Monday, January 31, 2011

Bluejay Girls Shut Down Trojans at King City

Northeast Nodaway's girls shut down Union Star in the opening round of the King City Tournament, beating them 51-17 to advance to the second round with North Andrew. The Bluejays had four players scoring eight or more points as they used a balanced attack to pull away from the overmatched Union Star squad, who only has seven players out and who has nobody over 5'6".

Michelle Schulte (14 points) opened the scoring with a putback and 3-point play with 7:24 left and then Emily Bryant (8 points) found Blair Schmitz (13 points) open on the left wing against Union Star's soft zone to make it 5-0. The tiny but deadly Schulte girl added a steal just 12 seconds later and then Rachel Runde hit Big Bad Blair on the right wing to make it 9-0 as they got out to a much faster start than they did the first time against Union Star. Kristin Sherry then capped the game-opening scoring run as Michelle Schulte found her open on the right side at the 5:02 mark as Northeast forced a ton of Union Star turnovers.

Sherry went out with two fouls and Northeast went scoreless for the next two minutes before they increased their lead to 16-4 after one quarter. Northeast held Star scoreless in the second quarter; Rachel Runde hit Michelle Schulte on the right wing and then the tiny but deadly Schulte girl got a defensive board and a quick outlet to Emily Bryant, who threw it to Blair for a driving layup to make it 20-4. Michelle then knocked the ball off a defender's legs and came up with a loose ball and then found Emily Bryant open for a layup. Kristin Sherry then found Blair open on a high-low inside for a free throw to make it 23-4.

Northeast then got a four point play set up by a steal from Big Bad Blair. Kristin Sherry scored off an inbounds play and scored; she missed the ensuing free throw but the tiny Schulte girl struck again, coming out of nowhere to leap high in the air and snatch the offensive board and put it back in to make it 27-4. Coach Eric Fairchild began to use his second string at that point but Northeast continued to pull away as Michelle Schulte turned a steal into a free throw and then Blair had consecutive plays in which she stole the ball and found Kristin Sherry wide open for a layup to make it 32-4.

Emily Bryant hit a 3-pointer from Michelle from the top of the key, Schulte found Rachel Runde on the left baseline for a jumper, and Big Bad Blair struck on a give and go in transition with Runde to make it 39-6. Union Star made a mild rally against Northeast's second string, getting some production from Kaylee Barnett and Hannah Todd to make it 39-12 with 3:04 left but Claudia Wiederholt scored from the right side off a Kristan Judd kickout. Kerrigan Adwell found Big Bad Blair open for a driving layup and then the tiny but deadly Schulte girl cut inside and got a pass from Schmitz and converted it to free throws to make it 45-12 and trigger the running clock for the 4th quarter. Kristin Sherry jumped a pass and had an uncontested layup for Northeast in the fourth quarter while Michelle Schulte took a jumper, missed it, but followed her own shot to the other side of the court and chased it down and drew the foul and hit both free throws. Kristan Judd got in the scoring column with an inside shot to round out the scoring for Northeast.

Squirts from Worth County Come to Play

Worth County’s boys are one of the littlest teams and are also one with the biggest hearts. Over the past three seasons, Coach Chris Healy has turned the boys team into one of the most fundamentally sound teams in the area and one which will swarm you and trap you to death. The term “squirt” is a compliment – other teams look at their small size, with their two tallest players at 6 feet tall, and think that they have an easy game when they play against the Tigers. Nothing could be farther than the truth.
Two seasons ago, Worth County’s boys were struggling to find an identity for themselves. They had just gotten their first win of the year, an ugly 28-22 affair against South Nodaway. They were playing Northeast Nodaway, with three kids who were 6’4” or taller. What looked like it was going to be a mismatch was instead a shocker – the little Tiger squad was swarming, hounding, and outworking the taller Northeast squad on their home court at every opportunity. They doubled the rebounding totals on Northeast and won the game.
Northeast’s kids promised that it would not happen again when the teams met for a regular season rematch in Ravenwood. But it happened again – the littler Tiger squad was pressing, swarming, and outworking the Northeast squad to death on their way to a second win against the much taller Bluejay squad. The shock of the loss was such that then-Bluejay coach Charley Burch kept his team in the lockerroom for 45 minutes after the second game.
Worth County would only win six games that year. And Northeast would get their revenge – they have won all three winter season meetings between the two teams since then. But those two wins set a tone for the whole program for the next two years – the little Tiger squad would press, hound, and swarm the other team to death and teams would leave the court shaking their heads at having just lost to the squirts from Worth County.
The scores do not always show the pace of the game – the tempo is usually the most frantic tempo of any game in the area. The Tigers are not afraid to push it up the floor and take a bunch of chances to get their points. And they are not afraid to gamble on defense and get steals. But beneath the surface, we see a team that knows how to play the game – if the other team retreats into a zone, the Tigers will change gears – they will work the ball around for 10-15 passes and it is only a matter of time before the other team’s defense breaks down and Worth County gets a good look at the basket.
Two years ago, the Tigers struggled to put points on the board, with their high point total for a game being 55. But last year the Tigers began to put points on the board in early season wins over Polo and North Nodaway as they took the consolation crown of the Albany Tournament. They got off to a strong start, went through a losing streak during the middle of the year, and then got back on track by taking consolation at Stanberry and beating Gallatin by making a strong defensive stand late in the game to preserve the win.
To show how little teams thought of Worth County’s chances, three different teams in Princeton, Albany, and Ridgeway picked the Tigers as their designated victims for their Courtwarming celebrations. The squirts crashed all three and won their own, a dramatic last-second win over Polo on Zach Harmening’s buzzer beater.
Going into the final stretch of the season last year, the Tigers needed to win on the road against a strong Ridgeway team that won 18 games that year and a Nodaway-Holt team that had beaten them earlier in the year. They won both those games to get their winning season and end the year on a positive note.
Last year, the Tigers had some size in Cole Buffington and Dylan Kinsella. But with Buffington lost to graduation and Kinsella out for the year with a knee injury, the Tigers were left with their two tallest players being six feet – Bryce Ross and Brian Hall; Hall had not played basketball all through high school. And Ross had been battling injury problems of his own over the last two years. But Ross has stayed healthy this year and led the Tigers in scoring, turning into a reliable go-to player for them. And Hall has been a quick learner, becoming a force off the bench.
With the loss of Kinsella, the Tigers got off to a slow start but then got rolling starting with a big win over North Nodaway. They stumbled at West Nodaway but then at the Northwest Missouri Tournament, they turned around and beat the same West Nodaway squad on the same floor in the semifinal game handily, playing the brand of ball that had gotten them that far. That led to a match with Maryville’s JV squad, who had manhandled Northeast Nodaway in the other portion of the semifinals. The Tigers fell way behind but then showed the heart they were known for as they fought back to win the tournament and get their first tournament win in 15 years.
After dropping a game to Jefferson, the Tigers did not start out the way they wanted to, dropping games to Northeast Nodaway and Gallatin. But with Worth County trailing by nine points at King City, playing a game that was moved due to the weather conditions, they suddenly found their rhythm and came back to win that one. They lost to Jefferson by 35 after playing them tough for a half but then started their current winning streak by beating a much taller Stanberry squad for 3rd place.
The Bulldog squad killed the Tigers on paper with several players who were 6’3” or 6’4”, with the kind of team speed that leads to a ton of foul calls and easy layups. But somehow, Worth County failed to follow the script as Bryce Ross refused to let them lose, having a big first half to get the Tigers a halftime lead that they would not relinquish. Needing to play King City just six days after having played them once, the Tigers responded again, overcoming a 21-point first quarter from King City to win by 5. Nodaway-Holt came into the game very athletic and willing to run up and down the floor to open up their 30-foot 3-point shooters. But the Tigers ran right with them and beat them at their own game Monday.
And at their Courtwarming, the Tigers figured to get a tougher test from an Albany squad that they had beaten in the first match by 17. Albany had gotten a quick point guard and was looking like a totally different team. But the Tigers jumped out to a 16-4 first quarter lead and never looked back, leading 32-14 at the break and cruising to the Courtwarming win to cap the sweep of Albany. Bryce Ross had 20 in the effort and Todd Harding 18.
Todd Harding, Worth County’s second leading scorer, played his freshman year. Raw and uncoordinated, he nonetheless brought more energy than anyone to the floor even though he was only a 5’3” freshman. The move by Coach Chris Healy has paid off as Harding has grown several inches and has become a consistent scorer for the Tigers. His patented floater in the lane is very difficult to guard as he can get it over much taller players; he is always a threat to steal the ball and take off with it down the court.
Alex Harmening is one of the leaders in steals for the Tigers. Only 5’6”, he has become one of the best 3-point shooters on the team and dropped 20 on Nodaway-Holt, a career high for him. He has matured over the last two years and has become a team leader for the Tigers.
Wyatt McClain made a splash last year when he took three charges in a game against Polo; since then, he has emerged into another floor leader as well as a steady point guard. He is one of the best passers on the team, always seeking to get it to the open man. Eli Mullock is another role player for the Tigers; he is usually one of the leaders in assists for the team and made a key defensive play against Nodaway-Holt when he stole the ball in the last minute of that game to help preserve the 60-53 win. He is not afraid to use his speed and can beat teams down the floor if they fall asleep at the switch. Jordan Harding has become one of the more physical players on the team. Two freshmen have earned some playing time this year in game situations as Travis Troutwine is a constant threat to pop it from outside and Andrew Mullock made several hustle plays on defense and scored a critical basket in the fourth quarter against Nodaway-Holt.

