No.1 Kansas falls to Villanova, loses top spot

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jermaine Samuels hit a 3-pointer with 20.5 seconds left and No. 18 Villanova beat No. 1 Kansas 56-55 on Saturday, making the Jayhawks the latest top-ranked team to fall this season.

The Jayhawks (9-2) had moved up one spot to become the fifth team to top the poll this season. It is the first time the AP poll has had five school at No. 1 before New Year’s Day; the record for a season is seven in 1982-83.

Unlike Duke and Louisville which lost to unranked teams, Kansas lost to a traditional national power that has had its number in recent seasons. The Wildcats (9-2) finally nudged ahead in a back-and-forth game.

Samuels scored 15 points and Collin Gillespie had 12 for Villanova.

Devon Dotson led Kansas with 15 points, and Udoka Azubuike had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

 

NO. 2 GONZAGA 112, EASTERN WASHINGTON 77

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Filip Petrusev had 24 points and nine rebounds to help Gonzaga beat Eastern Washington, clearing a path for the Bulldogs to become the sixth top-ranked team in the nation so far this season.

Gonzaga has reached No. 1 several times in recent years, including twice last season.

Admon Gilder scored 22 points and Ryan Woolridge added 15 points for Gonzaga (13-1), which has won five straight games since falling to Michigan in the title game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Zags have won 30 straight home games, the longest streak in the nation.

Jacob Davison scored 17 points and Tyler Kidd added 16 for Eastern Washington (7-4).

 

NO. 5 OHIO STATE 71, NO. 6 KENTUCKY 65

LAS VEGAS (AP) — D.J. Carton had 13 points, Kaleb Wesson added 12 before fouling out and Ohio State outlasted Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic.

The Buckeyes (11-1) played with Duane Washington Jr., their second-leading scorer, limited to eight minutes due to a rib injury and had a hard time shaking the Wildcats in a physical game.

Kentucky (8-3) stayed within reach despite a poor-shooting second half before the Buckeyes stretched the lead to seven with 1:17 left. The Buckeyes made four straight free throws in the final 18 seconds to prevent Kentucky from mounting a comeback.

Wesson also had eight rebounds before fouling out with 3:30 left.

Nate Sestina scored 17 and hit five 3-pointers, and Tyrese Maxey added 15 points for the Wildcats.

 

NO. 8 OREGON 84, TEXAS SOUTHERN 78

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Payton Pritchard led a late surge to help Oregon escape an upset scare against Texas Southern.

Pritchard scored 29 points, 16 of them in the final 4:44 as the Ducks (10-2) finally got the lead and held it. Will Richardson added 18 points.

Chris Baldwin had 27 points for the Tigers (3-8), who a year ago posted an 89-84 victory over the Ducks, then ranked 18th. Tyrik Armstrong added 21 points.

 

NO. 11 MEMPHIS 77, JACKSON STATE 49

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Precious Achiuwa had 20 points and nine rebounds and DJ Jeffries added 13 points to help Memphis beat Jackson State.

Memphis (10-1) weathered 28 turnovers by shooting 55% when it wasn’t throwing away the ball or mishandling passes. The teams combined for 53 turnovers.

Tristan Jarrett led Jackson State (3-9) with 20 points.

 

NO. 12 AUBURN 74, LEHIGH 51

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Austin Wiley had 14 points and 15 rebounds for Auburn, at 11-0 the only unbeaten Power Five program and one of four undefeated teams in the country.

Auburn led 27-20 at the half and pulled away from there. J’Von McCormick scored 18 points, hitting three straight 3-pointers to put the game away.

Jordan Cohen led Lehigh (3-8) with 18 points. Evan Taylor had 13.

 

COLORADO 78, NO. 13 DAYTON 76, OT

CHICAGO (AP) — D’shawn Schwartz nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, McKinley Wright IV scored a season-high 29 points and Colorado beat Dayton in overtime.

The Buffaloes (10-2) trailed by 14 in the first half, led by eight in the second and came away with the win after Obi Toppin hit a tying 3 in the final seconds of regulation for Dayton (9-2).

