KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals and Zach Greinke have agreed to a contract for the coming season, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday, making it nine seasons over two stints in Kansas City for the six-time All-Star pitcher.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the 39-year-old Greinke still needed to pass a physical.

The financial terms of the deal, which was first reported by Kansas City sports radio host Bob Fescoe, were not immediately available. Greinke was paid $13 million last season by the Royals, where he spent the first seven season before returning last year and going 3-9 with a 3.68 ERA and striking out 73 over 137 innings for the rebuilding club.

Greinke did spend two stints on the injured list but allowed two runs or fewer in 17 of his 26 starts last season.

Perhaps most importantly, Greinke provided veteran leadership to one of baseball's younger rotations. Brady Singer, at just 26, flourished into the staff ace, while fellow 20-somethings Daniel Lynch and Kris Bubic also made progress.

Greinke, who will turn 40 in October, began his career in Kansas City as a mercurial first-round pick in the 2002 amateur draft. He nearly walked away from the game before making it to the big leagues two years later, beginning a 20-year career that included stints with the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Astros.

The 2009 Cy Young winner is first among active pitchers with 514 career starts and 3,247 innings pitched. Greinke is second to Justin Verlander with 223 wins, third in strikeouts (2,882) and has six Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards.

The Royals had been quiet much of the offseason but have been busy in the weeks leading up to spring training.

Just recently, they sent starting outfielder Michael A. Taylor to the Twins and injury-prone shortstop Adalberto Mondesi to the Red Sox, netting three pitching prospects in the deals. They also signed reliever Aroldis Chapman to a $3.75 million deal for 2023 in the hopes the seven-time All-Star can bounce back from a disappointing season with the Yankees.

Earlier in the offseason, the Royals signed pitchers Ryan Yarbrough and Jordan Lyles. Both of them are candidates for the starting rotation, though Yarbrough's value most likely will be found in the bullpen.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals and Zach Greinke have agreed to a contract for the coming season, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday, making it nine seasons over two stints in Kansas City for the six-time All-Star pitcher.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the 39-year-old Greinke still needed to pass a physical.The financial terms of the deal, which was first reported by Kansas City sports radio host Bob Fescoe, were not immediately available. Greinke was paid $13 million last season by the Royals, where he spent the first seven season before returning last year and going 3-9 with a 3.68 ERA and striking out 73 over 137 innings for the rebuilding club.Greinke did spend two stints on the injured list but allowed two runs or fewer in 17 of his 26 starts last season.Perhaps most importantly, Greinke provided veteran leadership to one of baseball's younger rotations. Brady Singer, at just 26, flourished into the staff ace, while fellow 20-somethings Daniel Lynch and Kris Bubic also made progress.Greinke, who will turn 40 in October, began his career in Kansas City as a mercurial first-round pick in the 2002 amateur draft. He nearly walked away from the game before making it to the big leagues two years later, beginning a 20-year career that included stints with the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Astros.The 2009 Cy Young winner is first among active pitchers with 514 career starts and 3,247 innings pitched. Greinke is second to Justin Verlander with 223 wins, third in strikeouts (2,882) and has six Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards.The Royals had been quiet much of the offseason but have been busy in the weeks leading up to spring training.Just recently, they sent starting outfielder Michael A. Taylor to the Twins and injury-prone shortstop Adalberto Mondesi to the Red Sox, netting three pitching prospects in the deals. They also signed reliever Aroldis Chapman to a $3.75 million deal for 2023 in the hopes the seven-time All-Star can bounce back from a disappointing season with the Yankees.Earlier in the offseason, the Royals signed pitchers Ryan Yarbrough and Jordan Lyles. Both of them are candidates for the starting rotation, though Yarbrough's value most likely will be found in the bullpen.

Royals agree with RHP Greinke on deal for 2023

Western Athletic Conference Dodge City @ Garden City Hays @ Scott City Hooker, OK @ Liberal Central Kansas League Hoisington @ Hesston Nickerson @ Larned Hillsboro @ Haven Halstead @ Pratt Lyons @ Smoky Valley Central Prairie League Victoria @ Ellinwood Otis-Bison @ Central Plains Macksville @ LaCrosse South Central @ Kinsley Ness City @ Hill City

Other Area Games Chase @ Lincoln Pawnee Heights @ Ashland Stafford @ Skyline Russell @ Plainville Trego @ TMP Remington @ Sterling Kiowa County @ Spearville South Gray @ Hodgeman County Tescott @ Wilson

Western Athletic Conference Dodge City @ Garden City Hays @ Scott City Hooker, OK @ Liberal Central Kansas League Hoisington @ Hesston Nickerson @ Larned Hillsboro @ Haven Halstead @ Pratt Lyons @ Smoky Valley Central Prairie League Victoria @ Ellinwood Otis-Bison @ Central Plains Macksville @ LaCrosse South Central @ Kinsley Ness City @ Hill CityOther Area Games Chase @ Lincoln Pawnee Heights @ Ashland Stafford @ Skyline Russell @ Plainville Trego @ TMP Remington @ Sterling Kiowa County @ Spearville South Gray @ Hodgeman County Tescott @ Wilson

Tuesday Area High School Basketball Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Patrick Mahomes deserved the game ball from the AFC title
game. Travis Kelce probably did, too. But behind the scenes were
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder and his staff. They had to get their
star QB ready for the Bengals and help their star tight end when back
spasms nearly kept him from playing, too. Their work is just
beginning. The Chiefs lost cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, linebacker
Willie Gay Jr. and wide receivers Kadarius Toney, JuJu Smith-Schuster
and Mecole Hardman to injuries in their 23-20 win Sunday night. They
have two weeks to get healthy for the Eagles in the Super Bowl.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
The Philadelphia Eagles can win their second Super Bowl in franchise
history if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles will face
their former coach in Andy Reid. The Eagles are the fourth team to
reach three Super Bowls since 2004. They also are the fourth
franchise to appear in multiple Super Bowls since 2017. Hurts and
Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes will be the first Black QBs to face off
in a Super Bowl. The Eagles are in their fourth Super Bowl in
franchise history.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.
(AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tore a ligament
in his throwing elbow, putting his status for the start of next
season in question. A person familiar with the injury confirmed the
diagnosis of the injury Purdy sustained in the NFC title game. The
person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not
released details on the injury. NFL Network first reported that Purdy
tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm and said he will
seek a second opinion on whether he needs a repair or a
reconstruction.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — A person familiar with the deal says the Royals and Zach
Greinke have agreed to a contract for the coming season. That makes
it nine seasons over two stints in Kansas City for the six-time
All-Star pitcher. The person spoke to The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity because the 39-year-old Greinke still needs to
pass a physical. The financial terms of the deal first reported by
Kansas City sports radio host Bob Fescoe weren't immediately
available. Greinke was paid $13 million last season by the Royals. He
spent the first seven seasons with them before returning last year
and going 3-9 with a 3.68 ERA.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) —
Sir’Jabari Rice scored 21 points and Timmy Allen added 18 to send
No. 10 Texas to a 76-71 win over No. 11 Baylor. Texas ended Baylor's
six-game win streak, and the Longhorns kept a share of first place in
the Big 12. Rice made four 3-pointers in the second half and his two
free throws with 16 seconds left put Texas ahead by five with the
final points. LJ Cryer scored 19 points to lead four Baylor players
in double figures.

UNDATED (AP) —
Purdue is this season's first unanimous No. 1 team in the AP men’s
college basketball poll. The Boilermakers have won eight straight
games since a one-point loss to Rutgers on Jan. 2. They were followed
in the AP Top 25 by Tennessee, Houston, Alabama and Arizona in the
top five. No. 11 Baylor and No. 17 Providence made the biggest jumps,
each climbing six spots. Auburn had the biggest drop, falling 10
spots to No. 25. No. 21 Indiana and No. 22 San Diego State rejoined
the poll at the expense of Charleston and New Mexico.

UNDATED (AP) —
South Carolina, Stanford and LSU are the top teams in the latest
women's AP Top 25 college basketball rankings. South Carolina is No.
1 for the 32nd consecutive week. Only UConn (51 and 34 weeks) and
Louisiana Tech (36) have had longer runs at No. 1. Indiana and UConn
round out top five. Ohio State lost all three of its games last week
and dropped from No. 2 to No. 10.

FORT WORTH, Texas
(AP) — TCU leading scorer Mike Miles Jr. will miss Tuesday night’s
home game against West Virginia because of a hyperextended right
knee. Miles got hurt less than four minutes into 15th ranked TCU’s
overtime loss at Mississippi State on Saturday in the SEC/Big 12
Challenge. A subsequent MRI showed no serious issues for the Big 12′s
second-leading scorer. The timetable for his return is still
uncertain, but coach Jamie Dixon says Miles didn’t have an ACL or
MCL injury. Miles is still second in the Big 12 averaging 18.1 points
a game even after not scoring Saturday.

UNDATED (AP) —
Using name, image and likeness compensation to recruit college
athletes is still very much against NCAA rules. The recent
de-commitment from Florida by blue chip quarterback Jaden Rashada
shows that NIL is definitely a factor in decisions. Booster-funded
collectives are taking on a big role in compensating athletes.
Schools can only hope they are acting within the rules and in their
best interest. Inserting a third-party in the recruiting process
between coaches and recruits has only complicated things. Experts say
the collectives should focus on athletes who are already on campus.

CHICAGO (AP) —
Hall of Fame forward Bobby Hull, who helped the Chicago Blackhawks
win the 1961 Stanley Cup Final, has died. Hull was 84. The two-time
MVP was one of the most prolific scorers in NHL history, leading the
league in goals seven times. Nicknamed “The Golden Jet” for his
speed and blond hair, he posted 13 consecutive seasons with 30 goals
or more from 1959-72. Hull and Stan Mikita powered Chicago to the NHL
title in 1961. Hull remains the Blackhawks’ career leader with 62
playoff goals. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983
and his No. 9 sweater was retired by Chicago that same year.

