By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team is one of the top defensive teams in the Jayhawk Conference in 2021.

But several times this season, the Blue Dragons have been hurt by opposing 3-point shooting. Saturday's opponent, the Garden City Broncbusters, are just such a team.

The Blue Dragons (9-3, 8-3 Jayhawk West) will look to maintain their hold on first place in the conference when they travel to Garden City to face the Broncbusters at 4 p.m. in Conestoga Arena.

Winners of three games in a row, the Broncbusters are the No. 3-ranked 3-point shooting team in the Jayhawk Conference at 36.6 percent. The Busters average 10.0 made 3s per game. They have four games of 10 or more 3s, including a torrid shooting night on Wednesday at Seward County where Garden City knocked down 17 of 28 from distance.

Hutchinson is fourth in the KJCCC in scoring defense at 74.8 points per game and second in total field goal defense at 37.8 percent. But the Dragons rank 10th in 3-point defense at 34.2 percent with an average of 9.5 3-pointers made.

Opposing teams have made 73 more 3-pointers than Hutchinson this season.

The Dragons have countered with a big inside game with sophomores&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/mayers_matt_jfk4">Matt Mayers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/kuath_majok_xrls">Majok Kuath</a>&nbsp;leading the way.

Mayers, a four-time KJCCC Player of the Week, has six-straight double-doubles. He comes off a 27-point, career-high 17-rebound game against Pratt on Wednesday. Kuath is averaging 16.7 points, 18.8 points over his last five games.

To add to the Blue Dragon offense was the return of guard&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/baker_josh_lpkm">Josh Baker</a>, who missed nine games because of injury. He came off the bench on Wednesday in Hutchins's 92-87 win over Pratt. Baker named 3 of 3 from 3-point range and finished with 13 points.

Cole Dewey is Garden City's first-year head coach. The Busters have won three straight and 5 of 7.

Four players average in double figures for Garden City, led by Denver Jones at 19.1 points per game and 43.4 percent from 3-point range. J.J. Watson averages 13.5 points per game.

By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationThe Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team is one of the top defensive teams in the Jayhawk Conference in 2021.But several times this season, the Blue Dragons have been hurt by opposing 3-point shooting. Saturday's opponent, the Garden City Broncbusters, are just such a team.The Blue Dragons (9-3, 8-3 Jayhawk West) will look to maintain their hold on first place in the conference when they travel to Garden City to face the Broncbusters at 4 p.m. in Conestoga Arena.Winners of three games in a row, the Broncbusters are the No. 3-ranked 3-point shooting team in the Jayhawk Conference at 36.6 percent. The Busters average 10.0 made 3s per game. They have four games of 10 or more 3s, including a torrid shooting night on Wednesday at Seward County where Garden City knocked down 17 of 28 from distance.Hutchinson is fourth in the KJCCC in scoring defense at 74.8 points per game and second in total field goal defense at 37.8 percent. But the Dragons rank 10th in 3-point defense at 34.2 percent with an average of 9.5 3-pointers made.Opposing teams have made 73 more 3-pointers than Hutchinson this season.The Dragons have countered with a big inside game with sophomores&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/mayers_matt_jfk4">Matt Mayers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/kuath_majok_xrls">Majok Kuath</a>&nbsp;leading the way.Mayers, a four-time KJCCC Player of the Week, has six-straight double-doubles. He comes off a 27-point, career-high 17-rebound game against Pratt on Wednesday. Kuath is averaging 16.7 points, 18.8 points over his last five games.To add to the Blue Dragon offense was the return of guard&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2020-21/bios/baker_josh_lpkm">Josh Baker</a>, who missed nine games because of injury. He came off the bench on Wednesday in Hutchins's 92-87 win over Pratt. Baker named 3 of 3 from 3-point range and finished with 13 points.Cole Dewey is Garden City's first-year head coach. The Busters have won three straight and 5 of 7.Four players average in double figures for Garden City, led by Denver Jones at 19.1 points per game and 43.4 percent from 3-point range. J.J. Watson averages 13.5 points per game.

Blue Dragons to be challenged by Garden City's 3-point shooting

Bu STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The No. 17-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team faces an interesting challenge on Saturday going on the road to take on the Garden City Bronc- busters. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Garden City's Conestoga Arena.

This particular game instantly began drawing interest at the end of play around the Jayhawk Conference on Wednesday. The Blue Dragons had a tougher-than-expected time in dispatching Pratt 66-55 on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. Shockwaves were sent through the KJCCC, though, when Garden City upset No. 25 Seward County 81-74 in Liberal, which snapped a four-game Broncbuster losing streak.

Now the suddenly confident Busters now take aim at a second-straight first-place conference foe in the Blue Dragons who are 2-2 in road games this season.

The events of Wednesday moved the Blue Dragons into first place in the Jayhawk West by percentage points over Seward County. The Blue Dragons are 9-2 overall and 8-2 in league play.

Since shooting better than 50 percent in back-to-back wins over Allen and Cowley, shots haven't fallen with the same regularity in the past three games, albeit three Blue Dragon victories over Dodge City, Northwest Tech and Pratt. The Blue Dragons are averaging just 64.3 points - 10 points below their season scoring average. The Dragons are shooting just 39.6 percent in the last three games. Hutch had a season-low one 3-pointer against Pratt on Wednesday.

<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2020-21/bios/ogle_kate_kntm">Kate Ogle</a>&nbsp;scored 17 points to lead the Blue Dragons in their 11-point win over Pratt on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2020-21/bios/gore_lojong_i68o">Lojong Gore</a>&nbsp;posted her third double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.

Garden City has a new head coach this season in Antwain Scales, formerly at Colby and Wichita South High School. The Busters are led by sophomore Donetria McGee at 10.5 points per game. She shoots 50.6 percent.

Saturday's game will be the first of three in five days for Hutchinson. The Dragons go to Seward County on Monday before playing Barton on Wednesday in the Sports Arena.

Bu STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationThe No. 17-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team faces an interesting challenge on Saturday going on the road to take on the Garden City Bronc- busters. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Garden City's Conestoga Arena.This particular game instantly began drawing interest at the end of play around the Jayhawk Conference on Wednesday. The Blue Dragons had a tougher-than-expected time in dispatching Pratt 66-55 on Wednesday at the Sports Arena. Shockwaves were sent through the KJCCC, though, when Garden City upset No. 25 Seward County 81-74 in Liberal, which snapped a four-game Broncbuster losing streak.Now the suddenly confident Busters now take aim at a second-straight first-place conference foe in the Blue Dragons who are 2-2 in road games this season.The events of Wednesday moved the Blue Dragons into first place in the Jayhawk West by percentage points over Seward County. The Blue Dragons are 9-2 overall and 8-2 in league play.Since shooting better than 50 percent in back-to-back wins over Allen and Cowley, shots haven't fallen with the same regularity in the past three games, albeit three Blue Dragon victories over Dodge City, Northwest Tech and Pratt. The Blue Dragons are averaging just 64.3 points - 10 points below their season scoring average. The Dragons are shooting just 39.6 percent in the last three games. Hutch had a season-low one 3-pointer against Pratt on Wednesday.<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2020-21/bios/ogle_kate_kntm">Kate Ogle</a>&nbsp;scored 17 points to lead the Blue Dragons in their 11-point win over Pratt on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/wbkb/2020-21/bios/gore_lojong_i68o">Lojong Gore</a>&nbsp;posted her third double-double with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.Garden City has a new head coach this season in Antwain Scales, formerly at Colby and Wichita South High School. The Busters are led by sophomore Donetria McGee at 10.5 points per game. She shoots 50.6 percent.Saturday's game will be the first of three in five days for Hutchinson. The Dragons go to Seward County on Monday before playing Barton on Wednesday in the Sports Arena.

