Sunday, December 22 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Football - Detroit @ Chicago 1:30PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - Brown @ Kansas Wednesday, December 25 11:00AM B104 - Chiefs Football - Kansas City @ Pittsburgh Thursday, December 26 4:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Rate Bowl - Rutgers vs Kansas State Friday, December 27 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Liberty Bowl - Texas Tech vs Arkansas 8:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Las Vegas Bowl - Texas A&amp;M vs USC Saturday, December 28 11:00AM 1590/95.5FM - Pinstripe Bowl - Boston College vs Nebraska 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Pop-Tarts Bowl - Iowa St. vs Miami 7:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Alamo Bowl - BYU vs Colorado Sunday, December 29 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Football - TBA Monday, December 30 1:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Music City Bowl - Iowa vs Missouri Tuesday, December 31 10:30AM 1590/95.5FM - Relia Quest Bowl - Alabama vs Michigan 12:30PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - West Virginia @ Kansas 2:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Citrus Bowl - So. Carolina vs Illinois 6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP-Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs Penn State Wednesday, January 1 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP-Peach Bowl - Arizona St. vs Texas 4:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP-Rose Bowl - Oregon vs Ohio State 8:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP-Sugar Bowl - Georgia vs Notre Dame Friday, January 3 5:45PM B104 - H.S. Basketball - Great Bend @ Liberal Sunday, January 5 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Football - TBA 2:30PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - Kansas @ UCF TBA B104 - Chiefs Football - Kansas City @ Denver

Sunday, December 22 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Football - Detroit @ Chicago 1:30PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - Brown @ Kansas Wednesday, December 25 11:00AM B104 - Chiefs Football - Kansas City @ Pittsburgh Thursday, December 26 4:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Rate Bowl - Rutgers vs Kansas State Friday, December 27 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Liberty Bowl - Texas Tech vs Arkansas 8:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Las Vegas Bowl - Texas A&amp;M vs USC Saturday, December 28 11:00AM 1590/95.5FM - Pinstripe Bowl - Boston College vs Nebraska 3:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Pop-Tarts Bowl - Iowa St. vs Miami 7:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Alamo Bowl - BYU vs Colorado Sunday, December 29 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Football - TBA Monday, December 30 1:00PM 1590/95.5FM - Music City Bowl - Iowa vs Missouri Tuesday, December 31 10:30AM 1590/95.5FM - Relia Quest Bowl - Alabama vs Michigan 12:30PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - West Virginia @ Kansas 2:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Citrus Bowl - So. Carolina vs Illinois 6:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP-Fiesta Bowl - Boise State vs Penn State Wednesday, January 1 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP-Peach Bowl - Arizona St. vs Texas 4:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP-Rose Bowl - Oregon vs Ohio State 8:00PM 1590/95.5FM - CFP-Sugar Bowl - Georgia vs Notre Dame Friday, January 3 5:45PM B104 - H.S. Basketball - Great Bend @ Liberal Sunday, January 5 12:00PM 1590/95.5FM - NFL Football - TBA 2:30PM Hits 106.9 - Jayhawk Basketball - Kansas @ UCF TBA B104 - Chiefs Football - Kansas City @ Denver

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

The most successful base stealer in Major League Baseball history has died. Multiple outlets reported on Saturday that Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson died Friday, Dec. 20 at the age of 65.

Henderson was a 10-time All-Star and the 1990 American League MVP. His 1,406 stolen bases remain a MLB record, as do his 2,295 career runs. Henderson spent 25 years in the Bigs, including 14 years with the Oakland Athletics, five with the New York Yankees, and two with the New York Mets. In all, the left fielder player for nine teams over the span of his career from 1979 to 2003.

Henderson was one of the the best lead-off hitters of all-time, compiling 3,055 hits and 297 home runs with a .279 career batting average. His success on the field earned him a spot in the MLB Hall of Fame in 2009.

After stealing just 33 bases in 89 games as a rookie in Oakland in 1979, Henderson ripped off 100 bags the following season in 158 games. He stole 130 and 108 bases in the 1982 and 1983 seasons, respectively. Henderson scored a career-high 146 runs for the Yankees in 1985, and hit a career-best 28 home runs as a Yankee the following season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734811062415.jpeg" alt="FILE - Oakland A's Rickey Henderson steals second base against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum, Calif., April 10, 1991. Henderson died on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at the age of 65. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Oakland A's Rickey Henderson steals second base against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum, Calif., April 10, 1991. Henderson died on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at the age of 65. (AP Photo/Alan Greth)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe most successful base stealer in Major League Baseball history has died. Multiple outlets reported on Saturday that Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson died Friday, Dec. 20 at the age of 65.Henderson was a 10-time All-Star and the 1990 American League MVP. His 1,406 stolen bases remain a MLB record, as do his 2,295 career runs. Henderson spent 25 years in the Bigs, including 14 years with the Oakland Athletics, five with the New York Yankees, and two with the New York Mets. In all, the left fielder player for nine teams over the span of his career from 1979 to 2003.Henderson was one of the the best lead-off hitters of all-time, compiling 3,055 hits and 297 home runs with a .279 career batting average. His success on the field earned him a spot in the MLB Hall of Fame in 2009.After stealing just 33 bases in 89 games as a rookie in Oakland in 1979, Henderson ripped off 100 bags the following season in 158 games. He stole 130 and 108 bases in the 1982 and 1983 seasons, respectively. Henderson scored a career-high 146 runs for the Yankees in 1985, and hit a career-best 28 home runs as a Yankee the following season.

MLB Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson dead at the age of 65

Throw some of the rankings out the windows for Friday's Hoisington Corner Classic results. Liberal, ranked No. 5 in the state's largest classification, was a natural winner with 176.5 points. Unranked Hoisington scored 172 points for second, and unranked Scott City placed third with 132 points. Ellinwood, ranked No. 7 in Class 3-2-1A, placed seventh with 64 points. The Great Bend girls, ranked No. 6 in Class 5A, had just six wrestlers in action to place ninth with 42 points.

Hoisington's Trinity Graves pulled off a big win at 125 pounds. She went 3-0 in pool matches with all wins by fall, including  57-second and 15-second pins. She needed just 98 seconds to pin Eureka's fourth-ranked Maela Neill in the finals. Larned's Liliana McKenna placed fourth in the bracket.

Lady Cardinal Tristin Compton also had an exciting win in the 130-pound championship. She pinned her first three opponents before winning a 13-2 major against Concordia to reach the finals. There, she defeated Liberal in an ultimate tie-breaker for the win.

Hoisington picked up another win at 170 pounds. Senior Peyton Schneider is ranked  No. 5 in 3-2-1A, but it was sophomore Nevaeh Graves with the win Friday with Schneider wrestling at 190 pounds. Graves went 3-0 in pool matches with three pins. Great Bend's Danica Cline was 2-0 with a pair of pins before losing to Graves. Both Graves and Cline won by fall in the semifinals to set up a rematch with Graves winning by fall again to claim the title.

Larned's Cara Herbert entered Friday ranked no. 6 in Class 4A. She put together a perfect 5-0 day with five pins to win the 135-pound bracket. Her first two matches of the day were resolved in 58 seconds or less. Ellinwood freshman Kaylynn Crawford entered the tournament ranked No. 5 in 3-2-1A but finished sixth on the day.

The 115-pound bracket featured an all-area finale. Ellinwood's Keighyn Dombroski pinned all three pool opponents in the first period. Hoisington's Annabelle Gonzalez also went 3-0 in the other pool with three pins. Annabelle pinned freshman teammate Andrea Gonzalez in the semifinals, then pinned Dombroski in the finals. Andrea Gonzalez placed fourth for Hoisington.

Barton County leads the way in Class 3-2-1A at 235 pounds. Hoisington senior Haylee Holinde is ranked No. 1 and Ellinwood senior Emma Hahn is ranked No. 2. With Holinde out of action Friday, Hahn led the area with a third-place finish. Holcomb's Abigail Redden knocked off top-ranked Aileen Figueroa of Liberal in the finals.

Hoisington sophomore Marly Brewer made the finals at 140 pounds where she ran into third-ranked Ella Normandin of Plainville, who pinned Brewer. Brewer pinned her Great Bend opponent, lost a 4-0 decision to Normandin, and defeated Larned's Mia Munden 13-10 to reach the finals. Munden went on to place third.

Lady Cardinal senior Lilian Gradig was another finalist at 145 pounds. She pinned her first two opponents in under 60 seconds but was pinned in her final pool match against Concordia. She won a sudden-victory match against Plainville to reach the finals, where she lost by tech fall to Scott City.

Hoisington freshman Ayla Brown opened the 155-pound bracket with a 19-second pin before getting pinned by fourth-ranked Ashlyn Rose of Scott City. Brown ran into third-ranked Zoe Brown of Plainville in the semifinals. Brown advanced with a tech fall and won a 12-11 thriller against Liberal in the finals. Brown avenged her earlier loss by pinning Rose in the consolation finals.

Larned senior Teagan Walker was part of a loaded 100-pound bracket where she finished third. She opened with a loss to second-ranked Kaleigh Klein of Plainville (3-2-1), pinned her next three opponents in short order, then lost a 17-0 match to third-ranked Keirsie Carlile of Liberal. Hoisington freshman Callie Loesch finished fourth in the bracket.

Ellinwood's McKena Parker placed third at 110 pounds. She pinned her first three opponents before losing a 5-3 decision to the runner-up from Scott City. Parker needed just 66 seconds to pin her Plainville opponent in the third-place match. Hoisington's Jayda Bailey finished fifth.

Larned freshman Mirande Nolde led area wrestlers at 105 pounds with a third-place finish. Hoisington junior Kodie Penick placed fourth. Ellinwood's Jenna Borror led area wrestlers in fifth place at 120 pounds.

