2023-24 GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW
 

 
CLASS 6A
 
2022-23 State champion: Blue Valley North
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Washburn Rural
 
2022-23 Review: What a year it was for Blue Valley North coach Ann Fritz. The longtime Mustang coach began the season by picking up her 600^th career victory. Later in December, she was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. Fritz capped the memorable season with her fourth Class 6A state championship as the Mustangs edged Washburn Rural 35-34 in the championship game to cap a 21-4 campaign. North led for just 65 seconds in the game and rallied from an early 20-6 deficit, securing the win on a pair of free throws by senior Nyla Hale with 17 seconds left in the game. Rural had reached the title game despite losing standout guard Zoe Canfield to a knee injury in midseason but fell only seconds short of winning a second straight state title. Derby topped Blue Valley for third place after falling 50-42 to North in the semifinals, the Panthers finishing with a 22-3 record. Blue Valley had knocked off undefeated Shawnee Mission South in overtime in the quarterfinals before falling 51-39 to Rural in the semifinals. Lawrence and Olathe Northwest also were in the state field, giving the Sunflower League three state qualifiers.
 
2023-24 Contenders: After winning its first state championship since 2005, Blue Valley North is well positioned to do something it’s never done in program history, win back-to-back titles. The Mustangs only graduated two seniors off last year’s 21-4 squad and the bulk of last year’s key contributors were sophomores. Junior twin towers Jaliya Davis and Aubrey Shaw are as good of a post tandem as there is in the state, each averaging double-doubles a year ago. The biggest loss was defensive specialist Nyla Hale, who hit the game-winning free throws in last year’s title game. The Mustangs might take a loss or two in the ultra-tough Eastern Kansas League, but have all the pieces to give veteran coach Ann Fritz her fifth state championship and start the year No. 1 in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings. There was only one undefeated team going into the state tournament a year ago and it was Shawnee Mission South. Making their first state trip in 11 years, the Raiders’ bid for their first state championship since 1995 came to an abrupt end when Blue Valley pulled off a 41-34 overtime upset in the quarterfinals. The disappointing end to an otherwise stellar season should motivate a veteran South team this season. The Raiders return all but two players off last year’s state team, including all their top offensive players. Senior Camryn Smith is one of the top guards in the state and does a little bit of everything for the Raiders, while fellow senior Azailah Funches has been a strong complement, as does stretch six-footer Ashley VanElders. South starts No. 2 in the KBCA rankings. Preseason No. 3 Washburn Rural overcame the loss of standout guard Zoe Canfield to a knee injury at midseason to get back to the title game for the second straight year. The Junior Blues led all but just over a minute of last year’s title game before falling to Blue Valley North 35-34. Canfield, a Kansas signee, is back and healthy this season, but Rural must now overcome the loss of standout Brooklyn DeLeye, who carried the team after Canfield’s departure a year ago. Rural graduated only two others, including sharp-shooter MaRyah Lutz, and veteran coach Kevin Bordewick routinely fills his team’s holes well enough to keep Rural on the short list of contenders each season. The surprise team of last year’s state tourney was Wichita Southeast, which qualified for state for the first time since 1988 with a team consisting almost entirely of underclassmen with the Buffaloes having only one senior a year ago. For opponents of Southeast a year ago it was a matter of keeping up with the Joneses with now-seniors Jakhia Jones, Ma’Khiyah Jones and Leela Jones key starters with Ma’Khiyah leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Southeast won’t sneak up on anyone this year, but the Buffaloes are equipped to take everyone’s best shot. Olathe Northwest will miss a trio of role players off last year’s state team, but return a standout duo to lean on as the Ravens look to return to state. Senior Jillian Huckabey led the Ravens in scoring while classmate Skyler Pierce set school blocked shots records. Both are volleyball standouts headed to Division I programs, but more than hold their own on the basketball court as well. Blue Valley has arguably the top player in the state in senior guard Jadyn Wooten, who has led the team to a pair of top-four finishes the past two seasons. She’s on pace to go well over 1,500 points in her career this year, averaging 21 per game last season. She might have to carry even more of the load early this season as the Tigers lost six seniors to graduation, including four starters. Blue Valley starts the season ranked No. 8. Lawrence is right behind at No. 9 after being a state qualifier a year ago. The Lions lost four seniors, including Amaya Marshall, but return their top player in junior Brynnae Johnson, who averaged just over 12 points per game last year. A state semifinalist in 2022, Olathe North was denied a return trip to state last year, going 14-9 after having to replace a stellar senior class from the year before. The Eagles lost two of their top three scorers from last year, but return leading scorer Asia Lee, who averaged a team-high 12.1 points per game as a freshman last year. Wichita South was 15-7 last year, but very well could challenge Wichita Southeast and 5A runner-up Bishop Carroll for the top spot in the Greater Wichita Athletic League, and more. South returns a trio of double-figure scorers led by Zion Butler, who averaged 17.3 per game last year. The Titans are ranked No. 6 to start the season. Another GWAL team that could be on the rise is Wichita Heights, which had a somewhat down year last year, going 13-8, but traditionally has been a contender and welcomes back Kip Pulliam as head coach after Pulliam led the Falcons to four state titles from 2006-12. Liberal was 18-4 a year ago, falling in the sub-state finals to Wichita Southeast. The Redskins return their two leading scorers, including Western Athletic Conference player of the year Hailey Contreras.
 

