2009-2010 PRESEASON RANKINGS
CLASS 6A
Team 2008-09 record
1. Olathe South 21-4
2. Wichita Heights 22-3
3. Washburn Rural 24-1
4. SM East 18-5
5. SM West 20-5
Others - Blue Valley 14-8, Dodge City 8-13, Free State 11-9, Goddard 17-6, Lawrence 10-12, SM North 12-10, Wichita Northwest 13-9.
CLASS 4A
Team 2008-09 record
1. Concordia 26-0
2. Cheney 23-3
3. Girard 20-4
4. Holton 23-1
5. Rose Hill 18-6
Others - Abilene 12-11, Basehor-Linwood 17-6, Buhler 18-4, Circle 13-9, Hayden 14-12, Hesston 16-6, KC Sumner 15-7, Labette County 16-7, Ottawa 18-5, Scott City 17-5.
CLASS 2A
Team 2008-09 record
1. Olpe 23-3
2. Moundridge 20-2
3. Berean Academy 18-6
4. Lebo 17-6
5. Oakley 14-8
Others - Colgan 21-3, Elkhart 17-7, Ellis 20-6, Hill City 15-8, Inman 12-11, Jayhawk-Linn 18-6, Madison 16-7, Osborne 17-4, Oskaloosa 19-4, Sacred Heart 18-8, Syracuse 12-10.
RANKED TEAM NOTES
Class 6A
Bidding for the first state title in program history, OLATHE SOUTH (Sunflower) came up just short last year, falling 57-47 in the title game to Washburn Rural. The Falcons made that postseason run after losing Kelsey Balcom to injury. She's back, as is almost everyone else, including All-Class 6A first-teamer Natalie Knight, who averaged 16.3 ppg and also led South in steals and assists.
After winning back-to-back state titles in 2006 and 2007, WICHITA HEIGHTS (Wichita City) has had to settle for two straight fourth-place showings. That won't set well with Falcons again this year, not with everyone back from last year's team. Junior Jhasmin Bowen (6-2) was Heights' leading scorer and rebounder last year and has a talented group around her with senior Kamisha Richards headed to New Orleans for college ball. The Falcons have another strong group of newcomers to team with the returners and should make a run at another crown.
The graduation of Oklahoma State signee Heather Howard will hurt SM WEST (Sunflower), but the Vikings do return four of their top six players from last year's squad that placed third at the 6A state tournament. Junior guard LIzzy Jeronimus is more than capable of taking over as the Vikings' go-to player, averaging 14.5 ppg last year, and fellow junior guard Brooke Katterhenry is coming off a big state tournament where she averaged 16 ppg.
The injury bug hit DODGE CITY (Western Athletic) hard last year as the Red Demons lost three starters for the bulk of the 2008-09 season. The experience gained should help Dodge this year, along with the return of two of those players, including Az'Lynn Thompson, who was the WAC MVP in volleyball this season.
LAWRENCE (Sunflower) captured the 2008 state championship, but slipped to a 10-12 team last year as it lost Kansas signee Tania Jackson before the season started to an injury and never really recovered. That allowed some young players to gain experience, which should pay off this season as the Lions have a good combination of quickness in guard Haley Parker and size in six-footers April and Shelby Miller.
SM NORTH (Sunflower) has only two starters back, but they should be the right two. Senior forward Brianna Kulas was the Indians' leading scorer at 18 ppg and senior guard Mary Pat Specht was second on the team at 14 ppg. If the Indians can put some pieces around them, they could challenge for a state berth.
Class 5A
MIEGE (Eastern Kansas) captured the 16th title in program history last year, beating Great Bend in the title game. Title No. 17 could be in store this year with three starters off that squad back. Senior center Adrianna Maurer (6-4) has signed with Nebraska and junior forward Shandelyn Stewart (5-11) was a third-team All-5A pick.
The Stags' toughest competition could come from within its own league as AQUINAS (Eastern Kansas) returns its top 10 players from last year, led by junior guard Dashawn Harden, a second-team All-5A pick who averaged 12.1 ppg last year. Working on a streak of 15 straight state-tournament appearances, the Saints haven't brought home a title since 2004.
A hot run late catapulted GREAT BEND (Western Athletic) to a runner-up finish last year with the Panthers falling to Miege in the finals. The Panthers will miss third-team All-5A guard Amanda Dreiling, but a healthy Alex Hartig will go a long way towards getting them back to the finals. Despite being slowed by a leg injury, Hartig averaged 10 ppg and 7.7 rpg and became a two-time All-5A first-teamer.