Tiger Girls Cruise Past Albany for 2nd Win

Worth County’s girls got their second win of the season, pressing and outrebounding the Warriors to raise their record to 2-1 in the GRC with the 35-24 win. The Tigers won over Albany for the first time since the 2003-2004 season when Tiffany Troutwine and Charlea Lewis were playing and Worth County went to the Elite Eight. The boys would go on to beat Albany as well; this was the first sweep for Worth County over Albany in 20 years. The last time Worth County did it was in 1991 when Will Gladstone, Les New, and that team beat Albany on the boys side while Allyson Cook led the girls to a win over the Warriors on the girls side. It was also the first win for the girls over Albany since 2003-2004 when Tiffany Troutwine and Charlea Lewis were leading the scoring for Worth County and the Tigers went to the Elite Eight under Coach Todd Simmons.
With the 35 points for Worth County's girls, they had their two most productive offensive outings all year as they scored 52 points against Nodaway-Holt. Lauren Null led the Tigers with a season-high 13 points after being chosen Courtwarming Queen while Kacey Smyser and Brooke Gilland chipped in points in support. Lauren had her second straight double figure game as she had 10 against Nodaway-Holt. Smyser had the best rebounding game she's had in her career; she was a force on the boards in the second half; she is only a sophomore and is developing into a force at the post position for the next few years. Gilland continued to be a force on defense like she has the last few games; she added several steals.
Worth County went to a zone press for the game and did the best job of pressuring a team that they have all year; Albany was having a lot of trouble getting the ball up the floor and breaking the halfcourt line. They jumped out to an early lead; Albany was able to get to the line and get to the offensive boards to make a run at the Tigers, but Worth County took control in the third quarter. They responded a lot better to Albany's run than they did in the Stanberry Tournament when South Nodaway made a run at them in the third quarter and they didn't respond. The other thing they did well was take care of the ball; despite Albany’s press and trapping zone, the Tigers were able to keep their turnovers to a minimum and break the press with ease.
The game was not as close as the final score as Worth County spent much of the fourth quarter running out the clock to secure the win.
The girls will play Princeton this Friday at home at 6:00. The Tigers put points on the board against the blue Tigers last year even though they lost; it was one of their more productive offensive outings of the year against a strong Princeton squad. The goal for Worth County will be to use the long layoff to their advantage given the postponement of the Maysville game, which was supposed to have been played Tuesday. The Tigers have not won two straight games in three years; the goal will be to do so.

Bluejay Girls Cruise Past North Andrew in Semifinals

Northeast Nodaway's girls responded to adversity well and cruised past North Andrew 43-32 to advance to the final round of the King City Tournament. "We kept North Andrew from getting any of their players into double figures," said Coach Eric Fairchild. "Anytime you can hold a team to 32 points, we're doing pretty well. I was proud of how well we kept our composure when they cut it to 9 in the third quarter."

The two teams had just met six days earlier; in the second game, North Andrew sought to be more physical than the first time and to press Northeast more. But Northeast responded well to that challenge. They got early buckets from Blair Schmitz as Rachel Runde threw her a long pass and Emily Bryant threw Kristin Sherry a backdoor pass, but Blair Schmitz picked up her second foul less than three minutes into the game with her team down 5-4. And with Kristan Judd picking up her second foul, that left Northeast with a really small lineup. But Northeast did not allow another point in the period and Kristin Sherry scored a driving layup and a free throw and took a charge on defense as Northeast led 7-5 after one quarter.

Blair Schmitz came back in and hit a pair of free throws and then Kristin Sherry scored from inside off a pass from Emily Bryant to make it 11-5. The lead stayed between six and eight until Kristin Sherry hit a free throw and later got a steal off the press which she converted into a 3-point play. Emily Bryant hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to make it 20-9 with 2:52 left. Northeast continued to pull away as Michelle Schulte scored off a Rachel Runde steal and a pass from Kristin Sherry to make it 24-11 with 1:53 left. Kristin Sherry's putback at the buzzer left Northeast up 26-12 at the break.