The 190-pound bracket featured top-ranked and unbeaten Hayleen Martinez of Liberal, who pinned all five opponents with three wins in 31 seconds or less. Larned freshman Paisley Weizbrod, who has spent time in the rankings this season, placed third. Hoisington's Peyton Schneider, ranked No. 5 at 170 pounds, placed fourth.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734801000587.jpeg" alt="Hoisington sophomore Nevaeh Graves won Friday's Cardinal Classic bracket at 170 pounds." />
 <figcaption>Hoisington sophomore Nevaeh Graves won Friday's Cardinal Classic bracket at 170 pounds.</figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Post SportsThrow some of the rankings out the windows for Friday's Hoisington Corner Classic results. Liberal, ranked No. 5 in the state's largest classification, was a natural winner with 176.5 points. Unranked Hoisington scored 172 points for second, and unranked Scott City placed third with 132 points. Ellinwood, ranked No. 7 in Class 3-2-1A, placed seventh with 64 points. The Great Bend girls, ranked No. 6 in Class 5A, had just six wrestlers in action to place ninth with 42 points.Hoisington's Trinity Graves pulled off a big win at 125 pounds. She went 3-0 in pool matches with all wins by fall, including 57-second and 15-second pins. She needed just 98 seconds to pin Eureka's fourth-ranked Maela Neill in the finals. Larned's Liliana McKenna placed fourth in the bracket.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734801634033.jpeg" alt="Hoisington's Trinity Graves pinned fourth-ranked Maela Neill of Eureka to win Friday's 125-pound bracket." />
 <figcaption>Hoisington's Trinity Graves pinned fourth-ranked Maela Neill of Eureka to win Friday's 125-pound bracket.</figcaption>
 </figure>Lady Cardinal Tristin Compton also had an exciting win in the 130-pound championship. She pinned her first three opponents before winning a 13-2 major against Concordia to reach the finals. There, she defeated Liberal in an ultimate tie-breaker for the win.Hoisington picked up another win at 170 pounds. Senior Peyton Schneider is ranked No. 5 in 3-2-1A, but it was sophomore Nevaeh Graves with the win Friday with Schneider wrestling at 190 pounds. Graves went 3-0 in pool matches with three pins. Great Bend's Danica Cline was 2-0 with a pair of pins before losing to Graves. Both Graves and Cline won by fall in the semifinals to set up a rematch with Graves winning by fall again to claim the title.Larned's Cara Herbert entered Friday ranked no. 6 in Class 4A. She put together a perfect 5-0 day with five pins to win the 135-pound bracket. Her first two matches of the day were resolved in 58 seconds or less. Ellinwood freshman Kaylynn Crawford entered the tournament ranked No. 5 in 3-2-1A but finished sixth on the day.The 115-pound bracket featured an all-area finale. Ellinwood's Keighyn Dombroski pinned all three pool opponents in the first period. Hoisington's Annabelle Gonzalez also went 3-0 in the other pool with three pins. Annabelle pinned freshman teammate Andrea Gonzalez in the semifinals, then pinned Dombroski in the finals. Andrea Gonzalez placed fourth for Hoisington.Barton County leads the way in Class 3-2-1A at 235 pounds. Hoisington senior Haylee Holinde is ranked No. 1 and Ellinwood senior Emma Hahn is ranked No. 2. With Holinde out of action Friday, Hahn led the area with a third-place finish. Holcomb's Abigail Redden knocked off top-ranked Aileen Figueroa of Liberal in the finals.Hoisington sophomore Marly Brewer made the finals at 140 pounds where she ran into third-ranked Ella Normandin of Plainville, who pinned Brewer. Brewer pinned her Great Bend opponent, lost a 4-0 decision to Normandin, and defeated Larned's Mia Munden 13-10 to reach the finals. Munden went on to place third.Lady Cardinal senior Lilian Gradig was another finalist at 145 pounds. She pinned her first two opponents in under 60 seconds but was pinned in her final pool match against Concordia. She won a sudden-victory match against Plainville to reach the finals, where she lost by tech fall to Scott City.Hoisington freshman Ayla Brown opened the 155-pound bracket with a 19-second pin before getting pinned by fourth-ranked Ashlyn Rose of Scott City. Brown ran into third-ranked Zoe Brown of Plainville in the semifinals. Brown advanced with a tech fall and won a 12-11 thriller against Liberal in the finals. Brown avenged her earlier loss by pinning Rose in the consolation finals.Larned senior Teagan Walker was part of a loaded 100-pound bracket where she finished third. She opened with a loss to second-ranked Kaleigh Klein of Plainville (3-2-1), pinned her next three opponents in short order, then lost a 17-0 match to third-ranked Keirsie Carlile of Liberal. Hoisington freshman Callie Loesch finished fourth in the bracket.Ellinwood's McKena Parker placed third at 110 pounds. She pinned her first three opponents before losing a 5-3 decision to the runner-up from Scott City. Parker needed just 66 seconds to pin her Plainville opponent in the third-place match. Hoisington's Jayda Bailey finished fifth.Larned freshman Mirande Nolde led area wrestlers at 105 pounds with a third-place finish. Hoisington junior Kodie Penick placed fourth. Ellinwood's Jenna Borror led area wrestlers in fifth place at 120 pounds.The 190-pound bracket featured top-ranked and unbeaten Hayleen Martinez of Liberal, who pinned all five opponents with three wins in 31 seconds or less. Larned freshman Paisley Weizbrod, who has spent time in the rankings this season, placed third. Hoisington's Peyton Schneider, ranked No. 5 at 170 pounds, placed fourth.

Lady Cardinals finish second at Corner Classic; Ellinwood, Great Bend go 8-9

Area wrestlers had plenty of success Friday at Hoisington's Corner Classic. Unranked Concordia scored 181 points points for the upset. Great Bend scored 170 points for second, and Hoisington finished third with 116.5 points to beat Liberal.

Panther senior Jace Schartz entered Friday's 165-pound bracket ranked No. 3 in Class 5A. He turned in another dominating performance with a 4-0 record. All of his wins came by tech fall, including a pair of 15-0 wins. He defeated Ellinwood's Gabriel Martinez 18-2 in the finals. Martinez reached the finals by pinning his first four opponents.

Great Bend freshman Cal Schartz moved up to No. 3 in the Dec. 17 Class 5A rankings. He followed that with a win at 113 pounds Friday. Schartz tech-falled all three pool opponents 15-0, then defeated Hoisington's Kalob Lamb by a similar score to open bracket matches. Schartz needed just 39 seconds to pin Eureka's Mason Hughes (13-3) in the finals. Lamb finished third for the Cardinals with a win over Larned's Brayden Smith.

Panther freshman Hayden Liles won the bracket at 120 pounds. He pinned both pool opponents then followed suit in bracket competition with wins by fall against Holcomb and Concordia. Larned senior Jai-Sean Phillips finished fourth.

Cardinal senior Teron Kraft moved up to No. 4 at 175 pounds in the latest Class 3-2-1A rankings. He had no trouble Friday, pinning his first two opponents in 11 and 79 seconds, respectively. He pinned Ellinwood's Nathan Hammeke in 56 seconds to advance to the finals where he defeated Concordia by tech fall 16-1. Great Bend's Maxx Steffan pinned Hammeke in the consolation finals.

Larned's Landon Haney won an all-area finale at 190 pounds. Haney snuck by Great Bend's Brady Mendez in his first contested match before pinning his final two pool opponents. He pinned Ellinwood senior Cooper Gunn for the title. Mendez picked up a pair of sub-minute pins in pool matches but was pinned by Stafford's Dylan Brozek in the third-place match.

Panther sophomore Blake Stein made the finals at 157 pounds. He went 3-0 in pool matches with a pair of pins and a major. Stein needed just 39 seconds to pin Hoisington's Knoxly Nettleingham in the semifinals. Stein was pinned by Concordia's one-loss Drake Blochlinger in the finals. Nettleingham placed fourth for the Cardinals.

Larned freshman Konner Mills moved to 11-1 on the season with a win a 106 pounds. He pinned all four opponents with three wins in 63 seconds or less. Stafford freshman Jayce Feril placed second. 

Great Bend sophomore Josue Bustamante nearly had a perfect day at 285 pounds. He was sitting at 4-0 with four wins by fall, including a pair of sub-minute pins. Concordia senior Tracer Murdock, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A with just one loss on the season, pinned Bustamante in 54 seconds. Murdock won all five matches on the day in 54 seconds or fewer, including three in 25 seconds or less. Larned's Joseph Wilder placed third in the round-robin bracket.

Hoisington junior Jhadyn Turner made the finals at 126 pounds, where he lost a 12-5 decision to Liberal's one-loss Julian Orrantia. Great Bend senior Ambrose Kramer was pinned by Orrantia in the semis but went on to finish third in the bracket.

Larned's Asher Alexander wrestled in the championship match at 132 pounds, getting pinned by Holcomb's Haegen Hartman. Alexander pinned his first three opponents before losing an 11-0 match against Liberal to close out pool competition. Great Bend's Caleb Mulligan went 3-1 in pool matches with a 13-second and 57-second pin and a loss to Alexander. Hoisington's Jaxson Henry pinned Mulligan in the third-place match.

Landon Beaver was a finalist for Hoisington at 144 pounds. He pinned all three pool opponents before losing an 8-3 decision to Concordia in the championship match. Great Bend senior Luis Gonzalez rebounded from a loss to Beaver to pin his next two opponents. He was pinned by his Liberal opponent in the third-place match.

Great Bend's Trevin Maciel finished third at 138 pounds. After a loss, Maciel pinned his next two opponents in a total of 49 seconds, then added a third pin against Hoisington. Maciel pinned his Liberal opponent in the consolation finals.

Panther junior Ethan Stegman lost all four matches at 215 pounds. Stafford sophomore Jackson Mead placed fourth in the bracket.

Great Bend Post SportsArea wrestlers had plenty of success Friday at Hoisington's Corner Classic. Unranked Concordia scored 181 points points for the upset. Great Bend scored 170 points for second, and Hoisington finished third with 116.5 points to beat Liberal.Panther senior Jace Schartz entered Friday's 165-pound bracket ranked No. 3 in Class 5A. He turned in another dominating performance with a 4-0 record. All of his wins came by tech fall, including a pair of 15-0 wins. He defeated Ellinwood's Gabriel Martinez 18-2 in the finals. Martinez reached the finals by pinning his first four opponents.Great Bend freshman Cal Schartz moved up to No. 3 in the Dec. 17 Class 5A rankings. He followed that with a win at 113 pounds Friday. Schartz tech-falled all three pool opponents 15-0, then defeated Hoisington's Kalob Lamb by a similar score to open bracket matches. Schartz needed just 39 seconds to pin Eureka's Mason Hughes (13-3) in the finals. Lamb finished third for the Cardinals with a win over Larned's Brayden Smith.Panther freshman Hayden Liles won the bracket at 120 pounds. He pinned both pool opponents then followed suit in bracket competition with wins by fall against Holcomb and Concordia. Larned senior Jai-Sean Phillips finished fourth.Cardinal senior Teron Kraft moved up to No. 4 at 175 pounds in the latest Class 3-2-1A rankings. He had no trouble Friday, pinning his first two opponents in 11 and 79 seconds, respectively. He pinned Ellinwood's Nathan Hammeke in 56 seconds to advance to the finals where he defeated Concordia by tech fall 16-1. Great Bend's Maxx Steffan pinned Hammeke in the consolation finals.Larned's Landon Haney won an all-area finale at 190 pounds. Haney snuck by Great Bend's Brady Mendez in his first contested match before pinning his final two pool opponents. He pinned Ellinwood senior Cooper Gunn for the title. Mendez picked up a pair of sub-minute pins in pool matches but was pinned by Stafford's Dylan Brozek in the third-place match.Panther sophomore Blake Stein made the finals at 157 pounds. He went 3-0 in pool matches with a pair of pins and a major. Stein needed just 39 seconds to pin Hoisington's Knoxly Nettleingham in the semifinals. Stein was pinned by Concordia's one-loss Drake Blochlinger in the finals. Nettleingham placed fourth for the Cardinals.Larned freshman Konner Mills moved to 11-1 on the season with a win a 106 pounds. He pinned all four opponents with three wins in 63 seconds or less. Stafford freshman Jayce Feril placed second. Great Bend sophomore Josue Bustamante nearly had a perfect day at 285 pounds. He was sitting at 4-0 with four wins by fall, including a pair of sub-minute pins. Concordia senior Tracer Murdock, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A with just one loss on the season, pinned Bustamante in 54 seconds. Murdock won all five matches on the day in 54 seconds or fewer, including three in 25 seconds or less. Larned's Joseph Wilder placed third in the round-robin bracket.Hoisington junior Jhadyn Turner made the finals at 126 pounds, where he lost a 12-5 decision to Liberal's one-loss Julian Orrantia. Great Bend senior Ambrose Kramer was pinned by Orrantia in the semis but went on to finish third in the bracket.Larned's Asher Alexander wrestled in the championship match at 132 pounds, getting pinned by Holcomb's Haegen Hartman. Alexander pinned his first three opponents before losing an 11-0 match against Liberal to close out pool competition. Great Bend's Caleb Mulligan went 3-1 in pool matches with a 13-second and 57-second pin and a loss to Alexander. Hoisington's Jaxson Henry pinned Mulligan in the third-place match.Landon Beaver was a finalist for Hoisington at 144 pounds. He pinned all three pool opponents before losing an 8-3 decision to Concordia in the championship match. Great Bend senior Luis Gonzalez rebounded from a loss to Beaver to pin his next two opponents. He was pinned by his Liberal opponent in the third-place match.Great Bend's Trevin Maciel finished third at 138 pounds. After a loss, Maciel pinned his next two opponents in a total of 49 seconds, then added a third pin against Hoisington. Maciel pinned his Liberal opponent in the consolation finals.Panther junior Ethan Stegman lost all four matches at 215 pounds. Stafford sophomore Jackson Mead placed fourth in the bracket.

