(Springfield, MThe Missouri State Lady Bears will battle for a share of first place in the Valley Friday night when they host Wichita State.
And Nyla Milleson’s Lady Bears will be trying to beat a team that’s been a thorn in their side for the last few years.

Wichita State has won 12 of the last 15 meetings between the two teams.

And that includes a game in Wichita last month that saw the Shockers slip past the Lady Bears by two points 53-51.

Missouri State will carry a five game winning streak into the game and Milleson says her team must protect the ball.

“Turnovers is a big key,” said Lady Bears coach Nyla Milleson.  “We turned the ball over 24 times a lot real early against them.  We need to really take care of the basketball.  I think rebounding is always a big key against them.  We just have to play our game…”

“We really were frustrated after that game at their place,” said Lady Bears guard Karly Buer.  “So we want to get back them and we’ve really been working hard.”

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(Strafford, MO)–In girls high school basketball Thursday night, the Seymour Tigers were looking to go 21-and-0 on the season against Strafford.

The Indians attacking early, Morgan Graffis puts the ball on the deck, to her left and strong to the rack, we’re tied up at three.

Seymour around the horn and then inside to Cassie Sturdefant for the easy two, it’s 9-4 Seymour.

Later Leann Landsdown with the no-look pass to Sturdefant on the block for another layup, and it’s 11-4 Seymour.

The Tigers with the defense, Jensen Massengale steals the ball, and then goes coast to coast for the basket, Seymour up by 9, she led the Tigers with 19.

And Seymour’s 21-and-0 with a 61-37 win.

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(Springfield, MO)–Missouri State freshman Christian Kirk played another key role in Wednesday night’s win at Southern Illinois.

The freshman from Kickapoo scored four points and grabbed four rebounds in 16 minutes of action.

Kirk has been a constant contributor off the bench for Paul Lusk this season.
And it’s been an unexpected surprise for Lusk.

Remember Kirk missed his entire senior season at Kickapoo because of an eligibility dispute that ended up in court.

On the basketball court he’s been making up for lost time, and is enjoying the game again.
“I don’t really think of it much anymore. It’s kind of a thing of the past, and I’ve learned from it and I think I became a better person because of it,” Kirk says.

“Now returning five or six guys, you knew some of the freshmen would have to step up and get thrown in to the fire,” Lusk says.  “We’ve done that with him and he’s responded well. And he’s just going to continue to get better.”

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(Nixa, Mo.) — The Nixa Eagles hosted the Rogersville Wildcats on Wednesday night.

Rogersville had their way in the first quarter, Aaron Orchard puts the Wildcats up four.

Then Dylan Cole makes it 12-8 Rogersville.

Austin Ruder cuts the lead to two. The junior had 19 points and now has 1,000 career points.

But later, Austin Price buries a three for the Wildcats and the lead is back to four.

His teammate Joe Young puts Rogersville up six.

But Nixa wasn’t going down. Jordan Epps pops a three.

Nixa won 66-57.

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(Kansas City, MO)–Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon will celebrate his 28th birthday Friday.

So the Royals gave him an early birthday present Thursday, agreeing with him to a one year contract that avoids arbitration.

The one year deal is worth $4.775 million dollars.

2011 was the best season in Gordon’s young five year career.

He hit .303 with 23 homers and 87 runs batted in.

Gordon also stole 17 bases.

He set a Royals team record with 20 outfield assists and earned a gold glove.

Alex Gordon was the Royals first round draft pick in 2005.