Blue Dragon Women face key road match Saturday at Garden City

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike Hoffman scored 90 seconds into overtime and the St. Louis Blues rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Hoffman ripped a slap shot from the right faceoff circle past Cal Petersen for his seventh goal of the season to give the Blues their third straight win. David Perron scored twice for St. Louis, including with 44 seconds remaining to send it to overtime. Jeff Carter and Dustin Brown scored for Los Angeles, which has lost four in a row after a six-game winning streak. Petersen made 19 saves.

UNDATED (AP) — Kansas coach Les Miles was placed on administrative leave, hours after a report released by LSU revealed school officials there considered firing him in 2013 because of his behavior with female student workers. Kansas athletic director Jeff Long says the school did not know of the allegations against Miles at LSU until this week and plans to review the findings from a law firms' investigation of how LSU handled sexual misconduct complaints. Miles is entering his third year as Kansas coach, and coming off a winless 2020 season. He was coach at LSU for 11-plus years before being fired four games into the 2016 season.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Isiaih Mosley tied a career-high 29 points with 12 rebounds and Missouri State beat Valparaiso 66-55 in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals. The No. 3-seeded Bears advance to play Saturday in the semifinals against second-seeded Drake. The Bulldogs advanced earlier Friday after a positive COVID-19 test in the Northern Iowa program forced the cancelation of the game and ended the Panthers' season.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinal between Northern Iowa and Drake was canceled Friday night because of a positive COVID-19 test and contract tracing within the Panthers program. Drake advanced to the semifinals. The Bulldogs are 24-3. Northern Iowa finished the season 10-15.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Outfielder Jarrod Dyson has returned to the Kansas City Royals, finalizing a $1.5 million, one-year contract. The 36-year-old, who helped the Royals win the 2015 World Series, can earn $250,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances. Dyson was a 50th-round pick by the Royals in the 2006 amateur draft and played for the Royals from 2010-16 and stole 176 bases, sixth in team history. He helped the Royals win the 2014 AL pennant and scored the go-ahead run in the final game of the 2015 World Series at the New York Mets.

EVANSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Jasmine Franklin and Sydney Wilson had 16 points apiece, and No. 23 Missouri State pulled away in the second quarter and cruised to an 87-54 victory over Evansville. The back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion Bears (19-2, 15-0 Missouri Valley) extended their winning streak to 15, their longest since an 18-game stretch during the 2003-04 season. Abby Feit scored 16 points for Evansville (6-15, 2-14). Ruffridge made three 3s and Franklin added six points as the Bears outscored the Purple Aces 24-6 in the second quarter and built a 40-20 halftime advantage and led by double digits the rest of the way.&nbsp;

UNDATED (AP) — Washington has released veteran quarterback Alex Smith. 

The move clears just under $15 million in salary cap space for Washington, which is hoping to figure out its long-term QB situation and fill many holes in the aftermath of a 7-9 season. Coach Ron Rivera said he met with Smith this week, each side figured it was best to move on, and the organization granted Smith's request to be released. The AP Comeback Player of the Year hopes to continue playing next season at age 37.

Smith made a triumphant return to NFL action last season, two years after breaking two bones in his right leg and requiring 17 surgeries to repair it. His battle against a life-threatening infection and long rehab process to get back on the field became a documentary and an inspirational tale.

— Prosecutors say Broncos linebacker Von Miller won't face criminal charges following an investigation by police in a Denver suburb. The district attorney's office says it determined no charges would be filed after reviewing the findings of a criminal case submitted by police in Parker. It said prosecutors can't meet the minimum American Bar Association standard for prosecuting someone. That includes believing the charges are supported by probable cause and that there is enough evidence to win a conviction. Police confirmed the investigation in January but didn't say what they were looking into.

— The Buffalo Bills have signed veteran safety Micah Hyde to a two-year contract extension. The Bills announced the signing and a person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press it averages out to close to $9.6 million a year. The 30-year-old Hyde had one season remaining on a five-year contract he signed upon joining the Bills in free agency in 2017 and is now locked up through 2023. He is entering his ninth NFL season after spending his first four with the Green Bay Packers.

— The NFL has hired Maia Chaka as the first Black female official in league history. She will work games during the 2021 season. Chaka enters the NFL after working in the Pac-12 and Conference USA. She was selected in 2014 for the NFL's Officiating Development Program, which identifies college officiating talent with the goal of showing them some of the same experiences as NFL officials before determining if they have the ability to succeed as an NFL official. The NFL did not specify which officiating position she will work. 

— The NFL is taking steps to learn more about different ways to help players manage pain. Last month, the NFL and NFL Players Association asked researchers with experience conducting controlled, experimental studies related to pain management to submit information that may be useful in treating players. The joint pain management committee comprised of medical experts appointed by the league and the union wants to know about alternatives to opioids, including CBD and other cannabis-derivative products, that may help players recover from sports-specific and musculoskeletal injuries. 

AP source: Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons agree to buyout

UNDATED (AP) — Blake Griffin's time in Detroit is over after he and the Pistons agreed to a contract buyout. 

The Pistons announced last month that they would keep Griffin out of the lineup while resolving his future. His exit is another significant step in a rebuilding process that has Detroit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 10-26 record. Detroit traded Derrick Rose to the Knicks last month. 

Griffin, who turns 32 later this month, joined the Pistons in a trade during the 2017-18 season. He had a terrific 2018-19 season, helping Detroit get to the playoffs. But his health has been a concern in Detroit, just as it had been when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers. Griffin has averaged 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in the 20 games he's played this season.

— Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker won't play in the NBA All-Star Game this weekend because of a mild sprain in his left knee, opening up space for Utah's Mike Conley to make his first All-Star appearance in his 13 pro seasons. Booker was hurt in the first quarter of a victory over Golden State on Thursday. He was set to play in his second All-Star Game after he was put on the roster as an injury replacement for Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis.

— Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter has stepped up his rehabilitation from right knee surgery, but it will be another two weeks before the team knows how close he is to returning. The Hawks say Hunter has been cleared to do unrestricted weight room work and progressive on-court drills. His condition will be reviewed again on March 19. Hunter underwent surgery Feb. 8 and is among a rash of injuries that have stifled the Hawks' progress and led to the firing Monday of coach Lloyd Pierce. He is third on the team with 17.2 points per game, adding important scoring balance behind Trae Young and John Collins.

B's show offensive punch after cheap shot by Caps

UNDATED (AP) — The Bruins responded to another cheap shot by Tom Wilson by scoring three times in the second period of a 5-1 win over the Capitals.

Wilson smashed Brandon Carlo's head into the glass with 90 seconds left in the first period, less than a week after Wilson's questionable hit in a game against the Penguins. After the hit, Trent Frederic, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand tallied in an 8:15 span of the middle stanza.

Marchand finished with two goals and an assist as Boston climbed within one game of the Caps and Islanders for the East Division lead. Bergeron had a goal and an assist.

— Philipp Kurashev scored the lone shootout goal and the Blackhawks bounced back from Thursday's agonizing loss to Tampa Bay by beating the Lightning, 4-3. The win came a day after the Hawks lost on a goal with one-tenth of a second left in overtime. Alex DeBrincat scored twice and Dominik Kubalik (koo-BAH'-lihk) added the tying goal for the Blackhawks, who lost their first three games to the Lightning this season. Malcolm Subban made 39 saves, plus three more in the shootout. Chicago improved to 4-1-1 in its past six games and snapped Tampa Bay's six-game winning streak.

