Driving the Lane: Winter Sports 2022

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Iola seeks new heights

The Iola High boys basketball team will pride themselves on defense and quickness this upcoming winter.

At least those are the traits Mustang head coach Luke Bycroft is seeing from the boys in practices. Bycroft likes what he sees speed-wise on the court and believes he can use it to his advantage in getting to the rim.

“Our biggest strength is speed. We are small and fast so we’ll have to lean into that. We’ll have to attack both offensively and defensively with speed,” Bycroft said.

Keeping the boys in competition mode is also coming along, the coach said. There’s no down time in the game of basketball, the coach noted. “Sometimes the biggest challenge is to keep the pressure on.”

Landon Weide will start at point guard, Bycroft said, noting Weide is a quality ball handler. Other returning players include Eli Adams, Mac Leonard and Jake Skahan.

“His (Weide) ball handling is solid and his mindset is great. He knows the game, he knows how to play,” said Bycroft. “He understands basketball, how to control the game, where to be, what to run. He’s also tough. He has the right basketball mindset, that’s his greatest strength. He’s good at everything and he knows the game very well.”

“Mac Leonard started a handful of games as a sophomore last year,” continued Bycroft.

IOLA BOYS

Coach Luke Bycroft

Eli Adams — 12

Preston Hurst — 12

Cody Wille — 12

Ben Kerr — 11

Mac Leonard — 11

Isaac McCullough — 11

Casey Rowe — 11

Landon Weide — 11

Matt Beckman — 10

Cortland Carson — 10 Grady Dougherty — 10

Gavin Jones — 10

Konner Larney —10

Lucas Maier — 10

Kyser Nemecek — 10

Trevor Tatman — 10

Parker Andres — 9

Nick Bauer — 9

Jayden Beene — 9

Brayden Boyce — 9

Brennen Coffield — 9

Hayden Kelley — 9

Brent Stevens — 9

Easton Weseloh — 9

Iola High’s Eli Adams is one of three seniors on the 2022-23 squad.

“Eli Adams started a few games as well. He’s a fireball and gets up and down the floor. Preston Hurst transferred back to Iola and is eligible to play right away. He’s a decent-sized kid with lots of skill and valuable experience.”

Iola finished last season with a 6-15 overall record and a 5-7 mark in Pioneer League play. The strongest part of the Mustangs’ year was the team winning four of their last six games of the season including big victories over Santa Fe Trail in overtime and a 15-point win over Prairie View.

Bycroft believes that Wellsville and Burlington will be some of the toughest teams in the league this season.

“I think we can challenge for the league championship,” Bycroft said. “Wellsville is going to be tough, they return some young players that are really good. I think they’re the biggest challenge. Outside of them, I think we’re pretty much on par with everyone else.”

This season, a pair of tournaments present crucial opportunities for the Mustangs to make statement victories. The preseason tournament is Dec. 5-10 at Central Heights and the midseason winter tournament is Jan. 17-21 in Iola. Both are key to Iola to making a difference in Pioneer League action.

“I want to win both tournaments,” said Bycroft. “ I want to be in position to challenge for the league championship as we come down to the last couple weeks of the season. I think we can challenge for it but I’ll leave it up to them.”

Bycroft said he believes it’s important for any successful team to have a good defense.

“Defense wins championships,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to play defense and rebound so we can run. We’re going to have to pressure our opponents by guarding the ball in the full court. I’m excited about the style but I’m also a little nervous because there are some things that could backfire.”

Bycroft knows the kids are ready to compete. It’s only a matter of being tough enough to push their practice speed up a notch to a high-tempo game and play confident of their abilities.

Hungry is the word that Bycroft mainly used to describe this season’s team.

“They are hungry to win. They want to win,” Bycroft said. “But winning is not easy. It requires a mental toughness that is only evident when truly tested. Right now, they’re putting in the work to win.”

Iola High’s Ben Kerr (25) and Landon Weide (1) will be counted on for leadership on the court in 2022-23.

Youth abounds at IHS

The Iola High girls basketball team will make scoring baskets their main priority this upcoming season.

With a returning core of inside and outside scorers, Iola looks to spread the ball around and get everyone involved.

“Last season we ended up 4-16, which is not ideal,” said Iola head coach Kelsey Johnson. “We let some games get away from us that we should have won. We could shut teams down, but if you can’t score over 20 points, that doesn’t work. Scoring was where we struggled the most.”

Iola High’s Elza Clift, center, looks to pass in a preseason scrimmage with teammates Bethany Miller (44) and MaHailie Genoble.

