Friday Morning Sports – Stars’ Fall in Sub-District Final, Kearney Girls Head to District Final, Nebeker’s Big Day Not Enough for Lopers, Adams Central FB Coach Steps Down, Husker Baseball Opens South Alabama Series, Nebraska Athletics Preview, Local Sports Schedule

KEARNEY CATHOLIC BOYS DROP SUB-DISTRICT FINAL:

The #4 seed Kearney Catholic Stars scrapped in the C1-9 Sub-District Final, but ultimately fell short of the title and a district final bid falling to Adams Central 40-31 at Wood River High School. 

The Stars end their season at 10-15 overall, pulling off two wins in the sub-district tournament over #5 Gibbon and #1 Wood River to wrap up the year. 

KEARNEY HIGH GIRLS BASKETBALL HEADS TO BELLEVUE EAST FOR STATE TOURNAMENT BID:

The Kearney High Girls Basketball team takes their longest trip of the year to Bellevue East tonight for a chance to claim their spot in the Class A State Tournament as the Bearcats matchup with the Chieftains in the A-5 District Final. 

#2 Kearney obliterated #3 Papillion-LaVista South on Wednesday night at home, as the Chieftains handled #4 Omaha North 74-39.

KGFW’s pregame coverage begins at 6:30 PM with tip-off set for 6:45 from Bellevue East. Tune in to the broadcast with Austin Jacobsen on the call. 

Hear the Bearcats on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com.

NEBEKER’S BIG DAY NOT ENOUGH TO RALLY LOPERS:

Super senior forward Darrian Nebeker scored a career-high 30 points but Missouri Western State rallied past Nebraska Kearney, 83-78, Thursday night in St. Joseph.

This game was originally set for December but postponed due to COVID protocols with the Griffons program.

MWSU (12-15, 8-13) bounces back from a buzzer-beating loss to Newman Wednesday night, keeps its tourney hopes alive and splits the season series with the Lopers (5-22, 3-18). UNK has now suffered 12 setbacks by 10 points or less.

Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah) came in averaging just under 17 points a night, tied for first best in the MIAA

UNK finishes out the season Saturday afternoon against Fort Hays State (19-8, 14-7). The regionally-ranked Tigers rallied past the Lopers, 57-55, to take the first meeting earlier this year in Kansas.

ADAMS CENTRAL’S MULLIGAN STEPS DOWN AS FOOTBALL COACH:

After a nine year run as head coach of Adams Central football, Shawn Mulligan is stepping down, according to Patriots’ Activities Director Alan Frank.

Mulligan led the Patriots to a state championship berth in 2020, as well as two semifinals appearances in 2019 and 2022 (this past season). Defensive coordinator Josh Lewis has been chosen as Mulligan’s replacement effective immediately.

HUSKER BASEBALL TRAVELS TO SOUTH ALABAMA FOR WEEKEND SERIES:

Nebraska Baseball continues play this weekend with a three-game series at South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. First pitch of the series opener is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on tonight  at Stanky Field.

The teams continue the series on Saturday, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. Sunday’s series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch. 

This weekend’s series between the Huskers and Jaguars marks the first all-time meeting between the two programs.

The Big Red are 2-1 in the state. Nebraska lost its series opener in 2007 against the Crimson Tide with an 8-0 setback, before bouncing back with 4-3 and 6-5 wins to take the series against Alabama.

The Huskers are still seeking their first win on the year after starting 0-3-1 in their series at San Diego last week. 

LOPER WOMEN’S HOOPS FIRST IN CENTRAL REGION:
The Nebraska Kearney women’s basketball team is ranked first in the Central Region in the second edition of the NCAA Region Rankings for the 2022-23 season.

These rankings determine the 64-team NCAA Division II Tournament field (eight teams, eight regions) in March.

The rankings will be released every Wednesday afternoon with the “Selection Show” being held on Sunday, March 5. Regional play is set for March 10-11 & 13 (Sweet 16). 

The national polls have no bearing on the regional rankings. UNK is currently seventh in the Women’s Basketball Coaches (WBCA) Top 25 and eighth in the D2 Sports Information Directors of America poll.

The Lopers (26-3; 19-2 in MIAA) hosts longtime rival Fort Hays State this Saturday to close out the regular season. UNK has already secured a share of the 2022-23 MIAA regular season title and can win it outright with a victory over the Tigers (19-10). However, Hays is 11-1 in Kearney since the 2009-10 season.

HUSKER SOFTBALL TRAVELS TO NEW MEXICO:

The Nebraska softball team (5-5) travels to Las Cruces, N.M., for the Troy Cox Classic this weekend, Feb. 24-26. The Huskers face four teams including No. 4 Oklahoma State while playing a total of five games. 

