AP Sports Summary for Thursday, March 7th, 2024.

Rafael Nadal withdraws from Indian Wells. It would have been his first tournament since January

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the BNP Paribas Open a day before he was supposed to play his first official match in two months. The 22-time Grand Slam champion posted the news on social media Wednesday night, writing that he was announcing the withdrawal "with great sadness." The 37-year-old from Spain missed nearly all of last season because of a hip injury that required surgery, then briefly returned to action for three matches in early January before tearing a muscle near the hip. That forced him to bypass the Australian Open — and he has not been on tour since. He was scheduled to face Milos Raonic on Thursday.

Bills releasing Jordan Poyer and Mitch Morse. Tre'Davious White also will be cut, AP source says

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills' salary cap-related purge of players cut deep into the team's core. Veteran safety Jordan Poyer and center Mitch Morse were among five players the team announced it had released. And cornerback Tre'Davious White is also being cut, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not announce White being cut because of the timing of his release is designated for June 1. Also cut were sixth-year backup cornerback Siran Neal, backup receiver Deonte Harty and running back Nyheim Hines.

Rangers, Panthers, Avalanche, Golden Knights and Oilers make pre-NHL trade deadline day moves

Stanley Cup contenders aren't waiting until the NHL trade deadline day to shore up depth for what they hope is a long playoff run. The league-leading Florida Panthers got deeper on the wing by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa. Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers added a pair of centers in Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from Anaheim. The New York Rangers added a player they coveted in Alexander Wennberg from Seattle. And Colorado loaded up by getting defenseman Sean Walker from Philadelphia and center Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo.

Bay Hill still boasts a strong field. It's just a lot smaller

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Bay Hill had a $20 million purse and a strong field that produced a dynamic finish last year. Now it's a signature event, and really the only change is a smaller field. Only 69 players are in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The signature events have smaller fields for the elite players, along with 16 players who earned their way in. But it's been quiet so far. Still to be determined is what kind of finish Bay Hill produces. The year so far on the PGA Tour has produced four first-time winners and only one winner from the top 50.

De'Aaron Fox ties career high with 44 points as Kings roll to a 130-120 victory over Lakers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — De'Aaron Fox tied his career high with 44 points, Malik Monk added 26 and the Sacramento Kings bounced back with a 130-120 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. It was Fox's seventh game this season with at least 40 points, fourth-most in the NBA. Domantas Sabonis recorded his fourth triple-double in seven games with 16 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists. He's the sixth player in NBA history with at least 22 triple-doubles in a season. LeBron James led the Lakers with 31 points and 13 assists while Rui Hachimura scored 29. Anthony Davis had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

From Herschel Walker to Russell Wilson, here's a look at some of the worst NFL trades ever

In a span of just a few days in the 2022 offseason, the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns made aggressive trades to acquire what they hoped would be franchise-altering quarterbacks. The results so far have been very underwhelming, with the Broncos set to cut Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson providing little so far for the Browns. Those are part of a list of some of the worst deals in NFL history, including Minnesota's deal with Dallas for Herschel Walker and a trade that sent future Hall of Famer Brett Favre to Green Bay.

Magic rally from 21 down to win 119-109 as Wizards tie franchise record with 16th straight loss

WASHINGTON (AP) — Franz Wagner scored 28 points, Paolo Banchero added 25 and the Orlando Magic rallied from a 21-point second-quarter deficit to beat Washington 119-109 and hand the Wizards their 16th consecutive loss. Washington tied a team record for its longest losing streak. It matched a skid from the 2009-10 season. The Wizards looked on their way to ending this slide, but they were done in by a 44-point second half against one of the league's best defensive teams. Orlando has won eight of nine. Jordan Poole scored 26 points for Washington.

No. 1 Houston tops UCF 67-59 to clinch at least a share of Big 12 title in 1st season in conference

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — L.J. Cryer scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half to lift No. 1 Houston to a 67-59 comeback victory over UCF that clinched at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title in the Cougars' first season in the conference. Houston led by nine points after a Cryer 3-pointer with 2:18 to play. UCF closed to within four with just over a minute to play, and then Cryer hit another clutch shot to pull away for the win. The Cougars trailed by as many as seven points and never led in the first half. C.J. Walker led UCF with 15 points.

Knecht leads No. 4 Tennessee to outright SEC crown with 66-59 win at No. 17 South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Dalton Knecht had 26 points with five 3-pointers as No. 4 Tennessee won its first Southeastern Conference regular-season title since 2018 with a 66-59 victory over No. 17 South Carolina. The Volunteers withstood a late run by the Gamecocks, who cut a 14-point second-half deficit to 59-56 with 1:13 to play. But then Tennessee hit seven foul shots down the stretch to hold on and take a two-game lead in the SEC with one to play. Six years ago, Tennessee shared first place with Auburn. The last time the Vols had won an outright SEC regular-season title was 2008.

Alyssa Naeher has 3 saves in a penalty shootout over Canada and the US heads to Gold Cup final

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Alyssa Naeher had three saves in the penalty shootout after a rain-soaked 2-2 draw with Canada on Wednesday night, earning the United States a spot in the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup final. The United States advanced 3-1 on penalties and will play Brazil in the title game on Sunday evening. Brazil defeated Mexico 3-0 in the earlier semifinal match on Wednesday. The game was a sloppy mess with standing water on the field at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium from heavy rain in San Diego. The players had difficulty with control. The U.S. got goals from Jadyn Shaw and Sophia Smith, while Jordyn Huitema and Adriana Leon scored for Canada.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

		N-Y Mets	at	Houston	1:05 p.m.	(Canceled)

Final	L.A. Dodgers	12	Chicago White Sox	9	

Final	(4)Tennessee	66	(17)South Carolina	59	

		L-A Dodgers	at	San Francisco	9:05 p.m.	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for March 7th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for March 7th, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="March 7th, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=hwcs2-15a266e-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>AP Sports Summary for Thursday, March 7th, 2024.Rafael Nadal withdraws from Indian Wells. It would have been his first tournament since JanuaryINDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the BNP Paribas Open a day before he was supposed to play his first official match in two months. The 22-time Grand Slam champion posted the news on social media Wednesday night, writing that he was announcing the withdrawal "with great sadness." The 37-year-old from Spain missed nearly all of last season because of a hip injury that required surgery, then briefly returned to action for three matches in early January before tearing a muscle near the hip. That forced him to bypass the Australian Open — and he has not been on tour since. He was scheduled to face Milos Raonic on Thursday.Bills releasing Jordan Poyer and Mitch Morse. Tre'Davious White also will be cut, AP source saysORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills' salary cap-related purge of players cut deep into the team's core. Veteran safety Jordan Poyer and center Mitch Morse were among five players the team announced it had released. And cornerback Tre'Davious White is also being cut, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not announce White being cut because of the timing of his release is designated for June 1. Also cut were sixth-year backup cornerback Siran Neal, backup receiver Deonte Harty and running back Nyheim Hines.Rangers, Panthers, Avalanche, Golden Knights and Oilers make pre-NHL trade deadline day movesStanley Cup contenders aren't waiting until the NHL trade deadline day to shore up depth for what they hope is a long playoff run. The league-leading Florida Panthers got deeper on the wing by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa. Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers added a pair of centers in Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from Anaheim. The New York Rangers added a player they coveted in Alexander Wennberg from Seattle. And Colorado loaded up by getting defenseman Sean Walker from Philadelphia and center Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo.Bay Hill still boasts a strong field. It's just a lot smallerORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Bay Hill had a $20 million purse and a strong field that produced a dynamic finish last year. Now it's a signature event, and really the only change is a smaller field. Only 69 players are in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The signature events have smaller fields for the elite players, along with 16 players who earned their way in. But it's been quiet so far. Still to be determined is what kind of finish Bay Hill produces. The year so far on the PGA Tour has produced four first-time winners and only one winner from the top 50.De'Aaron Fox ties career high with 44 points as Kings roll to a 130-120 victory over LakersLOS ANGELES (AP) — De'Aaron Fox tied his career high with 44 points, Malik Monk added 26 and the Sacramento Kings bounced back with a 130-120 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. It was Fox's seventh game this season with at least 40 points, fourth-most in the NBA. Domantas Sabonis recorded his fourth triple-double in seven games with 16 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists. He's the sixth player in NBA history with at least 22 triple-doubles in a season. LeBron James led the Lakers with 31 points and 13 assists while Rui Hachimura scored 29. Anthony Davis had 14 points and 11 rebounds.From Herschel Walker to Russell Wilson, here's a look at some of the worst NFL trades everIn a span of just a few days in the 2022 offseason, the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns made aggressive trades to acquire what they hoped would be franchise-altering quarterbacks. The results so far have been very underwhelming, with the Broncos set to cut Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson providing little so far for the Browns. Those are part of a list of some of the worst deals in NFL history, including Minnesota's deal with Dallas for Herschel Walker and a trade that sent future Hall of Famer Brett Favre to Green Bay.Magic rally from 21 down to win 119-109 as Wizards tie franchise record with 16th straight lossWASHINGTON (AP) — Franz Wagner scored 28 points, Paolo Banchero added 25 and the Orlando Magic rallied from a 21-point second-quarter deficit to beat Washington 119-109 and hand the Wizards their 16th consecutive loss. Washington tied a team record for its longest losing streak. It matched a skid from the 2009-10 season. The Wizards looked on their way to ending this slide, but they were done in by a 44-point second half against one of the league's best defensive teams. Orlando has won eight of nine. Jordan Poole scored 26 points for Washington.No. 1 Houston tops UCF 67-59 to clinch at least a share of Big 12 title in 1st season in conferenceORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — L.J. Cryer scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half to lift No. 1 Houston to a 67-59 comeback victory over UCF that clinched at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title in the Cougars' first season in the conference. Houston led by nine points after a Cryer 3-pointer with 2:18 to play. UCF closed to within four with just over a minute to play, and then Cryer hit another clutch shot to pull away for the win. The Cougars trailed by as many as seven points and never led in the first half. C.J. Walker led UCF with 15 points.Knecht leads No. 4 Tennessee to outright SEC crown with 66-59 win at No. 17 South CarolinaCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Dalton Knecht had 26 points with five 3-pointers as No. 4 Tennessee won its first Southeastern Conference regular-season title since 2018 with a 66-59 victory over No. 17 South Carolina. The Volunteers withstood a late run by the Gamecocks, who cut a 14-point second-half deficit to 59-56 with 1:13 to play. But then Tennessee hit seven foul shots down the stretch to hold on and take a two-game lead in the SEC with one to play. Six years ago, Tennessee shared first place with Auburn. The last time the Vols had won an outright SEC regular-season title was 2008.Alyssa Naeher has 3 saves in a penalty shootout over Canada and the US heads to Gold Cup finalSAN DIEGO (AP) — Alyssa Naeher had three saves in the penalty shootout after a rain-soaked 2-2 draw with Canada on Wednesday night, earning the United States a spot in the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup final. The United States advanced 3-1 on penalties and will play Brazil in the title game on Sunday evening. Brazil defeated Mexico 3-0 in the earlier semifinal match on Wednesday. The game was a sloppy mess with standing water on the field at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium from heavy rain in San Diego. The players had difficulty with control. The U.S. got goals from Jadyn Shaw and Sophia Smith, while Jordyn Huitema and Adriana Leon scored for Canada.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___INTERLEAGUE		N-Y Mets	at	Houston	1:05 p.m.	(Canceled)Final	Chicago Cubs	6	L.A. Angels	5	Final	L.A. Dodgers	12	Chicago White Sox	9	Final	Baltimore	6	Pittsburgh	4	Final	Texas	6	Colorado	6	Final	Cleveland	3	Milwaukee	3	___AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Tampa Bay	4	N.Y. Yankees	3	Final	Minnesota	7	Boston	1	Final	Seattle	8	Kansas City	7	Final	Oakland	12	L.A. Angels	5	___NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Washington	9	Miami	3	Final	Milwaukee	2	Cincinnati	0	Final	Cincinnati	6	San Diego	2	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Orlando	119	Washington	109	Final	Atlanta	112	Cleveland	101	Final	L.A. Clippers	122	Houston	116	Final	Memphis	115	Philadelphia	109	Final	Chicago	119	Utah	117	Final	Golden State	125	Milwaukee	90	Final	Oklahoma City	128	Portland	120	Final	Sacramento	130	L.A. Lakers	120	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal OT	Toronto	2	Buffalo	1	Final	Anaheim	2	Ottawa	1	Final	Colorado	7	Detroit	2	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	(1)Houston	67	UCF	59	Final	(2)UConn	74	(8)Marquette	67	Final	(4)Tennessee	66	(17)South Carolina	59	Final	(6)Iowa St.	68	(20)BYU	63	Final	(15)Kentucky	93	Vanderbilt	77	Final	(22)Utah St.	90	San Jose St.	70	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___INTERLEAGUE		Atlanta	at	Boston	1:05 p.m.			Houston	at	St. Louis	1:05 p.m.			Philadelphia	at	Tampa Bay	1:05 p.m.			Milwaukee	at	Chi White Sox	3:05 p.m.			Arizona	at	Texas	3:05 p.m.			Kansas City	at	Colorado	3:10 p.m.	___AMERICAN LEAGUE		Cleveland	at	Oakland	3:05 p.m.			L-A Angels	at	Seattle	3:10 p.m.			Toronto	at	Detroit	6:05 p.m.			Detroit	at	N-Y Yankees	6:35 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE		Washington	at	N-Y Mets	6:10 p.m.			Chi Cubs	at	Cincinnati	8:05 p.m.			L-A Dodgers	at	San Francisco	9:05 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Brooklyn	at	Detroit	7 p.m.			Minnesota	at	Indiana	7 p.m.			Miami	at	Dallas	7:30 p.m.			Toronto	at	Phoenix	9 p.m.			Boston	at	Denver	10 p.m.			Chicago	at	Golden State	10 p.m.			San Antonio	at	Sacramento	10 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		Calgary	at	Tampa Bay	7 p.m.			Edmonton	at	Columbus	7 p.m.			Montreal	at	Carolina	7 p.m.			Philadelphia	at	Florida	7 p.m.			St. Louis	at	New Jersey	7 p.m.			Toronto	at	Boston	7 p.m.			Washington	at	Pittsburgh	7 p.m.			Buffalo	at	Nashville	8 p.m.			Minnesota	at	Arizona	9 p.m.			Vancouver	at	Vegas	10 p.m.			N-Y Islanders	at	San Jose	10:30 p.m.			Ottawa	at	Los Angeles	10:30 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		(5)Arizona	at	UCLA	9:30 p.m.			Washington	at	(18)Washington St.	9 p.m.	___

