By Brad Hallier
Kansas doesn’t know if it’s winter or spring, given the weather last week and the week ahead. While it’s going to be glorious enough to play 36 holes of golf any day next week, many of us will travel to gyms all across Kansas to take in substate basketball.
Here are five thoughts on KSHSAA’s girls substates in the three smallest classifications. Classes 6A. 5A and 4A will be released next week.
Moundridge will be the place to be March 8
What do the kids say? It’ll be lit?
Something like that.
Moundridge’s two Class 2A substates are chock full of great teams, and the atmosphere on March 8 will be nothing short of amazing.
The only concern might be is the gym big enough? You’ll likely have host Moundridge playing, and the community is bonkers for basketball, like many McPherson County communities. Another basketball-mad community that could be there on March 8 is Inman. The Teutons are the No. 3 seed at 16-3. Bennington is the No. 2 seed and also travels well.
Conway Springs and Remington could also be in Moundridge that night, and let’s not ignore No. 8 seed Hillsboro.
Some great basketball will be on display March 8 in Moundridge. Fans better get there early, especially if Moundridge and Inman are playing.
Halstead will be the place to be March 7
Another evening of state-semifinal-caliber basketball will be played the day before in Halstead. And the gym could be packed beyond packed.
Top-seed and undefeated Hesston won’t have to go far to bring its basketball-crazed fans. Host Halstead is the No. 2 seed with just one loss. Cheney or Haven could be waiting for Halstead, and both communities strongly support basketball.
Riley County and Southeast of Saline would have to travel a bit to Halstead, but both communities support their teams well. Both are also strong and could give Hesston a push, should the matchup happen.
There are other teams not to be discounted. Garden Plain is usually strong, and is 12-7 this season, but the Owls are just the No. 9 seed. Nemaha Central is 13-6 but seeded just No. 7.
There will be some great, great basketball played in Halstead on March 7. Get there early.
Travel is no longer an excuse for geographical substates
While moving to quadrants has helped alleviate packing one or two substates with five or seven great teams, the notion that geography should be a factor is getting less and less valid.
Look at the 3A Scott City girls substate. First-round matchups include Lakin at Beloit (488 miles roundtrip), Nickerson at Colby (442 miles), Lyons at Southwestern Heights (354 miles) and Cimarron at Goodland (350 miles).
The upper classifications have long had an east-west substate format. It’s clear that travel isn’t an issue when first-round games involve this much travel.
Central Christian fans could have an odd week
While the boys are playing out west – if they beat Otis-Bison, the Central Christian boys would travel to the Mountain Time Zone for the semifinals at Weskan – the girls have a walk across the street by comparison.
Due to team consolidations and some schools not having a girls or boys team, Class 1A Division 2 has some oddities. Central Christian is one of those schools.
The girls will play in a central substate with the championship games at Elyria Christian. They are seeded third and have a first-round bye. A home semifinal game waits, likely against MDCV.
Then a short jaunt to McPherson for the championship game.
The boys? If they make the championship game in Dighton, they could travel more than 1,000 miles.
The girls will have plenty of time, without all the traveling, to celebrate junior Jessa Losew’s daily birthday.
Little River girls have been kind of angry this year
Little River has had a great run in girls basketball these last three years. But two years ago, Little River didn’t even make it to the state tournament, suffering a shock substate semifinal loss to St. John. Last season, Little River was state runner-up to Frankfort.
Little River has won three straight state titles in volleyball, so many of the basketball players know what winning state feels like. They know what it takes to win a state title.
Now, Little River wants that elusive basketball title. Little River has pulverized 1A competition. Little River has blasted a good Olpe team 74-26, smashed a good Elyria Christian team 67-31, hammered St. John 46-28 and 49-21, and just for giggles, Little River beat 2A contender Inman 67-53 and 2A favorite Moundridge 55-43.
Little River appears fed up. The girls want that basketball title. The road starts in the Canton-Galva substate, where Little River is a massive favorite.
