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Category: Opinion
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS – NOV. 26
— Hemingford Girls and Boys basketball practice scheduled for this morning has been cancelled.
— Loneman School (SD) will have a two-hour late start today.
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO HOST FIRST AND SECOND ROUND NCAA PLAY
Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska volleyball team will spend the opening weekend of the postseason at home for the ninth straight season as the NU Coliseum was chosen as one of 16 sites for the NCAA first and second-round play next weekend. The Huskers will be making their 31st NCAA Tournament appearance and they will go in as the No. 4 overall seed among the 64 teams.
Play will start on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 4:30 p.m. when the Kansas State Wildcats (21-8) of the Big 12 Conference will take on the Northern Iowa Panthers (24-9) of the Missouri Valley Conference. Nebraska (23-6) will then take the court during Thursday’s second match and will face the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (28-5), who recently won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title. The Huskers’ match will start at 7 p.m. or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first match.
The second round will take place on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m., as Thursday’s winners will compete for the right to move on to the Omaha Regional the following weekend. The winner out of Lincoln will take on either Washington, Central Arkansas, Santa Clara or Hawaii, who will be playing in Seattle, Wash.
Tickets for the first and second rounds in Lincoln are on sale on Huskers.com this evening and will be available Monday morning at 8 a.m. by calling the NU Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED or visiting in person at the NU Athletic Ticket Office. All-session ticket prices are set at $34 (reserved) and $30 (general admission) and include the two first-round games, as well as the second-round matchup between the first-round winners.
Nebraska has never faced University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The Huskers and Kansas State have met a total of 86 times, with Nebraska leading the all-time series at 82-4. The Huskers lead the all-time series with Northern Iowa 5-0-1.
The 2012 season marks the 28th time that Lincoln has played host to first and second round competition. Last season, Nebraska hosted the first and second rounds at the NU Coliseum, where they swept Jackson State, but fell to Kansas State in the second round.
Nebraska holds a 23-6 record in 2012 and clinched a tie for second in the Big Ten Conference with Saturday’s 3-1 win over Northwestern. The Huskers are 83-27 (.754) in 30 previous NCAA Tournament appearances, ranking second among NCAA schools in both wins and winning percentage. The Huskers were one of seven Big Ten schools to qualify for the tournament, as No. 1 Penn State and No. 8 Minnesota will play at home in the first two rounds, while Ohio State, Purdue, Michigan State and Michigan will be on the road.
NCAA First and Second Round Schedule First Round – Thursday, Nov. 29 4:30 p.m. | Kansas State vs. Northern Iowa 7 p.m.* | University of Maryland Eastern Shore vs. Nebraska *or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the 4:30 p.m. match
Second Round – Friday, Nov. 30 7 p.m. | First Round Winners
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL TEAM DOWNS NORTHWESTERN, 3-1
Lincoln, Neb.- The No. 10 Nebraska volleyball team (23-6, 15-5) sent the 2012 seniors out in fashion on Saturday night as the Huskers topped Northwestern 3-1 (25-15, 25-22, 20-25, 25-21) in front of 4,092 fans at the NU Coliseum.
Hannah Werth led the Huskers on the night with a double-double, including a team-high 17 kills and 13 digs to go along with a .342 hitting percentage. Gina Mancuso recorded 13 kills and eight digs for NU. Lauren Cook also notched a double-double on the evening, with 45 assists and 10 digs. Meghan Haggerty led the Husker block with six.
Nebraska hit .261 as a team, while Northwestern notched a .209 hitting percentage. The Huskers out-blocked the Wildcats 14-7.
The Huskers win over Northwestern also marked the final regular season volleyball match to be played in the historic NU Coliseum. The volleyball team will move to a renovated Devaney Center next fall. The Coliseum has been home to Nebraska Volleyball since 1975, where NU has posted 524 victories. The building opened in 1926, and was home to NU basketball until 1976. The main basketball/volleyball court ran north/south, until the Coliseum was remodeled in 1991, and the volleyball court was changed to east/west on the south side of the arena, creating an intimate home court advantage for the Big Red. Since 1992, NU has collected 342 victories.