— Vegas blew leads of 3-0 and 4-2 before Max Pacioretty scored his second goal of the game 1:25 into overtime to give the Golden Knights a 5-4 win over the Sharks. The Sharks had tied the game with 1:07 left in regulation when Kevin Labanc accidentally pushed a weak clearing attempt into the net. Alex Tuch scored on a one-timer to make it 4-2 with his sixth goal in the past six games. Reilly Smith and Chandler Stephenson also scored for Vegas, and Oscar Dansk made 25 saves in his first start since 2019. 

— Mike Hoffman scored 90 seconds into overtime and the St. Louis Blues rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Hoffman ripped a slap shot from the right faceoff circle past Cal Petersen for his seventh goal of the season to give the Blues their third straight win. David Perron scored twice for St. Louis, including with 44 seconds remaining to send it to overtime. Perron has nine goals this year and extended his point streak to five games.

— Valeri Nichushkin scored his second goal of the game 2:45 into overtime, Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves and the Colorado Avalanche rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the struggling Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Brandon Saad also scored for a Colorado team missing star player Nathan MacKinnon, who was a late scratch. MacKinnon left in the third period Wednesday in San Jose after taking a hit to the head.

— Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist, Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 24 shots and the Minnesota Wild jumped on the Arizona Coyotes early in a 5-1 victory. Zuccarello scored on Minnesota's second shot of the game, and Brad Hunt and Nick Bjugstad also had goals in the first 20 minutes. Jordan Greenway scored early in the second period and had an assist for the Wild. Kevin Fiala also scored, and rookie Kirill Kaprizov and Marcus Foligno had two assists each.

Flames fire coach Geoff Ward, replace him with Darryl Sutter

UNDATED (AP) — The Calgary Flames have fired coach Geoff Ward and replaced him with Darryl Sutter, who will lead the team for the second time. 

The team announced the moves shortly after Ward coached the Flames to a 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators Thursday night. The Flames went 11-11-2 under Ward this season. 

Ward became the interim coach when Bill Peters resigned in November 2019 following an investigation by the team into allegations of racism and assault by Peters. He was formally named the coach in September 2020. Ward went 35-26-5 in 66 games with the Flames.

— The New York Rangers listed goaltender Igor Shesterkin as day to day with a mild groin strain, a seemingly positive development after it looked as if the injury was more serious. Shesterkin left a 6-1 victory at the New Jersey Devils with six minutes left when he stretched to make a save on a 2-on-1 break. The young Russian went down without contact and had to helped off the ice, dragging his right leg. Coach David Quinn said Friday that Shesterkin was seeing doctors and was optimistic the injury was not a long-term problem.

— Longtime Chicago Blackhawks defenseman and three-time Stanley Cup winner Brent Seabrook says he's unable to continue playing because of injury. The team doctor says among Seabrook's many recent injuries, a lingering issue with the 35-year-old's right hip is preventing him from playing hockey again. Seabrook will likely remain on long-term injured reserve for the foreseeable future because he has three years remaining on his contract. Seabrook helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He also won a gold medal playing for Canada at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

— Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger's status has been placed into question after first-year general manager Kevyn Adams called his underperforming team's play "flat-out not good enough" during a wide-ranging conference call on Friday. Adams was short on specifics when it came to Krueger, saying "everything is under evaluation" and adding he has full authority from owners Terry and Kim Pegula to make hockey decisions. As for his players, Adams questioned his team's lack of competitiveness and passion. He said he is considering shaking up his roster through trades but ruled out a "full-fledged" rebuild.

— San Jose Sharks forward Marcus Sorensen and Colorado defenseman Dennis Gilbert have been added to the NHL's COVID-19 list. Gilbert is already sidelined until at least late March after undergoing facial surgery. Boston forward Charlie Coyle came off the list and played against Washington after missing one game. The only other players currently on the list are San Jose's Tomas Hertl and Philadelphia's Joel Farabee.

— A member of the "Miracle on Ice" Olympic hockey team has died at a treatment center for mental illness. Officials in Anoka County, Minnesota, confirmed Friday that 63-year-old Mark Pavelich died at the Eagle's Healing Nest in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, on Thursday morning. The cause and manner of death are still pending. Pavelich was undergoing treatment at the home as part of a civil commitment for assaulting his neighbor in Cook County, Minnesota, in August 2019, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Pavelich thought the man had spiked his beer.

No. 20 Loyola cruises to 73-49 win over Southern Illinois

ST. LOUIS (AP) — No. 20 Loyola Chicago earned a 73-49 win over Southern Illinois on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Freshman Jacob Hutson had 13 points and Lucas Williamson and Braden Norris each added 11.

Loyola Chicago opened the game on a 10-0 run before Anthony D'Avanzo scored the Salukis' first basket 5:23 into the game. The Ramblers have won three straight games against Southern Illinois after sweeping a two-game set in Chicago to close out the regular season. The Salukis were playing without guard Lance Jones, who was injured in the first half of Thursday night's game against Bradley. 

D'Vanzo led Southern Illinois with 18 points and freshman Dalton Banks, making his first career start in place of Jones, added 12 points. 

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona has released the Notice of Allegations it received from the NCAA last fall, which includes five Level I violations.

The charges include a lack of institutional control by the men's basketball and swimming programs, and unethical behavior by assistant basketball coach Emanuel Richardson for accepting $20,000 in bribes.

Richardson was among 10 people arrested in an FBI investigation into college basketball and served three months in prison.

The Notice of Allegations also charged basketball coach Sean Miller with failing to promote compliance and unethical behavior by former assistant coach Mark Phelps for asking a player to delete texts related to an impermissible $500 loan. 

The school released the notice Friday after a judge this week ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by ESPN.

UNDATED (AP) — California officials are allowing people to attend Major League Baseball games and other sports in limited capacities starting April 1. 

The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland A's all announced they will have fans in the stands for opening day on April 1. The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants both start their seasons on the road and said they would announce their plans later.

California divides its counties into four color-coded tiers based on the spread of the coronavirus. Attendance limits are based on what tier a county is in.

Pro sports currently are limited to 100 people in areas where the spread of the virus is higher.

— The Houston Astros are minus eight pitchers because of COVID-19 protocols, but general manager James Click says there are no plans to pause activity at the team's spring training camp. Manager Dusty Baker says pitchers Cristian Javier, Pedro Báez, Francis Martes, Enoli Paredes and Hector Velazquez were out Friday, a day after Baker said three other pitchers were sent home. It's not known whether the eight pitchers tested positive for the virus or came in close contact with someone who had tested positive. 

—New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he's feeling better after getting a pacemaker and hopes to return to the team Saturday or Sunday. Boone said he would have been back with the Yankees on Friday if not for novel coronavirus protocols. He had the pacemaker inserted Wednesday and was discharged from St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday.

— Outfielder Jarrod Dyson returned to the Kansas City Royals, finalizing a $1.5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Dyson was a 50th-round pick by the Royals in the 2006 amateur draft and played for the Royals from 2010-16. He stole 176 bases, sixth in team history. Dyson helped the Royals win the 2014 AL pennant and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth and final game of the 2015 World Series at the New York Mets. 

— Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams says the shoulder soreness that kept the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year from pitching in the playoffs shouldn't affect his readiness for the start of the season. Williams also doesn't expect it to hamper his comfort level in throwing the changeup that became one of baseball's most unhittable pitches last season. The Brewers are being cautious with Williams as he works his way back. 

