Varsity Kansas - The Blog

by matt

The exclamation mark was added to a fantastic four days of basketball for me. It’s always nice to see a local school win a state championship. The offensive explosion from Trinity was fun to watch. As was Cole Graddy, who along with Jordan Cyphers at Southeast, are the two best players I’ve seen this year.

I really enjoyed the small school tournaments. The atmosphere was great and I got to see some great stories. A couple that come to mind: Obviously tonight and then the #8 seed Wheatland-Grinnell girls upset undefeated Olpe. Thus is the madness of March.

Of course, I’ll always remember this week for the loss of a brand new laptop (rest in peace Gateway) but besides that….

I think I’ll take a couple of days off. I think I deserve it.

by joanna

Well, Southeast proved its the best team in 6A with its dominating win over Lawrence. As for the rest of the state,  Andover Central, well, I didn’t expect that close of a game, which included big deficits for the Jaguars, but they did win in overtime. Congrats to Stana Jefferson on an undefeated season. Berean Academy girls won 2A by one point in overtime. In Class 3A boys, Wichita Trinity did as expected and won the title handily. How about that?  First trip to state, state title.
Not every area team did that well. I truly believed the Bishop Carroll girls would win 5A, no problem. Mac, you proved me wrong. I’m surprised that this is a season that the Bullpups won the title, then again, 5A was crazy weird, and anyone really had a shot. But McPherson is the only one that did it. Props to you. The Bishop Carroll boys didn’t surprise anyone by losing to Highland Park. But, hey, the Eagles surprised us all by getting there. The Goddard girls didn’t fare well in 6A, either. The Lions had their chances to win that game, but two late turnovers were key. There were a lot of sad, tear-stained faces on that team. It was a crazy finish, to say the least.

I need to jet. They’re ready to kick us out of White Auditorium. I know, I’m already 30 minutes late on the WIBW wrap up show. Dang it!

What a week. I’ll try to blog tomorrow. I’m planning on thoughts about next year, thoughts overall. Then I’ll take a nap.

by joanna

I can understand East’s irritation that the Aces played Southeast in the semis. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Aces are 6A’s second-best team. East played Southeast close in the semis, but Southeast thoroughly dominated Lawrence in the finals.

I’m not a hater, who thinks Lawrence shouldn’t have been there in the first place. That’s a good team and I’m not sure how the Lions lost 12 games. But I know how they lost their last. Southeast was that much better. Yes 21 points better. Southeast had four players in double figures — Adonis Gantt, Jordan Cyphers, Cortez Barnes, D’Andre Tomlin. The Buffs forced 18 turnovers, Gantt had 14 assists, Southeast shot 54.8 percent from the floor.

It was an impressive showing by Southeast and a heckuva fun game to watch.

by joanna

Southeast did it like Southeast can — breath-taking moves, stifling defense, scoring in transition.

It was an outstanding showing by this Buffaloes team. Adonis Gantt, Joe Mitchell, Jordan Cyphers, Cortez Barnes, D’Andre Tomlin. Wow. And when this team plays that well, good luck.

Southeast fans stormed the court — I think it was just the left corner, maybe about 25 feet in.  Lots of jumping around with pointer fingers in the air. What a finish by the Buffs.

Highland Park 64, Carroll 39. Gonna start writing now so I can get on the road back home. Thanks for reading all weekend, ya’ll.

by joanna

Southeast has turned this second half into a dunk contest. Barnes, Cyphers, even Tomlin.

It’s 86-61 with 1:22 to go and Southeast has all the studs out.

by matt

Trinity wins going away 55-39. After Graddy’s buzzer beater, the Knights went on a 19-1 run. Stay tuned for more details.

by joanna

Southeast is rolling now. Up 66-51 at the end of the third.

by joanna

Lawrence’s Lance Kilburn just got angry with an official after being called for a foul. The official yelled right back.

Now the officials are warning Jordan Cyphers and Lawrence’s Baba Diallo that they need to chill. Diallo’s all up in Cyphers’ grill on defense, especially on the inbounds play. After the warning, Cyphers flew back, as if Diallo had bumped him hard. The officials didn’t buy it.

Southeast leads 49-38 with 5:17 to go in the third.

It’s 38-18 Scots at half. HP has made 8 of 13 three-pointers, while Caroll is 8 of 12. On free throws. No three-pointers for the Eagles. That’s pretty much the difference. And Highland Park is way better, collectively, at basketball.