MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State needed career highs from Cartier Diarra and Dajuan Gordon to knock off No. 12 West Virginia.

Diarra tied a career high 25 points, Gordon scored a career high 15, including 13 in the first half, and Xavier Sneed had 16, moving into the top 15 in school history in scoring to lead the Wildcats to the 84-68 win on Saturday.

The Wildcats secured their first Big 12 win of the season after losing the first four in conference play.

“I felt like all year we had it in us,” coach Bruce Weber said. “But we really needed someone to step up for us.”

Gordon went 6-for-7 from the field, had four steals and three rebounds in the win.

“I think as long as I come and play with some energy and be willing to play defense I’ll make a big impact,” Gordon said. “As long as we win, that’s all that matters.”

Kansas State (8-9, 1-4 Big 12) went up by as many as 23, but a 15-0 run by the Mountaineers cut the lead to eight in the second half, thanks in part to seven turnovers in four minutes by the Wildcats.

West Virginia (14-3, 3-2) would get as close as six, but the Wildcats held on and won by 16 for their third straight win against the Mountaineers.

“They were desperate,” West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said. “They did whatever they wanted to do.”

Miles McBride and Chase Harler paced the Mountaineers with 11 points each, Gabe Osabuohein had 10 as West Virginia lost their first game when the trailed at halftime.

Turnovers proved costly for West Virginia as they committed 18 and Kansas State scored 28 off those mistakes.

“I’m getting used to the turnovers,” Huggins said. “We average 20 a game, but we didn’t guard. We just didn’t.”

Kansas State shot 59% from the field and held the Mountaineers to 45%. The Wildcats hit nine 3’s while West Virginia had 41 bench points.

With two minutes left in the first half, it was a fastbreak dunk by Antonio Gordon assisted by Dajuan Gordon that got the crowd on their feet pushing the Wildcat lead to 11.

“I felt like I lit the room and got a lot of energy,” Dajuan Gordon said. “Guys just kept hitting me and gave me the ball.”

Kansas State held a 17-point lead at halftime and shot 58% in the first 20 minutes of play.

Every player except for one scored at least four points for the Wildcats and they scored the second most points in a game this season.

Kansas State will look to win two straight games on Tuesday for the first time since November 19th.

“Everyone knows Kansas has a good team,” Diarra said. “We hope to do something that hasn’t been done there in a while.”

Kansas State: This was the best game played by the Wildcats all season. They needed a win like this one before taking on their in-state rival up next.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers had way too many turnovers and didn’t shoot the ball very well.

Kansas State travels to Kansas on Tuesday.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State needed career highs from Cartier Diarra and Dajuan Gordon to knock off No. 12 West Virginia.Diarra tied a career high 25 points, Gordon scored a career high 15, including 13 in the first half, and Xavier Sneed had 16, moving into the top 15 in school history in scoring to lead the Wildcats to the 84-68 win on Saturday.The Wildcats secured their first Big 12 win of the season after losing the first four in conference play.“I felt like all year we had it in us,” coach Bruce Weber said. “But we really needed someone to step up for us.”Gordon went 6-for-7 from the field, had four steals and three rebounds in the win.“I think as long as I come and play with some energy and be willing to play defense I’ll make a big impact,” Gordon said. “As long as we win, that’s all that matters.”Kansas State (8-9, 1-4 Big 12) went up by as many as 23, but a 15-0 run by the Mountaineers cut the lead to eight in the second half, thanks in part to seven turnovers in four minutes by the Wildcats.West Virginia (14-3, 3-2) would get as close as six, but the Wildcats held on and won by 16 for their third straight win against the Mountaineers.“They were desperate,” West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said. “They did whatever they wanted to do.”Miles McBride and Chase Harler paced the Mountaineers with 11 points each, Gabe Osabuohein had 10 as West Virginia lost their first game when the trailed at halftime.Turnovers proved costly for West Virginia as they committed 18 and Kansas State scored 28 off those mistakes.“I’m getting used to the turnovers,” Huggins said. “We average 20 a game, but we didn’t guard. We just didn’t.”Kansas State shot 59% from the field and held the Mountaineers to 45%. The Wildcats hit nine 3’s while West Virginia had 41 bench points.With two minutes left in the first half, it was a fastbreak dunk by Antonio Gordon assisted by Dajuan Gordon that got the crowd on their feet pushing the Wildcat lead to 11.“I felt like I lit the room and got a lot of energy,” Dajuan Gordon said. “Guys just kept hitting me and gave me the ball.”Kansas State held a 17-point lead at halftime and shot 58% in the first 20 minutes of play.Every player except for one scored at least four points for the Wildcats and they scored the second most points in a game this season.Kansas State will look to win two straight games on Tuesday for the first time since November 19th.“Everyone knows Kansas has a good team,” Diarra said. “We hope to do something that hasn’t been done there in a while.”BIG PICTUREKansas State: This was the best game played by the Wildcats all season. They needed a win like this one before taking on their in-state rival up next.West Virginia: The Mountaineers had way too many turnovers and didn’t shoot the ball very well.UP NEXTKansas State travels to Kansas on Tuesday.West Virginia hosts Texas on Monday.

Diarra, Gordon lift Kansas State over No. 12 West Virginia

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;

For most of the first 16 games,&nbsp;Wichita State coach&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=780">Gregg Marshall</a>&nbsp;knew what to expect from his team. The Shockers played unselfishly, especially after an early November readjustment, and knew how to win.

Now Marshall isn't so sure what he's got. The 16th-ranked Shockers lost their second game in a row on Saturday at Koch Arena, this one a 65-54 loss to Houston.

"I've not recognized our team the past two games," Marshall said.&nbsp;

Wichita State (15-3, 3-2 American Athletic Conference) shot 30.4 percent from the field and missed nine of its 24 foul shots. It felt a lot like Wednesday's 65-53 loss at Temple.

"I don't know what's crept in," he said. "If you're worried about you, and you're worried about how many points you're scoring, how many shots you're getting, how many minutes you're getting, then that's not healthy. We've got a lot of guys doing that."

Marshall saw too much one-on-one play and poor decisions ranging from bounce passes that the Cougars turned into layups or ill-advised shot against bigger defenders. The Shockers couldn't break down Houston's defenders one-on-one, yet they often didn't let the offensive system help.

"We're trying to do it ourselves, as opposed to trying to get someone else a shot," Marshall said. "That's just not going to work. We've got to be better at dribbling into the paint, drawing the defense, and kicking as opposed to dribbling into the paint and going up against . . . the shot-blocker ready to just spike our shot. It's just not smart."

Houston (14-4, 4-1) blocked nine shots and held Wichita State to a season-low 12 points in the paint, most of those coming off turnovers late in the game.&nbsp;

For the guts of the game, Houston kept the Shockers from scoring in the lane. The Cougars built a 22-point lead on that defense, which blanketed Wichita State's shooters, doubled the post and rarely gave up open shots.

"They beat us in every way," Marshall said. "They came in and manhandled us. I tried to tell them this is who Houston is. Some of them had to experience it."

The post-game comments&nbsp;sounded&nbsp;a lot like ones after a 69-63 win over Texas Southern in early November. After a game in which they totaled six assists, the Shockers talked about trusting teammates and running the offense. They took off after that.

A similar readjustment is necessary. The team talked about changes after the game in the locker room. Marshall said he asked them to tell him how to help.&nbsp;

"The first 16 games we played, for the most part, pretty together and shared the basketball," Shocker guard&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4217">Erik Stevenson</a>&nbsp;said. "We were reading the press, drinking the Kool-Aid. We've got to get back to being hungry dogs like we were when weren't ranked and weren't being talked about."

Houston possesses a rare blend of defenders, fast enough to guard three-point shooters and help in the lane and long enough to alter shots. Not everybody can do what they do and not everybody is coached well enough to pull it off.

On Saturday, they did it almost to perfection. Stevenson, Wichita State's leading scorer, finished with seven points on 3-of-10 shooting. Center&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4213">Jaime Echenique</a>&nbsp;scored eight points and played 14 minutes due to foul trouble.

The Shockers shot 3-of-21 from three-point range against Temple. Houston held them to 7 of 25 (28 percent). The Cougars threw aggressive double-teams at the Shocker big men to take the ball out of their hands. Jarreau followed Stevenson everywhere to take away his outside shot.&nbsp;

"Taking away their shooters – we did a really good job with that," Jarreau said.&nbsp;

Wichita State's offense only perked up late in the game when its press created turnovers. For much of the game, the offense lacked movement, which allowed the Cougars to lock in on drivers and swarm them.

"We've got to keep getting the ball moving, keep getting players moving," Wichita State guard&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4209">Jamarius Burton</a>&nbsp;said. "So the defense isn't just looking at the ball. Right now, we're stagnant."

Marshall narrowed the game&nbsp;down&nbsp;to three first-half turnovers that Houston turned into dunks or layups and his team's seven missed free throws.&nbsp;

The Cougars led 35-25 at halftime after outscoring Wichita State 9-0 on fast-break points and 10-2 in the paint.

"We talked about never bounce passing the ball on the perimeter, but we did," Marshall said. "We threw a couple bounce passes on the perimeter, which they stole and went down on the other end."



WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;

For most of the first 16 games,&nbsp;Wichita State coach&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=780">Gregg Marshall</a>&nbsp;knew what to expect from his team. The Shockers played unselfishly, especially after an early November readjustment, and knew how to win.Now Marshall isn't so sure what he's got. The 16th-ranked Shockers lost their second game in a row on Saturday at Koch Arena, this one a 65-54 loss to Houston."I've not recognized our team the past two games," Marshall said.&nbsp;Wichita State (15-3, 3-2 American Athletic Conference) shot 30.4 percent from the field and missed nine of its 24 foul shots. It felt a lot like Wednesday's 65-53 loss at Temple.Marshall doesn't like that feeling."I don't know what's crept in," he said. "If you're worried about you, and you're worried about how many points you're scoring, how many shots you're getting, how many minutes you're getting, then that's not healthy. We've got a lot of guys doing that."Marshall saw too much one-on-one play and poor decisions ranging from bounce passes that the Cougars turned into layups or ill-advised shot against bigger defenders. The Shockers couldn't break down Houston's defenders one-on-one, yet they often didn't let the offensive system help."We're trying to do it ourselves, as opposed to trying to get someone else a shot," Marshall said. "That's just not going to work. We've got to be better at dribbling into the paint, drawing the defense, and kicking as opposed to dribbling into the paint and going up against . . . the shot-blocker ready to just spike our shot. It's just not smart."Houston (14-4, 4-1) blocked nine shots and held Wichita State to a season-low 12 points in the paint, most of those coming off turnovers late in the game.&nbsp;For the guts of the game, Houston kept the Shockers from scoring in the lane. The Cougars built a 22-point lead on that defense, which blanketed Wichita State's shooters, doubled the post and rarely gave up open shots."They beat us in every way," Marshall said. "They came in and manhandled us. I tried to tell them this is who Houston is. Some of them had to experience it."The post-game comments&nbsp;sounded&nbsp;a lot like ones after a 69-63 win over Texas Southern in early November. After a game in which they totaled six assists, the Shockers talked about trusting teammates and running the offense. They took off after that.A similar readjustment is necessary. The team talked about changes after the game in the locker room. Marshall said he asked them to tell him how to help.&nbsp;"The first 16 games we played, for the most part, pretty together and shared the basketball," Shocker guard&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4217">Erik Stevenson</a>&nbsp;said. "We were reading the press, drinking the Kool-Aid. We've got to get back to being hungry dogs like we were when weren't ranked and weren't being talked about."Houston possesses a rare blend of defenders, fast enough to guard three-point shooters and help in the lane and long enough to alter shots. Not everybody can do what they do and not everybody is coached well enough to pull it off.On Saturday, they did it almost to perfection. Stevenson, Wichita State's leading scorer, finished with seven points on 3-of-10 shooting. Center&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4213">Jaime Echenique</a>&nbsp;scored eight points and played 14 minutes due to foul trouble.The Shockers shot 3-of-21 from three-point range against Temple. Houston held them to 7 of 25 (28 percent). The Cougars threw aggressive double-teams at the Shocker big men to take the ball out of their hands. Jarreau followed Stevenson everywhere to take away his outside shot.&nbsp;"Taking away their shooters – we did a really good job with that," Jarreau said.&nbsp;Wichita State's offense only perked up late in the game when its press created turnovers. For much of the game, the offense lacked movement, which allowed the Cougars to lock in on drivers and swarm them."We've got to keep getting the ball moving, keep getting players moving," Wichita State guard&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4209">Jamarius Burton</a>&nbsp;said. "So the defense isn't just looking at the ball. Right now, we're stagnant."Marshall narrowed the game&nbsp;down&nbsp;to three first-half turnovers that Houston turned into dunks or layups and his team's seven missed free throws.&nbsp;The Cougars led 35-25 at halftime after outscoring Wichita State 9-0 on fast-break points and 10-2 in the paint."We talked about never bounce passing the ball on the perimeter, but we did," Marshall said. "We threw a couple bounce passes on the perimeter, which they stole and went down on the other end."

Shockers Offense Struggles in Loss to Houston

Marysville vs. Abilene, ppd. to Jan 18th.

Some high school basketball scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

Saturday's ScoresBy The Associated PressBOYS PREP BASKETBALL=Guymon, Okla. 57, Dodge City 53Hoisington 56, Hesston 53Madison/Hamilton 40, Burlingame 38Marysville 59, Abilene 50Pretty Prairie 63, Cunningham 36Riverside 50, Royal Valley 48MCL Tournament=Play-in=Hill City 54, Oakley 27Phillipsburg 51, Stockton 50Trego 52, Smith Center 39SCBL Tournament=Play-in=West Elk 42, Argonia 21Twin Valley League Tournament=First Round=Axtell 55, Troy 44Clifton-Clyde 86, Onaga 15Frankfort 54, Linn 31Hanover 59, Doniphan West 29Valley Heights 59, Wetmore 36POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS=Solomon vs. Wakefield, ppd. to Jan 18th.GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=Dodge City 61, Guymon, Okla. 29Erie, Colo. 66, Pratt Skyline 40Hesston 51, Hoisington 30Nemaha Central 57, Jefferson West 40Royal Valley 67, Riverside 34Aquin Tournament=Galena 41, Dixon, Ill. 37SCBL Tournament=Play-in=Caldwell 31, Oxford 28TVL Tournament=First Round=BV Randolph 52, Linn 21Centralia 52, Onaga 26Doniphan West 65, Axtell 38Frankfort 55, Wetmore 40Washington County 48, Troy 31POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS=Marysville vs. Abilene, ppd. to Jan 18th.Solomon vs. Wakefield, ppd. to Jan 18th.___Some high school basketball scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

Saturday Prep Scores across Kansas

CHAMPAIGN, ILL&nbsp;– Illinois Head Football Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1067">Lovie Smith</a>&nbsp;announced several changes on the Fighting Illini coaching staff today.

Defensive passing game coordinator and safeties coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1083">Gill Byrd</a>&nbsp;has chosen to step away from the program.

"The Byrd family loves the Smith family," Byrd said. "As Christians, my wife and I have always functioned under the principle that you finish what you started. Because of the priority that God places on the family and because of an illness in our family, we believe our time is up here in Champaign-Urbana. I would like to thank Lovie and everyone at the University of Illinois for the great time we've had while in Champaign-Urbana. The future is bright for both the Byrds and the University of Illinois football program."

Byrd coached at Illinois for two seasons after working with Smith for the St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1083">Gill Byrd</a>&nbsp;is like a brother to me,"&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1067">Lovie Smith</a>&nbsp;said. "We have coached together at four different stops and he has had an incredible influence on the teams and players at each place he's been. As good a coach as he is on the field, Gill is even a better person. I hope for nothing but the best for Gill and his family. We will miss him greatly around our program."

Joining the Illinois staff this offseason will be Alfred Davis, coaching defensive tackles, and Jimmy Lindsey, coaching defensive ends. With the departure of Byrd,&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1088">Keynodo Hudson</a>&nbsp;will coach all defensive backs after coaching cornerbacks in 2019.

Davis comes to Illinois following two seasons at Hutchinson Community College where he had been promoted to associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator. Davis was a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas for the 2014-16 seasons. During his playing career as a defensive tackle at Arkansas from 2008-12, he made 78 total tackles, five tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. A native of College Park, Ga. (Banneker HS, also served as a volunteer coach at Fayetteville (Ark.) High School in 2013 before joining Arkansas as a graduate assistant.

Lindsey will coach Illini defensive ends after three seasons at Western Kentucky, where he also tutored defensive ends and served as the recruiting coordinator. A native of Norvan, N.C., Lindsey played linebacker at Chattanooga from 1996-99, where he started his coaching career as an assistant from 2000-01 before coaching linebackers there in 2002. He also has stops at Gardner-Webb, Miami (Ohio, Tennessee-Martin, Furman, Georgia Southern before the last three seasons at Western Kentucky. Lindsey has experienced four NFL minority coaching internships with the Cleveland Browns (2006, Detroit Lions (2008, Denver Broncos (2010) and San Diego Chargers (2013).

"Jimmy Lindsey and Alfred Davis fit our staff as well as you could hope for," Smith said. "Coach Lindsey has coached some outstanding players during his career and is a proven recruiter at each of his previous coaching stops. He has a great reputation in coaching edge rushers and comes highly recommended.

"Coach Davis is a rising star in the coaching world," Smith said. "The work he has already done at an early age is impressive and we are getting a high-energy coach who also should be an outstanding recruiter."

CHAMPAIGN, ILL&nbsp;– Illinois Head Football Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1067">Lovie Smith</a>&nbsp;announced several changes on the Fighting Illini coaching staff today.Defensive passing game coordinator and safeties coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1083">Gill Byrd</a>&nbsp;has chosen to step away from the program."The Byrd family loves the Smith family," Byrd said. "As Christians, my wife and I have always functioned under the principle that you finish what you started. Because of the priority that God places on the family and because of an illness in our family, we believe our time is up here in Champaign-Urbana. I would like to thank Lovie and everyone at the University of Illinois for the great time we've had while in Champaign-Urbana. The future is bright for both the Byrds and the University of Illinois football program."Byrd coached at Illinois for two seasons after working with Smith for the St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers."<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1083">Gill Byrd</a>&nbsp;is like a brother to me,"&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1067">Lovie Smith</a>&nbsp;said. "We have coached together at four different stops and he has had an incredible influence on the teams and players at each place he's been. As good a coach as he is on the field, Gill is even a better person. I hope for nothing but the best for Gill and his family. We will miss him greatly around our program."Joining the Illinois staff this offseason will be Alfred Davis, coaching defensive tackles, and Jimmy Lindsey, coaching defensive ends. With the departure of Byrd,&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1088">Keynodo Hudson</a>&nbsp;will coach all defensive backs after coaching cornerbacks in 2019.Davis comes to Illinois following two seasons at Hutchinson Community College where he had been promoted to associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator. Davis was a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas for the 2014-16 seasons. During his playing career as a defensive tackle at Arkansas from 2008-12, he made 78 total tackles, five tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. A native of College Park, Ga. (Banneker HS, also served as a volunteer coach at Fayetteville (Ark.) High School in 2013 before joining Arkansas as a graduate assistant.Lindsey will coach Illini defensive ends after three seasons at Western Kentucky, where he also tutored defensive ends and served as the recruiting coordinator. A native of Norvan, N.C., Lindsey played linebacker at Chattanooga from 1996-99, where he started his coaching career as an assistant from 2000-01 before coaching linebackers there in 2002. He also has stops at Gardner-Webb, Miami (Ohio, Tennessee-Martin, Furman, Georgia Southern before the last three seasons at Western Kentucky. Lindsey has experienced four NFL minority coaching internships with the Cleveland Browns (2006, Detroit Lions (2008, Denver Broncos (2010) and San Diego Chargers (2013)."Jimmy Lindsey and Alfred Davis fit our staff as well as you could hope for," Smith said. "Coach Lindsey has coached some outstanding players during his career and is a proven recruiter at each of his previous coaching stops. He has a great reputation in coaching edge rushers and comes highly recommended."Coach Davis is a rising star in the coaching world," Smith said. "The work he has already done at an early age is impressive and we are getting a high-energy coach who also should be an outstanding recruiter."

