Mustangs barrel into basketball
Sure, Iola High’s Mustangs will probably suit up against taller opponents during the upcoming basketball season.
But you’ll be hard pressed to find many teams with the speed, top to bottom, Iola will be able to deploy.
“Last year, I felt like I had seven, maybe eight, guys who we could put on the floor,” Mustang head coach Luke Bycroft said. “This year, I feel good about 12 guys. Some of them are inexperienced, and we’ll need to get them in there so they can see how good they are.”
Some pieces already are well known.
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Senior Cortland Carson, a four-year contributor, is coming off a first-team All-Pioneer League campaign in which he averaged a team-high 18 points.
“Cortland is gonna face a lot of tough defenses,” Bycroft predicted. “He’ll probably deal with a lot of double-teams and face-guarding. We’ve been working on ways to combat that, to take advantage of when he’s double-teamed.
“Cortland welcomes it,” Bycroft said. “He welcomes the attention.”
Carson is one of four returning starters, alongside guard Matthew Beckmon and post players Grady Dough-
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Iola High’s Grady Dougherty (4) will be counted on for his inside presence for the Mustangs this season.
erty and Lucas Maier.
Beckmon averaged nearly 6 points and 2 assists per game in 2023-24. He ranked second on the team (behind Carson) in 3-point attempts, hitting 37% from long range.
“Matthew has been really aggressive in practice,” Bycroft said. “He had a nice shot last season, but he lost some of his confidence at the end of the year. What I’m impressed with is how he’s attacking the rim this year. He’s quick and explosive. We’re gonna need him to be quick to the bucket.”
Dougherty and Maier were near mirrors of each other, averaging 5 points a game, while Maier had a slight rebounding advantage (6 boards per contest versus Dougherty’s 5.)
“They’ve really impressed me with their post work and their footwork in practice,” Bycroft said. “They were making moves in practice that had us asking where that came from.
“Grady said, ‘We’ve been working on it for four years,’” Bycroft recalled. “It’s just now where they feel comfortable.
“If we can get interior production, it’s gonna be huge,” he continued. “It’s not something we’ve been able to rely on. But if we can get production inside, it can really open things up for us on the perimeter.”
Nick Bauer, a junior, saw plenty of action as a sophomore.
“He’s really prided himself on his defense,” Bycroft said. “He hadn’t developed all of his offensive skills yet.”
A pair of newcomers also will likely make an immediate impact. Senior Jordy Kaufman and junior Tre Wilson — both of whom were all-league defenders in football — have suited up for the first time for high school basketball.
“Jordy is learning a lot in a hurry,” Bycroft said. “He came to all of our summer stuff, and that helped a lot. He’s not far behind. And Tre is just so athletically gifted. Both of those guys are animals when it comes to getting rebounds, as you could imagine if you saw the way they played football. That’s gonna be a big, big value to us. There were games we lost last season because we couldn’t rebound.”
Juniors Jayden Beene and Hayden Kelley both saw varsity time last season. Both have shown an ability to hit from the outside and run the court.
Sophomores Austin Crooks and Jase Herrmann also will vie for playing time.
“We have a lot of pieces,” Bycroft said. “It’s a matter of seeing how they can fit.”
And there may be a time, sooner rather than later, when Iola fans will hear from freshmen Reed Clift and Mosiah Fawson.
Both were team leaders on last year’s eighth-grade squad.
“Reed is very physical, and he’s not far off,” Bycroft said. “He’s got a lot to learn. He’s not afraid of playing with the older guys. Mosiah has a lot of potential. It was easy for him to score at the middle school level, but he needed to be challenged. I don’t think he realized how much he had to learn.”
Senior Matt Beckmon (5) will suit up at guard for Iola High in 2024-25.
THE PIONEER League, which featured last season’s Class 3A state champion Wellsville Eagles, looks to be a monster once again in 2024-25.
“Wellsville graduated a bunch of seniors, so they’re probably not at the level they were last year, but they’re gonna be good,” Bycroft said. “Burlington brings back almost everybody, including their primary scorers. Anderson County is always a tough matchup because of their size. The same thing with Osawatomie.
“The league is going to have a lot of competitive games,” he concluded. “We’ve just got to do the little things right to win them.”
Iola High’s Cortland Carson, center, is certain to draw extra attention from opposing defenses again this season.
Iola High’s Lucas Maier puts up a shot in a game last season.
Senior girls hold court for Iola
Iola High’s girls have the ingredients for what could be a special season on the basketball court.
Size? Check. The Mustangs’ version of the twin towers comes with senior post players Reese Curry and Alana Mader, both of whom had spurts of brilliance in seasons past.
