State basketball recap: See which Kansas City-area teams are moving on to semifinals
.JPG "St. Thomas Aquinas’ Madison Skelton")
The 2020 state basketball tournaments have been canceled without make-up because of the spread of COVID-19 or coronavirus, the Kansas State High School Activities Association announced Thursday night during the quarterfinal round of the tournaments.
Here is a recap of the action and which Kansas City-area high school teams reached the semifinals before the tourney was canceled.
6A recap: Olathe South boys win at state for first time since 2006
The drought had been longer than a decade since the Olathe South boys basketball team had won a game at the state tournament, so coach Dan Morrow made sure his players appreciated the magnitude of the moment after his team’s 50-43 victory over second-seeded JC Harmon in the Class 6A quarterfinals at Koch Arena in Wichita.
“This is really big for us and our guys,” Morrow said. “I’m just so proud of how we fought through everything that’s going on and the craziness that’s happening. We stayed locked in. I just felt good about it coming into this game and they were focused and executed our game plan.”
In a back-and-forth battle with Harmon, it wasn’t until the fourth quarter when South started to pull away. Branden Eckles scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Jake English added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Morrow credited the team’s defensive game plan for the No. 7 seed-over-No. 2 seed upset. South packed its defense inside, sat back in a zone defense and let Harmon chuck away from the outside. Harmon finished 2 of 23 on three-pointers.
“Harmon is as athletic of a team as we’ve played, but we knew that they struggled shooting from the perimeter,” Morrow said. “We threw some zone at them and made them shoot from the outside. We gave up a few too many offensive rebounds in the first half, but we did a better job of boxing out in the second half. We made our free throws down the stretch and closed it out.”
South (17-6) was supposed to play BV Northwest (21-2) in Friday’s 4:45 p.m. semifinal after the Huskies disposed of Lawrence Free State in a 55-48 victory. It was the fifth straight season that BV Northwest, the three-time defending state champion, has won its first game at the state tournament.
Not that it was without nerves, as Free State rallied from a seven-point deficit to tie Northwest at 34 entering the fourth quarter. But BV Northwest made four of five shots in the fourth quarter and 10 free throws to pull away for the victory.
“I’ve been here enough times that anytime you win, you’re happy,” BV Northwest coach Ed Fritz said. “I’ve been out early a lot of times, so to get out of here with a one-point win, you should be happy. I’m glad we’re still playing.”
After a 1-2 start to the season, BV Northwest has now won 20 straight games. Jack Chapman scored a game-high 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting from the field and 7 of 11 shooting on free throws to go along with eight rebounds. Mozae Rivers led Free State with 14 points and four assists.
“I thought we would do well and get four or five stops in a row and score, then all of a sudden we would do something that wasn’t us,” Fritz said. “They had us really well-scouted and we had to improvise on some stuff.
“I know that we’re good enough to lose any game and we’re maybe good enough to win any game.”
On the other side of the bracket, BV North (20-3) rallied late in the fourth quarter to take down Lawrence, 72-66, behind 20 points from Nikko Taylor off the bench. The Mustangs also had three other double-digit scorers in Andrew Orr (14 points), Issac Patterson (11 points, 12 rebounds) and Jack Sheplak (11 points).
“This is such a special group of seniors,” BV North coach Ryan Phifer said. “They really are. We can say that we went out with a win, but what they’ve done for me, myself, they’ve done such a. great job and I’m going to miss them so much.”
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Olathe South | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | — | 50 |
| JC Harmon | 11 | 12 | 12 | 8 | — | 43 |
Olathe South: Dickerson 1-4 2-2 4, Stubblefield 2-5 0-0 4, Eckles 6-10 2-4 14, Johnson-Jones 0-2 0-0 0, English 2-10 5-6 11, Stelting 2-4 0-0 4, Whitley 1-5 2-2 5, Williams 3-4 0-0 8. Totals 17-48 11-14 50.
JC Harmon: Rodriguez 0-6 0-0 0, Keys 2-7 0-0 4, Lane 3-10 3-9 9, Evans 10-20 0-0 22, Carson 4-6 0-3 8, Green 0-2 0-0 0, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Lane 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 19-53 3-14 43.