Players expected to step up include Aysha Houk, Keira Fawson and Jackie Fager.

So far, Johnson is unsure who will emerge as team leaders both vocally and with their play.

“I think finding their own roles on the team will be the thing they’ll have to figure out at first,” said Johnson. “I don’t know how long that will take. Somebody stepping up in a leadership role is going to be probably the biggest thing I’m looking for and what I’ll be pushing for. I don’t care who they are but we need a leader and someone to take charge of the team.”

“Aysha Houk is a starter who has played varsity,” Johnson said. “She started for most of last season. Jackie Fager and Keira Fawson are both juniors who will have big roles and I’m expecting to step into leadership roles.”

Johnson said her sophomore class will have some players to watch out for this year and in coming years.

“I have a pretty big sophomore class who all have a lot of potential and can do different things so we’ll have to see where they fit in our

system.”

Iola began two-a-day practices before the games got underway, which Johnson said is crucial to building camaraderie.

“The closer we get to the season beginning the more excited I get because we have a whole new team this year,” said Johnson. “I’m excited about the girls we have. We’ve met and a lot of the girls are excited but a lot of them are nervous because of two-a-day practices.”

One of the Mustangs’ biggest strengths has been their ability to never give up and make it difficult on opposing teams. Even when the Mustangs look as if they may be out, the girls never believe they are, and it shows on the court with their hustle and effort.

“I have girls who don’t really give up and are hard workers and nobody can take that away from them,” Johnson said. “They work so hard in practice and in games, and I feel like they’re the kind of girls that if I ask something of them they’re going to do it. If you have a team that never quits, they’re tough to play against.”

IOLA GIRLS

Coach Kelsey Johnson

Aysha

Hallie

Gabby

Jackie Fager —

Keira Fawson — 11

Jenna Morrison — 11

Kyndal Bycroft — 10

Elza Clift — 10

Baylie Crooks — 10

Kaysin Crusinbery —10

Reese Curry — 10

Harper Desmarteau — 10

Karingten Hall — 10

Alana Mader — 10

Stephanie Fees — 9

MaHailie Genoble — 9

Nevaeh Hancock — 9

Bethany Miller — 9

Iola High’s Kyndal Bycroft, left, pressures teammate Kaysen Crusinbery in a preseason scrimmage.

Gabby Sharp

The Iola High wrestling team comes with some experience on the mat.

Whether it be in middle school or in high school, the Mustangs are not only experienced but also accomplished.

“Everyone who we have has some kind of experience either through kids club, middle school or high school,” said Iola head coach Jason Bates.

Bates noted that Wyatt Westervelt, a senior, qualified for the state competition last year.

“Wyatt’s been in the weight room working to get stronger and better,” along with teammates Korbin Cloud and Xander Sellman, Bates said.

“Korbin, now a junior, has been working hard. He’s gained almost 20 pounds since last year. He’s been in the weight room working hard,” Bates said, along with a core group of athletes.

“There’s about 10 of us who get up in the morning and work out,” he said, including Griffin Westervelt and Trapper Boren.

Over the years the Iola wrestling team has had success individually but has never been able to field a full varsity roster that spans the 14 different weight classes. The Mustangs have six varsity weight classes covered coming into this season.

Each time a varsity wrestling team does not have a wrestler available in a certain weight class, the other team immediately earns six free points.

“It was a goal to fill as many weight classes as possible, which comes down to recruitment,” Bates said.

Despite holes in the various weight classes, “We do have quite a few wrestlers that are around the same weight, which is beneficial because that allows us to have practice partners,” said Bates. “Now that we have a few more numbers and the weight

Iola High’s senior Wyatt Westervelt is gunning for a return to the state wrestling tournament.

Iola hoopsters in action

At left, Iola High’s Jenna Morrison eyes a teammate during a preseason scrimmage. Above, Karingten Hall readies a pass.

Iola High’s Cody Wille (33) is pressured by Preston Hurst (4) in a preseason scrimmage. At right, Kyser Nemecek looks to make a pass.

classes are all closer, it will help out a lot.”

The sport of wrestling is very individualized and with that comes building a strong mentality and making sure wrestlers are confident in their abilities. The sport also requires wrestlers to take risks in order to grow which ultimately leads to individual and team success.

Bates believes that the mental aspect of wrestling is not to be underestimated.