Blue Dragon defensive coordinator/D-line coach Al Davis hired by Illinois

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game. For Chiefs coach Andy Reid it's one more opportunity to return to the Super Bowl. That's something he's accomplished only once in his long career. For Titans counterpart Mike Vrabel it's an opportunity to make it back as a coach after winning three Lombardi Trophies as a player in New England. The game features the power running of the Titans' Derrick Henry and the aerial assault of the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes in an intriguing matchup for a spot in Miami.

UNDATED (AP) — The Big 12 continues conference play with second-ranked Baylor trying to protect a perfect conference record. The Bears are 14-1 overall and 4-0 in Big 12 play. They visit Oklahoma State on Saturday. Elsewhere, sixth-ranked Kansas will try to keep pace when they visit Texas. On the women's side, No. 2 Baylor has a tough game against No. 17 West Virginia this weekend.

UNDATED (AP) — Pro Picks is surprised. Consider that the NFC title game is a matchup of the conferences's top two seeds. The spread favors host San Francisco over Green Bay by 7 1-2 points. In the AFC, it's the sixth-seeded Titans at No. 2 seed Kansas City, which would seem to be more of a mismatch. Yet the spread is also 7 1-2.

CLEMSON, S. C. (AP) — Two-time ACC player of the year Travis Etienne is returning to Clemson for his senior season after being projected as a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Etienne has gained a school-record 4,038 yards for the Tigers, breaking the mark by gaining 78 in Monday’s 42-25 loss to LSU in the CFP championship game. He gained 1,614 yards last season while also scoring 19 touchdowns, becoming the conference career leader with 56 rushing TDs.

WACO, Texas (AP) — Baylor has hired LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda as its new football coach. The deal was finalized three days after LSU beat Clemson for the national championship. He replaces Matt Rhule, who last week became head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros owner Jim Crane expects to hire a new manager by Feb. 3. The Astros need a new manager and general manager after AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow were fired Monday, hours after both were suspended by Major League Baseball for a year for the team's sign-stealing scandal. Crane says his list is still pretty extensive and that he hopes to have it narrowed down by the end of next week.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lee Westwood has moved into a one-shot lead after the third round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Westwood carded a seven-under 65 to close in on what would be his 25th career title on the European Tour. He is one ahead of Bernd Wiesberger and second-round leader Francesco Laporta. The top-ranked Brooks Koepka recovered from a poor round on Friday by firing a two-under 70 and is tied for 48th. It's Koepka's first tournament since returning from a knee injury he aggravated in October.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game. For Chiefs coach Andy Reid it's one more opportunity to return to the Super Bowl. That's something he's accomplished only once in his long career. For Titans counterpart Mike Vrabel it's an opportunity to make it back as a coach after winning three Lombardi Trophies as a player in New England. The game features the power running of the Titans' Derrick Henry and the aerial assault of the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes in an intriguing matchup for a spot in Miami.UNDATED (AP) — The Big 12 continues conference play with second-ranked Baylor trying to protect a perfect conference record. The Bears are 14-1 overall and 4-0 in Big 12 play. They visit Oklahoma State on Saturday. Elsewhere, sixth-ranked Kansas will try to keep pace when they visit Texas. On the women's side, No. 2 Baylor has a tough game against No. 17 West Virginia this weekend.UNDATED (AP) — Pro Picks is surprised. Consider that the NFC title game is a matchup of the conferences's top two seeds. The spread favors host San Francisco over Green Bay by 7 1-2 points. In the AFC, it's the sixth-seeded Titans at No. 2 seed Kansas City, which would seem to be more of a mismatch. Yet the spread is also 7 1-2.National HeadlinesCLEMSON, S. C. (AP) — Two-time ACC player of the year Travis Etienne is returning to Clemson for his senior season after being projected as a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Etienne has gained a school-record 4,038 yards for the Tigers, breaking the mark by gaining 78 in Monday’s 42-25 loss to LSU in the CFP championship game. He gained 1,614 yards last season while also scoring 19 touchdowns, becoming the conference career leader with 56 rushing TDs.WACO, Texas (AP) — Baylor has hired LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda as its new football coach. The deal was finalized three days after LSU beat Clemson for the national championship. He replaces Matt Rhule, who last week became head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers.HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros owner Jim Crane expects to hire a new manager by Feb. 3. The Astros need a new manager and general manager after AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow were fired Monday, hours after both were suspended by Major League Baseball for a year for the team's sign-stealing scandal. Crane says his list is still pretty extensive and that he hopes to have it narrowed down by the end of next week.ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lee Westwood has moved into a one-shot lead after the third round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Westwood carded a seven-under 65 to close in on what would be his 25th career title on the European Tour. He is one ahead of Bernd Wiesberger and second-round leader Francesco Laporta. The top-ranked Brooks Koepka recovered from a poor round on Friday by firing a two-under 70 and is tied for 48th. It's Koepka's first tournament since returning from a knee injury he aggravated in October.Friday ScoresTOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal OT (13)Dayton 78 Saint Louis 76Final (15)Michigan St. 67 Wisconsin 55Final Iowa 90 (19)Michigan 83NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal Philadelphia 100 Chicago 89Final Indiana 116 Minnesota 114Final Toronto 140 Washington 111Final Memphis 113 Cleveland 109Final Miami 115 Oklahoma City 108Final Atlanta 121 San Antonio 120Final Dallas 120 Portland 112

Saturday Sports Headlines

SALINA, Kan. - The Salina Central boys jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead and never looked back as they throttled the Hutchinson Salthawks 55-48 at the Brickhouse in Salina Friday night.

Hutchinson answered the opening blitz by the Mustangs to pull within 7 at the end of the first quarter to trail 14-7, and let by 12 at the half.

Salina Central senior Javon Burnett started the second half with back-to-back threes to lead an 8-2 run by the Mustangs to lead 36-20. Hutchinson responded after a timeout to pull within 8 before Salina Central finished off the third quarter to lead again by 12, 42-30.

The Salthawks fought back to close the gap to 3 at 49-46, but Salina Central Super Sophomore guard Logan Losey hit 4 straight free throws in the quarter to lock the victory up.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hutchinson Junior Treyton Peterson paced the Salthawks with 12 points.&nbsp; The Mustangs Reed McHenry led Salina Central with 14 points.

Salina Central is young, but showed they can play as Hampton Willions 8 of her 16 points all in the fourth quarter to help the No. 4 (5A) ranked Mustangs over Hutchinson 55-42 Friday in Salina.

The Mustangs put the press on to score 7 points within the first 20 seconds of the first quarter to quickly lead 7-0, but the Salthawks rallied back to tie it at 10-10.&nbsp; Salina Central Sophomore Aubrie Kierscht quickly hit a trey to get the lead back to 17-14.&nbsp; The second quarter was a drought for the Salthawks being held to 1 free throw and only 1 field goad scored which was scored late in the quarter to make the score Mustangs 27, Salhawks 17 at the half.

Salina Central pushed the lead to 11 before Hutch came up with a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 4 at 34-30, but the Mustangs pushed the lead to double digets again soon after.

The Salthawks fought back to within 5 again, but Central went on an 8-0 run to close out the ball game to win 55-42.

Salina Central was led by Kierscht with 18 and Williams with 16.&nbsp; Hutch Highs Tina Robertson scored 17 to lead the Salthawks.

Next action for the Hutchinson boys is in the Orange and Black Classic in Colby next Thursday as they open against Pine Creek HS out of Colorado Springs at 3:00 pm.

The Lady Salthawks travel to Goddard Eisenhower on Tuesday, January 21st with a single game @ 7:15 pm.

SALINA, Kan. - The Salina Central boys jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead and never looked back as they throttled the Hutchinson Salthawks 55-48 at the Brickhouse in Salina Friday night.Hutchinson answered the opening blitz by the Mustangs to pull within 7 at the end of the first quarter to trail 14-7, and let by 12 at the half.Salina Central senior Javon Burnett started the second half with back-to-back threes to lead an 8-2 run by the Mustangs to lead 36-20. Hutchinson responded after a timeout to pull within 8 before Salina Central finished off the third quarter to lead again by 12, 42-30.The Salthawks fought back to close the gap to 3 at 49-46, but Salina Central Super Sophomore guard Logan Losey hit 4 straight free throws in the quarter to lock the victory up.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hutchinson Junior Treyton Peterson paced the Salthawks with 12 points.&nbsp; The Mustangs Reed McHenry led Salina Central with 14 points.<h2>Central Girls 55, Hutch 42</h2>Salina Central is young, but showed they can play as Hampton Willions 8 of her 16 points all in the fourth quarter to help the No. 4 (5A) ranked Mustangs over Hutchinson 55-42 Friday in Salina.The Mustangs put the press on to score 7 points within the first 20 seconds of the first quarter to quickly lead 7-0, but the Salthawks rallied back to tie it at 10-10.&nbsp; Salina Central Sophomore Aubrie Kierscht quickly hit a trey to get the lead back to 17-14.&nbsp; The second quarter was a drought for the Salthawks being held to 1 free throw and only 1 field goad scored which was scored late in the quarter to make the score Mustangs 27, Salhawks 17 at the half.Salina Central pushed the lead to 11 before Hutch came up with a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 4 at 34-30, but the Mustangs pushed the lead to double digets again soon after.The Salthawks fought back to within 5 again, but Central went on an 8-0 run to close out the ball game to win 55-42.Salina Central was led by Kierscht with 18 and Williams with 16.&nbsp; Hutch Highs Tina Robertson scored 17 to lead the Salthawks.Next action for the Hutchinson boys is in the Orange and Black Classic in Colby next Thursday as they open against Pine Creek HS out of Colorado Springs at 3:00 pm.The Lady Salthawks travel to Goddard Eisenhower on Tuesday, January 21st with a single game @ 7:15 pm.