Strong perimeter play? Yup. The Mustangs have a trio of speedy guards, capable of handling the ball, applying pressure and hitting from the outside.
Experience? You betcha. All of the aforementioned players are seniors, hungry to improve on last season’s eight-win squad.
Mustang head coach Kelsey Johnson noted her team’s strengths when mentioning the teams to beat in the Pioneer League.
She noted Wellsville has a strong group of underclassmen, squads like Anderson County, Santa Fe Trail and Prairie View, despite losing talented seniors from last year, return key performers.
“When you talk about teams with strong senior classes, we are that team,” Johnson said. “We have those seniors. We should be in the mix. There’s no game we should be out of when it comes to the Pioneer League.”
Mader and Curry offer a potent one-two punch inside.
Good luck to our area
Curry’s shooting ability from medium range poses an added threat for opposing post players.
But if they pressure her outside, Curry’s just as capable of driving to the basket.
Mader’s strengths lie in her ability to clean up the offensive glass, and get out in transition.
“Both of those girls know what’s expected of them,” Johnson said. “Reese is very consistent. For Alana, it’s a matter of building her confidence.”
Bycroft will once again serve as the team’s table-setter.
“She knows the game,” Johnson said. “She does so many things that don’t show up on the stat line. She’s strong on defense, she brings the ball up the court, and
Iola High’s Reese Curry puts up a shot in a game last season.
really helps us get our offense going.”
Harper Desmarteau, a senior, has become the team’s primary outside shooting threat.
“She’s another girl who put in a lot of work in the offseason,” Johnson said. “She’s fast and she can shoot. More importantly, she has a shooter’s mentality. She doesn’t get frustrated if she misses early, and we need that. I’m really looking for that from all my girls.”
Elza Clift’s speed will give the team an element many opponents cannot match in a trio of speed-burners on the perimeter.
“She’s so quick,” Johnson said of the senior. “We’re looking for a bigger role for Elza at both ends of the court.”
Sophomore Zoie Hesse, who’s also on the IHS wrestling team this season, will provide inside depth. She, too, has a deft ability to get rebounds along with a nice shooter’s touch.
Another senior, Kaysin Crusinbery, offers a blend of size and athleticism, and an ability to run the floor.
Junior Bethany Miller will see time inside as well.
“She’s so tall,” Johnson said. “We just need to get her to be more aggressive.”
Sophomore Mahala Burris has shown glimpses of contributing as well.
“She’s so coachable and will do everything I ask.”
Sophomore guards Brooklyn Holloway and Dally Curry proved to be team leaders at the junior varsity level last season, and are ready to show they can contribute at the varsity level.
“Sometimes it takes time to adjust to the speed of varsity, but they’ve shown they can do it,” Johnson said.
JOHNSON will miss the opening month of the season while out on maternity leave.
Emily Sigg — Johnson’s sister and top assistant coach — will take over the team on an interim basis while Johnson is out.
IOLA GIRLS BASKETBALLL
It’s the second time in three years Sigg has filled in while Johnson was out on maternity leave.
“We see a lot of things similarly,” Johnson said. “Of course, we have different personalities, which is good.”
Two other new assistants, Tristan Carson and Mike Wilhelm, will help keep things afloat in Johnson’s absence.
“These are good changes,” Johnson said. “We all have different approaches, but all of us coaches have the same goals. It’ll be hard for me to stay away, because I’m so excited.”
Senior Alana Mader returns for Iola High this season.
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Mustang wrestlers young, hungry
Iola High’s wrestling program is teeming with youth. Twenty-five wrestlers — 20 boys and five girls — will hit the mats under first-year head coach John Taylor.
And this squad promises to be around for a while.
Eight of the 15 are freshmen, another 15 are sophomores and just two are juniors.
None are seniors.
“Those are great numbers. Some of these kids I’ve worked with for a long time,” said Taylor, who coached many of the wrestlers when they participated in the Iola Kids Wrestling Club.
“We have a really young group this year, and I’m OK with that. It shows the future is bright. I have a good group of hard-working kids.”
A pair of sophomores, Kale Pratt on the boys side and Zoe Hesse for the girls — will lead the way.
Pratt won 12 matches as a freshman at 150 pounds. He’ll move up a weight class to 157 pounds for his sophomore campaign.
“He knows the routine and what needs to be done,” Taylor said. “He’s been doing a really good job of that. He’s already stepping up as a team leader.”
The Mustangs have other young veterans who already have plenty of varsity experience.
Sophomore Ruger Boren moved up two weight classes to wrestle this season at 120 pounds. “He’s been looking pretty good,” Taylor said. Trapper Boren, the only junior on the boys roster, will compete at 113 pounds.
WRESTLING
High’s Ruger Boren, top, is moving up two weight classes to wrestle in 2024-25.
