913-area high school basketball: Five things we’ve learned during season’s first month
Here are five things we’ve learned related to the 913-area high school basketball season during the first month of the season:
1. Bishop Miege girls just keep winning
The Bishop Miege girls basketball team started its season with a bang, winning its first three games by an average of 24 points. The Stags might be well on their way to a third consecutive Kansas Class 4A Division I state championship.
The Stags’ biggest strength is their balance. They have had five different players score in double figures this season. Hunter Bentley and Courtney Harms lead the way, with double-figure contributions also coming from Tristen McFeders, Shelbe Piggie and Lakesha-Lamaster Stephens.
Bishop Miege has won 38 straight games, including all 25 games last season.
2. Olathe South’s experience make Falcons’ girls squad a contender
After losing just one starter from last year’s state tournament squad, the Olathe South girls basketball team looks poised for another trip to the Kansas Class 6A state tournament.
The Falcons have notched impressive victories this season against Class 5A defending state champion Leavenworth and Missouri Class 5 four-time state champion Columbia Rock Bridge. They beat Leavenworth to win the Joplin Tournament championship.
Three seniors have signed college letters of intent: Kacey Kennett with Fort Hays State, Zoe Matje with Avila and Kala Holder with Pittsburg State.
3. Olathe East boys have found their groove
The Olathe East boys basketball team is playing without one of its top players, but that has not seemed to slow down the Hawks.
Olathe East has won four straight games since a season-opening loss to Blue Valley North. The most encouraging of those victories came against Missouri Class 3 defending state champion Barstow on Dec. 11.
Cameron Hunter is leading the Hawks’ attack with 17 points per game. Cedric Roland averages 15.8 points per game and teammate Dion Union is at 10.6 points per game.
4. Timberwolves’ girls finding their way
The Blue Valley Southwest girls basketball team made history last season, playing in its first state tournament and advancing all the way to the state championship game.
The Timberwolves had a bit of a rough start this season, losing a couple of early games. But they’ve rallied since, winning three consecutive games entering the Christmas break.
Rilynne Like has led the way for the Timberwolves, scoring in double digits in each of their last three victories.
5. Blue Valley Northwest boys take aim
Just one season removed from their 2013-14 Kansas Class 6A state championship, the Blue Valley Northwest boys basketball team has a 3-0 record and hope to make a postseason run again this season.
Sam Ward, Darien Jackson, AJ Pleasant, Joseph Pleasant and JaMichael Morgan have each scored in double figures in at least one of BV Northwest’s three games thus far.
This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 2:17 PM with the headline "913-area high school basketball: Five things we’ve learned during season’s first month."