Salthawks drop 2 to Salina Central

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs had just lost to the Tennessee Titans, their fourth defeat in the first 10 games of the season, and much of the optimism that surrounded the defending AFC champions had begun to evaporate amid the barbecue smoke that wafts over Arrowhead Stadium each autumn.

That’s when team owner Clark Hunt chose to speak publicly for the first time since training camp.

“We have had some outstanding players here over the years,” Hunt said with conviction, “but I don’t think we have had one like Patrick Mahomes in a very long time. Having him as the Chiefs quarterback really gives us an opportunity every year to be competitive and hopefully compete for an AFC championship, and ultimately a Super Bowl.”

It turned out to be a prescient statement.

The Chiefs haven’t lost since that point in Week 10, rolling through the rest of the regular season and climbing out of a 24-0 hole to beat Houston 51-31 in the divisional round of the playoffs. And they’ll aim to keep that roll going Sunday, when they get a rematch with the Titans at home with spot in the Super Bowl riding on the outcome.

Much of the credit belongs to Mahomes, who has quietly followed up his MVP season with another spectacular run. He eclipsed 4,000 yards passing despite missing two games with a serious knee injury, threw 26 touchdown passes against just five interceptions, and he was even better against the Texans last weekend.

Mahomes became the first player with at least 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing and five TD throws in a playoff game, all while keeping the Chiefs in the right mindset as they embarked on the greatest comeback in franchise history.

“Best quarterback in the NFL,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said afterward. “He’ll prove it again next week.”

Mahomes may not have been the best this season, of course. The ankle injury he sustained in the opener in Jacksonville and the knee injury he sustained in Denver slowed him down most of the way, and the records that Baltimore counterpart Lamar Jackson shattered could make him the heir for Mahomes’ player of the year hardware.

But much to the chagrin of fantasy football diehards, statistics only tell part of the story, and the reality is Mahomes is a much better quarterback than he was as a first-time starter. The experience he gained while leading the Chiefs to the AFC title game last season was invaluable. His footwork and mechanics are further refined. The photographic memory that allows Mahomes to dissect defenses in the blink of an eye has been honed by hundreds of hours of film study.

He still makes every throw in the book, not to mention many that are nowhere to be found. But Mahomes has improved in just about everything else that comes with playing the most crucial position in the modern NFL.

“This guy can make every single play on the field,” Titans safety Kevin Byard said. “Playing those guys earlier in the year, I just remember at the end of the game and the next day my body was sore. I was mentally tired, and I feel like this is the same exact feeling I’m going to have at the end of this game, by being really mentally keyed in on every single snap, trying to really understand what they’re trying to do to us to defeat us.”

It is all those things — the talent, the mentality, the winning persona — that have made Mahomes among the best values in professional sports. What he’s accomplished in his young career has been done on his rookie contract, paying him a shade over $5 million this season, or less than what 10 players make on his very own team.

That is about to change in a record-setting way.

The Chiefs are able to negotiate a long-term deal with Mahomes for the first time this offseason, and some front office executives believe the going price will be a four- or five-year contract worth about $40 million annually. That would just about match the salary of the Warriors’ Steph Curry, the highest-paid player in the NBA this season, and eclipse the roughly $38 million that the Angels’ Mike Trout will make in 2020 as the best-paid player in baseball.

The Chiefs have been planning for it, too, structuring contracts the past couple of seasons with an eye on his future.

“We are certainly excited about the opportunity to extend Patrick’s stay with the Chiefs and hope that it lasts his entire career,” Hunt said. “It’s probably a little bit premature to be talking about a new contract. Everyone knows that the first opportunity that we’ll have to re-sign him will come at the end of this season. But that is a decision that we will have to make with his representatives, whether this is the right time, or perhaps a year from now.”

In the meantime, the only thing Mahomes is focused on is the AFC title game.

He led the Chiefs within a coin toss and untimely a penalty of perhaps beating the Patriots in overtime last season, and Mahomes freely admits that near-miss drove him through the summer. Now, he has the Chiefs back on the cusp of their first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years, and only the Titans are standing in the way.

“I mean, until you win that Super Bowl, I don’t think you can be complacent with anything,” Mahomes said. “Being that close last year, you want to find a way to win, and until you’re able to do that and do it multiple times, you’re never going to get complacent with where you’re at.”

Notes: DT Chris Jones (calf) missed practice Thursday for the second consecutive day. RB LeSean McCoy and QB Matt Moore remained out with an illness. ... Special teams coach Dave Toub asked Thursday what a long-awaited championship for Reid would mean to him, and he replied: “Nobody deserves it more than Andy. He’s such a great coach. To not have a Super Bowl win under his belt, this would be huge. I don’t know if I’d stop crying. I’d probably hug him forever.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs had just lost to the Tennessee Titans, their fourth defeat in the first 10 games of the season, and much of the optimism that surrounded the defending AFC champions had begun to evaporate amid the barbecue smoke that wafts over Arrowhead Stadium each autumn.That’s when team owner Clark Hunt chose to speak publicly for the first time since training camp.“We have had some outstanding players here over the years,” Hunt said with conviction, “but I don’t think we have had one like Patrick Mahomes in a very long time. Having him as the Chiefs quarterback really gives us an opportunity every year to be competitive and hopefully compete for an AFC championship, and ultimately a Super Bowl.”It turned out to be a prescient statement.The Chiefs haven’t lost since that point in Week 10, rolling through the rest of the regular season and climbing out of a 24-0 hole to beat Houston 51-31 in the divisional round of the playoffs. And they’ll aim to keep that roll going Sunday, when they get a rematch with the Titans at home with spot in the Super Bowl riding on the outcome.Much of the credit belongs to Mahomes, who has quietly followed up his MVP season with another spectacular run. He eclipsed 4,000 yards passing despite missing two games with a serious knee injury, threw 26 touchdown passes against just five interceptions, and he was even better against the Texans last weekend.Mahomes became the first player with at least 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing and five TD throws in a playoff game, all while keeping the Chiefs in the right mindset as they embarked on the greatest comeback in franchise history.“Best quarterback in the NFL,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said afterward. “He’ll prove it again next week.”Mahomes may not have been the best this season, of course. The ankle injury he sustained in the opener in Jacksonville and the knee injury he sustained in Denver slowed him down most of the way, and the records that Baltimore counterpart Lamar Jackson shattered could make him the heir for Mahomes’ player of the year hardware.But much to the chagrin of fantasy football diehards, statistics only tell part of the story, and the reality is Mahomes is a much better quarterback than he was as a first-time starter. The experience he gained while leading the Chiefs to the AFC title game last season was invaluable. His footwork and mechanics are further refined. The photographic memory that allows Mahomes to dissect defenses in the blink of an eye has been honed by hundreds of hours of film study.He still makes every throw in the book, not to mention many that are nowhere to be found. But Mahomes has improved in just about everything else that comes with playing the most crucial position in the modern NFL.“This guy can make every single play on the field,” Titans safety Kevin Byard said. “Playing those guys earlier in the year, I just remember at the end of the game and the next day my body was sore. I was mentally tired, and I feel like this is the same exact feeling I’m going to have at the end of this game, by being really mentally keyed in on every single snap, trying to really understand what they’re trying to do to us to defeat us.”It is all those things — the talent, the mentality, the winning persona — that have made Mahomes among the best values in professional sports. What he’s accomplished in his young career has been done on his rookie contract, paying him a shade over $5 million this season, or less than what 10 players make on his very own team.That is about to change in a record-setting way.The Chiefs are able to negotiate a long-term deal with Mahomes for the first time this offseason, and some front office executives believe the going price will be a four- or five-year contract worth about $40 million annually. That would just about match the salary of the Warriors’ Steph Curry, the highest-paid player in the NBA this season, and eclipse the roughly $38 million that the Angels’ Mike Trout will make in 2020 as the best-paid player in baseball.The Chiefs have been planning for it, too, structuring contracts the past couple of seasons with an eye on his future.“We are certainly excited about the opportunity to extend Patrick’s stay with the Chiefs and hope that it lasts his entire career,” Hunt said. “It’s probably a little bit premature to be talking about a new contract. Everyone knows that the first opportunity that we’ll have to re-sign him will come at the end of this season. But that is a decision that we will have to make with his representatives, whether this is the right time, or perhaps a year from now.”In the meantime, the only thing Mahomes is focused on is the AFC title game.He led the Chiefs within a coin toss and untimely a penalty of perhaps beating the Patriots in overtime last season, and Mahomes freely admits that near-miss drove him through the summer. Now, he has the Chiefs back on the cusp of their first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years, and only the Titans are standing in the way.“I mean, until you win that Super Bowl, I don’t think you can be complacent with anything,” Mahomes said. “Being that close last year, you want to find a way to win, and until you’re able to do that and do it multiple times, you’re never going to get complacent with where you’re at.”Notes: DT Chris Jones (calf) missed practice Thursday for the second consecutive day. RB LeSean McCoy and QB Matt Moore remained out with an illness. ... Special teams coach Dave Toub asked Thursday what a long-awaited championship for Reid would mean to him, and he replied: “Nobody deserves it more than Andy. He’s such a great coach. To not have a Super Bowl win under his belt, this would be huge. I don’t know if I’d stop crying. I’d probably hug him forever.”

