T-Wolves Kevin Love Named to All-NBA 2nd Team

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has been named to the 2011-12 All-NBA Second Team, the National Basketball Association announced earlier today.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

In 55 games this season, Love averaged a career-high and single season franchise-record 26.0 ppg (4th in the NBA) while hauling in 13.3 rpg, 2nd in the NBA. Love paced the NBA in double-doubles (48), finished 2nd in minutes played (39.0 mpg) and sat fourth in free-throws made (379). The 2012 Foot Locker Three-Point Contest winner, Love connected on 37.2% from beyond the arc this season, making a team-high 105 three-pointers. This season Love became the third player in NBA history to average 25+ points, and 10+ rebounds while making 50+ three-pointers. Love poured in a club-record 51 points March 23 at Oklahoma City, one of his single season franchise-record 19 30-point games.

Love joins Kevin Garnett (1st Team: 1999-00, 2002-03, 2003-04; 2nd Team: 2000-01, 2001-02, 2004-05; 3rd Team: 1998-99, 2006-07) and Sam Cassell (2nd Team in 2003-04) as Timberwolves to earn All-NBA honors.

Below are the 2011-12 All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams:

2011-12 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position                       Player, Team (1st Team Votes)                    Points

Forward                       LeBron James, Miami (118)                         596

Forward                       Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (117)                591

Center                         Dwight Howard, Orlando (75)                        476

Guard                          Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (104)                     568

Guard                          Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers (74)                       484

2011-12 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position                       Player, Team (1st Team Votes)                    Points

Forward                       Kevin Love, Minnesota (16)                          365

Forward                       Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers                           170

Center                         Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers (33)                    400

Guard                          Tony Parker, San Antonio (41)                       367

Guard                          Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City (5)            239

2011-12 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position                       Player, Team (1st Team Votes)                    Points

Forward                       Carmelo Anthony, New York (1)                     154

Forward                       Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas                                   136

Center                         Tyson Chandler, New York (4)                       60

Guard                          Dwyane Wade, Miami (1)                             235

Guard                          Rajon Rondo, Boston (4)                              142

Other players receiving votes, with point totals: LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland, 55; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 52; Derrick Rose, Chicago, 44; Josh Smith, Atlanta, 33; Paul Pierce, Boston, 31; Al Jefferson, Utah, 30; Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 27; Steve Nash, Phoenix, 24; Kevin Garnett, Boston, 22; Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 18; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 16; Deron Williams, New Jersey, 14; Rudy Gay, Memphis, 10; James Harden, Oklahoma City, 8; Luol Deng, Chicago, 5; Roy Hibbert, Indiana, 5; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 3; Danny Granger, Indiana, 3; Joakim Noah, Chicago, 3; Monta Ellis, Milwaukee, 2; Chris Bosh, Miami, 2; Luis Scola, Houston, 2; Marcin Gortat, Phoenix, 2; Paul Millsap, Utah, 2; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 2; David Lee, Golden State, 1; and DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento, 1.

T-Wolves Ricky Rubio named to NBA All-Rookie 1st team

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio has been named to the 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie Team and forward Derrick Williams has been named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, the National Basketball Association announced earlier today.

The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.

In 41 games, 31 starts, Rubio averaged 10.6 points, 8.2 assists (5th in the NBA), 4.2 rebounds and 2.22 steals (3rd in the NBA) in 34.2 minutes per game. Rubio led all NBA rookies in assists, minutes and steals while recording 12 point-assist double-doubles, ranking him third in the NBA. Rubio was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for January.

Williams averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 66 games -- he was the only Wolves player to appear in all 66 games this past season.

Rubio joins Pooh Richardson, Christian Laettner, Isaiah Rider, Stephon Marbury, Wally Szczerbiak, and Randy Foye as Timberwolves rookies to earn first team honors during their rookie seasons in Minnesota. Williams joins Felton Spencer, Kevin Garnett, Craig Smith, Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn and Wes Johnson as Timberwolves rookies to earn second team honors.

