By: Brent Maycock
KSHSAA Covered
CENTRALIA (20-2) Coach Dusty Thompson. Substate—beat Troy, 42-36; beat Burlingame, 65-35
Oen Deters, jr., PG; Taya Gibbs, fr., F; Hayden Kramer, fr., G; Tatum Kramer, jr., G; Cora Thompson, so., F; Josie Haverkamp, fr., C; Tori Kuckelman, sr., G; Isabel Haverkamp, jr., C; Keelyn Rempe, fr., G.
Panthers return to state after one-year absence, losing to eventual 1A Division I state champion Doniphan West in sub-state finals last year. … Centralia finished as 1A Division I state runner-up in 2022 to Pretty Prairie. … Last state title came in 2016 and Panthers have won xxx overall. … Panthers swept Twin Valley League regular-season and tournament titles, beating Clifton-Clyde 58-56 for league tourney title and going 11-1 in league play. … Panthers’ only losses this year came to 3A Nemaha Central and Twin Valley League rival Clifton-Clyde, the latter by one point denying Panthers undefeated league season. … Panthers own wins over 1A I qualifier Frankfort, 1A II qualifier Hanover and 2A qualifier Valley Heights (twice). … Panthers only have one senior on roster and start two freshmen and sophomore. … Deters averages 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.7 steals and 4.5 assists a game and went over 1,000 points at TVL Tournament. … No other Panther averages double-figure scoring with Gibbs next at 8 points and 6 rebounds per game. … The Kramers combine for 10.7 points and 7 rebounds a game. … Josie Haverkamp comes off bend for 6 points per game.
FRANKFORT (19-3). Coach Brian Ebert. Substate—beat Washington County, 61-23; beat Clifton-Clyde, 46-41
Hattie Gros, sr., F; Emma Hardwick, sr., PG; Sydney Wapp, sr., F; Breleigh Ebert, jr., G.
Wildcats finished third at 1A Division I state tournament last year, falling to Quinter 42-38 in the semifinals before beating Norwich 49-23 for third. … Trip is third for girls under Ebert, who also took the Frankfort boys to state four times, winning a state championship in 2012. … Ebert won his 350th game overall this season. … Wildcats finished in three-way tie for runner-up Twin Valley League regular-season finish. … Only losses came to fellow 1A I qualifier Centralia, 2A qualifier Valley Heights and 1A II qualifier Hanover with Wildcats also beating Hanover. … Gros went over 1,000 career points this year and averages 18.6 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. … Hardwick hit 300 career assists and averages 4 per game to go along with 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3 steals per game. … Wapp adds 10 points and 4.5 rebounds a game and Ebert adds 6 points and 4 rebounds a game.
LITTLE RIVER (22-0). Coach Cy Rolfs. Substate—beat Canton-Galva, 55-20; beat Goessel, 56-32
Alaina Eck, sr., G; Aubrey Olander, sr., F; Arika Feldman, so., F; Havana Olander, so., G; Ashley Stephenson, sr., G; Addelynne Strecker, so., G; Saelyn Raleigh, fr., G; Kate Ellwood, sr., G; Evie Look, so., G; Avery Lafferty, fr., F.
Redskins return to state with plenty of motivation after falling in sub-state semifinals a year ago despite being ranked No. 1 in Class 1A Division I. … Redskins have only had one win this year decided by single digits, a 49-43 win over defending Class 1A Division II champion Hanover. … Only three other wins have been by less than 27 points. … Trip to state is 18th overall for the program with the Redskins going 11 straight years from 1994-2004. … Little River won four straight titles during that stretch, 1995-98. … Bulk of this year’s team has led Little River to consecutive volleyball state titles. … Eck and Aubrey Olander each recorded their 1,000th career point this year with Eck also going over 300 steals and 200 assists and Olander topping 700 rebounds, 100 blocks and 150 steals as well. … Eck leads balanced attack with 14.5 points per game with Feldman right behind at 14.2 points per game. … Olander averages 9.8 points and 7.7 rebounds a game. … Feldman adds 6 rebounds a game. … Ellwood comes off bench for 6.4 points per game. … Havana Olander adds 5.4 points and 2.5 steals a game. … Eck also gets 5 steals a game.
NORWICH (20-1). Coach Mike Klaver. Substate—beat Udall, 45-29; beat Wichita Central Christian, 43-21
Eagles have qualified for state four of last five years, missing out only in 2022 in that span. .. Norwich placed fourth last year, falling to Doniphan West in the semifinals and Frankfort in the third-place game. … Eagles were state runner-up in 2021, losing to unbeaten Olpe in the championship game, 42-25, and also lost to Olpe in quarterfinals in 2020. … Trip to state is 16th overall for the program, which includes four championship game appearances and one state title, that coming in 1988. … Eagles were undefeated Heart of the Plains League champions. … Lone loss came to league rival Attica in the 54 Classic semifinals, a 33-32 loss. … Norwich avenged that loss with 44-35 win over the Bulldogs in early February. … Only other game decided by single digits was 39-32 win over 1A Division II qualifier South Haven.