Great Bend boys second, Hoisington third at Cardinal Corner Classic

By now the competition is familiar. That does not make them any slower in the water. The Great Bend High School swimmers closed out the 2024 portion of the schedule Thursday in Garden City. With a smaller squad, the Panthers finished fourth out of five teams with 146 points. Garden City won the meet with 427 points, followed by Hutchinson with 310.5 points, and Dodge City with 184.5 points.

Kale Mermis collected a silver medal in the 200 free in 2:39.84, edging out the third-place finisher by less than a second but finishing 35 seconds behind the winner. Tyler Scheuerman rounded out the field in 10th with a time of 3:30.59. Mermis finished fifth in the 500 free in 7:28.54 to miss the bronze by 70 seconds. Mark Sperlein placed second in the 100 fly in 1:20.99, staving off the bronze by four seconds and missing the gold by nine seconds.

The 200 free relay team of Mermis, Sperlein, Matthew Williams, and Randy Weber finished third in a dead heat against Liberal in 2:05.72. Hutchinson won the race in 1:48. The 200 medley relay of Mermis, Sperlein, Williams, and Logan Urban placed fourth in 2:26.35 to miss the bronze by 14 seconds. 

Sperlein placed fourth in the 200 IM in 2:51.45 to miss the bronze by five seconds. Williams finished fourth in the 50 free in 28.57, nearly two seconds behind the bronze. Williams had another fourth-place finish in the 100 breast in 1:25.36 to miss the bronze by three seconds. Weber finished eighth in 32.68. AJ Schartz placed 10th in the 100 free in 1:21.50 to miss the bronze by 18 seconds. Leo Bashor finished 13th in 1:30.08, and Scheuerman hit the wall in 1:39.83 for 14th.

Great Bend's 400 free relay of Schartz, Bashor, Scheuerman, and Weber swam eighth in 5:38.99, 75 seconds behind third-place Dodge City.

Great Bend Post SportsBy now the competition is familiar. That does not make them any slower in the water. The Great Bend High School swimmers closed out the 2024 portion of the schedule Thursday in Garden City. With a smaller squad, the Panthers finished fourth out of five teams with 146 points. Garden City won the meet with 427 points, followed by Hutchinson with 310.5 points, and Dodge City with 184.5 points.Kale Mermis collected a silver medal in the 200 free in 2:39.84, edging out the third-place finisher by less than a second but finishing 35 seconds behind the winner. Tyler Scheuerman rounded out the field in 10th with a time of 3:30.59. Mermis finished fifth in the 500 free in 7:28.54 to miss the bronze by 70 seconds. Mark Sperlein placed second in the 100 fly in 1:20.99, staving off the bronze by four seconds and missing the gold by nine seconds.The 200 free relay team of Mermis, Sperlein, Matthew Williams, and Randy Weber finished third in a dead heat against Liberal in 2:05.72. Hutchinson won the race in 1:48. The 200 medley relay of Mermis, Sperlein, Williams, and Logan Urban placed fourth in 2:26.35 to miss the bronze by 14 seconds. Sperlein placed fourth in the 200 IM in 2:51.45 to miss the bronze by five seconds. Williams finished fourth in the 50 free in 28.57, nearly two seconds behind the bronze. Williams had another fourth-place finish in the 100 breast in 1:25.36 to miss the bronze by three seconds. Weber finished eighth in 32.68. AJ Schartz placed 10th in the 100 free in 1:21.50 to miss the bronze by 18 seconds. Leo Bashor finished 13th in 1:30.08, and Scheuerman hit the wall in 1:39.83 for 14th.Great Bend's 400 free relay of Schartz, Bashor, Scheuerman, and Weber swam eighth in 5:38.99, 75 seconds behind third-place Dodge City.

Mermis, Sperlein bring home silver medals from Garden City swim meet

Great Bend Boys 59 Pratt 46; Pratt Girls 40 Great Bend 21

Great Bend Sports on B104 3 The Point sponsored by USD #428, Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance Agency, Equity Bank, The 10th Street Eyecare Center, People's Bank and Trust, Comfort Pro, Delgado's Mexican Restaurant, Great Bend Rec, Edward Jones, Damm Pipe Testing, University of Kansas Health System, The Fieldhouse, Scott's Welding Service, American Plains COOP, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust, Innovative Livestock Services, Marmie Auto Group, Mpire Realty, Advanced Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, GB Tarp Company, Freedom Claims Management, Coldwell Banker - Megan Wells, Advanced Truck &amp; Diesel, Nextech, Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management, Rosenberg Family Denistry, Sutherlands, Great Bend Redi Mix, Kern Floor Service, Magna Dry Cleaning Services, Shelter Insurance - Chris Ramsey, and Mitchell K Haney and Associates.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886602159.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Boys 59 Pratt 46; Pratt Girls 40 Great Bend 21<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/14ktpqqy/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Great Bend Sports on B104 3 The Point sponsored by USD #428, Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance Agency, Equity Bank, The 10th Street Eyecare Center, People's Bank and Trust, Comfort Pro, Delgado's Mexican Restaurant, Great Bend Rec, Edward Jones, Damm Pipe Testing, University of Kansas Health System, The Fieldhouse, Scott's Welding Service, American Plains COOP, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust, Innovative Livestock Services, Marmie Auto Group, Mpire Realty, Advanced Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, GB Tarp Company, Freedom Claims Management, Coldwell Banker - Megan Wells, Advanced Truck &amp; Diesel, Nextech, Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management, Rosenberg Family Denistry, Sutherlands, Great Bend Redi Mix, Kern Floor Service, Magna Dry Cleaning Services, Shelter Insurance - Chris Ramsey, and Mitchell K Haney and Associates.

Larned Boys 52 Kingman 37; Larned Girls 54 Kingman 42

Larned Sports on Hits 106.9 brought to you in part by USD #495, Beckwith Mortuary, Equity Bank, Smith Dental, Eakin Concrete, Santa Fe Liquor Mart, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust in Larned, Farm Bureau Financial Services Leigh Anne Seeman, Clock Realty &amp; Insurance, Pawnee Plaza, Innovative Livestock Services, Titan Building Systems, Pawnee County COOP, Progressive Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, Frick Veterinary, Services, H&amp;H Roofing, Rosenberg Family Dentistry, Fusion Bank, Doerr's Ace Hardware, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned Veterinary Clinic, Heart of Kansas Family Health, Barton Community College, and Off Broadway Boutique.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695238768373.jpeg" alt=" " />
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By GRAHAM DUNBAR Associated Press

FIFA has signed Netflix to a United States broadcast deal for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 plus the 2031 edition that could be played in the U.S.

The deal announced Friday is the most significant FIFA has signed with a streaming service for a major tournament. The value was not given, though international competitions in women’s soccer have struggled to draw high-value offers.

World Cups are typically broadcast on free-to-air public networks to reach the biggest audiences, and the last women’s edition in 2023 earned FIFA less than 10% of the men’s 2022 World Cup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fifa-ebu-womens-world-cup-broadcast-rights-e57a5b74232c8c110dbb0d55a087fb39">publicly criticized public broadcasters</a>, especially in Europe, for undervaluing offers to broadcast the 2023 tournament that was played in Australia and New Zealand. That tournament was broadcast by Fox in the U.S.

“This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game,” Infantino said Friday in a statement.

FIFA will likely use the Netflix deal to drive talks with European broadcasters that will be more hardball negotiations.

FIFA and Infantino want to drive up the price of broadcast deals to help fund increased prize money and close the gender pay gap on the men’s World Cup.

At the men’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 32 team federations shared $440 million in prize money. For the women’s 2023 tournament, FIFA had a $152 million total fund for prize money, contributions to teams’ preparation costs and payments to players’ clubs.

The next Women’s World Cup will be a 32-team, 64-game tournament in 2027, played in Brazil from June 24-July 25.

The 2031 host has not been decided, though the U.S. is expected to bid for a tournament which FIFA is expected to try to expand to 48 teams. That would match the size of the 104-game format of men’s World Cup that debuts in 2026 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup after the U.S. won the two previous titles — in France in 2019 and Canada in 2015.

In FIFA’s financial accounts for 2023, when the last Women’s World Cup was played, FIFA reported total broadcasting revenue of $244 million. In the year of the men’s 2022 World Cup it was almost $2.9 billion.

Netflix dipped into live sports last month with more than 60 million households watching a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-tyson-jake-paul-fight-0e1597caaae41254df029eb9fe62cc39">heavily hyped boxing match</a>&nbsp;between retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul. Some viewers reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyson-paul-netflix-f8815c0789e4f202731cbaff9bf85bf6">streaming problems</a>, however.

Netflix also will broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day: the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. That’s part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-schedule-netflix-christmas-e6da0635c7a5f0d18391c65f0f41b711">a three-year deal</a>&nbsp;announced in May.

FIFA tried to sign Apple+ to an exclusive global deal to broadcast the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup which is being played in 11 U.S. cities next June and July.

Broadcast networks showed little interest in the FIFA club event that will now be broadcast for free on streaming service DAZN, which is building closer business ties to Saudi Arabia.