Below are the 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie First and Second Teams:

2011-12 NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM

Player                     Team                      First (2 pt)    Second (1 Pt)     Total

Kyrie Irving              Cleveland                29                -                          58

Ricky Rubio             Minnesota            21                7                         49

Kenneth Faried         Denver                   19                8                         46

Klay Thompson         Golden State          16                11                       43

Iman Shumpert         New York               15                10                       40

Kawhi Leonard         San Antonio            14                12                       40

Brandon Knight         Detroit                   13                14                       40

2011-12 NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM

Player                     Team                      First (2 pt)    Second (1 Pt)     Total

Chandler Parsons      Houston                10                13                      33

Isaiah Thomas         Sacramento            5                  17                      27

MarShon Brooks       New Jersey           3                  12                      18

Derrick Williams     Minnesota            2                  12                      16

Tristan Thompson     Cleveland               2                  12                      16

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first place votes in parentheses): Markieff Morris, Phoenix, 7 (1); Kemba Walker, Charlotte 7; Alec Burks, Utah 2; Norris Cole, Miami 2; Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte 2; Enes Kanter, Utah 1; Greg Stiemsma, Boston 1; Gustavo Ayon, New Orleans 1; Nikola Vucevic, Philadelphia 1. 

Smart, Houdek named summer captains UND WBB captains

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Incoming head coach Travis Brewster announced today that junior Nicole Smart (Ada, Minn.) and sophomore Katie Houdek (Grafton, N.D.) have been selected to captain the North Dakota women's basketball team through the summer months. 

"This duo has been raising the standard in the classroom, weight room and in the gym," Brewster said. "They know the UND women's basketball way is 'Earn what you get!'" 

This is the first stint at captain for Houdek while Smart captained the team last season along with seniors Charnay Mothershed (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Charnise Mothershed (Phoenix, Ariz.). 

"This season will be a part of many firsts for the program and it will be exciting," Brewster said. "I am truly excited about this team and to see all their hard work for the upcoming season." 

Official captains for the 2012-13 season will be announced when the team begins practice in the fall. 

2012 NDHSAA State A and B Baseball Tournaments

The North Dakota Class A State Baseball Tournament will be held at Mandan’s Memorial Ballpark May 31-June 2, with Lorell Jungling as manager. State Class B Baseball competition will be held at Jamestown’s Jack Brown Stadium, May 31-June 2, with Jim Roaldson as manager. If in­clement weather prevails, tournament managers shall postpone the tournament as necessary. Tournament games will begin daily at 11:30 with the 3rd game beginning at 4:30.

Thursday’s pairings are:

Class B

Region 5 vs. Region 8

Region 2 vs. Region 4

Region 3 vs. Region 6

Region 1 vs. Region 7

Class A

1 West vs. 4 East

2 East vs. 3 West

1 East vs. 4 West

2 West vs. 3 East

Admission:         Tourney               Daily

Adult                 $20.00                   $8.00

Student                $10.00                   $4.00

For other baseball information: http://webmail.loretel.net/scripts/webmail.exe?cmd=url&xdata=~2-e3542cf57aa5d72d411ed524fe7a94750184afc19fa1ab91988f9e959600&url=http!3A!2F!2Fwww.ndhsaa.com!2Fathletics!2Fbaseball!2F

2012 NDHSAA State Fast Pitch Softball Tournament

The North Dakota State Fast Pitch Softball Tournament will be held at West Fargo’s Elmwood Park, 500 13^th Avenue West, May 31, June 1-2, with Curt Jones as manager. If in­clement weather prevails, the tournament manager shall postpone the tournament as necessary. Tournament games will begin Thursday with the first game at 12:00 noon and the second game 35 minutes after previous game. The 3rd game begins at 4:30 pm with game 4 following 35 minutes afterwards.

In Division A, the "home team" or nearest team to the tournament site will play the last game of the state tournament's first round. If there are multiple teams from the tournament site, the highest seed will be the "home team". The pairings will remain the same, but game times will be adjusted.

Thursday’s parings – Division A                                 Thursday’s parings – Division B

West Region, Team 1 vs. East Region, Team 4    North Region, Team 1 vs. South Region, Team 4

East Region, Team 2 vs. West Region, Team 3    South Region, Team 2 vs. North Region, Team 3

West Region, Team 2 vs. East Region, Team 3    North Region, Team 2 vs. South Region, Team 3

East Region, Team 1 vs. West Region, Team 4    South Region, Team 1 vs. North Region, Team 4

Friday’s pairings

Division B Consolation game – 10:00 am – Field #2

Division B Consolation game – 30 minutes after previous game

Division A Consolation game – 10:00 am – Field #1

Division A Consolation game – 30 minutes after previous game

Division B Semi Final game – 2:00 pm – Field #1

Division B Semi Final game – 30 minutes after previous game

Division A Semi Final game – 6:00 pm – Field #1

Division A Semi Final game – 30 minutes after previous game

Saturday’s schedule:

