SEWARD, Neb. – The 19th annual Cattle Classic is set to tip off on Friday afternoon inside Walz Arena. The basketball classic features a total of four men’s games and four women’s games over the course of the two-day extravaganza. The event, co-sponsored by Concordia and Cattle Bank & Trust, raises money and food for the Blue Valley Community Action's Food Pantry. Pac N Save of Seward will match all canned food donations.
Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods in exchange for admission. Ten canned items will get an adult a weekend pass. Complete admission information for the Cattle Classic can be found HERE.
2018 CATTLE CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 2
- Women: Doane University vs. University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 1 p.m.
- Men: Barclay College (Kan.) vs. Hastings College 3 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. Peru State College, 6 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. St. Thomas University (Fla.), 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 3
- Women: Doane University vs. Peru State College, 10 a.m.
- Men: Midland University vs. St. Thomas University (Fla.), 12 p.m.
- Women: Concordia vs. University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 3 p.m.
- Men: Concordia vs. Barclay College (Kan.), 5 p.m.
The Women’s Field
Concordia University
Head coach: Drew Olson, 13th season
2018-19 Record: 2-0
2017-18 Record: 36-2
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Seward, Neb.
Top Player: Philly Lammers and Quinn Wragge both earned All-America honors last season and return to lead perhaps the top frontcourt in the nation at the NAIA Division II level. Lammers averaged 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds last season. It should also be noted that budding star Taylor Cockerill poured in 58 combined points, including 38 in the 81-68 win over 15th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University, over last week’s pair of victories at the Viterbo Invitational.
Overview: “Focus and finish” is the theme this season for a program looking to return to the national championship game again in 2019 and finish it. The expectations are understandably high for a team ranked No. 1 in the preseason national poll. Head coach Drew Olson has another well-rounded squad that also features University of Nebraska-Kearney transfer Grace Barry at the point. The biggest concern centers upon how the Bulldogs can replace the defensive prowess in the backcourt of 2017-18 seniors Dani Hoppes and Mary Janovich.
Doane University
Head coach: Tracee Fairbanks, 20th season
2018-19 Record: 1-0
2017-18 Record: 7-21
Conference: Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location: Crete, Neb.
Top Player: At least statistically, this is to be determined. Last season’s leading scorer McKenna Dodd (15.5 ppg) has graduated. Sophomore Haylee Heits of Rulo, Neb., may be one player who can help fill the void. She notched 19 points in last week’s season opening victory after averaging 9.7 points as a freshman.
Overview: Doane has not generated a lot of preseason buzz after going 7-21 last season, but it did start the season by knocking off Kansas Wesleyan, 67-55, at home. The Tigers were picked 11th in the GPAC preseason poll. Head coach Tracee Fairbanks’ squad struggled offensively last season (62.5 ppg, 40.7 percent shooting), but did manage to twice put a scare into Concordia
Peru State College
Head coach: Joan Albury, 1st season (interim head coach)
2018-19 Record: 0-0
2017-18 Record: 3-25
Conference: Heart of America Athletic Conference (NAIA Division I)
Location: Peru, Neb.
Top Player: Guard Claire Cudney averaged 14.3 points per game last season and was named to the honorable mention list of the Heart of America Athletic Conference team. Cudney figures to shoulder a heavy offensive load for a Bobcat team that had trouble putting the ball in the basket last season (34.2 team shooting percentage).
Overview: The Bobcats have an interim head coach in Joan Albury who served as the team’s head coach in 2013-14 and 2014-15 before moving to Florida. Peru State has been picked to finish last (13th) in the HAAC by league coaches. One of the program’s three victories last season came against a GPAC opponent (College of Saint Mary).
University of Saint Francis
Head coach: Jason Ridge, 4th season
2018-19 Record: 0-0
2017-18 Record: 17-14
Conference: Crossroads League (NAIA Division II)
Location: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Top Player: Expectations are rising for Saint Francis, in part because of the return of star Kara Gerka, a preseason first team All-Crossroads League selection. In two seasons, Gerka has already surpassed 1,000 career points. She averaged 18.4 points and 5.1 rebounds and shot 55.5 percent from the floor last season.
Overview: The Cougars are expected to make a jump this winter after finishing 17-14 in 2017-18. Crossroads coaches picked Saint Francis to place second. They also appeared at No. 14 in the NAIA Division II preseason coaches’ poll. Also on the preseason all-conference teams, Savannah Buck and Lauren McBryar appeared on the second team. Gerka and company have their sights set on making it back to the national tournament after missing out this past March.