Class 1A Regional Preview: Lincoln, Valley Falls
Class 1A regional, post-season tournament action gets started Monday, February 24. Seedings were announced February 19 by KSHSAA. This is the fourth set of two regionals being covered. This is the second set of two regionals that feed into the…
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Continue ReadingClass 1A regional, post-season tournament action gets started Monday, February 24. Seedings were announced February 19 by KSHSAA. This is the fourth set of two regionals being covered. This is the second set of two regionals that feed into the Marysville High School and Riley County sub-state tournaments. The first set of two previewed the Frankfort and Goessel regionals. The two being previewed now are the Lincoln and Valley Falls regionals. Region first round games start Tuesday, February 25. The current standings are as follows:
Lincoln
|
Valley Falls
|
||
St. John/Tipton |
(15-4) | Burlingame |
(12-6) |
Clyde-Clifton | (15-5) | Doniphan West |
(13-8) |
Southern Cloud |
(11-9) | Centralia |
(12-8) |
Tescott | (7-10) | Wetmore | (10-10) |
Lincoln | (7-11) | Troy | (3-15) |
Linn |
(6-12) | Valley Falls |
(1-18) |
Pike Valley |
(4-14) | Onaga | (1-19) |
Lincoln Regional
This is a region where an upset or two have a likelihood of happening. The top seeded teams have had close games with several of the lower seeds and are likely to again. By a half game St. John’s/Tipton earned the top seed in a region composed of five Northern Plains League teams and two from the Twin Valley League, Clyde-Clifton and Linn. They will take on the winner Tescott and Lincoln. Given that the Bluejays overwhelmed Lincoln by 30 points or more in both contests yet only outlasted Tescott by five, clearly they would prefer to take on Lincoln a third time. Tescott beat Lincoln by 18 at home mid-season and should be anticipated to have a rematch with St. John’s Tipton in the semifinals. Pike Valley, with a notable upset of Southern Cloud already, will give Clyde-Clifton a tussle but not enough to prevent the Eagles from advancing to the semifinals. The Eagles will then take on the Southern Cloud and Linn winner. The two teams have not met this season but if looking at their results against Clyde-Clifton provides evidence, despite the higher seed and better record Linn might be the favorite. In their two losses to the Eagles, including one in overtime, Linn has lost each contest by seven points or less. Southern Cloud lost in their sole meeting on the Eagles’ home floor by 16. Linn is my favorite to win a close one over the Warriors. In the semifinals, neither of the top seeds can be expected to advance unchallenged. I think Tescott’s ability to advance will be tied to the effectiveness of junior forward Kylie Flax, whose game has produced stronger results in the past five games. At 5’11”, her size will be an issue for St. John’s/Tipton. I think they will come up just short as the Bluebirds’ Lauryn Dubbert will have a big enough game to lead them to win of less than seven points. Southern Cloud ought to come up with a win over Linn as well if they score more than 40 points.
My picks: Southern Cloud gets scoring from more players but I am flipping a coin and picking the Bluebirds by 4.
Valley Falls Regional
Burlingame, Lyon County League, and Valley Falls, Northeast Kansas League, join five Twin Valley League teams in the regional. Burlingame comes into the regional with the best record but arguably the two best teams in the regional are Doniphan West and Valley Falls. Granted Burlingame plays in a tough league that includes #2 ranked, undefeated Olpe, where their six losses were against teams with a combined record of 63-19. Doniphan West has won six of their last eight games, with losses to #5 Hanover (by 14), and Clyde-Clifton (second time). Centralia has lost six of their last ten. Those losses include to Hanover (by 11), 2A #8 Valley Heights twice, Clyde-Clifton, and 3As Marysville and Rock Creek. Centralia does own a home win over Doniphan West. Both teams have squads that can put a lot of points on the board, both struggle in they do not reach the 40 point mark. Burlingame does have the ability to put points on the board but have success in lower scoring grinders. Burlingame will face a Wetmore team that has a great deal of size that can score but does not have the firepower to win high scoring affairs against quality teams. The Cardinals endured a final regular season game, lopsided loss to a Doniphan West squad that hung 64 points on them. If Burlingame is not able to run and does not shoot well from outside Wetmore can win. It is an upset that I expect to happen. With the addition of experienced, due to club ball, freshman Chloe Clevenger and the recent big scoring nights by senior Makinley Smith, Doniphan has a slight edge over Centralia. But the team that can find enough defense to shut the other down in stretches will win.
