2023-24 BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW
 

 
CLASS 6A
 
2022-23 State champion: Blue Valley Northwest
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Wichita Heights
 
2022-23 Review: For all the success Blue Valley Northwest had had over the last decade-plus, winning five state titles between 2013 and 2019, the Huskies hadn’t been able to do one thing: beat Wichita Heights in a state championship game. The Falcons denied Northwest state titles three straight times in 2010, 2011 and 2012 as Perry Ellis wrapped up his illustrious high school career. When they met again in the 2022 finals, Heights came out on top again, taking a 61-54 victory. Northwest finally got the breakthrough it had been seeking for more than a decade last March. Led by All-State Top 5 senior Grant Stubblefield, the Huskies got their redemption with a 55-50 victory over Heights to capture the program’s sixth state championship. Stubblefield scored 22 points in the title game as Northwest built an 18-point lead in the third quarter before holding off a late Falcon charge. Northwest finished with a 21-4 record, while Heights finished 22-3. Northwest barely survived Eastern Kansas League arch rival Blue Valley North in the semifinals, pulling out a 53-51 win. North finished fourth, losing 67-66 in overtime to Derby in the third-place game as the Panthers ended the season 18-7 and North finished 20-5.
 
2023-24 Contenders: For the better part of the past 15 years, Class 6A has been dominated by two programs – Wichita Heights and Blue Valley Northwest. From 2009-23, they’ve captured a combined 11 state titles with Northwest pulling ahead in the recent arms race with last year’s sixth crown, beating Heights in the finals for the first time in five tries. So it shouldn’t be a shock those two programs are favored to meet for a third straight year in this year’s championship game, opening the season ranked No. 1 and 2 in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings. Heights earns the No. 1 nod in the rankings, and rightfully so as the Falcons return arguably the state’s top overall player in senior TJ Williams. An All-State Top 5 pick a year ago after averaging 16.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, Williams has signed with Wichita State and is capable of carrying the Falcons to another crown, which would be the program’s eighth overall. He’s got plenty of help in returning junior Amalachi Wilkins, who averaged just over 10 points and 6 rebounds per game last year. The Falcons did lose seven seniors off last year’s state runner-up team, including point guard Marcus Zeigler, but veteran coach Joe Auer is one of the state’s best. Northwest also suffered big graduation losses with the departure of six seniors off its title team, including Top 5 selection Grant Stubblefield. But the Huskies have arguably more overall experience returning than Heights, led by senior post Joey Matteoni, who averaged a double-double last year, and senior guard Jake Fritz. The Huskies didn’t lose to a Kansas team last year in a 21-4 season. Blue Valley North came the closest to handing Northwest a loss to an in-state program, falling by two in the state semifinals and by one in the regular season. The Mustangs graduated eight seniors off last year’s 20-5 team with senior combo guard Jaron Lashley the top returner after averaging just over 10 points per game last year. Derby edged North in OT for third a year ago after getting to state with a four-overtime win over Washburn Rural on Jack Ulwelling’s 3-pointer at the buzzer. He's back this year, as are seniors Dallas Metzger and Kaden Franklin, who each averaged double figures and will help ease the loss of leading scorer and All-6A pick Kaeson Fisher-Brown. The Panthers are No. 4 to start the season, a spot behind Shawnee Mission Northwest, which qualified last year but fell in the quarterfinals to Blue Valley Northwest. The Cougars only lost three players off last year’s state team and only one of them, Malik O’atis, was a starter. Junior Keaton Wagler was the team’s leading scorer last year as a sophomore at 12 points per game and fellow junior Van Collins was right behind at 11.6. contest. The Cougars have plenty of competition in the Sunflower League with five teams in the league ranked in the top 10. Olathe North has been a state-tourney team the past two seasons, losing in the quarterfinals each time. The Eagles return a pair of double-figure scorers in Jaalan Watson and TJ Porter. North is ranked No. 6, right behind Mill Valley which went 15-6 last year, getting upset in the sub-state semifinals in double-overtime by Blue Valley West. The Jaguars have one of the top juniors in the state in Carter Kaifes, a third-team All-6A pick last year as a sophomore after averaging 16.9 points per game. He’s one of three returning starters for the Jaguars, who will start two sophomores. Lawrence’s Zaxton King very well could rival Heights’ Williams as the state’s top player after averaging 24.4 points per game last season on his way to first-team All-6A honors. Lawrence has a new head coach after Mike Lewis resigned and if the Lions can find a running mate or two for King, they’ll have the firepower to compete with anybody. Olathe West is the other ranked Sunflower team and seemed headed to a state berth last year, going into sub-state play 16-4. But the Owls fell to SM Northwest in the sub-state finals and now must replace leading scorer and All-6A pick Harrison Kisling. Jackson Collins takes over as the go-to player for West this year after averaging 11.5 points per game last year. Washburn Rural was gutted by its 4 OT loss to Derby last year in the sub-state finals and enters this season without leading scorer Jack Bachelor, now at Washburn. The Junior Blues don’t have a player returning that averaged more than 6.2 points per game so they’ll have an entirely new identity this season for second-year coach Alex Hutchins. Centennial League rivals Junction City and Manhattan both were state qualifiers last year despite each losing at least eight games during the season. Junction City graduated the bulk of its state roster and saw leading returner Michael Boganowski opt not to play this season as one of the state’s top football recruits, an Oklahoma commit. Manhattan lost four key seniors but has a big senior class this season as it looks to make it three straight trips to state. Garden City was 20-2 last season, upset by Junction City in the sub-state finals. The Buffaloes must replace Western Athletic Conference player of the year Jace Steinmetz. Wichita Northwest will look to give Heights a run for it in the Greater Wichita Athletic League, going 13-9 last year and returning top player Tasean Williams, who averaged 19.1 points per game.
 

