Sports
Victory over Tabor demonstrates Lady Panthers’ continuing improvement
Brian McDowell Sports Editor For the last couple of seasons, the NCCC women’s basketball squad struggled offensively, averaging about 45 points a game. However, this year, so far, the team is putting up an average of 60 points a game. “The way we play defense, you can win games scoring 60 points,” Coach Kelley Newton said, “so, that is refreshing. That is good. We definitely need to make more shots, because we get some really good looks, and...
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CCA girls ready to compete this year
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The players on the Chanute Christian Academy girls basketball teams are older and more mature than they were during their struggles last season. This gives head coach Mark Childers hope that the Warriors’ games can be more competitive than some of last year’s contests. “We didn’t win any games last year,” Childers said. “I’m just looking to get better each game, and have my girls get better.” He has already note...
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Flowers sisters and three other Comets selected All-SEK
Chanute sisters Mallory and Macy Flowers were both selected as first team all-SEK volleyball players, in rosters that were released on Thursday morning. Mallory, a senior, and Macy, a 6-3 sophomore, both shined in front of the net for the Comets this season. Both siblings were unanimously picked as first team selections by coaches in the conference. Senior Libero Brenna Olson and junior setter Katie Martin were picked for the second team, an...
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Panthers men off to best start in eight years
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The NCCC men’s basketball squad currently has a 4-0 record, which is the Panthers’ best start since 2004. This statistical mark came courtesy of a 92-74 home victory over the JV team from Ottawa University on Monday night. The Panthers’ JV opponents featured a face that is familiar to many fans that followed the Panthers last year; sophomore Bryan Newton, a graduate of Colony High School, transferred to Ottawa af...
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Chanute football players named All-SEK
The Chanute Blue Comets football team made it further in the post-season than any other SEK squad, and made it as far as any team from this school ever has. In honor of the squad’s achievements this season, senior Cody Howell was named the SEK Defensive MVP for this season. Also, the following players on the team were chosen All-SEK: 1st Team: QB – Brock Gilmore OL – Cody Howell WR – Seb Fairchild DL – Jack Martin DB – Evan Hale LB – Cody How...
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Free softball clinic offered in Iola
A softball clinic for area girls aged 7-19 will be held on the campus of Allen County Community College in Iola. The clinic will occur every Sunday from 1-3 p.m. at the red barn building next to the campus softball field. This clinic will run from November to April, and will offer instruction in basic and advanced softball skills. Hitting, fielding and pitching will all be covered. There is no charge for this clinic, and it is open to all gir...
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Chanute girls second, boys sixth in preseason SEK polls
Brian McDowell Sports Editor PITTSBURG — The Chanute Blue Comets girls basketball team was picked second in the SEK preseason coaches’ poll released Monday, while the school’s boys team was picked sixth. The rankings were unveiled at a luncheon for the SEK coaches Monday in Pittsburg. The girls squad, which qualified for state last year, received three first place votes from conference coaches in the preseason balloting. Chanute finished only...
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No NCCC wrestlers place at Central Missouri Open
WARRENSBURG — The NCCC Panther Wrestling team competed in the large University of Central Missouri Open tournament on Sunday and came away with no place finishers. “We have a lot to work on after our performance this past week,” Head Coach Wayne Petterson said. “When you go against the quality we have the past two meets, in order to be successful, one must be completely on top of their game. Obviously we are not there yet.” Both sophomore ...
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Humboldt players honored as All-League
The huge turnaround experienced by the Humboldt Cubs football team this season, under the leadership of returning head coach K.B. Criss, inspired several of the team’s players to be named to the Tri-Valley All-League teams this year. Here are the players who received this honor. OFFENSE: Quarterback Nathan Whitcomb: The quarterback had an outstanding year completing 54.8 percent of his passes (152/277) for 2,773 yards and 34 TDs. Whitcomb al...
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Eighth grade falls twice at Parsons tourney
The Royster eighth grade basketball team traveled to Parsons on Saturday for a tournament. Despite developing an early lead, the Rockets fell to Pittsburg 24-14. According to coach Steve Slane, Pittsburg is a very good team, but the first quarter of the Saturday game was the best he has seen his team play so far. “Our defense was pretty good throughout the game,” Slane said. Due to the loss, Royster had to play back to back contests. The Rock...
