A Look Ahead: Basketball Sub-State's
By Taylor Eldridge
As the February nights become brisker and brisker, that can only mean one thing — March is approaching, and along with it — sub-state basketball season.
Most teams have either 5 or 6 games remaining on the schedule and several are still jockying for position in the ever-crucial top-4 seed for a home game in the sub-state. There are plenty of good races to watch, but I decided to take a look at the two area sub-states for Class 6A and 5A.
There is plenty to debate on, so leave me a comment and let me know where you think I went wrong, or right. Let me know.
If anything, you can just use this as a update to the standings and make your own predictions. Let me know!
CLASS 6A (Wichita South Sub-State)
CAMPUS
Record: 8-5
Schedule: 2/9 @Winfield; 2/12 @Maize; 2/16 Ark City; 2/18 @Salina Central; 2/19 McPherson; 2/23 @Valley Center; 2/25 Winfield.
Outlook: Tough games on the road at Maize and Salina Central and also Mac at home. The Colts would feel good coming away with a win in any three of those games and I think they sweep up against the rest of the weak Div. II of AV-CTL.
DODGE CITY
Record: 11-3
Schedule: 2/9 Hays; 2/11 Colby; 2/16 @Garden City; 2/19 Great Bend; 2/23 @Hays; 2/26 Liberal.
Outlook: Games against Hays and Great Bend, each with only 4 losses this season, are tough, but Dodge City gets both at home. I think, at worst, Dodge comes away with two losses during the final stretch. But I’ll say Dodge splits with Hays and Great Bend and finishes the season 16-4.
GARDEN CITY
Record: 6-8
Schedule: 2/9 @Colby; 2/12 Great Bend; 2/16 Dodge City; 2/19 @Hays; 2/23 @Liberal.
Outlook: Garden City loses its game with Ulysses after last night’s game was canceled after trying to be re-made. The Buffaloes get a tough draw playing games against Great Bend, Dodge City, Hays and Liberal. I don’t see wins in any of those games, but I think they get a win on the road tonight at Colby.
GODDARD
Record: 5-9
Schedule: 2/9 Derby; 2/12 Newton; 2/16 Maize; 2/19 @Salina Central; 2/23 Salina South; 2/26 @Derby.
Outlook: Drawing two games in three weeks against Derby is tough, but three home games with Newton, Maize and Salina South is favorable. A road game at Salina Central is winnable, so I think the Lions will be able to split at least three of the remaining games.
MAIZE
Record: 10-4
Schedule: 2/9 @Salina Central; 2/12 Campus; 2/16 @Goddard; 2/19 Hutchinson; 2/23 @Derby; 2/26 Salina Central.
Outlook: A tough stretch has hit the Eagles, where they have lost 3 of their last 4. Maize should rebound tonight against Salina Central with a solid win and clean up Campus, Goddard and Hutchinson. The big swing game is the road game at Derby. I think they drop that one, but finish the season 5-1.
NORTH
Record: 9-5
Schedule: 2/9 @West; 2/12 Heights; 2/16 Bishop Carroll; 2/19 @South; 2/23 @Southeast; 2/25 @Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
Outlook: I think North takes care of West, Carroll and South. That leaves swing games with Heights and two road games at Southeast and Kapaun. I don’t think they will drop all three, so I say North will pick up steam and pick up two wins in those three games.
NORTHWEST
Record: 8-7
Schedule: 2/9 @South; 2/12 West; 2/16 @Kapaun Mt. Carmel; 2/19 Heights; 2/25 @East.
Outlook: Perhaps the most difficult ending stretch in the City, Northwest will have to feel good about getting a win out of the two road games and at home against Heights. They’ll take care of West and South and then I think they’ll get the Kapaun road game and finish with three wins.
SOUTH
Record: 2-13
Schedule: 2/9 Northwest; 2/12 @Southeast; 2/19 North; 2/23 @Kapaun Mt. Carmel; 2/25 @Heights.