IOLA WRESTLING

Coach Jason Bates Boys

Wyatt Westervelt — 12

Korbin Cloud — 11

Korbyn Fountain — 11

Xander Sellman — 11

Damian Wacker — 11

Isaac Hopkins — 10

Griffin Westervelt — 10

Trapper Boren — 9

Mason Lampe — 9

Jadyen Silvey — 9

Isaac Velazquez — 9

Girls

Katlyn Womelsdorf — 10

Layla Newkirk — 9

Cubs carry high hopes

HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt High boys basketball team lines up a tight-knit and driven team this season.

The Cubs return only one senior starter from last season but have a lot of quality younger players who will play big roles this year. The Cubs are coming off a 13-8 record for the 2020-21 season, falling in the second round of the playoffs to Girard.

Humboldt head coach David Taylor figures he will have to rely on a number of sophomores which shouldn’t be a problem because the team relied on them as freshmen. Taylor singled out some expected leaders.

“We have one clear-cut senior starter, Trey Sommer. We have Sam Hull, a junior, who gives us some size and Colden Cook, who started some games for us as a freshman, he’s got some size.”

The Cubs also have good chemistry, Taylor said, which will be instrumental to their success.

“Basketball’s a team sport, but today it’s become a team sport with a bunch of individuals. These kids like being around each other and I think they’re going to be pretty unselfish and will try to contribute to the success of one another by putting their teammates first instead of themselves.”

“I think we can have a successful season mainly because of their mindset,” said Taylor. “I think they want to be better and get better every day. I think as a whole this group

Sam Hull (5) will be counted on for his inside presence for Humboldt High.

Cubs: High hopes

wants to do well, they’re good kids who want to be successful. I’m excited to see just how hard they play.”

Even with Humboldt losing its top two players in steals from last season, Drew Wilhite and Levi McGowen, the team knows they will have to bring it on defensively.

HUMBOLDT BOYS

Coach David Taylor

Peyton Wallace

Nathan Swogar — 11

Colden Cook — 10

Blake Ellis — 10

Keith Gomez — 10

Brady Gunderman — 10

Jacob Harrington — 10

Asher Hart — 10

Jaryt Hess — 10

“You either play defense or you don’t play, it’s pretty simple,” said Taylor. “That’s our main focal point. We don’t spend as much time on offense as we do defense because defense and rebounding you can control. Defense and rebounding is what wins championships.”

Taylor also believes his team will be able to outrun most of the teams they stack up against this season.

“I hope our strengths are our ability to defend and run,” Taylor said. “That will give us a chance to win.

Humboldt’s stiffest opposition in the TriValley League includes Cherryvale and Olpe.

Blake Ellis saw varsity action as a freshman in 2021-22.

Lady Cubs thrive in the fast lane

HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt High girls hope to use their speed to improve after a tough 6-14 finish last season.

The Lady Cubs are in somewhat of a rebuild after only suiting up eight players last year. Part of that rebuild is passing on the baton to some younger players so they can keep the momentum going in coming years.

The team’s main goal is to improve after last season and beef up their roster.

“We’re just looking to build the program and build upon the little bit of experience that we do have and get the newcomers excited,” said Humboldt head coach Aubrey Jones.

Humboldt will return a few key players to the floor including Karley Wools, Karsyn Haviland, Kennisyn Hottenstein and

McKenna Jones. Wools and Haviland will be expected to lead the team, Jones said. Both have been playing since their freshman years.

“All four have all been in pressure situations. They bring lots of experience to the floor,” said Jones.

Humboldt lacks in height which will certainly hinder the team in rebounding and attacking the glass. Even with the deficit, Jones thinks her team will be up to the challenge of rebounding, especially her veterans.

The girls’ speed is what she believes will help them most, both offensively and defensively. Having a fast team can be important in transition and scoring quick baskets while also getting to the ball and spreading the floor defensively.

“The main strength is we’ll be fast,” said Jones. “We run, we’re in shape and we’re fast. The defense is what will win you games. Offense isn’t going to do much for you but the defense will dictate a lot of what you do.”

Jones was an assistant coach at Allen Community College, a graduate assistant at Pittsburg State University and also played college basketball at Pitt State.

Karsyn Haviland is a team leader for Humboldt High this season.

Humboldt shows strength in numbers

HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt High wrestling team returns a number of state-level players to carry the Cubs through their winter season.

Nine-year head coach Kent Goodner knows the team’s experience will be a definite asset.

“Our biggest strength is going to be our returning upperclassmen,” said Goodner. “We’ve got a lot of kids coming back who have wrestled multiple years. Our weakness is our numbers, which are down just a little bit, but we’ve got a lot of young wrestlers.”

