State tournaments are underway with teams advancing to the semifinal round. See if your team’s season is still alive in the March 7 State Basketball Catch-All.
Boys
A state record met its match in an upset with both City League boys teams moving on, a defending champion went down, and an overtime game closed the night on the boys side of state basketball tournaments.
5A – Topeka Expocentre
The No. 7-seed Golden Eagles got a monstrous night out of Jordan Bieberle to knock out Goddard Eisenhower 62-55. Bieberle showed pin-point accuracy, burning up the nets for 37 points, tying Liberal’s Martin Lewis in 1991 and Matt Brumley of Ark City in 1994 for the most points scored in a 5A state tournament game. Carroll also got a big game out of Logan Bullinger who scored 15. Zach Bush ends his high school career with a 25-point game in the state tournament with Tiger teammate Trevon Evans scoring 16.
The other City League boys team in action also advanced in Topeka as the No. 4 seed Kapaun Mt. Carmel knocked out St. Thomas Aquinas 48-44. The Crusaders opened the game outscoring the Saints 20-10 before Aquinas came back in the next two quarters. But with a 12-point game from both Michael Martin and Braden Hullings, Kapaun had enough to advance. Aquinas had a pair of double-digit scores as well with John Ekedahl and William Markaway scoring 11 points each.
Carroll will meet Harmon in the semifinals on Friday after the No. 6-seed Hawks upset No. 3 Topeka Highland Park 52-46. Harmon was led by Branden Roark with 17 points while Michael Carson had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. Devonta Newton also reached double figures for Harmon with 10. Jahmal McMurray made a valiant effort for the Scots with 19 points and Shaffee Carr hitting 10.
Awaiting Kapaun in the early game on Friday is the top-seed Lansing after the Lions pounded Liberal 66-34. Izaiah Grice went for 19 Lansing points with Mike Miller adding 15 to the cause. Joe Schneider scored 11 for the Lions. Devondre Livingston and Kenlee West scored 10 points each for the Redskins.
3A – Hutchinson Sports Arena
Defending 3A champion Scott City is one game away from going back to the championship game after outlasting Beloit 72-63. Joey Meyer led the Beavers with 18 points with Drew Kite adding 13 points with 12 rebounds for a double-double. Austin Habiger chipped in 12 points and Trey O’Neil scored 10.
Scott City will face Rock Creek in Friday’s late semifinal game after the Mustangs upset Moundridge 49-41. Aaron Kuecker led Rock Creek with 11 points and Dillon Johnston added 10. The Wildcats ran into trouble when Trey Unrau suffered a knee injury early in the contest. Unrau didn’t stay out of the game long and gave it his all in a 15-point game, the last of his high school career.
Nemaha Valley moves on to the semifinals after a fast start propelled the Raiders to a 51-46 win over Conway Springs. Nemaha Valley outscored the Cardinals 15-2 in the first quarter on the way to a 30-15 lead at the half. Conway Springs fought back but the deficit was too much. Alex Hermesch led the Raiders with 17 points and Creighton Brinker added a 14-point 10-rebound double-double. Trent Olberding threw in 11 for Nemaha Valley. Brady Bodine led Conway Springs with 11 points and Joseph Gerber went for a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double.
The Raiders will face Central Heights after the Vikings took out Pittsburg Colgan 61-50. Sam Leach had the hot hand for Central Heights with a 21-point night and Jimmy Hoskins added 11. Dyson Dechant scored 13 points for Colgan with Samuel Gilbert and Christian Valdivia scoring 11 points each.
1A Div. I – White Auditorium, Emporia State University
Undefeated top-seed Ashland battled a Bishop Seabury surge to cling to a semifinal birth with a 51-50 win. Ashland had a big game out of Jay Luerman with 19 points and 11 rebounds and Giles Fox was a rebound away from a double-double of his own with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Chance Stebens added 11 points for the Blue Jays. Georgi Funtarov tallied 22 points for the Seahawks and Khadre Lane picked up 11 points.
Hoxie will get a crack at the top-seed after a big 68-59 win over South Gray. The Indians had a well-rounded effort on the floor with Jaxsen Moss leading the team with 21 points. Kade Spresser was close behind with 18 with Chase Kennedy adding 11 and Colton Spresser chipping in 10. Ronald Martens led the Rebels with 16 points with Carson Skidmore going for 11 and Garret Watkins adding 10.
Jordan Bieberle didn’t have the only 37-point night. Udall’s Michael Probst went for 37 as well in the Eagles’ 69-64 overtime win over Centralia. Cody Perez added 20 points for Udall, who came from behind to force the overtime where the Eagles picked up the win. Michael Glatczak had a big night for Centralia with 29 points. Samuel Steinlage added 14 and Hayden Cross had 10. While Bieberle’s 37 tied the 5A record for points in a state tournament game, Probst’s was not close to tying Alex Santiago’s 53 points in the 2010 state tournament for Burrton, the 1A record.
Although the Chargers lost in Santiago’s record-breaking game, Burrton advances to face Udall in this years’ tournament after a 55-49 win over Lakeside. Trae Lane led the Chargers in scoring with 21 points and got double-doubles out of Eric Jurado-Sulc and Taylor King. King finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds with Jurado-Sulc had 10 points and 10 points. Lakeside was led by Alex Renken’s 19 points.
1A Div. II – Gross Memorial Coliseum, Fort Hays State University
Top-seed Hope is on to the semifinals after a dominating 43-23 win over Wheatland-Grinnell. Dwight Davidson led the Lions with 14 points with Shilo Goracke and Nathan Lorson scoring 10 points each. Ty Kaiser scored 11 for the Thunderhawks and was one rebound shy of a double-double with 9 rebounds.
