Class 1A Regional Preview: Central, Berean Academy

Class 1A regional, post-season tournament action gets started Monday, February 24, after seedings are announced February 19. Let's take a look at the Burden-Central and Elbing-Berean Academy 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. As of February 16 the current standings are as follows. <table style="height: 192px; width: 79.8642%;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 17px;"> <td style="height: 17px; width: 204px;"> <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>Central</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>Berean Academy </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;">Norwich</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 90px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(16-2)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 210px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Central Christian </span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 84px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(16-2)</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;">(15-3)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 210px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Berean Academy </span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 84px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(11-6)</span></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;">(14-4)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 210px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Flinthills </span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 84px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(7-11)</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;">(8-11)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 210px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Burrton</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 84px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(6-12)</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;">(7-11)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 210px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wichita-Classical</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 84px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(2-15)</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;">(4-12)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 210px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Peabody-Burns </span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 84px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(0-18)</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px;"> <td style="height: 25px; width: 204px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Central</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 90px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(0-18)</span></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 210px;"></td> <td style="height: 25px; width: 84px;"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt;">Central Regional</span></h2> Despite the strong records neither of the top three teams in the region are in Feb. 11's Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) poll. With two games left Norwich is nearly a lock for the top seed and the first round bye, having beaten South Haven by 2 and Argonia by 7. While Norwich still has undefeated, #9 ranked Cunningham, left to play, South Haven and Argonia will play each other a second time February 18, leaving the second seed unknown. South Haven won by 13 their mid-January contest. Caldwell and Udall also face each other on the 18th to determine who wears the home white uniforms for when they play again in the first round. Norwich plays the winner and has beaten both teams already by more than 20 points. South Haven and Argonia should have little trouble meeting in the semi-finals. With returning all-South Central Border League players <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brittney-byers/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brittney-byers/">Brittney Byers</a></a>, a Cowley Community College commit, and Macey Pond, South Haven has the edge over Argonia to meet Norwich in the finals <strong>My picks:</strong> South Haven pulls a very, very mild upset over Norwich. <h2><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Berean Academy Regional</span></span></h2> Berean Academy and #9 ranked Central Christian have earned first round byes. Flinthills, from the South Central Border League, joins a mixed region for post-season play. Peabody-Burns is from the Wheat State League; Wichita-Classical is an independent; and Berean Academy, Burrton, and Central Christian are from the Heart of the Plains League. While this mixture creates some mystery due to teams not facing each other during the regular season the path to the finals pretty clear. Burrton should have little trouble with Wichita-Classical if they can keep Kate Tilma around her points per game average. Flinthills is in the same situation with the winless Warriors. Once they reach the semi's. Burrton has a shot despite having already lost to the Cougars three times on the season, by 6, 14, and 24 points. That shot relies on the Chargers keeping the Cougar guards from getting open looks, getting more easy baskets in transition, and frustrating the bigs inside. Despite the losing record, Flinthills will not be an easy out for Berean. But that depends upon which team shows up. The team that lost by a couple to Fairfield and won by 4 over Classical is different than the team that only lost to #7 Otis-Bison by 19, 2A #3 West Elk by 19, and recently took 15-2 South Haven to overtime before succumbing by 7. Among Berean's losses are a pair to 2A #1 Sterling. None of their losses came against 1A opponents. Berean has the guard play to lead them past Flinthills, but it won't be easy. Playing on your home floor will help. In the finals, the strength of team's guard play will feature prominently. Central Christian plays 8-9 players reguarly and has drastically improved team perimeter shooting from a year ago. Berean returns a KBCA 1A honorable mention pick in <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-wiebe/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-wiebe/">Brooke Wiebe</a></a>. Berean can win if they succeed where Burrton is more likely not to. <strong>My picks</strong>: Central Christian over Berean Academy in the finals. <h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Players to Watch</span> </span></h3> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-wiebe/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooke-wiebe/">Brooke Wiebe</a></a>, Berean Academy, 5'6", G - A year ago Wiebe was a KBCA 1A all-state honorable mention and Heart of America League first team selection. She averaged 10.4 points. McKinsie Hoopes, Burrton, 2022, 5'4", PG -- <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Handles full-court pressure, three-point range, unselfish, good quickness, drives to the basket with purpose. Averaged 6.8 ppg, 4 rpg, 1.2 apg in 2019."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":12801,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana","16":10}">Handles full-court pressure, has three-point range, is unselfish, has good quickness, and drives to the basket with purpose. Averaged 6.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 2019.</span> Alexis Zehr, Burrton, 2020, 5'9", G/F -- <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Heart of the Plains all-league selection. Averaged 11.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.5 apg in 2019."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">Averaged 11.7 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.5 apg in 2019. A Heart of the Plains all-league selection. </span> Delaney Mayo, Caldwell, 2020, 5'8" -- Averaging 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2 steals per game. <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/josie-ibarra/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/josie-ibarra/">Josie Ibarra</a></a>, Central Christian, 2020, 5'8", PG - Heart of the Plains all-league. While not a strong perimeter threat Ibarra hurts teams with her passing. She can get to the basket and finish off a steal. Aly Lambert, Central Christian, 2022, 6'0", C - Lambert has a big build and long limbs. She can put a couple moves to good use to finish. Laura Donner, Flinthills, 2022, 5'8" -- Averaging 6 points per game. Kira Kelly, Norwich, 2022, G, 5'7" -- Athletic with ability to finish in traffic. A second team South Central Border League selection. Avery Rosenhagen, Norwich, 2022, G, 5'6" -- Three point shooter who spent the summer playing with Kansas United. A Heart of the Plains League honorable mention selection. Lily Kopfer, Oxford, 2021, 5'6", G - Averaging nearly 10 points a game and shoots nearly 40% from beyond the arc. Melissa Willams, Oxford, 2020, F, 5'10" -- Averaging 4.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Anna Eldridge, Peabody-Burns, 2022, 5'7" -- A scorer, Eldridge has hit the 20 point mark multiple times this season. Eldridge is a transfer from Berean Academy. <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brittney-byers/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brittney-byers/">Brittney Byers</a></a>, South Haven, 2020, 5'6" G -- Averaging 16.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.1 steals. Consistent, active three point shooter. A first team South Central Border League selection. Macey Pond, South Haven, 5'6", 2022, PG -- Averaging 10.7 points, Pond is fast with the ball and has good ball handling skills in traffic. Aubrey Eilers, Udall, 2021, 5'8" -- Averaging 6.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Kate Tilma, Wichita Classical, 2022, F, 5'11 -- Averaging more than 10 points and is a three point threat.                      