HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Deshaun Durham walked out of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility on Friday morning with a big smile on his face. The 24-year-old from Manhattan was granted clemency by Gov. Laura Kelly after serving over 2.5 years behind bars.

"It's a surreal moment," Durham said. "It kind of feels like an out-of-body experience, feels like a dream, sometimes I've got to pinch myself to make sure its real."

Durham was sentenced in June of 2021 to 92 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 2.4 pounds of cannabis. The courts will typically give probation for people with no criminal history, which is why it was rare that Durham was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison.

"He should not have been sent to prison for 2.4 pounds of marijuana for nine years," Barry Grissom, Durham's attorney, said. "When you think about it, it's a waste of taxpayer dollars. The amount of money that we spend in investigation, interdiction, arrest, prosecution and incarceration is money that could be better spent by law enforcement keeping us safe in our homes, as opposed to running a prohibition."

Durham expressed extreme gratitude to Donte West with the Last Prisoner Project, as well as Grissom, as both played integral parts in helping get his sentence reduced.

"It's good to have faith in people out there, working on you and making sure the right things happen," Durham said. "It's just nice knowing you can sleep better at night, knowing you've got people in place that are really devoted and motivated to getting you home."

Although Durham is grateful to be granted clemency, he was surprised that it happened.

"I was surprised, because it's something a lot of people do in the prison system and very few get it," Durham said. "When I got the news I got it, it was hard not to tear up a little bit, because it's just something that's so rare."

&nbsp;Durham was 20 at the time of the crime and says he has learned a lot from being incarcerated.

"I learned my lesson and now we're here, just ready to look forward and open a new chapter in my life," Durham said. "It's kind of taught me that prison isn't a place that I belong and it's not a place that anyone who gets caught with marijuana, something that is legal in a majority of the United States, deserves to be at. There is definitely some real tough characters in prison, and this place can change you for the worse."&nbsp;

Durham's mother, Brandi Davis, was also there to witness her son walking off the property after being released.

"When he called me from sentencing two and a half years ago and told me he got eight years, I was floored," Davis said. "I never imagined that he would get eight years, I thought he was joking. He asked me how he was going to do eight years in prison, I promised him two and a half years ago that I would do everything in my power to get him home. Luckily, I had people like Last Prisoner Project and Donte and Barry that absolutely supported him in every way and fought like hell to get him home. There really are no words. Deshaun hasn't been home for two and a half years. When I was decorating the house for Christmas, I thought about how Deshaun was going to be in all of our celebrations and he's going to be in the pictures this year."&nbsp;

The final night in the cell of the prison for Durham was one he was looking forward to.

"It was definitely hard to sleep, but it was kind of easy knowing it was going to be my last night sleeping in a prison bunk," Durham said. "I actually woke up about 3:30 in the morning and started getting ready and everything, making sure it wasn't a dream still, because it all feels so surreal."

Durham walked out of the prison with a Kansas City Chiefs sweatshirt on, hoping to get to the Sunday Night Football game against the Chargers in two days.

"That was definitely one of my first ideas, I'm trying to go to the game," Durham said with a smile on his face. "I watch every game, I don't tend to miss a game often, so I'm hoping to make it to the game on Sunday."

&nbsp;Gov. Kelly overturned the Prison Review Board's rejection of Durham's clemency application on Nov. 6.

"We were very very fortunate that we have an amazing governor for our state," Grissom said. "Governor Kelly exercised an immense amount of courage and wisdom to reduce this young man's sentence in light of what he said, is going on around the country, when you compare that to what's happening in Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, he should not have been sent to prison for 2.4 pounds of marijuana for nine years."

Durham is looking forward to turning his life around outside of the prison walls.

"I'm definitely interested in trying to help other people that are in prison for crimes like mine," Durham. "So no one else ends up like I did, without the support from everybody else around me, I would have had to have done my full eight-year sentence."

Durham hopes to attend welding school and start a family in the near future.

The Last Prisoner Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit that was founded in 2019 and works towards helping incarcerated cannabis offenders.&nbsp;

Manhattan man walks free from HCF

Country 102.9's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/patjames/">Pat James</a>&nbsp;brings you some ideas on events to attend this weekend around the Hutchinson area. Click the play button to listen.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/category/podcasts">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to more Hutch Post podcasts on demand! <a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/community-calendar">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to submit an event for this podcast or to see area events listed on the Visit Hutch Event Calendar.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

🎧 LISTEN: 'Happening Around Hutch' this weekend 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Holiday events in Downtown Hutchinson continue Saturday.

