2021 Area Basketball Preview

EMPORIA H CHASE COUNTY H LEBO H OLPE NORTHERN HEIGHTS H HARTFORD H MADISON

2021 AREA

BASKETBALL PREVIEW

THE EMPORIA GAZETTE

Page 2

Saturday, December 4, 2021

LEBO WOLVES LEBO BOYS AIMING HIGH UNDER NEW HEAD COACH

By Chris Adams The Emporia Gazette

The Lebo Wolves boys basketball team begins its new campaign with an intent to win big. That may seem obvious, but first-year head coach Austin Klumpe’s charge to his squad is to win all significant competitions.

“Win Central Heights Tourney, win LCL (Lyon County League) Tourney, win sub-state, win state,” he said.

That about covers it. If those mandates are met, they’ll obviously be coronated state champions.

Of course, a program needs the right personnel to make a run at a championship. But Klumpe believes in his players, as long as they play hard and as a cohesive unit.

The Wolves bowed out of the playoffs in last year’s COVID season after a loss to Madison, despite a 17-5 record. They also placed second in the Lyon County League behind 1A Division I state champion Olpe, although they beat Olpe in the championship game of the Lyon County League Tournament Coach Dennis Becker will be assisting Klumpe.

“We are optimistic about the upcoming season and have good senior leadership to help navigate our program,” Klumpe said. “All of our boys have worked hard in the off-season, developing their game while becoming stronger and faster as well.”

Returning team leaders are senior forward Kyle Reese, senior guard Jonas Konrade, junior guard Landon Grimmett

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Not pictured: Luke Davies.

and junior forward Luke Davies.

Grimmett averaged 12 points per game last season. He was an all-league selection and a 2020-21 all-state honorable mention.

Several new players are expected to make an impact in 2021-22.

Klumpe said senior Colin Whalen “will stretch the defense with shooting and playing hard,” and junior Austin Bailey “provides toughness and will be a good screener and rebounder.”

The Wolves should also receive some help from a few underclassmen. Sopho-

more Grayson Shoemaker brings shooting prowess and athleticism to the hardwood, Klumpe said. And sophomore Corey Reese “will provide speed and defensive energy.” Versatile freshman Zach Oswald can post up and offers size and shooting ability from the outside.

The team possesses a solid defensive skill set in the full and half-court, Klumpe said, adding that rebounding and resolve are team strengths.

He said the overall team weakness is one that can’t be improved through practice or game experience: height.

Klumpe feels the league will again be fierce. And a multitude of teams could come out on top.

“The league will be competitive once again with many teams capable of winning the regular season and league tourney,” he said.

As long as they play tough and together, the Wolves have a shot, Klumpe said.

But self-improvement is the goal.

“We look forward to seeing growth on and off the court throughout the season,” he said.

The Wolves opened the season Dec. 3

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Page 3

LEBO GIRLS TAKE AIM AT LEAGUE TITLE, STATE RUN

By Chris Adams The Emporia Gazette

The Lebo girls basketball team begins its season with a 20/20 state-tournament vision.

Head coach Patrick Gardner has set some worthy goals for his team: “Win the league, the (Lyon County League) tournament; make a run at state.”

Lebo went 16-5 last year and 5-2 in league play.

The best team in the league is Burlingame, Gardner said, also noting that Hanover is the preeminent program in 1A Division I I this season.

Lebo lost a key player from last year’s team in Demi Schrader. However, it could still improve on last year’s record considering the depth on the 202122 squad.

The Wolves added three promising freshmen to their roster. Gardner said 5-foot-9 Saige Hadley is a “high-level scorer, great athlete,” 5-foot-5 Abi Jones is a “good shooter, solid defender” and 5-foot-6 Siara Crouch is a “tough player, good shooter.”

“Losing Demi will change the way we play defensively because we lose her height,” he said. “The three freshmen will more than make up for her on offense. All three girls get out and defend the passing lanes very well.”

Lebo’s projected starters are 5-foot-5 senior Abby Peek, who averaged six points per game with four rebounds and two steals; 5-foot-seven sophomore Audrey Peek, who scored 13 points per game with three rebounds and two steals; 5-foot-9 junior Brooklyn Jones, who averaged 15 points per game with two rebounds and five steals; 5-foot-5 senior Alli Moore and 5-foot-6 sophomore Katie Ott round out the starting lineup.

Abby Peek, Audrey Peek, Moore and Jones are all returning starters.

