There was a time earlier this season when the second half of a game was a cause for trepidation for Kansas Wesleyan's football team.

That has changed of late and Saturday afternoon was a prime example. Leading 7-0 at halftime the Coyotes scored 16 unanswered points in the third quarter and cruised to a 23-3 Kansas Conference and Gene Bissell Division victory over Sterling at Smisor Stadium.

They ended the regular season with their fifth consecutive victory and a 7-4 record, 5-0 in the division. They'll learn who and where they play in the first round of the NAIA Championship at 6 p.m. Sunday when the pairings are announced.

"Things drastically changed the second half," interim co-head coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ef0e8341-4f91-4ac7-a637-f8977014f3d9?elinkdata=15412">Chris Snyder</a> said on the postgame radio show. "The defense really picked it up and offensively we got some things going. It's good when your older guys acknowledge that we did not get off the bus ready to play.

"They responded at halftime, and they realized we can't keep sleepwalking through this. You saw a better overall performance the second half."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/87387747-cd22-4e04-9ada-2c846e493170?elinkdata=15412">Luke Armstrong</a>, the KCAC's leading rusher, had still another enormous game rushing for 163 yards on 19 carries (8.4 per carry) and two touchdowns. His 71-yard scoring gallop on KWU's second play from scrimmage gave the Coyotes a quick 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

The game settled into a defensive battle punctuated by a flurry of penalties and Wesleyan maintained the touchdown advantage going into intermission.

The Coyotes got the ball to start the second half and working with a strong south wind at their backs drove 56 yards on eight plays - the final 37 yards on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/98ddc4ed-788d-4929-bf2f-9fc39ce06ac6?elinkdata=15412">Byron McNair's</a> pinpoint pass to <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6b7dd958-3e53-418e-9302-659c16baa6f5?elinkdata=15412">Earl Gray</a> down the left sideline. Gray caught the ball inside the 10-yard line and battled a defender into the end zone with 11:46 left in the third quarter making it 14-0.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f29e67dd-12da-4f3f-b42a-b303b99d9e37?elinkdata=15412">Jordan Diggins</a> stripped sacked Sterling quarterback Rocklin Baptista on the Warriors' first possession of the second half and returned it 18 yards to the SC 10. KWU had to settle for Cope's 22-yard field goal, though, and led 17-0 with 9:31 left in the third.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8f2d7991-657a-4e1e-9dbe-8b8db0bea55e?elinkdata=15412">Jamison Price</a> intercepted a Baptista pass on Sterling's next possession and returned it to the Warriors' 45-yard line. Armstrong scored again nine plays later, this time from the 5, making it 23-0 with 3:40 left in the third. Cope's PAT kick was blocked.

Wesleyan's defense did the rest in impressive fashion. The Warriors scored on James Henisey's 29-yard field goal with 1:12 left in the game.

Sterling finished with 230 total yards, just 61 rushing on 47 attempts - 1.3 per carry. The Coyotes stopped the Warriors on downs three times, registered six sacks, had two interceptions, and recovered a fumble.

Linebacker <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7aa2f50e-26e4-4d36-aee2-aece8e0febc4?elinkdata=15412">Myles Elam</a> led the way once again with 10 tackles that included 2.5 for losses. Diggins, an interior lineman, had nine tackles and linebacker <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7f8bd181-19be-4b05-8bab-40e8afd7aecd?elinkdata=15412">Daniel Cabrera</a> eight.

The one downer was 13 penalties for 132 yards. Sterling had 10 for 78 yards.

"I was proud of the kids the way they handled things on the sideline today with the slow start," Snyder said. "You aren't hearing anything really negative other than 'hey, we've got to pick it up and don't settle for field goals.' It's been an adversity push the last couple of weeks and the kids have handled it well."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/141f7eb2-2b66-4352-a64e-a3fd6e42ef61?elinkdata=15412">Byron McNair</a> took most of the snaps at quarterback and was 9 of 18 passing for 127 yards and no interceptions. Gray had four catches for 63 yards and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/218fe502-06b9-410e-8ab8-fe2d813f8585?elinkdata=15412">Zarek Fewell</a> added 47 yards rushing on eight carries.

Sterling's three quarterbacks were a combined 14 of 34 for 169 yards.

"I thought (McNair) played pretty well," Snyder said. "You have to stay ahead of the (first down) chains, not falling behind, and you can't have the negative plays. I don't feel like the last couple of weeks we've been in a whole lot of third and 10s, third and forever. Everything's been manageable."

First-round playoff games will be next Saturday. The Coyotes' last postseason appearance was in 2021.

There was a time earlier this season when the second half of a game was a cause for trepidation for Kansas Wesleyan's football team.That has changed of late and Saturday afternoon was a prime example. Leading 7-0 at halftime the Coyotes scored 16 unanswered points in the third quarter and cruised to a 23-3 Kansas Conference and Gene Bissell Division victory over Sterling at Smisor Stadium.They ended the regular season with their fifth consecutive victory and a 7-4 record, 5-0 in the division. They'll learn who and where they play in the first round of the NAIA Championship at 6 p.m. Sunday when the pairings are announced."Things drastically changed the second half," interim co-head coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ef0e8341-4f91-4ac7-a637-f8977014f3d9?elinkdata=15412">Chris Snyder</a> said on the postgame radio show. "The defense really picked it up and offensively we got some things going. It's good when your older guys acknowledge that we did not get off the bus ready to play."They responded at halftime, and they realized we can't keep sleepwalking through this. You saw a better overall performance the second half."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/87387747-cd22-4e04-9ada-2c846e493170?elinkdata=15412">Luke Armstrong</a>, the KCAC's leading rusher, had still another enormous game rushing for 163 yards on 19 carries (8.4 per carry) and two touchdowns. His 71-yard scoring gallop on KWU's second play from scrimmage gave the Coyotes a quick 7-0 lead in the first quarter.The game settled into a defensive battle punctuated by a flurry of penalties and Wesleyan maintained the touchdown advantage going into intermission.The Coyotes got the ball to start the second half and working with a strong south wind at their backs drove 56 yards on eight plays - the final 37 yards on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/98ddc4ed-788d-4929-bf2f-9fc39ce06ac6?elinkdata=15412">Byron McNair's</a> pinpoint pass to <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6b7dd958-3e53-418e-9302-659c16baa6f5?elinkdata=15412">Earl Gray</a> down the left sideline. Gray caught the ball inside the 10-yard line and battled a defender into the end zone with 11:46 left in the third quarter making it 14-0.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f29e67dd-12da-4f3f-b42a-b303b99d9e37?elinkdata=15412">Jordan Diggins</a> stripped sacked Sterling quarterback Rocklin Baptista on the Warriors' first possession of the second half and returned it 18 yards to the SC 10. KWU had to settle for Cope's 22-yard field goal, though, and led 17-0 with 9:31 left in the third.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8f2d7991-657a-4e1e-9dbe-8b8db0bea55e?elinkdata=15412">Jamison Price</a> intercepted a Baptista pass on Sterling's next possession and returned it to the Warriors' 45-yard line. Armstrong scored again nine plays later, this time from the 5, making it 23-0 with 3:40 left in the third. Cope's PAT kick was blocked.Wesleyan's defense did the rest in impressive fashion. The Warriors scored on James Henisey's 29-yard field goal with 1:12 left in the game.Sterling finished with 230 total yards, just 61 rushing on 47 attempts - 1.3 per carry. The Coyotes stopped the Warriors on downs three times, registered six sacks, had two interceptions, and recovered a fumble.Linebacker <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7aa2f50e-26e4-4d36-aee2-aece8e0febc4?elinkdata=15412">Myles Elam</a> led the way once again with 10 tackles that included 2.5 for losses. Diggins, an interior lineman, had nine tackles and linebacker <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7f8bd181-19be-4b05-8bab-40e8afd7aecd?elinkdata=15412">Daniel Cabrera</a> eight.The one downer was 13 penalties for 132 yards. Sterling had 10 for 78 yards."I was proud of the kids the way they handled things on the sideline today with the slow start," Snyder said. "You aren't hearing anything really negative other than 'hey, we've got to pick it up and don't settle for field goals.' It's been an adversity push the last couple of weeks and the kids have handled it well."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/141f7eb2-2b66-4352-a64e-a3fd6e42ef61?elinkdata=15412">Byron McNair</a> took most of the snaps at quarterback and was 9 of 18 passing for 127 yards and no interceptions. Gray had four catches for 63 yards and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/218fe502-06b9-410e-8ab8-fe2d813f8585?elinkdata=15412">Zarek Fewell</a> added 47 yards rushing on eight carries.Sterling's three quarterbacks were a combined 14 of 34 for 169 yards."I thought (McNair) played pretty well," Snyder said. "You have to stay ahead of the (first down) chains, not falling behind, and you can't have the negative plays. I don't feel like the last couple of weeks we've been in a whole lot of third and 10s, third and forever. Everything's been manageable."First-round playoff games will be next Saturday. The Coyotes' last postseason appearance was in 2021.

🏈 Coyotes beat Sterling 23-3 to claim outright Bissell Division title

PROVO, Utah (AP) — Jalon Daniels threw for 169 yards, Dylan Neal ran for two touchdowns and Kansas upset No. 7 BYU 17-13 on Saturday night to hand the Cougars their first loss of the season.