Outlook: It’s been a rough season for the Titans and though I’m sure the effort will be there, but I just can’t see South upending any of the remaining teams on the schedule. Projected seeds: 1. Dodge City (16-4); 2. Maize (15-5); 3. North (14-6); 4. Campus (12-8); 5. Northwest (11-9); 6. Goddard (8-12); 7. Garden City (7-12); South (2-18). State-qualifiers: Dodge City vs. Northwest & Maize vs. North
(Wichita East Sub-State)
DERBY
Record: 12-2
Schedule: 2/9 @Goddard; 2/12 @Winfield; 2/16 @Hutchinson; 2/19 @Salina South; 2/23 Maize; 2/26 Goddard.
Outlook: If they can avoid the trap games on this 4-game road swing coming up, like I think they can, then I think the Panthers go into sub-states with the most momentum of any team not named Heights. That loss at the beginning of the season to Salina Central is looking even more frustrating now.
EAST
Record: 9-5
Schedule: 2/9 Bishop Carroll; 2/12 @Maize South; 2/16 @Southeast; 2/19 @Kapaun Mt. Carmel; 2/23 West; 2/25 Northwest.
Outlook: East has dropped 4 of its last 6 games. The Blue Aces are floundering, but the talent is there. I think they realize it down the stretch and get back on track with wins over Carroll, Maize South and West. Road games with Southeast and Kapaun are difficult, as is Northwest at home, but I think East finishes with two wins of those three games.
HEIGHTS
Record: 12-2
Schedule: 2/9 Southeast; 2/12 @North; 2/16 @West; 2/19 @Northwest; 2/23 @Bishop Carroll; 2/25 South.
Outlook: A lot of dangerous games here for the No. 1 Falcons in home games against Southeast and Bishop Carroll and road games at North and Northwest. Those may be tough games, but no one can stack up with the talent Heights put on the floor and it will sweep.
JUNCTION CITY
Record: 4-10
Schedule: 2/9 Emporia; 2/12 Washburn Rural; 2/16 @Shawnee Heights; 2/19 @Hayden; 2/23 Highland Park; 2/26 @T. West.
Outlook: J-City has actually picked up some momentum by winning 4 out of its last 6 games after a win-less start. Don’t see wins coming against Emporia, Rural, Hayden, Highland Park or Topeka West. I think they’ll steal one away from S-Heights on the road, however.
MANHATTAN
Record: 7-7
Schedule: 2/9 @Highland Park; 2/12 @T. West; 2/16 Topeka; 2/19 Seaman; 2/23 Hayden; 2/26 @Emporia.
Outlook: Road games at Highland Park and Topeka West will be difficult to scrape a win out of, and Manhattan has a tough set of home games with Topeka and Hayden. Emporia to wrap things up adds a list of all winnable games for the Indians, but I think they’ll split the remaining games.
SOUTHEAST
Record: 6-9
Schedule: 2/9 @Heights; 2/12 South; 2/16 East; 2/23 North; 2/25 @West.
Outlook: It’s been a rough season for Carl Taylor and the Buffs, but there is some opportunities here to make some noise (getting East and North at home). Wins should come against South and West and I think Southeast can upset East or North, but I don’t think it will get either.
TOPEKA
Record: 9-5
Schedule: 2/9 Hayden; 2/12 Seaman; 2/16 @Manhattan; 2/19 @Emporia; 2/23 Washburn Rural; 2/26 @Shawnee Heights.
Outlook: Despite a 5-loss record, Topeka is still very much alive in its league race against Hayden and Highland Park. I don’t think Topeka can handle Hayden this time around, but wins against the rest of the schedule is very likely.
WASHBURN RURAL
Record: 8-6
Schedule: 2/9 @Shawnee Heights; 2/12 @Junction City; 2/16 Highland Park; 2/19 T. West; 2/23 @Topeka; 2/26 @Seaman.
