Sports Ink. February 2018

A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas

FEBRUARY 2018

In-state players enjoying good run for FHSU

The Hays Daily News

A look inside this issue

Volume 7, Issue 12 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright Š 2017 News Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Sports Ink. is a registered trademark of The Hays Daily News, 507 Main, Hays, KS 67601 (785) 628-1081.

For Starters

nick

McQUEEN

Avery Hawkins Hawkins, a senior wrestler and returning state placer for Smith Center High School, got off to a strong start in his senior campaign. Part of the Redmen’s 2-1A state football championship team, Hawkins began his wrestling season with 19-1 record, claiming a championship in Norton’s J.R. Durham Invitational.

Hawkins defeated Class 6A Garden City sophomore Refugio Chairez in the title match in Norton, a 3-2 decision, to push his record to 19-1 at 285 pounds.

Easton Slipke Slipke, a senior guard for the Hoxie High School boys’ basketball team, reached the 1,000-point plateau for his career with the Indians in a game in December against Sharon Springs-Wallace County. Slipke, through, Jan 10, was averaging double figures as one of three top scorers for the state hopeful Indians. Hoxie punched its ticket to the Class 2A state tournament a season ago and was ranked No. 2 in Class 2A in the Jan. 9 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings.

Chandler Ostmeyer Through seven games, Ostmeyer, a Wheatland-Grinnell High School senior, was among the top scorers in the state. Ostmeyer averaged 25.1 points in that span, making 22 3-pointers DQG SHUFHQW RI KLV ÆHOG goals for the Thunderhawks. Ostmeyer scored in the 30s twice, notching 35 points in a 65-57 win against Quinter and 36 in a 69-57 win against Weskan. He also had two double-doubles with 11 rebounds against Golden Plains and 16 against Rawlins County.

Paige Baird Baird, a junior guard for the Northern Valley High School girls’ basketball team, is off to another good start for the Huskies. Baird averaged 17.9 points per game through her team’s 5-3 start, posting 20 or more points in three consecutive games. Baird hit four 3-pointers in scoring 28 points in a 61-30 win against Alma, Neb. Through Jan. 10, she had three games with at least four 3-pointers made.

The Hays High School girls’ basketball team began its season 7-1, and picked up a pair of early wins in the Western Athletic Conference, climbing into the KBCA rankings at No. 7 in Class 4A Division I.