Ahead of the next Women’s World Cup, Netflix will “produce exclusive documentary series in the lead-up to both tournaments, spotlighting the world’s top players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football,” FIFA said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734711336284.png" alt="Spain's Aitana Bonmati celebrates after scoring a goal during the women's Group C match between Spain and Japan during the 2024 Summer Olympics in France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)" />
 <figcaption>Spain's Aitana Bonmati celebrates after scoring a goal during the women's Group C match between Spain and Japan during the 2024 Summer Olympics in France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GRAHAM DUNBAR Associated PressFIFA has signed Netflix to a United States broadcast deal for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 plus the 2031 edition that could be played in the U.S.The deal announced Friday is the most significant FIFA has signed with a streaming service for a major tournament. The value was not given, though international competitions in women’s soccer have struggled to draw high-value offers.World Cups are typically broadcast on free-to-air public networks to reach the biggest audiences, and the last women’s edition in 2023 earned FIFA less than 10% of the men’s 2022 World Cup.FIFA president Gianni Infantino had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fifa-ebu-womens-world-cup-broadcast-rights-e57a5b74232c8c110dbb0d55a087fb39">publicly criticized public broadcasters</a>, especially in Europe, for undervaluing offers to broadcast the 2023 tournament that was played in Australia and New Zealand. That tournament was broadcast by Fox in the U.S.“This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game,” Infantino said Friday in a statement.FIFA will likely use the Netflix deal to drive talks with European broadcasters that will be more hardball negotiations.FIFA and Infantino want to drive up the price of broadcast deals to help fund increased prize money and close the gender pay gap on the men’s World Cup.At the men’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 32 team federations shared $440 million in prize money. For the women’s 2023 tournament, FIFA had a $152 million total fund for prize money, contributions to teams’ preparation costs and payments to players’ clubs.The next Women’s World Cup will be a 32-team, 64-game tournament in 2027, played in Brazil from June 24-July 25.The 2031 host has not been decided, though the U.S. is expected to bid for a tournament which FIFA is expected to try to expand to 48 teams. That would match the size of the 104-game format of men’s World Cup that debuts in 2026 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup after the U.S. won the two previous titles — in France in 2019 and Canada in 2015.In FIFA’s financial accounts for 2023, when the last Women’s World Cup was played, FIFA reported total broadcasting revenue of $244 million. In the year of the men’s 2022 World Cup it was almost $2.9 billion.Netflix dipped into live sports last month with more than 60 million households watching a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-tyson-jake-paul-fight-0e1597caaae41254df029eb9fe62cc39">heavily hyped boxing match</a>&nbsp;between retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul. Some viewers reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tyson-paul-netflix-f8815c0789e4f202731cbaff9bf85bf6">streaming problems</a>, however.Netflix also will broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day: the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. That’s part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-schedule-netflix-christmas-e6da0635c7a5f0d18391c65f0f41b711">a three-year deal</a>&nbsp;announced in May.FIFA tried to sign Apple+ to an exclusive global deal to broadcast the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup which is being played in 11 U.S. cities next June and July.Broadcast networks showed little interest in the FIFA club event that will now be broadcast for free on streaming service DAZN, which is building closer business ties to Saudi Arabia.Ahead of the next Women’s World Cup, Netflix will “produce exclusive documentary series in the lead-up to both tournaments, spotlighting the world’s top players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football,” FIFA said.

FIFA signs Netflix to US broadcast deal for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Texans coach Demeco Ryans was asked early in the week, long before anybody knew the severity of Patrick Mahomes' high-ankle sprain, if he expected the Chiefs quarterback to play against them Saturday.

“The light shines on Patrick a lot,” Ryans replied, “but if you watch the Chiefs play, their defense is an outstanding unit. They do a really good job defensively. They're going to find a way no matter who is there, they'll find a way to move the football. So we just have to be on it in all areas of the game, whether Patrick is there or not.”

Sure looks like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-mahomes-brown-hopkins-nfl-6fc2ced4443fb9737b40d497c94141be">he's going to be there</a>.

Mahomes was able to practice this week after hurting his ankle late in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/browns-chiefs-score-mahomes-dc7a77ac602c6aa0c550dd6bf5288f27">last week's victory over Cleveland</a>, and all signs point to him being on the field for an important matchup between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-dolphins-score-25cffb37a64ee89e553dc4c2fe35dec4">the AFC South champion Texans</a>&nbsp;and AFC West champion Chiefs.

Kansas City (13-1) is clinging to the No. 1 seed in the AFC with games left against the Texans, Steelers and Broncos.

“You go out and win two games,” Mahomes said of playing through the injury to clinch the lone postseason bye, “you'll have a long break more than likely. If you can get through these games and win these games against two great opponents, it will give you some momentum going into the playoffs, and hopefully give you a break then.”

Much of the attention for both teams tends to land on their offenses. Mahomes and Texans counterpart C.J. Stroud are bona fide stars. The Chiefs have DeAndre Hopkins and the Texans have Nico Collins at wide receivers. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is still arguably the best at his position in the NFL, while the Texans have Joe Mixon leading the way in the backfield.

Yet it is their defenses that have allowed the Chiefs and Texans to clinch playoff spots so early in the season.

Houston (9-5) has the league's fourth-ranked defense and is No. 6 against the pass, and a group on pace to set the franchise record for sacks in a season also is coming off a four-turnover performance in a win against Miami. Kansas City counters with the No. 5 overall defense, which just piled up five sacks and six turnovers in its victory over the Browns.

“I mean, I think every game (allows you) to learn where you match up against guys, and I thought, on film, they have a lot of great players,” Stroud said. "They play well together. They’ve been playing well together for a long time, and just add new pieces that fit their system well. So, I think they do a great job and excited to match up against them.”

The Texans rank second in the NFL with 45 sacks this season and need just one on Saturday to tie the franchise record, set just last year. Danielle Hunter leads the way and is second in the NFL with 12 sacks while Will Anderson Jr. is seventh with a career-best 10 1/2. They’re the only teammates in the NFL with double-digit sacks this season.

“They continue to wreak havoc on the opposing offenses, playing on their side of the line of scrimmage,” Ryans said.

Houston cornerback Derek Stingley had two interceptions against the Dolphins last week to give him four in the last four games, and he was part of a defense that forced four turnovers, improving their differential to plus-13 on the season.

Stingley, who ranks second in the NFL with a career-high 17 passes defended, also had two tackles for loss on Sunday to become the first cornerback in NFL history with two interceptions and two tackles for loss in the same game.

“If you get the other team to turn the ball over three times in the game normally the odds of winning go up,” Stingley said. “So, we got four, trying to get five next game. Just keep it going. Keep playing together as a unit.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-carson-wentz-patrick-mahomes-c4b501d8967c11163cbcda2679ed41b7">Chiefs signed veteran Carson Wentz to a lucrative one-year deal to back up Mahomes</a>, and he would be pushed into duty should the two-time MVP struggle on his balky ankle. Wentz completed his only two passes for 20 yards against the Browns, allowing the Chiefs to run out the clock on their 21-7 victory.

The Chiefs are still uncertain how they will proceed at left tackle after sliding standout guard Joe Thuney into the position and starting Mike Caliendo in his place last week. That came after the Chiefs unsuccessfully tried Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris at the position, and after former Pro Bowl pick D.J. Humphries hurt his hamstring in his season debut.

“I thought (Thuney) battled his tail off and really was throwing it out there,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He did a nice job.”

Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown could make his season debut against the Texans. The high-profile free-agent signing hurt his shoulder on the first play of the preseason and needed surgery, but he returned to practice last week and has looked good.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Texans coach Demeco Ryans was asked early in the week, long before anybody knew the severity of Patrick Mahomes' high-ankle sprain, if he expected the Chiefs quarterback to play against them Saturday.“The light shines on Patrick a lot,” Ryans replied, “but if you watch the Chiefs play, their defense is an outstanding unit. They do a really good job defensively. They're going to find a way no matter who is there, they'll find a way to move the football. So we just have to be on it in all areas of the game, whether Patrick is there or not.”Sure looks like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-mahomes-brown-hopkins-nfl-6fc2ced4443fb9737b40d497c94141be">he's going to be there</a>.Mahomes was able to practice this week after hurting his ankle late in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/browns-chiefs-score-mahomes-dc7a77ac602c6aa0c550dd6bf5288f27">last week's victory over Cleveland</a>, and all signs point to him being on the field for an important matchup between&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-dolphins-score-25cffb37a64ee89e553dc4c2fe35dec4">the AFC South champion Texans</a>&nbsp;and AFC West champion Chiefs.Kansas City (13-1) is clinging to the No. 1 seed in the AFC with games left against the Texans, Steelers and Broncos.“You go out and win two games,” Mahomes said of playing through the injury to clinch the lone postseason bye, “you'll have a long break more than likely. If you can get through these games and win these games against two great opponents, it will give you some momentum going into the playoffs, and hopefully give you a break then.”Much of the attention for both teams tends to land on their offenses. Mahomes and Texans counterpart C.J. Stroud are bona fide stars. The Chiefs have DeAndre Hopkins and the Texans have Nico Collins at wide receivers. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is still arguably the best at his position in the NFL, while the Texans have Joe Mixon leading the way in the backfield.Yet it is their defenses that have allowed the Chiefs and Texans to clinch playoff spots so early in the season.Houston (9-5) has the league's fourth-ranked defense and is No. 6 against the pass, and a group on pace to set the franchise record for sacks in a season also is coming off a four-turnover performance in a win against Miami. Kansas City counters with the No. 5 overall defense, which just piled up five sacks and six turnovers in its victory over the Browns.“I mean, I think every game (allows you) to learn where you match up against guys, and I thought, on film, they have a lot of great players,” Stroud said. "They play well together. They’ve been playing well together for a long time, and just add new pieces that fit their system well. So, I think they do a great job and excited to match up against them.”<h2>Sack attack</h2>The Texans rank second in the NFL with 45 sacks this season and need just one on Saturday to tie the franchise record, set just last year. Danielle Hunter leads the way and is second in the NFL with 12 sacks while Will Anderson Jr. is seventh with a career-best 10 1/2. They’re the only teammates in the NFL with double-digit sacks this season.“They continue to wreak havoc on the opposing offenses, playing on their side of the line of scrimmage,” Ryans said.<h2>Stingley’s success</h2>Houston cornerback Derek Stingley had two interceptions against the Dolphins last week to give him four in the last four games, and he was part of a defense that forced four turnovers, improving their differential to plus-13 on the season.Stingley, who ranks second in the NFL with a career-high 17 passes defended, also had two tackles for loss on Sunday to become the first cornerback in NFL history with two interceptions and two tackles for loss in the same game.“If you get the other team to turn the ball over three times in the game normally the odds of winning go up,” Stingley said. “So, we got four, trying to get five next game. Just keep it going. Keep playing together as a unit.”<h2>Good King Wentz-eslaus</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-carson-wentz-patrick-mahomes-c4b501d8967c11163cbcda2679ed41b7">Chiefs signed veteran Carson Wentz to a lucrative one-year deal to back up Mahomes</a>, and he would be pushed into duty should the two-time MVP struggle on his balky ankle. Wentz completed his only two passes for 20 yards against the Browns, allowing the Chiefs to run out the clock on their 21-7 victory.<h2>Left tackle trouble</h2>The Chiefs are still uncertain how they will proceed at left tackle after sliding standout guard Joe Thuney into the position and starting Mike Caliendo in his place last week. That came after the Chiefs unsuccessfully tried Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris at the position, and after former Pro Bowl pick D.J. Humphries hurt his hamstring in his season debut.“I thought (Thuney) battled his tail off and really was throwing it out there,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He did a nice job.”<h2>Hollywood's time to star</h2>Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown could make his season debut against the Texans. The high-profile free-agent signing hurt his shoulder on the first play of the preseason and needed surgery, but he returned to practice last week and has looked good.

 Mahomes expects to play vs. Texans in matchup of AFC West and South champions

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Of all the rules in football, Jim Harbaugh considers the obscure fair-catch kick to be his favorite. The Los Angeles Chargers coach had the opportunity to try one Thursday night for only the second time in his career. This time, his kicker got three points from one of the most unusual plays in the sport. Cameron Dicker&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1869937625555186073" target="_blank">made the first successful fair-catch kick</a>&nbsp;in the NFL since 1976, connecting from 57 yards right before halftime against the Denver Broncos. “I’ve been trying to get one of those every game. Cam Dicker stepped up and made it. It was huge and got the momentum back,” Harbaugh said. Those points began the Chargers’ comeback as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-chargers-score-967da499913fce9b22559fe181b9f876">rallied for a 34-27 victory</a>, finishing the game on a 24-6 run. For football obsessives like Harbaugh who relish oddities and unprecedented feats, Dicker’s kick was delightful.