Chiefs’ Mahomes still starring with big money on horizon

Area High School Basketball Scores

Hutchinson Central Christian 58, Norwich 40

Wichita Bishop Carroll 65, Kapaun Mount Carmel 55

Abilene vs. Clay Center, ppd. to Feb 3rd.

Burlingame vs. Madison/Hamilton, ppd. to Jan 18th.

Chase County vs. Osage City, ppd. to Feb 20th.

Lincoln vs. St. John's Beloit-Tipton, ppd.

Olathe Northwest vs. Lawrence Free State, ppd.

Southeast Saline vs. Republic County, ppd.

Bishop Seabury Academy 40, Veritas Christian 13

Friday's ScoresBy The Associated Press<h2>BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=</h2>Andale 60, Wellington 29Andover 46, Derby 43Augusta 65, Winfield 47BV Northwest 67, BV North 64Basehor-Linwood 58, DeSoto 43Berean Academy 63, Sterling 46Bonner Springs 55, Eudora 42Cedar Vale/Dexter Co-op 50, Caldwell 47Cheney 69, Chaparral 62Chetopa 63, Tyro Community Christian 49Columbus 53, Baxter Springs 48Dodge City 59, Liberal 53Erie 62, Eureka 48Flinthills 36, Wichita Classical 32Frontenac 56, Girard 53Galena 46, Riverton 42Garden Plain 65, Conway Springs 42Goddard-Eisenhower 56, Maize 52Greeley County 52, Rawlins County 34Hays 50, Garden City 36Hesston 53, Halstead 24Hodgeman County 39, Minneola 22Hutchinson Central Christian 58, Norwich 40Kingman 59, Douglass 28Lebo 77, Southern Coffey 23Lyons 43, Nickerson 38Maize South 65, Goddard 35McPherson 67, El Dorado 43Parsons 65, Fort Scott 22Pratt Skyline 53, Attica 50Rockhurst, Mo. 63, Blue Valley 56Rose Hill 51, Mulvane 48Salina Central 55, Hutchinson 48Salina South 75, Newton 62Sedan 48, Oswego 40South Gray 74, Ashland 33St. Paul 26, Pittsburg Colgan 22Topeka Hayden 47, Topeka Seaman 46Trego 46, Ness City 27Ulysses 60, Goodland 52Valley Center 54, Andover Central 42Wallace County 56, Quinter 55Washburn Rural 60, Topeka West 55West Elk 60, Central Plains 21Wichita Bishop Carroll 65, Kapaun Mount Carmel 55Wichita Collegiate 49, Clearwater 45Wichita East 61, Wichita Northwest 52Wichita South 61, Wichita North 31POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS=Abilene vs. Clay Center, ppd. to Feb 3rd.Anderson County vs. Santa Fe Trail, ppd.Beloit vs. Minneapolis, ppd.Buhler vs. Circle, ppd.Burlingame vs. Madison/Hamilton, ppd. to Jan 18th.Canton-Galva vs. Goessel, ppd.Chase County vs. Osage City, ppd. to Feb 20th.Concordia vs. Chapman, ppd.Ellinwood vs. Macksville, ppd.Elyria Christian vs. Rural Vista, ppd.Hays-TMP-Marian vs. Smith Center, ppd.Hillsboro vs. Haven, ppd.Hoisington vs. Smoky Valley, ppd.Holcomb vs. Scott City, ppd.Holton vs. Hiawatha, ppd.Hugoton vs. Colby, ppd.Jefferson West vs. Nemaha Central, ppd.Larned vs. Pratt, ppd.Lincoln vs. St. John's Beloit-Tipton, ppd.Louisburg vs. Baldwin, ppd.Manhattan vs. Highland Park, ppd.Marion vs. Hutchinson Trinity, ppd.McLouth vs. Jackson Heights, ccd.Moundridge vs. Inman, ppd.Natoma vs. Southern Cloud, ppd.Olathe Northwest vs. Lawrence Free State, ppd.Oxford vs. South Haven, ppd.Phillipsburg vs. Norton, ppd.Riley County vs. Silver Lake, ppd.Rock Creek vs. Wabaunsee, ppd.Rock Hills vs. Osborne, ppd.Rolla vs. Deerfield, ppd.Royal Valley vs. Riverside, ppd.Southeast Saline vs. Republic County, ppd.Thunder Ridge vs. Wilson, ppd.West Franklin vs. Mission Valley, ccd.<h2>GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=</h2>Andale 41, Wellington 26Andover Central 53, Valley Center 20Argonia 28, Udall 22BV North 48, BV Northwest 18BV Southwest 39, St. James Academy 34Baxter Springs 42, Columbus 22Bishop Seabury Academy 40, Veritas Christian 13Cheney 53, Chaparral 24Chetopa 56, Tyro Community Christian 29Cimarron 49, Syracuse 32Clearwater 51, Wichita Collegiate 42DeSoto 50, Basehor-Linwood 35Derby 58, Andover 24Eureka 55, Erie 30Frontenac 59, Girard 47Galena 31, Riverton 29Garden City 54, Hays 40Garden Plain 47, Conway Springs 34Goodland 70, Ulysses 29Halstead 48, Hesston 37Herington 57, Peabody-Burns 32Hodgeman County 47, Minneola 23Hutchinson Central Christian 28, Norwich 27Kingman 51, Douglass 26Lebo 56, Southern Coffey 27Liberal 51, Dodge City 49, OTMaize 55, Goddard-Eisenhower 21Maize South 34, Goddard 32McPherson 52, El Dorado 22Nickerson 58, Lyons 29Rawlins County 53, Greeley County 40Rose Hill 49, Mulvane 31Salina Central 55, Hutchinson 42Salina South 49, Newton 18Sedan 53, Oswego 25Sharon Springs 52, Quinter 42Shawnee Heights 60, KC Turner 7South Haven 39, Oxford 22St. Paul 40, Pittsburg Colgan 38, OTSterling 54, Berean Academy 34Sublette 47, Southwestern Hts. 34Topeka Hayden 61, Topeka Seaman 52Trego 65, Ness City 15Washburn Rural 71, Topeka West 26Waverly 95, Marais des Cygnes Valley 13Wichita Bishop Carroll 50, Kapaun Mount Carmel 49Wichita Heights 82, Wichita Southeast 52Wichita Trinity 68, Belle Plaine 46Winfield 29, Augusta 23POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS=Abilene vs. Clay Center, ppd. to Feb 3rd.Anderson County vs. Santa Fe Trail, ppd.Beloit vs. Minneapolis, ppd.Bishop Miege vs. St. Thomas Aquinas, ppd. to Jan 29th.Canton-Galva vs. Goessel, ppd.Chase County vs. Osage City, ppd. to Feb 20th.Concordia vs. Chapman, ppd.Elyria Christian vs. Rural Vista, ppd.Hoisington vs. Smoky Valley, ppd.Holton vs. Hiawatha, ppd.Jefferson West vs. Nemaha Central, ppd.Lincoln vs. St. John's Beloit-Tipton, ppd.Louisburg vs. Baldwin, ppd.Manhattan vs. Highland Park, ppd.McLouth vs. Jackson Heights, ccd.Olathe Northwest vs. Lawrence Free State, ppd.Osawatomie vs. Prairie View, ppd.Ottawa vs. Topeka, ccd.Pretty Prairie vs. Cunningham, ppd.Riley County vs. Silver Lake, ppd.Rock Hills vs. Osborne, ppd.Royal Valley vs. Riverside, ppd.Solomon vs. Wakefield, ppd. to Jan 18th.Southeast Saline vs. Republic County, ppd.Southern Cloud vs. Natoma, ppd.Thunder Ridge vs. Wilson, ppd.___Some high school basketball scores provided by Scorestream.com, https://scorestream.com/

Area High School Basketball Scores from Friday

David Dayne Glass, who served as President and CEO of Walmart Inc. from 1988 to 2000 when he led the company through extraordinary growth, died January 9, according to the Glass family. He was 84.

He died of complications associated with pneumonia, according to a media release from the Glass family.

Most recently Glass was owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas City Royals, a team he helped lead to two consecutive World Series appearances and in 2015 brought the World Championship trophy to the fans of Kansas City. Glass and his family sold the Royals late last year.

A native of Mountain View, MO, Glass served in the U.S. Army after graduating high school from 1954-56. After leaving the Army Glass earned a business degree from Southwest Missouri State University, now named Missouri State University, in Springfield, MO.

Upon graduation Glass began his retail career in 1960 with Crank Drug Company in Springfield. He left Crank in 1968 after the company was sold and worked for two other companies, including serving as General Manager of Consumer Markets in Springfield. In 1976, Glass was recruited by Walmart founder Sam Walton to become Walmart's Chief Financial Officer.

Glass was named President and CEO of Walmart in 1988 and served in that role for 12 years. During his term in that role, Glass guided the company through a period of extraordinary growth both in terms of revenues and expansion including retail acquisitions, expansions including new retail formats and significant international expansion. Specifically, under Glass' leadership, Walmart:

Glass led a team of managers who adopted new and innovative technologies to streamline operations and improve customer service. This included the development of automated distribution centers, linked by computers to Walmart headquarters, stores and suppliers, which enabled the company to expand beyond a regional retailer to become an international retail leader.

Glass was also a mentor and leader to many who are now leading successful business careers and lives of their own.