Outlook: Two tough wins against S-Heights and J-City should be had, but the last four games are fairly tough. I can’t see wins against Highland Park or Topeka, but I can see them for West and Seaman. Projected seeds: 1. Heights (18-2); 2. Derby (18-2); 3. Topeka (14-6); 4. East (14-6); 5. Washburn Rural (12-8); 6. Manhattan (10-10); 7. Southeast (8-12); 8. Junction City (5-15). State-qualifiers: Heights vs. East & Derby vs. Topeka
CLASS 5A (Andover Sub-State)
ANDOVER
Record: 6-8
Schedule: 2/10 @Hutchinson; 2/12 @Mulvane; 2/16 @Andover Central; 2/19 Augusta; 2/23 @Buhler; 2/25 El Dorado.
Outlook: Road games at Hutchinson, Andover Central and Buhler will be tough to pull any victories out of, but the Trojans should clean up against Mulvane, Augusta and El Dorado. So I’ll say they’ll split the last six.
ANDOVER CENTRAL
Record: 12-2
Schedule: 2/12 Augusta; 2/16 Andover; 2/18 Hutchinson; 2/19 El Dorado; 2/23 @Mulvane; 2/25 Buhler.
Outlook: There are some difficult games remaining against Hutch and Buhler, but no one possesses the talent that the Jaguars do. With five home games to close out the season, I think Central will win out.
ARKANSAS CITY
Record: 6-8
Schedule: 2/9 @Newton; 2/12 @Hutchinson; 2/16 @Campus; 2/19 Winfield; 2/23 McPherson; 2/26 Newton.
Outlook: Games against Hutch, Campus and Mac will be very tough to come away with a victory. Two games against Newton and Winfield are swing games. I’ll say the Bulldogs will only get one of those games.
BISHOP CARROLL
Record: 7-8
Schedule: 2/9 @East; 2/12 Kapaun Mt. Carmel; 2/16 @North; 2/19 West; 2/23 Heights.
Outlook: It’s a pretty tough slate to end the season for Carroll. The Eagles have struggled to score all season and I don’t think they’ll be able to keep up with East, North or Heights, but I say they defeat Kapaun and West to end the season.
KAPAUN MOUNT CARMEL
Record: 9-6
Schedule: 2/12 @Bishop Carroll; 2/16 Northwest; 2/19 East; 2/23 South; 2/25 North.
Outlook: Everyone has a difficult ending stretch to the City schedule, so there has no be one team to take a hit. Though Kapaun gets four games at home to end the season, I have KMC dropping four of the last five. I wouldn’t be surprised if they pick up two or three wins, but for predictions-sake, I’ll go with 1-4.
LIBERAL
Record: 9-5
Schedule: 2/9 Guymon (Okla.); 2/12 Hays; 2/13 Sunrise Christian; 2/20 @Great Bend; 2/23 Garden City; 2/26@Dodge City.
Outlook: I think the Redskins pick up victories against Guymon and Garden City, but the remaining four are going to be tough. I can see Liberal winning one or maybe even two, but right now I see them finishing 2-4.
VALLEY CENTER
Record: 3-11
Schedule: 2/9 McPherson; 2/12 @Salina South; 2/16 @Winfield; 2/19 Newton; 2/23 Campus; 2/26 @McPherson.
Outlook: Can the Hornets pick up a win against more than just one of the last six opponents? Yes, but will they? Probably not. Both Mac games are very doubtful and Campus is good and then the Hornets get Salina South and Winfield on the road. I think they’ll take care of Newton at home.
WEST
Record: 6-8
Schedule: 2/9 North; 2/12 @Northwest; 2/16 Heights; 2/19 @Bishop Carroll; 2/23 @East; 2/25 Southeast.
Outlook: It’s been a storybook run right now for the Pioneers, which have won five straight games. But I think it will end with the second run through the City. Games against the last six will be tough, with possible wins against Bishop Carroll and Southeast, but I just don’t see another win left on the schedule this year. Projected seeds: 1. Andover Central (18-2); 2. Liberal (11-9); 3. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (10-10); 4. Bishop Carroll (9-11); 5. Andover (9-11); 6. Ark City (7-13); 7. West (6-14); 8. Valley Center (4-16). State-qualifiers: Andover Central vs. Bishop Carroll & Liberal vs. Kapaun Mount Carmel
(McPherson Sub-State)
EMPORIA
Record: 5-8
Schedule: 2/9 @Junction City; 2/12 Highland Park; 2/15 @Shawnee Heights; 2/16 @T. West; 2/19 Topeka; 2/23 @Seaman; 2/26 Manhattan.