Audrey Peek and Brooklyn Jones were 2021 1A Division I Girls Basketball All-State Honorable Mention.

Interestingly, several members of the team were also part of the 2021 state runner-up volleyball team. Abby Peek, Audrey Peek, Jones, Moore, Ott, Hadley and Crouch all played volleyball this fall. Abby Peek, Audrey Peek, Hadley and Jones were all-state players.

The team’s last girls’ basketball state title — and league title — occurred in 2001.

Gardener is in his third season at Lebo after he spent eight years helming

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the Hartford boys’ program.

He said the Wolves’ weaknesses are four-to-5-minute droughts of scoreless basketball, but he feels there is sufficient varsity playing experience on the squad to be successful.

“Four returning starters and one returning player with significant varsity experience,” he said. “Our ability to play eight or nine girls is a strength to our team and the style of basketball we are able to play.”

Lebo will play a style that is hyperaggressive, Gardner said.

“We will play fast,” he said. “Will take a lot of quick shots in transition and crash offensive boards. We really like to get out and pressure teams defensively. We will press on every made mistake.”

Gardner takes a serious approach to his craft and requires his players to be all-in on the floor.

“I expect my girls to give me 100% every time they are on the floor,” he said. “I’m a no-nonsense type of coach (you’ll see that pretty quick), but allow for flexibility when girls are going hard and trying to make the right play. How we defend will determine the outcome of our games and generate our offense.”

Lebo played its first game against Flinthills on Dec. 3.

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Saturday, December 4, 2021

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MADISON BULLDOGS

Saturday, December 4, 2021

MADISON BOYS LOOK TO RETURN TO TOP OF LYON CO. LEAGUE aiming for a winning season, competing for the LCL Championship and making the state tournament, Dannels said.

“If we are able to overcome adversity and have strong The Madison boys basketball team is poised to be a leadership, we will be successful,” he said. “We have a lot force in the Lyon County League.

“I feel like we can be a top team in the LCL,” said of new faces, but we are basketball intelligent.”

Despite losing 1A Division I All-State Honorable seventh-year head coach Brett Dannels.

The Bulldogs have lofty yet necessary goals. They’re Mention player Chase Harrison, the Bulldogs can still

By Chris Adams

The Emporia Gazette

be competitive. Madison’s new players are expected to have an impact on the program, Dannels said. They include senior forward Braden Foltz, senior guard Trace Dannels, junior guard Gavin Isch and junior point guard Bryson Turner.

Turner is a complete athlete who scorched the field during the football season and is the defending 1A 100-meter champion.

The Bulldogs’ key returner and team leader is senior swing player Drew Stutesman, who averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and one block per game in 2020-21.

The team’s strengths are tenacious defenders, deft shooting and basketball intelligence, Dannels said. Lack of varsity experience is their Achilles heel, but a roster of unknown players works in the Bulldogs’ favor, he added.

“I think it’s easy to overlook a team that graduated a lot of players,” Dannels said. “One of the cons is players without a significant amount of varsity time. Pros are people don’t know your true identity as a team, and new upperclassmen players can grow and develop at a faster pace.”

Dannels is confident his team will make some noise and get the attention of other programs.

“This team will surprise some teams with their toughness,” he said. “They play great team ball and are very unselfish. As far as defense goes, I have no doubt they will perform at a high level.”

He said the Madison squad is a determined collective set on improving.

“They have a desire to be better today than they were yesterday,” Dannels said. “It will be fun to see what this group of guys will accomplish.”

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Saturday, December 4, 2021

Page 7

MADISON GIRLS TO RELY ON EXPERIENCED UPPERCLASSMEN

By Chris Adams The Emporia Gazette

The Madison Bulldogs placed fifth in the Lyon County League last season with a 7-9 record. They don’t plan to fall below that this year.

“The Bulldogs look to stay competitive in a tough Lyon County League,” said fifthyear coach Vanessa Kresin.

She said steady improvement throughout the year is the aim.

“We look to…become a much more improved team heading into the postseason, with our young girls progressing and gaining game experience,” Kresin said.

Returning team leaders from last season are senior and three-year starter Reese Farrow who “looks to contribute experienced minutes for the team,” and junior Yolaine Luthi, who “looks to continue to be a key player for the Bulldogs.”

Luthi averaged 14.1 points per game last season and is a prolific rebounder — one of the best in the state in 2020-21 — grabbing 11 boards per game last year. Luthi is not only a hoopster but is a spiker too. She

played outside hitter/setter for the Bulldogs volleyball team and was named honorable mention in Class 1A Division I. Kresin is expecting varsity minutes from her freshman players too, along with junior Ava Foltz, who “looks to add to the varsity court as well.”

