Midwinter Tournaments: Teams to Watch
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One of the highlights of the winter is the weeks of tournaments that take place across the state. These events often pit teams from various parts of the state against each other who would otherwise not ever face each other.…
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Continue ReadingOne of the highlights of the winter is the weeks of tournaments that take place across the state. These events often pit teams from various parts of the state against each other who would otherwise not ever face each other. Small schools against big schools, opponents criss-crossing the state for games.
These events give fans a chance to see players they might not otherwise see. Here are a handful of teams worth watching this week:
McPherson:
Will anyone at the McPherson Invitational Tournament be able to challenge Free State, arguably the top team in all of Kansas? Well, McPherson will be ready to try should the two meet this week. The Bullpups are 6-3 and are led by super athletic Seth Madron Seth Madron 6'2" | SG Mcpherson | 2022 State KS . McPherson is a proud program with great tradition. They won’t back down from the elite Firebirds.
Ellinwood:
The Eagles are an offensive juggernaut, led by super-scorer Britton Dutton Britton Dutton 6'0" | SG Argo Comm | 2023 State KS (pictured). But that’s not all Ellinwood has going. 6-foot-3 junior forward Patrick Scheck is a great sidekick for Dutton, racking up 15.7 points per game. 6-foot-3 classmate Koy Behnke is dealing out 4.8 assists per game and stuffing the stat sheet. And 6-foot-3 senior Cody Zink is a presence on the glass and in the paint. The Eagles will be challenged in the tough Cardinal Winter Jam in Hoisington this week.
St Marys:
Perhaps no school challenges itself in the tournament more than the Bears. Every year they roll into the Topeka Invitational Tournament, a 2A team ready to test themselves against 5A and 6A foes. Currently ranked second in 2A, the Bears have nothing to lose, but have the talent to match up with their first opponent, Topeka High.
Garden City:
Hays is the behemoth at the Colby Orange and Black, but don’t sleep on Garden City. They return Caleb Wiese Caleb Wiese 6'4" | SF Garden City | 2023 State KS , of course, who is athletic and steady. And 6-foot-3 junior Jace Steinmetz Jace Steinmetz 6'3" | SF Garden City | 2023 State KS has developed into the leader of the team. Tae Rosales is having a nice senior season so far, scoring 9.9 per game.
Osborne:
Little 1A Div. I Osborne brings a 11-0 record to the Colby Orange and Black. It will be fun to see how they match up with the big schools. The guard tandem of Grady Wolters and Dayton Lantz and big man Ronnie Thompson make for a nice mix for the Bulldogs.