STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 • PAGE 13
BOYS BASKETBALL
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Merino girls basketball seniors (from left)Harley Gentry, Cydnee Sexton, Kaylee Henry, and Larissa Fritzler.
Merino Lady Rams focused on teamwork Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Seniors Chase Powell (left) and Chase Legg will look to capitalize in their final season on the Merino Rams boys basketball team. The team will rely on leadership from the pair this season.
Merino boys look to establish scorers
The Rams will rely on guard play and youth this season By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Merino Rams High School boys basketball team will have a new look this season as some young players will step into new roles. The team was solid last season under first-year head coach Chase Debus, posting an overall record of 13-7 and 5-3 in league play. Debus said he thought he knew a lot about the game from his playing days, but that the learning experience of being a first-time head coach was eye opening. The coach is back for a second season and is tasked with filling the void left by the departure of the majority of the team’s scoring punch. Tre Lewis led the team in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and assists last season as a senior. Wyatt Barton and Colin Mertens were the second and third leading scorers on the team and also aren’t around this season. However, Merino brings back two senior leaders in Chase
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
The Merino Rams boys basketball team huddles during a timeout in their first home game of the season.
“We have a tough first month of December. Everyone in our league will be tough and it will be a battle. Every night, we will have to bring it.” Chase Debus Merino boys basketball coach Powell and Chase Legg. Powell will become a primary ball handler, while Legg will play in the paint. “They have been playing since they were freshman, so they know what it takes
and I think they can push those younger players to step up,” Debus said. “We have some younger kids that will add to our depth and give us some fresh legs See MERINO BOYS, 14
The team is off to a 1-1 start this season By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Merino High School girls basketball team has a renewed focus on teamwork in Mindy Holman’s first season as head coach. “It just felt like we needed more team unity on the court,” Holman said. “That’s my number one focus and then things are going to fall in place from there. Once we are looking for each other and playing well together, then that’s going to make things happen for us.” Holman has experience in the game dating back to her time as a player at Colorado University. Her coaching career started as an assistant in Nywot, before head coaching stints at Fleming and Peetz. She’s been working at Merino for six years and resumed coaching once the girls coaching position became vacant. The Lady Rams are coming off a 5-15 season, including 2-6 in league play. The team graduated two seniors, but returns plenty of experience. Lydia Stegner returns as a junior this season after leading the team in scoring last year with 8.1 points per game. She has scored 16 and 17 points in Merino’s two games so far this season. Holman said that she’s a good threat to score points from the outside. “She was our point guard last season and we moved her to a wing, so that she has more options to
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Coach Mindy Holman (center) coaches Lydia Stegner during a timeout in the Lady Rams first home game of the season against Akron.
“Our strength is that we have a lot of talent. Every person is able to contribute in some way — defensively, offensively, great ball handlers — and we’re fortunate to have that.” Mindy Holman Merino girls basketball coach score,” the coach said. “She’s able to step right in and be a scoring threat.” The team also returns a senior class of Larissa Fritzler, Harley Gentry, Cydnee Sexton, and Kaylee Henry. All four seniors are post players and Holman will lean on Gentry for experience and leadership. Henry, Holman’s daughter, is currently out with a knee injury until after Christmas. Fritzler and Sexton will provide depth in the second unit. Merino returns some experience in sophomore Rylyn Nelson, who scored
16 points in the first game of the season and appeared in 19 games last season. “Rylyn has a lot of hustle and her strength is on defense and in her work ethic,” Holman said. “She makes a lot of things happen out there with hustle and I told her that I’m fortunate to have her.” Also returning to the team are Ainsley Powell, Rebecca Mari, Rylee Nelson, and Hannah Stegner. They are joined by Mileah Snyder, Elektra Canfield, Faith Murphy Zoriah Kaus, Faith Trenkle, LauSee LADY RAMS, 14
PAGE 14 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
WRESTLING
Merino High School wrestling team returns 2 state qualifiers
Remington Canfield started the season 4-0 at Akron tournament By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Merino Rams wrestling team is set to hit the mats with hopes of another successful season in 201718. The team qualified four wrestlers for the state tournament last season and return two to the current roster, Remington Canfield and Matthew Frank. Canfield, the lone senior on the roster, was the 145-pound regional champion and finished fourth in the state tournament last season. It was his second appearance at the state level. Frank, a junior, finished second at regionals and was one win away from placing in his first state tournament appearance at 106 pounds. The rest of the Rams on the current roster include juniors Greg Montano at 145 pounds, Curtis Winters at 160, Joe Schwartz 170, and Joseph Muniz at 185. The team has some fresh faces this season as there are no sophomores, but four incoming freshmen. Ninth graders on the team include Charles Balderas at 126 pounds, Alex Milheim at 152, Trent Elliott at 160, Peyton Nichols at 182, and Michael Auberger at heavyweight. Coach Nathan Schmidt said that he spent the first weeks of practice getting the athletes in wrestling shape. Schmidt, who also coaches football and baseball, said that most were in shape from the prior season, but still had work to do to prepare for the short bursts needed to compete in matches. The thing that separates
MERINO BOYS from page 13 and more of a rotation.” One of those players will be guard Cade Conger, who saw little time as a freshman and will step into a starting role as a sophomore. He scored a teambest 15 points in the Rams season-opening win over Akron. Nathan Batt, a junior, scored 13 in the first game and will be relied upon to score points. Also returning are sophomores Kayd Goss, Tanner Hutt, Bode Holman, and juniors Cody Legg and Tye Barton. Powell is the leading returning scorer with an average of seven points per game last season. “We have some strong guards that have high basketball IQ and know when they can go and get a bucket or when to go to their teammates,” Debus said. “A lot of times, we will have to lean on our guards and they have to take care of the ball for us.” The coach said that team showed glimpses of being a dangerous team in practice, but that he’s looking for the group to establish consistency. After the first weekend of the season, the
Merino Boys Basketball Schedule Dec. 8 @ Otis 4 p.m. Dec. 9 @ Simla 2 p.m. Dec. 12 vs. Holyoke 4 p.m. Dec. 15 @ Limon 4 p.m. Jan. 5 vs. Prairie 4 p.m. Jan. 6 vs. Peetz 2 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Akron 4 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Dayspring Christian 2 p.m. Jan. 26 @ Holyoke 4 p.m. Feb. 2 @ Yuma 4 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Haxtun 2 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Fleming 4 p.m. Feb. 8 @ Wray 4 p.m. Feb. 9 vs. Wiggins 4 p.m. Feb. 15 @ Briggsdale 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 vs. Caliche 4 p.m.
Rams have notched a win at home over Akron and took a loss at Haxtun the next night. “We have a tough first month of December,” Debus said. “Everyone in our league will be tough and it will be a battle. Every night, we will have to bring it.” Kyle Inman: 970-5269298, inmank@journaladvocate.com
LADY RAMS Merino Girls from page 13 Basketball
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Remington Canfield returns as the team’s lone senior this season. He placed fourth in the state tournament at 145 pounds last season.
wrestling season from any other sport for Schmidt is that a wrestler is out there alone. He said that there’s no team to carry an athlete during a wrestling match and that hard work in practice directly correlates to success in an individual sport. Schmidt likened the outlook of the team to that of their football season, saying he didn’t know if they would be great or not, but that he has faith in the hard work the wrestlers have put in. Merino didn’t get a lot of love in the preseason foot-
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ball polls, but ended up with an 8-2 mark and a trip to the state playoffs. He believes the wrestling season could bring the same type of successful outcome as long as they continue to improve from week to week. The team started its season by competing in the Chuck Annand Invitational in Akron over the weekend. Canfield won the tournament’s championship match with a 3-0 decision over Hayden Gavette of Eaton at 145 pounds. He was dominant leading up to the finals, scoring three
Merino Wrestling Schedule Dec. 9 Badger Invitational Dec. 16 Bob Smith Tournament Jan. 6 Savage Invitational Tournament Jan. 13 Wiggins Invitational
ren Frtizler, Delayne Kuntz, Ryann Briggs, and Madison Sutter. “Our strength is that we have a lot of talent,” Holman said. “Every person is able to contribute in some way — defensively, offensively, great ball handlers — and we’re fortunate to have that.” The Lady Rams are 1-1 this season after soundly defeating Akron in their first game, before falling 46-45 to Haxtun the next day. Kyle Inman: 970-5269298, inmank@journaladvocate.com
Schedule Dec. 8 @ Otis 6 p.m. Dec. 9 @ Simla 2 p.m. Dec. 12 vs. Holyoke 6 p.m. Dec. 15 @ Limon Jan. 5 vs. Prairie 4 p.m. Jan. 6 vs. Peetz 2 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Akron 4 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Dayspring Christian 5 p.m. Jan. 26 @ Holyoke 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 @ Yuma 4 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Haxtun 2 p.m. Feb. 6 vs. Fleming 4 p.m. Feb. 8 vs. Wray 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 vs. Wiggins 4 p.m. Feb. 15 @ Briggsdale 4 p.m. Feb. 16 vs. Caliche 4 p.m.
