KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fifty years later, Jan Stenerud still remembers just about every detail from the Super Bowl.

The longtime Kansas City Chiefs kicker remembers that they were almost two-touchdown underdogs to the Minnesota Vikings, whose fearsome defense line carried the nickname “The Purple People Eaters.”

He remembers that the weather wasn’t very good in New Orleans, and that the week leading up to the game was spent listening to tornado sirens.

The tarp used to cover the field at Tulane Stadium was filled with holes, leaving patches of the turf a muddy quagmire.

“When we had to kick extra points,” Stenerud recalled, “I told our coach, Hank Stram, that we had to move the ball to the side a bit because there was a big mud hole where I wanted to kick from. It was a real mess.”

More than anything else, though, the Hall of Fame kicker remembers never once thinking that it would take one of the original AFL franchises a full five decades before it returned to the championship game.

“How could you?” said Stenerud, who also was a member of the team that lost to the Green Bay Packers in the first Super Bowl. “No, I never thought about it. It’s a long time. For me, it doesn’t seem as long as it does for young people. You think about the next game — ‘Let me play.’ You don’t think about history at the time.”

As the Chiefs prepare to play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Stenerud finds himself reflecting on history quite a bit these days. So many of his good friends and close teammates never lived to see the team return to the championship game, and many others are in failing health. Stram died 15 years ago this summer, and the team’s beloved founder Lamar Hunt passed away the following year. Thousands of fans lived their entire lives without seeing the Chiefs in a Super Bowl.

Only the Lions and the Jets have played more seasons since they appeared in the championship game.

“To lose a Super Bowl is devastating. You have to explain that forever,” Stenerud told The Associated Press this week. “When we won the game, there was one guy who kept bugging me about the warm-up jacket I had on. It turned out the guy was Pat O’Brien, who had played Knute Rockne in ‘Knute Rockne, All American.’ I just remember the total, total elation when you win, and I also remember that I was thrilled as could be, and I remember all the people who had taken a chance on us.”

By the 1969 season, the Chiefs had a roster filled with veterans — quarterback Len Dawson, tight end Fred Arbanas and offensive lineman Ed Budde — who chose to play in the AFL when it was largely considered a second-tier league. Many of the players had followed the franchise from Dallas, where it was known as the Texans.

They played with a chip on their shoulder, both because they lost that initial Super Bowl and because nobody expected them to win three years later. They were the underdogs when they went to New York to play the reigning champion Jets, and they had lost twice to Oakland in the regular season before beating the Raiders to reach the Super Bowl.

It was no surprise that the Chiefs were such heavy underdogs against the Vikings, who were led by coach Bud Grant and their ferocious defense. They had mowed through their schedule and beaten the Rams and the Browns, giving them the chance to play the Chiefs for the final championship before the AFL and NFL officially became one.

“Nobody gave us a chance,” Dawson told The AP a few years ago, when he stepped away from the broadcast booth after a long second career with the Chiefs. “Everybody thought the Vikings were going to win.”

But the Chiefs were playing their best football of the season down the stretch, in part because Dawson was finally healthy after missing several games with a knee injury. Third-string quarterback Mike Livingston had kept them afloat by leading the Chiefs on a five-game win streak, but Dawson’s return not only marked the return of one of football’s best quarterbacks but also instilled in the team a profound sense of confidence that it could beat anybody.

For his part, Dawson took it upon himself to shoulder the burden of finally delivering a title. His longtime roommate, Johnny Robinson, told The AP after the Super Bowl that Dawson had “aged five years this week.”

“You looked into his face,” Robinson recalled, “and you knew it wasn’t the same Len Dawson.”

Much of the anxiety dissipated by halftime, though. Mike Garrett ran for a touchdown and Stenerud kicked three first-half field goals to send Kansas City into the locker room with a 16-0 lead.

The Vikings finally scored late in the third quarter, but Dawson answered with a 46-yard touchdown pass that all but put the game away. The quarterback who had put so much pressure on himself wound up being the MVP.

“I can’t take any credit,” Dawson said afterward. “It was the team, not me. They were fired up. They were ready.”

Dawson and many of the Chiefs from that championship team remain close to the organization, returning for anniversaries and other celebrations. Nine members of the team eventually made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Dawson made it as both a quarterback and broadcaster — Dan Dierdorf and Frank Gifford are the only others so honored.

When the Chiefs beat the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game to end their long and maddening Super Bowl drought, it was Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Bell who stood on the stage as part of the trophy presentation.

“It was great to have Bobby up there. He’s special,” current Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They had some great talent there on that football team, and it was obvious by the championship. He’s around, as a lot of players are. We encourage that. I like having the guys here. They bring great history and energy to the guys. They’ve got a fellowship with the young guys and educate them on how great the city is and so on. It’s fun to have them here.”

Maybe that’s true. But it’s more fun to give them a long-awaited trip back to the Super Bowl.

“It’s been tremendously exciting,” Stenerud said. “You know, the offense, it’s so much speed and you have a phenomenal quarterback. It’s really exciting to watch, obviously. The defense is coming on and playing great football. They have good special teams. It looks like a real solid football team to me.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fifty years later, Jan Stenerud still remembers just about every detail from the Super Bowl.The longtime Kansas City Chiefs kicker remembers that they were almost two-touchdown underdogs to the Minnesota Vikings, whose fearsome defense line carried the nickname “The Purple People Eaters.”He remembers that the weather wasn’t very good in New Orleans, and that the week leading up to the game was spent listening to tornado sirens.The tarp used to cover the field at Tulane Stadium was filled with holes, leaving patches of the turf a muddy quagmire.“When we had to kick extra points,” Stenerud recalled, “I told our coach, Hank Stram, that we had to move the ball to the side a bit because there was a big mud hole where I wanted to kick from. It was a real mess.”More than anything else, though, the Hall of Fame kicker remembers never once thinking that it would take one of the original AFL franchises a full five decades before it returned to the championship game.“How could you?” said Stenerud, who also was a member of the team that lost to the Green Bay Packers in the first Super Bowl. “No, I never thought about it. It’s a long time. For me, it doesn’t seem as long as it does for young people. You think about the next game — ‘Let me play.’ You don’t think about history at the time.”As the Chiefs prepare to play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Stenerud finds himself reflecting on history quite a bit these days. So many of his good friends and close teammates never lived to see the team return to the championship game, and many others are in failing health. Stram died 15 years ago this summer, and the team’s beloved founder Lamar Hunt passed away the following year. Thousands of fans lived their entire lives without seeing the Chiefs in a Super Bowl.Only the Lions and the Jets have played more seasons since they appeared in the championship game.“To lose a Super Bowl is devastating. You have to explain that forever,” Stenerud told The Associated Press this week. “When we won the game, there was one guy who kept bugging me about the warm-up jacket I had on. It turned out the guy was Pat O’Brien, who had played Knute Rockne in ‘Knute Rockne, All American.’ I just remember the total, total elation when you win, and I also remember that I was thrilled as could be, and I remember all the people who had taken a chance on us.”By the 1969 season, the Chiefs had a roster filled with veterans — quarterback Len Dawson, tight end Fred Arbanas and offensive lineman Ed Budde — who chose to play in the AFL when it was largely considered a second-tier league. Many of the players had followed the franchise from Dallas, where it was known as the Texans.They played with a chip on their shoulder, both because they lost that initial Super Bowl and because nobody expected them to win three years later. They were the underdogs when they went to New York to play the reigning champion Jets, and they had lost twice to Oakland in the regular season before beating the Raiders to reach the Super Bowl.It was no surprise that the Chiefs were such heavy underdogs against the Vikings, who were led by coach Bud Grant and their ferocious defense. They had mowed through their schedule and beaten the Rams and the Browns, giving them the chance to play the Chiefs for the final championship before the AFL and NFL officially became one.“Nobody gave us a chance,” Dawson told The AP a few years ago, when he stepped away from the broadcast booth after a long second career with the Chiefs. “Everybody thought the Vikings were going to win.”But the Chiefs were playing their best football of the season down the stretch, in part because Dawson was finally healthy after missing several games with a knee injury. Third-string quarterback Mike Livingston had kept them afloat by leading the Chiefs on a five-game win streak, but Dawson’s return not only marked the return of one of football’s best quarterbacks but also instilled in the team a profound sense of confidence that it could beat anybody.For his part, Dawson took it upon himself to shoulder the burden of finally delivering a title. His longtime roommate, Johnny Robinson, told The AP after the Super Bowl that Dawson had “aged five years this week.”“You looked into his face,” Robinson recalled, “and you knew it wasn’t the same Len Dawson.”Much of the anxiety dissipated by halftime, though. Mike Garrett ran for a touchdown and Stenerud kicked three first-half field goals to send Kansas City into the locker room with a 16-0 lead.The Vikings finally scored late in the third quarter, but Dawson answered with a 46-yard touchdown pass that all but put the game away. The quarterback who had put so much pressure on himself wound up being the MVP.“I can’t take any credit,” Dawson said afterward. “It was the team, not me. They were fired up. They were ready.”Dawson and many of the Chiefs from that championship team remain close to the organization, returning for anniversaries and other celebrations. Nine members of the team eventually made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Dawson made it as both a quarterback and broadcaster — Dan Dierdorf and Frank Gifford are the only others so honored.When the Chiefs beat the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game to end their long and maddening Super Bowl drought, it was Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Bell who stood on the stage as part of the trophy presentation.“It was great to have Bobby up there. He’s special,” current Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They had some great talent there on that football team, and it was obvious by the championship. He’s around, as a lot of players are. We encourage that. I like having the guys here. They bring great history and energy to the guys. They’ve got a fellowship with the young guys and educate them on how great the city is and so on. It’s fun to have them here.”Maybe that’s true. But it’s more fun to give them a long-awaited trip back to the Super Bowl.“It’s been tremendously exciting,” Stenerud said. “You know, the offense, it’s so much speed and you have a phenomenal quarterback. It’s really exciting to watch, obviously. The defense is coming on and playing great football. They have good special teams. It looks like a real solid football team to me.”

