By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer

LAS VEGAS — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-2023-e8fe1bfd7964f938781458952670f51a">March Madness</a>
 has long been a huge draw for gamblers who came to Las Vegas to place 
their bets on the tournament while partying at the city's famed casinos.
 But they were limited to watching the games on TV; catching one in 
person here was impossible not that long ago.

That changes this week when UCLA faces Gonzaga and UConn takes on Arkansas at T-Mobile Arena on the Vegas Strip.

The NCAA Tournament avoided the city until very recently because <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-betting-favorite-odds-149e49842f90412a306dcbd1f0279a6c">sports gambling</a>
 is legal here. The governing body for collegiate athletics even had a 
policy prohibiting its championship events from being played in Nevada.

With
 legal sports betting spreading across the country, the NCAA now has no 
qualms about crowning its champions in Las Vegas. The Sweet 16 games 
scheduled here Thursday are among several championship events the NCAA 
has awarded to the city.

Others include hockey’s Frozen Four in 2026 and the Final Four in 2028.

This
 no longer is Jerry Tarkanian’s Las Vegas, at least in the eyes of the 
NCAA, which for many years had fought with the late Hall of Fame coach 
who sued the governing body and settled in 1998 for $2.5 million.

Between
 the outlaw image of UNLV's Tarkanian and an overall feeling that sports
 betting — legal or not — was inherently bad for athletics, Las Vegas 
was an outsider in the sports world for a decades.

It also was a 
much smaller city when Tarkanian ruled. Less than 800,000 people lived 
in the metropolitan area when the Rebels won the 1990 national 
championship, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors 
Authority. That figure last year was 2.3 million.

Professional 
sports leagues have taken note of the additional potential paying 
customers and now the NFL and NHL have teams here. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-nevada-baseball-oakland-athletics-0e6d5ee22f85ed260b0012dedfb3a328">The Oakland Athletics are also considering moving here</a>, and an NBA expansion team could be on the way in future years.

Even
 before the influx of professional teams, Las Vegas began making 
headway, particularly in basketball. All 30 teams compete in the NBA 
Summer League in Las Vegas, which also is home to USA Basketball. Five 
college conferences play their men's and women's basketball tournaments 
in the area.

Views about legalized sports betting also have 
evolved dramatically, getting a big assist in 2018 when the U.S. Supreme
 Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.

The
 federal ban blocked states from regulating sports betting, making 
exceptions for Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon, which already had 
legal sports wagering in some form. Only Nevada permitted single-game 
betting.

“Thirty years ago in the Tarkanian era, I'm sure they 
were pretty skeptical of Las Vegas,” said Steve Hill, CEO and president 
of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “I think as time 
passed, they probably mellowed. We've had conference tournaments here 
and we've had a real partnership, it feels like now, that didn’t exist 
before the change in the law.”

The Supreme Court's decision 
created a path for any state that wanted to legalize sports betting, and
 soon many would begin the process. That left the NCAA — already showing
 signs of drifting toward easing its stance on Nevada — with no choice 
but to allow its championship events even where sports wagering was 
legal.

“That was the impetus," said Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice 
president of men’s basketball. “Once that changed, we were excited from a
 basketball championships perspective to bring March Madness to such a 
great city that has embraced college basketball with conference 
championships for some time.”

Jim Livengood, when he was UNLV’s 
athletic director in 2009-13, worked behind the scenes with his 
colleagues before the federal ban was overturned to change the NCAA’s 
position on Las Vegas.

Even after retiring in 2013, Livengood remained an advocate for Las Vegas as he moved into consulting.

“I
 thought the tide was starting to turn in probably ‘16, ’17, '18,” 
Livengood said. “We were making some really serious headway.”

In 2019, the NCAA formally changed its policy regarding championships in Las Vegas — and it couldn't wait to plant a flag.

NCAA
 officials told Las Vegas representatives to skip the usual process of 
first bidding on the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and go 
straight for a regional.

“I think that was very unusual, but a 
reflection of the fact that there was pent-up demand for Las Vegas,” 
Pac-12 Conference Commissioner George Kliavkoff said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679406579554.jpeg" alt="T-Mobile Arena on Feb. 1, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)" />
 <figcaption>T-Mobile Arena on Feb. 1, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports WriterLAS VEGAS — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-2023-e8fe1bfd7964f938781458952670f51a">March Madness</a>
 has long been a huge draw for gamblers who came to Las Vegas to place 
their bets on the tournament while partying at the city's famed casinos.
 But they were limited to watching the games on TV; catching one in 
person here was impossible not that long ago.That changes this week when UCLA faces Gonzaga and UConn takes on Arkansas at T-Mobile Arena on the Vegas Strip.The NCAA Tournament avoided the city until very recently because <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-betting-favorite-odds-149e49842f90412a306dcbd1f0279a6c">sports gambling</a>
 is legal here. The governing body for collegiate athletics even had a 
policy prohibiting its championship events from being played in Nevada.With
 legal sports betting spreading across the country, the NCAA now has no 
qualms about crowning its champions in Las Vegas. The Sweet 16 games 
scheduled here Thursday are among several championship events the NCAA 
has awarded to the city.Others include hockey’s Frozen Four in 2026 and the Final Four in 2028.This
 no longer is Jerry Tarkanian’s Las Vegas, at least in the eyes of the 
NCAA, which for many years had fought with the late Hall of Fame coach 
who sued the governing body and settled in 1998 for $2.5 million.Between
 the outlaw image of UNLV's Tarkanian and an overall feeling that sports
 betting — legal or not — was inherently bad for athletics, Las Vegas 
was an outsider in the sports world for a decades.It also was a 
much smaller city when Tarkanian ruled. Less than 800,000 people lived 
in the metropolitan area when the Rebels won the 1990 national 
championship, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors 
Authority. That figure last year was 2.3 million.Professional 
sports leagues have taken note of the additional potential paying 
customers and now the NFL and NHL have teams here. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-nevada-baseball-oakland-athletics-0e6d5ee22f85ed260b0012dedfb3a328">The Oakland Athletics are also considering moving here</a>, and an NBA expansion team could be on the way in future years.Even
 before the influx of professional teams, Las Vegas began making 
headway, particularly in basketball. All 30 teams compete in the NBA 
Summer League in Las Vegas, which also is home to USA Basketball. Five 
college conferences play their men's and women's basketball tournaments 
in the area.Views about legalized sports betting also have 
evolved dramatically, getting a big assist in 2018 when the U.S. Supreme
 Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.The
 federal ban blocked states from regulating sports betting, making 
exceptions for Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon, which already had 
legal sports wagering in some form. Only Nevada permitted single-game 
betting.“Thirty years ago in the Tarkanian era, I'm sure they 
were pretty skeptical of Las Vegas,” said Steve Hill, CEO and president 
of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “I think as time 
passed, they probably mellowed. We've had conference tournaments here 
and we've had a real partnership, it feels like now, that didn’t exist 
before the change in the law.”The Supreme Court's decision 
created a path for any state that wanted to legalize sports betting, and
 soon many would begin the process. That left the NCAA — already showing
 signs of drifting toward easing its stance on Nevada — with no choice 
but to allow its championship events even where sports wagering was 
legal.“That was the impetus," said Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice 
president of men’s basketball. “Once that changed, we were excited from a
 basketball championships perspective to bring March Madness to such a 
great city that has embraced college basketball with conference 
championships for some time.”Jim Livengood, when he was UNLV’s 
athletic director in 2009-13, worked behind the scenes with his 
colleagues before the federal ban was overturned to change the NCAA’s 
position on Las Vegas.Even after retiring in 2013, Livengood remained an advocate for Las Vegas as he moved into consulting.“I
 thought the tide was starting to turn in probably ‘16, ’17, '18,” 
Livengood said. “We were making some really serious headway.”In 2019, the NCAA formally changed its policy regarding championships in Las Vegas — and it couldn't wait to plant a flag.NCAA
 officials told Las Vegas representatives to skip the usual process of 
first bidding on the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and go 
straight for a regional.“I think that was very unusual, but a 
reflection of the fact that there was pent-up demand for Las Vegas,” 
Pac-12 Conference Commissioner George Kliavkoff said.

March Madness arrives in Vegas after years of avoiding it

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">The Sweet 16</a> features a new format and a bit of history when it begins later this week.

The NCAA changed its setup for the women's tournament this season, trimming the traditional <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-basketball-march-madness-college-greenville-c4d5e1ced974a7cf010052587793409f">four regional sites to two.</a>
 Seattle and Greenville — a city of 71,000 in South Carolina about 
halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina — will each host 
eight teams before sending the winners on to Dallas for the Final Four.

It is also just the second time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1994 that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-2023-womens-tournament-264616d053a2dc26ccf1f59999c0ea5b">two of the No. 1 seeds</a> didn't reach the regional semifinals after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-stanford-ole-miss-upset-343e0c5133f71952c84a80c08ffd7694">Mississippi</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-hoosiers-hurricanes-mackenzie-ca0198edd35a9f604ccc0ab4e20bef07">Miami</a> knocked out Stanford and Indiana, respectively. It also happened in 1998.

The
 other top seeds — South Carolina and Virginia Tech — advanced. The 
Gamecocks, led by star Aliyah Boston, are four wins from completing 
their own historic journey and back-to-back national championships. They
 are seeking just the 10th undefeated season ever in women's basketball,
 and the next steps for coach Dawn Staley's team are just a 90-minute 
trip from campus.

There are a lot of teams that have ended long 
Sweet 16 droughts, like the Hokies, Hurricanes, Colorado and Villanova. 
UConn, on the other hand, will be playing in its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-baylor-uconn-2d5b109eec9490bd39773915df65f323">29th consecutive regional semifinal</a>.

Despite <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-parity-upsets-womens-basketball-44eb2276e1d2099871a4448d4ff57a3e">the parity that took place during the regular season</a>
 and the exit of those two No. 1 seeds, it is the second time in the 
past six years that no double-digit seed reached the round of 16. It's 
also the first time since the Big 12 was formed in 1996 that no teams 
from the conference reached the second weekend.

There’s plenty of 
star power across the field with Angel Reese, Maddy Siegrist, Caitlin 
Clark and Elizabeth Kitley joining Boston in the regional semifinals.

The
 Gamecocks are the heavy favorite to come out of this region and, for 
that matter, to win another title. The regional semifinal opponent is 
No. 4 seed UCLA. The Bruins gave the Gamecocks a competitive game back 
in November, leading at halftime by four <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-basketball-south-carolina-womens-926c4131e48eac34071956ff94e596f3">before losing by nine</a>.

No.
 2 seed Maryland will play No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the other semifinal.
 The Terrapins, led by Diamond Miller, used a strong second half to get 
by Arizona in the second round. The Fighting Irish overcame 
season-ending injuries to Olivia Miles and Dara Mabrey to get to the 
Sweet 16. Notre Dame got a strong effort from post Lauren Ebo, who set a
 school NCAA tourney record with 18 rebounds in a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-notre-dame-mississippi-state-68095fd81823fdb481a4470e85a007a9">win over Mississippi State</a>.

With
 Indiana losing, the bracket is more open, with Villanova and Siegrist 
playing the Hurricanes in one of the semifinals. Siegrist, who leads the
 nation in scoring, has the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-villanova-ncaa-sweet-16-e67488585ca8bff51610b1ea17fab51a">Wildcats back in the Sweet 16</a> for the first time since 2003. Miami's drought was even longer, not making it this far since 1992.

The
 other semifinal in the region pits two of the most talented forwards in
 the country against each other: LSU's Angel Reese and Utah's Alissa 
Pili. Reese helped the Tigers reach the Sweet 16 for the first time 
since 2014. The “Bayou Barbie” had 25 points, an eye-popping 24 rebounds
 and six blocks in the third-seeded Tigers' rout of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-lsu-michigan-efb1b4c81548972bac61775dc1d9f6f9">Michigan</a>. Second-seeded Utah is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006 after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-princeton-utah-6d40cf57bc9eecad3db5ba64f6995699">edging Princeton</a> in the second round.

Second-seeded UConn, which has dealt with injuries all season, will face third-seeded Ohio State in one semifinal. The Buckeyes <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-march-madness-north-carolina-ohio-state-9b56d6cfc126b0fd0e76fe50fe1bba3d">needed a shot in the final few seconds</a> by Jacy Sheldon to advance this far for the fourth straight season.

Top
 seed Virginia Tech is the newcomer here, making its first appearance in
 the Sweet 16 since 1999 after two impressive home wins in the first two
 rounds. Kitley and Co. head across the country for a rematch against 
Tennessee. The two teams played Dec. 4 and the Hokies came away with a 
three-point win. The Lady Vols were missing Rickea Jackson for that game
 and it was the final one that Tamari Key played in before being 
sidelined for the season with blood clots.

Tennessee <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-lady-vols-toledo-sweet-16-virginia-tech-325c1b4df25cb95f54f9bc5e1ff45c19">has run through the first two rounds</a>,
 becoming just the fourth team to win each of its first two games by 45 
points or more. UConn did it the other three times, according to ESPN.

Ole
 Miss crashed the party with its upset of Stanford and is back in the 
Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007. Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin's 
defensive-minded squad will face a Louisville team that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-louisville-texas-d8801cb5422b78cc04eabc4884a03b64">routed Texas</a> on the Longhorns' home court. Cardinals star Hailey Van Lith grew up in Central Washington, a few hours from Seattle.

The other matchup will feature Clark and her logo-range shooting for Iowa against Colorado. Iowa <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-iowa-georgia-caitlin-clark-f824fcee27ec7934dc68a473e11e5e4b">edged Georgia</a>
 in the second round, erasing the memory of last season's round of 32 
defeat to Creighton. The Hawkeyes will face a Colorado team in the Sweet
 16 for the first time since 2003.

Associated Press<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">The Sweet 16</a> features a new format and a bit of history when it begins later this week.The NCAA changed its setup for the women's tournament this season, trimming the traditional <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-basketball-march-madness-college-greenville-c4d5e1ced974a7cf010052587793409f">four regional sites to two.</a>
 Seattle and Greenville — a city of 71,000 in South Carolina about 
halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina — will each host 
eight teams before sending the winners on to Dallas for the Final Four.It is also just the second time since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1994 that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-2023-womens-tournament-264616d053a2dc26ccf1f59999c0ea5b">two of the No. 1 seeds</a> didn't reach the regional semifinals after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-stanford-ole-miss-upset-343e0c5133f71952c84a80c08ffd7694">Mississippi</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-hoosiers-hurricanes-mackenzie-ca0198edd35a9f604ccc0ab4e20bef07">Miami</a> knocked out Stanford and Indiana, respectively. It also happened in 1998.The
 other top seeds — South Carolina and Virginia Tech — advanced. The 
Gamecocks, led by star Aliyah Boston, are four wins from completing 
their own historic journey and back-to-back national championships. They
 are seeking just the 10th undefeated season ever in women's basketball,
 and the next steps for coach Dawn Staley's team are just a 90-minute 
trip from campus.There are a lot of teams that have ended long 
Sweet 16 droughts, like the Hokies, Hurricanes, Colorado and Villanova. 
UConn, on the other hand, will be playing in its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-baylor-uconn-2d5b109eec9490bd39773915df65f323">29th consecutive regional semifinal</a>.Despite <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-parity-upsets-womens-basketball-44eb2276e1d2099871a4448d4ff57a3e">the parity that took place during the regular season</a>
 and the exit of those two No. 1 seeds, it is the second time in the 
past six years that no double-digit seed reached the round of 16. It's 
also the first time since the Big 12 was formed in 1996 that no teams 
from the conference reached the second weekend.There’s plenty of 
star power across the field with Angel Reese, Maddy Siegrist, Caitlin 
Clark and Elizabeth Kitley joining Boston in the regional semifinals.GREENVILLE 1The
 Gamecocks are the heavy favorite to come out of this region and, for 
that matter, to win another title. The regional semifinal opponent is 
No. 4 seed UCLA. The Bruins gave the Gamecocks a competitive game back 
in November, leading at halftime by four <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-basketball-south-carolina-womens-926c4131e48eac34071956ff94e596f3">before losing by nine</a>.No.
 2 seed Maryland will play No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the other semifinal.
 The Terrapins, led by Diamond Miller, used a strong second half to get 
by Arizona in the second round. The Fighting Irish overcame 
season-ending injuries to Olivia Miles and Dara Mabrey to get to the 
Sweet 16. Notre Dame got a strong effort from post Lauren Ebo, who set a
 school NCAA tourney record with 18 rebounds in a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-notre-dame-mississippi-state-68095fd81823fdb481a4470e85a007a9">win over Mississippi State</a>.GREENVILLE 2With
 Indiana losing, the bracket is more open, with Villanova and Siegrist 
playing the Hurricanes in one of the semifinals. Siegrist, who leads the
 nation in scoring, has the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-villanova-ncaa-sweet-16-e67488585ca8bff51610b1ea17fab51a">Wildcats back in the Sweet 16</a> for the first time since 2003. Miami's drought was even longer, not making it this far since 1992.The
 other semifinal in the region pits two of the most talented forwards in
 the country against each other: LSU's Angel Reese and Utah's Alissa 
Pili. Reese helped the Tigers reach the Sweet 16 for the first time 
since 2014. The “Bayou Barbie” had 25 points, an eye-popping 24 rebounds
 and six blocks in the third-seeded Tigers' rout of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-lsu-michigan-efb1b4c81548972bac61775dc1d9f6f9">Michigan</a>. Second-seeded Utah is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006 after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-princeton-utah-6d40cf57bc9eecad3db5ba64f6995699">edging Princeton</a> in the second round.SEATTLE 3Second-seeded UConn, which has dealt with injuries all season, will face third-seeded Ohio State in one semifinal. The Buckeyes <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-march-madness-north-carolina-ohio-state-9b56d6cfc126b0fd0e76fe50fe1bba3d">needed a shot in the final few seconds</a> by Jacy Sheldon to advance this far for the fourth straight season.Top
 seed Virginia Tech is the newcomer here, making its first appearance in
 the Sweet 16 since 1999 after two impressive home wins in the first two
 rounds. Kitley and Co. head across the country for a rematch against 
Tennessee. The two teams played Dec. 4 and the Hokies came away with a 
three-point win. The Lady Vols were missing Rickea Jackson for that game
 and it was the final one that Tamari Key played in before being 
sidelined for the season with blood clots.Tennessee <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-lady-vols-toledo-sweet-16-virginia-tech-325c1b4df25cb95f54f9bc5e1ff45c19">has run through the first two rounds</a>,
 becoming just the fourth team to win each of its first two games by 45 
points or more. UConn did it the other three times, according to ESPN.SEATTLE 4Ole
 Miss crashed the party with its upset of Stanford and is back in the 
Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007. Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin's 
defensive-minded squad will face a Louisville team that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-louisville-texas-d8801cb5422b78cc04eabc4884a03b64">routed Texas</a> on the Longhorns' home court. Cardinals star Hailey Van Lith grew up in Central Washington, a few hours from Seattle.The other matchup will feature Clark and her logo-range shooting for Iowa against Colorado. Iowa <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-iowa-georgia-caitlin-clark-f824fcee27ec7934dc68a473e11e5e4b">edged Georgia</a>
 in the second round, erasing the memory of last season's round of 32 
defeat to Creighton. The Hawkeyes will face a Colorado team in the Sweet
 16 for the first time since 2003.

Women's Sweet 16 features new format and historic field

MIAMI — Trea Turner, Paul Goldschmidt and an unrelenting U.S. 
lineup kept putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard, a dynamic display
 of the huge gap between an American team of major leaguers and Cubans 
struggling on the world stage as top players have left the island 
nation.

<a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/trea-turner-clubs-two-hr-vs-cuba?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Turner homered twice</a>
 to give him a tournament-leading four, driving in four runs to lead the
 U.S. to a 14-2 rout Sunday night and advance the defending champion 
Americans to the World Baseball Classic final.

Goldschmidt also homered and had four RBIs and <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/cedric-mullins-homers-1-on-a-fly-ball-to-right-center-field-moshpi?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Cedric Mullins went deep</a> in a game interrupted three times by fans running on the field to display protest signs.

“The team kind of represents the government over there, and people aren’t too happy about it,” U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said.

The
 U.S. plays Japan or Mexico in Tuesday night’s championship, trying to 
join the Samurai Warriors as the only nations to win the title twice.

“I think it took us a little bit of time, but now we kind of found our stride a little bit,” Turner said.

Turner has a tournament-leading 10 RBIs. He followed his <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/trea-turner-hits-a-grand-slam-2-to-left-field-tim-anderson-scores-bobby-w?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">go-ahead, eighth-inning grand slam</a> a night earlier against Venezuela with a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/trea-turner-homers-3-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-field-fpilfh?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">solo homer in the second inning off Roenis Elias (0-1)</a> and a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/trea-turner-homers-4-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-center-field-will-smith-scores?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">three-run drive in the sixth against Elian Leyva</a>.

“I kept saying every time he went deep, who is the idiot that’s hitting him ninth?” DeRosa said.

Cuba
 went ahead when its first four batters reached off Adam Wainwright 
(2-0) without getting a ball out of the infield. After forcing in a run 
with a walk to Alfredo Despaigne, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/adam-wainwright-s-solid-start-x3521?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">the 41-year-old right-hander recovered to strand the bases loaded</a>.

“I
 put myself in that situation in the first place by making horrible PFP 
plays — or not making PFP plays,” Wainwright said in a reference to 
pitchers' fielding practice and two grounders he failed to come up with.

American
 batters had 14 hits, including eight for extra bases, and seven walks 
as they scored in seven of eight innings — five with multiple runs. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/paul-goldschmidt-s-two-run-homer-x4344?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Goldschmidt hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the first on a 112 mph rocket</a> high over the left-field wall. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/paul-goldschmidt-singles-on-a-line-drive-to-right-fielder-yoelkis-guibert?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">He added a two-run single in the fifth</a>.

