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HS Basketball: Cory McKinney taking over Washington girls program

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HS Basketball: Cory McKinney taking over Washington girls program


South Bend Washington High School has turned to one of its own to lead its girl’s basketball program.

Cory McKinney, a former standout player at Washington, is the new leader of the Panthers.

McKinney, a 2018 Washington graduate, replaces Steve Reynolds. Reynolds resigned in March and then accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Texas at Arlington in April. Reynolds was 189-89 in 11 seasons at Washington.

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McKinney, who served as an assistant coach for the Washington boys hoops program during the 2024-25 campaign, is ready to take on his first head coaching position.

“This is a blessing and surreal to me,” said McKinney. “I grew up down the street from Washington. I want to be on the West Side and make a difference here. This is where I’m from.”

McKinney averaged a team-high 13.3 ppg. his senior season in 2017-18 as the Panthers finished 15-9 under Ryan Varga. Varga left as Washington’s boys coach in May to become the new boys coach at Jimtown High School. Maurice Scott, who coached the Washington girls team prior to Reynolds, is the new boys coach at Washington.

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McKinney takes over a program in a rebuilding phase after a stellar six-year run. The Panthers went 138-25 the past six seasons with five sectionals, three regionals, two semi-states and the Class 3A state title in 2022. That 2021-22 squad that finished 27-3 had six Division I players on it, led by Mila, Amiyah and Kira Reynolds, three daughters of coach Reynolds.

Washington posted a 24-2 mark a season ago with a 53-43 loss to Warsaw in a Class 4A regional game. The Panthers lost six seniors from a roster of 12, including stars Kira Reynolds, Ryiah Wilson and Monique Mitchell. Mitchell was an Indiana All-Star, while all three are slated to play Division I college hoops this upcoming season. The Panthers did not have a junior varsity team last season.

“We have to get to work and start from the ground up,” McKinney said. “Our numbers in the program are to be determined, but it’s very important to have a feeder system. We plan to have a camp later in July for both the boys and girls, so we will see how that goes.”

Washington Athletic Director Garland Hudson feels confident that McKinney is the man for the job.

“Cory is a home grown guy and this is something he wanted,” Hudson said. “I just feel this is how it was supposed to be. He has a passion for it.

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“It’s definitely a transition time for sure for our girls basketball program. It’s going to take a group effort to support him, but that’s nothing new at Washington. That’s what we do here. Everyone supports everyone in our athletics. We’re a family here.”

McKinney went on to have an outstanding college career playing at Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne. He was a three-time Conference Defensive Player of the Year, the program’s all-time leader in assists and minutes played and helped the Warriors finish as NAIA national runner-up in 2023. The 25-year-old teaches at Washington and his wife Le Anna is expecting their first child in September.

“I’m pretty confident in my ability and I’m looking forward to molding the program into what I want it to be,” McKinney stated.

“The main things I plan for people to see this season from our team is communication and a very defensive minded and fast-paced team.”

McKinney pointed to several men who have played a part in his desire to coach.

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“The people who have had the biggest influence on me to coach would be Coach Ted Albert from Indiana Tech, Coach Varga and Pat Magley, who is the founder of Heroes Camp in South Bend,” McKinney said. “Also, Scott Francoeur (the girls basketball coach at South Bend Saint Joseph), who I coach boys high school travel basketball with.”

Hudson says that it will take time for the program to grow.

“We’re building a program at all levels,” Hudson remarked. “Success under Cory is not something that is going to be determined in just one year. It’s going to be looked at in like four years. That will be a better measure of how it looks then.”



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Washington faces Utah, aims to stop 16-game skid

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Washington faces Utah, aims to stop 16-game skid


Washington Wizards (16-55, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (21-51, 14th in the Western Conference)

Salt Lake City; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Washington heads into the matchup with Utah after losing 16 in a row.

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The Jazz have gone 13-24 in home games. Utah ranks second in the Western Conference with 16.6 fast break points per game led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 3.3.

The Wizards are 5-29 in road games. Washington is 9-10 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 15.3 turnovers per game.

The Jazz score 117.4 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 124.1 the Wizards give up. The Wizards’ 46.1% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Jazz have allowed to their opponents (49.0%).

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Jazz won the last meeting 122-112 on March 6, with Ace Bailey scoring 32 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.5 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Jazz. Brice Sensabaugh is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.

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Alex Sarr is averaging 16.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and two blocks for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 14.4 points over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 116.4 points, 43.3 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 9.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.7 points per game.

Wizards: 0-10, averaging 114.3 points, 37.4 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 130.6 points.

INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (hip), Isaiah Collier: out (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), Cody Williams: out (shoulder), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).

Wizards: Anthony Davis: out (finger), Tristan Vukcevic: day to day (back), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), Alex Sarr: day to day (toe), Tre Johnson: day to day (foot), Kyshawn George: out (elbow), D’Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Trae Young: out (quad).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



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Washington sues USDA, alleging billions in funds illegally withheld

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Washington sues USDA, alleging billions in funds illegally withheld


Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging the federal agency is illegally withholding billions of dollars in funding and attempting to force states into compliance with unlawful demands.

The complaint, filed as part of a multistate effort, argues the USDA has threatened to cut off critical funding tied to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, unless states agree to federal conditions that exceed the agency’s authority, according to the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.

Other critical programs that would be affected include the school lunch program; Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP); and the Volunteer Fire Capacity Program.

Brown’s office said the funding at stake supports the administration of SNAP, a federally funded, state-run program that provides food assistance to millions of low-income Americans. Washington alone receives about $129.5 million annually to administer the program, and disruptions could have “catastrophic” consequences for residents who rely on it, according to the attorney general’s office.

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In the lawsuit, the state alleges the USDA is effectively holding those funds “hostage” to compel states to comply with federal directives, including demands tied to program data and administration, according to the complaint and accompanying news release from Brown’s office.

The legal challenge contends the USDA’s actions violate federal law, including constitutional limits and statutory authority governing the SNAP program. The coalition of states argues the federal government cannot condition funding on requirements that were not authorized by Congress, according to the complaint.

Brown said the lawsuit is aimed at protecting both funding and the people who depend on it.

“The rule of law is on our side,” Brown said in a statement, adding that the state is seeking to ensure continued support for vulnerable residents and prevent federal overreach.

According to the attorney general’s office, SNAP serves as a key safety net nationwide, delivering billions of dollars in food assistance. States administer the program but rely on federal funding to operate it.

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The lawsuit asks the court to declare the USDA’s actions unlawful and block the agency from withholding funds or imposing conditions the states argue are illegal.

The case is the latest in a series of legal challenges involving SNAP, as states push back on what they describe as unprecedented federal demands tied to the program’s operation and funding, according to the Washington attorney general’s office.



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Washington Nationals acquire infielder Jorbit Vivas

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Washington Nationals acquire infielder Jorbit Vivas


The Washington Nationals acquired infielder Jorbit Vivas from the New York Yankees in exchange for right-handed pitcher Sean Paul Liñan on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni made the announcement.
Vivas, 25, hit .270 with 21 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 43 RBI, 64 walks, 12 stolen



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