The team’s depth provides lots of practice partners for the athletes to hone their skills.

Goodner said a variety of partners provide essential challenges and push the athletes to become better wrestlers.

Goodner discussed who he expects to lead the team.

“Dakota Slocum was a state qualifier as a junior and is state-

ranked this year,” Goodner said. “As a senior, he’ll be one of our top leaders. Cole Mathes, a sophomore, also was a state-qualifier as a freshman so he’ll also move up into a leadership role. Lizzy White placed sixth at state and Elizabeth Melendez is a senior.”

The team has about 25 wrestlers, with a good balance between veterans and novices.

“We’ve got a lot of talent this year. Every year, every kid gets better,” said Goodner. “I had a couple kids miss state by one match last year.”

Goodner said he and the athletes share a collective goal of going back to state and having some wrestlers medal at league and regionals. The head coach knows that conveying this message will only push his team to go harder in practice and when it really counts on meet days.

“I always want to win the league,” Goodner said. “Here at

Garren Goodner returns to wrestle for Humboldt High this season, under the tutelage of his father and head coach Kent Goodner.

Speed

Continued from Page 12 Humboldt, we’ve only had a few stateplacers so if we can improve every year and continue to pick up state placements we’ll be good.”

Cont. from Page 13

In her nine years at Humboldt, Jones has instilled a competitive and athletic atmosphere.

The Cubs began their season Nov. 29 at Erie and will be wrestling into the spring. The long season requires the athletes to be on top of their game, stay healthy and rested, be ready to wrestle and stay in shape through practice and conditioning.

“My expectation is that by the time a competition begins, they have no questions, there’s no deer-in-theheadlights look,” said Goodner. “Once the whistle blows I hope they’re ready to go just like we do at practice.”

“We’re always known as a competitive and hustling team that will play until the last buzzer sounds and who give it their all,” Jones said. “That’s always been the identity of our team. The hashtag they chose is ‘Do the work.’”

HUMBOLDT GIRLS

Coach Aubrey Jones

Karsyn Haviland — 12 Karley Wools — 12 Kenisyn Hottenstein — 11 Anna Heisler — 10 McKenna Jones — 10 Chanlynn Wrestler — 10

Josey Ellis — 9

Ricklyn Hillmon — 9 Skylar Hottenstein — 9 Laney Hull — 9

Shelby Shaughnessy — 9 Mallory Sinclair — 9 Rylee Woods — 9

HERE’S TO A GREAT SEASON CUBS!

McKenna Jones in control.

Wildcat girls reach for the top of TRL

MORAN — The Marmaton Valley High girls basketball team returns a number of players from last year’s team and will rely on their leadership to navigate the team this season.

The Wildcats finished last season with an 11-7 overall record and a 2-1 mark in Three Rivers League play. Some of the team’s bigger victories came against Altoona-Midway in a 47-19 win and over Iola, 50-36.

Marmaton Valley head coach Becky Carlson believes last year’s team was a respectable opponent and she hopes to help her girls improve even more this season.

“I want us to be better than we were last year,” Carlson said. “Last year, we stepped up and by the end of the year I think everyone else respected our team and how we played so I want to build on that and they do, too. I’d like to see us compete for a league championship.”

Some players from the volleyball court will also suit up for the Wildcats on the basketball court.

“My top returner is Janae Granere. She was a unanimous First Team All-League last year,” said Carlson. “Then I return Tayven Sutton, she was a starter last year and Payton Scharff was a starter last year. I’m hoping my seniors step up and become good leaders. I would expect nothing else this season.”

The Wildcats pride themselves on defensive pressure as well as hard work and a never-quit attitude.

GIRLS

“We pride ourselves on defense. We have been pretty good defenders in the past and I can’t imagine that will change too much,” said Carlson.

The Wildcats are losing their starting point guard from last year, Pauline Thery, a foreign exchange student from France, and will need others to fill the void.

“Offensively, we’re going to need some girls to step up but I don’t think they’ll have a problem with that,” said Carlson.

Winter sports practices began on Nov. 14 and Marmaton Valley has

been working to get into game shape ever since then. The girls must get their conditioning down in order to last a whole game running the court as well as learning a new offense.

“We’ll start with the fundamentals. We work a lot on conditioning, defense and we’re going to change our offense around a little bit so we’ll start doing some drills for that,” said Carlson. “I like starting with the team and seeing how they develop as the year goes.”