Blair Schmitz picked up her third foul at the start of the third and North Andrew started doing a better job of pushing it up and down the floor, cutting the lead down to 28-19 midway through the third quarter. But then Northeast got a stop on defense and Blair threw a quick outlet to Kristin Sherry who threw it to Emily Bryant for a layup to start a 9-0 run that closed out the third quarter. Big Bad Blair added a putback and then Rachel Runde found Emily Bryant for a 3-pointer from the left wing and Bryant followed with a drive that turned into two free throws to leave Northeast up 37-19 after three quarters.

North Andrew tried to extend its pressure to get the ball back, but Blair Schmitz threw it to a cutting Emily Bryant for a backdoor layup to give Northeast its largest lead of the night at 39-21. Blair drove and scored a rare right-handed shot and Michelle Schulte scored off a carom before Coach Fairchild turned things over to his freshmen.

KCP&L contact, safety info in the event of an outage

The National Weather Service issued warnings for extreme weather conditions in KCP&L’s service territory through the next few days. Both KCP&L crews and contract crews have been placed on standby alert and additional restoration materials have been staged at various locations throughout the service territory.

If power outages occur as a result of this storm, these crews will be called upon to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible. In addition, employees in KCP&L’s 24-hour Emergency Operations Center are currently working with local communities to prepare customers for the storm.

KCP&L wants to remind customers of tips to stay safe during this storm:

  • Prepare a winter storm kit by gathering extra supplies for your home and your car, including:
    • First-aid kit and essential medications
    • Battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries
    • Canned food and can opener
    • Bottled water
    • Warm clothing, blanket, coat, gloves, hat and water-resistant boots for each family member
  • Stay indoors during the storm, if possible.If you must move to an alternate location, dress warmly with several layers of clothing, wear gloves and a hat to avoid exposing your skin to dangerous wind chill.
  • Walk carefully on snowy and icy surfaces. Avoid traveling by car and risk being stranded, but if you must travel:
    • Carry a "disaster kit" in the trunk.
    • Keep the car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
    • Always let someone know your destination, route of travel and expected time of arrival.
    • Carry a cell phone if you have one.
  • For family members on a life support system, plan for arrangementsto get them to a location where their needs can be met in the case of a power outage. In addition, contact KCP&L at 888-471-5275 to make sure we've noted that a life support system exists at that service location.
  • In the event of a power outage, call 1-888-LIGHTKC(1-888-544-4852) to report the outage. And, keep the following in mind:
    • Never touch or attempt to pick up a fallen power line. Assume any downed power line is energized. If you see a downed power line, call KCP&L immediately at 1-888-LIGHTKC (1-888-544-4852).
    • During an outage do not open your refrigerator or freezer more than necessary. Undisturbed food will remain frozen in most freezers for up to 48 hours.
    • If using a portable generator during an outage, follow the manufacturer’s safety and operating guidelines. Operate the generator in a well-ventilated area; never indoors or your garage. Dangerous carbon monoxide fumes can build up and cause serious injury or death.
    • If you have access to the internet, visit the KCP&L Storm Center at www.kcpl.com/stormcenter for storm information and additional safety tips.

PETA's hypocrisy

PETA can use attractive women and sensationalism all they want in their ads. But if PETA were serious about wanting to end animal cruelty, then let them support dog breeders who are actually following the rules and who are actually doing something about the problem by selling pets to good homes.

NFPA offers reminders for keeping fire-safe during winter

Half of all U.S. home heating fires occur in December, January and February. That’s according to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Home Fires Involving Heating Equipment report, which shows that heating equipment is a leading cause of winter fires. In fact, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 66,100 reported home structure fires in 2008, causing 480 civilian deaths, 1,660 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.
NFPA and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) are working together to remind everyone that home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season. For more information about the organizations’ joint safety campaign, “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires,” and a complete list of winter safety tips, visit http://www.nfpa.org/winter.
“Winter fires are highly preventable,” says Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of communications. “Every tragic news story about a devastating winter fire is a reminder that simple precautions can prevent deadly consequences.”
Audio available: USFA Acting Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines and NFPA's Sharon Gamache explain how to stay safe when it is cold outside. Winter Safety Podcasts (Episode 6: Winter Storms)

Space heaters resulted in far more fires and fire fatalities than central heating devices. Between 2004 and 2008, fixed (stationary) and portable space heaters (excluding fireplaces, chimneys, and chimney connectors, but including wood stoves) annually accounted for, on average, one-third of reported U.S. home heating fires and four out of five associated civilian deaths.
Meanwhile, an estimated 15,200 reported creosote fires – 23 percent of all home heating fires – annually resulted in an average of four civilian deaths, 17 civilian injuries, and $33 million in direct property damage. Creosote is a sticky, oily, combustible substance created when wood does not burn completely. It rises into the chimney as a liquid and deposits on the chimney wall.
One in four heating equipment fires started due to a failure to clean equipment. Other causes include placing a heat source too close to combustibles, and unclassified mechanical failures or malfunctions. Roughly half of all home heating fire deaths resulted from fires started by heating equipment that was too close to something that could burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, or a mattress or bedding.
In addition to heating fires being a concern in the coming months, NFPA would like to remind the public that cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires all year round. This time of year, whether you are feasting on Super Bowl Sunday or simply cooking to warm up on a bitter cold day, it is important to stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires.

Governor Declares State of Emergency, Mobilizes National Guard

Gov. Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency in Missouri and activated the Missouri National Guard in preparation for a severe winter storm that is moving into the region. The Governor and state emergency officials began monitoring the storm over the weekend, when the Governor ordered that emergency generators be deployed to staging locations across the state.

Earlier this afternoon, Gov. Nixon signed Executive Order 11-03 to declare a state of emergency in Missouri. The executive order activates the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, which allows state agencies to assist local jurisdictions with their emergency preparation and response. The Governor also signed Executive Order 11-04, which activates the Missouri National Guard in response to the storm. Under the Governor’s orders, Citizen-Soldiers from the Guard will be deployed to support local emergency agencies.

“Most of Missouri is expected to be affected by this severe winter storm, which is predicted to cause treacherous road conditions and possibly widespread power outages,” Gov. Nixon said. “My chief concern is the safety of Missourians, and these orders make state agency resources and the Citizen-Soldiers of the Missouri National Guard available to help communities respond. As state emergency officials continued to track the storm over the weekend, we worked closely with local agencies and faith and community groups to ensure that Missouri is as prepared as possible.”

Before signing these orders, Gov. Nixon received an updated briefing from his emergency management team, including senior officials from the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri National Guard, Missouri State Highway Patrol and State Emergency Management Agency to assess the current weather situation and review the latest forecasts.

Under Gov. Nixon’s orders, the State Emergency Operations Center is now operating 24 hours a day. Liaison officers from the National Guard will begin working with county and local officials to determine where the Guard’s help is needed.

National Weather Service forecasts call for significant ice in some areas, widespread heavy snowfall of a foot or more, and sustained winds. These extreme conditions create a strong possibility of power outages. The Governor also cautions Missourians who see downed power lines to report them immediately to their electric utility; to stay away from the downed lines; and to warn others to do so as well.

