Thursday Afternoon Sports – Nebraska Men’s Hoops to Play at Sanford Pentagon, Markowski Invited to Americup Trials, Kearney Boys Soccer Ends A-6 Runner-Up, Husker Baseball Recap, Local Sports Schedules

NEBRASKA MEN TO FACE OREGON STATE IN SANFORD PENTAGON:

The Nebraska men’s basketball team is returning to the Sanford Pentagon in 2023 for a non-conference matchup against Oregon State on Saturday, Nov. 18. Ticket information and game time will be announced later.

This will be the second time Nebraska has played at the Sanford Pentagon. On Dec. 16, 2018, the Huskers defeated Oklahoma State 79-56 in front of a standing room-only crowd of 3,800.

Nebraska returns four players who started at least 12 games during the 2022-23 season. The Huskers finished on a high note last season, winning six of their final eight regular-season games, including three victories over teams that played in the NCAA Tournament.

HUSKERS’ MARKOWSKI INVITED TO USA AMERICUP TRIALS:

Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski has earned an invitation to participate in the 2023 AmeriCup Team Trials May 11-15 in Colorado Springs.

Markowski, a 6-3 center/forward out of Lincoln Pius X High School, was one of 22 players invited to the trials after completing her second season for Coach Amy Williams at Nebraska.

Markowski earned a spot on the Naismith Trophy Watch List and was one of 10 midseason semifinalists for the Lisa Leslie Award presented to the nation’s best center in women’s college basketball. She also claimed second-team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight season by leading the conference in total rebounds (322) while averaging 11.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

The participants at the Trials will help USA Basketball prepare for the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup set for July 1-9 in Leon, Mexico. 

KEARNEY BOYS SOCCER ENDS SEASON IN A-6 TITLE MATCH:

The Bearcat Boys Soccer team nearly had top-seeded Papillion-LaVista South on the ropes with Colt Straka’s two goal performance in a five minute span, but ultimately Kearney fell in added time 3-2 on Wednesday night ending as A-6 District runner-up. 

Kearney had goals from Straka (50’, 54’) but state leader in points Colin Macke’s two goal performance (64’, 89’) including the game winner in added time sealed the Bearcats fate. 

The Bearcats end the season at 13-4 overall. 

HUSKER BASEBALL FALL SHORT TO BISON:

Nebraska climbed back within a run after facing a five-run deficit in the first but couldn’t complete the comeback, as the Huskers suffered a 6-5 setback vs. North Dakota State on Wednesday night at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park.

Nebraska (24-17-1) totaled five runs on seven hits and an error, while the Bison (16-26) had six runs on seven hits and one error.

Brice Matthews led the Huskers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two homers, three RBI and two runs. Five other Huskers recorded a hit, highlighted by solo home runs from Griffin Everitt and Cole Evans.

Nebraska travels to College Park, Md., as the Huskers take on Maryland in a three-game series on Friday-Sunday, May 5-7.

HUSKER BASEBALL AND CREIGHTON ACTION TO RESUME MAY 9:

Nebraska and Creighton will resume last month’s suspended game on Tuesday, May 9 at 5 p.m. at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.

The game, which was suspended due to lightning, will resume tied at four in the bottom of the seventh inning with Nebraska batting and no outs. Gabe Swansen will be at the plate with the bases loaded and an 0-0 count.

Following the completion of the suspended game, the Huskers and Bluejays will meet in the series finale scheduled for 7:03 p.m.

BEARCAT BASEBALL PLACED INTO A-6 DISTRICT:

The Kearney Baseball team earned a third seed in the A-6 District Tournament needing to win three games to continue their season to the state tournament.

Kearney (12-13) will have a play-in game on Friday, May 5 at Memorial Field taking on #6 Omaha Benson (1-18). First pitch is set for 4 PM.

Semifinal and championship matchups will be played at Titan Field at the Papillion-LaVista sports complex. KGFW will follow Bearcat Baseball starting on Friday with pregame coverage at 3:45 PM.

LOPER WRESTLING ADDS HUSKER TRANSFER:

UNK wrestling is adding a former Husker to its roster, as Nebraska transfer Cameron Graham announced Wednesday that he is transferring to the Lopers.

Graham took a redshirt year at 157 pounds with the Huskers this year, compiling an 8-4 overall record in non-dual matches. He is a two-time Nebraska state high school champion and went 56-0 for Cross County/Osceola his senior year.

The Lopers won the Division II national championship two seasons ago. They’ve added commitments from Central City’s Drew Garfield and Aurora’s Jack Allen this offseason.

STORM COMPLETE PHASE II OF USHL DRAFT:

The Tri-City Storm completed Phase II of the 2023 USHL Draft Wednesday evening at the Viaero Center in Kearney. 

The team’s top selection was forward Carson Pilgrim, formerly of Warroad High School (MN), and the United States National Team Development Program (USNTP/Team USA). The Storm selected Pilgrim 18th overall in the 2nd round. 

Tri-City made twenty-one total selections in Wednesday’s second phase of the 2023 USHL Draft. The Storm drafted thirteen forwards and eight defenseman during the Phase II Draft.

NBA PLAYOFFS SCORES/SCHEDULES:

WEDNESDAY RESULTS:

Boston Celtics 121-76 Philadelphia 76ers (Tied 1-1)

THURSDAY SCHEDULE:

Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors (LAL leads 1-0) – 8 PM

NHL PLAYOFFS SCORES/SCHEDULES:

WEDNESDAY RESULTS:

Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 New Jersey Devils (CAR leads 1-0)

Vegas Golden Knights 6-4 Edmonton Oilers (VGK leads 1-0)

THURSDAY SCHEDULE:

Florida Panthers @ Toronto Maple Leafs (FLA leads 1-0) – 6 PM

Seattle Kraken @ Dallas Stars (SEA leads 1-0) – 8:30 PM

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Boys Soccer: A-6 DISTRICTS
    • #2 Kearney @ #1 Papillion-LaVista South @ PLVS High School
      • #1 PLVS 3-2 #2 KHS OT

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Tennis: v. Kearney Triangular @ Harmon Park – 4 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Tennis: KCHS Invite – 9 AM
  • Track & Field: @ Cozad Invite – 4 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: A-6 DISTRCTS
    • #3 Kearney v. #6 Omaha Benson @ Memorial Field – 4 PM
      • KGFW Pregame at 3:45 PM
  • Girls Tennis: @ Norfolk Dual – 3 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Jefferson City, MO
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ GPAC Championships @ Sioux Center, IA – 1 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball @ Maryland (5:30 PM – 10:15 PM)
  • TBA – Kearney Baseball v. Districts

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Baseball: A-6 DISTRICTS:
    • #3 Kearney v. TBA
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Golf: @ Centennial Conference
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Jefferson City, MO
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • M/W T&F: @ GPAC Championships @ Sioux Center, IA – 1 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball @ Maryland (12:30 PM – 5:15 PM)
  • TBA – Kearney Baseball v. Districts

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Jefferson City, MO
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Baseball @ Maryland (12 PM – 4:15 PM)