Evan Lacrone’s freshman campaign was interrupted by an injury, but he rebounded at the end of the year. Like Boren, he, too, is moving up two weight classes and will compete at 138 pounds.
Sophomore Tripp Mathes (150 pounds) and freshman Kevon Loving (144 pounds) also will compete on the varsity level from the outset.
Other sophomores like Ramon Ballin, Austin Nelson, Rohan Springer, Franklin Kerr and Bo Ericson all gained valuable experience as freshmen.
“They’ve all made jumps and gained confidence,” Tay-
Iola
lor said. “The kids are buying in.”
ON THE girls’ side, Hesse will build on her 17-win freshman campaign that ended one match short of qualifying for state.
“I’ve been using the same quote about Zoie since she was 9 years old,” said Taylor. “Zoie knows how to win. She’s looked fabulous in practice.”
Of note, all of Hesse’s losses in 2023-24 were to seniors who have since graduated. All also were state medalists.
“We’re going to see some big things for her this year,” Taylor predicted.
She’s not the only girl ready to make waves.
Freshman Addilyn Wacker has the tools and drive to succeed quickly.
“Honestly, I’d be disappointed if she’s not at the state tournament as a freshman,” he said. “She’s that good.”
Iola High’s Zoie Hesse won 17 matches and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the state tournament as a freshman last season.
Iola High’s Rohan Springer is one of several underclassmen expected to contribute to the wrestling team this season.
Humboldt seeks to defend TVL crown
HUMBOLDT — David Taylor knows he sounds like a broken record.
When it comes to gauging how successful his Humboldt High basketball team will be, he points to two key ingredients: defense and rebounding.
Do those two things consistently, “and you will always have a chance to be successful,” he said. “We were able to do that most nights, and if our players continue to build mental and physical toughness, it will allow us to be competitive.”
Humboldt returns plenty of talent and experience from last season’s 19-3 squad.
It helps to have a pair of seniors like Colden Cook and Blake Ellis to lead the way.
Cook averaged 13 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists a game last season as a junior, good enough to earn first-team All-Tri-Valley League and honorable mention all-state honors.
“Colden will be a go-to type of player when we need a spark on offense or defense,” Taylor said.
Ellis wasn’t necessarily counted on for his scoring in 2023-24, but was a vital cog at point guard. He averaged 5 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds a game last season.
“Blake will help direct our team as the starting point
See HUMBOLDT | Page 13
Avery Works, left, will be counted on to man the interior in 2024-25 for Humboldt High.
and All-State
a junior last season.
Humboldt High’s Colden Cook, center, earned All-Tri-Valley League
honors on the basketball court as
Humboldt High’s Asher Hart, left, and Blake Ellis were both key contributors for last season’s Tri-Valley League champion basketball team.
Humboldt
Continued from Page 10
guard,” Taylor said. “Both he and Colden had good seasons last year, and we expect them to continue that success.”
Helping fill out the starting lineup are guards Asher Hart, a senior, and Mason Sterling, a junior. Both averaged about 4.5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals per contest last season.
“Speed will be an attribute,” Taylor said. “Our speed will hopefully allow us to defend both full- and in the half-court to create turnovers so that we can get out in transition. Unselfish play will be a strength of this group.”
Junior Avery Works looks to help fortify Humboldt’s frontline alongside Cook.
“Avery’s a good inside post player,” Taylor said. “He and Colden will work to develop their continuity.”
Thatcher Mueller thrived in junior varsity action last season, and will be counted on to contribute at the varsity level.
Taylor also will have the services of senior transfer Trevion Franklin, who averaged 7 points a game in 202324 at El Dorado High School.
“I’m anxious to see what he brings to the program,” Taylor said.
The team’s success will hinge in part on how well the
supporting cast develops.
“We’re pretty set with our starting lineup,” Taylor said. “The key is finding 7-89-10. That’s what we’re searching for.”
Taylor expects a competitive race to the top of the Tri-Valley League. Neodesha, Caney Valley and Fredonia will be strong. Cherryvale is developing young talent, Eureka has players and Erie is coming off a state appearance last spring.
“I’m so worried about what we do,” Taylor said. “I don’t have time to worry about anyone else.”
Mason Sterling goes in for a layup for Humboldt High last season.
Lady Cubs bring experience, talent
HUMBOLDT — Few expected Humboldt High’s girls to make much noise on the basketball court last season. But even with little depth, and having lost several key seniors to graduation, the Lady Cubs didn’t take long to find their stride.
With only one senior, Humboldt racked up 13 wins and advanced to the substate semifinals in a hardfought loss to eventual state qualifier Heritage Christian.
