WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

The Rogers State Hillcats women’s basketball team erased a 4-point deficit entering the final quarter and exploded for 27 fourth-quarter points to defeat Oklahoma Christian Eagles 70-66 last Saturday at the Claremore Expo Center.

RSU [4-8] leaned on pressure defense and efficient ball movement to flip the game, scoring 19 points off turnovers and piling up 40 points in the paint. Despite Oklahoma Christian [5-6] leading twice and tying the game five times, the Hillcats’ late surge proved decisive.

RSU set the tone early, opening the game on a 7-0 run sparked by an Ella Hafer layup and a fast-break 3 from Samantha Shanks.

The Hillcats controlled the paint throughout the opening quarter, building an 18-12 lead behind inside buckets from Destiny Jones and Michelle Arens.

The Eagles rallied late in the second quarter, capitalizing on RSU turnovers to edge ahead 25-24 at halftime.

Oklahoma Christian maintained momentum into the third quarter, but steals from Hafer and Kate Melton helped keep the Hillcats within striking distance. RSU entered the final frame trailing 47-43.

Everything changed in the fourth.

Shanks drilled a 3-pointer at the 6:53 mark to tie the game at 50, and the Hillcats never looked back.

Bailey Layman buried a clutch 3 with 2:05 remaining to give RSU the lead, then added a jumper moments later. Ataya Casaus sealed the outcome with a tough jumper in the paint with 37 seconds left, as RSU closed the quarter on a 27-19 run.

Casaus and Shanks each scored 14 points, with Shanks adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Layman finished with 12 points, while Jones added 10 points and 2 steals.

Taylor Jackson led Oklahoma Christian with 22 points and 9 rebounds, while Sofia Lopez chipped in 10 points.

The Hillcats return to action on New Year’s Day in Wichita, Kansas, against Newman Jets at 5:30 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

On the men’s side, Jabryn Anderson delivered a performance rarely seen in Claremore.

Anderson recorded a triple-double — 12 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds — to lead Rogers State men’s basketball to an 87–59 win over Texas A&M–Kingsville at Northside Sports Gym in the final game of the River City Holiday Classic on Dec. 17. He became just the second Hillcat to record a triple-double in program history.

RSU dominated from the opening minutes, building a 17-point halftime lead behind sharp shooting and relentless defense.

The Hillcats knocked down 11 3-pointers, dished out 25 assists and forced 16 turnovers, converting those miscues into 23 points.

Caden Fry sparked the offense early with multiple 3-pointers and closed the first half with a dunk as RSU led 46-29.

The Hillcats continued to pour it on after halftime, with Benard Omooria opening the half with a 3 and Fry adding another moments later.

Fry finished with a game-high 20 points and 6 rebounds, while Omooria added 14 points. Damondre McKnight chipped in 12 points as RSU cruised to the 28-point victory.

The Hillcats will face Newman on New Year’s Day in Wichita at 7:30 p.m.

MEN'S SOCCER

Rogers State men’s soccer capped a historic season with its highest national ranking ever.

The Hillcats [14-4-5] finished sixth in the final United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, marking a landmark achievement in coach Jake Simpson’s first season.

RSU hosted the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament, earning home wins over No. 17 Cedarville and No. 15 Lincoln before advancing to the quarterfinals.

Rogers State also finished second in both the GAC/MIAA regular-season and tournament standings.

Alex Laing claimed the program’s first GAC/MIAA Defensive Player of the Year award, while Louis Bassett and Artur Carvalho earned All-GAC/MIAA First Team honors.

The accolades continued at the national level.

Laing was named a D2CCA All-America Second Team selection, Bassett earned United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team honors and Brandon O’Rourke and Jaxon Kendall were recognized as College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans.

This is something I’ve always wanted to do.

For years, I’ve had the ambition to create true All-County teams for every sport. The problem was never the desire.

It was figuring out how to tackle a project that big without cutting corners or doing it halfway.

Because make no mistake: this is a massive undertaking.

The idea finally became reality this school year after some inspiration from longtime Muskogee Phoenix sports editor Mike Kays — now a correspondent for that paper — whose approach helped crystallize something I’d been circling for a long time.

With the amount of success Rogers County teams experienced this year, and with records and milestones falling at what felt like a record pace, it became clear this was the moment to act.

How could we at the Claremore Progress not recognize what just happened?

So I went all in.

Nomination forms went out to every coach for every sport, and yes, I mean every sport.

This isn’t a football-only venture. Softball, volleyball and cross country are all getting their due. Each sport will feature Players of the Year or MVPs, and each will go at least two teams deep with First Team and Second Team All-County selections. In some cases, depending on the volume and depth of nominations, a third team will be added.

At the heart of this process is one guiding principle: numbers matter.

Although there will always be a degree of opinion involved — that is unavoidable — these teams are being built primarily on statistics.

Numbers aren’t subjective. You can debate style or system, but you can’t argue production.

Strength of schedule will be considered, but it isn’t the be-all, end-all. Some performances are simply too dominant to ignore, regardless of who lined up on the other side.

That balance is important, especially in a county like ours.

Claremore is the largest school, which usually means the toughest schedule, bigger rosters and more depth. That matters.

However, it doesn’t mean the All-County teams should be made up entirely of Zebras. Athletes from every program in Rogers County earned their spots this season, and this project is about recognizing all of them.

Some sports required a different lens.

Cross country, for example, isn’t as simple as circling the fastest time on a results sheet. One great race doesn’t define a season.

That is why coaches were asked to submit both a runner’s fastest time and their average time. Consistency matters. Being great once is impressive. Being great all year is what deserves recognition.

All nominations are now in.

In cases where the margins were razor-thin, I’ll reach out to coaches for additional context. Once that final layer of communication is complete, the All-County teams will be in the process of being finalized.

So get ready, Rogers County.

The Claremore Progress hasn’t done something like this in a long time, and certainly not to this extent.

I’m proud of the work that has gone into it, and I can’t wait to share who made the cut when the All-County teams are released in January 2026.

After a year like 2025, trying to narrow the year’s top-10 stories proved to be an extremely difficult task.

For evidence of this, simply glance at the extensive honorable mention list that follows this year’s iteration of the Herald Bulletin’s Top 10 local sports stories.

1) End of an Era

In early March, an announcement that the tradition of Madison County’s tournaments would, for the most part, be coming to an end shook the local sports community.

While those considered ‘individual’ sports – tennis, golf, wrestling, track and field, and cross country – would continue, basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball tournaments would no longer be held. Although Anderson stated the Nick Muller Tournament – long considered the county baseball championship – would continue, the development sent many schools scrambling to schedule new events.

The three schools that drove the decision – Alexandria, Elwood, and Frankton – announced they would jointly hold 18-team boys and 12-team girls showcases in late December and early January.

2) Three of a Kind

For nearly 20 years, 2005 Miss Basketball Jodi Howell stood as the lone girls player in Madison County history to have scored over 2,000 points.

That all changed in 2025 when Indiana All-Stars Jacklynn Hosier of Alexandria and Kaycie Warfel from Pendleton Heights reached that milestone last January and Lapel’s Laniah Wills did as well in December.

Hosier finished with 2,108 points and Warfel at 2,107 and they graduated as the top two overall scorers in county history. They also helped their teams end long sectional championship droughts in February.

Provided she remains healthy, Wills should pass both in January and also will break the all-time state rebounding record.

3) Stellar Debut

While the inaugural IHSAA sanctioned season for girls wrestling began in 2024, the postseason was held entirely in 2025 and featured a number of area successes.