“For me that was one of my favorite home runs I’ve ever hit in my entire life,” Goldschmidt said.

St. Louis third baseman <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/nolan-arenado-exits-after-hpb?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Nolan Arenado left after he was hit on his right hand by a pitch in the fifth inning</a>, briefly raising another injury concern before X-rays came back as negative. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/edwin-diaz-injured-in-celebration-031523?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Mets closer Edwin Díaz sustained a season-ending knee injury</a> during the celebration that followed Puerto Rico’s win on Wednesday and <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/jose-altuve-is-hit-exits-game?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Houston second baseman Jose Altuve broke a thumb when hit by a pitch</a> while playing for Venezuela on Saturday.

Fans
 in the sellout crowd of 35,779 at loanDepot Park sounded evenly split 
between the U.S. and Cuba. Several hundred people gathered before the 
game outside the ballpark in Miami’s Little Havana section to protest 
the presence of the Cuban team, whose country has been under communist 
rule since 1959.

Play was briefly interrupted in the sixth, 
seventh and eighth innings when fans ran onto the field. The first held a
 banner that read “Libertad Para Los Presos Cubanos del 11 de Julio 
(Freedom for the Cuban Prisoners of July 11)” referring to the date of 
2021 demonstrations.

“There were provocations, but we never paid attention to it,” Cuba manager Armando Johnson said.

Cuban
 fans roared in the early going when their team’s first four batters 
strung together three infield hits and a bases-loaded walk. Wainwright 
allowed one run and five hits in four innings. Cardinals teammate Miles 
Mikolas followed with four innings and Aaron Loup finished.

An 
Olympic gold medalist in 1992, 1996 and 2004, Cuba’s national team has 
faltered as many top players left for MLB. Cuba failed to qualify for 
the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Cuba this year is for the first using some 
players under contract to MLB clubs, including Chicago White Sox Gold 
Glove centerfielder Luis Robert and third baseman Yoán Moncada — who 
were booed. But many Cuban big leaguers were absent.

“We would like for the other players to join,” Johnson said. “They should think about it and return to Cuba.”

DeRosa on what he did after Saturday night’s come-from-behind quarterfinal win over Venezuela.

"I was reading how horrible a manager I was on social media first,” he said.

In
 the other semifinal, Japan starts 21-year-old sensation Roki Sasaki 
against Mexico and the Los Angeles Angels’ Patrick Sandoval on Monday 
night.

Moncada left after the third baseman 
collided in the sixth inning with left fielder Roel Santos, who caught 
Kyle Schwarber's fly. Moncada was hit on the ribs but is OK, Johnson 
said.

Arizona RHP Merrill Kelly is likely to start the final.

Associated PressMIAMI — Trea Turner, Paul Goldschmidt and an unrelenting U.S. 
lineup kept putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard, a dynamic display
 of the huge gap between an American team of major leaguers and Cubans 
struggling on the world stage as top players have left the island 
nation.<a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/trea-turner-clubs-two-hr-vs-cuba?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Turner homered twice</a>
 to give him a tournament-leading four, driving in four runs to lead the
 U.S. to a 14-2 rout Sunday night and advance the defending champion 
Americans to the World Baseball Classic final.Goldschmidt also homered and had four RBIs and <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/cedric-mullins-homers-1-on-a-fly-ball-to-right-center-field-moshpi?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Cedric Mullins went deep</a> in a game interrupted three times by fans running on the field to display protest signs.“The team kind of represents the government over there, and people aren’t too happy about it,” U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said.The
 U.S. plays Japan or Mexico in Tuesday night’s championship, trying to 
join the Samurai Warriors as the only nations to win the title twice.“I think it took us a little bit of time, but now we kind of found our stride a little bit,” Turner said.Turner has a tournament-leading 10 RBIs. He followed his <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/trea-turner-hits-a-grand-slam-2-to-left-field-tim-anderson-scores-bobby-w?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">go-ahead, eighth-inning grand slam</a> a night earlier against Venezuela with a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/trea-turner-homers-3-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-field-fpilfh?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">solo homer in the second inning off Roenis Elias (0-1)</a> and a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/trea-turner-homers-4-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-center-field-will-smith-scores?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">three-run drive in the sixth against Elian Leyva</a>.“I kept saying every time he went deep, who is the idiot that’s hitting him ninth?” DeRosa said.Cuba
 went ahead when its first four batters reached off Adam Wainwright 
(2-0) without getting a ball out of the infield. After forcing in a run 
with a walk to Alfredo Despaigne, <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/adam-wainwright-s-solid-start-x3521?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">the 41-year-old right-hander recovered to strand the bases loaded</a>.“I
 put myself in that situation in the first place by making horrible PFP 
plays — or not making PFP plays,” Wainwright said in a reference to 
pitchers' fielding practice and two grounders he failed to come up with.American
 batters had 14 hits, including eight for extra bases, and seven walks 
as they scored in seven of eight innings — five with multiple runs. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/paul-goldschmidt-s-two-run-homer-x4344?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Goldschmidt hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the first on a 112 mph rocket</a> high over the left-field wall. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/paul-goldschmidt-singles-on-a-line-drive-to-right-fielder-yoelkis-guibert?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">He added a two-run single in the fifth</a>.“For me that was one of my favorite home runs I’ve ever hit in my entire life,” Goldschmidt said.St. Louis third baseman <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/nolan-arenado-exits-after-hpb?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Nolan Arenado left after he was hit on his right hand by a pitch in the fifth inning</a>, briefly raising another injury concern before X-rays came back as negative. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/edwin-diaz-injured-in-celebration-031523?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Mets closer Edwin Díaz sustained a season-ending knee injury</a> during the celebration that followed Puerto Rico’s win on Wednesday and <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/jose-altuve-is-hit-exits-game?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Houston second baseman Jose Altuve broke a thumb when hit by a pitch</a> while playing for Venezuela on Saturday.Fans
 in the sellout crowd of 35,779 at loanDepot Park sounded evenly split 
between the U.S. and Cuba. Several hundred people gathered before the 
game outside the ballpark in Miami’s Little Havana section to protest 
the presence of the Cuban team, whose country has been under communist 
rule since 1959.Play was briefly interrupted in the sixth, 
seventh and eighth innings when fans ran onto the field. The first held a
 banner that read “Libertad Para Los Presos Cubanos del 11 de Julio 
(Freedom for the Cuban Prisoners of July 11)” referring to the date of 
2021 demonstrations.“There were provocations, but we never paid attention to it,” Cuba manager Armando Johnson said.Cuban
 fans roared in the early going when their team’s first four batters 
strung together three infield hits and a bases-loaded walk. Wainwright 
allowed one run and five hits in four innings. Cardinals teammate Miles 
Mikolas followed with four innings and Aaron Loup finished.An 
Olympic gold medalist in 1992, 1996 and 2004, Cuba’s national team has 
faltered as many top players left for MLB. Cuba failed to qualify for 
the 2020 Tokyo Games.Cuba this year is for the first using some 
players under contract to MLB clubs, including Chicago White Sox Gold 
Glove centerfielder Luis Robert and third baseman Yoán Moncada — who 
were booed. But many Cuban big leaguers were absent.“We would like for the other players to join,” Johnson said. “They should think about it and return to Cuba.”SECOND GUESSEDDeRosa on what he did after Saturday night’s come-from-behind quarterfinal win over Venezuela."I was reading how horrible a manager I was on social media first,” he said.OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKETIn
 the other semifinal, Japan starts 21-year-old sensation Roki Sasaki 
against Mexico and the Los Angeles Angels’ Patrick Sandoval on Monday 
night.TRAINER'S ROOMMoncada left after the third baseman 
collided in the sixth inning with left fielder Roel Santos, who caught 
Kyle Schwarber's fly. Moncada was hit on the ribs but is OK, Johnson 
said.UP NEXTArizona RHP Merrill Kelly is likely to start the final.

US routs Cuba 14-2 to reach World Baseball Classic final

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">March Madness</a> is 
heading to the Sweet 16 without a handful of top teams. Two No. 1 seeds,
 Kansas and Purdue, No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 4 seed Virginia are all 
gone — and gone with them are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-ucla-unc-asheville-4c5ead60091b98be87a72ffa91a14e97">millions of busted brackets.</a>

It's
 been tough sledding for the bluebloods, too: Besides Kansas, Kentucky, 
Duke and Indiana are all heading home. UCLA's drive for a 12th national 
title remains alive.

Here is what to know with the regional semifinals up next at the NCAA Tournament:

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-kansas-alabama-12476411b0da681b21df9281a8332196">The top four seeds in the tournament</a> were given to Alabama, Houston, Kansas and Purdue. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-alabama-kansas-fc3932edb7323b0cd5f9db3e1cbb82fe">Each had its share of headaches</a>
 to set up what is proving to be a chaotic tournament. The Boilermakers 
were the first to fall, ousted in a first-round stunner, and the 
Jayhawks followed the very next day.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-east-region-purdue-marquette-8a7c268ac0e763368c602be51359928e">EAST REGION:</a> The Boilermakers got a top seed for the fourth time, but Purdue was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-fairleigh-dickinson-purdue-16-seed-715e3e361344928ea10880dd9a9d8a58">dumped by Fairleigh Dickinson in a near-historic upset.</a>
 and the 2-seed, Marquette, is also gone. Up next: No. 9 seed FAU vs. 
No. 4 seed Tennessee and No. 3 seed Kansas State vs. No. 7 seed Michigan
 State, whose coach <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-michigan-state-marquette-izzo-690d24a67256a2bf187353c0bfed577a">Tom Izzo is heading to his 15th regional.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-south-bracket-alabama-005db4413ccdad1b00bcd38f879ac5df">SOUTH REGION:</a> Alabama, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-nate-oats-alabama-2738775dfbf0006eee54eb3bca39fdf9">led by coach Nate Oats in a challenging season,</a> got a top seed for the first time behind SEC player of the year Brandon Miller, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brandon-miller-alabama-ncaa-tournament-security-guard-7104ab515dfaf81ae09abf94f0bd3165">who has armed security on hand</a>
 after being the subject of threats. Up next: No. 1 seed Alabama vs. No.
 5 seed San Diego State and No. 6 seed Creighton vs. No. 15 seed <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-princeton-missouri-upset-c53ede0847d5669af9fc19e18dab67eb">Princeton, which is in rare territory</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-midwest-ba5f567eee97af8eb848e229694b8b9b">MIDWEST REGION:</a> Houston got a top seed and won its opener before a rugged victory over Auburn even with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcus-sasser-injury-march-madness-houston-3ed55bfd2e3180e29b015f66a4d92614"></a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-houston-sasser-a327324228d43a8792f496890a5e7bc9">All-American Marcus Sasser hobbled</a> by a groin injury. Up next: No. 1 seed Houston vs. No. 5 seed Miami and No. 2 seed Texas vs. No. 3 seed Xavier.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-kansas-jayhawks-ucla-de98b2f3866d40f3b00d40e59c373b5c">WEST REGION</a>: Kansas, the top-seeded defending national champion that was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-kansas-bill-self-norm-roberts-fbb2c52dc34fa02235d1dbc3177ced01">without coach Bill Self</a> in the tournament following a heart procedure, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-kansas-arkansas-upset-dfbf9716af7de6e346e47c6edeb87277">blew an 8-point halftime lead and lost to Arkansas.</a> Up next: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-ucla-unc-asheville-4c5ead60091b98be87a72ffa91a14e97">No. 2 seed UCLA</a> vs. No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 seed UConn vs. No. 8 seed Arkansas.

