The sun has gone and hid, and we're left with an imminent April. Showers.
They're coming. How much and how often will determine the depth of the spring sports season. Last April and May got soaked; we'll wait and see how many games and meets get in this year before Memorial Day weekend, when state track, baseball, softball and soccer take place. It will also be when I shelve my notebook and gear up in my cut-off flannel, jean shorts and netted, bucket-topped ballcap and drive to Indianapolis for the 500. Really, I'm not pumped.
I hope baseball and softball get to play complete seasons. Local talent in these sporting arenas overwhelms me. In baseball, you've got multiple NCAA Division I talents at three schools: Logan Watkins and Dalton Banwart at Goddard going to Wichita State; Jake Marasco to KU and Nick Cocking to K-State - both out of Maize; and Tyler Grimes to WSU and Matt Applegate to K-State - both out of Wichita North. On top of that, there are tons of guys who have signed with jucos, and we know where Kansas juco players often end up: DI.
Softball's no different. Talent is everywhere. The most intriguing of them all could a sophomore at Independent, Haley McGregor. She moved to Wichita from California with her family before her freshman year at Independent, and she brought with her the eyes of recruiters nationally. She is supposed to be high on everyone's list as a shortstop. I watched her last year as a freshman. She's outstanding - fundamentals and talent combined.
On the Sports Daily radio show this morning, I spoke with Bruce and Paul about spring sports. Keep an eye on Kortney Clifton out of Andover High soccer. She had scored 188 career goals through Thursday night. She and her twin sister Kelsey will play at KU next year. A story on the two of them and their sister Emily Hammond, a third senior-sister on the Andover soccer team, appears in the upcoming April issue of HSSTM, due out this week.
We also touched on the track season getting under way. Keep an eye on three of top javelin throwers in the state from the area: junior Matt Byers of Wichita East; senior Chris Ronen of Newton; and senior Roman Belden of Mulvane. None have won a state title but all three are in the top two among returning state qualifiers. It could be a huge year for the area in the javelin throw. Also, three area pole vaulters will look for their first state titles: Will Wright of Augusta; Nathan Arnold of Bishop Carroll; and Kyle Horsch of Andale, already a two-time football state champ.
Spring sports offer so many opportunities to athletes. I can't keep track of them all. Come to me with ideas. Post on the blog or in the forum.
TW
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
3 - Helter Skelter
Not just a Beatles song, but also Wichita City League basketball.
Bob Lutz on the Sports Daily radio show this morning started the conversation. I joined it when I came on the air this morning for the magazine's 10 a.m. segment, which I was able to join in studio after hauling back from Emporia last night.
City League basketball is fraught with athletic players. Helter skelter basketball has arrived and is thriving in the city of Wichita. We've been watching it on television for several years at the college level, and it was only a matter of time before high school coaches would have to adapt to the style of play. Prep players watch the college game and have begun to emulate its tendencies. The dribble-drive and kick has become the norm in college basketball, and it has seeped into prep ball, at least on teams with players capable of playing in such a manner. Half-court basketball centered around screens, cuts and flashing is no longer in vogue on athletically-capable teams. Pressure defense, driving to the hoop and shooting three-pointers off kick-outs is now in to replace it.
Lutz says he nervous during City League games, as no 10-point lead is safe, either for or against. Teams in the City League are so even, and they're proving this season that they're better than the rest of the state with "out of control" play.
Yes, they're better - without an offensive "system". I watched the Wichita Heights boys harass and gradually have their way with the defending 6A state champs, Blue Valley West, last night at White Auditorium in Emporia. Heights never developed a continuous flow in the ballgame and even looked overmatched in the early going. BV West picked apart their zone defense behind 6-9 Robert Lewandowski, likely a first-team all-stater, as he scored eight of their first ten points. But Heights extended their defense to a full-court press and forced turnover after turnover in the second half. They never built a lead until they went up six in overtime to win the game, but they were always in it, and they were always two forced turnovers away from taking the lead. They score quickly and in bunches. Scoring droughts aren't that big a deal, as they can turn it on at any time. And they don't hesitate to shoot it up. After a turnover, they'll go straight to the hoop and pray it goes in. In the half-court, its often just a look to drive, though when they do make a conscious effort to go into the post to Kelton Marshall, another first or second-team all-stater, he's money from 10 feet and in with his back to the hoop.