The forecast also calls for temperatures to drop into the single digits or below in parts of Missouri later in the week. Gov. Nixon encourages Missourians to take steps to protect themselves and their families, including:

· Listen to radio, television, or NOAA Weather Radio for weather reports and emergency information, or visit the state’s Web site – MO.gov – for comprehensive emergency information.

· If you must drive, check MO.gov for road conditions before departing. Dial the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s emergency line – *55 from a cellular phone – if you encounter an accident while driving.

· Check on the elderly and neighbors who may be in need of additional assistance. For information about emergency services and resources, visit MO.gov.

Missourians who need disaster information, shelter information, and referrals are urged to call 211. The 211 service is now available for most areas of Missouri. In areas where the 211 service is not operational, citizens may call 800-427-4626.

In addition to the National Guard, state agencies that can be activated for duty under the order include: Missouri Department of Public Safety, State Emergency Management Agency, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Division of Fire Safety, Department of Agriculture, Department of Conservation, Department of Corrections, Department of Health and Senior Services, Department of Mental Health, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Social Services, Department of Transportation and the Office of Administration.

Non-government and volunteer working with the State Emergency Operations Center include the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, AmeriCorps, and the Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Service Partnership for Disaster Recovery.

Northeast Nodaway Boys Edge North Andrew Again

Northeast Nodaway's boys faced North Andrew for the second time in four days and this time needed overtime to beat them, winning 58-57 after a frantic finish. The Bluejays had spoiled North Andrew's Courtwarming celebration four days earlier. Northeast won at the free throw line, making 23 free throws to 13 for North Andrew.

Northeast took a 7-4 lead early as Colby Wiederholt found Kevin Stoll on the right wing for a 3-pointer, Aaron Patton scored from the left side, and Bryce Farnan got a putback. North Andrew was struggling from the free throw line and Cody Edwards, who had carried them in the first game, missed a pair of runners early. Edwards got going to tie it up at 11 with 1:35 left, but Farnan hit some free throws and tipped an offensive board to Aaron Patton to put Northeast up 16-14 after one quarter of play.

The Cardinals turned to a freshman, Kolby Davison, to take the lead as he scored seven points in just over three minutes of play including a 3-pointer. Chris Roush added a 3-pointer from the left wing as North Andrew went back in front 24-18. But Northeast was able to work the offensive glass well as Colby Wiederholt and Bryce Farnan both had putbacks in the period as they were able to chip away and cut the lead to 29-27 at the break.

Edwards warmed up in the third quarter as he got seven points in the period as he tried to take over the game. But Northeast never let the game get out of hand, trailing by no more than five points. Edwards got a putback, a backdoor layup, a drive, and a free throw for North Andrew. Northeast was able to get some steals as Colby Wiederholt, Dalton Welch, and Bryce Farnan all converted. Colby picked up his fourth foul with 55.3 seconds left but Bryce Farnan's free throws kept the game at 44-42 going into the fourth.

Neither side could get any offense going and the only score for the first 4:10 was Colby Wiederholt's free throw that made it 44-43. Drew Beggs scored off a drive but Aaron Patton answered with a pair of free throws to keep it at one. Patton's layup attempt that would have put Northeast up one was blocked out of bounds by Nate Adkins, but Adkins stepped out of bounds with 2:38 left to give Northeast the ball back. But Northeast could not capitalize and Edwards got a drive and fadeaway shot to make it 48-45 with two minutes left. Kevin Stoll got an offensive glass and made two free throws to make it 48-47. Chris Roush made one out of two from the line, but Bryce Farnan stepped through three defenders to draw a foul and tie the game up at 49 with 59.3 seconds left.

Both teams had chances to win in regulation. Aaron Patton knocked the ball off North Andrew, but then missed a 3-pointer. Kolby Davison tried to drive and make something happen with 25.8 seconds left, but double dribbled to turn it back over to Northeast. Northeast ran down the clock but turned it over; however, Edwards missed an off-balance 3-pointer and the game stayed tied.

Northeast went ahead at the start of overtime for their first lead since early in the second quarter as Bryce Farnan split the defense once again to put them up, but Edwards' free throws tied it back up at 51. Farnan hit from the right side and Colby Wiederholt hit a free throw following a block from Farnan to make it 54-51, but North Andrew got free throws from Quayde Barmann to make it a one point game with 1:48 left. Nate Atkins got a steal and missed a five-footer, but Edwards was there for the offensive board and Kevin Stoll fouled out trying to guard him and Edwards hit both free throws with 1:26 left to put North Andrew back up by one. But North Andrew did not have an answer for Farnan's step-thru move as he stepped through two defenders once again to put Northeast up 56-55 with 1:08 left. The normally reliable Edwards lost a ball out of bounds and then Aaron Patton hit two free throws to make it 58-55 with 30 seconds left.

With North Andrew trying to set up a game-tying 3-pointer, Tyler Schmitz fouled diving after a pass and Chris Roush hit both free throws to make it 58-57 with 8.6 seconds left. North Andrew went to a full court press to try and get the ball back and Bryce Farnan overthrew one of his players trying to break the press, but North Andrew could not get the ball back up the floor in time to get a shot off.


John Kadlec retires

Missouri Tiger football games are not going to sound the same next year. He was all about MU Tiger Football and you could tell it in his broadcasts.

Online Resources for Winter Weather

MU Extension has compiled a list of websites, extension publications, news releases and other online resources for coping before, during and after winter storms.
MU Extension news releases
-MU Extension Community Emergency Management Program (CEMP) http://extension.missouri.edu/cemp
-MU Extension winter weather publications http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/seasons/winter.aspx
Publications include:
MU Extension –MissouriFamilies - Coping with Disaster feature articles http://missourifamilies.org/features/copingarticles/
Other resources

Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) resources http://eden.lsu.edu/Topics/Hazards/SnowIce/
University of Illinois Extension Winter Storm Resource Center: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/winter/
North Dakota State University Extension Service: Winter Storm Information http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/disaster/winterstorm.html
University of Minnesota Extension: Ice dams on roofs http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK1068.html
National Weather Service: Winter Weather Safety and Awareness http://www.weather.gov/os/winter/

Statement from the Worth County Emergency Management Agency regarding the winter storm

Have just finished with a conference webinar with the National Weather Forecast and the substance of that information follows:

They are using terms such as “Historic” “Extreme”, etc. for this storm. As always, the path may change. They do not expect to do another conference call. They have provided two web-sites that will be updated about every 6 hrs. or so. They are as follows:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/briefing and

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=dss main

More freezing rain today with a lull this afternoon before the snow begins. The amount of snow for us looks to be 7.3” here and to the SE part of our county 10.3”. They expect it to begin with wet/heavy snow, going then to light fluffy snow. It will begin this evening and progress throughout tomorrow & tomorrow night. They recommend that people be where they want to be by tomorrow afternoon late because they may have to stay there for some time. They expect blizzard conditions with 30-40mph winds beginning Tuesday afternoon and a possible power outage because of the winds. Wind chills by Thursday will be -25 degrees below zero. They expect the wind to decrease to 15 to 20 mph late Wednesday morning.

