Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Central Community College Women’s College Basketball NPCC at Central Community College

Jan. 20 Boys High School Basketball North Platte (Soph) at Ogallala SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Perkins County, MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley Girls High School Basketball SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Perkins County North Platte at Gothenburg (Soph)

Jan. 21 Boys High School Basketball SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Perkins County, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Sutherland, Chase County) Anslemo-Merna at SEM Dundy County-Stratton at Wallace Elwood at Overton Paxton at Hitchcock County MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley) Hayes Center at Southwest

Girls High School Basketball SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Perkins County Anslemo-Merna at SEM Elwood at Overton Eustis Farman at Medicine Valley MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte Dundy County-Stratton at Wallace Paxton at Hitchcock County High School Wrestling Cozad at Gothenburg

Jan. 22 Boys High School Basketball SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Perkins County, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Sutherland, Chase County) MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley) Cozad at Gothenburg Girls High School Basketball SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Perkins County, Sutherland, Chase County) MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley)

Jan. 23 Boys High School Basketball Coxad at Lexington SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Perkins County, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Sutherland, Chase County) Ainsworth at Valentine Mullen at Brady South Loup at Ansley-Litchfield Wallace at Arthur County Medicine Valley at Elwood Hyannis at Sandhills/ Thedford Bertrand at Maywood Wauneta-Palisade at Paxton MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley) Orange and Black Classic at Colby, KS. (McCook) Cambridge at Dundy County-Stratton Girls High School Basketball Cozad at Lexington SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Perkins County, Sutherland, Chase County) Ainsworth at Valentine Mullen at Brady South Loup at Ansley-Litchfield Medicine Valley at Elwood Hyannis at Sandhills/ Thedford Bertrand at Maywood MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley) Wallace at Arthur County Orange and Black Classic at Colby, KS. (McCook) Wauneta-Palisade at Paxton Cambridge at Dundy County-Stratton High School Wrestling Kearney at North Platte Hastings at McCook Minden Tri (Lexington, Holdrege) Broken Bow Tourney (Broken Bow)

Jan. 24 Boys High School Basketball Linclon High at North Platte SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Perkins County, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Sutherland, Chase County) Brady at SMC Anselmo-Merna at North Central Eustis-Farnam at Overton Cody-Kilgore at Gordon-Rushville Broken Bow at Gothenburg Hyannis at Arthur County Sandhills/Thedford at St. Mary’s

Good Luck to All Area Schools

GOOD LUCK INDIANS!!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

BRULE, GRANT, ELSIE, WALLACE SUTHERLAND, ROSCOE

800-308-6096

MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley) Orange and Black Classic at Colby, KS. (McCook) Twin Louop at Mullen Ogallala at Alliance Girls High School Basketball Lincoln High at North Platte SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Perkins County, Sutherland, Chase County) Brady at SMC Anselmo-Merna at North Central Cody-Kilgore at Gordon-Rushville Eustis-Farnam at Overton Broken Bow at Gothenburg Hyannis at Arthur County Twin Loup at Mullen Sandhills/Thedford at St. Mary’s MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley) Orange and Black Classic at Colby, KS. (McCook) Ogallala at Alliance High School Wrestling Gothenburg Invite (Gothenburg, St. Pat’s, Broken Bow) South Loup (South-Loup, Anslemo-Merna, Elwood, Eustis-Farnam, Sandhills/ Thedford, SMC, Sutherland) RPAC Tourney (Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Medicine Valley) Chadron Invite (Valentine) High School Swimming Scottsbluff Diving Invite (North Platte, McCook) Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Trinidad State JC Women’s College Basketball NPCC at Northeast CC