OLPE (18-5). Coach: Ron Slaymaker. Substate—beat Oswego, 95-16; beat Madison, 37-34; beat Marmaton Valley, 48-36
Key players: Kadey Robert, sr., PG; Milly Bailey, sr., F; Grace Coughlin, sr., C; Lilly Skalsky, so., F; Kayla Steinke, so., G; Kinzie Kurzen, sr., F; Gracie Scheve, sr., G; Aubryn Garriott, sr., C.
Eagles have been staple at the state tournament with 32 appearances overall, including the eight of the past nine years and 23 of the last 25 years. … The past two years have come under Slaymaker, who has been a head coach at the high school (Roosevelt, Chase County, Olpe) or college (Emporia State/Kansas State Teachers College) level for 44 years with a 729-462 record. … Last year’s trip ended with quarterfinal loss to eventual runner-up Quinter. … Olpe has four state titles overall, the last coming in 2021. … Eagles shared Lyon County League regular-season title, beating 1A II qualifier Lebo, and then finished runner-up to Lebo in the LCL Tournament. … Olpe also won Yates Center Preseason Tournament. … Two of five losses came to Lebo and another to 2A qualifier Eureka. … Eagles also beat 1A II qualifier South Haven by 17. … Robert averages 19 points a game, while Skalsky averages 12 a game and Bailey 11. … Skalsky and Coughlin each average 7 rebounds per game.
ATWOOD RAWLINS COUNTY (18-4). Coach Deone Horinek. Substate--beat Oberlin, 39-27; beat Quinter, 48-37
Key players: Tayten Dewey, jr.; Abby Micek, sr.; Kaci Dirks, sr.; Kayte Shively, so.; Camden Franklin, fr.; Kennedy Timm, jr.; Tessa Bolen, fr.; Emma Draper, sr.; Mariah Mosley, so.; Paige Lankas, jr.; Josie Ginther, fr.; Allison Rippe, jr.
Buffaloes making first trip to state since 1992 and just fifth time overall. … For third time in school history, Rawlins County qualified for state in basketball and volleyball. … Buffaloes won the Castle Rock Classic for first time in school history and also were Northwest Kansas League regular-season champions. … Buffaloes avenged two regular-season losses to Oberlin with 12-point sub-state semifinal win and then beat last’s year’s state runner-up Quinter in the sub-state finals. … Buffaloes didn’t play a home game this year after gym was damaged by fire. … Micek is leading scorer at 11.9 points per game, just ahead of Dewey’s 11.7 average. … Shively adds 10.2 points and team-high 8.5 rebounds per game. … Micek adds 8.3 rebounds a game. … Dewey gets 6.1 rebounds per game and 4 assists per game. … Franklin scored 9.5 points a game.
MONTEZUMA SOUTH GRAY (21-1). Coach John Wahl. Substate—beat Ashland, 59-25; beat South Central, 61-34
Key players: Vi Helm, sr., G; Kylie Stapleton, jr., G; Jacelyn Huelskamp, sr., F; Allie Reed, jr., G; Gwyn Jantz, jr., F; Jacee Deges, so., G; Jonalee Zaeygardt, fr., G; Reegan Meairs, jr., G; Yasim Cervantes, jr., F; Kaydence Foskuhl, so., G.
Rebels have six state tournament appearances in program history, all coming since 2008 and this year’s appearance is second straight. … Rebels also went three straight years from 2008-10, capturing the state championship in 2010. … Last year’s trip ended with quarterfinal loss to Frankfort. … Rebels won SPIAA regular-season title and suffered only loss, 42-41, in finals of the league tournament to Spearville, whom they beat twice. … Helm averages 15.5 points, 6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. … Stapleton is right behind with 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3 steals a game. … Reed averages 9.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.3 steals a contest. … Wahl in first year as head coach. … Loss to Spearville is only game Rebels have had decided by single digits all season.
ST. JOHN TIGERS (21-1). Coach Danny Smith. Substate—beat Hodgeman County, 54-34; beat Spearville, 50-30
Key players: Heidi Fisher, sr., G; Lydia Reed, jr., C; Mia Meyer, so., G/F; Gentri Bright, fr., G/F; Reagan Bonner, so., G; Lily Brummer, fr., G; Averi Fisher, so., G; Karly Rockenbach, so., G.
Tigers return to state for first time since 2018 when they fell in quarterfinals to St. Paul. … Three of last four years, the Tigers have fallen in sub-state finals. … St. John won Class 1A state title in 2009 and had three top-four finishes from 2010-13, including a runner-up in 2012. … Tigers won Central Prairie League title for the first time since 2012 and also won their home tournament for the first time, beating Sunrise Christian in the finals 63-59 after trailing by 13 points in the third quarter. … All five starters are all-league selections. … Heidi Fisher fills up the stat sheet and this year went over 1,000 career points and 300 career assists, setting school’s single-game assist mark with 12 in a game this season. … She averages 13.5 points, 6 assists and 4.1 steals and was MVP at both of St. John’s tourneys. … Reed averages 13.6 points and 2.8 blocks per game. … Meyer and Bright each average 9 points per game and Bright is leading rebounds with 6.7 per game. .. Bonner averages 8 points a game. … Tigers have just one senior and one junior. … Lone loss came to 3A Hoisington in overtime in early December and Tigers have won 20 straight since.
