Ward senior Yaneli Jacinto (23) drove past Tonganoxie freshman Morgan Brusven (13) on Thursday night. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Bishop Ward Lady Cyclones lost at home to Tonganoxie on Thursday night, 35-23.
Ward got in a hole early, 15-4 after the first quarter. The Cyclone guards were unable to penetrate to the basket and took contested shots against the taller Chieftain defenders.
Tonganoxie played patiently on the offensive end, reversing the ball to find an opening for a baseline drive or open shooter on the wing. The Chieftains hit five three-pointers in the game.
Ward played nearly even with Tonganoxie through the remainder of the game, but couldn’t close the early deficit.
Tonganoxie sophomore Lauren Gray led the scoring with 16 points, and was dominant on defensive rebounds, rarely allowing a second-chance shot. Ward sophomore Estephania Tapia posted 9 for the Lady Cyclones, 6 of them in the final quarter.
Tonganoxie’s win improves its record to 3-8 in the Kaw Valley League and 5-13 overall. Tonganoxie will play on Tuesday evening at Bonner Springs. Ward falls to 0-10 in the league (2-16 overall). The Cyclones will play host to Piper at Kansas City Kansas Community College on Tuesday.
Tonganoxie sophomore Lauren Gray (25) pulled down a defensive rebound over Ward sophomore Marissa Brennan (5). (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Ward sophomore Estephania Tapia (12) found plenty of resistance as she drove into the lane for a short jumper. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)The Bishop Ward cheerleaders performed stunts during a break in the action. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Ward sophomore Aliana Rodriguez (35) put up a short baseline jumper. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Ward freshman Vanessa Otero (31) attempted a contested shot in the lane. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Estephania Tapia drove along the baseline looking for a shot inside. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Ward freshman Rachel Cisneros (34) dribbled the ball at the top of the circle. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Tonganoxie junior Taylor Knipp (23) knocked away a shot from Estephania Tapia but was called for a foul on the play. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)Lauren Gray secured one of her many defensive rebounds. (Photo copyright 2018 by Brian Turrel)
National Weather Service graphic
Temperatures on Friday have fallen 40 degrees from Thursday. The temperature was 26 at 8 a.m. Friday, and expected to rise to only 37 today, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Temperatures will quickly rise on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
The weekend will start cold, with a 20 percent chance of snow on Saturday morning, followed by a high of 55 on Saturday and 60-degree weather on Sunday, the weather service said.
Tonight, according to the weather service, the low will be around 28 with a southeast wind of 5 to 7 mph.
Saturday, there will be a 20 percent chance of snow showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers between 9 a.m. and noon, the weather service said. The high will be near 55 with a south wind of 8 to 14 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon, and gusting as high as 18 mph.
Saturday night, the low will be around 32 with a light and variable wind changing to south southeast 5 to 9 mph after midnight, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be sunny with a high near 60, the weather service said. A south wind of 10 to 18 mph will gust as high as 28 mph.
Sunday night, there is a slight chance of showers, then a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorm after midnight, according to the weather service. The low will be around 49. New rainfall amounts expected are less than a tenth of an inch.
Monday, Presidents Day, there will be a 50 percent chance of showers with a high of 65, the weather service said.
Monday night, there will be a 40 percent chance of rain showers before 2 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers before 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., followed by a chance of snow showers after 3 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 28.
Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of snow showers before noon, with a high near 36, the weather service said.
Tuesday night, the low will be around 18, with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, the high will be near 38 with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said.
Wednesday night, the low will be around 23, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 46, the weather service said.
Sporting Kansas City has signed 23-year-old goalkeeper Eric Dick and 22-year-old defender Graham Smith, the club announced on Thursday.
Dick and Smith, who joined Sporting KC in the first round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft last month, have both signed one-year contracts with options for 2019, 2020 and 2021.
“Eric and Graham are two players who have made good impressions since joining our club for the preseason,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. “Eric has a lot of qualities that we look for in a goalkeeper, while Graham gives us additional depth along the backline. We look forward to working with both of them as they continue to integrate into the team.”
“This is a dream come true,” Dick said. “I’m very excited to compete at the next level and join a great goalkeeping unit, team and coaching staff. I hope to repay the faith they’ve shown in me going forward.”
“I’m extremely excited to start my professional career in Kansas City,” Smith said. “Everything I’ve seen so far leads me to believe this is a first-class organization, and I can’t wait to start the season with my new teammates and coaches.”
Dick made his preseason debut for Sporting KC on Jan. 27, contributing to a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids, while Smith featured in each of the club’s three exhibition wins during the first leg of the 2018 preseason, presented by Children’s Mercy.
Dick, the 13th overall pick in the SuperDraft, was a four-year starter at Butler University in Indianapolis. As a senior last fall, he was named the 2017 Big East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and received United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American honors. He ended his college career with 28 shutouts and a 0.96 goals against average across 71 starts.
Born in Roeland Park, Kansas, Dick led Butler to the 2016 Big East Championship and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances over his last two seasons. He compiled a 27-10-4 record over his junior and senior campaigns, landing First Team All-Big East Conference accolades in 2017.
At the youth level, Dick played for the Indiana Fire Academy and attended Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, where he was a two-time All-District and All-County performer.
Smith split his four-year college career between Oregon State University (2014-15) and the University of Denver (2016-17). The versatile defender started all 80 appearances at the NCAA Division I level, registering six goals and seven assists in his final two seasons with the Denver Pioneers.
A native of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Smith was teammates with current Sporting KC forward Khiry Shelton during his freshman campaign at Oregon State. He assisted three goals in 38 matches for the Beavers, helping the side reach the NCAA Tournament in 2014.
Upon transferring to Denver in 2016, Smith helped the Pioneers reach the Men’s College Cup for the first time in program history.
He split time between the holding midfield and center back positions, serving as the anchor of a defense that notched a 0.52 goals against average in 2016 and a 0.71 goals against average in 2017. As a senior, Smith was a United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team selection and a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