Continuing on the theme of minutes, Kresin said it’s the squad’s strength.

“This year’s team returns some key players that are now upperclassmen,” she said.

“They have contributed big-time minutes as underclassmen. Experienced varsity minutes help contribute to a strong mental toughness in a team.”

But scoring consistency is Madison’s weakness, Kresin said.

“The Bulldogs struggle scoring all around as a team at times,” she said. “So a targeted weakness the Bulldogs look to attack this season (is) working to be an offensive threat. Even when things are not going your way.”

But the Bulldogs will have to buy into the process if that is to happen, she said, adding that it’s also about “staying disciplined and working hard in practice every single day.”

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Saturday, December 4, 2021

NORTHERN HEIGHTS WILDCATS NORTHERN HEIGHTS BOYS TO BUILD ON LAST YEAR’S 2-WIN SEASON

COURTESY PHOTO

By Chris Adams The Emporia Gazette

The Northern Heights boys basketball team is returning experience and leaning on practice.

Head coach Jacob Lang is confident the Wildcats can add wins to last season’s 2-16 effort. That’s a season goal.

“With a full offseason and preseason of practice, we should improve off of last year’s record,” he said. “We have several

experienced players coming back. We are just hoping for small improvements every day.”

But Lang knows there are some competitive programs in the Flint Hills League.

“Lyndon and Osage City should be really good. Chase County, Council Grove, and Mission Valley return quite a bit of experience,” the seventh-year coach said.

Lang said his charges possess length

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and athleticism and shoot the ball well but lack size as opposed to height.

It appears the four key returning Wildcat players will have to play with size.

5-foot-11 senior guard Jarrod Campbell averaged eight points per contest and three rebounds. Six-foot junior guard Kolden Rydberg averaged six points per game and three rebounds. 6-foot-3 senior forward Braden Heins averaged 14 points per game and three rebounds.

And 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Cooper

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Hamlin averaged two points per game.

Heins was selected as an all-league honorable mention last year.

Contributing newcomers should be junior center Gabe King, senior guard Wayde Burton, senior forward Coy Horton and junior forward Connor Arb. Lang said the keys to the Wildcats’ success are to “stay together as a team, work hard, have a positive attitude.”

The Wildcats began 2021-22 action Dec. 3 against Osage City.

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Page 9

NORTHERN HEIGHTS GIRLS RETURN EXPERIENCE UNDER NEW HEAD COACH

By Chris Adams The Emporia Gazette

A change occurred in the Northern Heights girls basketball program this year, as USD 251 Superintendent Bob Blair is now leading the Wildcats, replacing Lanny Massey, who resigned at the end of last season.

Blair wants to be a tough out in the Flint Hills League and aim for the postseason. He also believes the league is more balanced.

“The league should have a lot of parity this season,” he said.

Northern Heights won the Flint Hills Shootout last season and Blair hopes to continue that success this year.

“Our team expects to be competitive in the league this year, with three returning starters and three other returning players with significant game experience,” he said.

The Wildcats’ overall record in 202021 was a respectable 15-5.

Though no impactful newcomers will be joining its ranks this season, returning starters should give the Northern

Heights team a boost. Senior swing player Makenna French averaged 10.1 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and two steals. Senior point guard Adrianna Brecheisen averaged five points per game, 3.5 rebounds and two steals. Senior guard Aubrey Hinrichs averaged 8.3 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 steals.

Other players expected to make an impact are senior swing player Trysta Hahn, junior post player Kailyn Schlimme, junior post player Teagan Hines and guard Addison Landgren.

“These four players return with significant experience during the 2020-21 season,” Blair said.

However, Northern Heights lost Caleigh Smart and Kaley Boyce from last year’s team, leaving a void in its inside scoring game.

“We will be somewhat inexperienced inside coming into the season,” Blair COURTESY PHOTO said.

But three returning starters at guard/ Blair said the keys are to “utilize our and improver throughout the season.” small forward fortify the Wildcats with speed to score in transition and play Northern Heights’ first matchup of sound ball-handling and outside scoring tough defense. Have our younger play- the season was Dec. 3 against Osage ability. ers gain additional playing experience City.

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Saturday, December 4, 2021

EMPORIA SPARTANS YOUTHFUL EHS BOYS TO START YEAR WITH UNCERTAINTY, HOPE

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

happy.”