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Thursday

Kapaun Mount Carmel 60, De Soto 53

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701785757574.png" alt="Eagle Media HS Basketball Scoreboard from KSHSAA Quarterfinal Games played on Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Eagle Media HS Basketball Scoreboard from KSHSAA Quarterfinal Games played on Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>Wednesday's ScoresThe Associated Press<h2>BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=</h2><h2>KSHSAA State Tournament=</h2>Class 1A, Div. 1=Quarterfinal=Bishop Seabury 72, La Crosse 51Olpe 58, Clifton-Clyde 50South Gray 79, Canton-Galva 43Class 1A, Div. 2=Quarterfinal=Axtell 54, St John's Beloit 32Cunningham 70, Bucklin 66Dighton 72, Marmaton Valley 26Lebo 59, Northern Valley 56Class 3A=Quarterfinal=Beloit 56, Topeka Hayden 42Goodland 68, Riverton 46Southeast of Saline 54, Cheney 51Wellsville 48, Ellsworth 38Class 5A=Quarterfinal=Highland Park 57, Andover 32KC Piper 72, Shawnee Heights 71Kapaun Mount Carmel 60, De Soto 53Maize South 61, Great Bend 53Wednesday's ScoresThe Associated Press<h2>GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=</h2><h2>KSHSAA State Tournament=</h2>Class 2A=Quarterfinal=Pittsburg St Mary's-Colgan 66, Eureka 50Riverside 43, Hoxie 38Valley Heights 52, Wichita County 35Wichita Independent 39, Hillsboro 36Class 4A=Quarterfinal=Bishop Miege 68, Labette County 33Fort Scott 64, Clearwater 42McPherson 66, Ottawa 44Wellington 71, Andale 53Class 6A=Quarterfinal=BV North 58, Olathe South 50Derby 48, SM Northwest 47SM South 50, Manhattan 35Washburn Rural 50, Wichita Heights 43

🏀 EAGLE Media Scoreboard from Wednesday

&nbsp; Find complete brackets and more information&nbsp;<a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Basketball/State.cfm">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

CLASS 6A (BOYS) Venue: Charles Koch Arena (Wichita) 2 p.m. - [1] Shawnee Mission NW (22-0) vs. [8] Wichita East (7-15) 4 p.m. - [4] Olathe North (18-4) vs. [5] Mill Valley (17-5) 6 p.m. - [2] Wichita Heights (21-1) vs. [7] Campus (14-8) 8 p.m. - [3] Blue Valley NW (20-2) vs. [6] Wichita NW (17-5)

CLASS 5A (GIRLS) Venue: White Auditorium (Emporia) 2 p.m. - [1] Andover (22-0) vs. [8] Blue Valley SW (12-10) 4 p.m. - [4] Topeka Seaman (20-2) vs. [5] De Soto (19-3) 6 p.m. - [2] Maize South (21-1) vs. [7] St. Thomas Aquinas (16-6) 8 p.m. - [3] Emporia (21-1) vs. [6] Bishop Carroll (19-3)

CLASS 4A (BOYS) Venue: Tony's Pizza Events Center (Salina) 2 p.m. - [1] McPherson (22-0) vs. [8] Fort Scott (16-6) 4 p.m. - [4] Circle (20-2) vs. [5] Baldwin (19-3) 6 p.m. - [2] Atchison (20-2) vs. [7] St. George Rock Creek (18-4) 8 p.m. - [3] Hugoton (20-2) vs. [6] Abilene (19-3)

CLASS 3A (GIRLS) Venue: Hutchinson Sports Arena 2 p.m. - [1] Silver Lake (23-0) vs. [8] Haven (16-7) 4 p.m. - [4] Heritage Christian (20-3) vs. [5] Topeka Hayden (19-4) 6 p.m. - [2] Goodland (20-3) vs. [7] Girard (17-6) 8 p.m. - [3] Hesston (20-3) vs. [6] Cheney (19-4)

CLASS 2A (BOYS) Venue: United Wireless Arena (Dodge City) 2 p.m. - [1] Lyndon (23-0) vs. [8] Conway Springs (15-8) 4 p.m. - [4] Salina Sacred Heart (20-3) vs. [5] Erie (18-5) 6 p.m. - [2] Sterling (21-2) vs. [7] Plainville (16-7) 8 p.m. - [3] Moundridge (20-3) vs. [6] Jefferson County North (16-7)

CLASS 1A-DIVISION I (GIRLS) Venue: Colby Event Center (Colby) 2 p.m. - [1] Little River (23-0) vs. [8] Olpe (18-5) 4 p.m. - [4] Norwich (21-1) vs. [5] Centralia (21-2) 6 p.m. - [2] South Gray (22-1) vs. [7] Rawlins County (19-4) 8 p.m. - [3] St. John-Hudson (22-1) vs. [6] Frankfort (20-3)

CLASS 1A-DIVISION II (GIRLS) Venue: Barton Community College (Great Bend) 2 p.m. - [1] South Haven (21-2) vs. [8] Northern Valley (12-11) 4 p.m. - [4] Bucklin (20-3) vs. [5] Hanover (20-4) 6 p.m. - [2] Lebo (21-2) vs. [7] Marais Des Cygnes Valley (14-9) 8 p.m. - [3] Wallace County (20-3) vs. [6] St. John's/Tipton (16-5)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709668859588.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State High School Activities Association." />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State High School Activities Association.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; Find complete brackets and more information&nbsp;<a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Basketball/State.cfm">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;CLASS 6A (BOYS) Venue: Charles Koch Arena (Wichita) 2 p.m. - [1] Shawnee Mission NW (22-0) vs. [8] Wichita East (7-15) 4 p.m. - [4] Olathe North (18-4) vs. [5] Mill Valley (17-5) 6 p.m. - [2] Wichita Heights (21-1) vs. [7] Campus (14-8) 8 p.m. - [3] Blue Valley NW (20-2) vs. [6] Wichita NW (17-5)CLASS 5A (GIRLS) Venue: White Auditorium (Emporia) 2 p.m. - [1] Andover (22-0) vs. [8] Blue Valley SW (12-10) 4 p.m. - [4] Topeka Seaman (20-2) vs. [5] De Soto (19-3) 6 p.m. - [2] Maize South (21-1) vs. [7] St. Thomas Aquinas (16-6) 8 p.m. - [3] Emporia (21-1) vs. [6] Bishop Carroll (19-3)CLASS 4A (BOYS) Venue: Tony's Pizza Events Center (Salina) 2 p.m. - [1] McPherson (22-0) vs. [8] Fort Scott (16-6) 4 p.m. - [4] Circle (20-2) vs. [5] Baldwin (19-3) 6 p.m. - [2] Atchison (20-2) vs. [7] St. George Rock Creek (18-4) 8 p.m. - [3] Hugoton (20-2) vs. [6] Abilene (19-3)CLASS 3A (GIRLS) Venue: Hutchinson Sports Arena 2 p.m. - [1] Silver Lake (23-0) vs. [8] Haven (16-7) 4 p.m. - [4] Heritage Christian (20-3) vs. [5] Topeka Hayden (19-4) 6 p.m. - [2] Goodland (20-3) vs. [7] Girard (17-6) 8 p.m. - [3] Hesston (20-3) vs. [6] Cheney (19-4)CLASS 2A (BOYS) Venue: United Wireless Arena (Dodge City) 2 p.m. - [1] Lyndon (23-0) vs. [8] Conway Springs (15-8) 4 p.m. - [4] Salina Sacred Heart (20-3) vs. [5] Erie (18-5) 6 p.m. - [2] Sterling (21-2) vs. [7] Plainville (16-7) 8 p.m. - [3] Moundridge (20-3) vs. [6] Jefferson County North (16-7)CLASS 1A-DIVISION I (GIRLS) Venue: Colby Event Center (Colby) 2 p.m. - [1] Little River (23-0) vs. [8] Olpe (18-5) 4 p.m. - [4] Norwich (21-1) vs. [5] Centralia (21-2) 6 p.m. - [2] South Gray (22-1) vs. [7] Rawlins County (19-4) 8 p.m. - [3] St. John-Hudson (22-1) vs. [6] Frankfort (20-3)CLASS 1A-DIVISION II (GIRLS) Venue: Barton Community College (Great Bend) 2 p.m. - [1] South Haven (21-2) vs. [8] Northern Valley (12-11) 4 p.m. - [4] Bucklin (20-3) vs. [5] Hanover (20-4) 6 p.m. - [2] Lebo (21-2) vs. [7] Marais Des Cygnes Valley (14-9) 8 p.m. - [3] Wallace County (20-3) vs. [6] St. John's/Tipton (16-5)

🏀 KSHSAA schedule for Thursday state quarterfinals

No. 16 Hutchinson (24-5, 21-4) at Garden City (18-11, 14-9) When: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Where: Conestoga Arena, Garden City, KS Time: 7:30 p.m. Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 7:15 p.m. -Sean Boston (play-by-play) X: @bluedragonsport

The Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team goes after a 25th regular-season victory and a 20th Jayhawk Conference victory on Wednesday as the Blue Dragons travel to play the Garden City Broncbusters in the final game of the 2023-24 regular season.

The No. 16-ranked Blue Dragons (24-5, 19-4 Jayhawk Conference) and sixth-place Broncbusters (18-11, 14-9 Jayhawk Conference) tip off at 7:30 p.m. at Conestoga Arena in Garden City.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) calling the action. The Blue Dragon Sports Network will stream the game live at free beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Heading into the final game of the regular season, the Blue Dragons are locked into the No. 3 seed for the Region VI Tournament, which begins Saturday at sites around the state of Kansas. A Hutchinson win and a Cowley loss to Butler on Wednesday would give the Blue Dragons a tie for second place in the Jayhawk Conference with the Tigers

Hutchinson was picked to finish sixth in the KJCCC this season - but Cowley owns a tiebreaker over the Dragons for the No. 2 regional seed.

Garden City could tie Cloud County for fifth place in the KJCCC, but is locked into the sixth seed for the Region VI Tournament after losing a tiebreaker with the Thunderbirds.

Hutchinson looks to enter the postseason on a high note after falling 91-78 to No. 1-ranked Barton on Saturday in Great Bend. Playing without leading scorer Kamryn Thomas, the Blue Dragons shot 50 percent against the Cougars, but Barton had two key second-half runs to pull away in the second half. Valentino Simon had his 30th career double-double (11th as a Blue Dragon) with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Garden City has won 3 of its last 4 games after Saturday’s 86-75 home victory over Dodge City. Brody Robinson, who is No. 2 in the NJCAA in assists, had 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Busters. Braxton Jones hit four 3-pointers and finished with 24 points.

The Dragons won the first meeting with Garden City this season, topping the Busters 85-64 on January 20. Thomas led Hutchinson with 22 points, hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Kernan Bundy added 15 points off the bench. The Blue Dragons shot 47.7 percent from the floor. The Busters were held to 35.6 percent shooting and Robinson was held to five points and two assists. Jones had 23 points to pace the Busters.

Hutchinson’s next action will be the Region VI Quarterfinals on March 12 at the Sports Arena

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707506598122.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of HutchCC AthleticsNo. 16 Hutchinson (24-5, 21-4) at Garden City (18-11, 14-9) When: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Where: Conestoga Arena, Garden City, KS Time: 7:30 p.m. Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 7:15 p.m. -Sean Boston (play-by-play) X: @bluedragonsport The Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team goes after a 25th regular-season victory and a 20th Jayhawk Conference victory on Wednesday as the Blue Dragons travel to play the Garden City Broncbusters in the final game of the 2023-24 regular season.The No. 16-ranked Blue Dragons (24-5, 19-4 Jayhawk Conference) and sixth-place Broncbusters (18-11, 14-9 Jayhawk Conference) tip off at 7:30 p.m. at Conestoga Arena in Garden City.The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) calling the action. The Blue Dragon Sports Network will stream the game live at free beginning at 7:15 p.m.Heading into the final game of the regular season, the Blue Dragons are locked into the No. 3 seed for the Region VI Tournament, which begins Saturday at sites around the state of Kansas. A Hutchinson win and a Cowley loss to Butler on Wednesday would give the Blue Dragons a tie for second place in the Jayhawk Conference with the TigersHutchinson was picked to finish sixth in the KJCCC this season - but Cowley owns a tiebreaker over the Dragons for the No. 2 regional seed.Garden City could tie Cloud County for fifth place in the KJCCC, but is locked into the sixth seed for the Region VI Tournament after losing a tiebreaker with the Thunderbirds.Hutchinson looks to enter the postseason on a high note after falling 91-78 to No. 1-ranked Barton on Saturday in Great Bend. Playing without leading scorer Kamryn Thomas, the Blue Dragons shot 50 percent against the Cougars, but Barton had two key second-half runs to pull away in the second half. Valentino Simon had his 30th career double-double (11th as a Blue Dragon) with 20 points and 10 rebounds.Garden City has won 3 of its last 4 games after Saturday’s 86-75 home victory over Dodge City. Brody Robinson, who is No. 2 in the NJCAA in assists, had 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Busters. Braxton Jones hit four 3-pointers and finished with 24 points.The Dragons won the first meeting with Garden City this season, topping the Busters 85-64 on January 20. Thomas led Hutchinson with 22 points, hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Kernan Bundy added 15 points off the bench. The Blue Dragons shot 47.7 percent from the floor. The Busters were held to 35.6 percent shooting and Robinson was held to five points and two assists. Jones had 23 points to pace the Busters.Hutchinson’s next action will be the Region VI Quarterfinals on March 12 at the Sports Arena

🏀 MBB: Dragons head west for regular season finale

No. 1 Hutchinson (29-0, 23-0) at Garden City (16-12, 11-12) When: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Where: Conestoga Arena, Garden City, KS Time: 5:30 p.m. Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 5:15 p.m. -Sean Boston (play-by-play) X: @bluedragonsport

The Jayhawk Conference champion Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team looks to complete its fourth perfect regular season on Wednesday night as the Blue Dragons close out the regular season with a road trip to play the Garden City Broncbusters.

