PTP players of the week

(December 18, 2012) Bailee Bartunek (Junior, Center) from Lake Park--‐Audubon High School and Neil Henrickson (Sr., Guard) from Ulen--‐Hitterdal High School have been selected as the Pine to Prairie Girls and Boys Basketball Players of the week.

 

Bailee led the Lake Park--‐Audubon Girls Basketball team to a 3-‐0 record last week. She had 16 points on 8-13 shooting, 23 rebounds (9 offensive) as well as 2 assists and 2 blocks against Park Christian. Against conference foe, Ulen-Hitterdal, Bartunek had 8 points on 4-5 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and 2 assists. To wrap up the

week, Bailee led the way with 17 points and 17 rebounds against Norman County

East.

Neil had 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 1block in a win against Lake Park-Audubon. He followed that effort up with 33 points, 2 assists, and 5 steals in a

win over Norman County West on Thursday.

Other outstanding efforts for the week were turned in by: Lexi Nelson (Fr., Norman County West), Ciara Austinson (Sr., Ulen-Hitterdal), and Shelby Kaster (Jr., Win-E-Mac).

College Hockey Polls

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota, unbeaten in its last five games (4-0-1), will enter the Christmas break ranked No. 7 in the USCHO.com poll and No. 8 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

UND earned its first sweep of the season last weekend in Houghton, Mich., defeating Michigan Tech 6-1 and 4-1 to improve to 10-5-3 overall and 7-2-3 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play. The sweep enabled UND to jump one spot in the USCHO.com poll and maintain its spot in the USA Today rankings.

Both polls remained unchanged ahead of North Dakota, including top-ranked Boston College. In addition to BC, second-ranked New Hampshire and third-ranked Notre Dame also received first-place votes.

UND is now idle until hosting non-conference opponent Holy Cross at Ralph Engelstad Arena Jan. 4-5. The unanked Crusaders received 16 votes in the USCHO.com poll.

USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll

Rk. School (1^st place) Record Pts. PR

1. Boston College (44) 11-2-1 993 1

2. New Hampshire (4) 11-2-2 938 2

3. Notre Dame (2) 14-4-0 911 3

4. Minnesota 11-3-3 816 4

5. Miami 11-3-4 768 5

6. Boston University 10-5-0 737 6

7. North Dakota 10-5-3 675 8

8. Western Michigan 11-4-1 648 7

9. Quinnipiac 12-3-2 603 9

10. Dartmouth 7-2-2 525 10

11. Cornell 6-3-2 441 12

12. Nebraska Omaha 11-6-1 395 13

13. Union 8-3-4 391 14

14. Denver 9-6-3 343 11

15. Yale 7-3-2 321 15

16. St. Cloud State 11-7-0 296 17

17. Niagara 10-2-4 248 16

18. Minnesota State 10-6-2 204 20

19. Ferris State 7-7-3 50 19

20. Colgate 9-7-2 47 NR

Others receiving votes: Providence 43, Holy Cross 16, Robert Morris 15, Ohio State 14, Colorado College 7, Lake Superior State 4, Massachusetts-Lowell 2, Michigan 2.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll

Rk. School (1^st place) Record Pts. PR

1. Boston College (28) 11-2-1 503 1

2. New Hampshire (5) 11-2-2 473 2

3. Notre Dame (1) 14-4-0 443 3

4. Minnesota 11-3-3 392 4

5. Miami 11-3-4 366 5

6. Boston University 10-5-0 339 6

7. Western Michigan 11-4-1 285 7

8. North Dakota 10-5-3 284 8

9. Quinnipiac 12-3-2 247 9

10. Dartmouth 7-2-2 198 11

11. Cornell 6-3-2 148 12

12. Union 8-3-4 107 13

13. Nebraska Omaha 11-6-1 90 14

14. Yale 7-3-2 67 15

15. Denver 9-6-3 62 10

 

Others Receiving Votes: St. Cloud State 48, Niagara 15, Minnesota State 10, Providence 3.

T-Wolves Kevin Love & Ricky Rubio on All-star game ballot

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love is sixth among the Western Conference frontcourt in votes received (112,922) and guard Ricky Rubio is eighth among the Western Conference backcourt in votes received (54,744) after the first returns in the 2013 NBA All-Star Balloting program.

In 10 games since returning from a broken right hand, Love, a two-time NBA All-Star, is averaging 19.9 points and 14.2 rebounds per game. Love has tallied eight double-doubles and two 30-point performances, including a 34-point, 14-rebound outing in his season debut on November 21 vs. Denver.

