MITCHELL KERNELS
Mitchell Kernel boys’ basketball team jumped out to a 30-9 halftime lead and defeated Brookings 53-39 on Friday night in Brookings. The Bobcats cut the Kernels’ lead to eight in the second half before Mitchell regained control with a 12-2 run. Colton Smith finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal to lead the Kernels, while Lincoln Bottum came off the bench to contribute 11 points, four assists and two steals. Mitchell is back at the MHS Gym to host Tea Area on Thursday.
The Mitchell girls held Brookings to 21.9% shooting and pulled away for a 50-20 road win on Friday night. Addie Siemsen poured in 24 points and CeCe Morgan scored eight points and collected 10 rebounds, plus five assists. The win marks Mitchell’s fifth in a row and improved the Kernels to 6-3 overall and 4-0 in ESD action this season. Mitchell hosts No. 5 Tea Area at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the MHS Gym.
Mitchell Kernels gymnastics turned in a strong, balanced performance to win the team championship at the Huron Invitational gymnastics meet Friday, finishing with a meet-best score of 146.25. Kyanna Gropper won the all-around title with a score 38.45 to lead the Kernels individually. She placed first in vault (9.55), bars (9.6) and floor (9.8). Abby Hohn took home a second-place finish in vault (9.35), while Olivia Prunty (2nd at 9.5) and Abby Jo Helleloid (3rd at 9.4) had top three finishes in bars. Mitchell travels to Brookings on Tuesday for a triangular with the host Bobcats and Madison.
The Mitchell Kernel wrestling teams had five combined individual champions at the Jerry Opbroek Invitational on Saturday. For the boys, Blaze Sevigny was the champion at 106 pounds and Rocky Clark claimed the title at 285 pounds. The Kernel boys finished fourth with 144 points. For the girls, Frankie Kranz won the 115-pound championship while Danny Borja at 120 and Taylor DeJong at 155 went undefeated in Round robin formats to win titles. Mitchell scored 105 points as a team in the girls competition, finishing second to Madison’s 117 points. Mitchell travels to Hartford on Tuesday for a triangular with West Central and Madison.
Taylor Sorben scored six goals including the game-winner in overtime to lead the Mitchell Marlin girls’ hockey team to 7-6 win over Rushmore Sunday in Rapid City. The Marlins beat Rushmore 3-1 on Saturday. Mitchell will host Rushmore Sunday at 10 a.m. at the MAC.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
The No. 9 DWU women’s basketball team ran its winning streak to nine with a 78-69 win over No. 10 Concordia Sunday at the Corn Palace. Avery Broughton scored 16 of her game high 23 points in the first half while Rylee Rosenquist added 18 points. Emma Yost and Maleighya Estes added 10 points each. DWU (15-4, 11-2 GPAC) shot 48.3% from the field and converted 17 of 26 free throws, including 11-for-12 in the fourth quarter. The win puts DWU alone in second place in the GPAC standings, one game behind Dordt and completes a season sweep of the Bulldogs. DWU is on the road for the next two games, starting at Morningside on Wednesday and then play at College of Saint Mary on Saturday.
For the DWU men, all five starters scored in double figures in its 88-78 win over Concordia Sunday afternoon at the Corn Palace. Steele Morgan and Easton Neuendorf scored 19 points apiece. Morgan also had five rebounds and Neuendorf had five assists and three steals. Anthony Riggans tallied 16 points and six rebounds, while Randy Rosenquist Jr. scored 13 points and collected 10 rebounds. Tyson Stevenson rounded out the effort with 12 points for the Tigers, who shot 55.2% from the field and went 16 of 17 at the free-throw line. The Tigers, who have six of its last seven games, improved to 11-9 overall and 6-6 in the GPAC, travel to Sioux City to face Morningside on Wednesday night.
Dakota Wesleyan Women’s Wrestling competed at the York Open in Nebraska on Saturday in the team’s first event of the new calendar year. The Tigers were led by Cerys Gardner, placed sixth in the 110-pound weight class. DWU Women’s Wrestling will be back in action against Buena Vista and Morningside at the CFAC on Tuesday starting at 6 PM. It will be the team’s lone home event of the season, and they will be celebrating Family Day in between DWU duals.
DWU Men’s Wrestling will participate in the Missouri Valley Open this Friday and Saturday in Marshall, Missouri. The Tigers will host Morningside on Tuesday, January 27th for a GPAC dual on Senior Night. The first match begins at 7 p.m. at the Christen Family Athletic Center.