Schwartz scored 20 points. Wright finished one point shy of his career high and grabbed 10 rebounds, helping the Buffaloes win their third in a row. Jalen Crutcher led Dayton with 19 points, and Toppin had 17.

 

NO. 14 MICHIGAN 86, PRESBYTERIAN 44

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Jon Teske scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half and No. 14 Michigan cruised past Presbyterian despite losing Isaiah Livers to an apparent injury.

The Wolverines (9-3) snapped a two-game losing streak and took full advantage of an easier spot on the schedule. Michigan raced to a 17-4 advantage and led 38-15 at halftime.

Livers went up for a dunk attempt and missed early in the first half, drawing a foul in the process. While he moved around under his own power, he was holding his left knee.

Eli Brooks scored 16 points for Michigan and David DeJulius added 12.

Owen McCormack led Presbyterian (2-10) with 10 points.

 

NO. 15 MICHIGAN STATE 101, EASTERN MICHIGAN 48

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Cassius Winston had 21 points and seven assists for Michigan State.

The Spartans (9-3) have won four straight and they may keep rolling if their supporting cast can gain confidence after solid performances. Michigan State’s Foster Loyer scored a season-high 13 points, Aaron Henry had 12 points, Xavier Tillman scored 11 and Marcus Bingham added 10 points.

Ty Groce had nine points on 3-of-12 shooting for Eastern Michigan (9-2).

 

ST. JOHN’S 70, 

NO. 16 ARIZONA 67

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nick Rutherford scored the go-ahead basket on a driving layup with 1:03 remaining and St. John’s beat Arizona in the Al Attles Classic despite blowing a 15-point lead in the second half.

LJ Figueroa had 21 points and Rasheem Dunn added 14 to help the Red Storm (11-2) win their seventh straight game. The last two have come without injured scoring leader Mustapha Heron.

Zeke Nnaji had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Arizona (10-3). Nico Mannion scored 19.

 

NO. 17 BUTLER 70, PURDUE 61

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bryce Golden scored 14 points and Butler used relentless defense to pull away from Purdue in the Crossroads Classic.

The Bulldogs (11-1) have won two straight since losing at No. 11 Baylor.

Trevion Williams led Purdue (7-5) with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Boilermakers have lost two of their last three games and two straight in the event that brings Indiana’s four best-known programs to Indianapolis for a December doubleheader. Indiana beat Notre Dame 62-60 in the opener.

 

NO. 19 FLORIDA STATE 66, 

SOUTH FLORIDA 60

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State used smothering defense to overcome a 10-point deficit in the final seven minutes and beat South Florida in the Orange Bowl Classic.

The Seminoles (10-2) forced 24 turnovers, including seven as they outscored the Bulls 19-3 down the stretch. Florida State forced four shot-clock violations and won despite being outrebounded by 14 and shooting only 40 percent, including 7 for 27 from 3-point range.

RaiQuan Gray had 11 points, seven rebounds and three of Florida State’s 13 steals. Anthony Polite, Trent Forrest and M.J. Walker also scored 11 points apiece. Michael Durr had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Bulls (6-6).

 

NO. 20 SAN DIEGO STATE 80, UTAH 52

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Malachi Flynn scored 16 points and San Diego State remained one of the nation’s four unbeaten teams with the victory over Utah in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Staples Center.

Yanni Wetzell and Nathan Mensah added 14 points apiece for the Aztecs (12-0). They are off to the second-best start in program history.

Timmy Allen led Utah (9-3) with 21 points.

 

NO. 21 TENNESSEE 75, JACKSONVILLE STATE 53

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jordan Bowden scored 19 points and Tennessee beat Jacksonville State to give Volunteers coach Rick Barnes his 700th career victory.

 

Barnes improved his record to 700-367 record in 32 seasons at George Mason (1987-88), Providence (1988-94), Clemson (1994-98), Texas (1998-2015) and Tennessee (2015-present). He’s the seventh active coach with 700 career Division I wins.

