Sports

PAOLA – For the first time in 11 years, the Paola Panthers and Osawatomie Trojans squared off on the gridiron in a rematch of the old Tom-Tom rivalry game.Paola and Osawatomie faced off under the afternoon sunshine in this remake of the annual classic for a Thursday C-team game.Paola led 36-0 at the half and 36-7 in the third quarter before going on to win the game 42-6 at Panther Stadium in early October.Thanksgiving week is the perfect time to look back on the Tom-Tom rivalry game.

SPRING HILL - The Spring Hill Broncos were a special team this season.The top seven spots on the Tri-County Spotlight Boys Country Team have one thing in common.

PAOLA – Senior JJ Crawford was selected for the V.J.

SPRING HILL – Logan Beckman was a pace setter for the Spring Hill Broncos boys cross country team.Beckman won four meets, was runner-up in one and placed in the top 10 at two all-star type meets.He ended the season as the Class 5A state champion, crossing the finish line first at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence.Beckman was selected the Tri-County Spotlight Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.Beckman was in the top 10 of every race he ran this season, including an eighth-place finish in the Olathe Twilight Meet against some of the top runners in the state for all classes.He was runner-up at the Rim Rock Farm Classic, running at the historic course in Lawrence.

LOUISBURG – Louisburg eighth-grader Liberty Cunningham has been on the road in her Pro Rodeo rookie season.Cunningham has traveled through 22 states this year and 38 states in the past three years.She applied for and received her Pro Rodeo card last fall, making her one of the youngest professional trick riders and Roman Riders in the PRCA.Cunningham has been in 15 events with the PRCA this season with 49 performances.

OSAWATOMIE – The inaugural season of girls flag football at Osawatomie High School was a historical one in many ways.Osawatomie was the first high school in Kansas, and possibly the country, to have homecoming celebrated during a girls flag football game.

OSAWATOMIE – Another historic piece has been added to the trophy case at Osawatomie High School.Osawatomie graduate Derrick Shelby came back to visit with students about making it in a small town and doing that as family, including your family at home, your family of teammates and as a community family.Shelby spoke about Trojan Pride, which is more than words on display, but something he had and still carries with him today.Shelby presented high school athletic director Jordan Kupersmith with a basketball that will be put in a trophy case for everyone to enjoy.“I talked to seven groups of students about some of the things that inspired me when I was a kid,” Shelby said.

PAOLA – The annual Powder Puff football game between the Paola High School senior and junior girls went into overtime locked at 8-8.The Paola senior girls had a huge defensive stand late in regulation.

PAOLA – Andrew Henn, a three-sport letter winner for the Panthers, recently joined the Paola High School Athletic Hall of Fame.Henn was announced as an inductee with the Class of 2024, which took place in February of 2024.

SPRING HILL - Kansas City Chiefs legend Gary Spani presented the Chiefs High School Coach of the Week Award to Spring Hill Broncos coach Jason Feeback.Spring Hill is 7-1 on the season, marching into the playoffs.Spani presented Feeback with the award Tuesday, Oct.