Final	Golden
State	128	Oklahoma City	120	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675079016369.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Patrick Mahomes deserved the game ball from the AFC title
game. Travis Kelce probably did, too. But behind the scenes were
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder and his staff. They had to get their
star QB ready for the Bengals and help their star tight end when back
spasms nearly kept him from playing, too. Their work is just
beginning. The Chiefs lost cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, linebacker
Willie Gay Jr. and wide receivers Kadarius Toney, JuJu Smith-Schuster
and Mecole Hardman to injuries in their 23-20 win Sunday night. They
have two weeks to get healthy for the Eagles in the Super Bowl.PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
The Philadelphia Eagles can win their second Super Bowl in franchise
history if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles will face
their former coach in Andy Reid. The Eagles are the fourth team to
reach three Super Bowls since 2004. They also are the fourth
franchise to appear in multiple Super Bowls since 2017. Hurts and
Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes will be the first Black QBs to face off
in a Super Bowl. The Eagles are in their fourth Super Bowl in
franchise history.SANTA CLARA, Calif.
(AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tore a ligament
in his throwing elbow, putting his status for the start of next
season in question. A person familiar with the injury confirmed the
diagnosis of the injury Purdy sustained in the NFC title game. The
person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not
released details on the injury. NFL Network first reported that Purdy
tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm and said he will
seek a second opinion on whether he needs a repair or a
reconstruction.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — A person familiar with the deal says the Royals and Zach
Greinke have agreed to a contract for the coming season. That makes
it nine seasons over two stints in Kansas City for the six-time
All-Star pitcher. The person spoke to The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity because the 39-year-old Greinke still needs to
pass a physical. The financial terms of the deal first reported by
Kansas City sports radio host Bob Fescoe weren't immediately
available. Greinke was paid $13 million last season by the Royals. He
spent the first seven seasons with them before returning last year
and going 3-9 with a 3.68 ERA.AUSTIN, Texas (AP) —
Sir’Jabari Rice scored 21 points and Timmy Allen added 18 to send
No. 10 Texas to a 76-71 win over No. 11 Baylor. Texas ended Baylor's
six-game win streak, and the Longhorns kept a share of first place in
the Big 12. Rice made four 3-pointers in the second half and his two
free throws with 16 seconds left put Texas ahead by five with the
final points. LJ Cryer scored 19 points to lead four Baylor players
in double figures.UNDATED (AP) —
Purdue is this season's first unanimous No. 1 team in the AP men’s
college basketball poll. The Boilermakers have won eight straight
games since a one-point loss to Rutgers on Jan. 2. They were followed
in the AP Top 25 by Tennessee, Houston, Alabama and Arizona in the
top five. No. 11 Baylor and No. 17 Providence made the biggest jumps,
each climbing six spots. Auburn had the biggest drop, falling 10
spots to No. 25. No. 21 Indiana and No. 22 San Diego State rejoined
the poll at the expense of Charleston and New Mexico.UNDATED (AP) —
South Carolina, Stanford and LSU are the top teams in the latest
women's AP Top 25 college basketball rankings. South Carolina is No.
1 for the 32nd consecutive week. Only UConn (51 and 34 weeks) and
Louisiana Tech (36) have had longer runs at No. 1. Indiana and UConn
round out top five. Ohio State lost all three of its games last week
and dropped from No. 2 to No. 10.FORT WORTH, Texas
(AP) — TCU leading scorer Mike Miles Jr. will miss Tuesday night’s
home game against West Virginia because of a hyperextended right
knee. Miles got hurt less than four minutes into 15th ranked TCU’s
overtime loss at Mississippi State on Saturday in the SEC/Big 12
Challenge. A subsequent MRI showed no serious issues for the Big 12′s
second-leading scorer. The timetable for his return is still
uncertain, but coach Jamie Dixon says Miles didn’t have an ACL or
MCL injury. Miles is still second in the Big 12 averaging 18.1 points
a game even after not scoring Saturday.UNDATED (AP) —
Using name, image and likeness compensation to recruit college
athletes is still very much against NCAA rules. The recent
de-commitment from Florida by blue chip quarterback Jaden Rashada
shows that NIL is definitely a factor in decisions. Booster-funded
collectives are taking on a big role in compensating athletes.
Schools can only hope they are acting within the rules and in their
best interest. Inserting a third-party in the recruiting process
between coaches and recruits has only complicated things. Experts say
the collectives should focus on athletes who are already on campus.CHICAGO (AP) —
Hall of Fame forward Bobby Hull, who helped the Chicago Blackhawks
win the 1961 Stanley Cup Final, has died. Hull was 84. The two-time
MVP was one of the most prolific scorers in NHL history, leading the
league in goals seven times. Nicknamed “The Golden Jet” for his
speed and blond hair, he posted 13 consecutive seasons with 30 goals
or more from 1959-72. Hull and Stan Mikita powered Chicago to the NHL
title in 1961. Hull remains the Blackhawks’ career leader with 62
playoff goals. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983
and his No. 9 sweater was retired by Chicago that same year.MONDAY SCORESTOP-25 COLLEGE
BASKETBALLFinal	(6)Virginia	67	Syracuse	62	Final	(10)Texas	76	(11)Baylor	71	Final	Texas
Tech	80	(13)Iowa St.	77	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Orlando	119	Philadelphia	109	Final	Brooklyn	121	L.A.
Lakers	104	Final	Golden
State	128	Oklahoma City	120	Final	Washington	127	San
Antonio	106	Final
OT	Sacramento	118	Minnesota	111	Final	Dallas	111	Detroit	105	Final	Phoenix	114	Toronto	106	Final	Portland	129	Atlanta	125	NATIONAL HOCKEY
LEAGUEFinal	Winnipeg	4	St.
Louis	2

Tuesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

The Barton Community College men's track and field team split attacks this weekend with trips to Lawrence and Lubbock in coming away with big results in the two states.

The entire Cougar squad will rejoin for its next meet coming up Friday in Topeka competing in the two-day Washburn Open and Multis.

Competing Friday at the Jayhawk Classic Invitational, a pair of freshman posted historical marks as Christopher Young assaulted the program shot put record book for the second straight week moving up from the seventh all-time slot to a 4th best ever 18.07m (59-03.50) heave to place second overall. Less than two feet behind in 3rd place, Christopher Crawford jumped into the program's 7th spot uncorking a 17.60m (57-09.00) throw.

The pair battled it out in the afternoon's weight throw, Young just a foot ahead in joining Crawford and Brandon Lloyd as national qualifiers with a personal best 15.62m (51-03.00) for 4th place while Crawford took 5th at 15.26m (50.00.75).

Down south at the two-day Texas Tech Open and Multis, the Cougars added four national qualifiers highlighted by Elijah Mosley's first time competing in the 800m in not only taking 6th of the 34-competitor field but blazing the oval to a program 5th fastest time of 1:51.18.

In addition to the three personal bests recorded in Lawrence, the trip to Lubbock added eight more bests on the Cougars' weekend.

On Friday the short track produced three of those, Devory Pinnock's season best 8.14 and Jalen McGee's 8.17 in the 60m hurdles as the ensuing 60m event had an eyelash separate Aaron Charles' 6.792 advancing to the first round while Almond Small's personal best 6.795 left the sophomore out of advancing. Charles would return to the track later in the evening but his 6.81 came up shy in advancing to the finals of the 69-entry field.

With over 100 entries in the 200m, Charles led five Barton entries with an 11th place finish with a personal best 21.33. Small joined Charles by punching his national ticket by clocking a season best 21.58 for 21st place while Daqwon Wilson's personal best 22.48 placed 71st. Running the event for the first time, Manjot Singh placed 86th at 22.94 with Pinnock clocking a 23.59 placing 101st.

Adding his name to Barton's twenty-three national qualifying list, Fabian Campbell's first attempt at the 600m resulted in a 9th place finish at 1:19.71 in punching his ticket.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675108036266.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe Barton Community College men's track and field team split attacks this weekend with trips to Lawrence and Lubbock in coming away with big results in the two states.The entire Cougar squad will rejoin for its next meet coming up Friday in Topeka competing in the two-day Washburn Open and Multis.Competing Friday at the Jayhawk Classic Invitational, a pair of freshman posted historical marks as Christopher Young assaulted the program shot put record book for the second straight week moving up from the seventh all-time slot to a 4th best ever 18.07m (59-03.50) heave to place second overall. Less than two feet behind in 3rd place, Christopher Crawford jumped into the program's 7th spot uncorking a 17.60m (57-09.00) throw.The pair battled it out in the afternoon's weight throw, Young just a foot ahead in joining Crawford and Brandon Lloyd as national qualifiers with a personal best 15.62m (51-03.00) for 4th place while Crawford took 5th at 15.26m (50.00.75).Down south at the two-day Texas Tech Open and Multis, the Cougars added four national qualifiers highlighted by Elijah Mosley's first time competing in the 800m in not only taking 6th of the 34-competitor field but blazing the oval to a program 5th fastest time of 1:51.18.In addition to the three personal bests recorded in Lawrence, the trip to Lubbock added eight more bests on the Cougars' weekend.On Friday the short track produced three of those, Devory Pinnock's season best 8.14 and Jalen McGee's 8.17 in the 60m hurdles as the ensuing 60m event had an eyelash separate Aaron Charles' 6.792 advancing to the first round while Almond Small's personal best 6.795 left the sophomore out of advancing. Charles would return to the track later in the evening but his 6.81 came up shy in advancing to the finals of the 69-entry field.With over 100 entries in the 200m, Charles led five Barton entries with an 11th place finish with a personal best 21.33. Small joined Charles by punching his national ticket by clocking a season best 21.58 for 21st place while Daqwon Wilson's personal best 22.48 placed 71st. Running the event for the first time, Manjot Singh placed 86th at 22.94 with Pinnock clocking a 23.59 placing 101st.Adding his name to Barton's twenty-three national qualifying list, Fabian Campbell's first attempt at the 600m resulted in a 9th place finish at 1:19.71 in punching his ticket.

