By Matt Browning
No team in the state is as loaded as Andover Central, as the Jaguars return two first team all-league selections in junior Brittany Harshaw and senior Bailey Wilborn and second team all-league selections junior Ellie Stearns and sophomore Maddie Amekporfor. Andover Central is deep, talented and experienced and not only one of the top teams in 5A, but in the entire state.
Derby went 21-2 and advanced to the 6A semifinals last season and returns significant talent from that team, including a pair of dynamic sophomores in leading scorers Addy Brown and Maryn Archer. Combine those two with a pair of valuable seniors in Jaidyn Schomp and Derryanna Cobbins and the Panthers have a recipe for another deep run in 6A.
Maize went 16-7 last season and lost in the first round of the 5A Tournament, but the Eagles return significant experience from that team. First and foremost is Sydney Holmes, who averaged 12 points and six rebounds and was a first team all-league player. Maize also brings back Kyla Frenhers, Baylee Miller and Olivia Wedman—all of which started at various times last year.
Wichita Heights will again be the class of the City League with two first team all-league players returning in Laniah Randle and Zyanna Walker. Also back is second team all-leaguer Cayanna Stanley. The Falcons won 20 games last season but were bounced in the first round of the 6A Tournament. The talent is there to advance further this season.
Nickerson has qualified for three straight state tournaments and back-to-back final fours and the talent is there to make it four in a row. The Panthers bring back sophomore post player Ava Jones, who averaged 13 points and eight rebounds last season. Nickerson also has starters Josie McLean and Kieryn Ontjes returning.
Bishop Carroll brings back three starters from last season’s 17-5 team that lost in the 5A sub-state finals. Khloe Schuckman was a first team all-league selection last season where she averaged 11 points per game. The Eagles also return Kendall Forbes, who was a second team all-league player, where she averaged 11 points per game.
Circle went 18-4 last season and lost to Buhler in the 4A sub-state finals and the Thunderbirds bring back plenty of experience this season. Kimalee Cook averaged 15 points and three steals last season for Circle, on her way to a first team all-league selection. Circle also brings back Lanna Chase and Maci Claycamp—both of which averaged seven points per game a year ago.
Andale lost several key contributors from last season’s team that went 16-6 and lost to Chapman in the 4A sub-state finals, but the Indians do return the Fairchild sisters and that is a good place to start. McKenzie averaged 11 points and seven rebounds as a freshman, while senior Katelyn, who battled injuries all last year, averaged nine points and three rebounds.
Kapaun Mount Carmel returns perhaps the most dominating post presence in the area in 6-4 Wichita State commit Ella Anciaux, who was a first team all-league selection last year. Joining Anciaux for the Crusaders is 6-2 Jennifer Jacobs and guard Sophia Gimino, both of which were honorable mention all-league.
Wellington returns its starting five and top eight scorers from last season’s 12-9 team. Leading the way will be first team all-league forward Ali Zeka, who averaged 13 points per game last season. Also returning for the Crusaders is sophomore Shiney Hughes, who averaged nine points and six rebounds per game.
Maize South graduated a significant amount of talent off last season’s team that went 18-5 and lost in the first round of the 5A Tournament. The Mavericks do return guards Riley Kennedy and Alexa Davidson.
Goddard went 14-8 last season and lost to Andover Central in the 5A sub-state championship game. The Lions return three starters: Maycee James (second team all-league), Shae Vang and Blair Clark.
Clearwater is coming off its first winning season in six years and the Indians return 90 percent of their scoring, highlighted by sophomore Carli Carlson, who led the team in scoring.
Cheney returns all five starters from last season’s 21-3 team that advanced to the 3A semifinals, including first team all-state guard Kylee Scheer, who averaged 23 points per game. The Cardinals also bring back Lexi Cline, who averaged five points, four assists and three rebounds and was selected as a second team all-league guard. Cheney will be one of the two or three favorites to win 3A.
Halstead returns nearly everybody from last season’s team that went 21-3 and made it to the 3A semifinals—the furthest any Halstead girls team has ever advanced. It all starts with first team all-state forward Karenna Gerber, who averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game. The Dragons also return Kaleigh O’Brien, who was a second team all-league guard and averaged nine points per game. Halstead has the team to win a state championship.
Andale brings back four starters from last season’s team that won 19 games and advanced to the 2A semifinals. Alli Puetz and Madysen Zoglman both averaged nine points per game last season and will look to improve those numbers this season. Brooke Hammond and Christia Rose Gorges also started for the Owls a year ago. Garden Plain can once again get back to the 2A Tournament.
Wichita Trinity went 15-7 last season, losing to Cheney in the 3A sub-state semifinals, but the Knights return a significant amount of talent. The most important returning player for Trinity is Austin Broadie, who is committed to play basketball and volleyball at Washburn. Broadie averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds last year. Also back is second team all-league forward Ashlyn Bigelow. The Knights have the talent returning to get to the state tournament.
Berean Academy lost to Olpe in the 1A sub-state finals last year, finishing with a 16-8 record. The Warriors return several players from that team, including guard Miranda Wiebe and post player Erin Mullins. Berean has a strong sophomore class that will be looked to contribute this season. Berean figures to be in the mix for the 2A Tournament.
Haven graduated a talented senior class that led the Wildcats to a 19-4 record a year ago. But there is still plenty of talent leftover, including letter winners post player Maguire Estill and guards Brooke Brawner and Carlee Arnold. If Haven’s newcomers can emerge, then a shot to make the state tournament isn’t out of the question.
Wichita Independent went 14-8 a year ago and lost to Garden Plain in the sub-state semifinals. The Panthers bring back a significant amount of experience from that team, including second team all-league forward Gosia Byczkowska. Also back for Independent are Hanna Scheck, who led the league in shooting and Nicole Szadkowska, who was honorable mention all-league.
Hesston brings back three starters from last season’s team that went 15-7: Caryn Yoder, Alex Martin and Anna Humphreys. The key for the Swathers this season will be trying to replace two valuable seniors that graduated in Elise Kaiser and Marissa Vogt.
Hutchinson Trinity finished last season 13-10 and made it to the sub-state finals. The Celtics return first team all-league forward Hayley Hughes, who averaged 14 points and five rebounds a game last season. Trinity also brings back seniors Becca Hammersmith and Natalie Ortiz.
Argonia went 18-6 a year ago and bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in Aubreigh Haxton (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Chelsea Coleman (10 points). The Red Raiders also bring back two more starters in seniors Karrlea Hessman and Alexis Vineyard.