Pratt finishes strong for third
SALINA — Pratt coach David Swank doesn't consider himself a miracle worker, but what he did in one season with the Pratt boys basketball team borderlines on historic.
Just three years ago, the Greenbacks were sitting at home after an 0-21 season.
Following Saturday's 61-34 thumping of Coffeyville in the third-place game of the Class 4A tournament, Pratt finished 23-3 — the best record in school history — and the third-place trophy it takes home is the school's first piece of boys basketball hardware since 1986.
"This was a lot of fun for us and for the community and we got a ton of support," Swank said. "It was a special season, with a special group of kids and we are going to enjoy the moment."
Before this season, the seniors — Luke Southard, Brad Richardson, Skyler Angood and Brady Batman — had gone a combined 4-50 in their previous three seasons. Not in their wildest dreams did they imagine a season like this one.
"We weren't sure what to think after we went 0-21," said Southard, who scored seven points and pulled in eight rebounds. "It's amazing right now and we worked really hard to get here."
Matt Swank and Micah Swan, staples on Wichita Trinity's state tournament team last season, joined Pratt when their father took the coaching job. Matt finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds against Coffeyville, while Micah scored 13 and dished out seven assists.
More important than any statistic, the Swank brothers brought a winning mentality to Pratt that had been missing for decades.
"The first day of practice, I was going head-to-head with Skyler (Angood) and he just kept competing and wouldn't stop," Matt Swank said. "So I thought if we could compete like that and bring our winning attitude, then we could be pretty good."
The Greenbacks made quick work of Coffeyville with 9-for-9 shooting in the first quarter. Matt Swank, who had struggled the first two games, made his first five shots and had 13 points in the first quarter.
"We couldn't have asked for a better start," David Swank said. "We shot the ball well starting off and that was big for us, since we didn't do that the first two games."
Championship: KC Sumner 66, Ottawa 45 — Sumner won its first title since 2000 behind Reece Holliday's 22 points. Sumner out-rebounded Ottawa 53-21, including 18 offensive rebounds.