Barton men's track and field post three program top ten impacts

(KJCCC) January 28, 2023 -- Familiar names top the preseason picks in both Division I and Division II softball for the 2023 season.

Butler is the coaches' poll pick in Division I. THe Grizzlies are coming off yet another region VI title and appearance in the NJCAA National Championship tournament. Butler is followed by Hutchinson as the second pick.

Cowley tops the Division II coaches' poll, and is followed closely by Kansas City KS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675006486429.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(KJCCC) January 28, 2023 -- Familiar names top the preseason picks in both Division I and Division II softball for the 2023 season.Butler is the coaches' poll pick in Division I. THe Grizzlies are coming off yet another region VI title and appearance in the NJCAA National Championship tournament. Butler is followed by Hutchinson as the second pick.Cowley tops the Division II coaches' poll, and is followed closely by Kansas City KS.

Softball Coaches Pick Butler, Cowley As Preseason Favorites

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

The Barton Community College women's track and field team went two different directions this weekend, clocking a program top ten in Lubbock, Texas, with two other top-fifteen marks occurring in Lawrence, Kansas.

Overall the Cougars had ten personal bests over the course of two days, adding four new national qualifying performances bringing their up-to-date total to sixteen.

In the one day Jayhawk Classic Invitational hosted by the University of Kansas, Barton's crew of jumpers and throwers chalked up four of the personal bests and added one to the qualifying list.

Having qualified last week in the long jump, Jazmine Williamson punched her second event for the national indoor championships by exceeding her personal best by 3.5 inches in rising to a 1.69m (5-06.50) height to finish second.

Kelsie Murrell-Ross, who already has the program's furthest shot put mark, bettered fourteen other competitors in the event with a 15.36m (50-04.75) as Treneese Hamilton's personal best 14.62m (47-11.75) as her third placing landed just outside the program top ten list. Lillian Thomas finished tenth at 10.10m (33-01.75).

In the afternoon weight throw session, Efe Latham recorded a 14.19m (46-06.75) placed fifth, just ahead of Murrell-Ross' personal best tying throw of 14.17m (46-06.00).

Down south at the Texas Tech Open and Multis, the track athletes also had good performances over two days of action with three national qualifying performances and seven personal bests.

Headlining the weekend's action was sophomore Danae Nembhard in both the short track events. Advancing through Friday's preliminary round of the 60m hurdles and 60m dash within forty-five minutes of each other, Nembhard's first time in 60m without the hurdles punched a national meet entry in clocking a 7.72. Returning to the track Saturday for the 60m hurdle finals, Nembhard carried day one's momentum to clock a program 8th fastest time of 8.46 in placing 8th of the 22 competitor field.

Also clocking personal bests in the hurdles was Ana Couto (8.71), Kay-Lagay Clarke (8.89) while Kayleigh Prentiss' first time in the event produced a 9.14 time. Couto, who is a true heptathlon athlete, took on the 800m for the first time collegiately on Saturday with a near event qualifying time of 2:25.06.

Barton's trio of 400m entries produced a pair of personal best resulting in national qualifiers, Dy'Mond Wiley at 56.10 and Naiya Morgan at 56.25 while Bethany Bridge's first time clocked a 1:00.95.

The two-day weekend was capped with Barton's 200m entries, Morgan and Wiley clocking personal bests 24.46 and 24.95 respectively while Bridge's 25.61 and Prentiss' 25.84 entered the pair's first time in the event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675107808685.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe Barton Community College women's track and field team went two different directions this weekend, clocking a program top ten in Lubbock, Texas, with two other top-fifteen marks occurring in Lawrence, Kansas.Overall the Cougars had ten personal bests over the course of two days, adding four new national qualifying performances bringing their up-to-date total to sixteen.The entire Cougar squad will rejoin for its next meet coming up Friday in Topeka competing in the two-day Washburn Open and Multis.In the one day Jayhawk Classic Invitational hosted by the University of Kansas, Barton's crew of jumpers and throwers chalked up four of the personal bests and added one to the qualifying list.Having qualified last week in the long jump, Jazmine Williamson punched her second event for the national indoor championships by exceeding her personal best by 3.5 inches in rising to a 1.69m (5-06.50) height to finish second.Kelsie Murrell-Ross, who already has the program's furthest shot put mark, bettered fourteen other competitors in the event with a 15.36m (50-04.75) as Treneese Hamilton's personal best 14.62m (47-11.75) as her third placing landed just outside the program top ten list. Lillian Thomas finished tenth at 10.10m (33-01.75).In the afternoon weight throw session, Efe Latham recorded a 14.19m (46-06.75) placed fifth, just ahead of Murrell-Ross' personal best tying throw of 14.17m (46-06.00).Down south at the Texas Tech Open and Multis, the track athletes also had good performances over two days of action with three national qualifying performances and seven personal bests.Headlining the weekend's action was sophomore Danae Nembhard in both the short track events. Advancing through Friday's preliminary round of the 60m hurdles and 60m dash within forty-five minutes of each other, Nembhard's first time in 60m without the hurdles punched a national meet entry in clocking a 7.72. Returning to the track Saturday for the 60m hurdle finals, Nembhard carried day one's momentum to clock a program 8th fastest time of 8.46 in placing 8th of the 22 competitor field.Also clocking personal bests in the hurdles was Ana Couto (8.71), Kay-Lagay Clarke (8.89) while Kayleigh Prentiss' first time in the event produced a 9.14 time. Couto, who is a true heptathlon athlete, took on the 800m for the first time collegiately on Saturday with a near event qualifying time of 2:25.06.Barton's trio of 400m entries produced a pair of personal best resulting in national qualifiers, Dy'Mond Wiley at 56.10 and Naiya Morgan at 56.25 while Bethany Bridge's first time clocked a 1:00.95.The two-day weekend was capped with Barton's 200m entries, Morgan and Wiley clocking personal bests 24.46 and 24.95 respectively while Bridge's 25.61 and Prentiss' 25.84 entered the pair's first time in the event.

Nembhard enters program record book

- Barton Women's Basketball coach Alan Clark

- Great Bend Tribune Sports Editor Jim Misunas

- Great Bend Panther Wrestling coach Nathan Broeckelman

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/imTiGtOtxLs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663183818995.jpeg" alt="Presented By" />
 <figcaption>Presented By</figcaption>
 </figure>- Barton Women's Basketball coach Alan Clark- Great Bend Tribune Sports Editor Jim Misunas- Great Bend Panther Wrestling coach Nathan Broeckelman- Weekend Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Monday on Sports Day (WATCH) 

Patrick Mahomes finally got the best of Joe Burrow.

Harrison Butker made a 45-yard field goal with 3 seconds left — after Cincinnati's Joseph Ossai was flagged for a 15-yard penalty for shoving Mahomes after he was out of bounds — and the Chiefs beat the Bengals 23-20 in the AFC championship game to make it back to the Super Bowl.

Kansas City will face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.

The Eagles opened as a 1 1/2-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

There are no shortage of storylines: Kansas City coach Andy Reid goes against his old team — which he led to Super Bowl 39 — in a game that's also the first matchup of Black starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl with Mahomes and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts.

On top of that, there's a brother-against-brother showdown between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia center Jason Kelce.

“ Officially done being a Chiefs fan this season!! ” Jason Kelce tweeted immediately after the Chiefs won.

The Chiefs have been making deep postseason runs on a regular basis ever since Mahomes came to town as the franchise quarterback.

This was their fifth straight trip to the AFC title game and will be their third Super Bowl appearance in that span. They beat the 49ers for the NFL title in the 2019 season, but lost to the Bucs the following season.

The Eagles clobbered the Niners 31-7 in the NFC title game earlier Sunday. They've looked dominant in the playoffs so far, also beating the New York Giants 38-7 in the divisional round.

Philadelphia is back in the Super Bowl five years after beating the New England Patriots 41-33 on Feb. 4, 2018.

Now a mostly new generation of Eagles — led by coach Nick Sirianni and Hurts — will come to Arizona to try and win another title.

The Chiefs-Bengals game looked as if it was going to overtime before Ossai's ill-advised play. Mahomes — who was playing on a badly sprained ankle — was running to get a first down in the final seconds as Ossai desperately tried to track him down.

Mahomes was out of bounds when Ossai gave him a shove, sending both players tumbling to the turf. The ensuing 15-yard penalty was enough to push Butker into field-goal range and the kick split the uprights.

A distraught Ossai sat on the bench with his head in his hands, well after the game was over.

The Bengals and Chiefs were playing for the fourth time in less than 400 days and Cincinnati had won the previous three meetings — all by three points. This one was decided by a field goal, too, and all Burrow could do was watch.

The Bengals lost to the Rams in last year's Super Bowl and they just missed another chance at returning to the title game.

Oddsmakers thought fans were in for some close conference championship games.

They'll have to settle for a 50% success rate.

The NFC title game was a blowout. Niners rookie quarterback Brock Purdy was injured in the first quarter when Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick drilled his right arm on a play that was ruled a fumble. The Eagles recovered that fumble and the injury proved to be a game-changer.

With Purdy hurt, San Francisco turned to 36-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson, who couldn't do much before eventually leaving with a concussion. Purdy came back into the game, but could barely throw, and the Eagles cruised to the win.

The 49ers dealt with quarterback injuries all season, losing Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo before turning to Purdy, a seventh-round draft pick out of Iowa State. Purdy stepped into a starter's role in December and won his first seven games before Sunday's injury.

Here's a few things to know about the upcoming Super Bowl:

Pro Bowl flag-football game, 3 p.m. EST, ABC/ESPN

Super Bowl LVII, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 6:30 p.m. EST, Fox

Rihanna will take center stage as the headline act for this year's Super Bowl halftime show.

With sales of more than 250 million records worldwide, Rihanna ranks as one of the best-selling female artists ever. Her most recent album was 2016′s “Anti.” Rihanna last performed publicly at the Grammy Awards in 2018.