The Huskers will now wait until Sunday at 3 p.m. CST when the 2012 NCAA Tournament field is announced live on ESPNU. If the Huskers are selected as one of the 16 host sites for the first and second rounds tickets will go on sale Sunday at 7 p.m. on Huskers.com and will be available by visiting or calling the NU Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED starting Monday at 8 a.m.
WESTMINSTER COLLEGE MEN DOWN CSC IN UTAH
SALT LAKE CITY — The Westminster College men’s basketball team improved its record to 8-1 for the season by defeating Chadron State 94-69 during the second night of its own Thanksgiving weekend tournament here Saturday.
The Griffins shot well, connecting on 56.5 percent (35-62) from the field, including 52 percent (14-27) from 3-point range and 91 percent (10-11) from the free throw line.
Chadron State also did a number of things well, coach Brent Bargen said. The Eagles shot 44.2 percent (23-52) from the field, including 6-11 from the 3-point territory, and 74 percent (17-23) from the charity stripe. “This was our most complete game so far,” Bargen said. “We played a really good team tonight and competed pretty well. We’ve obviously have a long ways to go, but we’ve got a chance to be a pretty good team if we keep working.”
The Griffins were led by Jake Orchard, a 6-foot-4 senior, with 18 points. Blake Skidmore, a 6-foot junior, added 14 and six assists while Alex Drecksel, another 6-4 senior, added 10 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Chadron State was paced by 6-5 Zac Bargen with 19 points and 11 rebounds, both game highs, along with four assists and three steals. Freshman point guard Justyn Anderson added 14 points and junior forward Grant Stone contributed 12 points off the bench.
The Eagles, now 0-4, will open their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule this weekend by hosting Colorado Mesa and Western State. One of Westminster’s win is a 95-53 decision over Western State.
CSC 30 39 – 69
WM 50 44 – 94
MONTANA TECH MEN DOWN CSC, 85-70
SALT LAKE CITY — Adam Greger, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Friday night while leading Montana Tech to an 85-70 victory in the first game of the Westminster College Thanksgiving Tournament.
The Eagles got off to a fast start, building three 14-point leads in the opening 10 minutes.
However, Montana Tech cut the difference to 33-27 at halftime and outscored Chadron State 16-7 in the first seven minutes of the second half to take the lead for keeps.
The Orediggers tallied 58 points in the second half.
Besides Greger’s output, the Orediggers got 16 points and nine rebounds from guard Bryan Bock, while Tanner Neumann added 10 points and five assists. Bock and Neumann combined to sink 15 of 18 free throws.
Zac Bargen led Chadron State with 22 points and six rebounds. Both Justyn Anderson and David Downey scored 10 points for the Eagles.
Montana Tech, now 4-3 for the season, shot 46.3 percent from the field while CSC hit just 34.5 percent. The Orediggers were 31 of 49 from the free throw line while Chadron State was 24 of 33.
Forty-one fouls were called against Chadron State. Three of the 10 Eagles who made the trip fouled out while six others finished the game with four fouls.
Now 0-3, the Eagles will play tournament host Westminster tonight (Saturday).
CSC 33 37 – 70
MT 27 58 – 85
HOOPER SCORES 19 AS NEBRASKA BEAT USC
The Lady Huskers basketball team beat USC at the Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles Friday afternoon.
After trailing at halftime by four points, NU outscored USC 45-32 to claim a 74-65 victory.
Nebraska (5-1) was led by Lindsay Moore who scored 23 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
Alliance, NE native Jordan Hooper scored 19 points and also recorded seven rebounds.
Emily Cady had 14 points and Hailie Sample scored six.
USC (2-2) was led by Ariya Cook’s 25 points.
Nebraska will host Maryland on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Tipoff at 7 p.m. (CST).
GO BIG RED FOOTBALL 13, IOWA 7
Iowa City, Iowa – No. 17 Nebraska used a stifling defense and a punishing running game to down Iowa, 13-7, in the HyVee Heroes Game Friday afternoon.
The Huskers (10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) held the Hawkeyes to just 200 yards, and kept Iowa off the scoreboard over the final 45 minutes picking up their sixth consecutive victory. With the win, the Huskers will play for their third conference title in four years, when they take on Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game next Saturday evening in Indianapolis.