Now, those returnees are back and they’re hungry for more. And with the insertion of a pair of key contributors, all signs point to a memorable 2024-25 campaign for Aubrey Jones’s squad.
“These kids scrap and find a way to get the job done,” she explained. “They’re strong-willed and they work hard.”
Humboldt will likely rely on its post play for much of the team’s offense.
Senior Shelby Shaughnessy, who averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds a contest, earned honorable mention Tri-Valley League recognition.
She’ll be accompanied by junior Ricklyn Hillmon underneath for a potent one-two punch.
“Shelby is usually our biggest scoring threat,” Jones said. “She’s a good, strong force to have in there, and she’s really come into her own shooting the ball. She does much of her damage within 15 feet, but we’re trying to get her to put up a few shots from the outside. She’s not too bad out there.”
Hillmon, meanwhile, is adept at getting key rebounds at both ends of the floor. “She’s got the long arms and she’s not afraid to get in there and mix it up.”
Fellow junior Skylar Hottenstein returns as the squad’s point guard..
“It’s good for her to get another year of maturity under her belt,” Jones said. “She’s gotten used to the pressure and is more confident with her ball-handling.”
Junior Laney Hull and senior Chanlynn Wrestler both were part-time starters in 2023-24.
“Laney brings a lot of speed, and she’s shot the ball well,” Jones said. “Chanlynn has worked in the offseason and is now more confident in her dribbling, taking on some point guard abilities, although she’s more of a shooting guard.”
Senior McKenna Jones emerged as Humboldt’s key outside shooting threat last season until an injury ended her season during the Christmas break. She is expected to return to the court in January.
“She is a phenomenal clutch shooter, and she’s able to make passes to get others involved,” Jones said. “We’re looking forward to having her back on the court.”
Senior transfer Karingten Hall will be counted on for her defensive abilities.
Ricklyn Hillman (21) emerged as an interior force for Humboldt High as a sophomore last season.
“Her quickness and ability to steal the ball,” are crucial, Jones said. Hall competed last year on Humboldt’s junior varsity squad, “and a lot of those games had Kar-
Humboldt High’s Shelby Shaughnessy earned Tri-Valley League honorable mention recognition in 2023-24.
HUMBOLDT GIRLS BASKETBALL
ingten stealing the ball and getting layups,” Jones noted.
Sophomore Jo Ellison found increasing doses of varsity playing time her freshman year. “She had some big moments when things were getting hard for us. She’d been a guard a lot when she was younger, but once she hit her growth spurt, she’s been able to bang inside.”
Senior Anna Heisler, who hadn’t played basketball until her sophomore year, has seen her game grow in leaps and bounds as well.
“It’s been a lot of fun watching her growth the last few years,” Jones said. “She plays a little bit everywhere.”
Sophomore Lakyn Meadows has impressed early in practices as well. “She’s able to shoot when we can get the ball to her,” Jones said. “We’re looking for her to have more confidence out there.”
The next crop of contributors with freshman Bailey Daniels, Addisyn Drake, Kaydence Whitworth and Adalyn Hillmon, whose volleyball season ended early with an ankle injury, will be heard from sooner or later.
“They’re all hard workers, and they’re all athletic,” Jones said. “That’s what we’re looking for.”
Eureka and Neodesha will likely challenge Humboldt for the Tri-Valley League crown, although Jones expects the league to be strong top to bottom.
“I don’t see a bottom of the pack,” she said. “Every game is gonna be a dogfight.”
Humboldt High’s Cole Mathes, left, wrestles with Iola High’s Broderick Peters in a match last season. Mathes earned state wrestling medals as a sophomore and junior, and is gunning even higher for his senior year.
Humboldt wrestlers eye banner year
HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High’s wrestlers bring a little bit of everything to the mats in 2024-25.
Experience? Talent? A drive to take the HHS program to unprecedented heights?
Yup, yup and yup.
Of the 26 wrestlers, five were state qualifiers last spring, including Cole Mathes who won his second straight state medal by placing fifth in the 175-pound division.
Head coach Kent Goodner expects even bigger things for Mathes and the other returning state qualifiers, Broc Ivy and Curt Shannon on the boys side, and girls Taevyn Baylor and Savannah Koch.
“We only have nine boys on the roster, but they’re all good, solid kids,” Goodner said. “And we’re gonna have a stacked girls team this year.”
Mathes, who finished last season with a 27-7 record, will move up from 175 pounds and will wrestle at 190, Goodner said.
“Cole is right where he needs to be,” Goodner said. “He’s still growing and he’s always had a good frame.”
Other coaches agree, voting Mathes as the third-
See HUMBOLDT | Page 19
ranked 190-pound wrestler in Class 3-2-1A this season.