The No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons (29-0, 23-0 Jayhawk Conference) and the Broncbusters (16-12, 11-12 Jayhawk Conference) will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Conestoga Arena in Garden City.

The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 5:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) calling the action. The Blue Dragon Sports Network will stream the game live and free beginning at 5:15 p.m.

The 2024 Blue Dragons look to match the 1977, 2012 and 2014 teams who completed a regular season undefeated.

The current Blue Dragons won its 29th consecutive game after a 57-39 victory on Saturday at Barton. The Dragons rallied from nine points down late in the first quarter for its 27th victory in double figures in 29 games. Kiki Smith led the Blue Dragons with 14 points. Monae Duffy finished with 11 points.

The Blue Dragons trailed 12-5 after the first quarter, marking the fourth-consecutive game they have trailed after 10 minutes. The Blue Dragons are now 8-0 when trailing after the first quarter, mainly because the they have outscored their opponents by 323 points.

Garden City bids for a second-straight victory over a ranked opponent. Last Saturday, the Broncbusters upset No. 14 Dodge City 55-53 at Conestoga Arena. The Busters got 18 points off the bench from Maya Nieto and Ana Ramos Pires had 14 points.

The Busters have a lot on the line on Wednesday. The Busters are one of four teams battling for the sixth, seventh and eighth seeds and home games in the opening round in the Region VI Tournament, which begins Saturday at home sites around the state.

The Blue Dragons will go after a 13th-consecutive victory over Garden City. Hutchinson defeated Garden City 73-56 on January 20 at the Sports Arena. Duffy led the Blue Dragons with 17 points and Smith had 16 points to lead the Blue Dragons. Stevi Yanci led the Busters with 11 points.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706151037392.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics." />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of HutchCC AthleticsNo. 1 Hutchinson (29-0, 23-0) at Garden City (16-12, 11-12) When: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Where: Conestoga Arena, Garden City, KS Time: 5:30 p.m. Radio: KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 5:15 p.m. -Sean Boston (play-by-play) X: @bluedragonsport The Jayhawk Conference champion Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team looks to complete its fourth perfect regular season on Wednesday night as the Blue Dragons close out the regular season with a road trip to play the Garden City Broncbusters.The No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons (29-0, 23-0 Jayhawk Conference) and the Broncbusters (16-12, 11-12 Jayhawk Conference) will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Conestoga Arena in Garden City.The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 5:15 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) calling the action. The Blue Dragon Sports Network will stream the game live and free beginning at 5:15 p.m.The 2024 Blue Dragons look to match the 1977, 2012 and 2014 teams who completed a regular season undefeated.The current Blue Dragons won its 29th consecutive game after a 57-39 victory on Saturday at Barton. The Dragons rallied from nine points down late in the first quarter for its 27th victory in double figures in 29 games. Kiki Smith led the Blue Dragons with 14 points. Monae Duffy finished with 11 points.The Blue Dragons trailed 12-5 after the first quarter, marking the fourth-consecutive game they have trailed after 10 minutes. The Blue Dragons are now 8-0 when trailing after the first quarter, mainly because the they have outscored their opponents by 323 points.Garden City bids for a second-straight victory over a ranked opponent. Last Saturday, the Broncbusters upset No. 14 Dodge City 55-53 at Conestoga Arena. The Busters got 18 points off the bench from Maya Nieto and Ana Ramos Pires had 14 points.The Busters have a lot on the line on Wednesday. The Busters are one of four teams battling for the sixth, seventh and eighth seeds and home games in the opening round in the Region VI Tournament, which begins Saturday at home sites around the state.The Blue Dragons will go after a 13th-consecutive victory over Garden City. Hutchinson defeated Garden City 73-56 on January 20 at the Sports Arena. Duffy led the Blue Dragons with 17 points and Smith had 16 points to lead the Blue Dragons. Stevi Yanci led the Busters with 11 points.

🏀 WBB: Blue Dragons seek fourth unbeaten regular season at Garden City

Information courtesy MIAA, Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Several area former student-athletes were recognized by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) on its all-conference teams, released on Tuesday.

FAITH PARAMORE | EMPORIA STATE | HAVEN HS

Paramore, a former standout at Haven High School is in her senior year at Emporia State and earned Third-Team All-MIAA honors.&nbsp;

Paramore is second in the MIAA and is ranked 15th in the nation with 12 double-doubles while ranking third in the association in rebounding and ninth in scoring. She is averaging 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. She has reached double figures in scoring 21 times this season with eight 20 point games. Her career high of 26 points came this season against Bethel. She has 12 double figure rebound games with a career high of 14 against Washburn.

KARENNA GERBER | PITTSBURG STATE | HALSTEAD HS

Former Halstead High School standout Karenna Gerber is in her junior year at Pittsburg State and earned First-Team All-MIAA honors.

Gerber becomes a two-time All-MIAA honoree after securing third-team All-MIAA recognition during her sophomore campaign in 2022-23. The Halstead, Kan., native is averaging 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots per game this season, while shooting .588 from the field. Gerber leads the MIAA in field goal percentage, ranks second in blocked shots, fourth in scoring, eighths in rebounding and 10th in free throw percentage (.737).

GRACE PYLE | PITTSBURG STATE | McPHERSON HS

Former McPherson High School standout Grace Pyle is in her junior year at Pittsburg State and earned First-Team All-MIAA honors.

Pyle garnered All-MIAA honors for a second season after landing on the honorable mention All-MIAA list last year. The McPherson, Kan., native has contributed 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.7 3-point field goals per game this season. Pyle leads the MIAA in 3-point field goals, ranks third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.336), sixth in the league in scoring and ninth in the MIAA in field goal percentage (.404).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709737604791.png" alt="Photo Courtesy MIAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy MIAA</figcaption>
 </figure>Information courtesy MIAA, Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University.KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Several area former student-athletes were recognized by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) on its all-conference teams, released on Tuesday.FAITH PARAMORE | EMPORIA STATE | HAVEN HSParamore, a former standout at Haven High School is in her senior year at Emporia State and earned Third-Team All-MIAA honors.&nbsp;Paramore is second in the MIAA and is ranked 15th in the nation with 12 double-doubles while ranking third in the association in rebounding and ninth in scoring. She is averaging 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. She has reached double figures in scoring 21 times this season with eight 20 point games. Her career high of 26 points came this season against Bethel. She has 12 double figure rebound games with a career high of 14 against Washburn.KARENNA GERBER | PITTSBURG STATE | HALSTEAD HSFormer Halstead High School standout Karenna Gerber is in her junior year at Pittsburg State and earned First-Team All-MIAA honors.Gerber becomes a two-time All-MIAA honoree after securing third-team All-MIAA recognition during her sophomore campaign in 2022-23. The Halstead, Kan., native is averaging 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots per game this season, while shooting .588 from the field. Gerber leads the MIAA in field goal percentage, ranks second in blocked shots, fourth in scoring, eighths in rebounding and 10th in free throw percentage (.737).GRACE PYLE | PITTSBURG STATE | McPHERSON HSFormer McPherson High School standout Grace Pyle is in her junior year at Pittsburg State and earned First-Team All-MIAA honors.Pyle garnered All-MIAA honors for a second season after landing on the honorable mention All-MIAA list last year. The McPherson, Kan., native has contributed 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.7 3-point field goals per game this season. Pyle leads the MIAA in 3-point field goals, ranks third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.336), sixth in the league in scoring and ninth in the MIAA in field goal percentage (.404).

🏀 WBB: Paramore, Gerber, Pyle among former area athletes on All-MIAA teams

ENID, Oklahoma – The Northern Oklahoma-Enid Jets hit a pair of home runs and pounded out 14 hits to snap the Hutchinson Community College baseball team’s four-game win streak on Tuesday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.

After tying the game at 4-all, the Blue Dragons weren’t able to sustain their momentum and fell to NOC-Enid 12-7 in a non-conference midweek match.

The Blue Dragons are now 12-4 overall and will open Jayhawk West play at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Hobart-Detter Field. The Hutchinson-Garden City conference opener was moved up a day because or forecasted inclement weather on Thursday.

Trailing 4-0 after three innings on Tuesday, Tyson Vassart hit a two-run home run to right field in the fourth inning to get the Dragons on the board. Hutchinson tied the game at 4-all in the fifth when Cody Gunderson hit a two-run home run to center.

NOC-Enid immediately answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth as the Jets scored eight unanswered runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Hank Griffin hit a three-run double in the top of the ninth to round out the Blue Dragons’ scoring.

The Blue Dragons pounded out 10 hits on Tuesday.

Gunderson was 2 for 3 with a double, home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Vassart was 2 for 5 with a double, his first home run of the season and two RBIs. Jarrett Herrman also had two hits with a pair of singles in four at-bats.

Seven different Blue Dragons pitchers were used on Tuesday. Nic Perez (0-1) was tagged with the loss. Blue Dragon pitching combined for eight strikeouts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706552972158.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of HutchCC AthleticsENID, Oklahoma – The Northern Oklahoma-Enid Jets hit a pair of home runs and pounded out 14 hits to snap the Hutchinson Community College baseball team’s four-game win streak on Tuesday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.After tying the game at 4-all, the Blue Dragons weren’t able to sustain their momentum and fell to NOC-Enid 12-7 in a non-conference midweek match.The Blue Dragons are now 12-4 overall and will open Jayhawk West play at 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Hobart-Detter Field. The Hutchinson-Garden City conference opener was moved up a day because or forecasted inclement weather on Thursday.Trailing 4-0 after three innings on Tuesday, Tyson Vassart hit a two-run home run to right field in the fourth inning to get the Dragons on the board. Hutchinson tied the game at 4-all in the fifth when Cody Gunderson hit a two-run home run to center.NOC-Enid immediately answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth as the Jets scored eight unanswered runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.Hank Griffin hit a three-run double in the top of the ninth to round out the Blue Dragons’ scoring.The Blue Dragons pounded out 10 hits on Tuesday.Gunderson was 2 for 3 with a double, home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Vassart was 2 for 5 with a double, his first home run of the season and two RBIs. Jarrett Herrman also had two hits with a pair of singles in four at-bats.Seven different Blue Dragons pitchers were used on Tuesday. Nic Perez (0-1) was tagged with the loss. Blue Dragon pitching combined for eight strikeouts.

⚾ Blue Dragons fall at NOC-Enid

Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp;

NORMAN, Okla. --&nbsp;Oklahoma used five stolen bases and a series of clutch two-out hits to defeat Wichita State 5-3 on Tuesday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

The Sooners (6-5) used eight pitchers on the evening, getting a solid start from Will Carsten before the parade of relievers. Carsten held the Shockers off the board for three innings, giving time for Oklahoma to grab an early lead they did not relinquish. After Wichita State starter&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-dobbs/7616">Tyler Dobbs</a>&nbsp;tossed zeroes in each of the first two innings, the Sooners pushed across a run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly from Easton Carmichael. Another productive out in the fourth doubled the advantage, as Rocco Garza-Gongora plated a run with a ground out.

Oklahoma grabbed a pair of crucial two-out runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-0. Carmichael and Jackson Nicklaus both rapped run-scoring singles after the first two hitters in the inning were retired.

Wichita State (7-4) cut the deficit in half by getting the two runs right back in the top of the sixth.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/derek-williams/7627">Derek Williams</a>&nbsp;homered for a third consecutive game, launching an opposite field two-run blast to slice the Oklahoma lead to 4-2.

Carmichael responded with a two-out solo homer of his own in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-2 advantage.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-livingston/7602">Josh Livingston</a>&nbsp;came off the bench with his second pinch-hit homer of the season in the ninth, cranking a long blast over the wall in right that produced the final margin. Oklahoma's Malachi Witherspoon bounced back after the homer and recorded the final two outs to nail down his first save.

Dobbs (1-1) took the loss despite allowing just one earned run over 3.2 innings. Six Wichita State relievers followed, allowing three runs (two earned) over the final 4.1 innings. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/drew-iverson/7618">Drew Iverson</a>&nbsp;struck out a career-best three hitters to highlight the efforts out of the bullpen.

Grant Stevens (1-0) earned the win for Oklahoma, allowing one run in 2.2 innings in relief.