Jan. 25 Boys High School Basketball North Platte at Omaha Westside SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Perkins County, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Sutherland, Chase County) Valentine at Broken Bow Eustis-Farnam at SEM RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge, Hayes Center Gothenburg at Hastings MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley) Cozad at Holdrege Orange and Black Classic at Colby, KS. (McCook) Ainsworth at Ogallala Girls High School Basketball North Platte at Omaha Westside SPVA at NPCC (Hershey, Maxwell, St. Pat’s, Perkins County, Sutherland, Chase County) Valentine at Broken Bow Eustis-Farnam at SEM Gothenburg at Hastings RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge MAC Tourney at Sidney (South Platte, Creek Valley) Orange and Black Classic at Colby, KS. (McCook) Ainsworth at Ogallala High School Wrestling Lexington Invite (North Platte, Lexington, McCook, Cozad) Mullen Invite (Mullen, Hershey, Anslemo-Merna, Hyannis, Perkins County, Sandhills/Thedford) Chadron Invite (Valentine) High School Swimming Scottsbluff Swimming Invite (North Platte, McCook) Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Otero JC Women’s College Basketball

NPCC at Midland University JV

Jan. 27 Boys High School Basketball McCook at North Platte (Soph) Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) RPAC at various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge, Hayes Center) Girls High School Basketball Sandhills Conference Tourney at Hyannis (Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford, SMC) RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge) Southwest Conference (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala)

Jan. 28 Boys High School Basketball Lexington at Hershey Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) Sandhills Conference at Hyannis (SMC, Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) Sutherland at South Loup St. Pat’s at Anslemo-Merna Axtell at Eustis-Farnam RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge, Hayes Center) Amherst at Elwood Haxtun, Colo. at Chase County Girls High School Basketball Lexington at Hershey Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) Sutherland at South Loup St. Pat’s at Anselmo-Merna Sandhills Conference Tourney at Hyannis (Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford, SMC) Amherst at Elwood Axtell at Eustis-Farman RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge) High School Wrestling Ansley-Litchfield at SMC Women’s College Basketball York College JV at NPCC

Jan. 29 Boys High School Basketball Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) Sandhills Conference at Hyannis (SMC, Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge, Hayes Center) Girls High School Basketball Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) Sandhills Conference Tourney at Hyannis (Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford, SMC) RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge) Men’s College Basketball McCook at NPCC

Please see WINTER, Page C12

WINTER SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013

t

C12

WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULE Perkins County at Creek Valley SMC at Arthur County Hitchcock County at Bird City-Cheylin, KS Wauneta-Palisade at Chase County Broken Bow at Ogallala Cambridge at Arapahoe

Women’s College Basketball McCook CC at NPCC

Jan. 30 Boys High School Basketball Adams Central at Lexington Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) Perkins County at Sedgwick County, CO Sandhills Conference at Hyannis (SMC, Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) Elwood at Eustis-Farnam RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge, Hayes Center) Maxwell at St. Pat’s Garden County at South Platte Creek Valley at Sutherland Girls High School Basketball Adams Central at Lexington Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) Maxwell at St. Pat’s Sandhills Conference Tourney at Hyannis (Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford, SMC) Elwood at Eustis-Farnam RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge) Perkins County at Sedgwick County, Co. Garden County at South Platte High School Wrestling Gothenburg at Hershey Men’s College Basketball Hastings College JV at NPCC High School Swimming McCook at North Platte

Jan. 31 Boys High School Basketball Lincoln Southeast at North Platte McCook at Lexington Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) Perkins County at Maxwell Sandhills Conference at Hyannis (SMC, Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) Pleasanton at South Loup RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge, Hayes Center) Creek Valley at Garden County Girls High School Basketball Lincoln Southeast at North Platte McCook at Lexington Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) Perkins County at Maxwell Pleasanton at South Loup Sandhills Conference Tourney at Hyannis (Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford, SMC) RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge) High School Wrestling McCook Duals at McCook (McCook, North Platte, Lexington) Medicine Valley Invite (Medicine Valley, North Platte JV, Elwood, Eustis-Farnam, Hitchcock County, Mullen, Perkins County, Sandhills/Thedford, Sutherland, SMC, South Loup, Wauneta-Palisade) Ord Invte (Broken Bow)