Three-point shooting: Olathe South 5-18 (Williams 2-3, English 2-7, Whitley 1-4, Dickerson 0-1, Stubblefield 0-1, Johnson-Jones 0-1, Stelting 0-1); JC Harmon 2-23 (Evans 2-7, Johnson 0-1, Lane 0-1, Green 0-2, Keys 0-3, Lane 0-3, Rodriguez 0-6). Rebounds: Olathe South 39 (Eckles, English 9); JC Harmon 32 (Lane 9). Assists: Olathe South 7 (Johnson-Jones 2); JC Harmon 5 (Lane 3). Turnovers: Olathe South 11, JC Harmon 7. Fouls: Olathe South 13, JC Harmon 14.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Lawrence Free State | 11 | 7 | 16 | 14 | — | 48 |
| BV Northwest | 13 | 15 | 9 | 18 | — | 55 |
Lawrence Free State: Rivers 6-10 0-0 14, Lincoln 4-9 0-1 10, Middleton 1-11 0-2 2, Piper 2-6 0-0 4, Yoder 1-2 3-3 6, Branch 3-8 0-0 6, Daniels 0-0 0-0 0, Fanshier 2-4 0-0 4, Cleveland 1-1 0-0 2, Durlan 0-1 0-0 0, Wisdom 0-0 0-0 0, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-52 3-6 48.
BV Northwest: Alston Mason 3-7 2-2 9, Robinson 1-3 4-4 7, Chapman 7-14 7-11 21, Fritz 3-7 1-4 7, Hood 3-8 0-0 7, Pauley 1-1 0-2 2, Sullivan 1-1 0-0 2, Stewart 0-0 0-0 0, Blau 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-41 14-23 55.
Three-point shooting: Free State 5-12 (Rivers 2-2, Lincoln 2-7, Yoder 1-1, Middleton 0-2); BV Northwest 3-11 (Hood 1-2, Mason 1-3, Robinson 1-3, Chapman 0-3). Rebounds: Free State 30 (Middleton 7); BV Northwest 31 (Fritz 9). Assists: Free State 9 (Rivers, Middleton 4); BV Northwest 9 (Mason 4). Turnovers: Free State 10, BV Northwest 10. Fouls: Free State 15, BV Northwest 12.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
| Lawrence | 9 | 13 | 23 | 21 | — | 66 |
| BV North | 16 | 17 | 16 | 23 | — | 72 |
Lawrence: Mayo 8-18 10-11 28, Mallory 0-4 0-0 0, Johnson 5-7 0-0 10, Quartlebaum 3-8 3-4 9, Littlehead 2-4 1-2 6, Dotson 0-1 0-0 0, White 4-6 0-0 10, Bentzinger 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 23-49 14-17 66.
BV North: Blackford 0-0 2-2 2, Sheplak 2-10 7-8 11, Hendershot 0-2 1-2 1, Patterson 4-4 3-4 11, Orr 6-10 2-2 14, Souder 2-3 0-2 5, Taylor 8-9 2-3 20, Adams 2-8 0-0 6, Bohannon 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-47 17-23 72.
Three-point shooting: Lawrence 6-21 (White 2-2, Mayo 2-7, Bentzinger 1-1, Littlehead 1-3, Dotson 0-1, Mallory 0-3); BV North 5-18 (Taylor 2-3, Adams 2-8, Souder 1-1, Orr 0-1, Hendershot 0-1, Sheplak 0-4). Rebounds: Lawrence 26 (Johnson 9); BV North 25 (Patterson 12). Assists: Lawrence 6 (Quartlebaum 3); BV North 12 (Sheplak 3). Turnovers: Lawrence 11, BV North 9. Fouls: Lawrence 16, BV North 14.
Aquinas earns 22nd semifinal bid in 26 years
It will be another rematch for the Aquinas girls.
Last year, the Saints opened the Class 5A state tournament against Maize South and faced McPherson in the semifinal round. St. Thomas Aquinas will follow that same path in 2020.
No. 4 Aquinas beat No. 5 Maize South 62-35 in the quarterfinals Thursday in Emporia. The Saints are going marching into their 22nd state semifinal in the past 26 years.
Sophomore center Beatrice Culliton finished with a game-high 22 points. Sydney Watts added 11 with six assists, and Madison Skelton had 10 points.
Facing McPherson (22-1) for the second straight year only amplifies what is becoming one of the great rivalries in Kansas high school girls basketball. The Bullpups have 23 semifinal berths, and Aquinas now has 22.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL | |
| St. Thomas Aquinas | 19 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 62 |
| Maize South | 7 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 35 |
St. Thomas Aquinas - Culliton, 22; Watts, 11; Skelton, 10; Thomas, 8; Elmasri, 7; Hartnett, 4
Maize South - Wagner, 18; K. Davison, 8; A. Davison, 3; Kratzer, 3 Burke, 2; McCann, 1
Piper earns back-to-back final fours for first time
For the first time in school history, KC Piper won a state tournament game in back-to-back seasons.
