St. Francis Xavier School is now enrolling for the 2025-26 school year. St. Xavier has been an integral part of the Junction City community since 1871 and has provided those in Geary County and the surrounding areas an opportunity to give families another viable option to grow students not only academically but spiritually. Our parish school is developing a plan for the future to provide PreK-12 Catholic education to students today and for years to come.

We invite all families, regardless of church affiliation, to join our positive family environment where all can grow in body, mind, and spirit. Serving Pre-K through 12th grade students, St. Xavier provides a quality, faith-based education. With small class sizes, personalized instruction, and a welcoming community, St. Xavier nurtures academic, spiritual, and personal growth. Plus, full-day preschool, extracurricular activities, and scholarships make St. Xavier the perfect choice for your family. Come and experience the difference that a Catholic education can provide at our open house event on March 31st from 5-7 pm. For more information on our open house or enrollment, call the school office at 785-238-2841, email Principal Shawn Augustine at principal@saintxrams.org, or visit us at saintxrams.org.

Enrollment is Now Open at St. Francis Xavier School - Open house Monday, March 31

There will be a community forum hosted by Junction City Main Street next Monday from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the C.L.Hoover Opera House. Events Coordinator and Community Outreach Specialist Makena Krause said David Rendall will serve as the keynote speaker on the topic titled "Pink Goldfish."

Krause said that he will discuss entrepreneur empowerment. "and just the spirit of being an entrepreneur and having your uniqueness set you aside in terms of your business plan and taking that as an advantage."

This is free and open to the public. It will be a business empowerment event.

Main Street will host a community forum

Geary County CVB Marketing specialist Rick Dykstra has been directed to make a presentation on a proposed multi-use sports complex topic to a joint meeting of the county and city commissions plus USD 475 school board representatives on May 19.

The direction came from the Geary County Commission. Dykstra reported that he met with the Junction City Manager Kim Zimmerman on the subject and they are interested.

A ne complex could possibly include pickleball facilities plus baseball and softball diamonds and green space for potential soccer fields.

Sports complex topic inches forward

Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce will host their annual golf scramble on May 2 at Rolling Meadows Golf Course. Check-in at 11:30 with a shotgun star at 12:30. The cost is $100 per person or $400 per team.

Register at jcacc.org/golf scramble or call 785-762-5525.

Ladies, interested in refining your golf skills (or learning the basics) before the Golf Scramble can join every Wednesday in April for LADIES ON THE LINKS, ﻿an evening of golf and networking.

<a target="_blank" href="https://75o48wjab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012IQ6TP86AnGBFE_8YgSJsf0fclZsi3kLpH2pHndJNJJiHt3c82H_Is2VgoBFc55EdGKWIBNZebFez3W7TfbA9vq1LYAznQ9KGv80c8UBzv_j3tl2nGd-YtcdMLF6Fgx3fFr-fxQOMerg_WcHNVBxQxf38LZjLqm6gubcCO2RIrjz0C8faJcFdA==&amp;c=GHDy0RmkxvYwWH8R_CBZUxpryLFBBj6BdjR7dsS-sgPoS0wlQk91xQ==&amp;ch=oBmRKxMsLLevBSpIxVYfUyQ2kri0wG6IUiYkpWnuINLyw3YnNV72Cw==">The first class is on April 2nd so register now!</a>

Chamber will host a golf tournament

Geary County 4-H members participated in Regional 4-H Club Day activities in Clay Center last Saturday. They competed with other 4-H members from Central Kansas District, River Valley District, Chisholm Trail District, and Marshall County. 