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Comets’ playoff run ends with nailbiter at Piper
Brian McDowell Sports Editor KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Plenty of sweat and tears were spilled by Chanute football players on the field at Piper High School on Friday night. After a successful year that saw the Comets overcome a 2-3 start and go on a 5-1 run, the Chanute Blue Comets’ season came to an end in the third round of post-season play. The Comets suffered a 24-22 loss in the sectional championship showdown on the road in the western Kansa...
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Panthers fall to #2 Labette in wrestling dual
The NCCC wrestling team hosted a Labette squad that was ranked second in the country for its first dual meet on Thursday night. Labette grapplers won seven of 10 matches to come away with a 21-9 victory. According to coach Wayne Petterson, Neosho County was completely outwrestled in those seven losses. “ Some of it was due to nerves, some to not cutting weight right combined with being worn down from getting the weight off and warm ups, and...
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Royster eighth grade teams beat Parsons
Both Royster eighth grade basketball teams scored home victories over Parsons on Monday. The Rockets B team won 19-2, and the A team was victorious 29-24. “We had balanced scoring, but need to maintain our composure better in game situations,” Coach Steve Slane said. “Pittsburg is a tough matchup coming up Thursday, so we’ll try to get prepared for them.” B Game Parsons - 2 0 0 0 - 2 Royster - 0 6 7 6 - 19 Royster Scoring Hanna Bruce – 3 Ce...
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Seventh grade Rockets achieve victory
Both Royster 7th grade girls beat their counterparts from Parsons on Monday. The B team won 10-8, while the A team triumphed 27-10. ‘The A team did a much better job of taking open shots and being more aggressive on defense,” coach Teresa Taylor said. Kaitlyn Newton led the A team’s offensive attack with 10 points, while Jayci Vietti dished five. Lexy Coston and Kasynda Eubanks each contributed four, and Carlie Almond and Keeley Tallent...
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Panthers show speed and execution in Tuesday night trouncing
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The NCCC men’s basketball team gave local fans an alternative to sitting at home watching election results on Tuesday night. The Panthers’ second game of the year pitted the squad against the JV team from Southwestern College. Neosho County won the contest 91-58. “I really liked our execution,” Coach Jeremy Coombs said. The firepower of the Panthers’ fast-moving offense was on full display throughout the game, all...
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Improved Lady Panthers start season with split
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The dramatic improvements made to the NCCC Lady Panthers basketball team were on display at the annual Panther classic weekend tournament this weekend. The Lady Panthers offered a dominating performance in the tournament’s first game Friday night, that resulted in a 67-37 win over Iowa Lakes. “We had good energy,” Coach Kelley Newton said. “We played hard. It was a consistent effort. It was really good to see for ...
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Cubs’ season ends with playoff loss to Colgan
PITTSBURG — The Humboldt Cubs football program experienced a resurgence this year, under Head Coach K. B. Criss’sreturn to its helm. Unfortunately for Humboldt, the season did not end the way that the coach and the team wanted it to on Saturday night. Criss pointed out that out of 64 teams in Class 3-A only one team will end the season the way they would like it to. The Cubs lost to Colgan 63-28, in the second round of the 3A playoffs. “I was...
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Comets advance in playoffs with Saturday night rout
Brian McDowell Sports Editor For the second year in a row, the Chanute Blue Comets football team has won the Regional Championship in the second round of the playoffs. This feat now ties the squad for the most statistically successful in the school’s history. The Comets accomplished this with a 53-6 rout of Girard on Saturday night. “This was real fun,” Chanute Coach Don Simmons said. “This is what it’s all about.” The victory puts Chanute in ...
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Panthers men make strong showing in home opener
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The rebuilt NCCC Panthers men’s basketball squad was originally scheduled to play Texas Christian Prep on Thursday night. When Coach Jeremy Coombs heard that school had to drop out of this game because of financial issues, he was afraid that the Panthers wouldn’t be able to fill their 30-game schedule. To prevent this from happening, people around the college scrambled to put together a rag-tag team of talented lo...
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‘Never say die’ Comets prepared to host playoff match-up
Brian McDowell Sports Editor The Chanute Blue Comets football team has a “never say die” attitude that has been demonstrated in close games throughout this season. The team mounted comebacks and stayed close in all three of the SEK games it lost this year, and further demonstrated its fighting spirit in last Tuesday’s 13-7 victory over Paola. “In the games that we lost, we were behind by at least two touchdowns in all of them,” Coach Don Simm...
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