If we need to establish shelters, we will open the school and the WCCC is available. My home phone number is (660)564-3514 and my cell is (660)582-0315.

Winter power outages can lead to generator concerns

Severe winter weather can bring widespread power outages, which means many Missouri families might be firing up their generators. University of Missouri Extension emergency management specialist Eric Evans urges people to use common sense when using a generator.
Gasoline-powered generators can help restore some power to homes, but if used incorrectly the generators can be deadly. Carbon monoxide (CO) can kill people in minutes. Don't use portable generators in the garage or in areas that are partially enclosed, even if the doors and windows are open, Evans warns.
"That's a very dangerous thing to do,” he said. “So you need to put the generators outside and run your extension cords into the house to run whatever device you're going to be running off that electricity. But it should be outside, away from your house three to five feet so that any of those fumes or gases are not finding their way back into your home.”
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced whenever fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned. The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu and include dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea and irregular breathing. Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can cause death.
"Anything that gives off gases, like anything that you would light that requires combustion - like a grill or a charcoal grill or a hibachi - a lot of people think that they can warm their house," Evans said. "They're warm temporarily, but then they end up hurting themselves because of the gas coming off of that combustible fuel."
Evans added that most generators are designed to run items like space heaters or appliances that are normally plugged into a wall socket. Small generators will not power an entire house. If a person has a generator, they need to know how to use it properly when the electricity goes out. Have items ready to be plugged into it, such as a space heater, to keep you warm.
A "must have" list includes a supply of canned or other nonperishable food and drinkable water. A good rule of thumb for water is a gallon per day. It is recommended to have enough supplies for three to five days.
"If you decide not to have a plan in place, you're going to totally rely on the government structure around you, and if there isn't a close government structure around you, you're in trouble. So you're basically putting yourself at risk, emotionally and physically, by not being prepared," Evans said.
For more information on how to prepare for the next storm and to do it safely, visit the MU Extension website, www.extension.missouri.edu

Ice dams on the roof can damage your home

Unwanted icicles hanging from the roof are a warning sign of ice dams, which can inflict considerable interior and exterior damage to your home.
According to Bob Schultheis, University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist, nonuniform roof temperatures cause ice dams.
“In the winter, when warm air inside the house leaks into the unheated attic, it creates warm areas on the roof,” Schultheis said.
Melting snow on the roof moves down the roof slope until it reaches the cold overhang, where it refreezes. As the process continues, ice builds up along the eaves and forms a dam.
“Eventually this dam forces the water to back up under the shingles and sometimes into the ceiling or wall inside the home,” he said.
This can lead to dislodged roof shingles, sagging gutters, damaged insulation and water stains on interior ceilings and walls. Water from ice dams may also cause structural framing members to decay, metal fasteners to corrode, and mold and mildew to form in attics and on walls.
Schultheis says the best way to prevent ice dams is to control heat loss from your home.
“In the short-term, remove snow from the roof using a roof rake or push broom, but take care not to damage the roofing materials. Doing this work on or below the roof can be very dangerous, and it’s a job best left to the professionals,” Schultheis said.
Another short-term solution is to stop water from flowing into the structure. Schultheis recommends making channels through the ice dam by using a hose with warm tap water. Work up from the lower edge of the dam. The channel will become ineffective within days.
For the long-term, Schultheis says it is a good idea to increase the ceiling and roof insulation in your home to R-38 to cut down on heat loss. Make sure the ceiling is airtight so warm air cannot flow from the house into the attic space. Do this by plugging gaps around plumbing vents, wiring, recessed lights and chimneys.
“Keep the attic cold by providing at least two square feet of attic vent for each 150 square feet of attic area,” he said. “Where the roof rafters meet the walls at the eaves, provide a one-inch clearance between the roof sheathing and the ceiling insulation to allow ventilation.”

MU expert recommends precautions to avoid frozen pipes

Temperatures hovering near zero could mean problems with frozen water lines. Homeowners should take precautions to prevent pipes from freezing and know to how to thaw frozen pipes safely, according to University of Missouri Extension experts.
“With temperatures staying well below freezing, even people who have never had a pipe freeze could have problems,” said David Hedrick, director of the MU Extension’s Fire and Rescue Training Institute. “Any pipes that run along an outside wall may be at additional risk.”
Water lines in outbuildings without a heat source also could experience freezing, he said.
Hedrick suggests adding extra insulation to prevent the pipes from freezing. If that’s not feasible, there are several measures homeowners can take to prevent problems, he said.
Opening cabinet doors below sinks will allow heat to get in the pipes. A heat source such as a shielded light bulb placed near water pipes also can be effective. Hedrick cautioned that the light bulb should not come in contact with combustibles, which could ignite a fire.
One method Hedrick warns against is allowing water to run from the faucet.
“That could create problems with water pressure and storage water in public water systems, which could affect the available water for firefighting purposes,” he said.
If water pipes do freeze, Ronn Phillips, MU associate professor of architectural studies, cautions homeowners to proceed cautiously.
“The object is to thaw the pipe at the same rate that it froze, so it doesn’t damage the pipes,” Phillips said. “Nothing damages a pipe faster than dislodging the joints on a soldered connection. The joints are the weakest point.”
Phillips said the first step is to relieve the pressure in the line by turning on the faucet.
Next, apply heat to the frozen section of the pipe. “Something as simple as a light bulb will work,” he said. Hedrick said a blow-dryer works equally well.
The heat source should thaw the pipe slowly, Phillips said. “Blowtorches or kerosene and propane heaters heat up too quickly and could cause the pipe to break.
Hedrick noted that any kind of direct flame increases the risk of setting surrounding materials on fire.
Phillips urges homeowners to be especially careful with plastic pipes, which have a lower melting point than copper pipes. He added that plastic pipe will become brittle and rigid at low temperatures.
“Plastic is renowned for busting before copper,” he said.

Tips for safe snow shoveling

Before you grab that snow shovel to clear your sidewalk or driveway, stop to go over some safety tips, said a University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineering specialist.
“Snow shoveling is not the exercise to use to start getting in shape,” said Bob Schultheis. “Exercise experts say shoveling heavy snow requires as much energy as running nine miles per hour.”
If you are over 45, sedentary, smoke, have high blood pressure, are overweight or have a heart condition, play it safe and get someone else to do the shoveling, he said.
Pay close attention to the cold temperature and how tired you become. Don’t work to the point of exhaustion. Take breaks indoors to warm up.
Stay hydrated. You sweat more than you think while shoveling snow. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after shoveling to replenish fluids lost in the process.
Lightweight aluminum shovels work best and surface conditioners such as Teflon, silicon or wax can be used to prevent snow buildup on the shovel surface. Take your time. A typical snow shovel holds lots of snow. Partially fill the shovel rather than heaping it full to reduce strain on muscles and joints.
Bend legs slightly at the knee, letting thigh muscles do most of the pushing and lifting work. This will also reduce strain on the heart and back, he said.
Clothes should be well-fitting and worn in layers, which can be removed as the body becomes warm. Overheating puts strain on the heart. Wearing a scarf over the nose and mouth helps reduce breathing cold air, which also makes the heart work harder.
More information on how to prepare and keep safe in winter weather can be found online at http://extension.missouri.edu/cemp.