Hutch Rec’s Gingerbread House Decorating at Memorial Hall from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (FREE)

This free event is Hutch Rec’s gift to the community and includes free gingerbread house decorating for all ages, along with visits with Santa, interactive games, and more. Carriage rides will also be provided outside of Memorial Hall from 10 a.m. to noon.

Spread the Light Holiday Park at DCI Park (2nd &amp; Main) from 4-6 p.m.

Before the Christmas parade, visit Spread the Light Holiday Park to support local non-profits and give back to our community. Groups will provide festive activities and give visitors the chance to connect with local charities while making a difference this holiday season.

Light Up Hutch Christmas Parade (Main St from Avenue B through 7th Avenue) at 6 p.m.

The festive weekend concludes with the 2nd annual Light Up Hutch evening Christmas Parade in Downtown Hutchinson. Ad Astra Radio is accepting parade registrations. Entries will be judged by a local celebrity panel in various categories.

The parade will start at Avenue B and head north through 7th Avenue on Main Street.

Pedestrian-only viewing will take place from Avenue B through 3rd &amp; Main, where there are no parked vehicles allowed.&nbsp;

Car viewing spaces are available from 3rd Avenue through 7th Avenue. Residents may park their&nbsp;vehicles in the open designated parking spaces on Main Street.

Look for hot chocolate and coffee stops along Main Street, and pop into our great Downtown restaurants for a delicious meal or treat before or after the parade!

Downtown Holiday Shopping (hours vary)

Throughout the day, enjoy holiday shopping at several Downtown Hutch stores while dining at restaurants. Several businesses will remain open through 8 p.m.

Christmas parade Saturday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — When you're in town shopping prior to the Light Up Hutch Christmas Parade on Saturday, the Hutchinson Fire Department invites the public to visit them at Fire Station 1 at 2222 North Main.

The Fire Departmnt will be holding an Open House and Santa will be there from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Bring your little ones for a chance to see the fire trucks and old St. Nick before he goes downtown for the parade.

Hutch Fire open house Saturday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Every year, Hutchinson residents in the city's featured neighborhoods come together to discuss the future of their neighborhood and set shared goals. These meetings are a chance for residents, city officials, and anyone interested in community development to connect and make a difference together.

Share your ideas for events that can bring your community together. Whether it’s a block party, a cultural celebration, or a health and wellness initiative, your input will help shape the neighborhood.

Discuss and refine neighborhood goals to ensure we’re moving in the right direction. Your aspirations will help contribute to building a thriving and connected community.

Learn how to access resources to improve our living spaces. Discover the avenues for funding that can make your homes and neighborhoods a healthy and vibrant place to live. From home repairs to safer sidewalks, these resources are essential to our community.

Share your suggestions, and innovative ideas for enhancing the neighborhood. Together, we address challenges and explore creative solutions to make our neighborhoods even better.

These meetings are open to residents, business owners, and city officials alike. We believe in the power of collaboration, and your perspective is crucial in shaping the Healthy Neighborhood Initiative.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meetings are January 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. for the SW Bricktown Neighborhood and 1 to 3 p.m. for the Founders Neighborhood. 

Meetings are January 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. for the Grace Arbor Neighborhood and 1 to 3 p.m. for the Creekside Neighborhood. 

The meeting for the Farmington Park Neighborhood is January 25 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Healthy Neighborhood Initiative meetings set for 2025

HARPER COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 10:30 a.m. Friday in Harper County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp; Joseph&nbsp;Bailey, 49, Kingman, was westbound at 309 West 14th Street in Harper.

The pickup traveled left sideswiping a light pole and barrier.The pickup continued westbound for another block and collided with an eastbound 2020 Kenworth semi driven by Nathaniel Burgess, 59, Republic, Missouri.

After impact, the pickup bounced off the semi trailer and struck the&nbsp; front of a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by Mark Bowen, 66, Harper.&nbsp;

Bailey was transported to Patterson Hospital in Anthony where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The other drivers were not injured. The KHP had incomplete seatbelt usage information.

Kansas man dies after 3-vehicle crash

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries">Click&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners</a>.