The Shockers return home on Friday to open a three-game series against Long Beach State. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 3:00 pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709735017676.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp;NORMAN, Okla. --&nbsp;Oklahoma used five stolen bases and a series of clutch two-out hits to defeat Wichita State 5-3 on Tuesday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.The Sooners (6-5) used eight pitchers on the evening, getting a solid start from Will Carsten before the parade of relievers. Carsten held the Shockers off the board for three innings, giving time for Oklahoma to grab an early lead they did not relinquish. After Wichita State starter&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-dobbs/7616">Tyler Dobbs</a>&nbsp;tossed zeroes in each of the first two innings, the Sooners pushed across a run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly from Easton Carmichael. Another productive out in the fourth doubled the advantage, as Rocco Garza-Gongora plated a run with a ground out.Oklahoma grabbed a pair of crucial two-out runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-0. Carmichael and Jackson Nicklaus both rapped run-scoring singles after the first two hitters in the inning were retired.Wichita State (7-4) cut the deficit in half by getting the two runs right back in the top of the sixth.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/derek-williams/7627">Derek Williams</a>&nbsp;homered for a third consecutive game, launching an opposite field two-run blast to slice the Oklahoma lead to 4-2.Carmichael responded with a two-out solo homer of his own in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-2 advantage.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-livingston/7602">Josh Livingston</a>&nbsp;came off the bench with his second pinch-hit homer of the season in the ninth, cranking a long blast over the wall in right that produced the final margin. Oklahoma's Malachi Witherspoon bounced back after the homer and recorded the final two outs to nail down his first save.Dobbs (1-1) took the loss despite allowing just one earned run over 3.2 innings. Six Wichita State relievers followed, allowing three runs (two earned) over the final 4.1 innings. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/drew-iverson/7618">Drew Iverson</a>&nbsp;struck out a career-best three hitters to highlight the efforts out of the bullpen.Grant Stevens (1-0) earned the win for Oklahoma, allowing one run in 2.2 innings in relief.The Shockers return home on Friday to open a three-game series against Long Beach State. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 3:00 pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⚾ Shockers fall at Oklahoma in midweek game

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Wednesday, March 6th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Wednesday, March 6th, 2024.</figcaption>
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🎧 LISTEN: 🏀 KU wins Sunflower Showdown over K-State 🏀 KSHSAA Class 3A opens at Arena 🏀 HutchCC final regular season game at Garden

AP mock NFL draft: Bears keep the No. 1 pick, take USC star QB Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bears passed up C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young last year because they had Justin Fields. Now, they've got a shot at Caleb Williams. They can't miss another chance at a franchise quarterback. The first edition of the AP's 2024 mock draft says the Bears keep the top pick and take Williams in a draft projection that has quarterbacks going with the first three picks and five overall in the first round. The AP projects 10 offensive linemen are chosen in the first round, including three among the top 10.

Dartmouth men's basketball team votes to unionize, though steps remain before forming labor union

HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — The Dartmouth men's basketball team has voted to unionize, taking an unprecedented step toward forming the first-ever labor union for college athletes. In a campus election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board, the players voted 13-2 to join Service Employees International Union Local 560, which already represents some Dartmouth workers. The school can still appeal to the NLRB and the federal courts. That could delay negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement until long after the current members of the basketball team have graduated.

Dean Wade scores 20 in fourth, Cavs rally to stun Celtics and end Boston's 11-game winning streak

CLEVELAND (AP) — Dean Wade made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland won a replay review in the final second to stun Boston 105-104, ending the NBA-leading Celtics' winning streak at 11 games. With NFL star Travis Kelce urging on Cleveland's crowd from a courtside seat, the Cavs overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Wade scored a career-high 23 points and his putback dunk with 19.1 seconds left put the Cavs ahead 105-104. He personally outscored the Celtics 20-17 in the fourth. Cleveland held on when officials overturned foul call on a last-second jumper by Jayson Tatum, who scored 26 points for Boston.

Travis and Jason Kelce attend bobblehead giveaway, cheer on Cavaliers to stunning win over Celtics

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Kelce brothers showed up for their own giveaway. No, Taylor Swift wasn't with them. Cleveland-born Travis and Jason Kelce were both in attendance Tuesday night as the Cavaliers paid tribute to the NFL stars with a souvenir bobblehead depicting them in Cavs jerseys and holding basketballs. During the first timeout in the opening quarter, the Cavs presented Jason, who retired from the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday after 13 seasons, with a framed No. 62 jersey. Travis Kelce, a star tight end with Kansas City Chiefs and Swift's boyfriend, proudly held his brother's jersey above his head as the crowd roared. Swift is on tour in Singapore.

A's release renderings of new Las Vegas domed stadium that resembles famous Sydney Opera House

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Oakland Athletics and their design teams released renderings Tuesday of the club's planned $1.5 billion stadium in Las Vegas that show five overlapping layers with a similar look to the famous Sydney Opera House. The A's hope to move into that 33,000-seat domed stadium in 2028. A glass window beyond the outfield provides an outdoor feel with views of the Las Vegas Strip. Also included is an 18,000-square-foot video board, which would be the largest in Major League Baseball, and layered roof resembling the Sydney Opera House.

FIA confirms whistleblower complaints against president regarding Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas races

The FIA has confirmed its compliance officer has received two complaints "detailing potential allegations involving certain members of its governing body" in seeming reference to recent whistleblower claims against the president of Formula 1's governing body. The BBC has reported that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem allegedly intervened to overturn a penalty given to Fernando Alonso at last year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Ben Sulayem also allegedly told officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for its race last November. The FIA would not discuss the complaint.

Edey helps rally No. 3 Purdue to 77-71 win at No. 12 Illinois to clinch outright Big Ten title

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Zach Edey had 28 points and eight rebounds as No. 3 Purdue rallied in the second half to beat No. 12 Illinois 77-71, becoming the first team in 17 years to win consecutive outright Big Ten regular-season championships. Fletcher Loyer added 16 points for the Boilermakers, who had already clinched at least a share of their second straight conference title with Saturday night's victory over Michigan State. The previous Big Ten team to win back-to-back outright regular-season crowns was Ohio State in 2006 and 2007. Braden Smith had 13 points and six assists for Purdue, which improved to 7-0 against ranked opponents this season. Loyer hit a 3-pointer with 3:08 left that put Purdue ahead for good, 67-66. Marcus Domask led second-place Illinois with 20 points.

Last year's free agent frenzy offers both hope and caution for NFL teams

NFL teams are set to dole out billions in free agent contracts in the coming weeks as teams around the league hope that bold moves in March will pay off with wins on the field once the season starts. But in a league with a sharp aging curve and specific systems that don't suit all players those dollars spent don't guarantee success. According to the Spotrac website, NFL teams handed out more than $3.3 billion in contracts last offseason with nearly half of that money fully guaranteed at signing. The six biggest spenders last offseason all missed the postseason.

Spanish prosecutors accuse Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti of alleged tax fraud

MADRID (AP) — Spanish state prosecutors have accused Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti of alleged tax fraud during his first stint at the club, claiming he used shell companies to hide parts of his income. Prosecutors say in a statement that they are accusing Ancelotti of two accounts of tax fraud that would be punishable with four years and nine months of prison. They accuse the Italian coach of having defrauded 1 million euros in 2014 and 2015.

Verlander, Gray and Giolito all in question for opening day after injuries hit starting pitchers

Three big-name starting pitchers are dealing with injuries that could cause them to miss the beginning of the regular season — and potentially more. Houston's Justin Verlander, St. Louis' Sonny Gray and Boston's Lucas Giolito are all ailing at spring training. Verlander will start the season on the injured list after being slowed by inflammation in his shoulder. Gray has a hamstring strain that caused him to leave his Grapefruit League start on Monday. And Giolito reported discomfort in his pitching elbow following a start last week when he was roughed up.

Final	(7)North Carolina	84	Notre Dame	51	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Wednesday, March 6th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Wednesday, March 6th, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for March 6th, 2024.AP mock NFL draft: Bears keep the No. 1 pick, take USC star QB Caleb WilliamsThe Chicago Bears passed up C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young last year because they had Justin Fields. Now, they've got a shot at Caleb Williams. They can't miss another chance at a franchise quarterback. The first edition of the AP's 2024 mock draft says the Bears keep the top pick and take Williams in a draft projection that has quarterbacks going with the first three picks and five overall in the first round. The AP projects 10 offensive linemen are chosen in the first round, including three among the top 10.Dartmouth men's basketball team votes to unionize, though steps remain before forming labor unionHANOVER, N.H. (AP) — The Dartmouth men's basketball team has voted to unionize, taking an unprecedented step toward forming the first-ever labor union for college athletes. In a campus election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board, the players voted 13-2 to join Service Employees International Union Local 560, which already represents some Dartmouth workers. The school can still appeal to the NLRB and the federal courts. That could delay negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement until long after the current members of the basketball team have graduated.Dean Wade scores 20 in fourth, Cavs rally to stun Celtics and end Boston's 11-game winning streakCLEVELAND (AP) — Dean Wade made five 3-pointers and scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland won a replay review in the final second to stun Boston 105-104, ending the NBA-leading Celtics' winning streak at 11 games. With NFL star Travis Kelce urging on Cleveland's crowd from a courtside seat, the Cavs overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Wade scored a career-high 23 points and his putback dunk with 19.1 seconds left put the Cavs ahead 105-104. He personally outscored the Celtics 20-17 in the fourth. Cleveland held on when officials overturned foul call on a last-second jumper by Jayson Tatum, who scored 26 points for Boston.Travis and Jason Kelce attend bobblehead giveaway, cheer on Cavaliers to stunning win over CelticsCLEVELAND (AP) — The Kelce brothers showed up for their own giveaway. No, Taylor Swift wasn't with them. Cleveland-born Travis and Jason Kelce were both in attendance Tuesday night as the Cavaliers paid tribute to the NFL stars with a souvenir bobblehead depicting them in Cavs jerseys and holding basketballs. During the first timeout in the opening quarter, the Cavs presented Jason, who retired from the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday after 13 seasons, with a framed No. 62 jersey. Travis Kelce, a star tight end with Kansas City Chiefs and Swift's boyfriend, proudly held his brother's jersey above his head as the crowd roared. Swift is on tour in Singapore.A's release renderings of new Las Vegas domed stadium that resembles famous Sydney Opera HouseLAS VEGAS (AP) — The Oakland Athletics and their design teams released renderings Tuesday of the club's planned $1.5 billion stadium in Las Vegas that show five overlapping layers with a similar look to the famous Sydney Opera House. The A's hope to move into that 33,000-seat domed stadium in 2028. A glass window beyond the outfield provides an outdoor feel with views of the Las Vegas Strip. Also included is an 18,000-square-foot video board, which would be the largest in Major League Baseball, and layered roof resembling the Sydney Opera House.FIA confirms whistleblower complaints against president regarding Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas racesThe FIA has confirmed its compliance officer has received two complaints "detailing potential allegations involving certain members of its governing body" in seeming reference to recent whistleblower claims against the president of Formula 1's governing body. The BBC has reported that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem allegedly intervened to overturn a penalty given to Fernando Alonso at last year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Ben Sulayem also allegedly told officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for its race last November. The FIA would not discuss the complaint.Edey helps rally No. 3 Purdue to 77-71 win at No. 12 Illinois to clinch outright Big Ten titleCHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Zach Edey had 28 points and eight rebounds as No. 3 Purdue rallied in the second half to beat No. 12 Illinois 77-71, becoming the first team in 17 years to win consecutive outright Big Ten regular-season championships. Fletcher Loyer added 16 points for the Boilermakers, who had already clinched at least a share of their second straight conference title with Saturday night's victory over Michigan State. The previous Big Ten team to win back-to-back outright regular-season crowns was Ohio State in 2006 and 2007. Braden Smith had 13 points and six assists for Purdue, which improved to 7-0 against ranked opponents this season. Loyer hit a 3-pointer with 3:08 left that put Purdue ahead for good, 67-66. Marcus Domask led second-place Illinois with 20 points.Last year's free agent frenzy offers both hope and caution for NFL teamsNFL teams are set to dole out billions in free agent contracts in the coming weeks as teams around the league hope that bold moves in March will pay off with wins on the field once the season starts. But in a league with a sharp aging curve and specific systems that don't suit all players those dollars spent don't guarantee success. According to the Spotrac website, NFL teams handed out more than $3.3 billion in contracts last offseason with nearly half of that money fully guaranteed at signing. The six biggest spenders last offseason all missed the postseason.Spanish prosecutors accuse Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti of alleged tax fraudMADRID (AP) — Spanish state prosecutors have accused Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti of alleged tax fraud during his first stint at the club, claiming he used shell companies to hide parts of his income. Prosecutors say in a statement that they are accusing Ancelotti of two accounts of tax fraud that would be punishable with four years and nine months of prison. They accuse the Italian coach of having defrauded 1 million euros in 2014 and 2015.Verlander, Gray and Giolito all in question for opening day after injuries hit starting pitchersThree big-name starting pitchers are dealing with injuries that could cause them to miss the beginning of the regular season — and potentially more. Houston's Justin Verlander, St. Louis' Sonny Gray and Boston's Lucas Giolito are all ailing at spring training. Verlander will start the season on the injured list after being slowed by inflammation in his shoulder. Gray has a hamstring strain that caused him to leave his Grapefruit League start on Monday. And Giolito reported discomfort in his pitching elbow following a start last week when he was roughed up.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___INTERLEAGUE Final	Miami	2	Houston	0	Final	St. Louis	5	Minnesota	4	Final	Baltimore	3	Philadelphia	2	Final	Atlanta	3	Detroit	0	Final	Pittsburgh	6	Toronto	5	Final	N.Y. Mets	5	N.Y. Yankees	4	Final	Kansas City	4	Chicago Cubs	0	Final	L.A. Angels	4	L.A. Dodgers	0	___AMERICAN LEAGUE Final	Boston	7	Tampa Bay	4	Final	Cleveland	4	Seattle	1	Final	Texas	10	Seattle	9	___NATIONAL LEAGUE Final	Arizona	5	San Diego	3	Final	San Francisco	13	Milwaukee	8	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Final	Orlando	101	Charlotte	89	Final	New Orleans	139	Toronto	98	Final	Atlanta	116	New York	100	Final	Miami	118	Detroit	110	Final	Cleveland	105	Boston	104	Final	Brooklyn	112	Philadelphia	107	Final	Houston	114	San Antonio	101	Final	Indiana	137	Dallas	120	Final OT	Phoenix	117	Denver	107	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Final	Pittsburgh	5	Columbus	3	Final	Florida	5	New Jersey	3	Final	N-Y Islanders	4	St. Louis	2	Final OT	Edmonton	2	Boston	1	Final	Seattle	4	Winnipeg	3	Final OT	Montreal	4	Nashville	3	Final	Chicago	5	Arizona	2	Final OT	Vancouver	2	Los Angeles	1	Final OT	Dallas	7	San Jose	6	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Final	(3)Purdue	77	(12)Illinois	71	Final	(7)North Carolina	84	Notre Dame	51	Final	(13)Auburn	101	Missouri	74	Final	(14)Kansas	90	Kansas St.	68	Final	Florida	105	(16)Alabama	87	Final	UNLV	62	(21)San Diego St.	58	Final	(24)South Florida	85	Tulane	72	Final	(25)Dayton	100	Saint Louis	83	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___INTERLEAGUE N-Y Mets	at	Houston	1:05 p.m.	L-A Angels	at	Chi Cubs	3:05 p.m.	L-A Dodgers	at	Chi White Sox	3:05 p.m.	Texas	at	Colorado	3:10 p.m.	Cleveland	at	Milwaukee	3:10 p.m.	Pittsburgh	at	Baltimore	6:05 p.m.	___AMERICAN LEAGUE Boston	at	Minnesota	1:05 p.m.	Tampa Bay	at	N-Y Yankees	1:05 p.m.	Seattle	at	Kansas City	3:05 p.m.	Oakland	at	L-A Angels	3:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE Washington	at	Miami	1:10 p.m.	Milwaukee	at	Cincinnati	3:05 p.m.	Cincinnati	at	San Diego	3:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Orlando	at	Washington	7 p.m.	Cleveland	at	Atlanta	7:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers	at	Houston	7:30 p.m.	Memphis	at	Philadelphia	7:30 p.m.	Chicago	at	Utah	9 p.m.	Milwaukee	at	Golden State	10 p.m.	Oklahoma City	at	Portland	10 p.m.	Sacramento	at	L.A. Lakers	10:30 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Buffalo	at	Toronto	7 p.m.	Detroit	at	Colorado	9:30 p.m.	Ottawa	at	Anaheim	10 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL (1)Houston	at	UCF	7 p.m.	(2)UConn	at	(8)Marquette	8:30 p.m.	(4)Tennessee	at	(17)South Carolina	7 p.m.	(20)BYU	at	(6)Iowa St.	9 p.m.	Vanderbilt	at	(15)Kentucky	9 p.m.	(22)Utah St.	at	San Jose St.	9:30 p.m.	___