On the team front, Frankton won the sectional championship at Alexandria while five individuals – Maddie Marsh of Pendleton Heights, Kynlie Keffer of Daleville, Paige Stires from Lapel, Karsyn Merritt of Shenandoah and Frankton’s Jaden Hughes – advanced to the state finals.

Both Keffer and Stires earned podium finishes at the state finals while Marsh captured her second straight state championship at 140 pounds. All five state finalists are back this year.

4) Gridiron Greatness

While Howell stood alone on the court, the 1987 Elwood Panthers were the solitary regional football champion in Madison County history.

That changed in 2025 when the Lapel Bulldogs built on an unbeaten regular season and a second straight sectional championship with a 38-7 win at Indianapolis Lutheran for the regional title.

Quarterback Devin Craig graduated fifth on Indiana’s all-time passing yardage list while linebacker Isaiah Young led a dominant defense to a 13-1 season that only ended against fellow unbeaten Brownstown Central at semi-state. The pair also repeated as THB Sports Football-Offense and Football-Defense Athletes of the Year.

5) Haralson Loving It

While playing at La Lumiere Prep School in Northern Indiana, Anderson native Jalen Haralson was named to the McDonald’s All-American game, which was played in April.

From there, Haralson went on to begin his collegiate career at Notre Dame. Through the first 12 games – including 10 starts – of the season, he is averaging 14.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for the Fighting Irish.

6) Pitch Perfect

Mirroring their school’s football counterparts, the Lapel girls soccer team also carried an unbeaten record all the way to semi-state this fall.

Led by area player of the year Leila Wilson, Lapel finished with a 19-1 season that included a second straight sectional title and a win over defending 1A state champion Faith Christian in the regional championship.

7) Roaring Tigers

Making history became habit for the 2025 Alexandria softball team, which won its first ever Madison County title, but also achieved the No. 1 ranking and won a regional title for the first time.

Led by the area’s player (Kinley Webb) an pitcher (Brynlee Humphries) of the year, Alexandria finished their season at 20-2, won the Central Indiana Conference championship, and routed Lapel 18-3 for their first regional crown.

8) Conference Call

In early October, Lapel and Shenandoah announced they would be among the founding members of the new Eastern Crossroads Conference.

Eastern Hancock and New Castle were also part of the original announcement as Lapel joined a conference for the first time since 2014 and Shenandoah left the Mid-Eastern Conference, where they had been a member since 2017. Conference play is expected to begin in the 2026-27 season.

9) Running Mates

After their historic tandem top-five finishes at the fall 2024 cross country state meet, Pendleton Heights senior Ava Jarrell and freshman Anya Zoeller made headlines again in the spring.

Both won regional championships, Zoeller in the 1,600 meters and Jarrell in the 3,200 meters, and went on to earn podium finishes at the state finals. Zoeller was runner-up and Jarrell was ninth in their state races.

10) Rolling Raiders

After a recent string of postseason disappointments, the Shenandoah baseball team came through big-time in the spring.

Led by University of Louisville commit Collin Osenbaugh, the Raiders defeated Hagerstown for their first sectional title since 2006 and defeated Triton Central to win their first regional crown since 1987. The season ended for the Raiders at 22-5 after falling to Evansville Mater Dei at semi-state.

Honorable Mention: Alexandria repeats Madison County wrestling championship; Alexandria girls tennis wins sixth straight sectional and seventh straight Madison County titles; Anderson Prep wins first girls team sectional (basketball) and boys team sectional (baseball) championships in school history; Lapel girls golf team advances to state finals; Simon Nickelson (Lapel) and Anya Zoeller (Pendleton Heights) earn All-State at cross country state finals; Eli Pancol signed to Colts practice squad; Anderson (boys) and Pendleton Heights (girls) wins basketball county titles; Liberty Christian repeats boys hoops regional title; Daleville wins boys basketball sectional; girls basketball sectional titles for Alexandria and PHHS; Alex’s Ezra Fye and Madison-Grant’s Tripp Haisley advance to boys wrestling state finals; PHHS wins third straight boys golf county title and advance to regional; Lapel wins third straight softball sectional; Lapel wins Muller and baseball sectional titles; Lapel wins 11th boys tennis county title in 12 years; Lapel girls and PH boys win inaugural Madison County swim championship.

Norfolk’s Keyshawn Davis will return to the boxing ring next month at Madison Square Garden — his first fight since a hometown title bout unraveled at Scope and spurred Davis to announce a break from the sport.

Davis will fight former world title challenger Jamaine Ortiz at MSG on Jan. 31 in a 12-round junior welterweight match. Davis (13-0 with nine knockouts), was stripped of his World Boxing Organization lightweight championship belt June 7 after his missed weight for his scheduled match at Scope against Edwin De Los Santos.

The next day, the card that included Davis’ two brothers went on without Davis, but it was marred by a post-fight scuffle involving Keyshawn and Keon Davis after Kelvin Davis’ first professional loss.

Two months later, Davis announced he was taking a break from boxing and apologized to his hometown.

“I hate what happened, but what happened is going to change me,” Davis, 26, said during an August interview on “The Ariel Helwani Show.”

“To Norfolk, to my town, like, y’all know how much I love y’all,” Davis said. “Y’all know how much I put y’all on a pedestal, so for me to act out that way … on the same week that the state and the city gave me an award. … I was wrong. … In terms of Norfolk, I apologize for putting us on that pedestal and making us look so (expletive) bad.”

Ortiz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) has won three straight fights since losing a decision to Teofimo Lopez for the WBO junior welterweight world title. The Davis-Ortiz bout is part of the undercard of a main event between Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson.

Davis, a silver medalist at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, became the WBO lightweight world champion with a knockout of Denys Berinchyk on Feb. 14.

This is a developing story.

The road to Santa Clara, Calif., starts in … well, Santa Clara.

If the Chicago Bears (11-4) can dare to dream of making it as far as Super Bowl LX, their most viable path begins with their first trip to host venue Levi’s Stadium, where they will face the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) on “Sunday Night Football” (7:20 p.m., NBC-5).

It’s two playoff-bound teams jockeying for position within not only the NFC, but also their own divisions.

With two games left in the regular season, the Bears need a win or a Green Bay Packers loss — or a tie by both — to lock down their first NFC North title since 2018. The longer shot would be securing the No. 1 seed, which earns a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

With either outcome, the objective is the same: host as many playoff games as possible at Soldier Field.

Common sense says you always want to play on your turf, backed by your crowd, and the numbers underscore why it’s so important. Since the 2000 season, home teams have gone 169-91 in the playoffs (excluding Super Bowls), a .650 winning percentage, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

“Punching playoffs is cool and all, but we’ve still got work to do,” wide receiver Luther Burden III said. “We’ve got bigger goals, and we’re going to keep our head down and keep working.”

Defensive tackle Andrew Billings said the stakes have “been high since Week 1.”

“Every game was like that game,” he said. “When it comes to the playoffs, what we’re trying to do is prepare ourselves, approaching each week like a divisional game — like you win this and you get the No. 1 seed. And when you do get that … statistically it’s great.”

Here are five things to watch in the Bears-49ers matchup — plus our Week 17 predictions.

1. Pressing question: Can the Bears defense stop the 49ers on third down?

Or in the red zone, for that matter. The 49ers are tough outs in both situations.

San Francisco’s offense ranks second in third-down efficiency at 50%, slightly behind the Packers’ 50.27%. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen explained why the 49ers excel on third down.

“No. 1 is they do a really good job executing on first and second down,” he said. “They do a great job kind of staying ahead of the chains.

