Class 1A Regional Preview: Argonia, Chetopa

Class 1A regional, post-season tournament action gets started Monday, February 18, so let's take a look at the Argonia and Chetopa regionals. The 108 schools in the class will be battling to be one of two teams advancing to sub-state from each regional. I will be breaking down each region with analysis, predictions, and identify players to watch. <table style="height: 192px"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 17px"> <td style="height: 17px;width: 204px"> <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt"><u>Argonia Regional</u></span></h2> </td> <td style="height: 17px;width: 90px"> <h2></h2> </td> <td style="height: 17px;width: 210px"> <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt"><u>Chetopa Regional</u></span></h2> </td> <td style="height: 17px;width: 84px"> <h2></h2> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px"> <td style="height: 25px;width: 204px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Argonia</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 90px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(17-1)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 210px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">St. Paul</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 84px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(12-4)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px"> <td style="height: 25px;width: 204px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">South Haven</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 90px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(14-5)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 210px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sedan</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 84px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(9-10)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px"> <td style="height: 25px;width: 204px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Caldwell</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 90px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(10-9)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 210px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Chetopa</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 84px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(9-10)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px"> <td style="height: 25px;width: 204px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Norwich</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 90px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(10-9)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 210px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Dexter/Cedar Vale</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 84px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(3-14)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px"> <td style="height: 25px;width: 204px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Udall</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 90px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(8-12)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 210px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Burden-Central</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 84px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(1-18)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px"> <td style="height: 25px;width: 204px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Wichita Classical</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 90px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(4-14)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 210px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Buffalo-Altoona Midway</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 84px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(0-15)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px"> <td style="height: 25px;width: 204px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Oxford</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 90px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(3-16)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 210px"></td> <td style="height: 25px;width: 84px"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2></h2> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-size: 12pt">Argonia Regional</span></h2> Argonia joined this week's Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll at #10. They have beaten every team in their regional, some more than once, by double digits and are the clear favorite to win the region and advance to sub-state. The only team they have not faced, nor have any of the others, is Wichita Classical. A quick study of Rosalia-Flint Hills, a common opponent for many of the teams, provides a glimpse at which school is likely to be the second team advancing. Oxford and Udall lost, respectively, by 17 and 4 points. Caldwell, by 11, and Classical, by 6, earned victories. South Haven and Argonia both hammered Rosalia-Flint Hills by more than 25 points. Caldwell has to beat South Haven to advance to sub-state. Until losing Feb. 12 to a 2-loss Cunningham team Norwich had won five in a row. They also defeated Udall by 17 in mid-December. They will face Argonia, who had a first round by, in the semi-finals. Norwich will make a game of it but on Argonia's home floor I expect a repeat of their 16 point loss in early December. <strong>My picks:</strong> Argonia over South Haven in the finals. <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Chetopa Regional</span></span></h2> The game to watch in this regional will be Chetopa vs Sedan once Chetopa dispatches Buffalo-Altoona Midway in the first round. Sedan, as the second seed, earned a first round bye.  Chetopa will be playing on its home floor, as they were when they lost by 6 to Sedan. Sedan has the advantage of being fresher and having superior guard play and shooters. That will be enough advance them to play St. Paul in the finals. St. Paul will have no issues getting past the Dexter/Cedar Vale and Burden-Central opening game winner. St. Paul, with superior size and inside game and with athletic guards who can run with Sedan's, should win by double figures regardless of who they face in the finals. <strong>My picks</strong>: St. Paul over Sedan in the finals. <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Players to Watch</span></span></h3> Tylyn Ward, Caldwell, 2019, 5'5", G -- Averaging 13.6 ppg Brittney Byers, South Haven, 2020, 5'6" G -- Averaging 18.7 ppg, 3.5 spg, made 66 3s on 36% shooting Caitlin Williams, Sedan, 2021, 5'7" PG -- Averaging  13.3 ppg, 5 rpg, perimeter shooter, can finish with either hand and can dish off the drive. Macey Pond, South Haven, 5'6", 2022, PG -- Averaging 10.7 ppg, good ball handling skills in traffic, fast with the ball. Landrea Sears, Sedan, 2022, G -- Fast, quick first step, create her own perimeter shot, good shooter Avery Rosenhagen, Norwich, 2022, G, 5'6" -- Three point shooter. Kira Kelly, Norwich, Norwich, 2022, G, 5'7" -- Athletic with ability to finish in traffic. Kate Tilma, Wichita Classical, 2022, F, 5'11 -- Averaging 10.4 ppg, made 27 3s on 33% shooting &nbsp; &nbsp;