MANHATTAN&nbsp;– With construction beginning on the new Indoor Football practice facility and the Morgan Family Arena, parking for men’s and women’s basketball games at Bramlage Coliseum will be impacted starting with Wednesday’s game against UAlbany.

Fans who park on the east side of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, where the football practice facility is being constructed, will be required to enter Gate 8 off Kimball Avenue and directed south around the construction site to areas set aside as Reserved Parking for Ahearn Fund donors, ADA or VIP/General Admission. Once that area of the parking lot is filled, all other available parking will be to the north of the construction zone.

The new Morgan Family Arena for volleyball will be built on the site formerly known as “Cat Town” just to the north of the Brandeberry Indoor Complex along Jack Hartman Drive. When construction begins next week, Gate 1 will be closed and all traffic entering and exiting the West Lot off of College Avenue will be directed to enter at Gate 3, across from Ascension Via Christi Hospital.

Construction of these projects will impact basketball parking for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

-<a href="http://www.k-statesports.com">www.k-statesports.com</a>-

MANHATTAN&nbsp;– With construction beginning on the new Indoor Football practice facility and the Morgan Family Arena, parking for men’s and women’s basketball games at Bramlage Coliseum will be impacted starting with Wednesday’s game against UAlbany.Fans who park on the east side of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, where the football practice facility is being constructed, will be required to enter Gate 8 off Kimball Avenue and directed south around the construction site to areas set aside as Reserved Parking for Ahearn Fund donors, ADA or VIP/General Admission. Once that area of the parking lot is filled, all other available parking will be to the north of the construction zone.The new Morgan Family Arena for volleyball will be built on the site formerly known as “Cat Town” just to the north of the Brandeberry Indoor Complex along Jack Hartman Drive. When construction begins next week, Gate 1 will be closed and all traffic entering and exiting the West Lot off of College Avenue will be directed to enter at Gate 3, across from Ascension Via Christi Hospital.Construction of these projects will impact basketball parking for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.-<a href="http://www.k-statesports.com">www.k-statesports.com</a>-

Facility construction projects to alter K-State basketball parking

WINFIELD –&nbsp;The game turned in the Kansas Wesleyan women's favor once they stopped turning the ball over and started rebounding Southwestern's missed shots.

The Coyotes broke open a close game with a 21-4 second-half run and hung on for a 69-55 Kansas Conference victory Monday night inside Stewart Field House.

Their eighth consecutive victory over Southwestern gives them an 8-2 overall record, 4-1 in conference play. Southwestern falls to 1-9 and 0-4.

KWU led 33-23 at halftime but was plagued by 14 turnovers and the Moundbuilders' 14 offensive rebounds. Turnovers have been a problem this season.

"We talked at length at halftime about the turnovers, about the offensive rebounds," KWU coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/12420">Ryan Showman</a>&nbsp;said on his postgame radio show. "I told them 16 turnovers a game is a place we can thrive in; 10 offensive boards to an athletic team is a place that we can live in and still be successful.

"But we can't give 40 points off turnovers and second chance (shots) and beat a lot of teams in this league."

His team responded the final 20 minutes, committing eight turnovers and giving up five offensive rebounds – both manageable numbers.

The improvement was reflected on the scoreboard. Leading 39-34 with just under five minutes left in the third quarter the Coyotes embarked on their decisive run that included 14 consecutive points during a stretch that bridged the third and fourth quarters.

Clinging to a 46-38 advantage with under a minute left in the third quarter they scored the last four points of the period and the first 10 of the final quarter that gave them a 60-38 lead with 6½ minutes left.

Southwestern used a 12-3 burst to get within 63-50 with just over three minutes left but KWU scored six of the game's last nine points.

Wesleyan ended the game with 22 turnovers that led to 23 Moundbuilders' points and Southwestern had 19 offensive rebounds that led to 17 points.

"We have the poise and mental toughness to find a way to win but those are something we've got to get better at," Showman said.

The Coyotes prevailed by making 23 of the 44 shots they took from the field (52.3 percent) and going 16 of 19 at the free throw line. They also limited Southwestern to 31.7 percent shooting (20 of 63) and forced 13 Moundbuilders turnovers.

<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/12430">Gabby Mureeba</a>&nbsp;(JR/Allen, Texas) scored a game-high 18 points while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/12426">Kelcey Hinz</a>&nbsp;(SR/Whitewater, Kan.) had 17, seven rebounds, five blocks and four assists;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/13112">Amanda Hill</a>&nbsp;(SR/Rossville, Kan.) 14 points – including 4 of 6 shooting from deep – seven rebounds and three assists; and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/12440">LaMyah Ricks</a>&nbsp;(SO/Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 12 points, three assists and three steals.

Hinz and Mureeba were each 6 of 8 shooting from the field and Ricks 3 of 5.

Amanda Graddy scored 17 for Southwestern that included 5 of 7 shooting beyond the arc. Kewaysha Alsup added 10 points and Sidney Dennis had nine points and nine rebounds.

The Coyotes now turn their attention to their game against No. 8-ranked Sterling at 6 p.m. Thursday inside Mabee Arena. The Warriors (8-0, 4-0 KCAC) trounced Saint Mary 94-63 Monday night in Sterling and have won their four conference game by an average of 26.3 points. They defeated Tabor 74-53 Saturday in Hillsboro.

-<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com">kwucoyotes.com</a>-

WINFIELD –&nbsp;The game turned in the Kansas Wesleyan women's favor once they stopped turning the ball over and started rebounding Southwestern's missed shots.The Coyotes broke open a close game with a 21-4 second-half run and hung on for a 69-55 Kansas Conference victory Monday night inside Stewart Field House.Their eighth consecutive victory over Southwestern gives them an 8-2 overall record, 4-1 in conference play. Southwestern falls to 1-9 and 0-4.KWU led 33-23 at halftime but was plagued by 14 turnovers and the Moundbuilders' 14 offensive rebounds. Turnovers have been a problem this season."We talked at length at halftime about the turnovers, about the offensive rebounds," KWU coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/12420">Ryan Showman</a>&nbsp;said on his postgame radio show. "I told them 16 turnovers a game is a place we can thrive in; 10 offensive boards to an athletic team is a place that we can live in and still be successful."But we can't give 40 points off turnovers and second chance (shots) and beat a lot of teams in this league."His team responded the final 20 minutes, committing eight turnovers and giving up five offensive rebounds – both manageable numbers.The improvement was reflected on the scoreboard. Leading 39-34 with just under five minutes left in the third quarter the Coyotes embarked on their decisive run that included 14 consecutive points during a stretch that bridged the third and fourth quarters.Clinging to a 46-38 advantage with under a minute left in the third quarter they scored the last four points of the period and the first 10 of the final quarter that gave them a 60-38 lead with 6½ minutes left.Southwestern used a 12-3 burst to get within 63-50 with just over three minutes left but KWU scored six of the game's last nine points.Wesleyan ended the game with 22 turnovers that led to 23 Moundbuilders' points and Southwestern had 19 offensive rebounds that led to 17 points."We have the poise and mental toughness to find a way to win but those are something we've got to get better at," Showman said.The Coyotes prevailed by making 23 of the 44 shots they took from the field (52.3 percent) and going 16 of 19 at the free throw line. They also limited Southwestern to 31.7 percent shooting (20 of 63) and forced 13 Moundbuilders turnovers.<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/12430">Gabby Mureeba</a>&nbsp;(JR/Allen, Texas) scored a game-high 18 points while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/12426">Kelcey Hinz</a>&nbsp;(SR/Whitewater, Kan.) had 17, seven rebounds, five blocks and four assists;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/13112">Amanda Hill</a>&nbsp;(SR/Rossville, Kan.) 14 points – including 4 of 6 shooting from deep – seven rebounds and three assists; and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/23/2/12440">LaMyah Ricks</a>&nbsp;(SO/Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 12 points, three assists and three steals.Hinz and Mureeba were each 6 of 8 shooting from the field and Ricks 3 of 5.Amanda Graddy scored 17 for Southwestern that included 5 of 7 shooting beyond the arc. Kewaysha Alsup added 10 points and Sidney Dennis had nine points and nine rebounds.The Coyotes now turn their attention to their game against No. 8-ranked Sterling at 6 p.m. Thursday inside Mabee Arena. The Warriors (8-0, 4-0 KCAC) trounced Saint Mary 94-63 Monday night in Sterling and have won their four conference game by an average of 26.3 points. They defeated Tabor 74-53 Saturday in Hillsboro.-<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com">kwucoyotes.com</a>-

