3A Sub-State Watch, Riley County Sub-State
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KSHSAA released the brackets for the eight class 3A sub-state tournaments on Wednesday. In this article I share a look at players to watch in the Riley County sub-state. Be sure to review the previously covered Holcomb, Chaparral, Caney Valley, Southeast of…
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Continue ReadingKSHSAA released the brackets for the eight class 3A sub-state tournaments on Wednesday. In this article I share a look at players to watch in the Riley County sub-state. Be sure to review the previously covered Holcomb, Chaparral, Caney Valley, Southeast of Saline, Hoisington, and Royal Valley sub-states. This sub-state is headlined by the #1, #4 and #6 KBCA ranked teams in 3A. How deep is the sub-state? Not one team has a losing record. Top ranked and top seed Silver Lake enters the post season as the lone undefeated team. Joining the Eagles from the Mid-East League are #3 seed and #6 ranked Rossville, St. Marys, and Riley County. The North Central Kansas League’s Marysville, The North Central Activities Association’s Beloit and Minneapolis, and The Big 7 League’s #4 ranked and second seed Nemaha Central are also in the field. Silver Lake is a team on a mission and have steamrolled their opponents. The Eagles have soundly beaten all three of their fellow league members decisively twice each. Silver Lake has had their run to a state title stopped the past two season by two-time defending state champion Goodland at the 3A state tournament and is seeking their fourth straight appearance. Riley County lost a tight game to Phillipsburg in the 3A quarterfinals last season. Rossville owns a pair of victories over both six seed Riley County and seven seed St. Marys. St. Mary’s handed Nemaha Central one of their two losses the second game of the season. Four seed Minneapolis hosts five seed Beloit. Each owns a win on the other team’s home floor. Nemaha Central has not made a tournament appearance since 2020. Ahead of Tuesday’s quarterfinal games is this look at several key players in no particular order.
Bella Rader Bella Rader SG Marysville | 2024 State KS , 5’5″, SG, Marysville, 2024 – The school volleyball assists record holder was a North Central Kansas League first team selection in 2023. The senior leader is a perimeter threat and has finishing ability with either hand in transition. Defensively she has solid off-ball anticipation abilities. Drawing top ranked and top seed Silver Lake in the quarterfinals the Bulldogs have their work cut out for them. The Eagle backcourt is very strong. And they have all-state a big center with a great inside game. Rader has to score well and continually challenge the Eagle ball handlers and shooters to cut down on transition baskets and limit open looks for shots and entry passes.
Hayden Heim Hayden Heim 6'3" | PF St. Marys | 2025 State KS , 6’2″, PF, St. Marys, 2025 – Heim has averaged 17.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks this season. Drawing #4 ranked and second seed Nemaha Central in the quarterfinals the Bears will rely heavily on Heim’s presence in the paint on both ends of the floor. She is a strong shot blocker and rebounder. She also has ball skills to work out of her face-up and back-to-basket games as well as drive to the rack. She has a terrific whirl move when working inside. Heim is the key to the Bears’ guards keeping spacing in the half court so their shooters can light things up. She also needs to kick-start the transition game when clearing rebounds. A 2023 Mid-East League first team selection she holds an offer from Emporia State University.
Addison Budke Addison Budke 6'1" | C Beloit | 2025 State KS , 6’1″, C, Beloit, 2025 – From the start of January the Trojans have been rolling. Going 11-2 in the stretch their only losses to rival Minneapolis and 4A #2 Wellington. They own wins over 5A #10 Hays and strong Colby, Southeast of Saline, and 2A #7 Smith Center in that stretch as well. An experienced and deep team with strong guard play Budke is key to their success with her rebounding, speed, and hands. An all-state volleyball player Budke has far better speed than most post players of her size, catches and finishes well on the move and keeps the ball high on the offensive glass. With her length and vertical she gets to rebounds in a crowd. Her rebounding and ability to alter shots offers opportunities to clear the ball and get the running game going. Beloit opens against league rival Minneapolis.