What's the key to this new style of play in college hoops and Wichita prep hoops? Guard play. It's why Heights can beat a team with a Lewandowski, and it's why Southeast can beat East with Garrius Holloman, arguably the best big man in the state. East lacks outside shooting, and they have a wealth of forwards, so Southeast just gets a few steals for layups or knocks down a couple three-pointers, and, bam, they're back in it. It's all about guard play. As a note, that's how Lawrence, a team with a losing record entering postseason, beat Manhattan to set up their semifinal 6A showdown tonight with Heights. Dorian Green, as Lutz noted this morning on the show, is a fabulous guard, and, despite Lawrence having all mid-sized players with no one to guard Manhattan's 6-9 Jackie Carmichael, Lawrence won the game because of it - guard play. Lesson: if you have the thoroughbreds, turn them loose. As a critique, however, some of the shot selection on these "guard" teams could be better. But then again, isn't shooting it up the point.
Tonight's lineup at White Auditorium in Emporia is outstanding. After having zero boys teams int the state semifinals last season, the City League has three of four this March. East will play Southeast for third time this season, and Heights will play Lawrence. Despite Lawrence's record, it will not be an upset if they beat Heights. After watching them last night, I have not idea how their record is that bad. They must have gelled late. They play with passion, and they play together. And they're willing to play zone, which must be played as a team with tons of communication for it to be successful.
The East-Southeast game promises to be another classic. Both regular season games were played into overtime this season. These teams know each other, the players know each other and the coaches know each other. Heck, the schools are only like three miles away from each other. Division I players will be on display, and play will be up and down the court. I've got East, though the hectic atmosphere of White Auditorium with its vibrating noise will favor Southeast, who plays well out of control. Helter skelter.
I'm back on the road. After watching the Bishop Carroll girls in Topeka yesterday afternoon before swinging down to Emporia to watch the Heights boys, I came home for a respite. Now, it's back to Emporia for the biggest night of ball this season. Heights girls versus Goddard tonight, as well, in Emporia. Unbelievable lineup.
Bob Lutz on the Sports Daily radio show this morning started the conversation. I joined it when I came on the air this morning for the magazine's 10 a.m. segment, which I was able to join in studio after hauling back from Emporia last night.
City League basketball is fraught with athletic players. Helter skelter basketball has arrived and is thriving in the city of Wichita. We've been watching it on television for several years at the college level, and it was only a matter of time before high school coaches would have to adapt to the style of play. Prep players watch the college game and have begun to emulate its tendencies. The dribble-drive and kick has become the norm in college basketball, and it has seeped into prep ball, at least on teams with players capable of playing in such a manner. Half-court basketball centered around screens, cuts and flashing is no longer in vogue on athletically-capable teams. Pressure defense, driving to the hoop and shooting three-pointers off kick-outs is now in to replace it.
Lutz says he nervous during City League games, as no 10-point lead is safe, either for or against. Teams in the City League are so even, and they're proving this season that they're better than the rest of the state with "out of control" play.
Yes, they're better - without an offensive "system". I watched the Wichita Heights boys harass and gradually have their way with the defending 6A state champs, Blue Valley West, last night at White Auditorium in Emporia. Heights never developed a continuous flow in the ballgame and even looked overmatched in the early going. BV West picked apart their zone defense behind 6-9 Robert Lewandowski, likely a first-team all-stater, as he scored eight of their first ten points. But Heights extended their defense to a full-court press and forced turnover after turnover in the second half. They never built a lead until they went up six in overtime to win the game, but they were always in it, and they were always two forced turnovers away from taking the lead. They score quickly and in bunches. Scoring droughts aren't that big a deal, as they can turn it on at any time. And they don't hesitate to shoot it up. After a turnover, they'll go straight to the hoop and pray it goes in. In the half-court, its often just a look to drive, though when they do make a conscious effort to go into the post to Kelton Marshall, another first or second-team all-stater, he's money from 10 feet and in with his back to the hoop.