wins, all by pin. Elliott went 4-1 in the tournament, winning the third place match over Jayde Queen of Brush at 160 pounds. Kyle Inman: 970-526-9298, inmank@journal-advocate.com
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STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 • PAGE 15
GIRLS BASKETBALL
BOYS BASKETBALL
Caliche boys basketball team led by senior duo
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Caliche seniors (from left) Kodie Kruger-Wettstein, Saydie Brown, Carla Caro, and Jaecey Lambrecht. Senior not pictured is Sydney Sorensen.
Caliche Lady Buffs have new coach, five seniors The team is currently 1-1 this season Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Brayden Nichols and Skyler Armstrong are the two seniors on the Caliche Buffs boys basketball team. The pair was the top two leading scorers on the team last season.
“We’re just looking to have The Buffs currently have a some success, improve on record of last year, and go further in 1-1 this season districts. This team is young By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer and I just hope we can pull off The Caliche Buffs boys basketball team will lean a great season, because heavily on its two returning seniors for production this these guys are my family.” season. Brayden Nichols and Skyler Armstrong come back for their final season after scoring the bulk of the points for the Buffs last year. Nichols averaged a team-best 14.9 points per game as a junior, while Armstrong added 13.6 points. Coach Dalton Schuppe said it’s a luxury to have two perimeter players capable of carrying the scoring load, particularly early in the season. “Especially until the other
Skyler Armstrong Caliche boys basketball player
guys are able to get in the mix and get a feel for things, it will be nice to have two guys to carry us if we go on a dry spell,” the coach said. “They are two guys that everybody looks to for leadership, so I’m definitely spoiled having that coming into this year. They’ve done everything that I’ve asked of them and I’m really excited to have those two as leaders.”
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The Buffs are coming off a 9-11 overall record last season and graduated three contributors off the team. The team will fill the void with juniors Adam Zink and Josh Kokes, sophomores Corey Derr, Dylan Huss, Chase Armstrong, Taylor Breidenbach, and Riley Stump. “We’re just looking to have some success, improve on See BASKETBALL, 16
By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Caliche Buffs girls basketball team looks to improve with the majority of its roster back from last season and a new coach. First-year head coach Laura Yahn takes over a Lady Buffs team that went 9-13 overall last season. The team only lost one senior, Kayla Zink, who was the leading scorer at 13 points per game. Yahn has the luxury of having five seniors on the roster — Sydney Sorensen, Carla Caro, Jaecey Lambrecht, Saydie Brown and Kodie KruegerWettstein. Also returning are juniors Kaitlyn and Cristen Houghton, along with sophomore Sabrina Zink. The coach will lean on the experienced players to help mold four new freshman on the team, Laryssa Schumacher, Amerli Reyes, Andrea Marick, and Raegan Gerk. “I definitely see leadership and the freshmen coming up are working really
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Sydney Sorensen led all Caliche returners in scoring last season and is back for her senior season.
hard,” Yahn said. “We’ve not only been working on skills in the gym, but basketball 101. As long as they understand the game then they can be great mentally and physically.” Sorensen averaged 6.2 points per game last season, which is tops among returning players. Caro and Lambrecht each averaged nearly four per game. Yahn said that the season will be defined not just by wins, but by strides made throughout the process. The coaching staff worked on honing the players offensive skills in preparation for the season. The coach is looking for the See LADY BUFFS, 16
Caliche Girls Basketball Schedule
Dec. 7 vs. Haxtun 4 p.m. Dec. 8 @ Fleming 5 p.m. Dec. 15 @ Potter-Dix 4 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. Idalia Jan. 5 @ Akron 4 p.m. Jan. 6 @ Weldon Valley 2 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Haxtun 4 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Wiggins 4 p.m. Jan. 20 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Jan. 26 @ Wray 5 p.m. Jan. 30 @ Peetz 4 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Yuma 5 p.m. Feb. 8 vs. Holyoke 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 @ Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Feb. 16 @ Merino 4 p.m. Feb. 17 vs. Pawnee 3:30 p.m.
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PAGE 16 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
“The thing this year is team; I want these girls to come together. Our goal is to win, but my expectation is for them to work hard together as a team and focus on the skills that we’re teaching them. I want to see improvement throughout the year.” Laura Yahn Caliche girls basketball coach
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
First-year head coach Laura Yahn coaches the Caliche Lady Buffs during their seasonopening weekend in Peetz. Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Coach Dalton Schuppe talks to the team in a huddle before the game against the Prairie Mustangs.
team to gel and become a cohesive unit. “The thing this year is team; I want these girls to come together,” Yahn said. “Our goal is to win, but my expectation is for them to work hard together as a team and focus on the skills that we’re teaching them. I want to see improvement throughout the year.” Carla Caro said that she feels a little bit more pressure to be a role model for underclassmen as a senior.
BASKETBALL from page 15 last year, and go further in districts,” Skyler Armstrong said. “This team is young and I just hope we can pull off a great season, because these guys are my family.” Armstrong said he worked on getting some of the younger players in the gym over the summer to establish a basketball mentality. For coach Schuppe, the goal is to make the state tournament, but he won’t consider the season a disappointment if it doesn’t come to fruition. Instead, he wants the team to focus on getting better throughout stretches of the season. As long as the team keeps improving, the coach feels good about what they can accomplish. Schuppe is a firm believer that the best teaching tool is repetition. He believes that the sophomore class will be a strong one, once they get a full grasp on what the team is
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Brayden Nichols looks over the defense in the Caliche boys basketball team’s victory over the Prairie Mustangs.
trying to do through practice. The Buffs currently have a record of 1-1 after the first weekend of the season. The team competed in the Carlile Classic in Peetz. Caliche fell to the Peetz Bulldogs in the
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first game 65-40, before bouncing back with a 39-30 win the next night over the Prairie Mustangs. Kyle Inman: 970-526-9298, inmank@journal-advocate.com
Caliche boys basketball schedule Dec. 7 vs. Haxtun 4 p.m. Dec. 8 @ Fleming 5 p.m. Dec. 15 @ Potter-Dix 4 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. Idalia Jan. 5 @ Akron 4 p.m. Jan. 6 @ Weldon Valley 2 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Haxtun 4 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Wiggins 4 p.m. Jan. 20 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Yuma 5 p.m. Feb. 16 @ Merino 4 p.m. Feb. 17 vs. Pawnee 3:30 p.m.
She also said that the coaching staff has brought new ideas and energy to the team this year. For her, this season is all about playing one more year with her teammates. “This team has been amazing and I couldn’t thank them enough for what they’ve taught me,” Caro said. “I’m excited, especially for the new coaches, just to see how this season pans out. The mood is definitely good.”
