State basketball is here and 12 area teams will be vying to bring home some hardware for the trophy cases in Class 4A-DII, 3A, 2A, 1A-DI and 1A-DII all across the State. (For the full KNZA, KMZA and KAIR radio broadcast schedule – click here)

Seven of the 12 area teams head into their opening round games at State as the lower seed in their matchup, while two area teams head into their respective State tourneys as the one seeds.

Class 4A-DII (Boys)     bracket

The Atchison Redmen boys at 13-9 head into the State tournament at Hartman Arena in Park City as the eight seed drawing the number one seed Rock Creek who is 21-1 on the season and finished ranked second in the final KBCA polls of the year. Atchison by topping Royal Valley and Holton earned the Sub-State title and are led by a strong upper class. The duo of Wykeen Gill and Jerel Rawls paced the Redmen on the season averaging around 20 ppg and 11 ppg, respectively. Rock Creek comes into the tourney on a 19-game winning streak and only one loss coming in the third game of the season against Abilene. It will be the 25^th appearance at State for Atchison as they look to make some noise at the 4A-DII State tournament. Atchison hits the court at 6:30pm on Wednesday against Rock Creek in Park City.

(Other notes – Six of the final Top 10 teams in KBCA 4A-DII rankings made State (Holcomb #1, Rock Creek #2, Girard #3, Wichita Trinity #4, Hays-TMP #6, #8 Atchison; All teams have 13 or more wins with Rock Creek & Holcomb leading the way with 21 wins & Girard has 20 wins)

Class 4A-DII (Girls)    bracket

The Jeff West Tigers just 11-11 on the season captured the 4A-DII Sub-State title at Royal Valley earning a bid to the State tournament for the first time since 2003 and for only the second time in school history. Don’t let the .500 record for the Tigers deceive you as Jeff West since their 7-7 start to the year are 8-4. The Tigers dispatched Royal Valley 50-47 and beat Holton 35-26 to earn the Sub-State title and are led by senior, Olivia Brees who averages a double-double on the season with 13.8 ppg and 11.2 rpg. To open the State tournament the Tigers will take on the number one seed Hugoton Eagles who are 19-2 on the year. The Eagles losses came to Lyons and team from Texas in Gruver, but head into State on an 11-game winning streak, averaging 65.4 ppg and averaging wins by 31 ppg. The Jeff West will have a tough test on their hands in the opening round facing the number one ranked 4A-DII girls’ team in the State. Jeff West takes the court against Hugoton on Thursday at 3:00pm in Park City.

(Other notes – Six of final Top 10 teams in KBCA 4A-DII rankings made State (Hugoton #1, Baldwin #2, Wichita Trinity #5, Clay Center #6, Columbus #8, Concordia #10)

Class 3A (Boys)   bracket

Sabetha while be making their 14^th appearance at State but it will be the first time since 2009 the Bluejays who are flying into the State tournament after taking down rival Nemaha Central to earn the Sub-State title. The Bluejays have flown out to a 22-1 record on the season and earned the number one seed at State, but the State bracket is loaded with top notch teams. Sabetha heads into State riding a 12-game winning streak and utilizing a balance attack that can attack you in multiple ways. The balance for Sabetha is displayed in by the fact all five starters average 13 to nine points per game, with Kegan Schumann leading the way with 12.9 ppg. The Riverton Rams are the opening round draw for Sabetha; the Rams for to the State tournament this year after taking fourth last year with a lost to Nemaha Valley in the third place game and sit at 18-5 this year. Cousins Landon and Grant North lead the Rams with 17 ppg apiece and both are returning All-State players. The Bluejays take the court for Class 3A State action in Hutchinson at 6:30pm on Thursday.

