Junction City Blue Jay boys swimmers competed at the Campus High Invitational in Wichita Thursday night.

--200yd Medley Relay: 1st&nbsp;place and qualified for 6A State (Noah Lamb, Truman Fortner, Creytin Sanner, and Ivan Velarde)

--100yd Butterfly: 1st&nbsp;place and 6A State Qualifier (Noah Lamb)

--200yd freestyle relay: 2nd&nbsp;place and qualified for 6A State (Lamb, Fortner, Sanner, Velarde)

---100yd breaststroke: 1st&nbsp;place and 6A State qualifier (Creytin Sanner)

Creytin Sanner is a 4 year state qualifier.

By Aaron CraigJCHS Assistant Swimming CoachJunction City Blue Jay boys swimmers competed at the Campus High Invitational in Wichita Thursday night.Highlights included:--200yd Medley Relay: 1st&nbsp;place and qualified for 6A State (Noah Lamb, Truman Fortner, Creytin Sanner, and Ivan Velarde)--100yd Butterfly: 1st&nbsp;place and 6A State Qualifier (Noah Lamb)--200yd freestyle relay: 2nd&nbsp;place and qualified for 6A State (Lamb, Fortner, Sanner, Velarde)---100yd breaststroke: 1st&nbsp;place and 6A State qualifier (Creytin Sanner)Creytin Sanner is a 4 year state qualifier.

Blue Jays turn in a strong swimming performance

The Junction City Lady Jays were defeated by the Olathe East Hawks 60-41 on Thursday night in a make-up game at Junction City High School.&nbsp;

Despite their best first quarter of the season, and leading for most of the opening quarter, the Lady Jays were unable to knock off Olathe East. Turnovers once again haunted the Lady Jays as they turned the ball over nearly 30 times.&nbsp;

Seniors Amyah O'Neal led the way with 18 points, and fellow senior Sara Rexrode added 12 points. The two seniors combined for 30 of the teams 41 total points.&nbsp;

With the loss, the Lady Jays drop to 1-11 on the season. Their next action is Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Topeka Hayden in another make-up game.&nbsp;

The Junction City Blue Jays have a knack for playing in close games this season. The Blue Jays defeated the Emporia Spartans 46-41 in another thrilling game.&nbsp;Junction City led for most of the game, and even held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. 

The Blue Jays were once again led in scoring by junior Larking Turner, who finished with a game high 13 points. Junior Jackson Austin, normally a sharp shooter, only had one three point make tonight, but hit six straight free throws to extend the lead for Junction City and help secure the victory. Ja'Twaan Williams added eight points for the Blue Jays, and both Lovell Autry and Tre Ruffin both scored seven points.&nbsp;

With the victory, the Blue Jays improve to 11-2 on the season, their best start under head coach Nick Perez. Junction City will now host the defending 6A state champion Blue Valley Northwest on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Blue Jay Event Center.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostGirls RecapThe Junction City Lady Jays were defeated by the Olathe East Hawks 60-41 on Thursday night in a make-up game at Junction City High School.&nbsp;Despite their best first quarter of the season, and leading for most of the opening quarter, the Lady Jays were unable to knock off Olathe East. Turnovers once again haunted the Lady Jays as they turned the ball over nearly 30 times.&nbsp;Seniors Amyah O'Neal led the way with 18 points, and fellow senior Sara Rexrode added 12 points. The two seniors combined for 30 of the teams 41 total points.&nbsp;With the loss, the Lady Jays drop to 1-11 on the season. Their next action is Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Topeka Hayden in another make-up game.&nbsp;Boys recapThe Junction City Blue Jays have a knack for playing in close games this season. The Blue Jays defeated the Emporia Spartans 46-41 in another thrilling game.&nbsp;Junction City led for most of the game, and even held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Blue Jays were once again led in scoring by junior Larking Turner, who finished with a game high 13 points. Junior Jackson Austin, normally a sharp shooter, only had one three point make tonight, but hit six straight free throws to extend the lead for Junction City and help secure the victory. Ja'Twaan Williams added eight points for the Blue Jays, and both Lovell Autry and Tre Ruffin both scored seven points.&nbsp;With the victory, the Blue Jays improve to 11-2 on the season, their best start under head coach Nick Perez. Junction City will now host the defending 6A state champion Blue Valley Northwest on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Blue Jay Event Center.&nbsp;

Lady Jays fall to Olathe East, Blue Jays defeat Emporia in make-up games

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Milan Momcilovic scored 19 points as No. 23 Iowa State survived a heated game against Kansas State 78-67 on Wednesday night.

Keshon Gilbert added 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Cyclones (15-4, 4-2 Big 12), who improved to 12-0 at home this season. Curtis Jones scored 18 points.

Arthur Kaluma led Kansas State (14-5, 4-2) with 16 points, as the Wildcats slipped from the top of the conference standings.

“Every game is going to be intense,” Jones said. “We've been preparing for that since June.”

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and Kansas State coach Jerome Tang appeared to have a heated exchange during the second half and a prolonged discussion during the postgame handshake line.

“Nothing happened,” Tang said. “We talked about a situation that took place during the game. He (Otzelberger) said he would check into it. I told him thank you and went on.”

Kansas State erased a 14-point, second-half lead by the Cyclones, tying the score on five different occasions. But the Wildcats never went ahead.

“It's so important that you don't relinquish that lead,” Otzelberger said. “Your confidence (grows) as you're out in front or they don't get over that hump.”

Deadlocked at 61, Hason Ward put Iowa State back on top for good with a dunk at the 4:09 mark. A 3-pointer from Jones made it 66-61 with 2:47 remaining.

“That basket gave us a lot of confidence,” Otzelberger said. “The crowd exploded, and we had some margin at that point. So, it was really big.”

Tang was given a technical foul with two minutes remaining, after protesting a foul call.

Momcilovic converted three free throws following the technical and followed with a 3-pointer that pushed Iowa State's lead to 72-62.

“I wasn't trying to get a tech,” Tang said. “I didn't say anything. I just thought it was a bad call and waved my arm. With the intensity of that game and that moment, I would think that we would all be given a little grace.”

Kansas State was sluggish, committing turnovers on each of its first three possessions and missing four of its first five shots. The Wildcats shot just one of eight from 3-point range in the first half.

Play was choppy as the teams were called for a combined 47 fouls and missed a combined 20 free throws.

“It was tough, because of a lot of free throws, a lot of fouls, a lot of stoppage, fans yelling or whatever,” Momcilovic said. “It was tough to really get into a groove.”

Momcilovic hit three of six shots from behind the 3-point arc and made 6 of 8 free throws.

Iowa State, which had won nine of its previous 11 games, benefited from the return of leading scorer Tamin Lipsey, who missed a game with a shoulder injury. Lipsey was averaging 14.5 points per game. He finished with eight points on 2-for-10 shooting Wednesday.

Kansas State was not among the seven Big 12 teams ranked this week, despite being tied atop the conference standings.

Kansas State visits No. 4 Houston on Saturday.