The team opened their season by competing in the Carlile Classic in Peetz over the weekend. The Lady Buffs got off to a strong start, defeating Peetz 43-20 in the opening game to advance to the tournament championship. Caliche fell in a closely contested game with Otis 40-34 to put them at 1-1 so far this season. Kyle Inman: 970-5269298, inmank@journal-advocate.com
STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 • PAGE 7
Peetz boys basketball aspires for postseason run
Photos by Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Peetz Bulldogs boys basketball seniors (from left) Hunter White, Alex Curlee, Jake Curlee, Tre Fehringer, Helmuth Wenneker, Logan Sircy; (back row) Gabe Naegele
The team returns seven seniors and is 2-0 this season By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Peetz High School boys basketball team plans to wear teams out with great depth and athleticism in order to break through and secure a state tournament berth this season. The Bulldogs had some success last season, going 18-6 overall and winning the North Central League regular season championship. However, the season ended on a sour note as they missed the state tournament after falling to Front Range Baptist in the regional championship game. Coach Sean Fehringer hopes the team uses the disappointment to fuel a successful season. The coach returns nearly all of the production from last season with 10 varsity players back, including a class of seven seniors. The Bulldogs entered the season ranked No. 6 in the Class 1A preseason polls. “We want to compete for a state championship,” Fehringer said. “We feel like we have the guys to do it and it’s the kind of thing where it’s now or never.” Logan Sircy, Gabe Naegele, Alex Curlee, Jake Curlee, Tre Fehringer, Hunter White, and Helmuth Wenneker are the seniors. “From a leadership perspective, it’s exactly what you want,” coach Fehringer said. “We have a lot of good, quality leaders that play hard in practice and are good kids off the court. I think that’s the reason we have 27 kids on the team, because it’s a good group of leaders that want to play together.” Sircy averaged a team-best 14.8
Peetz Boys Basketball Schedule Dec. 7 vs. Leyton 4 p.m. Dec. 8 vs. Pawnee 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 @ Haxtun 4 p.m. Jan. 5 vs. Briggsdale 6 p.m. Jan. 6 @ Merino 2 p.m. Jan. 11 vs. Fleming 4 p.m. Jan. 20 @ Weldon Valley 2 p.m. Jan. 27 @ Pawnee 3:30 p.m. Feb. 2 @ Briggsdale 6 p.m. Feb. 3 @ Creek Valley Feb. 6 vs. Potter-Dix 4 p.m. Feb. 13 @ Fleming 4 p.m. Feb. 16 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m.
points, two steals, and two assists per game last season and was named as league MVP. Alex Curlee added 7.3 points per game and Jake Curlee averaged 6.4 last season. Bryson Long, a junior, made the all-conference team last season after averaging 8.6 points and four rebounds per game. Dominic Naegele is the other junior on varsity and is joined the lone sophomore on the team, Cooper White. Peetz got off to a strong start to the new season at the Carlile Classic, going 2-0 in their home tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Caliche 65-40, before scoring a win over Otis in the championship game 69-57. “We have a long ways to go, but I think we’ll be in good shape,” coach Fehringer said.
Logan Sircy goes up for a fade-away shot against Otis in the champions hip game of the Carlile Classic in Peetz. Sircy returns as a senior this season after earning MVP accol ades from the league last year.
Kyle Inman: 970-526-9298, inmank@journal-advocate.com
“We want to compete for a state championship. We feel like we have the guys to do it and it’s the kind of thing where it’s now or never.” Sean Fehringer Peetz boys basketball coach
Coach Sean Fehringer coaches the Peetz Bulldogs boys basketball team in the huddle during the Calile Classic tournament.
PAGE 8 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Peetz Lady Bulldogs look to build consistency The team returns two seniors By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Peetz Lady Bulldogs basketball team is working on establishing a game-like mentality for the duration of the season. Head coach Morgan Meier, in her third season at Peetz High School, says the team must keep the mindset from game to game and in each practice to establish consistency. The Lady Bulldogs went 3-18 overall last season and must replace 20 points and nine rebounds per game from the graduation of Payton Swedlund and Cami Thompson. The team returns four players with varsity experience in Elizabeth Lindahl, Abby White, Sarah Davis and Rebecca Kennedy. Meier says the team will rely on its two senior leaders, Lindahl and White, as well as some underclassmen that showed leadership throughout the summer months. Peetz has four juniors in Kylie Howell, Sophia Boothby, Makaela Hill, and Davis to go along with sophomores Kennedy, Carolina Lindahl, and Jewella Buchanan. The coach will also rely on some freshmen to log key minutes; the class includes LaKrisha Fehringer, Addyson Gipfert, and Kayleigh Leek. The Lady Bulldogs started the season in the Carlile Classic in Peetz, where they fell to Caliche and Prairie to begin 0-2. Davis
Peetz Girls Basketball Schedule Dec. 7 vs. Leyton Dec. 8 vs. Pawnee 5 p.m. Dec. 12 @ Haxtun 4 p.m. Dec. 15 vs. Prairie 4 p.m. Jan. 5 vs. Briggsdale 6 p.m. Jan. 6 @ Merino 2 p.m. Jan. 11 vs. Fleming 4 p.m. Jan. 16 vs. Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Jan. 20 @ Weldon Valley 2 p.m. Jan. 26 @ Prairie 4 p.m. Jan. 27 @ Pawnee 2 p.m. Jan. 30 vs. Caliche 4 p.m. Feb. 2 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Feb. 3 @ Creek Valley Feb. 6 vs. Potter-Dix Feb. 13 @ Fleming 4 p.m. Feb. 16 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m.
leads the team in scoring after a pair of games with an average of 6.5 points per game. Kennedy, Leek, Fehringer, and Gipfert are all contributing around three points per game. Leek and Lindahl and pulling down five rebounds per game, while Fehringer and Kennedy are each getting four rebounds in the early season. Meier said the team has a lot of versatile players that could be effective and help the team on any given night. She lists key opponents as Fleming and Briggsdale; the team will play Fleming at home on Jan. 11 and Briggsdale on Feb. 2 on the road.
Photos by Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Abby White looks over the defense in one of the Lady Bulldogs opening-season tournament games. White returns as one of two seniors on the roster.
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Elizabeth Lindahl waits to check in during a tournament game. Lindahl returns as one of two seniors on the roster this season.
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STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 • PAGE 9
Fleming High School boys basketball returns core of three The Wildcats enter the season ranked No. 7 in Class 1A By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Fleming Wildcats boys basketball team will look for its core returning players to lead the way for a group of newcomers this season. The team enters the season as the No. 7 team in the 1A preseason rankings. The Wildcats lost four key seniors from last season, when the team went 16-11 overall and won a regional championship, before going 1-2 in the state tournament. This team will try to fill a scoring void left by the graduation of Jaxon King, who averaged 22 points per game as a senior. The team returns three experienced players from last season in seniors Mathew Tanner and Paul Asfeld in
addition to returning sophomore Brandon Williams. The Wildcats also get a boost from Kade Comstock, a freshman who transferred in from Holyoke. “We have a good nucleus back, but we will be young, without too much experience in other spots,”coach Thomas Hessler said. “It will take us a while to reach our potential. I don’t know how good we can be, but we’ll probably get a lot better as we gain experience and get a little more depth.” Tanner led the returning scorers 9.1 points per game last season and also added an average of 6.3 rebounds. Asfeld added 7.4 points Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate per game last season, while Wil- Fleming boys basketball seniors for the upcoming season include (from left) Paul Asfeld, Matthew Tanner, and See BOYS, 10 Adam Marshall.
Small Fleming girls team looks for championship retribution The Wildcats went 24-2 last season before falling in the 1A title game By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
The Fleming Wildcats girls basketball seniors include (from left) Mogan Cockroft, Hannah Blom, Sandra Locked, and Alli Keisel.
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The Fleming Wildcats girls basketball team doesn’t have a large roster, but returns a talented core with state championship aspirations. The team, which has eight players, went 24-2 overall last season and made a run all the way to the 1A state championship game before falling to Kit Carson. It was the same team that defeated the Wildcats in the volleyball state championship game this fall. Fleming will enter the season as the No. 2-ranked team in 1A, while Kit Carson holds the top ranking. “We can look at the loss as a positive or a negative and we are all just choosing to use it as fire to push us,” senior Alli Keisel said.
