By Brad Hallier
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Ad Astra Radio area will be well represented at the state basketball tournaments this week, as seven schools qualified across six different state tournaments.
Here are five storylines, and there are some good ones, to watch for.
An enticing semifinal could wait for Hutchinson
This is a speculative piece in many ways, so forgive me for looking ahead a smidgen. But what a story it would be for the Hutchinson Salthawks to play Kapaun Mount Carmel in the semifinals.
Bryan Miller, the Hutchinson coach who has taken the Salthawks to state twice in four seasons, is a strong candidate not just for Class 5A state coach of the year but also for overall coach of the year. In 2018-2019, the Salthawks went 1-19. Now, they’re 21-1 and seeded third at the 5A state tournament in Emporia. Should the Salthawks get by Pittsburg, they could take on No. 2 Kapaun Mount Carmel, which has a tricky matchup with Blue Valley Southwest.
If it happens, you have Miller coaching against Steve Eck, who is well known in Hutchinson as the man who led the Hutchinson Community College men to a third NJCAA championship in 2017.
That would be fun.
Speaking of enticing semifinals, one could wait for McPherson
It’s rare that McPherson enters a state tournament as an underdog, but that happened last year when the Bullpups were seeded eighth. Yet, not surprisingly, the Bullpups finished third.
McPherson isn’t a plucky underdog this year. Coach Kurt Kinnamon’s Bullpups are back with the look of a team that could win the 4A title. Seeded second, McPherson opens with No. 7 Wellington on Wednesday. Get through that, and McPherson could play not just its basketball nemesis, but one across many sports – Bishop Miege.
McPherson has a museum’s worth of state championship trophies, and could have added about 20% to its overall total if it wasn’t for Miege through the years. Miege is typically underseeded at six, as a difficult schedule led the Stags to a 16-6 mark.
This is a certainty – Miege has many 4A teams beaten before the game starts. This is also certain – McPherson is not one of them. Should this matchup happen, the Bullpups are one of the few teams – mentally and physically – capable of beating MIege.
Hesston looks for a threepeat
Be honest. You thought Hesston would take a step back after graduating an incredible senior class that helped win back-to-back Class 3A titles. Also, coach Greg Raleigh stepped aside. The Swathers would be good, just not great.
Please. It’s easy to forget that Hesston’s subvarsity teams lose about as often as the varsity. This is a program built to sustain extended success.
New coach Garrett Roth’s team has continued to pile up wins. The Swathers, led by one of the best players in Kansas in Jake Proctor, have won 22 in a row since a season-opening loss to Southeast of Saline, which could be waiting for Hesston in the semifinals should both win their openers.
Hesston may not be the overwhelming favorite it has been the last two years, but it would be foolish to dismiss the Swathers.
Moundridge will try to send Vance Unrau into retirement in style
One of the best coaches in state history, Unrau has won five state championships at the 2A school just southeast of McPherson. Unrau’s retirement from coaching has been delayed a week, as the Wildcats maneuvered a brutal substate in Sterling and are seeded third in Manhattan. It’s an equally brutal path in front of Moundridge. If the Wildcats can beat No. 2 St. Marys, which generally plays a tough schedule, a great Thomas More Prep team would likely oppose Moundridge in the semifinals. But no matter what happens this week, what a career it’s been for Vance Unrau.
Let’s appreciate Stafford
Has any team been less appreciated this season than Stafford? After a great football season, Stafford continued its success in basketball.
The Trojans earned the top seed at the Western Plains Class 1A Division 2 substate, and dispatched a good Pawnee Heights team for the title.
Stafford is seeded fourth in Great Bend at 18-5 and will take on South Central in the first round. Don’t put it past Stafford to come away with some hardware.
