1A D I Players Powering to the Post-Season

The regular season is winding down quickly for 1A division I teams driving to reach the state tournament at the Colby Event Center. Seeding for the eight sub-states is set for Saturday, February 17. Quarterfinal games will be played February 23. Many teams have put together strong seasons and several players are playing big roles in the push to reach the state tournament. Below is a quick look at some of them.   [player_tooltip player_id='856987' first='Kiersten' last='Adams'], 6'0", C, Norwich, 2024 - The one-loss Eagles are the clear favorite to return to the state tournament out of the Burden-Central sub-state and Adams is a key piece. With solid size and length Adams clogs the lane, walls up well, and collects her share of shot blocks. Because she looks to box on shots she also is a solid rebounder. Adams' ability to run the floor well is big as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='349457' first='Oen' last='Deters'], 5'6", PG, Centralia, 2025 - Deters has been one of the top players in the state so long it is hard to believe she is still just a junior. She has the one-loss Panthers have locked up the top seed in the Highland-Doniphan West sub-state, forcing defending state champion Doniphan West to go through Burlingame to get to the title game on the other side of the bracket. Deters is a level-headed ball handler who is also a terrific shooter. She shrugs off contact on shots on one end and defends solidly on the other.   [player_tooltip player_id='456514' first='Tayten' last='Dewey'], 5'10", SF, Rawlins County, 2025 - The Buffaloes are the favorite to emerge from an interesting Decatur Community sub-state. While only a big upset would cause the team to lose the top seed, the home standing Red Devils have beaten the Buffaloes twice. Dewey is one of three players averaging more than 10 points per game (11.5). She is also grabbing 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals while dishing out 4 assists with a astounding 8 to 1 assists to turnover ratio. Dewey is long, has good speed, terrific hops, and is creative when scoring. She also is a quality defender.   [player_tooltip player_id='192785' first='Alaina' last='Eck'], 5'5", PG, Little River, 2024 - Eck leads the lone remaining undefeated team in the class. After a quarterfinal upset on their home court last season (3 of the top 4 ranked teams in the state were in the sub-state) the Redskins are a heavy favorite to steamroll over a weaker sub-state this season. The energetic Eck is putting up 15.5 points, gathering 5.8 steals, and dishing 2.9 assists per game after nearly averaging 18 point last season. She has terrific hops, terrific speed with the ball, and quick hands and feet. And while her three point percentage is down she still is a dangerous three point shooter.   [player_tooltip player_id='192789' first='Hattie' last='Gros'], 5'5", CG, Frankfort, 2024 - The Benedictine College commit has her Wildcats poised to enter the Mankato-Rock Hills sub-state as the top seed but is only a half to one game ahead of two other teams to do so. A good, heady ball handler Gros will work out of traps and other trouble, understands how to draw contact on basket attacks, uses ball fakes effectively, and scores well with and without the glass. She also scores well out of her back-to-basket game and from the perimeter. She is averaging more than 18 points per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='396068' first='Vi' last='Helm'], 5'9", SF, South Gray, 2024 - The Rebels, outside of a loss to Spearville in the Southern Plains Iriquois Activities Association tournament championship game, have been burying teams all season and are the probable state tournament team out of the Pratt-Skyline sub-state. The lengthy, athletic Helm is a big part of why. While current statistics are unavailable, Helm averaged more than 15 points per game over the previous two seasons. She is a three level scorer who makes teams pay from the line. She not only can create her own shot but boxes well on opponent shots.   [player_tooltip player_id='453779' first='Gracie' last='Riner'], 5'6", PG, Osborne, 2024 - In the three team dog fight for the Mankato-Rock Hills sub-state top seed Riner is powering her team to return to the state tournament. A legitmate perimeter shooter with good quickness Riner pops off the jab step dribble back, the catch, and the pull-up and does so quickly. She is also a two-time assists efficiency expert at 1.4 assists per turnover a game. She is also a shoots 80% from the line.   [player_tooltip player_id='822743' first='Kadey' last='Robert'], 5'7", PG, Olpe, 2025 - A veteran player who has started every game in her high school career is a experience do-it-all player who can put up points (18.7), rebound, and generate steals and assists. Leading the toughest sub-state in the class, the three loss Wildcats currently top five teams with less than six losses. The sub-state is a toss-up and will come down to match-ups, depth, and stamina.   [player_tooltip player_id='265130' first='Mayce' last='Russell'], 5'6", PG, Macksville, 2024 - 2024 Averaging 17.2 points in 9 games. 3.4 rebounds, 5 steals, 2.7 assists, 22% from three. 55% FT, 20% from three. 2023 Central Prairie League first team, 2022 second team. 2023 - Averaging 16.4 ppg, 21% three (21 made), 65% FT. Russell is a strong, and arguably the Mustangs' best, ball handler who probably had eight steals against Kiowa County. She has quick hands but needs improvement in finishing with control with speed and in protecting the ball in the mid-court.   [player_tooltip player_id='192784' first='Shea' last='Wurtz'], 5'9", SF, Clifton-Clyde, 2024 - The four loss Eagles, currently a game behind in the Mankato-Rock Hills sub-state after a recent loss to Frankfort, are a strong candidate to emerge from the sub-state and Wurtz is a big reason why. While younger sister [player_tooltip player_id='621265' first='Sevy' last='Wurtz'] is leading the team in scoring at 18.9 points per contest, Wurtz is putting up 13.2 per game as well as grabbing 6.8 rebounds and nearly 3 steals. Both are shooting 38% from three point land. Wurtz is also shooting 61% from the line. The Eagles have been strong for several years and she has been a big part of why. She makes the the athletic play in transition, uses the power dribble on the block, jumps to the ball on rebounds, and keeps the ball high and goes right back up. Wurtz also runs well and is quick, aggressive, and disruptive defensively.     [player_tooltip player_id='396397' first='Kaylin' last='Noonan'], 5'8", SF, Burlingame, 2024 - The Bearcats are currently a loss ahead of Doniphan West for the second seed in the Highland-Doniphan West sub-state. Noonan, with more than 1,200 points scored in her career, is powering the team by averaging 20.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4.6 assists per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='539006' first='Lydia' last='Reed'], 6'2", C, St. John-Hudson - Reed is a slender, long center with great hands and smarts to work within 10' of the hoop with the ball held high. She handles well enough to help the team break full court pressure and is a quality rebounder due to her length and boxing out. Defensively she ties things up because she defends the high ball screen game well and is active altering and blocking shots. The Tigers hold a slim lead in the deepest sub-state. Only one of the seven teams has a losing record.

The regular season is winding down quickly for 1A division I teams driving to reach the state tournament at the Colby Event Center. Seeding for the eight sub-states is set for Saturday, February 17. Quarterfinal games will be played February 23. Many teams have put together strong seasons and several players are playing big roles in the push to reach the state tournament. Below is a quick look at some of them.