50 years later, Chiefs relishing current Super Bowl run

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salthawk boys and girls basketball teams were originally scheduled to host the Newton Railers in two makeup games Tuesday night that were postponed from Jan. 10.

These games have been postponed once again.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salthawk boys and girls basketball teams were originally scheduled to host the Newton Railers in two makeup games Tuesday night that were postponed from Jan. 10.These games have been postponed once again.

Salthawks return to the SAC postponed

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Freshman Christian Braun had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 3 Kansas to a 65-50 victory over Oklahoma State. Isaiah Moss added 13 points and Devon Dotson had 11 for the Jayhawks, who led wire to wire. Kansas has won five in a row, including a 74-68 triumph over Tennessee on Saturday. It was the Jayhawks’ second game since a brawl with rival Kansas State that led to two players being suspended. Cameron McGriff had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Oklahoma State.

UNDATED (AP) — Baylor is No. 1 for a second straight week in an AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll that had no major changes at the top. The Bears stayed well ahead of No. 2 Gonzaga, part of an unchanged top seven for the first time this season. Kansas was third, followed by San Diego State and Florida State to round out the top five. No. 22 LSU, No. 23 Wichita State and No. 24 Penn State were the week's new additions. Texas Tech, Memphis and Arizona fell out of the rankings.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma has hired DeMarco Murray as running backs coach. Murray is Oklahoma's career leader in all-purpose yards, career touchdowns and kickoff return average. Murray starred at Oklahoma from the 2007 through 2010 seasons. The Sooners won three Big 12 championships during that run. Murray had a seven-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowl selections. He rushed for 7,174 yards and 49 touchdowns and racked up 2,165 receiving yards and six more scores as a pro.

MIAMI (AP) — Chants of "Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!" broke a moment of a silence that kicked off a more subdued Super Bowl media night. The NFL opened the most hyped week in professional sports with mixed emotions Monday night, one day after retired superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others died in a helicopter crash. The Chiefs took the stage first on what typically is a wild evening filled with zany antics by quasi-media members. One television reporter wearing a white dress and sailor's cap asked a few players to do the Floss dance with her but the atmosphere was mostly deflated.

MIAMI (AP) — Dee Ford agrees with the pass rusher who replaced him in Kansas City that his blunder that cost the Chiefs a Super Bowl trip last season is inexcusable. Ford was called for lining up in the neutral zone in last year's AFC title game against New England. The penalty negated an interception that would have sealed the win for the Chiefs. New England instead drove down and scored and eventually won the game in overtime.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fifty years later, Jan Stenerud still remembers just about every detail from the Super Bowl. But one thing the longtime Kansas City Chiefs kicker does not remember is thinking it would take five full decades for the franchise to finally make it back. Those that remain from the team that won the 1970 championship by beating the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans are relishing the return of the Chiefs to the big game. They face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Miami.

MIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo registered his third triple-double of the season and the Miami Heat improved to 13-0 at home against Eastern Conference opponents by drubbing the Magic, 113-92. The Miami forward delivered 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists the day before league coaches hand in their ballots for the All-Star reserves. Jimmy Butler scored 19 points, Goran Dragic had 14 and Tyler Herro furnished 13 for the Southeast Division leaders.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Houston Rockets posted a 126-117 victory at Utah behind Eric Gordon’s career-high 50 points. Gordon picked up the offensive slack while the Rockets played without starting guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Danuel House Jr. and Austin Rivers each had 21 points as Houston handed the Jazz their first home loss since Dec. 9.

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Freshman Christian Braun had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 3 Kansas to a 65-50 victory over Oklahoma State. Isaiah Moss added 13 points and Devon Dotson had 11 for the Jayhawks, who led wire to wire. Kansas has won five in a row, including a 74-68 triumph over Tennessee on Saturday. It was the Jayhawks’ second game since a brawl with rival Kansas State that led to two players being suspended. Cameron McGriff had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Oklahoma State.UNDATED (AP) — Baylor is No. 1 for a second straight week in an AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll that had no major changes at the top. The Bears stayed well ahead of No. 2 Gonzaga, part of an unchanged top seven for the first time this season. Kansas was third, followed by San Diego State and Florida State to round out the top five. No. 22 LSU, No. 23 Wichita State and No. 24 Penn State were the week's new additions. Texas Tech, Memphis and Arizona fell out of the rankings.NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma has hired DeMarco Murray as running backs coach. Murray is Oklahoma's career leader in all-purpose yards, career touchdowns and kickoff return average. Murray starred at Oklahoma from the 2007 through 2010 seasons. The Sooners won three Big 12 championships during that run. Murray had a seven-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowl selections. He rushed for 7,174 yards and 49 touchdowns and racked up 2,165 receiving yards and six more scores as a pro.MIAMI (AP) — Chants of "Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!" broke a moment of a silence that kicked off a more subdued Super Bowl media night. The NFL opened the most hyped week in professional sports with mixed emotions Monday night, one day after retired superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others died in a helicopter crash. The Chiefs took the stage first on what typically is a wild evening filled with zany antics by quasi-media members. One television reporter wearing a white dress and sailor's cap asked a few players to do the Floss dance with her but the atmosphere was mostly deflated.MIAMI (AP) — Dee Ford agrees with the pass rusher who replaced him in Kansas City that his blunder that cost the Chiefs a Super Bowl trip last season is inexcusable. Ford was called for lining up in the neutral zone in last year's AFC title game against New England. The penalty negated an interception that would have sealed the win for the Chiefs. New England instead drove down and scored and eventually won the game in overtime.KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fifty years later, Jan Stenerud still remembers just about every detail from the Super Bowl. But one thing the longtime Kansas City Chiefs kicker does not remember is thinking it would take five full decades for the franchise to finally make it back. Those that remain from the team that won the 1970 championship by beating the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans are relishing the return of the Chiefs to the big game. They face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Miami.National HeadlinesMIAMI (AP) — Bam Adebayo registered his third triple-double of the season and the Miami Heat improved to 13-0 at home against Eastern Conference opponents by drubbing the Magic, 113-92. The Miami forward delivered 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists the day before league coaches hand in their ballots for the All-Star reserves. Jimmy Butler scored 19 points, Goran Dragic had 14 and Tyler Herro furnished 13 for the Southeast Division leaders.SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Houston Rockets posted a 126-117 victory at Utah behind Eric Gordon’s career-high 50 points. Gordon picked up the offensive slack while the Rockets played without starting guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Danuel House Jr. and Austin Rivers each had 21 points as Houston handed the Jazz their first home loss since Dec. 9.Monday ScoresTOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal (3)Kansas 65 Oklahoma St. 50Final (18)Iowa 68 Wisconsin 62NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal Cleveland 115 Detroit 100Final Miami 113 Orlando 92Final Dallas 107 Oklahoma City 97Final OT Sacramento 133 Minnesota 129Final Chicago 110 San Antonio 109Final Houston 126 Utah 117

Tuesday Sports Headlines

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Freshman Christian Braun made the most of his first career start.

Taking the lineup spot of the suspended David McCormack, Braun had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 3 Kansas to a 65-50 victory over Oklahoma State on Monday night.

Kansas (17-3, 6-1 Big 12) has won five in a row, including a 74-68 triumph over Tennessee on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, as well as its last five on the road. The short-handed Jayhawks were playing their second game since McCormack and Silvio De Sousa were suspended for their roles in an ugly postgame brawl with rival Kansas State on Jan. 21. McCormack can return from his two-game suspension for Kansas’ next game, at home against Texas Tech, while De Sousa will be suspended for at least 10 more games.

“It’s been kind of a hard week, and our guys have played pretty maturely and acted pretty maturely since it started,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “The best we could have done is probably what we did the last two games, so I’m pretty happy with them right now.”

Isaiah Moss, who had started the previous game for McCormack, came off the bench to score 13 points and Marcus Garrett had seven points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Jayhawks, who led wire to wire.

“I just knew I had to step up, do what I always do,” said Braun, who scored a career-high 20 points in that game against K-State. “We’re pretty short-handed, so we all got to step up at this time.”

Cameron McGriff had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Oklahoma State (10-10, 0-7, the only winless team in Big 12 action. Isaac Likekele had 10 points and four rebounds for the Cowboys, who had snapped a six-game losing streak with a 73-62 win at Texas A&amp;M on Saturday.

“They outplayed us, particularly in the second half,” Cowboys coach Mike Boynton said. “The result is what it is. We just weren’t good enough.”

Kansas’ defense was outstanding, limiting Oklahoma State to 28.1% shooting (18 of 64, a season low, including 13.6% (3 of 22) over the first 14 minutes of the second half. After connecting on 34 of 83 shots (41%) combined over its past four games from 3-point range, Oklahoma State was 2 for 18 (11.1%) in this one.

“We know they have some great 3-point shooters over there and that was the point coming in, to try to limit their 3s,” Garrett said. “We were big on that. Knowing how well they shoot 3s, we were trying not to give them any good looks.”

Kansas: After watching a big lead evaporate late in the first half, the Jayhawks managed to build another one early in the second. After Oklahoma State cut the Kansas lead to four early in the second half, the Jayhawks went on a 17-1 run over the next six minutes to take control. Their lead never dropped below 15 the rest of the way.

Oklahoma State: After falling behind 12-2 and 24-7 midway through the opening half, the Cowboys reeled off an impressive 17-1 run over a 6 ½-minute span to pull back to within one point when Likekele sank a layup with 1:15 remaining. The Cowboys have shown they can play with the best teams for long stretches, including their 75-68 loss to No. 1 Baylor on Jan. 18, when they led by double digits for most of the game before faltering late.