The singer said she turned down a similar opportunity for the 2019 Super Bowl that was ultimately headlined by Maroon 5. At the time, many artists voiced support for Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who protested police brutality against Black people and minorities by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.

Country music star Chris Stapleton will sing the national anthem, while R&amp;B legend Babyface will perform “America the Beautiful.”

The Pro Bowl is getting a major makeover this year after the NFL eliminated its full-contact all-star game and replaced it with weeklong skills competitions and a flag football game.

The flag football contest is Feb. 5 in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium, one week before the Super Bowl.

The Pro Bowl debuted in January 1951 in Los Angeles and stayed there for 21 seasons before the game moved to different cities from 1972-80. Hawaii hosted from 1980-2009, and the game has had several homes in the years since, including Miami, Phoenix, Orlando and Las Vegas.

“The game was kind of silly, I guess,” Saints two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk said back in September when the news was announced. “Guys weren’t out there playing true football. Hopefully, there’ll be a lot of interactions with the fans and guys will get their opportunity to go out there and show some skills. I could see that being a good change.”

Patrick Mahomes finally got the best of Joe Burrow.All he needed was a little shove.Harrison Butker made a 45-yard field goal with 3 seconds left — after Cincinnati's Joseph Ossai was flagged for a 15-yard penalty for shoving Mahomes after he was out of bounds — and the Chiefs beat the Bengals 23-20 in the AFC championship game to make it back to the Super Bowl.Kansas City will face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.The Eagles opened as a 1 1/2-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.There are no shortage of storylines: Kansas City coach Andy Reid goes against his old team — which he led to Super Bowl 39 — in a game that's also the first matchup of Black starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl with Mahomes and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts.On top of that, there's a brother-against-brother showdown between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia center Jason Kelce.“ Officially done being a Chiefs fan this season!! ” Jason Kelce tweeted immediately after the Chiefs won.The Chiefs have been making deep postseason runs on a regular basis ever since Mahomes came to town as the franchise quarterback.This was their fifth straight trip to the AFC title game and will be their third Super Bowl appearance in that span. They beat the 49ers for the NFL title in the 2019 season, but lost to the Bucs the following season.The Eagles clobbered the Niners 31-7 in the NFC title game earlier Sunday. They've looked dominant in the playoffs so far, also beating the New York Giants 38-7 in the divisional round.Philadelphia is back in the Super Bowl five years after beating the New England Patriots 41-33 on Feb. 4, 2018.Now a mostly new generation of Eagles — led by coach Nick Sirianni and Hurts — will come to Arizona to try and win another title.The Chiefs-Bengals game looked as if it was going to overtime before Ossai's ill-advised play. Mahomes — who was playing on a badly sprained ankle — was running to get a first down in the final seconds as Ossai desperately tried to track him down.Mahomes was out of bounds when Ossai gave him a shove, sending both players tumbling to the turf. The ensuing 15-yard penalty was enough to push Butker into field-goal range and the kick split the uprights.A distraught Ossai sat on the bench with his head in his hands, well after the game was over.The Bengals and Chiefs were playing for the fourth time in less than 400 days and Cincinnati had won the previous three meetings — all by three points. This one was decided by a field goal, too, and all Burrow could do was watch.The Bengals lost to the Rams in last year's Super Bowl and they just missed another chance at returning to the title game.NO DRAMA IN NFCOddsmakers thought fans were in for some close conference championship games.They'll have to settle for a 50% success rate.The NFC title game was a blowout. Niners rookie quarterback Brock Purdy was injured in the first quarter when Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick drilled his right arm on a play that was ruled a fumble. The Eagles recovered that fumble and the injury proved to be a game-changer.With Purdy hurt, San Francisco turned to 36-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson, who couldn't do much before eventually leaving with a concussion. Purdy came back into the game, but could barely throw, and the Eagles cruised to the win.The 49ers dealt with quarterback injuries all season, losing Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo before turning to Purdy, a seventh-round draft pick out of Iowa State. Purdy stepped into a starter's role in December and won his first seven games before Sunday's injury.Here's a few things to know about the upcoming Super Bowl:WHAT'S THE UPCOMING SCHEDULE?FEB. 5Pro Bowl flag-football game, 3 p.m. EST, ABC/ESPNFEB. 12Super Bowl LVII, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 6:30 p.m. EST, FoxRIHANNA AT HALFTIMERihanna will take center stage as the headline act for this year's Super Bowl halftime show.With sales of more than 250 million records worldwide, Rihanna ranks as one of the best-selling female artists ever. Her most recent album was 2016′s “Anti.” Rihanna last performed publicly at the Grammy Awards in 2018.The singer said she turned down a similar opportunity for the 2019 Super Bowl that was ultimately headlined by Maroon 5. At the time, many artists voiced support for Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who protested police brutality against Black people and minorities by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.Country music star Chris Stapleton will sing the national anthem, while R&amp;B legend Babyface will perform “America the Beautiful.”PRO BOWL MAKEOVERThe Pro Bowl is getting a major makeover this year after the NFL eliminated its full-contact all-star game and replaced it with weeklong skills competitions and a flag football game.The flag football contest is Feb. 5 in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium, one week before the Super Bowl.The Pro Bowl debuted in January 1951 in Los Angeles and stayed there for 21 seasons before the game moved to different cities from 1972-80. Hawaii hosted from 1980-2009, and the game has had several homes in the years since, including Miami, Phoenix, Orlando and Las Vegas.“The game was kind of silly, I guess,” Saints two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk said back in September when the news was announced. “Guys weren’t out there playing true football. Hopefully, there’ll be a lot of interactions with the fans and guys will get their opportunity to go out there and show some skills. I could see that being a good change.”

Super Bowl 57: Chiefs, Eagles meet for title in Arizona

(KJCCC) January 26, 2023 - Conference baseball coaches in the West division and the East division voted on preseason favorites, and Barton and Cowley were their choices.

In the West, Barton is the favorite to take the division, while Butler is the second pick. Cowley is atop the preseason poll on the East side, with Johnson County tabbed a solid second. Cowley won the Region VI title in 2022 and represented the KJCCC at the JUCO World Series, where they lost the national championship game to Central Arizona.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675006335471.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(KJCCC) January 26, 2023 - Conference baseball coaches in the West division and the East division voted on preseason favorites, and Barton and Cowley were their choices.In the West, Barton is the favorite to take the division, while Butler is the second pick. Cowley is atop the preseason poll on the East side, with Johnson County tabbed a solid second. Cowley won the Region VI title in 2022 and represented the KJCCC at the JUCO World Series, where they lost the national championship game to Central Arizona.

Barton, Cowley Favored in Conference Baseball Races

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes was forced to rely on his badly sprained right ankle rather than his strong right arm when the Kansas City Chiefs were desperately driving with a chance to win the AFC championship.

The All-Pro quarterback, missing three wide receivers to injuries and battered himself, took off on a third-down play near midfield in another gut-check game with the Cincinnati Bengals. Mahomes strained to reach the mark he needed and was headed out of bounds when he felt the hands of Joseph Ossai send him sprawling into the bench.

The mad dash, coupled with the 15-yard penalty for a late hit, was all Kansas City needed.

Harrison Butker strode confidently onto the field, sent a 45-yard kick through cold, gusting wind over the crossbar with 3 seconds to go, and put the Chiefs back in the Super Bowl for the third time in four years with a 23-20 victory.

“I don’t think we have any cigars,” Mahomes said with a smile, "but we’ll be ready to go in the Super Bowl.”

It was vindication for the AFC West champions, who had lost three straight to their newfound nemeses, including a three-point overtime loss to Cincinnati in last year's conference title game. All of those defeats were by three points.

Now, the Chiefs are headed back to the big game.

Awaiting them is coach Andy Reid's old team, the Eagles, in the first matchup of Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl with Mahomes and Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts. It will also feature a brother-against-brother showdown between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia center Jason Kelce.

“I’ve watched them all year," Mahomes said. “It’s going to be a great challenge for us. But I’m going to celebrate this first.”

Mahomes, who hurt his ankle against Jacksonville in the divisional round, threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns, even though he was missing three of his wide receivers to injuries by the end. Marquez Valdes-Scantling led with 116 yards and a touchdown, while Travis Kelce — bad back and all — had seven catches for 78 yards and a score.

“It’s a tough bunch. My heart goes out to them, man, they’re tough guys,” Reid said. “They worked so hard this week. Pat and Kelce were both banged up a little bit. They pushed through and great things happened."

The Chiefs also managed to shut the mouths of the Bengals, some of whom had taken to calling their home “Burrowhead” for Joe Burrow, who had never lost to Kansas City. Even Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval started in on the trash talk.

“I’ve got some wise words for that Cincinnati mayor,” Kelce said. "Know your role and shut your mouth, you jabroni!”

Burrow, who was sacked five times and wobbly by the end, finished with 270 yards passing to go with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Bengals. Tee Higgins had six catches for 83 yards and the score.

“We’re not going to make it about one play. There was plenty of plays we left on the field today that could have put us in a better position,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “The character of this football team, that’s never going to change. We’ve got the right people in the locker room, the right men leading this team and this organization.

“I know that this is a team that our city and our fan base can be proud of,” Taylor added. "They represent themselves the right way, and we’re going to fight, scratch and claw to be back in this position next year.”

The Chiefs were able to do early what the Buffalo Bills could not in last week’s divisional round: They ran roughshod over an ailing Bengals offensive line missing two starters to injury with another bothered by a sore knee.

Burrow was sacked three times in the first quarter alone and the Bengals offense did not gain a single yard.

Mahomes looked just fine on his sore ankle in leading Kansas City to a field goal on its opening possession. When the Chiefs got the ball back, Mahomes did it again, but only after Kadarius Toney failed to pull in a nifty throw for a would-be touchdown — the incompletion was upheld upon review.