After the game, fifth-year senior guard Lamonte’ Turner announced that he has thoracic outlet syndrome and will undergo season-ending surgery. Turner has been bothered by shoulder problems the last few years.

John Fulkerson added 16 points for Tennessee (8-3).

Ty Hudson scored 11 points for Jacksonville State (4-8).

 

NO. 24 TEXAS TECH 68, TEXAS-RIO GRANDE VALLEY 58

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Freshman Jahmi’us Ramsey scored 15 points in his return after missing four games with a hamstring injury, and Texas Tech overcame another sluggish start.

the Red Raiders (8-3) extended their nonconference home winning streak to 53 games.

Quinton Johnson II led the Vaqueros (4-8) with 17 points and seven rebounds.

 

NO. 25 WEST VIRGINIA 75, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 64

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Oscar Tshiebwe scored 19 points and Derek Culver added 15 for West Virginia.

West Virginia (10-1) scored the final eight points to seal its third straight win since its loss to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden.

Darius Quisnenbery had 22 points for Youngstown State (7-6).

Two Houston teenagers get Hopkins/Stills shopping spree

HOUSTON (AP) — Miracle Washington-Tribble didn’t see much hope for her future.

At 16 and already a single mother to a baby boy, she wasn’t going to school, had been in numerous fights and lacked ambition to turn her life around.

Then in August she was introduced to Eight Million Stories, a Houston program which helps 14 to 18-year-olds who have either quit or been kicked out of school continue their education, find employment and receive emotional support.

“At first I never saw myself getting a job or even finishing school,” Washington-Tribble said. “I never went to school and I was doing bad stuff. But when I got here they motivated me to keep coming to school. I didn’t see me having a future. But they help you with your dreams and goals. It motivated me and I see a future now.”

In four short months, Washington-Tribble barely resembles that person. She has a job and is on track to receive her GED at the end of January. But most importantly, the petite teenager with the radiant smile now has hope for a better life.

“Miracle has turned her entire life around just being involved in this program,” said Marvin Pierre, the program’s co-founder and executive director. “Eight Million Stories filled a big gap in her life, which was love and finding a support system that she could tap into. And to see where she was in August and to see where she is now in terms of what she believes is possible for her future is just really a testament to the amazing staff that we have.”

And last week Washington-Tribble and fellow Eight Million Stories participant Jadon Cofield received a Christmas surprise for their newfound success: The two went on a shopping spree with Houston Texans receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Kenny Stills.

The students knew about the shopping spree when they arrived at the Houston Galleria last week, but the teenagers had no idea that Hopkins and Stills would be joining them for a day of fun. When the two walked in, the teenagers beamed and gasped with excitement before sharing handshakes and hugs with the players.

Both Hopkins and Stills have been working with Eight Million Stories and raved about the importance of the program.

“You can actually see the difference that they’re making in kids,” Hopkins said. “It gives kids a second chance. A lot of times when kids get in trouble they might get labeled or judged for mistakes that they made at a young age. This program right here gives kids an opportunity to better themselves after messing up or doing something that kids might do.”

Cofield has been involved with the program since May and has gotten back on track after struggling with negative influences and not succeeding in traditional schools. He is also scheduled to receive his GED at the end of January, and his involvement in the program has helped nurture his love of music. Cofield recently penned a song about Hopkins and was thrilled when Hopkins FaceTimed him at Eight Million Stories so he could perform the song for his favorite receiver.

“Whatever you want to push forward they help you build that and do that because they know that’s important to you,” Cofield said. “Like me with my music, they’ve been helping me with putting effort toward music and gave me an opportunity to make a song for DeAndre Hopkins … and when I did it for him it just felt amazing.”

Eight Million Stories, a local organization that opened in 2017, is working to grow and help more students, one of the reasons Stills wants to help.

“It’s really important to me to work with organizations that are grassroots, that are not really getting much funding, that aren’t really getting much attention, and trying to use the platform that we have to really uplift the work that they’re doing and work together,” he said. “Sometimes, especially organizations like this when they’re just starting out, it’s like you could possibly feel like no one notices the work that you’re doing or you feel like you’re not really making an impact, and they are.”