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="mailto:hutchpost@eagleradio.net">hutchpost@eagleradio.net</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

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Recent obituaries and service times

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp;

12/7/2024 1:22 AM=Everette	Wilbert Hardy-Criminal Possession of Firearm by Felon; Conviction in Previous 10 Years of specified KSA&nbsp;

12/6/2024 10:47 PM-Michael	Wayne Chinn-DUI; Alcohol Concentration within 3 hrs is .08 or more; 2nd Offense

12/6/2024 7:37 PM-Joseph	Mayton Hargrave II-DL Violation; Drive while Susp/Revoked/Cancelled

12/6/2024 7:26 PM=Eric	Lynn Petz-Failure to Appear

12/6/2024 6:22 PM-Amanda	Kay McCue-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

12/6/2024 6:08 PM-Makayla	Rena Troyer-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Poss of marijuana; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv; DL Violation; Drive While Habitual Violator

Daily Bookings

RICE COUNTY, Kan. — A Kansas City, Kansas man was killed Friday morning in a single vehicle wreck on US 56 east of Little River.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 26-year-old Gabriel Herron was westbound on Highway 56 just east of 28th Road, about three miles west of the Rice/McPherson County line, just before 6:30 a.m. 

He was driving a 2005 Honda Element that left the roadway to the right, overcorrected, and went back onto the road, then back into the ditch where his vehicle rolled twice.

Herron, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fatal wreck on US 56 Friday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Sheriff's Office said on social media Friday that Detective Sergeant Matt Franklin, graduated from the Law Enforcement Leadership Academy (LELA) Command School Thursday, Dec. 5. 

The Law Enforcement Leadership Academy (LELA) Command School launched in 2013 as a collaboration between the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) and the KU Public Management Center in response to the need for statewide command and executive-level leadership training. 

The LELA Command School is an 11-month, cohort-based program designed to equip commanders and chief executives with the competencies and skills needed for effective leadership. 

Command School participants are required to complete 300 contact-hours of in-person and on-line training in topics including leadership development, executive decision-making, strategic planning and budgeting, performance management, emotional intelligence and more. 

Each participant must complete a series of portfolio assignments, and an individual development plan, along with a final capstone project designed to address a significant problem or challenge they have identified within their organization or community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Reno Co. detective graduates command school

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; Friday is the final day of signups for Christmas for the Hutchinson Salvation Army and the need is great this year.

&nbsp;"We already have 1,100 kids signed up for toys, about 900 families for food baskets overall, and so the numbers already way above last year as far as number of individuals," said Major Paul James. "If you need help and you're planning on getting that assistance, we would need you to&nbsp; sign up online."

Saturday is a good chance to give and have your gift multiplied.

"Kiwanis is going to be matching up to $500 and the Salvation Army, our board has pulled together some money as well. So we're $1,500 towards $20 bills only," James said. "This year is a little bit different because we have tap to give. If you tap on the $20, not on the five a bunch of times or the 10 multiple times, but if you tap on the $20 bill, or if you put a $20 bill into the buckets, those will be matched up to $1,500. Then we have a donor who's given $1,000 for the next Saturday. If there's some others that would like to sponsor money towards the match for future Saturdays, we'd like to be able to match each of the last two Saturdays besides this one."

If you'd like to ring, you can still do that, too at <a href="http://registertoring.com">registertoring.com</a>.

We always need volunteers. We've had quite a few paid ringers, just people needing extra funds during this year. And and some of them are dropping off just because if you're out there today, you know it's cold and it's not necessarily the easiest thing to do."

Shifts are available at several locations across Hutchinson.

Salvation Army looking for $20s Saturday

BLUE DRAGON FOOTBALL NJCAA National Playoff Semifinals No. 3 Hutchinson (9-1) at No. 2 Georgia Military (10-1) When: Sunday, December 8 At: Davenport Field, Milledgeville, GA Kickoff: 2:32 p.m. CT (3:32 p.m. ET) Radio:&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT" target="_blank">KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 2:00 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Daren Dunn (Analyst)</a> Video:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/4674486f-77df-4097-8f8a-22e1c03c31e0?om-navmethod=espn%3Aglobalsearch%3Aresults" target="_blank">ESPN+ - Landon Maddox (PBP); Parker Gore (Analyst), 2:30 p.m.</a> X: @bluedragonsport <a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/fball/2024-25/files/Game_11_-_Georgia_Military.pdf">CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)</a>

The Hutchinson Community College football team will make its third-consecutive NJCAA National Playoff appearance on Sunday against the Georgia Military Bulldogs.

The Jayhawk Conference tri-champion and No. 3 national seed Blue Dragons (9-1) will play at second-seeded Georgia Military (10-1) in the second national semifinal on Sunday, December 8 at 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET) at Davenport Stadium in Milledgeville, Georgia.

The Hutchinson/Georgia Military winner will play the Iowa Western/Northwest Mississippi winner on December 18 in Canyon, Texas.