 
CLASS 5A
 
2022-23 State champion: Andover
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Kapaun Mt. Carmel
 
2022-23 Review: Two years ago, Andover saw its bid for an undefeated state championship season ended by COVID, which canceled the 2020 state tournament after the completion of the quarterfinals with the Trojans sitting 23-0. Last year, Andover’s wait for that elusive title came to an end – but only after a miraculous semifinal win. Trailing undefeated Highland Park in the final minute, Andover got aggressively defensively when the Scots went into a stall game, first tying the game on a steal and dunk by BJ Redic and taking a 55-54 win after another steal and a game-winning free throw by Redic. Andover rode the momentum of the thrilling semifinal win to fight past Kapaun Mt. Carmel 54-46 to secure the first state championship in program history. Andover finished the season 23-2, the same record as Kapaun, which had only lost to 6A runner-up Wichita Heights during the season. Highland Park bounced back from its stunning semifinal loss to throttle Hutchinson for third and finish the season with a 25-1 mark.
 
2023-24 Contenders: After winning its first state title last season, Andover will have to reload in a big way to go back-to-back. The Trjoans graduated six seniors off last year’s title team, including four starters led by All-5A first-teamer Eli Shetlar, state hero BJ Redic and second-leading scorer Chris Harris. The lone returning starter is junior Josh Kim, who ran the point for the Trojans last year. The Trojans are ranked just fourth in 5A by the KBCA to start the year with fellow Ark Valley Chisholm Trail foe Maize South holding down the No. 1 position. The Mavericks fell 49-46 to Andover in the state quarterfinals last year, ending the season 19-4. South will have to replace standout point guard Isaiah Atwater and four other seniors off last year’s state team but return its two leading scorers in seniors Michael Kates and Tory Homan and starter Jeron Askren. Runner-up a year ago, Kapaun Mt. Carmel starts No. 2 this year and will have a much different look with 6-foot-6 center Will Anciaux no longer patrolling the paint. He's one of five graduation losses for the Crusaders, but three starters to return. Senior Will Thengvall and junior Corbin Johnson each averaged double figures a year ago to back Anciaux. Kapaun has gone 44-4 the past two seasons and should be hungry to deliver veteran coach Steve Eck yet another state title to his resume, which includes multiple crowns while coach at Wichita South. Highland Park also will have a vastly different look in terms of personnel after losing six seniors off last year’s team that seemed poised to deliver an eighth state title for the program before getting upset in the semifinals after a late collapse against Andover. The biggest loss was Top 5 pick Ketraleus Aldridge, who averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game. Junior Jacorey Robinson takes over as the Scots’ star this season after missing part of last year, but averaging double figures once he returned. The development of new faces around him will be key if the Scots are to approach last year’s 25-1 season. After playing for the state title in 2022, De Soto was upset in the sub-state finals by Blue Valley Southwest last year, ending the season with a 19-3 record. The Wildcats have one of the top players in 5A and the state in senior David Cobin, who led them in every statistical category a year ago on his way to being named the United Kansas Conference player of the year. He’s one of two returning starters along with double-figure scorer Jayden Lang as the Wildcats start the season ranked No. 5. The team that beat De Soto for the title in 2022 – Seaman – is right behind at No. 6. The Vikings also failed to make it back to state, losing in the sub-state semifinals to St. James Academy to finish the season 13-8. Seaman graduated leading scorers Kaeden Bonner and Aron Davis, but Bonner’s younger brother, KaVeon, showed flashes as a freshman of being able to score in bunches. After knocking off De Soto, Blue Valley Southwest fell in the state quarterfinals to Kapuan. The Timberwolves have qualified for state three of the past four years and have multiple players who led the football team to its best season in program history this fall, just missing out on reaching the state championship game. Senior Jackson Bonczynski set the school record for steals last year and tied for second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game. After a rare absence from the state tournament, Bishop Carroll is looking to rebound from a rare losing season as well, going just 10-11 last year. The Golden Eagles return a standout in Mikey Brand, who averaged just under 17 points per game last year, as well as double-figure scorer John Hauserman. Hutchinson finished fourth at state last year, posting a 22-3 record. The Salthawks lost five seniors, including All-5A pick and leading scorer Garrett Robertson and three other starters. Junior Terrell King is the lone returning starter and averaged 10 points per game last year. Pittsburg has one of the most electric scorers in the state in senior Mason English, who led the Purple Dragons to the state tournament – their fifth trip in the past seven years. English averaged 29.2 points per game last year and with the loss of three seniors starters could be counted on even more this year early on as the new complementary pieces work in. Topeka Westlost to Hutchinson in the sub-state finals and went 14-8 last year. The Chargers took a big hit from graduation and will lean heavily on a cast of new faces this season. Basehor-Linwood was the party crasher at the 5A state tournament last year, knocking off Piper and KC Sumner to reach state with a 9-13 mark. The Bobcats will have to replace standout Tyson Ruud and three other seniors but have a strong junior class led by Peyton Brown and Breckin McBride, son of coach Mike McBride. Piper finished 16-5 after getting upset by Basehor in the sub-state semifinals, but could be a factor this year behind returning senior Devin Kerr and sophomore DJ Jackson. Great Bend and Hays each boast standouts that could get them through the western bracket. Jack Weimer led Hays to a 13-8 mark, averaging 12.2 points per game, while sophomore Ian Premer led Great Bend to an 11-10 record and averaged 12.7 points per game – both first-team All-WAC picks. Shawnee Heights went 15-7 last year and returns Brennan Dodge, who battled injuries a year ago.
 