 
CLASS 5A
 
2022-23 State champion: St. Thomas Aquinas
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Bishop Carroll
 
2022-23 Review: State tournaments and St. Thomas Aquinas seemingly go hand in hand with the Saints having made a state-record 29 straight trips to the final eight. Over the last decade most of those trips have ended with state championships. Aquinas won its seventh consecutive Class 5A state title last March, beating Bishop Carroll 62-56 – its closest title game victory since 39-38 win over Leavenworth in the 2016 title game that started the Saints’ title streak. Aquinas finished the season 22-3, as did Carroll, which also finished runner-up to the Saints in 2018. Aquinas’ toughest test at the state tourney came from Eastern Kansas League rival St. James Academy, 50-47, in the semifinals after the Thunder had knocked off No. 1 seed Seaman. The Thunder bounced back to finish third, beating Andover in the third-place game. Seaman had lost just once all season before falling to St. James in the quarterfinals. 
 
2023-24 Contenders: In capturing its seventh straight state championship last March, St. Thomas Aquinas is now one title away from tying the state’s all-time record for consecutive state championships. Central Plains won eight straight from 2014-22 before seeing that run end last year. The Saints certainly have the firepower to add their name next to the Oilers in the record books returning all but two players off last year’s title team. The graduation losses were big ones, Catherine Goodwin and Sydney Watts, but Aquinas has readily replaced stars from past title teams to keep their streak going. Sophomore Alex Crouse was the team’s leading scorer last year as a freshman and senior Kelsey Schenck also averaged in double figures while fellow senior Jamya McPherson was just shy of being a third. The Saints only lost once to a Kansas team last year and went undefeated in the ultra-tough Eastern Kansas League. Their top challenger in 5A a year ago arguably was St. James Academy, which nearly ended the Saints’ run in the semifinals last year before eventually falling 50-47. The Thunder have a huge hole to fill with the loss of standout guard Riley Bruggeman, who averaged 19.2 points per game last year. But she’s one of just two players who graduated, leaving more than enough for the Thunder to make another deep run. Junior Reese Meeser averaged 13.5 points per game and sophomore Regan Becker was nearly in double figures as well, both deadly shooters from 3-point range. Sandwiched in between Aquinas and St. James in the preseason rankings is No. 2 Andover, which finished fourth at state last year for first-year coach Hannah Alexander, who previously had Topeka High among the best in 6A. The Trojans have arguably the top player in 5A in senior Brooke Walker, who averaged 17.5 points per game last year. The Trojans return their entire state roster from a year ago and are still relatively young with just two other seniors along side Walker, including second-leading scorer Alana Shetlar. Andover’s district rival, Andover Central, is a perennial contender under veteran coach Stana Jefferson and will be hungry after getting bumped in the quarterfinals last year by Bishop Carroll. The Jaguars were third in 2022 and runner-up in 2021. Graduation claimed four seniors, including Maddi Amekporfor, but leading scorer Hayden Snodgrass is back along with two other starters. Seaman is coming off one of the best seasons in program history, going into the state tournament with just one loss. The Vikings were upset by St. James in the quarterfinals to end the bid for the program’s first state title since 1991. Seaman has been to state four of the last five years and returns leading scorers in sophomore Maddie Gragg and junior Anna Becker. Only two seniors graduated and the Vikings’ defense can be suffocating. Last year’s runner-up, Bishop Carroll starts right behind Seaman in the rankings at No. 5. The Golden Eagles lost only one player off last year’s state team to graduation, but it’s a big loss as departed Landon Forbes ran everything for the team from her point guard spot. She was the second-leading scorer to junior Leah Henke, who averaged 14.2 points per game last year and will take over as the team leader this season. Emporia also has a big hole to fill, but the Spartans’ void is inside where All-5A pick Rebecca Snyder is gone after averaging nearly a double-double for the Spartans the past few years. She was the lone starter returning a year ago and led the Spartans to an 18-4 record and back to the state tournament for the second straight year. This year, it will be on Emporia’s guards to make it three straight. Addie Kirmer was second on the team in scoring last year at 13.3 points per game. Highland Park feasted on its new Meadowlark League foes, going from 4-17 in 2021-22 to 19-4 last season. The Scots return everyone from a year ago, including double-double machine Amelia Ramsey, who averaged 20 points and 16.6 rebounds per game last year. Basehor-Linwood went 14-7 last year and handed Seaman its only regular-season loss. The Bobcats return standout post Harley Baker, who averaged a double-double last year with just under 12 points and rebounds per game. After going 16-6 a year ago, Maize South can’t really be considered a sleeper in 5A. But after losing standout Avery Lowe, the Mavericks had a big hole to fill. The addition of Ashley Singhateh, who led Eureka to the Class 3A state tournament last year while averaging better than 20 points per game, will certainly ease Lowe’s loss. Eisenhower was 14-7 last year and returns three starters, led by 6-foot-3 senior Carly Dameron, who averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. Bonner Springs was 17-5 last season but has a monstrous hole to fill after the graduation of Mariyah Noel. Spring Hill reached the sub-state finals and went 15-7. The Broncos lost Jenna Weber, but return Sydney Buscher. 
 