Rob Walton, former Walmart Chairman and eldest son of Sam Walton, said the following:

"When we lost my Dad, David provided a steady, visionary hand the company needed to lead it forward. He did so with a deep sense of humility while maintaining the values and principles Dad founded the company on. More than anyone beyond Sam Walton, David Glass is responsible for making Walmart the company it is today. On behalf of the entire Walton family, I want to express our appreciation for David as a leader and as a friend. He will be deeply missed."

Added Doug McMillon, current Walmart President and CEO:

"Due to his authentic humility, we think David Glass may be the most under-appreciated CEO in the history of business. The choices he made and the results of the company reflect his wisdom, dedication and servant leadership. We will miss him immensely and are eternally grateful."

Glass was honored with numerous retail and business awards over the years, including being named "most admired CEO" in 1993 by Fortune Magazine, and inducted into the Retail Hall of Fame in 2000 and into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.

A lifelong baseball fan starting as a child when he followed the St. Louis Cardinals, Glass was appointed interim Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Royals in 1993 upon the death of then owner Ewing Kauffman. Glass and his family acquired the Royals in 2000 and it was at that time that he began his second career, a career in baseball, at age 64.

During his ownership of the Royals, Glass was an active member in Major League Baseball and served on key committees within the Major League organization. Glass was the Chairman of the Board of MLB Advanced Media, a member of Major League Baseball's Executive Council and a member of MLB Enterprise and Finance Committee.

Glass was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2000, where he served as a member of the Pension and Audit Committees.

Dayton Moore, Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager for the Royals, said the following:

"Mr. Glass loved this game, this team and our city with all his heart. He cared deeply for our fans and for the future of baseball. But above all, Mr. Glass placed an emphasis on putting family first which is what he stressed to our entire organization. We are forever grateful for his humble and supportive leadership, and we are beyond blessed that we were a part of his incredible life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his very special family."

However, while the list of business and sports achievements and honors are impressive indeed, those who knew Glass best knew that his number one priority throughout his entire life was his love and commitment to his family. Glass and his wife, Ruth, have three children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Glass and his family have been supportive of numerous charitable causes and organizations over the years including Missouri State University. In fact the Missouri State College of Business is named David D. Glass Hall in honor of his dedication to the university.

The Glass family will hold a public "Celebration of Life" in his honor on Monday, January 27, 2020, at 1 p.m. the Northwest Arkansas Fellowship Bible Church, 1051 W. Pleasant Grove Road in Rogers AR.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579297639666.png" alt="image courtesy Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>image courtesy Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>David Dayne Glass, who served as President and CEO of Walmart Inc. from 1988 to 2000 when he led the company through extraordinary growth, died January 9, according to the Glass family. He was 84.He died of complications associated with pneumonia, according to a media release from the Glass family.Most recently Glass was owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas City Royals, a team he helped lead to two consecutive World Series appearances and in 2015 brought the World Championship trophy to the fans of Kansas City. Glass and his family sold the Royals late last year.A native of Mountain View, MO, Glass served in the U.S. Army after graduating high school from 1954-56. After leaving the Army Glass earned a business degree from Southwest Missouri State University, now named Missouri State University, in Springfield, MO.Upon graduation Glass began his retail career in 1960 with Crank Drug Company in Springfield. He left Crank in 1968 after the company was sold and worked for two other companies, including serving as General Manager of Consumer Markets in Springfield. In 1976, Glass was recruited by Walmart founder Sam Walton to become Walmart's Chief Financial Officer.Glass was named President and CEO of Walmart in 1988 and served in that role for 12 years. During his term in that role, Glass guided the company through a period of extraordinary growth both in terms of revenues and expansion including retail acquisitions, expansions including new retail formats and significant international expansion. Specifically, under Glass' leadership, Walmart:<ol>
 <li>Increased annual revenues from $16 billion in the fiscal year ending January 31, 1988, to approximately $165 billion in revenues in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2000.</li><li>Launched Walmart Supercenters and expanded Sam's Club.</li><li>Expanded international operations in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Puerto Rico and United Kingdom.</li>
 </ol>Glass led a team of managers who adopted new and innovative technologies to streamline operations and improve customer service. This included the development of automated distribution centers, linked by computers to Walmart headquarters, stores and suppliers, which enabled the company to expand beyond a regional retailer to become an international retail leader.Glass was also a mentor and leader to many who are now leading successful business careers and lives of their own.Rob Walton, former Walmart Chairman and eldest son of Sam Walton, said the following:"When we lost my Dad, David provided a steady, visionary hand the company needed to lead it forward. He did so with a deep sense of humility while maintaining the values and principles Dad founded the company on. More than anyone beyond Sam Walton, David Glass is responsible for making Walmart the company it is today. On behalf of the entire Walton family, I want to express our appreciation for David as a leader and as a friend. He will be deeply missed."Added Doug McMillon, current Walmart President and CEO:"Due to his authentic humility, we think David Glass may be the most under-appreciated CEO in the history of business. The choices he made and the results of the company reflect his wisdom, dedication and servant leadership. We will miss him immensely and are eternally grateful."Glass was honored with numerous retail and business awards over the years, including being named "most admired CEO" in 1993 by Fortune Magazine, and inducted into the Retail Hall of Fame in 2000 and into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.A lifelong baseball fan starting as a child when he followed the St. Louis Cardinals, Glass was appointed interim Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Royals in 1993 upon the death of then owner Ewing Kauffman. Glass and his family acquired the Royals in 2000 and it was at that time that he began his second career, a career in baseball, at age 64.During his ownership of the Royals, Glass was an active member in Major League Baseball and served on key committees within the Major League organization. Glass was the Chairman of the Board of MLB Advanced Media, a member of Major League Baseball's Executive Council and a member of MLB Enterprise and Finance Committee.Glass was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2000, where he served as a member of the Pension and Audit Committees.Dayton Moore, Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager for the Royals, said the following:"Mr. Glass loved this game, this team and our city with all his heart. He cared deeply for our fans and for the future of baseball. But above all, Mr. Glass placed an emphasis on putting family first which is what he stressed to our entire organization. We are forever grateful for his humble and supportive leadership, and we are beyond blessed that we were a part of his incredible life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his very special family."However, while the list of business and sports achievements and honors are impressive indeed, those who knew Glass best knew that his number one priority throughout his entire life was his love and commitment to his family. Glass and his wife, Ruth, have three children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.Glass and his family have been supportive of numerous charitable causes and organizations over the years including Missouri State University. In fact the Missouri State College of Business is named David D. Glass Hall in honor of his dedication to the university.The Glass family will hold a public "Celebration of Life" in his honor on Monday, January 27, 2020, at 1 p.m. the Northwest Arkansas Fellowship Bible Church, 1051 W. Pleasant Grove Road in Rogers AR.

Former owner of the Royals David Glass dies at age 84

SALINA, Kan. - The Hutchinson Salthawks Girls and Boys travel to Salina to take on the Salina Central Mustangs in AVCTL Basketball action tonight.

Catch the Eagle Radio Sports Crew comprised of Glen Grunwald, Dan Naccarato for all the action with the Girl's tip off at 6:00 pm, followed by the Boy's tip at 7:30 pm on KWBW Radio 1450 am/98.5 fm.&nbsp; The game will NOT BE STREAMED due to illness tonight

<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KWBW">Audio Link</a>

SALINA, Kan. - The Hutchinson Salthawks Girls and Boys travel to Salina to take on the Salina Central Mustangs in AVCTL Basketball action tonight.Catch the Eagle Radio Sports Crew comprised of Glen Grunwald, Dan Naccarato for all the action with the Girl's tip off at 6:00 pm, followed by the Boy's tip at 7:30 pm on KWBW Radio 1450 am/98.5 fm.&nbsp; The game will NOT BE STREAMED due to illness tonight<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KWBW">Audio Link</a>

🏀 Salthawk Basketball tonight at Salina Central High

KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) — Of the coaches in the NFL's Final Four, Andy Reid is the outlier. Only Kansas City's coach has been the head man in a Super Bowl. Only Reid is close to having a Hall of Fame-worthy resume. Only Reid has been around for a couple of decades. So while Tennessee's Mike Vrabel, Green Bay's Matt LaFleur and San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan might look up to Reid and his career achievements, they also recognize that whichever of them wins the NFL title will be doing so for the first time as a coach.

KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) — Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans is the first AFC championship since 2002 that doesn't feature Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger. Brady and the New England Patriots are missing from the conference championship weekend for the first time since 2010. Brady has been to 13 AFC title games and won nine of them. John Elway's Denver Broncos defeated the Cleveland Browns in two of the most famous AFC title game showdowns and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the San Diego Chargers in 1982 in minus-59 degrees wind chill that left Dan Fouts with icicles hanging from his beard.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — New Missouri State football coach Bobby Petrino says he knew he wouldn't stay retired. Petrino made the comment at his introductory news conference Thursday. Petrino's string of embarrassing foibles at previous coaching stops made him a high-risk proposition at the big schools. He says he is glad to have a job again, even if it's at one of the bottom programs in the second tier of college football. Petrino says one of the things he can teach players is that they always have obstacles to overcome.

WACO, TX (AP) — Baylor has hired LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda as its new football coach. The move was finalized three days after LSU beat Clemson for the national championship. He replaces Matt Rhule, who last week became head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Aranda takes over a Big 12 team on the rise. The Bears went from 11 losses in 2017 to 11 wins this season, when they played in the Big 12 championship game and the Sugar Bowl. The 43-year-old Aranda was at LSU the last four seasons after three years as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's opponents won't get much satisfaction out of knowing the Mountaineers have abandoned their full-court press. It's been replaced by a half-court defense that is among the best in the country. Coach Bob Huggins says the switch was the best path to basketball wins for West Virginia. The 12th-ranked Mountaineers have held five straight opponents to 60 points or less. They are second in Division I in field-goal percentage defense at 35%. The defense is anchored by the Big 12's top two rebounders, 6-foot-10 sophomore Derek Culver and 6-9 freshman Oscar Tshiebwe. The Mountaineers play at Kansas State on Saturday.