Princeton used a late run to earn its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-arizona-princeton-4b28e0acabe2b75ccdbac81d40a6fd66">first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years</a> by ousting No. 2 seed Arizona and then answered any skeptics by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-princeton-missouri-upset-c53ede0847d5669af9fc19e18dab67eb">rolling Missouri</a> to lock in its first Sweet 16 spot in 56 years.

Furman celebrated its first tourney appearance since 1980 with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/furman-virginia-march-madness-upset-1b4e3c5c8b1ce5896eea85ba9fd42761">a win over No. 4 seed Virginia</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1636439857127129088?s=20">a deep 3-pointer by JP Pegues with 2.4 seconds</a>
 left. Then came 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson's win over Purdue as the 22
 1/2-point underdog stifled 7-4 center Zach Edey to advance and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-tournament-umbc-no-1-seeds-march-madness-df6c353dc4ff76ec99278efd69a8b454">join UMBC in the record books.</a>

All that happened before the Razorbacks and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-kansas-arkansas-upset-dfbf9716af7de6e346e47c6edeb87277">shirtless coach Eric Musselman</a> celebrated their win over the Jayhawks.

No. 4 seed Connecticut (27-8) vs. No. 8 seed Arkansas (22-13), Thursday, 7:15 p.m. ET (CBS)

The
 Huskies are returning to the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years,
 and hoping to avoid being the next victim of Arkansas, which ousted 
defending champion Kansas. UConn <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-uconn-saint-marys-5e8ceb98118e29b1f78ef443b790be45">outclassed Saint Mary’s 70-55</a> behind 24 points by Adama Sanogo and timely 3-point shooting.

No. 2 Kansas State (25-9) vs. No. 7 Michigan State (21-12), Thursday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TBS)

Tom Izzo is taking Michigan State to the Sweet 16 for the 15th time and first in four years after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-michigan-state-marquette-izzo-690d24a67256a2bf187353c0bfed577a">a 69-60 victory against No. 2 seed Marquette</a>.
 The victory was the 16th for Izzo in the tournament against a higher 
seed, breaking the record he shared with recently retired Syracuse coach
 Jim Boeheim. At Madison Square Garden, the Spartans will face a Kansas 
State team that was picked to finish last in the Big 12 with a remade 
roster and first-year coach in Jerome Tang. The Wildcats <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-kentucky-kansas-state-e0f322d3422ce45e56ec92d210ea55d8">outlasted Kentucky 75-69</a> behind 27 points by Markquis Nowell.

No. 5 seed San Diego State (29-6) vs. No. 1 seed Alabama (31-5), Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TBS)

The
 Aztecs are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004 and 
have won 11 of their last 13. Balanced scoring carried them to a 
second-round <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-furman-san-diego-state-7fe292dc79cd3e7d2fa2fbd146e1698b">victory against Furman</a>
 and they’ll need more of the same against the Crimson Tide, who handily
 dispatched Maryland in the second round. All-America freshman Brandon 
Miller, who is nursing an injury, had 19 after going scoreless in the 
first round.

No. 3 seed Xavier (27-9) vs. No. 2 seed Texas (28-8), Friday, 9:45 p.m. ET (CBS)

The
 Musketeers are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 
and will face a Longhorns team that hasn’t been there in 15 years. 
Xavier put on a clinic on unselfishness in the first half of its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-pitt-xavier-65b0f41f9dbe4543d4c2bf7859777232">84-73 victory against Pittsburgh</a>, totaling 17 assists on 19 made field goals. The Longhorns made just one 3-pointer in 13 tries in their <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-texas-penn-state-f620fd4217ab3d3c2cd48c73bcbfb3e3">71-66 victory against Penn State,</a> but Dylan Disu had season-high 28-point performance.

The
 SEC and Big Ten led the way by placing eight teams each in the 68-team 
field. Conference USA (Florida Atlantic) and the Ivy League (Princeton) 
each got one team into the tournament and both are still alive. <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-03-19/tracking-2023-march-madness-mens-records-conference">The rest of the leagues can't say that.</a> The records through two rounds:

ACC
 (5 teams made tourney): 5-4. One team left (Miami). American Athletic 
(2): 2-1. One team left (Houston). Big 12 (7): 7-5. Two teams left 
(Kansas State, Texas). Big East (5): 7-2. Three teams left (Creighton, 
UConn, Xavier). Big Ten (8): 6-7. One team left (Michigan State). 
Mountain West (4): 2-3. One team left (San Diego State). Pac-12 (4): 
3-3. One team left (UCLA). SEC (8): 9-5. Three teams left (Alabama, 
Arkansas, Tennessee). West Coast (2): 3-1. One team left (Gonzaga).

Gun violence <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-guns-campus-violence-05a4962cd59264a997b9cdfb5256763f">has cost lives and disrupted college sports all season</a>,
 touching some of the top programs in college basketball, including 
Alabama. Coaches have been thrust into uncertain and unwelcome roles in 
trying to navigate the topic — as well as the fallout from the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-coaches-womens-sports-athletes-46c0f942b76f07427a6effd75a4a54d7">Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.</a>

On a lighter note, if you feel you know March Madness pretty well, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-trivia-ncaa-basketball-262d129aea8867ff0643b439ca9af349">try this 25-question trivia quiz</a> put together by AP.

The NCAA Tournament is filled with great players and the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/all-america-mens-basketball-team-aa5e6381567b1d4732a0f0e17e60036b">AP All-America team</a> is a good place to get familiar with the names. It's also an event where <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-drake-oral-roberts-colgate-asheville-bc17594044376c9e2b2ebbc69c64d44a">guys you've never heard of</a> can take a star turn. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-players-to-watch-dcb64a292147a92e425ca8d162792b5a">Guard play is always going to be important</a> (see: Baylor, 2021 title winner) and there are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-nba-draft-picks-9fe43406a0d09256c7070c39c503805f">some NBA prospects</a> in the mix.

Bet on this, too: Some player — maybe more than one — will have a chance to join <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-social-media-edert-ef5fe8ef3e482d0f36a4d6cc3bdf2b89">the mustachioed Doug Edert</a> (remember Saint Peters' inspiring run last year?) and find a way to cash in on their celebrity.

Every game of the men’s tournament will be aired — <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/mens-final-four/broadcast-info">here is a schedule</a> — either on CBS, TBS, TNT or TruTV and their digital platforms. CBS, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2023-march-madness-tv-schedule-announcers-how-to-watch-ncaa-tournament-tipoff-times-tv-channels-stream/">which also has a handy schedule that includes announcing teams,</a> will handle the Final Four and national title game this year.

The NCAA is streaming games via its <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/watch">March Madness Live</a> option and CBS games are being streamed on <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/">Paramount+</a>. Fans of longtime play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz should soak up every moment: It’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-cbs-jim-nantz-c09aa9f68af918fdc613dfd2e01191a1">his final NCAA Tournament.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-betting-favorite-odds-149e49842f90412a306dcbd1f0279a6c">Who's going to win the national championship?</a>
 The betting favorites to reach the Final Four are (in order, as of 
March 19): Alabama, Houston, UConn, UCLA, Gonzaga and Texas, according 
to <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaab?tab=national-champion">FanDuel Sportsbook.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket">Sweet 16 weekend</a>
 will see games in New York City (East Region), Las Vegas (West), Kansas
 City, Missouri (Midwest), and Louisville, Kentucky (South).

Where
 is the Final Four? In Houston, on April 1, with the championship game 
on April 3. Basketball aficionados, take note: The women’s NCAA 
Tournament will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive up the 
road from Houston.

Can't get enough March Madness? Well, there is talk about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-expansion-57e1cde42df782eaf0883300a45901e1">expanding the tournament</a> despite a host of challenges. Enjoy the 68-team version for now!