Stills knows how vital it is for teenagers to see strong role models and is invested in helping young people avoid pitfalls that could derail their success.

“I was running around, I was a teenager causing trouble like everyone else, and there could have been plenty of times where I could have found myself in jail for things that I was doing,” he said. “So I was lucky enough to make it by, and it’s important for me to come back and talk to young people and try and mentor being that I come from a similar background and I could have been in the same position as them.”

On the day of the shopping trip, Hopkins and Stills spent almost two hours with the students, putting together outfits and collaborating to see what looked best.

There were times when Hopkins, who has been featured in GQ magazine as one of the league’s most fashionable stars, would grab a dress or shirt, only to have Washington-Tribble shake her head and explain why that look wouldn’t work. But other times he’d suggest something a bit more edgy than her selections and she’d grab the outfit and agree to give it a try.

After filling two racks with clothing ranging from casual to dressy, the group took over an entire dressing room at H&M. Hopkins then cranked up some rap music on his phone to give their time trying on clothes the festive feel of a fashion show.

Cofield pulled back the green curtain and sheepishly emerged from a dressing room wearing slim black pants and a grey plaid jacket — to cheers of approval from Hopkins and Stills. Hopkins then approached Cofield and told him he needed to button each button of the jacket he wore to get the proper silhouette.

It was then that Washington-Tribble came out of her stall wearing a black overall dress with a cropped pink top underneath. She walked out of the room and strutted through the hall before stopping to strike a pose as everyone raved about her look.

Hopkins loved seeing the happiness on the faces of the teenagers as they modeled their new threads, and said there was nothing he’d rather be doing on his day off.

“Your clothes make you feel good,” he said. “There’s something about putting on a new pair of shoes or a new shirt that gives you a new joy. It’s like on the first day of school that’s the happiest you’re going to be because you’re wearing a new outfit. So I think your clothes and the way you present yourself definitely helps your morale.”

After the teenagers loaded up on clothes, the group walked across the mall to a shoe store where they could complete their looks. During the walk the players chatted with the students about everything from school and parenthood to football and fashion.

“It was great just to have that experience,” Cofield said. “Just chilling with a big-time NFL star and knowing it came from him. The love was real, the atmosphere was cool. Everything was great all around.”

As the group, now loaded with bags and bags overflowing with goodies, approached the exit to the mall and the students thanked the players for the day, it wasn’t goodbye but rather see you later. One more exciting treat awaited.

While the students got practical things such as nonslip shoes for work and jeans for everyday wear, the players made sure they both came away with one special outfit.

And on Sunday afternoon the group will meet again. The students will wear those expertly picked ensembles and the players will be in what they promised to be: coordinating gear. Then the students will enter NRG Stadium with Hopkins and Stills, walking through the tunnel and being photographed to show off the clothes they worked so hard to earn.

“It’s just going to be so amazing,” Washington-Tribble said. “I never thought that I would be with an NFL player walking through the tunnel.”

Added Cofield: “I can’t wait for the opportunity. I need Sunday to come now.”

Hopkins is also eager for Sunday to come, but does have one concern.

“I know they’re going to look cool because I helped them pick out some of their clothes. But they might look better than me coming into this last game,” he said with a laugh.

Colony church

Howard Reiter gave the Communion Meditation at Sunday’s Colony Christian Church service.

Many times we are ungrateful for what God has given us and want more, he noted. We feel that God owes us. He doesn’t owe us, but gives us everything. Each day is one more gift from God, and we should live to please him. A gift from God to be lived For God. Colossians 1:9-14

Pastor Chase Riebel gave the sermon, “Christmas!” The angel brought the Good News to the shepherds, telling them about the birth of Jesus. This good news would bring joy to all people, and joy is an essential element of Christmas. Jesus said he was the light of the world. Not like a Christmas candle that is easily blown out, or like Christmas lights that blink off and on, but a light that shines in our dark world. Be a messenger in your community, workplace and everywhere you go. Accept the gift! (Ref: Luke 2:8-20, Romans 1:21-32, Matthew 1:21)

Men’s Bible study is at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Movie night is at 6:30 p.m., Saturday.

