Sports Ink., Jan 2013

A magazine focusing on all things sports in northwest Kansas

INK. February 2013

Aiming for more The Panther girls have been competitive for years, but titles have been elusive in Phillipsburg.

The Hays Daily News

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What’s up?

A look inside this issue

Going for it

6 K

ings of

the lanes

Bowling brothers Keith and Kevin Ubert do their best to maintain a competitive edge.

8

Aiming higher

The Phillipsburg girls’ basketball team has had a successful run. The Panthers just don’t have many crowns to show for it.

14 Making a run

The Russell High School girls’ basketball team has turned itself into a

Everett Royer, Sports Ink. La Crosse junior Marshall Jay takes the ball to the basket against OtisBison senior Dylan Wissman in the third quarter of their game earlier this month in La Crosse.

contender..

Cover illustration by Steven Hausler shausler@dailynews.net Sports Ink. contributors: Nick McQueen nmcqueen@dailynews.net Conor Nicholl cnicholl@dailynews.net Everett Royer sportsink@dailynews.net Steven Hausler shausler@dailynews.net Klint Spiller kspiller@dailynews.net Chelsy Lueth clueth@dailynews.net.

Volume 2, Issue 12 Sports Ink. is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News. Copyright © 2012 Harris Enterprises. 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.

Everyone loves a surprise Y

ear in and year out in this business, high school sports can successfully defend its Class 1A Division I championship. Through really keep you guessing. While we prepare each year for what its 8-0 start this season, Hoxie averaged 78 points per game and we think will happen, it never fails — someone or some team will never scored less than 67. That came in a 26-point win against a always throw a wrench in the spokes. salty Ellis team. Hoxie allowed just 29 points per game in that same That’s why we love to do what we do. Not that we covet being stretch. Hoxie has been ranked No. 2 behind Olpe all season and it proved wrong or like to end up with egg on our face, but we love to would be a real shock if it’s not those two playing for the crown. see the little guy get his chance to shine, or David slaying Goliath, or •…if anyone but Ellis and Smith Center are playing for the suba team coming together despite facing adversity. state championship on the girls’ side in the Plainville 2A sub-state Of course, we do like it when all goes according to plan as well. in early March. Although, this could be the prediction that gets For example, at the beginning of the football blown up with an upset or two. After all, Smith For starters season, the buzz around the office was all about Center was a potential favorite in a stacked subNess City. The Eagles came through. state last season before Belleville-Republic County But, it might be the surprises that make what knocked everyone off. we do so much more thrilling. It’s the Otis•…if Hays High sophomore Brady Werth doesn’t Bisons of the world that make a miraculous end this season with a double-double average. The run into the postseason, and make the Class 1A 6-6 Werth already has put together a strong career Division II basketball title game. It’s teams like the Wallace County for the Indians and his numbers were mind-blowing early this girls, who last season were able to shut down Hutchinson-Central season. He could have one of the best careers under longtime coach Christian star Jamie Patrick, something not many had been able to Rick Keltner by the time it’s all said and done. I also would be so do. bold as to say he’ll be one of the top five in the HDN’s all-area basIt can even be negative surprises, like watching a heavily favored ketball team and likely make a run at being the player of the year.

Plainville boys’ team fall in the 2A sub-state in Ellis last season, • …if anyone but Hoisington is hoisting the 3-2-1A state wrestling something some of us thought would never happen. On the other trophy in February at Gross Memorial Coliseum. Although ranked hand, wasn’t it cool to see Ness City rise to the occassion? fourth as of Jan. 15, Hoisington, on paper, looks to be a potential It’s what we live for. favorite. Don’t count out teams like Plainville and Hoxie, though.

Here are a few things that could provide a surprise this season.

Plainville could be in the mix, and Hoxie should be hoisting some • I would be surprised if the Hoxie girls’ basketball team doesn’t type of hardware — just probably not the top dog.

nick

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Who’s That?