“And then they do a great job of getting to spots. The quarterback does a really good job of reading out the defense, throwing it to the open guy. Yeah, it’s tough to deal with.”

The Bears defense has been pretty good at stalling teams in the red zone — ranking ninth at 54.17% — and there was no better illustration of keeping opponents out of the end zone than Saturday, when the Packers went 0 for 5 in trips to the red zone.

But the 49ers convert 63.33% of their red-zone opportunities into touchdowns, which ranks eighth.

“Their ability to run the football down there in the red area helps them out a lot,” Allen said.

Both third-down and red-zone success draws from the same well.

“They’re extremely well-coached,” Allen said of ninth-year 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. “How do you know when a team is really well-coached? You just watch the speed at which they operate … up front in the running game and how they get to their landmarks and how they get to their spots and how all the offensive linemen are working in unison in terms of how they run their routes.

“Each player will run a certain route, and no matter who the player is, it looks the same. And so that, to me, is the detail in the coaching, and that’s what makes it really tough to defend.”

Bears coach Ben Johnson said Shanahan runs a precise, detailed offense.

“They know how to attack coverages and it continues to morph and evolve,” he said. “Each year this Shanahan offense looks a little bit different. It’s got some different wrinkles.

“As defenses change, he’s been changing as well, and that’s enabled him to stay on the forefront of some of these concepts.”

2. Player in the spotlight: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey

McCaffrey leads the NFL with 372 touches, according to NFL Pro’s Next Gen Stats. He has 26.9% of the team’s targets, which is ninth in the league regardless of position. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell is the only non-wide receiver who receives a higher percentage of targets (29.3%).

That’s the 49ers’ M.O.: Shanahan keeps you guessing — and not just with McCaffrey.

The combination of McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle — both 2025 Pro Bowl selections — is enough to keep a defensive coordinator up at night.

“The backs and tight ends are really tough matchups on a defense,” Allen said. “There’s usually some things, if you have an outstanding receiver … you can do to try to take those guys away. It becomes more challenging inside at the tight end (or) running back position. It’s unique that they’re getting so much production from those two spots.

“Those two guys are as good as it comes in terms of playing the tight end position: Kittle as a blocker, Kittle as a receiver, the run-after-catch that he provides. It’s certainly a challenge.”

Kittle is fourth in the league in expected points added per target (plus-0.74), according to NFL Pro. His availability for Sunday is in question (more on that later).

Allen, the former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator and head coach, saw a lot of McCaffrey when the latter was the star of the Carolina Panthers and led the NFL with 2,392 scrimmage yards in 2019.

“So I know exactly what type of challenge he presents,” Allen said.

A particularly good matchup will be McCaffrey versus the Bears linebackers in the passing game. According to NFL Pro, McCaffrey has run a route against a linebacker 260 times, 69 more than any other running back.

Bears weak-side linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is one of the best coverage linebackers in the league. He has four interceptions, third at his position, and has held opposing quarterbacks to a 62.2 passer rating, which ranks ninth among qualified linebackers — just behind San Francisco’s Fred Warner.

3. In the fourth quarter, ‘the spark becomes a fire.’

The Bears have scored 83 points in the fourth quarter and overtime over the last eight weeks, the most by any NFL team in that span. They have a league-best six fourth-quarter comebacks this season.

When trailing with four minutes or less to go, the Bears have six touchdowns (tied for first) and average 7.64 yards per play (second), according to Sports Reference’s Stathead.

Caleb Williams has thrown the most touchdown passes (four) and has the third-highest passer rating (115.5) when trailing with four minutes or less to go (minimum 30 plays).

“It’s really just us,” Williams said. “Realizing that it isn’t necessarily the other team that’s actually stopping us.

“We’ve played versus some of the best players in this league. I think that’s where it’s come from. The mindset just changes. A play happens and the spark becomes a fire, and we’re ignited at that point.”

Johnson said the Bears’ fourth-quarter success doesn’t necessarily come from the play-calling but the people.

“We have put a premium on guys that we feel like will be able to handle pressure,” he said. “The guys we look to bring in this building, we want to make sure that they can handle that type of stuff.

“And Caleb’s certainly built that way. I know for certain Colston Loveland’s built that way. We have a number of guys on this roster that are built that way.”

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Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle felt like the Bears did a better job against the Packers of getting off to a fast start, not just a strong finish. They moved 70 yards on their first possession before a botched snap caused them to turn the ball over on downs.

“When you look at it big picture, we didn’t score in the first half,” Doyle said. “The fourth-quarter piece has more to do with the players and them not flinching, them being comfortable in those situations, them feeling like all of their preparation is going to lead to a successful outcome and them just kind of staying with the process.”

Part of it is Williams’ processing seems to speed up and his improvisational skills come alive during gotta-have-it moments in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“His arm talent is elite,” 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “It feels like when he starts scrambling, he gets more accurate.”

Shanahan added: “Caleb is one of the best throwers, one of the most athletic quarterbacks I’ve ever seen in terms of his height, weight and speed. He makes some big-time throws, extremely scary on the perimeter, can hold on to the ball for a while — not in a bad way — but by creating stuff which makes coverages have to hold up forever.

“And when you have a talented guy like that who’s got the speed and the size, usually they get a run game, get some bootlegs and play actions off of it, you limit how many times you’ve got to drop back. It makes sense why he is playing at such a high level.”

4. By the numbers

One thing to watch is the turnover battle. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy threw seven interceptions over his first four starts, including a three-pick game in a 20-9 victory against the Panthers on Nov. 24.

Purdy has been stingier with interceptions in three starts since then (one pick), but he has put the ball on the ground in each of the last two games, losing one of those fumbles.

The Bears lead the NFL with 31 takeaways and a plus-21 turnover differential. They have a takeaway in eight straight games, the longest active streak in the league.

5. Injury updates

Like last week, the Bears will be monitoring the health of their wide receivers. Burden (ankle) returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday, but Rome Odunze (foot) sat out again.

Down both Odunze — who missed a third straight game — and Burden against the Packers, the Bears leaned on DJ Moore, who has endured his own injury issues this season. Moore had a game-high 97 yards on five receptions, including the walk-off touchdown catch in overtime. He also had a 12-yard run.

“With each player you start to understand reliability and durability, obviously with DJ having to fight through stuff,” Doyle said. “DJ has done a great job of being dependable and just being consistent down-in and down-out.”

Rookie Jahdae Walker was stunned when he learned of Moore’s attendance record from coaches. Moore has missed only two games in his eight-year career — none since 2020 — and one was because he was on the league’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

“I’m like: ‘This dude, is he even mortal? Like, dang,’” Walker said. “He’s never injured. I’ve seen him battle through so many injuries and just keep working.

“Y’all don’t see a lot of stuff that he goes through, pain-wise. I see it from behind the scenes and it’s crazy. I don’t know how he gets up and walks every day. He’s been hurting for real.”

Four members of the secondary popped up on Wednesday’s injury report: Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard III (ankle) and cornerbacks Nahshon Wright (hamstring), Nick McCloud (illness) and C.J. Gardner-Johnson (knee).

“I can’t speak for anybody else, but I practiced today,” Byard told the Tribune on Wednesday. “So if you ask if I’m going to play, I’m going to play.”

Meanwhile, the 49ers could face a significant setback if Kittle can’t go. He was a non-participant Wednesday because of an ankle injury.

“He’s got a chance, so we’re not ruling him out,” Shanahan said.