Review says LSU president knew about Miles' behavior

UNDATED (AP) — LSU's former athletic director recommended in 2013 that Les Miles be fired as Tigers football coach because of his behavior with female student workers. That's according to a law firm's 148-page review of how the university has handled sexual misconduct complaints.

Then-athletic director Joe Alleva's recommendation to former LSU President F. King Alexander is detailed in a report made public Friday by the Husch Blackwell law firm. The report offers a scathing view of the resources and attention LSU has dedicated to such complaints campus-wide and also has resulted in the suspensions of two senior athletic officials. 

Executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry has been suspended 30 days and senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar 21 days. Both are suspended without pay and ordered to undergo sexual violence training.

Miles now coaches at Kansas and was placed on administrative leave by the Jayhawks on Friday night. He was investigated after two female student workers in LSU's football program accused the coach of inappropriate behavior.

Miles is entering his third year as Kansas coach, and coming off a winless 2020 season. He was coach at LSU for 11-plus years before being fired four games into the 2016 season.

Affidavit: Man found Tiger Woods unconscious after SUV crash

ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, Calif. (AP) — A court document says a man found Tiger Woods unconscious after his SUV crashed in Southern California. 

The document obtained Friday was written by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy seeking a search warrant to obtain data from the SUV's event recorder. The man lives nearby, heard the crash last week and walked to the SUV. He told deputies Woods would not respond to questions. The first deputy on the scene has said Woods was able to talk to him and answer basic questions. Authorities have said Woods later told deputies he didn't remember driving or how the crash occurred. 

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Corey Conners is the leader through two rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Conners surged into the lead with a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole — his second eagle on that hole in two days — for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot advantage over former Bay Hill winner Martin Laird.

Rory McIlroy was poised to at least join Conners in the afternoon until he hit a couple of loose drives that cost him one shot when he could only pitch back to the fairway, leading to bogeys. He closed with five straight pars for a 71 that he figures could have been worse.

McIlroy was two shots behind, along with Viktor Hovland and Lanto Griffin, who each had a 68.

OCALA, Fla. (AP) — Jennifer Kupcho and Austin Ernst each shot their second straight 5-under 67 to share the second-round lead in the LPGA Tour's Drive On Championship.

A day after playing most of the back nine with a migraine that blurs her vision, Kupcho had six birdies and a bogey at Golden Ocala. The former Wake Forest star from Colorado is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory.

Ernst had a bogey-free round as she eyes her third LPGA Tour victory.

Carlota Ciganda of Spain had the best round of the day, a bogey-free 65 to get to 8 under. 

Sports Headlines for Saturday

DODGE CITY, Kan.—"The glass slipper fits pretty good" is probably what the Hutchinson Salthawk Boys Basketball team is saying this morning as the Hutchinson went to the sub-state ball and came away with it's first sub-state Championship since 2009 with a 67-43 win over the No. 2 seed Dodge City Red Demons.

Hutch jumped out to a early 10-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed as the Salthawk defense locked down Dodge City to only 2 free throws in the 3rd quarter.&nbsp; Hutch was led by Senior Myles Thompson who had 19 of his game high 24 points in the first half of play.

The Salthawks dominated the inside as well as shooting 63.6% from the field in the first half.&nbsp; The 3rd quarter told the tale as not only did Dodge not score a field goal in the quarter, Thompson banked in a right wing 3 as the buzzer sounded to push the lead to 49-26.

Hutchinson will now travel to Wichita Campus for an AVCT League rematch with the Colts on Monday night at 6pm for the first round of State for 6A.&nbsp; After the first round, winners from Monday night will be seeded and move on to WSU's Koch Arena for semi-finals.&nbsp;

Hutchinson is now 7-13 on the year, Dodge City finishes a great turnaround season by going 12-9.

DODGE CITY, Kan.—"The glass slipper fits pretty good" is probably what the Hutchinson Salthawk Boys Basketball team is saying this morning as the Hutchinson went to the sub-state ball and came away with it's first sub-state Championship since 2009 with a 67-43 win over the No. 2 seed Dodge City Red Demons.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615033039049.jpeg" alt="Salthawk Fans at Dodge City.&nbsp; Photo Courtesy of Abby Thompson" />
 <figcaption>Salthawk Fans at Dodge City.&nbsp; Photo Courtesy of Abby Thompson</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutch jumped out to a early 10-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed as the Salthawk defense locked down Dodge City to only 2 free throws in the 3rd quarter.&nbsp; Hutch was led by Senior Myles Thompson who had 19 of his game high 24 points in the first half of play.The Salthawks dominated the inside as well as shooting 63.6% from the field in the first half.&nbsp; The 3rd quarter told the tale as not only did Dodge not score a field goal in the quarter, Thompson banked in a right wing 3 as the buzzer sounded to push the lead to 49-26.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615033071263.jpeg" alt="Hutch High Seniors at Dodge City.&nbsp;Photo Courtesy of Abby Thompson" />
 <figcaption>Hutch High Seniors at Dodge City.&nbsp;Photo Courtesy of Abby Thompson</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson will now travel to Wichita Campus for an AVCT League rematch with the Colts on Monday night at 6pm for the first round of State for 6A.&nbsp; After the first round, winners from Monday night will be seeded and move on to WSU's Koch Arena for semi-finals.&nbsp;Hutchinson is now 7-13 on the year, Dodge City finishes a great turnaround season by going 12-9.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1615033247402.jpeg" alt="Coach Miller at Dodge City Postgame.&nbsp;Photo Courtesy of Abby Thompson" />
 <figcaption>Coach Miller at Dodge City Postgame.&nbsp;Photo Courtesy of Abby Thompson</figcaption>
 </figure>

