HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Wyandotte County girls basketball players named to All-Kaw Valley League team

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Several Wyandotte County girls basketball players were named to the 2014-15 All-Kaw Valley League girls team.

Below is the team.

ALL-LEAGUE

Jessica Wayne , Piper
Haley White, Piper
Lexsi Owens, Piper
Maya Morrow, Piper
Julianne Jackson, Bonner Springs
Miyah Hightower, Bonner Springs
Madison McDowell, Basehor-Linwood
SaMone Springsteen, Bishop Ward
Kija Cammock, Lansing
Madelyn Moya, Lansing
Jabria Leggett, Mill Valley
Catie Kaifes, Mill Valley

HONORABLE MENTION

Sarah Ahart, Tonganoxie
Tressa Walker, Tonganoxie
Mikaela Bennett, Bonner Springs
Lexie Myers, Mill Valley

Former Sumner Academy basketball great Reese Holliday leads UMKC to victory

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Valentine’s Day proved to be a Holliday for the UMKC men’s basketball team on Saturday afternoon, as senior forward Reese Holliday scored a season-high 19 points in a 61-50 road win at Chicago State, making it six wins in the last eight games.

The victory completed a season-sweep for the ‘Roos over CSU, and it also helped them surpass their win total from a year ago, the most since 2011 at UMKC.

“Our defense was pretty good today, we had a couple lapses but I was really pleased,” Head Coach Kareem Richardson said. “I thought, especially Thad (Smith) started us off well on defense, getting four blocks. Frank (Williams) did a good job of talking defensively as well.”

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Muldoon's 29 keeps Basehor-Linwood perfect in 65-62 win against Piper

By NICK SLOAN
nick@kansascitykansan.com

BASEHOR, KAN. ---- For most of the season, the 14-0 Basehor-Linwood Bobcats boys basketball team has not needed luck, with the team's margin of victory averaging around 20 points.

But following his team's 65-62 victory against Piper on Tuesday, Basehor-Linwood Bobcats head coach Mike McBride said his team was "lucky" to finish the regular season sweep against the Piper Pirates.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Basehor-Linwood improves to 12-0 after 66-43 win against De Soto

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

BASEHOR, KAN. ---- Coming into the season, one of the biggest question marks for the Basehor-Linwood boys basketball team was the guard position.

Having lost most of their guards from the 19-4 sub-state championship last year, some wondered how this year's group would do.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Sumner Academy falls to Piper at home

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Sumner Academy (5-7) fell to Piper (9-3) yesterday, 82-68, even with Saadique Perkins scoring 18 points. The Pirates grabbed the lead against Sumner on a free throw from Collin Beebe in the second period and held on.

The Sabres fell off early, trailing 38-34 by the half after scoring a game-high 19 points during the second quarter. Both teams were very physical on the court, with Sumner picking up 27 fouls, while Piper had 23.

Perkins found success all over the court for the Sabres, making 50 percent (3-for-6) of shots attempted while also sinking 92 percent (11-for-12) of free throws attempted.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Sumner Academy falls to Blue Valley Southwest in final of Spring Hill Invitational

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Although freshman Saadique Perkins recorded 15 points, the Sumner Academy Sabres fell to Blue Valley Southwest 63-39.

The Sabres got off to a very slow start, only scoring 10 points in the first 16 minutes, finding themselves down 10 - 30 at the halfway point.

Perkins was the front runner for the Sumner Academy offense with 15 points, including eight during the third period.

Fellow freshman De'Auan McClaine put up three three-pointers and scored nine points total.

Also contributing for the Sabres were Derek Sykes (7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block), Marvin Ellis (3 points) and Shaun Rainey (2 points, 4 rebounds). Sumner Academy finished the game with 23 rebounds (11 offensive/12 defensive), one block and two steals.

Next up, Sumner Academy will play host to rival Piper on Tuesday.