Notable performances in northwest Kansas John Griffith

Griffith, a senior for the Trego boys’ basketball team, enjoyed a strong start to the season for the Golden Eagles. A 5-11 guard, Griffith averaged 19.1 points per game through the first 10 games, including a 31point effort in a 62-44 win against Norton prior to the MCL Tournament. Griffith posted at least 25 points three times while averaging five rebounds and three assists per game. The Golden Eagles started the season 4-6 heading into the MCL Tourney.

Fallyn Handley

Handley, a 5-foot-7 junior, keyed a strong start for the Palco girls’ basketball team. Handley, through the first nine games, averaged a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12.7 rebounds per contest. Her best game was a 57-55 win against Natoma, where she scored 17 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.

She also has collected 20 steals after getting six in the season opener.

Audra Schmeidler

Schmeidler, a freshman on the Hays High School girls’ basketball team, put up 41 points in a freshman game for the Indians against Garden City earlier this month. Her performance in the freshmen game earned her some playing time in the varsity game later in the night, where she scored two points.

Cale Rogers

Rogers, a freshman for the Smith Center High School wrestling team started 14-5 at 106 pounds after taking second place in the Norton J.R. Durham Invitational, then finished first in the Oberlin Invitational the following week in early January. Rogers was ranked No. 2 in the weight class, behind Ellsworth junior Ty Nienke, who was second in Class 3-2-1A last season. Rogers’ older brother, Clint, was ranked No. 6 at 126 pounds, and their older brother, Colt, was a four-time 3-2-1A champions for the Redmen.

Got an idea of someone who you think should be included in Who’s That?

Send it to sportsink@dailynews.net with Who’s that? in the subject line, or call (800) 657-6017.

Keith, left, and Kevin Ubert are league members at Centennial Lanes who have been bowling most of their lives.

Kings O ne brother is not quite as good as he used to be. The other said he might be as good as he’s ever been.

Regardless, both Kevin and Keith Ubert are among the names synonymous with good bowling at Centennial Lanes in Hays.

The two, along with their dad, Jerry, are mainstays on the lanes year-round, all the while trying their hardest to promote the sport and keep people interested.

“I love the sport, and I love it when I see others start to get involved,” said Keith, who owns the center’s highest series at 879, something he accomplished in 2009. “Would be great to see the sport grow. Right now, it’s kind of dying — not a lot of people in it.”

That doesn’t stop those involved from working on their game, said Kevin, who started bowling when he was 7 years old.

Keith started when he was 4.

Page 6

STEVEN HAUSLER, Sports Ink

Bowling brothers

maintain competitive edge

of the lanes

Kevin and Keith visit with their dad, Jerry, at Centennial Lanes.

“It’s just being competitive,” Kevin said. “Once you’re good at something, you strive to be the best.”

And, they do it most of the year.

Leagues at Centennial Lanes run from August to April.

The fact it’s something they can all participate in is a big draw.

“As kids, we got to know the guys that February 2013

dad bowled with,” Kevin (33) said. “So, now we bowl with them — something to do together we enjoy.”

And, the rewards for staying with it can draw them in as well. Keith has bowled competitively for much of his life. From 1997 to 2000, one of the brothers was “King of the Lanes” in every youth tournament. Keith rolled his first perfect game (300) in a youth league.

“You have to try and stay sharp and focused,” Keith said. “I got more involved in my early 20s to go to bigger tournaments.”

Then, he started realizing he could cash in.

“Nice to see a reward, too, at the end when you put all that time and effort into it,” he said.

The experience and involvement in the sport, though, is rewarding enough, even for Jerry, who said he never even came SPORTS INK.

close to bowling at the level his sons do.

“I’ve given up on that,” he joked.

He would have a long way to go. After rolling another 300 in December, Keith has 40 in his career. His resume also includes 32 career 800 series (three games). Last year, he carried a 243 average with the United States Bowling Congress, of which he is a member of Hays’ Hall of Fame (inducted in 2011).