“It motivates us and pushes us to get there in this last season.” Returning junior guard Jenna Lengfelder shares the sentiment and says that the team will play with a chip on their shoulder this season. “Our goal is to be back at the championship game, but with a different outcome,” Lengfelder said. “Losing helped build our confidence and now we have vengeance and are ready for more.” Half of Fleming’s players are seniors – Keisel, Hannah Blom, Morgan Cockroft, and Sandra Locked. Keisel returns as the leading scorer after averaging 14.4 points per game last season, while adding a team-best eight rebounds per game. Lengfelder
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PAGE 10 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Sedgwick County/Fleming wrestling team ranked No. 5 Senior Kobryn Mann started the season by taking 1st place at the Chuck Annand Invitational By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
This season, the Sedgwick County/Fleming wrestling team will try and maintain the high level of performance that they’ve established with four consecutive regional championships. The team returns Kobryn Mann and Kolton Dickinson as seniors after each placed third in the state tournament last season. Coach Todd Harrington said his first goal was to keep everybody healthy, which he found out wasn’t possible in the first weekend of the season. Dickinson suffered a dislocated elbow that required emergency medical care. It’s a near certainty that the injury will force the senior to miss the entire season. For Mann, learning from mistakes that he made at the end of last season will help him pursue his ultimate goal of winning a state championship. The senior from Fleming says that he currently is the strongest that he’s ever been and moved up to the 160 pound weight class this season. “I just want to wrestle my match,” Mann said. “I got a little mental in state, but if I go out there and wrestle like I know how then I can achieve any goal that I have.” The team is ranked as the No. 5 team in 2A by Tim Yount in the first edition of the On the Mat wrestling rankings. Marco Martinez and Robert Walraven make up the 106 pounders, while Isaiah Martinez is at 113 pounds, Dakota Fergu-
Sedgwick County/ Fleming Wrestling Schedule Dec. 7 Sedg Co/Fleming/Akron/Merino Tri Dec. 9 Badger Invitational Jan. 18 Sedgwick County/Fleming @ Sidney
son 120, Ashton Cox and Nate Lawson at 132, Beau Parker at 145, Fernando Morales at 152, Fabian Lopez and Dakota Tucker at 160, Wyatt Buccelli at 170. Layne Green, Eric Acala, and Andrew Davis wrestle at 220, while Shawn Bailey is the heavyweight. The team started competition this year by competing in the Chuck Annand Invitational in Akron. Mann won both of his matches to win the tournament championship, defeating Zeekiel Burgess of Eaton in the final. Marco Martinez was defeated in the championship match at 106 pounds by Kellen Kappel of Limon. Fabian Lopez and Isaiah Martinez Coach Harrington said that he wants to see the wrestlers get better every weekend and trust the things that the coaching staff is teaching. He said he’s proud of the freshman group for how competitive they’ve entered the high school ranks. The team Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate has a class of five freshmen and sent seven wrestlers to the state tournament last sea- Kolton Dickinson and Kobryn Mann are the two seniors on the Sedgwick County/Fleming wrestling team. Both athletes attend Fleming High School. son.
Fleming Boys Basketball Schedule Dec. 8 vs. Caliche 5 p.m. Dec. 9 @ Holyoke 4:30 p.m. Dec. 15 vs. Briggsdale 4 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. Haxtun 2 p.m. Dec. 19 @ Weldon Valley 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5 @ Pawnee 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 @ Sedgwick County 3 p.m. Jan. 11 @ Peetz 4 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Stratton/Liberty 4 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Idalia 4 p.m. Jan. 20 @ Prairie 3 p.m. Jan. 25 vs. Pawnee (@ NJC) 5 p.m. Jan. 27 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Jan. 30 @ Akron 4 p.m. Feb. 2 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m. Feb. 3 @ Kit Carson 2 p.m. Feb. 6 @ Merino 4 p.m. Feb. 8 vs. Prairie (@ NJC) 4 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Peetz 4 p.m.
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BOYS from page 9 liams scored 4.4. Hessler is looking for the experienced players to help the team out with leadership and says that they’ve done a good job so far in the preseason. “They get after the kids pretty good when they don’t do things, but they are also positive with them too,” the coach said. “They’ve all been through that learning curve and when they talk, I think the kids listen to them and try to do what they are told.” Hessler has experience taking a
team to the top as Fleming was the 1A state champion in 2014. He said that he only sets one goal for the teams that he coaches, to try and reach their potential as individuals and as a team. When Fleming won the state championship, he knew they had a chance to accomplish the feat, but the kids wanted to make sure they did the job. Adam Marshall also adds to the senior class, while the Wildcats also have junior Garrett Cockroft along with five sophomores. Williams, Dan-
iel Dobson, Dylan Nolde, Chris McAnally, and Eric Resendiz are the tenth grade players. The team will welcome a large class of seven freshmen to the team in Comstock, Auston Hoskins, Cole Sigmon, Jade Arnold, Chris Goss, Jade Huston, and Nathan Brekel. Fleming will start its season on Friday at home when they take on the Caliche Buffs. The Wildcats will use several players who will play both on the varsity and junior varsity teams.
posed of three ninth graders – Cyndi Edler, Kendyl Kirkwood, and Jordan Alvarez. The team will miss Kalyn Serrato, who scored 11 points per game last season and brought down six rebounds as a senior. Coach Kirkwood said that having eight players at practice presents a set of challenges, because there’s no way to scrimmage five-on-five. Keisel said that it makes the team work harder on defense, because they don’t have as much help and sees it as beneficial. The Wildcats will tip off their season at home against the Caliche Lady Buffs on Dec. 8. Coach Kirkwood said that while the team wants to play in another state championship, it must focus on the challenges ahead, which include some tough games before Christmas.
Fleming Girls Basketball Schedule
GIRLS from page 9 scored 10.7 points per game last season to go along with four steals, four rebounds, and two assists per night. The Wildcats’ preferred style of play is to speed up games with an extremely fast pace. Coach Randy Kirkwood, in his third year at the helm, said that having a small number of players on the team wont stop his philosophy of playing fast. He added that the team has the personnel to run teams out, but that they must get lucky in avoiding injury, illness and foul trouble. Lengelder said that the team spent the first weeks of practice getting in the type of shape that Kirkwood’s offense requires to be executed at a high level. “Coach likes to call our games track meets,” Lengfelder said. “We like to run people out of the gym and our fast pace is our strength.” Outside of the seniors and Lengfelder, the rest of the roster is com-
Kyle Inman: 970-526-9298, inmank@journal-advocate.com
Dec. 8 vs. Caliche 5 p.m. Dec. 9 @ Holyoke 3:15 p.m. Dec. 15 vs. Briggsdale 6 p.m. Dec. 16 vs. Haxtun 2 p.m. Dec. 19 @ Weldon Valley 4 p.m. Jan. 5 @ Pawnee 5 p.m. Jan. 6 @ Sedgwick County 3 p.m. Jan. 11 @ Peetz 4 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Stratton/Liberty 4 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Idalia Jan. 20 @ Prairie 5:15 p.m. Jan. 25 vs. Pawnee (@ NJC) 5 p.m. Jan. 27 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Jan. 30 @ Akron Feb. 2 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m. Feb. 3 @ Kit Carson 2 p.m. Feb. 6 @ Merino 4 p.m. Feb. 13 vs. Peetz 4 p.m. Feb. 15 vs. Prairie (@ NJC) 5 p.m.
STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017 • PAGE 7
PREP BASKETBALL
Prairie going toward speed Preseason focused on conditioning smaller lineup for fast pace By Brandon Boles Fort Morgan Times sports reporter
With a small team in terms of height and numbers, the Prairie Mustangs are making it a priority to play a fast brand of basketball this season. Playing fast is something head coach Amber Whitlock has brought to the team since taking over in 2014, but this year may be more so for her team. “We’re pretty small in size,” Whitlock said. “Our main focus is to play in transition. If we have to get set up five-on-five, it won’t come as easy. We need to get out and run.” Graduation and transfers have also impacted the Mustangs this season. Two seniors have moved on, as Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times have a number of players The 2017-18 Prairie boys basketball team. Front row, from left: Andrew Littlefield (so.), Xander Speicher (so.), Devin Littlefield (jr.), Coltin Hove (sr.). Back that transferred to other row, from left: Arek Wulf (fr.), Dylan Schock (fr.), Garrett Lindell (so.), Mitch Dollerschell (so.), Carson Holzworth (so.), Trent Holzworth (sr.). local schools. Prairie will return a pair of veteran players in Devin Littlefield and Trent Holzworth to lead the program. Littlefield was the starting point guard and is one of the players who will look to push the pace this season. Holzworth, who has spent most of his career playing as a guard, will most likely see time split from the perimeter and inside as a post.
