On Thursday, it was announced that Christien Ozores had been hired by Salina South as the newest head coach of the Cougar football program pending board approval.

Ozores takes the reigns from Sam Sellers, who resigned this offseason and comes to Salina after a successful four-year stint in Russell, where he led the Broncos to their first winning season since 2003.

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead this historic football program,” Ozores said in a statement released by Salina South. “My family is very excited about being part of the Salina community and embracing and honoring the traditions of Salina South High School. I am excited to begin working with the students, staff, and the community to develop great relationships, which in turn creates a culture that allows us to accomplish great things. We will work extremely hard to become a unified, disciplined, consistent program that will allow us to compete at a consistently high level.”

This move also has the full support and enthusiasm of Salina South AD Ryan Stuart, who praised the new hire in South's statement.

“I am extremely excited about the hiring of Coach Ozores,” Stuart said. “During the interview process, it was immediately apparent that Coach Ozores is the right fit for our football program. He did an outstanding job during his time at Russell and found success in every stage of his coaching and playing career. I look forward to seeing that success continue at Salina South High School.”

Coach Ozores comes to Salina with his wife Katie, and daughter Avery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706224708796.jpeg" alt="Christien Ozores as the new Head Football Coach of the Cougars, pending board approval. SPS Photo" />
 <figcaption>Christien Ozores as the new Head Football Coach of the Cougars, pending board approval. SPS Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday, it was announced that Christien Ozores had been hired by Salina South as the newest head coach of the Cougar football program pending board approval. Ozores takes the reigns from Sam Sellers, who resigned this offseason and comes to Salina after a successful four-year stint in Russell, where he led the Broncos to their first winning season since 2003.“I am honored to have been chosen to lead this historic football program,” Ozores said in a statement released by Salina South. “My family is very excited about being part of the Salina community and embracing and honoring the traditions of Salina South High School. I am excited to begin working with the students, staff, and the community to develop great relationships, which in turn creates a culture that allows us to accomplish great things. We will work extremely hard to become a unified, disciplined, consistent program that will allow us to compete at a consistently high level.”This move also has the full support and enthusiasm of Salina South AD Ryan Stuart, who praised the new hire in South's statement.“I am extremely excited about the hiring of Coach Ozores,” Stuart said. “During the interview process, it was immediately apparent that Coach Ozores is the right fit for our football program. He did an outstanding job during his time at Russell and found success in every stage of his coaching and playing career. I look forward to seeing that success continue at Salina South High School.”Coach Ozores comes to Salina with his wife Katie, and daughter Avery.

Christien Ozores Hired to Lead Salina South Football Program

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

After a pair of podium performances at the Sterling Tournament last weekend, the Southeast of Saline basketball teams will be back in action for the first set of a back-to-back as they play host to Clay Center on Thursday night.

Girls Game: SE of Saline (7-3) vs. #8 Clay Center (6-4)

The Lady Trojans finished runner-up at this year’s Sterling Tournament, falling in the final to Smoky Valley, but will be eager to start a new winning streak against another quality opponent in Clay Center tonight.

“We talked about going back to some things that we do well,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “It’s always difficult when you take that much time off in between games, but we lived at the three-point line too much in that tournament and that’s not what we do.”

Now, Southeast turns their attention to a Lady Tiger team that they defeated 45-28 a season ago, but one that comes in with a much stronger resume at 6-4.

“Clay Center is very patient on offense and they’ll make you guard until they get the look that they want,” Smith said. “Defensively they’re very sound, they have a lot of help-side defense and we’ll need some good ball reversals to get around that.”

Like many of the opponents the Lady Trojans have faced this year, Clay Center lacks one true star who can be taken away, and Southeast will need to be prepared to guard 1-5 to have success this evening.

“All around they have a solid team,” Smith said. “They’ve got two post players inside who work really well together so we’ll have to make them work really hard. We’ll need to play smart defensively and get back to playing our game and not settling for threes.”

Tip-off between the Lady Trojans and Tigers is set for 6:00 at Southeast of Saline High School.

Boys Game: SE of Saline (5-5) vs. Clay Center (5-5)

On the boy’s side, this matchup will feature two teams trying to get above the .500 mark, with Southeast surging off of a third-place finish at Sterling last week.

“Any time you can come away with two wins at a midseason tournament you’re sitting in good shape,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “We saw some high-level competition and we were able to compete for the most part. I saw some good things out of a handful of guys.”

Now, the Trojan focus shifts to a Tiger team that will be eager for revenge after a 17-point thrashing at the hands of Southeast a season ago.

“Clay Center is an experienced group, some of those kids have been playing since they were freshmen and they’ve had the same group for 2-3 years now,” Flax said. “They have state tournament experience and they get downhill very well. It’s difficult to stay in front of you and they’ve run a lot our of a five out dribble drive offense. We’ll have to be good against dribble penetration.”

After a rough 0-3 start against a gauntlet of tough opponents, Clay Center has bounced back down the stretch, winning five of their last seven games including a 66-45 rout over Whitewater-Remington on Saturday.

“They’ll press a little bit but they don’t really get out in passing lanes a lot,” he said. “They do try to take away the dribble drive but that potentially allows us to get some perimeter looks, we’ll just have to knock them down.”

The boys game is set to follow the girls at 7:30.

Broadcast Info - Location: Southeast of Saline High School - SES Live Stream: Link Below - Pregame: 5:45 PM

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>After a pair of podium performances at the Sterling Tournament last weekend, the Southeast of Saline basketball teams will be back in action for the first set of a back-to-back as they play host to Clay Center on Thursday night.Girls Game: SE of Saline (7-3) vs. #8 Clay Center (6-4)The Lady Trojans finished runner-up at this year’s Sterling Tournament, falling in the final to Smoky Valley, but will be eager to start a new winning streak against another quality opponent in Clay Center tonight.“We talked about going back to some things that we do well,” SES head coach Shauna Smith said. “It’s always difficult when you take that much time off in between games, but we lived at the three-point line too much in that tournament and that’s not what we do.”Now, Southeast turns their attention to a Lady Tiger team that they defeated 45-28 a season ago, but one that comes in with a much stronger resume at 6-4.“Clay Center is very patient on offense and they’ll make you guard until they get the look that they want,” Smith said. “Defensively they’re very sound, they have a lot of help-side defense and we’ll need some good ball reversals to get around that.”Like many of the opponents the Lady Trojans have faced this year, Clay Center lacks one true star who can be taken away, and Southeast will need to be prepared to guard 1-5 to have success this evening.“All around they have a solid team,” Smith said. “They’ve got two post players inside who work really well together so we’ll have to make them work really hard. We’ll need to play smart defensively and get back to playing our game and not settling for threes.”Tip-off between the Lady Trojans and Tigers is set for 6:00 at Southeast of Saline High School.Boys Game: SE of Saline (5-5) vs. Clay Center (5-5)On the boy’s side, this matchup will feature two teams trying to get above the .500 mark, with Southeast surging off of a third-place finish at Sterling last week.“Any time you can come away with two wins at a midseason tournament you’re sitting in good shape,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “We saw some high-level competition and we were able to compete for the most part. I saw some good things out of a handful of guys.”Now, the Trojan focus shifts to a Tiger team that will be eager for revenge after a 17-point thrashing at the hands of Southeast a season ago.“Clay Center is an experienced group, some of those kids have been playing since they were freshmen and they’ve had the same group for 2-3 years now,” Flax said. “They have state tournament experience and they get downhill very well. It’s difficult to stay in front of you and they’ve run a lot our of a five out dribble drive offense. We’ll have to be good against dribble penetration.”After a rough 0-3 start against a gauntlet of tough opponents, Clay Center has bounced back down the stretch, winning five of their last seven games including a 66-45 rout over Whitewater-Remington on Saturday.“They’ll press a little bit but they don’t really get out in passing lanes a lot,” he said. “They do try to take away the dribble drive but that potentially allows us to get some perimeter looks, we’ll just have to knock them down.”The boys game is set to follow the girls at 7:30.Broadcast Info - Location: Southeast of Saline High School - SES Live Stream: Link Below - Pregame: 5:45 PM

SES Returns Home to Host Clay Center in Opener of Back-to-Back

On Thursday morning, in a statement published to his Twitter account, Kurt Webster announced that he would be resigning his post as head football coach at Chapman to accept an offensive coordinator position at Shawnee Mission Northwest.