Associated Press<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">March Madness</a> is 
heading to the Sweet 16 without a handful of top teams. Two No. 1 seeds,
 Kansas and Purdue, No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 4 seed Virginia are all 
gone — and gone with them are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-ucla-unc-asheville-4c5ead60091b98be87a72ffa91a14e97">millions of busted brackets.</a>It's
 been tough sledding for the bluebloods, too: Besides Kansas, Kentucky, 
Duke and Indiana are all heading home. UCLA's drive for a 12th national 
title remains alive.Here is what to know with the regional semifinals up next at the NCAA Tournament:TOP SEEDS<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-kansas-alabama-12476411b0da681b21df9281a8332196">The top four seeds in the tournament</a> were given to Alabama, Houston, Kansas and Purdue. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-alabama-kansas-fc3932edb7323b0cd5f9db3e1cbb82fe">Each had its share of headaches</a>
 to set up what is proving to be a chaotic tournament. The Boilermakers 
were the first to fall, ousted in a first-round stunner, and the 
Jayhawks followed the very next day.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-east-region-purdue-marquette-8a7c268ac0e763368c602be51359928e">EAST REGION:</a> The Boilermakers got a top seed for the fourth time, but Purdue was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-fairleigh-dickinson-purdue-16-seed-715e3e361344928ea10880dd9a9d8a58">dumped by Fairleigh Dickinson in a near-historic upset.</a>
 and the 2-seed, Marquette, is also gone. Up next: No. 9 seed FAU vs. 
No. 4 seed Tennessee and No. 3 seed Kansas State vs. No. 7 seed Michigan
 State, whose coach <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-michigan-state-marquette-izzo-690d24a67256a2bf187353c0bfed577a">Tom Izzo is heading to his 15th regional.</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-south-bracket-alabama-005db4413ccdad1b00bcd38f879ac5df">SOUTH REGION:</a> Alabama, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-nate-oats-alabama-2738775dfbf0006eee54eb3bca39fdf9">led by coach Nate Oats in a challenging season,</a> got a top seed for the first time behind SEC player of the year Brandon Miller, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brandon-miller-alabama-ncaa-tournament-security-guard-7104ab515dfaf81ae09abf94f0bd3165">who has armed security on hand</a>
 after being the subject of threats. Up next: No. 1 seed Alabama vs. No.
 5 seed San Diego State and No. 6 seed Creighton vs. No. 15 seed <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-princeton-missouri-upset-c53ede0847d5669af9fc19e18dab67eb">Princeton, which is in rare territory</a>.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-midwest-ba5f567eee97af8eb848e229694b8b9b">MIDWEST REGION:</a> Houston got a top seed and won its opener before a rugged victory over Auburn even with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcus-sasser-injury-march-madness-houston-3ed55bfd2e3180e29b015f66a4d92614"></a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-houston-sasser-a327324228d43a8792f496890a5e7bc9">All-American Marcus Sasser hobbled</a> by a groin injury. Up next: No. 1 seed Houston vs. No. 5 seed Miami and No. 2 seed Texas vs. No. 3 seed Xavier.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-kansas-jayhawks-ucla-de98b2f3866d40f3b00d40e59c373b5c">WEST REGION</a>: Kansas, the top-seeded defending national champion that was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-kansas-bill-self-norm-roberts-fbb2c52dc34fa02235d1dbc3177ced01">without coach Bill Self</a> in the tournament following a heart procedure, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-kansas-arkansas-upset-dfbf9716af7de6e346e47c6edeb87277">blew an 8-point halftime lead and lost to Arkansas.</a> Up next: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-ucla-unc-asheville-4c5ead60091b98be87a72ffa91a14e97">No. 2 seed UCLA</a> vs. No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 seed UConn vs. No. 8 seed Arkansas.SHINING MOMENTSThe unforgettable plays are piling up.Princeton used a late run to earn its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ncaa-arizona-princeton-4b28e0acabe2b75ccdbac81d40a6fd66">first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years</a> by ousting No. 2 seed Arizona and then answered any skeptics by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-princeton-missouri-upset-c53ede0847d5669af9fc19e18dab67eb">rolling Missouri</a> to lock in its first Sweet 16 spot in 56 years.Furman celebrated its first tourney appearance since 1980 with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/furman-virginia-march-madness-upset-1b4e3c5c8b1ce5896eea85ba9fd42761">a win over No. 4 seed Virginia</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1636439857127129088?s=20">a deep 3-pointer by JP Pegues with 2.4 seconds</a>
 left. Then came 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson's win over Purdue as the 22
 1/2-point underdog stifled 7-4 center Zach Edey to advance and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-tournament-umbc-no-1-seeds-march-madness-df6c353dc4ff76ec99278efd69a8b454">join UMBC in the record books.</a>All that happened before the Razorbacks and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-kansas-arkansas-upset-dfbf9716af7de6e346e47c6edeb87277">shirtless coach Eric Musselman</a> celebrated their win over the Jayhawks.GAMES TO WATCHNo. 4 seed Connecticut (27-8) vs. No. 8 seed Arkansas (22-13), Thursday, 7:15 p.m. ET (CBS)The
 Huskies are returning to the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years,
 and hoping to avoid being the next victim of Arkansas, which ousted 
defending champion Kansas. UConn <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-uconn-saint-marys-5e8ceb98118e29b1f78ef443b790be45">outclassed Saint Mary’s 70-55</a> behind 24 points by Adama Sanogo and timely 3-point shooting.No. 2 Kansas State (25-9) vs. No. 7 Michigan State (21-12), Thursday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TBS)Tom Izzo is taking Michigan State to the Sweet 16 for the 15th time and first in four years after <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-michigan-state-marquette-izzo-690d24a67256a2bf187353c0bfed577a">a 69-60 victory against No. 2 seed Marquette</a>.
 The victory was the 16th for Izzo in the tournament against a higher 
seed, breaking the record he shared with recently retired Syracuse coach
 Jim Boeheim. At Madison Square Garden, the Spartans will face a Kansas 
State team that was picked to finish last in the Big 12 with a remade 
roster and first-year coach in Jerome Tang. The Wildcats <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-kentucky-kansas-state-e0f322d3422ce45e56ec92d210ea55d8">outlasted Kentucky 75-69</a> behind 27 points by Markquis Nowell.No. 5 seed San Diego State (29-6) vs. No. 1 seed Alabama (31-5), Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET (TBS)The
 Aztecs are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2004 and 
have won 11 of their last 13. Balanced scoring carried them to a 
second-round <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-furman-san-diego-state-7fe292dc79cd3e7d2fa2fbd146e1698b">victory against Furman</a>
 and they’ll need more of the same against the Crimson Tide, who handily
 dispatched Maryland in the second round. All-America freshman Brandon 
Miller, who is nursing an injury, had 19 after going scoreless in the 
first round.No. 3 seed Xavier (27-9) vs. No. 2 seed Texas (28-8), Friday, 9:45 p.m. ET (CBS)The
 Musketeers are heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 
and will face a Longhorns team that hasn’t been there in 15 years. 
Xavier put on a clinic on unselfishness in the first half of its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-pitt-xavier-65b0f41f9dbe4543d4c2bf7859777232">84-73 victory against Pittsburgh</a>, totaling 17 assists on 19 made field goals. The Longhorns made just one 3-pointer in 13 tries in their <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-texas-penn-state-f620fd4217ab3d3c2cd48c73bcbfb3e3">71-66 victory against Penn State,</a> but Dylan Disu had season-high 28-point performance.BRAGGING RIGHTSThe
 SEC and Big Ten led the way by placing eight teams each in the 68-team 
field. Conference USA (Florida Atlantic) and the Ivy League (Princeton) 
each got one team into the tournament and both are still alive. <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-03-19/tracking-2023-march-madness-mens-records-conference">The rest of the leagues can't say that.</a> The records through two rounds:ACC
 (5 teams made tourney): 5-4. One team left (Miami). American Athletic 
(2): 2-1. One team left (Houston). Big 12 (7): 7-5. Two teams left 
(Kansas State, Texas). Big East (5): 7-2. Three teams left (Creighton, 
UConn, Xavier). Big Ten (8): 6-7. One team left (Michigan State). 
Mountain West (4): 2-3. One team left (San Diego State). Pac-12 (4): 
3-3. One team left (UCLA). SEC (8): 9-5. Three teams left (Alabama, 
Arkansas, Tennessee). West Coast (2): 3-1. One team left (Gonzaga).GO DEEPERGun violence <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-guns-campus-violence-05a4962cd59264a997b9cdfb5256763f">has cost lives and disrupted college sports all season</a>,
 touching some of the top programs in college basketball, including 
Alabama. Coaches have been thrust into uncertain and unwelcome roles in 
trying to navigate the topic — as well as the fallout from the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-coaches-womens-sports-athletes-46c0f942b76f07427a6effd75a4a54d7">Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.</a>On a lighter note, if you feel you know March Madness pretty well, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-trivia-ncaa-basketball-262d129aea8867ff0643b439ca9af349">try this 25-question trivia quiz</a> put together by AP.PLAYERS TO WATCHThe NCAA Tournament is filled with great players and the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/all-america-mens-basketball-team-aa5e6381567b1d4732a0f0e17e60036b">AP All-America team</a> is a good place to get familiar with the names. It's also an event where <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-drake-oral-roberts-colgate-asheville-bc17594044376c9e2b2ebbc69c64d44a">guys you've never heard of</a> can take a star turn. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-players-to-watch-dcb64a292147a92e425ca8d162792b5a">Guard play is always going to be important</a> (see: Baylor, 2021 title winner) and there are <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-nba-draft-picks-9fe43406a0d09256c7070c39c503805f">some NBA prospects</a> in the mix.Bet on this, too: Some player — maybe more than one — will have a chance to join <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-social-media-edert-ef5fe8ef3e482d0f36a4d6cc3bdf2b89">the mustachioed Doug Edert</a> (remember Saint Peters' inspiring run last year?) and find a way to cash in on their celebrity.HOW TO WATCHEvery game of the men’s tournament will be aired — <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/mens-final-four/broadcast-info">here is a schedule</a> — either on CBS, TBS, TNT or TruTV and their digital platforms. CBS, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2023-march-madness-tv-schedule-announcers-how-to-watch-ncaa-tournament-tipoff-times-tv-channels-stream/">which also has a handy schedule that includes announcing teams,</a> will handle the Final Four and national title game this year.The NCAA is streaming games via its <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live/watch">March Madness Live</a> option and CBS games are being streamed on <a href="https://www.paramountplus.com/">Paramount+</a>. Fans of longtime play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz should soak up every moment: It’s <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-cbs-jim-nantz-c09aa9f68af918fdc613dfd2e01191a1">his final NCAA Tournament.</a>BETTING GUIDE<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-betting-favorite-odds-149e49842f90412a306dcbd1f0279a6c">Who's going to win the national championship?</a>
 The betting favorites to reach the Final Four are (in order, as of 
March 19): Alabama, Houston, UConn, UCLA, Gonzaga and Texas, according 
to <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaab?tab=national-champion">FanDuel Sportsbook.</a>MARCH MADNESS CALENDAR<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket">Sweet 16 weekend</a>
 will see games in New York City (East Region), Las Vegas (West), Kansas
 City, Missouri (Midwest), and Louisville, Kentucky (South).Where
 is the Final Four? In Houston, on April 1, with the championship game 
on April 3. Basketball aficionados, take note: The women’s NCAA 
Tournament will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive up the 
road from Houston.Can't get enough March Madness? Well, there is talk about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-bracket-expansion-57e1cde42df782eaf0883300a45901e1">expanding the tournament</a> despite a host of challenges. Enjoy the 68-team version for now!

March Madness: Sweet 16 matchups are set after wild weekend

North Platte, Ne - The North Platte FNBO Nationals released their summer baseball schedule Wednesday. The season kicks off on Monday, May 15 at Bill Wood field agains Ogallala. FM 98.1/AM 1410 will again have coverage of most of the Senior Legion games and a few Juniors games. Watch for broadcast schedule to be released soon here on the Post.&nbsp;

<a href="https://nplegionbaseball.leagueapps.com/clubteams/3632193/teams/5993646">Click Here</a> to see full schedule along with Juniors Schedule