The Three Rivers League offers plenty of competition including Hartford, Arma and Pleasanton. Carlson believes her girls are up to the task and is glad to be starting the season with a tough opponent in Hartford to strengthen the girls’ play and mental toughness.

“Hartford is a good team,” Carlson said. “In our league, St. Paul, Arma and Pleasanton are always tough. I don’t think it’ll take long for the team to mesh and once we figure out those roles on the court we’ll adapt pretty quick.”

Tayven Sutton, center, returns for her senior year with Marmaton Valley High’s girls. PHOTO BY HALIE LUKEN/MVHS

Sharla Miller

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puts up

COURTESY OF KAITLYN DRAKE/MVHS

Walls takes helm at Marmaton Valley

MORAN — The Marmaton Valley High boys basketball team begins their season with a new head coach and a number of younger players.

The Wildcats are led by former Pittsburg State basketball player Cornell Walls. He has coached youth basketball for almost a decade now and is excited for this new opportunity as a high school head coach.

Marmaton Valley has one senior and a number of freshmen and sophomores. That includes three returning varsity players.

“They’re going to get a lot of minutes at a young age so it will help them over time and we’ll really be able to see the difference over the next couple of years,” said Walls. “Dylan Drake is our senior and then we’ve got two sophomores, Jaedon Granere and Brayden Lawson. They’re all good athletes and some of them were playing varsity last year as freshmen.”

Walls knows the situation he is coming into after Marmaton Valley finished last season with a 6-12 record and went 0-3 in Three Rivers league play.

While immediate success from such an inexperienced group

is unlikely, last year’s experience will serve as a crucial building block in that they’ll be coming back stronger and as a more wellrounded team.

Walls is aware that this may take a few years with so many underclassmen but is taking the process of turning this team to a winner head on.

“Progress and improvement,” said Walls. “As long as we can do those things we’ll be good. We’re sort of setting the standard right now of what we want to be doing over the next several years to come. I think just getting everyone to buy into the motto is an easy task.”

Buy-in for any team is an important ingredient in the recipe for success and nobody knows that better than Walls. He believes his kids are starting to understand and dive into their system of playing Wildcat basketball.

“I think there will be a frustration at first with such a young team but once we find a groove and get into our way of playing

Marmaton Valley High’s Brayden Lawson, left,

a shot in a game against Crest last season. PHOTO

Walls: Former Gorilla takes over MV squad

Continued from 19

the game, I think it will turn around quickly,” said Walls. “We’re going to be quick and will be able to get up and down. Weakness is obviously we’re a young team. It will be different but I think it will be good coming into the season.”

Marmaton Valley will also be a hard-nosed defensive team that will focus on forcing turnovers and getting out in transition. Walls understands that the best teams base themselves on defense before offense as the scoring can come around at any time.

“We need to focus on the defense and our offense will come,” Walls said. “That was what I was taught as a young kid: defense turns into offense, so if you don’t play defense you don’t get the ball back. We’re going to try to pressure teams and push the tempo, that’s the team I feel like we will be and in order to be successful we’ll have to be that kind of defense.”

to really get all the wrinkles out. Developing a number of freshmen and sophomores for the years ahead is certainly a smart idea, especially for a Marmaton Valley squad that lacks experience.

“We may not be the best all-around team this year, but I think in the long term it’s going to work out really well,” said Walls. “Getting them some exposure in some tough games will help us. They all played on the football team and they’re all familiar with each other, everyone seems to be enjoying practice more every day.”

MV BOYS

Coach Cornell Walls

Dylan Drake — 12

Cesar Morales — 12

Kason Becker — 10

Jaedon Granere — 10

Brayden Lawson — 10

Dominic Smith — 10

Brevyn Campbell — 9

Tyler Lord — 9

Garrett Morrison — 9

Todd Stevenson — 9

WILDCATS!

PHOTO COURTESY OF HALIE LUKEN/MVHS

The Wildcats are in a rebuild themselves and understand it may take a few years

Marmaton Valley High’s Dylan Drake is one of just two seniors on the Wildcat squad in 2022-23.

COLONY — The Crest High girls basketball team will experience a third straight season with a different head coach at the helm of the program as Steve Zimmerman takes over for the Lady Lancers.

The Lady Lancers return quite a few players from last year’s squad which finished 2-18 and 0-3 in Three Rivers League play. The pair of victories came at Altoona-Midway and at Oswego.

Zimmerman believes his team should be able to improve with a more leadership presence this season.