"I would like to thank the Chapman School district for allowing me to lead its football program for the past seven seasons," Webster said in his statement. "This is truly a special place, we started our family here, and I am thankful to all the community members who have loved and supported my children."

Webster led the Irish to two seven-win seasons during his time in Chapman winning a playoff game in each. He also helped the program produce five shrine bowl players, eight first-team All-State players, and five athletes who went on to finish top five in state powerlifting competitions.

Despite these accomplishments, Webster reflected on the bigger picture as this chapter of his coaching journey draws to a close.

"More importantly than any of that, I am proud of the type of people this football program has produced," he said. "The players here are truly great kids. Our goal in the Chapman athletic department is to teach life lessons through sport, and I feel excellent about how we created a program of integrity. I love our players and I will miss them dearly."

Webster will return home to join a 6A Cougar program that finished its 2023 season 4-6, scoring 21 or more points in just two games.

On Thursday morning, in a statement published to his Twitter account, Kurt Webster announced that he would be resigning his post as head football coach at Chapman to accept an offensive coordinator position at Shawnee Mission Northwest."I would like to thank the Chapman School district for allowing me to lead its football program for the past seven seasons," Webster said in his statement. "This is truly a special place, we started our family here, and I am thankful to all the community members who have loved and supported my children."Webster led the Irish to two seven-win seasons during his time in Chapman winning a playoff game in each. He also helped the program produce five shrine bowl players, eight first-team All-State players, and five athletes who went on to finish top five in state powerlifting competitions.Despite these accomplishments, Webster reflected on the bigger picture as this chapter of his coaching journey draws to a close."More importantly than any of that, I am proud of the type of people this football program has produced," he said. "The players here are truly great kids. Our goal in the Chapman athletic department is to teach life lessons through sport, and I feel excellent about how we created a program of integrity. I love our players and I will miss them dearly."Webster will return home to join a 6A Cougar program that finished its 2023 season 4-6, scoring 21 or more points in just two games.

Kurt Webster Headed to Shawnee Mission NW

NORTH NEWTON - Kansas Wesleyan coach&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ab5d4038-9b5a-4b10-aefa-234bcbf0ed0a?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Anthony Monson</a>&nbsp;succinctly summed it up best.

"We showed the heart of a champion tonight," he said on his postgame radio show moments after the Coyotes' heart-stopping 72-69 come-from-way-behind Kansas Conference victory over Bethel on Wednesday night inside Thresher Gym.

KWU trailed 58-43 with 10½ minutes left but stormed back led by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/76a0f734-eba9-4687-968f-c16e1d4c99dc?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Thurbil Bile</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a75581c6-7109-475e-985e-893a74dfd151?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Jun Murdock</a>. Bile scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the final 10:09 and had a game-best 12 rebounds.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c94ffef6-79d7-4559-8103-a8d60ea321dc?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Jun Murdock</a>&nbsp;scored seven of his 15 points the final 8:06 as the Coyotes improved to 14-5, 11-2 in the KCAC.

"You've got to find ways to win these types of games," Monson said. "Sometimes it was like old-school basketball where you just get out of the way and let your best players make plays. You've got to give these guys a ton of credit for not giving up."

It was gargantuan struggle from the get-go, though. Bethel raced to a 16-2 lead out of the gate and had a 40-30 halftime advantage after the Coyotes scored the final four points of the half.

The Threshers appeared to be in control leading 64-52 with just over seven minutes remaining and had a 66-58 advantage with five minutes left, but it all Coyotes the rest of the way.

KWU caught up on the strength of a 10-2 run, Murdock and Bile scoring four points each and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/066b9191-0f2f-4349-ab60-daf2e7155b77?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Alex Littlejohn's</a>&nbsp;basket tying it 68-68 with 2:37 remaining.

A Carmelo Yakubu free throw with 2:05 remaining gave Bethel a 69-68 lead but Bile's follow shot with 26 seconds left gave the Coyotes a 70-69 lead - their first of the game.

After a time out Bethel's Harper Jonas took a 3-point shot from the baseline, but Bile got a hand on it and the ball went out of bounds. After a lengthy review of the video by game officials KWU was awarded the ball with 4.5 seconds left.

Littlejohn was fouled on the inbounds pass and made two free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining for the final points - the Coyotes ending the game on a 14-3 run. Bethel did not score the final 2:05 and was 1 for 8 shooting the final seven minutes.

Bile was 7 of 8 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free throw line to go along with the 12 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

"If he stays out of foul trouble, he's pretty stinking good for us," Monson said.

It took the Coyotes seven minutes to gain their stride at the start. The Threshers led 21-6 with 13½ minutes left in the half after making 8 of their first 9 shots. Backup post player&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/441264de-b515-4e21-9e85-e00bdd076292?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Gabe Phillips</a>&nbsp;helped calm things down by scoring all nine of his points the first half and had eight rebounds in the contest.

Nine turnovers led to 13 Bethel points the first half, but the Coyotes had just five turnovers in the second half that produced six points.

Wesleyan shot 43 percent (24 of 56) for the game but was 4 of 17 from 3-point range. Bethel shot 41.3 percent (23 of 63) - just 37 percent (10 of 27) the final 20 minutes. The Coyotes won the rebounding battle 36-35 after getting outrebounded 20-14 the first half.

Yakubu and Jonas led Bethel (9-10, 6-7 KCAC) with 13 points apiece.

"I'm so happy and so proud of these guys," Monson said. "We weren't at our best but we found a way to win."

KWU plays Friends at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Garvey Center in Wichita in the second game of a three-game road trip. The Falcons (7-11, 4-9 KCAC) lost to Evangel 88-75 Wednesday night in Springfield, Missouri.

NORTH NEWTON - Kansas Wesleyan coach&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ab5d4038-9b5a-4b10-aefa-234bcbf0ed0a?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Anthony Monson</a>&nbsp;succinctly summed it up best."We showed the heart of a champion tonight," he said on his postgame radio show moments after the Coyotes' heart-stopping 72-69 come-from-way-behind Kansas Conference victory over Bethel on Wednesday night inside Thresher Gym.KWU trailed 58-43 with 10½ minutes left but stormed back led by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/76a0f734-eba9-4687-968f-c16e1d4c99dc?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Thurbil Bile</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a75581c6-7109-475e-985e-893a74dfd151?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Jun Murdock</a>. Bile scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the final 10:09 and had a game-best 12 rebounds.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c94ffef6-79d7-4559-8103-a8d60ea321dc?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Jun Murdock</a>&nbsp;scored seven of his 15 points the final 8:06 as the Coyotes improved to 14-5, 11-2 in the KCAC."You've got to find ways to win these types of games," Monson said. "Sometimes it was like old-school basketball where you just get out of the way and let your best players make plays. You've got to give these guys a ton of credit for not giving up."It was gargantuan struggle from the get-go, though. Bethel raced to a 16-2 lead out of the gate and had a 40-30 halftime advantage after the Coyotes scored the final four points of the half.The Threshers appeared to be in control leading 64-52 with just over seven minutes remaining and had a 66-58 advantage with five minutes left, but it all Coyotes the rest of the way.KWU caught up on the strength of a 10-2 run, Murdock and Bile scoring four points each and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/066b9191-0f2f-4349-ab60-daf2e7155b77?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Alex Littlejohn's</a>&nbsp;basket tying it 68-68 with 2:37 remaining.A Carmelo Yakubu free throw with 2:05 remaining gave Bethel a 69-68 lead but Bile's follow shot with 26 seconds left gave the Coyotes a 70-69 lead - their first of the game.After a time out Bethel's Harper Jonas took a 3-point shot from the baseline, but Bile got a hand on it and the ball went out of bounds. After a lengthy review of the video by game officials KWU was awarded the ball with 4.5 seconds left.Littlejohn was fouled on the inbounds pass and made two free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining for the final points - the Coyotes ending the game on a 14-3 run. Bethel did not score the final 2:05 and was 1 for 8 shooting the final seven minutes.Bile was 7 of 8 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free throw line to go along with the 12 rebounds, two blocks and two steals."If he stays out of foul trouble, he's pretty stinking good for us," Monson said.It took the Coyotes seven minutes to gain their stride at the start. The Threshers led 21-6 with 13½ minutes left in the half after making 8 of their first 9 shots. Backup post player&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/441264de-b515-4e21-9e85-e00bdd076292?elinkdata=4090" target="_blank">Gabe Phillips</a>&nbsp;helped calm things down by scoring all nine of his points the first half and had eight rebounds in the contest.Nine turnovers led to 13 Bethel points the first half, but the Coyotes had just five turnovers in the second half that produced six points.Wesleyan shot 43 percent (24 of 56) for the game but was 4 of 17 from 3-point range. Bethel shot 41.3 percent (23 of 63) - just 37 percent (10 of 27) the final 20 minutes. The Coyotes won the rebounding battle 36-35 after getting outrebounded 20-14 the first half.Yakubu and Jonas led Bethel (9-10, 6-7 KCAC) with 13 points apiece."I'm so happy and so proud of these guys," Monson said. "We weren't at our best but we found a way to win."KWU plays Friends at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Garvey Center in Wichita in the second game of a three-game road trip. The Falcons (7-11, 4-9 KCAC) lost to Evangel 88-75 Wednesday night in Springfield, Missouri.