Feb. 1 Boys High School Basketball North Platte at Papillion-LaVista Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) FKC at TBA (Eustis-Farnam, Elwood) RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Cambridge, Hayes Center) Donaphan-Trumbull Invite (Perkins County) Kearney Catholic at McCook Girls High School Basketball North Platte at Papillion-LaVista Hershey at Sidney Southwest Conference at TBA (Valentine, Gothenburg, Ogallala) FKC Tourney at TBA (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) RPAC at Various (Wallace, Maywood, Paxton, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Pali-

the north platte telegraph

Men’s College Basketball NPCC at McCook Women’s College Basketball NPCC at McCook

Feb. 13

Roger Bluhm / The North Platte Telegraph

Two of the area’s better guards — Maegan Hiatt of Hershey, left, and Anna O’Malley of St. Pat’s — battle it out in an early-season game. Hiatt and the Lady Panthers earned a 37-33 victory on Saturday. sade, Cambridge) High School Wrestling St. Pat’s Invite (St. Pat’s, North Platte JV, Anselmo-Merna, Creek Valley, Mullen, Sutherland) Arapahoe Invite (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade) Ainsworth Invite (Valentine) Raymond Central Invite (Cozad) Mitchell Invite (Gothenburg, Hershey) Men’s College Basketball Central CC at NPCC Women’s College Basketball Central CC at NPCC

Feb. 2 Boys High School Basketball FKC at TBA (Eustis-Farnam, Elwood) Girls High School Basketball FKC Tourney at TBA (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Northeastern JC

Feb. 3 Boys High School Basketball FKC at TBA (Eustis-Farnam, Elwood) LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) Girls High School Basketball LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (Anslemo-Merna, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford) FKC Tourney at TBA (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam)

Feb. 4 Boys High School Basketball Lexington at Broken Bow Sidney at Perkins County Brady at Wallace LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) FKC at TBA (Eustis-Farnam, Elwood) Paxton at St. Pat’s Hitchcock County at Southwest Wray, Co at Chase County Ogallala at Gering Girls High School Basketball Lexington at Broken Bow Brady at Wallace LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) FKC Tourney at TBA (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) Paxton at St. Pat’s Sidney at Perkins County Hitchcock County at Southwest Bertrand at Cambridge Ogallala at Gering High School Wrestling North Platte JV at SMC Gothenburg at Maxwell Women’s College Basketball NPCC at Northeastern JC

Feb. 5 Boys High School Basketball FKC at TBA (Eustis-Farnam, Elwood) LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) Girls High School Basketball LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Mullen, Sand-

hills/Thedford) FKC Tourney at TBA (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam)

Feb. 6 Boys High School Basketball Hyannis at SMC LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) FKC at TBA (Eustis-Farnam, Elwood) Arthur County at Garden County Medicine Valley at Wauneta-Palisade Girls High School Basketball LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford) FKC Tourney at TBA (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) Hyannis at SMC Medicine Valley at Wauneta-Palisade Arthur County at Garden County High School Wrestling SPVA (St. Pat’s, Perkins County, Sutherland, Hershey, Maxwell, Chase County) LVC at Arnold (Anselmo-Merna) FKC at Loomis (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam)