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Wednesday

<a href="https://kuathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2348622.pdf">BOX SCORE&nbsp;</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/mens-basketball-k-state/">GALLERY&nbsp;</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/30-K-State.pdf">POSTGAME NOTES&nbsp;</a>

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;Kevin McCullar Jr. had 19 points in his Allen Fieldhouse farewell and Hunter Dickinson added 15 points and 20 rebounds as No. 14 Kansas took down Kansas State, 90-68, in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Tuesday night.

Nick Timberlake added 18 points and KJ Adams Jr. had 16 for the Jayhawks (22-8, 10-7 Big 12), who beat the Wildcats at home for the 18th straight time and won their 40th in a row on senior night, a run that stretches back to the 1983-84 season.

Will McNair had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, but leading scorers&nbsp;Tylor Perry&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cam Carter&nbsp;were shut down. Perry had two points after scoring 26 against the Jayhawks in February, and Carter had three points on 1-of-7 shooting.

Two schools separated by about 80 miles of highway, and who have played 300 times since 1907, naturally harbor a little bit of animosity toward each other. And that was on display during a first half in which they nearly came to blows.

Problem for the Wildcats is they couldn’t do anything with resulting free throws. They were 10 of 21 at the line.

Throw in some sloppy offense — hardly new for a team that ranks 339th in Division I in turnovers per game — and the Wildcats were fortunate to trail the Jayhawks 41-33 as the bitter rivals headed to the halftime locker room.

Kansas quickly stretched the lead to double digits in the second half. And after making one 3-pointer over the first 25 minutes, McCullar and fellow senior Timberlake hit them in quick succession, stretching the lead to 53-38 with 13:30 to go.

The Jayhawks eventually pushed the lead past 20 before the senior night celebration began and eventually closed out the Wildcats with a 90-68 win.

Kansas finishes the regular season on Saturday, March 14 when the Jayhawks travel to Houston. The game will tip off on ESPN at 3 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709697248410.png" alt="Kansas beats state rival K-State 90-68" />
 <figcaption>Kansas beats state rival K-State 90-68</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://kuathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2348622.pdf">BOX SCORE&nbsp;</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/mens-basketball-k-state/">GALLERY&nbsp;</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/30-K-State.pdf">POSTGAME NOTES&nbsp;</a>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) —&nbsp;Kevin McCullar Jr. had 19 points in his Allen Fieldhouse farewell and Hunter Dickinson added 15 points and 20 rebounds as No. 14 Kansas took down Kansas State, 90-68, in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Tuesday night.Nick Timberlake added 18 points and KJ Adams Jr. had 16 for the Jayhawks (22-8, 10-7 Big 12), who beat the Wildcats at home for the 18th straight time and won their 40th in a row on senior night, a run that stretches back to the 1983-84 season.Will McNair had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, but leading scorers&nbsp;Tylor Perry&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cam Carter&nbsp;were shut down. Perry had two points after scoring 26 against the Jayhawks in February, and Carter had three points on 1-of-7 shooting.Two schools separated by about 80 miles of highway, and who have played 300 times since 1907, naturally harbor a little bit of animosity toward each other. And that was on display during a first half in which they nearly came to blows.Problem for the Wildcats is they couldn’t do anything with resulting free throws. They were 10 of 21 at the line.Throw in some sloppy offense — hardly new for a team that ranks 339th in Division I in turnovers per game — and the Wildcats were fortunate to trail the Jayhawks 41-33 as the bitter rivals headed to the halftime locker room.Kansas quickly stretched the lead to double digits in the second half. And after making one 3-pointer over the first 25 minutes, McCullar and fellow senior Timberlake hit them in quick succession, stretching the lead to 53-38 with 13:30 to go.The Jayhawks eventually pushed the lead past 20 before the senior night celebration began and eventually closed out the Wildcats with a 90-68 win.Kansas finishes the regular season on Saturday, March 14 when the Jayhawks travel to Houston. The game will tip off on ESPN at 3 p.m.

🏀 McCullar scores 19 as Kansas routs K-State

Courtesy of the Kansas City Royals

SURPRISE, Ariz.—The Kansas City Royals today named their 2023 Organization Award winners and their Players and Pitchers of the Year for each minor league affiliate.

All Organization Award winners were honored at the club’s Spring Training complex in Surprise, Ariz. this afternoon.

Travis Ashby&nbsp;was the recipient of the&nbsp;Matt Minker&nbsp;Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding minor league affiliate employee. Ashby is entering his 17th season working for Surprise, Ariz., as he started working for the city in December 2007 and transitioned into an Operations role in 2010. Following the 2023 season, Ashby was promoted to Assistant Director of Sports and Tourism, and is responsible for overseeing the operations of the club’s spring home and minor league facility.

Ramón Castro&nbsp;was honored as the&nbsp;Dick Howser&nbsp;Award winner, which recognizes a player development employee for outstanding contributions to the organization. Castro is in his seventh season with the organization and sixth as the ACL Royals Hitting Coach. He was an infielder during his playing days, spending 18 years in the minors with Atlanta, Oakland, Washington and San Francisco (1997-2014), making his Major League debut with the A’s in 2004. In 2023, the ACL Royals went 31-25 (.554) and batted .278, which ranked as the 4th-highest team batting average in the Arizona Complex League.

Cruz Noriega&nbsp;was the recipient of the&nbsp;Carlos Fortuna&nbsp;Award, which recognizes a player who is dedicated to improving his English on and off the field, and who exemplifies leadership, great work ethic, discipline and dedication. Noriega made 20 appearances (6 starts) for High-A Quad Cities in 2023 and pitched to a 3.12 ERA (23 ER in 66.1 IP) with 56 strikeouts and just 15 walks allowed. He was signed as an international free agent in 2018 by scouts&nbsp;Edgarluis Fuentes&nbsp;and&nbsp;Joelvis Gonzalez.

Nick Loftin, 25, earned Omaha Player of the Year honors for 2023 after slashing .270/.344/.444 (85-for-315) in 82 games with the Storm Chasers. Despite playing 6 games with the ACL Royals and spending the entire month of September with the Major League club, his 56 RBI with Omaha ranked 2nd on the team and his 85 hits were the 5th most. The infielder was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star for the second time in his career last season, following his 2021 accolades. He made his Major League debut last Sept. 1 and hit .323 (20-for-62) in 19 games with Kansas City, which led all rookies in 2023 (min. 50 AB). He was selected out of Baylor University by the Royals in the Competitive Balance Round A of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft and was signed by scout&nbsp;Josh Hallgren.

Anthony Veneziano, 26, was named Omaha’s Pitcher of the Year, following a 2023 campaign in which he appeared in 18 games (17 starts) for the Storm Chasers and pitched to a 4.22 ERA (42 ER in 89.2 IP) with 79 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .249 batting average (83-for-333). He opened the season with 8 starts at Double-A Northwest Arkansas before being promoted to Omaha in May, and between the two levels, he posted a 10-5 record with 127 strikeouts. Overall, he ranked top-5 among Royals farmhands in innings pitched (132.0, 2nd), wins (T-2nd), games started (25, T-2nd), ERA (3.55, 4th), opponents’ average (.245, 4th) and strikeouts (5th). The left hander had his contract selected by the Royals on Sept. 19 and made 2 appearances in the Majors before the season ended, including his Major League debut on Sept. 26 in Detroit. Veneziano was selected from Coastal Carolina University in the 10th round of the 2019 Draft, and was signed by scout&nbsp;Joe Barbera.

Tyler Tolbert, 26, was crowned Northwest Arkansas Player of the Year after spending the entire 2023 season with the Naturals and slashing .276/.336/.419 (143-for-518) with 44 extra-base hits and 95 runs scored. His 10 triples tied for the 3rd most in all of Minor League Baseball, and he went 50-for-58 in stolen base attempts. Tolbert’s 50 steals led all Royals farmhands, and he improved to 193-for-204 (94.6% success rate) in career stolen base attempts spanning four seasons in the minors since 2019. Since data is available dating back to 1992, no minor leaguer has recorded a higher stolen base success rate than Tolbert (min. 200 attempts), and he is 5.2 points higher than the next highest player, former-Royal&nbsp;Terrance Gore, who stole 321 bases from 2011-22, but was caught 38 times (89.4%). Tolbert was also the recipient of the 2023&nbsp;George Brett&nbsp;Award, given to the top hitter in the Royals organization, and he was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star in the outfield. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and was selected by the Royals in the 13th round of the 2019 Draft and signed by&nbsp;Nick Hamilton.

Chandler Champlain, 24, earned Northwest Arkansas Pitcher of the Year honors for 2023 after making 14 starts for the Naturals and pitching to a 3.82 ERA (31 ER in 73.0 IP) with 64 strikeouts and a .234 opponents’ average (64-for-273). He made 11 starts with High-A Quad Cities before his promotion to Northwest Arkansas in June, and between his two stops, he led all Royals farmhands with 11 wins and 135.1 innings pitched, while his 25 starts ranked tied for 2nd and his 3.33 ERA and .225 opponents’ average each ranked 3rd. Last July 27 at Arkansas, the right hander spun 6.0 no-hit innings with 6 strikeouts en route to his 2nd Double-A win, and he was featured in the MLB Network Prospect Spotlight on Aug. 1. Champlain was acquired by Kansas City from the Yankees with left hander&nbsp;T.J. Sikkema&nbsp;and right hander&nbsp;Beck Way&nbsp;for outfielder&nbsp;Andrew Benintendi&nbsp;on July 27, 2022.

Cayden Wallace, 22, slashed .261/.341/.431 (98-for-376, .772 OPS) in 97 games with High-A Quad cities and recorded 10 home runs, 64 RBI and 15 stolen bases en route to Quad Cities Player of the Year honors. Wallace was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas last Aug. 7, and at the time of his promotion, he ranked among Midwest League leaders in hits (2nd, 98), RBI (3rd, 64) total bases (3rd, 162), extra-base hits (T-4th, 38) and runs scored (T-5th, 56). His 84 RBI between Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas ranked 2nd among Royals minor leaguers. A graduate of Greenbrier High School (Ark.), Wallace was selected in the 2nd round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft and was signed by scout&nbsp;Matt Price.

Mason Barnett, 23, began his second professional season in High-A Quad Cities and posted a 3.18 ERA (29 ER in 82.0 IP) with 94 strikeouts (10.3 K/9) across 16 starts to earn Quad Cities Pitcher of the Year honors. Prior to his promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Aug. 2, Barnett ranked 2nd in the Midwest League with 94 strikeouts and tallied a 1.70 ERA (7 ER in 37.0 IP) in 6 starts from June 20-Aug. 1. He went 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA (13 ER in 32.2 IP) in 7 starts with Northwest Arkansas and led all Royals minor leaguers last season with 137 strikeouts. Barnett was also the recipient of the 2023&nbsp;Paul Splittorff&nbsp;Award, given to the top pitcher in the organization. He was selected by the Royals in the 3rd round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft from Auburn University (Ala.) and was signed by scout&nbsp;Will Howard.

In his first professional season,&nbsp;Brett Squires, 24, earned Columbia Player of the Year honors after he spent the entire season with the Fireflies and slashed .263/.381/.430 (110-for-419) with 21 doubles and 15 home runs. Squires reached base in 22 consecutive games from April 20-May 14, which was tied for the 9th longest on-base streak in the Carolina League, during which he slashed .284/.444/.433 (19-for-67) with 7 doubles, 1 home run, 14 RBI and 19 walks. During the month of August, Squires ranked among Carolina League leaders in total bases (1st, 58), home runs (T-1st, 7), RBI (3rd, 23), hits (3rd, 31) and batting average (7th, .337). He was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star as a first baseman and ranked in the top 5 in the Royals minor league system in RBI (5th, 69) and stolen bases (T-5th, 32). Squires was signed by Kansas City in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Oklahoma by scout&nbsp;Bobby Shore.