But his physical makeup is only part of what makes Mathes special, Goodner said, praising the senior’s drive and willingness to learn.
“Cole’s got a chance to be a state champion,” Goodner said. “He’s wanting to leave his legacy of being a state champ. He pushes himself to the extreme.”
Shannon, another senior, will wrestle again at 120 pounds, while Ivy — a freshman state qualifier — will once again compete at 126 pounds.
Their experience at state in 2024 will serve them well as the postseason arrives in February.
“When you get to state, it’s nerve-wracking,” Goodner said. “Just getting out there gets them familiar with the atmosphere.” Last year’s state meet was in Salina. This year’s state meet is in Hays.
Goodner sees potential in others on the boys roster.
Senior Brody Gunderman is one of the more athletic wrestlers in Class 3-2-1A, while Emmitt Carson and Riley Woods both have emerged in early practices.
THE GIRLS team should make noise up and down the roster.
Baylor, a state qualifier last year at 155 pounds, missed earning a state medal by one match, and is ranked at No. 4 in the preseason rankings this year.
“The experience last year really taught me a lot,” Bay-
lor said. “There are things I’d never seen before.”
It also left her even hungrier for a return to state.
“I want to be at the top of the podium,” she said.
Koch, who wrestles at 235 pounds, ranks sixth in the state in the preseason vote, and should make a return to the state tournament at the end of the season.
Humboldt High’s Curt Shannon is one of three seniors on the wrestling team in 2024-25.
Goodner carries high praise as well for Ella Shomaker, Tori Melendez, Willow LaCrone, Gabby Vargas-Garcia and Jordan Hencey.
“We’ve got a chance to do some things with this many girls,” Goodner said.
Baylor agreed.
“It’s fun to see us grow,” she said. “We have a supportive team of girls. This is the most supportive group I’ve worked with. They have the drive and want to go, go, go.”
Humboldt High’s Taevyn Baylor is a returning state wrestling tournament qualifier.
MV dreams of another run at state
MORAN — Last year was a rags-to-riches tale for the boys Marmaton Valley High’s basketball team.
The Wildcats stumbled out of the gate with a 3-8 start, but caught fire at just the right time.
The Wildcats went 8-4 down the stretch, including a thrilling romp through the Class 1A-II Substate Tournament to secure the program’s first state tournament berth in 23 years.
Now, with many of the same contributors back in the fold -– four of the five starters return — hopes are high for another extended postseason run.
“Getting to the state tournament was good, even great,” Wildcat head coach Cornell Walls said. “It had been a long time since this program had gotten that far. Now, we have to have the mentality that having gotten there once, let’s see if we can get even a little further.”
The focal point will be on the senior and junior classes.
Senior Brayden Lawson, a first-team All-Pioneer League performer last season, averaged 13 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals per game.
“He’s a leader,” Walls said. “He works hard and helps get us going.”
Junior Tyler Lord, the team’s point guard, epitomized Marmaton Valley’s drastic improvement in the second half of the season. He averaged 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Lord saved his best for last, averaging nearly 19 points a game in the postseason.
“He’s been the point guard for us since he was a freshman, but he really made leaps and bounds last year,” Walls said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how he
does this year.”
Senior Jaedon Granere also came alive down the stretch. His 23-point outburst was the driving force in the substate championship win over Altoona-Midway.
“Jaedon is so athletic,” Walls said. “He’s one of the fastest guys in southeast Kansas, and he likes to get out and go. He’s been working on his ball-handling a lot. He’s so fast, sometimes he gets ahead of himself.”
Another senior, guard Dominic Smith, is one of the better shooters on the team.
“He’s not bad on defense, either,” Walls noted. “We’re looking for him to take a bigger role. He’s always sac-
Brayden Lawson averaged 13 points and 9.5 rebounds a game last season for Marmaton Valley High.
rificing himself, doing what’s needed.”
Juniors Garrett Morrison and Todd Stevenson will be counted on as well.
“Garrett’s always played very well on the defensive end,” Walls said. “He’s never been scared of a challenge, especially on defense, but he’s a good 3-point shooter, too.”
Stevenson’s quickness on the perimeter will provide a boost as well. “He really likes to attack the basket,” Walls said.
Brevyn Campbell, yet another junior, is capable of lining up both inside and out.
“He had some tough matchups last year, but he’s not afraid to go and get it,” Walls said. “When it comes to effort plays, he’s always there.”
Even with a veteran lineup, Walls said there are a number of underclassmen capable of seeing time on the court.
Ethan Lawson, a freshman, has good height and is already turning heads with his tenacity on the practice court.
Tyler Lord’s play helped fuel Marmaton Valley’s state tournament run in 2023-24.
