The Mid-East League’s Final Year, a Short Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 season will be the final year of existence for the Mid-East League. Four schools (Rossville, St. Mary's Silver Lake, Riley County) are joining with six Big 7 teams to form the Big East, Wabaunsee is joining the Flint Hills League and Rock Creek is joining the North Central Activities Association. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several league members found success last season. Silver Lake and Riley County impacted the 3A state tournament. Silver Lake made a second trip to state, losing to two-time state champ Goodland in the finals in 2023 and the semi-finals in 2022. Riley County surprised pretty much everybody but me (C.J. Rignell was a beast) gave Phillipsburg all it wanted before falling in the quarterfinals. Rossville again could not get past Silver Lake in a sub-state final and finished with 16 wins. St. Mary's absorbed many losses in their rigorous schedule to then unload on opponents in its sub-state. The Bears fell to St. Mary's-Colgan in the 2A state tournament's first round. Senior laden Rock Creek's good season ended for the second season in a 4A sub-state final against state runner-up McPherson. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Broken out by classification and team, below is a list of players expected to be impactful in the 2024 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rock Creek</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743351' first='Payton' last='Rottinghaus'], 5'8", PF - In the blow-out loss in the 2023 sub-state final to McPherson her play spoke volumes. Whether still in it or not the Mustangs could see how much bigger she played than her height including how hard she worked to post up against very physical defenders. She defended with quickness and physicality as well. A very good free throw shooter </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Riley County</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='616749' first='Anna' last='Lambert'], 5'9", CG, 2025 - 2023 Mid-East League second team selection. Good free throw and perimeter shooting threat. Able to create her own shot. Works well in space off the bounce. Strong handles. Backs up and resets well. Good half-court vision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Drew Shirley</strong>, CG, 2024 - Fast player quick on the flash to the ball. Catches and finishes in block traffic. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rossville</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='779209' first='Nora' last='Burdiek'], 5'10", CG, 2027 - PGH Kansas 2027 watch list selection.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='231275' first='Emma' last='Mitchell'], 5'10", SF, 2024 - 2023 Mid-East League second team selection, 2022 first team. Good length, transition speed, and athleticism that puts pressure on opponents on both ends. Attacks close outs well. Guards several positions. Uses her body well on finishes. Perimeter shooting threat.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='532211' first='Kinsey' last='Perine'], 5'7", PG, 2024 - Two-time Mid-East League first team. Impact player at the point since her freshman year. Quick, tough, serious assist (7 per game) and steal (6 per game) generator<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='344788' first='Rylee' last='Dick'], 5'6", PG, 2026 - 2023 Mid-East League Honorable mention selection. Good perimeter shooter including against challengers. Good speed, works well in transition with her head up. Scores well off the dribble or catch. Uses floater well. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Silver Lake</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='453757' first='Makenzie' last='McDaniel'], 6'0", C, 2024 - Emporia State University commit. two-time Mid-East League first team selection. Size and strength most teams cannot match up well with. Scores well in the paint using a variety of moves and good footwork. Improved north-south speed. Holds her ground well defensively and uses her size and positioning to control the glass. 8.9 rebounds.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='613290' first='McKinley' last='Kruger'], 5'6", PG/SG, 2024 - 2023 KBCA 3A Honorable mention. Two-time 2023 Mid-East League first team. Streaky three point shooter who can bury several in a row. Fast with solid handles, works especially well in transition. Defends with quickness. Good motor. 3.5 assists<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='649343' first='Kaibryn' last='Kruger'], 5'6", SG, 2024 - Two-time 2023 Mid-East League honorable mention. Streaky three point shooter with good speed. Solid defender. Works well in transition. <br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='416009' first='Kailyn' last='Hanni'], 5'7", PG, 2026 - Holds two division II offers. Slight to average built and confident defender even against fast, quick ball handlers even when they are bigger, stronger, and very aggressive. Highly intuitive player on both ends of the ball. Strong handles in transition and the half court. Hits sprinting cutters on the break and split defenders off the bounce. Perimeter shooting threat who also finishes with either hand. Strong shot blocking instincts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">St. Mary's</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='431037' first='Hayden' last='Heim'], 6'2", C, 2025 - 2023 Mid-East League first team selection. 2022 Honorable mention. Good size and athleticism. Terrific interior footwork working inside offensively and in rebounding. Walking double-double (16.6 points, 10.4 rebounds) with good transition speed. Attacks interior defenders well with the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='822720' first='Isabel' last='Hurla']</strong>, 5'7", SG, 2025 - Averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals. 34% from three with 49 made. 61% from the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='862411' first='Catherine' last='Moylan']</strong>, 5'5", SG, 2024 - Averaged 7.6 points, 1.7 assists. Career 32% three point shooter with 105 made. Career 72% from the line</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brenna Smith</strong>, 5'10", SF, 2024 - 2023 Mid-East League second team selection. Averaged 8.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Wabaunsee</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743332' first='Taryn' last='Maike'], 5'0", PG, 2024 - Quick and speedy with the ball. Floor leader type point guard who provides stability with an ability to work in space. Finishes at speed. Good free throw shooter. Averaged 4.3 points.<br><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='817392' first='Kaci' last='Meseke']</strong>, 5'8, CG, 2024 - Two-time Mid-East League Honorable mention. Averaged Averaged 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 steals in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note: [player_tooltip player_id='743351' first='Payton' last='Rottinghaus']'s info has been updated. I noticed I had published the article with my raw notes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->