What's the key to this new style of play in college hoops and Wichita prep hoops? Guard play. It's why Heights can beat a team with a Lewandowski, and it's why Southeast can beat East with Garrius Holloman, arguably the best big man in the state. East lacks outside shooting, and they have a wealth of forwards, so Southeast just gets a few steals for layups or knocks down a couple three-pointers, and, bam, they're back in it. It's all about guard play. As a note, that's how Lawrence, a team with a losing record entering postseason, beat Manhattan to set up their semifinal 6A showdown tonight with Heights. Dorian Green, as Lutz noted this morning on the show, is a fabulous guard, and, despite Lawrence having all mid-sized players with no one to guard Manhattan's 6-9 Jackie Carmichael, Lawrence won the game because of it - guard play. Lesson: if you have the thoroughbreds, turn them loose. As a critique, however, some of the shot selection on these "guard" teams could be better. But then again, isn't shooting it up the point.
Tonight's lineup at White Auditorium in Emporia is outstanding. After having zero boys teams int the state semifinals last season, the City League has three of four this March. East will play Southeast for third time this season, and Heights will play Lawrence. Despite Lawrence's record, it will not be an upset if they beat Heights. After watching them last night, I have not idea how their record is that bad. They must have gelled late. They play with passion, and they play together. And they're willing to play zone, which must be played as a team with tons of communication for it to be successful.
The East-Southeast game promises to be another classic. Both regular season games were played into overtime this season. These teams know each other, the players know each other and the coaches know each other. Heck, the schools are only like three miles away from each other. Division I players will be on display, and play will be up and down the court. I've got East, though the hectic atmosphere of White Auditorium with its vibrating noise will favor Southeast, who plays well out of control. Helter skelter.
I'm back on the road. After watching the Bishop Carroll girls in Topeka yesterday afternoon before swinging down to Emporia to watch the Heights boys, I came home for a respite. Now, it's back to Emporia for the biggest night of ball this season. Heights girls versus Goddard tonight, as well, in Emporia. Unbelievable lineup.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
2 - Capital City in my sights
It didn't go so good for Greensburg last night in their 56-30 loss to Crest.
Throughout the game at Busch-Gross Coliseum on the campus of Fort Hays State, I sat by Greensburg coach David White's son, Zach. He's in his second year at Kansas University, but he made the trip across the the state for the ballgame. A former player at Greensburg, he watched his brother, Eric, a senior guard on the team, and his dad be frustrated by poor shooting and an inability to stop Crest's star player, Brandon Newton, who sprang for 17 points.
Greensburg, a team that rode a wave of two upsets through sub-state, came to a screeching halt. Before the game, Zach and his friend Alex Reinecke tried to figure out who their opponent was. The No. 1 seed in the 1A tournament is a relative unknown. I overheard another official in the tournament hospitality room ask the same question: Who is Crest? "In all my years following high school basketball, I've never heard of Crest," he said.
Well, they're pretty good. But they didn't even steal the show - not for me. There was an all-out production going on during the game. Two state-of-the-art video cameras recorded the Greensburg team and following's every move. They recorded the pre-game meeting between the coaches, with a big fuzzy mic held over the two coaches by a professional sound guy. They walked around the court during pregame intros and timeouts recording the players and coaches. The filmed the game, the crowd, the sideline, the cheerleaders and the band.
I was very confused at first. For a second, when I first saw one camerawoman, I thought, oh, Smoky Hills Public Television. They always tape-delay this tournament. A second later, I knew something was up. I saw another cameraman, the sound guy with his huge, fuzzy, Russian-winter-hat-type mic at the end of an adjustable pole. A crew of three or so producers directed the cameras' movement. A couple more directors sidled around, looking for good shots in the arena. This was not a local crew.
Zach White told me that the Discovery Channel has been filming the town of Greensburg for the past six months: town meetings, cleanup, community activities. He said the series on Greensburg is supposed to air in November.
Overall, it was a very interesting night. It was a bit odd to see the Greensburg team surrounded by cameras during timeouts, especially when the realization of the end of their season was settling in. They were down like 20, White was still trying to make adjustments and a big billowy mic lay at the peak of their huddle. Kind of weird.
Overall, though, this was a great story. Greensburg beat Macksville in the sub-state semifinal after losing to them by 25 during the season. In the sub-state final, they beat Moscow on a last-second three-pointer by Andrew Seiler. Seiler, a little guard at 5-5, ended the game against Moscow by catching the in-bounds pass at half-court with 2.8 seconds left and draining a pro-distance three at the buzzer. Seiler hit a three to end the game against Crest, as well, but a series of missed layups and poor outside shooting throughout the game rendered it nil.
Congrats to Greensburg, and fare you well as you continue to rebuild the town. The fact that your basketball team made the state tournament without a home court is stunning and unusual.