“We should be around a .500-level team after coming off a two-win season,” Zimmerman said. “I think a realistic goal is to try and have a winning season. It’s going to be tough because for some of these players it’s the third coach they’ve had in three years.”

Returning for Crest this season include forwards Kayla Hermreck and McKenna Hammond and guards Cursten Allen and Haylee Beckmon. Mia Coleman is also a senior and has been a piece of the Crest

Kayla Hermreck returns after a stellar sophomore campaign at Crest High.

Lady Lancers

Continued from 21

girls basketball team since her freshman year.

“Kayla Hermreck will be a junior, she’s one of the best rebounders in the league,” said Zimmerman. “McKenna Hammond is another post player who I look to be a starter. Kaylee Allen and Haylee Beckmon will be guards who can step in and start right away. And Mia Coleman is a good point guard.”

Even after falling on hard times last season, Zimmerman believes his girls’ fight and ability to never get too discouraged will carry them through.

Learning a new system will be on the other end of the stick for the girls.

“Our strength is never giving up even when we are down. The willingness to never quit and give great effort,” Zimmerman said. “Our weakness will be learning a new system. We’re going to have a balanced attack, scoring on the inside and outside.”

Basketball is a team sport that requires everyone on the floor to do their job and make plays in their respective roles. This is especially true for the Lady Lancers who look to carry a team mindset into the season.

There is no “I” in team and Zimmerman will certainly emphasize that to the girls.

“If we could come together as a team we could go deep. Taking the ‘I’, the selfishness out of it and just learning how to be great teammates and how to rely on each other is critical,” he said. “We’re going to be scrappers. We’re going to have to play defense and give teams a battle.”

“I think the key is just getting them motivated, getting them to hustle, run plays and have fun,” said Zimmerman. “I’m looking forward to developing that coaching relationship.”

McKenna Hammond looks for a teammate.

Upperclassmen pave way for Crest

COLONY — The Crest High School boys basketball team will have three starting returning players from last year’s squad which finished 11-10 and got knocked out in the second round of the playoffs to Olpe, 76-19.

Returning seniors are Ethan Godderz, Stetson Setter and Karter Miller who combined for 17.5 points and 8.77 rebounds per game last season.

The Lancers will also benefit from the addition of 6’4’’ junior Ryan Golden who is almost guaranteed to be a threat around the basket as well as senior Jack White. Golden started seven games for Crest last season before going down with an injury.

“Ryan will give us some very much-needed height while having a good skill set as well,” said Crest head coach Dakotah Sporing. “He (White) did not get much playing time last year. This year will be different. His good basketball IQ will also be appreciated.”

Crest finished in sixth place in Three Rivers League last season. Top contenders include Cherokee’s Southeast High School, Uniontown and St. Paul, which finished as the top three teams in the district last season with JayhawkLinn and Northeast rounding out the top-five in district standings.

The Lancers have a goal of having a 15-win season out of 20 games. To reach that goal, they’ll rely on their defense. Crest will also be an outside shooting team as their main producer on the offensive end with minimal inside presence.

“Our bread and butter this year will be slowing teams down with our defense,” Sporing said. “We have a new defense that I ran bits and pieces of last year. If we were to make a deep run it would be on the back of our defense

Crest High’s Karter Miller is one of three seniors on the Lancer roster in 2022-23.

Lady Titans can bank on experience

LE ROY — The Southern Coffey County High girls returns nearly an identical roster from their fall volleyball team, guaranteeing an almost immediate camaraderie.

An extra bonus is that basketball head coach Jeff True also comes over from the volleyball team and knows a lot about his team.

SCC GIRLS

“We’re hoping to carry over some of the success and momentum from the volleyball season,” said True. “There’s no reason really why it shouldn’t unless a major injury or sickness or that type of stuff should happen. We should be competitive most nights.

“I feel good about this team and I know the girls well and know they will give it everything they’ve got every night.”

Southern Coffey County will return a trio of starters from last season who should be able to lead the team with their play as well as be vocal leaders.

The team will be in good hands with returning senior Josie Weers, who led the team in points and rebounds last year.

CREST BOYS

Coach Dakotah Sporing

Ethan Godderz — 12

Karter Miller —12

Stetson Setter — 12

Jack White — 12

Ryan Golden — 11

Rogan Weir — 11

Gentry McGhee

Denton Ramsey

Jacob

Jensen Barker

Kolton

Levi Prasko

Crest: Gets defensive in 2022-23

Continued from 23

and letting our defense hopefully create some transition to get those easy buckets.”