Second half surge sends KWU women past Southwestern 69-55

Congratulations to Corey Maneth of Salina, the Week 12 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest on&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Maneth, who scored 12 out of 15 points, wins two tickets and a parking pass to the Chiefs-Raiders game on Dec. 12 in Arrowhead Stadium.

Although the season has begun, you still have time to win!

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/d56f448d-e474-448c-9a47-8f7d4ce8ae6f?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up</a>&nbsp;today to make your picks for a chance to win weekly prizes including Chiefs tickets, show tickets, and cash. If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!

To get to the registration page,&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/d56f448d-e474-448c-9a47-8f7d4ce8ae6f?contestid=3#registration/login">click here</a>&nbsp;or go to the Contests tab near the top of&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>.

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/d56f448d-e474-448c-9a47-8f7d4ce8ae6f?contestid=3#registration/login">Register today</a>&nbsp;and prove that you have what it takes to win Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630526425065.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to Corey Maneth of Salina, the Week 12 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest on&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Maneth, who scored 12 out of 15 points, wins two tickets and a parking pass to the Chiefs-Raiders game on Dec. 12 in Arrowhead Stadium.Although the season has begun, you still have time to win!<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/d56f448d-e474-448c-9a47-8f7d4ce8ae6f?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up</a>&nbsp;today to make your picks for a chance to win weekly prizes including Chiefs tickets, show tickets, and cash. If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!To get to the registration page,&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/d56f448d-e474-448c-9a47-8f7d4ce8ae6f?contestid=3#registration/login">click here</a>&nbsp;or go to the Contests tab near the top of&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>.<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/d56f448d-e474-448c-9a47-8f7d4ce8ae6f?contestid=3#registration/login">Register today</a>&nbsp;and prove that you have what it takes to win Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory!

Gridiron Glory: Congrats Corey Maneth!

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The last time the Kansas City Chiefs had a week off at this point in the year, they didn't lose against until the next season.

There's a lot of reasons to believe this year's team can follow in the footsteps of the 2019 championship bunch.

Whether it's the return of several players from injuries to the continued involvement of a couple of late newcomers, or the improvement that was evident before the break to coach Andy Reid's downright incredible record after a bye, the Chiefs returned to work Monday brimming with optimism about the stretch run they're about to begin.

"Listen, there's always a little something you find out about yourself," Reid said Monday, "and yeah, because you have extended time you have an opportunity to look a little deeper. There weren't any huge surprises, but there's always a little nugget in there if you look hard enough."

On the injury front, Chiefs right tackle Lucas Niang could return from a rib injury and be available for Sunday night's game against the Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. He began the season as the starter, lost the job to Mike Remmers, then started again when Remmers was knocked out for a couple of games with an injury of his own.

Niang's return would give the Chiefs valuable experience up front. And the way their offensive line was decimated by injury by the time last year's Super Bowl kicked off, they'll take all the help they can get at the position.

That could include the addition of Kyle Long, too. The veteran came out of a year-long retirement with the hopes of earning a starting job in Kansas City. But Long broke his leg in training camp and wasn't designated for return from injured reserve until earlier this month, and his window to be added to the roster closes this week.

"We'll see how all of that goes here. We're sorting through all of that today," Reid said. "I appreciate having him here and doing what he's doing, and how he's handled everything."

On the other side of the ball, three-time All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu played through a knee injury in the Chiefs' 19-9 win over the Cowboys that sent them barreling into the bye with four consecutive victories.

Mathieu should be much closer to 100% when the Chiefs kick off a game against Denver that was flexed to prime time.

 "He came out OK," Reid said. "He was able to push himself through, which was amazing. I mean, he's a tough kid, so tough-minded, and that carries over to the defense. Our players knew that he wasn't quite where he wanted to be, yet he didn't say anything. He just pushed himself through it."

The Chiefs also hope the bye allowed wide receiver Josh Gordon and defensive end Melvin Ingram to get more comfortable.

Gordon returned from his NFL suspension to sign with Kansas City after the season began, and he was active for the first time in Week 5. Despite playing every game since then, Gordon still has just two catches for 18 yards.

Ingram has had more of an impact since arriving from Pittsburgh earlier this month. He's played the last three games, and while his numbers aren't necessarily amazing, he's allowed defensive tackle Chris Jones to slide from the outside back to the interior of the line. That has helped the entire Kansas City pass rush.

The Chiefs, who have a one-game lead on the Chargers, Broncos and Raiders in the AFC West race, face each of those teams in the next three week: Denver and Las Vegas visiting Arrowhead Stadium, then the Chiefs heading to Los Angeles.

After playing the Steelers, the Chiefs finish with playoff contenders Cincinnati and Denver on the road.

The Chiefs already were rolling into their bye behind that resurgent defense, which has held three straight opponents to 17 points or fewer. Their underwhelming offense is almost certain to be better after a week to digest the season.

Why? Reid has a 19-3 record when his teams are coming off a bye.

"I get asked about that every year. I'm not sure why that is," Reid said. "We go back and try to review everything and make whatever corrections. But I don't know what the secret — if there is any secret — what that secret is."