On my way to Hays I stopped off in Salina to watch the Colby-Andale girls game in 4A. Colby has a quality post player in Lizza Mazanec, but her game seems limited to eight feet and in and I wonder what she'll do against a physical defender like Bailey Gee of Andover Central. Tasha Wagoner is a 5-8 outside shooter for Colby. I'm not sure what she's capable of off the dribble, though. Colby crushed Andale to stay undefeated.
I tried to rush back to Salina to see Abilene, Andover Central's opponent on Friday, but I didn't make it. All three of these teams remain undefeated in the 4A girls tournament: Central, Colby, Abilene. I will take Central over Colby if they make it to the final, but I have no idea about Abilene, as I didn't get to see them. I think Bailey Gee can dominate Mazanec, and I saw no one on Colby that can begin to stick with Tiffany Bias.
Ok, I'm off the Topeka to watch the Bishop Carroll girls start the state tournament against St. Thomas Aquinas. Then, tonight, I go to Emporia for Wichita Heights boys' 8:15 start against defending 6A champion Blue Valley West. Abby Fawcett of Carroll and Kelton Marshall of Heights - I'm looking for big-time performances.
Throughout the game at Busch-Gross Coliseum on the campus of Fort Hays State, I sat by Greensburg coach David White's son, Zach. He's in his second year at Kansas University, but he made the trip across the the state for the ballgame. A former player at Greensburg, he watched his brother, Eric, a senior guard on the team, and his dad be frustrated by poor shooting and an inability to stop Crest's star player, Brandon Newton, who sprang for 17 points.
Greensburg, a team that rode a wave of two upsets through sub-state, came to a screeching halt. Before the game, Zach and his friend Alex Reinecke tried to figure out who their opponent was. The No. 1 seed in the 1A tournament is a relative unknown. I overheard another official in the tournament hospitality room ask the same question: Who is Crest? "In all my years following high school basketball, I've never heard of Crest," he said.
Well, they're pretty good. But they didn't even steal the show - not for me. There was an all-out production going on during the game. Two state-of-the-art video cameras recorded the Greensburg team and following's every move. They recorded the pre-game meeting between the coaches, with a big fuzzy mic held over the two coaches by a professional sound guy. They walked around the court during pregame intros and timeouts recording the players and coaches. The filmed the game, the crowd, the sideline, the cheerleaders and the band.
I was very confused at first. For a second, when I first saw one camerawoman, I thought, oh, Smoky Hills Public Television. They always tape-delay this tournament. A second later, I knew something was up. I saw another cameraman, the sound guy with his huge, fuzzy, Russian-winter-hat-type mic at the end of an adjustable pole. A crew of three or so producers directed the cameras' movement. A couple more directors sidled around, looking for good shots in the arena. This was not a local crew.
Zach White told me that the Discovery Channel has been filming the town of Greensburg for the past six months: town meetings, cleanup, community activities. He said the series on Greensburg is supposed to air in November.
Overall, it was a very interesting night. It was a bit odd to see the Greensburg team surrounded by cameras during timeouts, especially when the realization of the end of their season was settling in. They were down like 20, White was still trying to make adjustments and a big billowy mic lay at the peak of their huddle. Kind of weird.
Overall, though, this was a great story. Greensburg beat Macksville in the sub-state semifinal after losing to them by 25 during the season. In the sub-state final, they beat Moscow on a last-second three-pointer by Andrew Seiler. Seiler, a little guard at 5-5, ended the game against Moscow by catching the in-bounds pass at half-court with 2.8 seconds left and draining a pro-distance three at the buzzer. Seiler hit a three to end the game against Crest, as well, but a series of missed layups and poor outside shooting throughout the game rendered it nil.
Congrats to Greensburg, and fare you well as you continue to rebuild the town. The fact that your basketball team made the state tournament without a home court is stunning and unusual.
On my way to Hays I stopped off in Salina to watch the Colby-Andale girls game in 4A. Colby has a quality post player in Lizza Mazanec, but her game seems limited to eight feet and in and I wonder what she'll do against a physical defender like Bailey Gee of Andover Central. Tasha Wagoner is a 5-8 outside shooter for Colby. I'm not sure what she's capable of off the dribble, though. Colby crushed Andale to stay undefeated.