The Jayhawks (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) beat ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks for the first time in school history and improved to 3-0 against the Cougars. Neal surpassed 4,000 yards rushing in his career, finishing with 52 yards on the ground.

The victory over BYU kept alive hopes of Kansas qualifying for a bowl game for a third consecutive season following a 1-5 start.

“I feel like our team has always done a great job being able to stay the course,” Daniels said. “I feel like a big staple within our program is being able to trust the process.”

Jake Retzlaff threw for 192 yards for BYU (9-1, 6-1, No. 6 College Football Playoffs). LJ Martin ran for 76 yards for the Cougars, who were held to a field goal in the second half.

BYU totaled 354 yards but went just 2 of 4 in the red zone and came away with no touchdowns on all four drives inside the 20.

“They had a really good game plan,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “Looking at the stats, we just didn’t make enough plays and (made) way too many mistakes to come out with the victory. “

Trailing 13-10 entering the fourth quarter, Kansas went ahead on Neal’s 3-yard run.

Daniels quick-kicked on fourth-and-14 when the drive stalled at BYU’s 36. His kick deflected off Evan Johnson’s helmet and when Jakob Robinson dove to secure it, the ball squirted out of his arms. Quentin Skinner pounced on the loose ball at the 3 to set up the go-ahead score.

“We found a way this time,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said.

BYU drove to the Kansas 15 with two minutes left. The Cougars stalled on offense coming out of the two-minute timeout. They gained four total yards on three straight runs and a false start penalty backed them up to the 16. BYU turned it over on downs with 46 seconds left when Chase Roberts was tackled 3 yards short of a first down.

“We had all the confidence in the world in our defense to be able to go out there and make a stop,” Daniels said.

Both teams scored a touchdown in the first half. Kansas took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive following Neal’s 7-yard burst up the middle. BYU went ahead 10-7 in the second quarter on a 30-yard strike along the sideline from Retzlaff to Hinckley Ropati.

The Cougars had a chance at another go-ahead score before halftime when they drove 70 yards over a minute down to Kansas 5. Mello Dotson intercepted Retzlaff in the end zone on a fade route to keep BYU from putting another touchdown on the board.

“We can’t score in the red zone,” Roberts said. “I feel like we struggled a little bit in practice this week in the red zone, and it carries over. You got to lock in. You got to be prepared when you come out and play a good team like Kansas.”

Kansas: The Jayhawks took care of the ball and made smart decisions against an opportunistic BYU defense that ultimately forced only one turnover.

BYU: A turnover prevented a potential go-ahead score before halftime. A second one led to a late Kansas lead.

BYU opened the third quarter with a 17-play drive that covered 66 yards and took 10:26 off the clock. The drive culminated in a 35-yard field goal from Will Ferrin that ended up being the Cougars' only second-half points.

“It didn’t seem like it was going to ever end,” Leipold said. “That might be one of the longest drives I’ve seen in my career. 17 plays. But to hold them to that field goal was huge.”

BYU will likely drop out of the Top 10 following its first loss.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731816623983.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>PROVO, Utah (AP) — Jalon Daniels threw for 169 yards, Dylan Neal ran for two touchdowns and Kansas upset No. 7 BYU 17-13 on Saturday night to hand the Cougars their first loss of the season.The Jayhawks (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) beat ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks for the first time in school history and improved to 3-0 against the Cougars. Neal surpassed 4,000 yards rushing in his career, finishing with 52 yards on the ground.The victory over BYU kept alive hopes of Kansas qualifying for a bowl game for a third consecutive season following a 1-5 start.“I feel like our team has always done a great job being able to stay the course,” Daniels said. “I feel like a big staple within our program is being able to trust the process.”Jake Retzlaff threw for 192 yards for BYU (9-1, 6-1, No. 6 College Football Playoffs). LJ Martin ran for 76 yards for the Cougars, who were held to a field goal in the second half.BYU totaled 354 yards but went just 2 of 4 in the red zone and came away with no touchdowns on all four drives inside the 20.“They had a really good game plan,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “Looking at the stats, we just didn’t make enough plays and (made) way too many mistakes to come out with the victory. “Trailing 13-10 entering the fourth quarter, Kansas went ahead on Neal’s 3-yard run.Daniels quick-kicked on fourth-and-14 when the drive stalled at BYU’s 36. His kick deflected off Evan Johnson’s helmet and when Jakob Robinson dove to secure it, the ball squirted out of his arms. Quentin Skinner pounced on the loose ball at the 3 to set up the go-ahead score.“We found a way this time,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said.BYU drove to the Kansas 15 with two minutes left. The Cougars stalled on offense coming out of the two-minute timeout. They gained four total yards on three straight runs and a false start penalty backed them up to the 16. BYU turned it over on downs with 46 seconds left when Chase Roberts was tackled 3 yards short of a first down.“We had all the confidence in the world in our defense to be able to go out there and make a stop,” Daniels said.Both teams scored a touchdown in the first half. Kansas took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive following Neal’s 7-yard burst up the middle. BYU went ahead 10-7 in the second quarter on a 30-yard strike along the sideline from Retzlaff to Hinckley Ropati.The Cougars had a chance at another go-ahead score before halftime when they drove 70 yards over a minute down to Kansas 5. Mello Dotson intercepted Retzlaff in the end zone on a fade route to keep BYU from putting another touchdown on the board.“We can’t score in the red zone,” Roberts said. “I feel like we struggled a little bit in practice this week in the red zone, and it carries over. You got to lock in. You got to be prepared when you come out and play a good team like Kansas.”<h2>Takeaways</h2>Kansas: The Jayhawks took care of the ball and made smart decisions against an opportunistic BYU defense that ultimately forced only one turnover.BYU: A turnover prevented a potential go-ahead score before halftime. A second one led to a late Kansas lead.<h2>Longest yards</h2>BYU opened the third quarter with a 17-play drive that covered 66 yards and took 10:26 off the clock. The drive culminated in a 35-yard field goal from Will Ferrin that ended up being the Cougars' only second-half points.“It didn’t seem like it was going to ever end,” Leipold said. “That might be one of the longest drives I’ve seen in my career. 17 plays. But to hold them to that field goal was huge.”<h2>Poll implications</h2>BYU will likely drop out of the Top 10 following its first loss.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas: Hosts Colorado on Saturday.

🏈 Kansas upsets BYU handing the Cougars their first loss of the season

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Sam Leavitt threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, Jordyn Tyson had 12 catches for 176 yards and two of the scores, and Arizona State held off No. 16 Kansas State 24-14 on Saturday night in the Sun Devils' first trip to their new Big 12 rival.

Cam Skattebo returned from an injury to run for 73 yards, and the Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2) built a 21-0 halftime lead, before Kenny Dillingham's team held on for a third straight win to remain in contention for the Big 12 championship game.

Avery Johnson threw for 258 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown run for Kansas State (7-3, 4-3, No. 16 CFP), which had been 4-0 at home this season and 15-3 over the past three. D.J. Giddens ran for 133 yards and Joe Jackson had a TD run.

The bumbling Wildcats, who turned the ball over three times and failed to get the snap down on two field-goal tries, sure didn't look like a conference title contender that had last week off to prepare for the Sun Devils.

Johnson was picked off on the second play of the game, and Arizona State marched 49 yards with Leavitt hitting Tyson for the touchdown. On the next series, Dylan Edwards and Giddens were stuffed on consecutive carries, giving the Sun Devils the ball back on downs. And on the Wildcats' third series, Jayce Brown fumbled the ball away after a catch.

Arizona State capitalized on all the mistakes. Leavitt found Tyson for the second time from 30 yards out for a 14-0 lead, then hit wide open Chamon Metayer from 16 yards out to make it 21-0 early in the second quarter.

The cacophony of errors continued for the Wildcats: They had a 67-yard TD reception negated when offensive lineman Andrew Leingang blocked too far downfield. Johnson overthrew wide open Ty Bowman on a would-be 69-yard connection. And with first-and-goal at the Arizona State 5, they not only failed to get into the end zone but fumbled away the field-goal snap.

Arizona State headed to halftime serenaded by the sound of Kansas State fans booing their own team.

The Wildcats tried to rally late, beginning with Johnson's touchdown with 2:51 left in the third quarter. They got the ball back and needed just 1:19 to score again and convert the 2-point conversion. But the Sun Devils picked up a couple of first downs on their next possession, running enough clock to make Kansas State's comeback bid nearly impossible.

The Wildcats muffed one last field-goal try with just over 2 minutes left that would have made it a one-possession game.

Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 but is very much alive in the title chase. The Sun Devils face seven-ranked BYU, which along with No. 17 Colorado is ahead of them in the standings, at home next week.

Kansas State's Big 12 title chances essentially ended thanks to two straight dismal halves. The Wildcats allowed Houston to rally from a 19-10 second-half deficit in a 24-19 loss, then dug a first-half hole Saturday night that was far too deep.

Arizona State has a showdown with BYU on Saturday.