Comeback Coyotes: KWU rallies from 15-point deficit in final 10 minutes beats Bethel 72-69

NORTH NEWTON -&nbsp;It was almost the one that got away.

Fortunately for the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes, it wasn't.

KWU led 37-25 with eight minutes left in the third quarter, but Bethel came back and took a lead in the fourth, but the Coyotes regrouped and retook the lead and hung on for a 63-60 win over the Threshers on Wednesday night at Thresher Gym.

"We will take it. That was the big challenge for us coming off of the weekend (and the loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan), how were we going to respond," Wesleyan head coach&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4b5f6408-ed6d-461b-982b-a4c6357d3a7c?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Ryan Showman</a>&nbsp;said. "We showed our character tonight. We showed who we are and who we can be, and I am just so proud of this team right now."

Bethel took its first lead of the night on a 3-pointer by Josie Stupey with 3:57 left that made it 56-55 Threshers.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2d33b1e1-39fe-447d-ac28-229380ceb6db?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Odessa Ozuna</a>&nbsp;scored for the Coyotes on the next possession to put the Coyotes up 57-56, but again Bethel took the lead with 2:13 left.

Wesleyan got a bucket by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8496b0b5-1653-4a70-a442-7a880fe37607?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Angel Lee</a>&nbsp;to reclaim the lead and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/db7f6730-cf19-4195-8be1-da6158dd5697?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">LaMyah Ricks'</a>&nbsp;bucket with 1:26 left gave the Coyotes a 61-58 cushion. The Threshers got within a point at 61-60, but&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f4a8446a-5904-454c-8071-493e571597e0?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Jill Stephens</a>&nbsp;knocked down a pair of free throws with 12.4 seconds left to put the Coyotes up 63-60.

Bethel took the ball and the Coyote defense nearly had a steal with 2.4 left, but Bethel retained the ball and their shot to tie it was off and the Coyotes held on for the win.

It was a slow start for both teams, as it was 4-2 Coyotes four minutes into the first quarter, but&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c9e2726f-5f21-4f72-af3c-43485a6cc804?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Kourtney Kaufman's</a>&nbsp;3-pointer put the Coyotes up 5 at 7-2 with 5:13 to go in the period. Later free throws by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ce82b873-10be-4483-97da-7d42c2ff4905?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Brooke Strine</a>&nbsp;put KWU up seven at 12-5 and another triple by Kaufman with 1:52 left in the first put KWU up eight at 15-7.

"Kourtney continues to come in and make plays when we need them. She's starting to become more of a regular with that, that's awesome and I love that for her," Showman said. "She is going to keep getting those opportunities as long as she keeps producing."

A pair of&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3a3fcc49-4bdd-46c4-85d6-b0eb61eb1476?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Hampton Williams</a>&nbsp;free throws with 7:07 left in the second put the Coyotes up 25-16. Williams returned to action for the first time since November 18 on Wednesday night, bouncing back from injury.

"We wanted to come in and sprinkle her in a little bit tonight and we were able to do that," Showman said. "She's just going to keep getting better and she's going to help us."Bethel trimmed the Coyote lead to six at the half making it 31-25.

A triple by Stephens and a three-point play by Strine to open the second half put the Coyotes up 37-25 with 9:11 left in the third. The Coyotes couldn't break it open though as Bethel started their rally.

KWU led 47-36 with 3:18 left in the third when the Threshers when on an 8-0 run to cut the difference to three at 47-44 just before the end of the quarter. A bucket by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7e6f126e-dde9-4332-a1e5-cac371827c81?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Catherine Bowman</a>&nbsp;to close the quarter put the Coyotes up five after three quarters.

Bethel tied it at 51 with 7:07 to go, but free throws by Strine kept the lead in favor of the Coyotes and another Strine bucket put the Coyotes up four with 5:05 left before Bethel came back and took the lead with 3:56 left.

Stephens paced the Coyotes with 13 points while Kaufman and Strine had 11 each as KWU was 22 of 58 from the field for 37.9 percent, but knocked down seven 3-pointers and were 12 of 15 at the line in the game. 

The Coyotes also overcame 24 turnovers in the win. Bowman had eight rebounds and Stephens seven to help lead the Coyotes to a 45-31 advantage on the boards.

"I still think our best basketball is ahead of us and this is a great step forward," Showman said.

Wesleyan starts the second half of the KCAC schedule on Saturday, as the Coyotes head to Wichita to take on Friends at 5 p.m. at the Garvey Center. 

Friends won the first match-up 84-61 on November 15 behind a monstrous fourth-quarter performance by the Falcons. Friends beat Evangel 79-69 on Wednesday night in Springfield, Mo.

