Prep2Prep's Matt Cook takes a look at the Kansas girls basketball state tournament, which opened this week.
Girls Class 6A state basketball tournament
No. 1 seed Manhattan advanced to the semifinals with a 55-39 win over No. 8 seed Shawnee Mission West. Manhattan will take on No. 4 Maize, which defeated No. 5 Blue Valley North, 55-45, on Wednesday.
Maize advanced to the semifinals last year only to get bounced by Wichita Heights. Manhattan did not make the 6A tournament last year so this game matches up Maize’s experience from last year against Manhattan’s inexperience but talented team. This game tips off at 3:00 pm Friday at Koch Arena in Wichita.
In the second 6A semifinal at Koch Arena, No. 2 Wichita South will take on No. 3 Olathe South. Wichita South beat Washburn Rural, 42-37, to advance and Olathe South beat Shawnee Mission Northwest, 59-57.
Wichita South and Olathe South were the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds going into last year’s tournament where Wichita South would eventually win the championship and Olathe South would lose in the opening round. Olathe South has survived the first round this year and looks to knock off the defending state champs in the semifinals this year.
Girls Class 4A Division I state basketball tournament
After winning the 4A state championship last year, Wamego looks to win the first-ever 4A Division I state championship. Coming into the tournament with a perfect 22-0 record, Wamego took care of Mulvane, 51-40, and advanced to the semifinals where it will face Kansas City-Piper.
Piper beat Coffeyville-Field Kindley 77-70 on Wednesday and has played very well down the stretch winning 18 of its last 19 games. This game will tip off at 6:30 pm Friday in Salina at the Bicentennial Center.
The Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege girls played in the 5A tournament last year but got moved down to 4A Division I this year. In last year’s 5A tournament, Bishop Miege lost in the first round to Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
McPherson made it to the championship game in the 4A tournament last year and lost to Wamego, 60-53. This year, Bishop Miege and McPherson met up in the first round of the 4A Division I tournament with Miege coming out on top, 62-45.
Miege will play No. 6 seed Andover Central, which knocked off No. 3 seed Paola 58-50. Bishop Miege vs. Andover Central will start at 3:00 pm inside the Bicentennial Center in Salina.
Girls Class 4A Division II state basketball tournament
Burlington finished a perfect 26-0 last year and won the 3A state championship by 10 points over Garden Plain. This year, Burlington is 22-1 and the No. 1 overall seed in the new 4A Division II state tournament.
The Lady Cats started their new title chase with a 40-34 win over Clay Center. Santa Fe Trail did not make a state tournament last year, but have improved its record to 20-3 and now gets a shot at the best team in the division.
These two teams met up on January 24 in Burlington, with the Lady Cats beating Santa Fe Trail, 41-39. Burlington vs. Santa Fe Trail will start at 3:00 pm Friday at Hartman Arena in Wichita.
In the second 4A Division II semifinal, No. 2 Frontenac will take on No. 6 Holton at 6:30 pm Friday in Wichita at Hartman Arena. Frontenac beat Trinity Academy, 55-46, while Holton knocked off No. 3 seed Hugoton 53-41 to advance.
Frontenac made five 3-pointers, 16 free throws and grabbed 37 rebounds in its win over Trinity and Holton made seven 3s, shot 83 percent from the line, grabbed 38 rebounds, recorded 14 assists, and 14 steals in its upset win over Hugoton.
Both of these teams do the little things right which is why this game will come down to which team is shooting better and limiting turnovers.
Girls 2A state basketball tournament
No. 1 seed Central Plains will take on No. 5 seed Meade Friday at 3:00 pm in Manhattan. Central Plains is in the 2A state tournament this year after missing out last year.
Finishing the regular season undefeated is impressive considering Central Plains played bigger schools like Phillipsburg, Ellsworth, Larned, and Hoisington throughout the season.
Meade beat Olpe 61-49 on Wednesday and the Lady Buffs are currently on a 9 game winning streak. Their four losses on the year is a bit skewed as three of them were to 3A Cimarron early in the season. Central Plains is the clear favorite to reach the 2A championship game, but it doesn't figure to be easy.
Jefferson County North and Washington County will meet up for a classic No. 2 vs. No. 3 state tournament game at 6:30 pm Friday at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan. Jefferson County North has been looking for revenge ever since Smith Center beat them in the 2A state championship game last year. Look for Jefferson County North’s experience and drive to not only make it back to the state championship game but win it this year, propel them to victory over Washington County.