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. — The last time the Kansas City Chiefs had a week off at this point in the year, they didn't lose against until the next season.There's a lot of reasons to believe this year's team can follow in the footsteps of the 2019 championship bunch.Whether it's the return of several players from injuries to the continued involvement of a couple of late newcomers, or the improvement that was evident before the break to coach Andy Reid's downright incredible record after a bye, the Chiefs returned to work Monday brimming with optimism about the stretch run they're about to begin."Listen, there's always a little something you find out about yourself," Reid said Monday, "and yeah, because you have extended time you have an opportunity to look a little deeper. There weren't any huge surprises, but there's always a little nugget in there if you look hard enough."On the injury front, Chiefs right tackle Lucas Niang could return from a rib injury and be available for Sunday night's game against the Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. He began the season as the starter, lost the job to Mike Remmers, then started again when Remmers was knocked out for a couple of games with an injury of his own.Niang's return would give the Chiefs valuable experience up front. And the way their offensive line was decimated by injury by the time last year's Super Bowl kicked off, they'll take all the help they can get at the position.That could include the addition of Kyle Long, too. The veteran came out of a year-long retirement with the hopes of earning a starting job in Kansas City. But Long broke his leg in training camp and wasn't designated for return from injured reserve until earlier this month, and his window to be added to the roster closes this week."We'll see how all of that goes here. We're sorting through all of that today," Reid said. "I appreciate having him here and doing what he's doing, and how he's handled everything."On the other side of the ball, three-time All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu played through a knee injury in the Chiefs' 19-9 win over the Cowboys that sent them barreling into the bye with four consecutive victories.Mathieu should be much closer to 100% when the Chiefs kick off a game against Denver that was flexed to prime time. "He came out OK," Reid said. "He was able to push himself through, which was amazing. I mean, he's a tough kid, so tough-minded, and that carries over to the defense. Our players knew that he wasn't quite where he wanted to be, yet he didn't say anything. He just pushed himself through it."The Chiefs also hope the bye allowed wide receiver Josh Gordon and defensive end Melvin Ingram to get more comfortable.Gordon returned from his NFL suspension to sign with Kansas City after the season began, and he was active for the first time in Week 5. Despite playing every game since then, Gordon still has just two catches for 18 yards.Ingram has had more of an impact since arriving from Pittsburgh earlier this month. He's played the last three games, and while his numbers aren't necessarily amazing, he's allowed defensive tackle Chris Jones to slide from the outside back to the interior of the line. That has helped the entire Kansas City pass rush.The Chiefs, who have a one-game lead on the Chargers, Broncos and Raiders in the AFC West race, face each of those teams in the next three week: Denver and Las Vegas visiting Arrowhead Stadium, then the Chiefs heading to Los Angeles.After playing the Steelers, the Chiefs finish with playoff contenders Cincinnati and Denver on the road.The Chiefs already were rolling into their bye behind that resurgent defense, which has held three straight opponents to 17 points or fewer. Their underwhelming offense is almost certain to be better after a week to digest the season.Why? Reid has a 19-3 record when his teams are coming off a bye."I get asked about that every year. I'm not sure why that is," Reid said. "We go back and try to review everything and make whatever corrections. But I don't know what the secret — if there is any secret — what that secret is."

Red-hot Chiefs brimming with optimism after late-season bye

LAWRENCE — Kansas defensive line coach Kwahn Drake and cornerback coach Chevis Jackson were fired Monday, two days after the Jayhawks finished their first season under Lance Leipold with a competitive loss to bowl-bound West Virginia.

Jordan Peterson and Taiwo Onatolu were promoted to fill their roles after spending the season as senior analysts.

Drake and Jackson were hired at Kansas by former coach Les Miles, who mutually parted with the school earlier this year following a sexual harassment scandal at LSU, his former school. Drake and Jackson were then retained by Leipold, whose hiring at an odd time of the year forced him to cobble together a coaching staff in short order.

Onatolu followed Leipold from Buffalo, where he spent six seasons as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for defensive ends, cornerbacks and special teams. He's also spent time at Missouri State and Nebraska-Omaha.

Peterson coached the safeties for Miles last season, then served as interim defensive coordinator for the final game of the season against Texas Tech. He also has served three seasons as defensive coordinator at New Mexico, coached defensive backs and linebackers at Fresno State and was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Texas A&amp;M.

"Taiwo contributed greatly to our success at Buffalo and will thrive in this new role," Leipold said. "Jordan has a proven track record as a player and coach, and I am confident his experiences will elevate our secondary and our program."

The Jayhawks only won two games last season, including one against lower-level South Dakota, but they showed more competitiveness under Leipold than they had under Miles and former coaches Turner Gill, Charlie Weis and David Beaty.

They took then-No. 3 Oklahoma deep into the second half in a 35-23 loss in Norman, then upset Texas three weeks later in Austin when walk-on tight end Jared Casey caught a two-point conversion pass in overtime. The Jayhawks lost to TCU by a field goal on the road the next week, then ended the season with a 34-28 loss to West Virginia.

"I think consistently people have seen that we've improved as a football program. That said, we have a lot to work on yet," Leipold said. "We'll continue to do everything we can to make ourselves a better football team. I think obviously through the course of time, you didn't get a chance to really evaluate your needs. I think I've kind of come to light of areas that we have to get better and we'll work on addressing that in many different ways."

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterLAWRENCE — Kansas defensive line coach Kwahn Drake and cornerback coach Chevis Jackson were fired Monday, two days after the Jayhawks finished their first season under Lance Leipold with a competitive loss to bowl-bound West Virginia.Jordan Peterson and Taiwo Onatolu were promoted to fill their roles after spending the season as senior analysts.Drake and Jackson were hired at Kansas by former coach Les Miles, who mutually parted with the school earlier this year following a sexual harassment scandal at LSU, his former school. Drake and Jackson were then retained by Leipold, whose hiring at an odd time of the year forced him to cobble together a coaching staff in short order.Onatolu followed Leipold from Buffalo, where he spent six seasons as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for defensive ends, cornerbacks and special teams. He's also spent time at Missouri State and Nebraska-Omaha.Peterson coached the safeties for Miles last season, then served as interim defensive coordinator for the final game of the season against Texas Tech. He also has served three seasons as defensive coordinator at New Mexico, coached defensive backs and linebackers at Fresno State and was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Texas A&amp;M."Taiwo contributed greatly to our success at Buffalo and will thrive in this new role," Leipold said. "Jordan has a proven track record as a player and coach, and I am confident his experiences will elevate our secondary and our program."The Jayhawks only won two games last season, including one against lower-level South Dakota, but they showed more competitiveness under Leipold than they had under Miles and former coaches Turner Gill, Charlie Weis and David Beaty.They took then-No. 3 Oklahoma deep into the second half in a 35-23 loss in Norman, then upset Texas three weeks later in Austin when walk-on tight end Jared Casey caught a two-point conversion pass in overtime. The Jayhawks lost to TCU by a field goal on the road the next week, then ended the season with a 34-28 loss to West Virginia."I think consistently people have seen that we've improved as a football program. That said, we have a lot to work on yet," Leipold said. "We'll continue to do everything we can to make ourselves a better football team. I think obviously through the course of time, you didn't get a chance to really evaluate your needs. I think I've kind of come to light of areas that we have to get better and we'll work on addressing that in many different ways."

Kansas shakes up coaching staff after 2-10 finish to season

KANSAS CITY, M0. –&nbsp;The Kansas City Royals announced their 2021 team award winners today, which were voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the BBWAA.

Catcher&nbsp;Salvador Perez&nbsp;was named the Les Milgram Player of the Year for the second straight season, right-hander&nbsp;Scott Barlow&nbsp;earned the Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year, while infielder&nbsp;Nicky Lopez&nbsp;received the Joe Burke Special Achievement Award. Barlow and Lopez were both first-time honorees.

Perez, 31, is the first to win consecutive Les Milgram Player of the Year Awards since&nbsp;Eric Hosmer&nbsp;(2016-17) and the fifth to do so since the award was established in 1971. Salvy tied for the Major League lead with 48 home runs this season, which also matched the single-season franchise record set by&nbsp;Jorge Soler&nbsp;in 2019. He also led the Majors with 121 RBI, becoming just the second Royal to do so, joining&nbsp;Hal McRae, who had a Majors-best 133 RBI in 1982. He became the sixth different player to lead the Majors in home runs&nbsp;and&nbsp;RBI in the last 30 years, joining&nbsp;Giancarlo Stanton&nbsp;in 2017,&nbsp;Chris Davis&nbsp;in 2013,&nbsp;Miguel Cabrera&nbsp;in 2012,&nbsp;Ryan Howard&nbsp;in 2006 and 2008 and&nbsp;Álex Rodríguez&nbsp;in 2002 and 2007. Perez became the second primary catcher to lead the Majors in HR and RBI, joining&nbsp;Johnny Bench, who did it in 1970 and 1972. His 48 home runs tied the franchise record, set by Jorge Soler in 2019, and were the most in a single season by a player who played at least 75% of his games at catcher, three more than the previous benchmark held by Bench, who hit 45 home runs in 1970. Salvy hit 33 home runs as a catcher—the other 15 came as a designated hitter—which fell just two shy of&nbsp;Iván Rodríguez’s&nbsp;American League record of 35 HR as a catcher, set in 1999, according to&nbsp;Elias.