Prairie Boys Basketball Schedule
Littlefield agreed with his coach that pushing the pace of play will be a point of emphasis for the Mustangs to handle their lack of size on the roster. “We definitely will have to play up-tempo basketball,” Littlefield said. “As the point guard, I have to be able to push the ball and control the pace of the Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times game. That’s going to be Prairie junior Devin Littlefield (23, right) drives around Christian Nation (22) of Otis in the ver y crucial for us.” first quarter of the Carlile Classic at Peetz High School on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. Playing fast will also include some defensive presses to speed up opponents on offense and to generate turnovers. The team said that preventing teams from running their sets in the half court frequently will also be critical for success. “We’re little, but we’re scrappy,” Littlefield said. “We can run a press and slow down their offense to prevent them from getting
down low on us. If we can pressure the ball, I think we can slow teams down and get in their head mentally.”
To play at the faster tempo, the team has put in extra work in the preseason on their conditioning. Having most of the team playing football this fall has helped the Mustangs stay in decent shape. For those that did not play, they were in the gym frequently in the fall getting ready for the season.
The Mustangs were held under 50 points in 15 of the team’s 21 games last season and only won two games with less than that mark last season. Likewise, Prairie also allowed 60 or more points in seven Whitlock has pushed the games. team in the preseason and
Dec.8-9 Prairie Classic Dec. 12 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m. Dec. 15 @ Peetz 4 p.m. Dec. 16 @ Union Colony 1 p.m. Jan. 4 @ Lone Star 4 p.m. Jan. 5 @ Merino 4 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Caliche (@ NJC, Sterling) 4 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Pawnee 5 p.m. Jan. 19 @ Briggsdale 4 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Fleming 3 p.m. Jan. 26 vs. Peetz 4 p.m. Jan. 27 @ Weldon Valley 2 p.m. Feb. 2 vs. Pawnee 5 p.m. Feb. 8 vs. Fleming (@ NJC, Sterling) 4 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Otis 3 p.m. Feb. 16 vs. Briggsdale 4 p.m.
tough practices, but some of the injuries I think started in football,” Whitlock said. “These boys are going to go hard. It’s my job to hold them back ran a number of hard, sometimes.” physical practices to help the team prepare for the Whitlock also hopes that bigger teams they will face the success the football on the schedule. Athletes team had in the fall season from the football team will translate to some early showed signs of being momentum on the basketbanged up from the long ball court as well. season, but the team has “We’re scrappy and I pushed through the dauntthink we’ll put up a fight ing practices to grow menwith anybody,” Whitlock tally and physically stronsaid. “The boys needed to ger. see success like that. Any“There were some pretty time you have a season like
that and go undefeated for a long time, it boosts your confidence up even more.” After opening the season in the Carlile Classic and at home with the Wiggins Tigers, Prairie will host its Prairie Classic tournament this weekend. The team will play a relatively light schedule in December before returning for a gauntlet of big league games following winter break. Brandon Boles: 970-867-5651, bboles@fmtimes.com twitter.com/FMT_Sports
PAGE 8 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Laybourn takes over Prairie team Lady Mustangs to feature new style of play this season By Brandon Boles Times Staff Writer
A new era for the Prairie girls basketball team begins this season. The school welcomes new head coach Jill Laybourn to the staff to replace Janise Gerk. Also new to the staff is assistant coach Maggie Kilmer. Laybourn spent the last two seasons watching Prairie as the assistant coach for the Fleming Wildcats. “It’s exciting and challenging and scar y, all of those things put together,” Laybourn said. “I love kids and I love basketball. This is a dream job.” Before her tenure in Fleming, Layboun was also the head coach for the Otis Bulldogs in a previous stint. “I took some time off, but it’s nice to get back into it,” Laybourn said. Laybourn takes over for a program that went 11-9 and finished third in the North Central League with a 6-4 conference record last season. To help the team challenge their conference foes, she plans to bring in a new style of play for the team this season. The biggest change will be seeing Prairie play at a faster tempo. Expect more full-court pressing and transition basketball from the Mustangs this season. Athleticism, speed and size are some of the major reasons Laybourn wants her team to play the new system. “We’re athletic and not as experienced, so being able to run with the ball is important,” Laybourn said. “I’m a defensive coach, so it’s all about the defense for me.” Prairie returns a number
Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times
The 2017-18 Prairie girls basketball team. Front row, from left: Atavia Price (sr.), Kiah Dabbs (sr.), McKaylin Schreiner (sr.). Back row, from left: Megan Andrews (fr.), Makayla Baker (so.), Ashley Scott (so.), Mandy Carmin (jr.), Cierra Hove (so.), Ellee Laybourn (fr.), Madison Stewart (so.), Emma Stump (so.), Amy Pollart (jr.), Montana Goodman (fr.), Anna Jobe (fr.), Paige Northrup (jr.).
Prairie Girls Basketball Schedule
Brandon Boles / Fort Morgan Times
Prairie girls basketball coach Jill Laybourn (front, right) watches her team play against the Otis Bulldogs in the Carlile Classic on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017.
of young players that saw significant playing time at the varsity level last season. Mandy Carmin returns as one of the leading scorers from last season as the team’s point guard. Amy Pollart, Paige Northrup and Makayla Baker are some of the other guards who saw playing time and are back this year.
lin Schreiner, Kiah Dabbs and Atavia Price — will provide the experience for a team that will once again be young. To get ever yone prepared to play the new system, conditioning has been a top priority in the preseason and in offseason workouts for the team.
“We have run a lot,” Dabbs said. “We focused Three seniors — McKay- on that and defense. We
Dec. 8-9 Prairie Classic Dec. 12 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m. Dec. 15 @ Peetz 4 p.m. Dec. 16 @ Union Colony 1 p.m. Jan. 4 @ Lone Star 4 p.m. Jan. 5 @ Merino 4 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Caliche (@ NJC, Sterling) 4 p.m. Jan. 12 @ Pawnee 5 p.m. Jan. 19 @ Briggsdale 4 p.m. Jan. 20 vs. Fleming 3 p.m. Jan. 26 vs. Peetz 4 p.m. Jan. 27 @ Weldon Valley 2 p.m. Feb. 2 vs. Pawnee 5 p.m. Feb. 8 vs. Fleming (@ NJC, Sterling) 4 p.m. Feb. 10 vs. Otis 3 p.m. Feb. 16 vs. Briggsdale 4 p.m.
want to run and beat peo- the team will have to ple down the court.” improve on from last year, especially with their size as The Mustangs have also a team. worked on a variety of press defenses they will The other thing that Laylook to use in the full court bourn has done with the to generate turnovers and team is to work on ever yget out on the break. one getting closer and working well together, When teams are able to including herself. get in the half court to run their offense, the Mus“She really has brought tangs will look to apply ball us together,” Laybourn pressure and force teams said. “In the past, we to handle it. Rebounding haven’t been together as a will be one of the big thing team as a whole. She’s real-
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ly implemented that, which is nice.” The first month of the season will see the Mustangs avoid Fleming and Briggsdale on the schedule, something Laybourn believes they will need to take advantage of. “Our athletic director did a great job with our schedule,” Laybourn said. “I love that we’re facing some teams we don’t typically face. I think those will be great tests for us. Those great teams in our league are later in the season, so we can try some things out and see what works.” December will be a telling month for the team, according to Dabbs. “I think this is the most important time for us,” Dabbs said. “We need to be working together and put our minds together. We need to see what our strengths and weaknesses are.” Brandon Boles: 970-4415102, sports@fmtimes.com or twitter.com/ FMT_Sports
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STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017 • PAGE 9
BOYS BASKETBALL
Haxtun boys basketball team returns upperclassmen The Fightin’ Bulldogs are 1-0 this season By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Haxtun Fightin’ Bulldogs boys basketball team won’t be as deep as last year, but returns players with varsity experience looking to make a larger impact. Coach Grant Edwards coached the team to a 13-8 record last season, including a 5-3 mark in league play. He will try and fill a large void left by the departure of six seniors, including the scoring of Lance Chapdelaine and Bo Soukup. Chapdelaine led the team at 17.1 points per game, while Soukup scored 12.5 and added 7.5 rebounds plus two steals per game last season. Jaxon Brown and Ryan Schaefer make up the senior class this season and will be relied on to steer the team in the right direction through their leadership. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised and they’ve done really well this year,” Edwards said. “They started to step up towards the end of last year and take control. I didn’t know what they would do to start the year, but they’ve done a great job taking control of the team.” Edwards said that across the board, the team is more athletic than it’s been in a while. He believes the Fightin’ Bulldogs can be better on offense this season than they were a year ago, but will have more of a struggle defending. For now though, the team is working on getting in sync when they have the ball. “I think we’ll get there,” Edwards said. “Shooters aren’t quite as good before Christmas as afterwards, so
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Senior Ryan Schaefer attempts a jump shot from the foul line during Haxtun boys basketball practice.