Blue Valley SW 12 18 21 12 63
Sumner Academy 06 04 19 10 39

Top Performers:

BVSW-Matt Wilkinson 21
SA-Saadique Perkins 15

BVSW: Lester 11, Ersteffy 18, Randall 5, Anderson 6, Wilkinson 21, Morgan 0, Thomas 2; 23 12-17 63

SA: Ellis 3, V.Jackson 0, Taylor 1, Rainey 4, Nash 0, Sanders 0, Perkins 15, Marshall 0, McClaine 9, Sykes 7, D.Jackson 0; 15 4-6 39

3 point goals: Ersteffy 3, Randall; McClaine 3, Ellis, Perkins;

BOYS BASKETBALL: Bobcats advance to finals after 73-56 win against Ottawa

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

BASEHOR, KAN. ---- The Basehor-Linwood Bobcats overcame an early 16-1 run by the Ottawa Cyclones to advance to the finals of the Basehor-Linwood Invitational Tournament.

Basehor-Linwood improved to 10-0 on the season after the 73-56 victory against Ottawa.

Early on, thanks to a hot-shooting Ottawa team, the Bobcats were in a 16-4 hole. Ottawa converted on four straight three-point shots to flip an early four-point deficit into the 12-point lead.

SPORTS: Sumner Academy opens Spring Hill Tournament with a win

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- The Sumner Academy Sabres boys basketball team improved its record to 4-5 with a 60-49 victory against Eisenhower on Wednesday in the opening round of the Spring Hill Invitational Tournament.

Sumner Academy grabbed the lead against Eisenhower on a two-pointer from Derek Sykes in the second period and held on.

Sumner pulled ahead early, claiming a 26-23 lead at the half. The Sabres offense was led by Sykes, who scored 18 points, including seven during the first period.

PHOTOS: Basehor-Linwood vs. Bishop Ward, girls basketball

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Here are photos from last Friday's Basehor-Linwood/Bishop Ward girls basketball.

Click read more to view additional photos!

SPORTS: Basehor-Linwood enters the holiday break undefeated after dismissing Tonganoxie, 79-43

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com 

BASEHOR, KAN. — After an ugly victory against Piper on Tuesday night, the Basehor-Linwood boys basketball team rebounded with a strong performance to knock off Tonganoxie, 79-43.

The M&M Boys, Patrick Muldoon and Jahron McPherson, combined for 42 points to lead the way in Basehor-Linwood's victory.

SPORTS: Five score in double figures as Bobcats trounce Topeka-Hayden, 82-63

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

BASEHOR, KAN. ---- Entering the season, the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats boys basketball team flew in under the radar a bit.

They were ranked just 12th in the 4A preseason Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Poll after losing over 75 percent of its scoring.

Even after a 21-point win against Bonner Springs to open the season, they moved up just two spots.

They are now on the radar after the Bobcats dominated the fourth-ranked Topeka-Hayden Wildcats 82-63 on the road Friday night.

Five Bobcats finished in double figures, with Patrick Muldoon leading the way with 16 points.

Jack Dale scored 15 points, Joe Gorman scored 13 points, Nick Fisher scored 11 and Jahron McPherson finished with 10 points.

Basehor-Linwood did it a bit differently Friday night compared to its first victory against Bonner Springs.

SPORTS: McDowell's 18 points not enough as Lady Bobcats lose to Sumner Academy

By NICK SLOAN
NJSloan212@gmail.com

BASEHOR, KAN. — In a potential sub-state preview game, the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats girls basketball team was defeated by Sumner Academy in a dramatic 45-44 game.

Madison McDowell played a great game, scoring 18 points and grabbing 6 rebounds.

Through the first three quarters, it was a game of runs.

Similarly to their opening game in Bonner Springs, the Lady Bobcats played a great opening quarter on the defensive side of the ball. They forced turnovers and scored the first four points of the game.

Two baskets from Quinnlyn Walcott resulted in four of Basehor-Linwood's nine opening first quarter points. After a slow start, the Lady Sabres climbed back into the game and closed the quarter out on a 5-0 run to grab a 13-9 lead.

The Lady Bobcats' defense, along with a mix of sloppy offense by the Lady Sabres, led to an eight-point halftime lead.

Basehor-Linwood scored 12 of the half's final 14 points. McDowell scored eight points in the quarter, outscoring Sumner Academy's entire team by three points.

Piper Basketball Academy set for this summer

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

Coming off a terrific turnaround season that culminated in a trip to the 2013 4A state tournament, the Piper Pirates boys basketball program is getting ready for a busy summer.

Part of that summer includes the 2013 Piper Basketball Academy.

