Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Jock Talk

Mike Daum is making big news again this week and if you haven’t already read, and watched some of the National news stories about his play this past week, you must be hiding out in a cave somewhere.

Big Mike, the former Kimball High standout who is now outstanding for South Dakota State University, had a career high of 51 points in the Jackrabbits 97-89 win over Fort Wayne. This is the most points scored by a player in a game this year. He had seven treys and was 16/17 at the foul line. He also puled 15 rebounds and was outstanding enough to be selected as the National Player of the Week. He was also named to the Top Five Players of the Week Team, and he was on ESPN Sports Center, and was on all, and any, other top honor selections that were given out this week.

Mike is now the number two player in Division One basketball for average at 24.8 and has averaged 31.4 over the last nine games. He has now scored 1261 points for SDSU and he is just in his second year of college basketball. He is being touted as a sure bet to play and excel in the NBA, but first he should finish out this season and then two more years of college ball. Anxious to see how this all plays out for our boy, make that Man, Big Mike.

It was also cool to see how he credits his mom, Michele, with teaching him how to shoot the basketball. Mike is still his always humble self that he displayed all through his Kimball High career. There is no doubt that his mom worked hard with Mike to help him develop his basketball skills. No doubt either, that coach Nagy did all the right things in red-shirting Mike his first year, putting him with a weight coach, and building up his strength, along with teaching him how to play the game physically, like needs to be done at the Division One level. Mike has it all now, the same great shooting ability from long range, plus being strong inside with good moves, and the strength to move people around, and the ability to get high on the board to both score and rebound. Love to see him on all the media as they talk doubt the young man from small town Kimball, Nebraska! How about a SHOUT OUT FOR MIKE!

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Another shout out for the Kimball High Cheer Team and coach Tiffany Dea for winning their share of awards at the Nebraska State cheer competition this past weekend in Grand Island. Better yet, let’s give them a Big Cheer!

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A Shout Out for the Kimball senior athletes and their parents who were recognized at Senior Parent Night at the recent Kimball-Hershey basketball games. Senior cheer leaders were Taylor Walker-Muldoon and Hannah Henton. Girls basketball players were Jannel Fiehtner and Alexis Lulf, along with student manager Kaitlin Wurdeman. Boys basketball players were Brandon Barker, Jaden Withrow, Kyle Spicer and Edward Barnes.

A Shout Out also for the Kimball High Band, one of the best in Nebraska for certain, under the direction of Kristy Hiles-Smith. They add so much to the games when they perform and was great to see, and hear, them at Sidney for the girl’s sub-district. Our Kimball fans are also great, the way they turn out.