Iowa State hosts No. 7 Kansas on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706181018323.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>AMES, Iowa (AP) — Milan Momcilovic scored 19 points as No. 23 Iowa State survived a heated game against Kansas State 78-67 on Wednesday night.Keshon Gilbert added 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Cyclones (15-4, 4-2 Big 12), who improved to 12-0 at home this season. Curtis Jones scored 18 points.Arthur Kaluma led Kansas State (14-5, 4-2) with 16 points, as the Wildcats slipped from the top of the conference standings.“Every game is going to be intense,” Jones said. “We've been preparing for that since June.”Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger and Kansas State coach Jerome Tang appeared to have a heated exchange during the second half and a prolonged discussion during the postgame handshake line.“Nothing happened,” Tang said. “We talked about a situation that took place during the game. He (Otzelberger) said he would check into it. I told him thank you and went on.”Otzelberger also declined to elaborate.Kansas State erased a 14-point, second-half lead by the Cyclones, tying the score on five different occasions. But the Wildcats never went ahead.“It's so important that you don't relinquish that lead,” Otzelberger said. “Your confidence (grows) as you're out in front or they don't get over that hump.”Deadlocked at 61, Hason Ward put Iowa State back on top for good with a dunk at the 4:09 mark. A 3-pointer from Jones made it 66-61 with 2:47 remaining.“That basket gave us a lot of confidence,” Otzelberger said. “The crowd exploded, and we had some margin at that point. So, it was really big.”Tang was given a technical foul with two minutes remaining, after protesting a foul call.Momcilovic converted three free throws following the technical and followed with a 3-pointer that pushed Iowa State's lead to 72-62.“I wasn't trying to get a tech,” Tang said. “I didn't say anything. I just thought it was a bad call and waved my arm. With the intensity of that game and that moment, I would think that we would all be given a little grace.”Kansas State was sluggish, committing turnovers on each of its first three possessions and missing four of its first five shots. The Wildcats shot just one of eight from 3-point range in the first half.Play was choppy as the teams were called for a combined 47 fouls and missed a combined 20 free throws.“It was tough, because of a lot of free throws, a lot of fouls, a lot of stoppage, fans yelling or whatever,” Momcilovic said. “It was tough to really get into a groove.”Momcilovic hit three of six shots from behind the 3-point arc and made 6 of 8 free throws.BIG PICTUREIowa State, which had won nine of its previous 11 games, benefited from the return of leading scorer Tamin Lipsey, who missed a game with a shoulder injury. Lipsey was averaging 14.5 points per game. He finished with eight points on 2-for-10 shooting Wednesday.Kansas State was not among the seven Big 12 teams ranked this week, despite being tied atop the conference standings.UP NEXTKansas State visits No. 4 Houston on Saturday.Iowa State hosts No. 7 Kansas on Saturday.

Momcilovic leads Iowa State over Kansas State 

The Junction City Blue Jays basketball team defeated the Hayden Wildcats by a final score of 70 - 45 on Wednesday night at Hayden High School in Topeka.&nbsp; The Blue Jays had 3 players score in double digits, Larkin Turner with 16 points, junior Jackson Austin with 15 points, and senior Stewart Mitchell with 12 points.&nbsp; Junction City lead from start to finish, and their largest lead was 32 points.

It'll be a quick turn-around for Junction City as the Blue Jays host the Emporia Spartans Thursday night at Junction City High School.&nbsp; The Lady Jays will also be in action Thursday night with a make-up game against Olathe East.&nbsp; The girls will&nbsp; start play at 6:00pm and the boys will immediately follow, around 7:30pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Junction City Blue Jays basketball team defeated the Hayden Wildcats by a final score of 70 - 45 on Wednesday night at Hayden High School in Topeka.&nbsp; The Blue Jays had 3 players score in double digits, Larkin Turner with 16 points, junior Jackson Austin with 15 points, and senior Stewart Mitchell with 12 points.&nbsp; Junction City lead from start to finish, and their largest lead was 32 points.It'll be a quick turn-around for Junction City as the Blue Jays host the Emporia Spartans Thursday night at Junction City High School.&nbsp; The Lady Jays will also be in action Thursday night with a make-up game against Olathe East.&nbsp; The girls will&nbsp; start play at 6:00pm and the boys will immediately follow, around 7:30pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Blue Jays Pick Up 10th Win of the Season With 25 Point Win Over Topeka Hayden

Following a 2-2 week, the Kansas Wesleyan basketball teams will take to the road, where they will spend the next three games away from Mabee Arena.

The first of these matchups will take place tonight at Bethel College, with the women's game set to begin at 6:00.

Women's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (9-9, 7-5), Bethel (6-12, 6-6)

Men's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (13-5, 10-2), Bethel (8-9, 6-6)

Both games can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM locally or online at 910kina.com). Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson will have the call with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM.

Following a 2-2 week, the Kansas Wesleyan basketball teams will take to the road, where they will spend the next three games away from Mabee Arena.The first of these matchups will take place tonight at Bethel College, with the women's game set to begin at 6:00.Women's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (9-9, 7-5), Bethel (6-12, 6-6)<ul>
 <li>The Coyotes have won three straight and 12 of 14 against Bethel. They won 84-63 in Mabee Arena and 70-62 in North Newton last season. KWU has a whopping 31-5 advantage since December, 2005.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The Threshers lost both of their games last week - 66-51 to Evangel Wednesday in Springfield, Mo. and 77-67 to Friends on Saturday in Wichita. Bethel has rebounded after losing its first five games of the season.</li><li>Freshman Kendall Locke is the leading scorer (14.2) and has surpassed 20 points in four of her last five games including 22 against Evangel and 21 against Friends. She also averages a team-high 5.1 rebounds. Junior Natalie Richards averages 11.7 points and freshman Madyson McKinzie 11.5.</li><li>Bethel averages 69 points and allows 76.6. Rebounding and turnovers have been issues: opponents average nearly eight rebounds a game more (7.7) than the Threshers and they are averaging 17.3 turnovers.</li>
 </ul>Men's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (13-5, 10-2), Bethel (8-9, 6-6)<ul>
 <li>The Coyotes have won the last two games against Bethel but are 5-5 with the Threshers in the last 10. KWU won 77-58 in Mabee Arena in November, 2022 and 79-62 last January. The Coyotes have a 22-13 edge since December, 2005.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>The Threshers defeated Friends 62-43 Saturday in Wichita, edning a two-game skid that came against Oklahoma Wesleyan and Evangel. They're 4-3 second semester and are 5-2 inside Thresher Gym this season.</li><li>Bethel features a balanced scoring attack led by senior guards Keyaun Hoskin (13.3) and Nick Bonner (13.1) and sophomore guard Carmelo Yakubu (12.5). Bonner has a team-best 35 made 3-pointers and Hoskin averages a team-high 5.9 rebounds.</li><li>Bethel averages 73 points and allows 73.6. The Threshers are shooting 43 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range. Opponents are shooting 43 percent overall and 33 percent from long range.</li>
 </ul>Live CoverageBoth games can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM locally or online at 910kina.com). Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson will have the call with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM.

Coyotes Open Three-Game Road Stretch at Bethel College

The Junction City High School basketball games for both the boys and girls have been postponed once again.&nbsp;

The Lady Jays were scheduled to host Olathe East tonight at Blue Jay Event Center, and the Blue Jays were scheduled to travel to Topeka Hayden.&nbsp;

The make-up date for the Blue Jay-Topeka Hayden boys only games will be tomorrow, Wednesday Jan. 24.&nbsp;

The make-up game for the Lady Jay - Olathe East game has not yet been announced.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City High School basketball games for both the boys and girls have been postponed once again.&nbsp;The Lady Jays were scheduled to host Olathe East tonight at Blue Jay Event Center, and the Blue Jays were scheduled to travel to Topeka Hayden.&nbsp;The make-up date for the Blue Jay-Topeka Hayden boys only games will be tomorrow, Wednesday Jan. 24.&nbsp;The make-up game for the Lady Jay - Olathe East game has not yet been announced.&nbsp;

Junction City High School basketball games once again postponed

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Johnny Furphy sent his parents back home to Australia with quite the lasting impression of their son in Allen Fieldhouse.