 

 
CLASS 4A
 
2022-23 State champion: Bishop Miege
 
2022-23 State runner-up: McPherson
 
2022-23 Review: One of the state’s best postseason rivalries was renewed when Bishop Miege and McPherson met up in the championship game. The Stags took a 67-53 victory in the title game for their fourth straight championship and eighth in the last nine years with that streak interrupted in 2018 when McPherson knocked off the Stags for its ninth state title overall. That total is nearly one-third of how many Miege has in its rich history with the Stags far and away the state leader in championships, now with 24 on their resume. The Stags once again dominated a loaded field, beating Wellington by 31 in the quarterfinals and Hugoton by 21 in the semifinals, those two teams combining for just six losses going into the state tourney with Wellington coming in 21-1. Miege finished the season 16-9 while McPherson finished 22-3. Hugoton took third, beating Andale. Parsons made its first state appearance in 30 years and Independence ended a 12-year drought.
 
2023-24 Contenders: Even without legendary coach Terry English patrolling the bench in person, Bishop Miege did what it typically does at state – claim a state championship. English passed away prior to the start of last season but playing in his memory, the Stags added the 24^th state championship to the program’s rich history. This year former Olathe South coach Mike Allen takes over the program and inherits a team that will be favored to make it five straight 4A titles. The Stags only graduated three seniors off last year’s title team and last year’s three leading scorers were all underclassmen – juniors Kirston Verhulst and Gracie McCallop and sophomore Mary Grant. Miege hasn’t had a game closer than 14 points at state the past two seasons. The only team to prevent Miege from entering this season on a state-record nine-year title streak, McPherson is coming off a runner-up finish a year ago. The Bullpups are a perennial contender for the title and have been at the state tournament 16 of the last 18 seasons. Replacing All-5A pick Jordan Sears will be a major challenge for veteran coach Chris Strathman and two other seniors are also gone. But plenty returns as senior Karter Alvord ranked second to Sears in scoring a year ago and leads a talented group of returners looking to play spoiler to the Stags once again. Wamego gave Miege its toughest game of the postseason a year ago, having the misfortune of drawing the Stags in sub-state play. The Red Raiders fell 56-48 in the sub-state title game, ending a 20-2 season. Wamego lost a strong senior class that’s been the core of the program’s recent run of success, which included a third-place state finish in 2022. Sophomore Alexis Hecht will lead the way after being a first-team All-North Central Kansas League pick last year as a freshman. Wellington has gone a combined 44-4 the past two seasons, but has only a fourth-place finish at state in 2022 to show for it with three of those losses coming at the state tourney. Each of the last two years, the Crusaders have run into Miege at state, falling in the quarterfinals last year after being the tourney’s No. 1 seed. Despite graduating three seniors, Wellington should once again be a dominant force throughout the season. Juniors Val Norwood and Britt Zeka were the team’s leading scorers last year as sophomores and enter their third year starting. Parsons enjoyed a breakthrough season a year ago, earning its first trip to the state tournament in 30 years. The Vikings fell in the first round to Andale, but the experience should be beneficial this year as they look to return to Salina again. Only one senior graduated and this year’s team will be senior-dominant led by Iniya Hinman and Sydney Schibi, who each averaged at least 15 points per game. Hinman averaged a double-double and is a force inside despite being just 5-foot-9. Fellow Southeast Kansas League rival Independence also ended a long state drought, qualifying for the first time since 2011 a year ago, going 18-5 overall, falling in the quarterfinals to Hugoton. The Bulldogs must replace first-team all-leaguer Abby Veile, but return a strong senior duo in Tionne Johnson and Camdyn Eytcheson to build around. Hugoton will have a much different look this season after the graduation of one of the best seniors classes in program history with the likes of Mikyn Hamlin, Summya Adigun and Gianna Vos. The Eagles will have a new coach as well with Emmanuel Adigun stepping down after leading the Eagles to a third-place finish last year. Andale finished fourth at state last year, going 20-5. Like Hugoton, the Indians will have a drastically different look this year after graduating eight seniors off last year’s state squad, including all five starters. But if the volleyball season showed anything, it’s that Andale can absorb such losses and stay in contention. Rock Creek fell in the sub-state finals to McPherson last year but starts this year ranked No. 6 in the KBCA poll. The Mustangs were 13-8 last year and should be hungry after being upset in volleyball sub-state this year after being the No. 1 seed. Louisburg got caught up in Parsons’ drought-ending run to state, falling to the Vikings in the sub-state finals to end a 15-7 season. The Wildcats graduated all five starters and have no seniors this season. Clearwater graduated standout guard Carli Carlson, but returns post Elizabeth Tjaden and has plenty of momentum after one of the best volleyball seasons in program history.
 