NORTH NEWTON -&nbsp;It was almost the one that got away.Fortunately for the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes, it wasn't.KWU led 37-25 with eight minutes left in the third quarter, but Bethel came back and took a lead in the fourth, but the Coyotes regrouped and retook the lead and hung on for a 63-60 win over the Threshers on Wednesday night at Thresher Gym."We will take it. That was the big challenge for us coming off of the weekend (and the loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan), how were we going to respond," Wesleyan head coach&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4b5f6408-ed6d-461b-982b-a4c6357d3a7c?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Ryan Showman</a>&nbsp;said. "We showed our character tonight. We showed who we are and who we can be, and I am just so proud of this team right now."Bethel took its first lead of the night on a 3-pointer by Josie Stupey with 3:57 left that made it 56-55 Threshers.&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2d33b1e1-39fe-447d-ac28-229380ceb6db?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Odessa Ozuna</a>&nbsp;scored for the Coyotes on the next possession to put the Coyotes up 57-56, but again Bethel took the lead with 2:13 left.Wesleyan got a bucket by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8496b0b5-1653-4a70-a442-7a880fe37607?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Angel Lee</a>&nbsp;to reclaim the lead and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/db7f6730-cf19-4195-8be1-da6158dd5697?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">LaMyah Ricks'</a>&nbsp;bucket with 1:26 left gave the Coyotes a 61-58 cushion. The Threshers got within a point at 61-60, but&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f4a8446a-5904-454c-8071-493e571597e0?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Jill Stephens</a>&nbsp;knocked down a pair of free throws with 12.4 seconds left to put the Coyotes up 63-60.Bethel took the ball and the Coyote defense nearly had a steal with 2.4 left, but Bethel retained the ball and their shot to tie it was off and the Coyotes held on for the win.It was a slow start for both teams, as it was 4-2 Coyotes four minutes into the first quarter, but&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c9e2726f-5f21-4f72-af3c-43485a6cc804?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Kourtney Kaufman's</a>&nbsp;3-pointer put the Coyotes up 5 at 7-2 with 5:13 to go in the period. Later free throws by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ce82b873-10be-4483-97da-7d42c2ff4905?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Brooke Strine</a>&nbsp;put KWU up seven at 12-5 and another triple by Kaufman with 1:52 left in the first put KWU up eight at 15-7."Kourtney continues to come in and make plays when we need them. She's starting to become more of a regular with that, that's awesome and I love that for her," Showman said. "She is going to keep getting those opportunities as long as she keeps producing."The Coyotes led 17-11 after one period.A pair of&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3a3fcc49-4bdd-46c4-85d6-b0eb61eb1476?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Hampton Williams</a>&nbsp;free throws with 7:07 left in the second put the Coyotes up 25-16. Williams returned to action for the first time since November 18 on Wednesday night, bouncing back from injury."We wanted to come in and sprinkle her in a little bit tonight and we were able to do that," Showman said. "She's just going to keep getting better and she's going to help us."Bethel trimmed the Coyote lead to six at the half making it 31-25.A triple by Stephens and a three-point play by Strine to open the second half put the Coyotes up 37-25 with 9:11 left in the third. The Coyotes couldn't break it open though as Bethel started their rally.KWU led 47-36 with 3:18 left in the third when the Threshers when on an 8-0 run to cut the difference to three at 47-44 just before the end of the quarter. A bucket by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7e6f126e-dde9-4332-a1e5-cac371827c81?elinkdata=4065" target="_blank">Catherine Bowman</a>&nbsp;to close the quarter put the Coyotes up five after three quarters.Bethel tied it at 51 with 7:07 to go, but free throws by Strine kept the lead in favor of the Coyotes and another Strine bucket put the Coyotes up four with 5:05 left before Bethel came back and took the lead with 3:56 left.Stephens paced the Coyotes with 13 points while Kaufman and Strine had 11 each as KWU was 22 of 58 from the field for 37.9 percent, but knocked down seven 3-pointers and were 12 of 15 at the line in the game. The Coyotes also overcame 24 turnovers in the win. Bowman had eight rebounds and Stephens seven to help lead the Coyotes to a 45-31 advantage on the boards."I still think our best basketball is ahead of us and this is a great step forward," Showman said.Wesleyan starts the second half of the KCAC schedule on Saturday, as the Coyotes head to Wichita to take on Friends at 5 p.m. at the Garvey Center. Friends won the first match-up 84-61 on November 15 behind a monstrous fourth-quarter performance by the Falcons. Friends beat Evangel 79-69 on Wednesday night in Springfield, Mo.

Coyote women hold on to beat Bethel 63-60

Q:&nbsp;How do you like competing against Ravens QB Lamar Jackson?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It’s challenging, the way he’s able to just be a competitor and just score the football obviously, then their entire team – it’s a tall task. You have to go out there and play your best football, and if you make any mistakes, it seems like the game’s going to go the other way. We’ve been able to play in a couple of games, not in a few years now, but I’ve admired watching him from afar and know that it’s going to be a great challenge for us every time we go up against him.”

Q:&nbsp;Is there an extra challenge facing a guy like Ravens QB Lamar Jackson who is playing at such a high level?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, he’s going to be the MVP for a reason. He goes out there, he leads his team, he scores, he runs, he throws, he does whatever it takes to win, and that’s what the greats do. Like I said, it will be a great challenge for our defense, but also a great challenge for our offense going against their defense. It’s going to take a full team effort if we want to find a way to get a win.”

Q:&nbsp;Are there parts of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s game that you particularly appreciate?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think the biggest thing you like to see in another quarterback is how they improve every single year. Obviously, everybody has talked about his running, but you can see how he’s developed as a passer. Throwing from within the pocket, arm angles, making the accurate throw in big situations and big moments. That’s what the great quarterbacks do. He continues to get better and better every single year. I knew we were going to play in a lot of games like this as our careers go, and I’m sure this will be the first of many.”

Q:&nbsp;Over the past six years have you taken a moment to appreciate the streak you are on of getting to the AFC Championship game?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“You do after the season. You’re so motivated week in and week out, day in and day out trying to find a way to get to the Super Bowl and obviously trying to find a way to win it. I do have an appreciation for where I ended up and the players I have around me, the coaches that I have around me, and the organization that I’m in and that we are lucky enough to be in this position. That’s stuff you want to look at when you’re done playing, so right now I’m just focused on today and how I can get better.”

Q:&nbsp;It seems like around the league teams have drama among themselves. How has your team been so good at being on the same page all the time?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It’s (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid. The mindset that he comes in the building with every single day and the leadership that he has. He comes in and we’re about ball and we’re having our brothers back, going in there and doing whatever we can to win, but at the same time love each other and get the best we can out of each other every single day on and off the field. That’s kind of the culture I got brought into, so I can’t take claim to that, that’s stuff that he’s had going for a long time.”

Q:&nbsp;This is the first AFC Championship game with two black starting quarterbacks, is how people perceive black quarterbacks something you look at?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think so a little bit, but to me there never was criticisms (of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson), you just cut the tape on and watch him play. I mean the dude won the MVP his first full year starting, and he was throwing the football, he was running the football, he was doing whatever it took to win. I think we’ve started to break through that mold now, the quarterbacks that came before us kind of set the standard and we’ve been able to keep rising the level to hopefully even higher standards and hopefully the kids behind us do the same. I’m glad to see the level he continues to grow (to) and get better and better. Obviously, I don’t want him to play great this weekend, but I am glad to see where he’s gotten to.”

Q:&nbsp;Head Coach Andy Reid said it’s hard to explain the connection between you and Travis Kelce. Why are you guys able to connect so successfully?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think it’s just at the end of the day we want to compete. We want to go out there and win. We don’t care how it’s done, we don’t care if we have a lot of yards, a lot of touchdowns we just want to win. You can see that when you hear him talk, it’s about everyone’s success not just his. I respect that. Like I said he was here before I got here, so I could see that from day one when I stepped in the building. When you have a bunch of guys that really want to win no matter what it takes, no matter who gets the shine, that’s when you get the great football teams.”

Q:&nbsp;What has it been like to be around Travis Kelce this year with all his off the field attention?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Travis (Kelce) has always been Travis at the end of the day. It’s been cool to watch for me because – I mean obviously he has all that attention, but he’s just been himself the whole time. He’s still Travis Kelce. He still will walk through the stadium and treat every single person like they’re his best friend, and he’s going to be like that in the locker room every single day. It hasn’t been any different to me. I’ve come to the building, come to work every single day, and (I’m) lucky enough that I have a lot of great players around me and Travis is one of them.”

Q:&nbsp;What was it like seeing Travis Kelce on Saturday Night Live?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It was really cool. I was sad I didn’t get to make it – I was with one of my best friends growing up, (his) bachelor party that weekend. I was a groomsman in the wedding, so it would have been tough to tell him I couldn’t go (laughter). Being able to watch that, I know it was a dream of his (Travis Kelce). He knows all the skits from guys that have been on Saturday Night Live growing up, and he’s always telling me ones from before I was even born and I’m like, ‘Trav I’m not the same age as you dude, I don’t know what that is (laughter).’ It was definitely something that was a goal of his to just be on the show, but to be able to host it – and he crushed it man. That’s something that hopefully longer down the line, if I can keep hanging him on, that he’ll be able to do more of that type of stuff after he’s done playing football.”

