McPHERSON, Kan. – The McPherson High School basketball teams closed out their regular season Thursday, Feb. 27 at home for Senior Night against Winfield, sweeping the Vikings in a 43-29 girls victory and a 64-48 win by the boys team.
GIRLS
McPherson – 43
Winfield – 29
The team came into the game on a two-game winning streak against league opponents for the first time this season after a thrilling victory at Mulvane Tuesday. The game was tied 3-3 about one minute into the game, but McPherson did not let the early Viking three shake them whatsoever, as it pushed them to an amazing start to the game, finishing the first quarter on a 14-0 run to lead at the end of one 17-3. The teams then traded blows for the remainder of the game as neither team outscored the other in the final three quarters, but the 14-point difference in the first frame was the difference, giving McPherson the 43-29 win at home.
The three-game win streak ties their highest of the season, happening for the second time this season. It also made a larger difference regarding the Sub-State seeding, as they leapfrogged Circle thanks to their head-to-head results to the #9 seed in the 4A West region.
Prior to the game, head coach Clint Kinnamon put two seniors in their starting lineup. Senior guard Ellie Bower has been the starter all season long after playing off of the bench a season prior due to the experienced lineup, but she was a pivotal piece of 2024’s Third Place team. Ashton Hampton got the starting nod too in just her third game of varsity action after transferring to McPherson recently.
The Bullpups finish the regular season 9-11 on the year, 5-5 vs. AVCTL Div. 3 opponents. They’ll travel to Augusta for the Sub-State Semifinals Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Team Scoring:
MHS: 17-9-4-13
WHS: 3-10-3-13
Individual Scoring:
McPherson: Whitfield – 10, Doile – 9, M. Sandbo – 9, Bower – 6, Paulsen – 3, Jen. Alexander – 3, Littlejohn – 2
Winfield: Hutto – 11, Flaton – 4, Mortimer – 4, Griffin – 3, Seitzinger – 3, Rhy. Richert – 2, Harris – 2
Seniors: (Pictures by Cindy Kinnamon)
BOYS
McPherson: 64
Winfield: 48
Winfield outplayed McPherson in the first eight minutes of the game finishing the first quarter with a 20-13 lead over the Bullpups. However, McPherson had a strong start to the 2nd quarter taking the lead late in the half, taking them to the locker room up 32-29. The second half was all Bullpups, outscoring the Vikings 36-19 to win 64-48 to close out their regular season on a high note. The win also clinches the AVCTL Div. 3 outright title for McPherson.
The final week of the season showed early adversity with their loss to Circle on Monday, but a big turnaround for the Pups following wins Tuesday and Thursday. The experienced roster of five seniors will aid the Bullpups to be one of the favorites to win the State Title in Salina for the second straight year.
Four of the five seniors were part of last year’s undefeated state championship squad, including Brenden Doile, Bishop Brown, Ian Razak, and Gabe Pyle. Pyle was last year’s leading scorer and rebounder, continuing that trend into his senior year. Brody Seidl joined the Bullpup basketball squad for his senior year, but has been credited by head coach Kurt Kinnamon as a terrific hustle defender. Doile, Razak, and Seidl are all signed to play collegiate baseball and Pyle plans to play basketball at the next level, but has not announced what school he will play in yet.
The Bullpups close out the reguar season 16-4 overall, 9-1 against divisional opponents. They head to Sub-State as the #2 seed in the 4A West and will host #15 Ulysses Tuesday, March 4 at 6:00 p.m.
Team Scoring:
MHS: 13-19-16-16
WHS: 20-9-7-12
Individual Scoring:
McPherson: G. Pyle – 26, Razak – 15, J. Pyle – 9, Malm – 8, Strathman – 2, Seidl – 2
Winfield: Moree – 21, Gibson – 13, Hutto – 12, Graham – 2
Seniors: (Pictures by Cindy Kinnamon)