Frank Mozzicato, 20, posted a 3.04 ERA (19 ER in 56.1 IP) and 85 strikeouts (13.6 K/9) across 12 starts with the Fireflies in his sophomore season, earning Columbia’s Pitcher of the Year honors for 2023. Prior to his promotion to High-A Quad Cities on July 2, he ranked 2nd among Carolina League leaders with 85 strikeouts. In 4 April starts, Mozzicato led the Carolina League with 34 strikeouts and recorded a 1.42 ERA (3 ER in 19.0 IP). Including his 9 starts with Quad Cities, his 130 strikeouts ranked 4th among all Royals minor leaguers and his 12.6 K/9 (min. 20 starts) was the 15th highest among all minor leaguers. Mozzicato was selected in the 1st round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of East Catholic High School (Conn.) and was signed by scout&nbsp;Casey Fahy.

Erick Torres, a 19-year-old outfielder, was named the recipient of the ACL Royals Player of the Year Award after appearing in 36 games and slashing .319/.392/.428 (44-for-138) with 10 extra-base hits, 18 RBI and 11 stolen bases. His 5 triples led the ACL Royals and were tied for the 3rd most in the Arizona Complex League. Torres’ .319 batting average led all Royals farmhands and was the 10th best average among all qualified hitters in the ACL. In addition, he ranked 2nd on the team in hits (44), 1 shy of team leader&nbsp;Jhonny Perdomo. Of his 36 games played with the ACL Royals, Torres recorded multiple hits in 13 contests, including a 4-hit effort on July 19 vs. the ACL Diamondbacks Black. This marks a second consecutive award for Torres, after he was named the Dominican Summer League Royals Player of the Year for 2022, a season in which he slashed .266/.365/.382 (46-for-173). Torres was originally signed as an international free agent on Jan. 18, 2022 out of Santago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic by Royals scout&nbsp;Edis Perez.

Félix Arronde, 20, was named the ACL Royals Pitcher of the Year after finishing the 2023 season with a 1-1 record and a team-best (min. 10 games) 1.85 ERA (8 ER in 39.0 IP) and 46 strikeouts (10.6 K/9). In 26.0 innings over his final 7 games with the ACL Royals from July 1-Aug. 17, Arronde pitched to a 0.69 ERA (2 ER in 26.0 IP), an opponents’ batting average of .182 and 38 strikeouts to just 8 walks. The right hander was one of three ACL Royals selected to the Arizona Complex League All-Star Team in 2023. He was promoted to Low-A Columbia on Aug. 29 and started 2 games for the Fireflies, going 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA (4 ER in 9.2 IP) and 12 strikeouts. Altogether, his 2.22 ERA (12 ER in 48.2 IP) was the best among all Royals farmhands. Arronde was originally signed as an international free agent on June 28, 2021, by Royals scout&nbsp;Elias Despradel.

Catcher&nbsp;Ramón Ramírez, 18, was crowned the Dominican Summer League Royals Player of the Year after slashing .344/.440/.615 (42-for-122, 1.055 OPS) over 41 games in his first professional season. His 1.055 OPS ranked 6th in the Dominican Summer League (min. 125 PA) while his 8 home runs ranked tied for 8th. Ramírez started off the season strong in the month of June, hitting at a .462 clip (18-for-39) with 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 12 RBI. Against right-handed pitching, he slashed .362/.441/.610 (38-for-105, 1.050 OPS). Defensively, Ramón threw out 18 of 62 (29.0%) attempted base stealers in 24 starts behind the plate for the DSL Royals Blue in 2023. The Porlamar, Venezuela native was originally signed as an international free agent on Jan. 20, 2023, by Royals scouts&nbsp;Francis Feliciano,&nbsp;Daniel Guerrero&nbsp;and&nbsp;Roberto Aquino.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695315090950.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of the Kansas City RoyalsSURPRISE, Ariz.—The Kansas City Royals today named their 2023 Organization Award winners and their Players and Pitchers of the Year for each minor league affiliate.All Organization Award winners were honored at the club’s Spring Training complex in Surprise, Ariz. this afternoon.Travis Ashby&nbsp;was the recipient of the&nbsp;Matt Minker&nbsp;Award, which annually recognizes an outstanding minor league affiliate employee. Ashby is entering his 17th season working for Surprise, Ariz., as he started working for the city in December 2007 and transitioned into an Operations role in 2010. Following the 2023 season, Ashby was promoted to Assistant Director of Sports and Tourism, and is responsible for overseeing the operations of the club’s spring home and minor league facility.Ramón Castro&nbsp;was honored as the&nbsp;Dick Howser&nbsp;Award winner, which recognizes a player development employee for outstanding contributions to the organization. Castro is in his seventh season with the organization and sixth as the ACL Royals Hitting Coach. He was an infielder during his playing days, spending 18 years in the minors with Atlanta, Oakland, Washington and San Francisco (1997-2014), making his Major League debut with the A’s in 2004. In 2023, the ACL Royals went 31-25 (.554) and batted .278, which ranked as the 4th-highest team batting average in the Arizona Complex League.Cruz Noriega&nbsp;was the recipient of the&nbsp;Carlos Fortuna&nbsp;Award, which recognizes a player who is dedicated to improving his English on and off the field, and who exemplifies leadership, great work ethic, discipline and dedication. Noriega made 20 appearances (6 starts) for High-A Quad Cities in 2023 and pitched to a 3.12 ERA (23 ER in 66.1 IP) with 56 strikeouts and just 15 walks allowed. He was signed as an international free agent in 2018 by scouts&nbsp;Edgarluis Fuentes&nbsp;and&nbsp;Joelvis Gonzalez.Omaha Storm Chasers (Triple-A)Nick Loftin, 25, earned Omaha Player of the Year honors for 2023 after slashing .270/.344/.444 (85-for-315) in 82 games with the Storm Chasers. Despite playing 6 games with the ACL Royals and spending the entire month of September with the Major League club, his 56 RBI with Omaha ranked 2nd on the team and his 85 hits were the 5th most. The infielder was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star for the second time in his career last season, following his 2021 accolades. He made his Major League debut last Sept. 1 and hit .323 (20-for-62) in 19 games with Kansas City, which led all rookies in 2023 (min. 50 AB). He was selected out of Baylor University by the Royals in the Competitive Balance Round A of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft and was signed by scout&nbsp;Josh Hallgren.Anthony Veneziano, 26, was named Omaha’s Pitcher of the Year, following a 2023 campaign in which he appeared in 18 games (17 starts) for the Storm Chasers and pitched to a 4.22 ERA (42 ER in 89.2 IP) with 79 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .249 batting average (83-for-333). He opened the season with 8 starts at Double-A Northwest Arkansas before being promoted to Omaha in May, and between the two levels, he posted a 10-5 record with 127 strikeouts. Overall, he ranked top-5 among Royals farmhands in innings pitched (132.0, 2nd), wins (T-2nd), games started (25, T-2nd), ERA (3.55, 4th), opponents’ average (.245, 4th) and strikeouts (5th). The left hander had his contract selected by the Royals on Sept. 19 and made 2 appearances in the Majors before the season ended, including his Major League debut on Sept. 26 in Detroit. Veneziano was selected from Coastal Carolina University in the 10th round of the 2019 Draft, and was signed by scout&nbsp;Joe Barbera.Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A)Tyler Tolbert, 26, was crowned Northwest Arkansas Player of the Year after spending the entire 2023 season with the Naturals and slashing .276/.336/.419 (143-for-518) with 44 extra-base hits and 95 runs scored. His 10 triples tied for the 3rd most in all of Minor League Baseball, and he went 50-for-58 in stolen base attempts. Tolbert’s 50 steals led all Royals farmhands, and he improved to 193-for-204 (94.6% success rate) in career stolen base attempts spanning four seasons in the minors since 2019. Since data is available dating back to 1992, no minor leaguer has recorded a higher stolen base success rate than Tolbert (min. 200 attempts), and he is 5.2 points higher than the next highest player, former-Royal&nbsp;Terrance Gore, who stole 321 bases from 2011-22, but was caught 38 times (89.4%). Tolbert was also the recipient of the 2023&nbsp;George Brett&nbsp;Award, given to the top hitter in the Royals organization, and he was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star in the outfield. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and was selected by the Royals in the 13th round of the 2019 Draft and signed by&nbsp;Nick Hamilton.Chandler Champlain, 24, earned Northwest Arkansas Pitcher of the Year honors for 2023 after making 14 starts for the Naturals and pitching to a 3.82 ERA (31 ER in 73.0 IP) with 64 strikeouts and a .234 opponents’ average (64-for-273). He made 11 starts with High-A Quad Cities before his promotion to Northwest Arkansas in June, and between his two stops, he led all Royals farmhands with 11 wins and 135.1 innings pitched, while his 25 starts ranked tied for 2nd and his 3.33 ERA and .225 opponents’ average each ranked 3rd. Last July 27 at Arkansas, the right hander spun 6.0 no-hit innings with 6 strikeouts en route to his 2nd Double-A win, and he was featured in the MLB Network Prospect Spotlight on Aug. 1. Champlain was acquired by Kansas City from the Yankees with left hander&nbsp;T.J. Sikkema&nbsp;and right hander&nbsp;Beck Way&nbsp;for outfielder&nbsp;Andrew Benintendi&nbsp;on July 27, 2022.Quad Cities River Bandits (High-A)Cayden Wallace, 22, slashed .261/.341/.431 (98-for-376, .772 OPS) in 97 games with High-A Quad cities and recorded 10 home runs, 64 RBI and 15 stolen bases en route to Quad Cities Player of the Year honors. Wallace was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas last Aug. 7, and at the time of his promotion, he ranked among Midwest League leaders in hits (2nd, 98), RBI (3rd, 64) total bases (3rd, 162), extra-base hits (T-4th, 38) and runs scored (T-5th, 56). His 84 RBI between Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas ranked 2nd among Royals minor leaguers. A graduate of Greenbrier High School (Ark.), Wallace was selected in the 2nd round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft and was signed by scout&nbsp;Matt Price.Mason Barnett, 23, began his second professional season in High-A Quad Cities and posted a 3.18 ERA (29 ER in 82.0 IP) with 94 strikeouts (10.3 K/9) across 16 starts to earn Quad Cities Pitcher of the Year honors. Prior to his promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Aug. 2, Barnett ranked 2nd in the Midwest League with 94 strikeouts and tallied a 1.70 ERA (7 ER in 37.0 IP) in 6 starts from June 20-Aug. 1. He went 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA (13 ER in 32.2 IP) in 7 starts with Northwest Arkansas and led all Royals minor leaguers last season with 137 strikeouts. Barnett was also the recipient of the 2023&nbsp;Paul Splittorff&nbsp;Award, given to the top pitcher in the organization. He was selected by the Royals in the 3rd round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft from Auburn University (Ala.) and was signed by scout&nbsp;Will Howard.Columbia Fireflies (Low-A)In his first professional season,&nbsp;Brett Squires, 24, earned Columbia Player of the Year honors after he spent the entire season with the Fireflies and slashed .263/.381/.430 (110-for-419) with 21 doubles and 15 home runs. Squires reached base in 22 consecutive games from April 20-May 14, which was tied for the 9th longest on-base streak in the Carolina League, during which he slashed .284/.444/.433 (19-for-67) with 7 doubles, 1 home run, 14 RBI and 19 walks. During the month of August, Squires ranked among Carolina League leaders in total bases (1st, 58), home runs (T-1st, 7), RBI (3rd, 23), hits (3rd, 31) and batting average (7th, .337). He was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star as a first baseman and ranked in the top 5 in the Royals minor league system in RBI (5th, 69) and stolen bases (T-5th, 32). Squires was signed by Kansas City in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Oklahoma by scout&nbsp;Bobby Shore.Frank Mozzicato, 20, posted a 3.04 ERA (19 ER in 56.1 IP) and 85 strikeouts (13.6 K/9) across 12 starts with the Fireflies in his sophomore season, earning Columbia’s Pitcher of the Year honors for 2023. Prior to his promotion to High-A Quad Cities on July 2, he ranked 2nd among Carolina League leaders with 85 strikeouts. In 4 April starts, Mozzicato led the Carolina League with 34 strikeouts and recorded a 1.42 ERA (3 ER in 19.0 IP). Including his 9 starts with Quad Cities, his 130 strikeouts ranked 4th among all Royals minor leaguers and his 12.6 K/9 (min. 20 starts) was the 15th highest among all minor leaguers. Mozzicato was selected in the 1st round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of East Catholic High School (Conn.) and was signed by scout&nbsp;Casey Fahy.Arizona Complex League Royals (Rookie)Erick Torres, a 19-year-old outfielder, was named the recipient of the ACL Royals Player of the Year Award after appearing in 36 games and slashing .319/.392/.428 (44-for-138) with 10 extra-base hits, 18 RBI and 11 stolen bases. His 5 triples led the ACL Royals and were tied for the 3rd most in the Arizona Complex League. Torres’ .319 batting average led all Royals farmhands and was the 10th best average among all qualified hitters in the ACL. In addition, he ranked 2nd on the team in hits (44), 1 shy of team leader&nbsp;Jhonny Perdomo. Of his 36 games played with the ACL Royals, Torres recorded multiple hits in 13 contests, including a 4-hit effort on July 19 vs. the ACL Diamondbacks Black. This marks a second consecutive award for Torres, after he was named the Dominican Summer League Royals Player of the Year for 2022, a season in which he slashed .266/.365/.382 (46-for-173). Torres was originally signed as an international free agent on Jan. 18, 2022 out of Santago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic by Royals scout&nbsp;Edis Perez.Félix Arronde, 20, was named the ACL Royals Pitcher of the Year after finishing the 2023 season with a 1-1 record and a team-best (min. 10 games) 1.85 ERA (8 ER in 39.0 IP) and 46 strikeouts (10.6 K/9). In 26.0 innings over his final 7 games with the ACL Royals from July 1-Aug. 17, Arronde pitched to a 0.69 ERA (2 ER in 26.0 IP), an opponents’ batting average of .182 and 38 strikeouts to just 8 walks. The right hander was one of three ACL Royals selected to the Arizona Complex League All-Star Team in 2023. He was promoted to Low-A Columbia on Aug. 29 and started 2 games for the Fireflies, going 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA (4 ER in 9.2 IP) and 12 strikeouts. Altogether, his 2.22 ERA (12 ER in 48.2 IP) was the best among all Royals farmhands. Arronde was originally signed as an international free agent on June 28, 2021, by Royals scout&nbsp;Elias Despradel.Dominican Summer League Royals (Rookie)Catcher&nbsp;Ramón Ramírez, 18, was crowned the Dominican Summer League Royals Player of the Year after slashing .344/.440/.615 (42-for-122, 1.055 OPS) over 41 games in his first professional season. His 1.055 OPS ranked 6th in the Dominican Summer League (min. 125 PA) while his 8 home runs ranked tied for 8th. Ramírez started off the season strong in the month of June, hitting at a .462 clip (18-for-39) with 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 12 RBI. Against right-handed pitching, he slashed .362/.441/.610 (38-for-105, 1.050 OPS). Defensively, Ramón threw out 18 of 62 (29.0%) attempted base stealers in 24 starts behind the plate for the DSL Royals Blue in 2023. The Porlamar, Venezuela native was originally signed as an international free agent on Jan. 20, 2023, by Royals scouts&nbsp;Francis Feliciano,&nbsp;Daniel Guerrero&nbsp;and&nbsp;Roberto Aquino.