CLASS 3A
 
2022-23 State champion: Goodland
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Cheney
 
2022-23 Review: With six of the eight teams in the Class 3A state field 20-2 or better going into the tournament, Goodland’s bid to repeat as state champions looked like a daunting task. The Cowgirls were one of two undefeated teams in the field along with Phillipsburg, which Goodland had knocked out in the sub-state finals a year before. When the semifinals got down to four teams with a combined three losses, the challenge was there, as was a potential unbeaten showdown for the title. Cheney spoiled that matchup, upsetting Phillipsburg 58-49 in its semifinal while Goodland nearly suffered the same fate, escaping Silver Lake 54-51. But given a chance to post the first undefeated season in program history, Goodland left no doubt, rolling past Cheney 59-37 in the title game to finish 26-0. Cheney finished with a 23-3 mark while Phillipsburg topped Silver Lake 58-45 for third and finished 25-1. Silver Lake ended 23-3.
 
2023-24 Contenders: Is a three-peat in order for Goodland? Given that graduation claimed four seniors, three of them starters on the last two title teams including All-State Top 5 pick Talexa Weeter, the task seems daunting, especially with many of last year’s top contenders returning large portions of their squads. Two starters from last year’s 26-0 team return in Jaxi Mitchek and Hailey Biermann and Goodland was able to reload well enough during volleyball to get back to that state tournament in the fall. If the Cowgirls can do the same in basketball, the foundation has been laid to remain one of the top programs in 3A even with the Cowgirls starting No. 10 in the KBCA preseason rankings. That speaks more to the depth of 3A than Goodland’s potential. The state tournament was loaded a year ago with six teams going in with two losses or less. Phillipsburg joined Goodland unbeaten going into state, but fell in the semifinals to Cheney. The Panthers must replace the best player in school history, and one of the best in state history, in multi-time Top 5 selection Taryn Sides. She was one of six seniors on last year’s roster, leaving the Panthers in a rebuild mode this year. Cheney was runner-up to Goodland and lost four seniors, including 6-foot-3 standout Campbell Hague. Seniors Reagan Ayres and Elina Bartlett will lead the Cardinals this year. Silver Lake has finished in the top four the past two seasons under coach Kyle Porter, who lead Royal Valley to a 3A state title in 2019, with the Eagles placing fourth last year after a third-place finish in 2022. The Eagles are ranked No. 1 by the KBCA to start this season and for good reason. All but three players return from last year and the Eagles have a strong inside-outside combo in Makenzie McDaniel and McKinley Kruger, who are part of a large and experienced senior class. Hayden wasn’t at the 3A state tournament a year ago, but that’s because the Wildcats were in Salina playing in the 4A tourney. Hayden lost in the quarterfinals to eventual runner-up McPherson and return all but two players off that team that went 15-8 overall. Senior post Lauren Sandstrom leads a veteran team as a four-year starter. The Wildcats are No. 2 in the KBCA rankings, a spot ahead of another team that wasn’t at the 3A state tourney a year ago, Colby. The Eagles have high hopes after going 14-8 last year but falling to Cimarron in the sub-state finals. Junior Alisabeth Barton is a standout the Eagles will build around this season as one of four returning starters. Nemaha Central went 20-3 last year, but was upset in the sub-state finals by Riley County, which also took out No. 1 seed Atchison County on its way to a state berth. The Thunder graduated its top two scorers and rebounders off a sixth straight Big Seven League championship team, but return three juniors who were sophomore starters a year ago, including six-foot post presence Reagan Gerety. Riley County will be capable of repeating its state appearance from a year ago despite graduating second-leading scorer CJ Rignell. Junior Anna Lambert led the Falcons in scoring last year as a sophomore and keyed the Falcons’ regular-season win over Silver Lake, which was its only loss prior to state. Those two will be challenged in the Mid-East League by Rossville, which returns its top-three scorers from a year ago led by seniors Emma Mitchell and Kinsey Perine. Rossville was 16-7 last season and lost to Silver Lake in the sub-state finals. Another potential Mid-East League contender is St. Marys, which moves up to 3A this season after being a state qualifier in 2A last year. The Bears have a standout post in Hayden Heim, who averaged a double-double last year, and all five starters are back, three of whom backed Heim with scoring averages of 7.9 or higher. Hesston couldn’t get past Cheney in a loaded sub-state, falling in the finals to the Cardinals. Junior Kendal Brueggen is one of the top players in 3A and is one of two returning starters for the Swathers, who have won at least 15 games every year since 2008-09. Halstead was also stuck in the same sub-state as Cheney and Hesston, losing to Cheney in the semifinals. The Dragons have a standout in Dominique Schutte, who is one of six returners with starting experience. Atchison County was 20-2 a year ago, but graduated a senior trio (Addison Schletzbaum, Natalie Nitz and Aleah Wallisch) that were the core of the team for the past four seasons with Schletzbaum the program’s all-time leader in points and assists. Junior Kinzee Bauerle will take over as the go-to player this season after averaging 11.7 points per game last year. Santa Fe Trail finished 21-3 a year ago and has been at state the past two seasons. The Chargers have a strong duo in seniors Kaelee Washington and Braegan Buessing and only graduated two players off last year’s team with four of five starters back overall. Frontenac rounded out last year’s state contingent, going 17-7 overall. The Raiders have found their way to state for four straight years but will have to replace a strong senior group from a year ago, including leading scorer Hattie Pyle. Neodesha went 18-5 last year, losing to Eureka in the sub-state finals. The Bluestreaks are coming off a state volleyball berth and hope to carry that momentum over to the winter. Cherryvale was also 18-5 last year, upset by Frontenac in the sub-state finals. The Chargers return three starters led by seniors Jailee Reister and Bethany Umbarger. Southeast of Saline went 19-4, running into Phillipsburg in the sub-state finals. Three starters are back, all of whom averaged at least 7.3 points per game. Olathe Heritage Christian enjoyed one of its best seasons, going 15-5 before getting upset in the sub-state quarterfinals by Jefferson West. The Chargers return Kaw Valley Conference player of the year Caelyn Ferguson and two other starters, including first-team all-leaguer Anna Schenk.
 