The freshman guard had career-highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds, hitting a key 3-pointer down the stretch, and helped No. 7 Kansas overcome a sluggish night from the rest of its starters in a 74-69 victory over Cincinnati on Monday night.

Kevin McCullar Jr. added 20 points despite struggling with his shot, KJ Adams Jr. had 11 points and Hunter Dickinson overcame some foul trouble to score 10 for the Jayhawks (16-3, 4-2), who bounced back nicely from a road loss at West Virginia.

“This was their first home game,” Furphy said of his parents, “so I was happy they could experience that. I've been telling them a lot about Allen Fieldhouse. I'm happy they got to see a win.”

The cold-shooting Bearcats (13-6, 2-4), wrapping up a stretch of six straight against ranked teams, got within 64-57 when Day Day Thomas ended their 6-plus minute field-goal drought with just over 2 1/2 minutes to play. But at the other end, Furphy hit his 3-pointer from the wing as the shot clock expired, and the Jayhawks were able to hang on from there.

“You had some good looks, some blown possessions, and you're still right there. That's the hard part to swallow,” said Cincinnati coach Will Wade, whose team had 16 turnovers and went 3 for 18 from the 3-point arc.

Dan Skillings Jr. led the Bearcats with 16 points. Leading scorer Viktor Lakhin was held to seven on 1-for-6 shooting.

The Bearcats and Jayhawks were meeting for the first time since a top-five showdown in 1996, and they were playing at Allen Fieldhouse for the first time since 1967, when Kansas exacted a bit of revenge for a home loss five years earlier.

Like so many teams unaccustomed to the Phog, Cincinnati was rattled in the opening minutes. Kansas sprinted out to a 12-point lead and Wade was forced to call timeout to keep the game from getting away from his Bearcats.

Cincinnati slowly drew even, though, and briefly took the lead before going to halftime 35-all.

“We have a resilient bunch,” Wade said. “We don't pout. We don't put our heads down.”

McCullar continued to struggle from the field, where he finished 5 for 17, and Dickinson had to sit long stretches after picking up his fourth foul with more than 10 minutes to go. But the Bearcats continued to be bitterly cold from the 3-point arc, where Simas Lukosius was 0 for 6 and nobody else was a whole lot better, and that prevented them from ever taking control.

That came back to haunt Cincinnati when the Jayhawks pulled away in the closing minutes.

“They got a goose egg other than Skillings shooting the ball from the arc, and those were all in the first half,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “We were probably lucky on some of them, but we did a decent job defensively, and that was a big part of the game.”

Kansas retired the No. 33 jersey of Bill “Skinny” Johnson during a halftime ceremony. He was an All-American in 1933 under coach Phog Allen, and led the Jayhawks to three consecutive conference titles. Johnson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, three years before his death.

Kansas visits No. 23 Iowa State on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706008214708.png" alt="Kansas guard Johnny Furphy (10) dribbles towards the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Lawrence, Kan. (Kansas Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas guard Johnny Furphy (10) dribbles towards the basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Lawrence, Kan. (Kansas Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Johnny Furphy sent his parents back home to Australia with quite the lasting impression of their son in Allen Fieldhouse.The freshman guard had career-highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds, hitting a key 3-pointer down the stretch, and helped No. 7 Kansas overcome a sluggish night from the rest of its starters in a 74-69 victory over Cincinnati on Monday night.Kevin McCullar Jr. added 20 points despite struggling with his shot, KJ Adams Jr. had 11 points and Hunter Dickinson overcame some foul trouble to score 10 for the Jayhawks (16-3, 4-2), who bounced back nicely from a road loss at West Virginia.“This was their first home game,” Furphy said of his parents, “so I was happy they could experience that. I've been telling them a lot about Allen Fieldhouse. I'm happy they got to see a win.”The cold-shooting Bearcats (13-6, 2-4), wrapping up a stretch of six straight against ranked teams, got within 64-57 when Day Day Thomas ended their 6-plus minute field-goal drought with just over 2 1/2 minutes to play. But at the other end, Furphy hit his 3-pointer from the wing as the shot clock expired, and the Jayhawks were able to hang on from there.“You had some good looks, some blown possessions, and you're still right there. That's the hard part to swallow,” said Cincinnati coach Will Wade, whose team had 16 turnovers and went 3 for 18 from the 3-point arc.Dan Skillings Jr. led the Bearcats with 16 points. Leading scorer Viktor Lakhin was held to seven on 1-for-6 shooting.The Bearcats and Jayhawks were meeting for the first time since a top-five showdown in 1996, and they were playing at Allen Fieldhouse for the first time since 1967, when Kansas exacted a bit of revenge for a home loss five years earlier.Like so many teams unaccustomed to the Phog, Cincinnati was rattled in the opening minutes. Kansas sprinted out to a 12-point lead and Wade was forced to call timeout to keep the game from getting away from his Bearcats.Cincinnati slowly drew even, though, and briefly took the lead before going to halftime 35-all.“We have a resilient bunch,” Wade said. “We don't pout. We don't put our heads down.”McCullar continued to struggle from the field, where he finished 5 for 17, and Dickinson had to sit long stretches after picking up his fourth foul with more than 10 minutes to go. But the Bearcats continued to be bitterly cold from the 3-point arc, where Simas Lukosius was 0 for 6 and nobody else was a whole lot better, and that prevented them from ever taking control.That came back to haunt Cincinnati when the Jayhawks pulled away in the closing minutes.“They got a goose egg other than Skillings shooting the ball from the arc, and those were all in the first half,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “We were probably lucky on some of them, but we did a decent job defensively, and that was a big part of the game.”JERSEY RETIREMENTKansas retired the No. 33 jersey of Bill “Skinny” Johnson during a halftime ceremony. He was an All-American in 1933 under coach Phog Allen, and led the Jayhawks to three consecutive conference titles. Johnson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977, three years before his death.UP NEXTCincinnati plays UCF on Saturday night.Kansas visits No. 23 Iowa State on Saturday.

Furphy has career-highs of 23 points as Kansas beats Cincinnati 

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

On Monday, the Salina Liberty announced that Sam Sellers, former long-time head football coach at Salina South, had been named as the team's new General Manager.

Sellers replaces a Liberty legend in Francis Flax, who oversaw the recent golden age of Salina football, including a CIF title in 2022, before retiring this offseason.

The new GM will be tasked with a big challenge, as the Liberty join the newly reformed Arena Football League, which will feature 16 teams spanning from Oregon to New York.

While big challenges undoubtedly lie ahead, Sellers is ready to meet those head-on, as Salina looks to take its championship-caliber brand of football to the biggest stage imaginable.

“Joining the AFL is such a big opportunity,” Sellers said. “It’s the highest level of indoor sports and there are some big-time people involved with this thing. The season opener will be played on NFL Network, there’s a lot of brand recognition, and there are a lot of great things that haven’t even been made public yet. What an unbelievable opportunity for the city of Salina to be able to showcase this town and show people what we’re about.”