Kansas State plays its home finale Saturday against Cincinnati.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731815106446.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Sam Leavitt threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, Jordyn Tyson had 12 catches for 176 yards and two of the scores, and Arizona State held off No. 16 Kansas State 24-14 on Saturday night in the Sun Devils' first trip to their new Big 12 rival.Cam Skattebo returned from an injury to run for 73 yards, and the Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2) built a 21-0 halftime lead, before Kenny Dillingham's team held on for a third straight win to remain in contention for the Big 12 championship game.Avery Johnson threw for 258 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown run for Kansas State (7-3, 4-3, No. 16 CFP), which had been 4-0 at home this season and 15-3 over the past three. D.J. Giddens ran for 133 yards and Joe Jackson had a TD run.The bumbling Wildcats, who turned the ball over three times and failed to get the snap down on two field-goal tries, sure didn't look like a conference title contender that had last week off to prepare for the Sun Devils.Johnson was picked off on the second play of the game, and Arizona State marched 49 yards with Leavitt hitting Tyson for the touchdown. On the next series, Dylan Edwards and Giddens were stuffed on consecutive carries, giving the Sun Devils the ball back on downs. And on the Wildcats' third series, Jayce Brown fumbled the ball away after a catch.Arizona State capitalized on all the mistakes. Leavitt found Tyson for the second time from 30 yards out for a 14-0 lead, then hit wide open Chamon Metayer from 16 yards out to make it 21-0 early in the second quarter.The cacophony of errors continued for the Wildcats: They had a 67-yard TD reception negated when offensive lineman Andrew Leingang blocked too far downfield. Johnson overthrew wide open Ty Bowman on a would-be 69-yard connection. And with first-and-goal at the Arizona State 5, they not only failed to get into the end zone but fumbled away the field-goal snap.Arizona State headed to halftime serenaded by the sound of Kansas State fans booing their own team.The Wildcats tried to rally late, beginning with Johnson's touchdown with 2:51 left in the third quarter. They got the ball back and needed just 1:19 to score again and convert the 2-point conversion. But the Sun Devils picked up a couple of first downs on their next possession, running enough clock to make Kansas State's comeback bid nearly impossible.The Wildcats muffed one last field-goal try with just over 2 minutes left that would have made it a one-possession game.<h2>The Takeaway</h2>Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 but is very much alive in the title chase. The Sun Devils face seven-ranked BYU, which along with No. 17 Colorado is ahead of them in the standings, at home next week.Kansas State's Big 12 title chances essentially ended thanks to two straight dismal halves. The Wildcats allowed Houston to rally from a 19-10 second-half deficit in a 24-19 loss, then dug a first-half hole Saturday night that was far too deep.<h2>Up Next</h2>Arizona State has a showdown with BYU on Saturday.Kansas State plays its home finale Saturday against Cincinnati.___

🏈Arizona State holds on to beat No. 16 Kansas State 

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — AJ Storr had a season-high 16 points off the bench and three starters also reached double figures as No. 1 Kansas easily handled Oakland 78-57 on Saturday.

KJ Adams scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half, Rylan Griffen added 11 and Hunter Dickinson finished with 10. Dickinson led the Jayhawks with nine rebounds.

Kansas (4-0) pulled away methodically in the first half, leading by 22 at halftime. The Grizzlies never got closer than 18 in the second half. Kansas played the final 4:32 with only reserves in the game.

Allen Mukeba led Oakland (1-3) with 19 points, and Tuburu Naivalurua added 12.

Oakland struggled from 3-point range, shooting 6 of 23 (27%), and was woeful at the free-throw line (3 for 12).

Oakland: The Grizzlies were no match for Kansas inside during the first half, when the game was decided. They were outrebounded 20-12 and outscored 26-14 in the paint.

Kansas: The Jayhawks have too much depth for a mid-major program like Oakland to overcome. The Jayhawks got points from 11 players. They had 36 bench points, compared to 17 for Oakland.

Dickinson hit a floater in the lane at the 4:37 mark of the first half to give Kansas a 34-17 cushion. Griffen made a baseline 3 just before the buzzer, and the Jayhawks took a 46-24 lead into the locker room.

DaJuan Harris scored only two points in 23 minutes, but he had six assists and just one turnover. He was tenacious on defense, with four steals — including three in the first few minutes of the second half when Kansas eliminated any thoughts of an Oakland comeback.

Oakland returns home to face Eastern Michigan on Thursday. Kansas hosts UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731808768559.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — AJ Storr had a season-high 16 points off the bench and three starters also reached double figures as No. 1 Kansas easily handled Oakland 78-57 on Saturday.KJ Adams scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half, Rylan Griffen added 11 and Hunter Dickinson finished with 10. Dickinson led the Jayhawks with nine rebounds.Kansas (4-0) pulled away methodically in the first half, leading by 22 at halftime. The Grizzlies never got closer than 18 in the second half. Kansas played the final 4:32 with only reserves in the game.Allen Mukeba led Oakland (1-3) with 19 points, and Tuburu Naivalurua added 12.Oakland struggled from 3-point range, shooting 6 of 23 (27%), and was woeful at the free-throw line (3 for 12).<h2>Takeaways</h2>Oakland: The Grizzlies were no match for Kansas inside during the first half, when the game was decided. They were outrebounded 20-12 and outscored 26-14 in the paint.Kansas: The Jayhawks have too much depth for a mid-major program like Oakland to overcome. The Jayhawks got points from 11 players. They had 36 bench points, compared to 17 for Oakland.<h2>Key moments</h2>Dickinson hit a floater in the lane at the 4:37 mark of the first half to give Kansas a 34-17 cushion. Griffen made a baseline 3 just before the buzzer, and the Jayhawks took a 46-24 lead into the locker room.<h2>Key stats</h2>DaJuan Harris scored only two points in 23 minutes, but he had six assists and just one turnover. He was tenacious on defense, with four steals — including three in the first few minutes of the second half when Kansas eliminated any thoughts of an Oakland comeback.<h2>Up next</h2>Oakland returns home to face Eastern Michigan on Thursday. Kansas hosts UNC-Wilmington on Wednesday.

🏀No. 1 Kansas beats Oakland as Storr scores 16 off the bench

DALLAS(AP)— Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power, has died. He was 82.

USA Gymnastics said Karolyi died Friday. No cause of death was given.

Karolyi and wife Martha trained multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions in the U.S. and Romania, including Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton.

“A big impact and influence on my life,” Comaneci, who was just 14 when Karolyi coached her to gold for Romania at the 1976 Montreal Olympics,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCc1ex3pJWU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank">posted on Instagram</a>.

The Karolyis defected to the United States in 1981 and over the next 30-plus years became a guiding force in American gymnastics, though not without controversy. Bela helped guide Retton — all of 16 — to the Olympic all-around title at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and memorably helped an injured Kerri Strug off the floor at the 1996 Games in Atlanta after Strug’s vault secured the team gold for the Americans.

Karolyi briefly became the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics women’s elite program in 1999 and incorporated a semi-centralized system that eventually turned the Americans into the sport’s gold standard. It did not come without a cost. He was pushed out after the 2000 Olympics after several athletes spoke out about his tactics.

It would not be the last time Karolyi was accused of grandstanding and pushing his athletes too far physically and mentally.

During the height of the Larry Nassar scandal in the late 2010s — when the disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor was effectively given a life sentence after pleading guilty&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-lansing-in-state-wire-north-america-de31f08ab1fe435c88129d64bd1fbee4">to sexually assaulting gymnasts and other athletes</a>&nbsp;with his hands under the guise of medical treatment — over a dozen former gymnasts came forward saying the Karolyis were part of a system&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0c67e962d7524c87a865d3c468bdd521">that created an oppressive culture</a>&nbsp;that allowed Nassar’s behavior to run unchecked for years.

Still, some of Karolyi’s most famous students were always among his staunchest defenders. When Strug got married, she and Karolyi took a photo recreating their famous scene from the 1996 Olympics, when he carried her onto the medals podium after she vaulted on a badly sprained ankle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731809212531.png" alt="i" />
 <figcaption>i</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS(AP)— Bela Karolyi, the charismatic if polarizing gymnastics coach who turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power, has died. He was 82.USA Gymnastics said Karolyi died Friday. No cause of death was given.Karolyi and wife Martha trained multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions in the U.S. and Romania, including Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton.“A big impact and influence on my life,” Comaneci, who was just 14 when Karolyi coached her to gold for Romania at the 1976 Montreal Olympics,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCc1ex3pJWU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank">posted on Instagram</a>.The Karolyis defected to the United States in 1981 and over the next 30-plus years became a guiding force in American gymnastics, though not without controversy. Bela helped guide Retton — all of 16 — to the Olympic all-around title at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and memorably helped an injured Kerri Strug off the floor at the 1996 Games in Atlanta after Strug’s vault secured the team gold for the Americans.Karolyi briefly became the national team coordinator for USA Gymnastics women’s elite program in 1999 and incorporated a semi-centralized system that eventually turned the Americans into the sport’s gold standard. It did not come without a cost. He was pushed out after the 2000 Olympics after several athletes spoke out about his tactics.It would not be the last time Karolyi was accused of grandstanding and pushing his athletes too far physically and mentally.During the height of the Larry Nassar scandal in the late 2010s — when the disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor was effectively given a life sentence after pleading guilty&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-lansing-in-state-wire-north-america-de31f08ab1fe435c88129d64bd1fbee4">to sexually assaulting gymnasts and other athletes</a>&nbsp;with his hands under the guise of medical treatment — over a dozen former gymnasts came forward saying the Karolyis were part of a system&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0c67e962d7524c87a865d3c468bdd521">that created an oppressive culture</a>&nbsp;that allowed Nassar’s behavior to run unchecked for years.Still, some of Karolyi’s most famous students were always among his staunchest defenders. When Strug got married, she and Karolyi took a photo recreating their famous scene from the 1996 Olympics, when he carried her onto the medals podium after she vaulted on a badly sprained ankle.

Gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, who trained multiple Olympic gold medalists has died

On Friday, Francis Flax was inducted into the Highland Community College Hall of Fame alongside fellow inductee Tom Bond.

Flax, who was inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame back in 2008, was honored by the selection.

“My time at Highland means everything to me because it gave me the foundation to know how to recruit and how to compete and that’s what allowed me to win over 600 JUCO games. I’m humbled and honored, Highland gave me a stepping stone to a great career and for them to reach out and make me a part of their storied hall of fame means everything.”

Flax, a native of Ransom, Kansas, served as the athletic director, head men’s basketball coach and head softball coach at Highland Community College from 1979-1988.&nbsp;

He coached a total of 32 years at the community college level, ending his exceptional career as the Second All-Time Wins Leader in Region VI men’s basketball history.

Following his time at Highland Community College, Flax began the athletic department at Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas, serving as athletic director from 1990-2017.&nbsp;

He started as the head men’s basketball coach in 1992 until handing the reigns over to his son in 2016.&nbsp;

During his tenure at Brown Mackie, he won six Region VI titles, sending his teams to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, where they won two National Championships, placed third once, fourth twice and fifth once.&nbsp;

Flax sent 113 players to four-year schools, with 58 of them All-Region VI selections and 14 NJCAA Division II All-Americans.&nbsp;

He was named the KBCA Junior College Coach of the Year four times, and served as the president of the NJCAA Basketball Coaches Association from 2013-15 and was enshrined into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

On Friday, Francis Flax was inducted into the Highland Community College Hall of Fame alongside fellow inductee Tom Bond.Flax, who was inducted into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame back in 2008, was honored by the selection.“My time at Highland means everything to me because it gave me the foundation to know how to recruit and how to compete and that’s what allowed me to win over 600 JUCO games. I’m humbled and honored, Highland gave me a stepping stone to a great career and for them to reach out and make me a part of their storied hall of fame means everything.”Flax, a native of Ransom, Kansas, served as the athletic director, head men’s basketball coach and head softball coach at Highland Community College from 1979-1988.&nbsp;He coached a total of 32 years at the community college level, ending his exceptional career as the Second All-Time Wins Leader in Region VI men’s basketball history.Following his time at Highland Community College, Flax began the athletic department at Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas, serving as athletic director from 1990-2017.&nbsp;He started as the head men’s basketball coach in 1992 until handing the reigns over to his son in 2016.&nbsp;During his tenure at Brown Mackie, he won six Region VI titles, sending his teams to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, where they won two National Championships, placed third once, fourth twice and fifth once.&nbsp;Flax sent 113 players to four-year schools, with 58 of them All-Region VI selections and 14 NJCAA Division II All-Americans.&nbsp;He was named the KBCA Junior College Coach of the Year four times, and served as the president of the NJCAA Basketball Coaches Association from 2013-15 and was enshrined into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

Francis Flax inducted into Highland Community College Hall of Fame

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

The Hoisington Cardinals played a sound defensive game for four full quarters against Southeast of Saline, holding them to their second-smallest offensive output this season.

It hardly mattered, as the Trojans rolled to a 30-8 win and a sectional title, punching a ticket to the state semis for the third time in four years and avenging last year’s elimination loss at the hands of the Cardinals.

“Hoisington is a good, physical football team, they always are,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “Our kids stepped up to the challenge and set the tone early. They run a hard offense but our kids did a good job of being in the right spots.”

With this win, SES remains perfect on the year at 11-0, while Hoisington’s season draws to a close at 6-5.

Hoisington’s defense held the line in the first half, allowing just one touchdown in each of the first two quarters and creating a takeaway on a fumble deep in their own territory.

When the Trojans needed a spark on offense, they turned to Grady Gebhardt, who toted the rock 34 times for 190 yards and three touchdowns.

Gebhardt didn’t need all of that to achieve a win tonight, as the Southeast defense played lights out once again, holding the high-powered Hoisington offense to just 177 yards of total offense and allowing just ten first downs.

Teron Kraft, in particular found it difficult to get the ground game going, finding just 43 yards on 12 carries in a stifling performance.

Gannon Jacobson, who finished the day 15-25 for 146 yards and a touchdown through the air, got the scoring started on a 22-yard strike to Tucker Thaxton in the closing seconds of the first quarter.

From there, it was Gebhardt’s time to shine, as the senior tailback punched in three unanswered scores to put the Trojans up 30-0.

The Cardinals did find the end zone late in the fourth quarter, but it was far too little far too late, as the Trojans rolled to another confident victory.

SES dominated the time-of-possession battle, holding the ball for more than 30 minutes of this 48-minute game.

“We wanted to try to keep the ball away from them and first downs in games like this are even more critical,” Gebhardt said. “As the games continue on, things are going to be different than they are in the regular season, but our guys did a good job of handling that.

Southeast’s semifinal opponent will be the Beloit Trojans, who shut out Garden Plain 19-0 tonight.

SES defeated the orange Trojans 32-6 in one of Beloit’s only two losses this season. The other was to Norton, who Southeast rolled 34-7 last week.

On the other side of the bracket, Council Grove (8-3) will face the defending 2A state champs in Nemaha Central (10-1).

To watch the full broadcast of tonight’s game, click <a href="https://youtube.com/live/dvqBrpcJ6OQ">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731728628725.png" alt="The Southeast of Saline football team poses with their sectional plaque after taking down the Hoisington Cardinals" />
 <figcaption>The Southeast of Saline football team poses with their sectional plaque after taking down the Hoisington Cardinals</figcaption>
 </figure>By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostRevenge is a dish best served cold.The Hoisington Cardinals played a sound defensive game for four full quarters against Southeast of Saline, holding them to their second-smallest offensive output this season.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715807615208.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>It hardly mattered, as the Trojans rolled to a 30-8 win and a sectional title, punching a ticket to the state semis for the third time in four years and avenging last year’s elimination loss at the hands of the Cardinals.“Hoisington is a good, physical football team, they always are,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “Our kids stepped up to the challenge and set the tone early. They run a hard offense but our kids did a good job of being in the right spots.”With this win, SES remains perfect on the year at 11-0, while Hoisington’s season draws to a close at 6-5.Hoisington’s defense held the line in the first half, allowing just one touchdown in each of the first two quarters and creating a takeaway on a fumble deep in their own territory.When the Trojans needed a spark on offense, they turned to Grady Gebhardt, who toted the rock 34 times for 190 yards and three touchdowns.Gebhardt didn’t need all of that to achieve a win tonight, as the Southeast defense played lights out once again, holding the high-powered Hoisington offense to just 177 yards of total offense and allowing just ten first downs.Teron Kraft, in particular found it difficult to get the ground game going, finding just 43 yards on 12 carries in a stifling performance.Gannon Jacobson, who finished the day 15-25 for 146 yards and a touchdown through the air, got the scoring started on a 22-yard strike to Tucker Thaxton in the closing seconds of the first quarter.From there, it was Gebhardt’s time to shine, as the senior tailback punched in three unanswered scores to put the Trojans up 30-0.The Cardinals did find the end zone late in the fourth quarter, but it was far too little far too late, as the Trojans rolled to another confident victory.SES dominated the time-of-possession battle, holding the ball for more than 30 minutes of this 48-minute game.“We wanted to try to keep the ball away from them and first downs in games like this are even more critical,” Gebhardt said. “As the games continue on, things are going to be different than they are in the regular season, but our guys did a good job of handling that.Southeast’s semifinal opponent will be the Beloit Trojans, who shut out Garden Plain 19-0 tonight.SES defeated the orange Trojans 32-6 in one of Beloit’s only two losses this season. The other was to Norton, who Southeast rolled 34-7 last week.On the other side of the bracket, Council Grove (8-3) will face the defending 2A state champs in Nemaha Central (10-1).To watch the full broadcast of tonight’s game, click <a href="https://youtube.com/live/dvqBrpcJ6OQ">HERE</a>.

Southeast halts Hoisington to advance to 2A semifinals

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

Over the weekend, a Salina house fire left four international Kansas Wesleyan men's soccer players with next to nothing, destroying most of their belongings.

While the devastation was great, the response from the Salina community has been nothing short of inspiring, and the four players,&nbsp;Mateo Hoyos, Andres Ruiz, Gerardo Garcia, and Sebastian Fernandez, have quickly gotten back on their feet.

