State playoffs loom for 1A – Division 1
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Playoffs for 1A are just two weeks away. We’ll take a deeper look into the teams to watch when the playoffs roll around, but here’s a sneak peek at the 1A Div. 1 rankings and what we have to look…
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Continue ReadingPlayoffs for 1A are just two weeks away. We’ll take a deeper look into the teams to watch when the playoffs roll around, but here’s a sneak peek at the 1A Div. 1 rankings and what we have to look forward to:
Jayden Garrison Jayden Garrison 6'2" | CG Little River | 2021 State KS , senior, Little River:
Everyone should know this name. Garrison is one of the best guards, as well as one of the top dual-sport athletes, in the state regardless of class. He proved with the Kansas Kings over the summer that he can compete at the highest level. In addition to scoring 26.5 points per game, he pulls in about 4 rebounds and dishes 2.5 assists per game. He’s a great athlete and even better competitor.
Where Eagles Fly:
Olpe looks to follow up its state football championship with a plaque from the basketball season. They are currently ranked #3 and have the horses to do it. They have nearly everyone back from a really good team last year. They don’t have a ton of height, but they have athletes like 6-foot-1 Jordan Barnard, who averages about 15 per game, and 5-foot-11 Damon Redeker, who contributes about 8 per game. 5-foot-10 junior Derek Hoelting showed he can compete against top-level competition when he recently tossed in 23 against one of Wichita Sunrise’s squads.
Other stars to watch:
Aaron Skidmore, a first-team 1A star from South Gray and Vance Shewey from Meade are top big men who will be worth the price of admission this playoff season.
Ultra-Tough Draw:
Cair Paravel in Topeka will make its first appearance in KSHSAA-sanctioned playoff action at the crazy-tough Madison Sub-State. #3 Olpe, #6 Lebo and #7 Madison will all be there, as will Burlingame. Talk about worth the price of admission – senior superstar Devan Mcewen Devan Mcewen 6'3" | SG Lebo | 2021 State KS (pictured) will lead Lebo on a push for the state playoffs, but they’ll have to get past Madison with veterans Drew Stutesman Drew Stutesman 6'2" | CG Madison | 2022 State KS and Chase Harrison and Burlingame’s big man Trever Quaney. Cair Paravel will bring it’s trio of stars Noah Hastert Noah Hastert 6'6" | C Cair Paravel | 2022 State KS , Zach Clark and Luke Fay. But will they be ready for their first-ever playoff challenge?
Almost As Tough:
Not quite as loaded, but still rough will be the Centralia Sub-State. It brings together #4 Clifton-Clyde, #10 Frankfort and the always tough Centralia team. 6-foot-6 Wyatt Lange leads a talented and experienced Clifton-Clyde group, but they’ll be challenged by guard-rich Frankfort. Veterans Gavin Cornelison and Aiden Gerstner are just the beginning of the talented guards for the Wildcats.