(Other notes – The final Top 5 teams by the KBCA in 3A made State (Scott City #1, Sabetha #2, Wichita Collegiate #3, Hesston #4, Osage City #5 & all five have 20 or more wins on the year – Last year’s State Champs Hesston return to State)

Class 3A (Girls)   bracket

For the Sabetha lady Bluejays it hasn’t been as long since they have been at the State tournament as they return this year for the first time since 2013 and will make their 10^th State tournament appearance. Despite having a glowing record at 20-3 the lady Bluejays are the five seed at the State tournament in what looks like a stacked 3A bracket with a pair of 23-0 teams. The Bluejays are beating teams this season by an average of 24.4 ppg and three losses have come by a combined 12 points. Leading Sabetha on the season has been Alexis McAfee who averages 14 ppg, while Taryn Schuette also averages double figures at 10 ppg. Sabetha draws Beloit in the opening round in the four versus five matchup and the Trojans like Sabetha are 20-3 on the season. Beloit comes into State riding a seven-game winning streak beating their opponents on average by 17.2 ppg, while lead by a senior duo of Kaley Broeckelman and Shaylyn Krone who average 16.3 ppg and 15.9 ppg. The matchup will pit ninth ranked Beloit versus 10^th ranked Sabetha with the winner most likely getting the number one ranked team in 3A in Hesston in the Semifinals. Sabetha opens State action on Wednesday at 8:15pm in Hutchinson against Beloit.

(Other notes – Five of the Final Top 10 teams by the KBCA in 3A made State (Hesston #1, Cimarron #2, Silver Lake #4, Beloit #9, Sabetha #10; all top five seeds have 20 or more wins with two undefeated teams in Hesston at 23-0 & Cimarron at 23-0 – Last year’s State Champs Hesston return to State)

Class 2A (Boys)   bracket

Jackson Heights Cobras struck in Sub-State earning a Sub-State title and trip to the State tournament for the 17^th time in school history but the first time since 2007. First year head coach, Chris Brown as the Cobras clicking on all cylinders this season averaging nearly 64 ppg, as they won a share of the Northeast Kansas League title this year and have a 21-2 record. Jackson is led by perhaps one of the best scorers in the State in junior, Zane Richter who averages nearly 28 ppg, while shooting 57% from the floor and 38% from three-point range. Despite having only two losses the Cobras go into State as the four seed and the sixth ranked team in 2A by the KBCA draw the third ranked team in the State in Central Plains in the opening round. The Oilers of Central Plains will be one tough draw for Jackson Heights as they average 61.3 ppg and average wins by 26.7 ppg, with their three losses to top notch State bound teams in Derby & St. Johns twice. If the Cobras get past Central Plains an undefeated Olpe could be awaiting them in the Semifinals and in the bottom half of the bracket St. Johns is unbeaten and two other teams have three or few losses. Jackson Heights will open up State action against Central Plains on Wednesday at 4:45pm in Manhattan.

The Washington County Tiger boys are headed back to State for the second straight year and after bowing out in the opening round last year, look to make out of the first round but it won’t be easy. The Tigers claimed their Sub-State title with a tight win over a ranked Bennington team, but went through one of the toughest 2A Sub-State’s to get to State and even with a 20-3, still drew the six seed. Washington County heads into the State tournament battle tested out of the Twin Valley League with only three losses on the year all coming to the number one team in Class 1A-DI, Hanover. The junior duo of Kyle McGatlin and Konnor Penning led the Tigers with 15.5 and 13.8 ppg, respectively. As the six seed the Tigers draw a 22-1 South Gray team in the opening round; a team that averages 65 ppg but just like Washington County pulled out a close win in their Sub-State Championship game beating Spearville 49-47. The matchup will pit Washington County the seventh ranked team versus the fifth ranked team in South Gray as they action will be Wednesday at 8:15pm in Manhattan.

(Other notes – Six of the final Top 10 teams by KBCA in 2A made State (St. John #1, Olpe #2, Central Plains #3, South Gray #5, Jackson Heights #6, Washington County #7; top six seeds have 20 wins or more & two teams are unbeaten Olpe at 23-0 and St. John 23-0 – Last year’s State Champs St. John return to State)