I tried to rush back to Salina to see Abilene, Andover Central's opponent on Friday, but I didn't make it. All three of these teams remain undefeated in the 4A girls tournament: Central, Colby, Abilene. I will take Central over Colby if they make it to the final, but I have no idea about Abilene, as I didn't get to see them. I think Bailey Gee can dominate Mazanec, and I saw no one on Colby that can begin to stick with Tiffany Bias.
Ok, I'm off the Topeka to watch the Bishop Carroll girls start the state tournament against St. Thomas Aquinas. Then, tonight, I go to Emporia for Wichita Heights boys' 8:15 start against defending 6A champion Blue Valley West. Abby Fawcett of Carroll and Kelton Marshall of Heights - I'm looking for big-time performances.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
1 - Hitting the road soon
At 2:00 p.m. I'm bustin' asphalt. Beef jerky and coffee by my side in the middle console of the Bull (my '97 Ford Taurus), I'm trucking up to Hays for Day 1 of the 1A state tournament. Why? you ask. I say why not.
The Greensburg High boys basketball team made this tournament. They play tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Busch-Gross in Hays against No. 1 Crest. After a season in which the Rangers played zero real home games, starting with a 22-point deficit against Cunningham, Greensburg put together an upset run through sub-state and now enters the first round of state tonight.
Coach David White is making his third appearance at a state basketball tournament, though it is Greensburg High's first under him and only their third is 60 years. White, a Greensburg native who returned in the early '80s as a football and basketball coach, went to the tourney twice while at Dighton in the late '70s and early '80s.
The team overcame an enormous obstacle to get this far. The tornado last spring wiped out the town, including the school and gymnasium. Amazingly, none of White's players relocated, and they have returned from a sub-state final loss to eventual state champ South Gray in 2007 to make the state tournament. Greensburg played three "home" games at Mullinville and two at Haviland. At 19-5, they're an underdog at 1A state, but they've played a tougher schedule than Crest out West. I give them a chance in this ballgame. A win could be the story of the tournament.
I can't emphasize enough how incredible I think it is that they won 19 games without a home court. I can relate. As a prep player at the smallest school in the state of Vermont, my teams were in the same boat every season. Our practice gymnasium at our high school was too small for official competition, as it was built in the 1930s, I believe. When I arrived there in 1996, I couldn't believe what I saw. Three rows of wooden bleachers jutted up against the sidelines, and the width of the court was under 35 feet. A three-point line couldn't fit laterally, and it nearly stretched to half court at its peak. The backboards were wooden, the rims weren't break-away and the scoreboard wasn't digital. It had clock hands to keep time, which took two seconds to stop, and the score was kept with rotating saucers for the tens' place and ones' place. Three years later on a trip to the Basketball Hall of Fame, I saw an exact replica of it in an exhibit.
But we overcame it. We tore out the bleachers to create more space on the sideline, enough so that you could shoot a three-pointer all the way around, stretching the width to over 40 feet. For a few weeks of practice, though, the new lanes along the sideline where the bleachers formerly were, were dug-in gaps, creating a half-foot drop-off from the level of the main floor. We continued to practice under these conditions. For the rest of that season afterward, though, the gaps were filled with cement. A kid at school's dad, who was a cement worker, had his company do the work for free. During the off-season we covered up the cement with tile. Yes, I forgot that detail, the basketball floor was tile, not wood.
The circumstances were not ideal - ever - in our practice gymnasium. We never had a real home game. Our home games were played at other local gymnasiums, where we didn't practice - so it wasn't a home game. Home games are all about being comfortable on your own court; we never had that.
But it didn't matter. Actually, I take that back. It did matter - for the same reason that I believe in this Greensburg team. Even though Greensburg never got to play home games where they practiced everyday, I believe this brought the team together. If a team has good players who will play together and believe in each other, it doesn't matter where they play. They can win anywhere.
I had 15 kids in my graduating class, which was big for that school. My brother, who played with me as a senior when I was a freshman on our one state title team - his class had only eight kids.
But it didn't matter. We were a close group, good at basketball, and we'd play anywhere. One season, as a sophomore, we played 17 of 20 games away. We made the state title game again that year, losing by three. Our opponent in the title game had three guys over 6-5. We had one guy who was 6-3, and the rest of us were under six-feet tall.
I can relate to this Greensburg team, and I'm rooting for them. They've already done a great thing. They came together all season with no home court. They beat the top-seeded team in their sub-state, Macksville, after losing to them by 25 earlier in the season. I can't wait for their game tonight. I hope the whole town of Greensburg is there.