Wednesday, May 24 4:30pm - Double Header vs. Scottsbluff

Saturday, May 27 &amp; Sunday, May 28 - Tournament in North Platte

Wednesday, May 31 5pm - Double Header vs. Grand Island

Thursday June 1 - Sunday, June 4 - Rapid City Tournament

Wednesday, June 7 7:30pm&nbsp; - vs. Hastings

Friday, June 9 - Sunday, June 11 - Tournament in Lincoln

Tuesday, June 13 5pm - Double Header vs. Grand Island

Wednesday, June 14 5pm - Double Header at Columbus

Wednesday, June 21 - Sunday, June 25 - Seniors Prep (CSW) Tournament

Friday, June 30 - Sunday, July 2 - Tournament in Cheyenne, Wy

Thursday, July 6 2pm - Double Header at Norfolk

Friday, July 7 - Sunday, July 9 - Tournament in Kearney

Friday, July 14 - Wednesday, July 19 - Districts at Grand Island

Saturday, July 22 - Wednesday, July 26 - State Tournament

North Platte, Ne - The North Platte FNBO Nationals released their summer baseball schedule Wednesday. The season kicks off on Monday, May 15 at Bill Wood field agains Ogallala. FM 98.1/AM 1410 will again have coverage of most of the Senior Legion games and a few Juniors games. Watch for broadcast schedule to be released soon here on the Post.&nbsp;<a href="https://nplegionbaseball.leagueapps.com/clubteams/3632193/teams/5993646">Click Here</a> to see full schedule along with Juniors Schedule<h2>FNBO Seniors Schedule</h2>Monday, May 15 7pm - vs. OgallalaWednesday, May 17 8pm - at LexingtonSunday, May 21 1pm - at McCookTuesday, May 23 7:30pm - vs. KearneyWednesday, May 24 4:30pm - Double Header vs. ScottsbluffSaturday, May 27 &amp; Sunday, May 28 - Tournament in North PlatteTuesday, May 30 7:30pm - vs. HastingsWednesday, May 31 5pm - Double Header vs. Grand IslandThursday June 1 - Sunday, June 4 - Rapid City TournamentTuesday, June 6 7:30pm - vs. HoldregeWednesday, June 7 7:30pm&nbsp; - vs. HastingsFriday, June 9 - Sunday, June 11 - Tournament in LincolnTuesday, June 13 5pm - Double Header vs. Grand IslandWednesday, June 14 5pm - Double Header at ColumbusFriday, June 16 5:30pm - vs. ChadronMonday, June 19 8pm - vs. LexingtonWednesday, June 21 - Sunday, June 25 - Seniors Prep (CSW) TournamentWednesday, June 28 7:30pm - at KearneyFriday, June 30 - Sunday, July 2 - Tournament in Cheyenne, WyThursday, July 6 2pm - Double Header at NorfolkFriday, July 7 - Sunday, July 9 - Tournament in KearneyMonday, July 10 7pm - at OgallalaWednesday, July 12 5pm - at ChadronFriday, July 14 - Wednesday, July 19 - Districts at Grand IslandSaturday, July 22 - Wednesday, July 26 - State Tournament

North Platte FNBO Nationals baseball schedule released

By JENNA EBBERS <a href="https://nebraskanewsservice.net/state/morrill-cheerleader-makes-national-headlines-for-solo-state-performance/">Nebraska News Service</a>

Katrina Kohel traveled over 300 miles
 to represent the Morrill High School Lions at the Nebraska State High 
School Cheer and Dance competition in Grand Island last month – alone.&nbsp;

Kohel, a 17-year-old senior, was the 
lone cheerleader on the mats at the Heartland Event Center in Grand 
Island, representing the school she’s cheered for since she was a 
freshman, a town of just over 900 people in Nebraska’s panhandle.&nbsp;

However, as the tune of Nicki Minaj’s
 Starships set off the first four portions of her Game Day routine, she 
was no longer alone.

Teams from across the state gathered 
to cheer her on as she danced, completed both situational and sideline 
cheers and performed Morrill High’s fight song.

“Pretty much the whole stadium was 
involved in my performance, which was really awesome,” Kohel said. “It 
was exciting. There’s no other way to explain it.”

Kohel’s family in the stands was 
limited, too. Her parents, Scott and Della Kohel were even further east 
in Omaha, coaching and cheering on her twin brother at the state 
wrestling tournament, where they watched her performance on Facebook 
Live.&nbsp;

“I was excited for her to still get 
the opportunity as an individual competitor instead of as a team, but I 
was nervous because she’s not real outspoken a lot of times,” Scott 
Kohel said. “It’s hard to be separated from her accomplishments and not 
be there to celebrate with her.”

Since her performance, Kohel has made
 national headlines for her solo appearance at the state competition, 
being featured in the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/solo-cheerleader-katrina-kohel-nebraska-state-cheer-and-dance-championships-89b8a246">Wall Street Journal</a>, <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/28/hs-cheerleader-competes-solo-in-states-after-entire-squad-quits/">The New York Post</a>, <a href="https://people.com/sports/nebraska-cheerleader-competes-solo-after-teammates-quit/">People Magazine</a>, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/03/02/nebraska-cheerleader-solo-alone/">Washington Post</a> and more.

The cheer squad originally had three 
other girls on it until they all left the team for personal reasons 
around a week and a half before state, leaving only Kohel.&nbsp;

While Kohel said she isn’t normally 
an outgoing person, and despite early self-doubts, she chose to stick 
with it and finish her final cheer season.&nbsp;

“I knew that I had the support behind
 me,” she said. “And I knew that even though it was a long trip, I had 
it, and it was okay.”

Once the other three left, the game 
plan was forced to change. Kohel couldn’t perform the same routine by 
herself – stunts and certain moves had to be removed. With only over a 
week to work with, Kohel woke up at 6:45 a.m. every day leading up to 
the state competition to practice the modified routine with her coach. 
By performance time that Friday evening, she had it down and relied 
purely on muscle memory.&nbsp;

“Once I was actually on the floor 
getting ready to perform, my mind was just blank. It was just pure 
excitement and just knowing that I was ready,” Kohel said. “I could do 
it blindfolded, honestly.”

This was Kohel’s third time competing
 at the state cheer competition, and it was her favorite experience 
there, but not because she did it alone.

“I think it has more to do with the 
fact that I’ve been a cheerleader for so long, and being able to get out
 there one last time just made it that much more special to me,” Kohel 
said. “It wouldn’t have mattered if I was by myself or with my other 
three previous teammates.”

Kohel finished eighth out of 12 teams
 with a score of 77 out of 100 points and made her school proud, 
according to Jessica Stec, the principal at Morrill High.

“I think going out there really 
speaks volumes about the kind of person that she is. And just her 
courage to do something like that by herself,” Stec said. “It’s 
disappointing, for sure, that we didn’t have our squad there. But at the
 same time, that’s not what the focus is. Look what she was able to 
accomplish.”

However, this wasn’t even her first 
event in 24 hours; she competed against South Platte in the sub-district
 basketball game in Ogallala the night before.

Kohel traveled from Morrill to 
Ogallala that Thursday night, losing her last-ever basketball game. 
Shortly following the heartbreak loss, she and her grandparents trekked 
nearly 200 miles to Grand Island for the cheer competition.&nbsp;

“In small schools like this, kids do a
 lot of everything,” Stec said. “I think what Katrina has created here 
is just an opportunity for herself down the road because you don’t see 
many students put forth that much effort into everything the way she 
does.”

Kohel also participates in track and 
choir and played in the school band until the program was cut. After 
graduation this May, Kohel plans to attend the University of Nebraska at
 Kearney to study nursing and join the Air Force.

While her cheer career ended in an unexpected way, she’s happy to have the experience under her belt.

“I was just excited that I didn’t 
have my last opportunity to go to state taken away from me and that I 
was still going to be able to go,” Kohel said.

“Even if you don’t think you can’t do it, just give it a shot. You could surprise yourself,” she said.

Jenna Ebbers is a senior journalism major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678903162124.png" alt="Katrina Kohel, a Morrill High School senior, competed in the Nebraska State Cheer and Dance Competition alone after her fellow teammates quit the team a week and a half prior. COURTESY PHOTO: Donna Wiedeburg" />
 <figcaption>Katrina Kohel, a Morrill High School senior, competed in the Nebraska State Cheer and Dance Competition alone after her fellow teammates quit the team a week and a half prior. COURTESY PHOTO: Donna Wiedeburg</figcaption>
 </figure>By JENNA EBBERS <a href="https://nebraskanewsservice.net/state/morrill-cheerleader-makes-national-headlines-for-solo-state-performance/">Nebraska News Service</a>Katrina Kohel traveled over 300 miles
 to represent the Morrill High School Lions at the Nebraska State High 
School Cheer and Dance competition in Grand Island last month – alone.&nbsp;Kohel, a 17-year-old senior, was the 
lone cheerleader on the mats at the Heartland Event Center in Grand 
Island, representing the school she’s cheered for since she was a 
freshman, a town of just over 900 people in Nebraska’s panhandle.&nbsp;However, as the tune of Nicki Minaj’s
 Starships set off the first four portions of her Game Day routine, she 
was no longer alone.Teams from across the state gathered 
to cheer her on as she danced, completed both situational and sideline 
cheers and performed Morrill High’s fight song.“Pretty much the whole stadium was 
involved in my performance, which was really awesome,” Kohel said. “It 
was exciting. There’s no other way to explain it.”Kohel’s family in the stands was 
limited, too. Her parents, Scott and Della Kohel were even further east 
in Omaha, coaching and cheering on her twin brother at the state 
wrestling tournament, where they watched her performance on Facebook 
Live.&nbsp;“I was excited for her to still get 
the opportunity as an individual competitor instead of as a team, but I 
was nervous because she’s not real outspoken a lot of times,” Scott 
Kohel said. “It’s hard to be separated from her accomplishments and not 
be there to celebrate with her.”Since her performance, Kohel has made
 national headlines for her solo appearance at the state competition, 
being featured in the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/solo-cheerleader-katrina-kohel-nebraska-state-cheer-and-dance-championships-89b8a246">Wall Street Journal</a>, <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/28/hs-cheerleader-competes-solo-in-states-after-entire-squad-quits/">The New York Post</a>, <a href="https://people.com/sports/nebraska-cheerleader-competes-solo-after-teammates-quit/">People Magazine</a>, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/03/02/nebraska-cheerleader-solo-alone/">Washington Post</a> and more.The cheer squad originally had three 
other girls on it until they all left the team for personal reasons 
around a week and a half before state, leaving only Kohel.&nbsp;While Kohel said she isn’t normally 
an outgoing person, and despite early self-doubts, she chose to stick 
with it and finish her final cheer season.&nbsp;“I knew that I had the support behind
 me,” she said. “And I knew that even though it was a long trip, I had 
it, and it was okay.”Once the other three left, the game 
plan was forced to change. Kohel couldn’t perform the same routine by 
herself – stunts and certain moves had to be removed. With only over a 
week to work with, Kohel woke up at 6:45 a.m. every day leading up to 
the state competition to practice the modified routine with her coach. 
By performance time that Friday evening, she had it down and relied 
purely on muscle memory.&nbsp;“Once I was actually on the floor 
getting ready to perform, my mind was just blank. It was just pure 
excitement and just knowing that I was ready,” Kohel said. “I could do 
it blindfolded, honestly.”This was Kohel’s third time competing
 at the state cheer competition, and it was her favorite experience 
there, but not because she did it alone.“I think it has more to do with the 
fact that I’ve been a cheerleader for so long, and being able to get out
 there one last time just made it that much more special to me,” Kohel 
said. “It wouldn’t have mattered if I was by myself or with my other 
three previous teammates.”Kohel finished eighth out of 12 teams
 with a score of 77 out of 100 points and made her school proud, 
according to Jessica Stec, the principal at Morrill High.“I think going out there really 
speaks volumes about the kind of person that she is. And just her 
courage to do something like that by herself,” Stec said. “It’s 
disappointing, for sure, that we didn’t have our squad there. But at the
 same time, that’s not what the focus is. Look what she was able to 
accomplish.”However, this wasn’t even her first 
event in 24 hours; she competed against South Platte in the sub-district
 basketball game in Ogallala the night before.Kohel traveled from Morrill to 
Ogallala that Thursday night, losing her last-ever basketball game. 
Shortly following the heartbreak loss, she and her grandparents trekked 
nearly 200 miles to Grand Island for the cheer competition.&nbsp;“In small schools like this, kids do a
 lot of everything,” Stec said. “I think what Katrina has created here 
is just an opportunity for herself down the road because you don’t see 
many students put forth that much effort into everything the way she 
does.”Kohel also participates in track and 
choir and played in the school band until the program was cut. After 
graduation this May, Kohel plans to attend the University of Nebraska at
 Kearney to study nursing and join the Air Force.While her cheer career ended in an unexpected way, she’s happy to have the experience under her belt.“I was just excited that I didn’t 
have my last opportunity to go to state taken away from me and that I 
was still going to be able to go,” Kohel said.“Even if you don’t think you can’t do it, just give it a shot. You could surprise yourself,” she said.Jenna Ebbers is a senior journalism major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Morrill cheerleader makes national headlines for solo performance

North Platte, Ne - The Mid-Nebraska Activities Conference announced there all conference teams on Tuesday. The MNAC is made up of Anselmo-Merna, Arthur, Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Mullen, Sandhills-Thedford, Sandhills Valley, South Loup and Twin Valley.