While a GM role at this level would be attractive to anyone, Sellers is looking forward to remaining in a place that’s become synonymous with home over several decades of service on the gridiron.

“We took some time to step back and think about things but we love raising our family here in Salina,” he said. “I think the world of guys like Dan Mendicina and Coach Flax, and what really stuck out in our meeting was just how important this community is to our ownership group.”

The new move has also excited head coach Heron O’Neal, who will remain in control of football operations as the Liberty look to continue their winning ways.

“I am very excited that Sam has been hired as GM,” O’Neal said. “He is well-known in our community, and I think he will bring in different fans and sponsors with his background. Sam and I have already begun matching wits to produce a great product for Salina and the surrounding area, and with him in charge of the business and myself in charge of the football I know Liberty Nation is in great hands.”

While the stage the Liberty will play on has changed, the expectations have not, and Salina will look to pick up right where they left off when the season gets underway this spring.

“For the last four years, this team has been in the CIF championship game and they’re all about winning,” Sellers said. “Talking to Coach O’Neal that’s a huge thing for everyone in the organization. It’s a big jump but with a guy like that leading this team and with the guys he’s bringing in we’re excited for the opportunity and our goal is to play in the Arena Bowl and compete for a championship even in year one.”

Salina opens their 2024 campaign on Sunday, April 28th at home against the Southwest Kansas Storm.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostOn Monday, the Salina Liberty announced that Sam Sellers, former long-time head football coach at Salina South, had been named as the team's new General Manager.Sellers replaces a Liberty legend in Francis Flax, who oversaw the recent golden age of Salina football, including a CIF title in 2022, before retiring this offseason.The new GM will be tasked with a big challenge, as the Liberty join the newly reformed Arena Football League, which will feature 16 teams spanning from Oregon to New York.While big challenges undoubtedly lie ahead, Sellers is ready to meet those head-on, as Salina looks to take its championship-caliber brand of football to the biggest stage imaginable.“Joining the AFL is such a big opportunity,” Sellers said. “It’s the highest level of indoor sports and there are some big-time people involved with this thing. The season opener will be played on NFL Network, there’s a lot of brand recognition, and there are a lot of great things that haven’t even been made public yet. What an unbelievable opportunity for the city of Salina to be able to showcase this town and show people what we’re about.”While a GM role at this level would be attractive to anyone, Sellers is looking forward to remaining in a place that’s become synonymous with home over several decades of service on the gridiron.“We took some time to step back and think about things but we love raising our family here in Salina,” he said. “I think the world of guys like Dan Mendicina and Coach Flax, and what really stuck out in our meeting was just how important this community is to our ownership group.”The new move has also excited head coach Heron O’Neal, who will remain in control of football operations as the Liberty look to continue their winning ways.“I am very excited that Sam has been hired as GM,” O’Neal said. “He is well-known in our community, and I think he will bring in different fans and sponsors with his background. Sam and I have already begun matching wits to produce a great product for Salina and the surrounding area, and with him in charge of the business and myself in charge of the football I know Liberty Nation is in great hands.”While the stage the Liberty will play on has changed, the expectations have not, and Salina will look to pick up right where they left off when the season gets underway this spring.“For the last four years, this team has been in the CIF championship game and they’re all about winning,” Sellers said. “Talking to Coach O’Neal that’s a huge thing for everyone in the organization. It’s a big jump but with a guy like that leading this team and with the guys he’s bringing in we’re excited for the opportunity and our goal is to play in the Arena Bowl and compete for a championship even in year one.”Salina opens their 2024 campaign on Sunday, April 28th at home against the Southwest Kansas Storm.

Sellers, O'Neal to Usher in New Era of Liberty Football

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Travis Kelce caught two touchdown passes from Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs advanced to their sixth straight AFC championship game with a 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.

Isiah Pacheco scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 4-yard run 40 seconds into the fourth quarter in a game the teams traded leads five times. The Chiefs then clinched the win by running out the clock after Buffalo’s Tyler Bass was wide right on a 44-yard field goal attempt with 1:43 remaining.

The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (13-6) move on to Baltimore to face Lamar Jackson and the conference’s top-seeded Ravens, who beat Houston 34-10 on Saturday.

“There’s no weakness there,” Mahomes said of the Ravens. "It’s going to take our best effort. Defense, offense, special teams, they do it all. It’s always a great challenge and that stadium’s going to be rocking, so we’re excited for the challenge.”

Kansas City is 0-1 in the playoffs against the Ravens, following a 30-7 loss in the 2010 wild-card round. Baltimore defeated Kansas City 36-35 in their most recent regular-season matchup in Week 2 of the 2021 season.

Kansas City has never lost in the divisional round since Mahomes took over as starter in 2018, and the Chiefs have now won five consecutive playoff games since a 27-24 overtime loss to Cincinnati in the AFC championship game during the 2021 season.

Mahomes, a two-time NFL MVP, can also check off another first on his record by winning his first road start in the playoffs — not counting Super Bowls — and improving his postseason mark to 13-3.

“First of all, this is a great environment, man," Mahomes said of Buffalo. “It really is. We did hear it all week, man, about playing a road game, and we’re here to prove a point and show that we can play anywhere.”

The Bills (12-7) had their third consecutive postseason end in the divisional round, following losses to Cincinnati last year and the Chiefs in 2021. And the Chiefs ended Buffalo’s season for the third time in four years, including a 38-24 decision at Kansas City in the 2020 season AFC championship game.

It was another disappointing finish for a Bills team that won its fourth consecutive AFC East title, and was on a six-game roll since a 20-17 win at Kansas City on Dec. 10.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705892120097.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Travis Kelce caught two touchdown passes from Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs advanced to their sixth straight AFC championship game with a 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.Isiah Pacheco scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 4-yard run 40 seconds into the fourth quarter in a game the teams traded leads five times. The Chiefs then clinched the win by running out the clock after Buffalo’s Tyler Bass was wide right on a 44-yard field goal attempt with 1:43 remaining.The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs (13-6) move on to Baltimore to face Lamar Jackson and the conference’s top-seeded Ravens, who beat Houston 34-10 on Saturday.“There’s no weakness there,” Mahomes said of the Ravens. "It’s going to take our best effort. Defense, offense, special teams, they do it all. It’s always a great challenge and that stadium’s going to be rocking, so we’re excited for the challenge.”Kansas City is 0-1 in the playoffs against the Ravens, following a 30-7 loss in the 2010 wild-card round. Baltimore defeated Kansas City 36-35 in their most recent regular-season matchup in Week 2 of the 2021 season.Kansas City has never lost in the divisional round since Mahomes took over as starter in 2018, and the Chiefs have now won five consecutive playoff games since a 27-24 overtime loss to Cincinnati in the AFC championship game during the 2021 season.Mahomes, a two-time NFL MVP, can also check off another first on his record by winning his first road start in the playoffs — not counting Super Bowls — and improving his postseason mark to 13-3.“First of all, this is a great environment, man," Mahomes said of Buffalo. “It really is. We did hear it all week, man, about playing a road game, and we’re here to prove a point and show that we can play anywhere.”The Bills (12-7) had their third consecutive postseason end in the divisional round, following losses to Cincinnati last year and the Chiefs in 2021. And the Chiefs ended Buffalo’s season for the third time in four years, including a 38-24 decision at Kansas City in the 2020 season AFC championship game.It was another disappointing finish for a Bills team that won its fourth consecutive AFC East title, and was on a six-game roll since a 20-17 win at Kansas City on Dec. 10.___

Kelce scores twice, Chiefs beat Bills to advance to AFC championship

USD 75 has announced that the No. 5 ranked Junction City High School girls wrestling team claimed the team championship at the DeSoto Invitational on Saturday.&nbsp;

USD 75 has announced that the No. 5 ranked Junction City High School girls wrestling team claimed the team championship at the DeSoto Invitational on Saturday.&nbsp;

JCHS girls wrestling team wins big

Chapman Boys Varsity Basketball beats Royal Valley 64 - 37 to Win the Royal Valley Panther Classic. Three members of the Irish scored in double figures. CJ Holm had 20 points,&nbsp;Kelan Gruver 18 and Weston Langvardt 10.

