Players to watch in 1A playoff action
1A playoff action begins across the state on Monday. Several teams from the Topeka area are expected to make some serious noise, beginning this week. The top-two finishers at the four regionals across the state will advance to sub-states at…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading1A playoff action begins across the state on Monday. Several teams from the Topeka area are expected to make some serious noise, beginning this week. The top-two finishers at the four regionals across the state will advance to sub-states at Dodge City and Pratt.
Here are some of the star players to keep an eye on as the playoffs get under way:
Madison (18-1, ranked #3 in 1A), seeded first at Waverly regional:
Drew Stutesman, sophomore, Madison:
The third-rated team is led Stutesman, who is averaging 14 points a game. He’s finishing strong, with 17 against Wichita Home School and 18 against Chase County.
Chase Harrison, junior, Madison:
Harrison has had some hug games this season, including the game winner in the Lyon County League tournament, 25 against Northern Heights, and 29 against Wichita Home School.
Lebo (16-2, ranked #5 in 1A), seeded second at Waverly regional:
Devan McEwen, junior, Lebo:
Lebo gets the tough task of having Madison in its region. The two teams have had some epic battles already this season. Lebo has high-scoring junior McEwan to lead the way. The 6-foot-2 junior is averaging nearly 20 points a game.
Valley Falls (14-5), first seed at Valley Falls regional:
Avery Gatzemeyer, sophomore, Valley Falls:
The 6-foot-1 sophomore is averaging about 15 points a game. His scoring output has dropped late in the season.
Tyler Lockhart, senior, Valley Falls:
The 6-foot-3 four-year starter has seen his scoring dip a bit from 14 a game to 12.5 this year. He’s been slowed late in the year and his contribution in the playoffs is in question.
Nathan Hawk, junior, Valley Falls:
The 6-foot-3 junior has had sporadic output until recently, averaging 10.2 per contest. Over the last four games, he scored 13 against McLouth, 10 against Jackson Heights, and 9 against Pleasant Ridge before exploding for 21 against Oskaloosa.
Centralia (11-8), second seed at Valley Falls regional:
Kamble Haverkamp, senior, Centralia:
The future Butler County footballer is averaging about 12 points per game, with highlight nights of 17 against Hanover and Clifton-Clyde and 21 against Frankfort.
Colby Arnold, senior, Centralia:
The 6-foot-2 senior has been a productive sidekick for Haverkamp. He’s been on a role the past couple of weeks, scoring 14 against St. Marys, Clifton-Clyde and BV Randolph, and 13 against Valley Heights.