7^th Place games - 10:00 am

5th place games – 12:00 pm

3rd place games - 2:00 pm

Division B Championship Game – 4:00 pm – Field #1

Division A Championship Game – 6:00 pm – Field #1

Admission

Tournament                   Daily

Adult                     $20.00                                   $8.00

Student                $10.00                                  $4.00

2012 NDHSAA State B Girls’ and Boys’ Golf, May 29-30

The NDHSAA State B Girls’ and Boys’ Golf Tournaments will be held Tuesday, May 29 and Wednesday, May 30, 2012.  Girls’ tournament action will be played at Carrington’s CrossRoads, located at 393 Highway 281 with Greg Johnson, Carrington High School, serving as tournament manager. 

Boys’ play will be at Oxbow Golf Course, 130 Oxbow Drive #1, Oxbow, ND, with Perry Piatz, Activities Director for Kindred High School, managing the event.

               

In 2011, the Napoleon girls’ and Kindred boys’ captured the team championships.  Amber Piatz of Napoleon and Mike Rustvang of Oak Grove earned their respective tournament Medalist awards. 

At the state tournaments, 3 team trophies, individual plaques for the top 10 scorers, and Medalist honors will be awarded to participants at the conclusion of each event.

               

Play begins at 9:00 a.m. local time Tuesday, May 29 and 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30.  Additional information can be found on the golf pages of the NDHSAA website at http://www.ndhsaa.com.

UMC Teambacker Summer 2012 Golf Tournaments Scheduled

 CROOKSTON, Minn. – Mark your calendars and practice your swing to get ready for a series of summer golf tournaments sponsored by Teambackers at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The tournaments take place at a number of the area’s beautiful golf courses and all proceeds go to support scholarships for student-athletes on the Crookston campus.

Anyone interested in playing in the golf tournaments should contact Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, at 218-281-8436 for details.

The Teambacker Summer Golf Tournament Series for 2012 includes the following locations:

Mark Olsonawski Scholarship Tourney, Thursday, June 28, Hallock, Minn., 10 a.m., $40, four-person teams

Heart of the Valley/Teambacker Golf Tournament, Thursday, July 12, Heart of the Valley Golf Course, Ada, Minn., $40, 1 p.m., five-person teams

U of M, Crookston Teambacker Golf Classic Golf Tournament, Saturday,  July 21, Minakwa Golf Course,  Crookston, Minn., 10 a.m., $95, five-person teams

Highway 2 Classic Golf Tournament, Saturday, July 28, Oak Lake (Erskine) and Fosston Golf Courses, starting in Fosston at 10 a.m., $40, five-person teams

The Teambackers Club is an athletic promotion and fundraising organization for the U of M, Crookston. It operates in conjunction with the development office, athletic department, and the University of Minnesota Foundation.

Memberships in the Teambackers Club help support athletic scholarships for student-athletes in 11 sports on the Crookston campus. To learn more about athletics at the U of M, Crookston, visit www.goldeneaglesports.com.

ND High School State Track & Field Meet

The NDHSAA sponsored State Track & Field Meet will be held May 25-26 at the Bismarck Community Bowl located at 1701 Canary Avenue.  Jim Haussler, Athletic Director for Bismarck Public Schools, will be serving as meet manager.

The two-day event will begin Friday, May 25, at 9:30 a.m. with the Parade of Athletes.  Competition will begin at 10:30 a.m.  On Saturday, the meet will begin with field events at 9:00 a.m.

Adult Ticket Prices:

Daily $10.00 + $1.00 Venue Tax = $11.00

Two Day Wristband $18.00 + $2.00 Venue Tax = $20.00

Student Ticket Prices:

Daily $5.00 + $1.00 Venue Tax = $6.00

Two Day Wristband $8.00 + $2.00 Venue Tax = $10.00

Pre-sales (state meet  wristbands only) will be Thursday, May 24 5:00-7:30 p.m. at the Community Bowl North Ticket Booth.

Ticket booths open at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, May 25 and at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday May 26.

Additional information can be found at http://www.ndhsaa.com/.

NDSU's Anderson Named Summit League Female Athlete of the Month

ELMHURST, Ill. - North Dakota State golfer Amy Anderson was named Summit League Female Athlete of the Month for April, the league office announced Wednesday, May 9.

Anderson, a junior from Oxbow, N.D., won the Summit League individual title and was named championship MVP for the second straight season.  She shot a 2-over-par 218 to win the event by three strokes.

