BEARCAT BASKETBALL TAKES ON LINCOLN NORTH STAR:
The Kearney High Boys and Girls basketball teams take on Lincoln North Star tonight at Kearney High School as the regular season continues to creep towards its finish.
Pregame on KGFW begins at 5:45 as the Bearcat Girls (11-8) take on the Navigators (4-14) starting at 6 PM.
The Boys game will follow on the doubleheader broadcast as Kearney (11-8) looks to bounce back with a tough matchup against North Star (8-11).
STORM CARRY POINT STREAK INTO FARGO TONIGHT:
The Tri-City Storm carries a twelve-game point streak into this weekend’s road series against the Fargo Force. Tri-City is one point away from tying the organization’s record for most consecutive games with a point (Win/Overtime Loss/Shootout Loss).
The 2015-2016 Clark Cup Championship team recorded at least one point in the USHL standings in thirteen consecutive games from February 12th, 2016, to March 19th, 2016.
Tri-City had its organizational record eleven-game winning streak snapped in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Steel on Sunday. Puck drop for tonight’s Western Conference matchup between the Storm and the Steel is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
NEBRASKA SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON WITH WIN OVER OMAHA:
The Nebraska softball team (1-0) opened its season with a win on Friday morning, topping Omaha (0-1) by a score of 6-1.
Sophomore Billie Andrews led the Huskers, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs. Andrews matched her career high with two home runs.
The Mavs were scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning.
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME 2022 CLASS ANNOUNCED:
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 is unique, as for the first time since 2012, a first-time eligible finalist was not selected for enshrinement, four of the five modern-era enshrinees are on the defensive side of the ball and four of the five were eligible for at least 10 years.
Tackle Tony Boselli, safety LeRoy Butler, linebacker Sam Mills, defensive tackle/end Richard Seymour and defensive tackle Bryant Young are the modern-era enshrinees. Wide receiver Cliff Branch, who was the seniors finalist, former NFL director of officiating Art McNally (contributor finalist) and former Rams, Eagles and Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil were also selected for enshrinement.
The class will be formally honored in early August in Canton, Ohio.
UNK WOMEN BLOW PAST NORTHEASTERN STATE:
Three starters scored in double figures and Nebraska-Kearney simply shut down Northeastern State, 71-49, Thursday evening at the Health & Sports Center.
The Lopers moved to 18-5 (13-4) to remain in a logjam at the top of the MIAA standings. After tonight’s action UNK is in third place, right behind Missouri Southern and Fort Hays (both 14-3) and just ahead of Missouri Western (12-4). MWSU visits Kearney in two weeks.
The Lopers dominated inside to the tune of a 44-26 advantage in paint points and also went to the line 26 times. Kearney shot 47 percent (25 of 53) to have its highest point total since January 20.
Rogers State (10-14, 6-12) lost at Hays tonight, 78-49, and comes to Buckle Court on Saturday afternoon.
UNK MEN FALL IN LATE RUN TO RIVERHAWKS:
The Northeastern State RiverHawks closed on a 14-2 run to get past Nebraska-Kearney, 71-63, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.
NSU (12-11, 7-10) takes the season series from UNK (9-14, 5-12) by a combined 15 points and puts a dent into the Lopers MIAA Tournament hopes.
The Blue & Gold hosts Rogers State (14-9, 8-9) Saturday afternoon in another effort to move up the league standings.
HUSKER WOMEN FALL TO OHIO STATE:
Nebraska fought for 40 minutes but was unable to overcome cold shooting in an 80-70 loss at No. 21 Ohio State on Thursday night at the Schottenstein Center.
Alexis Markowski led the Big Red with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Jaz Shelley added 14 points and five assists, but Nebraska still slipped to 17-6 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten.
The Huskers conclude their three-game Big Ten road trip on Saturday when they travel to Illinois. Tip-off between Nebraska and Illinois at the State Farm Center in Champaign is set for 2 p.m.
RODGERS MVP, KUPP OFFENSIVE POTY; OTHER NFL AWARDS ANNOUNCED:
The NFL held its annual awards show on Thursday as several of the most prestigious awards were handed out to NFL stars.
To the surprise of no one, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers won his fourth MVP award, his second in a row. Rodgers led the Packers to a 13-4 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. He edged out the recently retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and several others for that honor.
Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp put together one of the most productive seasons by a pass-catcher in NFL history, becoming only the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to win the NFL’s receiving Triple Crown and winning Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Despite missing two full games and parts of several others due to injury, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt finally captured his first DPOY award after capping off a historic season with 22.5 sacks, tying Michael Strahan’s 2002 single-season sack record in the final regular-season game.
