Andover defeats Kapaun, wins first title in school history

EMPORIA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - The 5A state championship in Emporia featured an all Wichita metro battle. Saturday night as Kapaun and Andover squared off in White Auditorium. The Crusaders were chasing their first title in 11 years as Andover was chasing its first title ever. After a wild 32 minutes of play, it was the Trojans coming out on top 54-46, and are bringing a trophy back home.

“I feel like this is well overdue,” Andover senior BJ Redic said. “We had that year in 2020 with COVID. 2021 Bishop Carroll knocked us out. Last year [there was] injuries, it just wasn’t our year. It feels great now to have this.”

“This was always what I hoped for,” said Andover senior Eli Shetlar. “When I was a little kid I grew up with this program. My dad has been the coach around here, so it’s really an honor to be here and I have no no words to explain it.”

The first half was as tightly contested as anyone could ask for in a state championship game. Every time one team made a run, the other was just plays away from a run of their own. At the break it was Andover edging its opponent 22-21 with 20 of the Trojans points accounted for from BJ Redic and Blake Rucker.

Half two was more of the same as it went to the fourth quarter tied up. BJ Redic continued his hot day, getting up to 16 points on the night on only one missed field goal when he fouled out with 3 minutes to go.

Although the Trojans leading scorer wasn’t on the court, it didn’t deter Andover as they were able to continue on to a 20-12 run in the 4th quarter.

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