Class 2A (Girls)   bracket

The Valley Falls Dragons breezed through the Northeast Kansas League with an undefeated League title and worked their way to a Sub-State Championship to head to the Class 2A State tournament for the first time since 2011 and for the sixth time in school history. A 21-2 mark headed into the State tourney earned the Dragons the number two seed with a team with only one senior that looks primed to make noise at State this year perhaps next year with a strong junior class. Junior, Ali Brown paces the Dragons with 11.2 ppg, while a trio of three other Dragons average seven to nine points per game with any of those three being able to score double figures with Brown. Valley Falls draws the ninth ranked team in the State in the Hill City Ringnecks who sit at 19-4 on the year and have won 12-games in a row. Hill City like Valley Falls is young and lead by many juniors, but it’s a freshman that leads the team as Conner Keith averages 13.2 ppg, while a pair of juniors average nine points per game. Valley the seventh ranked team takes on the ninth ranked Hill City squad in the opening round at State on Thursday at 6:30pm and both teams head into the matchup riding 12-game winning streaks.

(Other notes – Seven of the final Top 10 teams by KBCA in 2A made State (Central Plains #3, Moundridge #4, Pitt-Colgan #5, Valley Falls #7, Meade #8, Hill City #9, Chase County #10; the one through seven seeds all have 19 or more wins – Last year’s State Champs Central Plains returns to State)

Class 1A-DI (Boys)   bracket

The Hanover Wildcat boys have been ranked number one all season by the KBCA and are the number one seed at State after winning the Twin Valley League regular season and tournament titles, Sub-State title and posting a 22-1 in the process. The Wildcats are averaging 64 ppg on the season only three of wins were by below 10 points, as the team has a starting five capable of having any guy in double figures with a few double figure threats coming off the bench, also. A strong senior class leads Hanover, but it’s a sophomore that leads the team in scoring as Wil Bruna leads Hanover. The Wildcats with the one seed draw an 11-12 Pretty Prairie team in the opening round of State, after the Bulldogs beat Burrton in their Sub-State Championship. The Bulldogs have only outscored their opponents on the year by 41 total points, as junior, Nick Lampe leads the team in scoring 11 ppg. The Hanover boys return to State for the first time since 2011 and only five years removed from fourth State title back in 2010. The Wildcats hit the court to start State on Thursday at 6:30pm in Emporia in Class 1A-DI.

Doniphan West Mustangs are headed to State for the first time in the 10 years of the school’s existence, as the school merged Highland and Midway-Denton together who made State a combined seven times, last being in 1999 when Midway-Denton made State. The Mustangs are enjoying their best season ever at 17-7, improving from 4-17 last year and 0-21 three seasons ago to making State this year with wins over the eighth and seventh ranked teams in the State to win their Sub-State title beating Valley Heights and Centralia. The trio of senior, Jeffrey Watts and junior’s, Cooper Leach and Austin Taylor pace Doniphan West on the year averaging 15.8, 15.3 and 11.2 ppg, respectively as the Mustangs enter the State tournament winning 10 of their last 11 games. Doniphan West the second ranked team in the State draws Pratt-Skyline in the opening round and the Thunderbirds are 13-10 on the season after winning their Sub-State that featured only one above .500 team coming into the tournament. Leading the Thunderbirds is a junior, Brady McComb who averages 18 ppg and 12 rpg, while Kasey Gilpin adds 10 ppg. Doniphan West hits the court at the 1A-DI State tournament on Thursday at 4:45pm versus Skyline in Emporia.

(Other notes – Four of the final Top 10 teams by the KBCA in 1A-DI made State (Hanover #1, Doniphan West #2, Stockton #4, Hartford #10; Only Hanover of the eight teams at State have has less than six losses)