  
CLASS 4A
 
2022-23 State champion: Hugoton
 
2022-23 State runner-up: McPherson
 
2022-23 Review: Outside of McPherson, Class 4A state titles have been hard to come by for teams west of I-135 with TMP-Marian’s crown in 2007 the last champion in western Kansas to claim the crown going into the 2022-23 season. Hugoton changed that narrative last year, however. Moving up from Class 3A with a senior-heavy team that lost to eventual 3A champion Hesston in the 2022 state quarterfinals, the Eagles made history in capturing their first-ever state basketball championship. After opening state play with double-digit wins over Clay Center and Eudora, Hugoton toppled perennial power McPherson 67-58 in the championship game, denying the Bullpups their 14^th state championship. Led by head coach Trey O’Neil, who won a state title as a player for Scott City, Hugoton finished the season 23-2. McPherson ended Bishop Miege’s bid for a 4A three-peat with a 60-54 win over the Stags in the semifinals before falling in the finals to finish the season 21-4. Miege topped Eudora for third and finished 18-7 while Eudora finished 19-6.
 
2023-24 Contenders: After claiming the program’s first state championship last year, Hugoton will stay in Class 4A this season to go after a repeat. To get it done, the Eagles will have to find a way to replace the dynamic duo of Carson Bennett and Ryle Riddlesperger, both of whom were first-team All-Class 4A selections after each averaged better than 16.8 points per game. Fortunately for Hugoton, those were the only two losses to graduation and as big as the holes are, there’s enough experience back for the Eagles to make another run. Dasean Lewis will move from a complementary role to a starring role this year. Runner-up a year ago, McPherson starts in the No. 2 spot in the KBCA rankings behind Hugoton. The Bullpups return all but one player off last year’s team, giving veteran coach Kurt Kinnamon one of his most veteran teams to start the season. Senior Kyden Thompson was the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail III player of the year last season and fellow senior Cory Muehler joined him on the all-league first team, each averaging at least 11.6 points per game. After seeing its two-year reign over 4A come to an end last year, Bishop Miege comes into this season without veteran coach Rick Zych on the bench after he retired following last season. The Stags will have a vastly different look on the court as well as seven seniors graduated off last year’s team, including first-team All-4A pick Aidan Wing. Miege has won five of the last eight 4A crowns, but will have to reload to add another ring to the collection – which the Stags typically do. Miege knocked off 19-win Atchison in the quarterfinals last season, but the Phoenix are in a completely opposite position as the Stags this year, returning the bulk of last year’s 19-4 team that suffered two of its four losses to 5A Highland Park, which went undefeated in the regular season. The Phoenix will miss guard Jesse Greenly, but Xiomar Hernandez returns after leading them in scoring last year at 17.2 points per game. Jeter Purdy and Trey Carter were right around 10 points per game as well. Eudora has been a consistent contender in 4A and finished fourth last year despite not having Jaden Hamm, who opted to graduate early last year to get a head start on his college football career. The Cardinals still fashioned a 19-6 record overall and return leading scorer Logan Sullivan, who averaged 19 points per game last year. A pair of Eudora’s Frontier League rivals figure to challenge as well with Baldwin coming off a state berth and 18-5 season last year and Ottawa returning the bulk of its team. Baldwin lost to Eudora in last year’s quarterfinals and lost two starters, including All-4A first-teamer and leading scorer Caleb Carr. But younger brother Cooper, a sophomore, is back after starting as a freshman last year. Ottawa was a game under .500 with a young team a year ago, starting two sophomores and a freshman. Twins Carter and Caleb Hepner combined for 20 points per game last year as sophomores, while sophomore Aidan McCullough, averaged 10 points per game as a freshman starter for his father, Clifton. Clay Center qualified for state a year ago with a 9-13 mark, upsetting Augusta and Pratt in sub-state play. The Tigers graduated only three seniors, most notably second-leading scorer Mark Hoffman, but return junior Cole Pladson, who led the team in scoring as a sophomore with 14 points per game. Clay Center leaned heavily on its sophomore class a year ago. Wellington was 15-8 last year, returning to state for the first time after upsetting Circle in the sub-state finals. Both will be in the hunt again as Wellington returns junior Carter Burnett as its lone starter back, averaging just under 10 points per game last year. Circle was 18-3 before falling to Wellington in the sub-state finals. The T-Birds must replace leading scorer Trevor Cowman. Fort Scott earned the No. 10 nod from the KBCA in the preseason rankings despite going 9-12 last year. A potential pair of contenders from southeast Kansas are Parsons, which was 11-10 last year, but returns a strong trio in Landon Wheat, JJ Kendrick and Jahmarion Washington, and Chanute, which went 14-7 and returns standout Kaiden Seamster. Rock Creek was 13-9 last year and returns junior Coley Burgess and senior Daegan Vinduska.
 