Stay tuned.
The Greensburg High boys basketball team made this tournament. They play tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Busch-Gross in Hays against No. 1 Crest. After a season in which the Rangers played zero real home games, starting with a 22-point deficit against Cunningham, Greensburg put together an upset run through sub-state and now enters the first round of state tonight.
Coach David White is making his third appearance at a state basketball tournament, though it is Greensburg High's first under him and only their third is 60 years. White, a Greensburg native who returned in the early '80s as a football and basketball coach, went to the tourney twice while at Dighton in the late '70s and early '80s.
The team overcame an enormous obstacle to get this far. The tornado last spring wiped out the town, including the school and gymnasium. Amazingly, none of White's players relocated, and they have returned from a sub-state final loss to eventual state champ South Gray in 2007 to make the state tournament. Greensburg played three "home" games at Mullinville and two at Haviland. At 19-5, they're an underdog at 1A state, but they've played a tougher schedule than Crest out West. I give them a chance in this ballgame. A win could be the story of the tournament.
I can't emphasize enough how incredible I think it is that they won 19 games without a home court. I can relate. As a prep player at the smallest school in the state of Vermont, my teams were in the same boat every season. Our practice gymnasium at our high school was too small for official competition, as it was built in the 1930s, I believe. When I arrived there in 1996, I couldn't believe what I saw. Three rows of wooden bleachers jutted up against the sidelines, and the width of the court was under 35 feet. A three-point line couldn't fit laterally, and it nearly stretched to half court at its peak. The backboards were wooden, the rims weren't break-away and the scoreboard wasn't digital. It had clock hands to keep time, which took two seconds to stop, and the score was kept with rotating saucers for the tens' place and ones' place. Three years later on a trip to the Basketball Hall of Fame, I saw an exact replica of it in an exhibit.
But we overcame it. We tore out the bleachers to create more space on the sideline, enough so that you could shoot a three-pointer all the way around, stretching the width to over 40 feet. For a few weeks of practice, though, the new lanes along the sideline where the bleachers formerly were, were dug-in gaps, creating a half-foot drop-off from the level of the main floor. We continued to practice under these conditions. For the rest of that season afterward, though, the gaps were filled with cement. A kid at school's dad, who was a cement worker, had his company do the work for free. During the off-season we covered up the cement with tile. Yes, I forgot that detail, the basketball floor was tile, not wood.
The circumstances were not ideal - ever - in our practice gymnasium. We never had a real home game. Our home games were played at other local gymnasiums, where we didn't practice - so it wasn't a home game. Home games are all about being comfortable on your own court; we never had that.
But it didn't matter. Actually, I take that back. It did matter - for the same reason that I believe in this Greensburg team. Even though Greensburg never got to play home games where they practiced everyday, I believe this brought the team together. If a team has good players who will play together and believe in each other, it doesn't matter where they play. They can win anywhere.
I had 15 kids in my graduating class, which was big for that school. My brother, who played with me as a senior when I was a freshman on our one state title team - his class had only eight kids.
But it didn't matter. We were a close group, good at basketball, and we'd play anywhere. One season, as a sophomore, we played 17 of 20 games away. We made the state title game again that year, losing by three. Our opponent in the title game had three guys over 6-5. We had one guy who was 6-3, and the rest of us were under six-feet tall.
I can relate to this Greensburg team, and I'm rooting for them. They've already done a great thing. They came together all season with no home court. They beat the top-seeded team in their sub-state, Macksville, after losing to them by 25 earlier in the season. I can't wait for their game tonight. I hope the whole town of Greensburg is there.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
My state picks
Anyone who tuned in for my Sports Daily radio segment on Friday knows that my luck ran out. My dark horses at boys sub-state both were rendered steamless: 3A Belle Plaine and 4A Andale.
However, a team which has intrigued me all season long is still in it: the Bishop Carroll boys (13-9). The Golden Eagles started the season with a three-game losing streak. A win over Wichita East, a top-five team in the state, was their only one before Christmas break. But, hey, that'll happen to pretty good teams in the Wichita City League.
They ended the regular season right, though. Carroll won seven of its last eight, including a dominant win over Wichita Southeast, ranked No. 1 in the state. The entered postseason play with a modest 11-9 record, but also with a four-game winning streak.
