Class 1A Regional Preview: Marmaton Valley, Waverly
Class 1A regional, post-season tournament action gets started Monday, February 24, after seedings are announced February 19. Let’s take a look at the Marmaton Valley and Waverly regionals. The 117 schools in the class will be battling to be one…
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Continue ReadingClass 1A regional, post-season tournament action gets started Monday, February 24, after seedings are announced February 19. Let’s take a look at the Marmaton Valley and Waverly regionals. The 117 schools in the class will be battling to be one of two teams advancing to sub-state from each regional. I will be breaking down each region with analysis, predictions, and identify players to watch. As of February 17 the current standings are as follows.
Marmaton Valley
|
Waverly
|
||
St. Paul |
(14-4) | Olpe |
(18-0) |
Chetopa | (10-8) | Waverly |
(14-5) |
Marmaton Valley |
(8-10) | Hartford |
(13-5) |
Crest | (8-10) | Lebo | (12-6) |
Oswego | (6-12) | Madison/Hamilton | (3-14) |
Southern Coffey County |
(6-13) | Marais Des Cygnes |
(1-15) |
Altoona-Midway | (0-18) |
Marmaton Valley Regional
St. Paul and Altoona-Midway are locked into position. The other five teams still can swap spots. Southern Coffey County, the lone Lyon County League team in a regional of Three Rivers League members, has one game remaining against a team that already beat them by 27 in Lebo. Most likely they will remain in sixth position. The rest is completely up in the air. Chetopa, Marmaton Valley, and Oswego, with two games remaining, have a mix of games remaining against each other and St. Paul. Crest, who has already beaten Chetopa and Oswego but lost to Marmaton Valley has a pair of games against out of region opponents. All of the teams are hopeful to work their way into the side of the bracket opposite of St. Paul. The Indians have been ranked at times throughout the season for good reason. Their losses have been to #10 3A Frontenac, 2A #3 West Elk, #2 Olpe, and Columbus – a good team the Indians have split the season with that is trying to get back to the 3A state tournament. Only Marmaton Valley has been competitive, losing by 11 in mid-January. I anticipate that St. Paul, with the first round bye, will play the winner of Crest and Southern Coffey County/Oswego to get to the finals. The Indians should have little trouble against either of the three teams. Chetopa should land the second seed and take out Altoona-Midway to reach the semi-finals. That leaves Marmaton Valley in the three seed against Southern Coffey County/Oswego. The Wildcats own wins over both but by only 3 and 2 points respectively. Playing on their home floor Marmaton gets an edge against both to advance to play Chetopa. A preview of that contest will happen tonight at Marmaton. My picks: On Marmaton’s floor St. Paul gets it done in the finals against a tired Wildcats team by 30.
Waverly Regional
With four teams with twelve wins or more in the region it can best be described as brutal. Undefeated, #2 ranked Olpe enters as the top seed. Waverly currently has the second bye seat but could drop to the fourth seed with a loss to a Lyndon squad that beat Lebo by 10 and lost to Olpe by 22. By winning their last two games against Kansas City Christian and Southern Coffey County, and Hartford (facing #3 Rural Vista) and Waverly both losing, the Wolves could vault to the second seed. Hartford’s ability to land the second seed is handicapped by having split with Lebo and getting crushed by Waverly in mid-January. I anticipate that Waverly will defeat Lyndon, Lebo will win their two games to move up to third seed, and Hartford will drop to the fourth seed with a loss and have to get through Olpe to advance to sub-state. A tall order. Lebo should have no trouble with winless Marais Des Cygnes to reach the semis. Madison/Hamilton could give Hartford trouble but not enough to advance. Hartford will be ready to play Olpe in the semis but given their two previous losses to the Eagles have been by more than twenty points, the Jaguars would need a lot of things to go right to make the finals. Lebo and Waverly is a toss-up game. While Lebo beat the Bulldogs by three at home just before the December break, Waverly is at home and I expect that to make the difference. My picks: Waverly is no stranger to success, having reached the state tournament last year. But neither is Olpe and Olpe has blown them out twice already. Olpe by 25.
Players to Watch
Samantha Blundell, Chetopa, 2020, 5’10”, F – A Three Rivers League honorable mention selection in 2019.
Brali Conard, Chetopa, 2021, 5’6″, G – A Three Rivers League honorable mention selection in 2019.
Rylee Beckman, Crest, 2020 — A Three Rivers League honorable mention selection in 2019.
Bailey Darbyshire, Hartford, 5’9″, 2020, G – Has state tournament experience when Hartford took second in 2018. Averaged more than 14 points per game a year ago.
Kiernan Breshers, Hartford, 5’5″, 2020, PG – Averaged 10 points per game a year ago.
Alli Moore, Lebo, 2022, G – Has picked up her scoring. She had 26 against Cair Paravel and 13 against Hartford.
Abby Peek, Lebo, 5’4″, 2022, G – Has been on a roll in the scoring department. Had 19 including a buzzer beater against Waverly and between 14 and 16 points against other recent opponents.
Yolaine Luthi, Madison/Hamilton, 2023 – Averaging 8.3 points and 2.3 steals. Shoots 65% from the line.
Taylor Williams, Madison/Hamilton, 2020 – Perimeter threat with 16 made threes. Shoots 67% from the line.
Maya Bishop, Olpe, 5’8″, 2022, W – Played for Wheat State Elite this past summer. Averages close to double figures per game.
Neleh Davis, Olpe, 5’7″, 2020, W – A Lyon County League second team team selection in 2019. Played for Ohlde Elite this past summer. A strong three-point shooter. Averages more than 11 points per game.
Macy Smith, Olpe, 5’4″, 2021, PG – A Lyon County League second team selection in 2019. Played for Ohlde Elite this past summer. Solid spot up three point shooter. Has quick hands and timing to pick up steals. Shows the ability to control offensive transition pace using good floor vision and ball handling skills. Averages more than 10 points per game.
Shanler McNickle, Oswego, 2020, 5’11”, F – A Three Rivers League second team selection in 2019.
Reed Szambecki, Southern Coffey County, 2020, 5’9″, F – A Lyon County League honorable mention selection in 2019. Is averaging 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Bryli Copeland, Southern Coffey County, 2020, 5’4″, G — Is averaging 6.2 points and 2.4 assists.
Katie Coomes, St. Paul, 2020 – A Three Rivers League first team selection in 2019.
Emily Hutcherson, St. Paul, 2020 – A Three Rivers League second team selection in 2019.
Taylor Wiatrak, St. Paul, 2020 – A Three Rivers League second team selection in 2019.
Macy Fairchild, Waverly, 5’3″, 2021, SG – Lyon County League honorable mention selection in 2019. Played for Wheat State Elite this past summer.
Megan Foster, Waverly, 5’6″, 2020, PG – KBCA 1A second team all-state, Sports In Kansas 1A state all-tournament team, and Lyon County League first team selection in 2019. A strong two-way player who guards, rebounds, distributes the ball, and shoots the ball well from distance. Coming off a 34 point night to reach 1,000 points while averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 steals, and 3.1 assists.
Sara McWilliams, Waverly, 5’10”, 2021, W — Lyon County League first team in 2019. Played for Wheat State Elite this past summer. Averaging 15.4 points and 5 rebounds. Typically the point on the press. In transition is able to look off the defender, change pace, then finish. Protects the ball well against contact when finishing.