Paul Newberry, Author at The Rapid City Post

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks hold off Atlanta 112-110 to snap a three-game skid

January 19, 2026

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points and 17 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a three-game losing streak, holding off the Atlanta Hawks 112-110 after squandering a 23-point lead in the second half. The Hawks led 105-104 on Jalen Johnson’s 3-pointer before dropping their fourth in a row in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day game. Bobby Portis hit a 3, Johnson turned the ball over and Antetokounmpo powered inside for a basket that made it 109-105 with 36 seconds to go. The Hawks still had a chance, but CJ McCollum missed a chance to tie before the buzzer. Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 32 points.

Indiana defensive lineman Daniel Ndukwe (17) pressures Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Dante Moore and the Oregon Ducks self-destruct in 56-22 Peach Bowl loss to No. 1 Indiana

January 9, 2026

The very first snap of the Peach Bowl pretty much summed up what kind of night it would be for Oregon. A pick-6 put Dante Moore and the Ducks in an immediate hole. That was only the beginning of their misery. No. 1 Indiana romped into the national championship game with a 56-22 blowout of fifth-seeded Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal in Atlanta. This was a one-sided affair that was essentially over by the time the Ducks dragged themselves to the locker room at the half, trailing 35-7 after turning the ball over three times. All three led to Indiana touchdowns.

St. John's head coach Rick Pitino speaks during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against Kentucky, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Rick Pitino feel no special emotions going against Kentucky and his former team captain

December 20, 2025

Rick Pitino felt like it was just another game, even though it was Kentucky. For the first time in nearly a decade, Pitino faced the Wildcats in the opening game of a college basketball doubleheader in Atlanta. He called it no big deal, saying it might have been different if the game had been held at Rupp Arena. Pitino coached the Wildcats for eight seasons, most notably winning the national title in his 1996 with Mark Pope as a captain. Pope is now the head coach at Kentucky, which defeated No. 22 St. John’s 78-66.

Kentucky guard Otega Oweh (00) shoots against St. John's forward Zuby Ejiofor (24) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Kentucky rallies in second half to beat St. John’s 78-66 in first meeting against Pitino since 2016

December 20, 2025

Otega Oweh scored 20 points and Kentucky stifled No. 22 St. John’s in the second half, beating former coach Rick Pitino 78-66 in Atlanta. St. John’s led 41-33 after Zuby Ejiofor converted a three-point play with 16:07 remaining. But Kentucky turned up the defensive pressure, ripping off a 14-0 run and holding the Red Storm without a field goal for nearly nine minutes. Pitino faced his former school for the first time since 2016 — his final season of a successful but scandal-plagued tenure at Louisville. Kentucky coach Mark Pope was a captain on Pitino’s 1996 championship team in Lexington.

Alabama head coach Kalen Deboer speaks to an official during the first half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Georgia and Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A dismal performance in the SEC title games puts Alabama’s playoff hopes in jeopardy

December 6, 2025

Alabama may have played itself out of the College Football Playoff. With a dismal performance that surely raises serious doubts about its postseason worthiness, the 10th-ranked Crimson Tide were dominated by No. 3 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta. The 28-7 loss was sure to raise the hopes of Notre Dame and Miami, both of which went into the weekend on the playoff bubble with no chance to further improve their resumes before the selection committee choses the 12-team field on Sunday. It figures to a restless night for Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer and his players.

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) dives in for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

No. 12 Georgia bounces back from first loss of the season to beat Kentucky 35-14

October 4, 2025

Gunner Stockton and Dillon Bell each had a pair of touchdown runs, leading No. 12 Georgia to a 35-14 victory over Kentucky as the Bulldogs bounced back from a loss to Alabama. Georgia finally got off to a quick start, capping its first two possessions with scoring runs by Stockton. The quarterback finished with 48 yards on six carries. Stockton also threw for 196 yards, with a 16-yard scoring pass to Cash Jones. Bell tacked on a pair of 3-yard TD runs. Kentucky has lost 16 straight to the Bulldogs, with its last win coming in 2009.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

No. 12 Georgia looks to bounce back from a tough loss with its goals still intact

October 2, 2025

The Georgia Bulldogs are hurting. Kirby Smart doesn’t mind a bit. From his perspective, a crushing loss to Alabama will go a long way toward determining if this team has what it takes to make another championship run. So far, the coach likes what he sees. No. 12 Georgia will be looking to bounce back from a 24-21 setback to Alabama when it hosts Kentucky on Saturday. While the Bulldogs have dominated the series, the Wildcats have occasionally been a troublesome opponent. A year ago, the Bulldogs struggled to a 13-12 win in Lexington.

Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Club World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between PSG and Bayern Munich in Atlanta, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Doué and Dembélé score for PSG in 2-0 quarterfinal win over Bayern Munich at Club World Cup

July 5, 2025

Désiré Doué scored in the 78th minute to send Paris Saint-Germain a step closer to another trophy with a 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup. The game was marred by a gruesome injury to young Bayern star Jamal Musiala, who appeared to break his left ankle late in the first half. With PSG two men down after a pair of late red cards and Bayern throwing everyone forward, Ousmane Dembélé added an insurance goal deep into stoppage time to send the French powerhouse onto the semifinals. They will face either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy, right, celebrates with teammate Karim Adeyemi after scoring his team's second goal during the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and CF Monterrey in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Guirassy scores twice and Dortmund advances at Club World Cup with 2-1 win over feisty Monterrey

July 1, 2025

Serhou Guirassy scored a pair of first-half goals, both assisted by Karim Adeyemi, and Borussia Dortmund held off Monterrey 2-1 in the final round of 16 game at the Club World Cup. Guirassy drove a shot just inside the left post in the 14th minute, then sent another past Monterrey keeper Esteban Andrada in the 24th when left unmarked from 15 yards at the top of the penalty area. Both times, it was Adeyemi delivering the pass that set up Guirassy, a native of France who plays for Guinea’s national team. The 29-year-old striker has three goals in four tournament games. Dortmund faces Real Madrid on Saturday at East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Paris Saint-Germain team celebrates the second goal by Paris Saint-Germain's Joao Neves during the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between PSG and Inter Miami in Atlanta, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Neves scores twice and Paris Saint-Germain routs Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at Club World Cup

June 29, 2025

João Neves scored a pair of goals for Paris Saint-Germain and the world’s best team overwhelmed one of the game’s greatest players, embarrassing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 4-0 in the round of 16 at the Club World Cup. Messi faced the team where he spent two seasons before moving to Major League Soccer in the twilight of his stellar career. It was no contest. The European champions quickly erased the Herons’ hopes of pulling off a monumental upset before a big crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, building a four-goal lead by halftime.

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Club World Cup group A soccer match between Inter Miami and FC Porto in Atlanta, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Lionel Messi scores on free kick to give Inter Miami 2-1 win over Porto in Club World Cup

June 19, 2025

Lionel Messi scored his first goal of the expanded Club World Cup on an exquisite free kick, lifting Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over two-time European champion Porto in Atlanta. The Herons trailed 1-0 at the break, but Telasco Segovia tied it two minutes into the second half off a cross into the box from Marcelo Weigandt. Then it was time for the 37-year-old Argentinian to add a trademark goal to a resume that already assures he’ll go down as one of the game’s greatest stars.

Paul Newberry.