DWU Track & Field will be back in action in Storm Lake, Iowa, as the team will compete at the Dennis Young Alumni Classic on Saturday, January 24th.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
The South Dakota State women’s basketball team fell 76-68 to North Dakota State Saturday afternoon at First Bank & Trust Arena. The loss is South Dakota State’s first in the Summit League regular season since the 2021-22 season. The Jackrabbits’ streak of consecutive regular season victories ends at 67, which is the fifth-longest streak in NCAA history. Brooklyn Meyer finished with 24 points, six rebounds, five blocks and a pair of steals. Madison Mathiowetz scored 15 points for the Jackrabbits and became the 45th member of South Dakota State’s 1,000-point club in the contest. South Dakota State is now 14-5 overall and 4-1 in Summit League action. NDSU, meanwhile, ended a 24-game losing streak to SDSU. Their last win against the Jackrabbits was in 2015. Their last win in Brookings was in 2010. North Dakota State improves to 16-2 on the year and 5-0 in the conference. South Dakota State goes on the road to North Dakota Thursday night. Tip in Grand Forks is set for 7 p.m.
Joe Sayler had 22 points in South Dakota State’s 90-62 win over Kansas City on Saturday. The Jacks led 58-54 with just under eight minutes left to go when they launched a 15-0 run to put the game away. Sayler shot 7 of 10 from the field, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and went 3 of 4 from the line for the Jackrabbits (10-10, 3-2 Summit League). Alec Squires added 14 points while shooting 6 of 6 from the field to go with five rebounds and three steals. South Dakota State men’s basketball, 3-2 start in Summit League play and 10-10 overall, will travel to St. Paul, Minn., to take on St. Thomas on Thursday. The Jacks and Tommies square off at 8 p.m.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Greyson Uelmen scored 26 points as North Dakota beat South Dakota 96-80 on Saturday in men’s basketball. Uelmen went 10 of 17 from the field (4 for 8 from 3-point range) for the Fightin’ Hawks (10-12, 4-2 Summit League). Garrett Anderson scored 17 points and added seven rebounds. Eli King shot 6 of 14 from the field, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the line to finish with 15 points. Jordan Crawford led the way for the Coyotes (10-10, 2-3) with 24 points and four assists. Isaac Bruns added 21 points for South Dakota. Cameron Fens had 13 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. The Coyotes play at Omaha Wednesday night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
Four Coyotes scored in double figures, led by a career-high 21 points by Patience Williams, in a 75-55 victory over Denver on Saturday. Williams also had 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. South Dakota is now 14-5 on the season and 4-1 in Summit League play, marking the program’s best start to league play since the 2022-23 season. The Coyotes are on the road for two games next week, starting with a trip to Omaha Thursday night for a 6:30 p.m. start.
The 43rd annual Hanson Girls’ Basketball Classic was held on Saturday at the Corn Palace. Hanson fell to Woodbury Central, Iowa 59-34. Ava Doyle had nine points for Hanson. Addison Bartholow had 16 points and Liz Boschee scored 13 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for Sanborn Central/Woonsocket in their 54-41 win over Elk Point-Jefferson. Hadynn Johnson finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and three steals in Corsica-Stickney’s 53-46 win over Harding County. Wagner rallied from a 14-point first-quarter deficit for a 54-48 win over No. 3 Hamlin. Wagner’s Ashlyn Koupal totaled 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Class B No. 1 Lyman held off a late comeback from Class A No. 10 Mobridge-Pollock 62-59. Lyman’s Mak Scott totaled 22 points and seven rebounds. For Mobridge-Pollock, Blake Thompson netted 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Three players scored in double figures to power St. Thomas More to a 57-52 win against No. 7 Dakota Valley. No. 1 Mahpiya Luta knocked off Class A No. 2 Lennox 66-56.
44th Annual Boys Hanson Classic, Saturday, January 24th
11:00 AM Hanson vs. White River
12:30 PM Sioux Valley vs. Dakota Valley
2:00 PM Parkston vs. Lyman
3:30 PM No. 6B Wessington Springs vs. No. 8B Freeman – Q1073 & q107radio.com
5:00 PM No. 1B Viborg-Hurley vs. No. 6A Hamlin
6:30 PM No. 4A St. Thomas More vs. No. 10A Lennox
8:00 PM No. 1A West Central vs. No. 3A Clark/Willow Lake
Ethan vs. Leola/Frederick Area will not be part of the Hanson Classic.
Rams shake off wild TD pass by Caleb Williams to force OT, beat Bears 20-17 to reach NFC title game
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams survived an incredible throw by Caleb Williams that forced overtime, beating the Chicago Bears 20-17 to advance to the NFC championship game. Harrison Mevis kicked a 42-yard field goal in OT after Kam Curl intercepted a deep pass by Williams on the Bears’ first possession of the extra period. Stafford completed a 16-yard pass to Puka Nacua to get the Rams into field-goal range and set up Mevis. The Rams will visit NFC West rival Seattle next Sunday in their first trip to the conference championship game since the 2021 team won the Super Bowl.
Maye throws 3 TD passes, Stroud has 4 INTs as Patriots top Texans 28-16 to advance to AFC title game
Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes, Marcus Jones returned one of C.J. Stroud’s four interceptions for a TD and the New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 to advance to the AFC championship game for the first time in seven years. They will play at Denver next Sunday. Their last AFC title game trip was during their run to their sixth Super Bowl title in the 2018 season. Maye finished 16 of 27 for 179 yards, but had an interception and fumbled four times, losing two. The eight combined turnovers were the most in a playoff game since 2015. The Texans have lost in the divisional round in three straight seasons under coach DeMeco Ryans.
