1A DIV. 1 GIRLS STATE DODGE CITY

WEDNESDAY

2 p.m.—Norwich 20-2 vs. Canton-Galva 15-8

4 p.m.—Central Plains 19-4 vs. Doniphan West 18-5 

6 p.m.—Quinter 19-3 vs. Olpe 16-7

8 p.m.— Frankfort 20-3 vs. South Gray 17-6

BY BRENT MAYCOCK 

KSHSAA COVERED

NORWICH 20-2

Coach—Mike Klaver

Sub-state—Wichita Central Christian, 59-31; Wichita Classical, 46-21

Quarterfinal— Canton-Galva (15-8), 2 p.m. Wednesday

Players—Kierstin Adams, jr., F; Braylin Kelly, jr., G; Haley Sheetz, sr., G; Brooklyn Sheetz, jr., F; Teja Saumelson, sr., G; Marissa Brewster, jr., F; Reagan Smith, fr., G.

Norwich finished as state runner-up to Olpe in 2021, falling 42-25 in title game to unbeaten Eagles. … Norwich also took second in 2013, third in 2015 and has qualified for state seven times since 2012 including three in the past four years. … Klaver won 250th career game this year. … He also has 180 wins as boys head coach at Norwich, leading Eagles to three state appearances. … With middle school wins included, Klaver has 662 career victories in 39 seasons. … Adams averages 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. … Kelly averages 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3 steals a game. … Sheetz sisters combined for 14 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. … Only losses this season came to defending champion Pretty Prairie and Attica, the latter coming in overtime in semifinals of midseason tournament.

CANTON-GALVA 15-8

Coach—Brad Willems

Sub-state—Goessel, 44-37; Elyria Christian, 51-38; Sylvan-Lucas, 52-39

Quarterfinal—Norwich (21-2), 2 p.m. Wednesday

Players—Lili Espinoza, sr.; Brecken Pearson, sr.; Mimi Craig, sr.; Trinity Espinoza, fr.; Adi Alcala, fr.; Red Craig, so.; Makinlee Hoppes, fr.; Emerson Hoppes, fr.; Jayden Orth, fr., Jordyn Elliot, fr.

Eagles end 37-year state tournament drought, earning first berth since 1986. … Winning season is just third for the program since 2006. … Willems in first year as head coach of the Eagles after previously coaching at Sharon Springs-Wallace County. … Eagles are young with 6 freshmen among top 11. … Eagles were fourth seed at their sub-state but knocked off top-seeded Elyria Christian in the semifinals and No. 2 seed Sylvan-Lucas in the sub-state finals, both by double digits. … Canton-Galva had been swept by Elyria Christian during regular season. … Two losses came to state qualifiers Wichita Independent (2A) and Central Plains (1A I). … Freshman Trinity Espinoza leads team with 16.4 points and 3.3 steals per game. … No other player averages double figure scoring, but Craig, Alcala and Lily Espinoza all average between 6-8 points per game. … Lily Espinoza is leading rebounder at 5.9 per game, just ahead of Pearson’s 5.5 per contest.

 
CENTRAL PLAINS 19-4

Coach—Pat Stiles

Sub-state—Macksville, 58-30; Pretty Prairie, 48-46; St. John, 28-23

Quarterfinal—Doniphan West (18-5), 4 p.m. Wednesday

Players—Brynna Hammeke, sr., G (19.7 ppg, 3.2 assists, 4.3 steals); Marilyn Soeken, so., G (12.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Addy Ogle, jr., G (7 rpg); Kyla Metro, sr., G (7 ppg); Melissa Donecker, jr., C (5 rpg); Reese McGuire, sr., G.

Oilers have won state-record eight straight state championships from 2014-22 and were undefeated in 2020 when the state tournaments were canceled after the quarterfinals. … Oilers captured the 1A Division II championship last year with 50-38 win over Golden Plains, the second straight title at Division II. … Other titles came in Class 1A (2019) and Class 2A (2014-18) as Oilers put together state-record 138-game winning streak. … Oilers have won 25 straight state tournament games and 55 straight postseason games, both state records as well. … Central Plains won 11th straight Central Prairie League championship this season. … Two of four losses came to 3A state qualifier Phillipsburg and 2A qualifier Berean Academy. … Oilers knocked off defending 1A I state champion Pretty Prairie in sub-state semifinals and sub-state championship win over St. John was fourth of season over the Tigers.… McGuire was starter last year and missed big part of this season with injury.