The Pirates are coming off their first state championship in school history in 2019 and started the 2020 Class 4A tournament with a quarterfinal win over No. 7 Buhler, 71-52.
No. 2 Piper had four players reach double-digit points in its final game of the season with the announcement of cancelation of all state tournaments. Tyren Shelley led the way with 18 points. Tamar Bates had 17. Christian Arndt added 14. And Dilyn Taylor-Cantu had 10.
But Arndt’s performance was perhaps most extraordinary. He grabbed 19 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end, for a double-double at the state tournament. He also added two steals and was 7-of-13 shooting.
Piper (22-1) would have played No. 3 Bishop Miege in the semifinal round if not for the cancellation. Instead, the Pirates finish with its best winning percentage of any season in school history.
Box Score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL | |
| KC Piper | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 71 |
| Buhler | 17 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 52 |
Piper - Shelly, 18; Bates, 17; Arndt, 14; Taylor-Cantu, 10; Briggs, 9; Eskina, 3
Buhler - Alexander, 23; Thompson, 9; LeShore, 8; Dick, 4; Hernandez, 3; McDowell, 2; Hawkinson, 2; Voth, 1
Miege rights wrongs of 2019 with final four berth
It wasn’t Miege’s prettiest game in its history, but the Stags made it five final four berths in six years.
No. 3 Bishop Miege beat No. 6 Andale 65-61 in the quarterfinal round of the Class 4A state tournament. The Stags’ season ended at 19-4 upon the cancellation of all state tournaments because of the coronavirus.
Miege outscored Andale 24-15 in the fourth quarter alone in the comeback victory. Mark Mitchell scored 25 points. Harrison Braudis added 13, and Xavier Hall scored a dozen.
But Miege’s final four spot comes on the heels of a disappointing 2019 season in which the Stags failed to reach state for the first time since 2014, dropping in the sub-state final to Chanute.
This season, Miege went 4-2 against out-of-state teams, including a win over Missouri rival Rockhurst. The Stags went 2-3 against teams from Kansas that qualified for the state tournament but 3-0 against 4A opponents.
Box Score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL | |
| Bishop Miege | 13 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 65 |
| Andale | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 61 |
Missouri and Kansas scores and schedules
KANSAS BOYS STATE SCORES
CLASS 6A
In Wichita; at Koch Arena
Thursday’s quarterfinals
Olathe South 50, KC Harmon 43
Blue Valley Northwest 55, Lawrence Free State 48
Campus 66, Manhattan 50
Blue Valley North 72, Lawrence 66
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 5A
In Emporia; at White Auditorium
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Andover 60, Blue Valley Southwest 59
Kapaun Mt. Carmel 49, De Soto 42
Basehor-Linwood 76, Andover Central 72
Hays 46, Topeka Highland Park 43
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 4A
In Salina; at Tony’s Pizza Events Center
Thursday’s quarterfinals
Rose Hill 61, Parsons 57
Augusta 53, Ottawa 41
Piper 71, Buhler 52
Bishop Miege 65, Andale 61
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 3A
In Hutchinson; at Hutchinson Sports Arena
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Wichita Collegiate 58, Colby 46
Beloit 51, Nemaha Central 43
St. Marys 49, Haven 44
Galena 61, Burlington 54
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 2A
In Manhattan; at Bramlage Coliseum
Thursday’s quarterfinals
Hillsboro 57, Pratt Skyline 51
Sterling 64, Erie 54
Bishop Seabury 72, Valley Heights 45
Garden Plain 50, Hoxie 47
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 1A
In Dodge City; at United Wireless Arena
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Little River 65, St. Francis 46
St. John-Hudson 59, Frankfort 38
Stockton 38 Berean Academy 33
South Central 41, Lebo 38
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
KANSAS GIRLS STATE SCORES
CLASS 6A
In Wichita; at Koch Arena
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Liberal 41, Olathe South 33
Derby 44, Shawnee Mission Northwest 39 (2OT)
Topeka High 79, Olathe North 55
Olathe East 49, Wichita Heights 48
Friday’s semifinals
Quarterfinal winners, 3 p.m., 6:30 p.m.