Salthawk Basketball blows out Dodge City; 1st trip to State since 2009

St. John 61, Pretty Prairie 58, OT

Greeley County 48, Western Plains-Healy 45

South Haven 51, Hutchinson Central Christian 50

Wichita Trinity 60, Wichita Collegiate 53

Lawrence Free State 44, Washburn Rural 31

Moundridge 53, Salina Sacred Heart 31

Friday's ScoresBy The Associated Press<h2>BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=</h2>Maize 40, Maize South 14Reno County 43, SVHE 24Class 1A Division I=Sub-State Semifinal=Clifton-Clyde 61, Centralia 46Flinthills 65, Burden Central 52Frankfort 56, Troy 42Little River 58, Goessel 38Madison/Hamilton Co-op 44, Lebo 41Meade 61, Kiowa County 39Ness City 69, Hodgeman County 67Olpe 54, Burlingame 26Osborne 51, Lakeside 49Pratt Skyline 60, Norwich 58Quinter 48, La Crosse 38Solomon 61, Sylvan-Lucas 57South Gray 69, Bucklin 27St. John 61, Pretty Prairie 58, OTStockton 59, Rock Hills 44Wichita Classical 50, Oxford 18Class 1A Division II=Sub-State Semifinal=Ashland 45, Deerfield 39Attica 54, Stafford 38Central Plains 51, Peabody-Burns 47Elyria Christian 62, Hartford 32Greeley County 48, Western Plains-Healy 45Hanover 67, Axtell 46Logan/Palco 56, Cheylin 42Natoma 47, St. Xavier 24Northern Valley 58, St. Francis 47Pawnee Heights 68, Moscow 27South Haven 51, Hutchinson Central Christian 50Southern Coffey 49, Altoona-Midway 42St. John's Beloit-Tipton 48, Wilson 31Waverly 79, Chetopa 22Wetmore 48, Linn 26Wheatland-Grinnell 59, Weskan 42Class 3A=Sub-State Semifinal=Burlington 47, Perry-Lecompton 46Cheney 68, Eureka 36Galena 51, Frontenac 46Haven 52, Lyons 41Hays-TMP-Marian 69, Phillipsburg 50Hesston 51, Southeast Saline 40Hugoton 52, Hoisington 47Lakin 60, Holcomb 40Marysville 45, Pleasant Ridge 33Minneapolis 53, Norton 50Riverton 36, Columbus 19Rock Creek 67, Riley County 54Royal Valley 52, Jefferson West 28St. Mary's 54, Osage City 53Wellsville 57, Anderson County 29Wichita Trinity 60, Wichita Collegiate 53Class 4A=Sub-State Championship=Abilene 38, Concordia 34Augusta 59, Andale 51Bishop Miege 63, Tonganoxie 30Holton 60, Wamego 56Louisburg 57, Iola 32McPherson 57, Buhler 54Parsons 62, Chanute 54Rose Hill 51, Clearwater 44Class 6A=Sub-State Championship=BV North 61, Blue Valley 49BV Northwest 74, Olathe South 46Hutchinson 67, Dodge City 43Lawrence 44, Olathe West 43Lawrence Free State 44, Washburn Rural 31SM Northwest 66, SM North 40Wichita Campus 77, Derby 53Wichita Heights 68, Wichita Northwest 50<h2>GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=</h2>Class 2A=Sub-State Semifinal=Berean Academy 55, Herington 27Chase County 44, Lyndon 26Ellis 51, Smith Center 46Garden Plain 60, Belle Plaine 33Hillsboro 58, Sedgwick 34Humboldt 50, Uniontown 41Jefferson North 47, Mission Valley 45Moundridge 53, Salina Sacred Heart 31Pittsburg Colgan 36, Pleasanton 21Riverside 61, Washington County 43Spearville 59, Elkhart 51Sterling 62, Stanton County 34Trego 57, Hoxie 49Valley Heights 68, Horton 25Wabaunsee 47, Northern Heights 33Wichita Independent 42, Sedan 39Class 5A=Sub-State Championship=Andover Central 73, Kapaun Mount Carmel 64Bonner Springs 71, KC Sumner 42Lansing 35, KC Piper 32Maize 40, Maize South 14Salina Central 48, Salina South 45St. James Academy 50, DeSoto 39St. Thomas Aquinas 53, Spring Hill 18Topeka Seaman 37, Emporia 27___Some high school basketball scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

Prep Scores from Friday

LAWRENCE (AP)—Kansas placed coach Les Miles on administrative leave Friday night, hours after a report released by LSU revealed school officials there considered firing him in 2013 because of his behavior with female student workers.

“Even though the allegations against him occurred at LSU, we take these matters very seriously at KU,” Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement. “Now that we have access to this information, we will take the coming days to fully review the material and to see if any additional information is available. I do not want to speculate on a timeline for our review because it is imperative we do our due diligence.”

The 67-year-old Miles has denied allegations he made sexual advances toward students and has said he merely sought to serve as a mentor for students who expressed an interest in pursuing careers in sports.

Earlier in the day, LSU released a law firm’s 148-page review of how the university has handled sexual misconduct complaints.

Then-athletic director Joe Alleva’s 2013 recommendation to former LSU President F. King Alexander to fire Miles is detailed in the report by the Husch Blackwell law firm. The report offers a scathing view of the resources and attention LSU has dedicated to complaints of sexual misconduct and violence against women campus-wide.

LSU suspended executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry 30 days and senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar 21 days. Both are suspended without pay and ordered to undergo sexual violence training.

Miles was investigated after two female student workers in LSU’s football program accused the coach of inappropriate behavior.

While that 2013 investigation by the Taylor Porter law firm found Miles showed poor judgment, it did not find violations of law or that he had a sexual relationship with any students. Taylor Porter also concluded it could not confirm one student’s allegation that Miles kissed her while they were in the coach’s car with no one else present.

Alleva recommended Miles be fired with cause. In an email dated June 2013, Alleva wrote Miles was guilty of “insubordination, inappropriate behavior, putting the university, athletic dept (cq) and football program at great risk.”

The Taylor Porter review had been kept confidential for about eight years until a redacted version of it was released this week after a lawsuit filed by USA Today.

Miles was hired by LSU in 2005 and won a national title in 2007.

The Husch Blackwell report, which revisits the Miles investigation, also describes how the former coach “tried to sexualize the staff of student workers in the football program by, for instance, allegedly demanding that he wanted blondes with big breasts, and ‘pretty girls.’”

Meanwhile, LSU has not fired any current employees whose conduct was criticized in the Husch Blackwell report.

Interim President Tom Galligan said during an LSU Board of Supervisors meeting Friday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that he sought to be fair in issuing discipline. Galligan stressed that the independent report concluded that failures in responding to sexual misconduct complaints at LSU stemmed largely from ambiguous policies and a lack of resources for “overburdened” employees tasked with handling such matters.

“People will be unhappy either way,” Galligan said of how the university chooses to discipline employees involved in the scandal.

Galligan then read an excerpt from the report stating that such employees “were not served well by the leadership of the university.”

Attorney Scott Schneider, who led the Husch Blackwell review, said that while LSU does not have a monopoly on mishandling sexual misconduct cases, the university “has been very slow to develop policies and infrastructure and personnel that was really required” to ensure compliance with federal Title IX laws. Those laws deal broadly with gender equity in education and also apply to instances of sexual violence or harassment at educational institutions.

Schneider found that LSU leadership “responded in a lackluster fashion” when officials who handled Title IX compliance requested more resources.

“The university’s Title IX office was never staffed appropriately,” he said. “We’re not the first people to note that and flag this issue to the leadership of the university. It has been repeatedly addressed to the leadership of the university and seemingly nothing has been done to remedy it up until this point.”

The report said allegations against LSU athletes were treated no differently than those against non-athletes. However, Schneider noted that star athletes tend to have inherent leverage over victims at schools where athletics are highly valued.

Victims are “understandably reluctant to participate in the Title IX process because they fear community backlash,” Schneider said.

Galligan offered public apologies to victims and said he intends to act on all 18 recommendations in the report on how to strengthen how the university handles sexual misconduct complaints campus-wide. Those recommendations called for everything from clarification of policies and protocols to increases in staffing and departmental reorganizations.“

LSU hired Husch Blackwell in November and agreed to pay up to $100,000 for an independent audit of hits handling of sexual misconduct complaints after reporting by USA Today scrutinized LSU’s handling of sexual assault cases implicating former football players Derrius Guice and Drake Davis.

Guice played for current football coach Ed Orgeron, but Schneider cautioned against blaming coaches for institutional failures in the handling of sexual misconduct complaints. Schneider’s recommendation is that only Title IX officials with expertise in such matters should handle such investigations and resulting discipline, while coaches should focus on coaching.

“You don’t want the coaches involved,” Schneider said. “What we want is athletics to be out of it entirely and allow the Title IX office to do its investigation.”

The meeting opened with a statement from former LSU student Caroline Schroeder, who informed the university that she was sexually assaulted by a fraternity member in 2016 and has described meeting official resistance as she sought to pursue her complaint.

“I’d like to express how little faith I have in this board to do the right thing today or in the months to come,” she said. “I genuinely hope that I’ve effectively insulted at least a few of you right now, because that insignificant and fleeting feeling that you’re experiencing in this particular moment is absolutely nothing in comparison to the persistent and often debilitating fear that survivors at LSU suffer on a daily basis as a direct result of your deliberate indifference to abuse on this campus.”