McGriff has a history of playing well against the Jayhawks, posting his fourth career game of 18-plus points against them, averaging over seven rebounds and shooting close to 49% over the last six meetings. ... Kansas center Udoka Azubuike had averaged 13.4 points, 11 rebounds and 3.6 blocks over the previous seven games but had just six points and seven rebounds along with five blocks. ... Oklahoma State won the rebounding battle 41-40, including a 21-18 edge in the second half.

“Come back to practice, work harder and try to get ready, play hard for 40 minutes,” Boynton said of Oklahoma State’s approach for fighting through its Big 12 losing streak. “There’s no time to feel sorry for yourself or hope that people (say, ‘You’ve been through a lot.’ Enough of that. I don’t want any sympathy. I don’t expect any. We should be criticized. Our fans deserve better. They deserve a program that can continue to improve during the season.”

Kansas: The Jayhawks return home to take on last year’s national runner-up, Texas Tech, on Saturday.

Oklahoma State: The Cowboys travel across the state to face their “Bedlam” rival Oklahoma on Saturday.

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Freshman Christian Braun made the most of his first career start.Taking the lineup spot of the suspended David McCormack, Braun had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead No. 3 Kansas to a 65-50 victory over Oklahoma State on Monday night.Kansas (17-3, 6-1 Big 12) has won five in a row, including a 74-68 triumph over Tennessee on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, as well as its last five on the road. The short-handed Jayhawks were playing their second game since McCormack and Silvio De Sousa were suspended for their roles in an ugly postgame brawl with rival Kansas State on Jan. 21. McCormack can return from his two-game suspension for Kansas’ next game, at home against Texas Tech, while De Sousa will be suspended for at least 10 more games.“It’s been kind of a hard week, and our guys have played pretty maturely and acted pretty maturely since it started,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “The best we could have done is probably what we did the last two games, so I’m pretty happy with them right now.”Isaiah Moss, who had started the previous game for McCormack, came off the bench to score 13 points and Marcus Garrett had seven points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Jayhawks, who led wire to wire.“I just knew I had to step up, do what I always do,” said Braun, who scored a career-high 20 points in that game against K-State. “We’re pretty short-handed, so we all got to step up at this time.”Cameron McGriff had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Oklahoma State (10-10, 0-7, the only winless team in Big 12 action. Isaac Likekele had 10 points and four rebounds for the Cowboys, who had snapped a six-game losing streak with a 73-62 win at Texas A&amp;M on Saturday.“They outplayed us, particularly in the second half,” Cowboys coach Mike Boynton said. “The result is what it is. We just weren’t good enough.”Kansas’ defense was outstanding, limiting Oklahoma State to 28.1% shooting (18 of 64, a season low, including 13.6% (3 of 22) over the first 14 minutes of the second half. After connecting on 34 of 83 shots (41%) combined over its past four games from 3-point range, Oklahoma State was 2 for 18 (11.1%) in this one.“We know they have some great 3-point shooters over there and that was the point coming in, to try to limit their 3s,” Garrett said. “We were big on that. Knowing how well they shoot 3s, we were trying not to give them any good looks.”BIG PICTUREKansas: After watching a big lead evaporate late in the first half, the Jayhawks managed to build another one early in the second. After Oklahoma State cut the Kansas lead to four early in the second half, the Jayhawks went on a 17-1 run over the next six minutes to take control. Their lead never dropped below 15 the rest of the way.Oklahoma State: After falling behind 12-2 and 24-7 midway through the opening half, the Cowboys reeled off an impressive 17-1 run over a 6 ½-minute span to pull back to within one point when Likekele sank a layup with 1:15 remaining. The Cowboys have shown they can play with the best teams for long stretches, including their 75-68 loss to No. 1 Baylor on Jan. 18, when they led by double digits for most of the game before faltering late.TIP INSMcGriff has a history of playing well against the Jayhawks, posting his fourth career game of 18-plus points against them, averaging over seven rebounds and shooting close to 49% over the last six meetings. ... Kansas center Udoka Azubuike had averaged 13.4 points, 11 rebounds and 3.6 blocks over the previous seven games but had just six points and seven rebounds along with five blocks. ... Oklahoma State won the rebounding battle 41-40, including a 21-18 edge in the second half.HE SAID IT“Come back to practice, work harder and try to get ready, play hard for 40 minutes,” Boynton said of Oklahoma State’s approach for fighting through its Big 12 losing streak. “There’s no time to feel sorry for yourself or hope that people (say, ‘You’ve been through a lot.’ Enough of that. I don’t want any sympathy. I don’t expect any. We should be criticized. Our fans deserve better. They deserve a program that can continue to improve during the season.”UP NEXTKansas: The Jayhawks return home to take on last year’s national runner-up, Texas Tech, on Saturday.Oklahoma State: The Cowboys travel across the state to face their “Bedlam” rival Oklahoma on Saturday.

🏀Braun, Moss lead No. 3 Kansas to 65-50 win over Okla. St.

Upcoming High School Games

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 26, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week's ranking:

Others receiving votes: Creighton 59, Arizona 55,&nbsp;Texas Tech 33, Ohio St. 16, Indiana 15, ETSU 14, N Iowa 13, Memphis 11, Southern Cal 9, Purdue 6, Rhode Island 6, Florida 4, Arkansas 3, Saint Mary's (Cal) 3, SMU 3, Tulsa 3, Akron 1, Harvard 1, Wisconsin 1.

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Jan. 26, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week's ranking:Record Pts Prv1. Baylor (44) 17-1 1578 12. Gonzaga (19) 21-1 1552 23. Kansas (1) 16-3 1434 34. San Diego St. 21-0 1408 45. Florida St. 17-2 1318 56. Louisville 17-3 1277 67. Dayton 18-2 1163 78. Villanova 16-3 1110 99. Duke 16-3 1084 810. Seton Hall 15-4 1055 1011. Oregon 17-4 926 1212. West Virginia 16-3 874 1413. Kentucky 15-4 839 1514. Michigan St. 15-5 751 1115. Maryland 16-4 650 1716. Butler 16-4 631 1317. Auburn 17-2 619 1618. Iowa 14-5 545 1919. Illinois 15-5 483 2120. Colorado 16-4 314 2321. Houston 16-4 296 2522. LSU 15-4 260 —23. Wichita St. 17-3 161 —24. Penn St. 14-5 114 —25. Rutgers 15-5 102 24Others receiving votes: Creighton 59, Arizona 55,&nbsp;Texas Tech 33, Ohio St. 16, Indiana 15, ETSU 14, N Iowa 13, Memphis 11, Southern Cal 9, Purdue 6, Rhode Island 6, Florida 4, Arkansas 3, Saint Mary's (Cal) 3, SMU 3, Tulsa 3, Akron 1, Harvard 1, Wisconsin 1.

KU 3rd... Wichita State back in Top 25

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

LOS ANGELES (AP) The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and eight others that crashed outside Los Angeles was flying in foggy conditions considered dangerous enough that local police agencies grounded their choppers. Bryant's helicopter plunged into a rugged hillside Sunday with an impact that scattered debris over an area the size of a football field and killed everyone aboard. The accident unleashed an outpouring of grief from admirers around the country who mourned the sudden loss of the all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

UNDATED (AP) — The most compelling dramas in the NFL this season unfolded on the field, not off it. And any thought that the league was in jeopardy of losing its spot as America's favorite sport has been set on the back burner. Headlines about domestic violence, kneeling during the national anthem and player injuries largely faded into the background this season. They were replaced by stories about the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and a young stable of stars, including 24-year-old quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who leads the Chiefs into the Super Bowl on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The big game will wrap up a season in which the NFL enjoyed its second straight gain of 5 percent in TV ratings after two seasons that saw ratings go down.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Freshman McKenna Warnock scored 15 of her career-high 22 points in the fourth quarter when the No. 19 Iowa women broke open a close game and beat Michigan State 74-57 for the Hawkeyes' eighth straight victory. Warnock bested her previous high of 14 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Kathleen Doyle made seven steals and added 20 points. Taryn McCutcheon scored 12 points and Nia Clouden scored 10 to lead the Spartans. A season-best crowd of 13,420 watched as Iowa retired the No. 10 jersey of Megan Gustafson, just the second Hawkeye to receive such an honor.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ty-Shon Alexander scored 24 points going 10 of 11 from the foul line and Marcus Zegarowski scored 14 and Creighton beat Xavier 77-66. Mitch Ballock scored 14 and Denzel Mahoney 14 off the bench. Creighton built a 10-1 lead and never trailed. They extended the lead to 33-19 on a pair of free throws by Mahoney followed by his three-point play with 4:56 before halftime. Xavier made a late 12-6 run to get within 39-31 at the break. Zach Freemantle led Xavier with 18 points, Naji Marshall 15 and Tyrique Jones 11 with 13 rebounds.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Trae Berhow scored the first five points of overtime, finishing with 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, and Northern Iowa defeated Loyola Chicago 67-62 to pull even with the Ramblers atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings. Green and Austin Phyfe topped Northern Iowa (17-3, 6-2) with 14 points apiece. Cameron Krutwig topped the Ramblers (14-7, 6-2) with 19 points and a career-best 14 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Anthony Murphy made 1 of 2 free throws with 4 seconds remaining in the game and Keandre Cook missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Drake edged Missouri State 71-69. Roman Penn paced Drake (15-6, 5-3 MVC) with 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Prim topped Missouri State (10-11, 4-4) with career highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jordan Goodwin had 17 points and 13 rebounds to carry Saint Louis to a 55-39 win over Fordham. Goodwon sank 8 of 13 shots from the floor in picking up his ninth double-double of the season for the Billikens (15-5, 4-3 Atlantic 10 Conference). Both teams set season lows for scoring during the game. Jalen Cobb hit three 3-pointers and scored 12 to lead the Rams (7-12, 1-6).

