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Candace Buckner joined The Star in 2005 after covering high school sports in Macon, Ga. Candace grew up in St. Louis where she was a shooting guard who was afraid to shoot for the Hazelwood East Lady Spartans. After a remarkable career on the bench, she decided to stick to journalism and graduated from Mizzou.
She loves the pagentry of Friday night, the passion of the student-cheering sections and the pride in second and third-stringers. There's so much going on in high school sports so Candace hopes to find some great stories, even the ones about benchwarmers.
Candace refers to the Los Angeles Lakers as "we" and "us." Mess with Kobe or Magic and she'll release the hounds.
Submitted by Matt from Kearney, MO
Q: What, no article about how Kearney kicked the crap out of Staley? Most teams would have a good record if they feasted off of bad teams.
Answered 11/12/09 21:45:45 by Candace Buckner
A: http://www.kansascity.com/696/story/1559446.htmlSubmitted by Marcus Shaw from Wellington, MO
Q: Well, this isn't a Rockhurst question, so I doubt I get an answer. Why does the Kansas City Star refuse to report on the Wellington-Napoleon Tigers when the school is located just 35 miles due east of KC and is surrounded by the school districts of Fort Osage, Odessa, Oak Grove, Lexington, and Orrick (all considered KC area schools)? And before you say no one reports the schools score, that's bull, because several have said that they have submitted information about the Tigers after every game. The Tigers are 11-1 and are still in the playoffs, the only I-70 conference team remaining (yes thats Orricks conference). Marceline plays at Wellington this Saturday at 1:30pm, just 35 miles from downtown KC.
Answered 11/12/09 21:43:40 by Candace Buckner
A: Because, Marcus, as close as you think Wellington-Napolean is to Kansas City, it simply isn't in our coverage area. Plain and simple, we don't cover you guys.Submitted by Jeff Gaughan from Overland Park, KS
Q: Wow! Where is the information coming from on the high school football Varsity Sports website? Virtually none of the touchdowns listed for Blue Valley HS in their game with Bishop Miege last night show the correct receivers. I'm not even sure Eric Anderson made it to the field. Ridiculous information.
Answered 11/06/09 18:41:26 by Candace Buckner
A: Sorry for the late response. We take all statistical information from the home team that calls in.Submitted by basketballfan from Overand Park
Q: With basketball season fast approaching, there will be some good teams playing for the EKL championship. Which teams in girls and boys you think can win it?
Answered 11/06/09 18:40:31 by Candace Buckner
A: Miege boys, for sure. Maybe Aquinas girls (?)Submitted by Misty from Kansas City
Q: Would love to see an article about the top QB's in HS football...I guess this is a thiny disguised way of getting Dennis Tanner highlighted for college recruitment...Raysouth Sr -based on the number of FULL games he has actually completed...(3 Full, 6 half games) I believe he ranks pretty high.
Answered 11/06/09 18:39:56 by Candace Buckner
A: I saw Tanner this week against LS West. Most impressive is his pocket awareness and elusiveness. Teammates seemed to be shocked that even he doesn't have a college offer. But if I'm not mistaken the main South guys had to wait till the season was over last year to get some looks, too.Submitted by jon from kC
Q: Candace...do you all plan on any coverage of the MO HS swim/dive champs? The Rockhurst team has accomplished something never done before in MO HS history...they have qualified a full team for State competition...that means that they have the maximum four swimmers in every event.
Answered 11/06/09 18:38:19 by Candace Buckner
A: Pretty cool. I'll most likely be covering Mo state swim and dive, so I'll be sure to check that fact next week.Submitted by Hurricane from Kansas City, KS
Q: As I perused through your high school football "Preview" issue, my mind went back to the time when the preview issue was jam packed, with detailed reports on every high school team in the area. This is even more true for basketball season. Often, box scores and stories are incorrect, or left out all together. I know that budget cuts have left you short-handed, in terms of staff available to cover High School sports in the area, and I understand. But as a huge HS sports fan, I sure miss those days. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy your coverage, and, knowing what i know about cutting costs, you do a fine job working with what you have.....I guess I just needed to vent.
Answered 09/09/09 20:25:10 by Candace Buckner
A: You must go back a long way, Hurricane. Because for as long as I've been here (4 years) we've always had short blurbs on every team in the Star's football preview section and 8-10 inch stories on every single team in the Neighborhood News editions. That's what we had this year. The capsules of information (coach, returning starters, etc) were the only things cut from the JoCo editions but everything else remained the same.Submitted by charlie from schorgl
Q: jack sock, a junior, from blue valley north is playing in the us tennis open in new york this week in the junior division. he beat the #14 seed from venezuala on sunday and won again today to play the #1 seed from indonesia in the 3rd round. why has the star not mentioned jack sock in the us open section?