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros star outfielder George Springer and the tainted team have settled on a $21 million contract for next season. Springer led the Astros to their first title in 2017 and was the Most Valuable Player of the World Series that year. This week, Major League Baseball released a report that detailed a cheating scheme the Astros used during their championship season to steal signals from opposing catchers and relay them to hitters.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 17 rebounds, Khris Middleton scored 23 points and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the Boston Celtics 128-123 Thursday night. With the victory, the NBA-leading Bucks extended their winning streak to five games. Kemba Walker scored a game-high 40 points to lead the Celtics.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Brooks Koepka shot a 6-under 66 in his return to competition after a knee injury and was tied for third place after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Championship. Koepka, ranked No. 1 in the world, missed three months after re-injuring his knee while competing at the CJ Cup in South Korea. Koepka is two shots behind co-leaders Shaun Norris, of South Africa, and Renato Paratore, of Italy.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Kellen Moore is staying as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, and new coach Mike McCarthy says the plan is for Moore to continue calling plays. Moore was promoted to his current job in the final season under Jason Garrett. Garret’s contract wasn't renewed after the team fell short of expectations in a make-or-break season.

KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) — Of the coaches in the NFL's Final Four, Andy Reid is the outlier. Only Kansas City's coach has been the head man in a Super Bowl. Only Reid is close to having a Hall of Fame-worthy resume. Only Reid has been around for a couple of decades. So while Tennessee's Mike Vrabel, Green Bay's Matt LaFleur and San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan might look up to Reid and his career achievements, they also recognize that whichever of them wins the NFL title will be doing so for the first time as a coach.KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) — Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans is the first AFC championship since 2002 that doesn't feature Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger. Brady and the New England Patriots are missing from the conference championship weekend for the first time since 2010. Brady has been to 13 AFC title games and won nine of them. John Elway's Denver Broncos defeated the Cleveland Browns in two of the most famous AFC title game showdowns and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the San Diego Chargers in 1982 in minus-59 degrees wind chill that left Dan Fouts with icicles hanging from his beard.SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — New Missouri State football coach Bobby Petrino says he knew he wouldn't stay retired. Petrino made the comment at his introductory news conference Thursday. Petrino's string of embarrassing foibles at previous coaching stops made him a high-risk proposition at the big schools. He says he is glad to have a job again, even if it's at one of the bottom programs in the second tier of college football. Petrino says one of the things he can teach players is that they always have obstacles to overcome.WACO, TX (AP) — Baylor has hired LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda as its new football coach. The move was finalized three days after LSU beat Clemson for the national championship. He replaces Matt Rhule, who last week became head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Aranda takes over a Big 12 team on the rise. The Bears went from 11 losses in 2017 to 11 wins this season, when they played in the Big 12 championship game and the Sugar Bowl. The 43-year-old Aranda was at LSU the last four seasons after three years as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator.MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's opponents won't get much satisfaction out of knowing the Mountaineers have abandoned their full-court press. It's been replaced by a half-court defense that is among the best in the country. Coach Bob Huggins says the switch was the best path to basketball wins for West Virginia. The 12th-ranked Mountaineers have held five straight opponents to 60 points or less. They are second in Division I in field-goal percentage defense at 35%. The defense is anchored by the Big 12's top two rebounders, 6-foot-10 sophomore Derek Culver and 6-9 freshman Oscar Tshiebwe. The Mountaineers play at Kansas State on Saturday.National HeadlinesHOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros star outfielder George Springer and the tainted team have settled on a $21 million contract for next season. Springer led the Astros to their first title in 2017 and was the Most Valuable Player of the World Series that year. This week, Major League Baseball released a report that detailed a cheating scheme the Astros used during their championship season to steal signals from opposing catchers and relay them to hitters.MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 17 rebounds, Khris Middleton scored 23 points and the Milwaukee Bucks held off the Boston Celtics 128-123 Thursday night. With the victory, the NBA-leading Bucks extended their winning streak to five games. Kemba Walker scored a game-high 40 points to lead the Celtics.ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Brooks Koepka shot a 6-under 66 in his return to competition after a knee injury and was tied for third place after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Championship. Koepka, ranked No. 1 in the world, missed three months after re-injuring his knee while competing at the CJ Cup in South Korea. Koepka is two shots behind co-leaders Shaun Norris, of South Africa, and Renato Paratore, of Italy.FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Kellen Moore is staying as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, and new coach Mike McCarthy says the plan is for Moore to continue calling plays. Moore was promoted to his current job in the final season under Jason Garrett. Garret’s contract wasn't renewed after the team fell short of expectations in a make-or-break season.Thursday ScoresTOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal (1)Gonzaga 104 Santa Clara 54Final Washington St. 72 (8)Oregon 61Final (20)Colorado 68 Arizona St. 61Final (22)Memphis 60 Cincinnati 49NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal Phoenix 121 New York 98Final Milwaukee 128 Boston 123Final OT New Orleans 138 Utah 132Final OT Denver 134 Golden State 131Final L.A. Clippers 122 Orlando 95

Friday Sports Headlines

By BARRY WILNER - Associated Press

The Titans haven’t been to the Super Bowl since 2000. That’s barely a blip on the football history screen: The Chiefs haven’t been there since 1970. One of them is headed for the big game in Miami. Here’s how they match up for the AFC championship:

Run. Then run again. Derrick Henry (22) has been sensational in the postseason after leading the league in rushing. Powerful and fast, elusive enough and versatile, he’s a defensive nightmare. The Titans will stick with him until the Chiefs prove they can slow him down, something they never did in Week 10. That onus will fall on a D-line led by Chris Jones (92) and Frank Clark (55, LBs Anthony Hitchens (53) and Damien Wilson (54) and, likely, safeties Tyrann Mathieu (32) and Daniel Sorensen (49, who had a huge game last week.

The Chiefs like to go with five defensive backs, but they might need more bulk on the field against Henry. Dealing with a blocking unit paced by LT Taylor Lewan (77, who is a stud when he isn’t collecting far too many penalties, veteran LG Rodger Saffold (76) and RT Jack Conklin (78) will be a chore for KC.

QB Ryan Tannehill (17) is 2-0 in the postseason despite barely throwing the ball. When he has — he led the league in passer rating at 117.5 — Tannehill has been effective enough, including two TD throws vs. Baltimore.

Also intriguing will be the Chiefs’ vastly improved secondary against a group of somewhat obscure wide receivers led by rookie A.J. Brown (11). Tannehill plays no favorites and also targets any of his three tight ends. He needs to watch out for ball-hawking Mathieu, while the loss of rookie safety Juan Thornhill (22) could damage KC’s coverage.

Expect fireworks. Maybe not the kind that led to 41 consecutive points against Houston after the Chiefs fell behind 24-0, but some explosiveness for sure.

The catalyst, naturally, is QB Patrick Mahomes (17, who was slowed by injuries early and midway in the season. Now that he’s healthy, Mahomes is looking like the 2018 league MVP who tore up the NFL.

Given time — and Tennessee has not displayed an overwhelming pass rush — Mahomes can pick apart any defense, even one as resilient as the Titans. His symbiosis with TE Travis Kelce (87) keys the attack, but he also has game-breaking WRs Tyreek Hill (10) and Sammy Watkins (14) and lightning-fast rookie Mecole Hardman (19).

Damien Williams (26) handles the bulk of the run game, and Tennessee has been formidable against the rush. Not just stopping fourth-and-1 plays, either. The Chiefs’ best blockers, RT Mitchell Schwartz (71) and LT Eric Fisher (72, need to control the trenches against underrated DT Jurrell Casey (99) and his chums, who never backed down against the Patriots or Ravens.

Harold Landry (58) led the Titans with nine sacks and Kamalei Correa (44, who had five, has a quick burst to the quarterback, while Tennessee might have the league’s top secondary with safeties Kevin Byard (41) and Kenny Vaccaro (24) and cornerbacks Logan Ryan (26) and Adoree’ Jackson (25). It will definitely be tested Sunday. Ryan was a busy guy with 113 tackles, four picks and four forced fumbles this season.

Titans All-Pro Brett Kern (6) is the league’s best punter, kicking them high and far. But don’t ask about PK Greg Joseph (7) because he hasn’t attempted a field goal since joining the team in December.

The Titans didn’t have a touchdown on any kick returns, nor did they yield any. They did block the Chiefs’ sixth field-goal attempt to clinch a November game victory. Joshua Kalu said that after seeing Kansas City try so many field goals, it gave him a chance to time up the snap thanks to a head bob by the long snapper.

Kansas City, though, started its comeback against the Texans when Hardman broke free on a kickoff run-back. He had a 104-yarder in the regular season. Hill fumbled a punt return that led to an easy score for the Texans last week.

Harrison Butker (7) is a reliable placekicker with good range. He did miss three extra points, one fewer than his misses on field goals.

Veteran punter Dustin Colquitt (2) had a kick blocked by the Texans for a TD. He’s generally reliable.

Andy Reid has something close to a Hall of Fame resume, and a second trip to the Super Bowl — he lost with Philadelphia in 2005 — certainly would enhance that.

Reid has been masterful in his handling of Mahomes and the schemes that make KC’s offense as dangerous as any. He was wise enough to bring in an aggressive defensive coordinator after last year’s debacle on that side of the ball cost the Chiefs a shot at the NFL title. It took a while before Steve Spagnuolo’s system took hold, and it didn’t look too great in last week’s victory over Houston. But it’s far more formidable than in 2018.

Mike Vrabel has created a no-fear culture in Nashville. That has been most evident in the past three weeks, when the Titans would have been done with a loss. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is wise enough to stick to the run game, but funky enough to come up with things such as Henry’s jump pass for a touchdown at Baltimore.

