1A-DII Players to Watch: Attica & Axtell Sub-States
The road to the state tournament begins Thursday, February 25, with Class 1A sub-state games. Official seeding will be released by KSHSAA the day before. The structure of the road to the state tournament is vastly different in year’s past…
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Continue ReadingThe road to the state tournament begins Thursday, February 25, with Class 1A sub-state games. Official seeding will be released by KSHSAA the day before. The structure of the road to the state tournament is vastly different in year’s past due to impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic. The structural changes were announced a few months back by KSHSAA to create the best opportunity to complete the state tournament. Games for are much more decentralized. For classes 1A-3A games will mostly be played on floors of the higher seeded teams until the sub-state semi-finals are reached. The semi-finals and finals will be played at the host site. First round state games will also be on the higher seed’s home floor. State semi-final and final games will be played at the state hosting site. The structure for classes 4A-6A is substantially changed and decentralized as well but will not be described in this post.
This post is the first of four to look at the players of the 1A-DII regionals. Four more will also cover players of the 1A-DI regionals as well. The current standings for the Attica and Moscow substates are as follows:
Attica
|
Axtell
|
||
Cunningham |
(17-2) | Hanover |
(13-5) |
Central Christian |
(12-4) | Wetmore |
(14-6) |
Argonia |
(11-4) | Linn |
(9-10) |
Attica |
(12-6) | Blue Valley-Randolph |
(6-12) |
South Haven |
(11-7) | Axtell |
(3-16) |
South Barber |
(4-11) | Macksville |
(4-15) |
Stafford | (4-14) | Pike Valley | (1-9) |
Attica Sub-state
Cunningham has the pole position here. Despite a recent loss to Pretty Prairie, Cunningham has wins over Central Christian, Argonia, and Stafford. Only one of their 17 wins has been by less than 3 points. South Barber and Stafford are unlikely to get past their opening round games no matter which of the other four teams they draw. Once the semi-finals are reached I do not see South Barber nor Attica having the depth or post season experience to get past Cunningham to reach the finals. Argonia and Central Christian will be a toss up. Cunningham put Central Christian away by 16 and defeated Argonia by 12 in December. At the guard position Central Christian does not match up with Cunningham well at all. However point guard Kaylee Kauffman Kaylee Kauffman 5'5" | SG Central Christian | 2023 State KS is gritty and cannot be left open beyond the arc nor be put on the free throw line. Central Christian also is a big team with four players 5’10”-6’0″.
My picks: Central Christian is my pick to reach the finals where Cunningham will beat them again.
Axtell Sub-state
This substate is more wide open than it appears. Hanover and Wetmore have locked up byes. Pike Valley will travel to Blue Valley-Randolph and Axtell will play Macksville. My dark horse pick to at least reach the finals is Macksville. With 19 games under their belt Macksville’s good group of freshman are not only not rookies any longer, their leading scorer is a freshman and she’s averaging 17 points per game. There is some senior leadership and size. If they can put things together they will be trouble. Linn lit up Wilson for 10 three point shots in a recent win and, unless they are defended well on the perimeter, will continue to show their perimeter prowess. Hanover beat Linn by double figures earlier this month and has been playing well including in a close loss to Doniphan West. Linn gave Wetmore a test in a 9 point loss a couple weeks ago after Wetmore buried them by 30 early in the season. Pike Valley will not get anywhere with either team that lands the top seed. Macksville can beat the other three teams. Regardless of their path, Macksville is still going to have to beat Wetmore to reach state.
My picks: If Wetmore draws the top seed, Macksville has a good shot to beat Hanover as well. Regardless of who gets to the finals, Wetmore is too big, has too much scoring at all three levels, and will beat whomever they face to reach state.
Players to Watch
Chelsea Coleman, Argonia, 5’5″, PG, 2022 – 2020 South Central Border League first team.
Samantha Dark, Attica, 2021 – 2020 Heart of the Plains League honorable mention.
Emily Lozoya, PG, Attica, 5’2″, 2021 – 2020 Heart of the Plains League all-league. Averaging 12.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals.
Tamara Lozoya, Attica, 2022 – 2020 Heart of the Plains League honorable mention.
Aspen Buessing, 5’7″, CG, Axtel, 2022 – Averaging 8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 2.1 assists. Shooting 29% from three with 29 made.
Halie Schmitz, 5’6″, PG, Axtel, 2021 – Averaging 6 points, 3.1 steals, and 2.3 assists.
Abby Cassle, 5’7″, Blue Valley-Randolph, 2022 – Averaging 7.8 points and 8.1 rebounds. Shooting 33% from three with 27 made.
Breanna Young, 5’7″, Blue Valley-Randolph, 2022 – Averaging 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds
Landry Zoeller, 5’8″, SG, Blue Valley-Randolph, 2023 – Averaging 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 steals.