The game will broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) with Sean Boston (PBP) and Daren Dunn (analysis) calling the action beginning at 2 p.m. with Countdown to Kickoff. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Logan Maddox (PBP) and Parker Gore (analysis) with the call.

Hutchinson plays in its third-straight national semifinal and makes its fourth overall national playoff appearance in program history, all since the 2020/21 season. The Blue Dragons won the 2020/21 national championship, defeated Coffeyville in the 2022 national semifinals and were NJCAA runner-up that season, and the Blue Dragons lost in the semifinals last season to East Mississippi.

The Blue Dragons make their 28th overall NJCAA postseason appearance, which includes national playoff and bowl game appearances. The Blue Dragons are 16-9-2 all-time in the postseason.

Georgia Military makes its second national playoff appearance and first in the semifinals (that round was added to the playoffs before the 2021 season). The Bulldogs played East Mississippi in the 2013 NJCAA Championship game. The top-seeded Bulldogs lost 52-32 in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Georgia Military did win the 2011 national championship.

The Blue Dragons won a share of its fifth-straight KJCCC championship this season, posting a 42-17 victory at Garden City in the season finale on November 16. The Dragons tied Coffeyville and Butler for the 2024 Jayhawk Conference championship with 5-1 records.

Running back&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/fball/2024-25/bios/jordan_jr._waymond_h58l">Waymond Jordan Jr.</a>&nbsp;was named the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Year and head coach Drew Dallas was named the Coach of the Year. The Blue Dragons had 29 total players named to the 2024 All-KJCCC team, including 12 named to the first team.

Sunday's matchup will be the first ever between Hutchinson and Georgia Military. The only other time the Dragons played a team from Georgia was the 1995 Mineral Water Bowl vs. Middle Georgia in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

🏈 No. 3 HutchCC meets No. 2 Georgia Military in NJCAA semifinals

Blue Dragon sophomore running back&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/fball/2024-25/bios/jordan_jr._waymond_h58l">Waymond Jordan Jr.</a>&nbsp;has been named a finalist for the JUCO Weekly National Player of the Year.

Jordan, a sophomore from Pensacola, Florida leads the NJCAA in rushing with 1,331 yards and is tied for the nation's lead in rushing touchdowns with 18. Jordan ran for 100 yards in 8 of 10 games, including a career-high 213 yards against Highland on November 9 at Gowans Stadium.

Jordan is the second finalist for National Player of the Year honors in Blue Dragon history. Quarterback Dylan Laible was a finalist during the 2022 Hutchinson national runner-up season.

Along with Jordan, Tyler linebacker William Cornelson, Northwest Mississippi running back D'Mariun Perteet, Iowa Western quarterback Hunter Dekkers and Iowa Western receiver Fresh Walters were named finalists for the 2024 award.

The winner will be announced at the NJCAA Championship Banquet on December 17 in Canyon, Texas.

🏈 Jordan Jr. named national POY finalist

LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;-The Kansas Volleyball team tabbed a&nbsp;3-0 victory against the Colgate Raiders on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.&nbsp;

"I thought Colgate played pretty close to their ceiling, and when you come in here and you play without much to lose, and they're are organized and a very experienced team, they competed very well, so congratulations to them," said Kansas Head Coach Ray Bechard. "But the Jayhawks had an aggressive mindset. We served well. Our transition offense was very good, and we had good balance offensively. So we're excited about advancing to tomorrow night against the Florida Gators."

<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/ayah-elnady/10242">Ayah Elnady</a>&nbsp;led with 12 kills as&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/toyosi-onabanjo/10221">Toyosi Onabanjo</a>&nbsp;added 11 with zero errors for an astonishing hitting percentage of .733 while producing five blocks. The Jayhawk defense held Colgate to just .178 hitting with 10 total blocks and strong back row performances from&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/raegan-burns/10191">Raegan Burns</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/bryn-mcgehe/10203">Bryn McGehe</a>&nbsp;who each added nine digs apiece.&nbsp;

Kansas came out with a commanding start as it rapidly rattled off seven straight points behind three&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/caroline-bien/10231">Caroline Bien</a>&nbsp;aces and a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/london-davis/10262">London Davis</a>&nbsp;kill, forcing Colgate to call a timeout early in the match at 7-0. The Raiders wouldn't be silenced by the deficit as they reduced the Jayhawk lead to one at 8-7, but a trio of Onabanjo slides along with a strong middle attack and a block assist had her filling the stat sheet at the 14-9 mark, with KU leading. The Jayhawks earned its largest edge at 24-15 as Big 12 Freshman of the Year&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/reese-ptacek/10213">Reese Ptacek</a>&nbsp;went perfect and collected three kills on three attacks and Burns contributed an ace of her own. Another Onabanjo block paired with&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/camryn-turner/10268">Camryn Turner</a>&nbsp;was the decisive set point as the Jayhawks snagged the first 25-18.