Junior Demonstration or Illustrated Talk, Elena Svoboda, Lyon Creek 4-H Club – Top Purple, Kinley McCallum, Humboldt 4-H Club – Red

Senior Demonstration or Illustrated Talk, Eliot Oentrich, Humboldt 4-H Club – Blue, Grady Oentrich, Humboldt 4-H Club&nbsp;

Blue Public Speaking, Brittney Dibben, Humboldt 4-H Club – Top Purple, Kourtney Dibben, Humboldt 4-H Club – 2nd Alternate Purple

Project Talk, Grason Fielder, Blue Line 4-H Club – Blue, Corabel Hock, Blue Line 4-H Club – Blue

Junior Solo Acting, Corabel Hock, Blue Line 4-H Club - Blue

Junior Reading, William Snider, Blue Line 4-H Club – Blue

Senior Reading, Charles Strauss, Lyon Creek 4-H Club – Blue

4-H Regional Club Day Held

Cloud County Community College Geary County campus says that they will host their annual art show Thursday, April 3 from 5-8 p.m. in Rooms C1 and C2.

The art is produced by students, faculty, staff and alumni. There will be voting for best artists and a performance by the Junction City Community Choir at 7 p.m.

You can view works of art

The Junction City Police Department Community Involvement Unit says they are accepting applications for the Law Enforcement Summer Camp June 9th thru 13th. They are limited to only being able to accept 25 kids. The camp is open to students going into the grades of 7th, 8th and 9th. The application deadline is May 9th. 

Applications can be picked up from the Junction City Middle School, the Junction City High School or at the Junction City Police Department. Completed applications can be given to the School Resource Officer at the Junction City Middle School, Junction City High School, mailed, emailed or hand delivered to the Junction City Police Department, 210 E. 9th Street. 

Applications received after May 9th will not be considered. Any questions contact School Resource Officer Eddie Torres at edgar.torres@jcks.com or Sgt. Eliel Borges at eliel.borges@jcks.com or by simply calling the Junction City Police Department at 785-762-5912.&nbsp;

Sign up for Law Enforcement Summer Camp

Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson urged districts to cancel breaks or extend the school year to make up for snow days. He is also proposing half-day summer school for young students who are struggling in reading and math.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/people/suzanne-perez">Suzanne Perez</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/">KMUW&nbsp;</a>

WICHITA, Kansas —&nbsp;Kansas students are spending fewer days in school than they did decades ago, and the state’s top education leader wants that to change.

Education Commissioner Randy Watson is urging districts to cancel breaks or extend the school year to make up for days that were canceled because of inclement weather.

Most districts lost about eight days of school this winter because of snow or bitterly cold conditions.

Watson recently told the Kansas State Board of education that districts should also consider half-day summer school in June and July, at least for kindergarten through third grade students who are below grade level in reading or math.

He said the boost is needed to make up for learning losses that began before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Recovery is incrementally very slow,” Watson said. “While I think we should start thinking about our schedule for next year, I’m thinking, ‘How do we even jumpstart the learning … right now?’”

Kansas law requires public schools to have a minimum of 186 days, or at least 1,116 total hours each academic year. Over the past decade, most districts have opted to have longer but fewer school days — adding minutes to the daily schedule but shortening the school year.

In 2008, the average school year in Kansas was 174 days. This year, it’s 166. Some districts — particularly those with four-day weeks — have school only 141 days a year.

No district meets the minimum daily requirement of 186 days. The longest academic calendar is 183.4 days.

Watson said districts have added about 21 minutes to the school day, which equates to three minutes per class period in most high schools.

“Go ask a music teacher: ‘Would you rather have three minutes, or would you rather go to school eight more days?’” Watson said. “A music teacher’s going to say, ‘I want the eight days.’”

State law allows the Kansas State Board of Education to waive the minimum requirement for districts because of inclement weather or other factors.

But Watson discouraged board members from granting waivers, saying districts could make up the time by canceling scheduled breaks or adding days to the calendar.

“The state board will look at that at the end of the year when we see if you’ve exhausted all your avenues,” Watson said. “And right now, you have a lot of time left that you could … make up that time.”

Watson also urged half-day summer school for some young students. He proposed classes from 9 a.m. to noon Monday to Thursday through June and July, with extended weekends for Memorial Day and July Fourth.

He said that schedule would amount to at least 48 hours of additional learning time.

“If we could get 90% of the kids 48 to 49 hours of instruction, what progress we could make in a short period of time,” Watson said.

He said districts could use special education or state at-risk funds to help pay for summer classes.