Rubio has yet to appear in a game this season as he is recovering from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and LCL (lateral collateral ligament), suffered March 10, 2012.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder lead the Western Conference and LeBron James of the Miami Heat and Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks top the Eastern Conference after the first returns of 2013 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint. James, the reigning KIA NBA MVP and Finals MVP, is the overall leader with 641,348 votes, while Bryant is second with 639,419 votes.

The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be exclusively televised on TNT (8 p.m. ET) from Toyota Center on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. The All-Star Game, also broadcast live on ESPN Radio, will collectively reach fans in more than 220 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

Bryant, the Western Conference’s leading vote-getter, is joined in the backcourt by intra-city rival Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers with 353,603 votes. In addition to Durant (605,965), the conference’s leading frontcourt vote-getters are the Lakers’ Dwight Howard (434,168) and the Clippers’ Blake Griffin (307,855).

James, Anthony (573,112) and the Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (218,246) pace the Eastern Conference’s frontcourt players. The Heat’s Dwyane Wade (430,925) is the East’s leading vote-getter in the backcourt, followed by the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo (382,613).

2013 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint gives fans around the world the opportunity to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston. For the first time ever, NBA fans can vote via social media networks, including Facebook and Twitter, and Sina Weibo and Tencent QQ in China.

Twitter voting allows fans to tweet a vote for one player each day throughout the All-Star balloting period. The tweet must include a player’s first and last name, along with hash tag #NBABALLOT. Facebook voting will allow fans to fill out one full ballot (three frontcourt and two guards from each conference) per day, through a custom application on Facebook.

Fans can also access the ballot and vote through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time from Sprint applications, available on Android and iOS. NBA fans can fill out one full ballot (three frontcourt and two guards from each conference) per day, through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time from Sprint application, the most comprehensive app in the marketplace for NBA fans.

There are several other ways fans can cast their votes as part of this season’s all-digital program including: in 11 languages on NBA.com/ASB, through SMS voting by texting the player's last name to 6-9-6-2-2 ("MYNBA") or by visiting NBA.com/ASB on any wireless device. Fans can vote for 10 different players per day, per phone number, via SMS voting by sending 10 separate SMS messages, each one with a different player's last name. Message and data rates may apply.

After submitting their All-Star selections, fans have the ability to share them with their friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter, and encourage others to cast their ballots.

Balloting will conclude on Jan. 14, and starters will be announced live on TNT on Jan. 17, during a special one-hour pregame show at 7 p.m. ET featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT’s exclusive doubleheader featuring the Los Angeles Clippers at the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET) and the Miami Heat at the Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).

The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players – 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences – with 36 frontcourt and 24 guards from each conference comprising the list. Voters select three frontcourt and two guards from each conference. Previously, the ballot featured three positions with fans picking two guards, two forwards and a center.

The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: Steve Aschburner (NBA.com), Jonathan Feigen (Houston Chronicle), Doug Smith (Toronto Star/PBWA), and Kenny Smith (TNT).

NBA All-Star 2013 in Houston will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for an 11th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 29th year of All-Star coverage. State Farm NBA All-Star Saturday Night will feature the NBA All-Star Shooting Stars, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, and Sprite Slam Dunk. Other events at NBA All-Star 2013 will include the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and NBA All-Star Jam Session. The 2013 game will mark the third NBA All-Star celebration in Houston. The city also hosted the event in 1989 and in 2006.

The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the first returns of 2013 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint are as follows:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

 

Frontcourt: Kevin Durant (OKC) 605,965; Dwight Howard (LAL) 434,168; Blake Griffin (LAC) 307,855; Tim Duncan (SA) 189,577; Pau Gasol (LAL) 139,868; Kevin Love (Min) 112,922; Omer Asik (Hou) 88,178; Rudy Gay (Mem) 85,279; Serge Ibaka (OKC) 68,285; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 66,290; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 63,056; Marc Gasol (Mem) 61,716; Zach Randolph (Mem) 59,916; Metta World Peace (LAL) 59,167; Anthony Davis (NO) 53,779.