His 879 series at Centennial Lanes came in 2009 on what he called a “rare night.”

No slouch either, Kevin said he is now wanting to get back up to that level, admitting his younger brother far surpassed him. Kevin has collected eight 300s and two career 800s, averaging 215 last year.

“It’s just like anything else, if you don’t practice, you’re going to get passed up,” Kevin said. “I’ve put more time into practicing to try and get back up to that level I know I’m capable of.”

Keith’s most distinguished finish came in 2011, when he was third in the Rio Rancho Classic in Albuquerque, N.M. His most recent accomplishments were local, winning the Scotch Trio Tournament in Wichita in 2012, and the

Kevin Ubert bowls at Centennial Lanes in Hays earlier this month.

Centennial Lanes Scratch Tournament as well.

“There were a bunch of really talented bowlers (in New Mexico),” Keith said.

“I got ran over by a pro, pretty much.”

But his game is as good as it has been.

“The game and equipment is evolving, and you have to keep up,” he said.

“I feel like this is the best I’ve been the past few years. I’ve been exceeding here lately.”

His success is something he hopes he can pass on to someone else — anyone else that would enjoy the game as much as he has.

“First-time bowlers, you try and make them feel welcome,” Keith said. “Give them some tips to make sure they try and enjoy the sport — keep it going.

“If they like doing it, maybe they’ll bring more friends down the road.”

Nick McQueen, Sports Ink.

With all the succes missing for the Phil

Ai

Phillipsburg’s Mattison Dusin (32) grabs a rebound against TMP-Marian during a game in December at Al Billinger Fieldhouse in Hays. Also pictured are the Panthers’ Madysen Frantz (11) and Mindy Gower (21).

ss the Panthers have had, one thing has been llipsburg girls’ basketball team.

iming for

more I n the Phillipsburg High School gymnasium, enormous posters adorn the upper walls with league championships, regional and sub-state titles and state placings listed in navy blue lettering for the school’s different sports.

Nearly all the sports have multiple accomplishments on the boards. In fact, some of the boards are nearly full, but only one has a single listing: girls’ basketball.

Phillipsburg has been a dominating force in volleyball, recording six league titles since 2006, four substate titles since 2008 and four topthree state finishes since 2008, but it hasn’t translated to girls’ basketball.

Panther girls’ basketball has posted six winning seasons out of the past seven, a school-record 16 victories last year and a 65-41 record in head coach Kim Pakkebier’s five full seasons, but the Panthers have nothing to show for it beyond their win total. The Panthers have never won a sub-state tournament, thus never earning a state appearance, and the school’s lone championship, a Mid-Continent League title, came when Phillipsburg joined the league in 1973 — a 39-year championship drought.

Many of the current players’ parents likely

weren’t even in high school at that point, and some might not have been born yet.

“It’s kind of frustrating, but we’ve got to keep improving, move on and hope for better things in the future,” said forward Michaela Gower, the team’s lone senior.

For coaches who have coached more than one season, Pakkebier’s 61.3 winning percentage in her first five seasons is the second best in the school’s history behind Dan Murphy, who led Phillipsburg from 1971 to 1975 to a 32-18 record.

The Panthers seem to have been snake bitten in Pakkebier’s tenure, because she has had some tremendous players.

Lindsay Dusin, the 5-foot-9 elder sister of Phillipsburg’s star forward Mattison Dusin, was there for Pakkebier’s first two seasons.

Pakkebier said Lindsay Dusin was good enough she could play all five positions and often did during games.

She averaged a double-double her senior season with 14.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and played collegiate volleyball at Hutchinson Community College and Southwestern Oklahoma State UniverPAGE 10 sity.

story by Klint

Spiller

photos by steven

hausler

Sports Ink.

February 2013

Page 9

“It seems like the years we have the most talent, it coincides with the years other schools have had their most talent as well. ” Kim Pakkebier, Phillipsburg coach

Panther coach Kim Pakkebier, left, talks with Dakota Wilkison during Phillipsburg’s game against TMP earlier this season.