CLASS 2A
 
2022-23 State champion: Berean Academy
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Riverside
 
2022-23 Review: Berean Academy’s loss to Sterling in the 2022 2A semifinals had a championship-game feel to it with the Warriors pushing the eventual champs to the brink before falling 42-35. Going back to the state tournament last March with just one loss, the Warriors weren’t going to be denied their first state title since 2008. Berean’s defense locked up Hoxie in the quarterfinals and Hillsboro in the semifinals, holding each to 26 points or less, but then saw Cinderella story Riverside start hot in the finals, getting out to a quick lead. But the Warriors’ defense rose up again and they pulled away for 48-31 victory to finish the season 25-1 – the best in program history. Riverside had pulled off a huge upset in the semifinals to earn its first-ever title game appearance, taking out undefeated St. Mary’s Colgan 45-42 in overtime. Despite falling short in the finals, Riverside finished a program-best 22-4. Colgan rebounded to take third, ending the season 24-1 while Hillsboro took fourth and finished 21-5. 
 
2023-24 Contenders: Much like Sterling coming into last season off a state championship, Berean Academy has graduated the bulk of its state championship squad, losing six seniors off its 25-1 squad from a year ago. The Warriors didn’t lose to a KSHSAA member a year ago and rode a stingy defense all the way to the program’s first state title since 2008. Defense may have to be Berean’s calling card again this year, at least early on, as the Warriors try to find players to fill the scoring void left by departed seniors Lillie Veer and Tayten Smith. Seniors Avery Wiebe and Flora Morgan were key contributors a year ago looking to step up this season. Riverside was a surprise finalist last season, upsetting undefeated St. Mary’s Colgan in the state semifinals to earn the first title-game appearance in program history. But the Cyclones were every bit the title contender they ended up being, beating three of the four teams they lost to a year ago in a 22-4 season with the lone exception the loss to Berean Academy in the championship game. The Cyclones return all but one player off last year’s state runner-up team and have one of the top players in 2A in six-footer Taylor Weishaar, who averaged a double-double last year and was a Top 15 selection. Guards Halle Studer and Niahla Duncan came up big at state as well. No team should be hungrier in 2A this year than Colgan, which has taken an undefeated record into the state tournament the past two seasons but hasn’t made the championship game either time. After getting upset in the quarterfinals in 2022, the Panthers lost in overtime to Riverside in the semifinals last year. If Weishaar isn’t the best returning player in 2A, Colgan senior Lily Brown might just be. She also averaged a double-double last year, coming in at 22 points and 11 rebounds per game. She’ll miss front-court mate Lauren Torrance, but almost everyone else is back from a team that didn’t have a win by less than 10 points until its state semifinal loss. Hillsboro can also boast a 2A player of the year candidate in senior Zaylee Werth, who led the Trojans to a fourth-place finish at state last year. She forms a strong 1-2 punch with fellow senior Savannah Shahan, each averaging 14 points per game last year. The Trojans only lost three seniors off last year’s team and several of the Trojans have helped the volleyball team to two straight 2A state titles. Wichita Independent may have been short on numbers a year ago with just nine players, but was long on talent in reaching state for just the second time in program history. The Panthers do lose two seniors, but the biggest loss was the transfer of leading scorer Samiyah Ellis to Wichita Heights. A transfer to Independent a year ago, Ellis, led the team with 22 points per game a year ago. Stephie Safi-Salumu is the top returner now and scored 15 points per game as the Panthers went 19-5 overall. Wichita County returns all but two players off last year’s 19-5 team that fell to Hillsboro in the state quarterfinals, just