CLASS 5A GIRLS STATE QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW
 
ANDOVER TROJANS (1: 23-1) VS. DE SOTO WILDCATS (8: 15-10)
 
Noon Wednesday, Koch Arena, Wichita
 
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
 
State championships – De Soto: 0; Andover:0.
 
State tournament appearances – De Soto: 8 (last appearance: 2024); Andover: 13 (last appearance: 2025).
 
TOP PLAYERS
 
De Soto: Maddie Leis, 5-7, fr., G (12.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.4 apg); Clare Leis, 5-9, jr., G (7.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg); Sydney Cinotto, 5-6, sr., G (5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, 3.0 spg).
 
Andover: Bella Bouddhara, 5-8, jr. G (19.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, 4.0 spg); Asia’h Sullivan, 5-5, jr., G (7.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 2.1 spg); Sam Siegrist, 5-6, jr., G (6.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.0 spg); Brynn Eilert, 5-10, jr., F (3.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Grier Hand, 5-10, jr., F (13.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.0 apg).
 
HOW THEY GOT HERE
 
De Soto: beat Bonner Springs, 71-54; beat St. Thomas Aquinas, 51-43.
 
Andover: beat Arkansas City, 74-23; beat Salina South, 55-19.
 
TEAM TIDBITS
 
De Soto: Wildcats ended Aquinas’ state-record streak of consecutive state tournament appearances at 31 with upset in sub-state final. … Both of Wildcats’ sub-state victories came on the road. … Coach Ryan Robie earned his 150^th career victory at De Soto Hardwood Classic in December. … Wildcats looking for first state tournament victory in program history.
 
Andover: Trojans have finished fourth, third and third the last three seasons in 5A. … Bouddhara scored 1,000^th career point in Feb. 19 victory over Maize. … Trojans split with 6A qualifier Derby, winning season opener 53-48 and falling 69-53 in early January. … Coach Hannah Alexander got 200^th career win against Piper in December. … Trojans moved to No. 1 in KBCA 5A rankings same day they snapped Maize South’s 15-game winning streak.
 
 
MAIZE SOUTH MAVERICKS (4: 21-4) VS. ST. JAMES ACADEMY THUNDER (5: 20-5)
 
4 p.m. Wednesday, Koch Arena, Wichita
 
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
 
State championships – St. James Academy: 0; Maize South: 0.
 
State tournament appearances – St. James Academy: 6 (last appearance: 2025); Maize South: 5 (last appearance: 2025).
 
TOP PLAYERS
 
St. James: Elle Robinson, 6-0, sr., F (10.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 4.5 apg); Ireland Sullivan, 6-0, so., F (11 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Stella Sacks, 5-4, fr., G (10.5, 3 apg, 3 spg).
 
Maize South: Jaela Thompson,, 5-10, jr., G (16.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4 apg, 3.8 spg); Kaylee Brunton, 6-0, sr., F (9.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 3.5 spg); Ali Sighateh, 5-9, sr., F (9.2 ppg, 7 rpg, 2.5 spg); Blakely Lowe, 5-5, fr., PG (6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.1 spg).
 
HOW THEY GOT HERE
 
St. James: beat Harmon, 100-9; beat Blue Valley Southwest, 58-29.
 
Maize South: beat Valley Center, 62-32; beat Eisenhower, 59-38.
 
TEAM TIDBITS
 
St. James: Robinson became Thunder’s career rebounding leader and winningest player in program history this season. … Thunder were co-Eastern Kansas League champions, a first for the program. … St. James lost 49-44 to Andover in last year’s 5A quarterfinals. … Thunder lost to then-No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas in Newton tournament final before defeating Saints a week later. … Thunder set program record for regular-season wins for second straight year.
 
Maize South: Mavericks have qualified for state three straight years, losing in quarterfinals last year after finishing runner-up to Seaman in 2024. ... Mavericks knocked off St. Thomas Aquinas in quarterfinals that year, ending the Saints' streak of seven straight state championships. ... Mavericks started season 1-2 this year with both losses coming to Arkansas teams. ... Only other losses have come to fellow 5A qualifier Andover and 6A qualifier Derby..
 
 
HAYS (2: 23-1) VS. KAPAUN MT. CARMEL CRUSADERS (7: 19-6)
 
8 p.m. Wednesday, Tony’s Pizza Events Center, Salina
 
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
 
State championships -- Kapaun: 2 (1979, 2012); Hays: 0.
 