“It’s been incredible to see the way this community has come together around these kids, dropping off all sorts of things," KWU men's soccer coach Bruce Palmbaum said. "People have taken them to Dick’s and Wall Mart, Bethany College sent over gift cards, the other coaches and teams have sent us stuff. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

This effort has extended well beyond just the KWU community, with everyone from local businesses, to local high schools, and even rival schools pitching in.

In addition to physical donations made to the players, team, and school, the GoFundMe put online by Hoyos has already raised over $10,000 of its $50,000 goal.

Earlier this year, Hoyos, Ruiz, Garcia and Fernandez helped Kansas Wesleyan earn the Champions of Character Award for their work helping others in the Salina community, work they did with no notion of how much they might one day need from the very community they chose to serve.

“I’m sure that KWUs position in the community has had a lot to do with this response," Palmbaum said. "Our team, and these kids in particular, have done a lot of work in the Salina community, and I think people really grew to like those boys before this ever happened.”

You can donate to the GoFundMe by clicking <a href="https://gofund.me/560812b5">HERE</a>.

Kansas Wesleyan men's soccer will be back in action for the NAIA tournament later this month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731708651080.jpeg" alt="Sebastian Fernandez, Andres Ruiz, Gerardo Garcia, and&nbsp;Mateo Hoyos" />
 <figcaption>Sebastian Fernandez, Andres Ruiz, Gerardo Garcia, and&nbsp;Mateo Hoyos</figcaption>
 </figure>By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostOver the weekend, a Salina house fire left four international Kansas Wesleyan men's soccer players with next to nothing, destroying most of their belongings.While the devastation was great, the response from the Salina community has been nothing short of inspiring, and the four players,&nbsp;Mateo Hoyos, Andres Ruiz, Gerardo Garcia, and Sebastian Fernandez, have quickly gotten back on their feet.“It’s been incredible to see the way this community has come together around these kids, dropping off all sorts of things," KWU men's soccer coach Bruce Palmbaum said. "People have taken them to Dick’s and Wall Mart, Bethany College sent over gift cards, the other coaches and teams have sent us stuff. I’ve never seen anything like it.”This effort has extended well beyond just the KWU community, with everyone from local businesses, to local high schools, and even rival schools pitching in.In addition to physical donations made to the players, team, and school, the GoFundMe put online by Hoyos has already raised over $10,000 of its $50,000 goal.Earlier this year, Hoyos, Ruiz, Garcia and Fernandez helped Kansas Wesleyan earn the Champions of Character Award for their work helping others in the Salina community, work they did with no notion of how much they might one day need from the very community they chose to serve.“I’m sure that KWUs position in the community has had a lot to do with this response," Palmbaum said. "Our team, and these kids in particular, have done a lot of work in the Salina community, and I think people really grew to like those boys before this ever happened.”You can donate to the GoFundMe by clicking <a href="https://gofund.me/560812b5">HERE</a>.Kansas Wesleyan men's soccer will be back in action for the NAIA tournament later this month.

Salina community rallies around four KWU MSOC players victimized by house fire

On Friday night, with just eight teams remaining in each classification, the Southeast of Saline football team will gear up to compete in their fifth consecutive quarterfinal round.

Southeast breezed through the first two rounds of this year’s 2A bracket, taking down Larned 76-12, and Norton 34-7.

Now, the Trojans (10-0) find a familiar foe blocking their path as they meet the Hoisington Cardinals (6-4) for a third-straight playoff matchup.

Despite their record, Hoisington is no joke, and has won six of their last seven games, including playoff win of 28-15 over Ellsworth, and 24-14 over Haven.

“Hoisington is a top-notch 2A football program,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “They played a very difficult schedule early but Coach Baird always does a great job of getting his kids prepared for games like this.”

These two teams have played in some battles over the years, but none have been bigger than the last two meetings, with Southeast eliminating Hoisington 44-21 in 2022, and Hoisington exacting their revenge 49-42 a season ago.

“We’ve gotten to play these guys three years in a row so there’s some familiarity,” Gebhardt said. “Hoisington has a great football program. It doesn’t surprise me that they’re here and our kids are exciting to play them again.”

Despite losing a strong senior class, the Cardinals have returned with a vengeance in 2024, and have steadily improved throughout the season as their youth gained experience, and their veterans returned to the field.

“They have a good mix of returners and newcomers,” he said. “They were banged up with some injuries early in the season but they got a lot of those kids back. They run the ball well, and they’ll sprinkle in enough of the pass to keep you on your toes. Defensively they still play fast and physical so it should be a very good football game.”

None of those returners were bigger than senior tailback Teron Kraft, who has carried the ball 74 times for 510 yards and four touchdowns since recovering from an early-season injury.

For Southeast to have success, they’ll have to stop a balanced rushing attack, and find ways to disrupt senior quarterback Rhen Galla, who has completed 45% of his passes this season for 850 yards, 9 touchdowns and just three picks.

Offensively, the Trojans will look to keep their war machine rolling, breaking off consistent yardage with big splash plays to grind on the Cardinal defense physically and mentally.

“Our offensive and defensive lines have both taken huge steps forward throughout the year,” Gebhardt said. Offensively we have to get first downs and take care of the football, defensively we have to be assignment sound and play fast and physical. This is the playoffs so every down matters.”

Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 at Kansas Wesleyan’s JRI Stadium in Salina, and as always, can be streamed with live video and commentary on Salina Post by clicking <a href="https://youtube.com/live/dvqBrpcJ6OQ">HERE</a>, or heard on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM).

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostOn Friday night, with just eight teams remaining in each classification, the Southeast of Saline football team will gear up to compete in their fifth consecutive quarterfinal round.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715807615208.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>Southeast breezed through the first two rounds of this year’s 2A bracket, taking down Larned 76-12, and Norton 34-7.Now, the Trojans (10-0) find a familiar foe blocking their path as they meet the Hoisington Cardinals (6-4) for a third-straight playoff matchup.Despite their record, Hoisington is no joke, and has won six of their last seven games, including playoff win of 28-15 over Ellsworth, and 24-14 over Haven.“Hoisington is a top-notch 2A football program,” SES head coach Mitch Gebhardt said. “They played a very difficult schedule early but Coach Baird always does a great job of getting his kids prepared for games like this.”These two teams have played in some battles over the years, but none have been bigger than the last two meetings, with Southeast eliminating Hoisington 44-21 in 2022, and Hoisington exacting their revenge 49-42 a season ago.“We’ve gotten to play these guys three years in a row so there’s some familiarity,” Gebhardt said. “Hoisington has a great football program. It doesn’t surprise me that they’re here and our kids are exciting to play them again.”Despite losing a strong senior class, the Cardinals have returned with a vengeance in 2024, and have steadily improved throughout the season as their youth gained experience, and their veterans returned to the field.“They have a good mix of returners and newcomers,” he said. “They were banged up with some injuries early in the season but they got a lot of those kids back. They run the ball well, and they’ll sprinkle in enough of the pass to keep you on your toes. Defensively they still play fast and physical so it should be a very good football game.”None of those returners were bigger than senior tailback Teron Kraft, who has carried the ball 74 times for 510 yards and four touchdowns since recovering from an early-season injury.For Southeast to have success, they’ll have to stop a balanced rushing attack, and find ways to disrupt senior quarterback Rhen Galla, who has completed 45% of his passes this season for 850 yards, 9 touchdowns and just three picks.Offensively, the Trojans will look to keep their war machine rolling, breaking off consistent yardage with big splash plays to grind on the Cardinal defense physically and mentally.“Our offensive and defensive lines have both taken huge steps forward throughout the year,” Gebhardt said. Offensively we have to get first downs and take care of the football, defensively we have to be assignment sound and play fast and physical. This is the playoffs so every down matters.”Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 at Kansas Wesleyan’s JRI Stadium in Salina, and as always, can be streamed with live video and commentary on Salina Post by clicking <a href="https://youtube.com/live/dvqBrpcJ6OQ">HERE</a>, or heard on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM).

Trojans seek revenge over Cardinals in quarterfinal clash

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, as far as the injuries go, (Harrison) Butker is the main one there. He did this in practice, tried it on Thursday and tried to warm up and get going and then wasn’t able to do it. Then, we took care of that. Then, it was confirmed what it was and so we – he ended up having surgery this morning. Surgery was successful and we’ll just see how it all goes time wise. I can’t tell you time wise. Within that, we brought in Spencer Shrader to come in and do the kicking. He’s a young guy so his resume isn’t long but the ones he’s had, he’s done a nice job with and (General Manager Brett) Veach felt comfortable with that along with (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Dave Toub. We invite him in, and he can do the kicking going forward here until Butker is able to return. With that, the time is yours.”&nbsp;

Q: You said you don’t have a timetable, but you are expecting him back this season, correct?

Q: What do you guys like about Spencer Shrader?

REID:&nbsp;“He’s got a very strong leg and he’s done well. He ended up – they used him obviously – elevated him at the Jets. They had a couple kickers there and obviously they favored him.”

Q: Are there any challenges for a young guy like Spencer Shrader to come in late in the week to do this job?

REID:&nbsp;“I don’t think it’s much of that, it’s just being a young guy in this situation. The kid (Spencer Shrader) has traveled around the world here a little bit, playing soccer and has a strong leg, and kicked at Notre Dame his last year so it’s not his first big crowd he’ll be in front of. He’ll be alright.”

