Maize South High School achieved its first winning record in girls basketball last year and advanced further in the postseason than ever before. The Mavericks hope to build on that success this season.
Mike Domnick is starting his fourth year as Maize South basketball coach. He has led the Mavericks since the school’s inception. His overall record is 20-44, but the girls have shown improvement each year and even landed a player on the all-state team last season.
“We want to compete every night and try to get better as the season progresses,” said Domnick. “We are awfully young – one senior and only one other player with significant varsity time – so improvement and fighting through adversity is the goal of this coaching staff.”
Maize South’s top returning players are senior McKenna Poynter and junior Mariah Suchan. Suchan received honorable mention on the Class 4A all-state team as a sophomore.
Other key players for the Mavericks include juniors Karli Kubik, Maddie Nestor, Grace Aitken and Taylor Mannis and sophomores Alexa Brockel, Laine Evans and Austyn Nestor.
Maize South advanced to Class 4A sub-state semifinals last year and fell to Hesston 57-50. The Mavericks finished their season 13-9 overall.
This year will bring two significant changes, including Maize South competing in Class 5A. The Mavericks have also moved from the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League’s Division IV to Division II.
Suchan and Poynter appeared on the all-league first team last season. Maize South’s Shelby Lewis and Jessica Domnick received honorable mention, but they have graduated.
Maize South will open its season Friday, Nov. 30, at Andover. The Mavericks’ home debut will be Friday, Dec. 7, when Goddard will visit.
After placing fifth at last year’s midseason tournament in Mulvane, Domnick’s squad will compete in January at the Pratt tournament. Pratt qualified for the Class 4A state tournament last year and concluded its season 19-4.