The proposal stops short of year-round schooling — an idea some educators and lawmakers have floated in the past that is unpopular with most Kansas districts and families.

Two years ago, Republican Rep. Bill Rhiley&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li_2024/b2023_24/measures/hb2224/#:~:text=Short%20Title,districts%20for%20each%20school%20year." target="_blank">introduced a bill</a>&nbsp;that would have mandated a minimum of 195 eight-hour school days or 156 10-hour days, but it never made it out of committee.

Advocates of year-round school say frequent, shorter breaks are better for students because they mitigate learning loss that can happen over long summer vacations. Opponents say year-round schedules cost more and leave less time for extracurricular activities like summer-league sports.

Watson said he’s not opposed to year-round school. But a half-day summer school plan for students who need it most would be an incremental improvement that could have huge benefits, he said.

“Engaging parents in that conversation is going to be easier for them to agree to than changing the entire schedule that we’ve run for 100 years,” Watson said.

Several Kansas districts spent a portion of their federal COVID-19 funding to pay for expanded summer school programs. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-06-21/the-pandemic-left-kids-in-kansas-needing-summer-school-more-than-ever-yet-less-willing-to-enroll" target="_blank">only a small fraction of students attended</a>.

Wichita, the state’s largest school district, sent about 21,500 invitations to its summer programs for students in kindergarten through eighth grade in 2021. Despite incentives such as free breakfast, lunch and transportation, only 4,600 — about one in five — enrolled.

Watson said Kansas needs a social and cultural shift toward academics the way many districts and families emphasize sports and other activities.

“If you have a high school kid who’s involved (in sports or band), it’s hard to take a vacation because they’re required to be there for weight training or for marching,” he said. “We need that intensity around academics.”

Kansas education commissioner: Kids need more time in school

PRATT&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) will host three public meetings in March to gather feedback on the night vision coyote hunting season. These open forum meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to share their thoughts with KDWP staff, which KDWP will use to assess season dates.

• March 10 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. El Dorado State Park Shooting Facility2980 NE Shady Creek Access Rd, El Dorado, KS 67042 • March 24 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sportsman’s Acres3922 Highway K-244 Spur, Junction City, KS 66441 • March 25 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. Brief Space219 W 10th St, Hays, KS 67601

“Coyotes are classified as a nongame species in Kansas,” says Dr. Jon Beckmann, assistant director of the wildlife division at KDWP, “but they are regulated and managed like a furbearer species. They range throughout Kansas in both rural and urban landscapes, and approximately 30,000 people hunt coyotes each year.”

The night vision coyote hunting season, introduced in 2021, runs annually from Jan. 1 through March 31. During this season, hunters may use artificial light, night vision, and thermal-imaging equipment to hunt coyotes with a $2.50 Night Vision Equipment Permit and the appropriate hunting license. In addition to the night vision season, Kansas maintains a year-round coyote hunting and furharvesting season with no limit on the number of coyotes that can be taken.

“We have not proposed any changes to the coyote night vision season,” explained KDWP Acting Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “We have heard from many members of the public with varying opinions and scheduled these meetings to ensure we are listening and considering the views of all Kansans.”

The night vision coyote season will also be discussed at upcoming&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.com%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2FUpcoming-Archived-Meeting-Information%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=coyote/1/010101954d2cf974-d334ca0b-1ab8-4de9-b106-794deb8d52a5-000000/VecV7guMnV3P_hjoLOeOBpdIAsTzmw9lMGlhn4n6SCI=394">Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission meetings</a>, including the next meeting on&nbsp;March 27 at the Topeka &amp; Shawnee County Library. Members of the public are welcome to attend and voice their opinions during the meeting’s two public comment sessions.

Those unable to attend a meeting can provide input by filling out the “Contact All Commissioners” form at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.com%2Fcommission%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=coyote/1/010101954d2cf974-d334ca0b-1ab8-4de9-b106-794deb8d52a5-000000/Gm4c12ltNH3_u1BR-gm4OvVxo6gM5Eao7alfmt2zr2U=394">ksoutdoors.com/commission</a>.