Q: Can you talk about how your confidence in Harrison Butker has affected your late game decisions?

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, he’s (Harrison Butker) done phenomenal – he’s a great kicker. Arguably going to be a hall of fame kicker going forward. It’s great. Again, we welcome this kid (Spencer Shrader) in and give him a shot.”

Q: On the status of Isiah Pacheco and Charles Omenihu.

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah and both those guys (Isiah Pacheco and Charles Omenihu)– listen both those guys I thought did a nice job with this week. They were working on scout team and moved around well. They’ll be listed as out and then JuJu’s (Smith-Schuster) had a good week as our other guys have in for preparation against a good football team.”

Q: Does it feel like you’ve had more than a normal amount of injuries this season?

REID:&nbsp;“As a coach, you’re not – you go forward, that’s what you do. You don’t sit there and let that stall you, you move forward, and you stay optimistic with it. In this case, I don’t really know the kid (Spencer Shrader) but I look forward to seeing him do his thing and he’s supposed to be a pretty good player.”

Q: Since you don’t know him, does that change your in-game decisions?

HEAD COACH ANDY REIDOPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, as far as the injuries go, (Harrison) Butker is the main one there. He did this in practice, tried it on Thursday and tried to warm up and get going and then wasn’t able to do it. Then, we took care of that. Then, it was confirmed what it was and so we – he ended up having surgery this morning. Surgery was successful and we’ll just see how it all goes time wise. I can’t tell you time wise. Within that, we brought in Spencer Shrader to come in and do the kicking. He’s a young guy so his resume isn’t long but the ones he’s had, he’s done a nice job with and (General Manager Brett) Veach felt comfortable with that along with (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Dave Toub. We invite him in, and he can do the kicking going forward here until Butker is able to return. With that, the time is yours.”&nbsp;Q: It was his meniscus, right?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah.”Q: You said you don’t have a timetable, but you are expecting him back this season, correct?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah.”Q: What do you guys like about Spencer Shrader?REID:&nbsp;“He’s got a very strong leg and he’s done well. He ended up – they used him obviously – elevated him at the Jets. They had a couple kickers there and obviously they favored him.”Q: Are there any challenges for a young guy like Spencer Shrader to come in late in the week to do this job?REID:&nbsp;“I don’t think it’s much of that, it’s just being a young guy in this situation. The kid (Spencer Shrader) has traveled around the world here a little bit, playing soccer and has a strong leg, and kicked at Notre Dame his last year so it’s not his first big crowd he’ll be in front of. He’ll be alright.”Q: Can you talk about how your confidence in Harrison Butker has affected your late game decisions?REID:&nbsp;“Listen, he’s (Harrison Butker) done phenomenal – he’s a great kicker. Arguably going to be a hall of fame kicker going forward. It’s great. Again, we welcome this kid (Spencer Shrader) in and give him a shot.”Q: On the status of Isiah Pacheco and Charles Omenihu.REID:&nbsp;“Yeah and both those guys (Isiah Pacheco and Charles Omenihu)– listen both those guys I thought did a nice job with this week. They were working on scout team and moved around well. They’ll be listed as out and then JuJu’s (Smith-Schuster) had a good week as our other guys have in for preparation against a good football team.”Q: Does it feel like you’ve had more than a normal amount of injuries this season?REID:&nbsp;“As a coach, you’re not – you go forward, that’s what you do. You don’t sit there and let that stall you, you move forward, and you stay optimistic with it. In this case, I don’t really know the kid (Spencer Shrader) but I look forward to seeing him do his thing and he’s supposed to be a pretty good player.”Q: Since you don’t know him, does that change your in-game decisions?

Chiefs Quotes: 11-15-24

The Salina Post Sports Friday Night Preview show returns for the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, as Tyler Henry and Devin Hanney get you ready for another exciting week of high school football.

With just eight teams remaining in each classification, we took a look at all nine brackets across the state of Kansas, and previewed the matchup between Southeast of Saline and Hoisington in 2A.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KFWi4wUQRTQ"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Salina Post Sports Friday Night Preview show returns for the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, as Tyler Henry and Devin Hanney get you ready for another exciting week of high school football.With just eight teams remaining in each classification, we took a look at all nine brackets across the state of Kansas, and previewed the matchup between Southeast of Saline and Hoisington in 2A.

Salina Post Sports Friday Night Preview: KSHSAA Quarterfinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Major League Baseball tonight announced its First and Second All-MLB Teams, which included three Royals.

Bobby Witt Jr.&nbsp;was named All-MLB First Team at shortstop, while catcher&nbsp;Salvador Perez&nbsp;and starting pitcher&nbsp;Seth Lugo&nbsp;were named All-MLB Second Team at their positions.

The Royals three players selected across both teams tied the Astros and Dodgers for 2nd most and trailed only the Padres, who had a Majors-most four selections.

This is the first All-MLB Team honor for Witt Jr. and Lugo. Perez was named First Team All-MLB at catcher in 2020 and 2021. In the six years since these awards were introduced in 2019, Salvy is one of two catchers to earn All-MLB honors three times, along with Philadelphia’s&nbsp;J.T. Realmuto, who was named First-Team All-MLB in 2019 and 2022 and Second Team All-MLB in 2020.

Major League Baseball introduced the All-MLB Team awards in 2019 to give a more comprehensive honor that covered the full breadth of a season, complementing the All-Star Game selections that are awarded just past the season’s halfway point. Voters were asked only to consider performance during the regular season when casting their ballots. Fans accounted for 50% of the voting for the All-MLB Team, with a panel of experts taking the other 50%.

Perez, who was named the American League’s Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winner at catcher on Tuesday, played in 158 games in 2024, the 2nd-highest total of his 13-year career, and made 90 starts behind the plate. His 27 home runs tied for the 2nd-highest total of his career and marked his eighth season with at least 20 homers.

Among qualified Major League catchers in 2024 (min. 50% games at the position), Salvy ranked 1st in RBI (104), 2nd in slugging percentage (.456), OPS (.786) and extra-base hits (55) and 3rd in hits (160), batting average (.271), on-base percentage (.330) and home runs (27).

Witt Jr., who has already been named a&nbsp;Rawlings&nbsp;Gold Glove Award winner and Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winner at shortstop for 2024, led all Major League players in 2024 with a .332 batting average and 211 hits. Among qualified shortstops in the Majors, he also ranked 1st in runs (125), on-base percentage (.389), slugging percentage (.588), OPS (.977) and extra-base hits (88) and 2nd in RBI (109).

Witt Jr. hit 32 home runs (T-3rd among MLB shortstops) and had 31 stolen bases (T-2nd among MLB shortstops) to become the first shortstop in Major League history to record consecutive 30/30 seasons. He also became the second player ever (regardless of position) to lead the Majors in batting average during a 30/30 season, joining&nbsp;Mookie Betts&nbsp;in 2018.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Major League Baseball tonight announced its First and Second All-MLB Teams, which included three Royals.Bobby Witt Jr.&nbsp;was named All-MLB First Team at shortstop, while catcher&nbsp;Salvador Perez&nbsp;and starting pitcher&nbsp;Seth Lugo&nbsp;were named All-MLB Second Team at their positions.The Royals three players selected across both teams tied the Astros and Dodgers for 2nd most and trailed only the Padres, who had a Majors-most four selections.This is the first All-MLB Team honor for Witt Jr. and Lugo. Perez was named First Team All-MLB at catcher in 2020 and 2021. In the six years since these awards were introduced in 2019, Salvy is one of two catchers to earn All-MLB honors three times, along with Philadelphia’s&nbsp;J.T. Realmuto, who was named First-Team All-MLB in 2019 and 2022 and Second Team All-MLB in 2020.Major League Baseball introduced the All-MLB Team awards in 2019 to give a more comprehensive honor that covered the full breadth of a season, complementing the All-Star Game selections that are awarded just past the season’s halfway point. Voters were asked only to consider performance during the regular season when casting their ballots. Fans accounted for 50% of the voting for the All-MLB Team, with a panel of experts taking the other 50%.Perez, who was named the American League’s Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winner at catcher on Tuesday, played in 158 games in 2024, the 2nd-highest total of his 13-year career, and made 90 starts behind the plate. His 27 home runs tied for the 2nd-highest total of his career and marked his eighth season with at least 20 homers.Among qualified Major League catchers in 2024 (min. 50% games at the position), Salvy ranked 1st in RBI (104), 2nd in slugging percentage (.456), OPS (.786) and extra-base hits (55) and 3rd in hits (160), batting average (.271), on-base percentage (.330) and home runs (27).Witt Jr., who has already been named a&nbsp;Rawlings&nbsp;Gold Glove Award winner and Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winner at shortstop for 2024, led all Major League players in 2024 with a .332 batting average and 211 hits. Among qualified shortstops in the Majors, he also ranked 1st in runs (125), on-base percentage (.389), slugging percentage (.588), OPS (.977) and extra-base hits (88) and 2nd in RBI (109).Witt Jr. hit 32 home runs (T-3rd among MLB shortstops) and had 31 stolen bases (T-2nd among MLB shortstops) to become the first shortstop in Major League history to record consecutive 30/30 seasons. He also became the second player ever (regardless of position) to lead the Majors in batting average during a 30/30 season, joining&nbsp;Mookie Betts&nbsp;in 2018.