Predictions

Brad Biggs (11-4)

The winner will remain alive for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. While the Panthers (8-7) are the only team with a winning record that the 49ers have faced during their five-game winning streak, the closest of those games was 11 points and the average margin was 16.4. The Bears have won only two games by more than that all year: 31-14 over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 and 31-3 over the Cleveland Browns two weeks ago. Quarterback Brock Purdy is playing really well, and if the Bears sit in zone coverage, he’s capable of a big game. The status of tight end George Kittle (ankle) is a significant question. He’s pivotal to the passing and running games, and if he’s unable to go, I might flip my pick.

49ers 30, Bears 24

Sean Hammond (12-3)

It’s hard to pick against the Bears when so much has gone their way this season, but the 49ers are surging at the right time now that Purdy is healthy again. This looks like a scary team at the moment. It won’t be easy for the Bears to pull this one off on the road. If the 49ers can take care of the ball, I think they’ll take care of business.

49ers 30, Bears 27

Phil Thompson (10-5)

The bend-but-don’t break defensive strategy worked out surprisingly well against the Packers, who mostly settled for field goals. But Kyle Shanahan’s offense is too surgical for that. Yes, the 49ers have the league’s worst pass rush and an inconsistent run defense, but I can’t see the Bears winning a shootout at San Francisco.

49ers 31, Bears 27

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern assistant head coach Harlon Barnett has a long list of nicknames ready to use whenever he addresses or talks about safety Robert Fitzgerald.

The Terminator. The World’s Greatest Tackler. The Face of the Big Ten. The Eraser. The General. The Example. Mr. Consistent.

“He’s going to start forgetting his own name,” Barnett said.

Fitzgerald has given Barnett a lot of reason to talk about him in a breakout season that continues at noon Friday in Northwestern’s game against Central Michigan in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on ESPN.

The redshirt junior goes into the game at Detroit’s Ford Field as the Big Ten leader with 68 solo tackles for a Wildcats defense that fueled their 6-6 regular season. He ranked fourth in the conference with 109 tackles and also had 6 1/2 tackles for a loss, three passes defended, an interception and a fumble recovery.

“He’s maximizing his gifts, talents and abilities that the Lord has given him,” Barnett said. “And he takes no days off.”

Fitzgerald’s season, for which he was named second-team All-Big Ten by coaches, comes after three years of working his way into bigger roles with Northwestern. He began with the Wildcats scout team and then played primarily on special teams in his first two seasons before earning more time on defense last year.

Throughout the climb, he focused on the process, determined that when the Wildcats needed him, he would be prepared.

“You’ve got to put the work in, day in, day out, no matter how long it takes,” Fitzgerald said. “But eventually your opportunity is going to come. And when that opportunity came, I knew that I was going to be ready based on all the work that I’ve been putting in for the past three years, on and off the field, in the weight room, in the training room, getting my body right, learning the playbook, studying film.”

Fitzgerald’s approach — and his understanding of the value of each day — was developed in part before his time at Northwestern. During his senior year of high school in Dallas, he watched his father, Matthew, fight ALS, and his memories of his dad have shaped how he lives now.

In the stands

The Fitzgerald family would have Italian beef and Lou Malnati’s shipped to Dallas for Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers games. Fitzgerald and his sister, Olivia, were Packers fans because of their mom, Amy, who is from Wisconsin. Matt, who grew up in the Wildwood/Edgebrook area of Chicago, cheered for the Bears.

“He always said that my mom brainwashed me and my sister to be Packers fans,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said his father was passionate about the work he did as a marketing executive. Midway through his career, he met Mark Cuban at the gym, became friends with him and became the Mavericks senior vice president for marketing and communications, a job that allowed Fitzgerald to be a Mavs ball boy and meet Dirk Nowitzki as a kid.

Matt could light up a room and was passionate about his family and friends, a trait Fitzgerald carries with him to his relationships.

And the former Loyola Academy safety loved football, a passion he passed on to his son. Fitzgerald remembers spending countless hours on the couch watching NFL Sunday Ticket with his dad. They would play in the backyard, reenacting Super Bowl-winning drives, making sideline grabs or playing goal-line tackle, the latter game one his mother didn’t love.

Fitzgerald said his dad was the biggest influence on his football career, giving him everything he needed to be successful. And he kept cheering on his son even after he was diagnosed with ALS the summer before Fitzgerald’s senior year at Jesuit College Prep. Fitzgerald, an All-State safety and running back that season, would look up into the stands to see his dad.

“I’d be like, ‘Whatever I’m going through — I’m tired out here; I’m exhausted — whatever I’m going through is minuscule compared to what he’s going through,’” Fitzgerald said. “So that kind of drove me in high school my senior year, and I’ve kind of been able to use that as fuel going forward.”

Fitzgerald, who is no relation to former Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald, chose Northwestern in part because of his father’s connection to the Chicago area. His grandmother still lived at the time in the same home Matt grew up in. Fitzgerald’s aunt lives in Naperville. His dad’s friends are around and come to games.

But Matt didn’t get to see him play for the Wildcats. Matt died on July 22, 2022, just as Fitzgerald was beginning fall camp with Northwestern.

“The whole thing changed my perspective on life for sure,” Fitzgerald said. “I don’t take a single day for granted anymore. Just watching the way he handled it and the way he attacked it just really was amazing to see. And it was amazing to see how strong my mom was throughout the entire disease. And it was also amazing how many people showed up for my family. The community really showed up for us.”

When Fitzgerald thinks about how he got through that time in his life — getting acclimated at a new school in the midst of losing his father — he said his family helped, especially his mom, who was “the rock throughout the whole thing.”

And his Northwestern teammates and coaches helped too. It wasn’t just letting him know they were sorry or there for him. Sometimes it was just acting normally, because he needed that too.

“My teammates just really rallied around me, and they kind of became like 110 brothers that I never had,” he said.

‘Baddest dude out there’

Fitzgerald’s freshman season wasn’t easy on the field either as he realized he would be playing behind guys with several years of experience.

He played scout team for a 1-11 squad before getting a few reps on special teams at the end of the year, which became a redshirt season. But he believed that if he kept working, he could increase his opportunities.

In his second season, he started on three special teams units and played in a third-down subpackage. By his third year, he made the defensive rotation and started some at nickel for the Wildcats.

Barnett, who joined Braun’s staff before the 2024 season, saw a player who was intentional and diligent with his work. He told Fitzgerald at the end of that season that he probably should have played more at safety, and he saw that message take hold to build Fitzgerald’s confidence in the offseason.

“I saw toughness,” Barnett said. “I saw a willingness to get better. I saw a guy that takes coaching. He’s one of those guys who’s going to do exactly what you tell him. He’s going to take it to heart, he’s going to listen to you and he’s going to apply it. And that’s what you like to see as a coach.”

Barnett, who played defensive back at Michigan State and in the NFL, always tells his players that they need to believe that they are the best player on the field.

Fitzgerald said he knew he was meant to be in the starting-safety role after the opener against Tulane, when he had 13 tackles. But his confidence was really in place by the fourth game of the season against UCLA, a 17-14 Northwestern win in which Fitzgerald had nine tackles, including a tackle for a loss. He wouldn’t freak out if he missed a tackle. He told himself he was the best player on the field.

“Then he started playing like that — ‘I’m the baddest dude out here. I’m the baddest guy on the field,’” Barnett said.

Fitzgerald had numerous big plays in Northwestern’s near-upset of Michigan at Wrigley Field on Nov. 15. He had a career-high 15 tackles, including a tackle for a loss, and picked off quarterback Bryce Underwood in the fourth quarter, but Barnett got excited about a hit on a Wolverines running back late in the fourth.