LAWRENCE (AP)—Kansas placed coach Les Miles on administrative leave Friday night, hours after a report released by LSU revealed school officials there considered firing him in 2013 because of his behavior with female student workers.“Even though the allegations against him occurred at LSU, we take these matters very seriously at KU,” Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement. “Now that we have access to this information, we will take the coming days to fully review the material and to see if any additional information is available. I do not want to speculate on a timeline for our review because it is imperative we do our due diligence.”Miles is entering his third year as Kansas coach, and coming off a winless 2020 season. He was coach at LSU for 11-plus years before being fired four games into the 2016 season.The 67-year-old Miles has denied allegations he made sexual advances toward students and has said he merely sought to serve as a mentor for students who expressed an interest in pursuing careers in sports.Earlier in the day, LSU released a law firm’s 148-page review of how the university has handled sexual misconduct complaints.Then-athletic director Joe Alleva’s 2013 recommendation to former LSU President F. King Alexander to fire Miles is detailed in the report by the Husch Blackwell law firm. The report offers a scathing view of the resources and attention LSU has dedicated to complaints of sexual misconduct and violence against women campus-wide.LSU suspended executive deputy athletic director Verge Ausberry 30 days and senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar 21 days. Both are suspended without pay and ordered to undergo sexual violence training.Miles was investigated after two female student workers in LSU’s football program accused the coach of inappropriate behavior.While that 2013 investigation by the Taylor Porter law firm found Miles showed poor judgment, it did not find violations of law or that he had a sexual relationship with any students. Taylor Porter also concluded it could not confirm one student’s allegation that Miles kissed her while they were in the coach’s car with no one else present.Alleva recommended Miles be fired with cause. In an email dated June 2013, Alleva wrote Miles was guilty of “insubordination, inappropriate behavior, putting the university, athletic dept (cq) and football program at great risk.”The Taylor Porter review had been kept confidential for about eight years until a redacted version of it was released this week after a lawsuit filed by USA Today.Miles was hired by LSU in 2005 and won a national title in 2007.The Husch Blackwell report, which revisits the Miles investigation, also describes how the former coach “tried to sexualize the staff of student workers in the football program by, for instance, allegedly demanding that he wanted blondes with big breasts, and ‘pretty girls.’”Meanwhile, LSU has not fired any current employees whose conduct was criticized in the Husch Blackwell report.Interim President Tom Galligan said during an LSU Board of Supervisors meeting Friday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that he sought to be fair in issuing discipline. Galligan stressed that the independent report concluded that failures in responding to sexual misconduct complaints at LSU stemmed largely from ambiguous policies and a lack of resources for “overburdened” employees tasked with handling such matters.“People will be unhappy either way,” Galligan said of how the university chooses to discipline employees involved in the scandal.Galligan then read an excerpt from the report stating that such employees “were not served well by the leadership of the university.”Attorney Scott Schneider, who led the Husch Blackwell review, said that while LSU does not have a monopoly on mishandling sexual misconduct cases, the university “has been very slow to develop policies and infrastructure and personnel that was really required” to ensure compliance with federal Title IX laws. Those laws deal broadly with gender equity in education and also apply to instances of sexual violence or harassment at educational institutions.Schneider found that LSU leadership “responded in a lackluster fashion” when officials who handled Title IX compliance requested more resources.“The university’s Title IX office was never staffed appropriately,” he said. “We’re not the first people to note that and flag this issue to the leadership of the university. It has been repeatedly addressed to the leadership of the university and seemingly nothing has been done to remedy it up until this point.”The report said allegations against LSU athletes were treated no differently than those against non-athletes. However, Schneider noted that star athletes tend to have inherent leverage over victims at schools where athletics are highly valued.Victims are “understandably reluctant to participate in the Title IX process because they fear community backlash,” Schneider said.Galligan offered public apologies to victims and said he intends to act on all 18 recommendations in the report on how to strengthen how the university handles sexual misconduct complaints campus-wide. Those recommendations called for everything from clarification of policies and protocols to increases in staffing and departmental reorganizations.“LSU hired Husch Blackwell in November and agreed to pay up to $100,000 for an independent audit of hits handling of sexual misconduct complaints after reporting by USA Today scrutinized LSU’s handling of sexual assault cases implicating former football players Derrius Guice and Drake Davis.Guice played for current football coach Ed Orgeron, but Schneider cautioned against blaming coaches for institutional failures in the handling of sexual misconduct complaints. Schneider’s recommendation is that only Title IX officials with expertise in such matters should handle such investigations and resulting discipline, while coaches should focus on coaching.“You don’t want the coaches involved,” Schneider said. “What we want is athletics to be out of it entirely and allow the Title IX office to do its investigation.”The meeting opened with a statement from former LSU student Caroline Schroeder, who informed the university that she was sexually assaulted by a fraternity member in 2016 and has described meeting official resistance as she sought to pursue her complaint.“I’d like to express how little faith I have in this board to do the right thing today or in the months to come,” she said. “I genuinely hope that I’ve effectively insulted at least a few of you right now, because that insignificant and fleeting feeling that you’re experiencing in this particular moment is absolutely nothing in comparison to the persistent and often debilitating fear that survivors at LSU suffer on a daily basis as a direct result of your deliberate indifference to abuse on this campus.”

KU places Miles on administrative leave after LSU report

PITTSBURG - Hutchinson Community College sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/wtrack/2020-21/bios/raymundo_rebeca_o24v">Rebeca Raymundo</a>&nbsp;placed 10th on Friday in the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Women's Pentathlon.

Raymundo, the only Blue Dragon women's athlete to qualify for the 2021 indoor national championships, placed two spots higher than she did in 2020 when she finished 12th in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Raymundo scored 2,331 points in the five-event competition at Pittsburg State's Plaster Center.

She started the day with a 14th place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, collecting 575 points.

Raymundo then cleared 4 feet, 9 1/2 inches in the high jump with tied for eighth and was worth 588 points, her best individual event point total of the meet.

Raymundo then scored 324 points in the shot put after a best effort of 22 feet, 5 inches. She scored 466 points in the long jump, going 15 feet, 3 inches.

Raymundo then closed out the competition with an 800-meter time of 2;58.72. That was worth 378 points.

By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationPITTSBURG - Hutchinson Community College sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/wtrack/2020-21/bios/raymundo_rebeca_o24v">Rebeca Raymundo</a>&nbsp;placed 10th on Friday in the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Women's Pentathlon.Raymundo, the only Blue Dragon women's athlete to qualify for the 2021 indoor national championships, placed two spots higher than she did in 2020 when she finished 12th in Fredericksburg, Virginia.Raymundo scored 2,331 points in the five-event competition at Pittsburg State's Plaster Center.She started the day with a 14th place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, collecting 575 points.Raymundo then cleared 4 feet, 9 1/2 inches in the high jump with tied for eighth and was worth 588 points, her best individual event point total of the meet.Raymundo then scored 324 points in the shot put after a best effort of 22 feet, 5 inches. She scored 466 points in the long jump, going 15 feet, 3 inches.Raymundo then closed out the competition with an 800-meter time of 2;58.72. That was worth 378 points.

Raymundo 10th in NJCAA Indoor Pentathlon

PITTSBURG - Hutchinson Community College sophomore distance runner&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/flanagan_teagan_t8g2">Teagan Flanagan</a>&nbsp;continues to shine the brightest on the NJCAA stage.

Back in November, Flanagan became an NJCAA All-American with a fifth-place showing in the 2020 NJCAA Cross Country Championships. Friday at the Plaster Center in Pittsburg, the Blue Dragon sophomore added two more All-America awards to his resume.

Flanagan was the national runner-up on Friday in the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships men's 5,000 meters. He reached the medal stand once again later on Friday with a sixth-place finish in the 3,000 meters.