Bo Nix breaks his right ankle late in Broncos’ playoff win, will have surgery
Bo Nix broke his right ankle late in overtime of the Denver Broncos’ divisional-round victory over Buffalo on Saturday and will have surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the playoffs. Coach Sean Payton delivered the stunning news about his second-year quarterback in the aftermath of Denver’s biggest win in a decade. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC championship game next weekend. Payton said Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.
Broncos advance to AFC title game, beating Bills 33-30 after McMillian’s INT in overtime
Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Josh Allen’s deep throw in overtime, and Bo Nix led the Broncos into position for Wil Lutz’s 23-yard field goal that sent Denver to the AFC championship game with a 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills. McMillian’s pick was Denver’s fifth takeaway of the game. He wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks at the Broncos 20-yard line when a field goal would have won the game for Buffalo. The Broncos will face New England for the AFC title Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High, where Denver has won 14 of its past 15 games.
Seahawks dominate 49ers from opening kick, advance to NFC title game with 41-6 win
Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Kenneth Walker III rushed for three scores and the Seattle Seahawks advanced to the NFC championship game with a dominant 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and got his first career playoff win in his first season with the Seahawks, who will host the Los Angeles Rams Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake.
Kevin Stefanski hired as Falcons coach after being let go by Browns
Kevin Stefanski has been hired as coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He gets a second chance to lead an NFL team less than two weeks after he was fired by the Cleveland Browns. Stefanski spent six seasons with Cleveland, where he twice was named AP Coach of the Year and had a 45-56 record. He was fired on Jan. 5 after the Browns finished a 5-12 season. Atlanta announced his hiring on Saturday night. Stefanski replaces Raheem Morris, who was fired alongside general manager Terry Fontenot after an 8-9 campaign in his second season leading the franchise. He will report to newly appointed team president Matt Ryan.
New York Giants hire John Harbaugh as coach after identifying him as their top choice
The New York Giants have hired John Harbaugh as coach. Harbaugh joins the Giants 11 days after he was fired by the Baltimore Ravens. He is a Super Bowl champion who guided Baltimore to the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons there. He and the Ravens won it all a year after the Giants’ most recent championship in the 2011 season. Harbaugh is now tasked with turning around a beleaguered franchise that has just two playoff appearances over the past decade. He gives New York a proven winner after seven coaches since Tom Coughlin failed to get past the divisional round.
Packers and coach Matt LaFleur agree to contract extension, AP source says
A person familiar with the situation says Matt LaFleur has agreed to terms on a contract extension to remain the Green Bay Packers’ coach a week after their season ended with a wild-card playoff loss to the Chicago Bears. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced. ESPN and NFL Network first reported the deal. LaFleur had one year remaining on his contract once the Packers’ season ended. New Packers president/CEO Ed Policy had said last summer he’d prefer not to have a coach enter the final year of his contract without an extension.
College football’s surprise: Miami and Indiana meet for a title in a matchup nobody saw coming
Indiana and Miami are playing for the national title Monday night, and if that has you scratching your head thinking “Who?” or “What?” then you are not alone. Even though a new world of paying players and rapid-fire transfers from school to school has shuffled the deck in college sports, nobody thought it would get mixed up this much. And even though both schools have been trending upward of late, both were listed as 100-1 long shots to win the championship at some point this season. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers head into the game being played on Miami’s home field at Hard Rock Stadium as favorites by more than a touchdown, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. StubHub has the cheapest ticket in the door listed at $3,931…with fees.
College football leaders debate playoff expansion ahead of Friday deadline from ESPN
College football leaders have given every indication that they remain stuck in a yearlong debate about expanding the playoff from 12 teams to 16 or beyond. Commissioners and school presidents met on the eve of the College Football Playoff title game, facing a Friday deadline from ESPN to decide on changing or staying with the current 12-team model. ESPN bankrolls the postseason. The debate boils down to two conferences, the Big Ten and SEC, that have widely different visions of where the playoff should go. The SEC wants a 16-team playoff, the Big Ten wants 24. If they can’t agree, the playoff will stay at 12 teams for next season.
Durant passes Nowitzki for 6th place on NBA career scoring list as Rockets beat Pelicans 119-110
Kevin Durant had 18 points and moved into sixth place on the NBA’s career points list, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored a season-high 32 points as the Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-110 Sunday night. Alperen Sengun had 21 points and eight rebounds and Amen Thompson finished with 20 points as Houston won for the third time in four games. Trey Murphy III scored 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting and Zion Williamson had 20 points and six rebounds. Derik Queen finished with 15 points for the Pelicans, who lost for the fourth time in five games and 13th time in 15 games.