By Jim Misunas
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

TOPEKA — The undersized Great Bend girls (7-2) will see a lot of height with a Capital City Classic filled with state-ranked teams. The basketball tournament will feature the best talent and athleticism the Panthers have seen.

Great Bend starts with Kansas City Sumner (3-4) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Washburn Rural High School. Two gyms will be used at Washburn Rural. 

Carley Brack (16 ppg) and Carly Dreiling have led the Panthers. Camryn Dunekack led the Panthers past Buhler with a season best game.
Sumner lost 76-46 to No. 2 Class 4A SM Miege 76-46 and two games to Kansas City, Mo. schools — Center 47-42 and Pembroke Hill 54-48. The Sabres edged Kansas City Schlagle 78-77 in overtime.
“Sumner is a bigger team and they are really physical,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “We will see some different styles.”
The vertically-challenged Panthers prefer a fast pace and stress accurate perimeter shooting. Great Bend switches defenses and has played effective pressure defense.
Defending Class 5A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas (7-1) is ranked third in 5A and last year’s runner-up Leavenworth (9-1) is ranked second in 5A. No. 8 ranked Class 6A Washburn Rural has won six straight games while staying undefeated in Centennial League play.
“We will see some great basketball teams,” said Minton. “Aquinas and Leavenworth are ranked in the top three. Washburn Rural is a great program. They face tough competition every week.”
Aquinas features four 6-foot girls. Leavenworth features plnnty of speed and pressure defense with 5-9 and 5-10 guards.
Washburn Rural’s Carly Bachelor averages 23 ppg. Lydia Ostenson averages 17 ppg for Shawnee Heights. Washburn Rural has swept Topeka West 60-25 and 55-28.

CAPITAL CLASSIC
WASHBURN RURAL HIGH SCHOOL
THURSDAY’S GAMES
6 p.m.—St. Thomas Aquinas 7-1 vs. SM East 2-6
7:30 p.m.—Washburn Rural 7-2 vs. Topeka West 4-5
6 p.m.—Great Bend 7-2 vs. KC Sumner 3-4
7:30 p.m.—Leavenworth 9-1 vs. Shawnee Heights 3-6