<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/london-davis/10262">London Davis</a>&nbsp;and Ptacek paired up for a block before Ptacek added a solo roof of her own on the next play to put Kansas up 3-0 in the second set. But this set was more contested early on with just a four point cushion at 9-4 being the largest for the Jayhawks. During that stretch, Elnady came up with two straight points off a kill immediately followed by an ace. Despite an array of successful attacks from Bien, Davis and Elnady, Colgate hung around closely and managed to flip the lead 15-14 in its favor at the media timeout. Jayhawk errors stretched the Raiders advantage to 21-17, but both Ptacek and Elnady managed to effectively find the middle of Colgate's court on a soft tip and roll to cut it down 21-20. On the ensuing point, Ptacek and Davis joined forces for another block to tie up the set. Teams continuously traded points until Davis used the Colgate block to transfer the edge back to Kansas at 24-23. A Raider overpass set up a side swipe by Onabajo for the Jayhawks to take the second set 25-23.&nbsp;

Kansas jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the third as Elnady collected a trio of kills within five points. The Jayhawks maintained a steady precedence as the duo of Ptactek and Davis continued to govern and protect the net as they roofed back-to-back Colgate attempts as Kansas went up 16-9. A McGehe ace pushed it 19-11 as three more Onabanjo kills, including an impressive dig that rolled into the perfect spot on the Colgate court, made it 23-15. The Raiders utilized a 6-0 run to narrow it 23-21, forcing a Jayhawk timeout. Coming out of the break, Ptacek nailed a slide deep in the backcourt to set up match point. Veteran senior leadership sealed the 3-0 Kansas victory as Turner added her 36th assist of the night as Bien hammered home the final point at 25-22.

Kansas faces a quick turnaround against No. 6 seed Florida (21-7) for a chance at the Sweet 16 on Saturday. The match begins at 6:30 p.m. CT at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.&nbsp; &nbsp;

🏐 KU sweeps Colgate in opening round of NCAA Tournament

🏀 KU women hang on to defeat WSU 

DALLAS --&nbsp;The 2024 Wichita State volleyball season came to an end on Thursday night with a 28-26, 25-17, 25-14 loss to SMU in the NCAA Championship First Round at Moody Coliseum.

The Shockers finish the season with an 18-14 overall record. SMU advances to the Second Round to take on Missouri on Friday night at 7:00 pm CT.

Wichita State went blow-for-blow with the Mustangs in the opening set, building a 10-7 lead when&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/maddie-wilson/8988">Maddie Wilson</a>&nbsp;delivered a block and kill in quick succession. A rapid-fire 3-0 burst later in the set restored the lead to three at 18-15, and the Shockers held a slim 23-22 advantage after Naya Shime misfired on an attack for SMU. But the Mustangs scored the next two points, giving them the first of several set point opportunities at 24-23, 25-24, 26-25 and 27-26. Kills from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/brooklyn-leggett/8982">Brooklyn Leggett</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/morgan-stout/8985">Morgan Stout</a>, sandwiched around a&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/natalie-foster/7483">Natalie Foster</a>&nbsp;service error, kept WSU alive, but Casey Batenhorst dropped in a service ace to finally clinch the set for SMU.

The Shockers fell into a 12-7 hole early in the second set that grew to 17-9 and 20-11 as the Mustangs hit a blistering .462 in the set. Leggett hammered four kills in short order to help the Shockers pull back within seven at 24-17, but a Maya Tabron termination gave SMU a 2-0 lead at intermission.

SMU and WSU traded points to open set three, with the Mustangs holding a 5-4 edge before a decisive 4-0 spurt gave SMU a lead they did not concede. A Stout kill got Wichita State to as close as 13-10, but the Mustangs responded with three straight points to lengthen the lead back to six and cruised to the finish line.

Wichita State hit .141 in the match to .309 for SMU. Leggett led the Shockers with nine kills while Stout had eight in her final collegiate match. Fellow seniors&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/izzi-strand/8986">Izzi Strand</a>&nbsp;(27 assists) and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/annalie-heliste/8981">Annalie Heliste</a>&nbsp;(six digs) also played well in defeat.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/katie-galligan/8980">Katie Galligan</a>&nbsp;paced WSU with 14 digs.