For more information on coyote hunting in Kansas, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.com%2FHunting%2FCoyote%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=coyote/1/010101954d2cf974-d334ca0b-1ab8-4de9-b106-794deb8d52a5-000000/rdW-EVjSWi_96GKL1XROQ9XkbEZy-pKS6QvnI9bk2gc=394">ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Coyote</a>.

Night vision coyote hunting season meeting to be held in Junction City

The Kansas Department of Transportation is alerting the public to a scam involving fraudulent text messages, known as smishing, that falsely claim to be from KDOT and demand payment for unpaid tolls.

Do not click on the link. It is not a KDOT website. Clicking the link in the text can expose victims to financial fraud, allowing scammers access to bank accounts and personal data.

KDOT does not collect tolls for road usage and does not send unsolicited text messages. The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA), a separate state agency responsible for turnpike toll collection, also has been targeted in similar scams.

Those who receive a fraudulent message can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.ic3.gov%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01010195b97fbc6e-007634f0-3c36-45f9-98ad-77a5ea300480-000000/5o4SEottsuIb7HoTtMtmyt6wHNRxnU--GtXW7wLOKRQ=397">www.ic3.gov</a>. This site is dedicated to sharing information on internet crimes across law enforcement agencies.

KDOT warns of smishing scam

Geaty County Emergency Management&nbsp; said that warm and breezy conditions are the trend today into the weekend with highs in the 60s and 70s. Gusty winds and low relative humidity lead to very high fire danger for each of the next three days as well. Far eastern Kansas may see a few thunderstorms late Saturday night into early Sunday morning. Otherwise, dry weather is expected.

High fire danger exists

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kansas State forward Temira Poindexter missed her first six shots against Kentucky in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament. She finished by hitting eight 3-pointers, and the last one sent the visiting Wildcats to the Sweet 16.

Poindexter made a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MarchMadnessWBB/status/1903901655135088762">corner 3 with 56 seconds</a>&nbsp;left in overtime, and Kansas State's defense did the rest to preserve an 80-79 victory Sunday on Kentucky's home court.

“In those moments, I do get down on myself,” Poindexter said. “My teammates come in and have my back and tell me to keep shooting so it really lifts me up and gives me confidence.”

Fifth-seeded Kansas State (28-7) dodged four misses by No. 4 seed Kentucky (23-8) in the closing seconds to advance to face either JuJu Watkins and top-seeded Southern California or No. 9 seed Mississippi State in a regional semifinal in Spokane, Washington.

Kentucky star Georgia Amoore missed a jumper with 21 seconds left, a 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining and then a baseline layup at the buzzer. Amelia Haslett also missed a 3 that would have put Kentucky ahead at Rupp Arena.

“As soon as I caught it, I realized how open I was and it’s up to fate at that point,” Amoore said about her final attempt.

Poindexter finished 8 of 15 beyond the arc to score 24 points.

“Give her credit. She knocked down some very tough shots and we had a couple of situations where we had miscommunication and she got free,” Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks said.

Serena Sundell added 19 points and 14 assists for Kansas State, and her turnaround jumper with 8 seconds left forced overtime. Ayoka Lee scored 16.

Clara Strack led Kentucky with 22 points. Amoore scored 18 points on 7-of-23 shooting.

Amoore hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Kentucky a 69-67 lead with 32 seconds left in regulation. After Sundell's basket, Kentucky's Dazia Lawrence could not get a clean look before time expired.

There were 21 lead changes, seven in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“You go the last ten minutes of the game and there were just huge shots by both teams and different players,” Kansas State coach Jeff Mittie said. “I’m really proud of our group to to be down five and to need to really dig deep defensively and make plays, but also very little margin for the other end.”

Kansas State: Sundell had 11 points in the first quarter to steady the visiting Wildcats after Kentucky jumped out to an early 7-0 lead. She also became the school's career assist leader.

Kentucky: The host Wildcats built small leads but could never extend their advantage to double digits.