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Kayla Wells scored 18 points and N'dea Jones added a double-double as No. 15 Texas A&amp;M rolled to a 72-53 victory over Missouri. Wells made 5 of 14 shots from the floor and all six of her free throws for the Aggies (17-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference, who led 33-22 at halftime and broke the game open with a 22-11 third-quarter run. Aijha Blackwell paced the Tigers (5-15, 2-5) with 18 points and seven rebounds.

MIAMI (AP) — Super Bowl week is here. The Kansas City Chiefs were the first team to arrive in Miami on Sunday, a week before they'll take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54. The 49ers came into town a couple of hours later. The first media session of the week for the Chiefs and the 49ers is Monday night, when the NFL has Super Bowl Opening Night at Marlins Park.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated PressLOS ANGELES (AP) The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and eight others that crashed outside Los Angeles was flying in foggy conditions considered dangerous enough that local police agencies grounded their choppers. Bryant's helicopter plunged into a rugged hillside Sunday with an impact that scattered debris over an area the size of a football field and killed everyone aboard. The accident unleashed an outpouring of grief from admirers around the country who mourned the sudden loss of the all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.UNDATED (AP) — The most compelling dramas in the NFL this season unfolded on the field, not off it. And any thought that the league was in jeopardy of losing its spot as America's favorite sport has been set on the back burner. Headlines about domestic violence, kneeling during the national anthem and player injuries largely faded into the background this season. They were replaced by stories about the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and a young stable of stars, including 24-year-old quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who leads the Chiefs into the Super Bowl on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The big game will wrap up a season in which the NFL enjoyed its second straight gain of 5 percent in TV ratings after two seasons that saw ratings go down.IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Freshman McKenna Warnock scored 15 of her career-high 22 points in the fourth quarter when the No. 19 Iowa women broke open a close game and beat Michigan State 74-57 for the Hawkeyes' eighth straight victory. Warnock bested her previous high of 14 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds. Kathleen Doyle made seven steals and added 20 points. Taryn McCutcheon scored 12 points and Nia Clouden scored 10 to lead the Spartans. A season-best crowd of 13,420 watched as Iowa retired the No. 10 jersey of Megan Gustafson, just the second Hawkeye to receive such an honor.OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ty-Shon Alexander scored 24 points going 10 of 11 from the foul line and Marcus Zegarowski scored 14 and Creighton beat Xavier 77-66. Mitch Ballock scored 14 and Denzel Mahoney 14 off the bench. Creighton built a 10-1 lead and never trailed. They extended the lead to 33-19 on a pair of free throws by Mahoney followed by his three-point play with 4:56 before halftime. Xavier made a late 12-6 run to get within 39-31 at the break. Zach Freemantle led Xavier with 18 points, Naji Marshall 15 and Tyrique Jones 11 with 13 rebounds.CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Trae Berhow scored the first five points of overtime, finishing with 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, and Northern Iowa defeated Loyola Chicago 67-62 to pull even with the Ramblers atop the Missouri Valley Conference standings. Green and Austin Phyfe topped Northern Iowa (17-3, 6-2) with 14 points apiece. Cameron Krutwig topped the Ramblers (14-7, 6-2) with 19 points and a career-best 14 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Anthony Murphy made 1 of 2 free throws with 4 seconds remaining in the game and Keandre Cook missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Drake edged Missouri State 71-69. Roman Penn paced Drake (15-6, 5-3 MVC) with 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Prim topped Missouri State (10-11, 4-4) with career highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double.ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jordan Goodwin had 17 points and 13 rebounds to carry Saint Louis to a 55-39 win over Fordham. Goodwon sank 8 of 13 shots from the floor in picking up his ninth double-double of the season for the Billikens (15-5, 4-3 Atlantic 10 Conference). Both teams set season lows for scoring during the game. Jalen Cobb hit three 3-pointers and scored 12 to lead the Rams (7-12, 1-6).COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Kayla Wells scored 18 points and N'dea Jones added a double-double as No. 15 Texas A&amp;M rolled to a 72-53 victory over Missouri. Wells made 5 of 14 shots from the floor and all six of her free throws for the Aggies (17-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference, who led 33-22 at halftime and broke the game open with a 22-11 third-quarter run. Aijha Blackwell paced the Tigers (5-15, 2-5) with 18 points and seven rebounds.MIAMI (AP) — Super Bowl week is here. The Kansas City Chiefs were the first team to arrive in Miami on Sunday, a week before they'll take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54. The 49ers came into town a couple of hours later. The first media session of the week for the Chiefs and the 49ers is Monday night, when the NFL has Super Bowl Opening Night at Marlins Park.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Denver	117	Houston	110Final	Toronto	110	San Antonio	106Final	New Orleans	123	Boston	108Final	New York	110	Brooklyn	97Final	L.A. Clippers	112	Orlando	97Final	Memphis	114	Phoenix	109Final	Atlanta	152	Washington	133Final	Portland	139	Indiana	129___NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFFSFinal	Kansas City	35	Tennessee	24Final	San Francisco	37	Green Bay	20___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	(4)San Diego St.	71	UNLV	67Final	(11)Michigan St.	70	Minnesota	52Final	(12)Oregon	96	UCLA	75Final	(17)Maryland	77	Indiana	76Final	(25)Houston	68	South Florida	49___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Cleveland	at	Detroit	7 p.m.		Orlando	at	Miami	7:30 p.m.		Dallas	at	Oklahoma City	8 p.m.		Sacramento	at	Minnesota	8 p.m.		San Antonio	at	Chicago	8 p.m.		Houston	at	Utah	9 p.m.___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		Washington	at	Montreal	7 p.m.		New Jersey	at	Ottawa	7:30 p.m.		Tampa Bay	at	Dallas	8 p.m.		Toronto	at	Nashville	8 p.m.		St. Louis	at	Vancouver	10 p.m.		Anaheim	at	San Jose	10:30 p.m.___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		(3)Kansas	at	Oklahoma St.	9 p.m.		Wisconsin	at	(19)Iowa	8:30 p.m.___

Monday Sports Headlines

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant inspired a generation of basketball players worldwide with sublime skills and an unquenchable competitive fire.

He earned Los Angeles’ eternal adoration during his two decades as the fierce soul of the beloved Lakers, and he was respected by basketball fans from every place with a hoop and a dream, including his native Philadelphia and in Italy, his other childhood home.

Less than four years into his retirement, Bryant was seizing new challenges and working to inspire his daughters’ generation through sports and storytelling when his next chapter ended shockingly early.

Bryant, the 18-time All-Star who won five NBA championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career all with the Lakers,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/98f3978b392cbd3d9143529267b1f1ee">died in a helicopter crash Sunday</a>. He was 41.

The crash occurred in the foggy hills above Calabasas, California, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bryant was killed, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, and a different person familiar with the case confirmed Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also died.

Both of the AP’s unnamed sources spoke on condition of anonymity because few details of the crash had been released publicly.

Authorities said nine people were on the helicopter, and all were presumed dead. No names were released.

Bryant lived south of Los Angeles in coastal Orange County, and he often used helicopters to save time and avoid Southern California’s notorious traffic. He traveled to practices and games by helicopter before his playing career ended in 2016. He continued to use them after retirement as he attended to his new ventures, which included a burgeoning entertainment company that recently produced an Academy Award-winning animated short film.

The basketball world and Los Angeles reacted with an outpouring of pain and disbelief. Bryant is all but certain to be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year, when he is eligible for the first time.

“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary ... but he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.”

The crash occurred about 20 miles from Mamba Sports Academy, Bryant’s basketball training complex in Newbury Park, California. A youth basketball tournament — the Mamba Cup — was scheduled for a second day of competition Sunday at the facility, and Bryant had attended the opening day Saturday with Gianna.

Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, had four daughters. He had been a vocal booster of women’s sports since his retirement, coaching and mentoring basketball players around the world while also backing women’s soccer and other endeavors.

Bryant retired as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3b795ba7903fecba44c7df88d1c80dbe">the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points, all scored in Lakers purple and gold</a>. The self-nicknamed Black Mamba was a prolific, gifted shooter with a sublime all-around game and a relentless, hard-edged work ethic that thrilled his fans and almost everyone else, even those who reviled him.

Taking cues from Michael Jordan, one of his idols, Bryant played with a swagger that compelled him to talk trash, to guard the toughest opponents, to play through pain and to demand the ball at the biggest moments of games.

He didn’t always hit them, but Bryant never stopped trying.

“He had zero flaws offensively,” LeBron James said Saturday night. “Zero. You backed off of him, he could shoot the 3. You body him up a little bit, he could go around you. He could shoot from mid-range. He could post. He could make free throws. ... He was just immortal offensively because of his skill set and his work ethic.”

Bryant held the No. 3 spot in the league scoring ranks until the day before his death, when James passed him during the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia.

On Saturday night, James said he was “happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bean Bryant, one of the all-time greatest basketball players to ever play. One of the all-time greatest Lakers.”

Bryant always reacted graciously to the achievements of James, his former on-court rival who joined the Lakers in 2018.

“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/1221276426164269056?s=20" target="_blank">Bryant wrote in his last tweet.</a>&nbsp;“Much respect my brother.”

Tim Duncan, the San Antonio Spurs great who also retired in 2016, is also expected to be part of the Hall of Fame class that will be announced at the NBA’s All-Star weekend next month. Duncan, now a Spurs assistant, was&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/johndelizondo/status/1221566336024940545?s=20" target="_blank">visibly emotional on the bench during their game against Toronto on Sunday</a>.

Bryant had been spending more time with his daughters since leaving the league. The Bryants’ first daughter, Natalia, turned 17 a week ago. Bianka Bella Bryant is 3 years old, and Capri Kobe Bryant was born last June.

