Class 1A Regional Preview: Rolla, St. John/Hudson
Class 1A regional, post-season tournament action got started Monday, February 24. Seedings were announced February 19 by KSHSAA. The remainder of team’s games did not affect the announced seedings although some win-loss columns have changed. This is the eighth set…
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Continue ReadingClass 1A regional, post-season tournament action got started Monday, February 24. Seedings were announced February 19 by KSHSAA. The remainder of team’s games did not affect the announced seedings although some win-loss columns have changed. This is the eighth set of two regionals being covered. This is the second set of two regionals that feed into the Dodge City Community College and Pratt Community College sub-state tournaments. In this article we take a look at the Rolla and St. John/Hudson regionals. Region first round games start Tuesday, February 25. The current standings are as follows:
Rolla
|
St. John Hudson
|
||
South Gray |
(18-2) | Cunningham |
(19-0) |
Rolla | (8-9) | Pretty Prairie |
(13-6) |
Meade |
(8-12) | St. John/Hudson |
(11-8) |
Moscow | (6-12) | Fairfield |
(6-12) |
Satanta |
(6-14) | Stafford |
(5-14) |
Fowler |
(3-13) | Macksville |
(4-15) |
Chase | (2-16) |
Rolla Regional
This is probably the softest regional in the post-season. Only one team has a winning record and its a strong team to boot. Top-seeded #9 South Gray has rolled through the season outside of two losses to 2A #1 Spearville. With a bye, their first post-season victim will be the Moscow/Satanta winner. Those two teams have split the season. Satanta lost by one in December on a neutral court then won by 17 a couple weeks back. Moscow has lost six straight and seven of eight. Not a good sign. Satanta should earn the win here by ten. Second-seeded Rolla gets to enjoy a bye as well and wait on the Meade/Fowler winner. Meade should have no trouble advancing as Fowler’s three wins have been against winless Deerfield. Satanta’s run in the regional will come to a screeching halt. South Gray waxed them by nearly 60 in mid-January and will end this one quickly. Rolla, from the small Sante Fe League, has not played the Hi-Plains League’s Meade this season. All of Rolla’s wins have been against its other three league members. They have lost several close games to Oklahoma schools. Meade, on the other hand, has solid wins over other teams ahead of them in their league including Sublette and Lakin. They have also beaten 10-win Hodgeman County. Meade will roll Rolla easily to meet South Gray in the finals. My picks: Meade is used to stepping on the floor against stronger teams and competing well. South Gray will still take this one without much trouble. South Gray by 30.
St. John/Hudson Regional
This regional brings together four teams from Heart of the Plains League, two from Central Prairie League, and one from Northern Plains League. Top-seeded #4 Cunningham has already beaten second seed Pretty Prairie twice, Fairfield by 41, and Stafford by 28. Having a first round bye that leaves them awaiting the Fairfield/Stafford winner, Cunningham will advance to the semifinals easily. Fairfield and Stafford have split on the season, each winning on their home court. With it being a neutral court the game should then be allowed to go to double-overtime with the winner doing so by one. It could. The Trojans have lost their last four games while Fairfield has won three of six including a 17 point win over Stafford. The Falcons will win the rubber match before getting crushed by Cunningham in the semifinals. On the other side of the bracket Pretty Prairie takes on Chase while St. John/Hudson has Macksville. Chase was taken apart by the Bulldogs by 32 early in the season. The outcome of this rematch will not be any better this time. Macksville gets another shot at the Tigers after losing to them by 26 at St. John. While it may be a closer game the Tigers will again be too strong. An unchallenged Cunningham will take on the Pretty Prairie/St. John/Hudson winner in the finals. St. John/Hudson has won nine of eleven with the two losses being to #1 Central Plains by 40 each time. Along they way they beat 12-8 Little River and 13-7 South Central. Pretty Prairie has won eight of eleven. In that stretch they beat #10 Central Christian and split with three-loss Norwich. Pretty Prairie absorbed a 13 point loss to Cunningham in mid-January and a nine point loss to #7 Otis-Bison on neutral ground. St. John/Hudson also lost to Otis-Bison, but took them to overtime at home before dropping the game by three. Both teams are playing well. Both teams are capable of beating Cunningham. While the game will be on Tigers’ home floor Pretty Prairie’s fans will be just as plentiful and boisterous. A slim at best edge but enough to propel the Tigers into the finals. The key to Cunningham’s success is point guard Morgan Myers. Senior forward Holly Deweese gives them active size and extra want to to extend the season
My picks: Cunningham’s lack of competition will be a substantial edge over a spent St. John/Hudson. Additionally, the Wildcats floor leader will be fresh. Cunningham by 7.
Players to Watch
Holly Deweese, Cunningham, 2020, 5’11”, F — A Heart of the Plains League honorable mention selection.
Morgan Myers, Cunningham, 2021, 5’3″, PG — A Heart of the Plains League first team selection. Played with Ohlde Elite this past summer.
Lydia Mendez, Macksville, 2020, 5’3″, PG — Averages 9.9 points per game and 2.6 steals. Shooting 29% from three with 30 made.
Kylin Rudzik, Meade, 2022, 5’10”, F — Averages 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals.
Ali Unruh, Meade, 2020, 5’6″, G — Averages 8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 steals, and 1.4 assists. Shoots 30% from three with 26 made.
Jorah Harbaugh, Pretty Prairie, 2022, 5’4″, PG — Averages 9.1 points, 3 steals, and 2.6 rebounds.
Makenna Vogel, Pretty Prairie, 2022, 5’11”, C — Averages 7.3 points and 8.2 rebounds.
Aubrey Young, Pretty Prairie, 2022, SG/SF — Averaging 8.2 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. Shoots 27% from three with 38 made.
Debbie Peters, South Gray, 2021, 6’0″, F — Averages 11.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks.
Megan Tarn, South Gray, 2021, 5’8″, G — Averages 8.8 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.8 steals.
Christy Wiebe, South Gray, 2020, 5’10”, G/F — Averages 16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Shoots 27% from three with 26 made.
Erin Crissman, St. John/Hudson, 2020, 5’9″, SG — Central Prairie League honorable mention. Solid three point shooter with a quick release.
Emily Green, Stafford, 2021, 5’8″, G — Played with Wheat State Elite over the summer. Strong basket drives and interior passing. Able to finish athletically. Three point threat.