The academy will be held from May 28 to June 30 at Piper Middle School. Grades 6-9 will meet for practices and meetings from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Monday thru Thursdays, while 10-12 graders will meet from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. on the same days.

Players interested in the event will be taught the fundamentals of basketball that focuses on "individual improvement within a team concept."

Piper Pirates boys basketball head coach Steve Wallace will run the academy, while select coaches will be involved in the tournament.

Costs for the academy is $150. All fees are due by May 8 to the Piper High School office. The costs do not include any summer strength and conditioning programs.

For more information or if you're interested, you can contact Wallace at piperbball@yahoo.com.

Former Wildcat Tra'Vaughn White signs with Duquesne

By NICK SLOAN, nick@kansascitykansan.com

Tra'Vaughn White, the all-time leading scorer at Washington High School and winner of this season's junior college scoring title, has committed to Duquesne University.

White picked the Atlantic 10 program over a handful of other schools that were recruiting him.

He averaged 25.9 points a game in the 2012-13 season at Independence Community College in Independence, Kan. He averaged nearly 6 rebounds a game last year at Independence.

During his senior season at Washington High School, White broke the scoring record, which was held by Earl Watson - who played basketball at UCLA.

He led Washington to two state tournaments, putting the program on his back and taking it where it had not been in a few decades.

Washington finished 5A runner-up in White's senior season.

Former Washington Wildcats basketball star wins junior college scoring title

Washington Wildcats boys basketball all-time leading scorer Tra'Vaughn White isn't done "getting buckets" quite yet.

Two years after he won The Kansas City Star's All-Metro Player of the Year award, White was recently named the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference's Player of the Year.

Currently at Independence Community College in Independence, Kan., White also led the nation in scoring at the junior college level.

He averaged 25.9 points a game in the 2012-13 season. He's also improved his rebounding since graduating from Washington High School - averaging 5.5 rebounds a game.

He shot 53.6 percent from the field this season.

Rivals Piper, Ward to come together for good cause

Piper High School and Bishop Ward High School will compete on the court Feb. 12.

Off the court, they'll come together to compete against cancer.

The Pirates and Cyclones welcome community members to attend the boys and girls basketball games at Piper High School.

More information in the flyer below:

Bang! Bang! Pirates hammer Bonner Springs with pressure, offense

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

A quick note to the Kaw Valley League - you better wake up and prepare for the Piper Pirates boys basketball team.

In a rematch from a close affair in the Panthers Invitational Classic in Paola, Kan., Piper saved the drama for another night as the Pirates crushed Bonner Springs 67-43 on the road.

Piper used pressure defense and smooth transition basketball on offense to pull away from the Braves, winning its sixth-straight game after beginning the year with a close loss to Mill Valley.

Once again, another player stepped up to lead the Pirates in scoring. Vince Eskina scored 13 first half points as the Pirates opened up a cushion early in the second quarter.

After a tight opening six minutes of the game - one that saw the Pirates lead 11-9 - Piper put some distance between Bonner Springs with an 11-3 run to close out the quarter, taking a 22-12 advantage.

Eskina scored five of those points during the run. A three-point play from point guard Calvin Johnson Jr., helped Piper open a six-point lead - the closest Bonner Springs would be the rest of the way.

"I would say (our balance) came from our hard work in the summer," said head coach Steve Wallace, who's guided the Pirates to six wins after the team finished just 2-19 last season. "Our guys are good at realizing who's hot during the game and they find them."

GLASS WORK: Wildcats conquer Pioneers to win Leavenworth championship

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

Two years ago, the Washington Wildcats had to overcome an 18-point fourth quarter deficit and survive two grueling overtime periods to knock off the Hogan Prep Rams in the 2010 Citizen's National Bank final.

In 2012, the Wildcats really only needed three good quarters to cement a tournament title.

Washington defeated Leavenworth 62-48 in a game that really wasn't that close to win the program's second Leavenworth tournament crown in the past three years.

Senior forward James Jappa was Washington's MVP of the game and tournament. His 19-point, 17-rebound performance in the final against Leavenworth came off the heels of his 14-point, 14-rebound game against Hogan Prep in round two.

"Jappa's a beast," said Eric King, head coach of the Wildcats. "He worked his butt off this summer. He's always been a good player, but he had to get his weight under control and get into better shape to run."