Q:&nbsp;Head Coach Andy Reid says you’ve been willing to teach and work with the guys. Where does that come from and why do you approach it that way?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think it just comes from the guys before me (Former Chiefs QB) Alex Smith is the prime example. He was playing great football at the top level, and he was teaching me at the same time. It’s about trying to make everybody better. We want to win every single week, that’s just how it is in the NFL, but you’re not going to, so all you can do is get better each and every week win or lose. The guys did that, and that’s why we’re sitting in this football game now and we’re going to try to do our best to try to win this game and get better for the Super Bowl after this.”

Q:&nbsp;What is the challenge and process of moving on from the high of an emotional playoff win and moving your focus to the next one?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I’ve learned it just from doing it, having those experiences. Your ultimate goal is to get to the Super Bowl, but it takes a day-by-day process, step-by-step. I’ve just learned you celebrate; you have those emotions and then you come in that Monday, and you wipe it all clean and you go back to game planning again. You really want to celebrate – you hope to have that parade and that’s when you can really celebrate. I try to keep that in the back of guys minds that, ‘Yeah it was awesome, we won the game, we’ll celebrate, we land (and get) off the plane and now we’re moving on to the next week.’”

Q:&nbsp;Most of your life the Patriots dominated the NFL, you have started on the path as the team replacing them. Do you relish that?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“We’ve still got a long way to go, they did it for 20 years. All we can do is take it year in year out, week in week out and every single day. That’s the long goal, to win that many championships and bring those titles to this organization, but all we can do is focus on the Ravens this week and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Q:&nbsp;Can you take us through the mindset when you get the ball at the end of the game and know you just need one first down to end the game?

PACHECO:&nbsp;“Yes, just knowing that situation is extremely important, you (normally) only get those situations in practice and when you rep it and rep it and rep it, when it comes in a game, and it happens it’s like second nature. For us just understand the scheme, understand when you did that in practice before – that’s the mindset of me getting a first down and having the O-line finish on that play.”

Q:&nbsp;Is there special enjoyment when you have situations like that where you get to finish off the game?

PACHECO:&nbsp;“Yeah definitely. It’s a big enjoyment, you won the game right there, it’s all said and done. You don’t have to send the defense back out there to get a punt or just have them back out there. It eliminates that part of the game and is a big win for us.”

Q:&nbsp;Since the Bengals game in Week 17 the offense has gotten better. What changed?

PACHECO:&nbsp;“I’d say the intensity changed, it’s the grit, you could see in the eyes in the huddle and the way they bite their mouth pieces down from the start of practice. When it’s group install, it’s not just group install, it’s the beginning of practice, it’s the beginning of the game. That’s the mindset we have to have because when it’s said and done and the ball is snapped, it’s over.”

Q:&nbsp;How challenging is It going up against Ravens QB Lamar Jackson?

JONES:&nbsp;“He’s an MVP caliber quarterback. He has a good chance of winning MVP this year, that just shows you how dynamic a player he is. That defense is one of the best defenses in the league. I think overall as a team they’re one of the best teams in the league. They’ve showed that throughout the year, how competitive they are against the better teams in the league. Look at a team like San Fran (the 49ers) look at what they did to Miami. They’ve been showing that type of dominance throughout this year, so it’s going to be tough, it’s a challenge, but I’m excited for it.”

Q:&nbsp;Where have you grown mentally in the game over the past few years?

JONES:&nbsp;“I think it’s a week in (and) week (out) thing. Every game has its challenges, its mental challenges that you have to face and also the physical aspect. You’ve got the finesse teams, you’ve got the downhill running teams, and then you’ve got the Baltimore Ravens who can do a little bit of both. They can run the ball, they can pass the ball, they’ve got weapons on the outside, but they also have a dominate offensive line who can just run the ball. I think it’s a great challenge ahead of us. I think we’ll watch a little more film and see what we can do.”

Q:&nbsp;What’s the appreciation level of the fact that you’ve been in the AFC Championship game for six straight years?

JONES:&nbsp;“I think it just goes to show the dedication with the guys in this organization from top to bottom. Whether it’s the coaches, whether it’s the players – I don’t think individuals can get you this far in this league, it takes a team(s) collective effort. I think it’s a lot of dedication, a lot of support and a lot of unselfishness amongst that. A lot of commitment from guys – from the practice squad guys from your role players to your leaders and with that a little luck.”

Q:&nbsp;How crazy was the wind last weekend in Buffalo?

BUTKER:&nbsp;“Yeah, it was tough. The wind wasn’t super intense. I think in the game against the Dolphins, the wind was higher, but the Bills stadium is definitely lower. That wind was coming from the west, I think and because their stadium is so low, we were experiencing all of the wind. If you have a stadium like GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, or a bigger stadium, the wind is coming from way up high, dipping down and swirling more. I haven’t played in a game where there was wind that hard (in) one direction in a while, but I think it was because of the configuration of the stadium. It was tough going that direction. I think Tony Romo mentioned that I had missed short from 51 or 52 (yards) short in warm-ups. We were both struggling, Tyler Bass and myself. Our range going that direction was 48 yards, so 47 was just enough. You can see on the network broadcast that I’m just checking to see if it went over the crossbar, but it did.”

Q:&nbsp;How much have you admired Ravens K Justin Tucker over the course of your career?

BUTKER:&nbsp;“I think (Ravens K Justin) Tucker is on year 12, and I’m on year 7, fact check me, but he’s got more years than I do. I remember when I was in college at least, just on YouTube – I guess probably even senior year of high school, going on YouTube to see his – he posted a workout where he’s in his Texas clothes out in their stadium, hitting 10 kicks in a row, moving the tripod around and just watching his form. Seeing when he replaced (former NFL K) Billy Cundiff for the Ravens and how he came in as a rookie, free agent guy, and really made a big difference for their team. I don’t know what the career field goal percentage was when he came into the league, probably around 86% or so, and boom, he’s up to 90+. He’s stayed there for such a long career, no injuries, he makes it look effortless. I think he’s really changed the kicking game and pushed it forward which is great, so now all of us young kickers, we have someone to look to and say you know it is possible to make these 65-yard field goals and make these big game-winning kicks. It is cool to see a kicker who is kind of an artist, he dances after, he just does a lot of stuff that is very different than most other kickers. He’s done an amazing job in his career.”

Q:&nbsp;Is there anything in particular that you did this season to enhance your kicking game?

BUTKER:&nbsp;“I think it’s a lot of different things that have helped. Physically, I’m feeling really good. I’m prioritizing sleep, family life, it’s going really well with my wife and children. I think there’s a lot of balance when I come into the facilities. When I’m here, I’m able to attack and do my best. I feel like that’s just helped me be consistent. On game day, I think I’ve done a really good job of staying locked in and focused on what I can control, not worrying about anything else. Also, I say this a lot, I can do everything to prepare for the game throughout the week, throughout the offseason, but when I go out there, it really does feel like God can make that ball go in or he can make it not go in. The difference between having a season where you’re at 94% or maybe 84% is just a couple of misses. It could be some freak things that causes the ball to go in or not go in. I’m just very thankful to have made all of those kicks. Again, I don’t think it’s all me, I think there’s something else that’s helping.”

Q:&nbsp;You’ve had some trouble with some low snaps this season. What do you do to try to correct that?

HUMPHREY:&nbsp;“Get extra snaps in during the week, things like that. Just move on to the next play and make sure you’re doing it right the next play.”

Q:&nbsp;What have you guys seen so far from the Ravens’ defensive front?

HUMPHREY:&nbsp;“They’re a great defensive front, they have a great defense, really physical, really aggressive. It’ll be a tough challenge for us, but we’re excited about it and ready to get it rolling.”

Q:&nbsp;Is Ravens DT Justin Madubuike as good of defensive tackle as you’ve seen on film this year?

HUMPHREY:&nbsp;“Yeah, he’s (Ravens DT Justin Madubuike) really talented. He’s really athletic, really strong, great with his hands. He’s a great player.”

Q:&nbsp;You’ve played against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce but now you play alongside of them. What was it like when you did go against them and what is it like now being their teammate?