Teonni Key rebounded her own missed jumper to make a layup that gave Kentucky a 66-61 lead with 2:11 to play. Kansas State responded with 3-pointers by Jaelyn Glenn and then Poindexter in a 40-second span. Key finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds.

Kentucky came in averaging seven blocks per game, but it was Kansas State denying shots with 13 blocks, including two on 3-point attempts in the second quarter. Those fueled a 12-3 run that propelled Kansas State to a 33-31 halftime lead.

Kansas State will have to wait until late Monday night to learn its regional semifinal opponent. Kentucky will have to replace Amoore, a second-team All-American, and Lawrence, a key contributor and another transfer.

🏀 K-State women headed to Sweet 16 after OT win over Kentucky

NEW YORK (AP) —George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. He was 76.

Foreman's family&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHe5UtIJ4IQ/" target="_blank">announced his death on social media</a>.

“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose," his family wrote.

A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt in one of the greatest fights ever staged.

Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening.

He then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history in 1994, flooring Michael Moorer — 19 years his junior — with one perfect combination to claim Moorer's two heavyweight belts.

Foreman's transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.

He was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, a rudimentary cooking machine which sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did.

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Jonas Aidoo scored 22 points to help 10th-seeded Arkansas to a 79-72 opening-round&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a>&nbsp;victory over No. 7 seed Kansas on Thursday night in the latest meeting between two of college basketball’s winningest coaches.

Johnell Davis added 18 points, including some crucial late free throws, to help John Calipari to his first tournament victory as Razorbacks coach. Freshman standout Boogie Fland played for the first time since having right thumb surgery in January and scored six points in 24 minutes.

Arkansas will get either No. 2 seed St. John’s or No. 15 Omaha in the second round of the West Region on Saturday.

Zeke Mayo had 18 points for Kansas (21-13), which has made 35 straight NCAA Tournaments and hadn't lost in the first round since 2006. AJ Storr&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1902876748573790487">finished</a>&nbsp;with 15 points and Hunter Dickinson added 11 points and nine rebounds.

Thursday’s matchup was the third March Madness meeting between two of the four active win leaders in men’s college basketball. Calipari is second (876), with Bill Self of Kansas fourth (831) on the list. Both previous meetings were in the national championship game, with each winning once.

Kansas erased what was an 11-point, second-half deficit and nudged ahead 65-64 on a follow shot by Storr with less than six minutes remaining.

The Jayhawks kept the lead until Aidoo connected on a pair of free throws to put the Razorbacks back in front. Arkansas got a stop on the other end and then got a 3-pointer by Davis that gave it a 71-67 cushion with less than two minutes on the clock.

Arkansas’ edge was down to 71-69 before Davis dropped in a pair of free throws. Dickinson missed a 3 on Kansas’ next trip and Arkansas added two more free throws.

The Jayhawks got it back down to 75-72 on a 3-pointer by Rylan Griffen with 13 seconds left. The Razorbacks called back-to-back timeouts trying to get the ball inbounds. They finally did and Davis calmly sank two free throws to help close it out.

Arkansas: Posted its first tournament victory since reaching the Sweet 16 in 2023 under former coach Eric Musselman.

Kansas: Kansas fell to 47-6 record in first-round games all-time.

The Razorbacks could now face the active coach with the most wins – St. John’s Rick Pitino (884) – in Saturday’s second round. The pair were longtime rivals when Calipari was Kentucky and Pitino coached at Louisville.

🏀 Arkansas holds off Kansas to post win in matchup of marquee coaches

(AP) — Auburn is the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, with Duke, Houston and Florida joining the Tigers on the No. 1 line in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">March Madness brackets</a>&nbsp;released Sunday.

The NCAA selection committee favored the regular-season champs of the record-setting Southeastern Conference despite three losses in their last four games, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/auburn-duke-basketball-score-14ea6fd696d93d62d6edc4b47073d608">a loss to Duke</a>&nbsp;back in December.