Maggie Shupe Maggie Shupe 5'8" | SF Minneapolis | 2024 State KS , 5’8″, SF/PF, Minneapolis, 2024 – Shupe and running mate Maci McClure Maci McClure 5'7" | PG Minneapolis | 2025 State KS have been backcourt starters for a couple years. Both are North Central Activities Association first teamers. A mark of her play is how hard she plays and her physical defense. With her size and strength enables her to take on opposing post players and guards. Offensively she is an important scorer who works her wing area well away from the ball. Taking on league rival Beloit Shupe’s leadership and chemistry with her teammates will be huge in not just their effort to advance but also to lock down guard and post play of each team on the way to a state appearance. The multi-sport athlete would be a terrific pick up for any college looking for this fast, strong, active and mentally strong Lion.
MaKenzie McDaniel, 6’0″, C, Silver Lake, 2024 – McDaniel, a two-time Mid-East League first teamer and first team all-state on a lot of lists, has been an absolute force for the Eagles. With good size and strength she uses her good footwork and strong post-game to work over opponents inside. She clogs the lane defensively and rebounds and clears the ball smartly. The Eagles are loaded at the guard spot with talented ball handlers and shooters but the key to beating them has always been taking McDaniel out of the game. Goodland beat them at state the past two years, going on to win the 3A state title, by doing everything they could to take her out of the game. With the pack of talented, physical six-footers the Cowgirls had they succeeded. McDaniel has to continue to do what she does well but also has to stay out of foul trouble and use her passing abilities to take defensive pressure off herself. As a walking double-double her helping the guards will help her get more quality looks.
Cali Honeyman Cali Honeyman 5'11" | SF Nemaha Central | 2025 State KS , 5’11”, SF/PF, Nemaha Central, 2025 – The Thunder, after being eliminated by Riley County in the sub-state final last season, have followed up last year’s 20-3 record with their current 18-2. Hungry to return to the state tournament after a four year drought the team is a combination of experienced upper-classmen and younger players with talent. The Thunder also has size. Honeyman brings good size and speed with handles to the position. She will coast-to-coast and finish at speed against challengers. She also is a perimeter threat. Defensively she uses her quickness and length on top of their full court pressure to be very disruptive. For the Thunder to get to the state tournament they will have to follow Goodland’s script from the past two years. Use their size to defend with physicality inside, attack interior defenders on the other end, slow down opponent transition play, and score from the perimeter.
Emma Mitchell Emma Mitchell 5'10" | SF Rossville | 2024 State KS , 5’11”, SF/PF, Rossville, 2024 – For the last couple years Rossville have had their post-season ended by Silver Lake. The route to state again goes through the Eagles but to get that far the Bulldogs will probably have to get past Nemaha Central. A tall order. What Mitchell brings to the table is length, transition speed, and a diverse offensive skill set. She is a quality three level scorer. Rossville has a cast of strong ball handlers and shooters but to get to state Bulldogs have to find a way to shut down interior play. With her length and experience Mitchell and the other forwards have to play the best defense of their high school careers. Mitchell was a Mid-East League second team and Varsity Kansas 3A honorable mention selection last season.
Anna Lambert Anna Lambert 5'9" | CG Riley County | 2025 State KS , 5’9″, CG, Riley County, 2025 – Lambert was a big part of the Falcons run to the 2023 state tournament. The 2023 Mid-East League second team selection brings good size to the position. At state she showed the ability to work in space off the bounce and otherwise create her own shot. She has strong handles and smarts to attack the basket, back-up and reset, then attack again. She is also a good perimeter and three point shooter who sees the floor well. The Falcons lack experience and real size but have lengthy, quick and active guards who handle the ball with speed. Lambert, to lead the team to another state appearance, will need to put defenders in the spin cycle with her handles in transition, score from all three levels, and using space to find her shooters. Defensively they have to defend with quickness and limit opposing guards’ abilities get into the lane. Lambert should be turning heads of the regional division II, top flight NAIA, and strong JUCOs because Lambert can flat play.