our focus is very offensive oriented right now. Offense is always trying to catch up to the defense before Christmas.” The team also returns a large junior class of six players to their nine-man roster. Joey Gerk, Braden Anderson, Marshall Davis, Alex Bornhoft, Eli Meakins and Drew Coffin make up the class. Coffin and Gerk saw significant court time last season as sophomores. Clayton Stephens is the lone underclassmen on the team as a sophomore. The Fightin’ Bulldogs scored a win in their first game of the season, defeating the Merino Rams by a score of 51-39. The team
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faced adversity immediately, falling in a 7-0 hole before scoring 14 unanswered points to take the lead. Edwards said the coaching staff sat on their hands and resisted the urge to call a timeout when the team was down, instead electing for the players to play through. He said the team showed some resolve early in the season with the win. The coach thinks the team can finish third or fourth in a tough league this season, with the possibility to competing for one of the top two spots. Kyle Inman: 970-526-9298, inmank@journaladvocate.com
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Jaxon Brown and Ryan Schaefer return to the Haxtun boys basketball team for their senior season.
Haxtun Boys Basketball Schedule Dec. 7 @ Caliche 4 p.m. Dec. 8 vs. Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Dec. 12 vs. Peetz 4 p.m. Dec. 15 vs. Holyoke 4 p.m. Dec. 16 @ Fleming 2 p.m. Jan. 4 @ Leyton (Dalton, Neb.) 4 p.m. Jan. 5 @ Holyoke 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Creek Valley (Chappell, Neb.) 4 p.m. Jan. 12 vs. Caliche 4 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Wray 4 p.m. Jan. 23 @ Chase County (Imperial, Neb.) 4 p.m. Jan. 25 vs. Otis 4 p.m. Feb. 2 vs. Akron 4 p.m. Feb. 3 @ Merino 2 p.m. Feb. 8 @ Wiggins 7 p.m. Feb. 9 @ Yuma 7 p.m. Feb. 10 TBA Feb. 16 Sedgwick County 4 p.m.
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PAGE 10 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Haxtun girls basketball team aims to build while scorer sits The Fightin’ Bulldogs are 1-0 this season By Kyle Inman Journal-Advocate sports writer
The Haxtun Fightin’ Bulldogs girls basketball team will look to build on last season’s success, but have some obstacles to overcome in the early season. The team planned to look to junior Dawson Knode for scoring production this season, but a medical issue has left her sidelined until February. Knode will return as the leading scorer and rebounder from last season, when she held averages of 14 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game as a sophomore. “We were absolutely planning to lean on Dawson; she’s one of the best all-around players in the state,” coach Rich Gerk said. “She will be back, and some of the kids who haven’t had a shot are getting a shot and hopefully they will make the most out of it.” Gerk is hoping that the team becomes stronger as a whole. without the luxury of their leading scorer in the early part of the season. One key returner is senior Marissa Schelling, who comes back with experience after averaging six points and five rebounds per game as a starter last season. She, along with returning senior Naydeen Knapp, will help lead the way for an inexperienced group while Knode heals. “It’s a little challenging, but I think it will make us better in the end since everyone has to step up and know their jobs,” Schelling said. “I think that by the time she comes back, we will all be improved.” Schelling and Napp hold the title of team captains this season after earning the honor through a team vote.
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Marissa Schelling and Naydeen Knapp returns as the two seniors on the team this season. The two also serve as the team captains.
Haxtun also must replace the large void left by the graduation of Josi Kurtzer and Callie Dickerson, who moved on the play at Northeastern Junior College. The duo accounted for 24 points and 15 rebounds per game last season. The team returns a junior class of Knode, McKenna Andersen, Hailey Mavis, Riley Thompson, and Molly Brown. The sophomores on the team include Kylie Mavis, Brooklyn Davis, and Ali Kilgour. Four freshman will enter the program this season in Rylee Lundgren, Tanley Anderson, Kylee Workman, and Bella Tori. Brown and Schelling are the only ones who logged significant minutes last season outside of Knode. Gerk is hoping the other players can make a smooth transition to the varsity level and improve with experience.
Dawson Knode is sidelined with an injury, but will return in February. The junior held averages of 14 points and 10 rebounds per game last season.
Haxtun Girls Basketball Schedule
Dec. 7 @ Caliche 4 p.m. Dec. 8 vs. Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Dec. 12 vs. Peetz 4 p.m. Dec. 15 vs. Holyoke 5:30 p.m. Dec. 16 @ Fleming 2 p.m. Jan. 4 @ Leyton (Dalton, Neb.) 4 p.m. Jan. 5 @ Holyoke 5:15 p.m. Jan. 9 vs. Creek Valley (Chappell, Neb.) 4 p.m. Jan. 12 vs. Caliche 4 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Wray 4 p.m. Jan. 23 @ Chase County (Imperial, Neb) 4 p.m. Jan. 25 vs. Otis 4 p.m. Feb. 2 vs. Akron 4 p.m. Feb. 3 @ Merino 2 p.m. Feb. 8 @ Wiggins 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 @ Yuma 2 p.m. Feb. 10 TBA Feb. 16 vs. Sedgwick County 4 p.m.
“Hopefully the team will get that much better playing without Dawson,” the coach said. “They are going to have to step up and score, handle the ball, and rebound.” The team started off the season with a 46-45 win over the Merino Lady Rams. Schelling notched 21 points and seven rebounds to lead the way, while Davis added photo courtesy OTSPORTSCHEK eight points, Andersen had Marissa Schelling attempts a jumper during the team’s one-point win over the Merino Rams seven, and Kilgour scored to open the season. six.
STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 • PAGE 7
Teams in action
Photos by Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Bodie Hume comes off a screen during Sterling Tigers boys basketball practice.
Peetz girls basketball team prepares to hear their names called in the starting lineup before a home tournament game.
Dylan Huss and Adam Zink (No. 4) raise up during the starting lineups in anticipation of their first game of the season.
Alli Keisel dribbles the ball in Fleming basketball practice while Kendyl Kirkwood defends,
Carla Caro goes up for a layup during Caliche girls basketball practice.
PAGE 8 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Photsos by Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Thomas Hessler coaches the Fleming boys basketball team at practice.
Ready for the season
Dawson Knode goes up for a layup at Haxtun girls basketball practice.
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Rylyn Nelson looks to break down a defender off the dribble in the Merino Rams first game of the season against Akron.
Colton Shalla goes up for an open opportunity in the paint during Sterling boys basketball practice.
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STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 • PAGE 9
Taking their best shots
Nathan Batt goes up for a layup in the Merino Rams opening home game.
Kobryn Mann runs springs at Sedgwick County/Fleming wrestling practice.
Photos by Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Tye Barton of Merino attempts a layup in boys basketball practice.
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Lauryn Luft shoots a free throw during Sterling girls basketball practice.
PAGE 10 • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
Photos by Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Rylee Nelson attempts a 3-point jump shot from the corner during Merino’s home opener.