Welch said he’ll look for leadership from other seniors with less varsity experience, such as Trey Templeton, Kaden Woydziak and Corbin Cooper.

However, the Spartans are going to need some other, younger players to step into the vacancies left by last year’s seniors. Junior Drew Hess, sophomores Sheldon Stewart and Cooper Rech and freshman River Peters will likely see varsity time this season.

With only two returning players who have varsity experience, the Emporia High boys basketball team heads into the 2021-22 season in search of new beginnings and new playmakers.

Seven seniors, including four starters, graduated off of last year’s team, leaving just senior Jacob Ortega and junior Parker Leeds as the lone veterans this season.

Leeds started most of the season as a sophomore last year. Twelfthyear head coach Beau Welch said that Leeds will serve as the Spartans’ point guard and primary scorer.

“He’s kind of a playmaker for us and we do need him to be a playmaker for us,” he said. “We need him to be good defensively as well.”

Ortega played in a starting capacity for about half of the 2020-21 season and contributed valuable minutes off the bench in the other TIM MOHN/GAZETTE half. Welch said that when Ortega Emporia High’s Jacob Ortega (22) drives the baseline played well last against a pair of Junction City defenders on Jan. 8 in season, it was be- Emporia. cause he was doing the less attention-grabbing but still It will be a seismic shift for Empovitally important things well. ria, going from last year’s senior-laden “He defended well, played with great team to this year’s very green roster. energy and really that’s all we need out For a coach, that requires a different apof Jake because that’s kind of who Jake proach to the season and to the team. is,” Welch said. “When he’s at his best, “I think we’ve got to get better matuthat’s who he is. We’re not going to ex- rity-wise with the current team we have, pect or want him to do any more than whereas opposed to the team we had the best that he can give us. If he can do last year, the experience we had and the those things for us, we’ll be extremely maturity we had, those things took care

of themselves,” Welch said. “With this bunch, we’re trying to get back to that.”

The change in personnel will allow the Spartans to do some different things. Without the strong post presence they’ve had in recent years, Welch said he’ll put as many as four guards on the court at a time.

However, the other side of that coin is Emporia’s lack of physical strength.

“We’re not a big team at all,” Welch said. “We’re going to be very small physically. We’ve got a little bit of size height-wise, but that’s something that I worry about in our league.”

Welch said that aside from youth, the team’s lack of size is his primary concern, particularly if a team is able to dominate Emporia on offense and defense. If or when that happens, the way

the Spartans respond will be an indicator of how far the team has come.

“With a young team, that’s one of the things you just don’t know,” he said.

“How are we going to react when we do get beat up a little bit and the team goes on an 8-0 run? How are we going to react to that? That’s a big test for a young team and a sign of maturity and growth. Do we come out and kick it in, concentrate and get stronger, do the things that we need to do? Or do we become intimidated and let it snowball on us a bit?

“Those are all tests that we’re going to have to see. Those are things that I don’t know. I don’t know how we’re going to react to that. We’ve got to go out and play and, like I said, learn a little bit about ourselves each day and night.”

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Page 11

DEEP, CONFIDENT EHS GIRLS READY FOR REVENGE TOUR

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

The Emporia High girls basketball team had high hopes for last season, but those were dashed with an upset loss to Seaman in the sub-state championship.

This year, though, the Spartans have retained most of their weapons and have an extra year of experience to go with an increased appetite for a state appearance.

“We have some really strong, talented, good leaders that are seniors this year,” said Carolyn Dorsey, who enters her ninth season as the head coach at Emporia.

“That’s always exciting when you see the change of ownership.”

Dorsey has worked with her current group of players since they were 5 or 6 years old, and therefore not only are they well-coached, but they are intimately familiar with what their coach expects of them and the style they’re going to play.

And with only two seniors graduating off the 2020-21 team, the depth that Dorsey has at her disposal is impressive — if not downright scary for the opponents on Emporia’s schedule.

It starts with senior Gracie Gilpin, who was last year’s leading scorer.

“She’s the best basketball player out there,” Dorsey said. “She has energy and enthusiasm. She plays with a pop all the time. She can score, she’s a defender. I hope she has the season of her life.”

But it’s not just Gilpin — not by a long shot — and that’s what will make the Spartans such a force to be reckoned with.

