High school state tournament notes

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 9, 1999

Leavenworth vs. Maize --Leavenworth is the top seed at 21-1 and has one of the state's biggest teams, including 6-7 senior Raymond Briggs and 6-8 junior Wayne Simien. Briggs leads Leavenworth with a 14-point scoring average. The Pioneers drew Maize, which is 11-11, in the opening round. Leavenworth was forced to overtime by Olathe East, last year's 6A champ, in the sub-state finals before prevailing, 62- 61.

Maize beat Wichita South 78-65 to reach state in its first 6A sub-state appearance. Senior Danny Douglass led Maize in the sub- state finals with 19 points. Wichita Heights vs. SM West --Wichita Heights (18-4) is back at state after knocking off city rival Wichita East, 72-63. The Falcons were second in the state tournament a year ago, losing to Olast East in the championship game, 70-48. Top players for the Falcons include seniors C.J. Martin and Travis Walk. Martin scored 34 points on 13- of-14 shooting from the field in Heights' win over East, while Walk added 13 points. Martin averages 18 points a game and Walk 12.5 points. SM West is led by Ben Panos, the school's career-leading scorer. GIRLSWichita Northwest vs. SM Northwest --Wichita Northwest, third last season, is the No. 2 seed with a 21-2 record. The Grizzlies are led by senior guard Morgan O'Hara and senior frontliner Lacy Dunbar, who is 6-2. Dunbar is the daughter of former University of Houston and Harlem Globetrotter star Lou Dunbar. Northwest blasted Derby 87- 42 in the sub-state finals at Wichita West, with O'Hara scoring 22 points and Dunbar 11. Lindsay Patterson scored 16 points, including three 3-pointers. O'Hara averages 20.3 points a game, while Dunbar averages 10.7 points. SM Northwest reached state with a 64-47 win over Olathe East. Washburn Rural vs. Olathe South --Washburn Rural, last year's runner-up, brings an18- game winning streak into the state tournament, advancing with a 59-45 win over Manhattan Saturday. The Junior Blues have not lost since the return of junior All-State guard Jeneka Joyce, who averages 22 points a game. Olathe South (19-3), which lost to Rural by a point in the first round last year at state, drew the Junior Blues in the opening round again this year. Kristen Bohi, a 6-2 senior, averages 15 points and 6.5 rebounds a game, while 5-10 junior Lacole Hook averages 14.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. Hook has hit more than 50 3-pointers on the year. Olathe South hit 19 of 28 free throws in a 48-38 win over Lawrence-Free State in the sub- state finals. Blue Valley North vs. Hutchinson --Blue Valley North is the defending champion and the top seed in this year's field at 22-0. The Mustangs dominated regular-season opponents by more than 30 points a game and advanced to state with a 60-38 win over Blue Valley. North is huge, with four players at 6-1 or taller. Hutchinson (13-9) has the unenviable task of facing Blue Valley North in Thursday's first round for the second straight year. The Salthawks are led by Lisa Martin, who had 21 points and 12 rebounds in the Salthawks' 51-46 overtime win over Dodge City, while Crystal Clark added 16 points. Jamie Dilbeck hit a 3-pointer for Hutch with two seconds left in regulation to force the overtime with Dodge City. Junction City vs. SM South --I-70 League champion Junction City (19-3) was impressive in the sub-state finals, routing Emporia by an 80-52 margin. Four players scored in double figures against the Spartans, led by 6-2 junior Ebony Boddie with 20 points. April Banks leads the Blue Jays with a 13-point scoring average on the season. Junction City's girls hit 25 of 29 free throws in the win over Emporia. SM South, a fixture at state under Ron Millard, rolled to a state berth with a 76-52 win over SM East in the sub-state finals. Jenni Watts is South's leading