KEARNEY BASKETBALL BEGINS ROAD WEEKEND:
The Kearney High basketball teams hit the road back to the capital city to face off against conference foe Lincoln North Star.
The Bearcat girls broke their losing skid last week with a win over Norfolk, and look to continue their winning ways against the Navigators who have been victors in five consecutive contests.
The Kearney boys look for revenge from the final contest of the HAC Holiday Tournament with a chance to take down one of the best teams in Lincoln against North Star.
Pregame coverage on KGFW begins at 5:45 PM with tip-off for the girls contest set for 6 PM. Join Austin Jacobsen on the call on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com.
UNK WOMEN EDGE BEARCATS; NORTHWEST DUMPS MEN:
A thrilling first half of doubleheader action at the Health & Sports Center went the Lopers way last night, with the men’s game becoming out of reach early as the Lopers split Thursday night with the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.
Redshirt junior forward Shiloh McCool sunk a free throw with five seconds left and No. 13/19 Nebraska Kearney got a stop at the other end of the court to stave off an upset bid by Northwest Missouri State, 66-65.
The Lopers (19-3, 12-2) push its win streak to six in a row while the improving Bearcats fall to 10-9 (6-7). During its win streak, UNK is 4-0 in games decided by five points or less.
The ‘Cats led for nearly 27 minutes but never by more than nine points and a 10-0 Loper run late in the fourth quarter seemingly turned the tide.
On the men’s side, three-time defending national champion Northwest Missouri State shot 55 percent from the field and was stingy on defense to down Nebraska Kearney, 76-36.
The seventh-ranked Bearcats (18-2, 11-2) win a fourth straight game and improve to 14-1 all-time against the Lopers.
UNK hosts Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon in both men’s and women’s action.
LOPER FOOTBALL COMPLETES COACHING STAFF:
Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Kenny Zamberlin will be the Lopers offensive graduate assistant and tight ends coach.
Zamberlin is the eighth and final assistant (six full-time and two GA’s) that Held has hired since become named UNK head coach in late December.
A former wide receiver at the College of Idaho, Zamberlin had a busy 2022 as he spent the first half of the year as offensive GA (quarterbacks coach) at FCS-member Montana. He then moved over to FBS-member Ohio in the fall, assisting with the Bobcats offensive line.
Son of former NFL player and longtime college, pro and high school coach John Zamberlin, he also has offensive coaching experience at his alma mater and Meridian (Idaho) High.
LINCOLN LEAVES MIAA FOR GLCV:
After being a full-time member of the MIAA for 43 years (1970-1999, 2010-2024), Lincoln University will depart from the Association after the 2023-24 academic year.
Lincoln University announces its departure from the MIAA Thursday afternoon. The Blue Tigers will join Division II’s Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Early Thursday morning, Lincoln University announced the acceptance of its invitation to the Great Lakes Volley Conferences (GLCV).
The Blue Tigers claimed 16 conference championship titles and four NCAA Division II National Championships during their time in the MIAA, all in track and field.
STORM DROP OPENING GAME OF FROSTY CUP IN OT:
The Tri-City Storm dropped the opening game of the 2023 USHL Frosty Cup by a final score of 4-3 in overtime Thursday night at the Comerica Center.
Graham Gamache, August Falloon, and Cameron O’Neill scored the Storm’s goals in the loss. Tri-City will battle Fargo tomorrow night in the second and final game of the Frosty Cup.
Puck drop for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
HUSKER ASSISTANT STAFF COACHING CONTRACTS RELEASED:
Nebraska released contracts for four full-time assistants and strength coach Corey Campbell on Thursday afternoon. The University had previously released salary information for seven of Nebraska’s full-time assistants.
A pair of new contracts and salaries released Thursday included linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek and wide receivers coach Garret McGuire, who will both be on three-year contracts that will pay them $285,000 annually.
Secondary coach Evan Cooper, who also holds the title of defensive pass game coordinator, will be on a two-year contract and earn an annual salary of $670,000.
Strength coach Corey Campbell will be paid $450,000 and has a three-year contract that runs through Dec. 2025.
Defensive line coach Terrance Knighton, who previously served as an assistant position coach with the Carolina Panthers, will be on a two-year deal that runs through Dec. 2024 that will pay him $400,000 annually.
The Nebraska athletic department has now released salary information for nine of 10 full-time assistant coaches. The University has yet to release contract information for tight ends coach Bob Wager.
NEBRASKA MEN BATTLE MARYLAND ON SATURDAY:
The Nebraska men’s basketball team begins a two-game road trip this Saturday, as the Huskers travel to College Park for a matchup with the Maryland Terrapins. Tipoff from the Xfinity Center is set for 3:30 p.m.
The Huskers (10-11, 3-7 Big Ten) are coming off a 78-63 loss to Northwestern on Wednesday evening.
Maryland (13-7, 4-5 Big Ten) comes off a 73-55 home win over Wisconsin on Wednesday night.
A win on Saturday at Maryland would allow the Huskers to exceed their win total from last season and match Nebraska’s number of Big Ten wins from a year ago.
HUSKER WOMEN SET FOR TOP TEN MATCHUP AT IOWA:
The Nebraska women’s basketball team takes on its ninth top-20 opponent of the season when the Huskers open their season series at No. 10 Iowa on Saturday afternoon in Iowa City.
Tip-off between the Big Red (12-8, 4-5 Big Ten) and the Hawkeyes (16-4, 8-1 Big Ten) is set for Noon (CT) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Saturday’s game will not only be Nebraska’s ninth this season against an Associated Press Top 25 foe at game time, it will also be NU’s sixth against a top-15 foe and fourth against an AP Top 10 opponent.
According to the NCAA NET rankings, Northwestern’s opponent success ranks No. 1 in the nation, while Nebraska’s comes in at No. 6, Iowa’s at No. 9 and Maryland’s at No. 10
Iowa is riding a five-game winning streak to improve to 16-4 overall and 8-1 in the Big Ten after handing No. 2 Ohio State its first loss of the season (83-72) on Monday in Columbus.
CAROLINA MAKES FIRST HIRE FOR NFL OFFSEASON:
Frank Reich is returning to the Carolina Panthers as their coach, more than 27 years after starting the franchise’s first game at quarterback in 1995.
The Panthers announced Thursday they’ve agreed to terms with Reich to become the sixth head coach in franchise history. He becomes the first head coach selected during the NFL Offseason.
Reich was chosen among nine candidates who interviewed for the job, including former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and this season’s interim head coach, Steve Wilks.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Girls Basketball: CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
- #8 KCHS v. #4 Columbus Scotus Central Catholic @ Boys Town
- #4 Scotus Central Catholic 44-29 #8 KCHS
- #8 KCHS v. #4 Columbus Scotus Central Catholic @ Boys Town
- Girls Basketball: CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
- UNK:
- Women’s Basketball: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Health & Sports Center
- UNK 66-65 Northwest Missouri State
- Men’s Basketball: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Health & Sports Center
- NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 76-36 UNK
- Women’s Basketball: v. Northwest Missouri State @ Health & Sports Center
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Westside Invite
- Wrestling: @ Garden City Invite, Garden City, KS – 8 AM
- Girls Basketball: @ Lincoln North Star – 5:45 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 5:30 PM
- Boys Basketball: @ Lincoln North Star – 7:30 PM
- KGFW Pregame after KHS GBB
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Westside Invite
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: v. Charlie Foster Classic Invite @ Cushing Coliseum – 3 PM
- Wrestling: @ Grand View, Des Moines IA – 7 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ Charlie Foster Classic Invite @ Cushing Coliseum – 3 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney High Girls Basketball @ Lincoln North Star (5:45 PM – 7:45 PM)
- Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Lincoln North Star (7:45 PM – 9:45 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Westside Invite – 8 AM
- Wrestling: @ Garden City Invite, Garden City, KS
- Girls Basketball: @ Omaha Benson – 1 PM
- KGFW Pregame at 12:45 PM
- Boys Basketball: @ Omaha Benson – 2:45 PM
- KGFW Pregame after KHS GBB
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- Swimming & Diving: @ Westside Invite
- Wrestling: @ Doniphan-Trumbull Invite – 9:30 AM
- Girls Basketball: CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
- #8 KCHS v. TBD (Finals)
- UNK:
- Women’s Basketball: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center – 2 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center – 4 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W Bowling: @ Bronco Baker Bash, Hastings, NE – 10 AM
- Men’s Wrestling: @ GPAC Duals: v. Morningside – 11 AM
- M/W Tennis: v. Tabor – 12 PM
- Men’s Wrestling: @ GPAC Duals: v. Northwestern – 12:30 PM
- Women’s Basketball: v. Dordt @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2 PM
- Men’s Wrestling: @ GPAC Duals: v. Briar Cliff – 3:30 PM
- Men’s Basketball: v. Dordt @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 3:45 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Kearney Girls Basketball @ Omaha Benson (12:45 PM – 2:45 PM)
- Kearney Boys Basketball: @ Omaha Benson (2:45 PM – 4:45 PM)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a
