Tigers contend for top three finish
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
ST. JOHN — St. John graduated key players, but the return of sophomore 6-7 Emmett Delp (16 ppg) and second-team Central Prairie League Braxton Alpers (10 ppg) provides St. John basketball coach Danton Hilton two solid offensive options.
St. John (12-9, 5-4 CPL) improved by two wins last year. Meade downed the Tigers 60-39 in 1A postseason play.
First-team Central Prairie League Emmett Delp provides a reliable inside/outside scorer. The Tigers have practiced expecting box-and-1 defenses against Delp this season.
"Emmett's an elite shooter who shows ability to shoot over defenders off the catch/bounce," Hilton said. "He's worked hard in the weight room and developed into a physical basketball player."
Hilton commented on several other key Tigers.
"Braxton Alpers anchors our defense and will be a tough matchup for teams with his athleticism," Hilton said. "He’s a fierce competitor."
"Wyatt Mawhirter takes over point guard duties full time," he said. "He’s extremely quick and able to get to the rim whenever he wants to."
Sophomore Easton Alpers earned the nickname "Big E" after converting a pair of half-court heaves against La Crosse last season.
"I don't think we'll see anything like that again," Hilton said last year. "Easton enjoyed a huge off-season and continues to improve. I won't be surprised when he has some big scoring nights."
Jace Reyes, Julio Lozano, Juan Ibarra and Cody Newdigger all played meaningful varsity minutes last season, according to Hilton.
Hilton projects the Tigers to contend for a top three Central Prairie League finish. He pegs Central Plains and Victoria as top contenders with Otis-Bison being a threat.
"Our big stretch is playing Victoria in January after a homestand against Ellinwood and Little River," Hilton said "Otis-Bison should be on everyone’s radar. Coach Curtis Little 'coaches them up' every year."
The Tigers will hang their hat on their defense.
"We emphasize transition defense and rebounding," Hilton said. "Our goal is be tough to score on."
St. John's boys have captured six state basketball titles and the Tigers have qualified for the state tournament 13 times.
TIGER ROSTER
SENIORS—1—Jace Reyes, (5-5 ppg); 5—Juan Ibarra, 5-9, SG (2 ppg);14—Cody Newdigger, 5-11, SG (3 ppg); 22—Braxton Alpers, 6-1 (10 ppg); 24—Julio Lozano, 5-11, PF
JUNIORS—2—Garrett Dunn, 5-8; 33—Kaden Foote, 6-3, PF/C; 45—Ben Sheets, 6-2
SOPHOMORES—0—Easton Alpers, 5-11 (1 ppg); 3—Wyatt Mawhirter, 5-8 (4 ppg); 10—Emmett Delp, 6-7, SF/C (16 ppg); 15—Juan Lozano, 5-10; 20—Dylan Vieux, 6-1; 21—Sam Heller, 5-10; 25—D. J. Barney, 5-10, SG; 30—Colter Riegel, 6-1
NINTH-GRADERS—12—Jacob Rotert, 5-10; 13—Jostin Vicente, 5-5; 35—Robert Reiter, 6-0; 55—Ryer Ward, 5-5
ST. JOHN SCHEDULE—12-5—at Stafford; 12-9 to 12-13—at Larned Keady Classic; 12-19—at Kiowa County; 1-6—*at Kinsley; 1-9—*at Ness City; 1-10—Little River; 1-13—*Ellinwood; 1-15—*Victoria; 1-19 to 1-24—at St. John Midwinter Classic; 1-27—*La Crosse; 1-30—*at Otis-Bison; 2-3—*Chase; 2-7—*Central Plains; 2-9 to 2-13—Central Prairie at Kinsley; 2-20—*at Macksville
Tiger graduate coaching St. John girls
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
ST. JOHN — St. John first-year girls basketball coach Jorge Calleros played with Dean Wade on the 2014 and 2015 state basketball champions. He played college basketball at McPherson College.
"I want to continue our great basketball culture in St. John," Calleros said. "St. John basketball coach Clint Kinnamon taught me how to play basketball the right way, and I coach that way. At McPherson, I learned offensive sets, defensive strategies, and practice skills. Our girls have adjusted to a different head coach."
St. John's girls (17-6, 8-1 CPL) lost to 1A state basketball champion Centralia 50-27 after beating South Central 55-25 and Spearville 53-43 to qualify for the state tournament. The Tigers are riding a 2-year state tournament run for the first time since 2018.
Calleros provided 'scouting reports,' on key Tiger payers.
Reagan Bonner earned second team All-Central Prairie League honors.
"Reagan Bonner can shoots, handle the basketball, drive to the rim and guard the other team's best player," Calleros said. " She can be a playmaker. I'm excited to be part of her skill development."
Gentri Bright was an honorable mention All-CPL choice.
"Gentri Bright is a post player with great footwork, playmaking ability, with the ability to shoot the 3," Calleros said.
"Point guard Jalyn Fisher can handle the basketball. She's going to play aggressive as a scorer, playmaker, and as a lockdown defender.
"Post player Lilly Brummer is aggressive on the offensive glass and hunts for rebounds. She anchor our defense.
"Guard Karly Rockenbach makes the right basketball plays and is leading by example.
Our lack of height is a concern for this year. However, we are going to use it to our advantage. We will be faster on the court. Everyone on the team has the ability to shoot the outside shot and the ability to get to the rim.
Calleros wants to play a versatile style.
"We want to push the ball in transition, execute our offensive sets, and play multiple defenses," Calleros said. "We want to become a better basketball team each game and learn from mistakes. We'll have to play our best basketball to compete."
The Tigers want to be poised for their best basketball in postseason.
"My main goal is to get better each game," he said. "We want to play our best basketball by the end of the year and make it deep into the postseason."
St. John’s girls ended Central Plains’ 11-year championship run in the Central Prairie League in 2024. The Tigers stopped the Oilers’ 67-game Central Prairie League streak 45-38 in overtime after snapping a 29-game losing streak to Central Plains 43-23 earlier last season.
The Tigers own 13 state trips and the 2009 state championship. St. John girls basketball coach Danny Smith crafted a 286-117 record with the Tigers.
ST. JOHN TIGERS
SENIORS—5—Anna Montagner, 5-9; 11—Karly Rockenbach, 5-5; 15—Teresa Miller, 5-4, G; 33—Reagan Bonner, 5-5, F.
JUNIORS—2—Breanna Fischer, 5-1; 21—Lillian Brummer, 5-7; 23—Gentri Bright, 5-8
SOPHOMORE—12—Jaylin Fisher, 5-6
NINTH-GRADERS—3—Jaleigh Burgan, 5-4; 10—Lainey Peterson, 5-4; 52—MaKenzie Kraushaar, 5-5
ST. JOHN SCHEDULE—12-5—at Stafford; 12-9 to 12-13—at Larned Keady Classic; 12-19—at Kiowa County; 1-6—*at Kinsley; 1-9—*at Ness City; 1-10—Little River; 1-13—*Ellinwood; 1-15—*Victoria; 1-19 to 1-24—at St. John Midwinter Classic; 1-27—*La Crosse; 1-30—*at Otis-Bison; 2-3—*Chase; 2-7—*Central Plains; 2-9 to 2-13—Central Prairie at Kinsley; 2-20—*at Macksville