Makenzie Weinman, an all-conference libero on the Fort Hays State University volleyball team, played for Phillipsburg from 2006-2010, and Raegan Vanderplas, who dots Phillipsburg’s record book for steals and assists, played from 2008-2012.

“It seems like the years we have the most talent, it coincides with the years

other schools have had their most talent as well,” Pakkebier said.

The Panthers have five second-place finishes and one third-place finish in the league counting the MCL tournament and regular season standings in Pakkebier’s time.

Even last season, when Phillipsburg was 16-6, the Panthers ran into MCL

foe Smith Center, who went undefeated through the regular season before falling in its Class 2A sub-state final.

Other years, the team has suffered an injury that threw off the team. For instance, Weinman suffered an ankle injury in 2009-2010, and she missed significant time. Partly as a result, the Panthers finished 10-11 — the one losing

Camaro Enough said.

season in Pakkebier’s tenure.

“I think that threw us off our game,” Pakkebier said. “When we did eventually get her back, we never could pick up where we left off with her and gelled back together.”

Pakkebier said she used to talk with her team about adding championships to the posters on the gym’s wall. In fact, the Panthers made it their goal one year, but that squad finished runner-up in the league standings and MCL tournament and missed the state tournament.

Pakkebier said it added too much pressure.

“We kind of stopped talking about it,” she said. “We decided to take it one game at a time, one practice at a time, and build from there.”

Looking ahead This year’s team probably won’t break the drought, but the Panthers have a promising future.

Phillipsburg features a lineup composed largely of underclassmen after graduating three of their top players from last season’s squad and losing senior forward Regan Bartels to a season-ending knee injury.

The Panthers have only one senior, Gower, but she isn’t one of her team’s top contributers, averaging 2.8 points per game early in the season.

Junior forward Mattison Dusin has carried the lion’s share for her squad. She has averaged a double-double with points and rebounds the past two years, breaking her sister’s school record for rebounds in a season with 258 last year.

“She loves to rebound,” Pakkebier said.

“Last year, she averaged more re-

ABOVE: Dusin eyes the basket for a shot against TMP. RIGHT: The Panthers’ Mindy Gower, left, handles the ball against TMP’s Melissa Pfeifer.

bounds than she did points.”

Like Lindsay, Mattison Dusin shares her sister’s want to rebound, but her sister was regarded as an extremely aggressive player.

Mattison said she’s attempted to take that from her sister’s game as well.

But sometimes, Mattison, who can often be caught smiling while battling inside, said she has to be reminded from time to time.

“I always get yelled at by my mom and my dad for not being aggressive,” she said.

With Mattison Dusin (13.3 points and 10.8 rebounds through 10 games)

to build around, the Panthers just have to fill the gaps, and Phillipsburg has a cast of rising stars surrounding her.

Through 10 games, freshman guard Katelyn Swanson had her team’s second-highest scoring average (7.0 per PAGE 12 game).

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Seeing limited time initially, Swanson emerged Dec. 8 against Nickerson with 14 points, and she has the team’s best free throw percentage, shooting 75 percent. “I think we’ll be real good in the next few years, only losing one girl,�

Swanson said. “(Michaela Gower is) good, but we have a lot coming up.�

Junior guards Madysen Frantz and Shania Wilkison averaged 5.9 and 5.0 points per game.

Everyone else on the varsity squad are sophomores, with guard Mindy Gower, Michaela’s sister, leading her class in scoring with 5.9.

Early in the season, the Panthers’ inexperience was evident.

Phillipsburg averaged close to 20 turnovers per game, but the Panthers progressively cut that number down as the season carried on.