 

Police report

Arrests reported

Allen County sheriff’s deputies arrested Annie J. Tush, 35, Savonburg, for suspicion of trespassing Sunday.

Joshua D. Farmer, 33, Humboldt, was arrested by deputies Saturday for suspicion of attempting to flee and elude a law enforcement officer and transporting an open container of alcohol.

Iola police officers arrested Garry W. Markely, 59, Iola, Saturday for a warrant alleging he failed to appear in court.

Mike C. Jaro, 19, Humboldt, was arrested by deputies Saturday for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, possessing alcohol as a minor, criminal possession of a firearm while under the influence and bribery of a public official.

Deputies arrested Dalton R. Peterson, 22, Iola, for suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia.

Raymond J. Londagin, 30, Iola, was arrested by deputies Saturday for suspected possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and criminal use/possession of a weapon.

Roger E. Maynard, 24, Chanute, was booked into Allen County Jail Saturday for three probation revocation warrants, deputies said.

Deputies arrested John I. Willard, 46, Chanute, Friday on a warrant related to misdemeanor traffic charges.

Jeffrey S. Wilson was arrested by deputies Thursday for suspicion of driving while suspended and for a warrant out of Labette County.

Deputies arrested Isabella N. Short, 24, Yates Center, on a warrant Thursday.

Karmen K. Mueller, 37, Clay Center, was arrested Thursday for a probation revocation warrant, deputies said.

Brandon J. Towne, 21, Iola, was arrested by deputies Thursday for suspicion of driving without a license and failing to report an accident.

Humboldt police officers arrested Braxton A.D. Reed, 19, Chanute, on warrants out of Allen and Neosho counties Wednesday.

Franklin J. Garza, 40, Overland Park, was arrested by deputies Wednesday on a warrant related to a disorderly conduct charge and two probation revocation warrants.

Lena M. Howington, 27, Garnett, was arrested by the Kansas Highway Patrol Dec. 17 for suspicion of driving without a license.

Alexus K. Abbott, 18, Chanute, was arrested by deputies Dec. 16 for suspicion of failing to report an accident and no liability insurance.

Deputies arrested Erin L. Johnson, 31, LaHarpe, for suspicion of violating a protection order.

Humboldt officers arrested Margo E. Doty, 34, Iola, Dec. 16 for warrants out of Allen and Linn counties.

Iola officers arrested Tori M. Higgins, 31, Iola, for suspicion of domestic battery Dec. 15.

Deputies arrested Jason M. Roush, 33, Chanute, for suspicion of driving while intoxicated, transporting an open container of alcohol and possession of a firearm while under the influence.

Letter to the editor

Dear editor,

The recent “Sabra and Friends, the Christmas Show,” at the Creitz Recital Hall in the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, was absolutely wonderful. 

Such a display of singing, dancing, piano performance and amusing dialogue was of the highest quality showmanship.

Thanks to all who worked so hard to provide such remarkable entertainment.

John A. Wilson,

Garnett, Kan.

Dozens injured in massive Va. pileup

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — A pileup involving more than 60 cars on a major interstate in Virginia on Sunday morning injured dozens of people, according to state police.

The crash happened just before 8 a.m. Sunday on westbound Interstate 64 in York County near Williamsburg, Va., State Police Sgt. Michelle Anaya said. No fatalities were reported, but it took crews several hours to clear the roadway and reopen all lanes of traffic.

Authorities do not yet know the cause of the crash, but fog and icy road conditions were contributing factors, Anaya said.

Photos from the scene showed a tangled mass of metal, with car hoods crumpled, windows smashed and a red truck plopped on top of another vehicle.

Sixty-nine vehicles were involved in the crash, and 51 people were treated or transported to hospitals, Anaya said Sunday afternoon, noting that those figures were constantly changing.