scorer. Class 5ABOYSMcPherson vs. Wichita Kapaun -- McPherson enters at 21-1, with its only loss to Salina South. The Bullpups combine a major interior scoring threat (Brandon Carter, a 6-3 slashing guard) with quality outside shooting (senior Matt Robins and soph Cody Rierson combined for six 3's in one quarter during sub-state). Kapaun won for the fifth time in six games when it knocked off Labette County in sub-state play. Senior point guard Mike Mileusnic scored a team-high 20 points. Andover vs. Great Bend -- Great Bend had three players in double figures -- Pete Miller (15), Scott Beahm (14) and Steven Ramirez (10) in its 64-55 sub-state final win over Valley Center. The Panthers last went to state in '95, finishing third. Andover center Ryan Woodman dropped in 18 points to help defeat Fort Scott on Saturday. Andover took third in 5A last year, beating Coffeyville in the consolation game after losing to KC-Wyandotte in the second round. Miege vs. Salina South -- Salina South stunned No. 2-ranked Highland Park, on Friday behind 20-of-35 shooting. South soph D'Andre McGrew and senior Ryan Tomlins scored 21 and 22 points, respectively. Miege is led by sophomore Jamar Howard, who scored 23 in the Stags' 74-40 sub-state final win over Harmon. Schlagle vs. Goddard -- Goddard is headed to the state tourney for the first time since 1979 after a 47-40 win over Wichita Carroll in substate play. Donnie Wallace scored 21 and Clint Dayhuff added 15 in the victory. Malcolm Campbell rattled in 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Schlagle's sub-state final victory Paola. Schlagle returns to the state tourney after dropping a 67-65 first-round game to Dodge City as a Class 6A school in in '98. GIRLSMcPherson vs. Campus -- Campus shocked Great Bend in the sub- state championship behind 23 points and 10 rebounds by Nicole Patry. At 12-10, the Colts are a huge underdog to top-ranked and undefeated McPherson, which held Salina Central to six first-half points on Friday to cruise to a sub-state semifinal win but then struggled Saturday to defeat Topeka West. Aquinas vs. Wichita Kapaun -- Aquinas' Melissa Watkins cashed in five 3-pointers to score 21 points and help defeat Miege, which lost a sub-state game for only the fourth time in the school's 23-year history. Twenty-nine points and 18 rebounds from junior Angela Buckner carried Kapaun over Labette County in sub-state final action. Buckner had a double-double by halftime, blocked four shots and hit 11 of 18 shots. Goddard vs. Shawnee Heights -- Goddard got 26 points from Rikki Hall, a sophomore transfer who helped Clearwater reach the 4A state tourney last year, to defeat Wichita Carroll in sub-state. Amy Craig netted 16 and Sharlee Beiter added 15 in the victory, the Lions' 14th straight. With all due respect to Campus, Heights pulled off what may have been the shocker of the tournament by overcoming an 18- point deficit and edging Buhler in overtime for a sub-state championship. Senior Tiffany Kruggel and soph Dani McHenry led the way for the T- Birds, with 15 points apiece. Pittsburg vs. KC-Washington -- Pittsburg senior Allision Lathim, who scored 10 points, was among three seniors in double figures, joining Missy Pryor (14) and Bethany Turnbull (15) in the Dragons' sub-state final victory over Andover. "If anybody says there's somebody better than Keasha, they're going to have to prove it to me," said Washington coach Wayne Lathrop after senior Keasha Cannon exploded for 30 points and 16 rebounds to help defeat Schlagle for a trip to Topeka. Class 4ABOYSJefferson West vs. Augusta -- Jeff West made its first state appearance in 4A in 1996 and will now be headed to state for the third time in four years after placing fourth in the 3A tournament a year ago. The Tigers are led by junior center Matt Shirley, who averages 18 points and 11 rebounds. They defeated Augusta in the