Class 1A Regional Preview: Moundridge, Olpe

The class A post-season tournament gets started Monday, February 18, with regional action. The 108 schools in the class will be battling to be one of two teams advancing to sub-state out of each regional. I will continue breaking down each region with analysis, predictions, and identify players to watch. Let's take a look at the Moundridge and Olpe regionals. <table style="height: 136px;width: 588px"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 17px"> <td style="height: 17px;width: 203.583px"> <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt"><u>Moundridge Regional</u></span></h2> </td> <td style="height: 17px;width: 89.8333px"> <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt"><u> </u></span></h2> </td> <td style="height: 17px;width: 209.717px"> <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt"><u>Olpe Regional</u></span></h2> </td> <td style="height: 17px;width: 83.8667px"> <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt"><u> </u></span></h2> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 35px"> <td style="height: 10px;width: 203.583px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Chase County</span></td> <td style="height: 10px;width: 89.8333px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(16-2)</span></td> <td style="height: 10px;width: 209.717px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">#2 Olpe </span></td> <td style="height: 10px;width: 83.8667px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(17-0)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18px"> <td style="height: 18px;width: 203.583px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Berean Academy</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 89.8333px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(13-6)</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 209.717px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Waverly</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 83.8667px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(16-2)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18px"> <td style="height: 18px;width: 203.583px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Moundridge</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 89.8333px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(12-7)</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 209.717px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Hartford</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 83.8667px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(10-9)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18px"> <td style="height: 18px;width: 203.583px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Flint Hills</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 89.8333px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(10-9)</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 209.717px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Colony-Chrest</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 83.8667px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(8-10)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18px"> <td style="height: 18px;width: 203.583px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Elyria Christian</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 89.8333px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(5-14)</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 209.717px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Madison/Hamilton</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 83.8667px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(7-12)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 19px"> <td style="width: 203.583px;height: 19px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Burrton</span></td> <td style="width: 89.8333px;height: 19px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(4-15)</span></td> <td style="height: 19px;width: 209.717px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Southern Coffee County</span></td> <td style="height: 19px;width: 83.8667px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(7-10)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 18px"> <td style="height: 18px;width: 203.583px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Peabody-Burns</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 89.8333px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(0-20)</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 209.717px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Moran-Marmaton Valley</span></td> <td style="height: 18px;width: 83.8667px"><span style="font-size: 12pt">(4-13)</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Moundridge Regional</span></span></h3> Unless a major upset occurs Flint Hills will advance to the semi-finals to take on top-seeded Chase County while Heart of America league foes Berean Academy and Moundridge will meet in the other. Despite the disparity in records the Flint Hills cold give the Bulldogs a run. Out of the South Central Border league, the Mustangs have not faced any of the teams in this regional. Flint Hills has several players who can hit from the perimeter, as they did when they knocked down eight threes in a 16-point, mid-January win over Sedan (one of my picks to advance to sub-state out of the Chetopa region), and get to the hole. Chase County is an experienced team whose only losses are to undefeated Rural Vista by 11 and two-loss Northern Heights by six in overtime. The Mustangs have speed and perimeter shooting but the Bulldogs have clear advantages in their inside game, active offensive rebounding, and full-court defense. I look for Chase to overpower Flint Hills. Berean Academy hammered Moundridge in their only meeting February 8 but I expect the home Wildcats to provide a stronger challenge for the Warriors. Having the strongest schedule in the regional by far, according to MaxPreps, and possessing size; speed; and outside shooting is a young yet experience team. Berean is an aggressive half-court man defensive team that will throw in some zone. They have the speed to take advantage of turnovers and enough size to compete inside. If Moundridge can limit turnovers and hit from the perimeter they'll take advantage of Eichelberger's presence inside. Eichelberger must stay on the floor. Berean will be trouble if they aren't able to run and Brooke Wiebe gets into foul trouble. I don't see Moundridge losing again at home to the Warriors. They will squeak by. In the finals, Chase County's athleticism will be the difference. <strong>My Picks</strong>: Chase County over Moundridge in the finals by ten. <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Olpe Regional</span></span></h3> This is among the least competitive regionals. The #2 ranked Eagles will need to have a serious disaster strike for them not to win this regional and have a great sub-state draw. The only team they have not faced in the regular season is Moran-Marmaton Valley and won't face them in the regional. Their closest game was a 26-point win over Waverly. Colony-Crest and Southern Coffee County play for the right to play Olpe in the semi-finals. Second-seeded Waverly's only losses have been to Olpe by 26 and 47 points. After dispatching Moran-Marmaton Valley in the opening round the Bulldogs will take on the Hartford-Madison/Hamilton winner. The closest game the Bulldogs have had with either team was 23 points. Hartford blasted Madison/Hamilton by 27 at home in December then lost in the Lyon County League tournament to them by 5. Given the disparity this regional this is likely to be the most interesting game to see. Waverly is loaded with speed and shooters and like to pick up man-to-man full court. What they do not have is size or the ability, aside from Sara McWilliams, to score inside. <strong>My Picks</strong>: Olpe over Waverly by 30 <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Players</span></span></h3> Janae Totty, Flint Hills, F - Athletic, quick hands, shot blocking Lauren Donner, Flint Hills, 2022, G/F - perimeter shooter who can drive and finish or kick out to the perimeter. Harley Ratcliff, Flint Hills - solid ball-handling skills the point, three-point threat. Riggin Carney, Flint Hills - perimeter shooter who can drive and finish or kick out to the perimeter. Makenzie Higgs, Chase County, 5'7", 2020 - Finish around the basket, shoot the three, difficult to stop in transition due to speed and ball skills Maya Eidman, Chase County, 5'8", 2019 - Fast with ball in transition, best perimeter defender, great motor Britney Schroer, Chase County, 5'9", 2021, F - Seals and finishes inside and dish well off the interior move. Clara Eldridge, Berean Academy, 2019 F - runs the floor well, athletic on the offensive end. Brooke Wiebe, Berean Academy, 2020, PG - Strong, fast floor leader who is the team's best scoring threat, defends opponent's point guards. Anna Eldridge, Berean Academy, 2022 P - Strongest inside presence. Kate Eichelberger, Moundridge, 6'0", 2022, C - Long, solid inside scorer and rebounder; runs the floor well; alters shots Kourtney Kaufman, Moundridge, 2021, F - Best scorer including from the perimeter scorer, runs the floor well. Erin Durst, Moundridge, 5'3", 2021, PG - player maker with good speed and three point range Neleh Davis, Olpe, 5'7", 2020, PG - Biggest three-point threat. Emma Miller, Olpe, 5'10", 2019, PF - Strongest inside presence. Macy Bishop, Olpe, 2021 PG -- Quick and a three-point threat Megan Foster, Waverly, 2020 PG - Quick with good court awareness, can finish off the drive and hit threes Kaylynn Vogts, Waverly, 2021, G - Athletic perimeter shooter Cyerra Kellerman, Waverly, 2019, G - Three point threat with great range Sara McWilliams, Wavely, 2021, F -- Best inside threat due to finishing ability, three-point shooter Bailey Darbyshire, Hartford, 2020, 5'9", PF - Athletic finisher who runs the floor well. &nbsp;