My Class 3A All-First Round State Tournament Team
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Eight teams converged at Hutchinson Sports Arena Thursday to battle for spots in the Class 6A state tournament semi-finals. Many players had stand-out performances so to shine some light on them I present my 3A All-Day First Round State Tournament…
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Continue ReadingEight teams converged at Hutchinson Sports Arena Thursday to battle for spots in the Class 6A state tournament semi-finals. Many players had stand-out performances so to shine some light on them I present my 3A All-Day First Round State Tournament Team.
Reagan Ayers Reagan Ayers SG Cheney | 2024 State KS , 5’4″, PG, Cheney, 2024 – Ayers and back court mate Raegan Black Raegan Black 5'7" | PG Cheney | 2026 State KS worked very well together despite a 22 point loss to Hesston. They led play so well that when Hesston standout Kendal Brueggen Kendal Brueggen 5'10" | SF Hesston | 2025 State KS would be on the bench for a rest the Cardinals would repeatedly cut into the Swather lead. Ayers showed solid handles, speed and control with the ball, and good instincts. Shooting nearly 50% from the floor she finished with 10 points including a made three and 3/4 from the lines. Ayers also collected a pair of steals.
Rylee Brooks Rylee Brooks 5'6" | PG Girard | 2024 State KS , 5’7″, PG, Girard, 2024 – Taking a page from a Colby team that had Goodland beat late in the season Brooks used her speed, quickness, handles and creating abilities off the bounce to have the two-time defending champs reeling by mid-third quarter. And then she picked up her third foul. Without Brooks to deal with Goodland was able to dig themselves out a hole to avoid the upset and move on to a semi-final match-up with Hesston. Very swift with the ball, athletic and with scoring ability off the bounce Goodland could not match what especially was a difference maker was her leadership. She kept her team focused and made plays on both ends of the floor. And while she had 5 turnovers she also had 5 assists, 4 steals and 4 rebounds to go with 7 points the low scoring contest.
Kendal Brueggen Kendal Brueggen 5'10" | SF Hesston | 2025 State KS , 5’10”, SF, Hesston, 2025 – Brueggen made a great case for being the best player at the tournament. Opening the game with a steal for a hoop and another off a drive she set the tone for what to come from her. She scored well at all three levels, including a deep three ball; athleticism and creativity around the rim; and consistency in scoring the mid-range jumper. While she only collected a single assist in a variety of situations she found the right pass to make. Brueggen was just really, really tough. She finished with 31 points on 13/20 shooting (4/7 from three), 7 rebounds, and a couple assists with only 3 turnovers.
Sienna DeFrain Sienna DeFrain 5'9" | PF Haven | 2025 State KS , 5’9″, SF/PF, Haven, 2025 – DeFrain and the Wildcats came into the game with Silver Lake with the game plan I thought they needed to execute to have a shot. Unfortunately, poor shooting (2/13) and turnovers (12 to Silver Lakes 0) doomed them. She still led all scorers with 20 points on 7/14 shooting and 6/6 from the line. A strong, fast, athletic scorer with a great frame and hops with timing she and Brawner combined were actually a mismatch for the Eagles that the Wildcats did not get a chance to exploit. With the loss of Sadie Estill Sadie Estill 5'11" | PF Haven | 2024 State KS to graduation, if the Wildcats get strong point guard play and develop a consistent perimeter shooter or two…they will be back here next year.
Kailyn Hanni Kailyn Hanni 5'7" | PG Silver Lake | 2026 State KS , 5’7″, PG, Silver Lake, 2026 – Hanni and the Eagles came uncorked from the tip and Hanni was the ringleader of the explosion. Up 19 at the end of one quarter over Haven Hanni picked up 5 assists, 4 steals and had the offense humming. In just over three quarters of total playing time she would finish with 8 assists and 5 steals to go with 12 points on 6/8 shooting. Arguably the best point guard in the classification she showed her handles, decision making, quickness, speed and headiness to lead the Eagles in completely disrupting a spot-on Wildcat game play that they could not execute due to turnovers and missed shots.
McKinley Kruger McKinley Kruger 5'6" | PG Silver Lake | 2024 State KS , 5’6″, SG, Silver Lake, 2024 – Kruger was a major part of the Eagle first quarter explosion that put Haven behind a very large, 19 point 8-ball at the end of the first quarter. Running the floor well on offense especially Kruger knew her experienced teammates knew where she would be spotting up and just stroked away. Hitting 3/6 from three point land in the first quarter she would finish with 18 points on 6/18 shooting from there.
Jaxi Mitchek Jaxi Mitchek 5'9" | CG Goodland | 2024 State KS , 5’9″, CG, Goodland, 2024 – Of all things Mitchek brought to the table the tight win over Girard was her experience, leadership and competitiveness. At a point in the third quarter where the Cowgirls were reeling dealing with the problems Trojan Rylee Brooks Rylee Brooks 5'6" | PG Girard | 2024 State KS was causing she brought the team back when a golden opportunity presented itself – Brooks picking up her third foul and had to go to the bench in the third quarter. Goodland had climbed out of the hole and made it a ball game by the time Brooks returned. Playing the entire game before fouling out late she registered 8 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocked shots offset by only 2 turnovers. She showed an ability to defend with quickness on the wing, the strength to compete inside on both ends, toughness to step in to draw a charge, and to create off the bounce in the mid-range. Her leadership and poise was above all the most important.
Amelia Ramsey Amelia Ramsey 6'0" | C Hayden | 2025 State KS , 6’0″, PG, Hayden, 2025 – Ramsey was a consistent presence around the basket. And while she nailed a top of the key three she made a living catching and finishing, getting put-backs and otherwise making plays. She led all scorers with 20 points on 7/10 shooting and pulled in 14 rebounds. She also had 5 blocked shots. She used her frame and headiness to be in the right place at the right time.
Anna Schenk, 5’7″, PF, Heritage Christian Academy, 2024 – The Chargers found themselves in a whole bunch of trouble when leading scorer and ‘do everything’ Caelyn Ferguson Caelyn Ferguson 6'0" | CG Heritage Christian | 2024 State KS , who was struggling to get anything going against the smothering Hayden defense, picked up her third foul mid-way through the second quarter. Averaging more than 20 points during the regular season, at that point Ferguson had only registered a single bucket. Down by 25 at the end of third quarter the Chargers finally found something in the last minute. And Schenk was the catalyst. Hard working around the basket she showed toughness, hops, and good use of her lower body to help the team generate opportunities. Her work on the glass and defensively caused the Wildcat defense to weaken and scramble. Ferguson went to work beating Lauren Sandstrom Lauren Sandstrom 6'1" | CG Hayden | 2024 State KS off the dribble with consistently from the wing. It also enabled shooter Mia Vinson to heat up, going 4/4 from three point land. Schenk finished with 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals but her impact was game changing despite the 15 point loss.
Honorable mention: Raegan Black Raegan Black 5'7" | PG Cheney | 2026 State KS , Cheney; Abby Proctor Abby Proctor 5'11" | PF Hesston | 2025 State KS , Hesston; Mia Vinson, Heritage Christian Academy; Norma Greco Norma Greco 5'4" | CG Hayden | 2025 State KS , Hayden; Brylee Meier Brylee Meier 6'0" | PF Hayden | 2025 State KS , Hayden; Makenzie McDaniel Makenzie McDaniel 6'1" | C Silver Lake | 2024 State KS , Silver Lake; Sadie Estill Sadie Estill 5'11" | PF Haven | 2024 State KS , Haven; Marie Martin; Goodland, Erika Boatman, Girard