Barlow, 28, became the second reliever to win the Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year Award in the last six seasons, joining&nbsp;Ian Kennedy&nbsp;(2019). He appeared in a career-high 71 games and led the Royals’ bullpen in innings (74.1), ERA (2.42), strikeouts (91), saves (16), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (11.02), strikeouts-to-walks ratio (3.25) and tied with&nbsp;Jake Brentz&nbsp;for the team lead in wins (5) among relievers. Among qualifying American League relievers, he was fourth in innings, sixth in strikeouts, 10th&nbsp;in ERA and tied for 11th&nbsp;in saves. He also led the club with 56 scoreless outings, which tied for fifth-most in the Junior Circuit. Barlow was named the Royals Pitcher of the Month in May and June, posting a 1.59 ERA (4 ER in 22.2 IP), with 37 strikeouts (14.69 K/9), a .193 opponents’ batting average and a 1.19 WHIP. From May 14-June 10, he recorded a career-high 13.0-inning scoreless streak, which spanned 12 appearances. He also pitched to a 1.71 ERA (6 ER in 31.2 IP) after the All-Star break, which ranked sixth in the Majors and third in the AL (min. 30 appearances).

Lopez, 26, set career-highs across the board, batting .300 (149-for-497) with six triples, two homers, 43 RBI, 78 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. He became the first Royals left-handed batter to hit .300 or better since Hosmer (.318) in 2017, and first Royals shortstop (at least 75% of games at short) to hit .300 or higher. After hitting .226 (36-for-159) through his first 59 games through June 13, he batted .334 (113-for-338) over his final 92 contests from June 15 through season’s end, leading the American League in batting average and ranking second with a .386 on-base percentage during that time, which trailed only&nbsp;Shohei Ohtani&nbsp;(.387). He led American League shortstops for the season in fielding percentage (.987), which included setting a franchise record with 72 consecutive errorless games at short from May 5-Aug. 13. Lopez recorded a career-best 31-game on-base streak from Aug. 21-Sept. 21, which was the longest by a Royal since&nbsp;Whit Merrifield&nbsp;hit in a club-record 31-straight games from Sept. 10, 2018-April 10-2019 and was the longest within one season since&nbsp;Billy Butler&nbsp;reached in 32 consecutive games in 2013. Lopez’s on-base streak was the third longest in the Majors in 2021, behind Tampa Bay’s&nbsp;Wander Franco&nbsp;(43) and the Yankees’&nbsp;DJ LeMahieu&nbsp;(37).

KANSAS CITY, M0. –&nbsp;The Kansas City Royals announced their 2021 team award winners today, which were voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the BBWAA. Catcher&nbsp;Salvador Perez&nbsp;was named the Les Milgram Player of the Year for the second straight season, right-hander&nbsp;Scott Barlow&nbsp;earned the Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year, while infielder&nbsp;Nicky Lopez&nbsp;received the Joe Burke Special Achievement Award. Barlow and Lopez were both first-time honorees.Perez, 31, is the first to win consecutive Les Milgram Player of the Year Awards since&nbsp;Eric Hosmer&nbsp;(2016-17) and the fifth to do so since the award was established in 1971. Salvy tied for the Major League lead with 48 home runs this season, which also matched the single-season franchise record set by&nbsp;Jorge Soler&nbsp;in 2019. He also led the Majors with 121 RBI, becoming just the second Royal to do so, joining&nbsp;Hal McRae, who had a Majors-best 133 RBI in 1982. He became the sixth different player to lead the Majors in home runs&nbsp;and&nbsp;RBI in the last 30 years, joining&nbsp;Giancarlo Stanton&nbsp;in 2017,&nbsp;Chris Davis&nbsp;in 2013,&nbsp;Miguel Cabrera&nbsp;in 2012,&nbsp;Ryan Howard&nbsp;in 2006 and 2008 and&nbsp;Álex Rodríguez&nbsp;in 2002 and 2007. Perez became the second primary catcher to lead the Majors in HR and RBI, joining&nbsp;Johnny Bench, who did it in 1970 and 1972. His 48 home runs tied the franchise record, set by Jorge Soler in 2019, and were the most in a single season by a player who played at least 75% of his games at catcher, three more than the previous benchmark held by Bench, who hit 45 home runs in 1970. Salvy hit 33 home runs as a catcher—the other 15 came as a designated hitter—which fell just two shy of&nbsp;Iván Rodríguez’s&nbsp;American League record of 35 HR as a catcher, set in 1999, according to&nbsp;Elias.Barlow, 28, became the second reliever to win the Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year Award in the last six seasons, joining&nbsp;Ian Kennedy&nbsp;(2019). He appeared in a career-high 71 games and led the Royals’ bullpen in innings (74.1), ERA (2.42), strikeouts (91), saves (16), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (11.02), strikeouts-to-walks ratio (3.25) and tied with&nbsp;Jake Brentz&nbsp;for the team lead in wins (5) among relievers. Among qualifying American League relievers, he was fourth in innings, sixth in strikeouts, 10th&nbsp;in ERA and tied for 11th&nbsp;in saves. He also led the club with 56 scoreless outings, which tied for fifth-most in the Junior Circuit. Barlow was named the Royals Pitcher of the Month in May and June, posting a 1.59 ERA (4 ER in 22.2 IP), with 37 strikeouts (14.69 K/9), a .193 opponents’ batting average and a 1.19 WHIP. From May 14-June 10, he recorded a career-high 13.0-inning scoreless streak, which spanned 12 appearances. He also pitched to a 1.71 ERA (6 ER in 31.2 IP) after the All-Star break, which ranked sixth in the Majors and third in the AL (min. 30 appearances).Lopez, 26, set career-highs across the board, batting .300 (149-for-497) with six triples, two homers, 43 RBI, 78 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. He became the first Royals left-handed batter to hit .300 or better since Hosmer (.318) in 2017, and first Royals shortstop (at least 75% of games at short) to hit .300 or higher. After hitting .226 (36-for-159) through his first 59 games through June 13, he batted .334 (113-for-338) over his final 92 contests from June 15 through season’s end, leading the American League in batting average and ranking second with a .386 on-base percentage during that time, which trailed only&nbsp;Shohei Ohtani&nbsp;(.387). He led American League shortstops for the season in fielding percentage (.987), which included setting a franchise record with 72 consecutive errorless games at short from May 5-Aug. 13. Lopez recorded a career-best 31-game on-base streak from Aug. 21-Sept. 21, which was the longest by a Royal since&nbsp;Whit Merrifield&nbsp;hit in a club-record 31-straight games from Sept. 10, 2018-April 10-2019 and was the longest within one season since&nbsp;Billy Butler&nbsp;reached in 32 consecutive games in 2013. Lopez’s on-base streak was the third longest in the Majors in 2021, behind Tampa Bay’s&nbsp;Wander Franco&nbsp;(43) and the Yankees’&nbsp;DJ LeMahieu&nbsp;(37).-<a href="http://royals.com">ROYALS</a>-

Royals' Perez, Barlow, Lopez win team awards

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor

The Ell-Saline boys basketball team has regrouped after another rough season and will enter 2021-22 still in search of their first win since 2019.

The Cardinals will be young once again but are slowly rebuilding under the instruction of second-year head coach Marty Wendel.&nbsp;

When Ell-Saline takes the floor on Friday, their starting lineup should look something like this.

