Finally, all KSHSAA substate tournaments are set.
While some schools in smaller classifications have already seen their seasons end, the larger boys classifications will finally get their postseason started on Tuesday in Classes 6A and 4A, and Wednesday in 5A.
Here are three thoughts on area boys teams in the biggest classifications.
Can Hutchinson play with consistency for two games?
Hutchinson has proven it can play with and beat top teams. After all, the Salthawks have handed Derby its only loss of the season.
But the Salthawks have struggled with consistency. They did have a good five-game winning streak in February, and if the Salthawks can find that form again, they could made a run in a balanced substate.
Hutch (10-10) is the No. 11 seed in the 5A West substate and will travel to No. 6 Hays (12-8) on Wednesday. The Western Athletic Conference wasn’t great outside of Great Bend, as Dodge City, Liberal and Garden City all had well-below .500 records. That’s half of Hays’ wins. But Hays does own a great win over McPherson. This is a winnable game for Hutch. Then, if the Salthawks win, could play Andover, which Hutch just played last week and lost 65-54.
Tough task? Yes. Impossible? Not even close.
McPherson looks to steady after a few late wobbly performances.
The Bullpups looked to be a lock for the Class 4A state tournament this year, as they raced out to a 13-2 record, with the only losses being competitive setbacks to Derby and Blue Valley West.
But McPherson had late-season losses to Hays and Circle, and Augusta played the Bullpups tough.
McPherson (17-3), of course, has home-court advantage throughout substate as the 4A West No. 2 seed. The Bullpups will first host 5-15 Ulysses, and then a potential third matchup with Augusta (11-9) looms. But if not, No. 7 Concordia is solid at 13-7.
Long-time coach Kurt Kinnamon, however, will likely have the Bullpups ready to go. Few coaches, and few programs, are better prepared for March than Kinnamon and the McPherson boys.
Andale is the most underappreciated top seed in the state
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like Andale hasn’t been talked about much this year. After the football team won another state championship, Andale almost predictably got off to a slow start, losing its first two games of the season to Winfield and Valley Center.
Since then, Andale has gone 17-1, losing to Cheney.
And yet, we don’t seem to hear much about Andale basketball. Is it because Andale is a football juggernaut? Was it because Andale started 0-2?
Andale’s path to Salina and the 4A state tournament isn’t simple. The Indians should cruise in the first round past 4-16 El Dorado, but then comes a potential rematch with Winfield, or a rising Circle team that has won 7 of 8. But given winning is in Andale’ DNA, it should be getting its due respect quickly.