⚾ Royals announce 2023 organization awards

Find complete brackets and more information <a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Basketball/State.cfm">here</a>.

CLASS 6A (GIRLS) Venue: Charles Koch Arena (Wichita) 2 p.m. - [1] Shawnee Mission South (21-2) vs. [8] Manhattan (12-10) 4 p.m. - [4] Olathe South (18-4) vs. [5] Blue Valley North (18-4) 6 p.m. - [2] Wichita Heights (20-2) vs. [7] Washburn Rural (15-7) 8 p.m. - [3] Derby (19-3) vs. [6] Shawnee Mission NW (16-6)

CLASS 5A (BOYS) Venue: White Auditorium (Emporia) 2 p.m. - [2] Highland Park (21-2) vs. [7] Andover (18-4) 4 p.m. - [3] Kapaun Mt. Carmel (19-3) vs. [6] De Soto (18-4) 6 p.m. - [1] Maize South (22-0) vs. [8] Great Bend (17-5) 8 p.m. - [4] KC Piper (19-3) vs. [5] Shawnee Heights (19-3)

CLASS 4A (GIRLS) Venue: Tony's Pizza Events Center (Salina) 2 p.m. - [1] Wellington (21-1) vs. [8] Andale (14-8) 4 p.m. - [4] McPherson (18-4) vs. [5] Ottawa (17-5) 6 p.m. - [2] Fort Scott (21-1) vs. [7] Clearwater (15-7) 8 p.m. - [3] Bishop Miege (19-3) vs. [6] Labette County (16-6)

CLASS 3A (BOYS) Venue: Hutchinson Sports Arena 2 p.m. - [1] Beloit (22-1) vs. [8] Topeka Hayden (8-15) 4 p.m. - [4] Wellsville (20-3) vs. [5] Ellsworth (19-4) 6 p.m. - [2] Cheney (21-2) vs. [7] Southeast of Saline (14-9) 8 p.m. - [3] Goodland (20-3) vs. [6] Riverton (17-6)

CLASS 2A (GIRLS) Venue: United Wireless Arena (Dodge City) 2 p.m. - [1] Wichita County (23-0) vs. [8] Valley Heights (18-5) 4 p.m. - [4] Hoxie (22-1) vs. [5] Riverside (21-2) 6 p.m. - [2] St. Mary's Colgan (23-0) vs. [7] Eureka (19-4) 8 p.m. - [3] Hillsboro (22-1) vs. [6] Wichita Independent (19-3)

CLASS 1A-DIVISION I (BOYS) Venue: Colby Event Center 2 p.m. - [1] South Gray (21-2) vs. [8] Canton-Galva (12-11) 4 p.m. - [4] Clifton Clyde (20-3) vs. [5] Olpe (20-3) 6 p.m. - [2] La Crosse (20-2) vs. [7] Bishop Seabury (19-4) 8 p.m. - [3] Quinter (20-3) vs. [6] Burden-Central (19-4)

CLASS 1A-DIVISION II (BOYS) Venue: Barton Community College (Great Bend) 2 p.m. - [1] Dighton (22-1) vs. [8] Marmaton Valley (11-11) 4 p.m. - [4] Cunningham (19-3) vs. [5] Bucklin (17-7) 6 p.m. - [2] Axtell (21-2) vs. [7] St. John's/Tipton (14-7) 8 p.m. - [3] Northern Valley (21-2) vs. [6] Lebo (16-7)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709668859588.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State High School Activities Association" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State High School Activities Association</figcaption>
 </figure>Find complete brackets and more information <a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Basketball/State.cfm">here</a>.CLASS 6A (GIRLS) Venue: Charles Koch Arena (Wichita) 2 p.m. - [1] Shawnee Mission South (21-2) vs. [8] Manhattan (12-10) 4 p.m. - [4] Olathe South (18-4) vs. [5] Blue Valley North (18-4) 6 p.m. - [2] Wichita Heights (20-2) vs. [7] Washburn Rural (15-7) 8 p.m. - [3] Derby (19-3) vs. [6] Shawnee Mission NW (16-6)CLASS 5A (BOYS) Venue: White Auditorium (Emporia) 2 p.m. - [2] Highland Park (21-2) vs. [7] Andover (18-4) 4 p.m. - [3] Kapaun Mt. Carmel (19-3) vs. [6] De Soto (18-4) 6 p.m. - [1] Maize South (22-0) vs. [8] Great Bend (17-5) 8 p.m. - [4] KC Piper (19-3) vs. [5] Shawnee Heights (19-3)CLASS 4A (GIRLS) Venue: Tony's Pizza Events Center (Salina) 2 p.m. - [1] Wellington (21-1) vs. [8] Andale (14-8) 4 p.m. - [4] McPherson (18-4) vs. [5] Ottawa (17-5) 6 p.m. - [2] Fort Scott (21-1) vs. [7] Clearwater (15-7) 8 p.m. - [3] Bishop Miege (19-3) vs. [6] Labette County (16-6)CLASS 3A (BOYS) Venue: Hutchinson Sports Arena 2 p.m. - [1] Beloit (22-1) vs. [8] Topeka Hayden (8-15) 4 p.m. - [4] Wellsville (20-3) vs. [5] Ellsworth (19-4) 6 p.m. - [2] Cheney (21-2) vs. [7] Southeast of Saline (14-9) 8 p.m. - [3] Goodland (20-3) vs. [6] Riverton (17-6)CLASS 2A (GIRLS) Venue: United Wireless Arena (Dodge City) 2 p.m. - [1] Wichita County (23-0) vs. [8] Valley Heights (18-5) 4 p.m. - [4] Hoxie (22-1) vs. [5] Riverside (21-2) 6 p.m. - [2] St. Mary's Colgan (23-0) vs. [7] Eureka (19-4) 8 p.m. - [3] Hillsboro (22-1) vs. [6] Wichita Independent (19-3)CLASS 1A-DIVISION I (BOYS) Venue: Colby Event Center 2 p.m. - [1] South Gray (21-2) vs. [8] Canton-Galva (12-11) 4 p.m. - [4] Clifton Clyde (20-3) vs. [5] Olpe (20-3) 6 p.m. - [2] La Crosse (20-2) vs. [7] Bishop Seabury (19-4) 8 p.m. - [3] Quinter (20-3) vs. [6] Burden-Central (19-4)CLASS 1A-DIVISION II (BOYS) Venue: Barton Community College (Great Bend) 2 p.m. - [1] Dighton (22-1) vs. [8] Marmaton Valley (11-11) 4 p.m. - [4] Cunningham (19-3) vs. [5] Bucklin (17-7) 6 p.m. - [2] Axtell (21-2) vs. [7] St. John's/Tipton (14-7) 8 p.m. - [3] Northern Valley (21-2) vs. [6] Lebo (16-7)

🏀 KSHSAA schedule for Wednesday state quarterfinals

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.&nbsp;– Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. has been named one of five finalists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.

The annual Jerry West Award, named after&nbsp;the&nbsp;Class of 1980 Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player,&nbsp;celebrates&nbsp;its&nbsp;10th year&nbsp;by highlighting&nbsp;the top shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball.

Joining McCullar as finalists are RJ Davis (North Carolina), Caleb Love (Arizona), Antonio Reeves (Kentucky) and Tyson Walker (Michigan State).

On nearly every midseason All-America and national player of the year watch lists, McCullar leads the Big 12 in scoring at 19.0 points per game. The San Antonio guard’s two triple-doubles are the third most in the NCAA. McCullar is second on the KU team with 37 three-point field goals made. His 6.4 rebounds per game are second on the team and he ranks in 11 Big 12 statistical categories.

A two-time national Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist and three time All-Big 12 selection, for his career McCullar has scored 1,498 points with 742 rebounds, 335 assists and 214 steals. He has 106 starts in his 136 games played, including 57 starts in 58 contests in his two seasons at Kansas.

Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, March 8, on&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhoophallawards.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctheisen%40ku.edu%7Cc85e7cf9e59c4084c05b08dc3d2e4e92%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638452516300222178%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2Bp%2BScTDkD%2FsghIbIRZ7vrRGloQctdr8jahX4rG1KCwc%3D&amp;reserved=0">hoophallawards.com</a>. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.

Later this month, the finalists will be presented to West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees.&nbsp;The Selection Committee for the Jerry West Award are composed of top men’s basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.

The winner of the 2024 West Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard),&nbsp;Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center). In 2017 Kansas’ Frank Mason III won the Bob Cousy Award and in 2023 KU’s Jalen Wilson won the Julius Erving Award.

Previous winners of the Jerry West Award are Marcus Sasser, Houston (2023), Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (2022), Chris Duarte, Oregon (2021), Myles Powell, Seton Hall (2020), RJ Barrett, Duke (2019), Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016), and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).

For more information on the 2024&nbsp;Jerry West Award and the latest updates, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoophallawards.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctheisen%40ku.edu%7Cc85e7cf9e59c4084c05b08dc3d2e4e92%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638452516300232330%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=OF8nJaoq%2Ffb1UEg4UGvuM%2FgjHvnQEmhOytAtzcDCPg0%3D&amp;reserved=0">hoophallawards.com</a>&nbsp;and follow @hoophall and&nbsp;#WestAward on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709667516282.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas AthleticsSPRINGFIELD, Mass.&nbsp;– Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. has been named one of five finalists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced today.The annual Jerry West Award, named after&nbsp;the&nbsp;Class of 1980 Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player,&nbsp;celebrates&nbsp;its&nbsp;10th year&nbsp;by highlighting&nbsp;the top shooting guards in Division I men’s college basketball.Joining McCullar as finalists are RJ Davis (North Carolina), Caleb Love (Arizona), Antonio Reeves (Kentucky) and Tyson Walker (Michigan State).On nearly every midseason All-America and national player of the year watch lists, McCullar leads the Big 12 in scoring at 19.0 points per game. The San Antonio guard’s two triple-doubles are the third most in the NCAA. McCullar is second on the KU team with 37 three-point field goals made. His 6.4 rebounds per game are second on the team and he ranks in 11 Big 12 statistical categories.A two-time national Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist and three time All-Big 12 selection, for his career McCullar has scored 1,498 points with 742 rebounds, 335 assists and 214 steals. He has 106 starts in his 136 games played, including 57 starts in 58 contests in his two seasons at Kansas.Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, March 8, on&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhoophallawards.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctheisen%40ku.edu%7Cc85e7cf9e59c4084c05b08dc3d2e4e92%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638452516300222178%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2Bp%2BScTDkD%2FsghIbIRZ7vrRGloQctdr8jahX4rG1KCwc%3D&amp;reserved=0">hoophallawards.com</a>. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.Later this month, the finalists will be presented to West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees.&nbsp;The Selection Committee for the Jerry West Award are composed of top men’s basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.The winner of the 2024 West Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard),&nbsp;Julius Erving Award (Small Forward), Karl Malone Award (Power Forward) and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center). In 2017 Kansas’ Frank Mason III won the Bob Cousy Award and in 2023 KU’s Jalen Wilson won the Julius Erving Award.Previous winners of the Jerry West Award are Marcus Sasser, Houston (2023), Johnny Davis, Wisconsin (2022), Chris Duarte, Oregon (2021), Myles Powell, Seton Hall (2020), RJ Barrett, Duke (2019), Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016), and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).For more information on the 2024&nbsp;Jerry West Award and the latest updates, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hoophallawards.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctheisen%40ku.edu%7Cc85e7cf9e59c4084c05b08dc3d2e4e92%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638452516300232330%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=OF8nJaoq%2Ffb1UEg4UGvuM%2FgjHvnQEmhOytAtzcDCPg0%3D&amp;reserved=0">hoophallawards.com</a>&nbsp;and follow @hoophall and&nbsp;#WestAward on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

🏀 MBB: McCullar Jr. named finalist for Jerry West Award

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Tuesday, March 5th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Tuesday, March 5th, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="March 5th, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=k8tf6-159eff0-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: HutchCC 🏀 teams ranked in final NJCAA regular season poll 🥎 OU Softball streak snapped

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos on Monday told Russell Wilson they’re going to release him next week, just 18 months after signing the quarterback to a five-year, $242 million contract extension. Wilson went 11-19 in Denver. He had an awful first season under Nathaniel Hackett, but bounced back last season under Sean Payton. However, Payton benched Wilson for the final two games of the season. Wilson is 35 years old and is entering his 13th NFL season in 2024.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jason Kelce has retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelce officially called it quits Monday at the Eagles’ NovaCare Complex. The 36-year-old ended a career in which he became not only one of the great centers of his era who played a key role in the franchise’s lone Super Bowl championship but a beloved Philly personality and popular podcast host. Kelce was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft. He ended his career by making 156 straight starts, and he earned six All-Pro Team selections. He said it was always a goal to play his whole career in one city. He played 193 regular-season games for the Eagles.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL's annual scouting combine has evolved from hidden gem into the league's second-biggest offseason event over the past three decades because of new twists. This year it was the opt-outs. All-American receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. chose not to speak to reporters. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams decided to skip the medical exams. Will the decisions of two players who do not have agents begin a trend? That may not be clear till next year when the combine returns to Indianapolis.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract to remain with the Buccaneers instead of testing his worth in free agency. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized. ESPN first reported the agreement, saying it includes $35 million guaranteed. The 30-year-old Evans is the only player in NFL history to begin his career with 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving. He's also Tampa Bay’s career leader in receptions, yardage and touchdowns. He tied Tyreek Hill for the league lead in TD catches with 13, while finishing with 79 receptions for 1,255 yards, in 2023.