SMU was led by Tabron's 14 kills and 11 from Shime. The Mustangs totaled 12.5 team blocks, while WSU finished with 8.0.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏐 Shockers fall to SMU in first round of NCAA

AP Sports Summary for December 6th, 2024:

NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025

The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China's gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press.

Dan Campbell's 4th-down gambles help Lions beat Packers 34-31 and clinch playoffs

DETROIT (AP) — Jared Goff threw three touchdown passes, Jake Bates made a 35-yard field goal as time expired and the Detroit Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The NFC-best Lions broke a franchise record with their 11th straight win, including two over the Packers. Detroit coach Dan Campbell went for it on fourth down five times, including with 1 yard to go at the Green Bay 21 with 43 seconds left. David Montgomery ran for 7 yards on that play, ensuring the Lions could kick the go-ahead field goal without giving the Packers the ball again.

North Carolina interviews Bill Belichick for head coaching job, AP sources say

North Carolina has interviewed former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick for its head coaching position. That's according to two people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school isn't commenting publicly on its search. Belichick's interview was first reported by Inside Carolina. It comes a week after the school fired its winningest all-time coach in 73-year-old Mack Brown. The 72-year-old Belichick completed a 24-season run with the Patriots after last season and has been linked to NFL jobs.

Blackhawks fire coach Luke Richardson in his 3rd season after league-worst start

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have fired coach Luke Richardson, signaling their frustration with the state of the franchise's rebuilding project. Chicago has dropped four in a row to fall to an NHL-worst 8-16-2 on the season. It was outscored 41-27 while going 3-9-1 in its last 13 games. Anders Sorensen was elevated to interim coach. Sorensen had been coaching the team's top minor league affiliate in Rockford.

Pride, bragging rights and more than $115M at stake when final college playoff rankings come out

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — There's more than just school pride and bragging rights to all that bellyaching over who might be in and who might be out of college football's first 12-team playoff. Try the more than $115 million that will be spread across the conferences at the end of the season, all depending on who gets in and which teams go the farthest. When it's all said and done, the teams that make the title game will bring $20 million to their conferences, all of which distribute that money, along with billions in TV revenue and other sources, in different ways.

Move over Magic: Nuggets star Nikola Jokic goes past Johnson on career list with 139th triple-double

CLEVELAND (AP) — There are moments when Nikola Jokic does things on the court that seem to defy reason — almost magical. On Thursday, he passed a player who had the same skill. Denver's superstar center moved past Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and into third place on the career list for triple-doubles by recording his 139th in a 126-114 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The three-time MVP finished with 27 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists. But he missed some easy shots and the Nuggets couldn't defend the Cavs, who made a season-high 22 3-pointers. Jokic now trails only teammate Russell Westbrook and Oscar Robertson on the career triple-doubles list.

Scottie Scheffler has new putting grip and trails Cameron Young by 3 in Bahamas

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler has a new putting grip, and it helped him shoot a 5-under 67 in the first round of the Hero World Challenge. He trails Cameron Young by three shots in the 20-man invitational hosted by Tiger Woods. Young was playing for the first time since the BMW Championship more than three months ago and found great success on and around the greens of Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas. He made four birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for his 64. Justin Thomas was two shots back. Thomas and his wife welcomed a daughter a few weeks ago.

Luis Severino and Athletics agree to $67 million, 3-year contract, AP sources say

Two people familiar with the negotiations tell The Associated Press that right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics have agreed to a $67 million, three-year contract. Severino can opt out and become a free agent again after the 2026 season. Severino's deal is the largest for the low-budget franchise, topping a $66 million contract for third baseman Eric Chavez covering 2005-10. Severino, who turns 31 on Feb. 20, was a free agent for the second straight offseason after going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in his only season with the New York Mets.

George Russell accuses Max Verstappen of bullying and threatening behavior as F1 feud deepens

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Mercedes driver George Russell has accused Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen of bullying and threatening behavior as a dispute between the two at last week's race in Qatar deepened. Russell says that "someone needs to stand up to a bully like this" in comments broadcast by Sky Sports. Verstappen said Sunday he had "lost all respect" for Russell over an incident in qualifying for last week's Qatar Grand Prix that saw the Red Bull driver dropped behind Russell on the grid.

Messi and Inter Miami to open Club World Cup against Egyptian club Al Ahly

MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will open the Club World Cup against Egyptian club Al Ahly, with Palmeiras and Porto also part of that group for the tournament that will take place in the U.S. next year. The draw was held Thursday in Miami, with the 32 teams finally finding out their first three opponents in the newly expanded event. The tournament will be held in the U.S. from June 15 to July 13, using 12 stadiums in 11 different cities. The final will be at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the same stadium that will play host to the 2026 World Cup final.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Friday

Reno County Coaches Show airs Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. on KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) and on KWBWradio.com. Sean Boston, Glen Grunwald and Rob Dreher visit with area coaches and student-athletes throughout the school year for this weekly 30-minute show.

