Highlights from the small school ranks – Eastern Kansas
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Things are getting hot and heavy in the run up to playoff time. While Kansas City and Wichita schools dominate the rankings of the upper divisions, there are a lot of exciting things happening at small schools in the eastern…
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Continue ReadingThings are getting hot and heavy in the run up to playoff time. While Kansas City and Wichita schools dominate the rankings of the upper divisions, there are a lot of exciting things happening at small schools in the eastern half of Kansas.
Check out these highlights from the small schools in the east:
In what might be the upset of the year on the small school scene, Holton knocked off 3A #1 Royal Valley when Holton’s Matt Lierz hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds. Lierz is the decorated quarterback of the football team, a 6-foot athlete who earned honorable mention in the Big 7 League last year. Lierz had the Panther’s number in the upset. He hit a shot from over half-court earlier in the game.
Another football star is making noise on the court recently. Noah Hastert Noah Hastert 6'6" | C Cair Paravel | 2022 State KS from Cair Paravel recently committed to play football at Pitt State, but he has been a hoops standout for even longer than he has been a football prospect. He’s big and powerful, but also fundamental on the court. Check out these recent stats: 26 points/24 boards against Maranatha, 33 points against McLouth. Hastert has the Lions back in the 1A Div. I rankings at number 8 currently.
The Hurlas of St. Mary’s tore it up last week. Senior Jaxon Hurla Jaxon Hurla 5'9" | PG St. Marys | 2022 State KS dished out 15 assists in a game against Rock Creek. He’s a slithering point guard who can score but is best at breaking down defenses and getting the ball to scorers. Cousin Keller Hurla Keller Hurla 6'0" | CG St. Marys | 2023 State KS went on a tear with games of 51, 32 and 25 recently. St. Marys currently sits at #2 in 2A. Keller is a dynamite shooter who stretches defenses and can get inside to score too.
Gunner Ball, the 6-foot-2 multi-sport star for Perry-Lecompton has gone unappreciated long enough. He averages about 17 points a game, but he blew up for 33 and 14 rebounds in a battle with Riverside recently. The junior is a big, physical guard who gets in the lane and can also hit from the perimeter. Watch for Ball to be added to the Prep Hoops rankings soon.
A team we haven’t spent enough time talking about is Valley Falls. The Dragons are 18-0 and look ready to challenge Hillsboro, or whoever else is at the top of 2A. Avery Gatzemeyer Avery Gatzemeyer 6'1" | PG Valley Falls | 2022 State KS has been a top-flight guard for a couple of years already, and he is leading the way with 15 points per game. His running mate, Dylan Cervantez, had an impressive season on the gridiron. His physicality and diverse skills are manifesting in 14.5 points, 6.2 boards and 2.8 assists per game.
Though Burlingame has dropped out of the rankngs, Trever Quaney Trever Quaney 6'8" | C Burlingame | 2022 State KS has been a beast this season. He’s a powerful 6-foot-8 center who is getting offers to play football next year. He recently racked up 40 points and 18 boards in a game, and went over 1,000 for his career. He’s averaging a really impressive 27 points and 13 boards.