Cincinnati finally got moving in the second quarter, but it also had to settle for Evan McPherson’s chip-shot field goal.

So much for two of the league’s highest-scoring offenses.

The Chiefs finally reached the end zone late in the second quarter when Mahomes hit Kelce, loosely covered by Jessie Bates III, with a fourth-down throw for the touchdown. The Bengals drove 90 yards in the closing minutes, but only added a field goal to get within 13-6 at the break.

Turns out their offense was just hitting its stride. And another classic was brewing.

After the Chiefs went three-and-out to start the second half, Burrow led the Bengals downfield, bolting through a yawning hole in the defense for a third-down conversion before hitting Higgins from 27 yards out to knot the game 13-all.

Mahomes, suddenly down three wide receivers to injuries and beginning to limp, gamely pressed on. He answered Burrow with a touchdown drive of his own, capped by a third-down throw to Valdes-Scantling to regain the lead.

The Chiefs had a chance to gain some breathing room later in the third quarter, but Mahomes somehow lost control of the ball before throwing a pass and the Bengals pounced on the fumble. Six players later — including an audacious fourth-down throw from Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase — Samaje Perine ran into the end zone to tie it at 20.

Burrow gave the Chiefs a chance when his deep throw to Higgins on third down was batted into the air and picked by rookie cornerback Josh Williams. Mahomes managed to move the Chiefs past midfield, but two runs went nowhere and his third-down throw to Jerick McKinnon was well short, forcing them to punt in Bengals territory.

Kansas City's defense held, though, got a crucial sack from Chris Jones to force a punt with 39 seconds left, and shaky return man Skyy Moore broke free for 29 yards on the return. That gave Mahomes and the offense one more try.

“It was a tough road to get here. To win 10 in a row, it was a pretty incredible feat,” Taylor said. "We came up short. We wanted to play longer than that, but really proud of these guys.”

Bengals: WR Tyler Boyd left with a quadriceps injury early in the second half.

Chiefs: Lost CB L’Jarius Sneed (concussion), LB Willie Gay Jr. (shoulder) and WRs Toney (ankle), Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee).

The Chiefs are headed to their third Super Bowl in four seasons. They ended a 50-year championship drought when they rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, then lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following year.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes was forced to rely on his badly sprained right ankle rather than his strong right arm when the Kansas City Chiefs were desperately driving with a chance to win the AFC championship.The All-Pro quarterback, missing three wide receivers to injuries and battered himself, took off on a third-down play near midfield in another gut-check game with the Cincinnati Bengals. Mahomes strained to reach the mark he needed and was headed out of bounds when he felt the hands of Joseph Ossai send him sprawling into the bench.The mad dash, coupled with the 15-yard penalty for a late hit, was all Kansas City needed.Harrison Butker strode confidently onto the field, sent a 45-yard kick through cold, gusting wind over the crossbar with 3 seconds to go, and put the Chiefs back in the Super Bowl for the third time in four years with a 23-20 victory.“I don’t think we have any cigars,” Mahomes said with a smile, "but we’ll be ready to go in the Super Bowl.”It was vindication for the AFC West champions, who had lost three straight to their newfound nemeses, including a three-point overtime loss to Cincinnati in last year's conference title game. All of those defeats were by three points.Now, the Chiefs are headed back to the big game.Awaiting them is coach Andy Reid's old team, the Eagles, in the first matchup of Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl with Mahomes and Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts. It will also feature a brother-against-brother showdown between Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia center Jason Kelce.“I’ve watched them all year," Mahomes said. “It’s going to be a great challenge for us. But I’m going to celebrate this first.”Mahomes, who hurt his ankle against Jacksonville in the divisional round, threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns, even though he was missing three of his wide receivers to injuries by the end. Marquez Valdes-Scantling led with 116 yards and a touchdown, while Travis Kelce — bad back and all — had seven catches for 78 yards and a score.“It’s a tough bunch. My heart goes out to them, man, they’re tough guys,” Reid said. “They worked so hard this week. Pat and Kelce were both banged up a little bit. They pushed through and great things happened."The Chiefs also managed to shut the mouths of the Bengals, some of whom had taken to calling their home “Burrowhead” for Joe Burrow, who had never lost to Kansas City. Even Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval started in on the trash talk.“I’ve got some wise words for that Cincinnati mayor,” Kelce said. "Know your role and shut your mouth, you jabroni!”Burrow, who was sacked five times and wobbly by the end, finished with 270 yards passing to go with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Bengals. Tee Higgins had six catches for 83 yards and the score.“We’re not going to make it about one play. There was plenty of plays we left on the field today that could have put us in a better position,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “The character of this football team, that’s never going to change. We’ve got the right people in the locker room, the right men leading this team and this organization.“I know that this is a team that our city and our fan base can be proud of,” Taylor added. "They represent themselves the right way, and we’re going to fight, scratch and claw to be back in this position next year.”The Chiefs were able to do early what the Buffalo Bills could not in last week’s divisional round: They ran roughshod over an ailing Bengals offensive line missing two starters to injury with another bothered by a sore knee.Burrow was sacked three times in the first quarter alone and the Bengals offense did not gain a single yard.Mahomes looked just fine on his sore ankle in leading Kansas City to a field goal on its opening possession. When the Chiefs got the ball back, Mahomes did it again, but only after Kadarius Toney failed to pull in a nifty throw for a would-be touchdown — the incompletion was upheld upon review.Cincinnati finally got moving in the second quarter, but it also had to settle for Evan McPherson’s chip-shot field goal.So much for two of the league’s highest-scoring offenses.The Chiefs finally reached the end zone late in the second quarter when Mahomes hit Kelce, loosely covered by Jessie Bates III, with a fourth-down throw for the touchdown. The Bengals drove 90 yards in the closing minutes, but only added a field goal to get within 13-6 at the break.Turns out their offense was just hitting its stride. And another classic was brewing.After the Chiefs went three-and-out to start the second half, Burrow led the Bengals downfield, bolting through a yawning hole in the defense for a third-down conversion before hitting Higgins from 27 yards out to knot the game 13-all.Mahomes, suddenly down three wide receivers to injuries and beginning to limp, gamely pressed on. He answered Burrow with a touchdown drive of his own, capped by a third-down throw to Valdes-Scantling to regain the lead.The Chiefs had a chance to gain some breathing room later in the third quarter, but Mahomes somehow lost control of the ball before throwing a pass and the Bengals pounced on the fumble. Six players later — including an audacious fourth-down throw from Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase — Samaje Perine ran into the end zone to tie it at 20.Burrow gave the Chiefs a chance when his deep throw to Higgins on third down was batted into the air and picked by rookie cornerback Josh Williams. Mahomes managed to move the Chiefs past midfield, but two runs went nowhere and his third-down throw to Jerick McKinnon was well short, forcing them to punt in Bengals territory.Kansas City's defense held, though, got a crucial sack from Chris Jones to force a punt with 39 seconds left, and shaky return man Skyy Moore broke free for 29 yards on the return. That gave Mahomes and the offense one more try.“It was a tough road to get here. To win 10 in a row, it was a pretty incredible feat,” Taylor said. "We came up short. We wanted to play longer than that, but really proud of these guys.”INJURIESBengals: WR Tyler Boyd left with a quadriceps injury early in the second half.Chiefs: Lost CB L’Jarius Sneed (concussion), LB Willie Gay Jr. (shoulder) and WRs Toney (ankle), Mecole Hardman (pelvis) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee).UP NEXTThe Chiefs are headed to their third Super Bowl in four seasons. They ended a 50-year championship drought when they rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, then lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following year.

Chiefs top Bengals 23-20 on last-second kick for AFC title

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Patrick Mahomes scrambled for a first down on his badly
sprained right ankle and then was shoved late out of bounds by Joseph
Ossai, giving Harrison Butker a chance to kick a 45-yard field goal
with 3 seconds left that gave the Kansas City Chiefs a 23-20 victory
over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC title game. The Chiefs finally
beat the Bengals after three straight losses, including a three-point
overtime defeat in last year’s conference championship game. They
advanced to play the Philadelphia Eagles in their third Super Bowl in
four years.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Chiefs lost cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the
concussion protocol and versatile linebacker Willie Gay Jr. to a
shoulder injury, depriving their defense of two key playmakers in
their AFC title game against the Bengals. The Chiefs also lost wide
receivers Kadarius Toney to a twisted ankle and Mecole Hardman while
getting tackled early in the second half Sunday night. Bengals
counterpart Tyler Boyd went down early in the second half with a quad
injury.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Jalen Hurts had one of Philadelphia’s four rushing touchdowns and
the Eagles soared into the Super Bowl, forcing both of San
Francisco’s quarterbacks out of the game with injuries and beating
the wounded 49ers 31-7 in the NFC championship game. The Eagles won
the Super Bowl five years ago with a different coach and quarterback.
They'll try to do it again behind the formidable duo of Hurts and
Nick Sirianni. Philadelphia will play either the Cincinnati Bengals
or former Eagles coach Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs. Miles
Sanders ran for two touchdowns and linebacker Haason Reddick made the
hit that forced 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy out of the game
with an elbow injury.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Joe Burrow couldn't carry the Cincinnati Bengals to a second
consecutive Super Bowl on Sunday night. The brilliant quarterback was
sacked five times, threw two interceptions and was wobbly by the end
of Cincinnati's 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title
game. Burrow finished with 270 yards passing and a touchdown. But he
also was hit with a costly intentional grounding penalty late in the
fourth quarter, and he was sacked by Chris Jones with 41 seconds
left, forcing Cincinnati to punt the ball back to the Chiefs.
Harrison Butker kicked a field goal with 3 seconds left to win the
game for Kansas City.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Brock Purdy’s magical run from last pick in the NFL draft to
winning his first seven starts for the San Francisco 49ers ended when
Haason Reddick knocked him out of the NFC championship game in the
first quarter. Purdy was forced to return in the second half despite
an elbow injury after Josh Johnson left with a concussion. But he
threw only two passes and handed off the rest of the game. By that
time, the 49ers already trailed the Eagles 21-7 and couldn’t get
anything going. From Trey Lance to Jimmy Garoppolo to Purdy, the
49ers overcame quarterback injuries throughout the season, winning 12
straight games to reach their third conference title game in four
years.