Pakkebier said she expects that trend

to continue as her players gel together. “Part of it is just understanding each other,� she said. “... Some of those turnovers are coming from being a new team and having some inexperienced players. It’s not that they aren’t good players, because they are. They just aren’t reading each other like we hope they will be as they continue throughout the season.�

Mattison Dusin said she believes their early struggles have been because they are trying to do everything perfect within the team’s system. “I think we just need a little more time to get in the flow together and just be more of a team and go where everyone else goes and flow with the game more,� she said. “Sometimes, I think we just go with the offense and not really play basketball. We just do what we are supposed to every single time, and it doesn’t

work or we get a turnover because we think the pass has to go there.�

The Panthers are underdogs this season, but they could quickly turn into contenders as the underclassmen gain experience.

Hoping to add a “number�

Early in her coaching career at Phillipsburg, Pakkebier said her team

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placed an emphasis on adding “numbers” to the posters in the gym, implying the years of championships. Since then, she has stopped talking about it, but her players are aware of the program’s struggling history.

After all, many sports in Phillipsburg are littered with “numbers.”

Boys’ golf has 20 league titles, 12 regional titles and three top-three

finishes.

Football has similar accomplishments — six league championships, four district titles, four bi-district titles, a regional championship, a third-place finish at state and a state championship.

Even girls’ cross country, which sometimes struggles to field full teams, has two league titles from the

early 1970s.

The Panthers realize they are underdogs this season, but still, Mattison Dusin said they want to add a “number” to the wall.

With luck and more experience, they have a decent shot, especially with Dusin as a senior next season.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

“We are getting better.”

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Russell Russell’s Madison Beagley, left, drives the baseline against Beloit’s Shaylyn Krone during a game earlier this season.

Steven Hausler Sports Ink

on the rise F Under coach Frank Schulte, the Russell girls

are working up the ladder.

Page 14

rank Schulte graduated from Russell High School in 1979. That winter, he played on a Bronco team that won the Class 4A state championship.

Schulte always remembered playing in a gym that was either full or near capacity. At that point, Russell had won five boys’ basketball crowns in the previous 30 years, still the most of any area boys’ program.

Schulte, now a businessman in Russell, took over the girls’ basketball team four winters ago. At that point, the Broncos had struggled for many years, including a winless season in 2007-08. Not only did Schulte want to win games, he looked to bring full crowds back to Amos Morris Fieldhouse.

“When we came into the program, Russell basketball was kind of a joke,” senior Madison Beagley said.

Schulte has quickly changed Russell and February 2013

built the Broncos into one of Class 3A’s stronger teams. Not only has Schulte developed talent, such as Beagley and his daughter, junior Janna Schulte, he has changed the Russell basketball pipeline and played a different style than most elite squads. In Schulte’s four seasons, Russell has improved from 7-14, to 14-8 to 15-7 to 8-2 this winter.

“I came into a situation where anything I did that was halfway good would be considered better,” Schulte said. “Really, I came into a win-win situation. I was fortunate that I got some good athletes to work with and hopefully that will continue to come.”

Overall, Russell has struggled in virtually all sports for many years. Russell has just nine top four finishes since 1979. Beagley sighs when she looks up at the banners.

This past fall, the Bronco girls’ golf team took third in Class 3-2-1A. In 2008, baseball,

SPORTS INK.

led by Jake Brown, the eventual starting because the driveway time is not happening second baseman for Kansas State University, anymore.” finished fourth. Girls’ golf took third. In “About the only way that you can make 2001, girls’ track finished third. that happen is to put a team together, pracThe last Russell team to finish in second tice with them and go play tournaments,” was girls’ track in 1999. The last state title he added. “That way when they come into came in Schulte’s senior year. the school age basketball in the seventh Football has struggled for degrade, they have got two or cades and went through a 1-8 three years of experience year last fall. Boys’ basketball under them already. I think is winless this winter and not Russell was a little behind competitive. Track has enjoyed on that.” some standout athletes, inMultiple area schools, cluding sprinter Zach Axelson including defending Class and sprinter/long jumper 1A, Division I Hoxie, have Peyton Weiss, but not enough done that. Coach Shelly to finish high at state.