 
CLASS 3A
 
2022-23 State champion: Hesston
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Marysville
 
2022-23 Review: While Hesston experienced a changing of the guard within the program, the Swathers made sure there wasn’t one when it came to which program ruled Class 3A. Greg Raleigh retired as Hesston’s head coach following the Swathers’ repeat state championship in 2022, turning the program over to Garrett Roth, who won a state title with the Swathers in 2014. The roster Roth inherited was almost entirely new as well after the graduation of one of the best senior classes in program history. Yet, the transition was a smooth one overall as Hesston bounced back from a season-opening loss to Southeast of Saline to win 25 straight games, including a 53-51 win over Southeast of Saline in the state semifinals on Micah Dahlsten’s layup with five seconds left. Hesston finished the job in the finals, taking a 50-44 win over Marysville for the program’s third straight championship. Hesston finished 25-1 while Marysville posted a 223-3 mark, taking out Wichita Collegiate in the state quarterfinals and beating unbeaten Galena in the semifinals. Southeast of Saline edged Galena for third to finish the season 24-2, the same mark at Galena.
 
2023-24 Contenders: Hesston’s three-peat last year was the first in Class 3A since Scott City won three straight from 2011-2013. The Beavers weren’t able to go after a fourth straight 3A title, moving up to 4A Division II in 2014, leaving 3A open for – yep, Hesston – to assume the throne. Staying put in 3A this season, Hesston will have a shot at four straight, something that’s never been accomplished at the 3A level. Once again, the Swathers will have to replace a stellar senior class led by All-State Top 5 selection Jake Proctor. Only two starters are back – seniors Adrian Hernandez and Jackson Fry – who combined for 11.5 points per game last year. The good news for Hesston is that most of last year’s top contenders – especially the other three state semifinalists – are in similar positions of having to replace most, if not all, of their starters. Runner-up Marysville had a whopping 10 seniors on last year’s state runner-up team that went 23-3. The lone returning members from the state team are senior Blake Spicer and junior Will Otott with Otott a starter as a sophomore last year, averaging just over 8 points per game. Southeast of Saline, which handed Hesston its only loss a year ago, graduated seven seniors and all five starters, including first-team All-3A pick Eli Sawyers and third-teamer Nakari Morrical-Palmer. The Trojans return a solid nucleus of role players who filled the voids during football, led by senior Daniel Kejr. Undefeated coming into last year’s state tournament, Galena was “S Strong” last year – all seniors and sophomores. The Bulldogs graduated six seniors led by All-3A first-teamer Tyler Little, and must replace all five starters. But the state roster had six sophomores on it who will look to step up and keep Galena in the hunt. The Bulldogs were fourth last year, state runners-up in 2022 and have made four straight state tournament appearances. The team perhaps best positioned for a run at Hesston’s crown this year is Wichita Collegiate, which starts the season No. 1 in the KBCA poll after going 20-4 last year, falling to Marysville in the quarterfinals. But getting healthy will be vital for the Spartans’ chances, even as deep as Mitch Fiegel’s teams usually are. Sophomores Jaden Parker and Sebastian Hines-Turner were difference-makers last year as freshmen for Collegiate, leading the team in scoring. Both, however, will miss a chunk of the season recovering from injuries suffered during football. Collegiate’s depth will have to carry them until the dynamic duo comes back, but if they get back to full strength, the Spartans will be a dangerous team in the postseason. Wellsville also has more than enough back to make a run at the title after going 18-6 a year ago. The Eagles only lost three seniors to graduation and return their top-two scores in seniors Willie Dorsey and Dez Winton. Both are coming off huge football seasons and stayed healthy so the Eagles can hit the ground running, needing to replace just two starters. The Eagles have three seniors 6-foot-4 or taller to complement their standout guards. Perry-Lecompton and Colby both were state qualifiers last year, but follow the trend of having to fill key voids. Perry lost six seniors, including leading scorers Kamryn Kaniper and Gunnar Ball. Junior Eli Dean is the leading returner for the Kaws, averaging just 5 points per game last year. Colby, meanwhile, lost All-3A first-teamer and leading scorer Hunter Vaughn and third-leading scorer Ben Busse among four seniors. But junior Guy Tubbs had a big sophomore season, averaging 13 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and will be Colby’s horse this season. Hesston’s sub-state a year ago was flat-out loaded with Haven going into the postseason with a 19-1 mark and Cheney going in 15-5. Haven topped Cheney in the semifinals before falling 47-41 to Hesston in the sub-state finals. The Wildcats will have a tough task replacing the departed duo of Brant Sipe and DJ Miller, who were match-up nightmares for opponents last year. Senior Braxton Miller and junior Noah Wray are the lone returning starters for Haven and combined for just under 10 points per game a year ago. Cheney, meanwhile, got a late start on getting its season preparations going as the football team made it all the way to the state championship game and delivered the school’s first-ever state football title. The Cardinals hope that momentum carries over to the hardwood and should with multiple players playing both sports. Senior Jackson Voth led the Cardinals in scoring last year at 15 points per game and is one of three returning starters who earned All-Central Plains League honors of some kind last year. Sabetha was undefeated going into sub-state play last year, but saw rival Nemaha Central end the bid for perfection in the sub-state semifinals as the Bluejays finished 21-1. Scott Burger retired as head coach after last season and Sabetha lost All-3A second-teamer Matthew Garber and a handful of other seniors. Christian McAfee and Marcus Bauman give the Bluejays a solid nucleus for first-year head coach Josh Wertenberger to build around. Beloit went 17-6 last year, losing in the sub-state finals to NCAA rival Southeast of Saline. The Trojans have a standout post in senior Bryce Beisner, who averaged 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and fellow first-team all-leaguer Quinn Eilert also returns. Columbus is coming off an 18-5 season but graduated a trio of All-CNC performers, including first-teamer Kolt Ungeheuer. Fellow CNC foe Girard was 14-8 and also took a big hit to graduation. Olathe Heritage Christian and Bishop Ward put together strong seasons in the Kaw Valley Conference a year ago with Ward going 18-4 and Heritage Christian finishing 18-5, losing to Perry-Lecompton in overtime in the sub-state finals. Heritage lost second-team All-3A pick Owen Evans, the state’s all-time leading 3-point shooter, and two other first-team all-league picks while Ward graduated three players who earned all-league honors. Burlington was 15-6 last year and has back leading scorer Sage Fefjar, who averaged 16.9 points per game last year as a sophomore. The Wildcats were knocked out by Pioneer League rival Wellsville last year in a sub-state that also saw top-seeded Osage City upset by Anderson County in the semifinals. The Indians went 17-5 but have a major hole to fill with the loss of Landon Boss, one of the top scorers in the state a year ago at 28.5 points per game. Humboldt went 19-4 a year ago, losing to Collegiate in the sub-state finals. The Cubs must replace standout Trey Sommer, but do return Sam Hull, who averaged 13.6 points per game. St. Marys moves up to Class 3A this year after finishing second in 2A in 2022 and returning to state again last year. The Bears must replace standout Keller Hurla, who re-wrote the Bears’ record book. However, the bulk of last year’s state team does return led by Brady Hurla, who was second on the team in scoring.
 