“He came in and smacked one of the running backs,” Barnett said. “I am vicariously playing through the players. And so, oh, man, I was so fired up. … And I don’t like Michigan, so that also adds to it.”

Fitzgerald will have one more chance this season to show up Friday against Central Michigan. He said the Wildcats want to finish with a winning record, send their seniors out on a high note and build some momentum heading into next season.

Barnett said in the offseason Fitzgerald will continue to work on his speed and change of direction, on honing his already solid ball skills and tackling and improving his “vision and break” to where the quarterback is sending the ball.

He expects him to continue to develop his leadership too. Fitzgerald delivered a speech to the team before the Tulane game to rally his teammates and said he is working on being a more vocal leader, which comes naturally after he feels like he has earned it.

That merit has come this season. Earlier this year, Northwestern coach David Braun said Fitzgerald should be proud of the demeanor and the consistency with which he has played, adding “there’s no one in this program that reflects our values more than that young man.”

Fitzgerald has thought about how his dad would view this breakout season, and he knows he would revel in it.

“He would eat this season up,” Fitzgerald said. “He would love to see me. I know he’s watching, but he would love to be in those stands and see me out there, just like I was playing in high school.”

There are reasons for optimism for New York sports in 2026.

The Knicks are contenders in the wide-open Eastern Conference. The Yankees are set to get one of their biggest stars back. The World Cup is headed to MetLife Stadium.

As 2025 comes to an end, here’s what New York has to look forward to in 2026.

KNICKS IN THE MIX

This past year was kind to the Knicks, who advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.

There’s reason to believe they can go even further in 2016.

The Knicks’ bench is deeper. The Eastern Conference is weaker. Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could be traded before the February deadline, and his affinity for New York has been well-documented.

Whether they acquire Antetokounmpo or not, the Knicks have a chance to advance to their first NBA Finals since 1999 — and to win their first championship since 1973.

COLE COMEBACK

Gerrit Cole is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but the Yankees’ ace is on track to return from Tommy John surgery during the season’s first half.

That will be a welcome sight for the Yankees, who envision an eventual rotation of Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler and Luis Gil as a major strength.

Cole missed the entire 2025 season due to the elbow operation, but he is still just two years removed from a Cy Young campaign in 2023.

And while Cole is entering his age-35 season, he can take comfort in knowing Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom returned to elite form after having Tommy John surgery at similar ages.

DART PART TWO

Jaxson Dart looked the part of a franchise building block during his rookie season, even if it didn’t result in many wins for the Giants.

The Giants now hope there’s a sophomore leap for the dual-threat quarterback, who should benefit from the returns of top receiver Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo after this year’s season-ending injuries.

The ideal trajectory is that of the New England Patriots, who made a huge jump this year in Drake Maye’s second season.

Also sparking the Pats’ turnaround was the hiring of head coach Mike Vrabel. The Giants, of course, are now in the market for a new head coach following Brian Daboll’s midseason firing.

JET FUEL

The Jets find themselves in a similar position as last winter’s Giants, seeking a franchise quarterback without a clear-cut target at this point.

With five first-round picks over the next two drafts, the Jets have ample ammunition to trade up in the first round or to swing a deal for a veteran.

Heisman-winning Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore appear to be the top QB prospects in 2025, though the 2026 class is expected to be stronger if the Jets decide to wait.

And Jets fans will fantasize about Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow demanding a trade, though someone like Arizona’s Kyler Murray is more likely to become available.

WORLD CUP

For the second time ever, the U.S. is hosting the men’s World Cup, this time sharing those duties with Canada and Mexico.

And for the first time ever, the World Cup final will take place in New York/New Jersey.

Indeed, MetLife Stadium will host the final on July 19 — one of eight matches that will be played at the stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

And the World Cup won’t be the only major international sports tournament in 2026.

While New York isn’t hosting any WBC games, the event should still be of interest to local fans, as the Yankees’ Aaron Judge is the captain of Team USA and the Mets’ Francisco Lindor is the captain of Team Puerto Rico.

The WBC is scheduled for March 5-17, with the final set to take place at Miami’s LoanDepot Park.

ST. JOHN’S ENCORE

After winning the Big East’s regular-season and conference tournament championships in 2025, St. John’s entered this season with sky-high expectations.

And while the Red Storm got off to a slow start, head coach Rick Pitino remains optimistic that his new-look roster can round into form in time to defend its conference crown.

What St. John’s does as an encore is a major storyline in 2026, and meetings with UConn on Feb. 6 and Feb. 25 should be particularly telling.

Dec. 24—Lyle grad Trey Anderson grew up with current Lyle-Pacelli head coach Carl Tuckenmiller coaching him at every level, and now Trey has joined forces with Truckenmiller, and also his older brother Tyson in an effort to lead the Athletics on the hardwood.

Trey, a 2023 graduate, was attending Riverland Community College when Truckenmiller reached out to him to coach the L-P junior high boys team three years ago, and this year Trey has moved up to an assistant role with the L-P varsity/JV, along with Tyson, who has been coaching for five years.

The boys are following in the footsteps of their dad, Paul Anderson, who had coaching stints at NIACC, Riverland and L-P.

"Right away, Tyson was coming to practice with plays and he would talk to his dad to see if it would work," Truckenmiller said. "Tyson was great, and now that we've got Trey, it's even better, because they sit together and talk things out. It's really worked out well having them here."

Tyson said that it paid off to be raised by a coach and he's learning to embrace the grind of the long high school seasons, while still leaning on his dad for the occasional piece of advice.

"(Our dad) left Riverland to come coach us here and he was a mentor to us," Tyson said. "It's nice to put our foot in the door with these young guys. It's a lot of fun and we're very grateful."

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Trey inherited his love of basketball from his dad and his older brothers. Now that he's not playing for the Athletics, he's enjoyed working as a leader for the next generation of players.

"Seeing progress in kids, building them up is always super cool," Trey said. "It's fun to work with the boys, and we try to give them the best experience."

It's getting harder and harder to find coaches to step up and Truckenmiller is extremely appreciative of the Anderson's, who have stepped up and helped him run practices, while offering gameday advice.

Tyson said that it's rewarding to bring the lessons of sports to the young players on L-P's team.

"We get the team for a couple of weeks in the summer, and it's a long season. There's a lot of rewards to that," Trey said. "(Sports) build a lot of structure. Life is a lot of hard work, and sports instill a good foundation."

Trey said that he enjoyed his time with the Athletics, and he's glad that he can foster that passion in younger players who are in the same spot he was a few years ago.

"Life's not easy and when you come here and work hard instead of just sitting home, you get to build a bond and have a basketball family," Trey said. "It goes beyond school."

Christmas is a time to enjoy family.

In the Clark household, as it has for decades, the large gatherings include sharing stories and reflections on memories. Many were created on the hardwood floors of the iconic former Catholic Youth Center, now known as the Lackawanna College Student Union.

Competing in basketball, a sport they all love.

Dunmore senior Jimmy Clark is part of the next generation. He, along with his sister, Maggie, a sophomore forward at Scranton Prep, will write their own chapters when they compete in the Lynett Memorial Basketball Tournament that starts on Dec. 27.

In the first game of the 74th boys tournament, Scranton Prep faces Scranton at 6 p.m., and Dunmore challenges defending champion Holy Cross at 7:30 p.m.

“Everyone always talks about the Lynett tournament,” Jimmy said. “It is the best Christmas tournament. This is going to be really nice. All of my uncles are looking forward to the game. My whole family is going to be there.”

Playing in the Lynett Tournament is as much a tradition as opening presents for the Clark family.