There’s the “bulldog” Allie Baker, who, according to Dorsey, “does everything that you need done and she does it with a smirk”; there’s Avery Guttierez, who is “one of the best teammates we have”; there’s the versatile and “very intelligent” Maddyn Stewart, who is an outside shooter that can also play other positions; there’s Isabel Garcia, the “excellent defender”; there’s Riley Peak, the “animal on the backside glass”; and there’s Brooklyn Wiltz and Hattie Cooper, who are “good teammates” who “understand what their role is.”

But those are just the seniors.

Junior Rebecca Snyder is back after nearly averaging a double-double during her sophomore season and will look to take another step forward in 2021-22.

“She looks just as strong,” Dorsey said.

“Her and Riley going at each other in practice has been beautiful.”

Sophomores Addie Kirmer and Kyla Herfkens should also see the floor quite

TIM MOHN/GAZETTE

Emporia senior guard Isabel Garcia drives toward the basket against Newton in a sub-state game last season.

TIM MOHN/GAZETTE

Emporia High senior guard Allie Baker (20) dribbles the ball up the court while senior guard Gracie Gilpin (0) trails behind during a sub-state game against a bit, as they were important relief players Newton last season.

last year during their freshman seasons.

A handful of other players will also get playing time, Dorsey said, as she stressed that she has an incredibly deep roster. It’s so deep, in fact, that she thinks the junior varsity squad could hang with some schools’ varsity squads.

“You’re going to watch the JV kids and be like, ‘Damn,’” she said. “There’s some kids that can play at [varsity] level. I just don’t have room for them.”

Understandably, the expectations are high for this season. Dorsey said that she fully anticipates that this team will be one of the best in the Centennial League and will be a favorite to make it to the 5A state tournament.

“We expect to be up there, and if we’re not, we’d be really disappointed with this group, because I know how hard they’ve worked,” she said.

The painful way last year ended has been a motivator for this team. Dorsey said her players have the determination to claw and scrape for on-court success, which pairs nicely with their talent, experience and depth.

As a result, this might be one of the most confident teams in the state.

“The league’s looking at us going, ‘You’d better watch out. Emporia can get you,’” Dorsey said. “And that’s a fun feeling to just smirk and smile and be like, ‘You bet we can, so you’d better prepared for us.’”

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Saturday, December 4, 2021

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Page 14

Saturday, December 4, 2021

OLPE EAGLES

OLPE BOYS TO RUN BACK TITLE WITH LITTLE EARLY PRACTICE

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By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

The Olpe boys basketball team will have a total of four practices under its belt before it sets out on its 1A state championship defense in 2021.

That’s because all but four players on this year’s basketball team have been practicing with the school’s football team, which finally wrapped up its season on Saturday, Nov. 27, with a 35-6 win over Inman in the state title game.

“It’ll be a crash course come Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday because we play next Friday (Dec. 3). We’ll have four days of practice,” said 25th-year head coach Chris Schmidt, who’s also the head coach of the football team. “Like I did with football, I’ll lean on my senior kids. We know we won’t be very good because basketball shape is a

lot different than football shape.”

It’s a good problem to have though.

“If we’re playing in state football every year, I’d give (early-season basketball practice) up,” Schmidt said with a laugh.

And this isn’t Olpe’s first time dealing with such a dilemma. In fact, this is the fifth time that Schmidt’s football team has made the state championship game, thus delaying the start of basketball practice. The team even dealt with it last year after it won state in football.

“Last year was even a worse situation because we practiced for three days and then my varsity kids got quarantined for 14 days,” he said. “We missed four games and so that was a little different, unique thing.”

Schmidt said that in early practices, the Eagles will focus on locking in their defense while acknowledging that their shooting might not be quite up to par.

“We’re just pretty vanilla early and we won’t really catch up until Christmas break, honestly,” he said.

Thankfully though, in high school basketball, everyone makes the postseason field, so even if Olpe drops a few early season games, that won’t jeopardize its shot at running back a state title. The goal, however, will be to make sure it’s playing its best basketball come February.

But the Eagles won’t have the chance to dip their toes to test the waters. Their first game is against a quality 3A St. Marys squad and then they’ll play in a three-game tournament the following week.

“We’ll learn stuff right away,” Schmidt said. “I’ll use that as a learning tool. … I’ll be able to go through film and right away immediately show kids, ‘Hey, this is what we’ve got to do.’”

Fortunately, Olpe has five seniors in Der-

ek Hoelting, Triton Ybarra, Damon Redeker, Ted Skalsky and Eli Foraker to rely on.

