MCCOOK - Without its fourth-year starting setter, it took a little while for the Cambridge volleyball team to get itself going at Tuesday's RPAC Tournament consolation match. But after trailing 14-11 after an error-prone start in the first set, the Trojans cranked up the pressure with their serve and their defense while the offense found its rhythm behind first-time varsity starter Emmerie Tomlin.

CAMBRIDGE - After sweeping the Southwest Roughriders in the three previous meetings this season, the top-seeded Cambridge volleyball team was on the doorstep of another in Monday’s RPAC semifinal match. After winning 25-18 and 25-17 in the first two sets, the Trojans led 20-16 in the third.

CAMBRIDGE - In final consolations Monday, Southern Valley cruised past Medicine Valley while Alma took down Arapahoe, each in a 2- sweep. The Eagles started a bit sluggishly, but quickly rebounded from an early deficit in the first to roll to a 25-16, 25-19 sweep of the Raiders.

BARTLEY - In opening round competition Thursday, Southwest advanced to the tournament semifinals with wins over both Bertrand and Alma while Southern Valley dropped its opener before advancing in consolation play with a victory over Bertrand.

CAMBRIDGE - In first round RPAC Tournament action at Cambridge Thursday, fifth-seeded Arapahoe swept its way past fourth-seeded Medicine Valley, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22. The Warriors grabbed their 11th win while controlling the match throughout despite some late moments in the second and third where the Raiders threatened.

WALLACE - The Southwest football team hit the road Friday and stumbled in a 2820 loss to Wallace. Both teams moved to 4-3 this season. The Roughriders were done in by four turnovers - all fumbles - that thwarted opportunties to match the Wildcats on the scoreboard. Southwest was unable to force a turnover in return.

STAPLETON - A big second quarter from Sandhills Valley doomed the Arapahoe football team in its regular season finale Thursday. The Warriors trailed 8-0 after a quarter but saw the Mavericks score 28-unanswered in the second to build a 36-0 en route to a 50-6 victory.

By Kevin Warneke Flatwater Free Press If football could be played with just six players to a side, Stephen Epler figured, why not another sport? Today, Epler is known as the father of six-man football, the teacher at Chester High School who, nearly 90 years ago, invented a game that small Nebraska schools like his could play. Some 32 Nebraska schools fielded a six-man football team this fall, illustrating that Epler’s creation is alive and well in his home state. But hardly anyone realizes that Epler, buoyed by his sixman football success, also tried to invent a way for small towns to more easily play the National Pastime popularized by Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Nebraska native Bob Gibson.

The postseason begins for local varsity volleball teams next week with each of the five area teams paired in two subdistricts that should be played in relatively close proximity. The Subdistrict C2-11 Tournament includes Southwest and Southern Valley as well as North Platte.

CAMBRIDGE - The Cambridge and Hi-Line girls cross country teams finished district champion and runner-up at the District D-5 Cross Country Meet in Cambridge Thursday to qualify for Friday’s State Meet in Kearney. Southwest’s Cole Barnett finished 12th in the boys race to also qualify for the State Meet. Cambridge ran away with the title in the girls race, which featured 12 teams and 58 runners, as the Trojans filled their three scoring slots in the top eight places. Brenna Deterding led the Trojans with a district runner-up finish and Rachel Harris was third while Kori Koeppen was eighth. JoLie Farr finished 24th for the Trojans and Jensyn Weiss was 29th.