It's state basketball time as the the state tournaments in Kansas get underway today with action. This year eight area teams punched their tickets to the state tournament earning the right to play for a state championship in their respective classification. (See below for area team's matchups and broadcast schedule for 103.9 KNZA, 92.1 KMZA & KAIR 93.7)

Making the state tournament in Class 3A from the area were both the lady Bluejays of Sabetha and Nemaha Valley Raider boys. Sabetha at 17-6 as the eight seed squares of with number one seed Burlington who enters the tournament unbeaten, 23-0. Sabetha and Burlington faced each other in the semifinals of the Burlington Invitational this season with Burlington barely getting the best of Sabetha 42-38 in the that matchup. Sabetha will be looking to get the upset as they are in their first state tournament since 2004.

For Nemaha Valley, the state tournament is a regular thing as they are there for the sixth straight season. The Raiders enter the tournament 22-1 and as the three seed looking to Wichita-Independent as their opponent in the first round. The Raiders have placed in the top four the last five years at state and look to avenge a loss in last years state championship game, but their opponent last year Scott City could stand in their way in the semifinals as Scott City is the two seed.

In Class 2A, its the Jefferson County North Chargers boys and girls for the second straight year both making the state tournament. For the boys they are 17-6 and the six seed and will take on the three seeded Republic County in the first round. JCN boys were ousted in the first round last season by eventual state champs Sterling and ousted in the first round in 1999, but this year the Chargers are looking to make that a different story. The lady Chargers are back in the state tournament to defend their state title and are the number one seed at 21-2 on the season, being lead by the state's leading girl scorer, Jacee Kramer.

Class 1A-Division II it's the Hanover lady Wildcats and the Centralia Panther boys looking to make noise at the state tournament. Hanover will have a tough task at the eight seed at 14-7 facing off against the one seeded unbeaten Olpe squad. Wildcats are playing well headed into the state tourney winning 12 of their last 15 and making the state tourney for the second time in three years.

For Centralia they are the five seed at 18-5 and will play Olpe, 19-4 in the first round, in what sounds like a football matchup by the names of the schools. Centralia started the year 2-3 before Christmas break but have came on in the second half the season to get back to the state tournament where they were last season and 12 of the last 22 years.

Another pair of TVL teams in the lady Falcons of B&B and the Axtell Eagles boys are also in the state tournament as both earned spots in the Class 1A-Division II state tourney. For the lady Falcons of B&B they are 20-3 on the season and the fifth seed taking on the 20-2, Wilson Dragons in the first round. The Falcons are making their first appearance at state since 2006 and looking for their first state title since 1999, as they have been lead by five different players this season in scoring at one point.

For the Axtell Eagle boys they are enjoying their best season since 1996 which was the last winning season for Axtell and the last time they made the state tournament. After only winning five games last year the Eagles are 16-8 this season and the seven seed at state to face the two seed, Central Christian out of Hutchinson in the first round. Axtell comes into the state tournament unbeaten in tournaments this season with a perfect 9-0 record in those games.

Full matchups listed below (links to brackets, also):

Class 3A at Hutchinson: (Bracket -- click here)
    (Boys) Friday at 4:45pm ----  #3 Nemaha Valley (23-1) vs. #2 Scott City (23-1)

Class 2A at Manhattan: (Bracket -- click here)
    (Girls) Thursday at 3:00pm --- #4 Moundridge (21-3)  vs. #1 Jefferson County North (22-2)

Class 1A-Division I at Emporia: (Bracket -- click here)
    (Boys) Thursday at 8:15pm --- #5 Centralia (19-5) vs. #1 St. John-Hudson (23-1)

Class 1A-Division II at Hays: (Bracket -- click here)
    (Boys) Thursday at 6:30pm --- #7 Axtell (17-8) vs. #3 White City (20-3)
 

Broadcast Schedule for state basketball games: 

Friday March 8th
2A (Girls) at 3:00pm --- #4 Moundridge (21-3)  vs. #1 Jefferson County North (22-2) on KAIR 93.7
     (listen online)
3A (Boys) at 4:45pm ---- #3 Nemaha Valley (23-1) vs. #2 Scott City (23-1) on KNZA & KMZA
   (listen online) -- streamed on KNZA Link
1A-DI (Boys) at 8:15pm --- #7 Axtell (17-8) vs. #3 White City (20-3) on 92.1 KMZA (listen online)
1A-DII (Boys) at 8:15pm --- #5 Centralia (19-5) vs. #1 St. John-Hudson (23-1) on 103.9 KNZA 
   (listen online)

Saturday March 9th
Matchups to be determined