1st Team: Clayton Moore, Mullen 12, Max Kostman, Hyannis 12; Kyle Cox, Sandhills-Thedford 10; Cache Gracey, South Loup 11; Trey Connell, South Loup 11; Rylee Anderson, Hyannis 11

2nd Team: Brady Dahlberg, Sandhills-Thedford 11; Blake Lusk, Brady 12; Luke Durfee, Mullen 11; Kyle Kramer, Sandhills Valley 10; Rylie Shirk, Brady 11; Cooper Fay, Cody-Kilgore 11

Honorable Mention: Quinten Myers, Anselmo-Merna 11; Kyle Finney, Mullen 11; Caleb Burnside, Sandhills Valley 12; Kane Delatour, Arthur County 10; Dillon Miller, Brady 12; Cooper Layher, Sandhills Valley 11; Andrew Furrow, Sandhills-Thedford 12; Dakota Storer, Arthur County 12; Wyatt Phillips, Hyannis 12; Waylon McBride, Twin Loup 11; Silas Cool, South Loup 12

1st Team: Dayle Haake, Sandhills-Thedford 11; Ava Pandorf, South Loup 12; Shaylyn Safranek, Anselmo-Merna 12; Jaylen Dimmitt, Sandhills Valley 11; Bryn Schwarz, South Loup 11; Kathryn Folkers, Twin Loup 12

2nd Team: Tenley Rasmussen, Sandhills-Thedford 12; Whitney Jennings, Mullen 12; Elsie Ottun, Twin Loup 12; Makenna Miller, Anselmo-Merna 10; Jaedin Johns, Arthur County 11; Taylor Ross, South Loup 12

Honorable Mention: Elise Golter, Brady 12; Faith Ferguson, Hyannis 9; Alexis Mauler, Twin Loup 12; Abigale Nicholson, Sandhills Valley 11; Jacei Spangler, Arthur County 12; Karley Haake, Sandhills-Thedford 10; Aubree Johnson, Cody-Kilgore 11; Tierston Moore, Mullen 9; Charlsie Teahon, Sandhills-Thedford 11

North Platte, Ne - The Mid-Nebraska Activities Conference announced there all conference teams on Tuesday. The MNAC is made up of Anselmo-Merna, Arthur, Brady, Cody-Kilgore, Hyannis, Mullen, Sandhills-Thedford, Sandhills Valley, South Loup and Twin Valley.<h2>Boys</h2>1st Team: Clayton Moore, Mullen 12, Max Kostman, Hyannis 12; Kyle Cox, Sandhills-Thedford 10; Cache Gracey, South Loup 11; Trey Connell, South Loup 11; Rylee Anderson, Hyannis 112nd Team: Brady Dahlberg, Sandhills-Thedford 11; Blake Lusk, Brady 12; Luke Durfee, Mullen 11; Kyle Kramer, Sandhills Valley 10; Rylie Shirk, Brady 11; Cooper Fay, Cody-Kilgore 11Honorable Mention: Quinten Myers, Anselmo-Merna 11; Kyle Finney, Mullen 11; Caleb Burnside, Sandhills Valley 12; Kane Delatour, Arthur County 10; Dillon Miller, Brady 12; Cooper Layher, Sandhills Valley 11; Andrew Furrow, Sandhills-Thedford 12; Dakota Storer, Arthur County 12; Wyatt Phillips, Hyannis 12; Waylon McBride, Twin Loup 11; Silas Cool, South Loup 12<h2>Girls</h2>1st Team: Dayle Haake, Sandhills-Thedford 11; Ava Pandorf, South Loup 12; Shaylyn Safranek, Anselmo-Merna 12; Jaylen Dimmitt, Sandhills Valley 11; Bryn Schwarz, South Loup 11; Kathryn Folkers, Twin Loup 122nd Team: Tenley Rasmussen, Sandhills-Thedford 12; Whitney Jennings, Mullen 12; Elsie Ottun, Twin Loup 12; Makenna Miller, Anselmo-Merna 10; Jaedin Johns, Arthur County 11; Taylor Ross, South Loup 12Honorable Mention: Elise Golter, Brady 12; Faith Ferguson, Hyannis 9; Alexis Mauler, Twin Loup 12; Abigale Nicholson, Sandhills Valley 11; Jacei Spangler, Arthur County 12; Karley Haake, Sandhills-Thedford 10; Aubree Johnson, Cody-Kilgore 11; Tierston Moore, Mullen 9; Charlsie Teahon, Sandhills-Thedford 11

MNAC All Conference Basketball teams announced

The weather is wreaking havoc on playing time for the North Platte Community College Knights softball team.

The doubleheader originally planned for Wednesday in Beatrice has been moved to North Platte. It will begin at 1 p.m. at the Dowhower Softball Complex.&nbsp;

Thursday and Friday’s games in Kansas City have been canceled.

Information about the Sunday game against Cloud County Community College will be posted on the Knights Facebook and Twitter accounts and online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/">npccknights.com</a>&nbsp;as it becomes available.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MPCCThe weather is wreaking havoc on playing time for the North Platte Community College Knights softball team.The doubleheader originally planned for Wednesday in Beatrice has been moved to North Platte. It will begin at 1 p.m. at the Dowhower Softball Complex.&nbsp;Thursday and Friday’s games in Kansas City have been canceled.Information about the Sunday game against Cloud County Community College will be posted on the Knights Facebook and Twitter accounts and online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/">npccknights.com</a>&nbsp;as it becomes available.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Knights softball moves/cancels games due to weather

North Platte, Ne - The South Platte Valley Association announced it's All Conference Basketball teams on Tuesday. The SPVA consists of Bridgeport, Chase County, Hershey, Kimball, Perkins County, North Platte Saint Patrick's, and Sutherland.&nbsp;Nominees are voted on by Head Coaches (and coaches cannot vote for players on their own teams).

1st Team: Kade Anderson, Chase County Senior; Brecken Erickson, NP St. Pat's Junior; Cooper Hill, Hershey Junior; Kyler Lusche, Kimball Sophomore; Kolby Lussetto, Bridgeport Junior

2nd Team: Zarek Branch, NP St. Pat's Senior; Blake Garner, Perkins County Junior; Will Moats, NP St. Pat's Senior; Gage Nein, Bridgeport Freshman; Kellen Spearman, Hershey Sophomore

Honorable Mention: Andrew Brosius, NP St. Pat's Senior; Nolan Foster, Perkins County Junior; Jensen Olsen, Chase County Junior; Brandon Paxton, Kimball, Junior; Sam Troshynski, NP St. Pat's Junior; Jackson Wykert, Perkins County Sophomore

1st Team: Tonja Heirigs, NP St. Pat's Senior; Olivia Loomis-Goltl, Bridgeport Junior; Ruthie Loomis-Goltl, Bridgeport Senior; Bryn McNair, Chase County Senior; Kailee Potts, Perkins County Junior

2nd Team: Alex Beveridge, Hershey Sophomore; Emma Hall, Hershey Junior; Brooklyn Mohrman, Bridgeport Junior; Ella Schluterbusch, Bridgeport Freshman; Tahlia Steinbeck, Hershey Senior

Honorable Mention: Michalee Brownawell, Hershey Senior; Libby Cole, Perkins County Sophomore; Reese Fleck, NP St. Pat's Sophomore; Carlie Homan, Perkins County Senior; Mackenzie Liakos, Bridgeport, Senior; Landree McNair, Chase County Sophomore; Story Rasby, Sutherland Sophomore; Olivia Spady, Chase County Sophomore

North Platte, Ne - The South Platte Valley Association announced it's All Conference Basketball teams on Tuesday. The SPVA consists of Bridgeport, Chase County, Hershey, Kimball, Perkins County, North Platte Saint Patrick's, and Sutherland.&nbsp;Nominees are voted on by Head Coaches (and coaches cannot vote for players on their own teams).<h2>Boys</h2>1st Team: Kade Anderson, Chase County Senior; Brecken Erickson, NP St. Pat's Junior; Cooper Hill, Hershey Junior; Kyler Lusche, Kimball Sophomore; Kolby Lussetto, Bridgeport Junior2nd Team: Zarek Branch, NP St. Pat's Senior; Blake Garner, Perkins County Junior; Will Moats, NP St. Pat's Senior; Gage Nein, Bridgeport Freshman; Kellen Spearman, Hershey SophomoreHonorable Mention: Andrew Brosius, NP St. Pat's Senior; Nolan Foster, Perkins County Junior; Jensen Olsen, Chase County Junior; Brandon Paxton, Kimball, Junior; Sam Troshynski, NP St. Pat's Junior; Jackson Wykert, Perkins County Sophomore<h2>Girls</h2>1st Team: Tonja Heirigs, NP St. Pat's Senior; Olivia Loomis-Goltl, Bridgeport Junior; Ruthie Loomis-Goltl, Bridgeport Senior; Bryn McNair, Chase County Senior; Kailee Potts, Perkins County Junior2nd Team: Alex Beveridge, Hershey Sophomore; Emma Hall, Hershey Junior; Brooklyn Mohrman, Bridgeport Junior; Ella Schluterbusch, Bridgeport Freshman; Tahlia Steinbeck, Hershey SeniorHonorable Mention: Michalee Brownawell, Hershey Senior; Libby Cole, Perkins County Sophomore; Reese Fleck, NP St. Pat's Sophomore; Carlie Homan, Perkins County Senior; Mackenzie Liakos, Bridgeport, Senior; Landree McNair, Chase County Sophomore; Story Rasby, Sutherland Sophomore; Olivia Spady, Chase County Sophomore<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here is the SPVA all conference basketball teams. Congratulations to the players selected by coaches of the association! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SPVA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SPVA</a> <a href="https://t.co/pyXmBeUFyl">pic.twitter.com/pyXmBeUFyl</a>&mdash; SPVA (@SPVAconference) <a href="https://twitter.com/SPVAconference/status/1635685182823866368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

SPVA announces All Conference Basketball Teams

NORTH PLATTE — Matt Kaminski, head basketball coach of North Platte High School announced via social media Monday evening that he is stepping down as head coach. 