Their 25-point win over Kapaun Mount Carmel in the sub-state final is tempered by the fact that it was essentially a home game for host Carroll. The Eagles have thrived at home all season. However, despite the fact that Carroll has yet to prove itself on the road, I say this team can win the state tournament. Class 5A is not that strong this season, and no other team in this tournament is as tested at Carroll coming out of the City League, which, by the way, put three teams in the Class 6A tournament. Carroll split with all three of them: East, Southeast and Heights. The City League has been simply outstanding this season.
So, the Carroll boys are my underdog pick to win it all. Moving on.
I've got the Carroll girls in Class 5A. Abby Fawcett and a core of juniors at Carroll have a chance to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history. The Carroll girls won the school's only basketball state title in 2004.
In 6A girls, I desperately want to see a Wichita Heights-Goddard matchup in the state semifinals. Goddard is just as deep as Heights, though the Falcons' pace will give Goddard fits. If Heights hits the three-ball, they win; If Goddard dominates in the post on offense and defends Heights' guards well on the perimeter, the Lions win. Neither would be a lock to win it all, though, even they win their potential semis matchup. Some have Blue Valley Stilwell and Olathe South, both in the other half of the bracket, ranked ahead of Heights, the two-time defending state champ. I'm going with Heights, though. And I'm also going with Heights next year... And next year.
The Class 6A boys tournament is going to be a blast. Southeast and East should meet for third time this season in the state semifinals. On the other half, Heights will start off with Blue Valley West, the defending state champ, which nearly lost to Maize at their mid-season tournament. I've got Heights to win this game, and the next one over Manhattan (20-2) or Lawrence. I see an all-City League state title game. I've got East over Heights, after the two split during the regular season. While each of these City League teams was prone to being upset this season, remember that they were prone to being upset within the league. I really the City is just better than everyone else this season.
An Andover Central-Colby matchup at Class 4A girls state between two undefeated teams would be a classic. Let's hope for it. Both would be 26-0 for the state title game in Salina.
The Andover High boys are back at state in 4A after a bowing out in the first round last season. There's huge difference this time around: Andover is 23-0. This is a team that has won close games all season as a team. Luke Meisch stands out, but not outrageously so. Coach Jason Stucky has put all the pieces together; this is not a team driven by stars.
As a note and segue, Stucky and both of his brothers will be coaching at Kansas state basketball tournaments this March. In the December issue of HSSTM, we ran our "Family Affair" piece on the Stucky brothers, all of whom played high school basketball at Berean Academy. Jason's brother Jordan will be on the sideline with Trinity Academy at the 3A tournament at Hutchinson as an assistant, as will his brother Joel with Berean at the 2A tournament in Manhattan. All three played at Berean under Lewis Wiebe, who still coaches the Warriors.
Trinity, the No. 2 seed in 3A, is my favorite to win Class 3A. Either Collegiate or Trinity, whichever won the sub-state tournament at Chaparral - that's who my favorite was going to be in 3A. Belle Plaine beat Collegiate but got dominated by Trinity, losing by 15. Trinity looked for real at their mid-season tournament and it looks like they're right back on track after a weak ending to the regular season. Trinity is in its first state tournament in school history, as the program is just a decade old.
In the 3A girls tournament, keep an eye on Collegiate. This team is young, and will be back at state in the coming years. Ashia Woods is outstanding running the floor as a post player, despite just being a freshman. Collegiate won't win it all, but like I said, expect good things.
The Class 2A and 1A tournaments are so difficult to have an opinion on. There are so many teams from all across the state. In a way, these are my favorite tournaments, especially 1A, in which a team has to win three regional games before two sub-state games to even get to the state tournament. Berean Academy boys and girls teams made the state tourney in 2A. The girls are ranked No. 1, but the same was the case last season, when I watched them lose a game of dreadful shooting to an eight-loss No. 8 seed. I know this team, with most of the same players as last season, wants to do better this time around. They were distraught after last season.
Two notes for 1A in Hays: The Greensburg boys are in the state tournament. And the Dexter girls, after losing twice to undefeated Argonia during the regular season, beat them at sub-state and are in the state tourney.
However, a team which has intrigued me all season long is still in it: the Bishop Carroll boys (13-9). The Golden Eagles started the season with a three-game losing streak. A win over Wichita East, a top-five team in the state, was their only one before Christmas break. But, hey, that'll happen to pretty good teams in the Wichita City League.