The Tigers (28-5) and Gators were two of the 14 SEC teams to make the field, which are the most for a conference in the history of the tournament.&nbsp;

It’s Florida, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-florida-score-49478f25c45a901113aef95e22911f58">captured the SEC tournament</a>&nbsp;by winning three games with an average margin of 15 points, that opens as a slight favorite to win it all at the Final Four in San Antonio on April 5 and 7, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

In something of a surprise, both North Carolina and Texas slid in off the bubble, while Indiana, West Virginia and Boise State did not.

The 68-team bracket starts whittling down on Tuesday with preliminary games, and the main draw kicks off on Thursday and Friday, with 32 games at eight sites around the country.

A tribute, then a bracket with plenty to talk about

The selection show began with a heartfelt tribute to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/greg-gumbel-died-ace2925dbb23282079fb2dba06efe9bb">the late Greg Gumbel,</a>&nbsp;the CBS stalwart who oversaw the bracket unveiling for decades.

Then, just as Gumbel would have preferred, it was about the basketball – and this time there was plenty to talk about.&nbsp;

North Carolina looked all but out, a victim of a 1-12 record against so-called Quad 1 opponents and part of a conference (ACC) teetering on the verge of a historically bad season. But the Tar Heels made it, thanks maybe to a strong nonconference slate, while Texas was also in — its seven wins against Quad 1 teams outweighing its overall 15 losses.

The SEC’s 14 teams were followed by the Big Ten with eight and Big 12 with seven. The ACC, meanwhile, ended up with four teams, barely avoiding its worst showing since 2000, back when the conference was half the size it is now.&nbsp;

Even in a down cycle, the ACC has Duke, and Duke has arguably the best player in the country in freshman Cooper Flagg, a 19-point, 7.5-rebound-a-game freshman whose ankle injury, the school says, will not keep him out of March Madness.

Bracket gives Pitino and St. John’s a long and interesting road&nbsp;

Elsewhere in the bracket, coach Rick Pitino leads his unprecedented sixth program into the tournament, and what a road he would have to take to get to the Final Four.

First, he will travel to Providence, the same building where the coach led the Friars to a surprise Final Four trip back in 1987, to lead St. John’s in a first-round game against Omaha. Pitino’s second game could come against Arkansas and John Calipari in what would be a titanic matchup between two of the game’s biggest coaching names.&nbsp;

Another coaching icon, Tom Izzo, leads Michigan State to its 27th straight tournament. The Spartans are seeded second and will face America East champion Bryant in its opener.&nbsp;

And Gonzaga is in for the 26th time, though extending its streak of making the second weekend to 10 years will be tough. The Bulldogs, after an “off” year in which they still won the West Coast Conference, are seeded eighth and could face Houston in the second round.

AP March Madness bracket:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket">https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket</a>and coverage:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness</a>

🏀 March Madness brackets have Auburn as the overall No. 1 followed by Duke, Houston, Florida

**
(Home games at Rathert Field are in Bold)

The
Brigade now play in the Jayhawk Collegiate League

May
30 (7:00 p.m.) - Wichita Wildcats

June
2 (7:00 p.m.) - Kingman Islanders

June
12 (7:00 p.m.) - Great Bend Bat Cats

June
14 (DH 5/7 p.m.) - Haysville Aviators

June
17 (7:00 p.m.) - Newton Rebels

June
20 (7:00 p.m.) - Hutchinson Monarchs

June 25 (7:00 p.m.) - Wichita Wildcats

June
28 (7:00 p.m.) - Kingman Islanders

July
5 (7:00 p.m.) - Kansas Cannons

July
7 (7:00 p.m.) - Great Bend Bat Cats

July
12 (7:00 p.m.) - Newton Rebels

July
15 (7:00 p.m.) - Hutchinson Monarchs


July 19 – Jayhawk Collegiate League All Star Game (In Hutchinson)


July 24-Aug. 2 – NBC World Series in Wichita

Junction City Brigade 2025 Season Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Henri Veesaar and KJ Lewis scored 19 points apiece and Arizona pulled away late to beat Kansas 88-77 in a Big 12 Conference Tournament quarterfinal at T-Mobile Center on Thursday night.