PG- Kade Wilson (Jr) SG- Marshall Johnson (So) SF- Brogan Rowley (Fr) or Garrison Zerger (Fr) PF- Mason Ellerman (Jr) C- Kelton Kern (Sr)

The Cardinals will also look for big contributions off the bench from sophomores Joe Hiechel and Ryan Duerr, and freshman Melvin Lutes.

Ahead of the new season, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Wendel and get his thoughts on this year’s team.

Q: After a tough 2020-21, how do you feel about the team that you’ve got coming into this season?

A: “This is one of the most fun teams that I’ve had the chance to coach from top to bottom. I have to kick these kids out every night because they want to get better and be around each other. I think we’re much better equipped this season but we’ll be young again and we’ll need to mature quickly.”

Q: What would you say is this team’s biggest strength?

A: “These guys are very cohesive and they want to be around each other. Hopefully, that means we won’t have any one player that thinks they need to be selfish and shoot the ball 57 times and we can play as a team.”

Q: Biggest question marks coming into the new season?

A: “Most of our question marks are offensive which is easy to figure out because we averaged less than 30 points per game last year. This summer we were scoring well and we found ourselves in some games because of that, so hopefully we can transition that into the season.”

Q: How good does it feel to be somewhat back to normal this year?

A: “The guys are really excited and it’s been great to see student sections back. That energy makes people want to be a part of the program. Hopefully, that makes us want to do better as well.”

Q: Expectation and goals for this team in 2021-22?

A: “My biggest hope is to not see a running clock this year. We should be in a lot of basketball games and if we can show maturity late we can shock some teams, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were a double-digit win team either but it all starts with getting that first win to get some confidence.”

The Cardinals will open their season at home hosting the Sacred Heart Knights who defeated them in their opener last year.

For more on Ell-Saline hoops, stay tuned to the Salina Post.

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="This Ell-Saline season preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!" />
 <figcaption>This Ell-Saline season preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!</figcaption>
 </figure>The Ell-Saline boys basketball team has regrouped after another rough season and will enter 2021-22 still in search of their first win since 2019.The Cardinals will be young once again but are slowly rebuilding under the instruction of second-year head coach Marty Wendel.&nbsp;When Ell-Saline takes the floor on Friday, their starting lineup should look something like this.PG- Kade Wilson (Jr) SG- Marshall Johnson (So) SF- Brogan Rowley (Fr) or Garrison Zerger (Fr) PF- Mason Ellerman (Jr) C- Kelton Kern (Sr)The Cardinals will also look for big contributions off the bench from sophomores Joe Hiechel and Ryan Duerr, and freshman Melvin Lutes.Ahead of the new season, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Wendel and get his thoughts on this year’s team.Q: After a tough 2020-21, how do you feel about the team that you’ve got coming into this season?A: “This is one of the most fun teams that I’ve had the chance to coach from top to bottom. I have to kick these kids out every night because they want to get better and be around each other. I think we’re much better equipped this season but we’ll be young again and we’ll need to mature quickly.”Q: What would you say is this team’s biggest strength?A: “These guys are very cohesive and they want to be around each other. Hopefully, that means we won’t have any one player that thinks they need to be selfish and shoot the ball 57 times and we can play as a team.”Q: Biggest question marks coming into the new season?A: “Most of our question marks are offensive which is easy to figure out because we averaged less than 30 points per game last year. This summer we were scoring well and we found ourselves in some games because of that, so hopefully we can transition that into the season.”Q: How good does it feel to be somewhat back to normal this year?A: “The guys are really excited and it’s been great to see student sections back. That energy makes people want to be a part of the program. Hopefully, that makes us want to do better as well.”Q: Expectation and goals for this team in 2021-22?A: “My biggest hope is to not see a running clock this year. We should be in a lot of basketball games and if we can show maturity late we can shock some teams, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were a double-digit win team either but it all starts with getting that first win to get some confidence.”The Cardinals will open their season at home hosting the Sacred Heart Knights who defeated them in their opener last year.For more on Ell-Saline hoops, stay tuned to the Salina Post.

2021-22 Hoops Preview: Ell-Saline Boys

The Southeast of Saline boys basketball team will look to retool and run it back after a successful 14-8 campaign in 2020-21.

The Trojans will once again be led by head coach Bryson Flax who enters his fourth season at the helm for SES.

Southeast graduated a lot of talent in the offseason, but returns a loaded junior class for the new campaign. There are still some questions surrounding the health of a few big players but the Trojan lineup should look something like this come tip-off time.

PG- Drake Augustine (Jr) SG- Luke Gebhardt (Jr) G- Jake Gebhardt (Jr) G/F- Eli Sawyers (Jr) G/F- Nakari Morrical Palmer (Jr)

SES will also look to the bench for big minutes out of Drew Richardson, Danny Kejr and Michael Murray.

Ahead of the season opener, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Flax to get his thoughts on the squad heading into the new year.

Q: Overall what were your thoughts on last year's 14-8 finish?

A: “It was an interesting season but from a program standpoint it was a very good year for us. We got a lot of guys some really good experience and an opportunity to learn under a really good senior class and at the JV level we got a lot of games in and those young guys made huge strides.”

Q: How does it feel to be somewhat back to normal this season?

A: “We’re definitely looking forward to having more spectators. You look at our early games with nobody in the gym and you create your own energy but that’s a challenge and we love playing in a high-capacity crowd.”

Q: What would you say is the greatest strength of this team coming into the new season?

A: “I think our biggest strength is our ability to pass the basketball. We have some guys with phenomenal vision for their age and if we can start hitting shots and cutting at the right time that really plays into that. We’re also fairly experienced for being so young, a handful of these juniors have played some really valuable minutes in this program”

Q: What are the biggest question marks you guys still have ahead of the first few games?

A: “We want to limit our opponents to as few possessions as possible and get on the run. The rest of it will fall into place as we get more reps but early on I want to see how we defend and compete.”

Q: What are the expectations and goals for this team this season?

A: “We want to play on a sub-state championship Saturday. We always tell them that if they give themselves a chance, anything can go in the state tournament so we have to prepare ourselves day in and day out to try to get to that Saturday and to compete at a high level when we’re there.”

The Trojans will open their season at Hesston on December third looking to avenge the loss that knocked them out of sub-state last season.

For more on SES hoops stay tuned to the Salina Post.

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="This SES season preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!" />
 <figcaption>This SES season preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!</figcaption>
 </figure>The Southeast of Saline boys basketball team will look to retool and run it back after a successful 14-8 campaign in 2020-21.The Trojans will once again be led by head coach Bryson Flax who enters his fourth season at the helm for SES.Southeast graduated a lot of talent in the offseason, but returns a loaded junior class for the new campaign. There are still some questions surrounding the health of a few big players but the Trojan lineup should look something like this come tip-off time.PG- Drake Augustine (Jr) SG- Luke Gebhardt (Jr) G- Jake Gebhardt (Jr) G/F- Eli Sawyers (Jr) G/F- Nakari Morrical Palmer (Jr)SES will also look to the bench for big minutes out of Drew Richardson, Danny Kejr and Michael Murray.Ahead of the season opener, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Flax to get his thoughts on the squad heading into the new year.Q: Overall what were your thoughts on last year's 14-8 finish?A: “It was an interesting season but from a program standpoint it was a very good year for us. We got a lot of guys some really good experience and an opportunity to learn under a really good senior class and at the JV level we got a lot of games in and those young guys made huge strides.” Q: How does it feel to be somewhat back to normal this season?A: “We’re definitely looking forward to having more spectators. You look at our early games with nobody in the gym and you create your own energy but that’s a challenge and we love playing in a high-capacity crowd.”Q: What would you say is the greatest strength of this team coming into the new season?A: “I think our biggest strength is our ability to pass the basketball. We have some guys with phenomenal vision for their age and if we can start hitting shots and cutting at the right time that really plays into that. We’re also fairly experienced for being so young, a handful of these juniors have played some really valuable minutes in this program”Q: What are the biggest question marks you guys still have ahead of the first few games?A: “We want to limit our opponents to as few possessions as possible and get on the run. The rest of it will fall into place as we get more reps but early on I want to see how we defend and compete.”Q: What are the expectations and goals for this team this season? A: “We want to play on a sub-state championship Saturday. We always tell them that if they give themselves a chance, anything can go in the state tournament so we have to prepare ourselves day in and day out to try to get to that Saturday and to compete at a high level when we’re there.”The Trojans will open their season at Hesston on December third looking to avenge the loss that knocked them out of sub-state last season.For more on SES hoops stay tuned to the Salina Post.