 
CLASS 2A
 
2022-23 State champion: Moundridge
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Wichita Independent
 
2022-23 Review: Vance Unrau got his happily ever after. The longtime Moundridge coach had already enjoyed one of the most successful coaching careers in state history, leading the Wildcats to five state titles prior to last season. He announced in late February that the 2022-23 season, his 36^th, would be his last – hesitant to do so as to not be a distraction to a loaded team that featured countless ties to his past championship teams. It wasn’t. Moundridge kept its eyes on the prize, survived a semifinal war with TMP-Marian on Henry Hecox’s shot at the buzzer and then dominated the last quarter and a half of the championship game with Wichita Independent, rolling to a 64-44 victory and giving Unrau his sixth state championship. Both teams finished with a 23-3 mark and a split with each other for the season with Independent beating the Wildcats just before Christmas. After losing 56-55 to Moundridge in the semifinals, TMP suffered another tough loss in the third-place game, falling to Medicine Lodge 48-46. Medicine Lodge finished 19-7 after ending a 13-year state drought, while TMP ended with a 22-4 record in its first year in Class 2A.
 
2023-24 Contenders: Just how does Moundridge replace a legend like Unrau, who led the program to six state titles across three-plus decades? Well, you don’t. The job falls to Dustan Kanitz, who spent 16 years as an assistant to Kurt Kinnamon at McPherson. Kanitz has been around a program with the highest of expectations, so that environment won’t be a change at all. Perhaps just as key as how does Moundridge replace Unrau is how do the Wildcats replace last year’s senior class that was headlined by All-2A standouts Landon Kaufman and Logan Churchill. Both averaged right around 13-14 points per game and were game-changers. Two starters to return in juniors Barrett Moddelmog and Henry Hecox, the latter of whom hit the game-winner in the state semifinals a year ago. Kanitz also brings with him sons Kreighton (senior) and Kaizer (sophomore) Kanitz, who played at McPherson last year with Kreighton the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail III defensive player of the year. Runner-up a year ago, Wichita Independent graduated eight seniors who were key in the program’s two straight state-tournament appearances and the program’s best-ever state finish. Sir Ryan Dennis is the lone returner from the Panthers’ regular rotation a year ago. Medicine Lodge was arguably the surprise team of the 2A state tournament a year ago, finishing third after coming in with a 17-6 mark. The Indians won’t catch anyone by surprise this year. After taking third last year, the Indians have extra momentum from the fall as the football team advanced to the state semifinals for one of its best season in years. More importantly, all but one player off last year’s team returns this season, giving the Indians extremely high expectations. Junior Keveon Ruiz led the team in scoring last year while senior Derrek Randels wasn’t far behind and is one of six seniors on the roster this season. TMP-Marian dropped down to 2A last year and had the look of a title contender – and very well could have won it all if not for Hecox’s game-winner in the semifinals. The Monarchs are more like Moundridge and Independent in losing several key pieces off last year’s team, namely All-2A first-teamer Dylan Werth and point guard Kade Harris. Senior Griffin Schumacher is the lone returning starter for the Monarchs. After getting a taste of the state tournament for the first time since 2008, Bennington has its sights set on a longer stay this season, getting knocked off in the quarterfinals by Medicine Lodge. The Bulldogs might have the best returning 1-2 punch in 2A in seniors Eli Lawson and Mister Smith. Lawson averaged a double-double at 19 and 12 while Smith came in at 15 and 7. Both are 6-4 or taller with Lawson 6-7, giving Bennington great size. The Bulldogs started five underclassmen a year ago and their play on the perimeter could hold the key to this year’s success. A pair of teams that didn’t make the 2A field a year ago very well could be the teams to beat in 2A this season. Sterling draws the No. 1 spot in the KBCA poll this year after going 17-6 last year and falling to Moundridge in the sub-state finals. The Black Bears return seven players with starting experience led by the inside-outside combo of seniors Gabe Riffel and Isaac Briar. Four returning starters averaged at least 7.4 points per game last year