Gianna, better known as Gigi, had a promising youth career and a competitive pugnaciousness that reminded everybody of her dad.&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1208552113271382023?s=20" target="_blank">Bryant sat with her courtside at a Brooklyn Nets game late last year, clearly passing along his wisdom to his daughter</a>.

Bryant told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVubfIY2ns&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Jimmy Kimmel in 2018 that Gianna wanted to play in the WNBA</a>&nbsp;and recalled how fans would often approach him saying “you gotta have a boy, you gotta someone to carry on the tradition, the legacy.”

Gianna took exception: “She’s like, ‘Oy, I got this,’” Bryant recalled.

News of Bryant’s death inspired an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c7fb135b44209ea60581b01d381768df">outpouring of grief around the sports world and beyond</a>, but it was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where Bryant was unquestionably the sprawling city’s most popular athlete and one of its most beloved people. Buildings from downtown to Los Angeles International Airport were illuminated in Lakers purple and gold.

The Lakers’ next game is Tuesday night against the crosstown rival Clippers, but hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant’s image before the Grammy awards ceremony.

“I thought he was going to live forever,” Lakers great Magic Johnson told KCBS-TV. “I thought he was invincible. ... There was nobody who took more pride in putting on that Laker uniform than Kobe. Nobody. He was just special. We will miss him and we’ll remember him for his greatness, but let’s not forget how he impacted the world, too.”

Bryant retired as the Lakers’ franchise leader in points, games played, 3-pointers and steals — no small feats on a franchise that has employed many of the greatest players in basketball history.

The NBA kept its games on as scheduled when the news broke.&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1221548591879245825?s=20" target="_blank">The Spurs and Raptors both took voluntary 24-second shot clock violations at the start of their game in honor of Bryant</a>, who wore No. 24 for the second half of his career.

Several other teams followed up by deliberately taking delays of 24 and 8 seconds, honoring both of his jersey numbers. Many players were seen crying before their games, and James looked emotional on the tarmac when he got off the Lakers’ team plane from Philadelphia.

Bryant’s future appeared to be limitless in retirement, whether in sports or entertainment. He opened a production company shortly after leaving the Lakers, saying he was just as passionate about storytelling as he had been about his sport. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5eedd126ce3b4ad982724465c1a36b64">won an Oscar in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,</a>&nbsp;” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN.

In 2003, Bryant was charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. He had said the two had consensual sex, and the charge was eventually dropped when the women declined to testify in a trial. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court.

Bryant went on to become one of the NBA’s most popular players and the face of the Lakers. Winning a record four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards, he was the overall league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, but he also earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.

He teamed with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SHAQ/status/1221549914766954496?s=20" target="_blank">Shaquille O’Neal</a>&nbsp;in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist with the dominant U.S. team, Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8edeaff5f8014af397940e69342371f5">In December 2017, the Lakers hung banners retiring his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys in the Staples Center</a>&nbsp;rafters in an unprecedented double honor.

Bryant looms large over the current generation of NBA players, most of whom grew up either idolizing Bryant or absorbing his work ethic and competitive spirit in the same way Bryant’s generation learned from Jordan. Bryant exemplified and passed on that mentality to James, Stephen Curry and the NBA’s current wave of high-scoring superstars.

After James passed Bryant on Saturday, he remembered listening in awe to Bryant when the superstar came to speak at a childhood basketball camp.

“I remember one thing he said: If you want to be great at it, or want to be one of the greats, you’ve got to put the work in,” said James, who later teamed up with Bryant on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.

Bryant was a basketball superstar for his entire adult life, and he grew up from a teenager to a respected veteran in the unforgiving Hollywood spotlight.

He entered the NBA draft straight out of suburban Philly’s Lower Merion High School in 1996 after a childhood spent partly in Italy, where his father, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played professionally. Bryant was occasionally estranged from his now-65-year-old father, but reconciled.

Bryant spoke four languages and played a major role in the NBA’s international growth over his two decades in the league, traveling the world and connecting with athletes in other sports and celebrities.

The Lakers acquired the 17-year-old Bryant in a trade shortly after Charlotte drafted him, and he immediately became one of the most exciting and intriguing players in the sport alongside O’Neal, who had signed with the Lakers as a free agent. Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie, and the Lakers gradually grew into a team that won three consecutive championships.

Bryant and Gasol, the Spanish star, formed the nucleus of another championship team in 2008, reaching three straight NBA Finals and winning two more titles.

Between those title runs and before the quiet final years of his career, Bryant accomplished innumerable feats including an 81-point game against Toronto in January 2006. Bryant’s final NBA seasons were dogged by injuries, but he still went into retirement with that jaw-dropping 60-point performance against Utah.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant inspired a generation of basketball players worldwide with sublime skills and an unquenchable competitive fire.He earned Los Angeles’ eternal adoration during his two decades as the fierce soul of the beloved Lakers, and he was respected by basketball fans from every place with a hoop and a dream, including his native Philadelphia and in Italy, his other childhood home.Less than four years into his retirement, Bryant was seizing new challenges and working to inspire his daughters’ generation through sports and storytelling when his next chapter ended shockingly early.Bryant, the 18-time All-Star who won five NBA championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career all with the Lakers,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/98f3978b392cbd3d9143529267b1f1ee">died in a helicopter crash Sunday</a>. He was 41.The crash occurred in the foggy hills above Calabasas, California, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bryant was killed, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press, and a different person familiar with the case confirmed Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also died.Both of the AP’s unnamed sources spoke on condition of anonymity because few details of the crash had been released publicly.Authorities said nine people were on the helicopter, and all were presumed dead. No names were released.Bryant lived south of Los Angeles in coastal Orange County, and he often used helicopters to save time and avoid Southern California’s notorious traffic. He traveled to practices and games by helicopter before his playing career ended in 2016. He continued to use them after retirement as he attended to his new ventures, which included a burgeoning entertainment company that recently produced an Academy Award-winning animated short film.The basketball world and Los Angeles reacted with an outpouring of pain and disbelief. Bryant is all but certain to be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year, when he is eligible for the first time.“For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are legendary ... but he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.”The crash occurred about 20 miles from Mamba Sports Academy, Bryant’s basketball training complex in Newbury Park, California. A youth basketball tournament — the Mamba Cup — was scheduled for a second day of competition Sunday at the facility, and Bryant had attended the opening day Saturday with Gianna.Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, had four daughters. He had been a vocal booster of women’s sports since his retirement, coaching and mentoring basketball players around the world while also backing women’s soccer and other endeavors.Bryant retired as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3b795ba7903fecba44c7df88d1c80dbe">the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points, all scored in Lakers purple and gold</a>. The self-nicknamed Black Mamba was a prolific, gifted shooter with a sublime all-around game and a relentless, hard-edged work ethic that thrilled his fans and almost everyone else, even those who reviled him.Taking cues from Michael Jordan, one of his idols, Bryant played with a swagger that compelled him to talk trash, to guard the toughest opponents, to play through pain and to demand the ball at the biggest moments of games.He didn’t always hit them, but Bryant never stopped trying.“He had zero flaws offensively,” LeBron James said Saturday night. “Zero. You backed off of him, he could shoot the 3. You body him up a little bit, he could go around you. He could shoot from mid-range. He could post. He could make free throws. ... He was just immortal offensively because of his skill set and his work ethic.”Bryant held the No. 3 spot in the league scoring ranks until the day before his death, when James passed him during the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia.On Saturday night, James said he was “happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bean Bryant, one of the all-time greatest basketball players to ever play. One of the all-time greatest Lakers.”Bryant always reacted graciously to the achievements of James, his former on-court rival who joined the Lakers in 2018.“Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames,”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/1221276426164269056?s=20" target="_blank">Bryant wrote in his last tweet.</a>&nbsp;“Much respect my brother.”Tim Duncan, the San Antonio Spurs great who also retired in 2016, is also expected to be part of the Hall of Fame class that will be announced at the NBA’s All-Star weekend next month. Duncan, now a Spurs assistant, was&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/johndelizondo/status/1221566336024940545?s=20" target="_blank">visibly emotional on the bench during their game against Toronto on Sunday</a>.Bryant had been spending more time with his daughters since leaving the league. The Bryants’ first daughter, Natalia, turned 17 a week ago. Bianka Bella Bryant is 3 years old, and Capri Kobe Bryant was born last June.Gianna, better known as Gigi, had a promising youth career and a competitive pugnaciousness that reminded everybody of her dad.&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1208552113271382023?s=20" target="_blank">Bryant sat with her courtside at a Brooklyn Nets game late last year, clearly passing along his wisdom to his daughter</a>.Bryant told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVubfIY2ns&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Jimmy Kimmel in 2018 that Gianna wanted to play in the WNBA</a>&nbsp;and recalled how fans would often approach him saying “you gotta have a boy, you gotta someone to carry on the tradition, the legacy.”Gianna took exception: “She’s like, ‘Oy, I got this,’” Bryant recalled.News of Bryant’s death inspired an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c7fb135b44209ea60581b01d381768df">outpouring of grief around the sports world and beyond</a>, but it was felt particularly painfully in Los Angeles, where Bryant was unquestionably the sprawling city’s most popular athlete and one of its most beloved people. Buildings from downtown to Los Angeles International Airport were illuminated in Lakers purple and gold.The Lakers’ next game is Tuesday night against the crosstown rival Clippers, but hundreds of fans — many in Bryant jerseys and Lakers gear — spontaneously gathered at Staples Center and in the surrounding LA Live entertainment complex on Sunday, weeping and staring at video boards with Bryant’s image before the Grammy awards ceremony.“I thought he was going to live forever,” Lakers great Magic Johnson told KCBS-TV. “I thought he was invincible. ... There was nobody who took more pride in putting on that Laker uniform than Kobe. Nobody. He was just special. We will miss him and we’ll remember him for his greatness, but let’s not forget how he impacted the world, too.”Bryant retired as the Lakers’ franchise leader in points, games played, 3-pointers and steals — no small feats on a franchise that has employed many of the greatest players in basketball history.The NBA kept its games on as scheduled when the news broke.&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1221548591879245825?s=20" target="_blank">The Spurs and Raptors both took voluntary 24-second shot clock violations at the start of their game in honor of Bryant</a>, who wore No. 24 for the second half of his career.Several other teams followed up by deliberately taking delays of 24 and 8 seconds, honoring both of his jersey numbers. Many players were seen crying before their games, and James looked emotional on the tarmac when he got off the Lakers’ team plane from Philadelphia.Bryant’s future appeared to be limitless in retirement, whether in sports or entertainment. He opened a production company shortly after leaving the Lakers, saying he was just as passionate about storytelling as he had been about his sport. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5eedd126ce3b4ad982724465c1a36b64">won an Oscar in 2018 for his contributions to “Dear Basketball,</a>&nbsp;” an animated short about his relationship to the game. He also produced content for ESPN.In 2003, Bryant was charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. He had said the two had consensual sex, and the charge was eventually dropped when the women declined to testify in a trial. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court.Bryant went on to become one of the NBA’s most popular players and the face of the Lakers. Winning a record four NBA All-Star Game MVP awards, he was the overall league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, but he also earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.He teamed with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SHAQ/status/1221549914766954496?s=20" target="_blank">Shaquille O’Neal</a>&nbsp;in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.A two-time Olympic gold medalist with the dominant U.S. team, Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8edeaff5f8014af397940e69342371f5">In December 2017, the Lakers hung banners retiring his No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys in the Staples Center</a>&nbsp;rafters in an unprecedented double honor.Bryant looms large over the current generation of NBA players, most of whom grew up either idolizing Bryant or absorbing his work ethic and competitive spirit in the same way Bryant’s generation learned from Jordan. Bryant exemplified and passed on that mentality to James, Stephen Curry and the NBA’s current wave of high-scoring superstars.After James passed Bryant on Saturday, he remembered listening in awe to Bryant when the superstar came to speak at a childhood basketball camp.“I remember one thing he said: If you want to be great at it, or want to be one of the greats, you’ve got to put the work in,” said James, who later teamed up with Bryant on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.Bryant was a basketball superstar for his entire adult life, and he grew up from a teenager to a respected veteran in the unforgiving Hollywood spotlight.He entered the NBA draft straight out of suburban Philly’s Lower Merion High School in 1996 after a childhood spent partly in Italy, where his father, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played professionally. Bryant was occasionally estranged from his now-65-year-old father, but reconciled.Bryant spoke four languages and played a major role in the NBA’s international growth over his two decades in the league, traveling the world and connecting with athletes in other sports and celebrities.The Lakers acquired the 17-year-old Bryant in a trade shortly after Charlotte drafted him, and he immediately became one of the most exciting and intriguing players in the sport alongside O’Neal, who had signed with the Lakers as a free agent. Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie, and the Lakers gradually grew into a team that won three consecutive championships.Bryant and Gasol, the Spanish star, formed the nucleus of another championship team in 2008, reaching three straight NBA Finals and winning two more titles.Between those title runs and before the quiet final years of his career, Bryant accomplished innumerable feats including an 81-point game against Toronto in January 2006. Bryant’s final NBA seasons were dogged by injuries, but he still went into retirement with that jaw-dropping 60-point performance against Utah.