DALLAS (AP) —
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to their
second straight national championship, has been arrested in Dallas
after police said he was intoxicated and banging on doors. Dallas
police said the 25-year-old was arrested Sunday. Police said Bennett
was charged with public intoxication and taken to the city detention
center. Police said that at about 6:10 a.m., officers responded to
reports of a man banging on doors. Last week, Bennett told reporters
that he would be training for his pro career in Fort Worth, Texas,
located just west of Dallas. Bennett threw two touchdown passes and
ran for two scores in the first half as No. 1 Georgia demolished No.
3 TCU 65-7 in the national championship game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675079016369.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Patrick Mahomes scrambled for a first down on his badly
sprained right ankle and then was shoved late out of bounds by Joseph
Ossai, giving Harrison Butker a chance to kick a 45-yard field goal
with 3 seconds left that gave the Kansas City Chiefs a 23-20 victory
over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC title game. The Chiefs finally
beat the Bengals after three straight losses, including a three-point
overtime defeat in last year’s conference championship game. They
advanced to play the Philadelphia Eagles in their third Super Bowl in
four years.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Chiefs lost cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the
concussion protocol and versatile linebacker Willie Gay Jr. to a
shoulder injury, depriving their defense of two key playmakers in
their AFC title game against the Bengals. The Chiefs also lost wide
receivers Kadarius Toney to a twisted ankle and Mecole Hardman while
getting tackled early in the second half Sunday night. Bengals
counterpart Tyler Boyd went down early in the second half with a quad
injury.PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Jalen Hurts had one of Philadelphia’s four rushing touchdowns and
the Eagles soared into the Super Bowl, forcing both of San
Francisco’s quarterbacks out of the game with injuries and beating
the wounded 49ers 31-7 in the NFC championship game. The Eagles won
the Super Bowl five years ago with a different coach and quarterback.
They'll try to do it again behind the formidable duo of Hurts and
Nick Sirianni. Philadelphia will play either the Cincinnati Bengals
or former Eagles coach Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs. Miles
Sanders ran for two touchdowns and linebacker Haason Reddick made the
hit that forced 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy out of the game
with an elbow injury.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Joe Burrow couldn't carry the Cincinnati Bengals to a second
consecutive Super Bowl on Sunday night. The brilliant quarterback was
sacked five times, threw two interceptions and was wobbly by the end
of Cincinnati's 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title
game. Burrow finished with 270 yards passing and a touchdown. But he
also was hit with a costly intentional grounding penalty late in the
fourth quarter, and he was sacked by Chris Jones with 41 seconds
left, forcing Cincinnati to punt the ball back to the Chiefs.
Harrison Butker kicked a field goal with 3 seconds left to win the
game for Kansas City.PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Brock Purdy’s magical run from last pick in the NFL draft to
winning his first seven starts for the San Francisco 49ers ended when
Haason Reddick knocked him out of the NFC championship game in the
first quarter. Purdy was forced to return in the second half despite
an elbow injury after Josh Johnson left with a concussion. But he
threw only two passes and handed off the rest of the game. By that
time, the 49ers already trailed the Eagles 21-7 and couldn’t get
anything going. From Trey Lance to Jimmy Garoppolo to Purdy, the
49ers overcame quarterback injuries throughout the season, winning 12
straight games to reach their third conference title game in four
years.DALLAS (AP) —
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to their
second straight national championship, has been arrested in Dallas
after police said he was intoxicated and banging on doors. Dallas
police said the 25-year-old was arrested Sunday. Police said Bennett
was charged with public intoxication and taken to the city detention
center. Police said that at about 6:10 a.m., officers responded to
reports of a man banging on doors. Last week, Bennett told reporters
that he would be training for his pro career in Fort Worth, Texas,
located just west of Dallas. Bennett threw two touchdown passes and
ran for two scores in the first half as No. 1 Georgia demolished No.
3 TCU 65-7 in the national championship game.SUNDAY SCORESNATIONAL FOOTBALL
LEAGUE PLAYOFFSFinal	Philadelphia	31	San
Francisco	7	Final	Kansas
City	23	Cincinnati	20	TOP-25 COLLEGE
BASKETBALLFinal	(1)Purdue	77	Michigan
St.	61	Final	(23)Providence	70	Villanova	65	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Charlotte	122	Miami	117	Final	Memphis	112	Indiana	100	Final	Cleveland	122	L.A.
Clippers	99	Final	Milwaukee	135	New
Orleans	110	NATIONAL HOCKEY
LEAGUEFinal	Toronto	5	Washington	1	Final	Carolina	4	Boston	1

Monday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

While the Panther boys were facing off against top-competition from five state in Garden City, the Lady Panther wrestlers had their own battle at the third-annual Washburn Women's Invitational. Great Bend finished 12th overall out of 33 teams in competition.

Third-ranked Daizy Gomez finished second at 125 pounds. She pinned both pool opponents in under a minute. She pinned her quarterfinal and semifinal opponents in the first period to reach the finals against second-ranked Addison Broxterman of Washburn Rural. Broxterman was able to hang on for a 6-1 decision for the title.

Kirra Stevens made a big splash at 155 pounds with a fifth-place finish. She pinned a pool opponent and won another match by forfeit. Stevens made it into the second period against top-ranked Allison King of Oskaloosa (4-1A) before being pinned. She rebounded with a sudden-victory win against Burlington, then defeated Gardner-Edgerton 4-3 in the fifth-place match.

Kaylea McMullen placed sixth at 120 pounds. She went 2-0 in pool matches with a pin and decision. After an 11-1 loss to Shawnee Mission West in the quarters, McMullen won a 5-3 decision against Olathe Northwest to advance to the fifth-place match. There she was pinned by her opponent from Olathe West.

Haylee Holinde wrestled just three matches for sixth place at 235 pounds. She was pinned in her first match against Washburn Rural, then won a 2-1 decision against Basehor-Linwood. Holinde lost due to injury time in the fifth-place match against Olathe West.

Senior Karley Stukey placed seventh at 105 pounds. She went 1-1 early on with a win by fall and a loss to top-ranked Holly Thacher of Oskaloosa (4-1A). Stukey was pinned by Burlington, but pinned her Washburn Rural opponent in the seventh-place match.

Third-ranked freshman Natalee Daniels pinned her lone opponent in pool matches. She lost a 5-2 decision against Olathe North in the quarterfinals, then was pinned by her Blue Valley Southwest opponent. Daniels placed eighth after a 3-2 loss against Manhattan.

Danica Cline opened at 2-0 with a pair of pins at 145 pounds. She went the distance with second-ranked Avari Johnson of Leavenworth but lost that quarterfinal match 11-5. She lost her final two matches to drop to eighth place.

Lea Nokes went 1-1 in pool matches at 170 pounds, winning a 10-3 decision and losing an 8-0 match to third-ranked Val Galligan of Olathe Northwest. Nokes went scoreless in her next two decision losses before pinning her Manhattan opponent for 15th. Hannah Crathorne lost both of her matches at 115 pounds, and Jaydon Davis finished at 0-2 at 140 pounds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886547614.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While the Panther boys were facing off against top-competition from five state in Garden City, the Lady Panther wrestlers had their own battle at the third-annual Washburn Women's Invitational. Great Bend finished 12th overall out of 33 teams in competition.Third-ranked Daizy Gomez finished second at 125 pounds. She pinned both pool opponents in under a minute. She pinned her quarterfinal and semifinal opponents in the first period to reach the finals against second-ranked Addison Broxterman of Washburn Rural. Broxterman was able to hang on for a 6-1 decision for the title.Kirra Stevens made a big splash at 155 pounds with a fifth-place finish. She pinned a pool opponent and won another match by forfeit. Stevens made it into the second period against top-ranked Allison King of Oskaloosa (4-1A) before being pinned. She rebounded with a sudden-victory win against Burlington, then defeated Gardner-Edgerton 4-3 in the fifth-place match.Kaylea McMullen placed sixth at 120 pounds. She went 2-0 in pool matches with a pin and decision. After an 11-1 loss to Shawnee Mission West in the quarters, McMullen won a 5-3 decision against Olathe Northwest to advance to the fifth-place match. There she was pinned by her opponent from Olathe West.Haylee Holinde wrestled just three matches for sixth place at 235 pounds. She was pinned in her first match against Washburn Rural, then won a 2-1 decision against Basehor-Linwood. Holinde lost due to injury time in the fifth-place match against Olathe West.Senior Karley Stukey placed seventh at 105 pounds. She went 1-1 early on with a win by fall and a loss to top-ranked Holly Thacher of Oskaloosa (4-1A). Stukey was pinned by Burlington, but pinned her Washburn Rural opponent in the seventh-place match.Third-ranked freshman Natalee Daniels pinned her lone opponent in pool matches. She lost a 5-2 decision against Olathe North in the quarterfinals, then was pinned by her Blue Valley Southwest opponent. Daniels placed eighth after a 3-2 loss against Manhattan.Danica Cline opened at 2-0 with a pair of pins at 145 pounds. She went the distance with second-ranked Avari Johnson of Leavenworth but lost that quarterfinal match 11-5. She lost her final two matches to drop to eighth place.Lea Nokes went 1-1 in pool matches at 170 pounds, winning a 10-3 decision and losing an 8-0 match to third-ranked Val Galligan of Olathe Northwest. Nokes went scoreless in her next two decision losses before pinning her Manhattan opponent for 15th. Hannah Crathorne lost both of her matches at 115 pounds, and Jaydon Davis finished at 0-2 at 140 pounds.