Backcourt: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 639,419; Chris Paul (LAC) 353,603; Jeremy Lin (Hou) 298,319; James Harden (Hou) 196,108; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 143,437; Steve Nash (LAL) 118,073; Tony Parker (SA) 69,983; Ricky Rubio (Min) 54,744; Manu Ginobili (SA) 47,800; O.J. Mayo (Dal) 36,495.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Frontcourt: LeBron James (Mia) 641,348; Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 573,112; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 218,246; Chris Bosh (Mia) 210,724; Tyson Chandler (NYK) 151,744; Paul Pierce (Bos) 114,735; Joakim Noah (Chi) 73,366; Josh Smith (Atl) 69,344; Andrew Bynum (Phi) 68,596; Amar’e Stoudemire (NYK) 64,266; Shane Battier (Mia) 59,419; Anderson Varejao (Cle) 57,336; Luol Deng (Chi) 48,450; Brook Lopez (BKN) 47,940; Jeff Green (Bos) 36,080.

Backcourt: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 430,925; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 382,613; Deron Williams (BKN) 211,426; Kyrie Irving (Cle) 155,989; Ray Allen (Mia) 130,016; Monta Ellis (Mil) 47,650; Raymond Felton (NYK) 37,974; Jason Terry (Bos) 36,147; Brandon Jennings (Mil) 35,610; Jrue Holiday (Phi) 35,193.

WNBA ANNOUNCES RULES CHANGES FOR 2013 SEASON

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2012 — The WNBA will implement new rules regarding flopping and defensive three-seconds, while also extending the three-point line, Chief of Basketball Operations and Player Relations Renee Brown announced today following the league’s Board of Governor’s Meeting. The rules will go into effect beginning with the 2013 season.

“Flops that are intended to mislead referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into believing a foul call was missed are a detriment to the game," Brown said. "With that, both the Board of Governors and the Competition Committee felt strongly that a player who, upon video review by the league, is believed to have committed a flop will, after an initial warning, be given an automatic penalty.”

“Flopping” will be defined as any physical act that, upon review, reasonably appears to have been intended to cause the referees to call a foul on another player.

The primary factor in determining if a player committed a flop is whether her physical reaction to an action by another player (whether or not that action resulted in contact) is inconsistent with what would reasonably be expected given the force, direction, or nature of the action of the other player. An example would be a player who lunges, flails, or falls following minimal or non-existent contact with an opponent.

Physical acts that constitute legitimate basketball plays (such as moving to a spot in order to draw an offensive foul) and minor physical reactions to contact will not be treated as flops.

During preseason games, warning will be given for acts judged to be flops. Any player who is determined to have committed a flop during the regular season will, upon the first offense, receive a warning. Subsequent violations will result in fines of increasing amounts. Beginning with a sixth violation, a player will be subject to a further increased fine and/or suspension.

The league will announce at a later date a separate set of penalties for flopping that will apply during the playoffs.

The three-point line will be extended from 20 feet, 6 1/4 inches to 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches, consistent with the distance inherent in all FIBA competitions.

“We extended the line to its current distance of 20 feet, 6 1/4 inches in 2004 and our three-point shooting percentage increased,” said Brown. “Since then the talent level and the athleticism of our players has only continued to increase; and with a significant percentage of our players also playing – and excelling – internationally, this brings us into line with the international game. The extended three-point line and defensive three-second rule will create spacing and open up the lane. The improved spacing will create increased opportunities for athletic players to drive to the basket and either shoot or pass the ball back out to open players on the perimeter.”

Under the new defensive three-second rule, a violation will result in a technical foul being assessed if a defensive player violates the “actively guarding” guidelines. Following the free throw for the technical foul, the offense will maintain possession of the ball at the free throw line extended.

Slight changes also have been made with regard to the use of instant replay as it pertains to flagrant fouls and the restricted area.

Whereas previous rules allowed for replay review of Flagrant Foul 2’s but not Flagrant Foul 1’s, the level of the foul will now be assigned only after the play has been reviewed. Replay procedures are also being instituted during the final minute of regulation and overtime if officials determine the offensive player committed the illegal contact but are uncertain as to whether the defender was inside or outside the restricted area.

Hockey polls

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota is ranked No. 8 in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls heading into the final series of the first half of the season.

UND jumped one spot in both polls after taking three of four Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) points from league-leading Denver last week in Grand Forks. UND defeated then-No. 6 Denver 6-3 on Saturday after a 2-2 tie on Friday.

After a one-week absence, Boston College regained its spot atop both polls, with New Hampshire, Notre Dame, Minnesota and Miami rounding out the top five in both.

UND will close out the first half of the season this week at unranked Michigan Tech. UND enters the week three points out of first place in the WCHA.

USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll

Rk. School (1^st place) Record Pts. PR

1. Boston College (35) 11-2-1 981 2

2. New Hampshire (9) 11-2-2 921 1

3. Notre Dame (3) 13-4-0 902 5

4. Minnesota (3) 11-3-3 815 4

5. Miami 10-3-3 775 3

6. Boston University 10-5-0 727 7

7. Western Michigan 10-3-1 723 7

8. North Dakota 8-5-3 630 9

9. Quinnipiac 12-3-2 541 13

10. Dartmouth 7-2-2 529 10

11. Denver 9-5-2 519 6

12. Cornell 6-3-2 438 11

13. Nebraska Omaha 10-5-1 389 14

14. Union 8-3-4 385 12

15. Yale 6-3-2 246 15

16. Niagara 10-2-3 239 18

17. St. Cloud State 9-7-0 234 17

18. Harvard 4-3-1 126 20

19. Ferris State 7-6-3 116 16

20. Minnesota State 9-5-2 96 NR

Others receiving votes: Colorado College 63, Colgate 35, Providence 32, Holy Cross 19, Ohio State 14, Robert Morris 5.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll

Rk. School (1^st place) Record Pts. PR

1. Boston College (22) 11-2-1 496 2

2. New Hampshire (9) 11-2-2 472 1

3. Notre Dame (1) 13-4-0 420 4

4. Minnesota (3) 11-3-3 405 5

5. Miami 10-3-3 362 3

6. Boston University 10-5-0 325 7

7. Western Michigan 10-3-1 312 8

8. North Dakota 8-5-3 259 9

9. Quinnipiac 12-3-2 224 11

10. Denver 9-5-2 216 6

11. Dartmouth 7-2-2 212 10

12. Cornell 6-3-2 134 13

13. Union 8-3-4 100 12

14. Nebraska Omaha 10-5-1 67 14

15. Yale 6-3-2 31 15

Others Receiving Votes: Niagara 14, St. Cloud State 12, Harvard 9, Providence 5, Colorado College 2, Minnesota State 2, Ferris State 1.

NDSU's Braun Earns Summit League POTW Honor

ELMHURST, Ill. - North Dakota State's Taylor Braun was named Summit League men's basketball Player of the Week by the league office for the second time in three weeks Monday, Dec. 10.

Braun, a 6-foot-7 junior guard from Newberg, Ore., averaged 22.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as NDSU improved to 8-2 overall with wins over Morehead State and North Dakota.

He made 11 of 12 free throws and scored a game-high 23 points at Morehead State, and he led the Bison with 22 points and a career-high five steals against UND.

North Dakota State plays nationally ranked Minnesota (10-1) at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.

MN Lynx sign coach Cheryl Reeve to multi-year contract extension

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has signed head coach Cheryl Reeve to a multi-year contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

“We are very happy to announce a multi-year contract extension with one of the league’s best coaches, Cheryl Reeve,” said Lynx Executive Vice President Roger Griffith. “Three years ago, we gave Cheryl the opportunity as head coach of the Lynx based on her extensive experience as assistant coach in the WNBA and glowing recommendations from her colleagues. The decision has paid off with Cheryl leading our team to back-to-back WNBA Finals appearances, including its first championship in 2011, and the best record in the league since being hired. We are extremely happy to continue the relationship and look forward to even better things in the future.”

“I’m just as excited today as I was the day that Roger and Mr. Taylor hired me to be the head coach of the Minnesota Lynx,” said Reeve. “We have a great thing going here in Minnesota – great players, great staff and great fans – and I’m very grateful to be in this situation.”

Under Reeve’s tutelage, the Lynx won a WNBA-best 67 games dating back to the start of the 2010 season, including reaching the WNBA Finals in each of the last two seasons. Minnesota’s 54 regular season wins over the past two seasons are the second highest two-season win total in WNBA history (56 - Los Angeles, 2000-01). Her .657 winning percentage ranks second in WNBA history (Michael Cooper, 167-85, .663), one of just four coaches to win at least 60% of their games in league history (Chancellor, Thibault).

This past season was Reeve’s third year as Lynx head coach, leading the team to a league-best 27-7 record for the second consecutive season. Minnesota started the year 10-0, becoming the first team in WNBA history to open a season with 10 consecutive victories. The Lynx set WNBA records in both assists (20.8 apg) and rebounding margin (+6.8 rpg), while finishing the season leading the league in a number of categories, including points (86.0 ppg), rebounds (37.8 rpg), field goal percentage (43.3%) and three-point percentage (40.0%). Minnesota compiled a league-best 20 double-figure victories – the second highest single-season total in league history – en route to finishing the season with a +9.8 point differential, the third highest scoring margin in league history.