They ended the regular season right, though. Carroll won seven of its last eight, including a dominant win over Wichita Southeast, ranked No. 1 in the state. The entered postseason play with a modest 11-9 record, but also with a four-game winning streak.
Their 25-point win over Kapaun Mount Carmel in the sub-state final is tempered by the fact that it was essentially a home game for host Carroll. The Eagles have thrived at home all season. However, despite the fact that Carroll has yet to prove itself on the road, I say this team can win the state tournament. Class 5A is not that strong this season, and no other team in this tournament is as tested at Carroll coming out of the City League, which, by the way, put three teams in the Class 6A tournament. Carroll split with all three of them: East, Southeast and Heights. The City League has been simply outstanding this season.
So, the Carroll boys are my underdog pick to win it all. Moving on.
I've got the Carroll girls in Class 5A. Abby Fawcett and a core of juniors at Carroll have a chance to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history. The Carroll girls won the school's only basketball state title in 2004.
In 6A girls, I desperately want to see a Wichita Heights-Goddard matchup in the state semifinals. Goddard is just as deep as Heights, though the Falcons' pace will give Goddard fits. If Heights hits the three-ball, they win; If Goddard dominates in the post on offense and defends Heights' guards well on the perimeter, the Lions win. Neither would be a lock to win it all, though, even they win their potential semis matchup. Some have Blue Valley Stilwell and Olathe South, both in the other half of the bracket, ranked ahead of Heights, the two-time defending state champ. I'm going with Heights, though. And I'm also going with Heights next year... And next year.
The Class 6A boys tournament is going to be a blast. Southeast and East should meet for third time this season in the state semifinals. On the other half, Heights will start off with Blue Valley West, the defending state champ, which nearly lost to Maize at their mid-season tournament. I've got Heights to win this game, and the next one over Manhattan (20-2) or Lawrence. I see an all-City League state title game. I've got East over Heights, after the two split during the regular season. While each of these City League teams was prone to being upset this season, remember that they were prone to being upset within the league. I really the City is just better than everyone else this season.
An Andover Central-Colby matchup at Class 4A girls state between two undefeated teams would be a classic. Let's hope for it. Both would be 26-0 for the state title game in Salina.
The Andover High boys are back at state in 4A after a bowing out in the first round last season. There's huge difference this time around: Andover is 23-0. This is a team that has won close games all season as a team. Luke Meisch stands out, but not outrageously so. Coach Jason Stucky has put all the pieces together; this is not a team driven by stars.
As a note and segue, Stucky and both of his brothers will be coaching at Kansas state basketball tournaments this March. In the December issue of HSSTM, we ran our "Family Affair" piece on the Stucky brothers, all of whom played high school basketball at Berean Academy. Jason's brother Jordan will be on the sideline with Trinity Academy at the 3A tournament at Hutchinson as an assistant, as will his brother Joel with Berean at the 2A tournament in Manhattan. All three played at Berean under Lewis Wiebe, who still coaches the Warriors.
Trinity, the No. 2 seed in 3A, is my favorite to win Class 3A. Either Collegiate or Trinity, whichever won the sub-state tournament at Chaparral - that's who my favorite was going to be in 3A. Belle Plaine beat Collegiate but got dominated by Trinity, losing by 15. Trinity looked for real at their mid-season tournament and it looks like they're right back on track after a weak ending to the regular season. Trinity is in its first state tournament in school history, as the program is just a decade old.
In the 3A girls tournament, keep an eye on Collegiate. This team is young, and will be back at state in the coming years. Ashia Woods is outstanding running the floor as a post player, despite just being a freshman. Collegiate won't win it all, but like I said, expect good things.
The Class 2A and 1A tournaments are so difficult to have an opinion on. There are so many teams from all across the state. In a way, these are my favorite tournaments, especially 1A, in which a team has to win three regional games before two sub-state games to even get to the state tournament. Berean Academy boys and girls teams made the state tourney in 2A. The girls are ranked No. 1, but the same was the case last season, when I watched them lose a game of dreadful shooting to an eight-loss No. 8 seed. I know this team, with most of the same players as last season, wants to do better this time around. They were distraught after last season.
Two notes for 1A in Hays: The Greensburg boys are in the state tournament. And the Dexter girls, after losing twice to undefeated Argonia during the regular season, beat them at sub-state and are in the state tourney.
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