Greg Mast
The Ottawa Herald keeps adding to its website to offer sports fans more than can be viewed in the print version. One of those areas is videos. The Herald has added AP sports videos of stories of the day, plus added a NASCAR videos for the car racing fans. Another big hit during the past month has been the videos of the NCAA Tournament. That will continue through the Final Four weekend.
There are also local videos available to watch shot during live action.
Until next time,
Greg Mast/Ottawa Herald Sports Editor
Greg Mast
The weather may not be warm yet, but the high school spring sports season is heating up. In Thursday’s Herald, there is a special section dedicated to each of the spring teams. There is a story and team picture for all 22 teams.
Hope springs eternal as the teams, athletes and coaches are excited about the prospects in 2009. Several squads return a solid group of athletes from a year ago and expect better things. Others are anticpating better seasons thatn a year ago.
All the athletes need to be supported. Get out and cheer.
Until next time,
Greg Mast/Ottawa Herald Sports Editor
Greg Mast
The small and mid-major basketball conferences still have an uphill battle when it comes to getting one of the 65 spots in the NCAA Tournament.
The six major conferences (Big East, Big 12, Big 10,Pac 10, SEC and ACC) will make up about half the field and receive more than 60 percent of the at-large berths.
There are 34 at-large berths available and 31 automatics to go conference champions. The major conferences are battling each other for as many at-large spots because of the big money and national exposure.
Pundits have been talking about which is their final four teams in and final four teams out. Almost all of them come from the big conferences.
In the midwest, the argument is will the Big 12 get five teams in? Will Kansas State be among the four or five teams getting in? Or will it be Texas.
The Big East wants up to 10 teams in the big dance, while the ACC is coveting six or seven spots.
After doing the math, not much left for the small or mid-major conference teams. Not even crumbs.
Until next time,
Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor
February 19, 2009 – 10:17 am
Greg Mast
The postseason for the winter sports teams are just around the corner. The postseason has arrived for wrestlers with regionals on tap across the state Friday and Saturday.
The top four finishers in each weight division advance to next week’s state tournament. The Cyclone wrestlers are coming off a second-place finish at the Frontier League Tournament. It was the best showing of the season.
High school and college basketball teams are jockeying for positions for their upcoming sub-state and conference tournaments. One game can make a difference in how the bracket shapes up.
The Ottawa University men need to win its final two games to assure a home game in the first round of the KCAC tourney. Ottawa is fourth with two games left.
The OU women will finish either fourth or fifth and that seed could be decided on the floor Saturday when Ottawa plays Friends. The winner would play the other on its home floor in next week’s KCAC tourney.
Ottawa High School teams are still in a race for high seeds in their sub-state. The Ottawa boys are sitting nice with a two-game lead over Fort Scott and Osawatomie with two games left before the brackets are released. Ottawa needs one win to secure the No. 1 seed.
The OHS girls are tied with Louisburg for the third seed and needs to win out to assure a top three finish. There is just one game separating Ottawa, Louisburg and Fort Scott for the second seed.
Until next time,
Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor
February 10, 2009 – 11:24 am
Greg Mast
For awhile the college women’s basketball programs have had a night to benefit breast cancer. They bring attention to a disease that can be deadly.
The movement is no longer at the collegiate level. The Ottawa High School girls basketball team has organized an effort to benefit cancer and give the proceeds to the Frankin County Cancer group.
The OHS squad will wear pink jerseys and warmup T-shirts tonight against Metro Academy. The jerseys and shirts will be available for patrons to buy to raise money. There will be other items also available.
It is nice to see a group of young women want to use their platform of playing basketball to benefit such a deadly disease.
Until next time,
Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor
