5A Top Opening Round Games
The fight for the 5A championship begins Tuesday. Some of the top teams might not get challenged in the first round. But it’s the middle of the brackets that are really interesting in the opening round. Here are a few…
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Continue ReadingThe fight for the 5A championship begins Tuesday.
Some of the top teams might not get challenged in the first round. But it’s the middle of the brackets that are really interesting in the opening round. Here are a few opening round games on Tuesday that should be very interesting:
St. James vs. Bonner Springs:
In the East bracket, a couple of really good teams with good records somehow wound up in the 8/9 game. The #8 seed St. James finished as the 10th ranked team in 5A…that’s some interesting math. But regardless, St. James will have its hands full with Bonner Springs. The Braves are balanced, led by ultra-tough senior guard Trent Stimac Trent Stimac 6'0" | PG Bonner Springs | 2022 State KS (pictured), who defends like a demon and does everything offensively. The Braves have three scorers in double figures – Jace Smith, Cameron Doss Cameron Doss 5'11" | CG Bonner Springs | 2023 State KS and Kalen Streit Kalen Streit 6'1" | SG Bonner Springs | 2024 State KS . St. James is led by slick senior forward Sam Somerhalder Sam Somerhalder 6'7" | SF St. James Academy | 2022 State KS , a 6-foot-7 leaper who can put it on the floor and get to the goal from anywhere. He averages 19 points per game. Junior Brian Hawthorne Brian Hawthorne 6'2" | PG St. James | 2023 State KS is a 6-foot-3 guard who dishes out assists and can score from every level.
Blue Valley Southwest vs KC-Washington:
Another great battle in the East bracket is 13-7 Blue Valley Southwest, the #5 seed, and 9-9 Washington, the #12 seed. Washington features a smooth guard who can great his own shot and score in a lot of ways in 6-foot-4 senior Trayvon Foster. He averages 15 points a game. The senior-led Timberwolves will be led by versatile guard Jinwoo Kim Jinwoo Kim 6'1" | PG Blue Valley Southwest | 2022 State KS , a long and athletic ball handler who can direct the attack or create when things break down. He’s averaging 13.5 points and 4 assists. Sebastian Hamm Sebastian Hamm 6'2" | PG Blue Valley Southwest | 2022 State KS is a dangerout 3-point threat who leads the team with 15 points per game.
Maize South vs Seaman:
Seaman draws the road game as the #9 seed, a tough break for the only team to defeat Topeka West all season. The 13-7 Vikings are led by big guard Ty Henry Ty Henry 6'3" | SG Seaman | 2022 State KS who can create opportunities for shooters. Guards Mateo Hyman Mateo Hyman 6'2" | CG Seaman | 2022 State KS and Kaeden Bonner Kaeden Bonner 6'1" | SG Seaman | 2023 State KS can get hot and score in bunches. 15-5 Maize South is loaded with young talent – several of their top players are sophomores. Leading scorer, however, is electric junior guard Isaiah Atwater Isaiah Atwater 5'8" | PG Maize South | 2023 State KS , who also dishes out 6 assists per game.
Valley Center vs Salina Central:
The #10 seed Valley Center is 15-5 and led by fundamentally-sound big man Noah Simmons Noah Simmons 6'8" | C Valley Center | 2022 State KS . The 6-foot-8 center is a workhorse in the paint who brings the fight on every play. He showed great strides as the center piece for the Hornets, averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds. Fellow big man Davin Schmelzle and guard Kade Wilson are solid seniors. 10-10 Salina Central has had a big second half from senior guard Sid Duplessis and sophomore guard Dylan Puckett. The Mustangs have already lost to Valley Center twice this year. You know what they say about beating a team a third time.