“I’m impressed with his work ethic,” Walls said. “He’s a Lawson.”
Thomas Allee has shown a deft shooting touch as well.
Walls understands that Marmaton Valley will have the added spotlight of being a returning state qualifier squad.
He’s confident his team will remain hungry, particularly with how last season ended — a lop-sided loss to Dighton at the Class 1A-II State Tournament Quarterfinals.
“We got our butts whupped in a new atmosphere,” he said. “The guys are motivated to do better this time. Every year, I’ve seen these guys progressing, getting better. Hopefully, it continues this year.”
Morrison returns as a junior this year for the Wildcats.
Garrett
PHOTO BY HALIE LUKEN/MVHS
TRL champ Lady Lancers back at it
COLONY — Crest High’s Lady Lancers return four starters from the squad’s magical league champion 2023-24 campaign.
Alas, the one missing starter — the graduated Kayla Hermreck — leaves a sizable hole to fill if the Lady Lancers hope for a repeat.
“It should be a fun season,” Crest head coach Steve Zimmerman said. “It’s a matter of figuring out our chemistry and coming together.”
Aylee Beckmon, a returning first-team all-league junior, averaged a team-high 8.5 points per game, along with three steals and nearly 2 assists.
“People don’t give Aylee enough credit,” Zimmerman said. “She just does stuff other athletes can’t do. She’s definitely going to be our table-setter.”
On the inside, Kinley Edgerton, who earned honorable mention all-league honors last year, averaged 6.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1.5 blocks and more than 1 assist per game.
“Kinley can do it all,” Zimmerman said. “She can score, block shots, pass the ball, and get rebounds. She’s a really unique player.”
Also playing key roles are seniors Karlee Boots — described by Zimmerman as Crest’s best athlete — and Cursten Allen.
“Cursten is probably the best shooter on the team,” Zimmerman said. “Karlee’s specialty is driving to the basket. She brings a cowboy mentality to the court.”
Sophomore Jaycee Schmidt will likely line up as Crest’s fifth starter.
“She was a good player last year, but had to wait a year to get much playing time,” Zimmerman said.
Incoming freshman Summer Valentine also will likely be heard from sooner than most anticipate.
“It’s gonna be an adjustment for our younger players, but once they get used to the speed, they’ll see some success,” Zimmerman said.
Much of the team’s success will likely hinge on de-
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Aylee Beckmon led Crest High’s girls in scoring last season as she earned first-team All-Three Rivers League honors.
REAL KOREAN
fense, Zimmerman said. Fortunately, the team is well accustomed to hardfought games.
Crest went 10-0 last year in TRL play, finishing 15-6 overall, with many of those low-scoring affairs.
“It seemed like every game was a tough game,” he said. “We were able to win them. We’re definitely a better shooting team than last year. We have a good chance of defending our league championship, but it’s gonna be close. Southeast has a good team, and Jayhawk-Linn is gonna be tough to beat. I don’t think anyone is going undefeated in the league this time around.”
CREST GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cursten Allen is one of two seniors on the Lady Lancer basketball team in 2024-25.
Crest seeks balance on hardwood
COLONY — Crest High’s recipe for success a year ago was often rather simple:
1. Get the ball to Ryan Golden 2. Let him create some magic.
But with Golden having graduated along with senior Rogan Weir, the Lancer cupboard isn’t as well-stocked.
“I don’t know if we have anybody like Ryan who can get you 16 points and 10 rebounds a night, but we have several guys who can make things happen,” said Lancer head coach Dakotah Sporing.
Crest returns three full-time and one part-time starter, led by seniors Gentry McGhee and Denton Ramsey on the perimeter and Jacob Zimmerman in the post.
“Jacob is really our only height,” Sporing said. “With Ryan in the lineup, he was more of an inside-outside player, but this year, he’ll be back inside. He’ll probably be our most consistent scorer.”
McGhee, meanwhile, will be counted on to handle the point guard responsibilities.
“When we want to go fast, he can go fast,” Sporing said. “He’s good at playing under control, knowing when to push it and when to let things develop.”
Ramsey’s shooting touch wasn’t necessarily something the Lancers needed in years past. This year, it will be.
“He has that ability,” Sporing said.”He just needs to go. And he’s been a lot more aggressive in practice.”
Several supporting pieces will be counted on to play bigger roles as well.
Junior Henry White should provide speed and defense,
CREST BOYS BASKETBALL
while Levi Prasko will provide depth inside.
Underclassman Lane Yocham also can hit from the outside.
Perhaps one of the team’s most intriguing pieces is incoming freshman Kole Walter, who has already exhibited an ability to get to the rim.