Jimmy’s father, Pat, played on the 1997 tournament championship team for Dunmore. Pat introduced the game and how it should be played to his oldest of six children.

“My dad coached me from when I was younger, but he stopped after my freshman year,” Jimmy said. “He shaped who I am. He never asked me how many points I scored, only if the team won. He always stressed to me to be the hardest-working player on the court. He says to me that he wasn’t the most skilled guy on the court, but that he was always the hardest working.

“He was the biggest influence in my life, and I look up to him.”

Pat’s success at Dunmore only scratches the surface of the impact the family has had on the holiday event that has spanned decades.

The Clarks are a basketball family.

Brian Clark, who scored 14 points to lead Scranton Prep to the tournament title in 1972, and his wife, Margi, have eight children. Pat is the oldest; Maggie, Chael, Jordan, Kevin, Courtney, Allie, and Matthew all competed in the sport.

Pat’s wife, Kristen, also has ties to the Lynett Tournament. Her brother Peter Mackrell won a championship at Scranton Prep in 1983, 1984, and 1985, and her brother, Paul, won a title at Dunmore in 1995.

“It’s a big deal for our family and always has been,” said Pat, who led the Bucks to the championship with 11 points and 10 rebounds, 25 years to the day after his father’s tournament win.

“We probably do more talking than we should. My dad won it back in the 1970s, and when we talk about it, we almost just use codes. We ask whether you are early or late. Meaning, are you playing the first game or the second game on the first day? We tell Jimmy, you’d better be in a prime time game on the second day.”

Jimmy listens to all the stories.

They include Chael’s tournament most valuable player award effort in 2002, Jordan’s all-tournament selection in 2004, Kevin’s two all-tournament teams, Courtney’s debut in the fourth girls tournament, and Matthew’s all-tournament effort.

Those are his inspirations as he leads the Bucks into this year’s tournament.

“You get razzed a lot,” Jimmy chuckled. “Everyone asks if this is the year I am going to win the Lynett. I tell them, I hope so. But I do think we could get it done. They have all played, and I see the banners and 1,000-point scorers, and their names are up there. It’s a legacy thing. I just try to pick things up where they left off and build upon that.

“My family is always asking how I am doing. They are engaged with it. They are all phenomenal basketball players. It is a lot to live up to, but I do my best.”

A sharpshooter, Jimmy is a multi-sport athlete at Dunmore, also excelling in baseball. He has developed into a weapon on offense for the Bucks. He also provides an intense focus on the defensive end.

In his freshman season, Jimmy saw some minutes of action. He scored 12 points and knocked down four 3-pointers. The following year, he scored 47 points with 10 3-pointers.

“Growing up, I wasn’t overly into basketball,” Jimmy said. “In eighth grade, I didn’t start, and that really motivated me. I started to work hard at my game at Riverfront with my uncle, Kevin. They have a shooting machine, and that was when I focused on basketball. Uncle Kevin helped me develop my jump shot, which wasn’t very good. I played JV as a freshman, and that was where I learned how to play against older and bigger players.”

As a junior, Jimmy made huge strides and elevated his game. He scored 240 points with 40 3-pointers. He finished as the third-leading scorer for the Bucks. Brayden Canavan had 325 points, Carter Sload added 257, and Nate Aviles was fourth with 221 points.

All four players returned to the lineup this year, which heightened expectations.

So far, so good.

Dunmore entered the holiday break 7-0. The Bucks average 70.6 points per game, and Jimmy is averaging 11.6 points per game with 13 3-pointers.

“We have done a good job,” Jimmy said. “Nate started as a freshman, and Brayden played. We had a good group in our grade. We have worked our way up. We have almost the same starting group as last year’s team, and we have built toward this year. It is the culmination of our work, and we are ready to make a big jump.”

Jimmy’s goal is to earn some family bragging rights and lead the program to its first Lynett title since 2009.

“We like to play fast,” Jimmy said. “But we have to stay calm and under control. Our goal is to play unselfish basketball. We don’t care who scores as long as we win. We have to focus on defense.”

While Jimmy is a senior, playing in his final Lynett Tournament, it won’t be the last one where a Clark will add to the family legacy.

Maggie has already been part of a Lynett title winner at Scranton Prep. The siblings also have a younger brother, Brian, and three younger sisters, Annie, Cecelia, and Noelle, all coming up through the basketball ranks.

Jimmy is looking forward to taking the court with his family filling a huge section of the bleachers, as they have for decades.

That is what will make his experience the most special.

“You are probably going to be able to hear my family in the stands,” Jimmy said. “I am really excited. I want to win it for my school and for them. I want to be able to look back 20 years and say, “That was my team that won a Lynett tournament.”

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74th LYNETT MEMORIAL BOYS TOURNAMENT

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RESULTS

1951: St. Rose 65, Old Forge 62

1952: Old Forge 54, Swoyersville 53

1953: Old Forge 71, Scranton Central 62

1954: Scranton Prep 39, Swoyersville 30

1955: Scranton Prep 43, Swoyersville 42

1956: Scranton Central 67, Luzerne 48

1957: Scranton Central 53, Scr. Prep 50

1958: Old Forge 51, Scranton Central 39

1959: Nanticoke 74, Dunmore 47

1960: Scr. Prep 64, South Catholic 45

1961: Cathedral 49, Scranton Central 46

1962: Scranton Central 76, Dunmore 62

1963: Swoyersville 54, Scranton Prep 52

1964: Scranton Central 80, Old Forge 56

1965: Cathedral 74, Scranton Tech 50

1966: Nanticoke 74, Montrose 68

1967: Cathedral 88, Pittston Area 74

1968: Nanticoke 63, Williamsport 42

1969: West Scranton 65, Dunmore 57

1970: Nanticoke 68, Scranton Prep 67

1971: Riverside 80, Scranton Prep 68

1972: Scranton Prep 73, Scranton Central 49

1973: Nanticoke 58, Riverside 56

1974: Nanticoke 80, Scranton Prep 48

1975: Nanticoke 73, Scranton Central 54

1976: Scranton Central 66, Nanticoke 63

1977: Scranton Central 72, Pittston Area 59

1978: Scranton Prep 77, Riverside 59

1979: Nanticoke 47, Scranton Central 30

1980: Dunmore 58, Scranton Central 47

1981: Bishop O’Reilly 70, Scranton Prep 60

1982: Bishop Hannan 80, Scranton Tech 66

1983: Scranton Prep 81, Old Forge 57

1984: Scranton Prep 73, Scranton Central 59

1985: Scranton Prep 66, Scranton Central 61

1986: Scranton Prep 77, Valley View 59

1987: Scranton Central 44, Scranton Prep 42

1988: Scranton Prep 57, Scranton Central 46

1989: Dunmore 47, Scranton Prep 43

1990: Scranton Prep 74, Dunmore 54

1991: Scranton Prep 59, Dunmore 58 (OT)