NU will open with No. 4 Oklahoma State (8-1) today. The game is set to begin at 12:30 p.m. (CT). This marks the second time the Huskers and the Cowgirls will meet this season. 

Following game one, Nebraska will face New Mexico State (5-4). First pitch will be at approximately 5:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the Big Red will take on CSU Bakersfield (2-8) at 5:30 p.m. (CT). Nebraska will take on New Mexico (3-5) following the completion of game at approximately 7:30 p.m. (CT).

The Huskers will finish the weekend on Sunday with a game against the Lobos at 10 a.m. (CT). 

NEBRASKA BEACH VOLLEYBALL SEASON BEGINS:

The Nebraska beach volleyball team begins its season today with home matches against Wayne State at 8 a.m. and Park at 4 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Hawks Championship Center and will be streamed on the Huskers’ YouTube page. 

The Huskers will start the following pairs on Friday: Bekka Allick/Lexi Rodriguez, Harper Murray/Merritt Beason, Ally Batenhorst/Bergen Reilly, Laney Choboy/Lindsay Krause, Hayden Kubik/Caroline Jurevicius and Andi Jackson/Maisie Boesiger. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: State Championships @ Bob Devaney Sports Center
    • DIVING: Ben Knoell = 6th / Ian Hanson = 13th
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: State Championships @ Bob Devaney Sports Center
    • DIVING: Ben Knoell = 6th / Ian Hanson = 13th
  • Boys Basketball: C1-9 SUBDISTRICT FINAL @ Wood River High School
    • #4 KCHS v. #3 Adams Central @ Wood River High School
      • #3 AC 40-31 #4 KCHS
• UNK:
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Missouri Western State @ St. Joseph, MO
    • MWSU 83-78 UNK

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Softball: @ McPherson, KS
    • CANCELED
  • Softball: @ McPherson, KS
    • CANCELED

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: State Championships @ Bob Devaney Sports Center
  • Girls Basketball: A-5 DISTRICT FINAL
    • #2 Kearney @ #1 Bellevue East – 6:45 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: State Championships @ Bob Devaney Sports Center
• UNK:
  • Softball: v. Sioux Falls @ Topeka, KS – 10 AM
  • Softball: v. Rockhurst @ Topeka, KS – 12 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Pittsburg, KS
  • Women’s Tennis: v. Barry, FL @ Ernest Grundy Tennis Center – 5:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W Tennis: @ Metro @ Denver, CO – 2 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • DISTRICT FINAL: Kearney Girls Basketball @ Bellevue East (6:45 PM – 8:45 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: State Championships @ Bob Devaney Sports Center
  • Boys Basketball: A-2 DISTRICT SEMIFINAL
    • #2 Kearney High v. #3 Lincoln Pius X @ Kearney High School – 7 PM
      • KGFW Pregame at 6:45 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: State Championships @ Bob Devaney Sports Center
  • Boys Basketball: District Final
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Pittsburg, KS
  • Women’s Tennis: v. Hawaii Pacific OR Indianapolis @ Ernest Grundy Tennis Center
  • Wrestling: @ NCAA Super Region VI @ Chadron State – 10 AM
  • Softball: v. Missouri-St. Louis @ Topeka, KS – 11:30 AM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Fort Hays State – 2 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: v. Fort Hays State – 4 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • Women’s Wrestling: @ KCAC Championships, York, NE – 9 AM
  • M/W Bowling: @ NAIA National Qualifier @ Belton, MO – 10 AM
  • M/W Tennis: @ CSU Pueblo, Pueblo, CO – 12 PM
  • Softball: @ Sterling – 1 PM
  • Softball: @ Sterling – 3 PM
  • Baseball: v. Peru State @ Tulsa, OK – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball v. Minnesota (1:30 PM – 5:15 PM)
  • DISTRICTS: Kearney Boys Basketball v. Lincoln Pius X (6:45 PM – 8:45 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Pittsburg, KS
  • Women’s Tennis: v. TBD @ Ernest Grundy Tennis Center
  • Softball: v. St. Cloud State @ Topeka, KS – 9:30 AM
  • Softball: v. Minnesota Crookston @ Topeka, KS – 11:30 AM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W Bowling: @ NAIA National Qualifier @ Belton, MO – 10 AM
  • Softball: @ Friends, KS @ Wichita, KS – 12 PM
  • Baseball: v. Peru State @ Tulsa OK – 12 PM
  • Softball: @ Friends, KS @ Wichita, KS – 2 PM
  • Baseball: v. Peru State @ Tulsa, OK – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Northwestern (12:45 PM – 4 PM)