REID:&nbsp;“It’s a hell of a lot more fun to play with them than it is to play against them, that’s first and foremost. When I was with Houston, we played against Travis (Kelce), and it’s just a tough matchup. Those guys are both so cerebral and smart, played a lot of football and their chemistry is at a level where they’re able to create a lot of routes to where it is almost impossible to defend. You’re playing along with what you see on the tape and when you get to the game and see the same formation, and they do something different, based off what they see and they’re able to get the ball to each other. It’s truly a dynamic and special relationship that those two have, both on the field and off the field. Like I said, it’s a lot more fun to be on this side of it than being the guy to defend it.”

Q:&nbsp;You just faced a running quarterback in Bills QB Josh Allen. How different is Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and how do you guys prepare for that?

REID:&nbsp;“All of them are unique. (Ravens QB) Lamar’s (Jackson) athleticism is second to none. His strength, his power, the way that he’s able to run the ball, his speed to get around the edge and be able to get North and South, all of those things are a big challenge for us, so we’re going to have to have our p’s and q’s knocked out on. Try to contain him in the pocket as much as we can to make sure that we get him on the ground in those times that he does run. He can still make all of the throws like everybody else. When you get to this level of football, all the games are at the highest level that they can possibly be. You’ve got superstar quarterbacks, superstar tight ends. You’ve got skill talent across the board, offensive lines are all physical and aggressive, defenses are good. This is exactly what we want as competitors. It’s a well-coached football team over there. We’re going to need to go match that, dominate in a hostile environment.”

Q:&nbsp;You’ve held teams to 7 points or less in the second half in the last 7 games. What has been the key to success for you guys as a defense with the adjustments you guys make?

REID:&nbsp;“That’s the (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spagnuolo effect. We make adjustments at halftime. We have the players that are able to take in those adjustments. Some of the things we put in, we don’t even practice throughout the week, but it’s just based on what we’ve seen and what we’ve been getting throughout the day, and we put it in, and we go out and execute and good things can happen. We believe in him wholeheartedly; he believes in us and we believe in each other. Nobody goes out there and tries to play hero ball. We just play the defense, play our responsibility with intensity and a little bit of violence, and good things happen.”

Chiefs Quotes 1-24-24

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Milan Momcilovic scored 19 points as No. 23 Iowa State survived a heated game against Kansas State 78-67 on Wednesday night.

Keshon Gilbert added 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Cyclones (15-4, 4-2 Big 12), who improved to 12-0 at home this season. Curtis Jones scored 18 points.

Arthur Kaluma led Kansas State (14-5, 4-2) with 16 points, as the Wildcats slipped from the top of the conference standings.

“Every game is going to be intense,” Jones said. “We've been preparing for that since June.”

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and Kansas State coach Jerome Tang appeared to have a heated exchange during the second half and a prolonged discussion during the postgame handshake line.

“Nothing happened,” Tang said. “We talked about a situation that took place during the game. He (Otzelberger) said he would check into it. I told him thank you and went on.”

Kansas State erased a 14-point, second-half lead by the Cyclones, tying the score on five different occasions. But the Wildcats never went ahead.

“It's so important that you don't relinquish that lead,” Otzelberger said. “Your confidence (grows) as you're out in front or they don't get over that hump.”

Deadlocked at 61, Hason Ward put Iowa State back on top for good with a dunk at the 4:09 mark. A 3-pointer from Jones made it 66-61 with 2:47 remaining.

“That basket gave us a lot of confidence,” Otzelberger said. “The crowd exploded, and we had some margin at that point. So, it was really big.”

Tang was given a technical foul with two minutes remaining, after protesting a foul call.

Momcilovic converted three free throws following the technical and followed with a 3-pointer that pushed Iowa State's lead to 72-62.

“I wasn't trying to get a tech,” Tang said. “I didn't say anything. I just thought it was a bad call and waved my arm. With the intensity of that game and that moment, I would think that we would all be given a little grace.”

Kansas State was sluggish, committing turnovers on each of its first three possessions and missing four of its first five shots. The Wildcats shot just one of eight from 3-point range in the first half.

Play was choppy as the teams were called for a combined 47 fouls and missed a combined 20 free throws.

“It was tough, because of a lot of free throws, a lot of fouls, a lot of stoppage, fans yelling or whatever,” Momcilovic said. “It was tough to really get into a groove.”

Momcilovic hit three of six shots from behind the 3-point arc and made 6 of 8 free throws.

Iowa State, which had won nine of its previous 11 games, benefited from the return of leading scorer Tamin Lipsey, who missed a game with a shoulder injury. Lipsey was averaging 14.5 points per game. He finished with eight points on 2-for-10 shooting Wednesday.

Kansas State was not among the seven Big 12 teams ranked this week, despite being tied atop the conference standings.

Kansas State visits No. 4 Houston on Saturday.

Iowa State hosts No. 7 Kansas on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706181018323.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>AMES, Iowa (AP) — Milan Momcilovic scored 19 points as No. 23 Iowa State survived a heated game against Kansas State 78-67 on Wednesday night.Keshon Gilbert added 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Cyclones (15-4, 4-2 Big 12), who improved to 12-0 at home this season. Curtis Jones scored 18 points.Arthur Kaluma led Kansas State (14-5, 4-2) with 16 points, as the Wildcats slipped from the top of the conference standings.“Every game is going to be intense,” Jones said. “We've been preparing for that since June.”Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and Kansas State coach Jerome Tang appeared to have a heated exchange during the second half and a prolonged discussion during the postgame handshake line.“Nothing happened,” Tang said. “We talked about a situation that took place during the game. He (Otzelberger) said he would check into it. I told him thank you and went on.”Otzelberger also declined to elaborate.Kansas State erased a 14-point, second-half lead by the Cyclones, tying the score on five different occasions. But the Wildcats never went ahead.“It's so important that you don't relinquish that lead,” Otzelberger said. “Your confidence (grows) as you're out in front or they don't get over that hump.”Deadlocked at 61, Hason Ward put Iowa State back on top for good with a dunk at the 4:09 mark. A 3-pointer from Jones made it 66-61 with 2:47 remaining.“That basket gave us a lot of confidence,” Otzelberger said. “The crowd exploded, and we had some margin at that point. So, it was really big.”Tang was given a technical foul with two minutes remaining, after protesting a foul call.Momcilovic converted three free throws following the technical and followed with a 3-pointer that pushed Iowa State's lead to 72-62.“I wasn't trying to get a tech,” Tang said. “I didn't say anything. I just thought it was a bad call and waved my arm. With the intensity of that game and that moment, I would think that we would all be given a little grace.”Kansas State was sluggish, committing turnovers on each of its first three possessions and missing four of its first five shots. The Wildcats shot just one of eight from 3-point range in the first half.Play was choppy as the teams were called for a combined 47 fouls and missed a combined 20 free throws.“It was tough, because of a lot of free throws, a lot of fouls, a lot of stoppage, fans yelling or whatever,” Momcilovic said. “It was tough to really get into a groove.”Momcilovic hit three of six shots from behind the 3-point arc and made 6 of 8 free throws.BIG PICTUREIowa State, which had won nine of its previous 11 games, benefited from the return of leading scorer Tamin Lipsey, who missed a game with a shoulder injury. Lipsey was averaging 14.5 points per game. He finished with eight points on 2-for-10 shooting Wednesday.Kansas State was not among the seven Big 12 teams ranked this week, despite being tied atop the conference standings.UP NEXTKansas State visits No. 4 Houston on Saturday.Iowa State hosts No. 7 Kansas on Saturday.

