— Sports Corner —

March Madness set to begin

?This coming Sunday is Selection Sunday. That is when they pick the 65 teams for the NCAA Tournament. Barring an unforseen event, the 29-2 Kansas Jayhawks should get the overall number-one seed in the tournament
The Hawks should lead what most likely will be the most ever teams to be picked from the “Big 12.” The conference has to be one of, if not the best in all of Division One conferences this year.
The Big 12 should get seven teams in this year, if not, there is no justice. Kansas should be a number one for sure, then Kansas State, a two or three seed. Baylor could also be a two or three with Texas A&M, Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma State coming in there as well.
The Wildcats looked to be a strong number two until they were upset last Saturday by Iowa State in overtime. They still should be no worse than a three. They have a very good team for sure. Of course, a lot of the picks can be changed when the conference tournaments end this weekend.
Should one of the teams in the Big 12 get an early exit, it could change where and who would get bids.
The old Dago believes the Jayhawks will be one of the four number one seeds, for sure. The other number one seeds should be Kentucky, Syracuse and either Duke, Purdue or Ohio State. We shall see.
Once the bracket is announced, it brings about what is called March Madness. There will be pick-the-winner brackets all over.
Next to the Super Bowl and World Series, the NCAA Tournament is one of the most watched sporting events every year. In fact, there is about as much mania going on as the Super Bowl. It does provide a lot of excitement for sure.
So, enjoy, as there will be buzzer beaters, overtimes and upsets from start to finish. Isn’t it great?
Now if the Jayhawks play the way they are capable, they can add another National Championship flag to the rafters at the “Phog.”
Watch for the Dago’s picks next week.

State Bound

Members of the Northwest Winds basketball team are Special Olympics-bound March 18-20 in Hays. These people served by Prairie Developmental Center are some the most faithful and enthusiastic Buffalo athletics fans. So in the next week, as they prepare for their trip, they need the same encouragement they put forth at every home game
GO NORTHWEST WINDS!!

Oakley ends Buffalos' season

?The Rawlins County boys had their season come to an end last week in Oakley. The Plainsmen beat the Buffs 56-64 in the opening round of sub-state play.
The score was 13-18 after one quarter and 23-34 at the half.
“The Buffalos played well,” Coach Jeff Lankas said.”We were only down by 11 at halftime. We came out great in the third quarter.”
The Buffs hit 22 of 44 shots from the field for 50 percent, and were 8 of 14 for 57 percent at the line. They had a very good 40 percent from 3-point land, going 4 of 10.
Keaton Argabright torched the nets with 21 points. Brandon Rutherford kept them hot with 20 points. Jayce Cook added 8; Blake Bergling 4; and Collin Clark had 3 points in the game.
Argabright snared 9 rebounds; Bergling 8; Rutherford 6 rebounds: Bergling and Cook had 2 each. Rutherford had 3 steals.
The game closed the high school careers for three seniors: Jayce Cook, Tyler Rall and Max Mickunas.

Lady Buffs' season ends

?The Rawlins County girls saw their season come to an end in the semi-final game of sub-state play. Top-seeded Hill City beat them 44-53.

Lacrosse

The ladies won the opener as they hosted Lacrosse last Monday and won 53-32.
“We finally came out strong and had a very good first quarter,” Coach John Terry said.
The girls opened up with a 19-7 lead and led 31-9 at the half.
The Buffs hit 19 of 53 from the field for 36 percent. They were only 11 of 23 at the line for 48 percent.
Top scorer was Hillary Chvatal with 17 points. Emily Chessmore chipped in 15 points.
“Emily was hot as she hit four three-pointers in the game,” Terry said.
Other scoring came from Jordan Mizer with 7 points; Whitney Green 6; Jill Bergling, Shelby Castens and Abbey Wolters all had 2 apiece. Summer Castens had 1 point.
Chvatal and Mizer soared for 10 rebounds each, and Green grabbed 6 boards. Bergling had 7 thefts. Audrey Basgall led in assists with 4.

Hill City

“We got a rematch with Hill City from last year’s sub-state,” Terry said. “We were hoping for a different outcome, but it ended up with the same result.”
The Lady Ringnecks had a 19-2 record coming into the game, and they won this one 44-53.
The Lady Buffs had a red-hot Chvatal score 29 points, as she hit 13 of 20 from the field and 3 of 4 at the line. She also flew to grab 18 rebounds and blocked 2 shots.
Mizer added 13 points and snared 9 rebounds. Green added 2 points.
Basgall dished out 7 assists while Bergling and Mizer dished out 4 each.

Kid Wrestling

Hays Western Classic
March 6

?Nineteen wrestlers from Atwood went to Hays for this tournament. The Western Classic is one of the biggest available to Northwest Kansas kids.
It hosts almost 1,200 wrestlers. The following list of only those who placed.
18 and under– Cody Green, 2nd; Lance Finley, 2nd; Taylor Carroll, 3rd.
12 and under – Austin Reuber, 2nd; Rhett Mizer, 3rd.
Six years and under – Cyrus Green, 3rd
Sub-district will be held in WaKeeney March 13. Wrestlers must place in the top four to go on to districts.

Letters of Intent

?James Remley signed his letter of intent to play football at Dodge City Community College. His mother, Jackie, was on hand for the signing.

?Anthony Vrbas signed his letter of intent to play football for Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Alva, Okla. He was accompanied by his parents, Mark and Jeanne Vrbas.

?Dagan Holliman, in the company of his parents Don and Nikki and Rawlins County Athletic Director Scott Noble, signed his commitment to attend and play football for Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Alva, Okla.

Argabright receives nomination

?Bradley Argabright has been nominated to the 2010 McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Team. The 6-foot guard is one of 2,500 nominees, of which 28 are from Kansas high schools. Argabright averages 17 points per game and leads the Olpe Eagles in scoring, rebounding, steals, and assists. His parents are Michael and Carla Argabright of Olpe, Kan. He is the grandson of Dal and Connie Argabright of Atwood.

Letter of intent

?Alix Richards signed a national letter of intent for track and field with Colorado State University. Richards will compete in discus, shot put and hammer at CSU. A senior at Shawnee Mission South High School, she is the daughter of former Atwood residents Rick and Shelly Richards of Overland Park and granddaughter of Johnnie and Christine Richards of Olathe.

Full stories in this week's
issue of The Square Deal.