Class 1A-DI (Girls)   bracket

The lady Panthers of Centralia will be on the prowl at the Class 1A-DI State tournament for some more hardware to bring home for a stuff trophy case in Centralia, as the Panthers will look for their fifth State title as they make their 15^th appearance at State, but first since 2012. Centralia took care of Immaculata and Valley Heights in Sub-State to win Sub-State improve to 19-4 on the season, but despite their strong 19-4 record the Panthers will be the seven seed at State. Centralia has been led by strong team chemistry all season and a starting five that all have the capability of scoring double figures, with three starters averaging over 10 ppg. The Panthers in the second half of the season have seen the post presence of sophomore, Cassidy Haufler and junior, Mayda Stallbaumer consistently lead them as Haufler leads the team in scoring with 13.3 ppg, seniors, Liz Hasenkamp and Amaris Jones help lead the charge for Centralia. As a team Centralia averages 53.2 ppg and has won by an average of 19.7 ppg this season. The Panthers draw the two seed and the second ranked Waverly Bulldogs in the State opening round. The Bulldogs come into State with a 22-1 record and their lone loss came to a 2A school in Olpe. Waverly is averaging 57.9 ppg, while beating their opponents by an average of 23.2 ppg. Centralia and Waverly are familiar with each other as the Panthers beat Waverly in the 1A-DI Volleyball State Semifinals early this year. The Panthers and Bulldogs will face off on Wednesday in Emporia at 6:30pm in Class 1A-DI action.

(Other notes – Seven of the final Top 10 teams by KBCA in 1A-DI made State (Hoxie #1, Waverly #2, St. Paul #3, Ingalls #4, Centralia #7, Centre #8, Thunder Ridge #9; no team at State has more than five losses with Hoxie leading the way at 23-0 and they have the longest winning streak in the State’s history currently at 92 straight games and are going for their fourth straight state title)

Class 1A-DII (Boys)    bracket

The Axtell boys are headed back to the 1A-DII State tournament were they were just two years ago winning their first State Championship as a seven seed. This year they go into State as the eight seed and just 12-11 on the year after handling Linn to win their Sub-State. While the Eagles record doesn’t look daunting the Eagles play in the toughest small school League in the State in the Twin Valley League, a League that has four boys teams at State and finished the year with six boys teams ranked by the KBCA, so the Eagles are battled tested going into State. Axtell is led by a trio of guys in Colton Buessing, Tyler Jones and Andrew Feldkamp that average a little over nine points per game. The Eagles draw the number one team in the State and the defend 1A-DI State Champs in St. John’s-Tipton. The Bluejays are 22-1 on the season with their only loss coming at the hands of a 2A school in Bennington. St. John’s-Tipton has outscored their opponents by 20.2 ppg this year and are led by the Dubbert brothers. Senior, Trey Dubbert leads the team with 17.2 ppg and sophomore, Davis Dubbert averages 15.8 ppg. Axtell opens the State 1A-DII tournament action on Tuesday against St. John’s-Tipton at 3:00pm in Dodge City.

(Other notes – Six of the final Top 10 teams by the KBCA in 1A-DII made State (St. John’s-Tipton #1, Wallace County #2, Caldwell #4, Central Christian #6, Ashland #7, Wheatland-Grinnell #8; only two of the teams at State have 20 or more wins – Last year’s State Champs St. John’s-Tipton returns to State)

Class 1A-DII (Girls)    bracket

The Wetmore Cardinals just three seasons ago made the 1A-DII State tournament and came away with their second best finish in school history placing fourth and this year return to the State tournament after topping Linn in the Sub-State Championship game. The Cardinals head into the State tournament winning 11 of their last 13 games and 16-8 on the season and a balanced offense with their starting five. Sophomore, Dakota McQueen leads Wetmore with 13.6 ppg, while the all four starters average from six to 8.5 ppg on the year. While the Cardinals are enjoying a strong season they go into the State tournament as the seven seed but will be battle tested playing in the Twin Valley League. As the seven seed the Cardinals draw the two seed and third ranked St. John’s-Tipton Bluejays in the opening round of State. The Bluejays come into State with a 21-2 record with their only losses coming to Hill City and Thunder Ridge who both made Class 1A-DI State tournament; both losses came by single digits falling by five and eight points, respectively. St. John’s-Tipton is stacked with youth on the team as a pair of sophomore’s lead the team in scoring with 17.4 ppg and 11.4 ppg, from Brenna Eilert and Elizabeth Walter. Wetmore opens the 1A-DII State competition with their matchup against St. John’s-Tipton at 3:00pm in Dodge City.

(Other notes – Four of the final Top 10 teams by the KBCA in 1A-DII made State (Moscow #1, St. John’s-Tipton #3, Wheatland-Grinnell #5, Norwich #8; only two teams at State have more than 20 wins Moscow and St. John’s-Tipton)