KEARNEY GIRLS LOOK TO GET PAST GRETNA IN DISTRICT SEMIFINAL:
It is officially win-or-go home season for high school basketball teams across the state.
The Kearney High girls basketball team puts their season on the line against the #3 seeded Gretna Dragons (12-11) this afternoon at Kearney High School in the A-2 District Semifinal.
The winner of the contest moves on to take on the winner of #1 Fremont / #4 Lincoln North Star.
Tip-off is set for 3 PM today and pregame coverage on KGFW begins at 2:45 PM.
KEARNEY CATHOLIC STARS PUT SEASON ON THE LINE AGAINST CHADRON:
The 24-1 Kearney Catholic Stars boys basketball team have a chance to cement another trip to the State Tournament in Lincoln with a win today in the District Final matchup against Chadron hosted at Ogallala.
Tip-off time is set for 6 PM Mountain Time in Ogallala.
NEBRASKA MEN FALL TO IOWA OFF ANOTHER LATE RALLY:
Senior Alonzo Verge Jr. finished with a team-high 18 points to pace four Huskers in double figures, but No. 25 Iowa used an 11-0 second-half run to take control in an 88-78 victory Friday evening at Pinnacle Bank Arena
Nebraska was within 58-56 after a 3-pointer from C.J. Wilcher with 10:51 left, but Kris Murray keyed an 11-0 run, scoring seven of his 12 points in the spurt as the Hawkeyes stretched the lead to 69-56 with 6:34 remaining.
Nebraska hits the road to take on Penn State this Sunday, Feb. 27. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (central) and will be televised on the Big Ten Network, with radio coverage provided by the Huskers Radio Network.
UNK BASKETBALL SPLITS FINAL REGULAR SEASON CONTEST, MEN SEASON COMES TO AN END:
The Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team sunk 11 three pointers, including a career-high six from forward Elisa Backes, to pull away from Missouri Western State, 75-64, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.
This was the regular season finale for both teams. UNK (22-6, 17-5) will be the third seed in next weekend’s MIAA Tournament in Kansas City. Brackets will be announced Saturday night; the Lopers will play Friday at around 2:15 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Loper Men allowed the Missouri Western State Griffons to grab 18 offensive rebounds and had a huge effort from freshman wing Taye Fields to get past Nebraska-Kearney, 76-74
The Griffs (14-16, 10-12) will be an 8-10 seed in next week’s MIAA Tournament in Kansas City while the Lopers end up at 11-17 (7-15). A young UNK squad finished the season 3-7 in games decided by 10 points or less with its last four setbacks coming by just a combined 22 points.
STORM DOMINATE SIOUX FALLS, REMATCH SATURDAY NIGHT:
The Tri-City Storm notched a bounce-back victory over the Sioux Falls Stampede Friday night at the Viaero Center after dropping consecutive games in regulation time for only the second time this season. Defenseman Matt Basgall, who was acquired in a transaction with the Omaha Lancers on Thursday, scored twice in Tri-City’s 7-1 home victory over the Sioux Falls Stampede.
Puck drop for tonight’s rematch between the Storm and the Stampede is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
HUSKER BASEBALL CAN’T COMPLETE LATE INNING THREAT:
Nebraska fell 4-1 against No. 17 TCU after bringing the go-ahead run to the plate in the eighth and the tying run to the plate in the ninth on Friday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The Huskers (1-4) had one run on six hits and an error, while the Horned Frogs posted four runs on six hits with no errors.
Nebraska and TCU continue the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
NEBRASKA SAND VOLLEYBALL STARTS SEASON UNDEFEATED:
The Nebraska beach volleyball team opened its 2022 season with a pair of wins over Wayne State and Park on Friday at the Hawks Championship Center.
NU’s top pair of Kenzie Knuckles and Madi Kubik won their only match of the day, 21-5, 21-18 against Wayne State’s top pair. Bekka Allick and Lexi Rodriguez won their No. 2 match against Wayne State in straight sets, 21-10, 21-13, as did Keonilei Akana and Ally Batenhorst at No. 3 (21-15, 21-13) and Whitney Lauenstein and Kennedi Orr at No. 5 (22-20, 21-19). Nicklin Hames and Lindsay Krause, the Huskers’ No. 4 pair for the morning match, were pushed to a third set but came out victorious, 21-10, 15-21, 15-7.
In the evening match against Park, the Huskers fell behind as NU’s No. 5 pair of Anni Evans and Hayden Kubik dropped their match, 24-22, 20-22, 10-15. But the Huskers’ 2-5 pairs from the morning match moved up to 1-4 against Park and all won in straight sets to give NU the 4-1 win. Allick and Rodriguez, playing at No. 1, won 21-16, 21-16. Akana and Batenhorst earned a 21-9, 21-13 victory in the No. 2 spot, and Hames and Krause were dominant in a 21-7, 21-10 win as Nebraska’s third pair. Lauenstein and Orr teamed up for a 21-7, 21-10 victory as well.