“He’s right behind Gentry with his ball-handling, and he’s gonna be tough to keep away from the basket. He can score from weird angles. I don’t know how he does it. I don’t need to know. I just give him the ball, and let him go.”
Bidding adieu to a decorated senior like Golden will present challenges, Sporing acknowledged. But it should, in a crazy way, make things more difficult for Lancer opponents to prepare.
“We’re gonna be competitive,” Sporing said. “I can see eight or nine guys able to fight for minutes. They’re motivated. You can see it on the floor.”
Crest High’s Denton Ramsey is one of three returning starters for the Lancers in 2024-25.
Youngsters will lead the way at YC
YATES CENTER — An ongoing youth movement at Yates Center High will pose challenges, but with enticing possibilities as the Wildcat girls take the court this season.
“We’ve gone through three classes in a row where we just didn’t have a whole lot of numbers,” first-year head coach Eric Busteed said. “But we’re starting to get those numbers.”
To wit, Yates Center’s 12-player roster has one junior, three sophomores and eight freshmen hitting the court.
“Obviously, the speed of the varsity game is gonna take some getting used to,” Busteed said. “We may struggle a bit at the beginning, but the players are working hard, and that’s all you can ask. I’m not 100% sure how we’re gonna compete, but I know the girls are gonna show up to play.”
Sophomore Cayten Cummings is one of the few experienced players from last year’s 3-17 squad.
“She’s just a natural leader,” Busteed said. “Kids follow her. Some of it’s because she’s such a good player, but her personality also keeps things calm. I’m looking for her to be one of our leaders.”
Sophomore Jayda Rice, junior Aubrey Chambers and sophomore Jaylynn Birk also saw time on the court last season.
“Jayda’s gonna be a key to what we’re trying to do,” Busteed said. “Aubrey has really come a long way. I’m looking forward to seeing her progress. Jaylynn’s another who has grown as a player. She’s gonna contribute.”
The incoming freshman class also has some talented performers.
Mackenzie Burkholder already has shown tenacity, particularly on the defensive end.
“She’s a good athlete, who has that knack for defense,” Busteed said. “When you’re a good defender, you have that ‘want-to,’ and she has that. Even if she doesn’t score
YATES CENTER GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cayten Cummings emerged as a team leader for Yates Center High’s Wildcats as a freshman. She’s ready to take greater strides as a sophomore.
a lot, she’s gonna help us on defense and rebounding.”
Freshman Karla Pilgrim also has an abundance of athletic ability.
“We don’t have a ton of height, so that will be a struggle,” Busteed said.
Busteed may be in his first year at the helm of the girls squad, but he’s no stranger to coaching Yates Center athletics, having coached both football and boys basketball in years past.
He’s also the school principal.
Coaching a girls team is refreshing in a way, he noted with a chuckle.
“I think they listen better,” he laughed. “They’ll do whatever I ask them. They know they’ve gotta do the little things to get better.”
Adding to the optimism are sizable middle school classes coming down the pike, adding to this year’s bumper freshman crop.
“I’m really looking forward to the next few years,” Busteed said. “We may struggle early, but we’re gonna be OK.”
The future is now for Yates Center
YATES CENTER — A young Yates Center High squad took its lumps on the basketball court in 2023-24.
The Wildcats lost their first 15 games, going until Feb. 9, to secure their first win.
Nevertheless, a 2-4 finish down the stretch offered small, but definite signs of progress.
The Wildcats are still young this season, with three returning sophomores in the starting lineup, but with a full year of varsity action under their belts, head coach Lane Huffman expects brighter days are not far off.
“We are so far ahead of where we were this time last year,” Huffman said. “I’d love to say we’ll be a lot better, but more importantly, I think this team is gonna get better every week.”
The Wildcats return four contributors from 2023-24, senior Jarrett Birk, a two-year starter, and sophomores Colton Burkholder, Evan McVey and Jeremiah Jones.
“They all got a lot of minutes, and they know what we do and how to do it,” Huffman said.
Birk, at 6-3, will line up inside. Burkholder, McVey and Jones all have speed and athleticism to attack from the outside.
“We’re gonna try to space the floor,” Huffman said. “We can get five wide, Birk will hold down the middle.”
There’s more than just blind optimism in predicting the incoming freshman class will help immediately.
Jake Smoot, a 6-2 underclassman, will learn under Birk, “although he’s probably ready now,” Huffman said. Ben Cook, another freshman, is coming off an injury he suffered as Yates Center’s starting quarterback. “He’s gonna make an impact,” Huffman said. “I’m very excited about our freshmen.”
Yates Center High’s Evan McVey (4) is one of several promising sophomores on the Wildcat roster.
Freshmen Marcus Cummings and Gavin Busteed also have been a part of summer travel teams. “They’re gonna see time on varsity, probably quicker than what I was expecting. It’s too soon to figure out who’s gonna get in first.”