Momcilovic leads Iowa State over Kansas State 

Sacred Heart was playing its first games since January 5th and although the Knights played well, they left Beloit on Tuesday having been swept.&nbsp;Beloit girls 42, Sacred Heart 31The Lady Knights took advantage of the Trojans'shooting woes and led for the majority of the first half in a close game. Sacred Heart led 6-5 after the first quarter and 17-14 at halftime. Beloit came alive to start the second half and went on a 10-0 run to reclaim the lead. Sacred Heart answered with a 7-0 run of its own to tie the score late in third quarter.&nbsp; Leading 26-24 heading into the final period, Beloit tacked on eight additional points for another 10-0 run that sealed the 42-31 victory.&nbsp;Sacred Heart falls to 5-5 overall and 0-3 in the NCAA league. Beloit boys 88, Sacred Heart 77 (2OT)The boys game looked like a tremendous matchup on paper and it definitely delivered on the court.The first half was reletively close as the Trojans led 12-11 after one quarter and the game was tied 25-25 at halftime. Sacred Heart then led 40-36 heading into the final period.&nbsp;The Knights were up by double-figures early in the fourth quarter, but the Trojans wouldn't stop fighting.&nbsp; Sacred Heart began missing free throws and Beloit caught fire offensively. In the waning moments of regulation, the Trojans tied the score at 61-61.A tight first overtime wasn't enough to settle this game, the teams would go a second extra session tied at 68-68. Beloit put the game away by opening on a 13-0 run and claimed victory with an 88-77 final score.&nbsp;Sacred Heart is now 9-1 overall and 2-1 in the NCAA league.The Knights now turn their attention to a non-league matchup as they'll return home to take on Hutch Trinity Friday night.

Pregame is scheduled for&nbsp;5:50 pm&nbsp;with the girls tipoff&nbsp;at 6pm&nbsp;and the boys to follow. The games can be seen and heard on&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/" target="_blank">salinapost.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692978564223.png" alt="Sacred Heart Knights Logo" />
 <figcaption>Sacred Heart Knights Logo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY ADAM COULTERSalina Post ContributorSacred Heart was playing its first games since January 5th and although the Knights played well, they left Beloit on Tuesday having been swept.&nbsp;Beloit girls 42, Sacred Heart 31The Lady Knights took advantage of the Trojans'shooting woes and led for the majority of the first half in a close game. Sacred Heart led 6-5 after the first quarter and 17-14 at halftime. Beloit came alive to start the second half and went on a 10-0 run to reclaim the lead. Sacred Heart answered with a 7-0 run of its own to tie the score late in third quarter.&nbsp; Leading 26-24 heading into the final period, Beloit tacked on eight additional points for another 10-0 run that sealed the 42-31 victory.&nbsp;Sacred Heart falls to 5-5 overall and 0-3 in the NCAA league. Beloit boys 88, Sacred Heart 77 (2OT)The boys game looked like a tremendous matchup on paper and it definitely delivered on the court.The first half was reletively close as the Trojans led 12-11 after one quarter and the game was tied 25-25 at halftime. Sacred Heart then led 40-36 heading into the final period.&nbsp;The Knights were up by double-figures early in the fourth quarter, but the Trojans wouldn't stop fighting.&nbsp; Sacred Heart began missing free throws and Beloit caught fire offensively. In the waning moments of regulation, the Trojans tied the score at 61-61.A tight first overtime wasn't enough to settle this game, the teams would go a second extra session tied at 68-68. Beloit put the game away by opening on a 13-0 run and claimed victory with an 88-77 final score.&nbsp;Sacred Heart is now 9-1 overall and 2-1 in the NCAA league.The Knights now turn their attention to a non-league matchup as they'll return home to take on Hutch Trinity Friday night.Pregame is scheduled for&nbsp;5:50 pm&nbsp;with the girls tipoff&nbsp;at 6pm&nbsp;and the boys to follow. The games can be seen and heard on&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/" target="_blank">salinapost.com</a>.

Sacred Heart boys lose to Beloit in double OT; Beloit girls secure win

Following a 2-2 week, the Kansas Wesleyan basketball teams will take to the road, where they will spend the next three games away from Mabee Arena.

The first of these matchups will take place tonight at Bethel College, with the women's game set to begin at 6:00.

Women's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (9-9, 7-5), Bethel (6-12, 6-6)

Men's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (13-5, 10-2), Bethel (8-9, 6-6)

Both games can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM locally or online at 910kina.com). Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson will have the call with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM.

Following a 2-2 week, the Kansas Wesleyan basketball teams will take to the road, where they will spend the next three games away from Mabee Arena.The first of these matchups will take place tonight at Bethel College, with the women's game set to begin at 6:00.Women's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (9-9, 7-5), Bethel (6-12, 6-6)<ul>
 <li>The Coyotes have won three straight and 12 of 14 against Bethel. They won 84-63 in Mabee Arena and 70-62 in North Newton last season. KWU has a whopping 31-5 advantage since December, 2005.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The Threshers lost both of their games last week - 66-51 to Evangel Wednesday in Springfield, Mo. and 77-67 to Friends on Saturday in Wichita. Bethel has rebounded after losing its first five games of the season.</li><li>Freshman Kendall Locke is the leading scorer (14.2) and has surpassed 20 points in four of her last five games including 22 against Evangel and 21 against Friends. She also averages a team-high 5.1 rebounds. Junior Natalie Richards averages 11.7 points and freshman Madyson McKinzie 11.5.</li><li>Bethel averages 69 points and allows 76.6. Rebounding and turnovers have been issues: opponents average nearly eight rebounds a game more (7.7) than the Threshers and they are averaging 17.3 turnovers.</li>
 </ul>Men's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (13-5, 10-2), Bethel (8-9, 6-6)<ul>
 <li>The Coyotes have won the last two games against Bethel but are 5-5 with the Threshers in the last 10. KWU won 77-58 in Mabee Arena in November, 2022 and 79-62 last January. The Coyotes have a 22-13 edge since December, 2005.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The Threshers defeated Friends 62-43 Saturday in Wichita, edning a two-game skid that came against Oklahoma Wesleyan and Evangel. They're 4-3 second semester and are 5-2 inside Thresher Gym this season.</li><li>Bethel features a balanced scoring attack led by senior guards Keyaun Hoskin (13.3) and Nick Bonner (13.1) and sophomore guard Carmelo Yakubu (12.5). Bonner has a team-best 35 made 3-pointers and Hoskin averages a team-high 5.9 rebounds.</li><li>Bethel averages 73 points and allows 73.6. The Threshers are shooting 43 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range. Opponents are shooting 43 percent overall and 33 percent from long range.</li>
 </ul>Live CoverageBoth games can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM locally or online at 910kina.com). Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson will have the call with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM.

Coyotes Open Three-Game Road Stretch at Bethel College

Submitted JRI Hospitality&nbsp;is pleased to name Ken Stonebraker as its 2024 JRI Hall of Fame Recipient. The award will be officially bestowed upon the honoree at a reception held&nbsp;at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25&nbsp;at the Salina Country Club located at&nbsp;2101 E. Country Club Rd.

“We are extremely proud to name Ken Stonebraker as our&nbsp;2024 JRI Hall of Fame Recipient,” says Jason Ingermanson, founder and CEO of JRI Hospitality. “For decades, Mr. Stonebraker has made an outstanding impact on our community’s youth through education and sports. He continues to use his knowledge and talent to serve as a leader and to inspire others to take the lead.”&nbsp;

Ken Stonebraker has been immersed in the Salina community for decades, serving as a social studies teacher at Salina South High School from 1992 to 2007. During his tenure, he also served as the school’s assistant football coach (1992-1993), the assistant track coach (1994-2001), and the head football coach (1994-2007). From 2007 to 2022 he took on the role of athletic director.&nbsp;

Leading his teams to many victories throughout his career, Stonebraker has been recognized for his achievements by a multitude of organizations. He will be inducted into the Kansas Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2024 and was named Athletic Director of the Year and District 1 Athletic Director of the Year in 2016 by the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (KIAAA).

He served on the KIAAA Board of Directors from 2011 to 2015 and the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Board of Directors from 2016 to 2021. He also sat on the KSHSAA Football Committee on Contact Limitations in 2012 and the KSHSAA Classification Study Recommendation Committee in 2021.

