3A Sub-State Watch, the Caney Valley Sub-State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 Caney Valley sub-state. Previously I covered the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/02/post-season-watch-5-key-3a-western-kansas-players/">Holcomb</a> and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/02/3a-sub-state-watch-the-chapparal-sub-state/">Chaparral</a> sub-states. Top-seed Girard (CNC League) and second seed Cherryvale (Tri-Valley League) at 14-6 headline a sub-state with capable, guard dominated teams with records around .500 mark. Any of those four are strong enough to upset either of the top seeds. Frontenac has its work cut out for them to reach a fifth straight 3A state tournament appearance. In a #3 v #6 first round game the Raiders travel to Columbus. The Titans, shown on MaxPreps as shooting 28% as a team from three point land with three players shooting better than 30%, have already lost twice to them. Cherryvale, stopped last year by Frontenac in a sub-state title game, seeks to return after being hammered by Silver Lake in a 2022 quarterfinal game. Here is a look at several key players to watch in no particular order.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='445843' first='Elizabeth' last='Helms'], 5'5", PG, Columbus, 2026 - While Ellie Helms' stats do not appear in MaxPreps for some reason reports appearing on twitter feeds affirm the 2023 CNC League honorable mention selection to have a strong scoring presence for the Titans. That includes hanging 22 points on second seed Cherryvale for a one point win. She and [player_tooltip player_id='616751' first='Katy' last='Mooney'] make up one of the top back courts in the sub-state. My colleague Adrian Maloney once wrote that opponents cannot game play for her. Her quickness with the ball gets her by defenders and on defense it causes havok and creates instant offense. She not only gets to the rim with either hand at speed but also has a quick pull-up jumper and three point range. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='643796' first='Marlee' last='Stout'], 5'10", PF/SF, Frontenac, 2026 - Stout attracted a lot of attention over the summer playing with her Missouri Legacy team. That included earning first team 15U all-tournament at the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit's Battle in the Big Friendly event. Even then she was described as a player who "gets it done on both ends." My PGH College Johnny Vick wrote that "....she had a versatile game, protected the rim well with her shot blocking, and canned a couple threes."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='649172' first='Rylee' last='Boyes'], 5'6", SG, Galena, 2025 - Another Missouri Legacy club member that I saw at Prep Girls Hoops Circuit's Battle in the Big Friendly was Boyes. I liked her transition speed, her movement into space, and her good perimeter shooting. I expected her to have a strong year for the Bulldogs. My colleague Simmie Colson loved her ability to "take a lick," her passing, her ability to jump passing lanes, and finishing ability off the bounce. Well regarded scout Mason Asher also liked her ability to maneuver around screens defensively. A CNC League honorable mention selection in 2023, she is just getting warmed up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='862408' first='Rylee' last='Brooks']</strong>, 5'6", PG, Girard, 2024 - A CNC League honorable mention selection in 2023 Brooks caught my colleague Jeremy Deckard's eye at the Pittsburg State basketball camp. He described her as "the most impressive player in the first game of the day...." With the ability to play the shooting guard as well he noted her quickness off the dribble and a shut down defender. A steal machine. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544026' first='Alysa' last='Scott'], 5'2", SG, Caney Valley, 2026 - While Scott is a quick, strong handling presence at the point she is a shooter to be respected. She will bury them by the bushel. My colleague Eric Gardner listed her as a <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/07/pgh-battle-in-the-sunflower-top-prospects/">top prospect</a> to watch ahead of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit's Battle in the Sunflower event this past July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='869943' first='Chloe' last='Parker']</strong>, 5'5", PG, Riverton, 2024 - Parker, a 2023 CNC second team selection, is a high motor player who recently signed with Neosho County Community College. She will fit right in with the full-court pressure and tempo game the Panthers love to play. Parker excels are reading what the defense gives her and using a variety of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBkHF0Od1pw">moves</a> to exploit it. She shoots the ball quickly in flow, scores with a variety of shots and, on the other end, has quick hands and good footwork to disrupt opposing ball handlers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='862404' first='Jailee' last='Reister']</strong>, PG, Cherryvale, 2024 - Reister is a scoring guard leading an experienced roster that is only two years removed from a 3A state tournament appearance. Shooting nearly 40% from behind the arc Reister averaged more than 15 points per game for the Chargers. A two-time all-Tri-Valley League honoree she also entered the season as a Varsity Kansas 3A honorable mention selection. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->