&nbsp; Chapman went3-0 at the Panther Classic in Royal Valley.&nbsp; They also set the tournament 3 day scoring record with 213 points scored on the weekend.&nbsp;

Panther Classic All Academic Team members from Chapman.

Chapman Boys Varsity Basketball beats Royal Valley 64 - 37 to Win the Royal Valley Panther Classic. Three members of the Irish scored in double figures. CJ Holm had 20 points,&nbsp;Kelan Gruver 18 and Weston Langvardt 10.&nbsp; Chapman went3-0 at the Panther Classic in Royal Valley.&nbsp; They also set the tournament 3 day scoring record with 213 points scored on the weekend.&nbsp;Panther Classic All Academic Team members from Chapman.Gage Picking 4.23 GPAIan Suther 4.06 GPA

Irish win the tournament

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Arthur Kaluma had 23 points, Cam Carter scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half and Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 70-66 Saturday night, handing the Cowboys their fifth loss in a row.

Tylor Perry, with 1.2 seconds left on the shot clock, lobbed an inbound pass from the baseline to Carter for an alley-oop layup to give Kansas State a 68-66 lead with 24 seconds left. Oklahoma State lost the ball out of bounds and Carter made two free throws to make it a two-possession game with 8.7 remaining.

Kaluma, who topped the 1,000-point plateau for his career with a dunk late in the first half, made 7 of 12 from the field, including three 3-pointers. The transfer from Creighton finished with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Will McNair Jr. added 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting for Kansas State (14-4, 4-1 Big 12).

The Wildcats, who won the regular-season conference title last season, have won back-to-back games — including a 68-64 overtime win against No. 9 Baylor — and six of their last seven.

Javon Small hit a 3-pointer to give Oklahoma State (8-10, 0-5) its biggest lead of the game at 54-44 midway through the second half. McNair answered with a layup and Perry hit a 3 then converted a three-point play to trim the deficit to four with 8:39 to play. Connor Dow made a 3-pointer about a minute later to make it 59-52, but the Wildcats scored nine of the next 10 points. Carter banked in a straight-away 3 to cap the spurt and give Kansas State a 61-60 lead — its first since 20-19 — with 3:31 to play.

Eric Dailey Jr. scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting for the Cowboys. Small finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals and John-Michael Wright also scored 11.

Oklahoma State plays host to No. 19 TCU on Tuesday. Kansas State visits No. 24 Iowa State on Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705808255564.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Arthur Kaluma had 23 points, Cam Carter scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half and Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 70-66 Saturday night, handing the Cowboys their fifth loss in a row.Tylor Perry, with 1.2 seconds left on the shot clock, lobbed an inbound pass from the baseline to Carter for an alley-oop layup to give Kansas State a 68-66 lead with 24 seconds left. Oklahoma State lost the ball out of bounds and Carter made two free throws to make it a two-possession game with 8.7 remaining.Kaluma, who topped the 1,000-point plateau for his career with a dunk late in the first half, made 7 of 12 from the field, including three 3-pointers. The transfer from Creighton finished with seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Will McNair Jr. added 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting for Kansas State (14-4, 4-1 Big 12).The Wildcats, who won the regular-season conference title last season, have won back-to-back games — including a 68-64 overtime win against No. 9 Baylor — and six of their last seven.Javon Small hit a 3-pointer to give Oklahoma State (8-10, 0-5) its biggest lead of the game at 54-44 midway through the second half. McNair answered with a layup and Perry hit a 3 then converted a three-point play to trim the deficit to four with 8:39 to play. Connor Dow made a 3-pointer about a minute later to make it 59-52, but the Wildcats scored nine of the next 10 points. Carter banked in a straight-away 3 to cap the spurt and give Kansas State a 61-60 lead — its first since 20-19 — with 3:31 to play.Eric Dailey Jr. scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting for the Cowboys. Small finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals and John-Michael Wright also scored 11.Oklahoma State plays host to No. 19 TCU on Tuesday. Kansas State visits No. 24 Iowa State on Wednesday.

Kaluma scores 23, helps Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — RaeQuan Battle scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Pat Suemnick added a career-high 20 points and West Virginia beat No. 3 Kansas 91-85 on Saturday.

Fans stormed the court after the Mountaineers (7-11, 2-3 Big 12) improved to 7-5 against Kansas in Morgantown and broke a six-game losing streak in the series.

West Virginia set the pace with an early 3-point shooting barrage and outhustled the Jayhawks to get key free throws in the end.

Kansas (15-3, 3-2) trailed for most of the second half until K.J. Adams hit two free throws for an 81-80 lead with 2:41 remaining. Suemnick answered with a bank shot over Hunter Dickinson 35 seconds later to give the Mountaineers the lead for good.

West Virginia sealed the win by making nine of 10 free throws in the final 34 seconds.

Kerr Kriisa added 15 points for the Mountaineers.

Kevin McCullar led Kansas with 24 points and Dickinson scored 19. Freshman Johnny Furphy hit three 3-pointers and grabbed three rebounds in the first four minutes but went 22 minutes before scoring again and finished with 13 points.

The Mountaineers, the Big 12’s worst 3-point shooting team, made 12 of 21 (57%) from beyond the arc, including nine of their first 11.

Kansas could drop several spots in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">AP Top 25</a>&nbsp;poll.

Kansas: It's the most points allowed this season by the Jayhawks, who ran into a determined team that has beaten two straight ranked opponents at home.

West Virginia: With West Virginia center Jesse Edwards still out with a broken wrist, interim coach Josh Eilert stressed the importance of rebounding. The Mountaineers outrebounded Kansas 31-22, the Jayhawks' lowest total this season.

Kansas: Hosts Cincinnati on Monday night.

West Virginia: Plays at UCF on Tuesday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705797626212.png" alt="Photo University of Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo University of Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — RaeQuan Battle scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Pat Suemnick added a career-high 20 points and West Virginia beat No. 3 Kansas 91-85 on Saturday.Fans stormed the court after the Mountaineers (7-11, 2-3 Big 12) improved to 7-5 against Kansas in Morgantown and broke a six-game losing streak in the series.West Virginia set the pace with an early 3-point shooting barrage and outhustled the Jayhawks to get key free throws in the end.Kansas (15-3, 3-2) trailed for most of the second half until K.J. Adams hit two free throws for an 81-80 lead with 2:41 remaining. Suemnick answered with a bank shot over Hunter Dickinson 35 seconds later to give the Mountaineers the lead for good.West Virginia sealed the win by making nine of 10 free throws in the final 34 seconds.Kerr Kriisa added 15 points for the Mountaineers.Kevin McCullar led Kansas with 24 points and Dickinson scored 19. Freshman Johnny Furphy hit three 3-pointers and grabbed three rebounds in the first four minutes but went 22 minutes before scoring again and finished with 13 points.The Mountaineers, the Big 12’s worst 3-point shooting team, made 12 of 21 (57%) from beyond the arc, including nine of their first 11.POLL IMPLICATIONSKansas could drop several spots in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">AP Top 25</a>&nbsp;poll.BIG PICTUREKansas: It's the most points allowed this season by the Jayhawks, who ran into a determined team that has beaten two straight ranked opponents at home.West Virginia: With West Virginia center Jesse Edwards still out with a broken wrist, interim coach Josh Eilert stressed the importance of rebounding. The Mountaineers outrebounded Kansas 31-22, the Jayhawks' lowest total this season.UP NEXTKansas: Hosts Cincinnati on Monday night.West Virginia: Plays at UCF on Tuesday night.