1992: Dunmore 54, Scranton Prep 48

1993: Dunmore 39, Bishop O’Hara 32

1994: Dunmore 55, Bishop O’Hara 44

1995: Dunmore 45, Scranton Prep 35

1996: Scranton Prep 63, Scranton 58

1997: Dunmore 66, Bishop O’Hara 38

1998: Bishop O’Hara 59, Scr. Prep 38

1999: Dunmore 62, Bishop O’Hara 50

2000: Scranton Prep 61, Dunmore 54

2001: Dunmore 54, Scranton Prep 53

2002: Dunmore 54, Bishop O’Hara 47

2003: Scranton 58, Scranton Prep 47

2004: Scranton 42, Dunmore 40

2005: Scranton 49, Scranton Prep 45

2006: Scranton Prep 58, Bishop O’Hara 33

2007: Scranton Prep 53, Holy Cross 50

2008: Holy Cross 68, Dunmore 47

2009: Dunmore 71, Holy Cross 57

2010: Scranton 77, Dunmore 47

2011: Scranton 68, Dunmore 49

2012: Scranton 52, Scranton Prep 45

2013: Scranton Prep 69, Holy Cross 59

2014: Scranton Prep 71, Holy Cross 39

2015: Scranton Prep 72, Scranton 46

2016: Scranton Prep 67, Scranton 49

2017: Scranton Prep 70, Dunmore 46

2018: Scranton Prep 63, Holy Cross 36

2019: Holy Cross 55, Scranton Prep 54

2020: Canceled COVID-19

2021: Scranton 50, Scranton Prep 46

2022: Scranton Prep 39, Scranton 35

2023: Scranton 48, Holy Cross 46

2024: Holy Cross 51, Scranton 35

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20th LYNETT MEMORIAL GIRLS TOURNAMENT

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME RESULTS

2003: North Pocono 52, Bishop Hannan 39

2004: North Pocono 35, Scranton Prep 33

2005: Scranton Prep 42, Abington Heights 37

2006: Abington Heights 44, Dunmore 43

2007: Abington Heights 41, Dunmore 34

2008: Dunmore 51, Abington Heights 45

2009: Abington Heights 68, Scranton 64

2010: Scranton Prep 48, Abington Heights 41

2011: Abington Heights 39, Dunmore 29

2012: Scranton Prep 29, Abington Heights 24

2013: Dunmore 30, Scranton Prep 28

2014: Scranton Prep 40, Dunmore 30

2015: Dunmore 53, Scranton 36

2016: Dunmore 44, Scranton Prep 39

2017: Dunmore 45, Abington Heights 29

2018: Dunmore 57, Holy Cross 25

2019: Scranton Prep 44, Dunmore 28

2020: Canceled COVID-19

2021: Dunmore 46, Scranton Prep 17

2022: Scranton Prep 52, Dunmore 33

2023: Scranton 65, Scranton Prep 54

2024: Scranton Prep 56, Scranton 41

Four different schools have won girls wrestling state championships since the FHSAA made it an officially sanctioned sport in 2022.

Freedom was the initial winner and the Patriots have stamped themselves as the early favorite to become the first to win twice when the individual bracket state tournaments for girls and boys unfold in March in Kissimmee.

The Patriots used their depth to steal the show at two loaded tournaments, winning their own Let Freedom Ring tournament, which drew 450 girls on Dec. 6, and last weekend’s prestigious Knockout Christmas Challenge.

Kabra Wrestling ranks Freedom No. 1 ahead of South Dade, St. John Neumann, Viera, and Flagler Palm Coast.

“This team is about where that (championship) 2022 team was,” Freedom coach David Bush said. “They understand the process it takes to succeed in wrestling.”

Part of that process, Bush said, is learning from losses in a lengthy season. That played out at the Knockout where several Freedom girls lost matches against out-of-state wrestlers but rebounded to score wrestleback wins.

“We want that level of competition. We had a really good showing. But there’s still a lot of room for improvement before February and March,” Bush said.

Freedom had one weight class winner in junior Mekialla Mauvais and six more top four placers in Kissimmee.

Aimar Donastorg, a sophomore, finished second in the 190 weight class. Seniors Gabriela Kerber and Paola Ramirez finished third and Hananeel Gregorre, Eduarda Franklin and Ceajan Brown placed fourth..

Two Georgia teams, Camden County and Jefferson, went 1-2 in the stacked boys Knockout tournament. Hagerty, ranked No. 4 in the Kabra 3A rankings, placed 15th as the top Orlando-area team. Huskies senior Nikolas Blake was runner-up to a Tennessee standout in the 157 weight class final.

Also Saturday, Timber Creek placed second behind Mexico High School of Missouri in the Bill Scott Memorial tournament at Lyman. Individual weight class champions included Central Florida wrestlers Kaiden Olavarria (DeLand), Joey Davis (Lake Brantley), Nolan Joyce (Timber Creek), Ilijah Carasas (Lake Mary), Angel Prieto (Bishop Moore) and Evans defensive tackle Jakari Upshaw, who scored a 41-second pin in the heavyweight final.

Boys basketball

Lake Highland Prep (9-1), ranked No. 1 in the Orlando area and No. 2 in Class 3A by MaxPreps, spanked a previously undefeated Mount Vernon team 73-44 on Monday in the Florida/Georgia Challenge, hosted by The First Academy. The Mustangs came in 10-0 and ranked sixth for all classifications in Georgia. Next for LHP is a trip to Fort Myers for a Holiday Hoopfest event.

Olympia (9-2), ranked No. 2 behind Miami Columbus in the MaxPreps 7A rankings, split two games at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers. The Titans lost 75-61 to Connecticut state title contender Notre Dame (6-0) but bounced back to win 71-56 in a Sunday game against 1A No. 4 Victory Christian of Lakeland. Junior guard James Nowells, whose stock is soaring, scored 32 points with a 6-for-9 shooting show from 3-point range in the win. Olympia treks to Tennessee to play in The Classic, an 18-team tourney that tips off Friday.

Kadir Rackley had 10 assists, fueling a balanced performance by Evans (11-2) in a 72-67 overtime win against Sickles (11-3) in the title game of the Flagler Palm Coast Bulldog Classic. The Trojans are ranked No. 2 in 6A heading into Monday-Tuesday games at the  Vince Carter Hall of Fame Classic at Mainland High in Daytona Beach.

Montverde Academy (4-4) lost its first three games with new head coach Steve Turner under the microscope. But the Eagles, perennial national contenders under former coach Kevin Boyle, are on an upward trajectory after posting two meaningful City of Palms wins. Montverde won 68-61 against upstart Gillion Academy (10-3) of Virginia and then prevailed 78-72 against a Prolific Prep (17-2) team that began the season with a No. 1 national ranking.

Top-ranked North Broward Prep (10-0) won 75-60 against sixth-ranked Windermere Prep (10-2) in a matchup of 3A teams in the final of the BSN Holiday Classic. Brandon Brass Jr. scored 37 points for the host Lakers, who go to Arkansas for the King of Cotton Classic next week.

Edgewater (8-5), 6A No. 5, went 2-1 in the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.

Lake Howell (10-2), 6A No. 6, joins Evans at the Vince Carter event.

Dr. Phillips (6-5) is in the Kingdom of the Sun tournament in Ocala, starting Friday.

Windermere (6-4), No. 10 in 7A, goes to Georgia for two games.

Palm Bay (11-1), 4A No. 5, won 64-61 vs. St. Cloud (9-2).

DeLand (7-2) went 3-0 to win its own Gus Gibbs Classic.

Wekiva is 9-3 with four wins in a row.

Winter Park (7-5) took 7A No. 5 Oak Ridge to overtime in a 58-57 loss. The Wildcats join DeLand and Lake Brantley (10-3) in a Monday-Wednesday event hosted by New Smyrna Beach (9-1).

Geneva School (8-3) won its own Christmas tournament with a 72-70 overtime win against International Community (9-6). Mateo Medina had 28 points and 8 assists for the Knights and surpassed 1,000 points for his career. Duke Carpenter added 24 points and 12 rebounds. Paxton Boaz had 29 points, 15 assists, 8 rebounds and 5 steals in the losing cause.