finals of the Baldwin Invitational. Augusta advance by tripping Rose Hill 41-37 in the sub-state final. El Dorado vs. Concordia -- Nathan Hiebert scored 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead El Dorado past Circle 68-55 in the sub-state finals. Concordia knocked off last year's runnerup, Wamego, 54-49 in the sub- state final. Joe Laas and Josh Smith were returning starters for the Panthers, who are directed by first-year coach Ron Johnson. Concordia tied Wamego for first in the North Central Kansas League. Wamego finished the season without injured star Ryan Lane. Colby vs. Coffeyville -- Coffeyville found the move to 4A to its liking, qualifying for state with a 75-64 victory over Caney in the sub-state finals. Griffin Walker led Coffeyville with 26 points and 13 rebounds. The Tornado went 21 of 25 from the foul stripe. Colby returns to the 4A tourney after ruling the Northwest Kansas League, finishing 7-0 in league play behind seniors Justin Lane and Jonalan Smith. Last year's state appearance was the first in 11 years for the Indians, who lost in the first round. Louisburg vs. KC-Sumner -- KC-Sumner will attempt to defend its title after drilling Basehor-Linwood 66-44 in the sub-state finals. The Sabres return two starters, Anthony Porter and Korli Hurst, and a shooting guard, Jeff Hawkins, who lit up the Bicentennial Center as a freshman last year. After leading the Sabres to the 4A crown, Randy Springs joined Jay Frazier as the only coaches to guide three different schools to titles. Springs posted his 400th career win earlier this season. Louisburg beat Spring Hill 66-53 in the sub- state finals. GIRLSSanta Fe Trail vs. Kingman -- Santa Fe Trail hoped to receive good news about junior Brooke Terhune, who was hammered on a drive to the hoop and injured on the final play of the sub-state final. The Chargers defended their Kaw Valley League title and were seeded No.1 despite losing four starters off last year's 26-0 4A title team. Trail defeated Hayden in its only meeting against a team in the 4A field. Sarah Knapic, a 5-9 junior, leads Kingman with a 17.5-point average. Iola vs. Pratt -- Iola survived an overtime scare from Girard in the sub-state semifinals before Molly Lonergan's 20 points helped the Fillies secure a 64-58 victory. Iola then routed Burlington 49-32 in the finals. Girard was ranked No.4 in the final 4A poll, while Burlington was No.2. Lonergan leads Iola, averaging 12 points and 12 rebounds. Pratt tripped Colby 47-42 in the sub-state finals. Andale vs. KC-Sumner -- Andale will be making its fourth straight state appearance. The Indians lost first-round games each of the last three seasons, including a 56-43 defeat to Marysville a year ago. Andale also has been loaded with Ecks and has two that start this year, twins Missi (16.5 ppg.) and Maggie (14.5 ppg.). Andale bombed Hesston 58-34 to advance to state, while Sumner dropped Gardner 42- 37. Clay Center vs. Hayden -- Clay Center used a balanced attack led by Nicole Ohlde (13 points) to upset Marysville 46-35 in the sub- state finals. Ohlde, a 6-3 junior, averages 17.9 points and 12.8 rebounds, to lead the Tigers, who fell 56-46 to Hayden on Jan. 23. After drawing a bye in the first round of sub-state, Hayden held both Tonganoxie and Effingham to 23 points. The state berth is the first ever for the Tigers, while the Wildcats are making their ninth appearance in 10 years. Class 3ABOYSImmaculata vs. Cherryvale -- Imac is led by senior center Mike Fitzgerald (14 point per game average) and forwards Tom Vosseler (11 ppg) and Matt Bassett (11 ppg). The Raiders are returning to state after a two-year layoff, which came after three consecutive appearances in the early '90s. Cherryvale, 16-7, advanced after defeating Riverton 61-58 in the Neodesha sub-state. Belleville vs. Hoisington -- Belleville is back for another run at a 3A title after falling in