WACO, Texas (AP) — Jalen Bridges scored a career-high 32 points and 11th-ranked Baylor overcame a double-digit deficit in the final 13 minutes to beat Texas 93-85. It was the last scheduled game between the longtime rival schools separated by only about 100 miles. Ja’Kobe Walter and RayJ Dennis each had seven points in a 21-2 run for the 22-8 Bears during a stretch when Texas missed 11 consecutive shots. The Longhorns also lost big man Dylan Disu to a left knee sprain after he went down with just over 11 minutes left. Dennis had 16 points and eight assists, while Walter finished with 15 points. Max Abmas, the NCAA men’s active career scoring leader, had a season-high 33 points to lead 19-11 Texas.

WACO, Texas (AP) — Texas big man Dylan Disu had to be helped off the court after spraining his left knee Monday night in a loss at 11th-ranked Baylor. The Longhorns said he would be evaluated after the team got back to campus. Coach Rodney Terry indicated the 6-foot-9 forward was going to be fine. Disu fell to the floor and remained down after getting tangled up with a Baylor player. He grabbed at his left leg and put no weight on it when being helped to the locker room. He did return to the bench late in the game without any brace or wrap on his knee.

UNDATED (AP) — Houston still has a tight grip on No. 1 in the AP Top 25 while Kansas is out of the top 10 for the first time in three seasons. The Cougars received 52 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel to hold the top spot for the second straight week. UConn moved up a spot to No. 2 and had six first-place votes to leapfrog No. 3 Purdue, which had four first-place votes. Tennessee and Arizona round out the top five. Kansas dropped seven places to No. 14 this week after consecutive losses, ending a 55-week streak in the top 10.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 2 Stanford and No. 3 Iowa have jumped up behind top-ranked South Carolina in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. Ohio State fell to fourth. USC was fifth, its highest ranking since 1994 when the team was fourth. Texas dropped three spots to sixth. UCLA, LSU and UConn were next and N.C. State moved up two places to 10th. Conference tournaments kick off this week ahead of the NCAA Tournament later this month.

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston coach Kelvin Sampson says reserve freshman JoJo Tugler broke a bone in his right foot and will miss the remainder of the season. Tugler is one of the top-ranked Cougars’ best defenders. The 6-foot-7 forward was averaging 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 28 games this season. Sampson says Tugler will have surgery on Thursday. It's the third season-ending injury for the Cougars.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed on a $126 million, three-year contract for 2025-27, the fourth-highest average salary in baseball history at $42 million. Wheeler gets $23.5 million this year in the final season of a $118 million, five-year contract. Wheeler’s average trails only Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani ($70 million), Texas pitcher Max Scherzer ($43.33 million) and Houston pitcher Justin Verlander ($43.33 million).

UNDATED (AP) — EA Sports has announced that more than 10,000 athletes have accepted its offer to have their likeness featured in its upcoming college football video game. EA Sports began reaching out to college football players in February to pay them to be featured in the game that’s scheduled to launch this summer. The video-game developer said players who opt in to the game will receive a minimum of $600 and a copy of EA Sports College Football 25. There will also be opportunities for them to earn money by promoting the game. EA Sports says more than 11,000 athletes have been sent an offer.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma’s NCAA record win streak in softball ended at 71 games with a 7-5 loss to Louisiana in eight innings. The Sooners claimed their third straight national title last season, then won their first 18 games this season before losing to the Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday. Louisiana (10-12) led 4-2 in the seventh before Oklahoma rallied to force an extra inning. Louisiana’s Sam Roe singled in the eighth to score two and gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 7-4 lead. Louisiana's Chloe Riassetto earned the win in a complete game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Tuesday, March 5th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Tuesday, March 5th, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="March 5th, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=k8tf6-159eff0-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos on Monday told Russell Wilson they’re going to release him next week, just 18 months after signing the quarterback to a five-year, $242 million contract extension. Wilson went 11-19 in Denver. He had an awful first season under Nathaniel Hackett, but bounced back last season under Sean Payton. However, Payton benched Wilson for the final two games of the season. Wilson is 35 years old and is entering his 13th NFL season in 2024.PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jason Kelce has retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelce officially called it quits Monday at the Eagles’ NovaCare Complex. The 36-year-old ended a career in which he became not only one of the great centers of his era who played a key role in the franchise’s lone Super Bowl championship but a beloved Philly personality and popular podcast host. Kelce was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft. He ended his career by making 156 straight starts, and he earned six All-Pro Team selections. He said it was always a goal to play his whole career in one city. He played 193 regular-season games for the Eagles.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL's annual scouting combine has evolved from hidden gem into the league's second-biggest offseason event over the past three decades because of new twists. This year it was the opt-outs. All-American receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. chose not to speak to reporters. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams decided to skip the medical exams. Will the decisions of two players who do not have agents begin a trend? That may not be clear till next year when the combine returns to Indianapolis.TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract to remain with the Buccaneers instead of testing his worth in free agency. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized. ESPN first reported the agreement, saying it includes $35 million guaranteed. The 30-year-old Evans is the only player in NFL history to begin his career with 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving. He's also Tampa Bay’s career leader in receptions, yardage and touchdowns. He tied Tyreek Hill for the league lead in TD catches with 13, while finishing with 79 receptions for 1,255 yards, in 2023.WACO, Texas (AP) — Jalen Bridges scored a career-high 32 points and 11th-ranked Baylor overcame a double-digit deficit in the final 13 minutes to beat Texas 93-85. It was the last scheduled game between the longtime rival schools separated by only about 100 miles. Ja’Kobe Walter and RayJ Dennis each had seven points in a 21-2 run for the 22-8 Bears during a stretch when Texas missed 11 consecutive shots. The Longhorns also lost big man Dylan Disu to a left knee sprain after he went down with just over 11 minutes left. Dennis had 16 points and eight assists, while Walter finished with 15 points. Max Abmas, the NCAA men’s active career scoring leader, had a season-high 33 points to lead 19-11 Texas.WACO, Texas (AP) — Texas big man Dylan Disu had to be helped off the court after spraining his left knee Monday night in a loss at 11th-ranked Baylor. The Longhorns said he would be evaluated after the team got back to campus. Coach Rodney Terry indicated the 6-foot-9 forward was going to be fine. Disu fell to the floor and remained down after getting tangled up with a Baylor player. He grabbed at his left leg and put no weight on it when being helped to the locker room. He did return to the bench late in the game without any brace or wrap on his knee.UNDATED (AP) — Houston still has a tight grip on No. 1 in the AP Top 25 while Kansas is out of the top 10 for the first time in three seasons. The Cougars received 52 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel to hold the top spot for the second straight week. UConn moved up a spot to No. 2 and had six first-place votes to leapfrog No. 3 Purdue, which had four first-place votes. Tennessee and Arizona round out the top five. Kansas dropped seven places to No. 14 this week after consecutive losses, ending a 55-week streak in the top 10.UNDATED (AP) — No. 2 Stanford and No. 3 Iowa have jumped up behind top-ranked South Carolina in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. Ohio State fell to fourth. USC was fifth, its highest ranking since 1994 when the team was fourth. Texas dropped three spots to sixth. UCLA, LSU and UConn were next and N.C. State moved up two places to 10th. Conference tournaments kick off this week ahead of the NCAA Tournament later this month.HOUSTON (AP) — Houston coach Kelvin Sampson says reserve freshman JoJo Tugler broke a bone in his right foot and will miss the remainder of the season. Tugler is one of the top-ranked Cougars’ best defenders. The 6-foot-7 forward was averaging 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 28 games this season. Sampson says Tugler will have surgery on Thursday. It's the third season-ending injury for the Cougars.PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed on a $126 million, three-year contract for 2025-27, the fourth-highest average salary in baseball history at $42 million. Wheeler gets $23.5 million this year in the final season of a $118 million, five-year contract. Wheeler’s average trails only Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani ($70 million), Texas pitcher Max Scherzer ($43.33 million) and Houston pitcher Justin Verlander ($43.33 million).UNDATED (AP) — EA Sports has announced that more than 10,000 athletes have accepted its offer to have their likeness featured in its upcoming college football video game. EA Sports began reaching out to college football players in February to pay them to be featured in the game that’s scheduled to launch this summer. The video-game developer said players who opt in to the game will receive a minimum of $600 and a copy of EA Sports College Football 25. There will also be opportunities for them to earn money by promoting the game. EA Sports says more than 11,000 athletes have been sent an offer.NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma’s NCAA record win streak in softball ended at 71 games with a 7-5 loss to Louisiana in eight innings. The Sooners claimed their third straight national title last season, then won their first 18 games this season before losing to the Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday. Louisiana (10-12) led 4-2 in the seventh before Oklahoma rallied to force an extra inning. Louisiana’s Sam Roe singled in the eighth to score two and gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 7-4 lead. Louisiana's Chloe Riassetto earned the win in a complete game.MONDAY SCORESTOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal (9)Duke 79 NC State 64Final (11)Baylor 93 Texas 85MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLINTERLEAGUEFinal Minnesota 4 Atlanta 3Final Pittsburgh 7 Tampa Bay 3Final Toronto 5 Philadelphia 2Final Chicago White Sox 5 Arizona 2Final Cincinnati 15 Oakland 8Final N.Y. Yankees 3 Miami 2AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal Detroit 2 Boston 1Final Minnesota 7 Baltimore 2Final L.A. Angels 3 Texas 2NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal Washington 1 St. Louis 0Final San Diego 2 Chicago Cubs 1Final Colorado 12 San Francisco 10NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal Memphis 106 Brooklyn 102Final Milwaukee 113 L.A. Clippers 106Final Minnesota 119 Portland 114Final Utah 127 Washington 115Final Chicago 113 Sacramento 109Final L.A. Lakers 116 Oklahoma City 104NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal Boston 4 Toronto 1Final Florida 4 N-Y Rangers 2Final Columbus 6 Vegas 3Final SO St. Louis 2 Philadelphia 1Final Colorado 5 Chicago 0

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Tuesday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on L'Jarius Sneed on Monday, though it is uncertain whether that means one of the top cornerbacks due to hit free agency will remain with the Super Bowl champions next season.

The Chiefs entered the offseason with Sneed and All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones preparing to hit free agency, and general manager Brett Veach made it clear that he hoped to keep both of them.

But the tag number of $19.8 million for Sneed is far more palatable than the roughly $32 million that would be owed to Jones, making the choice between the players an easy one.

The deadline to use the franchise tag is Tuesday.

Now comes the hard part: Will the Chiefs be able to work out a long-term contract with Jones after failing to do so the previous two offseasons, and can they likewise sign Sneed to a lengthy deal that would lower his salary cap number?

The more likely scenario is that the Chiefs, who used the non-exclusive tag that allows Sneed to talk with other teams, would try to trade him for draft capital.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on L'Jarius Sneed on Monday, though it is uncertain whether that means one of the top cornerbacks due to hit free agency will remain with the Super Bowl champions next season.The Chiefs entered the offseason with Sneed and All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones preparing to hit free agency, and general manager Brett Veach made it clear that he hoped to keep both of them.But the tag number of $19.8 million for Sneed is far more palatable than the roughly $32 million that would be owed to Jones, making the choice between the players an easy one.The deadline to use the franchise tag is Tuesday.Now comes the hard part: Will the Chiefs be able to work out a long-term contract with Jones after failing to do so the previous two offseasons, and can they likewise sign Sneed to a lengthy deal that would lower his salary cap number?The more likely scenario is that the Chiefs, who used the non-exclusive tag that allows Sneed to talk with other teams, would try to trade him for draft capital.That would give the Chiefs financial flexibility to keep Jones on the team while addressing several of their more pressing concerns, including openings at left tackle and wide receiver.“We're always looking to get better, whether it be receiver, offensive lineman, defensive backs,” Veach said last week at the NFL's scouting combine. “Any opportunity we can make our team better, we'll do that. We put a high priority on the depth of our roster, so we'll attack that much like we do all the positions and try to get the best players we can.”The Chiefs have used the franchise tag six times over the past decade, and in three of those cases, they worked out a long-term deal. Only one time did they trade a player, and that was pass rusher Dee Ford, whom Kansas City sent to the 49ers for a second-round pick — while also landing Frank Clark, whom the Seahawks had tagged and traded.The 27-year-old Sneed is widely considered one of the top cornerbacks potentially available.The 2020 fourth-round pick was regularly tasked with covering the opponent's top wide receiver, regardless of where he lined up on the field. The only player to catch more than two passes in a game was Davante Adams of the Raiders, and Sneed did not allow a touchdown catch as the nearest defender until a divisional round win over the Bills in the playoffs.Sneed has 10 interceptions in 57 regular-season games and another in 13 playoff games, which have earned him two Super Bowl rings.The Chiefs began what could be a busy offseason last week, when they released wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and saved about $12 million in salary cap space. They can use some of that savings, along with a cap that was higher than expected, to work out a deal with Jones, who played last season on an incentive-laden one-year deal.Jones had skipped the entire offseason after failing to secure a long-term deal, and he held out through Week 1 before signing the contract. He wound up tying for the team lead with 10 1/2 sacks, earned his third Super Bowl ring when the Chiefs beat the 49ers in Las Vegas, then raised eyebrows afterward when he talked about helping them win a third straight title next season.