2021-22 Hoops Preview: SES boys

The Southeast of Saline girls basketball team will look to run it back in 2021-22 after a successful 15-7 campaign a year ago.

The Lady Trojans will once again be under the direction of head coach Shauna Smith, who enters her sixth year at the helm for SES.

Southeast accomplished that fifteen-win season without the help of a single senior, and returns all of that talent, including the same starting five this year.

When the Trojans take the floor for their season opener, their lineup should look familiar to SES fans.

Karsyn Schlesener (Sr) Alaina Yianakopulos (Sr) Mallorie Pearson (Sr) Avery Caselman (Jr) Maddie Harris (So)

Southeast will also look for more big minutes off the bench from Brielle Ptacek, Lexi Jacobson and Reagan Goetz.

Ahead of the 2021 tip-off, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Smith to ask her a few questions about this years squad.

Q: What were your overall thoughts on last year’s 15-7 season?

A: “After last season we know that we have a lot more experience coming into this year and we feel like our next step is in beating the good teams, not just playing them close.”

Q: What would you say is the biggest strength of this years team?

A: “Our strength lies in our veterans. It feels like we picked up where we left off in that sense and we’ve already put in some things that we usually wouldn’t this early on but these girls have been in our system for four years now and most of our seniors saw playing time as freshmen for us.”

Q: What are the biggest question marks that you guys still have coming into the new year?

A: “We still have no size and we’re not going to get any bigger throughout the year so we’re going to have to rebound our little hearts out. We’ll have to help on the glass and it’ll really have to be a team effort.”

Q: What are the expectations and goals for this team this season?

A: “We want to get to a sub-state final. We’ve gotten to the second round these last few years but we really want to beat somebody and we need to start beating some of the Clay Centers and Hesstons when we get those opportunities.”

Q: After a season with no seniors how great is it to finally have true senior experience this year?

A: “We have six freshmen and I keep telling them that they have some great leaders ahead of them. Our seniors play hard and they do a great job of leading. If we get beat it’s never going to be because we didn’t play hard enough.”

Southeast will tip-off their season on Friday when they travel to Hesston to face the same Swather team that knocked them out of sub-state last year. For more on Trojan hoops, stay tuned to the Salina Post.

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="This SES hoops preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!" />
 <figcaption>This SES hoops preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!</figcaption>
 </figure>The Southeast of Saline girls basketball team will look to run it back in 2021-22 after a successful 15-7 campaign a year ago.The Lady Trojans will once again be under the direction of head coach Shauna Smith, who enters her sixth year at the helm for SES.Southeast accomplished that fifteen-win season without the help of a single senior, and returns all of that talent, including the same starting five this year.When the Trojans take the floor for their season opener, their lineup should look familiar to SES fans.Karsyn Schlesener (Sr) Alaina Yianakopulos (Sr) Mallorie Pearson (Sr) Avery Caselman (Jr) Maddie Harris (So)Southeast will also look for more big minutes off the bench from Brielle Ptacek, Lexi Jacobson and Reagan Goetz.Ahead of the 2021 tip-off, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Smith to ask her a few questions about this years squad.Q: What were your overall thoughts on last year’s 15-7 season?A: “After last season we know that we have a lot more experience coming into this year and we feel like our next step is in beating the good teams, not just playing them close.”Q: What would you say is the biggest strength of this years team?A: “Our strength lies in our veterans. It feels like we picked up where we left off in that sense and we’ve already put in some things that we usually wouldn’t this early on but these girls have been in our system for four years now and most of our seniors saw playing time as freshmen for us.”Q: What are the biggest question marks that you guys still have coming into the new year?A: “We still have no size and we’re not going to get any bigger throughout the year so we’re going to have to rebound our little hearts out. We’ll have to help on the glass and it’ll really have to be a team effort.”Q: What are the expectations and goals for this team this season?A: “We want to get to a sub-state final. We’ve gotten to the second round these last few years but we really want to beat somebody and we need to start beating some of the Clay Centers and Hesstons when we get those opportunities.”Q: After a season with no seniors how great is it to finally have true senior experience this year?A: “We have six freshmen and I keep telling them that they have some great leaders ahead of them. Our seniors play hard and they do a great job of leading. If we get beat it’s never going to be because we didn’t play hard enough.”Southeast will tip-off their season on Friday when they travel to Hesston to face the same Swather team that knocked them out of sub-state last year. For more on Trojan hoops, stay tuned to the Salina Post.

2021-22 Hoops Preview: SES Girls

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor

The Sacred Heart girls basketball team will be in search of another successful season after an 11-8 finish in 2020-21.

The Knights will be under the direction of a new head coach as Carl Hines takes the reins from Keenan Thomas, who took a new coaching position in Liberal this offseason.

Sacred Heart will field a team bursting with young talent and should have a starting lineup that looks like this come tip-off on Friday.

G- Katie Weiss (So) G- Tessa Junk (Jr) G- Kiera Cochran (Jr) PF- Avery Eshelman (So) C- Jailynn Rowe (Sr)

The Knights will also look for big minutes off the bench from a pair of sophomores in Maegan Torrey and Sydney Goetz?

Ahead of his first season at the helm, we had a chance to speak with Coach Hines to ask a few questions about his team.

Q: What are the biggest things you want to add to the culture of girls basketball at Sacred Heart?

A: “We want to continue the tradition of the school here at Sacred Heart. We want to create an atmosphere off the court to help our young ladies become young women and we want to work on perseverance and discipline on the court.”

Q: How excited are you guys to be back to a relatively normal season?

A: “Things are definitely more normal than they have been in a long time and I know that our players, our parents and our school community are excited. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity that’s been afforded to me by the administration here at Sacred Heart.”

Q: Coming into the new season what would you say is this team's biggest strength?

A: “We’re young and we lost some experience this summer but we’re going to lean on our seniors for leadership and we’re excited about our youth and our new system that our team is starting to grasp.”

Q: What are the biggest question marks you still have ahead of the first game?

A: “I want to see how far along we are in the new system. It will be interesting to see how bought in they are to that and I know it will be hard for those upperclassmen because I’m the third guy they’ve seen and they’ve been asked to relearn everything so many times.”

Q: What are some of the goals that this team has placed on themselves this season?

A: “We want to do well in our league. Southeast and Beloit have run things for quite some time now so it’ll be interesting to see what kinds of strides we can make throughout the year. Our girls want to do well in the postseason as well but we all know that our most important game is the next one on the schedule and we want to peak at the most important time of the year.”