Kobe Bryant left deep legacy in LA sports, basketball world

STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COLBY, Kan. – Leading by four points with 1:27 remaining in the second half on Sunday at No. 25 Colby, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team was in position to pick up a critical Jayhawk West road win.

But for the second time in the last three games, the Blue Dragons saw an opponent rally late and grab a win away from Hutchinson.

Colby closed on a 10-2 run over the final two-plus minutes and picked up its first win over Hutchinson since January 23, 2012, rallying for an 83-79 win at the Colby Community Building.

The Blue Dragons fall to 16-5 overall and are now 7-5 in the Jayhawk West with games against Barton at home on Wednesday and at Seward County on Saturday coming up. The Trojans snap a 15-game losing streak to the Blue Dragons and defeated Hutch for only the fifth time in 55 games played in the series.

Hutchinson dropped its fifth game of the season despite shooting 60.9 percent from the field. The Blue Dragons committed 19 turnovers and gave up 14 offensive rebounds. Colby scored 32 points with those extra possessions.

Still, the Blue Dragons looked primed to earn a victory on Sunday.

The Dragons trailed Colby 67-62 with 7:29 remaining in the second half before scoring five unanswered points on a&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/baker_josh_xj07">Josh Baker</a>&nbsp;3-pointer and two&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/mayers_matt_9wk7">Matt Mayers</a>&nbsp;free throws. The Dragons grabbed a 70-69 lead on another Baker 3-pointer with 5:20 to go and extended it to 77-73 on a&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/brown_tyler_348p">Tyler Brown</a>&nbsp;layup with 2:42 to play. Brown scored again with 1:27 to play for a 79-75 lead.

From that point, the Dragons missed their final two shots and committed two turnovers on offensive fouls as Colby scored the final six points of the game.

The Blue Dragons are now 1-3 in games decided by five points or less.

Brown led the Blue Dragons with 19 points, going 6 of 9 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers.

Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/singleton_saquan_s9fa">Saquan Singleton</a>&nbsp;finished with 17 points with six rebounds and six steals. Baker had 13 points and Mayers had a career-high 11 points.

Hutchinson hit 29 of 49 overall shots, going 5 of 11 from 3-point range and 16 of 21 from the 3-point line. Colby out-rebounded Hutch 30-26.

Eddie Davis scored 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting with seven rebounds to lead Colby, Demarcus Sharp had 23 points, going 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. Javion May and Matt McFarlane had 10 points each.

Colby shot 50.0 percent for the game (32 of 64) – it's only the second time this season the Dragons have allowed 50 percent shooting in a game. The Trojans hit 8 of 17 3-pointers and were 11 of 16 from the foul line. Colby had just 13 turnovers.

Each team scored 48 points in the paint, but Colby outscored Hutch 22-15 in points off turnovers and 10-8 in second-chance points.

GAME NOTES&nbsp;– The Blue Dragons are 0-2 against nationally ranked teams this season. … Colby defeated Hutchinson at the Colby Community Building for the first time since January 25, 2008 (11 games). … The Blue Dragons are now 13-4 when leading at halftime. … The Dragons are now 3-4 when getting out-rebounded in a game. … The Blue Dragons are 50-5 all-time against Colby, including 22-4 at Colby.

STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationCOLBY, Kan. – Leading by four points with 1:27 remaining in the second half on Sunday at No. 25 Colby, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team was in position to pick up a critical Jayhawk West road win.But for the second time in the last three games, the Blue Dragons saw an opponent rally late and grab a win away from Hutchinson.Colby closed on a 10-2 run over the final two-plus minutes and picked up its first win over Hutchinson since January 23, 2012, rallying for an 83-79 win at the Colby Community Building.The Blue Dragons fall to 16-5 overall and are now 7-5 in the Jayhawk West with games against Barton at home on Wednesday and at Seward County on Saturday coming up. The Trojans snap a 15-game losing streak to the Blue Dragons and defeated Hutch for only the fifth time in 55 games played in the series.Hutchinson dropped its fifth game of the season despite shooting 60.9 percent from the field. The Blue Dragons committed 19 turnovers and gave up 14 offensive rebounds. Colby scored 32 points with those extra possessions.Still, the Blue Dragons looked primed to earn a victory on Sunday.The Dragons trailed Colby 67-62 with 7:29 remaining in the second half before scoring five unanswered points on a&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/baker_josh_xj07">Josh Baker</a>&nbsp;3-pointer and two&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/mayers_matt_9wk7">Matt Mayers</a>&nbsp;free throws. The Dragons grabbed a 70-69 lead on another Baker 3-pointer with 5:20 to go and extended it to 77-73 on a&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/brown_tyler_348p">Tyler Brown</a>&nbsp;layup with 2:42 to play. Brown scored again with 1:27 to play for a 79-75 lead.From that point, the Dragons missed their final two shots and committed two turnovers on offensive fouls as Colby scored the final six points of the game.The Blue Dragons are now 1-3 in games decided by five points or less.Brown led the Blue Dragons with 19 points, going 6 of 9 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers.Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/singleton_saquan_s9fa">Saquan Singleton</a>&nbsp;finished with 17 points with six rebounds and six steals. Baker had 13 points and Mayers had a career-high 11 points.Hutchinson hit 29 of 49 overall shots, going 5 of 11 from 3-point range and 16 of 21 from the 3-point line. Colby out-rebounded Hutch 30-26.Eddie Davis scored 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting with seven rebounds to lead Colby, Demarcus Sharp had 23 points, going 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. Javion May and Matt McFarlane had 10 points each.Colby shot 50.0 percent for the game (32 of 64) – it's only the second time this season the Dragons have allowed 50 percent shooting in a game. The Trojans hit 8 of 17 3-pointers and were 11 of 16 from the foul line. Colby had just 13 turnovers.Each team scored 48 points in the paint, but Colby outscored Hutch 22-15 in points off turnovers and 10-8 in second-chance points.GAME NOTES&nbsp;– The Blue Dragons are 0-2 against nationally ranked teams this season. … Colby defeated Hutchinson at the Colby Community Building for the first time since January 25, 2008 (11 games). … The Blue Dragons are now 13-4 when leading at halftime. … The Dragons are now 3-4 when getting out-rebounded in a game. … The Blue Dragons are 50-5 all-time against Colby, including 22-4 at Colby.