CHICAGO (AP) — Sammy Sosa appeared to acknowledge using performance enhancing drugs during a career in which he hit more than 600 home runs, and the Chicago Cubs said they were ready to welcome back their former star. In a statement released Thursday through Aurora Global Consulting, Sosa said he is sorry for mistakes. “There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games,” he said. “I never broke any laws. But in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize.” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said the team is “ready to move forward together” with Sosa and plans to invite Sosa to the annual fan convention Jan. 17-19 in Chicago. “We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and for reaching out,” Ricketts said. “No one played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody’s perfect but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs. It is an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favorite.&nbsp; Sosa, the franchise’s record-holder with 545 home runs, was traded to Baltimore after he showed up late for the 2004 finale at Wrigley Field and left early.

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australian breaker Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has tried to be a good sport about the jokes and criticism that poured in from around the globe after her controversial performance at the Paris Olympics. But maybe “Raygun: the Musical” was a bridge too far. Comedian Stephanie Broadbridge called off the show just hours before it was set to premiere in Sydney, after Gunn’s lawyers contacted its comedy club venue and threatened legal action. Broadbridge told her social media followers that the lawyers had trademarked the poster for the musical and told the comedian she could not do Gunn’s notorious kangaroo dance because the Olympian who went viral for her performance in Paris owns it. Gunn, a 37-year-old Sydney university lecturer, has said the fallout from her gig at the August debut of Olympic breaking left her “devastated” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-australia-breaker-controversy-c90d6d64a3a0b3ca4b690469b66a4ba7">forced her to retire from competition</a>. Still, she said she appreciated the attention from famous comedians like late-night host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rachael-gunn-raygunn-breaker-australia-olympics-cf2ef90553623d11a405be00da16243b">Jimmy Fallon</a>.&nbsp;

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Stephen Curry had a game like none other in his career. It was part of an awful night for the Golden State Warriors. Curry didn’t make a shot from the field in his 24 minutes — the first time he’s played that many minutes without a basket in his 16-year career — and the Warriors fell behind by 57 points in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/warriors-grizzlies-score-dc47a2e196c818518de6fda3f207b504">what became a 144-93 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night. “We ran into a buzz saw,” Curry said. “We obviously know we are better than that. I’ve got to be better than that.” The 51-point final margin and 57-point deficit were both the largest in the NBA this season.&nbsp;“You lose by 51, that’s humbling,” coach Steve Kerr said after his team, which started the season 12-3, lost for the ninth time in its last 11 games. Curry was 0 for 7, missing all six of his tries from 3-point range. It was only the fifth time in Curry’s career that he’d taken a shot in a game and not registered a field goal — he was 0 for 1 once, 0 for 2 once, 0 for 3 once and 0 for 4 once.

THURSDAY SCORES NCAA WOMEN TOP 25 No. 2 South Carolina 82, Charleston Southern 46

No. 8 Maryland 107, William &amp; Mary 57

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714991701059.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Of all the rules in football, Jim Harbaugh considers the obscure fair-catch kick to be his favorite. The Los Angeles Chargers coach had the opportunity to try one Thursday night for only the second time in his career. This time, his kicker got three points from one of the most unusual plays in the sport. Cameron Dicker&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1869937625555186073" target="_blank">made the first successful fair-catch kick</a>&nbsp;in the NFL since 1976, connecting from 57 yards right before halftime against the Denver Broncos. “I’ve been trying to get one of those every game. Cam Dicker stepped up and made it. It was huge and got the momentum back,” Harbaugh said. Those points began the Chargers’ comeback as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-chargers-score-967da499913fce9b22559fe181b9f876">rallied for a 34-27 victory</a>, finishing the game on a 24-6 run. For football obsessives like Harbaugh who relish oddities and unprecedented feats, Dicker’s kick was delightful.CHICAGO (AP) — Sammy Sosa appeared to acknowledge using performance enhancing drugs during a career in which he hit more than 600 home runs, and the Chicago Cubs said they were ready to welcome back their former star. In a statement released Thursday through Aurora Global Consulting, Sosa said he is sorry for mistakes. “There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games,” he said. “I never broke any laws. But in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize.” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said the team is “ready to move forward together” with Sosa and plans to invite Sosa to the annual fan convention Jan. 17-19 in Chicago. “We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and for reaching out,” Ricketts said. “No one played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody’s perfect but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs. It is an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favorite.&nbsp; Sosa, the franchise’s record-holder with 545 home runs, was traded to Baltimore after he showed up late for the 2004 finale at Wrigley Field and left early.BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australian breaker Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has tried to be a good sport about the jokes and criticism that poured in from around the globe after her controversial performance at the Paris Olympics. But maybe “Raygun: the Musical” was a bridge too far. Comedian Stephanie Broadbridge called off the show just hours before it was set to premiere in Sydney, after Gunn’s lawyers contacted its comedy club venue and threatened legal action. Broadbridge told her social media followers that the lawyers had trademarked the poster for the musical and told the comedian she could not do Gunn’s notorious kangaroo dance because the Olympian who went viral for her performance in Paris owns it. Gunn, a 37-year-old Sydney university lecturer, has said the fallout from her gig at the August debut of Olympic breaking left her “devastated” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-australia-breaker-controversy-c90d6d64a3a0b3ca4b690469b66a4ba7">forced her to retire from competition</a>. Still, she said she appreciated the attention from famous comedians like late-night host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rachael-gunn-raygunn-breaker-australia-olympics-cf2ef90553623d11a405be00da16243b">Jimmy Fallon</a>.&nbsp;MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Stephen Curry had a game like none other in his career. It was part of an awful night for the Golden State Warriors. Curry didn’t make a shot from the field in his 24 minutes — the first time he’s played that many minutes without a basket in his 16-year career — and the Warriors fell behind by 57 points in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/warriors-grizzlies-score-dc47a2e196c818518de6fda3f207b504">what became a 144-93 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night. “We ran into a buzz saw,” Curry said. “We obviously know we are better than that. I’ve got to be better than that.” The 51-point final margin and 57-point deficit were both the largest in the NBA this season.&nbsp;“You lose by 51, that’s humbling,” coach Steve Kerr said after his team, which started the season 12-3, lost for the ninth time in its last 11 games. Curry was 0 for 7, missing all six of his tries from 3-point range. It was only the fifth time in Curry’s career that he’d taken a shot in a game and not registered a field goal — he was 0 for 1 once, 0 for 2 once, 0 for 3 once and 0 for 4 once.THURSDAY SCORES NCAA WOMEN TOP 25 No. 2 South Carolina 82, Charleston Southern 46No. 5 LSU 91, UIC 73No. 8 Maryland 107, William &amp; Mary 57No. 15 Michigan State 69, Montana 38No. 21 NC State 61, James Madison 47

Friday's Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

- Barton Men's basketball coach Jeremy Coombs will be on the show to talk about his team's performance in the first semester after the Cougars went 10-3 overall with a 5-3 record in the Jayhawk Conference.

- Sunflower Sports Solutions Conor Nicholl will preview the final Friday night of the high school basketball season in 1024.

- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther Sports with Great Bend cross country/track and field coach Lyles Lashley about his latest award, NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Friday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Hesher, and Mike Courson" />
 <figcaption>Friday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Hesher, and Mike Courson</figcaption>
 </figure>- Barton Men's basketball coach Jeremy Coombs will be on the show to talk about his team's performance in the first semester after the Cougars went 10-3 overall with a 5-3 record in the Jayhawk Conference.- Sunflower Sports Solutions Conor Nicholl will preview the final Friday night of the high school basketball season in 1024.- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther Sports with Great Bend cross country/track and field coach Lyles Lashley about his latest award, NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year.- Friday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Friday on Sports Day

- Great Bend Panther basketball coach Kyle Kreigh joins the show to talk about Tuesday's 56-49 come from behind win over Emporia. He'll also preview the Panthers Friday first semester finale in Pratt against the 10th ranked Greenbacks.

- Former Great Bend and current Pratt High coach Chris Battin will also preview Friday's came and tell us more about his 4-1 Fighting Frogs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Thursday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Thursday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oQvjaHH6f0k?si=Gnk_DKavmSCVMPKv" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Great Bend Panther basketball coach Kyle Kreigh joins the show to talk about Tuesday's 56-49 come from behind win over Emporia. He'll also preview the Panthers Friday first semester finale in Pratt against the 10th ranked Greenbacks.- Former Great Bend and current Pratt High coach Chris Battin will also preview Friday's came and tell us more about his 4-1 Fighting Frogs.- Thursday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Thursday on Sports Day(Watch)

The 2023 cross country season was a special one for the Great Bend High School girls. The Panthers entered the Class 5A State Championships at Rim Rock Farm ranked No. 1 despite finishing 80 points behind St. James Academy just a year earlier. In 2023, the Lady Panthers finished second to the Thunder, missing a state title by just 10 points.

Because of that success, Lady Panther coach Lyles Lashley was named Kansas Coaches Association Girls' Cross Country Coach of the Year and Kansas Cross Country and Track &amp; Field Coaches Association (KCCTFCA) Class 5A Girls Coach of the Year. Last week, he was named National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Section 5 Coach of the Year.

"It's fun to think about the girls and the team we had, how balanced we were," Lashley said. "The same group of girls that scored at state lost to St. James by 80 points the year before, and we only lost to them by 10 that year. I think that was a testament to the summer they put in and how they worked together as a unit."

As Kansas Coach of the Year for the 2023 season, Lashley became eligible for the NFHS Section 5 award that includes coaches from Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Sectional committee representatives at NFHS evaluate state-award recipients and select the best candidates for the sectional award in each category. Sectional candidates are then ranked according to a point system to determine a National Coach of the Year in each sport.

Great Bend was led in the 2023 season by Addy Nicholson, who placed fourth at state and set a school record at Rim Rock Farm. Marissa Boone finished eighth, and Sienna Smith ran 13th. Morgan Beckwith and Eliana Beckham, both seniors at the time, rounded out team scoring. Kate Welcher and Kenzie Premer, who had set a school record at the course earlier in the season, also ran at state.

"It's just a testament to the hard work our kids put in," Lashley said. "Without that, none of these awards are possible - them buying into our program and the hard work they put in."

This year's cross-country team won a fourth-consecutive Western Athletic Conference title and fourth-straight regional title for the school. Lashley was previously honored as NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year for the 2013 season after winning a Class 2A boys' state title in Ellinwood.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734553293481.png" alt="Great Bend High School cross country coach Lyles Lashley was recently named NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year after a state runner-up finish at the 2023 state meet.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Great Bend High School cross country coach Lyles Lashley was recently named NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year after a state runner-up finish at the 2023 state meet.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe 2023 cross country season was a special one for the Great Bend High School girls. The Panthers entered the Class 5A State Championships at Rim Rock Farm ranked No. 1 despite finishing 80 points behind St. James Academy just a year earlier. In 2023, the Lady Panthers finished second to the Thunder, missing a state title by just 10 points.Because of that success, Lady Panther coach Lyles Lashley was named Kansas Coaches Association Girls' Cross Country Coach of the Year and Kansas Cross Country and Track &amp; Field Coaches Association (KCCTFCA) Class 5A Girls Coach of the Year. Last week, he was named National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Section 5 Coach of the Year."It's fun to think about the girls and the team we had, how balanced we were," Lashley said. "The same group of girls that scored at state lost to St. James by 80 points the year before, and we only lost to them by 10 that year. I think that was a testament to the summer they put in and how they worked together as a unit."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698524957230.jpeg" alt="2023 Class 5A state runners-up" />
 <figcaption>2023 Class 5A state runners-up</figcaption>
 </figure>As Kansas Coach of the Year for the 2023 season, Lashley became eligible for the NFHS Section 5 award that includes coaches from Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Sectional committee representatives at NFHS evaluate state-award recipients and select the best candidates for the sectional award in each category. Sectional candidates are then ranked according to a point system to determine a National Coach of the Year in each sport.Great Bend was led in the 2023 season by Addy Nicholson, who placed fourth at state and set a school record at Rim Rock Farm. Marissa Boone finished eighth, and Sienna Smith ran 13th. Morgan Beckwith and Eliana Beckham, both seniors at the time, rounded out team scoring. Kate Welcher and Kenzie Premer, who had set a school record at the course earlier in the season, also ran at state."It's just a testament to the hard work our kids put in," Lashley said. "Without that, none of these awards are possible - them buying into our program and the hard work they put in."This year's cross-country team won a fourth-consecutive Western Athletic Conference title and fourth-straight regional title for the school. Lashley was previously honored as NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year for the 2013 season after winning a Class 2A boys' state title in Ellinwood.