Hoyt coaches the team in Wrestling has several solid the summer and in the wrestlers again this winter and winter. Beloit coach Dalhad Tyson Schmidtberger — las Cox, in his 30th year the school record holder with of coaching, agrees with 141 wins — a few years ago.

Schulte. Not only does a But numbers are quite low. team need a consistent Russell has enjoyed plenty of coach for continuity, the success in powerlifting, a rarity players need to be involved for a school that hasn’t had for years. much success in football or “It needs to start in track. (At the lower classificaelementary school,” Cox tions, Sharon Springs is strong said. “They don’t need to in powerlifting — but also in go crazy and play in a lot of football, basketball and track). tournaments, but they have From 2008 to 2012, either to play together year after the boys or girls (or both) year after year.” placed in the top-three at state Schulte coached the in powerlifting, including one girls before junior high state crown from the boys. and then he took over the Currently, Mark Paul, athletic middle school program five director and boys’ basketball years ago. The team had a coach, said numbers in the strong season and Schulte weight room have been low. received word Russell “Sometimes it’s hard to talk might be making a change rank them into it,” Paul said. at the varsity level. Before Schulte has changed one then, he never envisioned chulte key aspect that’s allowed girls’ taking over the high school basketball to rise. Like many ussell coach program, but applied for other teams that see consistent the job. Schulte recorded a success, Schulte has coached four-win improvement in the girls for years. The majorhis first season. ity of the team has played with Schulte since “In his first year, I could just tell, he was fifth grade and developed strong bonds and getting things in place, getting things strucchemistry. It helped the program win the tured, instilling some discipline, just some North Central Activities Association league things that the program needed to come crown in 2011, the first title for girls’ basketaround,” Cox said. “I told him, if at the ball in nine years. time, our league gave out Coach of the Year “Over the years, the way kids learn how to award, I really felt like he deserved it, and play basketball has changed,” Schulte said.

I meant that seriously. I just think he has “Back in my day, it was mostly a lot of drive- done a really good job.” way time, and now, I think that if a high Russell enjoyed an even bigger climb in school program is going to be successful, Schulte’s second year. Janna Schulte was the kids have to start in third, fourth and a freshman that year and Russell had one fifth grade playing mainly MAYB basketball senior in Weiss, a two-time state champion

“Over the

years,

the way kids

learn

how to play

basket-

ball has

changed.”

F S R

Sports Ink.

February 2013

in the long jump who went to Emporia State University for track. Schulte and Beagley, among others, have led in Weiss’ stead.

“She was amazing,” Janna Schulte said.

“She really brought us together as a team, and she was funny.”

Coach Schulte’s friend, Mark Ptacek, the father of Russell junior guard and standout golfer Alex Ptacek, runs the junior high program. Beagley has played AAU basketball throughout the country the last several years and has received strong interest from multiple Kansas schools, including powerhouse Hutchinson Community College.

Because of her summer experience, the 5-foot-10 Beagley can play the post and perimeter effectively. Last summer, she played 80 to 100 games.

“There is not very many of us,” Alex Ptacek said. “The few girls that are in sports are really the ones who do anything at our school, so we get out there in the summer when everyone else isn’t, and we try to improve ourselves. …We have that drive and we don’t like to lose.”

Russell, though, plays a slower style than many top-ranked opponents. While many teams run and full-court press, the Broncos are better suited in a half-court offense.

Russell isn’t ranked in the top 10 of the Kansas’ coaches rankings, but is the highest ranked team in the Norton sub-state, according to masseyratings.com, a statistical site that includes strength of schedule.

The top 10 teams in the coaches’ rankings all rank in the top 50 statewide in offense and/or defense, according to Massey. Russell stands 100th in offense and 139th in defense. The Broncos average 60.7 possessions per game (Cimarron, ranked No. 7 in Class 3A, averages 67.5, a substantial difference). Of Russell’s first nine games, no contest was greater than 19 points.

“It definitely fits us better,” Coach Schulte said. “We want to try to push the ball, but we are not the fastest team in the world.