one of whom was in the regular rotation. The Ricke trio of senior Megan, junior Ashlyn and sophomore Breanne were the Indians’ three leading scorers last year as Wichita County ended a 22-year state drought. Hoxie returned to state for the first time since its run of dominance in the mid 2010s, knocking out perennial power Smith Center in the sub-state finals. The Indians ran into eventual champion Berean Academy in the quarterfinals last year, but could stick around longer this season with almost everyone back, including all five starters. Senior Josey Kennedy averaged better than 18 points per game last year and fellow senior Kinley Rogers also was in double figures. Smith Center will be a tough out again this year after losing in sub-state to Hoxie. The Redmen have a strong senior class led by Dakota Kattenberg, Camryn Hutchinson and Gracie Kirchhoff, who helped the Redmen to a third-place finish in 2022. Eureka drops down to 2A from 3A after going 21-3 and reaching the state tournament a year ago The Tornadoes might have come down as the team to beat in 2A this season after losing just two seniors off last year’s team. But Eureka’s prospects got a whole lot tougher when leading scorer and All-3A first-teamer Ashley Singhateh and younger sister Ali transferred to Maize South over the summer. That leaves sophomore Brenna Rucker as the lone returning starter for veteran coach Shelly Hoyt. Garden Plain was state runner-up in 2022, but was denied a return trip last year by Wichita Independent. The Owls have graduated everyone who played key roles on the 2022 team, but reloading is a common theme for the program and a tough schedule hardens them for the postseason. Remington was 17-6 last season and returns four starters, but the lone starter lost was a big one, point guard Kaleigh O’Brien, who earned All-2A honors. Younger sister Emily, a sophomore, will take over as team leader this year after averaging just under 10 points per game last season. After going 17-6 last year, Bennington returns two of its three All-Heart of America League picks including first-teamer Rori Miles. Mission Valley was knocked off in the sub-state finals by St. Marys, ending the season 18-5. The Vikings will be young this year with no seniors and just one junior. But a talented freshman class that went 16-0 as eighth-graders will help fill the voids. Valley Heights was in a rebuilding year after graduating a strong senior class from its 2022 state team. The Mustangs fell in the sub-state semifinals to Riverside and return just about everyone this season with four starters back, led by four-year starter Maggie Toerber. Jackson Heights was a sub-state finalist but graduated its 1-2 punch of Kanyon Olberding and Kaylee Thompson. Bluestem was 17-6 last year but will have a drastically different look after graduating a pair of 6-1 post players in Riece Witty and Taytum Lovesee. No Lion is taller than 5-8 this season.
 

 
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
 
2022-23 State champion: Doniphan West
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Quinter
 
2022-23 Review: It didn’t take long for the 1A Division I state tournament to get turned on its head as traditional powers Central Plains and Olpe – programs that had combined for 12 state championships overall – were both knocked off in the quarterfinals. The two teams responsible for those early exits rode the momentum of the big wins into the finals. Doniphan West, which beat Central Plains, ending the Oilers’ string of eight straight state titles with a convincing 60-40 win, handled Norwich 52-38 in the semifinals, while Quinter, which topped Olpe 57-47, fought off Frankfort 42-38 in its semifinal. Doniphan West finished off what it started, beating Quinter 55-49 for the first state title in program history, capping a 21-5 season for the Mustangs. Quinter finished 22-4, falling just short of its second state title in five seasons after winning the Division II title in 2018. Frankfort gave the Twin Valley League two of the top three teams at the tourney, beating Norwich 49-23 for third to end with a 22-4 mark, the same record as Norwich.
 