Hope will face Otis-Bison in the semifinals after the Cougars knocked out the defending state-champion Jackrabbits from Greeley County 63-51. Dylan Wissman and Trevor Keller took the game over for Otis-Bison with Dylan Wissman scoring 22 and Trevor Keller going for 20. Cesar Yanez led all scorers with 25 Jackrabbit points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. A.J. Govert had 12 points for Greeley County.
Fowler cruises into the semifinals after blowing out Cunningham 67-31. The Goldbugs finished with four players in double figures with Jett Reese’s 16 points leading the way. Joel Milford went for 14 points, Taylin Bird had 12, and Tem Shetley had 10 points to round out the top Fowler scorers. Garrett Beat led Cunningham with 13 points with Nick Huhman adding 10.
Frankfort waits for Fowler in the semifinals after the Wildcats took down the Lancers 74-60. Frankfort had a concentrated scoring effort with Jacob Broxterman leading the way with 22. Alex Surdez had 18 points for the Wildcats, Calahan Brown had 17, and Jonathan Keating put up 14. For the Lancers, Kyle Hammond had 21 points on the night with Cole Bowen and Jordan Morton scoring 10 points each.
Girls
Class 6A Tournament
The opening round of the girls’ 6A state tournament was filled with blowouts and routs. The average margin of victory was 24 points. Only four teams thrived on the stage.
The four- and five-seed game originally looked as if it would be a close game with a 16-14 start as Olathe South led Manhattan. But, the five-seed South outscored Manhattan 26-11 in the second and third quarters. The Lady Falcons went on to win 61-40. South’s Alexandra Hugo finished with a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead all players in both categories.
In the third match up of the day, top-seeded Wichita Heights absolutely destroyed Shawnee Mission South 62-28. After three quarters, the Lady Falcons were ahead 50-15. Heights’ Taylor Cyphers dropped 15 points to lead all players. She also grabbed six rebounds. Samantha Bendrick led SM South with 11 points.
Heights will face Olathe South in the semifinal game on Friday at 6:30 pm at Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State University.
Olathe Northwest used a huge 22-9 third quarter to take down Wichita South 62-41. South wasn’t completely out of this game at halftime as it trailed 27-18, but the third quarter is what did the Lady Titans in. Kelsey Brooks and Vashti Neal both scored 15 points in the win. Michaela Crall added 13 points. For South, Kirea Rogers and TiAsia Crigler scored 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Maize wasted no time in its domination of Shawnee Mission Northwest. The Lady Eagles led 13-4 after the first quarter and went on to win 51-31. It was the closest margin of victory for any team all day. Maize kept with the trend of the regular and post-seasons as Keiryn Swenson led all players on the floor with 16 points. She also pulled down five rebounds. Paige Lungwitz tacked on 12 points and seven rebounds in the opening game. Sarah Schmidt for Northwest led her team with 10 points.
Maize and Olathe Northwest will meet in the three o’clock game at Koch Arena on Friday.
Class 4A Tournament
McPherson and Girard set a significant record in their opening-round game. Holton remained perfect and Ottawa took care of business. Check out how below.
If McPherson didn’t outscore Girard in the first quarter 24-11, this one would have been much closer. However, McPherson used it’s first quarter as a launching pad in its 79-61 win. Girard has nothing to hang its head over, as it helped set a new record for most points scored in a 5A state tournament game. McPherson Katelyn Loecker led all players with a double-double with 32 points and 11 rebounds. Hayden Herlocker scored 31 points to lead her team in the loss.
Bonner Springs held a 23-19 lead going into halftime over the Lady Greenbacks of Pratt. It would prove to be all the Lady Braves needed as it advanced to the semifinals with a 51-44 win. Emily Wilson scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the double-double for Bonner Springs. Pratt’s Aubrey Hoover and Jenson Maydew both scored 13 points in the loss.
McPherson and Bonner Springs both hold records of 23-1 and will meet in the semifinal round at the Bicentennial Center in Salina Friday at three pm.
Defending state champion and top-seeded Holton put its perfect record on the line Wednesday against Chanute. Holton pummeled the Lady Blue Comets 69-27. Holton’s Jayna Smith scored 17 points in the win to lead all players. Chanute’s Morgan Olson notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Wellington’s Dani Anderson scored 33 points tonight for the Lady Crusaders, but it wouldn’t be enough to take down Ottawa. The Lady Cyclones ended Wellington’s season 71-56. Jordan Baldwin scored 26 points to lead her team in the win.
Ottawa and Holton will face off in the semifinal round Friday in Salina in the 6:30 pm game.
Class 2A Tournament
There was a little something for everyone in the opening round of the 2A state tournament. There were a few blowouts, a close game and another team that simply took care of business.
Top-seed Olpe didn’t mess around with Meade in Thursday’s opening round game. At halftime, the Lady Eagles led Meade 29-10. It cruised in the second half for the 59-29 stomping. Kendyl McDougald led all players with 15 points in the win. Elena Flott notched a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Meade’s Tarah Wiens scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead her team.
The Lady Oilers of Central Plains led 20-17 at halftime over Oakley. It would be all it needed as it went on to win 46-35. Central Plains is in its first year of existence. Katie Hipp led all players with 21 points in the win.
Olpe and Central Plains will meet in the semifinals at three in Manhattan at Bramlage Coliseum.
Jefferson County North destroyed Madison 81-29. Madison didn’t score in double figures in any quarter of the game. Both Jordan Kramer and Jacee Kramer scored 27 points in the win.
Republic Co. and Lebo were tied at 20 going into the break, but Republic Co. was able to drop just a few more than the Lady Wolves to come away with the 38-35 opening-round win. Republic Co.’s Devin Nutsch led all players with 13 points. She also pulled down six rebounds.
Jefferson Co. North and Republic Co. will meet Friday at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan in the semifinals at 6:30.