Feb. 7 Boys High School Basketball Lincoln Northeast at North Platte Grand Island Central Catholic at Lexington Maxwell at Hershey Gothenburg at Valentine Perkins County at Cambridge SMC at Paxton Brady at Hyannis LVC at Broken Bow (South Loup. Anselmo-Merna, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) FKC at TBA (Eustis-Farnam, Elwood) Hayes Center at Wallace Cody-Kilgore at Crawford Hyannis at Brady Chase County at St. Pat’s Banner County at South Platte Minden at Cozad Creek Valley at Leyton Ogallala at McCook Wauneta-Palisade at Sutherland Girls High School Basketball Lincoln Northeast at North Platte Grand Island Central Catholic at Lexington Maxwell at Hershey Gothenburg at Valentine Brady at Hyannis Maxwell at Hershey LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford) Cody-Kilgore at Crawford FKC Tourney at TBA (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) Hitchcock County at Maywood Chase County at St. Pat’s Perkins County at Cambridge SMC at Paxton Banner County at South Platte Hayes Center at Wallace Ogallala at McCook Wauneta-Palisade at Sutherland High School Wrestling Harvard Invite (Eustis-Farnam) LVC Tourney (Hyannis, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford, SMC, South Loup) Southwest Conference Tourney at Gothenburg (Valentine, Cozad, Gothenburg) High School Swimming

North Platte at McCook Men’s College Basketball NPCC at Lamar Community College Women’s College Basketball NPCC at Lamar Community College

Feb. 8 Boys High School Basketball North Platte at Fremont Lexington at Auroua Dundy County-Stratton at Hershey Valentine at Bennett County, SD Cozad at Perkins County Brady at Maxwell LVC at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Sandhills/Thedford, Mullen) FKC at TBA (Eustis-Farnam, Elwood) Minden at Gothenburg Maywood at Hayes Center St. Pat’s at Cambridge South Platte at Arthur County Arapahoe at Hitchcock County Broken Bow at Ogallala Sutherland at Bertrand Girls High School Basketball North Platte at Fremont Lexington at Aurora Dundy County-Stratton at Hershey Valentine at Bennett County, SD Brady at Maxwell LVC Tourney at Broken Bow (South Loup, Anselmo-Merna, Mullen, Sandhills/Thedford) FKC Tourney at TBA (Elwood, Eustis-Farnam) Minden at Gothenburg St. Pat’s at Cambridge Perkins County at Cozad South Platte at Arthur County Arapahoe at Hitchcock County Broken Bow at Ogallala High School Wrestling GNAC at North Platte (North Platte, Lexington, McCook) Southwest Invitational at Bartley (Hershey, North Platte JV, Creek Valley, Hitchcock County, Wauneta-Palisade, Broken Bow, Medicine Valley) High School Swimming Keanrey Diving Invite (North Platte, McCook)

Feb. 10 Boys High School Basketball North Platte at McCook (Soph) High School Wrestling GI Northwest JV Invite (North Platte JV)

Feb. 11 Boys High School Basketball Chadron at Valentine Perkins County at Creek Valley South Loup at Anslemo-Merna Loomis at Eustis-Farman Sutherland at Maxwell Maywood at South Platte Gibbon at Cozad Hitchcock County at Bird City-Cheylin, KS Wauneta-Palisade at Chase County Cambridge at Arapahoe Girls High School Basketball Chadron at Valentine Sutherland at Brady South Loup at Anslemo-Merna Elm Creek at Elwood Loomis at Eustis-Farnam Gothenburg at Ogallala Maywood at South Platte

Boys High School Basketball East-West Shootout at Alliance (North Platte, Lexington, McCook) St. Pat’s at Hershey Valentine at North Central Perkins County at Hayes Center Wallace at SMC Maxwell at Medicine Valley Sutherland at Paxton Arthur County at Sandhills/Thedford McCook at Scottsbluff Girls High School Basketball East-West Shootout at Alliance (Lexington, North Platte, McCook) St. Pat’s at Hershey Valentine at North Central Brady at Medicine Valley Perkins County at Hayes Center Arthur County at Sandhills/Thedford Wallace at SMC Scottsbluff at McCook Sutherland at Paxton