2023-24 Contenders: After winning the first state championship in program history, Doniphan West has enough pieces to stay on the short list of contenders again this season. Only three seniors graduated, but they were key losses – including leading scorers Kyra Johnson and Avery Weathersbee. Junior Brennah Edie and senior Malaina Whetstine become the team leaders this season as the Mustangs look to repeat. Their own Twin Valley League could very well provide at least three other top contenders. Frankfort was third at state last year, falling to Quinter in the semifinals with a team that ended 22-4 and had only one senior. The Wildcats return four players who averaged at least six points per game led by senior Hattie Gross (15 ppg). Frankfort beat Doniphan West in the regular season last year. The Wildcats are ranked No. 2 in the preseason KBCA poll with Clifton-Clyde right behind at No. 3. The Eagles were 18-5 last year, losing in the sub-state semifinals to Frankfort. Sisters Shea and Sevy Wurtz return as a dangerous 1-2 combo after leading the team in almost every statistical category last year. Centralia, meanwhile, has been a state fixture for years but missed out last year. The Panthers were state runner-up in 2022 to Pretty Prairie and return junior Oen Deters, who has been a force since her freshman season and is closing in on 1,000 career points. Centralia was just 14-10 last year and only return four players with varsity experience, so some early growth will need to occur. Quinter finished runner-up a year ago and finished 22-4. The Bulldogs will miss double-double machine Anna Briggs and third-leading scorer Cashlyn Kvasnicka, but return junior Bryn Gillespie and a deep senior class led by Kennedy Werth. Little River spent the bulk of last season looking like the team to beat, ranked No. 1 almost the whole way. But the Redskins were upset in the sub-state semifinals by St. John, 43-38, putting a sour end on a 19-2 season. Returning virtually its entire roster, Little River starts the season ranked No. 1 again and should be hungry to prove it belongs there at the end of the season as well. Alaina Eck and her fellow senior class have led the volleyball team to two straight state titles and want a basketball crown to go with it as well. Norwich finished fourth at state last year after taking second in 2021. The Eagles finished 22-4 last year and only lost two seniors. Leading scorers Kierstin Adams and Braylin Kelly are back after each put up double figures a year ago. South Gray had a banner fall with its volleyball team qualifying for state and cross country team winning a 1A state title. The Rebels have high expectations for the winter as well, returning all but two players off last year’s state-qualifying team. Senior Vi Helm and juniors Kylie Stapleton and Allie Reed were the top three scorers on last year’s team, giving the Rebels plenty of returning firepower. Traditional powers Central Plains and Olpe were surprise quarterfinal victims a year ago, but always have to be considered threats to win it all given their history. The Oilers lost standout Brynna Hammeke, but return junior Marilyn Soeken, who was second on the team in scoring a year ago. Olpe, meanwhile, lost three seniors as well, but return leading scorer Kadey Robert and leading rebounder Grace Coughlin. Canton-Galva rounded out the state field a year ago, ending a 37-year state drought with just its third winning season since 2006. The Eagles leaned heavily on their freshman class a year ago with six playing key roles and Trinity Espinoza leading the team in scoring. The Eagles will have to deal with expectations this season after playing an underdog role last year. St. John pulled the upset of the postseason in knocking off Little River, but the Tigers have been a perennial power so perhaps it shouldn’t have been a complete shock. Four starters are back and though senior Heidi Fisher is the lone senior on the roster, the Tigers only lost one senior from last year’s 15-8 team. Osborne went 19-3 last season, losing to Frankfort in the sub-state semifinals. The Bulldogs will be Lutter-less this year with standout Trinity Lutters graduating and coach Trina leaving as head coach to take over at Hoisington. After winning the 2022 state title, Pretty Prairie was stuck in the same sub-state with Little River, St. John and Central Plains and saw an 18-3 season end with a semifinal loss to Central Plains by two points. The Bulldogs graduated their top two scorers and will lean on Joley Harbaugh’s experience. Burlingame finished third at state in 2022 but was knocked out in the sub-state semifinals by Centralia last year, finishing 15-6. The Bearcats have a senior standout in Kaylin Noonan, who is capable of carrying the team back to state. In addition to Olpe and Burlingame, the Lyon County League also has Madison as a potential contender in 1A I. The Bulldogs were the top seed in their sub-state last year but lost in the finals to Olpe. Jaelynn Weakley had a breakout year last season and will be counted on even more after graduation claimed Yolaine Luthi. St. Francis went 18-4 last season, falling to Quinter in the sub-state finals. The Indians are coming off their best record in 41 years but must replace double-double producer Gracie Parsons. South Gray knocked out sub-state top seed Hodgeman County, which placed fourth in 2022 and went 18-4 last year. The Longhorns return just two starters but Morgan Ruff averaged 17.5 points per game last year.
 