the first round to Wichita Collegiate in '98. The Buffaloes are 20-3. J.P. Meitner led Hoisington's balanced offense with 13 points in a 44-29 sub-state final victory over Holcomb. The Cardinals were eliminated by Jefferson West in the first round of last year's tourney. Hillsboro vs. Conway Springs -- No. 1-ranked Hillsboro carries a 23-0 record into the tourney, which it won last year by defeating Wichita Collegiate. Hillsboro knocked off Collegiate in the sub-state final this year at Halstead. Conway Springs unloaded on Yates Center, 62-46, in the sub-state final at Fredonia to earn a trip to Hutchinson. Central Heights vs. Norton -- Central Heights is led by the senior tandem of Brett Woolery, a forward, and Beau Welch, a guard who is the son of coach Buddy Welch, in a bid to improve on last year's third-place finish. Norton dropped Beloit, 67-59, in the sub-state final at Smith Center. GIRLSNorthern Heights vs. Holcomb -- Amanda Young, Heights' only senior starter, dumped in 17 points to go with 16 apiece from Gina Wheat and Heather Jones as the Wildcats bombed Osage City, 75-47, in the sub-state final at Wellsville. Holcomb boasts a pair of scoring threats in Marci Johnson, senior guard with a 14 point per game average, and Shelley Novack, junior guard who chips in 11 ppg. Smith Center vs. Immaculata -- Imac returns to the state tourney after a first-round loss to 3A champ Cimarron in 1998. The nucleus of last year's team -- Cory Short (5-7 junior guard), Kim Todd (5-10 senior center) and Paula Winkelbauer (5-7 senior guard) -- is intact. Dayna Finch, a standout junior guard, is averaging 24.8. points for Smith Center as the school returns to state for the first time since '97. Erie vs. Hillsboro -- A matchup of two teams trying to return to prominence. Erie is aiming for its second title game since 1997, when it lost to Wellsville. The Red Devils returned to the tourney last year but sputtered, falling in the second round to Conway Springs and then losing to Riley County in the consolation game. Hillsboro won back to back titles in 1995 and 1996. Conway Springs vs. Riley County -- The teams enter with matching 23-9 records. Riley County is making its fourth straight trip to Hutchinson, where it lost to Cimarron in overtime last year in the second round. Conway Springs is led by senior guard/forward Amanda Barkley, who's averagin 14.7 points a game. Class 2ABOYSPittsburg Colgan vs. Ellis -- "No matter where you look, there's good teams there," said Colgan coach Wayne Cichon of the Class 2A tourney. Colgan, 21-2, lost in the first round of last year's tourney to 2A champ Hill City. Ellis, the No. 7 seed, advanced after nipping Quinter, 52-50, in the Quinter substate. Berean Academy vs. Ness City -- Berean boasts a dangerous 3-point shooter in senior guard Warren Wiebe and a solid center in 6-4 Jon Jordan. The Warriors knocked off Moundridge in their sub-state final Ness City comes off a 86-75 win over St. John in the Great Bend sub- state. Jefferson North vs. Frankfort -- Jeff North enters at 22-1 and is making its first trip to the state tourney since the school was formed through the merger of Winchester and Nortonville . Mark Sedlak has had an outstanding senior season for the Chargers, averaging 18 points a game. Frankfort dropped Osborne, 63-59, to advance to the state tourney in Mike Krull's first year as head coach. Stanton County vs. Garden Plain -- Jacob Dreiling and Steve Raush set the tone for Garden Plain's sub-state championship by pouring in 28 and 17 points, respectively, against Sedgwick in the opening round. Stanton County, 21-2, clipped Dighton, 51-44, to earn a trip to Manhattan. GIRLSFrontenac vs. Sterling -- Frontenac boasts experience in spades, returning five starters from from last year's state team. The Raiders lost in the first round to Valley Heights last season. Sterling's offense is powered by 5-8 