Nebraska’s seniors shined against the Hawkeyes, as Alonzo Whaley and Eric Martin turned in career afternoons in helping the Huskers to their sixth straight win. Alonzo Whaley totaled a career-high 11 tackles and capped his day with an interception of Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg with 2:11 remaining.
Martin spent most of the afternoon in the Iowa backfield, totaling seven tackles, three tackles for loss, including a sack, forced a fumble and had two quarterback hurries in holding Vandenberg to just 11-of-24 passing for 92 yards and a pair of interceptions.
The Huskers rushed for 200 yards on the ground battling wind chills in the teens and a wind gusts that made passing a chore. Rex Burkhead made his return in the second half after missing the last four games, rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, as his 3-yard scoring run with 3:10 left in the third quarter gave the Huskers the lead for good.
All four of the Huskers primary ball carriers had at least 40 yards on the ground, with Ameer Abdullah (50) and Braylon Heard (46) combining for nearly 100 rushing yards, while Martinez carried 16 times for 41 yards and completed 8-of-14 passes for 63 yards in blustery conditions.
Iowa lost its sixth straight game and ends its season with a 4-8 mark, including a 2-5 Big Ten record. The Hawkeyes have now dropped five straight games to the Huskers dating back to 1982.
Nebraska took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards on 15 plays into a 25 mile per hour wind before Brett Maher’s 26-yard field goal put the Huskers on the board. Nebraska ran 14 times for 72 yards and took 8:09 before the Hawkeyes touched the ball. Abdullah rushed nine times for 32 yards, as Nebraska went 3-for-4 on third down conversions on the opening drive. Nebraska totaled 75 of its 93 first-half yards on its first possession, as its opening march was the longest of the season in both plays and time.
Iowa came right back on its opening possession, going 62 yards in 12 plays, capped by a Vandenberg one-yard TD run. After three straight runs to open the drive, Vandenberg found CJ Fiedorowicz for a 25-yard gain to the Nebraska 25-yard line. Mark Weisman, who carried eight times for 33 yards on Iowa’s first drive, put the Hawkeyes on the doorstep before Vandenberg snuck in to take a 7-3 lead.
The Huskers held Weisman for check most of the day, as he finished with 91 yards on 29 carries and did not have a run over 12 yards.
The Blackshirts came up big at opportune times throughout the first half, as Iowa forced a pair of Husker turnovers, but finished with nothing, as the Nebraska trailed 7-3 at the half. Iowa’s longest drive after its opening score was 24 yards, as the Blackshirts held Iowa to three plays or less on five of its seven second-half possessions.
Nebraska’s defense came up big after a fumbled punt return put the ball at the Iowa 41-yard. The Hawkeyes drove to the NU 39 where Martin stopped Weisman on 4-and-1 to give the Huskers possession. On the Huskers’ next drive Nebraska drove into Iowa territory, but Louis Trinca-Pasat recovered a Martinez fumble at the Iowa 48-yard line. Iowa got to the 28-yard line, but would get no closer. Daimion Stafford broke up a pass in the end zone Intended for Zach Darby on first down before Martin stopped Weisman for a three-yard loss on second down and forced an incomplete pass on third down, as Iowa was forced to punt.
Iowa had one more shot on its final drive of the half, as Micah Hyde’s 29-yard punt return got the ball to the Husker 42-yard line. Iowa drove to the NU 19, but was unable to capitalize, as Mark Meyer missed a 42-yard field goal into the wind with four seconds left in the half.
The Huskers forced Iowa to a three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half before running a 10-play drive which featured the return to action by Burkhead, who had not played since the Northwestern game. The senior I-back kept the drive alive with a 5-yard run on 4th-and-1 at Nebraska’s 44 before Martinez found Ben Cotton on a 14-yard pass to the Iowa 32. NU’s drive stalled before Maher connected on a 54-yard field goal to pull Nebraska within 7-6.
Cotton, who played his high school ball in Ames, Iowa, led NU with three catches for 39 yards.