“Damon Redeker and Derek Hoelting, those two kids have played a lot of basketball for us the last few years and are big contributors, so I’ll lean on those two kids as much as anyone,” Schmidt said. “ … Ted Skalsky is a senior kid, Eli Foraker is another one that played a little bit last year and I expect him to make that next step up.

“Truman Bailey is a kid that really came on for us at the end of last year and he had a great state tournament. … He’s a confident kid on the court. He’s going to be a big part of our success.”

Schmidt said that sophomore Blake Skalsky and juniors Blake Redeker and Darren Heins will also play an important role on the team.

Please see Olpe, Page 15

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THE EMPORIA GAZETTE

Page 15

OLPE GIRLS TO DEFEND STATE TITLE WITH NEW COACHES, PLAYERS

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

The Olpe girls basketball team enters the 2021-22 season defending a state championship and riding a 51-game winning streak. And uniquely, the Eagles also have a brand new coach and a completely overhauled starting lineup.

Ron Slaymaker has taken over the reins of the storied Olpe program after the retirement of legendary head coach Jesse Nelson, who, in 44 seasons, led the Eagles to 951 wins, 30 state tournament appearances and four championships.

He will be joined on the sideline by former Emporia State basketball player Deena (Holloway) Wilson, who played for the Hornets from 1998-2002. Wilson fills the vacancy left by longtime Olpe assistant and fellow former Lady Hornet Carolyn (Richard) Davis, who also retired after last season.

Slaymaker, the head coach of the Emporia State men’s basketball team from 1970-1998 and most recently of the Chase County girls basketball team from 20142021, didn’t expect to replace Nelson — his former player and longtime friend — at Olpe. It’s just how things turned out.

“It wasn’t the job I was looking for, but I’m glad that I’ve got it and look forward to the challenges that we’ll have,” he said.

And there will certainly be challenges — perhaps many more than Olpe fans have been used to in some time. The Eagles are 75-1 in the last three seasons, but the driving force behind that success was last year’s six seniors and now they’ve all moved on.

Slaymaker said that this season he has a core of seven players who will comprise his starting lineup and his primary relievers. None of them has starting experience and only one of them — Addy Scheve — is a senior.

The good news is that, because Olpe so thoroughly dominated all of its opponents last season, Slaymaker’s seven have a significant amount of varsity-level experience.

Additionally, having played for Nelson previously, they have a history of being well-coached and, as Slaymaker pointed

OLPE From PAGE 14 Under Schmidt’s tutelage, Olpe teams have hung their hats on defense and it’ll be the same this year as well, even though Schmidt acknowledged it doesn’t have a

out, they spent all of last season practicing against the best team in the state.

“They played against some really good players every day in practice, and that’s going to be worth something,” he said.

Practice began Nov. 15 and Olpe played its first game at St. Marys on Dec. 3, which doesn’t allow a great deal of time for the Eagles to get used to their new coach and the somewhat new system he is implementing.

But Slaymaker has faith in his players.

“After we go through some growing pains, I think we’re going to be just fine,” he said.

Slaymaker added that the team has a positive attitude and works very hard in practice. He understands that the growing pains may be difficult for players who have only known tremendous success, but the basketball season is four months long and that’s plenty of time for them to adjust and lock in.

“We’re taking it a day at a time in practice, a game at a time,” he said. “I’m more concerned about what we do in January and February and March than I’m as concerned about what we do right now.”

Both Slaymaker and his players are aware of the long tradition of girls basketball excellence at Olpe. His players have been a part of it and Slaymaker has coached against it and observed it closely over the years.

“I don’t know if it’s pressure, although if it’s pressure, great, because most people function better under pressure,” he said. “If there’s pressure there, that’s fine. I personally don’t mind that.”

Slaymaker acknowledged that it’d be difficult to say that success this season, given the various mitigating factors, should be measured by Olpe winning every game it plays. He’d rather focus on each game as it comes and on having his team play better than it did the game before.

“That may be a goal that I don’t know if it means anything; it means something to me,” he said. “It’s my job to make it mean something to the girls that we get better every week, we get more knowledgeable, we get better conditioned, we improve our skills.”

lot of size. And while shooting may need to come along throughout the year, Schmidt believes that by the time postseason arrives, the Eagles should be a pretty good shooting team.

“I like the kids we got,” he said. “I think they can attack the basket pretty well and that kind of thing. I think it’s going to be a fun bunch to work with.”