Elderly at special risk during frigid weather

Frigid weather across the Midwest puts the elderly at special risk, said a University of Missouri Extension safety specialist.
“Elderly in poorly heated homes or those of low income may unknowingly keep temperatures in a dangerous range in attempts to lower their heating bills.” said Karen Funkenbusch.
As many as 25,000 older adults die each year from hypothermia, according to the National Institute of Aging. Room temperatures as mild as 60 degrees can trigger hypothermia.
Elderly people living alone should arrange for a daily check-in from a friend, neighbor or family member, Funkenbusch said. Room temperature should be checked daily with a reliable thermometer separate from the thermostat, especially during very cold weather.
Dressing in several layers of loose, warm clothing creates air pockets that help retain body heat. Wearing a hat and scarf reduces heat loss through the head and neck.
Victims of hypothermia may become confused or disoriented. Other symptoms may include slow or irregular speech, shallow or very slow breathing, slow pulse and cold, pale skin. Victims may seem unaware of colder conditions.
Call an ambulance if you believe someone may be a victim of hypothermia.
Insulate the victim with blankets, towels, pillows or even newspapers. Hot baths, electric blankets and hot water bottles can be dangerous because direct heat may force cold blood toward the heart, lungs and brain.

Federal Judge rules Obamacare unconstitutional

The judge ruled that the individual mandate portion of the bill requiring Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution because the government cannot regulate commerce across state lines.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/133357-virginia-ruling-expected-to-set-stage-for-supreme-court-battle

Invisibility cloaks closer to working

Invisibility cloaks are closer to working. If these ever come to reality, it would change everything about what we do. For instance, you couldn't walk into Jim's Friendly and buy everyone a beer and badmouth your boss -- the boss might be cloaked and sitting in a dark corner listening to every word.

Volunteers Wanted for Weather Monitoring

Pennsylvania has Punxsutawney Phil, but without a weather-predicting groundhog of our own, Missourians make do with a network of volunteer monitors.
A community-based network of volunteers across the state collects weather information to help forecasters issue alerts throughout Missouri.
The Missouri CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network) taps into people power to add to a database of weather information.
“You can never have too much precipitation monitoring, so we try to recruit volunteers to collect that data,” said Pat Guinan, a University of Missouri Extension climatologist with the Commercial Agriculture Program. “Here in Missouri we all know the large differences you can see in rainfall or snowfall over very short distances, from the sub-county level to the sub-neighborhood level.”
Guinan is the CoCoRaHS state co-coordinator with Anthony Lupo, chairman of the MU Department of Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences.
CoCoRaHS began in 1998 at Colorado State University after a Fort Collins flood spurred more interest in collecting data. Since then all 50 states have joined. In Missouri, about 300 regular observers report out of all 114 counties.
To ensure uniform measurements, participants need a specific type of rain gauge, which costs about $30. They also need Internet access to submit reports.
The data is used in various ways, often fleshing out National Weather Service reports and warnings.
“If you receive 2-3 inches of rain within a few hours, you’ll likely receive flash flooding. An observer can submit a significant weather report at any time to the NWS, which may use these reports to issue flash flood warnings,” Guinan said. “CoCoRaHS reports are also used by the river forecast centers, and the more information and ground-truth reporting you can get in a watershed, the better those models will perform.”
Guinan practices what he preaches, diligently checking his rain gauge at his home in Columbia, Mo.
Since most people love to talk about the weather, why not put that information to good use?
“You can never have too many participants, so those interested can go to the website and read more about it and, perhaps, join,” Guinan said.
Learn more at www.cocorahs.org.

Brad Lager's Capitol Report for February 2nd, 2011

Holding the Line on Taxes

Within the last year, we have witnessed numerous states across the nation give up on the fundamental principle that government must live within its means. Instead of making the difficult decisions to balance their budgets, elected officials took more money out of the pockets of the hard working families in those states. In recent weeks before, members of the Illinois Legislature voted to dramatically increase both the personal and the corporate income taxes. Their governor quickly signed the measure into law, thereby leaving hardworking taxpayers with less money to balance their family budgets and business owners with fewer resources to hire employees and/or invest in the growth of their businesses.

Although many states are considering similar job killing tax increases, the reality is that this course of action will not fix the long term problems. In fact, this approach does nothing more than kick the can down the road as it fails to resolve fundamental spending problems while hindering the dollars available to grow their economy. What these tax and spend politicians fail to understand is the importance tax policy plays in a state’s economic plan and how ill-advised changes can cause dramatic effects to a state’s overall fiscal health and stability.

The Missouri State Senate has chosen a different approach to repairing our financial foundation. Rather than burdening taxpayers with greater financial strains, we are focusing our efforts on creating new opportunities for economic growth while simultaneously cutting the cost of state government. Now more than ever, it is time to formulate a comprehensive plan that empowers the private sector to fuel our economic growth. As our private sector succeeds and prospers, our state government will have the resources necessary to fund vital services.

The economic conditions in our nation and our state have changed, and the only way for us to enjoy long term prosperity is to have a government that is leaner and more efficient. Raising taxes to fix mistakes of the past has never worked, and I believe Missouri’s hard-working citizens deserve better. The decisions we make in the coming months will formulate our future, therefore, we must make the difficult decisions necessary to ensure our state government lives within its means without taking more from Missouri’s taxpayers.

As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. The Capitol number is (573) 751-1415, my email is brad.lager@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 422, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Northwest rallies to beat #9 Washburn 71-63

Northwest Missouri State rallied to beat #9 Washburn and take over sole possession of first place in the MIAA with their 71-63 win over the Ichabods. Washburn is known for making one huge run that can sink the other team's fortunes. They made not one, but two huge runs at Northwest only to be turned back by strong defense. The Bearcats held Washburn to 34.8% shooting and only 10 trips to the line while winning the turnover battle 17-12 and getting five different players at 9 points or better.

The first part of the game started off well for Northwest. Kyla Roehrig opened the scoring with a putback followed by a pass from Abby Henry to Gentry Dietz inside to make it 4-0 less that one minute into the game. Washburn would tie it up at 4, but then Abby Henry got two more assists just four minutes into the game as she found Gabby Curtis and Shelly Martin open for 3-pointers and Northwest was up 10-4.

