Varsity Kansas - The Blog

by joanna

We do have the first teams that are going to state. I’m out at Campus and Derby lost in double overtime to Dodge City, while the Goddard girls beat South. The Derby-Dodge City game was easily one of the best I’ve seen. I mean, double overtime. Wow. Derby really had a chance to win this in the fourth quarter after taking a two-point lead late on a Shelby Yardley three-pointer. But a foul with 4.3 seconds to go put Dodge City on the line when the Demons hit two free throws to tie the score.  Cammi Stith was amazing in the fourth quarter and the overtimes, scoring 17 points in that time.  But Dodge held on and made big free throws.

In the Goddard game, the Lions had foul trouble and Lindsey Keller was on the bench for most of the first half. But they ran a triangle-and-two on South, effectively shutting down Christine Elliott. OK, they didn’t really shut down Elliott, she scored 20, but few points came through the  offense. Megan Lassley didn’t do much at all, thanks to foul trouble in the first half.
Carroll boys beat Kapaun handily. Isn’t that crazy? Those first two games are so close, including a buzzer-beating shot, and then a 25-point win.  Go figure. Cheney held Clearwater to just 26 points, while Hesston beat Andale by 11.

Heights girls only beat Maize by six. Not sure what’s up with that. Does that mean Heights is going to struggle at state? It certainly could mean that. Maybe the KC-area reporters are right and it’s Olathe South’s turn to win 6A. Garden Plain and Collegiate both won in 3A girls. So check out what I just discovered today — anyone remember Donnie Wallace, the big forward from Goddard back in the 1990s who went to K-State? He’s an assistant girls coach at Collegiate. Blew me away. Just one more reminder that I’m getting old because I covered him at Goddard right when I got out of college.

That’s all I’ve got for now. I’ll try to get some preview up for tomorrow. Then again, I’ve got a birthday party to go to, a soccer clinic. Hey, I’ll try to hook you all up, anyway. Now I’ve got to get out of this Campus gym before they throw me out. Just kidding. There’s some awfully nice people here. And they have wireless. Yay!

by joanna

I feel like I should do something here for leap day. Hmmm, I’ve got nothing. Any ideas out there?

We do have a full slate of games tonight, some are sub-state finals (5A boys, 6A girls) others are sub-state semifinals (4A on down).

I’m heading out to Campus where I hope to see a good game with South and Goddard girls. If South can put it all together, I believe this will be a game to remember. I like the matchup inside with Lindsey Keller from Goddard and South’s  Christine Elliott. It’s not often you see such tough Division I players going head to head. Megan Lassley could cause some problems for Goddard’s guards, but I think Goddard has way too many scoring threats — and guards — and will be able to keep South in check. Derby’s also there, playing Dodge City, a team I can’t say I know anything about.

Maize plays Heights tonight, and I don’t even need to go out on a limb to pick Heights. I like the Maize team, especially Heather Robben, and the Eagles are scrappy. But Heights has way too much going for it — too many players, too many scoring threats, too much of an inside game (compared to Maize).

On the boys side, Kapaun and Carroll meet again. That stinks for them, but good for the fans because it’s such a big rivalry. Carroll won the last time they met — on Feb. 19 when Kevin Klein hit a shot with 8 seconds to go. In December, Kapaun won by three by hitting 7 straight free throws. Should be an interesting matchup — again.

Hutch plays McPherson. Not a bad game, there. Clearwater and Cheney meet in Andale, as do Andale and Hesston. I like this sub-state because those are two good games.

In 3A girls, Belle Plaine and Garden Plain meet in Chaparral, while Collegiate and Conway Springs will play in the semis.

Is there a game I missed? Let me know.

by joanna

Before I get into any kind of a round-up here, check out this halftime line score from South Haven and Dexter — South Haven 38 at the end of the first quarter, Dexter 15. In the second quarter, South Haven scored 2, Dexter 1. Oh My God. That’s just freakin’ amazing. South Haven won 64-33.

Onto tonight’s games. I was over at Northwest at Maize and was pretty bored for the first three quarters.Even the normally rabid Maize fans seemed to be sleeping. As usual, they were interesting, with some wigs and fake facial hair, but that’s all. It didn’t help that neither team shot well, at all. Finall it got better in the fourth quarter when Northwest hit all five of its shots. But it was pretty slow going because Northwest shot 16 free throws. The Grizzlies made 14, though. Alex Williams hit 8 of 10.

Another interesting night of officiating. Lots of drama. The best part was when Maize coach Chris Grill got a T. No lie, my dear readers, what he said was “That’s a moving screen.” Now, he yelled it and the play was at the other end of the court, but come on! He didn’t even blink when I asked him about it after the game. Just said he must have yelled it at the wrong time. I’m just glad it didn’t do anything to affect the game. You just hate to see stuff like that happen.