led by Briar’s 11.5 average. The Black Bears showed their potential a year ago when they upset one-loss Ellinwood in the sub-state semifinals. Ellinwood has a major hole to fill to get back to that level this year with the loss of all-time leading scorer Brit Dutton, who averaged 26.9 points per game last year. After finishing third in 2022, Lyndon was denied a return trip to state a year ago by St. Marys, losing 66-63 in overtime to end a 21-2 season. The Tigers lost standout Jackson Biggs to graduation but have filled his hole rather nicely with the addition of Inman transfer Tanner Heckel, who was a second-team All-2A pick for the Teutons a year ago. Heckel’s presence has already served Lyndon well as he helped lead the Tigers to their first-ever state football championship last week as Lyndon went 13-0. Lyndon already had the makings of a contender with the return of senior guard Jalen Massey and senior post Kaedin Massey and Heckel may put the Tigers over the top. St. Mary’s Colgan was knocked off in the quarterfinals for the second straight year last season, falling to Independent. The Panthers should improve on their 11-12 record from last year with all but two players returning off last year’s state roster. Senior Jack Schremmer led the team in scoring last year as a junior and is part of a strong senior class that could get the Panthers back into title contention this time around. Horton ended a long state drought with its appearance last year, the first since 2008. The Chargers did it largely with underclassmen, losing only three seniors off last year’s team, none of whom were starters. Senior guard Gannon Becker led the Chargers in scoring last year at 13.7 per game. Meade got caught up in Medicine Lodge’s postseason run last year, losing to the Indians in the sub-state finals by five. The Buffaloes finished 19-4 overall and return Brock Keith, who averaged nearly 19 points per game last season. Meade has a new coach with former St. John standout Cole Kinnamon taking over the program. Wichita County was in that same sub-state and fell to Medicine Lodge in the semifinals, going 16-6 overall. The Indians lost a solid senior class but return plenty of talent, most of which helped the football team to a state title in 2022 and runner-up finish this season. While Hoxie’s wrestling program has dominated the Class 3-2-1A ranks for the past several seasons, the basketball team has had its share of success as well. The Indians went 19-5 last year, reaching the sub-state finals before falling to TMP-Marian. The Indians will have to replace standout Miles Baalman, who averaged nearly 20 points per game last year. League rival Hill City is coming off a 17-5 season and always is a contender under legendary coach Keith Riley, who has more than 750 career wins. Inman was 18-4 last year but not only has to replace a strong senior class, but also Heckel, who is now at Lyndon. Oxford moves up from Class 1A this season and is No. 10 in the KBCA poll, returning several key players but having to replace standout Payton Rush, who was a double-double machine. Another 1A transplant could also contend as Wichita Classical moves up to 2A after finishing runner-up at the 1A Division I state tournament last year. The Saints lost six seniors, including All-1A pick Jordy Dolloff and their top-three scorers overall. Senior Daniel Young is the top returner thought another Dolloff, Mack a sophomore, is back for his father, Tim, the head coach.
 

 
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
 
2022-23 State champion: Macksville
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Wichita Classical
 
2022-23 Review: Olpe-South Gray had become a tradition at the Class 1A Division I state tournament, meeting in the state championship game two straight years – each time Olpe coming away with state championships in 2021 and 2022. Sure enough, the two powerhouses met up again in Dodge City in 2023. Only this time, they played for third instead of the championship. Olpe saw its two-year reign in Division I end with a 45-44 loss to Wichita Classical. South Gray, meanwhile, was denied its return to the championship game as Macksville handled the Rebels 78-65. Bidding for the program’s first-ever state title, Classical couldn’t slow down Macksville in the title game as the Mustangs captured their third crown overall with a 73-62 victory, capping a 24-2 season. Classical’s best season in program history ended with a 23-3 mark. South Gray got a bit of revenge on Olpe in the third-place game, winning 80-77 in double-overtime, both teams finishing 22-4.
 