Great Bend's Lashley honored with second NFHS Sectional Coach of Year award

The Central Prairie League has featured some premier teams and premier coaches over the last decade. Brett Rolfs led Central Plains to back-to-back unbeaten seasons in 2018 and 2019. Clint Kinnamon coached back-to-back-back state champions in 2013-15 with a combined 77-1 record. Derek Joiner coached Ellinwood to a 76-15 record in a recent four-year run. One constant the entire time: Jeff Kuckelman plugging away on the sideline in Macksville. In his 23rd season at the school, Kuckelman reached his 400th win Tuesday night against Central Christian.

Kuckelman has seen his share of success at the school, advancing to the state tournament 12 times and winning three times, including a 24-2 run in the 2022-23 season to win Class 1A, Div. I. He was the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2006.

This year's Mustang squad is ranked No. 7 in the final Class 1A, Div. I rankings of 2024. The team is 4-1 on the season and led by one of the state's most prolific scorers in senior Diego Esparza, who is averaging 29.8 points a night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734630259285.jpeg" alt="Macksville High School coach Jeff Kuckelman picked up his 400th career win Tuesday at Hutchinson Central Christian. Kuckelman has led the Mustangs to 12 state appearance and three state championships.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Macksville High School coach Jeff Kuckelman picked up his 400th career win Tuesday at Hutchinson Central Christian. Kuckelman has led the Mustangs to 12 state appearance and three state championships.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe Central Prairie League has featured some premier teams and premier coaches over the last decade. Brett Rolfs led Central Plains to back-to-back unbeaten seasons in 2018 and 2019. Clint Kinnamon coached back-to-back-back state champions in 2013-15 with a combined 77-1 record. Derek Joiner coached Ellinwood to a 76-15 record in a recent four-year run. One constant the entire time: Jeff Kuckelman plugging away on the sideline in Macksville. In his 23rd season at the school, Kuckelman reached his 400th win Tuesday night against Central Christian.Kuckelman has seen his share of success at the school, advancing to the state tournament 12 times and winning three times, including a 24-2 run in the 2022-23 season to win Class 1A, Div. I. He was the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2006.This year's Mustang squad is ranked No. 7 in the final Class 1A, Div. I rankings of 2024. The team is 4-1 on the season and led by one of the state's most prolific scorers in senior Diego Esparza, who is averaging 29.8 points a night.

Macksville's Kuckelman picks up 400th career win

OWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — No Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball player will wear Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 again.

The number will be retired in a ceremony Feb. 2 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Iowa athletic department announced Wednesday.

Clark finished her college career last season as the all-time leading men’s or women’s scorer in NCAA Division I history and is widely regarded as a transformational figure in the women’s game. The flair of her game and long-distance 3-point shots spawned a legion of fans adorned in her No. 22 jersey at games both home and away.

“I’m forever proud to be a Hawkeye and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball,” Clark said. “It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I’ve admired for so long.”

Clark, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wnba-draft-2024-caitlin-clark-6aa5dddaedbe7da5a2b147da6d39e832">drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever</a>&nbsp;last spring and was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-rookie-year-wnba-ecfc3070241f5c659402e0843c433808">WNBA Rookie of the Year</a>, will be in attendance for the number retirement ceremony during the Hawkeyes’ game against Southern California.

“Caitlin Clark has not only redefined excellence on the court but has also inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and determination,” Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz said. “Her remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on the University of Iowa and the world of women’s basketball. Retiring her number is a testament to her extraordinary contributions and a celebration of her legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. Hawkeye fans are eager to say thank you for so many incredible moments.”

In a 17-day span from Feb. 15 to March 3, Clark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-iowa-12e078352a92fe2effb307888775cdb0">broke Kelsey Plum’s record</a>&nbsp;to become the all-time women’s NCAA Division I scoring leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-caitlin-clark-scoring-record-lynette-woodard-6bad1ecd9fba1da853483e98ab84c632">passed AIAW star Lynette Woodard</a>&nbsp;for the major college scoring record and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-iowa-ncaa-record-8d2a9bc33a9fdc59177a5ca4fe7221a9">passed LSU’s Pete Maravich</a>&nbsp;for most career points in Division I history for men and women.

Clark led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA championship game in her last two years and is the only player in Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons.

OWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — No Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball player will wear Caitlin Clark’s No. 22 again.The number will be retired in a ceremony Feb. 2 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Iowa athletic department announced Wednesday.Clark finished her college career last season as the all-time leading men’s or women’s scorer in NCAA Division I history and is widely regarded as a transformational figure in the women’s game. The flair of her game and long-distance 3-point shots spawned a legion of fans adorned in her No. 22 jersey at games both home and away.“I’m forever proud to be a Hawkeye and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball,” Clark said. “It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I’ve admired for so long.”Clark, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wnba-draft-2024-caitlin-clark-6aa5dddaedbe7da5a2b147da6d39e832">drafted No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever</a>&nbsp;last spring and was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-rookie-year-wnba-ecfc3070241f5c659402e0843c433808">WNBA Rookie of the Year</a>, will be in attendance for the number retirement ceremony during the Hawkeyes’ game against Southern California.“Caitlin Clark has not only redefined excellence on the court but has also inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and determination,” Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz said. “Her remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on the University of Iowa and the world of women’s basketball. Retiring her number is a testament to her extraordinary contributions and a celebration of her legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. Hawkeye fans are eager to say thank you for so many incredible moments.”In a 17-day span from Feb. 15 to March 3, Clark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-iowa-12e078352a92fe2effb307888775cdb0">broke Kelsey Plum’s record</a>&nbsp;to become the all-time women’s NCAA Division I scoring leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-caitlin-clark-scoring-record-lynette-woodard-6bad1ecd9fba1da853483e98ab84c632">passed AIAW star Lynette Woodard</a>&nbsp;for the major college scoring record and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-iowa-ncaa-record-8d2a9bc33a9fdc59177a5ca4fe7221a9">passed LSU’s Pete Maravich</a>&nbsp;for most career points in Division I history for men and women.Clark led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA championship game in her last two years and is the only player in Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons.

Clark’s No. 22 to be retired during February ceremony at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Western Athletic Conference Great Bend @ Pratt Hays @ Manhattan Dodge City @ Lakin Central Kansas League Thursday Southeast of Saline @ Hillsboro Central Kansas League Friday Kingman @ Larned Haven @ Belle Plaine Smoky Valley @ Halstead Central Prairie League LaCrosse @ Otis-Bison Ellis @ Ellinwood TMP @ Central Plains Macksville @ Stafford Kiowa County @ St. John Ness City @ Kinsley Chase @ Victoria Other Area Games Pawnee Heights @ Spearville Russell @ Norton Ashland @ Hodgeman County Skyline @ South Central Ellsworth @ Beloit Sacred Heart @ Lyons

Western Athletic Conference Great Bend @ Pratt Hays @ Manhattan Dodge City @ Lakin Central Kansas League Thursday Southeast of Saline @ Hillsboro Central Kansas League Friday Kingman @ Larned Haven @ Belle Plaine Smoky Valley @ Halstead Central Prairie League LaCrosse @ Otis-Bison Ellis @ Ellinwood TMP @ Central Plains Macksville @ Stafford Kiowa County @ St. John Ness City @ Kinsley Chase @ Victoria Other Area Games Pawnee Heights @ Spearville Russell @ Norton Ashland @ Hodgeman County Skyline @ South Central Ellsworth @ Beloit Sacred Heart @ Lyons

Friday Area High School Basketball Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Right-hander Kyle Wright and the Kansas City Royals agreed Tuesday to a $1.8 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Wright will make the same salary he did last season, which he spent recovering from shoulder surgery. The Royals knew he would not pitch in 2024 when they acquired him in a trade with Atlanta, but they were willing to let him fully rehab his shoulder with an eye on putting him into the rotation for 2025. Wright went 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA with the Braves in 2022, his last full season before the injury. The Royals had one of the best rotations in the majors last season, headlined by All-Stars Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans. Both will be back along with Michael Wacha, who last month agreed to a $51 million, three-year deal to remain with the club. Six Royals remain on track to exchange proposed arbitration salaries with the team on Jan. 9: right-handers Hunter Harvey, Carlos Hernández and John Schreiber, left-hander Kris Bubic and outfielders Kyle Isbel and MJ Melendez.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Despite losing its starting quarterback after three games and head coach 10 days ago, UNLV had its best season in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The 24th-ranked Rebels picked up their 11th win and first bowl victory in 24 years Wednesday night when they pulled away in the second half and beat California 24-13 in the LA Bowl. “This is exactly how we wanted to finish it. I mean, not many people can say they got 11 wins in a season,” said linebacker Jackson Woodard, who the Defensive MVP of the game. Hajj-Malik Williams passed for two touchdowns and Kylin James ran for another for the 11-3 Rebels, who won for the first time in a bowl game since beating Arkansas in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl. It also gave the Rebels 11 wins for the first time as an FBS program.

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Backup Billy Atkins threw for 181 yards and a touchdown in his first start since 2022, leading James Madison to the program’s first bowl win after topping Western Kentucky 27-17 on Wednesday night in the Boca Raton Bowl. JMU was without starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who suffered an injury against Marshall on Nov. 30, and the Dukes turned to Atkins, who had just three pass attempts in the last two years. Atkins went 4 for 5 on a fourth-quarter drive, ending in a 21-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Thompson for a 24-17 lead with 9:20 left. After both teams went three-and-out, Khairi Manns ended a Western Kentucky drive with 3:02 remaining when he recovered his own strip sack and JMU marched down the field for a short field goal for a 10-point lead.&nbsp;It was the fifth game this season that JMU had three or more takeaways in a game.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">Colorado Buffaloes</a>&nbsp;have landed ex-Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter out of the transfer portal to possibly step in and replace Shedeur Sanders next season. Salter figures to compete with five-star high school recruit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/julian-lewis-colorado-546cee65462fae3781089f71a0c71bf7">Julian “JuJu” Lewis</a>&nbsp;for the starting job. Lewis is expected to join the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) in the spring semester. A dual threat, Salter is coming off a regular season for the Flames in which he ran for 579 yards and seven TDs while throwing for 1,886 yards and 15 touchdowns. His total yards per game (224.09 yards) was fourth-most in Conference USA. Salter led Liberty to an 8-3 mark this season. His former team will play&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/sports/college-football-victor-snow-liberty-flames-kaidon-salter-bahamas-7fb2f1a617ba42ce9382ff8c9dffce2f">in the Bahamas Bowl</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 4 against Buffalo. Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur recently spoke of the need to bring in a player such&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CUBuffsFootball/status/1869478489323417722" target="_blank">as Salter</a>&nbsp;as Lewis develops. Shurmur called Lewis a “great decision maker.”