Feb. 14 Boys High School Basketball East-West Shootout at Scottsbluff (Lexington, North Platte, McCook) Medicine Valley at Brady Eustis-Farnam at South Loup Ansley-Litchfield at Anselmo-Merna Wallace at Hitchcock County Sandhills/Thedford at Cody-Kilgore Axtell at Elwood Gothenburg at Ainsworth Hyannis at Mullen Wauneta-Palisade at Maywood Paxton at Hayes Center South Platte at Creek Valley McCook at Gering Alma at Cambridge Chase County at Bayard Ogallala at Mitchell Girls High School Basketball East-West Shootout at Scottsbluff (Lexington, North Platte, McCook) Medicine Valley at Brady Eustis-Farnam at South Loup Ansley-Litchfield at Anslemo-Merna Sandhills/Thedford at Cody-Kilgore Axtell at Elwood Gothenburg at Ainsworth Hyannis at Mullen Wauneta-Palisade at Maywood South Platte at Creek Valley Wallace at Hitchcock County Gering at McCook Paxton at Hayes Center Alma at Cambridge Ogallala at Mitchell High School Swimming GNAC at Scottsbluff (North Platte, McCook) Men’s College Basketball Eastern Wyoming College at NPCC Women’s College Basketball Eastern Wyoming College at NPCC

Feb. 15 Boys High School Basketball East-West Shootout at Scottsbluff (North Platte, Lexington, McCook) Hershey at Chase County Cody-Kilgore at Bennett County, SD Hyannis at Minatare McCook at Alliance Kimball at Sutherland Girls High School Basketball East-West Shootout at Gering (Lexington, North Platte, McCook) Hershey at Chase County Cody-Kilgore at Bennett County, SD Hyannis at Minatare Alliance at McCook High School Wrestling Districts at Norfolk (North Platte) Districts at Hershey (Hershey, Valentine) Districts at St. Pat’s (Sutherland, St. Pat’s, Perkins County, Hyannis, Mullen) Districts at Amherst (Maxwell, Medicine Valley)

Districts at Cozad (Cozad, Gothenburg, McCook, Ogallala, Broken Bow, Lexington) High School Swimming Conference Swimming at Scottsbluff (North Platte) Men’s College Basketball Western Nebraska CC at NPCC

Feb. 16 Women’s College Basketball NPCC at Nebraska Wesleyan University JV

Feb. 17 Boys High School Basketball Ogallala at North Platte (Soph) Hyannis at Mullen

Feb. 18 Boys High School Basketball Ainsworth at Anslemo-Merna

Feb. 19 Men’s College Basketball Laramie County CC at NPCC Women’s College Basketball NPCC at Northwest Kansas Technical College

Feb. 20 Boys High School Basketball Lexington at Phillipsburg, KS Girls High School Basketball Lexington at Phillipsburg, KS High School Wrestling State Wrestling at Omaha

Feb. 21 Boys High School Basketball Millard West at North Platte Hershey at Perkins County Gordaon-Rushville at Valentine SMC at Arthur County Sandhills/Thedford at Brady South Loup at SEM Eustis-Farnam at Medicine Valley Wallace at Creek Valley Elwood at Elm Creek Ogallala at Gothenburg Morrill at Hyannis Loomis at Maxwell Hitchcock County at Maywood Hayes Center at St. Pat’s Paxton at Bridgeport Arthur County at SMC Northwest at McCook Mullen at Twin Loup Dundy County-Stratton at Wauneta-Palisade Broken Bow at Minden Bertrand at Cambridge Chase County at Sutherland Girls High School Basketball Millard West at North Platte Northwest at McCook High School Wrestling State Wrestling at Omaha

Feb. 22 Boys High School Basketball North Platte at Millard South McCook at Cozad Girls High School Basketball North Platte at Millard South High School Wrestling State Westling at Omaha Men’s College Basketball Southeast at NPCC Women’s College Basketball Southeast Community College at NPCC Feb. 27 High School Diving State Diving at Lincoln (North Platte, McCook)

Feb. 28 High School Swimming State Swimming at Lincoln (North Platte

Mar. 1 High School Swimming State Swimming at Lincoln (North Platte High School Wrestling State Dual Championships at Kearney