🏀Blue Dragons can't fend off No. 25 Colby's rally

COLBY, Kan. - The No. 10-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team surrendered 10 points to the Colby Trojans in the first 4 minutes, 41 seconds of Sunday's Jayhawk West game at the Colby Community Building.

Over the final 35:19, Hutchinson gave up just 26 more points to the Trojans.

Hutchinson held Colby to less than 20 percent shooting and shot its second-highest overall percentage of the season in a 77-36 victory over the Trojans.

The Blue Dragons improve to 19-2 overall and 11-1 in the Jayhawk West, remaining one game behind Seward County for first place in the league. Hutchinson plays host to Barton on Wednesday before traveling to Seward County on Saturday. Colby falls to 14-7 and 5-7.

Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/ogle_abby_pu1h">Abby Ogle</a>&nbsp;powered the Blue Dragons' first-half surge by scoring 22 of her game-high 25 points in the first half. She had 13 points in the opening quarter, hitting 9 of 10 shots, including two 2-pointers and was 5 of 6 from the foul line.

Hutchinson trailed 10-9 with 5:19 remaining in the first quarter. Ogle had a steal and layup to give Hutchinson the lead for good. Ogle's play helped the Blue dragons to 13 unanswered points to lead 22-10 with 1:41 left. The Dragons ended that run to 14-3 to close the quarter and lead 27-14 and finished out the half on a 38-7 run to lead 47-17 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons defense shut Colby down after its initial 10-point start. Hutch limited the Trojans to 7 of 50 shooting (14.0 percent) over the final 35 minutes of the game. Colby was just 1 of 10 in a three-point second quarter and 2 of 17 in a seven-point fourth quarters.

Colby finished the game shooting only 18.2 percent (10 of 55) for the game, going 4 of 19 from 3-point range and the Trojans had 16 turnovers. The Blue Dragons held Colby 30 points under its 66-point season scoring average.

Hutchinson produced its second-highest shot percentage of the season (59.2 percent) taking the fewest shot attempts of the season (29 of 49). The Dragons were 18 of 26 shooting (69.2 percent).

Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/mapusua_lauryn_0xtt">Lauryn Mapusua</a>&nbsp;scored in double figures for the fifth time in seven games, finishing with 14 points. She tied a career high for the fourth time with three 3-point goals, hitting 3 of 5 from distance.

Freshman&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/alford_tor-e_vqep">Tor'e Alford</a>, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/vannett_makayla_q30y">Makayla Vannett</a>, freshman&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/haidara_nafatoumata_szn7">Nafatoumata Haidara</a>&nbsp;and sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/betham_brooklyn_e4z1">Brooklyn Betham</a>&nbsp;all had scored eight points each.

The Blue Dragons had a 36-33 rebounding advantage despite giving up 16 offensive rebounds. Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/francis_sasha_nod4">Sasha Francis</a>&nbsp;had a team-high eight rebounds. Alford had five assists and Ogle had five steals.

Aerihna Afoa hit three 3-point goals and finished with a team-high 13 points for Colby. Afiya Vincent had six points and a game-high 13 rebounds for the Trojans.

The Blue Dragons did suffer through a tough offensive third quarter. Held to only seven points in the third stanza, that was the first time this season the Blue Dragons scored in single digits in any single quarter this season, shooting only 2 of 9.

The Dragons responded, though, with a 23-point fourth quarter where they shot 9 of 14 (64.3 percent).

The Blue Dragons won their fifth game in a row and their 50th all-time win over Colby in 64 total games played.

GAME NOTES&nbsp;- The 36 points allowed was the fourth fewest scored by Colby in series history. … The Blue Dragons are 21-7 all-time against Colby in the Community Building. … This was Blue Dragon all-time win no. 995. … With two 3-pointers on Sunday,&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/vannett_makayla_q30y">Makayla Vannett</a>&nbsp;moved past Joell Meyer (1992-94) into fourth place on the Blue Dragon career 3-point list with 161. … With five steals on Sunday,&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/ogle_abby_pu1h">Abby Ogle</a>&nbsp;moves past Alysse Barlow (2010-12) into third place on the career steals list with 182. … This was the sixth time this season to hold an opponent to less than 20 percent shooting. Ogle had her 12th-straight game scoring in double figures and he had her sixth of the season and 14th career game with five or more steals.

STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationCOLBY, Kan. - The No. 10-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team surrendered 10 points to the Colby Trojans in the first 4 minutes, 41 seconds of Sunday's Jayhawk West game at the Colby Community Building.Over the final 35:19, Hutchinson gave up just 26 more points to the Trojans.Hutchinson held Colby to less than 20 percent shooting and shot its second-highest overall percentage of the season in a 77-36 victory over the Trojans.The Blue Dragons improve to 19-2 overall and 11-1 in the Jayhawk West, remaining one game behind Seward County for first place in the league. Hutchinson plays host to Barton on Wednesday before traveling to Seward County on Saturday. Colby falls to 14-7 and 5-7.Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/ogle_abby_pu1h">Abby Ogle</a>&nbsp;powered the Blue Dragons' first-half surge by scoring 22 of her game-high 25 points in the first half. She had 13 points in the opening quarter, hitting 9 of 10 shots, including two 2-pointers and was 5 of 6 from the foul line.Hutchinson trailed 10-9 with 5:19 remaining in the first quarter. Ogle had a steal and layup to give Hutchinson the lead for good. Ogle's play helped the Blue dragons to 13 unanswered points to lead 22-10 with 1:41 left. The Dragons ended that run to 14-3 to close the quarter and lead 27-14 and finished out the half on a 38-7 run to lead 47-17 at halftime.The Blue Dragons defense shut Colby down after its initial 10-point start. Hutch limited the Trojans to 7 of 50 shooting (14.0 percent) over the final 35 minutes of the game. Colby was just 1 of 10 in a three-point second quarter and 2 of 17 in a seven-point fourth quarters.Colby finished the game shooting only 18.2 percent (10 of 55) for the game, going 4 of 19 from 3-point range and the Trojans had 16 turnovers. The Blue Dragons held Colby 30 points under its 66-point season scoring average.Hutchinson produced its second-highest shot percentage of the season (59.2 percent) taking the fewest shot attempts of the season (29 of 49). The Dragons were 18 of 26 shooting (69.2 percent).Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/mapusua_lauryn_0xtt">Lauryn Mapusua</a>&nbsp;scored in double figures for the fifth time in seven games, finishing with 14 points. She tied a career high for the fourth time with three 3-point goals, hitting 3 of 5 from distance.Freshman&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/alford_tor-e_vqep">Tor'e Alford</a>, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/vannett_makayla_q30y">Makayla Vannett</a>, freshman&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/haidara_nafatoumata_szn7">Nafatoumata Haidara</a>&nbsp;and sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/betham_brooklyn_e4z1">Brooklyn Betham</a>&nbsp;all had scored eight points each.The Blue Dragons had a 36-33 rebounding advantage despite giving up 16 offensive rebounds. Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/francis_sasha_nod4">Sasha Francis</a>&nbsp;had a team-high eight rebounds. Alford had five assists and Ogle had five steals.Aerihna Afoa hit three 3-point goals and finished with a team-high 13 points for Colby. Afiya Vincent had six points and a game-high 13 rebounds for the Trojans.The Blue Dragons did suffer through a tough offensive third quarter. Held to only seven points in the third stanza, that was the first time this season the Blue Dragons scored in single digits in any single quarter this season, shooting only 2 of 9.The Dragons responded, though, with a 23-point fourth quarter where they shot 9 of 14 (64.3 percent).The Blue Dragons won their fifth game in a row and their 50th all-time win over Colby in 64 total games played.GAME NOTES&nbsp;- The 36 points allowed was the fourth fewest scored by Colby in series history. … The Blue Dragons are 21-7 all-time against Colby in the Community Building. … This was Blue Dragon all-time win no. 995. … With two 3-pointers on Sunday,&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/vannett_makayla_q30y">Makayla Vannett</a>&nbsp;moved past Joell Meyer (1992-94) into fourth place on the Blue Dragon career 3-point list with 161. … With five steals on Sunday,&nbsp;<a href="http://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2019-20/bios/ogle_abby_pu1h">Abby Ogle</a>&nbsp;moves past Alysse Barlow (2010-12) into third place on the career steals list with 182. … This was the sixth time this season to hold an opponent to less than 20 percent shooting. Ogle had her 12th-straight game scoring in double figures and he had her sixth of the season and 14th career game with five or more steals.

🏀Ogle leads No. 10 Dragons to dominant win over Colby

MIAMI (AP) — Kansas City waited 50 years to get back to a Super Bowl. And then the Chiefs had to wait a few extra minutes once they got to Miami.

It took workers at Miami International Airport about three attempts to get one of the rolling staircases that the Chiefs would use to deplane properly lined up with the front door of their chartered jet. The delay was brief, and coach Andy Reid and the rest of the Chiefs’ delegation to make their way into the hangar for the short walk to waiting buses.

A handful of local politicians and officials were at the airport to greet the teams, as loud hip-hop music blared through the maintenance hangar that was being used for the arrivals.

No players or coaches spoke to reporters inside the hangar. The first media session for the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers -- who arrive later Sunday -- is Monday night, when the NFL has Super Bowl Opening Night at Marlins Park.

Super Bowl 54 is next Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

A handful of volunteers greeted players, coaches and staff as they made their way down the stairs. Everyone was handed a floral baseball cap, and many players held their phones out to shoot video of the moment they arrived at the Super Bowl.

Even the flight attendants on the Chiefs’ flight were celebrating the moment — they gathered at the top of the stairs for a group photo once their passengers deplaned, and then a few of them pulled out their phones for some pictures of players as well.