Glen Grunwald w/ Bryan Miller (Hutchinson High School head boys basketball coach)

Sean Boston w/ Drew Dallas (HutchCC head football coach)

🎧 LISTEN: Reno County Coaches Show (Bryan Miller & Drew Dallas)

<a href="https://big12sports.com/documents/2024/12/5//2024_All_Big_12_Release.pdf">Click Here</a> to see the&nbsp;complete list of all Big 12 Football honorees

🏈 Big 12 releases all-conference selections

AP Sports Summary for December 5th, 2024:

Liverpool's lead cut in Premier League and Man City ends slump. Chelsea and Arsenal win

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League was cut to seven points after a 3-3 draw with Newcastle. Chelsea moved up to second by thrashing last-place Southampton 5-1, while Arsenal is third after a 2-0 win over Manchester United. Fourth-place Manchester City ended its seven-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. Liverpool's result will give hope to its title rivals after Fabian Schar's 90th-minute equalizer at St James' Park. Arsenal inflicted a first loss on new Man United head coach Ruben Amorim.

Lindsey Vonn to make her comeback to downhill racing at age 40 this weekend

Lindsey Vonn is going to enter an official ski race for the first time in nearly six years this weekend at age 40. Vonn announced last month that she was coming out of retirement and she will race lower-level FIS downhills and super-Gs on Saturday and Sunday in Copper Mountain, Colorado. Vonn needs some decent results to improve her long-dormant ranking so she can enter World Cup races this season under a new wild card rule. U.S. Ski Team head coach Paul Kristofic says that "obviously her history speaks for itself and she's definitely the most decorated speed skier out there." He adds that "it will be really, really fun and interesting to see what she can do."

SEC and Big Ten powers lead the way on signing day as prospects finalize their college selections

Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State are bringing in the nation's top recruiting class as high school prospects across the country finalize their college plans. The identity of the No. 1 class according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports may not be determined until Friday because of the uncertainty surrounding a couple of top-10 prospects. But most top recruits already committed to a school well before the signing period arrived Wednesday.

LPGA and USGA to require players to be assigned female at birth or transition before male puberty

The LPGA and the USGA have updated gender policies that will require players to be assigned female at birth or to have transitioned to female before going through male puberty. The policies begin in 2025 and follow more than a year of study. The groups concluded that going through male puberty allows for competitive advantages in golf. The USGA has seven championships for females next year. The new policies rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson. She missed U.S. Women's Open qualifying by one shot this year and tried LPGA Q-school. Davidson began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy.

The draw for the FIFA's revamped Club World Cup is coming up. Here's what to know

GENEVA (AP) — Soccer's biggest ever global club tournament comes to the United States next year and the 32-team group stage is drawn Thursday. FIFA relaunched the Club World Cup to be played every four years. A new generation of stars plays in the 11 U.S. cities from June 15 to July 13. One year later they plan to return for the 2026 World Cup. Real Madrid has Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham. Manchester City has Erling Haaland. Missing out are superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski because Al-Nassr and Barcelona failed to qualify. FIFA ensured an entry for Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.

Creighton makes it 2 wins in less than a year against No. 1s, with Jayhawks latest to lose in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton has played eight No. 1 teams in its program's history, and the first six of those games weren't close. All were losses. The last two were Bluejay blowouts at the CHI Health Center. Creighton took down top-ranked Kansas 76-63 in a game in which the Bluejays never trailed and led by as many as 17 points. Ten months ago they upset a No. 1 Connecticut 85-66. That was UConn's last loss before they won 13 in a row on its way to a second straight national title. Five of the Creighton players on the court against KU played against UConn.

Flagg leads the way as No. 9 Duke holds off Broome and No. 2 Auburn for an 84-78 win

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 9 Duke push past No. 2 Auburn 84-78 in the SEC/ACC Challenge. The preseason Associated Press All-American had 16 points after halftime to help the Blue Devils hold off the Tigers and fellow All-American Johni Broome. Broome had 20 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out with 15 seconds left.

