Players to Watch at the 2024 3A State Tournament

<p>The class 3A state tournament begins Thursday, March 7, at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson. Only the Central Kansas League has more than one team in the tournament, Haven and Hesston. The Wildcats last appearance was 2018, the Swathers 2015. The young Kaw Valley League makes its first appearance in the tournament with Heritage Christian Academy. Two-time defending champion Goodland as back as is top seeded Silver Lake, whom Goodland has been its nemesis the past two seasons. Cheney also returns after getting blown out in the title game last year by the Cowgirls. Hayden, from the Centennial League, was summarily dispatched by state runner-up McPherson in the first round of the 4A state tournament in 2023 and enters as one of the prohibitive favorites. And for the first time in five seasons a team not named Frontenac reaches the tournament from the Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League. Girard makes its first tournament appearance since 2017.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Silver Lake (23-0) v #8 Haven (16-7)</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='416009' first='Kailyn' last='Hanni'], 5'7", PG, Silver Lake, 2026 - Hanni started attracting attention from college scouts before ever stepping on a the court as a Eagle. And on a loaded squad that was stopped in the state semifinals by eventual champion Goodland she got her share of minutes off the bench. In 2023 her presence became even more impactful. She showed creativity with the ball and as a scorer, persistence as a defender, and a surprising ability to block shots in unusual situations. Back again for another run at a state title Hanni's passing and quick hands, coupled with her high IQ, make a team with a talented center (Emporia State bound [player_tooltip player_id='453757' first='Makenzie' last='McDaniel']) and fast, streaky, experienced shooters in [player_tooltip player_id='613290' first='McKinley' last='Kruger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='649343' first='Kaibryn' last='Kruger'] just that much more effective. Figuring out how to shut down McDaniel, which Goodland did for the past two tournaments, is one thing. Challenging terrific shooters is another. But dealing with a great point guard who finds her teammates well is entirely another. Haven has its work cut out form them as Silver Lake has basically crushed everybody who has stepped on the court with them this season. Hanni is averaging 5.8 assists and 3.7 steals this season. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='231277' first='Sadie' last='Estill'], 5'10", PG, Haven, 2024 - After going down with a injury mid-summer Estill returned to the line up towards the middle of February. And after seeing her play at Halstead there is no doubt in my mind that she just made life a bunch more difficult to concentrate on defending [player_tooltip player_id='616756' first='Sienna' last='DeFrain'] and [player_tooltip player_id='544003' first='Avery' last='Brawner']. Estill spent a great deal of time playing on the block over the years but has developed the handles and the leadership to make Haven a real problem. She has good speed with the ball as well as strong hops. With her length she can make smaller guards be pretty ineffectual. An active defender who has terrific hands and rebounds well on one end she will score through, over, and around them as well. Keep in mind that in 2023 she was a KBCA and Varsity Kansas 3A honorable mention selection. Nothing like getting a strong, all-state player back to make life easier inside for her two very talented bigs. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4 Heritage Christian Academy (20-3) v #5 Hayden (19-4)</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='532207' first='Caelyn' last='Ferguson'], 6'0", PG/SG, Heritage Christian Academy, 2024 - There may have been some question about just how good HCA was because their lack of contests against quality KSHSAA opponents heading into sub-state. Probably their most relative measuring stick have was an early season OT loss to 3A Osage City. But after winning a pair of hard fought games over Humboldt and then #9 ranked Anderson County to get to the state tournament some eyes have been likely opened. The Chargers have been led for a few years now by the terrific all-around, and John Brown University bound, player that is Ferguson. A 2023 Varsity Kansas 3A honorable mention selection she also has been first team Kaw Valley League in the two years the league has existed. This season she has done, well, everything - averaging 19.1 points, 6 rebounds and 2.3 steals. Shooting 36% from behind the arc with 37 made and 49% overall. She is also 84% from the line. Anderson has been a tough match-up for most teams because she can hurt teams in so many ways. She shoots the three with range, has good hops and timing to rebound well and has the frame to overpower defenders. She and her teammates have their work cut out from them against #2 ranked Hayden from the Centennial League. For the team to be successful she will need to continue to do pretty much everything and do it well. She plays a variety of positions but the Wildcats have depth at guard and active, athletic size to match up with her. What cannot happen is for her to be consistently pressured in the back and mid-court areas - which keep her away from the basket. And she has to stay on the floor defensively. If those do not happen Hayden could be in firm control by half time.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='300795' first='Lauren' last='Sandstrom'], 6'0", CG/PF, Hayden, 2024 - After getting hammered at 4A state last season by McPherson in the first round the Wildcats are eager to put in a stronger showing. Dropping to 3A this season and with nearly everybody back from last year so with that experience they are primed to do just that. Last season the Rockhurst University commit Sandstrom was named Varsity Kansas third team, KBCA honorable mention and Centennial League first team. Since she stepped in for an injured Macy Smith a couple years back she has been an impact player. She is a good combination of a solid build with length, physicality and a range of talents. She has a mature post game, works well in transition with speed and control, catches and finishes well on the fly, and is really good perimeter shooter. For Hayden to succeed in the first round Sandstrom needs to continue playing her game and get the transition game going off defensive boards. She is likely going to have a big part in pressuring HCA's do-everything [player_tooltip player_id='532207' first='Caelyn' last='Ferguson'] to keep her from getting good looks and to keep her off the glass. She will score but her rebounding and defense will play a bigger role.