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MEET THE SPARTANS

Zayda Pearson Sophomore

Pedro Padierna Freshman

Page 16

THE EMPORIA GAZETTE

Saturday, December 4, 2021

HARTFORD JAGUARS

HARTFORD BOYS TO RELY ON GUARD PLAY IN 2021-22

By Chris Adams The Emporia Gazette

The Hartford boys basketball program is set to embark on its 2021-22 season, hoping to better last year’s five wins.

“We are looking to improve on last year’s record (5-16),” said head coach Colten Barrett, who can also be seen walking the sidelines during football season. “Looking to improve our league standing from last year.”

The Jaguars finished seventh in the league, struggling against Lyon County League teams. They lost eight league games and won two.

Olpe will be the best team in the league, Barrett said.

Barrett said there are some primary objectives that could help with that win-loss column situation.

“I think the biggest thing for us, to be able to control the tempo of games,” Barrett said. “We want to play fast but without forcing it. … Get the tempo in our favor, for sure.

We talk about playing fast without being in a hurry. …Got to limit our turnovers.”

A drawback is the team’s lack of size, he said. It’s a good thing he’s relying on the Jaguar guards to carry the load.

“I believe we have improved in our overall guard play from a year ago, we have improved in our shooting ability as well,” he said. “So I’m hoping we can lean on our guard play this season as our big-

COURTESY/ANNABELLE PAYTON

Back(L-R) Draven Stokes, Nolin Trester, Kevin Goza, Oliver Smith, Tysin Bulson, Sebastian Leesberg.

Middle(L-R) Joey Del Percio, Duncan Baker, Damion Bomar, Ashton Goodman, Damien Pohl.

Front (L-R) Ali Smith, Aiden Goodman, Devon Smith, Shayden Sull, Trade Torrens

gest strength.”

His returning guards are 5-foot-10 Ali Smith and 5-foot-8 Shayden Sull.

Smith averaged 11 points per game last year, along with five rebounds. Smith has also been running the Jaguars offense on fall

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Friday football games since his freshman Two additional guards are newcomer year. Smith was also a 2021 Eastern Kansas Joey Del Pecio and freshman Tysin Bulsan.

Sports 1A Division II second-team selection.

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THE EMPORIA GAZETTE

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Page 17

HARTFORD GIRLS TO RELY ON SENIOR LEADERSHIP The Emporia Gazette

The Hartford girls basketball team looks to build off of last year’s late-season success in 2021-22.

The Jaguars opened the season with six straight losses but finished the season going 6-6 in their final 12 games to post a 6-12 record. They lost to Central Plain 70-18 in the first round of the postseason.

HARTFORD From PAGE 16 rens and 6-foot Duncan Baker.

The Jaguars graduated key players Andy Andrews, Andrew McDiffett and Tanner Highly last year, but the return of several other players from the 2020-21 squad could provide the means for a re-

Halee Heathman, Brooke Finnerty and Sadie Pearson graduated off of last year’s small varsity team of just eight players.

However, experience may prove to be Hartford’s strength this year as seniors Kiernan Breshears, Regan Darbyshire, Tara Baker, Kira Westhoff and Brianna Sapp will all be back for head coach Ryan Thomas.

The Jaguars opened their season at home against Altoona-Midway on Dec. 3. spectable finish in the LCL. Barrett is a Hartford native who once coached at Northern Heights but has gone all-in Hartford now, serving as both football and boys basketball coaches. He told The Gazette in the fall that, “GrowCOURTESY/ANNABELLE PAYTON ing up, being from Hartford, playing for Hartford, and now coaching for Hartford, Back(L-R): Tobye Sull, Trinity Windle, Keilee Finnerty, Lexie Giesken-Mears, I think it’s a benefit.”

Chiara Garcia.

The Jaguars’ first game was Dec. 3 Front(L-R): Regan Darbyshire, Kiernan Breshears, Tara Baker, Brianna Sapp against Altoona-Midway at home.

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Arianna Hamilton Junior

Hugo Moreno Sophomore

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Page 18

Saturday, December 4, 2021

CHASE COUNTY BULLDOGS CHASE COUNTY BOYS TO MIX VETERANS WITH NEWCOMERS

By Chris Adams

The Emporia Gazette

The Chase County boys basketball team heads into the new basketball season seeking a return to the postseason.

“Our goal is to make it past sub-state and into the state tournament,” said thirdyear head coach Cade Witte. “The last two years, we have lost in the second round of sub-state but our sights are still set on the state tournament.”

The Bulldogs were 14-7 last year and went two games deep into the playoffs before losing to Lyndon by 30 points.