Outlook: I think Emporia will handle J-City, S-Heights, Seaman and Manhattan and I think they can even steal one from Topeka West on the road. With 7 games in the final three weeks, they will play a little heavier slate than most. But I think Emporia will handle it well and finish 5-2.
GREAT BEND
Record: 10-5
Schedule: 2/9 @Buhler; 2/12 @Garden City; 2/19 @Dodge City; 2/20 Liberal; 2/26 Hays.
Outlook: I saw Great Bend play in El Dorado and liked its team a lot. Most people did after they picked up a great win over Collegiate. Road games at Buhler and Dodge will be tough, and I think they will pick up wins at Garden City and Dodge. I think Great Bend will get revenge over Liberal, but not Hays to finish 3-2.
HAYS
Record: 11-4
Schedule: 2/9 @Dodge City; 2/12 @Liberal; 2/19 Garden City; 2/23 Dodge City; 2/26 @Great Bend.
Outlook: I like Hays a lot, and I think it will split with Dodge City and then sweep the remaining games, including tough games at Liberal and Great Bend. By no means an easy stretch, but I like Hays to finish 4-1.
HUTCHINSON
Record: 6-6
Schedule: 2/9 @Salina South; 2/10 Andover; 2/12 Ark City; 2/16 Derby; 2/18 @Andover Central; 2/19 @Maize; 2/23 @Salina Central; 2/26 Salina South.
Outlook: Talk about an ending to a season — 8 games in 17 days. It’s going to be a stretch to test the will of the Salt Hawks and it’s a difficult stretch. I think Hutch can grab wins against Salina South twice, Andover and Ark City. But I think Derby, Andover Central, Maize and Salina Central will be difficult and Hutch will split its last eight.
McPHERSON
Record: 13-1
Schedule: 2/9 @Valley Center; 2/12 Salina Central; 2/16 @Newton; 2/19 @Campus; 2/23 @Ark City; 2/26 Valley Center.
Outlook: It’s been said in year’s past that Mac doesn’t get tested in a generally weak Div. II of the AV-CTL. That might be true again this year, but the Bullpups picked up very solid wins over Maize twice this season. I think they’ll finish out the season with only one loss on the year and be a formidable force to make it to state.
NEWTON
Record: 4-10
Schedule: 2/9 Ark City; 2/12 @Goddard; 2/16 McPherson; 2/19 @Valley Center; 2/23 Winfield; 2/26 @Ark City.
Outlook: It’s a rough season for the Railroaders and it doesn’t look to be get much better. McPherson is the only game that is really out of their reach, but I will say Newton picks up two out of the last six games.
SALINA CENTRAL
Record: 8-5
Schedule: 2/9 Maize; 2/12 @McPherson; 2/16 @Salina South; 2/18 Campus; 2/19 Goddard; 2/23 Hutchinson; 2/26 @Maize.
Outlook: I think both games against Maize and Mac will be tough to win, and the Campus, Goddard and Hutch games are swing games. I like Central to win at least two of those and finish the season 3-4.
SALINA SOUTH
Record: 2-12
Schedule: 2/9 Hutchinson; 2/12 Valley Center; 2/16 Salina Central; 2/19 Derby; 2/23 @Goddard; 2/26 @Hutchinson.
Outlook: Salina South gets four games in a row at home and has winnable games against Valley Center and Salina Central, but I just can’t see another win coming for the Cougars. Projected seeds: 1. McPherson (19-1); 2. Hays (15-5); 3. Great Bend (13-7); 4. Salina Central (11-9); 5. Emporia (10-10); 6. Hutchinson (10-10); 7. Newton (6-14); 8. Salina South (2-18). State-qualifiers: McPherson vs. Emporia & Hays vs. Great Bend