"I've recently made the decision to stop down as head boys basketball coach at NPHS. It is the right time for a change in responsibility for me personally. Aside from family, my life has been basketball &amp; I'm so grateful for the opportunities, experiences, &amp; relationships this game has given me. A genuine &amp; heartfelt THANK YOU to all former players &amp; coaches I've competed with &amp; against the last 12 years. It's all been so rewarding &amp; meaningful to me. Go Dawgs!"

North Platte PostNORTH PLATTE — Matt Kaminski, head basketball coach of North Platte High School announced via social media Monday evening that he is stepping down as head coach. "I've recently made the decision to stop down as head boys basketball coach at NPHS. It is the right time for a change in responsibility for me personally. Aside from family, my life has been basketball &amp; I'm so grateful for the opportunities, experiences, &amp; relationships this game has given me. A genuine &amp; heartfelt THANK YOU to all former players &amp; coaches I've competed with &amp; against the last 12 years. It's all been so rewarding &amp; meaningful to me. Go Dawgs!"<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678758667177.jpeg" alt="NPHS boys basketball coach Matt Kaminski" />
 <figcaption>NPHS boys basketball coach Matt Kaminski</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/REwOMssbWD">pic.twitter.com/REwOMssbWD</a>&mdash; Matt Kaminski (@BigKat335) <a href="https://twitter.com/BigKat335/status/1635442646763053062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Kaminski steps down as North Platte boys basketball head coach

NEW YORK, New York-The blockbuster trade that would send future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets is reportedly a “done” deal, according to Trey Wingo.

Wingo&nbsp;<a href="https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/07/report-packers-qb-aaron-rodgers-talks-with-jets-is-open-to-playing-in-new-york/">first reported</a>&nbsp;the conversations taking place between Rodgers and the Jets last week.

Appearing live on NFL Network following the report, insider Ian Rapoport said a deal is “not done” and “nothing has happened,” refuting Wingo’s report. Colleague Mike Garafolo’s reporting echoed Rapoport’s during the same NFL Network segment.

A completed trade between the Jets and Packers ending Rodgers’ 18-year run in Green Bay would mirror the trade that once ended Brett Favre’s career with the franchise in 2008.

It’s unclear what compensation would be coming to the Packers or how the two teams adjusted Rodgers’ contract to make it all work.

A trade of Rodgers would clear the path for Jordan Love to be the Packers’ new starting quarterback in 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678736437138.png" alt="Rogers via Packers Wire" />
 <figcaption>Rogers via Packers Wire</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK, New York-The blockbuster trade that would send future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets is reportedly a “done” deal, according to Trey Wingo.Wingo&nbsp;<a href="https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/07/report-packers-qb-aaron-rodgers-talks-with-jets-is-open-to-playing-in-new-york/">first reported</a>&nbsp;the conversations taking place between Rodgers and the Jets last week.But Wingo is out there on his own.Appearing live on NFL Network following the report, insider Ian Rapoport said a deal is “not done” and “nothing has happened,” refuting Wingo’s report. Colleague Mike Garafolo’s reporting echoed Rapoport’s during the same NFL Network segment.The wait continues.A completed trade between the Jets and Packers ending Rodgers’ 18-year run in Green Bay would mirror the trade that once ended Brett Favre’s career with the franchise in 2008.It’s unclear what compensation would be coming to the Packers or how the two teams adjusted Rodgers’ contract to make it all work.A trade of Rodgers would clear the path for Jordan Love to be the Packers’ new starting quarterback in 2023.

🏈 NFL: Conflicting reports on completed trade sending Aaron Rodgers to Jets

LINCOLN — The Post area started the week with five area boys basketball teams representing the area in Lincoln for the NSAA Boys State Basketball tournament. Four remain, three of those playing for two spots in Saturday's D1 state championship game. North Platte St. Pat's plays Dundy County-Stratton at 9am at Devany&nbsp; Center Friday morning, followed by Maywood-Hayes Center at 10:45am right after that game. St Pat's defeated DCS 65-60 earlier in the season. 

If Maywood-Hayes Center should win today and play either NPSP's or DCS, that would be a rematch also. May/Hay lost to North Platte St. Pat's in there subdistrict final 39-40, and defeated DCS three times during the regular season by a combined fifteen points.&nbsp;

In Class C1, Ogallala (27-0) will play Ashland-Greenwood, a rematch from last years state quarterfinal game with AG won, going on to win the C1 state title. You can listen to the Ogallala game at 9:45am Mountain Time on <a href="https://z935country.com/">Z93.5 Country</a> from Pinnacle Bank Arena. Kwik Stop pregame will begin on the radio at 9:25am Mountain Time.

North Platte PostLINCOLN — The Post area started the week with five area boys basketball teams representing the area in Lincoln for the NSAA Boys State Basketball tournament. Four remain, three of those playing for two spots in Saturday's D1 state championship game. North Platte St. Pat's plays Dundy County-Stratton at 9am at Devany&nbsp; Center Friday morning, followed by Maywood-Hayes Center at 10:45am right after that game. St Pat's defeated DCS 65-60 earlier in the season. If Maywood-Hayes Center should win today and play either NPSP's or DCS, that would be a rematch also. May/Hay lost to North Platte St. Pat's in there subdistrict final 39-40, and defeated DCS three times during the regular season by a combined fifteen points.&nbsp;In Class C1, Ogallala (27-0) will play Ashland-Greenwood, a rematch from last years state quarterfinal game with AG won, going on to win the C1 state title. You can listen to the Ogallala game at 9:45am Mountain Time on <a href="https://z935country.com/">Z93.5 Country</a> from Pinnacle Bank Arena. Kwik Stop pregame will begin on the radio at 9:25am Mountain Time.<div><iframe title="Ogallala Basketball Highlights vs Central City (March 8, 2023)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=36wcn-13b15a8-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678454805654.jpeg" alt="NSAA Boys Semifinal Bracket 2023" />
 <figcaption>NSAA Boys Semifinal Bracket 2023</figcaption>
 </figure>

Boys State Basketball semi-finals: Irish, Tigers, Wolves, Indians still in it

The North Platte Community College Knights softball game originally planned for Wednesday in Norfolk against Northeast Community College has been postponed due to weather.

 A reschedule date has yet to be determined.

The North Platte Community College Knights softball game originally planned for Wednesday in Norfolk against Northeast Community College has been postponed due to weather. A reschedule date has yet to be determined.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMPCCNorthPlatte%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02kpYJmReAg3gFZAiLvukYTJuGpwNaPMXLmP5jRD8kRvpZUNsAHLMD3PZuXCV2Xy9ql&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="413" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Knights softball game postponed due to weather

Columbus, Neb. –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/ijeh_fumnanya_kmhm">Fumnanya Ijeh</a>&nbsp;paced three Knights players in double figures, as North Platte upset Central Community College in the opening round of the Region IX postseason tournament on Wednesday night inside the Raider Fieldhouse, winning 64-57.

"We did a great job of limiting the Raiders offense in the fourth quarter," said head coach Jeff Thurman. "Our guard play generated opportunities for others to get involved and that was the difference in the game."

Ijeh's 22 points notches her fourteenth double digit performance of the season, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/halley_reece_i7j8">Reece Halley</a>&nbsp;(12) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/grigsby_jada_655l">Jada Grigsby</a>&nbsp;(11) rounded out the North Platte players in double digits.

As a team, North Platte finished the game shooting 44.6 percent (25-56) from the floor, while knocking down 12-of-15 from the free throw line. The black and gold won the rebounding battle, 36-32, including doubling up the Raiders 10-5 in the final quarter.

Central led 19-16 at the end of the opening quarter after showcasing their perimeter shooting offense. North Platte reversed the momentum in the second quarter by outscoring the Raiders 15-7 to take a five-point lead into the locker room.

North Platte saw their lead vanish late in the third quarter, as Central used an 11-2 run to steal back the momentum. The Knights responded by putting together their best quarter of the season to erase a six-point deficit in the final quarter.

Trailing 47-41, the Knights quickly erased the margin and retook the lead on a layup by Halley. Teams traded the lead over the next four minutes, before North Platte retook the lead for the final time after back-to-back baskets from Grigbsy and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/haynes_remie_fx0h">Remie Haynes</a>.

A turnover cut the margin to one inside the closing minute, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/riggles_samantha_g7ch">Samantha Riggles</a>&nbsp;received the ball on the baseline and fought through the contact to finish the layup and stretch the lead to 60-57. Despite the margin being within one possession, Central struggled to find their offensive rhythm which forced the Knights to earn the win at the free throw line. Halley and Ijeh stepped to the line and knocked down all four attempts to secure the come from behind win.

Columbus, Neb. –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/ijeh_fumnanya_kmhm">Fumnanya Ijeh</a>&nbsp;paced three Knights players in double figures, as North Platte upset Central Community College in the opening round of the Region IX postseason tournament on Wednesday night inside the Raider Fieldhouse, winning 64-57."We did a great job of limiting the Raiders offense in the fourth quarter," said head coach Jeff Thurman. "Our guard play generated opportunities for others to get involved and that was the difference in the game."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1677764227573.jpeg" alt="Mariah Gardner NPCC Women&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Mariah Gardner NPCC Women&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Ijeh's 22 points notches her fourteenth double digit performance of the season, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/halley_reece_i7j8">Reece Halley</a>&nbsp;(12) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/grigsby_jada_655l">Jada Grigsby</a>&nbsp;(11) rounded out the North Platte players in double digits.As a team, North Platte finished the game shooting 44.6 percent (25-56) from the floor, while knocking down 12-of-15 from the free throw line. The black and gold won the rebounding battle, 36-32, including doubling up the Raiders 10-5 in the final quarter.Central led 19-16 at the end of the opening quarter after showcasing their perimeter shooting offense. North Platte reversed the momentum in the second quarter by outscoring the Raiders 15-7 to take a five-point lead into the locker room.North Platte saw their lead vanish late in the third quarter, as Central used an 11-2 run to steal back the momentum. The Knights responded by putting together their best quarter of the season to erase a six-point deficit in the final quarter.Trailing 47-41, the Knights quickly erased the margin and retook the lead on a layup by Halley. Teams traded the lead over the next four minutes, before North Platte retook the lead for the final time after back-to-back baskets from Grigbsy and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/haynes_remie_fx0h">Remie Haynes</a>.A turnover cut the margin to one inside the closing minute, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/bios/riggles_samantha_g7ch">Samantha Riggles</a>&nbsp;received the ball on the baseline and fought through the contact to finish the layup and stretch the lead to 60-57. Despite the margin being within one possession, Central struggled to find their offensive rhythm which forced the Knights to earn the win at the free throw line. Halley and Ijeh stepped to the line and knocked down all four attempts to secure the come from behind win.The Knights (9-20) punched their ticket to their third straight Region IX championship and will take on Southeast Community College on Saturday in Beatrice. The game will be broadcast on FM 98.1 / AM 1410.<a href="https://www.npccknights.com/sports/wbkb/2022-23/releases/20230301z8579y">More on this story.</a>