“To be successful, we need to be competitive every night and play as a team,” he said. “With the number of new players, we need to build some experience playing with one another. We also need to be consistent on offense and defense.”

Returning Bulldog leaders from last season are junior Cooper Schroer (8.4 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game), junior Aidan Eidman (10.1 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game), senior Rhett Reyer, junior Dominic Cauthers and sophomore Tag Groh.

Witte said the new players expected to make an impact this year are junior Pax Vogel and sophomore Colin Monihen.

Continuous low roster numbers — 14 this season — has forced Chase County to adapt and improvise, which has created versatile players, Witte said.

“We have players that have experience playing both the guard and post positions, and that has made them well-rounded players,” he said. “We are hoping to use that to our advantage this year.”

Conversely, a lack of experience at the varsity level could impact contests against

PHOTO COURTESY BELLA ZERBE

high-profile or challenging opponents.

“We graduated five seniors that played a significant role in our team’s success last year,” he said.

The returners will have to find their “A game” this year.

“We are looking for some younger players to step up and contribute to the team,” Witte said.

Witte played at Udall High School. He has coached at Chase County for 11 years, beginning at the junior high school and transitioning to the high school program three years ago. Eleven years have allowed

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him to develop a team-oriented style and philosophy.

“My coaching style focuses around our team effort and playing in a selfless manner,” he said. “During practice and games, I stress playing to our potential and being your best on every play. With that, having the understanding that any player on a given night may be the person we rely on. It doesn’t matter who is on the court, we focus on making the right pass and right play.”

The Bulldogs finished in the middle of the pack in Flint Hills League play the past two seasons and then struggled in the

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league tournaments. It seems 2021-222 will be just as challenging.

“The top of the league will be tough this year as teams bring back some really good players,” Witte said. “We are working hard to be in contention for the top half of the league.”

But optimism fuels Witte’s outlook.

“Each season, we have gotten better, and last year we finished 14-7, with a few close games,” he said. “If we can be more consistent from game to game, we have a good opportunity to improve on that record.”

Saturday, December 4, 2021

THE EMPORIA GAZETTE

Page 19

CHASE COUNTY GIRLS HOPE FOR SAME SUCCESS WITH NEW HEAD COACH

By Chris Adams The Emporia Gazette

It’s a season of change for the Chase County girls basketball team, which is looking to expand on a successful 202021 campaign.

The Bulldogs posted a 16-6 record last year and made it to the second round of the playoffs before falling to Berean Academy. But that was with a different coach and less experienced players.

First-year coach Amber Rausch, who takes over for the former coach Ron Slaymaker, is confident this season’s version can achieve similar success.

“We graduated one key player from last season, so with most of our experienced players returning, we’re optimistic about what we can accomplish,” she said.

A collective of seniors is back to lead the team: Abby Tubach, Kaylee Simpson, Lexi Monihen, Ainsley Grant and Alexus Hatcher.

“Our senior leaders are experienced players who have encountered many situations that prepared them well,” she said.

The strength of this Bulldog team is tenacious defense and distribution of the ball for scoring opportunities.

“Forcing steals and converting points in fast breaks will be a big part of that,” Rausch said. “Our team is older and experienced, which will be beneficial as well.

There’s room for each individual to step up and contribute their strengths to the team.”

On the flip side, ball security and minimizing turnovers will be crucial.

“I’d also like to see us grab more rebounds on both ends despite our lack of overall height,” Rausch said.

PHOTO COURTESY BELLA ZERBE

Rausch played at Chase County along with her assistant coach Andrea Eidman.

Rausch played at the next level, matriculating to Hutchinson Community College and then finishing her basketball career at Cameron University in Oklahoma. She then served as Slaymaker’s assistant.

“Once I moved back home, I took a job as an assistant coach and remained there off and on for a total of six seasons before taking the head coach position this year. … I hope to continue the string of success that me and so many since have achieved,” she said.

Rausch said the Bulldogs should be a top-tier team in the Flint Hills League. They were fifth last season.

“I’d like to see us in the top three at least,” she said.

Last season, Osage City and Northern Heights placed first and second respectively.

Rausch is encouraged by the 2021-22 edition of the girls’ basketball squad.

“I am optimistic about how we will compete in the postseason…,” she said.

“I’m confident in their abilities and team chemistry with hopes to instill self-discipline that will set them apart.”

MEET THE SPARTANS

Alexa Shively Sophomore

Taylor Cunningham Sophomore

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Page 20

Saturday, December 4, 2021

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