Girls basketball

Sophomore Ashlynn Day scored 19 of her game-high 27 points in the second half as Kissimmee Gateway ran its record to 13-0 with a 72-53 home win vs. previously-unbeaten Lake Howell. The Panthers, No. 1 in 5A, play in Orlando’s Florida Prospects Christmas tournament, Monday through Wednesday.

Bishop Moore (10-2) has moved to No. 1 in 4A. The Hornets are scheduled to host Gateway, Jan. 8.

Lake Highland (8-4), which owns a win against Bishop Moore, is No. 2 in 3A behind Tampa Catholic (11-0).

Boone’s Naima Durandisse collected 31 rebounds to go with 13 points in the Braves (6-8) lopsided win against River Ridge.

Nationally-ranked Montverde (9-2) lost 63-62 to North Carolina’s top-rated team, Grace Christian (14-0), in the championship game of the Cherokee National Invitational.

Boys soccer

Innovation (12-0-1), MaxPrep’s top-ranked Orlando area team, has wins against No. 2 West Orange (9-2) and a tie with No. 6 Windermere High (10-1-5).

The 29th Mike Stone Invitational, hosted by Bishop Moore, provides holiday play for a dozen strong Central Florida teams.

The field includes the host Hornets (9-2-4), New Smyrna Beach (7-1-1), Ocoee (9-0-2), Olympia (10-0-1), Spruce Creek (6-5-2), Winter Park (9-2) and Winter Springs (7-2-4). The 12th team is the Orlando based XL Soccer Academy.

Teams are divided into two groups of six for two days of pool play, leading to up to next Wednesday’s championship day.

Here’s the schedule::

Monday

Bishop Moore vs. XL, 8 a.m.

Winter Park vs. Spruce Creek, 10

Olympia vs. Winter Springs, 12

NSB vs. Ocoee, 2

XL vs. Winter Park, 5

SC vs. Bishop Moore, 7

Tuesday

Ocoee vs. WS, 8

NSB vs. Olympia, 10

SC vs XL, 12

WP vs. Bishop Moore, 2

WS vs. NSB, 5

Olympia vs. Ocoee,7

Wednesday

Group A & B 3rd placers, 9 a.m.

Group A & B 2nd placers, 11

Championship game:

Group A & B 1st placers, 1 p.m.

Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.

In the late 1990s, UConn embarked on the world of top-level college football, a decision that has brought highs and lows. One of the rewards was the chance to play in a bowl game, which, before the playoff system was adopted and began expanding, was the ultimate destination.

After a transitional period of two seasons as an independent, coach Randy Edsall led the Huskies into the Big East, meant to be a formidable conference of traditional football schools like Syracuse, Pitt, Boston College, West Virginia, Miami, among others. The Huskies began to compete for a bowl bid and earned their first in 2004.

In the two decades since, UConn has played in eight bowl games, with No.9 to come against Army at the Fenway Bowl in Boston on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. Here is a look at the Huskies’ bowl history:

Dec. 27, 2004: Motor City Bowl

Ironically, UConn’s first bowl opponent was Toledo, the school from which their new head coach, Jason Candle, was lured. The Big Ten could not provide a qualifying team for its tie in, so the Huskies (7-4) were invited to Detroit’s Ford Field and knocked off the MAC champs, 39-10, before 52,552 fans.

UConn rolled up 398 yards in offense, with 239 though the air as MVP Dan Orlovsky kept the chains moving and threw a TD pass. Larry Taylor returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown and Matt Nuzie kicked four field goals.

Dom Amore’s Sunday Read: UConn hasn’t lost appetite for bowls, Sun’s possible parting gift and more

Dec. 29, 2007: Meineke Car Care Bowl

Three years later, Edsall and the Huskies (9-3) were back in the bowl business, invited to play Wake Forest in the bowl game in Charlotte, N.C., providing a bit of a home field advantage for the Deacons, their campus 80 miles from the NFL home of the Panthers. Wake Forest won, 24-10, before 53,126. Taylor again returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown as the Huskies took a 10-0 lead, but it was all Deacons after that. They gained 412 yards to UConn’s 213.

Jan. 3, 2009: International Bowl

UConn (7-5) crossed north of the border to play in the Rogers Centre, retractable-roofed home of the Blue Jays. Buffalo, another opponent that didn’t have to travel far, was the victim when UConn got its first-ever FBS win. The Huskies beat the Bulls again, 38-20, before 40,184.

This was Donald Brown’s day, he ran for 261 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown, to win the game’s MVP, and declared afterward he would skip  his senior year and enter the NFL Draft, the first Husky ever taken in the first round. QB Tyler Lorenzen ran for two scores.

Jan 2, 2010: Papajohns.com Bowl

One of the most satisfying days in program history, UConn (7-5) was capping a season that included five losses by a total of 15 points, the dramatic OT win at Notre Dame and the death of teammate Jasper Howard. Now they faced the SEC’s South Carolina Gamecocks and famed coach Steve Spurrier at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

Kashif Moore’s one-handed touchdown catch helped the Huskies take a 13-0 lead in the first half, and Andre Dixon’s 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the 20-7 victory before 45,254. Dixon was player of the game with 126 yards rushing.

Jan. 1, 2011: Fiesta Bowl

Still the high-water mark in UConn football history, Dave Teggart’s clutch 50-yard kick at South Florida lifted the Huskies (8-4) to the Big East championship and into a New Year’s Day game at Glendale, Ariz., site of Super Bowls. They Huskies hung in for a while with one of the sport’s blue bloods, but lost to Oklahoma, 48-20, before 67,232.

Dwayne Gratz’s interception return got UConn on the board, but the Huskies were trailing by 24 before Robbie Frey’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Teggart kicked two field goals, but UConn was overmatched. After the game, Edsall accepted the job at Maryland, abruptly ending his first tenure at UConn.

Dec. 26, 2015: St. Petersburg Bowl

After several losing seasons, coach Bob Diaco’s Huskies managed a 6-6 record and represented the American Athletic Conference at Tropicana Field, the stadium in which UConn won its first men’s basketball championship 16 years earlier. Marshall won a forgettable game, 16-10, before 14,652. Ron Johnson scored on an 8-yard run and Bobby Puyol kicked a 52-yard field goal for UConn.

Dom Amore: Joe Fagnano has taken his last snap for UConn football, now he’s aiming for the NFL

Dec. 19, 2022: Myrtle Beach Bowl

UConn was 10-41 between the St. Pete Bowl and Jim Mora’s arrival as coach in 2022, as neither Diaco nor Edsall, who returned in 2017, could turn things around. The Huskies, now an independent again, staged a series of upsets behind freshman quarterback Zion Turner, over Fresno State, Boston College and Liberty, to edge into bowl territory. At Myrtle Beach, S.C., they faced Marshall again and, after falling behind 28-0, lost 28-14 before 12,023. at Brooks Stadium. Turner threw three interceptions, but Bristol’s Victor Rose capped his freshman season with touchdown runs  of 14 and 24 yards.

Dec. 28, 2024: Fenway Bowl

Seeking an attendance surge, the Fenway Sports Group found another bowl for their AAC tie-in and invited the independent Huskies to face North Carolina. It worked, as a record 27,900 filled the ancient home of the Red Sox and UConn won, 27-14, in the shadow of The Green Monster — and Bill Belichick, who was soon to take over the Tar Heels.

Joe Fagnano, the game’s MVP, completed 16 of 23 for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Mel Brown rushed for 96 and Skyler Bell caught three for 77 and a touchdown. The Huskies (9-4) completed their first winning season since 2010.