RaeQuan Battle leads West Virginia in upset of Kansas

The Junction City Lady Jays defeated the Abilene Cowgirls&nbsp;by a thrilling final score of 26-25 on Saturday morning at the Salina Invitational Tournament.&nbsp;With the victory over Abilene, the Lady Jays finished seventh in the Salina Invitational Tournament. 

In a back and forth game, Junction City senior point guard Amyah O'Neal hit the go ahead and game winning layup with 12 seconds left in the game. 

The Lady Jays were led in scoring by sophomore Navaeh Rushing. She finished the game with eight points. Senior Sara Rexrode finished with seven points, and O' Neal added four points.&nbsp;

It was the first win of the season for the Lady Jays, and the first win for Junction City under first year head coach Conor Reilly.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705782697558.jpeg" alt="Junction City head coach Conor Reilly draws up a play for the Lady Jays. With the victory over Abilene, the Lady Jays finished seventh in the Salina Invitational Tournament.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Junction City head coach Conor Reilly draws up a play for the Lady Jays. With the victory over Abilene, the Lady Jays finished seventh in the Salina Invitational Tournament.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City Lady Jays defeated the Abilene Cowgirls&nbsp;by a thrilling final score of 26-25 on Saturday morning at the Salina Invitational Tournament.&nbsp;With the victory over Abilene, the Lady Jays finished seventh in the Salina Invitational Tournament. In a back and forth game, Junction City senior point guard Amyah O'Neal hit the go ahead and game winning layup with 12 seconds left in the game. The Lady Jays were led in scoring by sophomore Navaeh Rushing. She finished the game with eight points. Senior Sara Rexrode finished with seven points, and O' Neal added four points.&nbsp;It was the first win of the season for the Lady Jays, and the first win for Junction City under first year head coach Conor Reilly.&nbsp;

Junction City Lady Jays defeat Abilene, pick up first win of the season

The Chapman Irish Boys Varsity Basketball defeated Santa Fe Trail 76 - 59 on the 2nd Day of The Panther Classic.

Kelan Gruver led Chapman with 27 points while Weston Langvardt had 15, CJ Holm 14 and Gage Pickering 11 points.

The Chapman Irish Boys Varsity Basketball defeated Santa Fe Trail 76 - 59 on the 2nd Day of The Panther Classic.Kelan Gruver led Chapman with 27 points while Weston Langvardt had 15, CJ Holm 14 and Gage Pickering 11 points.

Irish win in the Panther Classic

In their first ever trip to the the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Junction City Blue Jays finish in second place.&nbsp;

The Blue Jays were defeated by the Olathe South Falcons 64-55 in the championship game of the mid-season tournament. Junction City held a one-point lead at halftime, 29-28, but the Falcons hit some big shots in the second half to defeat the Blue Jays.&nbsp;

Junction City was once again led in scoring by junior guard Jackson Austin, who finished with 18 points. Sophomore point guard Lovell Autry was the only other Blue Jay player to finish the game in double-digits, as Autry had 11 points.&nbsp;

With the loss, the Blue Jays fall to 9-2 on the season.&nbsp;

Three Junction City players were named to the Spring Hill Invitational All Tournament Team. These three players were Jackson Austin, Lovell Autry, and Ja'Twaan Williams.&nbsp;

Girls results from Salina Invitational Tournament

The Lady Jays were defeated by number four seed Salina Central by a final score of 51-9. The Lady Jays will play Abilene on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the 7th place game.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705724732524.jpeg" alt="The Junction City Blue Jay basketball team finished second in the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Junction City High School Athletic Director Chris Bogenhagen)" />
 <figcaption>The Junction City Blue Jay basketball team finished second in the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament. (Photo courtesy of Junction City High School Athletic Director Chris Bogenhagen)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony GorgesJC PostIn their first ever trip to the the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Junction City Blue Jays finish in second place.&nbsp;The Blue Jays were defeated by the Olathe South Falcons 64-55 in the championship game of the mid-season tournament. Junction City held a one-point lead at halftime, 29-28, but the Falcons hit some big shots in the second half to defeat the Blue Jays.&nbsp;Junction City was once again led in scoring by junior guard Jackson Austin, who finished with 18 points. Sophomore point guard Lovell Autry was the only other Blue Jay player to finish the game in double-digits, as Autry had 11 points.&nbsp;With the loss, the Blue Jays fall to 9-2 on the season.&nbsp;Three Junction City players were named to the Spring Hill Invitational All Tournament Team. These three players were Jackson Austin, Lovell Autry, and Ja'Twaan Williams.&nbsp;Girls results from Salina Invitational TournamentThe Lady Jays were defeated by number four seed Salina Central by a final score of 51-9. The Lady Jays will play Abilene on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the 7th place game.&nbsp;

Blue Jays fall short against Olathe South, finish second in mid-season tournament

HOUSTON (AP) —Jack Burke Jr., who was the oldest living Masters champion and staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors, died Friday in Houston. He was 100.

Burke, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, also won the PGA Championship and was equally skilled as a teacher. He built the fabled Champions Golf Club in Houston and delivered lessons along with a dose of homespun wisdom.

“Why did golf give us 34 rules when God only gave us 10 commandments?” he said over dinner at his home in Houston in 2000, one of endless examples of a sharp wit always grounded in common sense.

His passing was confirmed by Steve Timms, the CEO and president of the Houston Golf Association who spoke with Burke's wife, Robin.

Burke won two majors in 1956 when he was the PGA player of the year, none more famous than his staggering rally at the Masters when he started the final round eight shots behind Ken Venturi. In conditions so blustery only two players broke par, Burke posted a 1-under 71 for a one-shot victory over Venturi, who shot 80.

Later that year, Burke defeated Ted Kroll, 3 and 2, to win the PGA Championship.

Those were among his 16 victories on the PGA Tour, including four straight in early 1952, three of them by six shots or more. He was on five straight Ryder Cup teams and won seven of his eight matches. The lone loss was in 1957 when Burke was a playing captain and Great Britain won for the first time since World War II.

Burke’s last PGA Tour victory was in 1963, but his career was far from over. He was as much a teacher as a player, and a Texan through and through.

Born in Fort Worth, he grew up in Houston while his father, Jack Burke, was the head pro at River Oaks Country Club. His father died when Burke was serving in the Marines during World War II, where he taught combat skills at Miramar near San Diego.

“They asked me to help with teaching martial arts because, as a golfer, I’m familiar with timing and balance — and both are very important,” Burke told the USGA in 2017. “I had been instructing golf all my life because my dad taught me how to teach. So teaching these other things was not a problem.”