This year’s offensive approach will include that of a more team-oriented attack with all five guys on the floor contributing in some way.

The Lancers certainly have experience with four seniors and a junior expected to suit up in the starting lineup.

“They feel excited and they feel like we can have a pretty good season,” said Sporing. “Fifteen wins is what they are feeling like, maybe a little more. We’ll have to use all five guys to get the ball to the rim or get an open shot.”

Sporing likes to assign certain goals for each of his players. This includes using Golden’s height in the rebounding department as well as some of his seniors.

“Ryan’s goal is to get eight rebounds a game. Once the season starts we’re going to have that conversation frequently,” said Sporing.

“Stetson and Ethan are athletic and have vertical. They can go up and get a loose ball and should be around that five-rebound mark. I don’t think rebounding will be a huge issue but there’s potential for it to be.”

Sporing’s passion for the game is evident. On the heels of last year’s season, he began taking into account what the departure of his graduating seniors would mean to the team and how to best prepare for and welcome a new crop of athletes.

“We lost on March 8. By March 10, I had everything planned out and was ready for the new season to start,” Sporing said. “We’re just ready to get going and play some basketball. It’s been too long for me.”

Ross Snovelle (1) goes up for a shot last season for SCC See SCC | Page 27

Southern Coffey Co. turns to youth

LE ROY — Southern Coffey County High boys basketball is welcoming a large number of underclassmen with only two upperclassmen.

The Titans will have only one senior, AJ DeAnda, and one junior, Thomas Nickel, on the roster with sophomores and freshmen making up the balance.

Titan head coach Brian Rand sees this as an opportunity to get better every single day through the pair of experienced players’ leadership.

“They’ll need to step up and be willing to be mentors,” said Rand of DeAnda and Nickel. “They’re both examples of what it means to be a good athlete as well as a good team player. They’ll bring critical leadership to the younger athletes.”

In the preseason, Rand has been hammering down fundamentals and a strong work ethic.

Rand comes over from coaching the football team. From that experience, Rand knows he can count on Dawson Leimkuhler to be a strong inside player.

“Our strengths right now are that we are willing to learn and willing to work,” said Rand. “We need to be a fundamentally sound team. We’re not tall. We have one kid who is big, over 6-foot, 5 inches, with the rest well under 6-feet.”

The Titan defense is something they will rely on to carry them through the season. Like many high school teams, Southern Coffey County will look to play pressure defense and get up in their opponents’ faces when guarding the ball. Turnovers and limiting second chance shot opportunities will certainly be a goal.

SCC BOYS

“Our defense is we’re going to be in your shorts and in your face, we’re not going to back off,” Rand said. “We’re going to get up into you and we’re going to play hard, move our feet and work. My message is to never quit on defense.”

With the Titans being such a young team, the biggest goal will be to improve day in and day out through the season. Rand’s team will have to show up, put in the time and hope that both their skills and chemistry can result in a winning product on the hardwood.

“Each individual sets their own goals of what they want to see happen and overall our team goal is to just get better. Our biggest weakness is our scoring, we won’t have a true scorer who can go out and put up 20 points a night. We’re going to have trouble scoring at times,” Rand predicted

Rand’s philosophy and terminology is something the Titans are still becoming accustomed to. With time, he expects the boys to be able to run a basic offensive set without having to think about it and play hard while never giving up before his team begins their season.

“They’re starting to come together, we’re young though,” said Rand. “DeAnda and Nickel have been stepping up, getting everyone on the same page. They’re learning and they’re overwhelmed because I’m throwing a lot at them in a hurry, things they haven’t heard. My terminology is different from anything they’ve had in lower levels.”

AJ DeAnda is the lone senior on this year’s Southern Coffey County High squad.

“Josie can handle the ball,” True said. “She rebounds really well and she shoots the ball well from outside.

“Ross Snovelle is another girl who’s played a lot of varsity the last three years. She’s athletic and loves to play defense.”

Jalea True will also make an impact for the Lady Titans this year, True predicted.

“Jalea is our post player. She’s worked really hard in the offseason. She’s coming back in better condition and maybe in the best shape of her life. When she makes up her mind she can make rebounds and get up. Most teams will have a hard time stopping her.”

True played basketball at the school back when it was called Le Roy High School and has seen his fair share of basketball players over the years. He believes his team this year possesses some of the traits needed to succeed on the court.

“Team chemistry, senior leadership, and having a lot of varsity experience coming back will be some of our strengths,” True said. “We shouldn’t be in too many situations where we feel too uncomfortable.