 
DONIPHAN WEST 18-5 

Coach—Perry Smith

Sub-state—Seabury 74-23; Troy, 43-19; Centralia, 44-39 

Quarterfinal—Central Plains (19-4), 4 p.m. Wednesday 

Players—Kyra Johnson, sr., G/F (11 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 assists, 2.5 steals); Avery Weathersbee, sr., F (10.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg); Claire Cole, sr., G; Brennah Edie, so., G (8 ppg, 2.7 assists, 2.5 steals); Malaina Whetstine, jr., G (7 ppg)

Mustangs qualify for state for second time in three seasons, taking third in 2021 in 1A Division I. … Smith coached Wetmore to three state tournaments from 2012-16, taking fourth twice. … Program had nine combined state appearances when Midway-Denton and Highland with Midway-Denton capturing state title in 1990. … Four of five losses came to state qualifying teams – 2A Riverside, 1A 1 Frankfort and 1A 2 Hanover (twice). … Mustangs have two overtime losses to Hanover and Clifton-Clyde. … Mustangs finished runner-up in Twin Valley League Tournament. … All five starters have led team in scoring in at least three games. 

OLPE 16-7

Coach—Ron Slaymaker

Sub-state—Oswego, 68-12; Flinthills, 64-43; Madison, 50-46

Quarterfinal—Quinter (20-3), 6 p.m. Wednesday

Players—Kadey Robert, jr., G (13 ppg); Ava Clark, sr.; Makenna Broyles, sr.; Jenna Smith, sr.; Grace Coughlin, jr.; Milly Bailey, jr.; Lilly Skalsky, fr.

Slaymaker’s second as head coach after taking over for state’s all-time winningest coach Jesse Nelson. … Olpe qualified for state 32 times in Nelson’s 44 years and won four state championships. … Five of seven losses have come to state qualifiers – 1A II Lebo (three times), 3A Eureka and 2A St. Marys. … Eagles were Lyon County League regular season and tournament runners-up to Lebo. … Five players between 6 and 8 points per game. … Coughlin is leading rebounder at 7.5 per game. … Olpe handed league rival Madison three of its four losses this season. … Slaymaker led Chase County to two state tournaments and also took Roosevelt boys to state before becoming head coach at Emporia State.

QUINTER 19-3

Coach—Matt Havlas

Sub-state—Ness City, 53-39; St. Francis, 53-35

Quarterfinal—Olpe (16-7), 6 p.m. Wednesday

Players—Anna Briggs, sr., F (16.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 4.4 blocks); Bryn Gillespie, so., F (10.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg); Kennedy Werth, jr., G (7.7 ppg, 3.5 assists); Kelsey Selensky, jr., G; Cashlyn Kvasnicka, sr., G (8 ppg, 3 rpg); Saige Betz, jr., G; Caybrie Kvasnicka, jr., G.

Bulldogs making third state tournament appearance and captured the Class 1A Division II state championship in 2018. … Bulldogs were Northwest Kansas League champions and also won the Castle Rock Classic Tournament. … Two of three losses came to state qualifiers Sharon Springs-Wallace County (1A II) and Hoxie (2A). … Havlas posted 100th career victory. … Briggs hit 1,000-point milestone this season. … Seniors won two games during junior high careers. 

FRANKFORT 20-3

Coach—Brian Ebert

Sub-state—Blue Valley, 70-35; Clifton-Clyde, 53-45; Osborne, 50-31 

Quarterfinal—South Gray (17-6), 8 p.m. Wednesday

Players—Hattie Gros, jr., F (15 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2 assists, 2 steals); Emma Hardwick, jr., PG (7.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4 assists, 4 steals); Sydney Wapp, jr., F (10 ppg, 6.6 rpg); Breleigh Ebert, so., G (6 ppg, 4 rpg)

Frankfort returns to state for the first time since 2018 when Wildcats lost in quarterfinals to Twin Valley League rival and eventual champion Hanover in the 1A Division I tourney. … Trip is second under Ebert, who also guided Frankfort boys to four state appearances and 2012 state title. … Wildcats knocked off one-loss Osborne in sub-state finals, holding a team that had been averaging 60 points per game to just 31. … Wildcats suffered all three losses in a span of 12 days, two coming at the Twin Valley League Tournament. … Frankfort took second in league’s regular season with lone loss coming to 1A 2 qualifier Hanover

SOUTH GRAY 17-6

Coach—Mindy Stilwell

Sub-state—Satanta, 61-23; Spearville, 54-42; Hodgeman County, 51-47

Quarterfinal—Frankfort (20-3), 8 p.m.

Players—Vi Helm, jr., F (16 ppg, 6 rpg); Allie Reed, so., PG ( 8 ppg, 3 assists, 3 steals); Halli Meairs, sr., G (6 ppg); Kylie Stapleton, so., F (9 ppg, 5 rpg); Alleris Granados, sr.; Jacelyn Huelskamp, jr.; Reegan Meairs, so., Gwyn Jantz, so.

Rebels make first trip to state since 2019 and sixth overall in program history. … South Gray won Class 1A state titles in 2008 and 2010. … Rebels avenged two regular-season losses to Hodgeman County with 51-47 overtime win in sub-state finals despite having three starters foul out in regulation.