sophomore Crystal Pitts, who's averaging 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game. Jackson Heights vs. Osborne -- Kenneth Thomas recorded his 400th career coaching victory this season at Jackson Heights, which is led by senior guard Deatra Wheeler and her 16 point per game average. Osborne, 19-4, comes off a 53-41 victory over Frankfort in the sub- state final at Valley Heights. Moundridge vs. Garden Plain -- Amy Cook scored 17 points to help Garden Plain overcome Caldwell in its sub-state final. Three-time defending champ Moundridge (21-2) is led by Laurie Koehn, one of the state's premiere players. "The thing Moundridge has really improved is its support," said Berean Academy coach Doug Unruh. "The other kids hit the 15-footers, and with Laurie on the floor you can't guard everybody." Stockton vs. Stanton County -- Stanton County, 19-4, has been pushed by seniors Dodie Martin, a 5-5 guard, and Niki Nicholas, a 5- 10 forward, who were all-class selections in '98. Stockton popped Atwood, 63-54, in the Quinter sub-state to advance to Manhattan. Class 1ABOYSMidway-Denton vs. Little River -- Midway-Denton, ranked No. 2 behind undefeated Brewster, is seeking its first state crown after defeating Linn 45-37 in the sub-state final at Marysville. Little River got double doubles from three players -- senior Sean Feldman (12 points, 11 boards), junior Adrian Howie (16 points, 10 boards) and sophomore Lucas Raleigh (12 points, 13 boards) -- in its sub-state final win over Hanston. Brewster vs. Grinnell -- Undefeated Brewster boasts a dominant offense, with double-digit scorers in Phil Widener, Jay Reid, Jordan Reid and Cody Rush. The lineup produced 85 points in a sub-state final victory over Northern Valley. Grinnell enters the state tourney with the field's worst record (19-7) after defeating Weskan in the substate final at Russell. Lebo vs. Quvira Heights -- In point guard Chisholm Price and shooting guard Alan Lane, Lebo has a pair of seniors who are capable of scoring 30-plus points each. The No. 3-ranked Wolves are 23-2. Quivira Heights boasts an explosive scorer in Justin Clark, who scored 11 of his team-high 13 points in the second quarter of the T- Birds' sub-state final win over Haviland. Hanover vs. Marais des Cygnes Valley -- Hanover nipped Centralia, 63-59, in the Clay Center sub-state final to earn a shot at defending its 1998 Class 1A title. MdCV boasts a trio of guards -- Derek Wise, Brad Burkdoll and Joe Arb -- who average a combined 35 points per game. GIRLSBaileyville B&B vs. Little River -- B&B enters as a top seed, riding a spectacular 24-1 season whose only blemish was a Feb. 9 loss to Centralia. The Falcons avenged that loss on Saturday, defeating the Panthers 44-39 in the sub-state final at Marysville. B&B will get another shot at revenge as it faces defending 1A champ Little River, which defeated the Falcons 44-43 in last year's title game for its fourth straight title. Weskan vs. Olpe -- Weskan, 23-2, reached the state tourney through a 38-31 victory over Kensington at the Russell sub-state. Erin Gulick, senior guard, and Lana Stueve, junior guard, are averaging 30 points per game between them for 24-1 Olpe. Gulick is good for 20; Stueve for 10. Lewis vs. Sharon Springs -- Lewis is led by junior guard Adriana Castaneda, who is averaging 16.4 points a game, and senior forward Candice Polly at 18 ppg. The Spartans are 24-1. Junior guard Keara Welsh fires the Sharon Springs offense with her 22 ppg average. Bern vs. Lebo -- No. 3-ranked Bern dropped No. 4 Mankato, 80-73, in the sub-state final at Clay Center to earn their trip to state. The Indians, led by 5-9 senior forward Jodi Strathman, lost to perennial power Pretty Prairie, 68-56, in the first round last year. Lebo is paced by sophomores Linsy Krause, a 5-8 post player, and Ashley Gourley, a 5-8 post guard, who are averaging 14 points per game.