WEDNESDAY SCORES NCAA WOMEN TOP 25 No. 9 Duke 93, Wofford 58

No. 13 Kansas State 83, New Mexico State 39

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721294994442.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Right-hander Kyle Wright and the Kansas City Royals agreed Tuesday to a $1.8 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Wright will make the same salary he did last season, which he spent recovering from shoulder surgery. The Royals knew he would not pitch in 2024 when they acquired him in a trade with Atlanta, but they were willing to let him fully rehab his shoulder with an eye on putting him into the rotation for 2025. Wright went 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA with the Braves in 2022, his last full season before the injury. The Royals had one of the best rotations in the majors last season, headlined by All-Stars Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans. Both will be back along with Michael Wacha, who last month agreed to a $51 million, three-year deal to remain with the club. Six Royals remain on track to exchange proposed arbitration salaries with the team on Jan. 9: right-handers Hunter Harvey, Carlos Hernández and John Schreiber, left-hander Kris Bubic and outfielders Kyle Isbel and MJ Melendez.INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Despite losing its starting quarterback after three games and head coach 10 days ago, UNLV had its best season in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The 24th-ranked Rebels picked up their 11th win and first bowl victory in 24 years Wednesday night when they pulled away in the second half and beat California 24-13 in the LA Bowl. “This is exactly how we wanted to finish it. I mean, not many people can say they got 11 wins in a season,” said linebacker Jackson Woodard, who the Defensive MVP of the game. Hajj-Malik Williams passed for two touchdowns and Kylin James ran for another for the 11-3 Rebels, who won for the first time in a bowl game since beating Arkansas in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl. It also gave the Rebels 11 wins for the first time as an FBS program.BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Backup Billy Atkins threw for 181 yards and a touchdown in his first start since 2022, leading James Madison to the program’s first bowl win after topping Western Kentucky 27-17 on Wednesday night in the Boca Raton Bowl. JMU was without starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who suffered an injury against Marshall on Nov. 30, and the Dukes turned to Atkins, who had just three pass attempts in the last two years. Atkins went 4 for 5 on a fourth-quarter drive, ending in a 21-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Thompson for a 24-17 lead with 9:20 left. After both teams went three-and-out, Khairi Manns ended a Western Kentucky drive with 3:02 remaining when he recovered his own strip sack and JMU marched down the field for a short field goal for a 10-point lead.&nbsp;It was the fifth game this season that JMU had three or more takeaways in a game.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">Colorado Buffaloes</a>&nbsp;have landed ex-Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter out of the transfer portal to possibly step in and replace Shedeur Sanders next season. Salter figures to compete with five-star high school recruit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/julian-lewis-colorado-546cee65462fae3781089f71a0c71bf7">Julian “JuJu” Lewis</a>&nbsp;for the starting job. Lewis is expected to join the 20th-ranked Buffaloes (9-3) in the spring semester. A dual threat, Salter is coming off a regular season for the Flames in which he ran for 579 yards and seven TDs while throwing for 1,886 yards and 15 touchdowns. His total yards per game (224.09 yards) was fourth-most in Conference USA. Salter led Liberty to an 8-3 mark this season. His former team will play&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/sports/college-football-victor-snow-liberty-flames-kaidon-salter-bahamas-7fb2f1a617ba42ce9382ff8c9dffce2f">in the Bahamas Bowl</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 4 against Buffalo. Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur recently spoke of the need to bring in a player such&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CUBuffsFootball/status/1869478489323417722" target="_blank">as Salter</a>&nbsp;as Lewis develops. Shurmur called Lewis a “great decision maker.”WEDNESDAY SCORES NCAA WOMEN TOP 25 No. 9 Duke 93, Wofford 58No. 13 Kansas State 83, New Mexico State 39No. 17 Georgia Tech 88, Rice 57No. 18 Tennessee 90, Memphis 75No. 19 North Carolina 77, Florida 57

Thursday's Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

CANYON, Texas — Down 14 just halfway through the first quarter, No. 3 Hutchinson (11-1) found a way to capture its second national championship in program history Wednesday night.

Back-to-back national champion No. 1 Iowa Western (11-2) scored on its first two drives to build a 14-0 advantage with 6:49 left in the first frame.

Reiver quarterback Hunter Dekkers drove his team 93 yards in just nine plays on the first possession of the game. Dekkers capped the drive with a 27-yard pass to Keyon Brown.

Hutchinson went three-and-out and Davis Barr had his punt blocked. The Reivers recovered with a short field and capitalized on a free play.

The Dragon defense jumped offside and Dekkers hit Titus Myers on a 14-yard strike.

Dekkers finished the first half with 240 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-23 passing.

Hutchinson cut into the Iowa Western lead as the first quarter expired when Samari Collier completed his first pass of the contest to Ben Prosper for 26 yards.

Collier used that momentum on a 27-yard touchdown run just four plays into the second quarter.

A Max Bartachek 32-yard field goal gave Iowa Western a 17-7 halftime lead after a Nestus Burger field-goal attempt from 46 yards went wide right.

The Reivers drove to the Dragon 4, but had no timeouts left as the clock expired on the first half.

Hutchinson scored the next 21 points unanswered.

The Dragons opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 54-yard drive that was capped with a Collier 8-yard pass to Prosper.

Shortly after, Collier left the game with an ankle injury.

Christian Johnson entered the game at quarterback for Hutchinson and threw a dime for seven on just his second play from scrimmage.

"(You) always got to stay ready," coach Drew Dallas said of his team's next-man-up mentality. "It's two cranks of the arm and go."

Johnson dropped back and hit Tre Brown for a 34-yard score.

In the national semifinal, Johnson threw a touchdown pass on his first play from scrimmage.

The play of the game came with 3:26 left in the third quarter.

Punt returner Kordell Gouldsby backpedaled to retrieve a Jonah Dupont punt. He found the opening he needed for a 73-yard house call.

The momentum-shifter put Hutchinson up 28-17 and was enough for Gouldsby to be named the game's most valuable player.

Hutchinson erased a double-digit lead and etched a double-digit lead of its own, but Iowa Western would not go away quietly.

Dekkers led the Reivers on another 93-yard drive. The 10-play drive was capped on a Brown reverse from 11 yards out.

Reiver head coach Scott Strohmeier kept his offense on the field for a two-point try. The attempt failed as Dekkers could not connect with receiver Fresh Walters.

It was the second time in as many meetings this season that a failed two-point attempt helped decide the outcome of the game.

Up five, Hutchinson needed one last stop from its defense after a Nestus Burger 32-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.

Iowa Western drove the ball to its own 46 before facing a fourth down. On 4th-and-5, Dekkers found tight end Naivyan Cargill for 13 yards.

The Reivers moved the ball to the Hutchinson 5 before facing fourth down again.

Dekkers was looking for Cargill again when he was pressured by Dragon linebacker JaQuel Mack. The pass was broken up by Avian Rice.

"Play for the man beside you," Rice pleaded with his teammates at halftime when the Dragons were down 10, a sentiment Kedrick Walker reminded himself throughout the second half.

Walker, Mack and Rice combined for 18 tackles, a tackle for loss, two broken-up passes and three quarterback hurries.

Marshon Oxley lived in the Reiver backfield and registered three sacks.

This is Hutchinson's second national title under Drew Dallas.

Much like the first championship, Hutchinson had to erase a 14-point deficit.

The Dragon defense held Hunter Dekkers to 36.8% passing in the second half.

National Player of the Year Waymond Jordan Junior was held to 79 yards rushing on 24 carries.

Before his exit, Samari Collier threw for 80 yards on 6-of-16 passing and added 109 yards on the ground with two total touchdowns.

Christian Johnson's only completion in five attempts went for a 34-yard touchdown.

The Reivers went 3-of-3 on third down to begin the game but were held to 3-of-14 the rest of the contest.

CANYON, Texas — Down 14 just halfway through the first quarter, No. 3 Hutchinson (11-1) found a way to capture its second national championship in program history Wednesday night.Back-to-back national champion No. 1 Iowa Western (11-2) scored on its first two drives to build a 14-0 advantage with 6:49 left in the first frame.Reiver quarterback Hunter Dekkers drove his team 93 yards in just nine plays on the first possession of the game. Dekkers capped the drive with a 27-yard pass to Keyon Brown.Hutchinson went three-and-out and Davis Barr had his punt blocked. The Reivers recovered with a short field and capitalized on a free play.The Dragon defense jumped offside and Dekkers hit Titus Myers on a 14-yard strike.Dekkers finished the first half with 240 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-23 passing.Hutchinson cut into the Iowa Western lead as the first quarter expired when Samari Collier completed his first pass of the contest to Ben Prosper for 26 yards.Collier used that momentum on a 27-yard touchdown run just four plays into the second quarter.A Max Bartachek 32-yard field goal gave Iowa Western a 17-7 halftime lead after a Nestus Burger field-goal attempt from 46 yards went wide right.The Reivers drove to the Dragon 4, but had no timeouts left as the clock expired on the first half.Hutchinson scored the next 21 points unanswered.The Dragons opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 54-yard drive that was capped with a Collier 8-yard pass to Prosper.Shortly after, Collier left the game with an ankle injury.Christian Johnson entered the game at quarterback for Hutchinson and threw a dime for seven on just his second play from scrimmage."(You) always got to stay ready," coach Drew Dallas said of his team's next-man-up mentality. "It's two cranks of the arm and go."Johnson dropped back and hit Tre Brown for a 34-yard score.In the national semifinal, Johnson threw a touchdown pass on his first play from scrimmage.The play of the game came with 3:26 left in the third quarter.Punt returner Kordell Gouldsby backpedaled to retrieve a Jonah Dupont punt. He found the opening he needed for a 73-yard house call.The momentum-shifter put Hutchinson up 28-17 and was enough for Gouldsby to be named the game's most valuable player.Hutchinson erased a double-digit lead and etched a double-digit lead of its own, but Iowa Western would not go away quietly.Dekkers led the Reivers on another 93-yard drive. The 10-play drive was capped on a Brown reverse from 11 yards out.Reiver head coach Scott Strohmeier kept his offense on the field for a two-point try. The attempt failed as Dekkers could not connect with receiver Fresh Walters.It was the second time in as many meetings this season that a failed two-point attempt helped decide the outcome of the game.Up five, Hutchinson needed one last stop from its defense after a Nestus Burger 32-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.The Reivers took over at their own 15.Iowa Western drove the ball to its own 46 before facing a fourth down. On 4th-and-5, Dekkers found tight end Naivyan Cargill for 13 yards.The Reivers moved the ball to the Hutchinson 5 before facing fourth down again.Dekkers was looking for Cargill again when he was pressured by Dragon linebacker JaQuel Mack. The pass was broken up by Avian Rice."Play for the man beside you," Rice pleaded with his teammates at halftime when the Dragons were down 10, a sentiment Kedrick Walker reminded himself throughout the second half.Walker, Mack and Rice combined for 18 tackles, a tackle for loss, two broken-up passes and three quarterback hurries.Marshon Oxley lived in the Reiver backfield and registered three sacks.FINAL: Hutchinson 28 Iowa Western 23This is Hutchinson's second national title under Drew Dallas.Much like the first championship, Hutchinson had to erase a 14-point deficit.The Dragon defense held Hunter Dekkers to 36.8% passing in the second half.National Player of the Year Waymond Jordan Junior was held to 79 yards rushing on 24 carries.Before his exit, Samari Collier threw for 80 yards on 6-of-16 passing and added 109 yards on the ground with two total touchdowns.Christian Johnson's only completion in five attempts went for a 34-yard touchdown.The Reivers went 3-of-3 on third down to begin the game but were held to 3-of-14 the rest of the contest.