Among those hurt, two were listed in critical condition and 11 were serious but not life-threatening, said York County Fire Chief Stephen Kopczynski.

An investigation into the cause of the crash was ongoing.

In a separate incident, eight cars were involved in a crash on I-64 in the opposite direction after the larger pileup, Anaya said. It wasn’t immediately clear if others were injured in that crash.

Ivan Levy said the car his wife had been driving was a Christmas gift.

“She was all upset about the vehicle, and I was like, ‘Look, honey, it’s just metal,’” he said.

Catalogs: We’re not dead yet

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Catalogs, those glossy paper-and-ink offerings of outdoor apparel, kitchenware and fruit baskets, are not yet headed for the recycling bin of history.

Until recently, the future appeared grim for the mailbox-stuffers. A one-two punch of postal rate increases and the Great Recession had sharply cut their numbers. Common wisdom had everything retail-related moving online.

But a catalog-industry rebound appears in the works, fueled in part by what might seem an unlikely group: younger shoppers who find it’s sometimes easier, more satisfying and even nostalgic, flipping pages rather than clicking links.

Industry experts say that all those catalogs crammed into mailboxes this holiday season are a sign that mailings have stabilized — and may be growing — after a decline of about 40% since the Great Recession.

New companies are mailing catalogs. And even died-in-the-wool online retailers like Amazon and Bonobos are getting into the act.

Catalog retailers slashed mailings, and some abandoned catalogs altogether, after a major U.S. Postal Service rate increase and the start of the recession in late 2007. Catalog numbers dropped from about 19 billion in 2016 to an estimated 11.5 billion in 2018, according to the American Catalog Mailers Association.

The industry still faces challenges, but there’s reason for some optimism, said Hamilton Davison, president of the mailers association.

Millennials who are nostalgic for vinyl records and all things vintage are thumbing through catalogs and dog-earing the pages. It’s a new demographic roughly from 22 to 38 that’s helping to breathe some new life into the sector, industry officials say.

In fact, millennials are more likely than baby boomers to visit a store based on mailings, according to the U.S. Postal Service inspector general.

Sarah Johnson says she loves flipping through catalogs at her convenience — but gets her hackles up when retailers fill her email inbox.

“Promotion emails drive me crazy,” said Johnson, 29, of Vernal, Utah. “When there’s a catalog lying on the table, it feels like it’s my choice to pick it up and flip through it. When it arrives in my inbox it feels like it’s imposing on me,” she said.

Angela Hamann, another millennial, says she prefers catalogs because it’s easier than scrolling through webpages to evaluate a retailer’s offering.

“It’s a great way to assess what a company has to offer without making a bunch of clicks,” said Hamann, 37, of New Gloucester, Maine.

During the downturn, catalog retailers reduced the size of the catalogs, slashed the number of pages and became selective about their mailings, said Jim Gibbs from The Dingley Press, in Lisbon, Maine, which prints and mails about 330 million catalogs a year.

But catalogs never died off, as some began predicting during the dot-com bubble. Catalog naysayers didn’t understand that a webpage is useless unless shoppers know about it, and catalogs are an important tool for driving customers online, Gibbs said.

These days, retailers like Amazon, Wayfair and Walmart are boosting their mailings, helping to offset companies that abandoned catalogs, and dozens of smaller companies are also getting into the act, Davison said. There’s also a trend toward postcard fliers being mailed by companies like Shutterfly, Curtis added.

The tactile feel of catalogs creates a more meaningful connection, Curtis said. Consumers, meanwhile, routinely delete emails or skim over online promotions without a second thought, he said.

For some, there’s no escaping the sentimental aspect.

In Austin, Texas, tech company worker Mike Trimborn described himself as a “nearly 100% online shopper” who sees catalogs as an “exercise in futility.” But he waxed nostalgic when he received a toy catalog from Amazon in the mail this holiday season.

Trimborn, 42, said his sons, ages 9 and 11, marked up the Amazon catalog just like he marked up the big Sears catalog as a kid.

“It was such a fun experience when I was a kid. To be able to give that to my kids was a surprise,” he said.