South boys won and it turns out Marky Nolen did play despite getting two T’s last week in the regular season finale. The reasoning for him being able to play seems a little complicated. But let me try — his second T came when he was on the bench, so officially it goes to the bench, not the player. However, if that’s the case, then when coach Deon Allen got T’d up, he should have been tossed, right? Turns out Deon Allen appealed the rule that Nolen wouldn’t be able to play, and then City League athletic director Bill Faflick okayed it. I can see the reasoning, I guess.

East beat Goddard. While it wasn’t as easy as maybe it could be, East did handle itself well. Garrius Holloman had 21 points. But can you believe this? East shot two free throws! Goddard shot four. Unbelievable. East will face South in Saturday’s sub-state final. Should be interesting because they split the season series.

Southeast rolled over Campus. Never saw that coming, huh? (That’s sarcasm, folks) Heights didn’t roll past Topeka, though, only winning by seven. The Falcons, the No. 2 seed, play Northwest on Saturday in Manhattan for the sub-state final. While Heights beat Northwest twice this season, it’s never easy to beat the same team twice, regardless of Northwest’s overall losing record.

Derby lost by three to Garden City.

But here’s the game of the night that ruined my prediction for a 3A sub-state final. Belle Plaine beats Wichita Collegiate. Shoots me down for predicting Collegiate vs. Trinity. But it’s still an intriguing final because Belle Plaine beat Trinity in the season opener. oooh, I love this time of year.

On the girls side, I was rightly chastised for not mentioning the 4A sub-state at Andale. Clearwater vs. Buhler was a good game, and it will make a great final with Clearwater and Andale. Rose Hill got by Augusta in OT and will meet Andover Central. Too bad, really. Rose Hill has had a nice season, but Andover Central is directly on a path to win the 4A title. In 5A it was a yawnfest. No surprise as the best teams cruised — Carroll over West, Mac over Salina Central. But Kapaun struggled to get by Ark City as did Valley Center over Winfield.

Anything interesting at the game you went to tonight? Let me hear about it.

by joanna

While last night’s games went pretty much as expected, although I still can’t get over how Carroll struggled with the 2-18 Topeka West, tonight should have some more games that are worth following. Not necessarily in 5A or 6A, but because we have 4A on down playing.

In 6A boys, I think Goddard could give East a game, simply because Goddard has been playing well lately. I still think East wins, though, because this Aces team isn’t about to let this be a repeat of 2007. Click here for story on East and Southeast.

Garden City at Derby could go either way, and I’m just not sure about Dodge City at South. South has more talent than Dodge, but is this team set mentally without Marky Nolen, who was ejected last week? I don’t know, maybe the Titans will play better without any distractions that tend to come with him and officials.

Manhattan should take care of North, which will be without coach Ben Mitchell, who was ejected in his final regular season game against Southeast.  Topeka’s at Heights, which should win this game but is coming off a tough OT loss to Carroll in the regular season finale. Northwest at Maize is only intriguing because the teams are evenly matched — neither team has a winning record — yet that’s where I’ll be. I’m curious about Maize’s offense, if it can get over the 30-percent shooting mark. And Northwest, I just don’t know.

On the 5A girls side, um, let’s just skip over them, what do you say? I mean, West (0-20) at Carroll (17-3)? Winfield (6-14) at Valley Center (8-12)? Ark City (4-16) at Kapaun (13-7)? Could I be more bored? I don’t think so. Man, 5A is not good. In the Carroll sub-state, only Carroll, Kapaun and Emporia have winning records of the eight teams. Same is true in the KC Turner sub-state — only Lansing, Shawnee Heights and KC Washington have winning records. The best records in the Aquinas sub-state? 13-7, 12-8, 12-8, 12-8. My goodness, this is not good.

When Great Bend has the best sub-state — Mac (17-3), Liberal (11-9), Great Bend (15-5), Hutch (13-7) — it’s not a good year for 5A. Wow.

Onto 4A girls. Not too much that stands out. Augusta-Rose Hill is OK, but Rose Hill is a much better team, same with Circle at Andover Central. Good rivalries, not so good matchups.

In 3A boys, I’m looking forward to Garden Plain-W. Trinity and Belle Plain-W. Collegiate, all at the Chaparral sub-state. Those are almost way too good of matchups because it’s too bad those teams will meet now.

by joanna

Not too many surprises tonight in first-round sub-state action in 5A and 6A. Northwest girls are out, Derby had some problems with Southeast but pulled it out, Maize beat Manhattan, Goddard beat East, Heights beat Topeka. South did beat Garden City, as it should be.

In 5A boys, West is out, but Kapaun and Carroll will meet in the sub-state final. Although Carroll certainly made it way too interesting against a team that came in at 2-18. Carroll finally took the lead in the third quarter and the game was tied with three minutes to go. Sounds like an ugly game.