CLASS 5A
In Emporia; at White Auditorium
Thursday’s quarterfinals
McPherson 59, Basehor-Linwood 44
St. Thomas Aquinas 62, Maize South 35
Andover Central 61, De Soto 52
Topeka Seaman 54, Maize 44
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 4A
In Salina; at Tony’s Pizza Events Center
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Clay Center 47, Eudora 42
Piper 63, Baldwin 48
Nickerson 61, Buhler 36
Bishop Miege 60, Chapman 45
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 3A
In Hutchinson; at Hutchinson Sports Arena
Thursday’s quarterfinals
Nemaha Central 45, Osage City 35
Cheney 66, Phillipsburg 53
Frontenac 42, Jefferson West 40 (OT)
Halstead 45, Scott City 41 (2OT)
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 2A
In Manhattan; at Bramlage Coliseum
Wednesday’s quarterfinals
Trego Community 45, Bennington 31
Garden Plain 54, Sterling 48
Spearville 55, St. Mary’s Colgan 41
Valley Heights 51, Wabaunsee 45
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
CLASS 1A
In Dodge City; at United Wireless Arena
Thursday’s quarterfinals
Centralia 48, Cunningham 46 (OT)
Olpe 59, Norwich 43
Central Plains 93, Ingalls 47
Hanover 41, Otis-Bison 36
Friday’s semifinals
Canceled
MISSOURI BOYS
CLASS 5
Wednesday’s sectionals
Raymore-Peculiar 43, Blue Springs 41
Columbia Rock Bridge 65, Ozark 53, 2OT
Mehlville 64, Jackson 47
Chaminade 74, Marquette 48
Christian Brothers College 74, Hazelwood Central 62
Francis Howell 73, Ft. Zumwalt North 65
Springfield Kickapoo 76, Joplin 59
Staley 47, Liberty 39
CLASS 4
Tuesday’s sectionals
Raytown South 59, Grandview 54
St. Joseph Lafayette 32, Lincoln Prep 31
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 59, Central (Park Hills) 36
Westminster Christian Academy 72, St. Mary’s (St. Louis) 50
Vashon 72, Ladue Horton Watkins 40
Kirksville 77, St. Dominic 74
Helias Catholic 51, Rolla 37
Webb City 58, Logan-Rogersville 57
Saturday’s quarterfinals
Raytown South vs. St. Joseph Lafayette, 7:45 p.m.
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) vs. Westminster Christian Academy, 2:45 p.m.
Vashon vs. Kirksville, 2:45 p.m.
Helias Catholic vs. Webb City, 2:45 p.m.
CLASS 3
In Springfield; at JQH Arena
Friday’s semifinals
Charleston vs. Monroe City, 6:20 p.m.
Cardinal Ritter vs. Blair Oaks, 8:10 p.m.
CLASS 2
In Springfield; at Hammons Student Center
Friday’s semifinals
Oran vs. Skyline, 6:20 p.m.
Milan vs. Hartville, 8:20 p.m.
CLASS 1
In Springfield; at JQH Arena
Thursday’s semifinals
Dora vs. Jefferson (Conception) with South Nodaway, late
Golden City vs. St. Elizabeth, late
MISSOURI GIRLS
CLASS 5
Wednesday’s sectionals
Blue Springs 68, Lee’s Summit West 58
Poplar Bluff 61, Cor Jesu Academy 43
Kirkwood 61, Marquette 48
Hazelwood Central 44, Parkway Central 40
Troy Buchanan 57, Ft. Zumwalt West 44
Columbia Rock Bridge 49, Ozark 38
Republic 63, Springfield Kickapoo 57
Liberty 45, St. Joseph Central 39
CLASS 4
Tuesday’s sectionals
Grain Valley 36, Nevada 27
Lincoln Prep 34, Kearney 30
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) 49, Central (Park Hills) 38
Rockwood Summit 51, Gateway 42
Ladue Horton Watkins 65, Vashon 42
Incarnate Word Academy 57, Warrenton 21
Sullivan 49, Helias Catholic 37
Carl Junction 41, West Plains 33
Saturday’s quarterfinals
Grain Valley vs. Lincoln Prep, 6 p.m.
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) vs. Rockwood Summit, 1 p.m.
Ladue Horton Watkins vs. Incarnate Word Academy, 1 p.m.
Sullivan vs. Carl Junction, 1 p.m.
CLASS 3
In Springfield; at JQH Arena
Friday’s semifinals
Licking vs. Macon, 11 a.m.
Whitfield vs. Strafford, 12:50 p.m.
CLASS 2
In Springfield; at Hammons Student Center
Friday’s semifinals
Oran vs. East Buchanan, 2:40 p.m.
Tipton vs. Blue Eye, 4:30 p.m.
CLASS 1
In Springfield; at JQH Arena
Thursday’s semifinals
South Nodaway vs. Jefferson (Conception) 43, South Iron 34
Walnut Grove 52, Community 47
Friday’s championship
South Nodaway vs. Walnut Grove, 2:40 p.m.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 6:41 PM.