Ja’Marr Chase earned Offensive Rookie of the Year, Micah Parsons won Defensive Rookie of the Year, Joe Burrow won Comeback Player of the Year, and Mike Vrabel of the Titans won Coach of the Year.
AQUALOPERS SIT IN SIXTH AT RMAC CHAMPIONSHIPS:
The Nebraska-Kearney Aqualopers are sitting in sixth place with an even 100 points after two days of the 2022 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships in Grand Junction, Colo.
UNK broke three-school records on Wednesday and was aiming for more but the 400-medley relay team was disqualified for an early start on one leg. That cost the Aqualopers some team points but they are still ahead of Adams State (52) and right behind Colorado State-Pueblo (131).
Action resumes today at 10 a.m. Central.
HUSKER WOMEN CONTINUE ROAD SWING TO ILLINOIS ON SATURDAY:
Nebraska wraps up its three-game Big Ten road trip by taking on Illinois on Saturday afternoon at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The game was originally scheduled to be played Jan. 23, but was postponed because of health and safety protocols within the Nebraska program.
Tip-off between the Huskers (17-6, 6-6 Big Ten) and the Fighting Illini (6-13, 1-7 Big Ten) is set for 2 p.m.
The Huskers will be looking to rebound from back-to-back road losses to top-25 opponents after falling 80-70 at No. 21 Ohio State on Thursday in Columbus. It was NU’s fifth loss to a current top 25 team this season, including the fourth on the road.
Coach Nancy Fahey brings Illinois into Saturday’s contest with a 6-13 overall record that includes a 1-7 Big Ten mark after a 93-61 loss to No. 6 Indiana on Wednesday night in Champaign.
HUSKER MEN CLASH WITH HAWKEYES ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY:
The Nebraska men’s basketball team hits the road this weekend, as the Huskers head to Iowa City for a matchup with the Iowa Hawkeyes this Sunday afternoon. Tipoff from Carver-Hawkeye Arena is set for 1 p.m.
The Huskers (7-17, 1-12 Big Ten) played one of their best games of the season in leading wire to wire in a 78-65 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night to earn their first Big Ten win of the season.
Iowa (16-7, 6-6 Big Ten) comes into Sunday’s game riding a two-game win streak following a 110-87 rout at Maryland on Thursday.
Pregame on KGFW begins at noon.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
THURSDAY:
- UNK:
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Northeastern State
- UNK 71-49
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Northeastern State
- NSU 71-63
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Northeastern State
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- SWIMMING & DIVING: HAC Championships @ Fremont – 11 AM
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln North Star – 6 PM @ Kearney High School
- Pregame on KGFW at 5:45 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln North Star – 7:45 PM @ Kearney High School
- Pregame on KGFW at 7:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- WRESTLING: DISTRICTS @ O’Neill
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Lincoln Christian – 5 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Lincoln Christian – 7 PM
- UNK:
- SOFTBALL: @ Lubbock Texas
- v. Colorado Mines – 10 AM
- v. Lubbock Christian – 2 PM
- MENS TRACK: @ Indoor Gorillas Classic @ Pittsburg, KS
- WRESTLING: @ Fort Hays State – 7 PM
- SOFTBALL: @ Lubbock Texas
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- SOFTBALL: @ Cottey College (Nevada, MO) – 1 PM (Doubleheader)
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Briar Cliff University – 6 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ Briar Cliff University – 7:45 PM
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- WRESTLING: DISTRICT WRESTLING @ Kearney High School – 9:30 AM
- SWIMMING & DIVING: HAC Championships @ Fremont – 2 PM
- BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Fremont – 4 PM
- Pregame on KGFW at 3:45 PM
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Fremont – 5:45 PM
- Pregame on KGFW at 5:30 PM
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- SWIMMING & DIVING: Kearney Invite – 9:30 AM @ Kearney High School
- WRESTLING: DISTRICTS @ O’Neill
- UNK:
- MENS TRACK: @ Indoor Gorillas Classic @ Pittsburg, KS
- MENS TRACK: @ Ichabod Invite @ Wichita, KS
- WOMENS TRACK: @ Washburn Invite
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Rogers State @ Health & Sports Center – 2 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Rogers State @ Health & Sports Center – 4 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- WOMENS WRESTLING: @ Warrior Open – Fremont
- M/W T&F: @ Concordia Invite – 10 AM
- SOFTBALL: @ Cottey College Round Robin
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ No. 8 Morningside – 2 PM
- MENS BASKETBALL: @ Morningside – 3:45 PM