Answered 09/08/09 15:20:36 by Candace Buckner
A: Charlie, thanks for the intel. I'll look him up and see what we can do this week.Submitted by Sam Simmons from Kansas City, KS
Q: My question is more of a request. I played football for Schlagle High (KCK) Northwestern University, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and KC Brigade. I am a KCK guy born and raised. My request is that an article, if at all possible, be written in the paper covering the Washington Wildcats (KCK) vs Harmon Hawks (KCK) this Friday in which two cousins, my little cousins, will face eachother for the first time as starting QB's for each team. I think it is an incredible story that deserves attention. Jeremy Simmons, Washington and Terrance Simmons, Harmon will face off on Friday. To a question: it is at all possible to have someone do a piece in the Star? I thank you for your time and consideration.
Answered 09/02/09 16:24:04 by Candace Buckner
A: Thanks for the heads up, Sam! With just four full-time reporters and limited stringers we can't get everywhere. But I'm going to pass this info. on to my editor and see if we can at least publish this in the "Friday Night Brights" section. It sounds like a pretty cool tale.Submitted by jon from kc
Q: Candace...any thoughts on boys swimming this fall? Rockhurst will be going for their sixth straight title and return two state champions, Mick White and Matt Margratier. Their Junior diver Ford McLiney just placed first at Nationals as well. Blue Springs and Park Hill South have some experience coming back but lost their top dogs. Adso, any plans for a review article?
Answered 08/31/09 11:54:34 by Candace Buckner
A: Jon, you just said it best. I have no doubt that Rockhurst will be a favorite to win another one. I'm planning to write a brief story on the team after a weekend invitational in our Neighborhood News. Right now, I'm concentrating on the sports that have already had competition.Submitted by C-Dog from KC
Q: When does your HS Football preview issue come out?
Answered 08/31/09 11:52:11 by Candace Buckner
A: C-Dog! The section came out Sunday.Submitted by WinkyWrightisdabomb from Minneapolis, MN
Q: Candace Candace Candace. What, truly, are you thinking? Not putting Rock in the top five? Seriously? Just so you are aware, Rockhurst WAS still Rockhurst before Mr. Scheelhaase and Mr. Langtry stepped foot on 95th and State Line. Come on now. They will be in the top 2, if not numero uno, by the end of the year. They are young, but extremely talented and their soph/junior levels are stacked and considered the best they've had, ever. That's pretty impressive.
Answered 08/04/09 13:56:27 by Candace Buckner
A: Sorry Winky. I thought about Rockhurst but who's this junior QB they have coming in? And can Cooper Beckett, the slim 6-7 wide receiver, make an impact? Who's on that offensive line? Just too many questions. When I talk to Severino and hang around practice a little bit, hopefully I'll get a better insight. Btw, to be a bit of a revisionist, I'm not so sure that Blue Springs South as a close sixth anymore. I was going off that Oder always seems to do a good job with whatever he has, especially on defense. But with their schedule plus all that youth, the Jags will have a lot of challenges awaiting this year.Submitted by Paul from Kansas City
Q: First High school football game is just 28 days away. I know the Star will put forth their top 5 but what is your top five as of right now?
Answered 07/30/09 15:58:12 by Candace Buckner
A: Hey Paul. Big class (and these really are off the top of my head) Blue Springs, Liberty, Ray-Pec, Gardner Edgerton, Blue Valley (Blue Springs South is a close one, though) and small class: Kearney, Bishop Miege, Harrisonville, O'Hara, Staley. Of course, I'm basing this off last year's performances and who they have coming back. So we'll see how the "official" preseason Star Top 5s will come out. And why the heck not... here's a shameless plug. I just started on Twitter (www.twitter.com/KCCandace) where I'll post the unfiltered thoughts, ramblings, notes, rumors, etc. that don't get into my published stories. Also I'll use that page to send live updates at the Game of the Week that I cover every Friday. So follow me, or whatever they call it. Later.Submitted by Rochelle Walker from Grandview, Mo
Q: Do you cover national AAU sports during the summer months? There are several teams that have made it to national recognition the last 3 years in girls basketball and nothings mentioned. Try checking out the www.aaugirlsbasketball.org site for information. It's funny we had national scouting at the tournament this week and you don't even mention that we have teams at the tournament. 13U girls have 3 teams. Rochelle Walker
Answered 07/15/09 15:19:38 by Candace Buckner
A: Thanks for the info, Rochelle. It really depends if there is a story there but through my four years at The Star, I haven't personally covered AAU hoops. But if there is a good tale to tell, please let me know.Submitted by steve from wichita kansas
Q: Looking foward to Sept 4 the rockhurst versus hutchinson football at hutch. Hutchinson returns almost there entire team and our said to be one of hutch best team ever but i am aware that rockhust coach is a very smart man servino we well see how he does against the triple option should be a fun game
Answered 07/15/09 15:18:21 by Candace Buckner
A: Agreed, Steve. I'm wondering how Rockhurst will look like post-Scheelhaase.