The Blackshirts gave the Huskers great field position after Stafford intercepted a Vandenberg pass that was tipped by Ciante Evans and returned it to the Iowa 49-yard line. NU was unable to sustain a drive and Maher pinned the Hawkeyes at its 10-yard line.
Maher averaged 43.2 yards on his four punts, including a pair of punts that pinned the Hawkeyes inside the 20-yard line, and added a pair of field goals. Maher has now made his last six field goals and is 18-of-24 on the season.
Nebraska forced another 3-and-out and got the ball at the Iowa 43 yard line after the punt. The Huskers, who had just 48 yards after the opening drive, needed just 1:35 to go 43 yards and take a 13-7 lead. Martinez found Cotton for 19 yards on first down before Heard went 18 yards to the Iowa 6-yard line. Two plays later, Burkhead found the end zone, scoring from three yards out to give Nebraska a 13-7 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Iowa pinned Nebraska at its 1-yard line after a 61-yard punt, but Burkhead and Abdullah kept the chains moving to get NU out of the shadow of its own end zone. Burkhead carried the pile on gains of nine and eight yards while Abdullah gained a crucial first down before the Huskers were forced to punt.
Iowa got the ball at its 42, but were unable to gain a first down and forced to punt. Iowa had one final chance and had the ball at its 27-yard line with 3:31 left, but Whaley’s interception ended the Hawkeyes’ comeback hopes.
Scoring Summary
Final: No. 17 Nebraska 13, Iowa 7
Friday, Nov. 23, 2012
Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, Iowa)
First Quarter (Iowa, 7-3)
NEB – 6:51 – Brett Maher 26 field goal – 16 plays, 73 yards, 8:09 (NEB, 3-0)
IOWA – 0:28 – James Vandenberg 1 run – 12 plays, 62 yards, 6:23 (Iowa, 7-3)
Third Quarter (Nebraska, 13-7)
NEB – 9:30 – Brett Maher 52 field goal – 10 plays, 30 yards, 3:58 (Iowa, 7-6)
NEB – 3:10 – Rex Burkhead 3 run – 4 plays,43 yards, 1:35 (NEB, 13-7)
Final: No. 17 Nebraska 13, Iowa 7
Attendance: 69,805
Time of Game: 3:05
Game Start: 11:07 p.m. (central)
SCOTTSBLUFF POLICE MAKE ARREST IN BANK ROBBERY
The Scottsbluff Police Department has made an arrest in the November 21st robbery of the Valley Bank & Trust branch located at 502 Broadway.
Scottsbluff officers arrested 42 year old Michael Scott of Scottsbluff and he has been charged with one count of Robbery, one count of Theft of more than $1500.00 and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine). Michael Scott was in possession of U.S. Currency and a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine when taken into custody.
Officers executed search warrants at 2307 W 42nd Street #20 (North Side Mobile Home Park), the home of Latricia Degeest, as well as 1413 E Overland #30 (Eastwood Apts.), the home of Michael Scott in the early morning hours of Friday, November 23rd.
CHADRON UPDATES PD FIREARM POLICY
The city of Chadron has an updated firearms policy for the police department. Police Chief Tim Lordino says he started revising the old policy after his department purchased 7 assault rifles…a weapon it did not have…then decided to make a complete revision.
Lordino adopted an easier to follow format, added definitions the earlier policy lacked and language on firearm safety as well as clarifying several areas…including the Chadron police department’s firearm qualification process and what happens if an officer fails to pass their annual qualification test.
As for the decision to add rifles, Lordino says he saw a need for increased firepower for specific situations…such as this summer’s downtown standoff in Alliance.
Because most Nebraska police departments have rifles, the state law enforcement training center in Grand Island is adding the weapon to its curriculum, so Chadron officers would need to take a rifle with them for full certification even if the department didn’t have them.
The guns…M-16s…were purchased through the Department of Defense as “repurposed” military weapons and each cost about $250…about 1/8th the cost of purchasing a new civilian version of the same weapon.
Each can be fired in automatic or semi-automatic mode, so they have been registered with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Lordino says the rifles will be kept in Chadron squad cars in a locked rack that also holds a shotgun, or in the locked firearms closet at the police station…and will be used only for police purposes.