Sports News-January 4, 2013
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Penn State football coach Bill O'Brien is staying put. His agent says O'Brien garnered interest from several NFL teams but won't pursue those opportunities. The agent adds that O'Brien's experience from Penn State's 8-4 season in his first year outweighed the potentially big raise he could have received as an NFL head coach.
Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs spent much of yesterday in negotiations for Reid to become the Chiefs' coach, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The discussions followed nine hours of talks Wednesday that went well enough that Reid canceled plans to interview for other openings, the person told the AP. The Philadelphia Eagles fired Reid after 14 seasons on Monday, the same day the Chiefs parted ways with coach Romeo Crennel after the worst season in franchise history.
BCS fourth ranked Oregon has capped a 12-1 season by whipping fifth ranked Kansas State 35-17 in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona last night. DeAnthony Thomas returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and reached the end zone twice by the end of the first quarter. Kenjon Barner had a touchdown reception and ran for 143 yards on 30 carries as the Ducks finished 12-1 while dropping K-State to 11-2.
Nebraska’s new athletic director Shawn Eichorst has started his job replacing Tom Osborne. Eichorst, who left Miami for Nebraska in early October, has kept a low public profile in Lincoln. He has traveled to Omaha, Lexington, North Platte, Grand Island and Columbus, and has met all academic deans at UNL. As for being around Husker athletics, Eichorst went to Omaha for the volleyball regional. But he hasn't traveled with any teams and didn't go to the Big Ten football championship game or the Capital One Bowl. Eichorst watched Tuesday's 45-31 loss to Georgia from home with his family. He told the Omaha World Herald he has spent three to four hours a week with Osborne since October discussing various topics.
Ryan Bass scored 20 points to lead all five starters in double figures, helping Oakland University beat Nebraska-Omaha 91-79 last night in the first-ever meeting between the schools. Bass was 7-15 from the field for the Golden Grizzlies. Travis Bader, who entered leading the nation with 60 three-pointers, made five more and had 19 points. The Mavericks’ Justin Simmons had 24 points and John Karhoff added 14. Nebraska-Omaha shot 55% from the field and took their only lead, 29-28, on a Caleb Steffensmeier three-pointer with 8:37 left in the first half. But Oakland rallied to lead 50-42 at halftime and by as many as 22 in the second half. The Golden Grizzlies scored 36 points off 20 Maverick turnovers. UNO is now 4-13 overall and 1-4 in the Summitt League while Oakland is now 7-9 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
The Creighton women’s basketball team picked up another win last night. The Bluejays defeated Southern Illinois 81-60 in Carbondale, Illinois. Sarah Nelson had 18 points on 8-14 shooting and collected eight rebounds in the victory. The win gave Creighton its tenth straight win against the Salukis and improved head coach Jim Flanery’s Valley opener record to 8-3. The Bluejays are now 9-3 overall and 1-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference while Southern Illinois is now 3-9 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
Local Schedule: Grand Island at Nfk High (G&B BB-6:00); Battle Creek at Nfk Cath (GBB-8:00); LHNE Vs. Concordia-Omaha at Seward (Lutheran Inv. Tourn. At Seward-4:45); LHNE Vs. Lincoln Lutheran at Seward (Lutheran Inv. Tourn. At Seward-6:30); Nfk High at Lincoln North Star Inv. (WR-3:00); Concordia St. Paul at WSC (W&M BB-6:00).
Saturday Morning: Sportstalk on 106 KIX & 106KIX.com from 9:00-10:00 AM from Hy-Vee West. This Week: Nfk High’s Bruce Shively & Tony Brown; Nfk Cath’s Shane Anderson; LHNE’s Shannon Pospisil & Henry Aschoff; & NECC’s Dan Anderson.
Saturday Evening: The Norfolk High girls & boys basketball teams visits South Sioux City for a doubleheader starting with the girls game at 5:45. Pregame coverage at approximately 5:25 on Newstalk WJAG 105.9 FM & WJAG.com.
