CLASS 4A GIRLS STATE QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW
WELLINGTON CRUSADERS (1: 22-1) VS. CONCORDIA PANTHERS (8: 14-9)
4 p.m. Tuesday, Friends University, Wichita
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
State championships -- Wellington: 1 (2025); Concordia 3, (1985, 1986, 2009)
State tournament appearances – Wellington 9 (last appearance: 2025); Concordia 10 (last appearance: 2015).
TOP PLAYERS
Wellington: Lyndi Barton, 6-0, sr., F (16 ppg, 7 rpg); Dru Zeka, 5-10, jr., F (11.5 ppg, 3 apg, 2.5 spg); Cruz Cornejo, 5-7, sr., G (6.5 ppg, 3.2 spg); Kirstyn Gregory, 5-8, jr., G (10.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg); Vivenne Wright, 5-10, so., G (7.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3 spg).
Concordia: Charlize Cash, 5-10, sr., G (11.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.6 spg); Jaylin Roush, 6-0, jr., F (12.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Marlee VanMeter, 5-6, soph., G (7.7 ppg, 4 rpg)
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Wellington: beat Abilene, 53-38; beat Buhler, 54-34
Concordia: beat Circle, 51-34; beat Augusta, 44-30
TEAM TIDBITS
Wellington: Crusaders are 113-8 over the last five seasons and have won 46 of their last 48 games. ... Wellington played Jan. 10 regular-season game at Friends University, defeating Wamego 40-36 in battle of 4A's No. 1 and No. 2 teams at the time. ... Crusaders started current 10-game winning streak with 52-41 win over Concordia in Colby Orange and Black Classic third-place game. ... Barton scored 15 and Gregory had 11 in Crusaders' first meeting with Concordia. ... State trip is fifth straight for Crusaders, who were runner-up in 2024 to Bishop Miege before beating Stags for title last year. ... Senior class is 91-6 in their career.
Concordia: Panthers are off to their best start in four years under head coach Trey Kuhlman, who is coaching in his first state tournament. ...Senior guard Charlize Cash is working her way up the program record books as she is currently second in assists and steals in school history, and is sixth in scoring and rebounding. ...They are looking for their first state championship appearance since 2010.
HAYDEN WILDCATS (4: 19-6) VS. ANDALE INDIANS (5: 17-6)
6 p.m. Tuesday, White Auditorium, Emporia
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
State championships -- Hayden: 4 (1992, 1993, 1995, 2004); Andale: 3, (1984, 1999, 2002)
State tournament appearances – Hayden: 31 (last appearance: 2025); Andale: 25 (last appearance: 2025).
TOP PLAYERS
Hayden: Hailey Schmidtlein, 6-0, so., F (17.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4 spg); Blakely Walter, 5-8, so., G (9 ppg, 3 rpg); Ella Foster, 5-4, sr., (2.5 apg); Kadence Watts, 6-0, sr., F (6.5, rpg, 3 apg)
Andale: Abbi Winter, 5-4, jr., G (12.4 ppg, 4.0 spg, 43 3s); Brooke Grimes, 5-7, sr., G (11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 46 3s); Edyn Stolz, 6-0, jr., F (6.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg); Mayla Spexarth, 5-9, sr., F (5.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Hayden: beat Atchison, 2-0 (forfeit); beat Baldwin, 51-22
Andale: beat Clay Center, 45-38; beat Hugoton, 43-39
TEAM TIDBITS
Hayden: Wildcats set a state record for 3-pointers made in a single game with 19 in win over Junction City. ...Won Colgan and Paul Terry tournament titles earlier this season and finished second in El Dorado Midseason Tourney.
Andale: Indians making sixth consecutive state appearance and first under coach J.R. Toliver. ... Andale has won 9 of 10 since back-to-back losses and fourth-place finish at the Haven Wildcat Classic. ... Grimes made school-record seven 3s in a game this season.
ROCK CREEK MUSTANGS (2: 22-3) VS. CHAPMAN FIGHTING IRISH (7: 16-9)
8 p.m. Tuesday, Tony’s Pizza Events Center, Salina
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
State championships -- Rock Creek: 0; Chapman: 0
State tournament appearances – Rock Creek: 2 (last appearance: 2009); Chapman: 6 (last appearance: 2020).
TOP PLAYERS
Rock Creek: Kylee Frazee, 5-9, jr., G (16.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.2 spg); Lucy Martinie, 5-6, jr., G (8 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.3 spg); Rylie Friess, 5-6, jr., G (7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.8 spg); Rory Pitzer, 6-0, jr., 15.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg)
Chapman: Jai Rogers, 5-8, jr., F (15.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.3 spg, 2.5 apg); Avery Baer, 5-7, sr., PG (6.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2 spg); Adelynn Kirkpatrick, 5-9, sr., F (9.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg).
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Rock Creek: beat Parsons, 71-23; beat Tonganoxie, 64-58
Chapman: beat Rose Hill, 54-31; beat Mulvane, 62-38
TEAM TIDBITS
Rock Creek: Mustangs were down five with under three minutes left in the sub-state championship game, but ended the game on a 13-2 run to earn a state bid over Tonganoxie. ...Mustangs were also North Central Kansas League champions. ...Make first state appearance in 17 years.
Chapman: After winning just three games last season, Irish have nearly six times that total this season in huge turnaround campaign. ... Win total is second-most for program in last 20 years. ... Irish claimed titles at home tournament and Royal Valley Panther Classic, beating 2A qualifiers Sacred Heart and Rossville at home tourney. ... Baer became program's all-time leader in assists this season. ... Irish faced six teams that qualified for state and has 12 games against teams that reached sub-state finals.
EUDORA CARDINALS (3: 21-3) VS. BISHOP MIEGE STAGS (6: 17-8)
2 p.m. Tuesday, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas City
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
State championships -- Eudora: 0; Bishop Miege: 25: (1978, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
State tournament appearances – Eudora: 7 (last appearance: 2024); Bishop Miege: 43 (last appearance: 2025).
TOP PLAYERS
Eudora: Brynn Deterding, 5-7, jr., G (13.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.0 spg); Avah Dye, 5-8, soph., F (13.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.1 spg); Payton Lewis, 5-9, fr., G (11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg); Jayla Colter, 5-7, soph., G (9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.4 apg); Izzy Brunkow, 5-5, jr., G (4.0 ppg, 1.3 spg)
Bishop Miege: Mary Grant, 5-9, sr., G (21.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.8 apg); Jayla McClinton, 6-1, sr., F (19.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg); Finley LeMay, 5-10, jr., G (8.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg)
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Eudora: beat Louisburg, 82-44; beat Ottawa, 45-28
Bishop Miege: beat Santa Fe Trail, 76-20; beat Wamego, 68-37
TEAM TIDBITS
Eudora: The Cardinals finished as the undefeated Frontier League champions for the second consecutive year. ...Have just one senior on the roster, but return four key pieces from last season’s state tournament team. ...It is their fourth trip to state in the last seven years.
Bishop Miege: The Stags won the KA-MO Classic earlier this season after they defeated state-ranked Blue Valley North on its home floor. ...Senior guard Mary Grant, who is a Murray St. commit, became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,612 career points. ...Forward Jayla McClinton is closing in on 1,500 career points and is currently averaging a double-double.