Jock Talk

Talk of the town, or of the state and maybe of the nation right now in college basketball is none other than our very own Mike Daum of Kimball. The Kimball High grad is really drawing the attention of all the so-called experts who are raving about his abilities and his accomplishments. His latest top achievement was leading his South Dakota State University team to the Summit League Conference Tournament title, which puts the Jack Rabbits back into the Big Dance.

I hope you fans got to watch him in action in that conference title game where he scored 37 points and 14 of 24 from the field, plus pulling 12 rebounds in leading his team to a 79-77 win over Omaha. Of course, he was named MVP of the tournament! He is the Summit League Player of the Year. He is averaging over 25 points a game, which is second best in the nation. He scored 51 points in a single game, the best of the season in Division One play. He has been on ESPN at least a couple of times. The NBA scouts are singing his praise. And through all of this, he remains his humble self. Our Big Mike from Kimball, Nebraska. When the Chamber of Commerce hands out their awards this year, please consider Big Mike for your top award. He as certainly made the nation aware of where Kimball, Nebraska is.

Now get ready to watch Big Mike and the Jacks in action today (Thursday) at 12 noon, our time, on TBS on your TV stations. SDSU is a number 16 seed and they go up against number one seed Gonzaga, picked by many to play for the National Championship, but you never know. That’s why we play the games. For certain, Big Mike will give it his best shot and make us all proud, regardless of the outcome. GO JACKS!

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Congrats to both Alliance and Scottsbluff for their strong play in the Nebraska Boy’s State Basketball Tournament this past week. Scottsbluff played for the Class B State Championship and came up just short, losing to defending champs Gretna 55-53. These same two teams played in the title game last year and Gretna won out then also. I hope you were able to watch the game on TV if you didn’t make it down to Lincoln. I had to borrow my daughter’s TV in town as we don’t get NET out here in the country, but what a game. The Bearcats made Western Nebraska proud.

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As the Winter Sports season closes out, Conference awards are being announce dand the Western Trails Conference announced their All Conference selections this week.

In wrestling they awarded two all conference awards in all of the weight classes, plus honorable mentions. Kimball had two all conference wrestlers in sophomore Jordan Cluff at 106 pounds and senior Eric Escajeda at 285. Trevor Ryschon, a sophomore, at 120 was honorable mention.

A total of 12 girls were named All Conference in basketball with both of the Reader sisters making the all conference team, Alex as a junior and Kate as a sophomore. Honorable mention went to seniors Alexis Lulf and Jannel Fiehtner.

Josie Perez of Gordon-Rushville, a senior who has signed to play at WNCC in Scottsbluff, was named MVP of the season.

Kimball had one player named to the Boy’s All Conference team, consisting of 10 players. Senior Jaden Withrow made the All Conference team while senior Brandon Barker and sophomore Izaac Reuter were given honorable mention. Gordon-Rushville also had the MVP in the boy’s division in junior Jared Nelson.

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The MAC All Conference Basketball teams have also been announced and the Potter-Dix girls, with their state qualifying team, had three girls on the first team, including Alexus Rozelle, Dawson Sharman and Audrey Juelfs along with honorable mention Trinity Langley. Banner County had MaKenna Dahlgrin on the first team and Jadyn Cross honorable mention.

In the boy’s division, Banner County’s Payton Wick was named to the second team, and Potter-Dix had Dylan Nielsen given honorable mention.

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A couple of notifications of events taking place this week. The school calendar shows this summer’s little league registration will be held tonight (Thursday, March 16) at the Kimball High School student center from 6: 30 to 7:30 p.m.

The state shooting being hosted by the Kimball Shooting Club will be held this Friday and Saturday in both gyms at the Kimball High School. Also, the Kimball High Track team will get the season underway this Saturday by taking part in the Chadron State College indoor meet with a 9 a.m. start time.