Local Scores: Wayne 57 Nfk Cath 39 (BBB); Oakland 91 Nebraska-Omaha 79 (MBB); Nebraska-Omaha 59 Oakland 41 (WBB); Creighton 81 Southern Illinois 60 (WBB);
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final New York 100 San Antonio 83
Final Minnesota 101 Denver 97
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final ( 2) Michigan 94 Northwestern 66
Final OT ( 3) Arizona 92 Colorado 83
Final (10) Gonzaga 78 Pepperdine 62
TOP-25 WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final ( 3) Duke 67 NC State 57
Final ( 6) Kentucky 76 Florida 69
Final (15) North Carolina 60 ( 8) Maryland 57
Final ( 9) Penn St. 73 Northwestern 69
Final (10) Georgia 77 Missouri 46
Final (12) Tennessee 73 (18) South Carolina 53
Final (19) Florida St. 85 Georgia Tech 78
Final Auburn 50 (23) Arkansas 47
Final (24) Texas A&M 91 Alabama 52
BOYS BASKETBALL
Auburn 50, Humboldt/Table Rock-Steinauer 43
Bancroft-Rosalie 73, Wisner-Pilger 65
Boys Town 67, Douglas County West 42
Bridgeport 37, Ogallala 27
Burwell 71, Elba/North Loup-Scotia 32
Cedar Valley 56, Heartland Lutheran 53, OT
Dorchester 44, College View Academy 33
Falls City 52, Johnson-Brock 31
Fullerton 65, Nebraska Christian 36
Giltner 47, Lawrence-Nelson 28
Gretna 50, Hastings St. Cecilia 41
Hartington Cedar Catholic 74, Laurel-Concord 47
High Plains Community 72, Hampton 36
Johnson County Central 41, Wilber-Clatonia 37
Kearney Catholic 73, Wood River 45
Lincoln Christian 44, Crete 35
Meridian 34, Shelby/Rising City 26
Oelrichs, S.D. 91, Sioux County 46
Omaha Northwest 57, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson, Iowa 46
Omaha Roncalli 56, St. Albert, Council Bluffs, Iowa 45
Platteview 89, Conestoga 41
Ponca 57, Allen 28
Ravenna 48, Doniphan-Trumbull 40
Sandhills/Thedford 73, South Loup 41
Santee 53, St. Edward 47
Sutton 51, Centura 25
Wayne 57, Norfolk Catholic 39
Hartington Classic Tournament
Hartington 59, Bloomfield 56
Metro Conference Tournament
Championship
Omaha Central 64, Omaha South 51
Wausa Tournament
Wausa 59, Niobrara/Verdigre 43
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Aquinas 52, East Butler 32
Ashland-Greenwood 58, Sandy Creek 35
Auburn 41, Humboldt/Table Rock-Steinauer 24
Bancroft-Rosalie 47, Wisner-Pilger 37
Bellevue West 67, Omaha Marian 53
Cedar Valley 68, Heartland Lutheran 31
Columbus Scotus 40, Bishop Neumann 29
Crofton 79, Battle Creek 20
Dorchester 51, College View Academy 35
Elba/North Loup-Scotia 53, Burwell 41
Falls City 43, Johnson-Brock 22
Fillmore Central 47, Hastings St. Cecilia 44
Fort Calhoun 41, Tekamah-Herman 25
Friend 51, Tri County 5
Fullerton 44, Nebraska Christian 36
Giltner 49, Lawrence-Nelson 38
Gretna 60, Omaha Mercy 28
Hampton 70, High Plains Community 33
Hartington Cedar Catholic 51, Laurel-Concord 46
Johnson County Central 46, Wilber-Clatonia 38
Kearney Catholic 77, Wood River 28
Lincoln Christian 48, Crete 42
North Platte St. Patrick's 85, Hayes Center 30
Ogallala 43, Bridgeport 27
Omaha Gross Catholic 51, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln, Iowa 35
Overton 46, Gibbon 44
Perkins County 43, Dundy County-Stratton 41
Platteview 63, Conestoga 29
Ponca 50, Allen 28
Ravenna 50, Doniphan-Trumbull 39
Sandhills/Thedford 58, South Loup 29
Shelby/Rising City 58, Meridian 30
Sioux County 53, Oelrichs, S.D. 36
South Sioux City 57, Sioux City, East, Iowa 42
St. Edward 54, Santee 19
Sutton 55, Centura 41
Waverly 68, Ralston 30
Bob Clough Tournament
Homer 64, Emerson-Hubbard 42
Pender 48, Wakefield 28
Hartington Classic Tournament
Bloomfield 44, Hartington 40
Wynot 56, Winside 17
Metro Conference Tournament
Championship
Bellevue East 67, Millard West 53
Wausa Tournament
Wausa 52, Niobrara/Verdigre 43
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