Class 1A Regional Preview: Ashland, Kinsley
Class 1A regional, post-season tournament action gets started Monday, February 24. Seedings were announced February 19 by KSHSAA. The remainder of team’s games did not affect the announced seedings although some win-loss columns have changed. This is the seventh set…
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Continue ReadingClass 1A regional, post-season tournament action gets started Monday, February 24. Seedings were announced February 19 by KSHSAA. The remainder of team’s games did not affect the announced seedings although some win-loss columns have changed. This is the seventh set of two regionals being covered. This is the first set of two regionals that feed into the Dodge City Community College and Pratt Community College sub-state tournaments. In this article we take a look at the Ashland and Kinsley regionals. Region first round games started Monday, February 24, with Dighton eliminating Pawnee Heights 54-26. They will meet Ingalls in the semifinals. The current standings are as follows:
Ashland
|
Kinsley
|
||
Kiowa County |
(13-6) | Ingalls |
(12-7) |
South Central | (13-7) | Hodgeman County |
(11-9) |
Bucklin | (14-6) | Kinsley |
(10-9) |
Attica | (9-10) | Dighton |
(9-12) |
Ashland |
(8-11) | Pawnee Heights |
(6-15) |
South Barber |
(7-13) | Ness City |
(3-17) |
Minneola | (5-15) | Deerfield | (0-20) |
Ashland Regional
The Ashland regional is composed of five teams from the Southern Plains Iriquos Activities Associaton (SPIAA) and two from the Heart of the Plains League, Attica and South Barber. Top-seeded Kiowa County earned a first round bye and will face the Attica/Ashland winner. Ashland is only averaging just over 34.6 points per game but has improved substantially since mid-January after being hammered by #9 South Gray by 42. While they have gone 4-5 in that stretch, including 20+ point losses to #7 Otis-Bison and 2A #1 Spearville, they have picked up wins over Pawnee Heights and Hodgeman County and lost by 6 to a Bucklin squad that crushed them by 36 in December. Attica opened the season with 5 wins then strung together 7 losses. Since then results have been up and down. What they have been able to do is score, averaging approximately 45 points per game. The ability to score will drive Attica into the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket South Central opens with a Minneola squad it hammered earlier in the month by more than 40 points. The Timberwolves will make short work again to advance. Bucklin, on the other hand, will not have the easiest of sixth seeds to eliminate. While the Chieftains have been pounded by #4 Cunningham twice they have also lost close games to #10 Central Christian and 14-6 Pretty Prairie. They are also an upset special. While they have not played each other South Barber has had two close losses, one in overtime, to South Central – whom Bucklin has split with. Tight, tight call I’m calling the upset by 3. Coming into the semifinals Kiowa County had won seven of eight before suffering a 34-point burial by South Gray in the season finale. Throughout the season they have won and lost competitive games with Bucklin, Spearville, and Ingalls among others. Kiowa County should advance over Attica by 25. South Central will be greeted by a energetic, nothing to lose Chieftains team that they will have to defeat a third time. If for no other reason than they will be less fatigued, especially if they can get an early lead, the Timberwolves will advance by 8. My Picks: Kiowa County will be fresher and they have already proven they can beat South Central, even if it was back in December. The Mavericks by 8.
Kinsley Regional
This region is among the biggest toss-ups of any of the regionals with the top seed coming in with seven losses. Dighton has already advanced past Pawnee Heights by a comfortable margin to meet top seeded Ingalls on Friday so my look begins with the remaining first round games. Second seed Hodgeman County draws winless Deerfield in the opening round and will advance easily. Third seed Kinsley takes on three-win Ness City in the other game. On the surface, given a seven-win differential on the season, Kinsley looks like a shoo-in. Kinsley cannot and will not take them lightly since they own only a six point victory over Eagles. The Eagles are on a nine-game losing streak but look at who they have lost to: #1 Central Plains (twice), #7 Otis-Bison, 2A #1 Spearville, 12-win Little River, 11-win Victoria, and a handful of 2A teams from the brutal Mid-Continent League. A losing streak that long can shake a team’s confidence if they do not put things in perspective. Ness City has a solid shot. Home-standing Kinsley better not take them lightly unless they want to watch the rest of the regional on their home floor from the stands. Kinsley will advance, but not easily. In the semifinals Ingalls should cruise by Dighton. The Bulldogs won at Dighton earlier this month and will again on a neutral court by double figures. Hodgeman County takes on Kinsley in the other semifinal. Hodgeman County will be fresh off an easy win, Kinsley not. Hodgeman County, out of the SPIAA, has not faced Kinsley, out of the Central Prairie League, this season. The Longhorns have lost six of their last nine games coming into the post-season with wins over Ingalls twice and common opponent Macksville by seven. Playing on their home floor, having beaten Macksville by 31, the Bulldogs are the favorite to reach the finals despite having a more difficult first round game.
My picks: Motivated to win the regional on their home floor Kinsley, led by Josena Frame, will lead her team to the win. Kinsley by 6.
Players to Watch
Mckenzie Cramer, Ashland, 5’6″, 2021, G — Averages 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Mackenzie Walker, Ashland, 2023, PG — Averages 10.4 points and 2.1 steals per game.
Catherine Bowman, Bucklin, 5’7″, 2021, G/F — A Southern Plains Iroqois Activities Association second team selection in 2019.
Traci Cramer, Dighton, 2022,5’5″, CG — Averaging 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 4.1 steals per game. Strong three point shooter, 48% in 2019. Has 26 makes in 2020. Shoots 69% from the free throw line.
Ella Roberts, Dighton, 2020, 6’0″, F — Averages 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds after averaging 12.5 points and 8 rebounds in 2019. Committed to Kansas State for Rowing.
Jessi Whipple, Dighton, 2023, 5’9″ — Averages 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
Collette Pelton, Hodgeman County, 2021, 5’6″, G — Averages 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 2.3 assists per game.
Regan Ast, Ingalls, 2021, 5’7″, PG — A SPIAA second team selection in 2019. Averaged 12 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.1 steals per game. 31% 3p% on 180 attempts. 1.16 Ast:TO ratio. Has 25′ range and follows her shots well. Handles the ball well transitioning in traffic and can finish with either hand.
Josena Frame, Kinsley, 2020, 5’5″, PG — A Central Plains League first team selection in 2019. Played with Ohlde Elite this past summer. Aggressive mindset. Strong ability to get to the basket off the dribble. 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
Sabrina Thomas, Kiowa County, 2020 — A SPIAA second team selection in 2019.
Grace Long, Minneola, 2020 — A SPIAA honorable mention selection in 2019. Averages 7.6 points per game.
Nora Gugelmeyer, South Barber, 2021, 5’8″, CG — A Heart of the Plains league honorable mention selection in 2019.
Kodie Herd, South Central, 2023, 5’10”, F — Averaging 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
Sierra Jellison, South Central, 2022, — Averaging 17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 steals per game. Shooting 44% from three 17/39