We will take a fast break if we get it.”

Beagley averages 17 points and six rebounds a contest, while Janna Schulte is at 9.4 points and seven rebounds. Still, the team chemistry and continuity has turned the Broncos into a consistent winner.

“I love every girl that has come through this program, and hopefully they feel the same way about me,” Coach Schulte said.

“I am proud. Hopefully we can keep improving. We have improved every year and this year, it’s time to maybe take that extra step to make it to the state tournament.”

Conor Nicholl, Sports Ink. Page 15

Just a Minute with Nick McQueen

Jordan

Windholz

Hays High School junior guard Q: You guys have enjoyed a strong start.

Other than the number of wins, does this season have a different feel than last year?

A: Last year, we were kind of young, and there were a lot of games we could have won. We have a lot more passion this year, it’s so amazing to feel like we are playing right now.

Q: What do you think is an advantage Hays High has over teams when they step on the floor?

A: We definitely are quicker. We have a few big guys inside that do the work, and we have some quick guards. And I think when we put those two together, it’s pretty hard to stop us.

Q: Many have said Hays High has the best student section.

What makes them so great?

A: I love our student section. I wish they could come to every away game with us. There is so much energy there. Our very first game of the season was probably our biggest student section.

Every game, they’re there to support us and it’s just awesome. It gets everyone going. The cheerleaders, the band, I don’t feel like it’s basketball without the band. They really get us going.

Q: You also play soccer. Do you have a preference toward one or the other?

A: I like them both. Basketball is more of a team, and soccer, those guys I’m really close with. I just like to kick butt with everyone.

Q: Have you thought about the possibility of participating in collegiate athletics?

A: I just want to keep working at it. That’s a hope I have in my mind.

Kyler Niernberger Teammate

Rick Keltner b-ball coach

What professional or college player does he remind you of most?

J.R. Smith (Knicks)

Ben McLemore

Q: What’s a realistic goal the rest of the season for the Indians?

A: Finish strong as a team. Play good and just see how far we can get. Everyone is stepping up. Brady is hitting big shots. And Lane is doing good. We’re coming together as a team, that’s probably the biggest goal.

Page 16

February 2013

SPORTS INK.

Derrick Rose

IF you could pick one celebrity for him to marry, who would it be?

Megan Fox

Honey boo Nicki Minaj or boo (when she Beyonce gets older)

What three words best describe him?

Energetic, positive, funny

Short term memory

Energetic, Hard-working, funny

If he could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would he choose?

Cristiano Rinaldo

Coach Michealis or David Cardinal

Michael Jordan

If he went on American Idol, what song would he choose to sing?

“What is love”

“Gangham Style”

Any rap song

If Nike were to name a shoe after him, what would you call it?

Incredibly quick

Q: Hays High is a tough place to play. Where is the second toughest place?

A: That’s tough. The second toughest probably is Garden City. Their student section and fans are not as good as ours, but they get loud. Good atmosphere to play in.

Q: If you had to pick one college or pro athlete you really admire, who would it be? Why? A: A guy I really like is Perry Ellis. Seeing him play personally at the TOC. He made it from Wichita — just a fun guy to watch. I also like Jordan Juenemann. Coach talks about him a lot, and he’s such great guy. He’s never stopped working. He’s a good guy to look up to.

Derek Bixenman Teammate

ON

Air jordan 14s (his number)

Taking it to the rack

Ink. BLOTS

ACIDIZING

CEMENT

TOOL RENTAL

Coming off his state championship at 138 pounds last season, Ochs got off to a good start in 2012-13. He started the season 22-0, winning the always-tough J.R. Durham Invitational in Norton for his 22nd win.

Ochs was ranked No. 1 at 160 pounds to start the season and sat atop the rankings as of Jan. 14.