Sacred Heart will open their season on December third at Ell-Saline, looking to start 2021 with a big win over an area rival.

For more on Lady Knights hoops stay tuned to the Salina Post.

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="This SH hoops preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!" />
 <figcaption>This SH hoops preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sacred Heart girls basketball team will be in search of another successful season after an 11-8 finish in 2020-21.The Knights will be under the direction of a new head coach as Carl Hines takes the reins from Keenan Thomas, who took a new coaching position in Liberal this offseason.Sacred Heart will field a team bursting with young talent and should have a starting lineup that looks like this come tip-off on Friday.G- Katie Weiss (So) G- Tessa Junk (Jr) G- Kiera Cochran (Jr) PF- Avery Eshelman (So) C- Jailynn Rowe (Sr)The Knights will also look for big minutes off the bench from a pair of sophomores in Maegan Torrey and Sydney Goetz?Ahead of his first season at the helm, we had a chance to speak with Coach Hines to ask a few questions about his team.Q: What are the biggest things you want to add to the culture of girls basketball at Sacred Heart?A: “We want to continue the tradition of the school here at Sacred Heart. We want to create an atmosphere off the court to help our young ladies become young women and we want to work on perseverance and discipline on the court.”Q: How excited are you guys to be back to a relatively normal season?A: “Things are definitely more normal than they have been in a long time and I know that our players, our parents and our school community are excited. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity that’s been afforded to me by the administration here at Sacred Heart.”Q: Coming into the new season what would you say is this team's biggest strength?A: “We’re young and we lost some experience this summer but we’re going to lean on our seniors for leadership and we’re excited about our youth and our new system that our team is starting to grasp.”Q: What are the biggest question marks you still have ahead of the first game?A: “I want to see how far along we are in the new system. It will be interesting to see how bought in they are to that and I know it will be hard for those upperclassmen because I’m the third guy they’ve seen and they’ve been asked to relearn everything so many times.”Q: What are some of the goals that this team has placed on themselves this season?A: “We want to do well in our league. Southeast and Beloit have run things for quite some time now so it’ll be interesting to see what kinds of strides we can make throughout the year. Our girls want to do well in the postseason as well but we all know that our most important game is the next one on the schedule and we want to peak at the most important time of the year.”Sacred Heart will open their season on December third at Ell-Saline, looking to start 2021 with a big win over an area rival.For more on Lady Knights hoops stay tuned to the Salina Post.

2021-22 Hoops Preview: Sacred Heart Girls

The Abilene boys basketball team will look to reload and run it back after a stellar 13-6 campaign in 2020-21.

The Cowboys will be under the direction of Erik Graefe in his second season as head coach, and will return plenty of veteran talent to go along with a loaded sophomore class.

When the team takes the floor for their season opener on Friday, the starting lineup will feature a dynamic duo of returners in senior big man Kaleb Becker and senior point guard Jaylen West.

Becker and West will be joined by three new starters, but the rotation has yet to be set with five players still jockeying for those final spots.

Among those battling it out are seniors Cooper Wildey and Braden Adams, as well as juniors Grant Waite, Triston Cottone and Cameron Vinduska.

Of that group, the two that don’t make the starting lineup will play a vital role in providing Abilene with big points off the bench.

Ahead of the new season, we had a chance to talk with Coach Graefe about his team ahead of the 2021 tip-off.

Q: How excited are you guys to get back to a much more traditional season?

A: “It has been awesome to get back to normal. Last year we were masked up for all of our practices and things were weird. Our practices have been difficult but the mood around our team has been one of celebration.”

Q: What would you say is the biggest strength of this team coming into the new season?

A: “Our biggest strength is our depth, we have a lot of good players this year. We have a sophomore class that has had a ton of success and there could be as many as eight of those guys that are fighting to get on the floor. Our practices are more competitive and we have a lot of capable guys on our bench, we just have to figure out how to use everybody in an effective way.”

Q: What are some of the biggest question marks that you guys still have to sort out as we approach the new year?

A: “The biggest thing we need to figure out is how our rotation will look. We think we know where our points are going to come from and where our leadership is going to come from but beyond that, we have to figure out who slides in where.”

Q: What are your guys’ expectations for what you want to accomplish this season?

A: “I think they want to make it back to the state tournament. It’s one thing to lose a game but we lost in a way that we were never in it and I think that left a bad taste in all of our mouths so we’d like to give it a better run. With that being said I don’t want to put goals out there that might limit us, I want us to be the best team we can be and I think the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”

The Cowboys will begin their 2021-22 campaign at Rock Creek on December 7th.

For more on Abilene hoops stay tuned to the Salina Post

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="Salina Ortho logo.png" />
 <figcaption>Salina Ortho logo.png</figcaption>
 </figure>The Abilene boys basketball team will look to reload and run it back after a stellar 13-6 campaign in 2020-21.The Cowboys will be under the direction of Erik Graefe in his second season as head coach, and will return plenty of veteran talent to go along with a loaded sophomore class.When the team takes the floor for their season opener on Friday, the starting lineup will feature a dynamic duo of returners in senior big man Kaleb Becker and senior point guard Jaylen West.Becker and West will be joined by three new starters, but the rotation has yet to be set with five players still jockeying for those final spots.Among those battling it out are seniors Cooper Wildey and Braden Adams, as well as juniors Grant Waite, Triston Cottone and Cameron Vinduska.Of that group, the two that don’t make the starting lineup will play a vital role in providing Abilene with big points off the bench.Ahead of the new season, we had a chance to talk with Coach Graefe about his team ahead of the 2021 tip-off.Q: How excited are you guys to get back to a much more traditional season?A: “It has been awesome to get back to normal. Last year we were masked up for all of our practices and things were weird. Our practices have been difficult but the mood around our team has been one of celebration.”Q: What would you say is the biggest strength of this team coming into the new season?A: “Our biggest strength is our depth, we have a lot of good players this year. We have a sophomore class that has had a ton of success and there could be as many as eight of those guys that are fighting to get on the floor. Our practices are more competitive and we have a lot of capable guys on our bench, we just have to figure out how to use everybody in an effective way.”Q: What are some of the biggest question marks that you guys still have to sort out as we approach the new year?A: “The biggest thing we need to figure out is how our rotation will look. We think we know where our points are going to come from and where our leadership is going to come from but beyond that, we have to figure out who slides in where.”Q: What are your guys’ expectations for what you want to accomplish this season?A: “I think they want to make it back to the state tournament. It’s one thing to lose a game but we lost in a way that we were never in it and I think that left a bad taste in all of our mouths so we’d like to give it a better run. With that being said I don’t want to put goals out there that might limit us, I want us to be the best team we can be and I think the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”The Cowboys will begin their 2021-22 campaign at Rock Creek on December 7th.For more on Abilene hoops stay tuned to the Salina Post

2021-22 Hoops Preview: Abilene boys

The Salina South girls basketball team will look to build on the momentum of a 10-6 finish after stumbling out of the gates in 2020-21.

With Ryan Stuart taking an assistant principal position at South, the Cougars have promoted former assistant Justin Ebert, who will take the helm after 14 years at South and four years with the girls.

While the Cougars will once again lack size, they do return a great deal of experience, which could get the team over the .500 hump for the first time since 2012-13.

When South takes the floor to begin their season on Friday their lineup will look something like this.

PG- Sydney Peterson (Sr) G- Kylie Arnold (Sr) G- Kalysa Hamel (Sr) G- Elena Herbel (Jr) F- Lauren Harris (Jr)

The Cougars should also get a boost off the bench from Emily Anderson, Giselle Nash, and Montanna Packett.