Going for their goals Ernesto Ochoa (left) sizes up an opponent during Sterling wrestling practice. Gabe Naegele of Peetz goes up for a shot attempt in traffic during the Bulldogs home tournament.
The Sterling Tigers girls basketball team practices defensive slides early in the season.
STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017 • PAGE 9
BASKETBALL
Patriot League season outlooks
Joseph Skerjanec / OTSPORTSCHEK
The Sterling Tigers look to take control of the Patriot League this season and are off to a 4-0 start in non-league play.
Patriot League Girls
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Brooke Polenz of Sterling returns to the Patriot League this season after being named to the all-state second team as a junior.
2016-17 Champion: Sterling Tigers 2017-18 Favorite: Sterling Tigers Top Contenders: Resurrection Christian Cougars, Liberty Common Eagles, Eaton Reds, Strasburg Indians Others: Brush Beetdiggers, University Bulldogs, Platte Valley Broncos, Estes Park Bobcats, Valley Vikings, Frontier Academy Wolverines Key returners: Brooke Polenz, Sterling; Kyndall Feather, Sterling; Juju Hemeyer, Resurrection Christian; Bailie Duncan, Eaton; Celsi Jurgensmeier, Eaton; Michaela Hill, Eaton; Samantha Tsiouvaras, Liberty Common; Maddy Rule, Brush; Ali Keller, Brush; Kindr y Rinow, Strasburg; Madelyn Malm, University; Taylor Gollhofer, University; Olivia Hamel, Estes Park Outlook: The Sterling Tigers will look to defend their league title, but will have to turn the tide from a
1-3 start in non-league play. Polenz of Sterling is the league’s lone returning allstate player, being named to the second team last season. The Tigers will be challenged by Eaton, who are off to a 4-0 start to the season after advancing to the sweet 16 of the state tournament last season. Resurrection Christian, Brush, University, and Strasburg are coming off state tournament appearances and return key players this season. Resurrection Christian is 3-1 this season, Brush 1-1, University 2-1, and Strasburg 2-1.
Patriot League Boys 2016-17 Champion: Resurrection Christian Cougars 2017-18 Favorite: Sterling Tigers Top Contenders: Resurrection Christian Cougars, Strasburg Indians, University Bulldogs, Frontier Academy Wolverines. Others: Brush Beetdiggers, Platte Valley Broncos, Eaton Reds, Valley
Vikings, Liberty Common Eagles, Estes Park Bobcats Key returners: Bodie Hume, Sterling; Carter Keil, Sterling; Zach Hildalgo, Frontier Academy; Max Swanlund, Estes Park; Brock Lane, Strasburg; Josiah Baptista, Liberty Common; Ryan Dunker, Brush; Jackson Romero, Resurrection Christian; Caleb Geisendorfer, Resurrection Christian; Nic Inda, Eaton; Adrian Lopez, Brush Outlook: Resurrection Christian won the regularseason league title, but the Sterling Tigers went on to win a 3A state championship last season. The Tigers are the favorite after returning senior Bodie Hume, the only first team all-state selection returning to league play. Sterling, Platte Valley, and Frontier Academy are off to 4-0 starts to the season. Resurrection Christian, Frontier Academy, Sterling, and Strasburg are coming off state tournament appearances last season.
PAGE 10 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
BASKETBALL
A look at Lower Platte League
Photo courtesy OTSPORTSCHEK
Marissa Schelling pulls down a rebound for the Haxtun Fightin’ Bulldogs. The team will look to contend atop the Lower Platte League.
Forecasts for local teams in division play Wray; Maddie Soehner, Wray; Lydia Stegner, Merino; Sydney Sorensen, Caliche; Taeryn Trumper, Holy2016-17 Champion: Hax- oke; Grace Dille, Holyoke; Harley Gentry, Merino tun Fightin’ Bulldogs 2017-18 Favorite: Yuma Outlook: The Yuma IndiIndians ans will be the favorite as Top Contenders: Haxtun the Haxtun’ Fightin BullFightin’ Bulldogs, Wray dogs will be without all-state Eagles, Holyoke Dragons second team player Dawson Others: Akron Rams, Cali- Knode, who is out with injuche Buffs, Merino Rams, ry until February. Yuma SedgCo Cougars, Wiggins returns first team all-state Tigers player Cody Robinson, who scored 15 points per game Key returners: Cody Robinson, Yuma; Morgan last season. Also returning Smith, Wray; Dawson to the league this season is Knode, Haxtun; Marissa first team all-state conferSchelling, Haxtun; Chasey ence selection Morgan Blach, Yuma; Avery White- Smith of Wray. Haxtun, head, Yuma; Courtney Jens- Wray, and Yuma will look to en, Wiggins; Peyton Pecar, build on state tournament
Lower Platte Girls Basketball League
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Jaxon Brown of the Haxtun Fightin’ Bulldogs defends Merino’s Nathan Batt on a jump shot. Both teams will attempt to excel in Lower Platte League play this season.
appearances from last sea- Dragons, Merino Rams, Calson. iche Buffs Others: Akron Rams, Lower Platte Boys Yuma Indians, Wray Eagles, Basketball Wiggins Tigers League Key returners: Cole 2016-17 Champion: Holy- McKinley, Sedgwick Counoke Dragons ty; Jaxon Brown, Haxtun; 2017-18 Favorite: Sedg- Ryan Schaefer, Haxtun; wick County Cougars Drew Coffin, Haxtun; Top Contenders: Haxtun Brayden Nichols, Caliche; Fightin’ Bulldogs, Holyoke Skyler Armstrong, Caliche;
Go Merino Rams and Caliche Buffalos! 970-522-2341
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Chase Powell, Merino; Nelson Gomez, Wray; Tyler Wylie, Akron; Nathan Batt, Merino Outlook: The boys division of the Lower Platte League is up for grabs this season as the teams at the top last year were depleted due to graduation. The Sedgwick County Cougars are 1-0 this season, while
Haxtun has started 2-0, and Holyoke is 0-2. Holyoke and Sedgwick County met in the 2A state championship game last season, where the Dragons came away with a three-point victory. Akron is also coming off a state tournament appearance. We like the Cougars to win the league this season despite many unknowns.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL AREA SCHOOLS!!
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STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017 • PAGE 11
PREP BASKETBALL
A look at North Central League Where Peetz, Fleming teams may land in divisional play North Central Girls Basketball League 2016-17 Champion: Fleming Wildcats 2017-18 Favorite: Fleming Wildcats Top Contenders: Briggsdale Falcons, Prairie Mustangs, Weldon Valley Warriors Others: Peetz Bulldogs, Pawnee Coyotes Key returners: Alli Keisel, Fleming; Jenna Lengfelder, Fleming; Ailaina Suppes, Briggsdale; Jodel Erickson, Briggsdale; Kimberlyn Krise, Briggsdale; Kristen Wood, Weldon Valley; Karissa Schulte, Weldon Valley; Brittney Leist, Weldon Valley Outlook: The Fleming Wildcats are looking for a repeat league championship after returning much of the talent that saw them go 10-0 last season. The Wildcats return their top two leading scorer in Alli Keisel and Jenna Lengfelder. They will have challenges from a senior-laden Weldon Valley Warriors team as well as the Briggsdale Falcons.
Lower Platte Boys Basketball League 2016-17 Champion: Peetz Bulldogs 2017-18 Favorite: Peetz Bulldogs Top Contenders: Weldon Valley Warriors, Fleming Wildcats Others: Pawnee Coyotes, Prairie Mustangs, Briggsdale Falcons Key returners: Logan Sircy, Peetz; Alex Curlee, Peetz; Jake Curlee, Peetz;
Br yson Long, Peetz; Ty Dill, Briggsdale; Caleb Hill, Briggsdale; Ethan Oblander, Weldon Valley; Joseph Baessler, Weldon Valley; Matthew Tanner, Fleming; Paul Asfeld, Fleming Outlook: The Peetz Bulldogs won the league last season and return a deep team of underclassmen poised to accomplish the feat again. The Bulldogs are off to a 3-0 start this season and enter the season as the No. 6-ranked team in 1A. They will receive a challenge from the Fleming Wildcats, who enter the season ranked No. 3 in Class 1A by CHSAA after a 16-11 season last year.