When the war ended, Burke became a teaching pro in New Jersey and then got a job as an assistant under Claude Harmon at Winged Foot. That led to a club pro job at Metropolis Country Club in New York.

He finished 45th on the money list in nine events in 1949, and he was credited with his first PGA Tour victory a year later at the Bing Crosby Pro-Am at Pebble Beach.

For all he achieved inside the ropes, Burke is equally known for his teaching skills. He could be funny and harsh, always getting his point across, all for the love of the game.

“When a primitive hunter threw a spear at his prey, you better believe he followed through and finished with his weight on his left foot,” Burke once said. “Reverse pivots in the jungle could be fatal. That saber-toothed tiger would eat you.”

Burke was perturbed when a member at Champions asked him for a quick look at his swing. Burke offered a suggestion and as he walked away, the member said, “Thanks for the tip.”

“I don’t give tips,” Burke wrote in his book. “This isn’t Churchill Downs. It took me 60 years to acquire the knowledge necessary to offer that man a suggestion. Just because the advice comprised one sentence doesn’t mean it didn’t include a lot of thought.”

His book was titled, “It’s Only a Game,” and was published in 2006, two years after he served as an assistant captain at the Ryder Cup in 2004 at Oakland Hills, where Europe recorded its biggest victory. Burke cited the high-priced tuxedos they wore to the gala as an example of how riches in golf had softened the players. He also mentioned how much players seemed to enjoy their time playing table tennis and video games.

“I closed my eyes and imagined Ben Hogan sitting at the car racing game, his hat turned backwards, giggling and shouting to Arnold Palmer, who was waiting his turn,” Burke wrote.

He was old-school even when he was young, the son of a PGA professional, a straight shooter from Texas who learned from Claude Harmon and others.

Burke was part of the original PGA Hall of Fame in Pinehurst and was among PGA champions not ushered into the new World Golf Hall of Fame when it opened in 1998 in Florida. But he was the first one selected through the Veteran’s Category in 2000.

Burke was among eight inducted that evening and as he stood at the podium on a typical emotional ceremony, he quipped, “With all these tears, I might be standing in casual water.”

But he paid a somber tribute to so many PGA professionals who were not in the new shrine, from Harmon to Jack Grout, Johnny Revolta to Paul Runyan.

“Without these great teachers, none of us would be in here,” Burke said. “Those fellas are probably not going to get in the Hall of Fame, but I want to say to you tonight, ‘You’re coming in with me.’ I’m bringing the teachers in.”

His second wife, Robin, was the Curtis Cup captain in 2016 and helped Burke run Champions. The club hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in December 2020. Burke was 97 and still engaging, a twinkle in those blue eyes, irreverent as always.

“The USGA has never owned a golf course,” he said that week at his home. “But they come to your course and tell you how to run it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705683931189.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSTON (AP) —Jack Burke Jr., who was the oldest living Masters champion and staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors, died Friday in Houston. He was 100.Burke, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, also won the PGA Championship and was equally skilled as a teacher. He built the fabled Champions Golf Club in Houston and delivered lessons along with a dose of homespun wisdom.“Why did golf give us 34 rules when God only gave us 10 commandments?” he said over dinner at his home in Houston in 2000, one of endless examples of a sharp wit always grounded in common sense.His passing was confirmed by Steve Timms, the CEO and president of the Houston Golf Association who spoke with Burke's wife, Robin.Burke won two majors in 1956 when he was the PGA player of the year, none more famous than his staggering rally at the Masters when he started the final round eight shots behind Ken Venturi. In conditions so blustery only two players broke par, Burke posted a 1-under 71 for a one-shot victory over Venturi, who shot 80.Later that year, Burke defeated Ted Kroll, 3 and 2, to win the PGA Championship.Those were among his 16 victories on the PGA Tour, including four straight in early 1952, three of them by six shots or more. He was on five straight Ryder Cup teams and won seven of his eight matches. The lone loss was in 1957 when Burke was a playing captain and Great Britain won for the first time since World War II.Burke’s last PGA Tour victory was in 1963, but his career was far from over. He was as much a teacher as a player, and a Texan through and through.Born in Fort Worth, he grew up in Houston while his father, Jack Burke, was the head pro at River Oaks Country Club. His father died when Burke was serving in the Marines during World War II, where he taught combat skills at Miramar near San Diego.“They asked me to help with teaching martial arts because, as a golfer, I’m familiar with timing and balance — and both are very important,” Burke told the USGA in 2017. “I had been instructing golf all my life because my dad taught me how to teach. So teaching these other things was not a problem.”When the war ended, Burke became a teaching pro in New Jersey and then got a job as an assistant under Claude Harmon at Winged Foot. That led to a club pro job at Metropolis Country Club in New York.He finished 45th on the money list in nine events in 1949, and he was credited with his first PGA Tour victory a year later at the Bing Crosby Pro-Am at Pebble Beach.For all he achieved inside the ropes, Burke is equally known for his teaching skills. He could be funny and harsh, always getting his point across, all for the love of the game.“When a primitive hunter threw a spear at his prey, you better believe he followed through and finished with his weight on his left foot,” Burke once said. “Reverse pivots in the jungle could be fatal. That saber-toothed tiger would eat you.”Burke was perturbed when a member at Champions asked him for a quick look at his swing. Burke offered a suggestion and as he walked away, the member said, “Thanks for the tip.”“I don’t give tips,” Burke wrote in his book. “This isn’t Churchill Downs. It took me 60 years to acquire the knowledge necessary to offer that man a suggestion. Just because the advice comprised one sentence doesn’t mean it didn’t include a lot of thought.”His book was titled, “It’s Only a Game,” and was published in 2006, two years after he served as an assistant captain at the Ryder Cup in 2004 at Oakland Hills, where Europe recorded its biggest victory. Burke cited the high-priced tuxedos they wore to the gala as an example of how riches in golf had softened the players. He also mentioned how much players seemed to enjoy their time playing table tennis and video games.“I closed my eyes and imagined Ben Hogan sitting at the car racing game, his hat turned backwards, giggling and shouting to Arnold Palmer, who was waiting his turn,” Burke wrote.He was old-school even when he was young, the son of a PGA professional, a straight shooter from Texas who learned from Claude Harmon and others.Burke was part of the original PGA Hall of Fame in Pinehurst and was among PGA champions not ushered into the new World Golf Hall of Fame when it opened in 1998 in Florida. But he was the first one selected through the Veteran’s Category in 2000.Burke was among eight inducted that evening and as he stood at the podium on a typical emotional ceremony, he quipped, “With all these tears, I might be standing in casual water.”But he paid a somber tribute to so many PGA professionals who were not in the new shrine, from Harmon to Jack Grout, Johnny Revolta to Paul Runyan.“Without these great teachers, none of us would be in here,” Burke said. “Those fellas are probably not going to get in the Hall of Fame, but I want to say to you tonight, ‘You’re coming in with me.’ I’m bringing the teachers in.”His second wife, Robin, was the Curtis Cup captain in 2016 and helped Burke run Champions. The club hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in December 2020. Burke was 97 and still engaging, a twinkle in those blue eyes, irreverent as always.“The USGA has never owned a golf course,” he said that week at his home. “But they come to your course and tell you how to run it.”