But the fast start turned nightmarish for Northwest as Washburn started running up and down the floor at will on Northwest, threatening to turn the game into a layup drill for them. Stevi Schultz, who did all she could for Washburn in getting 26 points, had seven points and Cassie Lomardino got four more during a 16-0 run that made it a 20-10 game at the 10:39 mark.

Northwest went to a 1-3-1 zone to take away the driving lanes for Washburn with some success as Abby Henry found Gabby Curtis inside and added a bucket and a pair of free throws of her own. Shelly Martin added a 3-point play off a Tara Roach steal as Northwest fought their way back to within 25-19 despite struggling to get a defensive board during that stretch. But then Dana Elliott hit a 3-pointer in transition and Laura Kinderknecht added a drive to give Washburn its biggest lead of the night at 30-19.

Northwest chipped away at the lead, getting a high-low from Abby Henry and Abby added a pullup from the high post. But it was a blown officiating call that really fired up Northwest's players. Tara Roach was playing defense in Washburn's backcourt during a ball scramble and the Washburn player carried the ball -- seen by everyone in the gym but the official, who instead called a foul on Tara Roach instead. But in a case of poetic justice, not only did Washburn miss the two ensuing free throws, Roach got the defensive board and hit two free throws on the other end to make it a five point game. All of a sudden, it looked like it might be Northwest's night despite the fact that they were still down five at 30-25. Abby Henry continued to carry the team, getting a pair of free throws off a drive and then lobbing it into Kyla Roehrig for her sixth assist of the half before Kinderknecht's 3-pointer made it 33-29 at the break.

To get over the hump, Northwest had to keep Washburn off the boards; they were killing them on the boards in the first half. They needed to do a better job of drawing contact as they only had seven trips to the line. And they needed to get Gabby Curtis and Kyla Roehrig scoring; they only had five and four points respectively. They succeeded in all three areas.

Gentry Dietz, who had been battling foul trouble for Northwest, shot the Bearcats into the lead as Abby Henry found her open in the high post. She then converted a steal into a free throw. Stevi Schultz went coast to coast for a 3-point play to put Washburn back up 4, but Tara Roach hit from the top of the key, Shelly Martin found Dietz open on the left wing, and Dietz scored from inside. Abby Henry then scored off a steal; Dietz picked up her fourth foul but then Gabby Curtis swiped the ball from the post and got it to Abby Henry, who scored to make it 42-36 with 15:30 left.

But aided by another blown call by the official, who called Tara Roach for a three shot foul even though she got all ball, Washburn went back in front 43-42 with 13:32 left. Kyla Roehrig kicked out to Ashley Thayer for a 3-pointer and Abby Henry got a drive and the ball rolled in and she converted the 3-point play to make it 48-45. But Washburn got their second big run of the night with Dietz on the bench with foul trouble as Raychel Boling got going for Washburn to put them up 52-48.

With Dietz on the bench with four fouls, Northwest had to find a way to get points without her and they did as Abby Henry kicked it out to Curtis for a 3-pointer to stop the run with 9:30 left and make it 52-51. Curtis then scored off a drive to tie it at 53 and then threw a long outlet to Shelly Martin following a stop. Martin, more known for her shooting than her driving ability, went to the rack and converted the 3-point play to put Northwest back in front 56-55 with 7:02 left.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Schultz kept Washburn in it, but Abby Henry hit a pair of free throws with 4:58 left to put Northwest in front for good at 63-61. For the next two possessions, neither team could get anything going but Kyla Roehrig blocked a shot to give Abby Henry a good look in transition. Abby missed the ensuing layup but Roehrig, running the floor as well as she had all year, was there to clean up. Roehrig added another putback and a free throw to put Northwest up 68-61 with 2:20 left and Megan Lassley missed a deep 3-pointer for Washburn that went out of bounds. The officials went into a long huddle and gave the ball back to Northwest. Northwest ran down the clock and had trouble getting a shot off. But Abby Henry got the ball to Gabby Curtis, who dribbled backwards with a defender chasing her. With the shot clock winding down and a hand in her face, Curtis nailed the 3-pointer for the dagger and Washburn threw in the towel after missing a couple of 3-point attempts.

Bluejay boys need six overtimes to beat King City 100-93

Northeast Nodaway's boys needed six overtimes to beat King City 100-93 to take third place in the King City Tournament. The Bluejays survived a 3-point buzzer beater from behind the halfcourt line, another 3-pointer that was heavily contested at another overtime buzzer, and the loss of Bryce Farnan to foul trouble after his play had brought Northeast back into the game. But Northeast's boys grew up in a major way against King City -- against Stanberry, they folded in the absence of Farnan. But against King City, they found a way to win despite the loss of Farnan late in regulation.

Early on, it looked like King City would run away with it as Dalton Workman was stealing the ball away at will as King City built up a 9-4 lead in the first quarter. They were beating Northeast up and down the floor until Northeast got putbacks from Bryce Farnan and Colby Wiederholt to make it 11-10 before Justin Derks got a putback at the buzzer to put King City up 13-10 after one.

Workman continued to score at will for King City in the second quarter, getting a shot from the left side, a driving layup, and a pair of free throws. Northeast countered with a putback from Farnan, a driving layup from Wiederholt after Farnan had gotten a strip, and a 3-pointer from Aaron Patton that made it 21-18 with three minutes left in the second quarter. But then Workman scored off a steal with 2:48 left which led to a 10-2 King City run that seemingly put them in control at 31-20 at the break after Workman hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Workman hit another 3-pointer for King City to start the second quarter to make it 34-20. Farnan continued to hit for Northeast; he had an inside shot that led to a 3-point play and then took it in against three defenders to cut it to 34-25. But Workman continued to hit for King City, getting a 3-pointer with a hand in his face to make it 40-25. It was the kind of insane 3-point shooting that dominated the day; King City would have 10 3-pointers for the night. Farnan did all he could for Northeast in the third quarter; he got nine of Northeast's 12 points in the quarter and took a charge as well as Northeast cut King City's 15 point lead down to 44-32 after three quarters of play.

Northeast used a 25-point fourth quarter to erase their deficit and tie it up at 57. Colby Wiederholt drove down the left side and converted a 3-point play and then Farnan hit a pair of free throws to make it 44-37 with 6:16 left and all of a sudden, Northeast had cut King City's lead in half. Northeast panicked a couple of times on offense and made a pair of turnovers as Ethan McMillen's 3-pointer put King City back in front by 12 at 49-37. But then Farnan got a putback and then drew Workman's fourth foul and hit both free throws and then Colby Wiederholt drove down the left side and connected with the left hand to make it 49-43 with 4:17 left, still plenty of time.