Veesaar came off the bench to sink 7 of 11 shots with two 3-pointers for the third-seeded Wildcats (21-11), who move on to play second-seeded and ninth-ranked Texas Tech in a Friday semifinal. No. 1 seed Houston plays No. 4 seed BYU in the other semifinal.

Veesaar scored 10, leading Arizona to a 45-37 advantage at halftime. Dajuan Harris Jr.'s 3-pointer gave No. 6 seed Kansas (21-12) its only lead of the half at 3-2. The Wildcats twice built 12-point leads. KJ Adams made two free throws to get the Jayhawks within 40-37, but Veesaar answered with a 3-pointer and Arizona stayed in front.

Arizona played with a lead until Zeke Mayo hit back-to-back 3-pointers for Kansas to knot the score at 50 with 15:43 remaining. Harris hit a 3-pointer to give the Jayhawks their second lead at 56-54. Rylan Griffen hit a jumper with 8:44 left to put Kansas up for the last time at 63-61. Trey Townsend followed with a dunk and a three-point play and Arizona maintained a lead over the final 7:48.

Towsend had 16 points and Love scored 11 with six assists.

Mayo scored 20 to lead Kansas. Hunter Dickinson totaled 19 points and 12 rebounds. Harris hit four 3-pointers and scored 16.

The Jayhawks wore their blue jerseys in the tournament for the first time since the 2008 title game against the Texas Longhorns. They were the higher seed and wore white in their previous 36 straight games. Kansas — the two seed in '08 — beat the top-seeded Longhorns 84-74.

🏀 Arizona tops Kansas in a Big 12 Conference Tournament quarterfinal

WASHINGTON (AP) — John Feinstein, one of the country's foremost sports writers and the author of numerous bestselling books, including the groundbreaking “A Season on the Brink” about college basketball coach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-knight-death-indiana-army-college-basketball-c29a7cb601f64e9181564037e8c78758">Bob Knight</a>, died unexpectedly Thursday. Feinstein was 69.

He died of natural causes at his brother's home in McLean, Virginia, according to Robert Feinstein, who said he discovered John's body.

John Feinstein was a full-time reporter for The Washington Post from 1977 to 1991, a commentator for outlets such as ESPN and the Golf Channel and a voter for more than 20 years in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">AP Top 25</a>&nbsp;men's college basketball poll. He remained with the Post as a contributing columnist, and he also hosted satellite radio programs on SiriusXM.

“He was very passionate about things,” Robert Feinstein said in a telephone interview. “People either loved him or hated him — and equally strongly.”

John Feinstein — always a storyteller, whether via the written word or when chatting with other journalists in an arena's media room or press box — was working until the time of his death. He was in Washington this week to cover the Atlantic 10 Tournament, and he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/03/13/tom-izzo-michigan-state/">filed a column for the Post</a>&nbsp;about Michigan State coach Tom Izzo that appeared online Thursday.

Feinstein was comfortable writing about an array of sports, including golf and tennis, but he was known most for his connection to college basketball because of “A Season on the Brink.” He took a leave of absence from the Post in 1985 to embed with Knight's Indiana team, and the book highlighted the author's flair for the dramatic and ability to capture his subjects' personalities.

Knight's reputation for having a hot temper was well-established by then, and Feinstein brought it to life. Feinstein also effectively portrayed the personal relationships Knight had with his players, which alternated between warm and abusive.

Feinstein went on to write more than 40 books, including “A Good Walk Spoiled” (1995), about professional golf, and “A Civil War” (1996), about the Army-Navy football game. After that book's publication, he worked for many years as a radio commentator for Navy football.

“The Ancient Eight,” about Ivy League football, was published last year. Feinstein also wrote sports novels aimed at younger readers.

In addition to Robert, John Feinstein is survived by his wife, Christine, daughters Brigid and Jayne, and son Danny, as well as a sister, Margaret.

John Feinstein, bestselling author and one of country's foremost sports writers, dies

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson had 23 points and 13 rebounds, Zeke Mayo poured in 24 points, and sixth-seeded Kansas rallied to force overtime before holding off No. 14 seed UCF 98-94 on Wednesday night in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.