Miami's playoff hopes nosedive as Alabama rises in the latest College Football Playoff rankings

Miami's playoff hopes took a nosedive while Alabama's got a boost in the last rankings before the College Football Playoff bracket is set next weekend. The Hurricanes moved down six spots to No. 12 after suffering their second loss of the season. They are one spot behind the Crimson Tide, who won won last week and moved up two spots to No. 11. Alabama is projected as the last team in and the fourth from the Southeastern Conference. Oregon stayed at No. 1 for the fifth straight week and will head into Saturday's Big Ten title game as the only undefeated team in big-time college football.

The CFP rankings — and 'data points' — have left Miami, Ole Miss and South Carolina puzzled

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami wants things reconsidered. So does South Carolina. The Big 12 is puzzled. And Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin turned toward social media to ask the College Football Playoff committee a question. "You guys actually meet for days and come up with these rankings??" Kiffin wrote. The fallout and, for some, anger stemming from the release of the latest CFP ranking — one that almost certainly means Miami (10-2), South Carolina (9-3) and Ole Miss (9-3) all have no chance of getting into the 12-team field — continued Wednesday as the schools on the outside looking in continued making their case, even though all hope for them seems to be gone.

League upholds 3-game suspension for Houston LB Azeez Al-Shaair following hit on Trevor Lawrence

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL and the NFL players association are upholding Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's three-game suspension without pay for repeated violations of player safety rules. Al-Shaair's violent hit to the head of Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence left the quarterback with a concussion and on injured reserve. Hearing officer Ramon Foster, jointly appointed by the league and the players' union, ruled a day after Al-Shaair's punishment was announced. NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan handed down the punishment and said Al-Shaair had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons. His most egregious one came in a 23-20 win at Jacksonville on Sunday.

Final	(10)Alabama	94	(20)North Carolina	79	

Final	Mississippi St.	90	(18)Pittsburgh	57	

Final	(24)San Diego St.	84	Fresno St.	62	

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Thursday

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Pop Isaacs helped unranked Creighton upset No. 1 Kansas 76-63 on Wednesday night, scoring a season-high 27 points and matching his career high with six 3-pointers.

Kansas cut a 13-point deficit to one early in the second half, but Isaacs hit back-to-back 3s to rebuild the lead as the Bluejays (6-3) pulled away for their second straight victory over a top-ranked opponent. They knocked off Connecticut 85-66 in Omaha in February.

The Jayhawks (7-1) lost a regular-season game against an unranked nonconference opponent for the first time in three years. Creighton had been in 16 straight Associated Press polls before dropping out this week following losses in three of its previous four games.

Students rushed the court at the final buzzer as flames shot out of the top of the goal standards.

Isaacs’ shooting display overshadowed what was supposed to be the featured matchup between two of the nation’s best big men, the 7-foot-1 Ryan Kalkbrenner and the Jayhawks’ 7-2 Hunter Dickinson.

Kalkbrenner, who had missed the Bluejays' previous game because of a lower-body injury, and Steven Ashworth each scored 17 points.

The Jayhawks struggled offensively and never led. Dajuan Harris had 15 points and AJ Storr and Zeke Mayo added 12 apiece for Kansas.

Kansas: The Jayhawks could never find a rhythm offensively. Dickinson had difficulty getting touches and took only four shots, making two.

Creighton: When the Bluejays make their 3-pointers, they’re tough to beat. They came into the game shooting 32% from distance but were 12 of 29 against the Jayhawks.

Issacs' back-to-back 3s early in the second half stemmed Kansas' comeback attempt, putting the Bluejays up 49-40.

Greg McDermott, the Bluejays' career coaching wins leader and a former coach at Iowa State, won for the first time in his 11 games against Kansas.

🏀 Creighton knocks off No. 1 Kansas behind Pop Isaacs' 27 points

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations following an investigation into a vehicle blocking an ATM.

Just before 4:30 a.m. December 3, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification regarding a blue 2017 Chevrolet Colorado stopped at an ATM in the 4600 block of NW 46th Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office responded. During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located. Neal R. St Cyr, 45, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas drug suspect was blocking bank ATM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A pair of iconic ruby slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” and stolen from a museum nearly two decades ago sold for a winning bid of $28 million at auction Saturday.

Heritage Auctions had estimated that they would fetch $3 million or more, but the fast-paced bidding far outpaced that amount within seconds and tripled it within minutes. A few bidders making offers by phone volleyed back and forth for 15 minutes as the price climbed to the final, eye-popping sum.

Including the Dallas-based auction house's fee, the unknown buyer will ultimately pay $32.5 million.

Online bidding, which opened last month, had stood at $1.55 million before live bidding began late Saturday afternoon.

This slippers were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 when Terry Jon Martin used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and display case.

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