 
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
 
2022-23 State champion: Hanover
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Lebo
 
2022-23 Review: After squaring off for the Division II volleyball state title each of the past two seasons, Hanover and Lebo seemed on a collision course for last year’s basketball championship as well, both entering the state tournament with perfect 23-0 marks. Sure enough, there was little the rest of the state field could do to prevent that from happening. Lebo won its first two state games by 44 and 15 points, while Hanover won its two games by 31 and 21 points. Having lost to Lebo in the volleyball title match in the fall, Hanover got a measure of revenge in a big way in the basketball title game, dominating from start to finish for a 59-34 rout. The title was the first since going back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 and capped a 26-0 season in which only two wins came by single digits. Lebo suffered its only loss of the season, finishing 25-1, and just short of its first state title since 2001. Bucklin matched its best-ever state showing, finishing third after beating Beloit-St. John’s 56-51 in the third-place game. The Red Aces finished 21-5 while Beloit-St. John’s finished 21-5.
 
2023-24 Contenders: Though both teams have some big holes to fill, with the way they dominated last year’s state tournament, Hanover and Lebo could very well continue their state championship game rivalry again this year. Hanover lost four seniors, including four-year starter Ceegan Atkins and six-footer Massey Holle, but the Wildcats have been a fixture at the state tournament during Chris Beikmann’s tenure, reloading for most of those tourney runs. Junior Anna Jueneman was the Wildcats’ leading scorer as a sophomore last year and senior Tessa Lohse was fourth on the team. Even with the loss of Holle, the Wildcats have good size. Hanover went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 and would love to repeat that. Lebo, meanwhile, would love to follow in the footsteps of its volleyball program, which lost in its first meeting with Hanover in a state final before winning the next two showdowns. The Wolves lost standout Brooklyn Jones, who barely led the team in scoring over returning senior Audrey Peek, each just over 17 points per game. Junior Saige Hadley wasn’t far behind at 15 points per game. The Wolves lost only two other seniors besides Jones, both role players, giving the reigning Lyon County League champions more than enough to follow up last year’s 25-1 campaign. Bucklin matched the best state finish in program history in taking third last year, finishing 21-5 overall. Replacing Halie Feikert will be a challenge after she averaged a double-double last year. But the Red Aces return a pair of double-figure scorers in senior Sydnie Jones and sophomore Emmerson Kirk and have a large sophomore class that contributed in big ways last year as freshmen. Coming off a fourth-place state finish last year, Beloit-St. John’s must replace five seniors, three of whom started. Junior Carlie Brummer was the team’s leading scorer last year as a sophomore, however, while senior Jenna Gengler was tied for second in scoring. She’s one of three Genglers on the roster and that foursome was a driving force behind the Blujays’ state volleyball appearance in the fall. Upsetting perennial power Golden Plains in the sub-state finals last year, Wallace County enjoyed its best season in over a decade, going 16-8. Sophomore Jersi Benisch led the team in scoring as a freshman last year and the Wildcats relied heavily on sophomores and freshmen a year ago with only two seniors and one junior on the roster. Junior Jaelyn Daily led the team in rebounding and was second in scoring a year ago. Keeping Jessa Losew healthy will be a key for Hutchinson Central Christian as it looks to get back to state for the third straight year, particularly with last year’s leading scorer, Kaylee Kauffman, having graduated. Losew missed time late in the season, but is a tremendous athlete who ended up second on the team in scoring. Junior Belle Barnett is the only other starter back. South Haven graduated three seniors off last year’s state team that went 19-5, two of them starters. The Cardinals were balanced offensively a year ago with all five starters averaging between 5 and 9 points per game, led by returning junior Aubrey Pond. Elyria Christian was 16-5 a year ago and lost leading scorer and rebounder Ryland Hawkinson and two other seniors, but are ranked No. 8 in the KBCA preseason poll. Attica was 16-5 last year as well, falling in the sub-state semifinals. The Bulldogs were state placers in 2022 and return the bulk of last year’s squad. Despite going just 8-14 in the tough SPIAA League last year, expectations are much higher for Ingalls this season with almost everyone returning. Seniors Brooke Bailey and Elly Jo Tancayo both averaged double figures and six-foot sophomore Olivia Stein grabbed nearly 13 rebounds per game and was .2 points away from averaging a double-double. Pawnee Heights rounded out last year’s state field with a sub-.500 mark and saw its best player, Olivia Hands, get hurt in sub-state play. The Tigers only had six players on last year’s team, but all return this year. St. Paul went 15-6, falling to Lebo in the sub-state finals. The Indians graduated a large senior class but always seem to put together a winning team. Golden Plains was denied a return trip to state by Wallace County, ending a 18-4 season. The Bulldogs return just two starters, but senior Jordyn Fleckenstein is one of two on the team who hope to continue the program’s run of success that’s seen it go 232-37 over the last 11 seasons and brings a 45-game home winning streak into this season. Northern Valley went 13-8 last year, but returns a trio of All-Western Kansas Liberty performers led by first-teamer Mary Baird.