Nebraska is participating in the North Florida Invitational in Jacksonville next Friday and Saturday, where the Huskers will play five matches in two days.
TREV ALBERTS SPORTS NIGHTLY COMMENTS:
ALBERTS – HOIBERG TO REMAIN AS HEAD COACH FOR NEXT SEASON:
During his Sports Nightly appearance last night, Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts kicked off the show by announcing a big decision regarding the leader of the Men’s Basketball program…
Hoiberg has led Nebraska to the worst three year record in program history, including three consecutive 20 loss seasons. Hoiberg would have been due $18.5 million in a buyout had he been fired after this season.
ALBERTS – NEW RESTRUCTURED CONTRACT FOR HOIBERG
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts announced on Sports Nightly last night the new details regarding Fred Hoiberg’s restructured contract to stay as Head Coach for the Nebraska Men’s Basketball team. Alberts likened the deal to how business was handled with Football Coach Scott Frost…
Nebraska was set to pay Hoiberg $18.5 million had the Huskers fired the head coach after this season.
ALBERTS – MENS BASKETBALL MUST BE WILLING TO CHANGE
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts spoke about the restructuring of Fred Hoiberg’s contract on Sports Nightly Thursday night and added that change needs to happen for Husker hoops, as Alberts’ sees the basketball teams as a key piece to the athletic puzzle…
Alberts continued that he wants to see more forward momentum gained by the Husker Men’s basketball team and knows that Fred Hoiberg can build a successful program
NEBRASKA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREPARES FOR SUNDAY:
The Nebraska women’s basketball team takes aim at its 11th Big Ten Conference regular-season win while trying to tie a school record for home victories when the Huskers host Northwestern Sunday. Tip-off between the Big Red (21-7, 10-7 Big Ten) and the Wildcats (16-10, 8-7 Big Ten) is set for 3:30 p.m. (CT) p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena
The Huskers will celebrate Senior Day for MiCole Cayton, Bella Cravens and Sam Haiby in a post-game ceremony. Manager Gage Pohlmeier and nutrition student intern Allison Aden also will be recognized.
Not only will Nebraska be looking to tie the school record with its 16th home win of the year (1997-98, 2009-10, 2013-14), the Huskers and Wildcats will be playing for the No. 6 seed at the 14-team Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis next week. The winning team will claim the No. 6 seed, while a loss by the Huskers would drop them to the No. 7 spot. A loss by Northwestern could knock them to the No. 7 or 8 spots, pending the outcome of the Michigan State/Ohio State contest.
NEBRASKA SOFTBALL READY FOR WOO PIG CLASSIC:
The Nebraska softball team is set for the Wooo Pig Classic in Fayetteville, Ark., this Sunday, Feb. 27 through Monday, Feb. 28.
The Huskers will play four games starting with a 10 a.m. CT match up against Kansas. This is the first of three meetings that NU will have with KU this season.
The Big Red will face Louisville after the completion of game one on Sunday. The game is set to start at 12:15 p.m. CT. On Monday, Nebraska will face the Cardinals for a second time during the weekend at 9:30 a.m. CT.
The Huskers will close out the tournament against host school Arkansas at 2 p.m. CT.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
FRIDAY:
- UNK:
-
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center
- UNK 75-64
- MENS BASKETBALL: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center
- MWSt. 76-74
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Missouri Western State @ Health & Sports Center
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: A-2 District Basketball Tournament:
- #2 Kearney v. #3 Gretna @ Kearney High School – 3 PM
- Pregame on KGFW starts at 2:45 PM
- #2 Kearney v. #3 Gretna @ Kearney High School – 3 PM
- GIRLS BASKETBALL: A-2 District Basketball Tournament:
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- BOYS BASKETBALL: Kearney Catholic v. Chadron @ Ogallala – 6 PM (MT)
- *District Final
- BOYS BASKETBALL: Kearney Catholic v. Chadron @ Ogallala – 6 PM (MT)
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: @ MIAA Championships @ Maryville, MO
- WRESTLING: @ NCAA Super Region VI @ Grand Junction, CO
- SOFTBALL: @ Washburn Classic @ Topeka, KSv. Maryv. St. Louis
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- WOMENS WRESTLING: @ KCAC Conference Tounament @ St. Mary’s KS – 9 AM
- BASEBALL: @ Ottawa, KS
- @ Ottawa University – 12 PM
- @ Ottawa University (Doubleheader)
- SOFTBALL: @ North Newton, KS
- @ Bethel College – 1 PM
- @ Bethel College (Doubleheader)