Three Royals named to All-MLB Team

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;(10/11) K-State used an efficient night from preseason All-American Ayoka Lee on Thursday night to throttle Creighton, 86-68, at Bramlage Coliseum.

The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points in the first three games of a season for the first time since 2004-05.

Lee led all scorers with 28 points on 13-of-18 shooting in just under 16 minutes of action. The fifth-year senior from Byron, Minnesota, is just 13 points from moving past Nicole Ohlde into second in program history for career points.

Joining Lee in double figures on Thursday evening were seniors Temira Poindexter and Serena Sundell with 12 points each, while senior Kennedy Taylor came off the bench to add 10 points and six rebounds.

Sundell approached a triple-double, as she filled the stat sheet with eight assist and seven rebounds.

Defensively, the K-State held the nation’s top scorer, Lauren Jensen at 27.5 points per game, to just nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.

- K-State (3-0) took control of the first quarter with a 12-5 run to build a 22-9 advantage at the end of the opening frame. Lee scored eight points in the opening quarter, while Jaelyn Glenn buried a pair of three-pointers.

- The Wildcats extended its lead to 18, 29-11, with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter. Poindexter started a 7-0 run with a layup with 8:17 to play. Lee followed with an old-fashioned three-point play and then added a layup.

- After K-State built its lead to 19 twice in the final two and a half minutes, Creighton (1-2) closed to within 16, 39-23, at halftime.

- The Bluejays cut the K-State lead to 13, 42-29, in the opening stages of the third quarter. The Wildcats battled back with a 6-0 burst to increase the lead back to 19, 48-29, and force a Creighton timeout with 7:01 left in the third.

- K-State would outscore Creighton in the third quarter, 29-23, as the Wildcats shot a season-best 73.3 percent from the field in the third frame. Sundell popped for 10 points in the stanza including eight of K-State’s final 13 points in the frame.

- Despite Lee scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter, the Bluejays would capture the final quarter, 22-18, to bring the final margin to 18.

- K-State shot a season-best 53.7 percent (36-of-67) from the field, which included a season-best from 3-point range of 43.8 percent (7-of-16).

- The Wildcats equaled their season-high with 24 assists and committed just eight turnovers.

- Creighton would shoot 40.6 percent (26-of-64) from the field, boosted by a pair of efforts over 45.0 percent in the second half.

- K-State leads the series with Creighton, 16-5. The Wildcats are 20-11 against current members of the Big East Conference.

- K-State is 399-156 (.719) in its 37-season history inside Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats own a 232-30 (.885) record against non-conference opponents inside Bramlage.

- K-State owns a record of 251-95 (.725) as an AP ranked team. K-State is 14-5 (.737) all-time when ranked 10th in the nation.

- K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 647-370 (.636) in his 33 seasons as a head coach, including a mark of 193-135 (.588) in his 11 seasons at K-State. Mittie is 403-113 (.781) in games played in his home venue, including a 129-48 (.729) mark in Bramlage Coliseum.

- The Wildcats are 163-54 (.751) in games played in the month of November, including wins in 51 of its last 62 games in the month. Under Mittie, K-State is 49-11 (.817) in games during the 11th&nbsp;month.

- K-State's starting five consisted of guards: Zyanna Walker, Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell; forward Temira Poindexter and center Ayoka Lee. This was the second time this lineup has started this season. This was the 116th&nbsp;career start for Lee, the 106th career start for Sundell, the 102nd career start for Jaelyn Glenn, the 90th&nbsp;career collegiate start and third at K-State for Poindexter and the third career start for Walker. With her 116th&nbsp;career start at K-State, Lee ties Laurie Koehn (2001-05) and Peyton Williams (2016-20) for 10th&nbsp;in program history for career starts.

- The Wildcats held a 39-23 lead at halftime on Thursday. Under Mittie, K-State is 153-19 (.890) when leading at halftime. The Wildcats have led at the half in all three games this season.

- K-State has scored 20-or more points in a quarter seven times this season. Since the start of the quarter-system in 2015-16, the Wildcats are 135-62 (.685) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter of a game.

- K-State shot 50.0 percent or better in a quarter twice on Thursday night (first and third frames). The Wildcats have six quarters of 50.0 percent or better shooting this season.

- The Wildcats handed out 24 assists on Thursday. The 24 assists tied its season-high (Green Bay, Nov. 4, 2024). Over the last 17 seasons, K-State is 95-8 (.922) when handing out 20 or more assists in a game.

- K-State pulled in 42 rebounds on Thursday to outrebound Creighton (42-30). Over the last four seasons, K-State is 45-3 (.938) when holding the advantage on the glass.

- Lee needs 13 points to pass Nicole Ohlde (2000-04; 2,241 points) for second in school history for career points. Lee’s career point total stands at 2,229 and trails Nicole Ohlde (2000-04; 2,241) for second on the K-State career scoring list.

- Lee tallied her 53rd&nbsp;career game with 20 or more points. Lee recorded her 106th career game with 10 or more points. Lee has scored in every game of her career (116 games).

