Lyon County League Mid-season Evals

<p>The end of January has seen teams deal with pandemic, take holiday break, play tournaments and work through roster shakeups. It’s a good time to take a mid-season look at how things are going. Here’s an update on the Lyon County League:</p> <p>Best Team:</p> <p>This is a tough one, because three league teams are listed in the top 10 1A Div 1 state rankings. Olpe, however, is currently ranked third, and therefore gets the current distinction of the league’s ‘best.’ This bunch showed in football season that they know how to win championships, and they have talent and depth on the court.</p> <p>Stars:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1072883" first="Devan" last="McEwen"], senior, Lebo (pictured):</p> <p>McEwen has done just about everything in his career, except win a state title. He’s been an all-stater in football and basketball, but hasn’t gotten over the hump just yet. The 6-foot-2 guard isn’t flashy, but he is ultra-productive. He has six games of 20-plus points, two games of 30 or more. But the glaring black mark is the 4 he tallied in a loss to Olpe.</p> <p><strong>Jordan Barnard</strong>, senior, Olpe:</p> <p>Barnard averaged 12 points per game as a junior, and now is the Eagles’ primary threat. He has been held in single digits just once this season, with a high of 24 against Burlingame.</p> <p><strong>Trever Quaney</strong>, junior, Burlingame:</p> <p>The 6-foot-7 junior is the most dominant big man in the league. He is a double-double machine who intimidates in the lane and isn’t afraid to move outside. He is averaging nearly 15 points per outing.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1076406" first="Drew" last="Stutesman"], junior, Madison:</p> <p>Like nearly every good player in the Lyon County League, Stutesman is a top footballer as well. The 6-foot-3 athlete is tough to guard inside and out, and he is a consistent producer, crashing the glass and working hard at both ends.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1075925" first="Chase" last="Harris"]on</strong>, senior, Madison:</p> <p>Harrison is the Bulldog’s most explosive player and most likely to go off for big scoring nights. He has hit big shots in his career and is an excellent perimeter complement to Stutesman. He hits multiple threes nearly every night out.</p> <p>Risers:</p> <p><strong>Ali Smith</strong>, sophomore, Hartford:</p> <p>Hartford continues to struggle to match up with the tough clubs in the league. Smith didn’t back down as a freshman last season, and he continues to lead the fight this year. Though just 5-foot-8, he finds ways to be productive in every aspect of the game, including on the glass. He has been held to single-digits scoring just once this year, with games of 20, 17 and 16 to his credit.</p> <p><strong>Landon Grimmett</strong>, sophomore, Lebo:</p> <p>McEwen needs someone to help take up the load, and more often than not it’s been Grimmett, particularly early in the season. The 5-foot-11 guard has registered double-figures in scoring several times this year.</p> <p><strong>Derek Hoelting</strong>, junior, Olpe:</p> <p>The 5-foot-10 Hoelting does a lot of different things for the Eagles, including crash the glass. He is an athletic contributor who occasionally takes up a good portion of the scoring load. He has games of 19, 13 and 12 this season.</p> <p><strong>Lane Bartley</strong>, junior, Waverly:</p> <p>Bartley is a player on the rise, seeing his role grow considerably over last season. The 6-foot-2 guard developed into the Bulldogs’ number one option this year. After scoring just 4 points a game as a sophomore, Bartley has games of 28, 18, and an impressive 12 against Lebo.</p> <p>Unsung Heroes:</p> <p><strong>Lance Noonan</strong>, junior, Burlingame:</p> <p>The 6-foot-3 Noonan teams with Quaney to present a really tough front line for the Bearcats. He can score, with games of 20, 17 and 15 already this year.</p> <p><strong>Kelton Buettner,</strong> senior, Madison:</p> <p>Buettner’s 6-foot-5 frame and rebounding ability makes him a good complement to Harrison and Stutesman. He scores in double figures regularly, with a high of 21 this year.</p> <p><strong>Damon Redeker</strong>, junior, Olpe:</p> <p>Just one of the many top-notch athletes Olpe can send at opponents, Redeker can do some of everything for this well-rounded team. He distributes the ball and is tough on the boards for a 5-foot-11 guard. He chips in about 9 points per contest without requiring the offense to revolve around him.</p>