John Spiking hit from the high post for King City but Kevin Stoll hit from the right side and then cleaned up after a Farnan miss to make it 51-48 with 3:06 left. King City hit a couple of free throws to make it 53-48, but then Farnan cleaned up after a Wiederholt miss to make it 53-50. Farnan then picked up his fifth foul on a phantom call -- the official was not anywhere near in position to make the call and there was an official right on top of the play who didn't blow the whistle. But Northeast got a stop and then Colby drove right down the left side of the lane and converted it into a 3-point play to tie it at 53 with 1:44 left. Ethan McMillen hit from the corner with 1:30 left and Kevin Stoll missed from the right side but Justin Derks missed two free throws and Workman lost the ensuing ball out of bounds. Colby Wiederholt drove down the left side and hit one out of two free throws and McMillen hit two free throws to make it 57-54 with 44.4 seconds left. But Aaron Patton responded with a game-tying 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to tie it again and Workman missed a long 3-pointer that would have won it in regulation.

After a ragged start to the first overtime, Northeast seemingly took control as Tyler Schmitz, who had a career night the game before, played the game of his life in the six extra periods before fouling out. He took a charge right off the bat on Workman, drawing his fifth foul in the process, which took away King City's best scorer. Kevin Stoll got Tyler the ball on the left wing and he connected to put Northeast up; Colby Wiederholt drove down the middle of the lane to make it 61-57 with 1:06 left in the first extra period. Aaron Patton hit two free throws to put Northeast up 63-58 with 41.9 seconds left, but with a chance to put things away and make it a three possession game, Keaton Ebersold got a steal and drive to make it 63-60 with 24.8 seconds left. Tyler Schmitz had a layup chance but missed wildly and Northeast fouled on the ensuing rebound and Justin Derks hit two free throws to make it 63-62 with 15.2 seconds left. Colby Wiederholt drove it up the floor and it got knocked out of bounds with 8.6 seconds left. Kevin Stoll hit one out of two free throws and Caleb Eiberger missed a runner over three defenders that would have tied it and Aaron Patton made one out of two to make it 65-62 with 1.3 seconds left. But then Ethan McMillen hit a 3-pointer from behind the halfcourt line on the left side of the court at the buzzer to knot it at 65 and send it into another overtime. With Workman out of the game, it was McMillen who carried his team throughout the rest of the extra periods until he fouled out.

Neither team could take control in the second overtime. John Spiking hit a shot from the left wing to put his team up one, but then Dalton Welch drove against two and made one out of two to tie it up. Kevin Stoll got a block and Tyler Schmitz got the ensuing board and Northeast missed, but Aaron Patton stripped the ball after the rebound and turned it into a free throw to put Northeast up 68-67 with 2:29 left. Tyler Schmitz then knocked a ball loose and Kevin Stoll hit from the left side to make it 70-67, but then Ethan McMillen hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:45 left to tie it again. Caleb Eiberger jumped a pass and converted it to free throws to make it 72-70 King City with 1:31 left. Colby drove down the left side of the floor and made one out of two to make it 72-71 with 1:18 left. King City tried to run down the clock and Northeast elected to play for the turnover and got the ball back with 53 seconds left as King City threw it away. Tyler Schmitz hit from the left wing to make it 73-72 with 40 seconds left, but McMillen made one out of two free throws to tie it again with 31.9 seconds left. Kevin Stoll had a good look from his favorite spot on the right baseline at the buzzer but missed and the game went into the third overtime.

After that, Northeast began to show signs of fatigue, missing badly on their first two shots as McMillen grabbed his own miss to put his team up 75-73 with 3:10 left. But Colby drove straight down the left wing to tie it at 75 again with 2:47 left. Tanner Law hit a free throw with 1:56 left, but Kevin Stoll hit a 3-pointer and was knocked down by Caleb Eiberger on the play and hit both free throws to put Northeast up 79-76. But McMillen answered with yet another 3-pointer to tie it up. After that, Northeast had several chances to go ahead but Dalton Welch missed a runner, Tyler Schmitz missed a pair of free throws, and Aaron Patton missed from the high post in the last minute. King City had the ball with a chance to win it at the end of the third overtime and they got it to Ethan McMillen for a final shot. Ethan lost control of the ball and it rolled to near the center court line, but he scooped it up and heaved it up over his head from just across the halfcourt line and the shot nearly went in at the buzzer to give King City an improbable win, bouncing off the front of the rim. It was that kind of a night all over the area.

Northeast set out to take control as a posted Colby Wiederholt drew Ilya Stagner's fifth foul and hit both free throws to make it 81-79. Following a stop, Tyler Schmitz missed from the left wing following a long possession with 2:04 left, but the ball went out of bounds off King City and Kevin Stoll made one out of two free throws to make it 82-79. Tyler Schmitz got a diving steal on defense and Dalton Welch drew Tanner Law's fifth foul. He missed the free throws, but McMillen missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it with 1:37 left and Colby Wiederholt made it a two possession game with 1:24 left at 83-79. King City missed two 3-pointers that would have brought it to within one and Aaron Patton hit two free throws with 24.3 seconds left that made it 85-79. But once again King City's insane 3-point shooting brought them back as Ethan McMillen hit one from the left wing to make it 85-82. McMillen picked up his fifth foul with 8.6 seconds left which meant that in most normal games, Colby Wiederholt's two missed free throws would not have mattered. But this time Drew Potter hit a heavily guarded 3-pointer at the buzzer to send it into a fifth overtime with nothing decided yet.

Neither side could penetrate the other team's defense for the first two minutes of the fifth period until Spensyr Downing hit a free throw with 1:57 left for King City as the Wildkats were going way down the bench with most of their starters fouled out. But with 1:11 left Colby Wiederholt went down the left side and finally got a reverse layup to go down after having missed on it for much of the year to make it 87-86. Garrett Stegman slipped inside to put King City up 88-87 but Kevin Stoll hit the first of two free throws to tie it up at 88 with 30 seconds left. Colby Wiederholt got the board, but got called for a charge and King City had a chance to win it. But Downing's off-balance shot from the high post at the buzzer was in and out and the teams went into the sixth overtime tied at 88.

Finally, Aaron Patton, who had a career high 23 points for the game, took over the sixth overtime for the win. Tyler Schmitz connected from the right side for Northeast with 3:31 left but John Spiking, the lone King City starter left, slipped inside to tie it back up. Colby Wiederholt drove down the right side and got another reverse layup to fall and The General got a steal and drive to make it 94-90 with 2:28 left. John Spiking slipped in and made one out of two and Dalton Welch traveled with the ball to give King City the ball back with a chance to tie and possibly send it into a seventh overtime. But The General was not letting that happen as he got a steal and drive and then blocked a shot on the other end and got the defensive board, getting one out of two free throws to make it 97-91 with 1:30 left. Spiking hit two free throws for King City to make it 97-93 with 53.5 seconds left, but Kevin Stoll hit one out of two free throws with 40 seconds left and Matthew DeJoode's high post shot missed. Stoll finally sealed it with 10 seconds left with a pair of free throws and Northeast hit the century mark.

Bryce Farnan matched a career high with 28 points before fouling out. Colby Wiederholt had 26 while The General had 20 and Kevin Stoll had 19. Tyler Schmitz had a career high with six.