SUPPLIER OF ATHLETIC & TEAM EQUIPMENT Good Luck all Area Athletes
OUR GOAL Putting you FIRST in your sport
Above, the Peetz Bulldogs boys basketball team are the early favorite to defend their North Central League title from last season. Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Left, Alli Keisel returns as a senior to lead the Fleming Wildcats after averages of 14.4 points and eight rebounds per game last season. Melanie Kindvall Courtesy photo
GOOD LUCK to all Area Athletes!
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PAGE 12 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017 • STERLING JOURNAL-ADVOCATE
SCHEDULES Sterling Boys Basketball Schedule Saturday, Dec. 9 @ Buena Vista Friday, Dec. 15 @ Manual 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 vs. University 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 @ Strasburg 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 vs. Frontier Academy 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 @ Valley 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Sidney 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 vs. Brush 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 @ Platte Valley 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 vs. Liberty Common 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 @ Res. Christian 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 @ Eaton 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Estes Park 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 vs. Lutheran 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 Patriot League Quarterfinals Wednesday, Feb. 21 Patriot League Semifinals Friday, Feb. 23 Patriot League Finals @ UNC
Friday, March 2 State Round of 32 Saturday, March 3 State Sweet 16 Thursday, March 8 State Elite 8 @ DU Friday, March 9 State Final Four @ DU Saturday, March 10 State Championship @ DU
Sterling Girls Basketball Schedule Saturday, Dec. 9 @ Buena Vista Saturday, Jan. 6 @ Manitou Springs 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 @ University 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 @ Sterling 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 @ Frontier Academy 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 vs. Valley 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Sidney 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 @ Brush 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 vs. Platte Valley 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 @ Liberty Common 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Res. Christian 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Eaton 7 p.m.
WRESTLING
On the Mat rankings include local wrestlers Area wrestlers from Merino and Fleming were ranked in the first edition of Tim Yount’s On the Mat wrestling rankings. Kobryn Mann of the Sedgwick County/Fleming is ranked No. 1 at the 152 pound weight class. Kolton Dickinson of the
Sedgwick County/Fleming team is ranked No. 3 at the 126 pound weight class. Remington Canfield of Merino is ranked at the No. 3 wrestling at 145 pounds. The Sedgwick/Fleming wrestling team is ranked No. 6 in the On the Mat team rankings.
Kyle Inman / Sterling Journal-Advocate
Kobryn Mann runs sprints during Sedgwick County/ Fleming wrestling practice. Mann is ranked first in the 152-pound weight class for 2A.
PROUDLY SUPPORTING
ALL LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS & ACADEMICS!
Saturday, Feb. 10 @ Estes Park 2:30p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 @ Lutheran 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 Patriot League Quarterfinals Wednesday, Feb. 21 Patriot League Semifinals Friday, Feb. 23 Patriot League Finals @ UNC Friday, March 2 State Round of 32 Saturday, March 3 State Sweet 16 Thursday, March 8 State Elite 8 @ DU Friday, March 9 State Final Four @ DU Saturday, March 10 State Championship @ DU
Merino Girls Basketball Schedule
Saturday, Dec. 9 @ Simla 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 vs. Holyoke 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 @ Limon Friday, Jan. 5 vs. Prairie 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 vs. Peetz 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 @ Akron 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 vs. Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Dayspring Christian 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 @ Holyoke 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 @ Yuma 4 Sterling Wrestling p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Haxtun Schedule 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 @ ColumTuesday, Feb. 6 vs. Fleming bine Thursday, Dec. 14 vs 4 p.m. Wray 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 vs. Wray Saturday, Dec. 16 @ Sid5:30 p.m. ney/Bridgeport 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Wiggins 4 Tuesday, Dec. 19 vs. Yuma p.m. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 @ BriggsSaturday, Jan. 6 @ Legend Invite Thursday, Jan. 11 @ Wig- dale 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 vs. Caliche 4 gins 7 p.m. p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 @ Florence Tournament 8 a.m. Merino Wrestling Saturday, Jan. 13 @ FlorSchedule ence Tournament 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 Badger Saturday, Jan. 20 @ StrasInvitational burg Tournament Thursday, Saturday, Dec. 16 Bob Jan. 25 vs. Valley 5:30 p.m.; Smith Tournament vs. Brush 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 Savage InviSaturday, Jan. 28 @ Valley tational Tournament Tournament Thursday, Feb. 1 Saturday, Jan. 13 Wiggins @ Crossover 6:30 p.m. Invitational
Merino Boys Basketball Schedule Saturday, Dec. 9 @ Simla 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 vs. Holyoke 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 @ Limon 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 vs. Prairie 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 vs. Peetz 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 @ Akron 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 vs. Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 vs. Dayspring Christian 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 @ Holyoke 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 @ Yuma 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Haxtun 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6 vs. Fleming 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 @ Wray 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Wiggins 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15 @ Briggsdale 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 vs. Caliche 4 p.m.
Caliche boys basketball schedule Friday, Dec. 15 @ Potter-Dix 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 vs. Idalia Friday, Jan. 5 @ Akron 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 @ Weldon Valley 2 p. m. Friday, Jan. 12 @ Haxtun 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 vs. Wiggins 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Yuma 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 @ Merino 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Pawnee 3:30 p. m.
Caliche Girls Basketball Schedule Friday, Dec. 15 @ Potter-Dix 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 vs. Idalia Friday, Jan. 5 @ Akron 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 @ Weldon Valley 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 @ Haxtun 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 vs. Wiggins 4
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p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 @ Wray 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 @ Peetz 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 vs. Yuma 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 vs. Holyoke 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 @ Sedgwick County 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 @ Merino 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Pawnee 3:30 p.m.
Fleming Boys Basketball Schedule Saturday, Dec. 9 @ Holyoke 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 vs. Briggsdale 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 vs. Haxtun 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 @ Weldon Valley 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 @ Pawnee 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 @ Sedgwick County 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 @ Peetz 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12 @ Stratton/ Liberty 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19 vs. Idalia 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 @ Prairie 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 vs. Pawnee (@ NJC) 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 @ Akron 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Kit Carson 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6 @ Merino 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8 vs. Prairie (@ NJC) 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 vs. Peetz 4 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 27 @ Briggsdale 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 @ Akron Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Kit Carson 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6 @ Merino 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 vs. Peetz 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 vs. Prairie (@ NJC) 5 p.m.
Sedgwick County/ Fleming Wrestling Schedule Saturday, Dec. 9 Badger Invitational Thursday, Jan. 18 Sedgwick County/Fleming @ Sidney
Peetz Boys Basketball Schedule Tuesday, Dec. 12 @ Haxtun 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 vs. Briggsdale 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 @ Merino 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 vs. Fleming 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 @ Weldon Valley 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 @ Pawnee 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 @ Briggsdale 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Creek Valley Tuesday, Feb. 6 vs. PotterDix 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13 @ Fleming 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 vs. Weldon Valley 4 p.m.
Peetz Girls Basketball Schedule
Tuesday, Dec. 12 @ Haxtun 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 vs. Prairie 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 vs. Briggsdale 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 @ Merino 2 Fleming Girls p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 vs. FlemBasketball Schedule Saturday, Dec. 9 @ Holyoke ing 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 vs. Sedg3:15 p.m. wick County 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 vs. BriggsSaturday, Jan. 20 @ Weldon dale 6 p.m. Valley 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 vs. HaxFriday, Jan. 26 @ Prairie 4 tun 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 @ Weldon p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 @ Pawnee Valley 4 p.m. 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 @ Pawnee 5 Tuesday, Jan. 30 vs. Caliche p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 @ Sedgwick 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 @ Briggsdale County 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 @ Peetz 4 2 p.m. p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Creek Friday, Jan. 12 @ Stratton/ Valley Liberty 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6 vs. PotterFriday, Jan. 19 vs. Idalia Dix Saturday, Jan. 20 @ Prairie Tuesday, Feb. 13 @ Fleming 5:15 p.m. 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 vs. PawFriday, Feb. 16 vs. Weldon nee (@ NJC) 5 p.m. Valley 4 p.m.
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