MIAMI (AP) — Kansas City waited 50 years to get back to a Super Bowl. And then the Chiefs had to wait a few extra minutes once they got to Miami.It took workers at Miami International Airport about three attempts to get one of the rolling staircases that the Chiefs would use to deplane properly lined up with the front door of their chartered jet. The delay was brief, and coach Andy Reid and the rest of the Chiefs’ delegation to make their way into the hangar for the short walk to waiting buses.A handful of local politicians and officials were at the airport to greet the teams, as loud hip-hop music blared through the maintenance hangar that was being used for the arrivals.No players or coaches spoke to reporters inside the hangar. The first media session for the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers -- who arrive later Sunday -- is Monday night, when the NFL has Super Bowl Opening Night at Marlins Park.Super Bowl 54 is next Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.A handful of volunteers greeted players, coaches and staff as they made their way down the stairs. Everyone was handed a floral baseball cap, and many players held their phones out to shoot video of the moment they arrived at the Super Bowl.Even the flight attendants on the Chiefs’ flight were celebrating the moment — they gathered at the top of the stairs for a group photo once their passengers deplaned, and then a few of them pulled out their phones for some pictures of players as well.

🏈Chiefs arrive in Miami for Super Bowl

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. He was 41.

Bryant died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California, a source told The Associated Press. It was unclear if family members were on the helicopter. The crash happened around 10 a.m. near about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said it was a Sikorsky S-76 and it was not known what caused the crash.

Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history, finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific scorer with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ LeBron James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.

“Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.”

Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.

He teamed with Shaquille O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.

Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.

Bryant looms large over the current generation of NBA players. After James passed Bryant on Saturday, he remembered listening to Bryant when the superstar came to speak at a childhood basketball camp.

“I remember one thing he said: If you want to be great at it, or want to be one of the greats, you’ve got to put the work in,” James said. “There’s no substitution for work.”

James later teamed up with Bryant on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.

“He had zero flaws offensively,” James said. “Zero. You backed off of him, he could shoot the 3. You body him up a little bit, he could go around you. He could shoot from mid-range. He could post. He could make free throws. ... He was just immortal offensively because of his skill set and his work ethic.”

Bryant was a basketball superstar for his entire adult life. He entered the NBA draft straight out of high school in 1996 after a childhood spent partly in Italy, where his father, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played professionally.

The Lakers acquired the 17-year-old Bryant in a trade shortly after Charlotte drafted him, and he immediately became one of the most exciting and intriguing players in the sport alongside O’Neal, who had signed with the Lakers as a free agent. Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest as an upstart rookie, and the Lakers gradually grew into a team that won three consecutive championships.

Bryant and Gasol formed the nucleus of another championship team in 2008, reaching three straight NBA Finals and eventually winning two more titles.

In 2003, Bryant was charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. He had said the two had consensual sex. Prosecutors later dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant at the request of the accuser.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. He was 41.Bryant died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California, a source told The Associated Press. It was unclear if family members were on the helicopter. The crash happened around 10 a.m. near about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said it was a Sikorsky S-76 and it was not known what caused the crash.Bryant retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history, finishing two decades with the Lakers as a prolific scorer with a sublime all-around game and a relentless competitive ethic. He held that spot in the league scoring ranks until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ LeBron James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.“Continuing to move the game forward (at)KingJames,” Bryant wrote in his last tweet. “Much respect my brother.”Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.He teamed with Shaquille O’Neal in a combustible partnership to lead the Lakers to NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He later teamed with Pau Gasol to win two more titles in 2009 and 2010.Bryant retired in 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.Bryant looms large over the current generation of NBA players. After James passed Bryant on Saturday, he remembered listening to Bryant when the superstar came to speak at a childhood basketball camp.“I remember one thing he said: If you want to be great at it, or want to be one of the greats, you’ve got to put the work in,” James said. “There’s no substitution for work.”James later teamed up with Bryant on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing.“He had zero flaws offensively,” James said. “Zero. You backed off of him, he could shoot the 3. You body him up a little bit, he could go around you. He could shoot from mid-range. He could post. He could make free throws. ... He was just immortal offensively because of his skill set and his work ethic.”Bryant was a basketball superstar for his entire adult life. He entered the NBA draft straight out of high school in 1996 after a childhood spent partly in Italy, where his father, former NBA player Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, played professionally.The Lakers acquired the 17-year-old Bryant in a trade shortly after Charlotte drafted him, and he immediately became one of the most exciting and intriguing players in the sport alongside O’Neal, who had signed with the Lakers as a free agent. Bryant won the Slam Dunk Contest as an upstart rookie, and the Lakers gradually grew into a team that won three consecutive championships.Bryant and Gasol formed the nucleus of another championship team in 2008, reaching three straight NBA Finals and eventually winning two more titles.In 2003, Bryant was charged with attacking a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. He had said the two had consensual sex. Prosecutors later dropped the felony sexual assault charge against Bryant at the request of the accuser.

Retired NBA star Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash

Entering the final 10 games of the 2019-2020 regular season, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team faces near must win on Sunday if the Blue Dragons are to remain a part of the Jayhawk West title chase.

Hutchinson (receiving votes, 16-4, 6-4 West) travels to meet No. 25-ranked Colby (16-4, 8-3) at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Colby Community Building.

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 4:50 p.m. with Glen Grunwald (play-by-play) and Daren Dunn (analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed live on the Blue Dragon Sports Network at 4:50 p.m.

The Blue Dragons will be play a Colby team off to its best start since the 2003-04 season when the Trojans were 18-2 and ranked No. 5 in the NJCAA at the 20-game mark of the season.

Currently in second place in the Jayhawk West, the Trojans had a share of first place before last Monday's 83-75 upset loss to Neosho County. That loss was two days after defeating Barton 80-74. Colby rebounded from the Neosho County with a 76-71 road win at Seward County on Wednesday.

The Blue Dragons currently trail Barton, which won its game on Saturday night, by 1.5 games. The Blue Dragons and Cougars will meet on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.

Freshman&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/kuath_majok_5e4f">Majok Kuath</a>&nbsp;led four Blue Dragons scoring in double figures with 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting to lead Hutchinson to a 92-75 home win over Dodge City on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/baker_josh_xj07">Josh Baker</a>&nbsp;hit four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/singleton_saquan_s9fa">Saquan Singleton</a>&nbsp;also had 16 points with nine assists and six rebounds.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/king_clarence_pkcx">Clarence King</a>&nbsp;came off the bench to spark the Dragons with 12 points.

Ranked No. 4 in the Jayhawk Conference in rebounding, the Blue Dragons look to reestablish themselves as a top rebounding team after allowing games of 29 and 23 offensive rebounds allowed to Pratt and Dodge City. Colby is the seventh-best rebounding team in the KJCCC, but fourth-best in terms of offensive rebounds.

The Blue Dragons will have to battle against the No. 3 defensive team in the Jayhawk Conference. Colby is allowing just 69.8 points per contest.

Hutch will have to defend guard Eddie Davis, the KJCCC's fourth-leading scorer at 18.2 points per game.

Sunday's contest will be the 55th all-time between Hutchinson and Colby. The Blue Dragons won the first 17 meetings in series history and holds an all-time record over the Trojans of 50-4 The Blue Dragons are 22-3 in the Colby Community Building. Sunday's game is likely the last time Hutchinson plays in the Community Building. Colby is expected to open a new basketball facility into for the 2020-21 season.

STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports InformationEntering the final 10 games of the 2019-2020 regular season, the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team faces near must win on Sunday if the Blue Dragons are to remain a part of the Jayhawk West title chase.Hutchinson (receiving votes, 16-4, 6-4 West) travels to meet No. 25-ranked Colby (16-4, 8-3) at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Colby Community Building.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 4:50 p.m. with Glen Grunwald (play-by-play) and Daren Dunn (analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed live on the Blue Dragon Sports Network at 4:50 p.m.The Blue Dragons will be play a Colby team off to its best start since the 2003-04 season when the Trojans were 18-2 and ranked No. 5 in the NJCAA at the 20-game mark of the season.Currently in second place in the Jayhawk West, the Trojans had a share of first place before last Monday's 83-75 upset loss to Neosho County. That loss was two days after defeating Barton 80-74. Colby rebounded from the Neosho County with a 76-71 road win at Seward County on Wednesday.The Blue Dragons currently trail Barton, which won its game on Saturday night, by 1.5 games. The Blue Dragons and Cougars will meet on Wednesday at the Sports Arena.Freshman&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/kuath_majok_5e4f">Majok Kuath</a>&nbsp;led four Blue Dragons scoring in double figures with 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting to lead Hutchinson to a 92-75 home win over Dodge City on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/baker_josh_xj07">Josh Baker</a>&nbsp;hit four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/singleton_saquan_s9fa">Saquan Singleton</a>&nbsp;also had 16 points with nine assists and six rebounds.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/bios/king_clarence_pkcx">Clarence King</a>&nbsp;came off the bench to spark the Dragons with 12 points.Ranked No. 4 in the Jayhawk Conference in rebounding, the Blue Dragons look to reestablish themselves as a top rebounding team after allowing games of 29 and 23 offensive rebounds allowed to Pratt and Dodge City. Colby is the seventh-best rebounding team in the KJCCC, but fourth-best in terms of offensive rebounds.The Blue Dragons will have to battle against the No. 3 defensive team in the Jayhawk Conference. Colby is allowing just 69.8 points per contest.Hutch will have to defend guard Eddie Davis, the KJCCC's fourth-leading scorer at 18.2 points per game.Sunday's contest will be the 55th all-time between Hutchinson and Colby. The Blue Dragons won the first 17 meetings in series history and holds an all-time record over the Trojans of 50-4 The Blue Dragons are 22-3 in the Colby Community Building. Sunday's game is likely the last time Hutchinson plays in the Community Building. Colby is expected to open a new basketball facility into for the 2020-21 season.