J.C. Johnson
High schools
High school athletes of the week for Feb. 1
January 31
SCHOOL: Raytown South
YEAR: Senior
SPORT: Basketball
A week that started off with two scoreless quarters blossomed into one of the best of Johnson’s career. After scoring no points in the first half against cross-town rival Raytown on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Johnson poured in 33 in the second half to lead the Cardinals to victory at the Sprint Center. He followed that up with quality performances in wins against Kearney and Grandview. For the week, he averaged 21 points, while shooting 41 percent from three-point range. He also made 23 of 26 free throws.
Kylee Kopatich
SCHOOL: Olathe South
YEAR: Sophomore
SPORT: Basketball
With the Falcons still adjusting after second-leading scorer Bailey Rinehart was lost to a season-ending knee injury, Kopatich went into beast mode last week at the Mid-America Classic in McPherson, Kan. She averaged 24.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in three games, including a double-double — 26 points and 10 boards — in a semifinal win against the host Bullpups and 31 points in the 51-48 championship victory against Manhattan. Kopatich also had nine steals and eight assists during the tourney.
| Sam McDowell, smcdowell@kcstar.com | Tod Palmer, tpalmer@kcstar.com