AJ Storr scored a season-high 19 points before fouling out in the closing seconds of OT, and KJ Adams had 15 points and seven boards for the Jayhawks (21-11), who narrowly avoided dropping their conference tourney opener for a second straight year.

Instead, they will face third-seeded Arizona on Thursday night in a rematch of a game Kansas won last weekend.

Jordan Ivy-Curry pulled UCF to within 94-93 when he converted a three-point play with 18.2 seconds to go, and Mayo missed the second of two foul shots at the other end. But UCF big man Moustapha Thiam came up short on a jumper with a chance to tie the game, Kansas got the rebound and Dickinson made the second of two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining.

The Knights' Deebo Coleman was quickly fouled. He made the first foul shot with 0.9 seconds left to make it 96-94, but when he tried to intentionally miss the second to give his team a chance, Coleman failed to hit the rim and the Jayhawks got possession.

David Coit was fouled and added two more free throws for the final margin.

Keyshawn Hall led UCF (17-16) with 25 points. Darius Johnson had 22 before fouling out with a minute to go in regulation.

The Jayhawks blew a 13-point second-half lead, then had to rally once UCF pulled ahead with 7 minutes to go. The teams traded buckets down the stretch, and Ivy-Curry's 3-pointer tied the game 83-all with 14.1 seconds left in regulation.

Kansas tried to set up a winning play, but Adams stepped on the baseline on his drive, giving the Knights a shot. Ivy-Curry raced up the floor and got a decent look from the wing, but his 3-pointer came up well short as time expired.

UCF came a long way from January, when it lost 99-48 to the Jayhawks at home. It had won four of its past six games.

Kansas has gone with a shortened lineup late in the season and it seems to be paying off for the Jayhawks.

Thiam's miss from about 6 feet along the baseline with a few seconds left in overtime would have tied the game.

Three players fouled out of the game. Kansas guard Dajuan Harris also finished with five fouls.

The Jayhawks play Arizona on Thursday night. They beat the Wildcats 83-76 last Saturday.

🏀 KU holds off UCF in OT to reach Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — VJ Edgecombe had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Norchad Omier added 12 points and 14 boards, and seventh-seeded Baylor rolled to a 70-56 victory over No. 10 seed Kansas State in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday night.

Jayden Dunn also scored 18 points for the Bears (19-13), who built a 20-point lead early in the second half and then cruised into a quarterfinal matchup with ninth-ranked and No. 2 seed Texas Tech on Thursday night.

David N'Guessan had 20 points and Dug McDaniel finished with 14 for the Wildcats (16-17), who edged Arizona State in the first round but were unable to keep the momentum going against the same team that rallied from 12 down to beat them in January.

The Bears ended the first half Wednesday night on a 9-0 run to take a 41-24 lead into the locker room. Kansas State was just 1 for 12 from beyond the 3-point arc at that point, and veteran forward Coleman Hawkins — who scored 26 points against the Sun Devils — was 0 for 4 from the field and quickly growing frustrated.

Kansas State closed within 58-46 with 8 minutes to go, but Hawkins was whistled for a flagrant foul contesting Edgecombe's dunk, and Jeremy Roach added a basket after his foul shots to help Baylor pull away again.

Kansas State finished 3 of 25 from beyond the arc. Hawkins and McDaniel were each 1 for 6.

Baylor improved to 15-2 when holding an opponent to 70 points or less this season.

Baylor was leading 32-24 with 2:40 left in the first half when it scored the next nine points to take control.

Baylor got 27 points from its bench. Kansas State only got four.

The Bears will play the Red Raiders on Thursday night. Texas Tech beat them 73-59 last month.

🏀 Edgecombe leads  Baylor to victory over K-State in Big 12 Tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Coleman Hawkins had a season-best 26 points, David N'Guessan converted a crucial three-point play in the final minute, and No. 10 seed Kansas State beat No. 15 seed Arizona State 71-66 in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Tuesday night.

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