Jack Burke Jr., oldest living Masters champion, has died at age 100

The Chapman Irish boys basketball team defeated Wabaunsee 72-29 in the first round of the Panther Classic.

Kelan Gruver led Chapman with 21 points in the win. CJ Holm and Weston Langvardt both had 14 points for the Irish.

The Chapman Irish boys basketball team defeated Wabaunsee 72-29 in the first round of the Panther Classic.Kelan Gruver led Chapman with 21 points in the win. CJ Holm and Weston Langvardt both had 14 points for the Irish.

The Junction City Blue Jays survive and advance in the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament as they defeated Gardner-Edgerton 67-51.&nbsp; It was another sensational performance from junior Jackson Austin, who had 24 points, courtesy of 8 three-pointers.&nbsp; Two more Blue Jays scored in double-digits - sophomore Lovell Autry had 15 points, and Larkin Turner had 14.&nbsp; 

The Blue Jays led the whole game from start to finish, advancing to 9-1 on the season.&nbsp; 

With the win, the Blue Jays will play Olathe South in the championship game Friday night, scheduled for 8:15p.m.

GIRLS RESULTS FROM SALINA INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT

The Lady Jays were defeated by #1 seed Andover 66-8.&nbsp; With the loss, the Lady Jays will play at 6:00 p.m. Friday night against Salina Central in the Salina Invitational Tournament.

The Junction City Blue Jays survive and advance in the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament as they defeated Gardner-Edgerton 67-51.&nbsp; It was another sensational performance from junior Jackson Austin, who had 24 points, courtesy of 8 three-pointers.&nbsp; Two more Blue Jays scored in double-digits - sophomore Lovell Autry had 15 points, and Larkin Turner had 14.&nbsp; The Blue Jays led the whole game from start to finish, advancing to 9-1 on the season.&nbsp; With the win, the Blue Jays will play Olathe South in the championship game Friday night, scheduled for 8:15p.m.GIRLS RESULTS FROM SALINA INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTThe Lady Jays were defeated by #1 seed Andover 66-8.&nbsp; With the loss, the Lady Jays will play at 6:00 p.m. Friday night against Salina Central in the Salina Invitational Tournament.

Blue Jays Advance to Championship Game in Spring Hill Tournament

The Junction City Blue Jays scored a season high 92 points while holding Sumner Academy to 43 points in the first round of the 2024 Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament.&nbsp; Despite nearly a 2-week hiatus due to weather, the Blue Jays controlled from start to finish and saw multiple players in double digits.&nbsp;&nbsp;Junior Jackson Austin lead the Blue Jays with 25 points, while junior Ja'Twaan Williams had 17.  Also, Tre Ruffin scored 12 points and Lovell Autry finished with 11.

The Blue Jays advance to the semi-finals and will take on Gardner- Edgerton at 6:30 Thursday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;With the win, Junction City advances to 8 - 1 on the year.

The Junction City Blue Jays scored a season high 92 points while holding Sumner Academy to 43 points in the first round of the 2024 Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament.&nbsp; Despite nearly a 2-week hiatus due to weather, the Blue Jays controlled from start to finish and saw multiple players in double digits.&nbsp;&nbsp;Junior Jackson Austin lead the Blue Jays with 25 points, while junior Ja'Twaan Williams had 17. Also, Tre Ruffin scored 12 points and Lovell Autry finished with 11.The Blue Jays advance to the semi-finals and will take on Gardner- Edgerton at 6:30 Thursday night.&nbsp;&nbsp;With the win, Junction City advances to 8 - 1 on the year.

Blue Jays Beat Sumner Academy, Advance to Semi-Finals in Mid-Season Tournament

The Junction City Blue Jays will face Sumner Academy at 4:45 p.m. today at Spring Hill High School in the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament. 

Junction City is 7-1 on the season, while Sumner Academy is 2-6. 

The winner will move on to the semifinals and play either Gardner Edgerton or Wichita North High School on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. 

 All Blue Jay basketball games can be heard on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK radio.

By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City Blue Jays will face Sumner Academy at 4:45 p.m. today at Spring Hill High School in the Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament. Junction City is 7-1 on the season, while Sumner Academy is 2-6. The winner will move on to the semifinals and play either Gardner Edgerton or Wichita North High School on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. All Blue Jay basketball games can be heard on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK radio.

Blue Jay basketball to play Sumner Academy to start mid-season tournament

Fresh off a perfect 4-0 performance a week ago, the Kansas Wesleyan basketball teams will be back on the road this Wednesday as they travel to Sterling to tangle with the Warriors.

Fresh off a perfect 4-0 performance a week ago, the Kansas Wesleyan basketball teams will be back on the road this Wednesday as they travel to Sterling to tangle with the Warriors.Women's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (8-8, 6-4), Sterling (7-9, 4-6)<ul>
 <li>The Coyotes have lost four in a row and seven of eight to Sterling. They are 15-27 against the Warriors and 5-17 in games played in Sterling since 2005. Sterling won 76-57 last December in Mabee Arena and 76-66 last February in Sterling.</li>
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 <li>The Warriors have lost four in a row including a 79-75 setback against Friends on Saturday in Wichita and lost to Bethel 87-85 last Wednesday in Sterling. They are the three-time defending KCAC regular-season champions (KWU won the 2019-20 title with Sterling second a game back).</li><li>Korynn Clason, the lone returning starter from last season, leads the KCAC in scoring and is 10th&nbsp;in the NAIA at 21.3 points per game. She was named this week's KCAC Offensive Player of the Week having scored 40 against Bethel and 23 vs. Friends. She also averages a team-best 6.0 rebounds. Teammate Alissa Heskamp is third in scoring in the KCAC at 15.1 while Kali Briar averages 10.9 points.</li><li>Sterling averages 69.5 points but allows 74.8 and is committing an average of 18.6 turnovers per game. The Warriors shoot 41.7 percent overall, 32.8 from the perimeter.</li>
 </ul>Men's Game: Kansas Wesleyan (12-4, 9-1), Sterling (9-6, 5-5)<ul>
 <li>The Coyotes have won four of the last five and 14 of the last 16 against Sterling. The Warriors, though, upset them 75-66 in Mabee Arena in the first round of last year's KCAC tournament. The Coyotes won 81-54 last December in Salina and 87-69 in February in Sterling.</li>
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 <li>The Warriors have lost three in a row including a 92-85 double overtime loss to Friends on Saturday in Wichita. They lost to Bethel 64-52 last Wednesday in Sterling and lost to Oklahoma Wesleyan 74-67 January 6 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.</li><li>Guards Mooch Austin (15.3) and Brandon Doss (11.4) are the top scorers. Forward Lucas Briar and guard Jayden Garrison also score in double figures (10.1 each). Sterling also has two players who stand 6-feet-10 - starting center Adel Mellack (3.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) and reserve forward Elias Ngoga (4.8 points, 5.3 rebounds).</li><li>Sterling averages 77.5 points and leads the KCAC in 3-point shooting at 39.3 percent, 43.4 percent overall. Doss, Garrison, and Briar have made at least 30 3-pointers each this season. Opponents are averaging 73 points and shooting 41 percent.</li>
 </ul>LIVE COVERAGERadio coverage can be heard locally on KINA 910 AM/107.5 FM, and online at Salina Post. The online stream is also available at&nbsp;910KINA.com.Tyler Henry and Brooks Garretson will have the call with pregame starting at 5:30 on Wednesday.