High school girls hoops notebook: Olathe South takes aim on Pioneers on Friday

Here are five takeaways from the past week in 913-area high school girls basketball:

1. The Olathe South Falcons flexed their dominance last week in the Sunflower League.

This time, the lesson came on the road where Olathe South narrowly defeated Leavenworth 32-30 to win the Glacer’s Edge Tournament at Emporia High School. It was the Falcons’ second victory this season over Leavenworth.

“Any time you beat a quality team is good for your girls to go through those tough challenges,” Olathe South coach Steve Ingram said. “We have to play them again this Friday and that might decide the league championship. Whoever wins has their destiny in their own hands.”

The two teams will clash at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at Leavenworth High School.

2. Bishop Miege’s experience has paid dividends this season. Specifically, the Stags have won all but one game by double digits.

The Stags have proven themselves against larger-classification opponents, as well, with recent victories against Kapaun Mt. Carmel and Newton last week in the Newton Tournament. Those two schools brought Miege’s season total to five teams that played in Kansas state tournaments last season. Each of the five played in a larger classification than Miege. One of those five opponents is in Class 6A and the four others are in Class 5A.

3. Despite only having one senior on its roster, the De Soto girls basketball team found its rhythm during the month of January.

The Wildcats started the season with a 2-3 record after five games. De Soto then went on to win six of its eight games in January, which included two in a row against Kaw Valley League teams.

Senior Kristen Saucerman had nine points in the Wildcats’ most recent victory, which came against Basehor-Linwood last Friday. Prior to that, De Soto placed second in the Tonganoxie Tournament and had three players voted to the all-tournament team.

4. Coach Lauren Lawrence said the Shawnee Mission East girls basketball team would catch some people off-guard. After a rough start, the Lancers are managing to find some winning ways.

Shawnee Mission East recently picked up its first victory of the season against Sumner Academy and then added to the win total against Great Bend in the Firebird Winter Classic last week at Lawrence Free State, where the Lancers finished fifth.

Kyle Haverty of SM East scored 29 points in the consolation semifinals and 28 in the fifth-place game in the tournament.

5. Blue Valley Northwest and Blue Valley were locked in a two-point game as the fourth quarter approached on Monday night.

Blue Valley Northwest outscored the Tigers 11-5 in the fourth quarter and won the game 33-29. It was the Huskies’ second consecutive victory and second of the season against the Tigers. Blue Valley Northwest improved to 9-4, after losing three of four games in late January.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "High school girls hoops notebook: Olathe South takes aim on Pioneers on Friday."