Leading the Lynx to their first WNBA title in 2011, Reeve was selected as the WNBA’s Coach of the Year, becoming the second coach to earn the honor in franchise history (Suzie McConnell Serio, 2004). Minnesota’s 14-game improvement between 2010 and 2011 was the second-largest single-season win increase in WNBA history.

NDSU’s Steven Monk Named WWC Wrestler of the Week

OREM, Utah -- North Dakota State University 165-pound junior Steven Monk (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West HS) has been named the Western Wrestling Conference Wrestler of the Week after placing second at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The conference honor was announced Tuesday by the league.

Monk claimed a runner-up finish after posting a 4-1 record at the prestigious CKLV Invitational. The NDSU junior opened the tournament with a 12-0 major decision over Jake Mason of North Idaho, pinned Ian Roy of Harvard in the second period (3:39), and pinned Joseph Brewster of South Dakota State (3:49) in the quarterfinals.

In the semis, Monk posted a 1-0 decision over No. 7 Nick Sulzer of Virginia. Monk’s only loss was a 6-0 decision to three-time NCAA Champion and No. 1 Kyle Dake of Cornell in the finals.

Monk is now 13-1 on the season and 30-4 in his last 34 matches. His victory over Sulzer was his second over a Top-10 opponent this season. Monk is ranked No. 7 in both major polls this week.

The conference award is Monk’s first of the season and third of his career. NDSU’s Trent Sprenkle was the WWC Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 27.

NDSU Wrestling No. 22 in Intermat Team Rankings

The North Dakota State wrestling team climbed to No. 22 in the nation in the latest Intermat team rankings released Tuesday, moving up two spots from No. 24 one week ago.

NDSU is the highest-ranked team from the Western Wrestling Conference, and the Bison are ranked in front of five Big Ten Conference schools. The Intermat team rankings are based on NCAA Tournament strength.

Penn State, Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois fill out the top five spots in this week’s Intermat rankings.

The Bison also made their debut in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll at No. 24 earlier this season.

North Dakota State hosts No. 13/15 Oregon State in the Bison Sports Arena on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.

AVCA All-Region VB team

LEXINGTON, Ky. - North Dakota State has landed a player on the American Volleyball Coaches Association's all-region team for the first time in program history at the Division I level.

Brynn Joki, a senior outside hitter from Grand Rapids, Minn., was the only Summit League player on the All-Central Region team along with nine players from the Big 12 Conference and four from the Missouri Valley Conference.

Megan Lambertson, a senior middle hitter from Litchfield, Minn., was NDSU's second honorable mention on the all-region squad joining former middle hitter Chrissy Knuth, who was listed as a sophomore in 2009.

Joki led the Bison in kills (407) and kills per set (3.48) and was second on the team in digs (406) and digs per set (3.47). She was the seventh player in NDSU history to reach 1,000 kills and digs in a career.

Lambertson's .370 hitting percentage ranked 34th in the NCAA Division I statistics through Dec. 2. She also led NDSU in blocks (122) and blocks per set (1.04) and was second in kills (356) and kills per set (3.04).

Joki and Lambertson were both voted to the All-Summit League team for the third straight year. Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Tessa McGill of Fort Wayne was an honorable mention to the AVCA all-region squad.

North Dakota State went 13-18 overall and tied for fifth place in The Summit League with an 8-8 record.

AVCA All-Central Region Team

Name	School	Position	Year
Emily Adney	Wichita State	OH	Sr.
Khat Bell	Texas	MB	So.
Megan Bober**	Creighton	S	Sr.
Kelli Browning	Creighton	MB	So.
Haley Eckerman**	Texas	OH	So.
Chelsey Feekin	Wichita State	S	Jr.
Kristen Hahn	Iowa State	L/DS	Jr.
Caroline Jarmoc	Kansas	MB	RSr.
Brynn Joki	North Dakota State	OH	Sr.
Alison Landwehr**	Iowa State	S	Sr.
Sallie McLaurin	Oklahoma	MB	Jr.
Sha'Dare McNeal	Texas	OPP	Sr.
Kaitlynn Pelger**	Kansas State	MB	Jr.
Bailey Webster**	Texas	OH	Jr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Mackenzie Bigbee, OPP, Iowa State

Honorable Mention

Name	School	Position	Year
Megan Lambertson	North Dakota State	MB	Sr.
Tessa McGill	Fort Wayne	L/DS	Sr.
Krista DeGeest	Northern Iowa	MB	Sr.
Victoria Hurtt	Iowa State	OH	So.
Caitlyn Donahue	Kansas State	S	Sr.
Jamie Straube	Iowa State	MB	Sr.