Gomez leads Lady Panther grapplers at Washburn Invite

Thirty-two teams from five states. The Rocky Welton Invitational, celebrating its 65th year, is always one of the premiere wrestling events in the state of Kansas. Battling Friday and Saturday, Great Bend scored 118 points to finish fifth among Kansas schools and eighth overall. Pine Creek, Colo. scored 198 points for the win, followed by Andale with 190 points, and Garden City with 164.5 points.

Third-ranked Cooper Liles made it all the way to the finals at 150 pounds. The junior pinned each of his first four opponents in 66 seconds or less, including a 65-second win against fourth-ranked Rhett Briggs of Rose Hill (4A) in the semifinals. Scott City's top-ranked junior Collin McDaniel (4A) was able to beat Liles 11-4 in the championship match. McDaniel also pinned his way to the finals.

Keyven Schroeder placed fourth at 215 pounds in a bracket that featured teammate Brody Schnoebelen. Schroeder pinned his first two opponents before losing a 7-5 decision against Newton's sixth-ranked Marcel Gonzalez, who wrestled in the finals. Schroeder pinned his next three opponents to reach the consolation finals against second-ranked Riley Marx of Andale (4A). Marx was able to secure the pin to win the bronze.

Sixth-ranked Skyler McMullen battled to a fifth-place finish at 138 pounds. After a bye win, he pinned his first opponent before being pinned by top-ranked Cael Alderman of Olathe North (6A), who finished second in the bracket. McMullen won a pair of decisions before getting pinned in the consolation semifinals. He rebounded by pinning his Kearney, Neb. opponent in the fifth-place match.

Fourth-ranked sophomore Jace Schartz also pulled out a fifth-place finish at 144 pounds. He won a pair of matches in the championship bracket before getting pinned by top-ranked Jacob Goodwin of Goddard. Schartz won his next two matches before suffering another loss to top-ranked Wyatt Gardner of Wichita County (3-1A). Schartz won an 8-1 decision against Kearney, Neb. to capture fifth. The bracket also featured the top-two wrestlers from Class 4A with Andale's Owen Eck beating Abilene's Tucker Cell for the title.

Matthew Johnson had another fifth-place finish at 175 pounds. The junior pinned his first two opponents before getting pinned by a Pueblo East, Colo. senior who advanced to the finals. Johnson won his next two matches with a pin, then was pinned in the consolation semifinals. He pinned his Scott City opponent in the fifth-place match.

Freshman Trenton Kern pulled out a ninth-place finish the hard way at 190 pounds. After a round-one loss to an eventual semifinalist from Scottsbluff, Neb., Kern won his next three matches with a pair of pins. A 4-3 loss against Garden City put him in the seventh-place match where Kern lost a 4-2 decision against third-ranked Justin Degallodo from Ulysses (4A).

Fifth-ranked Triston Tomlinson placed 10th at 106 pounds. The freshman opened against top-ranked Griffin Rial of Pine Creek, who went on to win the bracket. He won his next four matches with a pair of falls and two tech falls, before losing a 5-4 decision to fourth-ranked Taylor Rickard of Newton in the 10th-place match.

The sophomore Schnoebelen moved down to 215 pounds where he was able to secure a first-round upset against Pueblo East. After an 8-2 loss to Ulyesses, Schnoebelen needed just 14 seconds to pin his Garden City opponent. After another loss to Hutchinson, Schnoebelen pinned his final two opponents to secure 13th place.

Ambrose Kramer lost both of his matches at 113 pounds. Zaiden Burkes finished with an 0-2 record at 120 pounds, and Hayden Kelly dropped two matches at 126 pounds. His first loss came against second-ranked Damon Ingram of Rose Hill, who advanced to the finals. Trevin Maciel finished at 0-2 in the 157-pound bracket, and Michael Montoya went 0-2 at 165 pounds. Maciel's first loss came against sixth-ranked Ethen Allen of Garden City, and Montoya dropped his first match to third-ranked Alan Flores of Dodge City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886567489.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Thirty-two teams from five states. The Rocky Welton Invitational, celebrating its 65th year, is always one of the premiere wrestling events in the state of Kansas. Battling Friday and Saturday, Great Bend scored 118 points to finish fifth among Kansas schools and eighth overall. Pine Creek, Colo. scored 198 points for the win, followed by Andale with 190 points, and Garden City with 164.5 points.Third-ranked Cooper Liles made it all the way to the finals at 150 pounds. The junior pinned each of his first four opponents in 66 seconds or less, including a 65-second win against fourth-ranked Rhett Briggs of Rose Hill (4A) in the semifinals. Scott City's top-ranked junior Collin McDaniel (4A) was able to beat Liles 11-4 in the championship match. McDaniel also pinned his way to the finals.Keyven Schroeder placed fourth at 215 pounds in a bracket that featured teammate Brody Schnoebelen. Schroeder pinned his first two opponents before losing a 7-5 decision against Newton's sixth-ranked Marcel Gonzalez, who wrestled in the finals. Schroeder pinned his next three opponents to reach the consolation finals against second-ranked Riley Marx of Andale (4A). Marx was able to secure the pin to win the bronze.Sixth-ranked Skyler McMullen battled to a fifth-place finish at 138 pounds. After a bye win, he pinned his first opponent before being pinned by top-ranked Cael Alderman of Olathe North (6A), who finished second in the bracket. McMullen won a pair of decisions before getting pinned in the consolation semifinals. He rebounded by pinning his Kearney, Neb. opponent in the fifth-place match.Fourth-ranked sophomore Jace Schartz also pulled out a fifth-place finish at 144 pounds. He won a pair of matches in the championship bracket before getting pinned by top-ranked Jacob Goodwin of Goddard. Schartz won his next two matches before suffering another loss to top-ranked Wyatt Gardner of Wichita County (3-1A). Schartz won an 8-1 decision against Kearney, Neb. to capture fifth. The bracket also featured the top-two wrestlers from Class 4A with Andale's Owen Eck beating Abilene's Tucker Cell for the title.Matthew Johnson had another fifth-place finish at 175 pounds. The junior pinned his first two opponents before getting pinned by a Pueblo East, Colo. senior who advanced to the finals. Johnson won his next two matches with a pin, then was pinned in the consolation semifinals. He pinned his Scott City opponent in the fifth-place match.Freshman Trenton Kern pulled out a ninth-place finish the hard way at 190 pounds. After a round-one loss to an eventual semifinalist from Scottsbluff, Neb., Kern won his next three matches with a pair of pins. A 4-3 loss against Garden City put him in the seventh-place match where Kern lost a 4-2 decision against third-ranked Justin Degallodo from Ulysses (4A).Fifth-ranked Triston Tomlinson placed 10th at 106 pounds. The freshman opened against top-ranked Griffin Rial of Pine Creek, who went on to win the bracket. He won his next four matches with a pair of falls and two tech falls, before losing a 5-4 decision to fourth-ranked Taylor Rickard of Newton in the 10th-place match.The sophomore Schnoebelen moved down to 215 pounds where he was able to secure a first-round upset against Pueblo East. After an 8-2 loss to Ulyesses, Schnoebelen needed just 14 seconds to pin his Garden City opponent. After another loss to Hutchinson, Schnoebelen pinned his final two opponents to secure 13th place.Ambrose Kramer lost both of his matches at 113 pounds. Zaiden Burkes finished with an 0-2 record at 120 pounds, and Hayden Kelly dropped two matches at 126 pounds. His first loss came against second-ranked Damon Ingram of Rose Hill, who advanced to the finals. Trevin Maciel finished at 0-2 in the 157-pound bracket, and Michael Montoya went 0-2 at 165 pounds. Maciel's first loss came against sixth-ranked Ethen Allen of Garden City, and Montoya dropped his first match to third-ranked Alan Flores of Dodge City.

Panthers wrestlers place eighth at Rocky Welton in Garden City

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — So much for all that worry over No. 9 Kansas falling toward a low point under Bill Self.

Especially given the Jayhawks' cool, poised response to several gut checks against fellow basketball royalty.

Jalen Wilson scored 22 points, including one in a series of huge 3-pointers down the stretch, and held off Kentucky 77-68 on Saturday night in an SEC/Big 12 Challenge.

“We had some good, short runs and kept them from going on like a 10-2 run,” Self said. “We kept them out of transition and off the glass.”

The Jayhawks (17-4) seized the lead for good midway through the first half before withstanding every Wildcats challenge in this tense marquee matchup of college basketball blue bloods. Gradey Dick and Wilson provided two of their biggest shots with consecutive 3-pointers for two-possession edges, with Wilson's 3 making it 70-64 with 4:13 remaining.

Oscar Tshiebwe made two free throws to get Kentucky within four, but Kevin McCullar Jr. sank another 3 for a 73-66 advantage. Wilson then answered Jacob Toppin's jumper with one of his own to make it 75-68 with 1:52 left. Kansas, which won the national championship last season, avoided its first four-game losing streak under Self.

Not to mention, avenging a blowout home loss to Kentucky a year ago.

“We didn't think about it like that,” Wilson said about Kansas' recent losses to No. 5 Kansas State, No. 11 TCU and No 17 Baylor.

“It was three games against three really good opponents like tonight. It was important to get the train going again. It was important knowing what they did to us on our home court last year,” Wilson said.

Tshiebwe had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Jacob Toppin and Cason Wallace each added 14 for Kentucky (14-7), which had won its previous four.

The Wildcats certainly had their chances despite shooting 2 of 13 from long range and starting off 4 of 11 from the free throw line. They seemed to have grabbed momentum when Antonio Reeves hit two free throws and Toppin followed a jumper to twice get within a basket.

Dick, Wilson and McCullar then followed with 3s to snatch it away for good.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “They deserved to win the game. They hit three 3s, and you have to do that to win games like that.”

Wilson made 9 of 18 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds for Kansas, which finished even with Kentucky at 49% shooting. K.J. Adams Jr. added 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, Dick had 13 despite making just 4-11, and McCullar 11 with 12 rebounds as the Jayhawks edged Kentucky 34-29 on the glass.