The Wildcats used a 28-14 rebounding advantage in the first half to quickly establish dominance inside the paint.

Jappa's 14 points led the way for Washington, as the Wildcats clawed to a 41-29 lead. Nine first quarter points by Kameron Allen helped Washington jump out to a 25-16 lead after the first quarter.

WELCOME BACK, PIPER BASKETBALL: Pirates win first tournament title since 2007

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

For the first time since George W. Bush was president, the Piper Pirates have a regular season tournament championship to celebrate.

Piper defeated Bonner Springs 64-61 in the final of the 2012 Panthers Invitational Tournament in Paola, Kan.

As he has all season long, guard Luke Long was the story for the Pirates offense.

Long had a game-high 21 points, including three three-pointers on six attempts. Long came into the game averaging just over 14 points a night. Long was also warm from inside the arc - missing just two shots inside the three-point line.

The junior received help from another junior - Dominique Jennings. Jennings, who had a double-double against the Harmon Hawks in the opening round game, wrapped up his solid tournament with 10 points. Senior point guard Calvin Johnson added 10 points of his own.

Piper trailed 16-12 after one quarter, but gained a 34-31 halftime lead after scoring 22 points in the second quarter.

On the Bonner Springs side of things, Austen Twombley scored 15 points in the game - leading the Braves in scoring. Jordan Jackson had a season-high 12 points, with Logan Terrell and Zshavon Dotson adding eight points a piece.

It's the first tournament championship for Piper since 2007, when David Hall served as the head coach of the Pirates varsity program.

After a rough first-year for second-year head coach Steve Wallace, it's clear the Pirates ship is turning around in boys basketball. Finishing seventh in essentially the same tournament last season that was held in Eudora, Piper won just three games the entire 2011-12 season.

Four games into the 2012-13 season, Piper's matched that win total.

Piper leaves Paola with a 3-1 record, the only loss coming to an undefeated 5A squad at Mill Valley High School. Bonner Springs drops its first game of the season.

Scholarship by Fate: Former Washington guard Campbell lands unexpected scholarship after pick-up game

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

There are strange stories in the world of college recruiting.

Sometimes, strange can be bad. Other times, strange can be a blessing.

After graduating from Washington High School in 2010, former Washington Wildcats guard Deandre Campbell thought his basketball career was over. He was taking educational courses and was working at a local grocery store.

Then, fate intervened in a pick-up game in Kansas City, Kan., this week.

With recruiters from Seward Community College in town to check out another local product, it was Campbell who stole the show.

In a pick-up game that involved some recent KCK basketball greats, including Washington Wildcats all-time leading scorer Tra'Vaughn White, it was Campbell who put in enough work to earn a two-year scholarship with Seward Community College. 

"He was the best player on the court that day," said Derrick Estelle, head coach of the Kansas City Blue Dogs AAU program Campbell played for. "Deandre just balled that day and the coach saw what he liked."

Campbell, who saw limited action through his junior season at Washington, provided the Wildcats a rock of leadership during his senior season. He averaged 8.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds a game.

He also made the all Kansas City, Kan., League's defensive team and finished top five in the voting.

Still, while he had a good senior season, the college option was not there. For two years, it looked like his basketball career was over.

Until last weekend, that is.

"This means a lot to me," Campbell said. "I'm really excited about meeting all the coaches and the players. I want to fit in and help them win some games."

Over the past four seasons, Washington Wildcats head coach Eric King has coached 15 players who eventually earned scholarships. This case may have been the strangest since scholarships generally aren't offered on the fly.

However, the coach isn't too surprised Campbell will play college hoops for at least two years.

"He's a competitor," King said. "Campbell was a  competitive player for us and he was one of the biggest reasons we made it to the state tournament in 2010. He was a great defensive player for us."

Campbell provided huge minutes and points during Washington's run to the state tournament.

He shot nearly 60 percent from the field in sub-state play, averaging 10 points a game in two upset wins against Lansing and Highland Park.

"When we finally beat Highland Park, that was sweet," Campbell said. "It was a great feeling getting to state in my senior season."

Lessons can be learned from examples.

In Campbell's case, it's the lesson that athletes should never throw in the towel no matter how bleak it looks for them.

"Campbell never gave up," King said. "He could have easily given up his career. He was working in a store when he got this opportunity."

"This is a blessing for him."