State tournament appearances – Kapaun: 19 (last appearance: 2015); Hays: 10 (last appearance: 2025).
 
TOP PLAYERS
 
Kapaun: Zoey Buckner-Franklin, jr., G (26.6 ppg); Lizzy Dulac, sr., G (5.1 ppg); McCoy Phister, sr., F (7.9 ppg); Evy Romer, so., G (6.2 ppg).
 
Hays: Jenna Schmeidler, 5-6, so., G (20 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg), Zoe Winter, 5-10, sr., F (14 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Molly Buckles, 6-0, sr., F (7 ppg, 6 rpg).
 
HOW THEY GOT HERE
 
Kapaun: beat Emporia, 71-41; beat Bishop Carroll, 57-44.
 
Hays: beat Topeka West, 80-18; beat Andover Central, 55-37.
 
TEAM TIDBITS
 
Kapaun: Buckner-Franklin scored 1,000^th career point in December victory over Eisenhower. … Crusaders took unbeaten Wichita Heights to overtime before losing at buzzer 57-55. … Coach Taylor Mires was assistant at Wichita Independent when Buckner-Franklin led Panthers to 2A title in 2024. … Crusaders finished third in 5A in last state appearance in 2015. … Kapaun split with rival Bishop Carroll in regular season before topping Golden Eagles in sub-state finals.
 
Hays: Indians making back-to-back state appearances after ending 29-year drought last season. … Schmeidler was MVP of Colby Orange and Black Classic, which Hays won for second straight year. … Indians handed 4A No. 1 Wellington its lone loss in Orange and Black semis. … Hays’ lone loss is to 3A qualifier Silver Lake. … Indians’ best state finish is second in 5A in 1995. … Western Athletic Conference champion has won 17 straight games.
 
 
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS THUNDERBIRDS (3: 21-4) VS. BASEHOR-LINWOOD BOBCATS (6: 20-5)
 
4 p.m. Wednesday, Kansas City Kansas Community College
 
STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
 
State championships – Basehor-Linwood: 0; Shawnee Heights: 2 (1977, 1986).
 
State tournament appearances – Basehor-Linwood: 7 (last appearance: 2020); Shawnee Heights: 23 (last appearance: 2011).
 
TOP PLAYERS
 
Basehor-Linwood: Delaney Wittkop, 5-6, so., G (16 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.2 apg; 4.2 spg); Kinley Christopher, 6-0, sr., C (9.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.7 bpg); Alaina Schwisow, 5-7, sr., F (9.7 ppg, 2.7 apg); Sarah McKnight, 5-7, sr. G (10 ppg, 4.7 rpg).
 
Shawnee Heights: KK Emmot, 5-8, jr., G (18 ppg); Pearmella Carter, 5-10, jr., F (12 ppg, 8 rpg); Imani McGlory, 5-6, sr., G (13 ppg); Reianna Vega, 6-0, sr., C (9 ppg).
 
HOW THEY GOT HERE
 
Basehor-Linwood: beat Highland Park, 74-28; beat Piper, 51-47.
 
Shawnee Heights: beat KC Sumner, 89-15; beat Pittsburg, 60-47.
 
TEAM TIDBITS
 
Basehor-Linwood: Bobcats beat Piper for second time in three games in sub-state finals, following up 65-56 win over Pirates in regular-season finale. ... Piper had beaten them earlier in the season. ... Bobcats also knockd off Class 4A qualifier Bishop Miege during the season. ... Trip is first since 2020 and best finish for program came in 2011 when Bobcats took third in Class 4A. ... Wittkop demolished program's single-season steals record and has 106 this season. ... Bobcats started season 2-3 and has lost both meetings with quarterfinal foes Shawnee Heights this season.
 
Shawnee Heights: T-Birds retiurn to state for first time since 2011 when T-Birds finished fourth. ... Heights captured first-ever United Kansas Conference title this season and swept state quarterfinal foe Basehor-Linwood in two meetings, winning 69-49 in December and 64-51 in mid-February. ... T-Birds started season 1-3 but have won 20 of last 21 with lone loss in that stretch coming to 6A qualifier Derby. ... Emmot, Carter and McGlory all hit 1,000 career points this season with McGlory doing it in the sub-state finals. ... Wells won 350th career game in sub-state finals and is in final year as head coach.