At 6-foot-4, Kate Lehman is a matchup problem for most teams and that could help NEWTON (Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail) return to state after a two-year absence. The Railers were just .500 last year, but still made the sub-state finals.
SALINA SOUTH (Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail) will boast one of the top inside games in 5A behind six-footer Taylor Goodness (12.8 ppg) and 6-2 Sally Thompson (5.7 ppg). The Cougars were denied a return trip to state last year, falling to eventual runner-up Great Bend in the sub-state finals.
Class 4A
A 35-30 upset loss to Hayden in the state-tournament semifinals kept CHENEY (Central Plains) from playing for the 4A state title last year. It may take something more this year as the Cardinals return everyone from last year's third-place squad, led by All-Class 4A first-teamer Merissa Quick (13.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg). If that's not enough, senior guard Hailey Twietmeyer returns after sitting out last year and averaging 12.1 ppg as a sophomore.
SCOTT CITY (Mid-State) steps up to Class 4A this season. The Beavers have a new coach in Mark Campos, who inherits a team that lost its leading scorer (Shelby Kite), but returns three seniors that should finish in the school's top 10 in scoring, steals, blocks and games played.
Class 3A
A second state title in four years just eluded WICHITA COLLEGIATE (MCAA), which fell 65-59 to Southwestern Heights in the title game after also capturing the 2006 title. One of the top players in the state will lead the Spartans back as Ashia Woods was a second-team All-State pick a year ago as a sophomore after she averaged 24 ppg, 8 rpg and 5 apg.
SOUTHWESTERN HEIGHTS (Hi-Plains) finally avoided the injury bug last year and the result was the third state title in program history, secured with a 65-59 victory over Wichita Collegiate in the title game. The Mustangs will miss the services of All-3A guard Vivian Olvera, but juniors Deni Jacobs and Heidi Brown each averaged just better than 11 ppg and are backed by a trio of seniors that averaged at least 6.8 ppg.
Senior forward Katie Regier led REMINGTON (Heart of America) in just about every statistical category last year. This year, she'd like to lead a fairly young, yet experienced team back to state.
Class 2A
It may be hard to believe, but perennial power MOUNDRIDGE (Heart of America) hasn't qualified for state since 2004. Last year, it was a 49-44 upset loss to Inman in the sub-state finals that denied the Wildcats. All-2A first-team center Katie Vogts will be missed, but four returning players averaged at least 6 ppg led by senior guard Spencer Suderman (11 ppg).
With only four seniors and no juniors, BEREAN ACADEMY (Heart of America) will be a fairly young squad. However, senior wing Janelle Rust (17.4 ppg) is capable of carrying the Warriors back to the state tournament as they try to replace second-team All-2A guard Kayla Eilert.
Though just better than a .500 team last year, SYRACUSE (Hi-Plains) has the potential to return to state for the first time since 2003. The Bulldogs have a top-notch 1-2 punch in senior guard Kamie Rash (5-5) and forward Kylee Hedberg (5-9), who each averaged nearly 18 ppg. Hedberg also chipped in 14.3 rpg, while Rash is coming off a knee injury.
Class 1A
A bid for two straight state titles just eluded SOUTH GRAY (SPIAA) last year as the defending champs were unseated in the finals with a 46-35 loss to St. John. It was South Gray's only loss of the season and should serve as motivation for a squad that returns the bulk of its key players for first-year coach Andy Gillen. Three returning starters averaged at least 14 ppg - second-team All-1A pick seniors Brigit Hesser (16 ppg) and Kayla Thomas (14 ppg) and junior Mikayla Skidmore (15 ppg).
Defending champion ST. JOHN (Central Prairie) may have lost a strong senior class, including first-team All-1A picks Beth Cornwell and Alisha Fanshier, but the Tigers aren't going anywhere. Returning senior starters Brooke Burgan (5-4) and Abbie Ward (5-8) head another strong senior class and second-year coach has some talented young players ready to step up.
Four returning starters, led by junior Morgan Westhoff (12.7 ppg) could help ST. PAUL (Three Rivers) return to state for the first time since 2005. Indian coach Doug Tuck is just 10 wins from 400 in his career and has two daughters that will start.
A former standout at WESKAN (Western Kansas Liberty) himself, Troy Okeson returns to take over a Coyote girls program that has some key pieces back from last year's sub-state runner-up team to Dighton. The frontcourt tandem of Payton Walker (5-10) and Hillary McKinney (5-11) will be a force with Walker averaging 16.4 ppg and 9.1 rpg last year.
