Local sports briefs: Youth basketball tourney on tap in Alma; ESU's Miller up for Harlon Hill; Topekans ink with Hornets

LOCAL AND STATE

Youth basketball tournament on tap Dec. 8-9 in Alma

The Jocks Nitch Youth Basketball Tournament is set for Dec. 8-9 at Wabaunsee High School in Alma.

There will be boys and girls divisions in grades three through six and boys seventh- and eighth-grade divisions.

For more information or to register, contact Jason at (785) 249-3280 or voodoodolls@yahoo.com.

Emporia State QB Miller up for Harlon Hill Trophy

Emporia State senior quarterback Braxton Marstall is one of 37 nominees nationwide and eight in Super Region 3 for the 2018 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II College Football Player of the Year.

A five-time MIAA Offensive Player of the Week winner, Marstall was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year after completing 274 of 448 passes for 2,734 yards and 24 touchdowns through the air while adding 402 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

He is leading the MIAA in total offense, passing offense, passing TDs, points responsible for, completions and completion percentage while ranking third in rushing touchdowns. He is seventh in the nation in points responsible for, 15th in passing yards, 17th in total offense and 18th in passing touchdowns.

The Emporia State football team (7-4, 7-4 MIAA) also formally accepted its invitation to the Corsicana Bowl on Monday night at White Auditorium.

The bowl game takes place at 2 p.m. Dec. 1 at Tiger Stadium in Corsicana, Texas. ESU is 8-8 all-time in the postseason with a 3-2 record in bowl games.

Hornet men top Saint Mary

Five Hornets posted double-digit scoring Monday night as the Emporia State men's basetball team topped Saint Mary 119-65.

Kooper Glick led the way with 20 points and two steals, with Hassan Thomas tallying 19 points. Sawyer Glick (16), Justin Washington (14) and Julius Jackson (13) also hit double figures for ESU.

Tevin Killeen led the Spires out of Leavenworth with 11 points.

ESU women fall on road

The Emporia State women's basketball team fell 86-72 to Cameron on Monday evening despite a 16-point, 12-rebound, 5-block performance off the bench from Paola senior Tiana Moala.

Tyra Jones hit 4 of 12 shots and 11 of 13 free throws for 19 points to go with 10 rebounds, adding two blocks and a steal in 32 minutes.

Cameron's Ava Battese led the Aggies with 23 points on 8-for-19 shooting and Natalie Halbleib chipped in 19.

Lysaught inks with WU tennis

Washburn on Monday announced its three-person women's tennis freshman signing class, which included Shawnee Heights star Madeline Lysaught.

Lysaught, who was the city runner-up in No. 1 singles, will join her sister, Madison, on the team, as well as fellow incoming freshmen Sydnee Foster, of Hutchinson, and Cadence Lynn, of Olathe South.

Rural's Ebert, High's Raines to sign with ESU in respective sports

The Emporia State volleyball team recently announced its three-person signing class for 2019, which consists of two Kansas players — including a Topekan — and one from Missouri.

Shelby Ebert, a defensive specialist and outside hitter at Washburn Rural, will join the Hornets next season, as will Emporia's Rylie Fornelli, also a defensive specialist, and Jefferson City, Mo., setter Riley Burnskoetter.

Topeka High senior Roni Raines also will sign a softball letter of intent with Emporia State at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday in High's student cafeteria.

Raines was a second-team All-City pick as a junior.

Dodge helps Coffeyville win national title

Washburn Rural product Dani Dodge helped Coffeyville Community College win the NJCAA Division II national volleyball championship Saturday in Charleston, W.Va., with the Red Ravens defeating Parkland, Ill., in the championship match, 25-18, 25-18, 25-16.

Local runner places seventh in national event

Landon Middle School eighth-grader Lenny Njoroge finished seventh Saturday at the 12th annual Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championships in Louisville, Ky., clocking a 4-kilometer time of 13 minutes, 51 seconds.

COLLEGE

College hoops hall inducts eight

Houston star Otis Birdsong, North Carolina standout Sam Perkins and Sidney Moncrief, of Arkansas, led the eight-member class inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame this year.

Southern California's Paul Westphal, Morgan State star Marvin Webster and Arizona's Sean Elliott — along with longtime coaches Danny Miles, of Oregon Tech, and John Kresse, of College of Charleston — were also inducted during the weekend festivities in Kansas City, Mo.

The class was announced earlier this year.

The festivities concluded with the Hall of Fame Classic, where Nebraska played Missouri State and Texas Tech faced USC in Monday night's semifinals. The third-place and championship games are set for Tuesday.