“Getting in shape after being off for a month from volleyball will be a weakness. Like any other season it just takes time for them to get their legs back under them.”

True hopes his team will stay competitive until the final buzzer sounds.

“I hope it’s a team that will play hard from the opening tip to the last buzzer,” said True. “Watching them play volleyball, they had that never-say-die mentality and we came back in so many matches. They have a competitive mentality. They don’t like to lose, so I’m confident they’ll give 110%. They’re also just really good kids.”

YATES CENTER — A new head coach and a strong group of seniors will take the helm for Yates Center High boys basketball this season.

As the new head coach, Lane Huffman can rely on senior leaders Jason Rice, Cash Cummings and Emmett Brittain to convey a winning message.

The Wildcats currently have six seniors, two juniors and two sophomores returning.

Looking at the roster, Huffman predicted, “Jason Rice is going to be huge for us offensively and defensively. We’re going to ask a lot from him and he’s a vocal leader.

“We’re also going to rely on Cash Cummings and Emmett Brittain to score a lot. And Emmit George is another guy who’s coming back and will contribute a lot.”

Yates Center finished last season with a 14-7 record and had big wins against Cherryvale, 59-54, Humboldt, 30-28, as well as toppling Jayhawk-Linn in their lone playoff victory, 47-38.

Huffman wants to build on that success by getting better every day and developing a close knit group that pushes each other to get better.

Papen takes helm

YATES CENTER — The Yates Center High girls basketball team has a new coach in Jim Papen.

Papen brings 19 years of experience coaching at several area community colleges, including Neosho County Community College, Independence Community College, Coffeyville Community College and now as an assistant coach at Allen Community College under coach Leslie Crane.

“They’re still getting to know me as a coach and we’re still feeling each other out,” said Papen. “Once they get used to my terminology, it will be better. Right now I’m probably a bit over their head with the things I talk about.”

Yates Center’s Lady Wildcats went 5-17 a year ago.

Only Grace Westerman and Callyn Miller are returning from last year’s squad. Westerman and Miller look to lead the Lady Wildcats vocally and help Papen in improving their skills and working on challenging more teams the deeper they get into the season.

Papen makes it clear the Wildcats aren’t where he wants them in terms of skills, but believes the girls should be getting better every day and comparing themselves and their play only to that of yesterday.

“We’re looking at improving each day. I don’t want them to worry about wins and losses as much but instead getting better every day and that’s where we’ll be until we can get more experience,” said Papen. “I just want them to play hard for me.

“Their biggest strength is probably their togetherness,” said Papen. “Their weakness is just inexperience. We need to get more playing time. I think they’ll play together as a team. My main concern is getting their skills up.”

Papen commends the girls on their character. “They’ve been raised correctly,” he said.

Papen hopes the girls can enjoy their experience of playing basketball even if the season doesn’t go the way they would like.

The coach said he uses a three-question process to measure both his and their success:

1. Have you learned something new today?

2. Are you better today than you were yesterday?

3. Does Coach Papen care about me?

“If they can answer ‘yes’ to these questions every day then I feel like I’ve been successful and I’m doing my job.”

“I’m an eternal optimist. I am more concerned about giving than getting,” he said.

Papen understands it may not be the easiest season for his Yates Center squad but it will be rewarding if for no other reason than they are quality young ladies.

Grace Westerman in action.

Continued from Page 29

“They are good enough kids that they’re going to do something miraculous during the season that I didn’t expect and that’s because of their character. That’s what I feel will be the big surprise for us is that we’ll hang together even in the tough times.”

Yates Center: Wildcats balanced

Continued from Page 28

“I think we have several guys who are really good at a lot of things,” said Huffman. “We’re going to be balanced. We’re going to win games on defense. We don’t have a lot of scorers but we have a lot of guys who are going to go hard 100% of the time so we’re going to channel that energy on defense and create turnovers. We’ll figure out the offense as needed.”

Yates Center’s senior leadership will be crucial for Huffman in his first year at the helm as he adjusts to his new players and understanding their style of play.

Even with the number of seniors returning, the Wildcats don’t have quite the playing time or depth they would hope.

YATES CENTER

GIRLS

Coach Jim Papen

“We have seven seniors on the roster and five of them have played quite a bit,” Huffman said. “The leadership is there for the top half of the team and hopefully they can pull the younger guys up. Our weakness is depth, guys who haven’t gotten minutes in the past are going to get minutes this year.”

YATES

Canon Cavender goes up for a shot.