But aside from the aforementioned Birk and Smoot, the Wildcats will have a height disadvantage against their opponents.
Finding outside shooters also is paramount.
Huffman expects a hotly contested battle for supremacy within the Three Rivers League. Uniontown returns a strong contingent, as do Oswego and Marmaton Valley.
Defending champ Uniontown will come to town early in the season.
“We wanted to keep them on the schedule early,” Huffman said. “It’ll be a good test to see if we’re as good as we think we can be.”
SCC pursues winning culture on court
LE ROY — Wins have been hard to come by at Southern Coffey County High, particularly on the basketball hardwood.
With that in mind, head coach Brian Rand has made his practices about more than fundamentals, where building confidence is as important as dribbling drills.
“These kids are having to learn to win,” he said. “We haven’t figured that part out yet.”
First, the tough news.
The Titans have only eight players on the roster, so staying healthy will be vital if SCC hopes to have success this year. And of those eight, only two are 6 feet or taller.
SCC BOYS BASKETBALL
Coach Brian Rand
Isaac Higdon 12
Hank Newton 12
Kaiden Boling 11
Colton Summers 11
Trey Winn 11
Cyrus Nickel 10
Josh Snyder 10
Charlie Nickel 9
But within those eight are six returnees, all of whom had started at one point or another.
Junior Kaiden Boling, a 5-7 hybrid guard/forward, will likely be one of the focal points of the Titan offense.
“He’s an all-around good ball player,” Rand said. “He can shoot from outside, or fight for shots inside.”
Senior Hank Newton will also pose as an outside shooting threat. As one of two seniors, Newton also has a good grasp of the team’s concepts, Rand espouses.
“Hank has played for me for three years,” Rand said. “He understands
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what we’re doing, and he can be a sharpshooter.”
A pair of underclassmen, brothers Cyrus and Charlie Nickel, give the Titans their much-needed height.
Cyrus, a 6-foot sophomore, is adept at finding open spots in opposing defenses, Rand said.
Charlie Nickel, a 6-3 freshman, is adapting quickly to high school basketball, Rand said.
“He’s catching on fairly quickly, but more importantly, he’s wanting to learn,” Rand said. “He’s asking questions, and he’s not intimidated out there.”
Southern Coffey County High’s Kaiden Boling puts up a shot in practice.
Senior Isaac Higdon, who missed the 2023-24 campaign due to injury, will provide a defensive spark, as will junior Trey Winn.
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Lady Titans ready for TRL challenge
LE ROY — A trio of seniors will lead the way for Southern Coffey County High’s girls this season.
Karley Ohl, Emily Ludolph and Kennedy Gunlock return as starters from last season’s 3-18 squad.
It helps that they’re quite talented, head coach Jeff True said.
“All three of those seniors will give us good leadership. Emily and Karley have played quite a bit for us. Karley’s been in there since she was a freshman, and Emily has been playing quite a bit since she was a sophomore. All three will set a good example and be good role models.”
Ohl paced the Lady Titans with 11.8 and 8.3 rebounds per game, both team highs, in 2023-24. She earned honorable mention All-Lyon County League recognition.
Ludolph was second on the team with 4.8 rebounds and 5.2 boards per contest.
Southern Coffey County High’s Karley Ohl, center, and Kennedy Gunlock, at left, go through a dribbling drill in practice.
The Lady Titans will need that experience with an otherwise young, and thin, squad.
With no juniors on the squad, and only one other senior on the roster, either sophomores or freshmen make up the balance.
True expects freshman Cheyenne Dyke to step into the starting lineup.
“She has good athleticism and a good work ethic,” True said. “She’ll be able to handle the ball.”
Dyke missed much of her eighth-grade season due to a knee injury.
Another freshman, Annnabelle Lehmann, suited up for SCC in middle school.
Two other newcomers, Melissa Edwards and Layla
Coach Jeff True
Kennedy Gunlock 12
Emily Ludolph 12
Karley Ohl 12
SCC GIRLS BASKETBALL
Edwards 11
Decker 10 Cheyenne Dyke 9 Emma Kent 9
Annabelle Lehmann 9
Decker, are new to the sport.
Edwards, a junior, has never played basketball before. “We’re getting her exposed to the fundamentals,” True said.
Decker, a sophomore, last played organized basketball as a seventh-grader. “There’s a lot of new stuff for her to learn,” True said.
With a small roster, staying healthy is imperative as SCC enters the Three Rivers League after spending the past several seasons in the Lyon County League.
“It’ll be nice to see some fresh faces,” True said. “Hopefully, we can go out and compete and improve every day.”
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