The JRI Hall of Fame Award was developed to honor those who have made a significant contribution to youth sports and the Salina community as a whole. Recipients demonstrate a high level of leadership, teamwork,&nbsp;organization&nbsp;and accomplishment in inspiring the lives they touch.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706113049822.jpeg" alt="JRI" />
 <figcaption>JRI</figcaption>
 </figure>Submitted JRI Hospitality&nbsp;is pleased to name Ken Stonebraker as its 2024 JRI Hall of Fame Recipient. The award will be officially bestowed upon the honoree at a reception held&nbsp;at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25&nbsp;at the Salina Country Club located at&nbsp;2101 E. Country Club Rd.“We are extremely proud to name Ken Stonebraker as our&nbsp;2024 JRI Hall of Fame Recipient,” says Jason Ingermanson, founder and CEO of JRI Hospitality. “For decades, Mr. Stonebraker has made an outstanding impact on our community’s youth through education and sports. He continues to use his knowledge and talent to serve as a leader and to inspire others to take the lead.”&nbsp;Ken Stonebraker has been immersed in the Salina community for decades, serving as a social studies teacher at Salina South High School from 1992 to 2007. During his tenure, he also served as the school’s assistant football coach (1992-1993), the assistant track coach (1994-2001), and the head football coach (1994-2007). From 2007 to 2022 he took on the role of athletic director.&nbsp;Leading his teams to many victories throughout his career, Stonebraker has been recognized for his achievements by a multitude of organizations. He will be inducted into the Kansas Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2024 and was named Athletic Director of the Year and District 1 Athletic Director of the Year in 2016 by the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (KIAAA).He served on the KIAAA Board of Directors from 2011 to 2015 and the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Board of Directors from 2016 to 2021. He also sat on the KSHSAA Football Committee on Contact Limitations in 2012 and the KSHSAA Classification Study Recommendation Committee in 2021.The JRI Hall of Fame Award was developed to honor those who have made a significant contribution to youth sports and the Salina community as a whole. Recipients demonstrate a high level of leadership, teamwork,&nbsp;organization&nbsp;and accomplishment in inspiring the lives they touch.

JRI Hospitality Announces 2024 JRI Hall of Fame Recipient

Kansas Wesleyan Coaches&nbsp;Show 6 PM - (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Chiefs Kingdom Show 7 PM - (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Sacred Heart vs. Beloit Basketball&nbsp;&nbsp; - Audio and Video on Salina Post - Girls game 6 PM - Boys game 7:30

Kansas Wesleyan basketball at Bethel College, North Newton, KS&nbsp;&nbsp; - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Pregame Show 5:30 PM - WBB 6 PM - MBB 8 PM

Southeast of Saline vs. Clay Center Basketball - Audio on 910AM/107.5FM and 910KINA.com - Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show 5:45 PM - Girls game 6 PM - Boys game 7:30 PM

Southeast of Saline vs. Ellsworth Basketball - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show&nbsp; 5:45 PM - Girls game 6 PM - Boys game 6 PM

Sacred Heart vs. Hutchinson Trinity Basketball - Audio and Video on Salina Post - Girls game 6 PM - Boys game 7:30 PM

KINA Scoreboard Show 10 pm - Audio on 910Am/107.5fm and 910KINA.com

Kansas Wesleyan University at Friends University, Wichita KS&nbsp;&nbsp; - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Pregame Show 5:30 PM - WBB 6 PM - MBB 8 PM

MRN Nascar Live 10 PM - Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KINA.COM</a>

<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank"></a>PRN&nbsp; The Pit Reporters 11 PM - Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KINA.COM</a>

KC Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens, AFC Championship Game - Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KINA.COM</a> - Pregame noon - Kickoff 2 PM

MondayKansas Wesleyan Coaches&nbsp;Show 6 PM - (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Chiefs Kingdom Show 7 PM - (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)TuesdaySacred Heart vs. Beloit Basketball&nbsp;&nbsp; - Audio and Video on Salina Post - Girls game 6 PM - Boys game 7:30WednesdayKansas Wesleyan basketball at Bethel College, North Newton, KS&nbsp;&nbsp; - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Pregame Show 5:30 PM - WBB 6 PM - MBB 8 PMThursdaySoutheast of Saline vs. Clay Center Basketball - Audio on 910AM/107.5FM and 910KINA.com - Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show 5:45 PM - Girls game 6 PM - Boys game 7:30 PMFridaySoutheast of Saline vs. Ellsworth Basketball - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show&nbsp; 5:45 PM - Girls game 6 PM - Boys game 6 PMSacred Heart vs. Hutchinson Trinity Basketball - Audio and Video on Salina Post - Girls game 6 PM - Boys game 7:30 PM KINA Scoreboard Show 10 pm - Audio on 910Am/107.5fm and 910KINA.comSaturday&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan University at Friends University, Wichita KS&nbsp;&nbsp; - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Pregame Show 5:30 PM - WBB 6 PM - MBB 8 PMMRN Nascar Live 10 PM - Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KINA.COM</a><a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank"></a>PRN&nbsp; The Pit Reporters 11 PM - Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KINA.COM</a>SundayKC Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens, AFC Championship Game - Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KINA.COM</a> - Pregame noon - Kickoff 2 PM

KINA Sports Schedule

BY ADAM COULTER Salina Post Contributor

After playing three games in four nights to start the new year, the Sacred Heart Knights took a long, unexpected break. The Knights weren't scheduled to be in a midseason tournament, but the weather also postponed two additional games. As a result, Sacred Heart will be back on the floor Tuesday for the first time in 18 days.

Girl's game: Sacred Heart (5-4, 0-2) vs. Beloit (7-4, 2-1)

"The lay off is a blessing and a curse," said Sacred Heart Girls Head Coach Carl Hines. "It allowed us to rest and heal. Anytime you don't play in January for about 3 weeks it's not a normal so we need to shake the rust off as quick as possible."

The Sacred Heart girls expect a tough matchup with Beloit especially being on the road.

"Beloit is big, physical and well-coached," Coach Hines continued. "They will try to beat us up on the inside. It will be a typical dogfight of a league game on the road. "We have to match their physicality to give ourselves a chance at the end."

Tip-off for the girl’s game is set for 6:00 pm from Beloit.

Boy's game: Sacred Heart (9-0, 2-0) vs. Beloit (10-1, 3-0)

The Sacred Heart boys remain unbeaten at 9-0 as they face a tough Beloit team alongside them at the top of the NCAA league standings. The only blemish on the Trojans' record is a tournament loss on January 20 to 6A Olathe North.

Tip-off for the boy’s game is set for 7:30 pm from Beloit.

Broadcast Information - Live Stream: Salina Post - Pregame: 5:40 p.m.

BY ADAM COULTER Salina Post ContributorAfter playing three games in four nights to start the new year, the Sacred Heart Knights took a long, unexpected break. The Knights weren't scheduled to be in a midseason tournament, but the weather also postponed two additional games. As a result, Sacred Heart will be back on the floor Tuesday for the first time in 18 days.Girl's game: Sacred Heart (5-4, 0-2) vs. Beloit (7-4, 2-1)"The lay off is a blessing and a curse," said Sacred Heart Girls Head Coach Carl Hines. "It allowed us to rest and heal. Anytime you don't play in January for about 3 weeks it's not a normal so we need to shake the rust off as quick as possible."The Sacred Heart girls expect a tough matchup with Beloit especially being on the road."Beloit is big, physical and well-coached," Coach Hines continued. "They will try to beat us up on the inside. It will be a typical dogfight of a league game on the road. "We have to match their physicality to give ourselves a chance at the end."Tip-off for the girl’s game is set for 6:00 pm from Beloit.Boy's game: Sacred Heart (9-0, 2-0) vs. Beloit (10-1, 3-0)The Sacred Heart boys remain unbeaten at 9-0 as they face a tough Beloit team alongside them at the top of the NCAA league standings. The only blemish on the Trojans' record is a tournament loss on January 20 to 6A Olathe North.Tip-off for the boy’s game is set for 7:30 pm from Beloit.Broadcast Information - Live Stream: Salina Post - Pregame: 5:40 p.m.