The Chiefs haven’t been to a Super Bowl since 1970. Yes, a half-century. That’s incentive enough.

Also take into account how close they came last year, with an overtime coin toss and penalty by ex-linebacker Dee Ford playing a huge role in their falling short of the Super Bowl.

Tennessee has never won an NFL championship, whether living in Music City or in Houston. The Titans also are a sixth seed, which means they’re the underdog each week.

By BARRY WILNER - Associated PressThe Titans haven’t been to the Super Bowl since 2000. That’s barely a blip on the football history screen: The Chiefs haven’t been there since 1970. One of them is headed for the big game in Miami. Here’s how they match up for the AFC championship:WHEN TENNESSEE HAS THE BALLRun. Then run again. Derrick Henry (22) has been sensational in the postseason after leading the league in rushing. Powerful and fast, elusive enough and versatile, he’s a defensive nightmare. The Titans will stick with him until the Chiefs prove they can slow him down, something they never did in Week 10. That onus will fall on a D-line led by Chris Jones (92) and Frank Clark (55, LBs Anthony Hitchens (53) and Damien Wilson (54) and, likely, safeties Tyrann Mathieu (32) and Daniel Sorensen (49, who had a huge game last week.The Chiefs like to go with five defensive backs, but they might need more bulk on the field against Henry. Dealing with a blocking unit paced by LT Taylor Lewan (77, who is a stud when he isn’t collecting far too many penalties, veteran LG Rodger Saffold (76) and RT Jack Conklin (78) will be a chore for KC.QB Ryan Tannehill (17) is 2-0 in the postseason despite barely throwing the ball. When he has — he led the league in passer rating at 117.5 — Tannehill has been effective enough, including two TD throws vs. Baltimore.Also intriguing will be the Chiefs’ vastly improved secondary against a group of somewhat obscure wide receivers led by rookie A.J. Brown (11). Tannehill plays no favorites and also targets any of his three tight ends. He needs to watch out for ball-hawking Mathieu, while the loss of rookie safety Juan Thornhill (22) could damage KC’s coverage.WHEN KANSAS CITY HAS THE BALLExpect fireworks. Maybe not the kind that led to 41 consecutive points against Houston after the Chiefs fell behind 24-0, but some explosiveness for sure.The catalyst, naturally, is QB Patrick Mahomes (17, who was slowed by injuries early and midway in the season. Now that he’s healthy, Mahomes is looking like the 2018 league MVP who tore up the NFL.Given time — and Tennessee has not displayed an overwhelming pass rush — Mahomes can pick apart any defense, even one as resilient as the Titans. His symbiosis with TE Travis Kelce (87) keys the attack, but he also has game-breaking WRs Tyreek Hill (10) and Sammy Watkins (14) and lightning-fast rookie Mecole Hardman (19).Damien Williams (26) handles the bulk of the run game, and Tennessee has been formidable against the rush. Not just stopping fourth-and-1 plays, either. The Chiefs’ best blockers, RT Mitchell Schwartz (71) and LT Eric Fisher (72, need to control the trenches against underrated DT Jurrell Casey (99) and his chums, who never backed down against the Patriots or Ravens.Harold Landry (58) led the Titans with nine sacks and Kamalei Correa (44, who had five, has a quick burst to the quarterback, while Tennessee might have the league’s top secondary with safeties Kevin Byard (41) and Kenny Vaccaro (24) and cornerbacks Logan Ryan (26) and Adoree’ Jackson (25). It will definitely be tested Sunday. Ryan was a busy guy with 113 tackles, four picks and four forced fumbles this season.SPECIAL TEAMSTitans All-Pro Brett Kern (6) is the league’s best punter, kicking them high and far. But don’t ask about PK Greg Joseph (7) because he hasn’t attempted a field goal since joining the team in December.The Titans didn’t have a touchdown on any kick returns, nor did they yield any. They did block the Chiefs’ sixth field-goal attempt to clinch a November game victory. Joshua Kalu said that after seeing Kansas City try so many field goals, it gave him a chance to time up the snap thanks to a head bob by the long snapper.Kansas City, though, started its comeback against the Texans when Hardman broke free on a kickoff run-back. He had a 104-yarder in the regular season. Hill fumbled a punt return that led to an easy score for the Texans last week.Harrison Butker (7) is a reliable placekicker with good range. He did miss three extra points, one fewer than his misses on field goals.Veteran punter Dustin Colquitt (2) had a kick blocked by the Texans for a TD. He’s generally reliable.COACHINGAndy Reid has something close to a Hall of Fame resume, and a second trip to the Super Bowl — he lost with Philadelphia in 2005 — certainly would enhance that.Reid has been masterful in his handling of Mahomes and the schemes that make KC’s offense as dangerous as any. He was wise enough to bring in an aggressive defensive coordinator after last year’s debacle on that side of the ball cost the Chiefs a shot at the NFL title. It took a while before Steve Spagnuolo’s system took hold, and it didn’t look too great in last week’s victory over Houston. But it’s far more formidable than in 2018.Mike Vrabel has created a no-fear culture in Nashville. That has been most evident in the past three weeks, when the Titans would have been done with a loss. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is wise enough to stick to the run game, but funky enough to come up with things such as Henry’s jump pass for a touchdown at Baltimore.INTANGIBLESThe Chiefs haven’t been to a Super Bowl since 1970. Yes, a half-century. That’s incentive enough.Also take into account how close they came last year, with an overtime coin toss and penalty by ex-linebacker Dee Ford playing a huge role in their falling short of the Super Bowl.Tennessee has never won an NFL championship, whether living in Music City or in Houston. The Titans also are a sixth seed, which means they’re the underdog each week.Not that it’s mattered so far.

Will Henry’s runs or Mahomes’ passes decide AFC champion?

Carlos Beltrán is out as manager of the New York Mets before a single game.

It's the latest fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball. The Mets announced the decision Thursday in a news release, saying Beltrán and the team "agreed to mutually part ways."

The move came two days after Boston cut ties with manager Alex Cora, who was Houston's bench coach in 2017 when Beltrán played for the Astros.

A day before that, manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired by Houston soon after they were suspended for the 2020 season by Commissioner Rob Manfred for their roles in the cheating scheme. &nbsp;

By MIKE FITZPATRICKAP Sports WriterCarlos Beltrán is out as manager of the New York Mets before a single game.It's the latest fallout from the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball. The Mets announced the decision Thursday in a news release, saying Beltrán and the team "agreed to mutually part ways."The move came two days after Boston cut ties with manager Alex Cora, who was Houston's bench coach in 2017 when Beltrán played for the Astros.A day before that, manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired by Houston soon after they were suspended for the 2020 season by Commissioner Rob Manfred for their roles in the cheating scheme. &nbsp;

New Mets manager Beltrán out amid sign-stealing scandal

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Petrino, a coach with a track record of on-the-field success and off-the-field embarrassments, will be the next coach at Missouri State.

The Springfield-based university said Wednesday that Petrino, 58, will be introduced at a news conference Thursday. He will replace Dave Steckel, who was fired last week after winning just 13 games in five seasons.

Petrino has a 119-56 record in 14 seasons at Arkansas, Western Kentucky and Louisville. He also spent part of one season coaching the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, where he coached 13 games in 2007 before abruptly resigning.

Petrino was 31-9 at Louisville from 2003-06 and took the Cardinals to the Orange Bowl. He left to coach the Falcons, lasted less than a season and took the job at Arkansas. Petrino was 34-17 in four seasons at Arkansas, leading the school to the Sugar Bowl following the 2010 season and a No. 5 final ranking the following season.

That job ended in 2012 when Petrino was fired after a motorcycle accident exposed an extra-marital affair with an athletic department employee and Petrino's lies to his boss.

He made another comeback, resurfacing at Western Kentucky for the 2013 season. The Hilltoppers were 8-4 in his only season there before Petrino returned to Louisville.

Petrino was 36-26 in his second stint with the Cardinals, but it didn't end well. Louisville was 2-8 and in the midst of a seven-game losing streak when he was fired in 2018 following a 54-23 loss to Syracuse. His exit was expensive — Louisville still owed him $14 million.

Missouri State was just 13-42 under Steckel, who previously served as defensive coordinator for Gary Pinkel at Missouri. The Bears play in the Missouri Valley Conference and are part of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Petrino, a coach with a track record of on-the-field success and off-the-field embarrassments, will be the next coach at Missouri State.The Springfield-based university said Wednesday that Petrino, 58, will be introduced at a news conference Thursday. He will replace Dave Steckel, who was fired last week after winning just 13 games in five seasons.Petrino has a 119-56 record in 14 seasons at Arkansas, Western Kentucky and Louisville. He also spent part of one season coaching the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, where he coached 13 games in 2007 before abruptly resigning.Petrino was 31-9 at Louisville from 2003-06 and took the Cardinals to the Orange Bowl. He left to coach the Falcons, lasted less than a season and took the job at Arkansas. Petrino was 34-17 in four seasons at Arkansas, leading the school to the Sugar Bowl following the 2010 season and a No. 5 final ranking the following season.That job ended in 2012 when Petrino was fired after a motorcycle accident exposed an extra-marital affair with an athletic department employee and Petrino's lies to his boss.He made another comeback, resurfacing at Western Kentucky for the 2013 season. The Hilltoppers were 8-4 in his only season there before Petrino returned to Louisville.Petrino was 36-26 in his second stint with the Cardinals, but it didn't end well. Louisville was 2-8 and in the midst of a seven-game losing streak when he was fired in 2018 following a 54-23 loss to Syracuse. His exit was expensive — Louisville still owed him $14 million.Missouri State was just 13-42 under Steckel, who previously served as defensive coordinator for Gary Pinkel at Missouri. The Bears play in the Missouri Valley Conference and are part of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.--- Associated Press ---