Kaylee Kauffman Kaylee Kauffman 5'5" | SG Central Christian | 2023 State KS , Central Christian, 5’5″, PG, 2023 – Gritty, resilient ball handler who did not quit when she struggled full court with the ball nor when she was being double-teamed to keep her from getting the ball. A terrific three point and free throw shooter, those abilities in the end led the Cougars to a come back win over Pretty Prairie.
Aly Lambert Aly Lambert 6'0" | PF Central Christian | 2022 State KS , Central Christian, 6’2″, C, 2022 – 2020 Heart of the Plains League honorable mention. With her size and length Lambert is a deterrent around the basket and has the footwork to score quickly on the block.
Samantha Ramsey, Central Christian, 5’11”, PF, 2022 – In the stretch four category Ramsey will be one to watch. She finishes solidly off the power dribble on both sides of the block and has a growing back-to-basket game. Ramsey also has a good frame and solid transition speed. A competitive defender, she walls up well against basket drives.
Morgan Meyers
Morgan
Meyers
5'5" | CG
Cunningham | 2021
State
KS
, Cunningham, 5’5″, PG, 2021 — Meyers was selected to the 2020 Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital Journal 1A first team and the 2020 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association 1A second team. She also is a two-time Heart of the Plains League all-league selection. In leading her team to the 2020 Class 1A state tournament she proved to be a dominant point guard in the classification. She has played at a high level all season.
Madison Panek, 5’9″, Cunningham, SF/PF, 2021 – Good length, quickness, and scrappiness enables her to be disruptive defensively in full- or half court situations and to be a quality rebounder. Has handles and post game to put together moves off the catch or on the bounce to get to the rim.
Ceegan Atkins Ceegan Atkins 5'9" | PF Hanover | 2023 State KS , 5’9″, Hanover, PF, 2023 – Reign the Plains (July 2019) – Quick post play on left block. Uses arm bar on defense to create space. Caught quick, high pass; turned and squared up; when up quick to score. Good hops.
Megan Beier, 5’7″, Linn, CG, 2023 – 3.1 points, 4.8 rebounds assists, 3.9 assists. .87 assists to turnover ratio.
Sophia Bott, 5’6″, SG, Linn, 2022 – 13.3 points and 2.4 assists. Shoots 34% from three with 47 made. Recently buried 8 three pointers on the way to racking up 28 points in a close win over Troy.
Kyra Peters (Moore), 5’6″, PG, Linn, 2022 – 2020 Twin Valley League second team. 7.8 points, 4 assists, 2.3 steals per game. 33% 3 pt pct. 1.13 assists to turnovers ratio. Joined Bott in the three point party, hitting a pair of threes in a win over Troy.
Abi Ibarra, 5’6″, SG, Macksville, 2022 – Averaging 7.1 points, 4 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 2.1 assists. Shooting 36% from three with 17 made.
Mayce Russell, 5’6″, PG/W, Macksville, 2024 – Averaging 17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 steals, and 2.1 assists. Is shooting 31% from three with 31 made.
Kaylee Bray, 5’8″, CG, Pike Valley, 2021 – Averaging 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Josiah Field, 5’5, PG, Pike Valley, 2021 – Had a recent breakout game against Wilson, scoring 20 points.
Nora Gugelmeyer, 5’8″, SF, South Barber, 2021 – 2020 Heart of the Plains League honorable mention.
Macey Pond, South Haven, 5’8″, CG, 2022 – Averaging 9.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 steals and 3.5 assists per game through first 4 games.
Emily Green Emily Green 5'5" | CG Stafford | 2021 State KS , Stafford, 2021, 5’8″, G — 2020 KBCA 1A honorable mention. Played with Wheat State Elite over the summer. Strong basket drives and interior passing. Able to finish athletically. Three point threat.
Alyssa Bloom, 5’3″, PG, Wetmore, 2021 – Averaging 8.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 steals. Shoots 69% from the line and 31% from three with 30 made.
Regan Osterhaus Regan Osterhaus 6'0" | PF Wetmore | 2021 State KS , 6’0″, SF/PF, Wetmore, 2021 – Averages 13.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 steals, and 2.8 assists. Shoots 73% from the line. Averaged 7.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 2019. Reign the Plains (July 2019) – Shot blocker who showed an understanding of giving ground to set up the attempt on a driver.
Kenzie Strathman Kenzie Strathman 6'0" | PF Wetmore | 2022 State KS , 6’0″, PF, Wetmore, 2022 – 2020 Twin Valley League first team. Averages 14.1 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.8 steals. Shoots 74% from the line and 38% from three with 15 made. TVL second team in 2019 while averaging a double-double with 11.9 rebounds and 10.3 points. Reign the Plains (July 2019) – Aggressive posting up and has ability to score on the interior using spin moves and others. Boxes out well and has good transition speed.