2023-24 Contenders: It was a dominant run to the state title for Macksville a year ago as the Mustangs rode a talented senior class to a 24-2 season and won all three state tournament games by double figures, including a 78-65 win over Wichita Classical in the finals. The title was the third for the program since 2006 and their only losses came to a pair of 2A schools. The only downside to last year’s success is that most of it has graduated with that group of six seniors led by Ryan Kuckelman, Alexis Barron, Lance Lickiss and Rogelio Ibarra. The reins will be turned over to junior Diego Esparza, who joined that senior group as a double-digit scorer a year ago, averaging 11.1 per contest. The Mustangs are ranked just eighth in the KBCA preseason poll, so there’s some “prove it” to fuel their motivation as well. Perennial power South Gray holds the No. 1 preseason ranking and for good reason. The Rebels have been one of 1A’s most consistent winners under longtime coach Mark Applegate, the state’s active leader in coaching wins with 769 career victories. The Rebels took third last year after two straight runner-up finishes to Olpe, beating the Eagles in the consolation game at state last year. South Gray returns senior standout Joey Dyck, who averaged a double-double last year with 19.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Fellow senior Dominic Martin added 12.4 points per game, giving the Rebels a strong 1-2 punch. Their top competition could come from within their own league, the SPIAA. South Central finished third in Class 1A Division II last year, but moves up to Division I this year and is loaded. The Timberwolves return all five starters from their 19-8 squad, led by a trio of double-figure scorers – seniors Gavin Uhl and Heath Howell and junior Jamie Sarmiento. South Central also has some pretty good momentum coming into the season with the football program making its first-ever state championship game appearance, keyed by most of the basketball team’s standouts. Olpe saw its string of two straight state championships end a year ago, but the Eagles won’t be going anywhere as long as Chris Schmidt is in charge of the program. The Eagles will have to replace leading scorer Truman Bailey off last year’s 22-4 squad, but defense has long been Olpe’s strong suit with the Eagles forcing 24 turnovers per game a year ago. Senior Blake Skalsky was coming back from injury a year ago and averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game but is healthy this season. Olpe lost key players to football injuries so young players will have to grow up in a hurry with two freshmen slated to start. The Twin Valley League put a pair of teams in last year’s state tournament field and both are more than capable of getting back again this year. Clifton-Clyde only graduated Seth LeClair off last year’s team and the Eagles return three players who were first-team all-league picks last year – seniors Trent Long and Coy Steinbrock and junior Jack Skocny. All three averaged double-figure scoring last year. The Eagles were 21-3 a year ago and undefeated league champs, a huge accomplishment in a league that year-in, year-out is one of the toughest small-school leagues in the state. League rival Centralia finished 15-9, getting to state on a last-second game-winner over Burlingame in sub-state play. The Panthers lost four seniors, including leading scorer Trenton Talley, who hit the sub-state winner, but senior Reese Tanking returns after ranking second to Talley in scoring last year. Another TVL team, Blue Valley-Randolph, made a strong run last year, getting to the sub-state finals before losing to Clifton-Clyde. Along the way, the Rams knocked off two-loss Osborne and finished the season 17-5. Graduation hit hard, so they could be in a rebuild mode this season. Osborne will look to rebound from that stunning sub-state loss that ended an 18-3 season. The Bulldogs return Jonny Hamel, who averaged 18.4 points per game last year. La Crosse went 18-6 last year and returns senior standout Caden Morgan, who averaged 14 points per game a year ago. The Leopards were balanced overall last year but likely will lean harder on Morgan and fellow returning seniors Gage Burk and Conner Barriger this season after losing four seniors. Canton-Galva was 16-7 last year, losing to Elyria Christian in the sub-state finals. The Eagles lost standouts Jett Vincent and and two other senior starters but return a pair of double-digit scorers in seniors Wyatt Collins (14.4 ppg) and Lane McMannis (11.3 ppg) for veteran coach Larry O’Connor. Sylvan-Lucas was in the same sub-state, falling to Canton-Galva in the semifinals to finish 14-7. The Mustangs lost senior Valden Dohl but return almost everyone else. Burlingame saw Centralia snatch away a state berth at the buzzer last year, finishing 17-5. The Bearcats return a pair of starters in junior Dane Winters and sophomore Drake Skirvin who will form a solid nucleus for a relatively young team this season. Little River fell short of getting back to state, losing to eventual champion Macksville in the sub-state finals. The Redskins went 17-6 overall and return two starters in senior Andrew Smith and junior Logan Renken, who combined for 14 points per game last year. Hodgeman County was 16-7 last season, losing to South Gray in the sub-state finals. The Longhorns return one of 1A’s top players in senior Owen Reece, who averaged just under 19 points per game last year and was a second-team All-1A I pick.
 