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2 Goodland (20-3) v #7 Girard (17-6)</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='302143' first='Jaxi' last='Mitchek'], 5'9", CG/PG, Goodland, 2024 - Despite losing a bunch of talented seniors last year the two-time defending 3A champs emerged from a challenging sub-state to return. The most experienced returner is Mitchek, a Great West Activities Conference second teamer and Varsity Kansas honorable mention selection. Averaging 17 points per game this season, she was big part of the Cowgirl rotation the past two seasons. Mitchek is not the quickest player at the position but she is smart, strong, and knows how to use her body to create space in a variety of positions. She will stroke the three, create for others in traffic, score inside off her block game, and work well in transition offense. She defends solidly in man defense and works well in the Cowgirl 1-3-1 system. She can do a great deal of things but the key to Goodland's success is her leadership. Most of her teammates were backups last season with a few playing quality minutes at state last season. The team is experienced but Mitchek has far more than anybody else. Colby, who would have beaten them in a late season contest if not for a pair of missed late free throws, exposed the Cowgirls for what they cannot do. Against teams with a pair of quality, fast ball handlers Goodland will get carved up like cheese. They do not have that quickness. They do have size and they play well as a team. Mitchek has to score, she has to stay on the floor and she has to direct traffic and lead. That does not happen, Girard can pull the upset. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='862408' first='Rylee' last='Brooks'], 5'6", PG, Girard, 2024 - Brooks, a returning Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League second teamer, is the ring leader for a Trojan team that played a solid schedule and out-lasted Cherryvale to reach state. She plays the point but will step into the shooting guard role as well. Brooks is very quick off the dribble and likes to attack the basket. With quick hands and feet she guards the ball strongly. If she gets the steal, lock up the layup. She leads a team with several seniors and freshmen on the roster. Her quickness and ability to get the Trojans to speed the game up will be to her advantage especially if they can get the lead fairly late and force Goodland to pick up full court. Girard has size but Goodland has more of it, plus depth and experience. Brooks will have to insure perimeter passing is on point and gets the ball to shooters where they can stroke it successfully. Those do not happen the Trojans could be in for a long night. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3 Hesston (20-3) v #6 Cheney (19-4)</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='398376' first='Kendal' last='Brueggen'], 5'10", SG, Hesston, 2025 - Probably the most interesting game of the day will be this one. It will be a rematch of a hammering the Swathers put on the Cardinals January 2nd. A Central Kansas League first team selection last season she also was named KBCA and Varsity Kansas second team all-state and Varsity Kansas. A terrific shooter with range she is averaging nearly 23 points per game. Hesston emerged from easily the toughest sub-state field this season. What Hesston does, and anybody who knows the team, is guard you. The Swathers are not the biggest team but they have speed, quickness, and shooting. They love to get into transition. For Hesston to be successful the team needs to shoot and score well, defend, and not allow the Cheney guards be a factor disrupting the offense. The Swathers also need to challenge every perimeter shot and not allow the guards to get to the rim. Brueggen, with her length, transition speed, and perimeter shooting ability will have a very large role in executing that. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='862402' first='Reagan' last='Ayers'], 5'4", SG, Cheney, 2024 - Cheney has come a long way since getting hammered January 2 by the Swathers. With only four losses, all have been to quality teams including 2A semi-finalist The Independent School, 5A Valley Center and 4A Circle. To reach the state tournament the Cardinals battled a talented Neodesha quad. Cheney returns after being blown out by Goodland in the title game. The Cardinals won in 2021. Cheney lost a bunch of players to graduation including one of the top front courts in the class. But they return experience, quickness and a couple bigs who were back-ups last season. Ayers is a returning Central Prairie League honorable mention selection who has stepped up her game. A season ago she showed terrific speed with the ball, quick perimeter shooting ability, quickness to the hole, and a willingness to work hard defensively. Cheney is not a team with that one or two stand-out players. They are an experienced group that plays well together and Ayers has to be a driver of that success. All-state Hesston wing [player_tooltip player_id='398376' first='Kendal' last='Brueggen'] is a problem for every team but what will be the biggest key to success for Ayers and her teammates to not get locked down again by the Hesston half-court defense. They have to shoot the ball well when unchallenged and they cannot turn the ball over. This is a motivated, experienced bunch with a long memory back to January. </p>

The class 3A state tournament begins Thursday, March 7, at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson. Only the Central Kansas League has more than one team in the tournament, Haven and Hesston. The Wildcats last appearance was 2018, the Swathers 2015. The young Kaw Valley League makes its first appearance in the tournament with Heritage Christian Academy. Two-time defending champion Goodland as back as is top seeded Silver Lake, whom Goodland has been its nemesis the past two seasons. Cheney also returns after getting blown out in the title game last year by the Cowgirls. Hayden, from the Centennial League, was summarily dispatched by state runner-up McPherson in the first round of the 4A state tournament in 2023 and enters as one of the prohibitive favorites. And for the first time in five seasons a team not named Frontenac reaches the tournament from the Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League. Girard makes its first tournament appearance since 2017.