November 2023

ELYRIA, Kansas – Three seasons of success is now in the past as challenging times are ahead for the Elyria Christian girls basketball program as they head into the upcoming 2023-24 season with just nine players available at practices of which only three have solid varsity playing experience.Lady Eagle head coach Greg Fields is beginning his eleventh season and will have his work cut out for him as he needs to replace 27 points per game that was lost with the graduations of Ryland Hawkinson, Allie Stone, and Alexus Swenson.

LINDSBORG, Kansas – It was a bit like a roller coaster last season for the Smoky Valley girls basketball team as they won some big games and struggled in others before closing out 11-10 overall and sixth in the Central Kansas League standings.Good news, not a single player was lost to graduation and the Lady Vikings return five seniors and three juniors who all gained plenty of quality varsity playing time in 2022-23.“It was a roller coaster kind of season as we had such a strong first game that we had the belief that the season would be something special,” noted Lady Viking head coach Jason Drouillard.

LINDSBORG, Kansas – The Smoky Valley boys and girls wrestling programs will both return at least a pair of state qualifying wresters and one state champion from 2022-23 to build on as they each look to make more runs at both medals and state titles for the 2023-24 season.Among the returnees for the Lady Vikings will be state champion at 135, senior Keira Mullen who finished the season with a record of 26-6.

LITTLE RIVER, Kansas – The Little River boys basketball program will look to remain near the top of the league and still make a run for state despite losing five key players to graduation and returning just two with any solid varsity game time experience.Directing the youthful team will be Erik Base who begins his third season in charge of the Redskins boys program along with his faithful assistant, former McPherson College head coach Roger Trimmell.In 2022-23 the Redskins went 17-6 overall and placed second in the Wheat State League standings, closing out the season losing to eventual state champion Macksville in their Class 1A Division I sub-state.Kayston Cox, Rylan Konen, all-state honoree Braxton Lafferty, Dalton Mantz and Treyton Olander graduated, leaving Little River short 45.3 points, 18.3 rebounds, 11.1 steals, and 10.6 assists per game short from what they had last season.“These guys were a very fun group to work with,” explained Redskin head coach Erik Base talking about the graduates.

LITTLE RIVER, Kansas – Fresh off a state title in volleyball, the majority of the Little River girls basketball team returns to make another run for a Class 1A Division I state title in basketball as well.In 2022-23, the Lady Redskins were coming off an unbeaten Wheat State League Championship, ranked number one in the state and sporting a 19-1 record before being derailed by St.

LINDSBORG, Kansas – Losing eight seniors from a team that finished 11-10 in 2022-23, the Smoky Valley boys basketball program looks toward a season of challenges and overhaul.Beginning his thirteenth season directing the program, Viking head coach Doug Schneider explained, “Look, we graduated eight seniors and that included eight starters.

INMAN, Kansas – For the 2023-24 season the Inman girls basketball program will look for success under the guidance of a new coach along with the help of six solid returning players.In 2022-23 the Lady Teutons stumbled their way to the finish line with a 10-12 overall record to go with a fourth-place finish in the Heart of America League.Now the program has a new leader in head coach Matt Harris along with assistance from Darrin Eddy.“We think our key to success will be getting all the newcomers and starters comfortable with their roles on the team,” explained coach Harris when discussing keys to the success of the season.

MOUNDRIDGE, Kansas – Things will be different at the courtside of Moundridge boys basketball as they look to begin season number one of the post-Vance Unrau era while defending their Class 2A state championship.After 36 seasons, Vance Unrau has retired having gone 567-262 in games played while taking 10 Wildcat teams to the state tournament and winning five of them, including last season’s bon voyage title.Also gone are Logan Churchill and Landon Kaufman, both two-time All-Class 2A honorees.

INMAN, Kansas – Losing four starters from a team that finished 18-4 last season means likely that the Inman boys basketball team will be working on a rebuild for 2023-24.The Teutons finished out the 2022-23 season at 18-4 overall after they lost in their Class 2A sub-state semifinals to eventual state champion Moundridge.While not sure just how many wins he has, Inman head coach Brett Froese is beginning his 15-season leading the program and only notes that he is getting close to his victory number 200.For the upcoming season, Froese will need to replace four starters as Eli Brunk, Harrison Brunk and Josiah Buller all graduated and Tanner Heckel, an all-state honoree as a junior, who has transferred to Lydon when his mother took a new job.

MOUNDRIDGE, Kansas – With the upcoming 2023-24 season, the Moundridge girls basketball program will lean heavy on many very talented underclassmen to work toward scoring a league title and hopefully a trip to the Class 2A state tournament.Last season the Lady Wildcats stumbled out of the opening tip and went 1-5 before the holiday break only to power back and win their midseason tournament and close out the final 16 games going 10-6 before losing in sub-state to eventual Class 2A state champion Berean Academy.Last season the Lady Wildcats core came from five seniors, one junior and three freshmen.