 
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
 
2022-23 State champion: Greeley County
 
2022-23 State runner-up: Lebo
 
2022-23 Review: In 2022, Greeley County needed a last-second shot by freshman Lincoln Shafer to beat Hanover 56-55 for the program’s third state championship. The Jackrabbits didn’t need any late drama to repeat last March, but a second straight title didn’t exactly come easily either. Upset-minded Lebo gave Greeley County all it wanted and was tied 39-39 with 2:41 left in the game. But the Jackrabbits finished the game on a 10-4 run, getting a big 3-pointer from Titus Sherer in the run that clinched a 49-43 win and a 25-1 season for the Jackrabbits, who had won their first two state tourney games by 23 points each. Lebo finished 18-8, coming on strong late in the season and knocking off Axtell 68-52 in the semifinals. South Central took third, beating Axtell 59-45 to finish the season 19-8 while Axtell finished 21-6.
 
2023-24 Contenders: Winners of two straight Division II crowns, Greeley County will have a much different look to its this year as the Jackrabbits shoot for a third straight crown. Gone is the best player in program history, two-time All-State Top 5 selection Jaxson Brandl, who scored more than 2,000 career points. As if that isn’t a big enough blow, Greeley County also has to replace five other seniors who were a big part of the title runs, including guard Titus Shafer. The Jackrabbits were recently dealt a big blow when junior Lincoln Shafer, who hit the game-winning shot in the state title game in 2022, was injured during football season and underwent surgery. He is expected to be out for the season. The team Greeley County beat for the title a year ago, Lebo, draws the No. 1 spot in the KBCA poll this year. The Wolves caught fire in the second half of the season to reach their first state championship game since 2005. Part of the early struggles was the absence of Grayson Shoemaker, who was injured. His return was key in the late-season surge and he’s back this season. He’ll miss having leading scorer Landon Grimmett around, but Josh Oswald returns in the post to give the Wolves a strong inside-outside combo. Axtell finished fourth a year ago despite losing its true post presence, Owen Strathman prior to the season. The Eagles begin this year without graduated All-Class 1A Division II guard Isaac Detweiler, but everyone else is back. Juniors Brandon Schmelzle and Eli Broxterman are three-year starters who each averaged 12.4 points per game last year. The bulk of the squad has helped Axtell to three straight Eight-Player Division II football state championships. A state qualifier in Division I last year, Elyria Christian drops down to Division II this year and will be a title contender as it was in 2021 to Hanover and 2018 to Northern Valley. The Eagles return all but two players off last year’s 20-4 team including their top-four scorers led by junior Ty Romero, who averaged nearly 18 points per game last year. Senior Johnny Unruh added 13 points a game and the Eagles didn’t lose to a 1A program last year until falling to Wichita Classical in the state quarterfinals. State champion in 2021 and runner-up in 2022, Hanover missed out on the state tournament last season – a rarity for one of the state’s top 1A programs. The Wildcats were denied by Axtell in a four-point loss in the sub-state finals. Hanover had to replace 85% of its production a year ago and has plenty of holes to fill again this year with just two starters returning, senior Brigham Bruna and sophomore Braylon Meyn, each of whom averaged 8 points per game. Hardened by the rigorous SPIAA League, Bucklin brought a 15-9 record to the state tourney last year, losing to Axtell in the quarterfinals. The Red Aces must replace leading scorer Jaren Lindsay but return senior Andrew Bowman, who averaged 12 points per game, as well as a solid junior class that played big roles a year ago as sophomores. Beloit-St. John’s went 19-5 and was a state-qualifier, losing in the quarterfinals to Lebo. Only three seniors graduated and three of the top-four scorers from a year ago return led by senior Daniel Eilert. The Blujays’ state berth came at the expense of Northern Valley, which took third in 2022 and finished last season 18-4. The Huskies return three players who earned All-Western Kansas Liberty League honors including first-teamer Kenton Thalheim. Stafford qualified for state for the first time since 1947 and finished with an 18-6 record. Graduation claimed seven senior so a rebuild is in order to get back to state this season with seniors Jimi Oleson and Brody Kerschenske the top returners. Dighton potentially has one of the top 1-2 punches in Division I in Daniel Cramer and Carson Shimer, who helped the Hornets to a 16-7 season a year ago that ended with a sub-state finals loss to eventual champion Greeley County. Cramer averaged 19.3 points per game while Shimer came in at 15 per contest, though he battled injuries during the football season this fall. If healthy, the Hornets have a serious shot at making a deep run. They might have to get past Cheylin, which just won the Six-Player state football championship and has a loaded senior class led by Logan McCarty and Pablo Bermudez, who were both first-team All-Western Kansas Liberty League picks. The team Cheylin beat in the football championship game also could challenge as Cunningham is coming off a sub-state runner-up finish a year ago. Junior Luke Albers averaged nearly 16 points per game a year ago and the Wildcats have multiple all-around athletes at their disposal. Pawnee Heights graduated standout Alec Carlson, who was one of the top athletes in 1A last year and averaged nearly 28 points per game a year ago. That leaves senior Davin Hamby to carry the load this year after he averaged 13.3 points per game for the Tigers, who finished as sub-state runner-up to Stafford and 16-6 overall. Southern Cloud was a state qualifier last year with a losing record and with only seven players on the roster. Two of those graduated, including leading scorer Levi Cool.