Ahead of the new season, we had a chance to sit down with Coach Ebert and ask him a few questions about the new season.

Q: How excited are you to get back to a somewhat normal season in 2021-22?

A: “We’re excited for the fact that it’s going to be a mostly normal year. We know that we have a 20 game schedule in front of us and we don’t have to constantly worry about it being taken away.”

Q: What do you want to add to the culture of girls basketball here at South?

A: “I’ve always been a coach that wants to see our players get up and down the court quickly in a high-scoring game. We don’t want to have 30-40 second possessions and we’re really small so we need to play quick and work hard on the defensive to get ourselves looks in transition. Over the last 4-5 years this program has seen steady progress. We’ve been slowly building towards where we want to be and we want to continue building on that.”

Q: What would you say is the biggest strength of this team heading into the new year?

A: “Our guard experience is big and will help us handle situations that we’ve been in before and our defensive intensity and ability to get out and guard the ball is something that we’re going to have to hang our hat on this year.”

Q: What are your biggest question marks coming into the new season?

A: “The biggest question is still how we’re going to make up for our lack of size, how we’re going to bring in rebounds, and how we’re going to limit teams to one shot and get extra possessions on our side of the ball. We also had three of our top players from last year move away so finding new players to come off the bench and fill big roles is a question mark for us.”

Q: What are the goals and expectations that this team has set for themselves this season?

A: “It’s been eight years since Salina South has had a winning season so that .500 mark is a big and very obtainable goal for us. Beyond that, we want to be in the SIT championship game and we won a playoff game last year so we’d like to build on that and make a run at the state tournament this year.”

The Cougars will tip off their season hosting their cross-town rivals when they welcome in the Salina Mustangs on December 4th.

For more on South hoops in 2021-22 stay tuned to the Salina Post.

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="This Salina South hoops preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!" />
 <figcaption>This Salina South hoops preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!</figcaption>
 </figure>The Salina South girls basketball team will look to build on the momentum of a 10-6 finish after stumbling out of the gates in 2020-21.With Ryan Stuart taking an assistant principal position at South, the Cougars have promoted former assistant Justin Ebert, who will take the helm after 14 years at South and four years with the girls.While the Cougars will once again lack size, they do return a great deal of experience, which could get the team over the .500 hump for the first time since 2012-13.When South takes the floor to begin their season on Friday their lineup will look something like this.PG- Sydney Peterson (Sr) G- Kylie Arnold (Sr) G- Kalysa Hamel (Sr) G- Elena Herbel (Jr) F- Lauren Harris (Jr)The Cougars should also get a boost off the bench from Emily Anderson, Giselle Nash, and Montanna Packett.Ahead of the new season, we had a chance to sit down with Coach Ebert and ask him a few questions about the new season.Q: How excited are you to get back to a somewhat normal season in 2021-22?A: “We’re excited for the fact that it’s going to be a mostly normal year. We know that we have a 20 game schedule in front of us and we don’t have to constantly worry about it being taken away.”Q: What do you want to add to the culture of girls basketball here at South?A: “I’ve always been a coach that wants to see our players get up and down the court quickly in a high-scoring game. We don’t want to have 30-40 second possessions and we’re really small so we need to play quick and work hard on the defensive to get ourselves looks in transition. Over the last 4-5 years this program has seen steady progress. We’ve been slowly building towards where we want to be and we want to continue building on that.”Q: What would you say is the biggest strength of this team heading into the new year?A: “Our guard experience is big and will help us handle situations that we’ve been in before and our defensive intensity and ability to get out and guard the ball is something that we’re going to have to hang our hat on this year.”Q: What are your biggest question marks coming into the new season?A: “The biggest question is still how we’re going to make up for our lack of size, how we’re going to bring in rebounds, and how we’re going to limit teams to one shot and get extra possessions on our side of the ball. We also had three of our top players from last year move away so finding new players to come off the bench and fill big roles is a question mark for us.”Q: What are the goals and expectations that this team has set for themselves this season?A: “It’s been eight years since Salina South has had a winning season so that .500 mark is a big and very obtainable goal for us. Beyond that, we want to be in the SIT championship game and we won a playoff game last year so we’d like to build on that and make a run at the state tournament this year.”The Cougars will tip off their season hosting their cross-town rivals when they welcome in the Salina Mustangs on December 4th.For more on South hoops in 2021-22 stay tuned to the Salina Post.

2021-22 Hoops Preview: Salina South Girls

The Salina Central girls basketball team will have a lot to look forward to in 2021-22, entering the season as the third-ranked team in Class 5A. The Lady Mustangs are led by head coach Chris Fear who enters his sixth season at the helm, fresh off a very successful 19-5 campaign.

Central will return almost everyone from last years team, including a starting five anchored by two NCAA DI signees.

When the Mustangs take the floor on Friday, fans can expect to see a familiar lineup that should look something like this.

PG- MyKayla Cunningham (Jr) SG- Aubrie Kierscht- (Sr) SF- Landry Stewart- (Sr) PF- Hampton Williams (Sr) C- Chaliscia Samilton- (Sr)

By TYLER HENRY Salina Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="This SC hoops preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!" />
 <figcaption>This SC hoops preview is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!</figcaption>
 </figure>The Salina Central girls basketball team will have a lot to look forward to in 2021-22, entering the season as the third-ranked team in Class 5A. The Lady Mustangs are led by head coach Chris Fear who enters his sixth season at the helm, fresh off a very successful 19-5 campaign.Central will return almost everyone from last years team, including a starting five anchored by two NCAA DI signees.When the Mustangs take the floor on Friday, fans can expect to see a familiar lineup that should look something like this.PG- MyKayla Cunningham (Jr) SG- Aubrie Kierscht- (Sr) SF- Landry Stewart- (Sr) PF- Hampton Williams (Sr) C- Chaliscia Samilton- (Sr)Central will also get big minutes off the bench from a trio of sophomores in Callan Hall, Tyler Vidricksen, and Azbey Peckham.Ahead of the season opener, we had a chance to speak with Coach Fear and get his thoughts on his team heading into the new year.Q: Overall, what was your takeaway from a good 2020-21 campaignA: “I really thought that we matured as the year went along. We were always a talented group but at times we were really young with just one senior so it was a team that needed to take that next step and I think we did that as the season went along.”Q: How good does it feel to be back to a relatively normal season?A: “When you get back into it you almost forget about some of what happened at the beginning of last year when you couldn’t have any fans and weren’t even doing jump balls. We slowly eased our way back in last year but it’s great to truly be back to a regular season.”Q: Overall what would you say is this team’s biggest strengthA: “I think our experience is one of our biggest strengths but at the end of the day you have to have talent. We have a very talented team and they’re a group that’s played together quite a bit. I think those are great things to have as we continue to grow and get better every day.” Q: Any question marks to iron out as we approach the new season?A: “We certainly have some questions to sort out for ourselves. We’re not a big physical basketball team but I think we’re a pretty skilled group and we’ve got some length and athleticism. We also don’t have a lot of depth at the post so those are some things we’ll have to work through.”Q: What are the goals that this team has set for themselves this season?A: “We got to the state semifinal last year and ended up not being able to finish a game where we had a big lead. We would like to take another step forward this year but I think for us the key thing is to enjoy the process of the season. We don’t want to fast forward to any big moments and we have to continue to get better each and every day.”The Mustangs will tip off their season at Salina South on December third with a chance to make an early statement against their cross-town rival.For more on Salina Central hoops in 2021-22 stay tuned to the Salina Post.