Anderson's second round score of 70 was the tournament's lowest round and tied a league tournament record.  She is the league leader by nearly three strokes with a 73.0 season average.

She also won her third straight Creighton Golf Classic title earlier in the month with a 36-hole score of 149 and was named Summit League co-Golfer of the Week.

Anderson was selected to her third straight NCAA West Regional, which has 24 teams and six individuals playing three 18-hole rounds Thursday, May 10, through Saturday, May 12, at the Colorado National Golf Course in Erie, Colo.

Anderson's tee times are 8:25 a.m. MT on Thursday, 12:45 p.m. MT on Friday, and 8:25 a.m. on Saturday.  The top eight teams and two individuals not on the those teams advance to the NCAA championship May 22-25 at Vanderbilt.

NCHC Names Joe Novak Director of Hockey Operations

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The National Collegiate Hockey Conference has named veteran sports management executive Joe Novak as its Director of Hockey Operations.

Jim Scherr, the Commissioner of college hockey’s newest conference, said that Novak, in his role, will primarily be responsible for the internal hockey operations and administration for the NCAA Division I men’s intercollegiate hockey conference that will be begin play in the 2013-14 season. Among Novak’s immediate tasks will be developing, in consultation with Conference members, a comprehensive playing schedule; organizing and maintaining a system to hire, assign, compensate, evaluate, and supervise on-ice officials; developing and implementing the Conference’s rules, playing standards, statistical programs and discipline program; and serving as the hockey operations liaison with the Conference’s coaches and others in the hockey community.

         

The Colorado Springs resident brings to the Conference more than 30 years of experience in sports management, the last 15 of them with the United States Air Force Academy, including roles in NCAA Division I athletic operations, events management and scheduling, athletic facilities management, contract management, and tournament and special e vents director. He has worked as an on-ice hockey official, a Supervisor of Officials with USA Hockey and an off-ice official with the National Hockey League and the Olympic Winter Games.

Novak joins the Conference after serving in a critical position with the accomplished Air Force Academy’s Athletics department in several management roles, including Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Operations and Events. His range of experience also includes being an off-ice official at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver; Ice Hockey Game Operations Manager for the Torino 2006 Olympic Committee/International Ice Hockey Federation for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in the Italian city; and managing athletic programs for the New York Military Army Command at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, NY, and the United States Army Europe Headquarters/Heidelberg Military Community in Heidelberg, Germany. 

“Being able to bring to the Conference a proven and imaginative executive with outstanding hockey credentials like Joe to serve as our Director of Hockey Operations is tremendous for our members and for me personally,” said Scherr. “The Conference’s inaugural season begins in about 18 months and there are many tasks to complete in advance of dropping the first puck. I will be relying on Joe to ensure that everything relating to hockey operations will be the best in intercollegiate athletics.”

Novak, who played ice hockey in semi-professional ranks and junior hockey in Germany and throughout Europe early in his career, says he is thrilled to become part of the new conference.

“I am grateful to Commissioner Scherr and the Conference members for this remarkable opportunity,” said Novak. “This position is both a great challenge and a great opportunity and, with so much to do, I look forward to working closely with the Conference athletic directors and coaches and to getting to work.”

About the National Collegiate Hockey Conference:

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference is the eight-school, Division I men’s hockey conference that will start play in the 2013-14 season.  The Conference’s member institutions are: Colorado College, University of Denver, Miami University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University. Since 2000, National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams include four NCAA National Champions, 14 NCAA Frozen Four appearances, 12 conference regular-season championships and 12 conference tournament championships. All eight members have been participants in the NCAA Ice Hockey Championship tournament at least once since 2010, including five teams in 2012. 

UND hockey coaching staff change

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota head men’s hockey coach Dave Hakstol announced today that associate head coach Cary Eades will not have his contract renewed as part of a restructuring of UND’s coaching staff for the 2012-13 season.

Eades has been a member of the Fighting Sioux coaching staff for each of Hasktol’s eight seasons behind the bench and was elevated from assistant coach to associate head coach prior to the 2006-07 season.

“Cary has provided tremendous leadership to our program and to the individuals within our program,” Hakstol said, “and I truly appreciate the loyalty and dedication he has demonstrated throughout his time at North Dakota. At this point in time, I felt a need to redefine and restructure the roles and duties within our coaching staff. There are no additional, underlying reasons for my decision, which was an extremely difficult one to make.”