My picks: Wetmore slips into the finals but will be run out of the gym by Doniphan West or Centralia if they cannot control the pace and make use of their size advantage. Doniphan West by 25.
Players to Watch
Megan Griffin, Burlingame, 2021, 5’8″, PG/PF — Averages 11.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.1 steals. 27% from three with 26 makes. Has an assists to turnovers ration of 1.53:1.
Emily Punches, Burlingame, 2021, 5’7″, SG/F — Averages 10.7 points, 6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 steals.
Daelyn Winters, Burlingame, 2022, 5’5″, PG — Averages 14.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.9 steals. Shooting 35% from three with 42 makes.
Avery Deters, Centralia, 2022, 5’5″, PG — Fast with the ball, penetrates and kicks well. Three point range.
Olivia Kuckleman, Centralia, 2020, 5’8″, SG — Perimeter shooter. Good length and transition speed.
Morgan Kramer, Centralia, 2020, 5’5″, CG — Twin Valley League first team selection in 2019. Solid perimeter shooter.
Jaysi Bowser, Clifton-Clyde, 2021, 5’5″, PG — A Twin Valley League second team selection in 2019. Averages 9.8 points, 3 steals, and 2.7 assists.
Mallory Callihan, Clifton-Clyde, 2021, 5’8″, F — Averages 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Chloe Clevinger, Doniphan West, 2023, 5’5″, G — Played with Lady Prospects. Transitions well. Good three point shooter with quick release.
Myah Olson, Doniphan West, 2021, 5’5″, G — Twin Valley League second team in 2019 while averaging 11 points per game. Three point shooter with a quick release.
Makinley Smith, Doniphan West, 2020, 5’8″, G/F — Three-time Twin Valley League first team selection. Averaged 16.7 points and 7 rebounds in 2019, has score 30 points or more twice in 2020.
Carson Walter, Lincoln, 2020, 5’9″, F — Northern Plains League third team selection in 2019. Averages 7.7 points,7.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.
Liz Bott, Linn, 2020, 5’4″, G — Averaged 6.3 points per game in 2019.
Kyrah Moore, Linn, 2022, 5’5″, G — Averaged 7 points per game in 2019.
Kenzie Schwartz, Onaga, 2022, G/F — Fast with the ball in transition. Long limbed, attacks the basket in transition, solid three point threat.
Makenna Reeves, Pike Valley, 2020 — Northern Plains League third team selection in 2019. Averages 9.9 points per game.
Jessica Jensen, Pike Valley, 2020, 5’10”, F — Northern Plains League third team selection in 2019. Averages 8.8 points per game.
Shae McMillan, Southern Cloud, 2021, 5’7″, PG — Averages 9.3 points, 2.2 steals, and 2 assists per game.
Makenna Comstock, Southern Cloud, 2021, 5’6″, G — Averages 9.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.
Lauryn Dubbert, St. John’s/Tipton, 2021, 5’7″, G — Northern Plains League first team selection in 2019. Averages 15.3 points, 3.5 steals, and 3 assists. Shoots 73% from the line and has 42 made threes.
Caitlin Strong, St. John’s/Tipton, 2020, 5’6″, G — Averages 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Montana Peterson, Tescott, 5’5″, PG — Averages 13.2 points and 2.8 steals. Shooting 30% from three.
Kylie Flax, Tescott, 2021, 5’11”, F — Has come on the last five games. Has averaged 8.6 points with two double-doubles in points and rebounds in that stretch.
Macy Norris, Troy, 2020, 5’5″, G — Leading scorer with just over 7 points per game.
Jaci Brinker, Valley Falls, 2020, 5’9″, G — Northeast Conference honorable mention. An-all state volleyball player, Brinker has committed to Kansas State for Rowing.
Alyssa Bloom, Wetmore, 2021, 5’3″, PG — Averages 9.2 points, 2.4 steals, and 2.2 assists per game.
Regan Osterhaus, Wetmore, 2021, 6’0″, C — Played on Bruna Elite this past summer. Averages 8.7 points and 7.3 rebounds
Kenzie Strathman, Wetmore, 2022, 6’0″, F — Twin Valley League second team selection in 2019. Played on Bruna Elite this past summer. Averages 14.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game.