Hutchinson secures second national title in five years with win over Iowa Western

MANHATTAN, Kansas (AP) — Ayoka Lee scored 19 of her 34 points before halftime and Serena Sundell scored 18 points and No. 13 Kansas State beat New Mexico State 83-39 on Wednesday night.

The 6-foot-6 Lee finished 14-for-18 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. She is now three double-doubles shy of moving into second in Big 12 history for career double-doubles.

Molly Kaiser scored 15 points for New Mexico State.

Lee scored the game's first points with a pair of layups and 1-for-2 shooting from the foul line. Kaiser countered with a 3-pointer and a jumper to tie it at 5. Lee made her third layup and that sparked a 10-0 run in which Lee made three more layups and the Wildcats (12-1) led 19-7 after the first quarter.

The Aggies responded with more offense with a 15-point second quarter in which Harding shot 3 for 4 and scored seven points but were still outscored by four points in the stanza and trailed 38-22 at intermission.

But the Wildcats emerged from the break and decimated New Mexico State (6-5) outscoring them 28-7 and led 66-29. Lee outscored the Aggies by herself with 11 points making all three of her shot attempts and 5 for 7 from the foul line.

The Aggies host Division II-member Eastern New Mexico on Friday. Kansas State — which improved to 9-0 at home this season — kicks off Big 12 play hosting Cincinnati on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641240554804.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kansas (AP) — Ayoka Lee scored 19 of her 34 points before halftime and Serena Sundell scored 18 points and No. 13 Kansas State beat New Mexico State 83-39 on Wednesday night.The 6-foot-6 Lee finished 14-for-18 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. She is now three double-doubles shy of moving into second in Big 12 history for career double-doubles.Molly Kaiser scored 15 points for New Mexico State.Lee scored the game's first points with a pair of layups and 1-for-2 shooting from the foul line. Kaiser countered with a 3-pointer and a jumper to tie it at 5. Lee made her third layup and that sparked a 10-0 run in which Lee made three more layups and the Wildcats (12-1) led 19-7 after the first quarter.The Aggies responded with more offense with a 15-point second quarter in which Harding shot 3 for 4 and scored seven points but were still outscored by four points in the stanza and trailed 38-22 at intermission.But the Wildcats emerged from the break and decimated New Mexico State (6-5) outscoring them 28-7 and led 66-29. Lee outscored the Aggies by herself with 11 points making all three of her shot attempts and 5 for 7 from the foul line.The Aggies host Division II-member Eastern New Mexico on Friday. Kansas State — which improved to 9-0 at home this season — kicks off Big 12 play hosting Cincinnati on Sunday.

Lee continues assault on double-double record sending No. 13 K-State to easy win

NEW YORK (AP) — For Djaniele Taylor, attending WNBA games was the perfect way to rediscover a sense of community coming out of the long slog of pandemic-era lockdowns.

The 38-year-old Evanston, Illinois, resident has regularly attended Chicago Sky games for the last three seasons, after she watched the team win its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-chicago-phoenix-mercury-courtney-vandersloot-3d504302d3081e4948e96736857a3e51">first championship</a>&nbsp;in 2021. As a queer Black fan, she felt the games were a supportive and safe sporting environment.

“I was hooked and I loved the atmosphere — it was very queer-friendly, very family-oriented, very diverse,” she said.

As the popularity of the WNBA skyrocketed this year, Taylor watched the price of her season tickets more than double since 2022. With the growth, she noted a “darker vibe shift,” too: What always felt like a positive setting started to take a more hostile turn at times.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734530980987.png" alt="FILE - LSU's Angel Reese, left, and Iowa's Caitlin Clark, right, pose for a photo before the WNBA basketball draft, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - LSU's Angel Reese, left, and Iowa's Caitlin Clark, right, pose for a photo before the WNBA basketball draft, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — For Djaniele Taylor, attending WNBA games was the perfect way to rediscover a sense of community coming out of the long slog of pandemic-era lockdowns.The 38-year-old Evanston, Illinois, resident has regularly attended Chicago Sky games for the last three seasons, after she watched the team win its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-chicago-phoenix-mercury-courtney-vandersloot-3d504302d3081e4948e96736857a3e51">first championship</a>&nbsp;in 2021. As a queer Black fan, she felt the games were a supportive and safe sporting environment.“I was hooked and I loved the atmosphere — it was very queer-friendly, very family-oriented, very diverse,” she said.As the popularity of the WNBA skyrocketed this year, Taylor watched the price of her season tickets more than double since 2022. With the growth, she noted a “darker vibe shift,” too: What always felt like a positive setting started to take a more hostile turn at times.As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/womens-sports-wnba-caitlin-clark-16c0b9500b45cf66ab4445b13d93e363">women’s sports set new records for attendance</a>&nbsp;and viewership, Taylor and other longtime fans watched with optimism — and unease. It’s a cycle female athletes and fans of women’s sports have come to recognize: With the increased and sought-after visibility also comes added scrutiny — as well as harassment and online abuse toward some players.This year, fresh off the NCAA spotlight, former college basketball stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese made their WNBA debut for the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, catapulting their personal brands as well as the popularity of the league among viewers.Fans are tuning in for the love of the sport, as they always have, said Amira Rose Davis, assistant professor in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas-Austin. But they’re also drawn by the dynamics between players like Clark and Reese, who faced each other in the 2023 NCAA championship between the University of Iowa and Louisiana State University.While both deny there’s any bad blood between them, tension has been drummed up by fans and increased media attention. Beneath it are racial undertones that originated while the two played in college — with predominantly white Iowa pitted against predominantly Black LSU, and Clark and Reese “emerging as these kind of archetypes that people can run with,” Davis said.“That really raises the engagement and just the raw numbers of viewership. And then it also solidifies those narratives,” she said.It’s also led to harassment and abuse — much of it racially motivated and directed at players of color across the league and the wider sports landscape.“Angel and Caitlin have given us an incredible platform to talk about how we treat Black and white athletes differently in the media,” said E.R. Fightmaster, co-host of Jockular, a podcast on the intersection of women’s sports and queer identity.During the playoff matchup in&nbsp;<a href="https://dijonai%20carrington/" target="_blank">September</a>&nbsp;between the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever, the Sun’s DiJonai Carrington posted an email she received with a racial slur and graphic death and sexual assault threats.Her teammate, Alyssa Thomas, shared her own experience.“In my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced racial comments (like) from the Indiana Fever fan base,” Thomas said, after the Sun eliminated the Fever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/clark-fever-sun-wnba-score-18fb2bb6adf8f348fe020dc10a3f5b43">from the playoffs.</a>For her part, Clark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/caitlin-clark-nobody-in-our-league-should-be-facing-any-sort-of-racism-00000192353dd0a0a9d6f77fda760000">has disavowed the toxic discourse,</a>&nbsp;though some say she hasn’t done enough to try to rein in the racism by some of her Indiana Fever fans.“People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable,” Clark said back in June. ”Treating every single woman in this league with the same amount of respect, I think, it’s just a basic human thing that everybody should do.”At the end of the 2024 season after facing some criticism for initially failing to condemn the harassment, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, “There’s no place in sports for this,” and vowed to attack it “multidimensionally.”The league should have done a better job preparing for the harassment, said Frankie de la Cretaz, a freelance writer whose work explores sports, culture and queer identity. “They should have seen it coming based on the discourse between fans around Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in college.”The NCAA released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-athletes-social-media-harassment-6e8bd3a803bb9ec7b6f2e73741f9fd41">a study in October</a>&nbsp;showing online abuse toward student-athletes peaked during March Madness, with women’s basketball players receiving three times more threats than men’s players. For the first time in March Madness history, the women’s championship game drew more viewers this year than the men’s.“It’s very exciting, of course, to see the increased visibility of that increased popularity, but it is extremely concerning and disappointing to see what has come along with that,” said Lynn Holzman, vice president for NCAA women’s basketball.A similar study found racist and sexist posts aimed at female athletes made up nearly half of all monitored abusive posts during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.At the summer games,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-boxing-imane-khelif-a177d6795d27dbc02db1313de0266753">Algerian boxer Imane Khelif</a>&nbsp;faced hateful comments and false accusations about her gender leading up to her gold medal win.The false narratives, perpetuated by internet trolls and public figures like President-elect Donald Trump and “Harry Potter” author J. K. Rowling, highlighted how&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-gender-racism-female-athletes-49b79a6b7ae76afaebb00319732d6486">female athletes of color have faced disproportionate scrutiny</a>&nbsp;and discrimination when it comes to sex testing and false accusations that they are male or transgender.“People want a chance to delegitimize successful women all the time. And so if you are a successful boxer and they can’t find anything else to pick on, they are going to say that you are too manly to play,” Fightmaster said.Khelif urged an end to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-imane-khelif-boxing-gender-7b171980b05bcef2117a7615f212eba9">bullying athletes</a>. “It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind,” she said.The issue of transgender women competing in women’s sports has been highly polarized this year. A former University of Kentucky swimmer was among a dozen athletes filing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-lia-thomas-swimming-lawsuit-b7df63108a03100f36b2e4364d585cdc">a federal lawsuit against the NCAA</a>&nbsp;in March, accusing it of violating Title IX rights by allowing a transgender woman, Lia Thomas, to compete at the 2022 national championships.The lawsuit also cited unconfirmed reports that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-jose-state-volleyball-transgender-forfeit-3481bc5bfd68ad9aecef9cff7f497465">transgender woman was playing</a>&nbsp;on the San Jose State women’s volleyball team. This fall, colleges&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-jose-state-volleyball-transgender-forfeit-3481bc5bfd68ad9aecef9cff7f497465">began dropping out of matches</a>&nbsp;with San Jose State, which has not confirmed it has a trans woman on the team. The Associated Press has withheld the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity.But that hasn’t stopped politicians from shaping campaigns around keeping transgender women out of women’s sports or wading into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/volleyball-transgender-san-jose-state-politics-0e4da0292b4c5315e053e53c064d5a5c">the polarizing debate on fairness</a>.<a href="https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/youth/sports_participation_bans" target="_blank">About half of U.S. states</a>&nbsp;have a ban on transgender athletes participating in school sports according to their gender identity. This year, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-athletes-new-hampshire-5f6d70e89c9f7d9f494d2ed650e94c67">signed a law</a>&nbsp;banning transgender athletes from grades 5-12. Ohio&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-care-ohio-bans-veto-override-4877522111308e8c2c6cb1fef212ba0f">banned trans athletes</a>&nbsp;as young as kindergarteners. West Virginia and Idaho are looking to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-idaho-supreme-court-transgender-sports-ban-3b4ff85ae4eaab03fb4b7e127e9dfdcc">U.S. Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;to support their bans.Even as women’s sports reach new heights in viewership and with it ticket sales and lucrative deals, inequalities persist, including disparities in pay, the quality of women’s sports facilities and online harassment of female athletes.“It’s disingenuous to me if we are going to celebrate the rise of women’s sports but not address the ways in which we’re treating women athletes differently,” said Cheryl Cooky, professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Purdue University.“My hope is that the rise of women’s sports can happen in absence of the vitriolic rhetoric that we’ve seen.”