During his eight years as a member of Hakstol’s staff, Eades helped lead the Sioux to six seasons of 25-plus victories, five NCAA Frozen Four appearances, four WCHA Final Five championships and two MacNaughton Cup titles as WCHA regular season champions. Eades coached UND’s defensemen and power play, and also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

“I am very appreciative of the past eight years at the University of North Dakota and am very proud of my contributions to the team’s success that we’ve enjoyed. Winning some form of a championship – WCHA league, WCHA playoff or NCAA regional – in each season is a testament to that,” Eades said. “I can also hold my head high knowing that our shelves are stocked with talent for next year’s team and beyond.

“I am a much better person and hockey coach because of this experience and I truly appreciate all of the current and former players, coaches, administration, alumni and, of course, our loyal, diehard Sioux fans for their part in my personal growth. It’s now time for me to look forward and pursue other career opportunities, and embrace the challenges that lie ahead in my life.”

Eades’ association with UND hockey extends well beyond his most recent stint as assistant and associate head coach. Eades previously was an assistant coach for the 1987 NCAA and WCHA champion Sioux while serving as a member of former UND head coach John “Gino” Gasparini's staff for seven seasons from 1984-91.

“I learn from the people I work with, and I’ve learned a lot from Cary,” Hakstol said. “He’s been an outstanding friend and coach to work with.”

Prior to embarking on a coaching career, Eades played hockey at UND for four seasons (1978-82), playing on two UND NCAA championship teams (1980 and 1982) and three WCHA championship teams (1979, 1980, 1982). He was UND's team captain his senior season (1981-82). Eades played in 144 games for the Sioux, scoring 85 goals and 79 assists for 164 points. His 85 career goals are tied for ninth in program history. UND compiled a 117-47-3 (.710) record during Eades four years of college.

Hakstol said a definitive timeline for naming a replacement has not yet been determined.

UMC SID/SB coach resigns

 (Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston Athletic Department announced today that Sports Information Director and Head Women’s Softball Coach Mitch Bakken has resigned his position to pursue other opportunities.   “I would like to thank the University of Minnesota, Crookston, Athletic Director Stephanie Helgeson and the entire Golden Eagle family for an amazing eight years,” says Bakken. “I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of outstanding student-athletes and coaches. The softball program is in a great place right now with no seniors this year and an outstanding recruiting class coming in,” states Bakken.   “The timing just seemed right as this opportunity came up after most of the sports seasons and recruiting were done as I didn’t want to leave any loose-ends out there. I plan to continue being a huge supporter of Golden Eagle Athletics and help out in any way that I can if an opportunity is presented,” adds Bakken.   ““I would like to thank Mitch for his service and dedication to the athletic program. We appreciate all that he has done in the eight years he has been Head Softball Coach and Sports Information Director and we wish him the best,” says Athletic Director Stephanie Helgeson.   A search for a new SID and Head Softball Coach will begin immediately.   For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at: www.goldeneaglesports.com.      Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at #UMCAthletics.   The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

KRJB's 21st Annual Golf Tournament June 9th

KRJB’S 21^st ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT is coming SATURDAY JUNE 9th

A Noon Tee-Off at the EART OF THE VALLEY GOLF COURSE, ADA, MN

2 PERSON, 18 HOLE TRIPLE EVENT

(SCRAMBLE, BEST BALL, ALTERNATE SHOT)

·         ENTRY FEE IS $80/TEAM, INCLUDES GOLF, FREE MEAL, BEVERAGES, DOOR PRIZES

·         MGA OR YOUR CLUB HANDICAP VERIFICATION

·         3 FLIGHTS DETERMINED BY LOWEST HANDICAP OF TWO-SOME

·         NO PLAYOFFS – TIES BROKEN BY CARD – HOLE BY HOLE

·         A HOLE IN ONE WINS $2,000 TOWARDS A LEASE OF PURCHASE VALUE ON SELECTED NEW AUTOMOBILE FROM THE ADA AUTO DEALERS – LEE BROTHERS SALES AND KELLYS CHRYSLER

·         CASH PAYOUTS

·         PRIZES FOR LONGEST PUTT, CLOSEST TO HOLE, LONGEST DRIVE

·         HOLE BY HOLE PRIZES

·         CART RENTAL AVAILABLE WITH ADVANCE RESERVATION AT H.O.V GOLF COURSE

·         NO REFUNDS IF EVENT IS RAINED OUT.  INCOMPLETE SCORES DECIDED BY DRAWING

TO REGISTER CALL 800-569-4171 (LIMIT AT 80 GOLFERS)

KRJB RADIO 106.5FM – ADA, MN