I was over at Heights to see a debacle. Couldn’t believe it, though, that coach Kip Pulliam got a technical when the team was up 29 in the third quarter. He said he wasn’t even speaking to the officials, but he must have said something to irk this official enough. Topeka coaches were highly agitated that Heights was still pressing in the fourth quarter. At one point, an official told one of their assistants to quit staring him down. Such drama.

by joanna

Class 4A on down got started on sub-states on Monday and Tuesday, and tonight the 5A boys play and the 6A girls play. Check here for the schedule.

When the state association changed the format for 5A and 6A, I have to admit I was pleased. The first round travel is very different because the top seeded teams host. So tonight if we want to cover the top team in 6A girls, well, Heights is at home. That’s where I’ll be. Appreciate that. If the system were as it was several years ago, then we’d be in Manhattan Thursday through Saturday because that’s the host site.

Of course, there is a weird side of this, too. When Heights plays in the sub-state final, I’m guessing against Maize, they will play in Manhattan. Odd, huh. Same with the boys. The Heights boys, if they win, will play either Northwest or Maize — in Manhattan on Saturday.

Anyway, onto the games. Not a lot of intrigue in tonight’s first-round games. Heights should win easily, as should Goddard. South could be tested by Garden City — and frankly, with this South team, who knows what to expect. Click here for today’s story on the Titans. Derby could have its hands full with Southeast, which is a quick team. I think Derby will win, though, because its inside game with Joanna McFarland is too strong..

In 5A boys, Carroll and Kapaun should advance. Their opponents — Topeka West is 2-18, Kapaun’s opponent, Winfield, is 4-16. Of course, no Kapaun player should overlook Winfield. When Kapaun had that excellent team that finished tied for first in the City League a couple years ago, Winfield upset them in sub-state. Hutchinson at Hays could be a good game, too, both are 13-7.

There’s my preview. Where will you be tonight?

by joanna

I haven’t done this in awhile, so I thought I’d catch you guys up with what you commenters are thinking.

Last week there was quite a lot of talk about South’s Marky Nolen. He was ejected from a game last week and has earned a bad rep through the season for his intimidating play. Personally, I think the kid needs to tone down the attitude, but in the games I’ve seen (that’s all I’m talking about) I haven’t been bothered by his actions. As you probably remember, I was more bothered by one ref in the Northwest-South game. But Nolen definitely has caused problems during games with his attitude. There are some of you who have supported him — that’s fine — and others who have railed against him. That’s fine, too.

(more…)

by joanna

Don’t know if you saw this, but we just posted it on Kansas.com. This is the tough part of sports, when there’s such sadness.

I tend to get annoyed with people who use the phrase “This puts life into perspective; sports really don’t mean that much.” I feel that way because I believe it’s overused. At the same time, it’s true. Winning or losing doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot when you see a young kid has died.

But I do believe in the power of sports, that sports helps us get through difficulties such as this. Think those kids tonight will feel a little better, that they were playing for their friend? I bet so. Remember how, after 9/11, that sports helped us heal. Same happened after Hurricane Katrina.

Good luck to those Valley Falls kids. This won’t be easy. At least they have each other.

by joanna

So I’m trying to come up with something funny or interesting to say on this blog. Instead I’m going to try an issue here. I’m currently immersed in a set of stories regarding the bond issue and athletics, and I’m curious to get your thoughts on this topic.

Are athletics necessary in high school? Should the bond issue pay for improvements to the athletic facilities? What needs to be fixed?

Tell me your thoughts. I’d love to hear them.

This bond issue is a hot topic right now. We’ve heard from a variety of people who have different thoughts on it, ranging from athletics shouldn’t be included to why are we having another bond issue so soon to comparisons with the suburbs.

by joanna

Can you believe that it’s 7:10 p.m. on Monday and I have not blogged yet? That’s just wrong. But I have to admit that I didn’t have the energy to blog today. I’ve got some other stuff I’m working on, so I didn’t do the thing I enjoy most. Stinks, huh?

We’re down to two sports now. Bowling and Basketball. Bowling state championships are this weekend — 6A is in Wichita, 5-1A in Topeka. Basketball sub-states start tonight in 4A on down, while 5A and 6A sub-states get started on Wednesday night.

I’ll get more into the basketball sub-states later, but there are some teams that have an easy route, including the Heights girls and the Southeast boys.

I got an e-mail from someone today wanting a story done on how there is no wrestling at the three major colleges in Kansas. It is a sad thing, and I can understand why there is frustration with coaches and wrestlers who would like to either wrestle for one of those schools or go watch those programs.

All right, I’m out. I’ll try to do better later. Enjoy your sub-states if you’re playing tonight and if you’re so inclined, enjoy the K-State-Texas game. I love watching Michael Beasley.