A spattering from NW Kansas

I saw Bird City-Cheylin assistant football coach and head boys’ basketball coach Anthony Blair in the fall at a football game. He smiled and his thoughts immediately turned to basketball. Cheylin has been on a cusp of breaking through in basketball and appears on the right track this season. The Cougars started 7-1, and 6-foot-8 senior Joshua Keltz has turned into a talented player. Keltz improved his athleticism in the summer. That helped him earn allstate honors as a lineman in football. He is well on his way to similar accolades in basketball. He has averaged 13.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.6 blocks per game.

Keltz stands 10th nationally and first in Kansas in blocks per game, according to maxpreps.com.

-C.N. For a team that has struggled as mightily as Thomas More Prep-Marian has, the Monarchs might have one of the better players in the region: senior point guard Heather Ruder. She has been extremely fun to watch, because it’s hard to tell what she will do on a given night to try and will her team to victory. Unfortunately, often even her greatest efforts still haven’t led to victories. TMP’s season was epitomized against Ellinwood earlier in the season. Ruder made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points, and TMP lost 74-64.

- KS Perhaps the Hays High School band should print up T-shirt that read “Fear the Beard.� While leading one of the best pep bands around in December at the HHS gym, Hays High band director Craig Manteuffel was rockin’ the long beard that could probably maintain a mind of its own. He should keep it that way. Leave the trimmer alone.

- N.M. If you’ve never been, everyone should experience the Class 3-2-1A State Wrestling Championships in February at Gross Memorial Coliseum at least once.

- N.M.

CALVIN OCHS

Hoxie High School senior

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Fueling the friendly rivalry O

n Jan. 11, the two Rush County high schools, Otis-Bison and La Crosse, met up in La Crosse for a Central Prairie League contest.

La Crosse had two chances to win the girls’ game at the buzzer, but Otis-Bison earned a 46-45 victory. In the boys’ contest, La Crosse never trailed and rolled past Otis-Bison, 65-36.

After both games, coaches and players expressed joy with the victory — and also a win against their rivals.

“It’s a little more special than every other game just because we see these kids on a weekly basis,” La Crosse junior Lucas Moeder said. “You know them really well, so it means a lot.”

“This has been a big rivalry for us,” Otis-Bison girls’ basketball coach Richard Schmidt added.

“It’s a friendly rivalry, because kids know each other, 4H and everything like that.”

The Otis-Bison and La Crosse rivalry is like many in northwest Kansas: friendly and fractured by the split of eight-man and 11-man football. There is little dislike on either side or insulting. Just good competition — and that’s fine.

Currently, the area has virtually no heated rivalries. Instead, it’s more rivalries built on tradition, such as Logan/Almena-Northern Valley and Smith Center/Norton/Phillipsburg in the Mid-Continent League. Out west, Weskan and Wallace County have developed a great rivalry, but it’s been most competitive in girls’ sports.

Many of the rivalries, such as OtisBison/La Crosse and La Crosse/Ness City, now occur only in volleyball and basketball.

Ness City dropped to eight-man football a few years ago after forming an 11-man co-op with Dighton. Otis-Bison’s main rival in football is arguably Victoria, a game where the Cougars have played well the last few seasons.

But that contest still is built among mutual respect.

“There is a huge rivalry between us,” Victoria junior center/nose guard

Nathan Kuhn said of the two Central Prairie League foes last fall. “It goes back quite a ways, too.”

Still, though, the athletes get along well with each other, including last Friday.

During the games, Otis-Bison and La Crosse alums from the past several years, including Cougar standout Zach Stejskal and La Crosse standout Austin Webs, spoke in the stands. Otis-Bison and La Crosse players talked after the game and wore smiles.

“It’s a rivalry,” Otis-Bison coach Bryant Briggs said. “It’s tough, being 15 miles apart. You never want to lose and that’s the best thing about it is both towns and teams and fans and everybody are so competitive. It’s great to be a part of. I enjoy it.”

The closer

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NICHOLL

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EVERETT ROYER, Sports Ink. Otis-Bison senior Hannah Bannister gets ready to shoot a free throw late in the game against La Crosse earlier this month.

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