Both of Flanagan's times were Blue Dragon indoor track and field school records.

Flanagan's second-place 5,000-meter time was 14:48.68, which shattered the old indoor 5K record of Sylvestre Kibarar of 14:59.76 at the 2020 NJCAA Championships. Flanagan is a first-team All-American in the 5,000.

Flanagan posted a 3,000-meter time of 8:31.79, earning third-team All-America honors. He again beat Kibarar's old record. Kibarar ran 8:42.33 last year in the national championships.

Flanagan's national runner-up finish in the 5,000 gives Blue Dragon track three straight indoor season with either a national runner-up or national champion. That hasn't happened since the 2006-08 seasons. Kyle Roberts was the 2006 national men's Pentathlon runner-up. Teddy Poole won the 2007 200-meter national championship and was 60-meter national runner-up in 2008.

The Blue Dragons had one other athlete reach the medal stand when freshman high jumper Zach Biel tied for fifth on Friday. Biel cleared 6 feet, 4.75 inches.

The Blue Dragons are tied for ninth after Day 1 with 14.5 points.

Jumper&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/johnson_erick_vwgv">Erick Johnson</a>&nbsp;finished 14th in the men's long jump on Friday. His best jump was 21-5.5 inches. Cleydterrious Thompson placed 16th in the long jump at 20-3.75.

Sprinter&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/hines_donovan_mutu">Donovan Hines</a>&nbsp;ran a 60-meter preliminary time of 7.00 seconds, which was 20th in the prelim round. He didn't advance to Saturday's finish.

Johnson is the lone Blue Dragon to compete on Saturday when he competes in the men's triple jump, scheduled for 11:30 a.m..

By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationPITTSBURG - Hutchinson Community College sophomore distance runner&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/flanagan_teagan_t8g2">Teagan Flanagan</a>&nbsp;continues to shine the brightest on the NJCAA stage.Back in November, Flanagan became an NJCAA All-American with a fifth-place showing in the 2020 NJCAA Cross Country Championships. Friday at the Plaster Center in Pittsburg, the Blue Dragon sophomore added two more All-America awards to his resume.Flanagan was the national runner-up on Friday in the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships men's 5,000 meters. He reached the medal stand once again later on Friday with a sixth-place finish in the 3,000 meters.Both of Flanagan's times were Blue Dragon indoor track and field school records.Flanagan's second-place 5,000-meter time was 14:48.68, which shattered the old indoor 5K record of Sylvestre Kibarar of 14:59.76 at the 2020 NJCAA Championships. Flanagan is a first-team All-American in the 5,000.Flanagan posted a 3,000-meter time of 8:31.79, earning third-team All-America honors. He again beat Kibarar's old record. Kibarar ran 8:42.33 last year in the national championships.Flanagan's national runner-up finish in the 5,000 gives Blue Dragon track three straight indoor season with either a national runner-up or national champion. That hasn't happened since the 2006-08 seasons. Kyle Roberts was the 2006 national men's Pentathlon runner-up. Teddy Poole won the 2007 200-meter national championship and was 60-meter national runner-up in 2008.The Blue Dragons had one other athlete reach the medal stand when freshman high jumper Zach Biel tied for fifth on Friday. Biel cleared 6 feet, 4.75 inches.The Blue Dragons are tied for ninth after Day 1 with 14.5 points.Jumper&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/johnson_erick_vwgv">Erick Johnson</a>&nbsp;finished 14th in the men's long jump on Friday. His best jump was 21-5.5 inches. Cleydterrious Thompson placed 16th in the long jump at 20-3.75.Sprinter&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mtrack/2020-21/bios/hines_donovan_mutu">Donovan Hines</a>&nbsp;ran a 60-meter preliminary time of 7.00 seconds, which was 20th in the prelim round. He didn't advance to Saturday's finish.Johnson is the lone Blue Dragon to compete on Saturday when he competes in the men's triple jump, scheduled for 11:30 a.m..

Flanagan breaks two Hutch marks, 2nd in 5,000 at National In-Door Meet

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson High boys basketball team travels to Southwest Kansas for the 2nd time this week as the Salthawks play Dodge City for the Championship of the Dodge City sub-state. This matchup looks like it could be a good one just as the Garden City game was on Tuesday.&nbsp; Hutch is 7-13, Dodge City is 12-8.&nbsp; 

The Salthawks have not been in the Championship sub-state game since the 2013-14 season.&nbsp; The last trip to the State Tournament for Hutchinson was in 2009.

Catch all the action with Eagle Radio Sports Director Glen Grunwald and Dan Naccarato with the pre-game starting at 5:45 p.m. on KWBW Radio 1450 AM/98.5 FM or on <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KWBW">kwbwradio.com</a>, plus your Alexa or other smart devices.&nbsp; You can also download the KWBW or HutchPost.com app at&nbsp; 🎉<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">Download our app for iOS &amp; Android!&nbsp;Click here to download</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">Audio Link to KWBW Broadcast - Click Here</a>

<a href="https://dchssports.com/demonvision/">Demon Vision&nbsp;Video only - Click Here</a>

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson High boys basketball team travels to Southwest Kansas for the 2nd time this week as the Salthawks play Dodge City for the Championship of the Dodge City sub-state. This matchup looks like it could be a good one just as the Garden City game was on Tuesday.&nbsp; Hutch is 7-13, Dodge City is 12-8.&nbsp; The Salthawks have not been in the Championship sub-state game since the 2013-14 season.&nbsp; The last trip to the State Tournament for Hutchinson was in 2009.Catch all the action with Eagle Radio Sports Director Glen Grunwald and Dan Naccarato with the pre-game starting at 5:45 p.m. on KWBW Radio 1450 AM/98.5 FM or on <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KWBW">kwbwradio.com</a>, plus your Alexa or other smart devices.&nbsp; You can also download the KWBW or HutchPost.com app at&nbsp; 🎉<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">Download our app for iOS &amp; Android!&nbsp;Click here to download</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">Audio Link to KWBW Broadcast - Click Here</a><a href="https://dchssports.com/demonvision/">Demon Vision&nbsp;Video only - Click Here</a>

🏀 Salthawk Basketball in sub-state Championship for 1st time in 7 seasons

AUDIO: Eagle Radio Sports for Friday

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton University has suspended basketball coach Greg McDermott indefinitely for using racially insensitive language while addressing his team after a game last weekend. McDermott publicly apologized Tuesday and again Wednesday for urging his players to "stay on the plantation" after the 14th-ranked Bluejays' 77-69 loss at Xavier. McDermott coached in the Bluejays' 72-60 loss at No. 10 Villanova on Wednesday night. Assistant coach Alan Huss will serve as interim head coach for the home game against Butler on Saturday.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Marcus Garrett scored on a driving layup with 22.4 seconds to go and Dajuan Harris added a pair of clinching free throws as No. 13 Kansas overcame a 15-point second-half deficit and beat UTEP 67-62. David McCormack scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half, and Ochai Agbaji had 19 points as the Jayhawks avoided a rare second loss in Allen Fieldhouse this season in what was supposed to be a Big 12 tourney tune-up. Bryson Williams led UTEP with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Souley Boum finished with 16 points and six boards.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jordan Bohannon tied a career high with eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points, and No. 5 Iowa beat Nebraska 102-64 on Thursday night. The senior guard made 8 of 12 3-point attempts, but he played just eight minutes in the second half as the Hawkeyes &nbsp;topped the 100-point mark for the fourth time this season. Freshman Patrick McCaffery had a career-high 19 points for Iowa. He had scored just 21 points over the last seven games. Luka Garza had 14 points for the Hawkeyes. The senior center came into the game second in the nation in scoring at 24.3 points per game and played just 24 minutes.&nbsp;

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Mac McClung scored 20 points and No. 18 Texas Tech beat Iowa State 81-54 for its third consecutive victory following a three-game losing streak. The Red Raiders wrapped up their home schedule with a fifth consecutive victory over the Cyclones. Texas Tech now gets another crack at No. 3 Baylor in the regular-season finale. Jalen Coleman-Lands and Tyler Harris each scored 15 points for Iowa State. The Cyclones are 0-17 in the Big 12, the most conference losses since TCU went 0-18 in 2013-14.

