Young Trojans return experience

STAFFORD — The Stafford Trojan girls are blessed with five juniors and five sophomores for a young and improving basketball program.

The Trojan girls (3-17) defeated Centre 41-39, South Barber 47-36 during the regular season. In 1A postseason, Stafford avenged a 47-27 loss with a shocking 41-37 victory over Cunningham 41-37  before losing to Attica 59-20.

Two-year starters include 5-6 Emily Delgadillo, 5-7 Peyton Roush and 5-5 Emma Mathes.

"We had played Cunningham in January, but towards of the season, our girls knew that it was a winnable game," said Stafford coach Nick Minks.  "We showed up to play. It helped the girls build confidence."

With a solid junior and sophomore class, Minks is confident the Trojans will show progress.

"We should have a team with a stronger inside game, which should help our outside shooters," Minks said. "The Lady Trojans want to get out and run the floor in transition. Our goal is always to get 1% better each day."

The Trojans compete in the Heart of the Plains League.

STAFFORD GIRLS

JUNIORS—2—Emma Mathes, 5-5, G; 5—Emily Delgadillo, 5-6, F; 10—Peyton Roush, 5-7, G; 15—Deniz Karakash; 25—Telma Alvarez-Yuste

SOPHOMORES—0—Khloe McCloskey; 1—Kya Conant; 3—Ariana Delgadillo; 4—Rylee Feguson; 45—Bella Burns

NINTH-GRADERS—12—Makinley Sanders, 20—Paige Hacking, 23—Emeree Nobles, 30—Braxie Lopez, 55—Caity Pitcock

STAFFORD SCHEDULE—12-5—St. John; 12-8 to 12-12—at Fairfield Tournament; 12-16—Centre; 12-19—at Macksville; 1-6—Otis-Bison; 1-9—*at Argonia 1-13—*at Fairfield; 1-16—*at Central Christian; 1-19 to 1-24—at Pratt Tournament; 1-30—*Pretty Prairie; 2-3—*Skyline; 2-6—*at South Barber; 2-9—Minneola; 2-10—*at Norwich; 2-13—at Hartford; 2-17—*Cunningham; 2-19—at Sedgwick; 2-20—*at Attica; 2-23-27—at 1A regional

STAFFORD — The Stafford Trojan boys basketball team (7-14) must reload after losing to Ingalls 47-39 to end last season. 

Stafford coach Cole  Smith was Stanton County’s leading scorer and played junior college basketball at Colby.

Jake Simmons (11 ppg) and 6-5 Jacob Johnson (2 ppg) will mix and match with a boatload of new varsity basketball players.

"Jake Simmons and Jacob Johnson are our two biggest returners," Smith said. "Jake is a 3-year starter who will step up and show these younger guys the ropes. Jacob had an up-and-down sophomore season, but at 6-5 for a player who moves well, he's got a ton of potential. We’ll be a young team. We have nice players who are going to grow throughout the season."

The Trojans are similar to the 2020 team which eventually developed into a state tournament qualifier.

"In 2020, we had potential and talent in the junior and sophomore classes much like this team," Smith said. "They worked their tails off and gained confidence and experience and were successful. This group has a long ways to go to get to that point, but it’s definitely a situation I feel comfortable being in." 

The Trojans achieved school history by playing in their first state basketball tournament in 76 years in 2023. The Trojans’ prior state basketball appearance occurred in 1947.

STAFFORD ROSTER

SENIOR—3—Jake Simmons, 5-10, G, (11 ppg); 13—Ricardo Cecchin, 6-2, F 

JUNIORS—4—Gabriel Chapman, 5-6, SG; 5—James Engelbrecht, 5-11, SG; 22—Jacob Johnson, 6-5, F (2 ppg); 25—Joel Valadez, 5-10, G

SOPHOMORES—1—Jace Kreutzer, 5-5, PG; 2—Jobe Valadez, 5-8, G; 10—Brock Oleson, 5-10, SF; 15—Brody Downing, 5-10, G (2 ppg); 23—Landon Marks, 6-0, F; 55—Alex Gould, 5-9, F

NINTH-GRADERS—0—Nathan Trotta, 5-6, PG 

STAFFORD SCHEDULE—12-4—South Barber; 12-5—St. John; 12-8 to 12-12—at Fairfield Tournament; 12-16—Centre; 12-18—Skyline; 1-6—Otis-Bison; 1-8—at Pretty Prairie; 1-9—*at Argonia 1-13—*at Fairfield; 1-16—*at Central Christian; 1-29 to 1-24 at Pratt Tournament; 1-30—*Pretty Prairie; 2-3—*Skyline; 2-9—Minneola; 2-10—*at Norwich; 2-17—*Cunningham; 2-19—at Sedgwick; 2-20—*at Attica