- Lee hauled in three rebounds on Thursday. Lee’s career total for rebounds stands at 1,125, improving upon her own school record for career rebounds. Lee is eighth in Big 12 history for career rebounds.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;(10/11) K-State used an efficient night from preseason All-American Ayoka Lee on Thursday night to throttle Creighton, 86-68, at Bramlage Coliseum.The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points in the first three games of a season for the first time since 2004-05.Lee led all scorers with 28 points on 13-of-18 shooting in just under 16 minutes of action. The fifth-year senior from Byron, Minnesota, is just 13 points from moving past Nicole Ohlde into second in program history for career points.Joining Lee in double figures on Thursday evening were seniors Temira Poindexter and Serena Sundell with 12 points each, while senior Kennedy Taylor came off the bench to add 10 points and six rebounds.Sundell approached a triple-double, as she filled the stat sheet with eight assist and seven rebounds.Defensively, the K-State held the nation’s top scorer, Lauren Jensen at 27.5 points per game, to just nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.HOW IT HAPPENED- K-State (3-0) took control of the first quarter with a 12-5 run to build a 22-9 advantage at the end of the opening frame. Lee scored eight points in the opening quarter, while Jaelyn Glenn buried a pair of three-pointers.- The Wildcats extended its lead to 18, 29-11, with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter. Poindexter started a 7-0 run with a layup with 8:17 to play. Lee followed with an old-fashioned three-point play and then added a layup.- After K-State built its lead to 19 twice in the final two and a half minutes, Creighton (1-2) closed to within 16, 39-23, at halftime.- The Bluejays cut the K-State lead to 13, 42-29, in the opening stages of the third quarter. The Wildcats battled back with a 6-0 burst to increase the lead back to 19, 48-29, and force a Creighton timeout with 7:01 left in the third.- K-State would outscore Creighton in the third quarter, 29-23, as the Wildcats shot a season-best 73.3 percent from the field in the third frame. Sundell popped for 10 points in the stanza including eight of K-State’s final 13 points in the frame.- Despite Lee scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter, the Bluejays would capture the final quarter, 22-18, to bring the final margin to 18.- K-State shot a season-best 53.7 percent (36-of-67) from the field, which included a season-best from 3-point range of 43.8 percent (7-of-16).- The Wildcats equaled their season-high with 24 assists and committed just eight turnovers.- Creighton would shoot 40.6 percent (26-of-64) from the field, boosted by a pair of efforts over 45.0 percent in the second half.QUICK FACTS- K-State leads the series with Creighton, 16-5. The Wildcats are 20-11 against current members of the Big East Conference.- K-State is 399-156 (.719) in its 37-season history inside Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats own a 232-30 (.885) record against non-conference opponents inside Bramlage.- K-State owns a record of 251-95 (.725) as an AP ranked team. K-State is 14-5 (.737) all-time when ranked 10th in the nation.- K-State head coach Jeff Mittie owns a career record of 647-370 (.636) in his 33 seasons as a head coach, including a mark of 193-135 (.588) in his 11 seasons at K-State. Mittie is 403-113 (.781) in games played in his home venue, including a 129-48 (.729) mark in Bramlage Coliseum.- The Wildcats are 163-54 (.751) in games played in the month of November, including wins in 51 of its last 62 games in the month. Under Mittie, K-State is 49-11 (.817) in games during the 11th&nbsp;month.TEAM NOTES- K-State's starting five consisted of guards: Zyanna Walker, Jaelyn Glenn and Serena Sundell; forward Temira Poindexter and center Ayoka Lee. This was the second time this lineup has started this season. This was the 116th&nbsp;career start for Lee, the 106th career start for Sundell, the 102nd career start for Jaelyn Glenn, the 90th&nbsp;career collegiate start and third at K-State for Poindexter and the third career start for Walker. With her 116th&nbsp;career start at K-State, Lee ties Laurie Koehn (2001-05) and Peyton Williams (2016-20) for 10th&nbsp;in program history for career starts.- The Wildcats held a 39-23 lead at halftime on Thursday. Under Mittie, K-State is 153-19 (.890) when leading at halftime. The Wildcats have led at the half in all three games this season.- K-State has scored 20-or more points in a quarter seven times this season. Since the start of the quarter-system in 2015-16, the Wildcats are 135-62 (.685) when scoring 20 or more points in any quarter of a game.- K-State shot 50.0 percent or better in a quarter twice on Thursday night (first and third frames). The Wildcats have six quarters of 50.0 percent or better shooting this season.- The Wildcats handed out 24 assists on Thursday. The 24 assists tied its season-high (Green Bay, Nov. 4, 2024). Over the last 17 seasons, K-State is 95-8 (.922) when handing out 20 or more assists in a game.- K-State pulled in 42 rebounds on Thursday to outrebound Creighton (42-30). Over the last four seasons, K-State is 45-3 (.938) when holding the advantage on the glass.PLAYER NOTES- Lee needs 13 points to pass Nicole Ohlde (2000-04; 2,241 points) for second in school history for career points. Lee’s career point total stands at 2,229 and trails Nicole Ohlde (2000-04; 2,241) for second on the K-State career scoring list.- Lee tallied her 53rd&nbsp;career game with 20 or more points. Lee recorded her 106th career game with 10 or more points. Lee has scored in every game of her career (116 games).- Lee hauled in three rebounds on Thursday. Lee’s career total for rebounds stands at 1,125, improving upon her own school record for career rebounds. Lee is eighth in Big 12 history for career rebounds.- Lee has shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in 79 career games. With her 13 made field goals on Thursday, Lee joined Ohlde as the only two players in program history with 900 or more career field goals made. Lee has now made 10 or more field goals in a game 31 times in her career.- Lee improved her career blocked shot total to 313, improving upon her school record for career blocked shots. Lee ranks fifth all-time in Big 12 history for career blocked shots.- Sundell notched her 73rd career game with 10 or more points. Sundell owns 1,293 career points and remains in 21st on the K-State career scoring list.- Sundell’s eight assists on Thursday improved her career total to 566 and moved into third in school history for career assists, passing Mary Jo Miller (1988-92; 562). This was her 67th&nbsp;career game with five or more assists.- Sundell pulled in seven rebounds on Thursday. This was her 42nd career game with five or more rebounds.- Glenn made two 3-pointers on Thursday. This was her 50th career game with two or more connections from long range. She needs four connections to move into sole possession of 10th on the K-State career 3-point field goals made list.- Poindexter tallied her 83rd career game with 10 or more points. She improved her collegiate point total to 1,621.- Taylor registered her 46th&nbsp;career game with 10 or more points and her third at K-State.- Taylor hauled in six rebounds on Thursday, her 56th&nbsp;career game with five or more rebounds.- Taryn Sides pulled in five rebounds on Thursday, her fifth career game with five or more rebounds.- Sides connected on two 3-point field goals on Thursday, equaling her season-high and marking her 10th&nbsp;career game with two or more connections from long range.- Zyanna Walker owns 13 career games with two or more steals.- Jaelyn Glenn dished out three assists. She needs 11 assists to move into 25th&nbsp;on the K-State career assists list.FROM THE HEAD COACHK-State Head Coach Jeff MittieOpening Statement…“A total team effort. We had to battle through some foul trouble tonight and some players were coming back off injury that hadn't had as many reps. And yet, you look up and we shoot 53% from the field. We do a lot of really good things. It's a quality team. I mean, I have a lot of respect for Creighton. They are a really good basketball team, and you got to see a glimpse of that in the second half. First half, we did a great job on Molly [Mogenson} and [Lauren] Jensen. They can really bust you up for some points. And we saw that certainly in the second half.”On Ayoka Lee…“You look at her minutes and you're like we need to keep her on the floor a little longer, but Kennedy [Taylor] has given us such a good lift. I thought Imani [Lester] played well tonight as well. We know we're going to need more than just Lee, but I thought Lee did a great job of getting position.”On the game plan heading into the game…“We came in saying they're going to do what they do at the offensive end, which is try to drag [Ayoka Lee] away. And we have&nbsp; to make them pay for playing that way. So if they're going to small ball us, we got to make them pay at the other end. And I thought we got off to a great start. I thought the ball was moving pretty timely, and I think that was critical to this game.”On the offense…“One of the things offensively that I'm really liking about our growth is that you saw in that third quarter where [Taryn] Sides gets going then [Temira] Poindexter makes some plays. Serena [Sundell], I thought, had an excellent second half. So we've got pretty good balance and pretty good depth in our scoring. And I think for us, it's just about making the right play. If we can keep that mentality of ‘we over me’ and make the right play, everybody's going to have success. And to put up 86 points is a really good deal, really good number for us.”Creighton Head Coach Jim FlaneryOpening Statement…“Kansas State looked really good on film, and they looked really good in person. They're the real deal, they can score it inside. Obviously, that was a really difficult matchup for us to guard both [Ayoka] Lee and [Kennedy] Taylor, who I think has given them a really, I mean, I hate to call it a backup, but, you know, they're tough that way, and then they create a lot of opportunities for their guards too. Their movements are good. We miscommunicated on some guard to guard actions in the first quarter. I thought that helped them get off to a good start. And it's tough to play from behind against that good of a team, good of a team on the road. So I thought we kind of hung in, but we got some things that we need to correct and get better. We knew our schedule was really hard. We've played three really good teams out of the gate. We played three teams that were picked to win their league. So this is the best team we played. So congrats to them. We had stretches where we'd push back, but we just couldn't guard them consistently to ever get back into the game. And they're very good defensively. Their length is an issue and I thought they were well prepared to take questions from student athletes.”FROM THE FLOORK-State 5th&nbsp;Year Senior Center Ayoka LeeOn gaining recruit depth on the court…“So far, not really. I think we have a really solid team. Obviously yeah, I want to be out there more, but it's not like it's the end of the world because I know Kennedy, Imani [Lester] and Eliza [Maupin] are going to step up and our guards can play.”On overall success as a team…“I think our guards did a really good job of just looking and getting good entry passes. Then I think me, Kennedy and Imani just did a good job of getting good steals for the most part”On Creighton being able to read the team defensively…“Oh yeah, we knew they're gonna do that. I think we talked about this in the locker room-- our defense was not good in the second half. My defense was not good in the second half. We knew what they wanted to do and we just have to do a better job of executing and not letting them get what they want.”K-State Senior Guard Serena SundellOn breaking out in the third quarter…“I think it just worked out that way. I had a slow start, but collectively we were hot. I think out of the paint when our posts were doing a good job. The fun part about this team is whoever's hot, you just want to keep giving them the ball, and then when it's your turn, then you're hot, and you pass the torch to someone else. I think our offense is a lot of fun right now, just because we have a lot of different scorers, we can score in different ways.”On opening up the lane with Ayoka Lee back on the court…“Yeah, it does. Honestly, Kennedy [Taylor] has done a really great job and she's drawing multiple defenders now. If she's not, then we're obviously giving her the ball and on her go to work. Ayoka [Lee] is just such a different presence out there. She's absolutely drawing every time. When she's out, I think it gives you a little more room to create the offense.”On maintaining a winning mentality…“Yeah, like I said earlier, I haven't been too concerned with scoring throughout the first two games. I think our team right now has such a mindset of just wanting to win. That's really where I'm at with this team, I just want to win games. We don't care how we do it. I know I'm gonna have to step up in certain moments. It felt good in the third quarter to see the ball go in the basket a little bit, but it hasn't been something I've been worried about.”Creighton Junior Guard Kiani LockettOn Creighton’s performance against K-State…“They're a good team. When a good team like that gets on a hot start, it's kind of tough to dig yourself out of that hole. I mean, sometimes we came back at the end, but I think that our defense usually helps our offense. So if our defense is bad, it kind of leads to harder offense. So definitely a punch in the mouth, and it kind of sucked, and it just seemed like we never got out of that rut after that. I think it was like 15 to 5 after or before the media time out. So that was tough.”On the most challenging part about playing K-State…“I thought they were really attentive, and they're really active and they're long. It definitely gives us a different look than a lot of other teams that we've seen. They're all 6’1, 6’2, so that was an adjustment. And I think, just as they hit a couple shots early, I think we missed our first few looks, which also takes something out of your confidence a little bit.”Creighton Junior Guard Kennedy TownsendOn her performance against K-State…“I'm focused on winning games right now, and if that's what it takes for us to win games, I'm all for that. They were really attentive to Morgan [Maly] and Lauren [Jensen] tonight, which, as they should be. And I think, it opens up a few opportunities for Kiani and I and Mal [Mallory Brake] and Maly. So I think part of that is just the way basketball goes. But whatever it takes to get our next win against Nebraska and so, [it] obviously sucks. You like to win, if you want to lose, that's kind of weird. But like [Coach Jim Flanery] said in the locker room, these are all tough opponents. We don't have an easy schedule, like some other teams might have to start. I would rather take one and two against, like you said, conference top teams, but it would be nice to get some wins too.”UP NEXTThe Wildcats continue its five-game home stand on Monday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m., as K-State hosts Little Rock. For tickets, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or call (800) 221-CATS.