UNDATED (AP) — The wealthiest conferences hoarding valuable at-large bids to the NCAA men's basketball tournament has been a trend since the early 2010s. A costly one for the other conferences that don't have billion-dollar television deals. This pandemic-altered season seems to have marginalized the so-called mid-majors even more — and at a time when they can really use the cash. Take Drake from the Missouri Valley Conference. The school has had to slash its basketball budget by 25% this season. Earning a bid the tournament won't pull the program out if its financial hole, but every little bit helps. Still, despite a 24-3 record the Bulldogs are no better than a bubble team heading into conference tournament play.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Arrowhead Stadium has a new name. The Kansas City Chiefs announced the stadium will be known as GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The team reached a naming rights agreement with Government Employees Health Association, which is the Chiefs' exclusive partner for health, dental and vision plans. GEHA and Chiefs officials said they are committed to ensuring Arrowhead Stadium remains the identity of the venue. It is the first time in Chiefs history that the organization has sold naming rights for Arrowhead. The stadium opened in 1972 and is one of the NFL's most recognizable venues.

UNDATED (AP) — The seedings for the Big 12 Tournament are at stake heading into the final weekend of regular-season play. Baylor already has secured its first conference title since 1950 and the No. 1 seed, but everything is a jumble after the Bears. That also means there is no clear-cut game of the week, rather a whole slew of games that will determine who will earn the crucial No. 2 seed when the tournament begins next week in Kansas City, Missouri.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 2 Michigan and Michigan State will meet twice in four days, Thursday and Sunday. The rivals will close the regular season against each other with plenty at stake. The Wolverines are motivated to strengthen their case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans have been in college basketball's showcase 22 times in a row and everyone in the program desperately wants to extend the streak. The first scheduled matchup in February was postponed and moved to Thursday, two days after Michigan was routed by No. 4 Illinois and Michigan State outlasted Indiana.&nbsp;

UNDATED (AP) — Bradley Beal scored 33 points and the Washington Wizards pushed ahead with a late run to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 119-117 after All-Star Paul George was a late scratch Thursday night.

Russell Westbrook had 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds while Moe Wagner added 12 points as the Wizards snapped a two-game skid. Washington won eight of 11 heading into the All-Star break to move into the fringes of contention in the bunched Eastern Conference.

Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points, Patrick Beverley had 17 and Ivica Zubac had 13 points and 13 rebounds. The Clippers have lost six of nine heading into the break but are still one of the top teams in the West.

Checking out Thursday's other NBA action:

— Cameron Payne scored 17 points, Devin Booker added 16 and the Phoenix Suns easily handled the short-handed Golden State Warriors 120-98. The Suns have won 16 of 19 dating to Jan. 28 and are 24-11 this season. The Warriors were missing Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Kelly Oubre Jr. due to injuries or rest. Golden State's Jordan Poole led all scorers with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range. 

— Jrue Holiday hit a baseline jumper with two seconds remaining and the Milwaukee Bucks escaped with a 112-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Rookie Desmond Bane had a final chance for the Grizzlies, but his 3-pointer hit the front of the rim, giving the Bucks their sixth victory in seven games. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Khris Middleton added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Holiday and Pat Connaughton finished with 15 points each, both connecting on key baskets in the final minute.

— Michael Porter Jr. scored 24 points and Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in leading the Nuggets to their fourth straight road win, 113-103 over the Pacers. After the Pacers rallied to tie the score at 68, Denver outscored Indiana 14-6 over the final 5 1/2 minutes of the third period and sealed the victory with a 12-0 spurt midway through the fourth. Indiana was led by Myles Turner's 22 points and a season-high tying 12 rebounds, but lost for the fifth time in six games. Domantas Sabonis had his fourth triple-double this season with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

— Damian Lillard had 44 points, including a key 10-0 run down the stretch to give the Portland Trail Blazers a 123-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Enes Kanter added 22 points and 21 rebounds for the Blazers, who have won three straight heading into the All-Star break. De'Aaron Fox had 32 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds for Sacramento, which had six players in double figures. Richaun Holmes dunked to give the Kings a 103-98 lead with 5:41 left, but Lillard answered with a 3-pointer and Kanter's layup tied it at 103. 

— Jayson Tatum had 27 points and 12 rebounds and the Boston Celtics won their fourth straight game, outlasting the Toronto Raptors 132-125. Jaylen Brown added 21 points and seven rebounds, and Kemba Walker finished with 15 points. The Raptors hit 21 3-pointers and led early before being outscored 35-22 in the third quarter of their fourth loss in five games. Chris Boucher led Toronto with 30 points. 

— Julius Randle capped his All-Star first half with 27 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, sending the New York Knicks into the break with a winning record after a 114-104 victory over the Detroit Pistons. RJ Barrett added 21 points to help the Knicks improve to 19-18 in their first season under Tom Thibodeau. They have missed the playoffs for seven straight years but finished the first half in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Elfrid Payton had 20 points after missing the last four games with a sore right hamstring.

— Jimmy Butler had 29 points and nine assists, and the Miami Heat took advantage of Zion Williamson's absence to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 103-93. Butler made 10 of 14 shots and eight of nine free throws to help the Heat keep the Pelicans at bay. Butler added a late step-back 3 to give him 10 points during an 11-2 run that put Miami up 98-87 with 2:50 to go. Kelly Olynyk hit his first four 3-point shots and finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Miami.

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied in the second half to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-102 and snap a two-game losing streak. Mike Muscala added 18 points, and Lu Dort had 15 for Oklahoma City. San Antonio veteran DeMar DeRozan had 20 points, Trey Lyles added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Dejounte Murray had 14 points.

UNDATED (AP) — LeBron James has faced Giannis Antetokounmpo as an opponent in the last three All-Star Games.

The Los Angeles Lakers' star got him as a teammate this year.

James used the No. 1 overall pick on Antetokounmpo — the NBA's two-time reigning MVP from Milwaukee — in the draft for Sunday's All-Star Game in Atlanta. Kevin Durant, who will not play in the All-Star Game because of injury but still is the captain for Team Durant, took Brooklyn teammate Kyrie Irving with his first pick.

The other starters for Team LeBron will be Stephen Curry of Golden State, Luka Doncic of Dallas and Nikola Jokic of Denver. The other starters for Team Durant will be Joel Embiid of Philadelphia, 2020 All-Star MVP Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers, Bradley Beal of Washington and Jayson Tatum of Boston.

Baylor beats Oklahoma State behind Butler's 22 points

UNDATED (AP) — Jared Butler scored 22 points and No. 3 Baylor, fresh off clinching its first Big 12 title on the road two days earlier, beat No. 17 Oklahoma State 81-70 on Thursday to end the Cowboys' five-game winning streak. 

Matthew Mayer and MaCio Teague both added 19 points for the Bears, and Davion Mitchell had 12. Mayer had two baskets in a 9-0 run midway through the first half that put them ahead to stay. 