That included limiting Kentucky to just four offensive rebounds while shutting out the Wildcats 11-0 in second-chance points.

“We were physical, but not physical enough,” Toppin said. “Every game we won, we dominated on the boards and we didn't do that tonight.”

Kansas certainly needed this win with more league challenges ahead in the next week. After facing K-State, the Jayhawks play No. 12 Iowa State, No. 10 Texas and Oklahoma, which blew out No. 2 Alabama 93-69 in its Challenge matchup.

“Our league is such a monster,” Self added. “Our next three games are top-10, top-10, top-10, so it doesn't get any easier.”

Kansas: The Jayhawks were outshot by Kentucky much of the night but consistently made crucial baskets and big defensive plays to keep an edge. It was just what they needed after their slide amid a seven-game Big 12 gauntlet featuring five ranked teams.

Kentucky: Poor first-half free-throw shooting dug another hole that the Wildcats managed to overcome. They got close, but couldn't get even, and finishing 16 of 23 from the line ultimately hurt them even with making all 12 attempts after halftime.

Kansas hosts No. 5 Kansas State on Tuesday, seeking to avenge its 83-82 overtime loss on Jan. 17.

Kentucky visits Mississippi on Tuesday night in search of its fifth consecutive SEC win.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — So much for all that worry over No. 9 Kansas falling toward a low point under Bill Self.Especially given the Jayhawks' cool, poised response to several gut checks against fellow basketball royalty.Jalen Wilson scored 22 points, including one in a series of huge 3-pointers down the stretch, and held off Kentucky 77-68 on Saturday night in an SEC/Big 12 Challenge.“We had some good, short runs and kept them from going on like a 10-2 run,” Self said. “We kept them out of transition and off the glass.”The Jayhawks (17-4) seized the lead for good midway through the first half before withstanding every Wildcats challenge in this tense marquee matchup of college basketball blue bloods. Gradey Dick and Wilson provided two of their biggest shots with consecutive 3-pointers for two-possession edges, with Wilson's 3 making it 70-64 with 4:13 remaining.Oscar Tshiebwe made two free throws to get Kentucky within four, but Kevin McCullar Jr. sank another 3 for a 73-66 advantage. Wilson then answered Jacob Toppin's jumper with one of his own to make it 75-68 with 1:52 left. Kansas, which won the national championship last season, avoided its first four-game losing streak under Self.Not to mention, avenging a blowout home loss to Kentucky a year ago.“We didn't think about it like that,” Wilson said about Kansas' recent losses to No. 5 Kansas State, No. 11 TCU and No 17 Baylor.“It was three games against three really good opponents like tonight. It was important to get the train going again. It was important knowing what they did to us on our home court last year,” Wilson said.Tshiebwe had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Jacob Toppin and Cason Wallace each added 14 for Kentucky (14-7), which had won its previous four.The Wildcats certainly had their chances despite shooting 2 of 13 from long range and starting off 4 of 11 from the free throw line. They seemed to have grabbed momentum when Antonio Reeves hit two free throws and Toppin followed a jumper to twice get within a basket.Dick, Wilson and McCullar then followed with 3s to snatch it away for good.“It was a hard-fought game,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “They deserved to win the game. They hit three 3s, and you have to do that to win games like that.”Wilson made 9 of 18 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds for Kansas, which finished even with Kentucky at 49% shooting. K.J. Adams Jr. added 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting, Dick had 13 despite making just 4-11, and McCullar 11 with 12 rebounds as the Jayhawks edged Kentucky 34-29 on the glass.That included limiting Kentucky to just four offensive rebounds while shutting out the Wildcats 11-0 in second-chance points.“We were physical, but not physical enough,” Toppin said. “Every game we won, we dominated on the boards and we didn't do that tonight.”TOUGH ROAD AHEADKansas certainly needed this win with more league challenges ahead in the next week. After facing K-State, the Jayhawks play No. 12 Iowa State, No. 10 Texas and Oklahoma, which blew out No. 2 Alabama 93-69 in its Challenge matchup.It also puts their slump in context.“Our league is such a monster,” Self added. “Our next three games are top-10, top-10, top-10, so it doesn't get any easier.”BIG PICTUREKansas: The Jayhawks were outshot by Kentucky much of the night but consistently made crucial baskets and big defensive plays to keep an edge. It was just what they needed after their slide amid a seven-game Big 12 gauntlet featuring five ranked teams.Kentucky: Poor first-half free-throw shooting dug another hole that the Wildcats managed to overcome. They got close, but couldn't get even, and finishing 16 of 23 from the line ultimately hurt them even with making all 12 attempts after halftime.UP NEXTKansas hosts No. 5 Kansas State on Tuesday, seeking to avenge its 83-82 overtime loss on Jan. 17.Kentucky visits Mississippi on Tuesday night in search of its fifth consecutive SEC win.

Wilson's 22 points help No. 9 Kansas survive Kentucky 77-68

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson gathered with a few of his old Florida teammates after leading No. 5 Kansas State to a 64-50 win over the Gators on Saturday night, the group smiling for some cameras for a picture he'll no doubt cherish.

Not only because of what Johnson had been through but how the Wildcats had performed.

Johnson had 13 points and 11 rebounds in a sentimental matchup with the Gators, while Markquis Nowell flirted with the first triple-double in Kanas State history, helping the Wildcats to a dominant 64-50 victory in the Big 12-SEC Challenge.

Johnson struggled mightily from the field, going just 5 of 16 and even getting stuffed by the front of the rim during a windmill dunk on a second-half fast break. But it was nevertheless a special night for the senior forward, who collapsed on the Gators’ sideline during a game against Florida State just over two years ago.

Johnson spent 10 days in the hospital and never played another meaningful minute for Florida, whose medical staff would not clear him. He wound up at Kansas State, where doctors gave his heart the green light, and he has emerged as the Big 12′s third-leading scorer and rebounder while helping the Wildcats to their highest ranking in more than a decade.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime memory. You’ll never get that moment back,” he said. “Just trying to embrace that moment.”

Wildcats coach Jerome Tang spoke to Johnson throughout the week about what was undoubtedly an emotional night.

“It was really cool. As a fan, I wanted to see him have a good game. I wanted him to get the win. I think the team wanted him to get the win,” Tang said. “We knew it was important to him, even though he didn't make a big deal of it.”

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson gathered with a few of his old Florida teammates after leading No. 5 Kansas State to a 64-50 win over the Gators on Saturday night, the group smiling for some cameras for a picture he'll no doubt cherish.Not only because of what Johnson had been through but how the Wildcats had performed.Johnson had 13 points and 11 rebounds in a sentimental matchup with the Gators, while Markquis Nowell flirted with the first triple-double in Kanas State history, helping the Wildcats to a dominant 64-50 victory in the Big 12-SEC Challenge.Johnson struggled mightily from the field, going just 5 of 16 and even getting stuffed by the front of the rim during a windmill dunk on a second-half fast break. But it was nevertheless a special night for the senior forward, who collapsed on the Gators’ sideline during a game against Florida State just over two years ago.Johnson spent 10 days in the hospital and never played another meaningful minute for Florida, whose medical staff would not clear him. He wound up at Kansas State, where doctors gave his heart the green light, and he has emerged as the Big 12′s third-leading scorer and rebounder while helping the Wildcats to their highest ranking in more than a decade.“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime memory. You’ll never get that moment back,” he said. “Just trying to embrace that moment.”Wildcats coach Jerome Tang spoke to Johnson throughout the week about what was undoubtedly an emotional night.“It was really cool. As a fan, I wanted to see him have a good game. I wanted him to get the win. I think the team wanted him to get the win,” Tang said. “We knew it was important to him, even though he didn't make a big deal of it.”Nowell finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Nae'Qwan Tomlin also had 11 points. The Wildcats improved to 18-3 to match the 1972-73 team for the best start through 21 games in school history."I was aware the second half," Nowell said of the triple-double. “I tried to get it but the cards didn't allow it to happen.”Colin Castleton scored 13 points for the Gators (12-9). Myreon Jones and Will Richard had 11 apiece.“I thought we got some looks. I thought we should have shot the ball a little better than we did,” first-year Gators coach Todd Golden said. “It’s been a little bit of an Achilles heel for us on the road.”Most of the Wildcats' offense against the Gators flowed through the 5-foot-8 Nowell, who had eight points, eight assists and six boards by the break. By that point, Kansas State had built a commanding 37-16 advantage.The Gators, meanwhile, had no offense whatsoever.They missed five of their first six shots and were 6 of 29 from the field at halftime. In fact, Florida shot it so poorly that Alex Fudge wedged a free throw between the rim and backboard, and that came one possession after the Gators' Kowacie Reeves clanked an open dunk off the back of the iron.Florida managed to regroup, scoring the first 10 points of the second half, before Nowell answered with a jump shot and Johnson added a bucket and a couple of free throws to halt the Gators' momentum.The Wildcats stretched the lead back over 20 with about 5 1/2 minutes to go before coasting to the finish."Listen, I like competing, man, and an opportunity to go up against a really good team like Kansas State on the road was a really good challenge for us," Golden said. “It was a good opportunity for us.”BIG PICTUREFlorida: Golden had been 5-0 against fellow first-year coaches. But his Gators had no answer for Tang's bunch, which became the third Big 12 team to beat them this season. They lost to West Virginia at the Phil Knight Legacy in November and to Oklahoma at the Jumpman Invitational in December.Kansas State: David N’Guessan, who had played just four minutes since Dec. 21 because of a foot injury, was back on the court. He got the start and had nine points in 11 first-half minutes, though he did not score in the second half. “I don't think I'm close to where I was when I got hurt,” he said, “but a couple more practices and I'll be there.”UP NEXTFlorida's brutal stretch continues with No. 5 Tennessee on Wednesday night, then trips to Kentucky and No. 2 Alabama.Kansas State heads down Interstate 70 for a rematch with ninth-ranked Kansas on Tuesday night.