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Lady Pirates beat Ottawa in home opener

by Brian Turrel

The Piper Lady Pirates’ season opener had a familiar feel to it. Piper controlled the game from the start with overwhelming defensive pressure and ran out to a lopsided score, 66-27 over the Ottawa Lady Cyclones.

Junior Evelyn Vazquez once again provided the intensity behind Piper’s defense, seemingly glued to the Ottawa ballhandlers on their way up the court and double-teaming with senior guard Riley Porter to lock down Ottawa’s offense. Vazquez and Porter scored several baskets turning steals into fast-break layups.

The Lady Pirates relied on senior forward Ayreona Carter for their inside presence. Ali Vigil, still working back from a knee injury in last year’s state final, warmed up with the team but didn’t play. Senior guard Grace Banes provided an outside threat, hitting three 3-point baskets.

Vazquez paced the Lady Pirates in scoring with 21, including 16 in the first half. Carter added 13, and Porter 12.

Piper stands second in the KBCA 4A rankings after finishing as the runner-up in last year’s state tournament and expects to contend once again for a championship.

The Piper girls will head to Paola next week to play in a tournament, facing off with former Kaw Valley rivals Basehor-Linwood in the opening round on Monday.

Senior guard Riley Porter scored on a breakaway layup. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Senior forward Ayreona Carter looked to score in the paint. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Senior guard Grace Banes took a 3-point shot from the left corner. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

The Piper cheerleaders fired up the full and noisy student section. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Evelyn Vazquez drove in for a layup. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Riley Porter drove the ball inside against the Ottawa defense. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Ashley Williams (33) fought for a loose ball against Ottawa’s Lauren Curtis. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Riley Porter and Evelyn Vazquez pressured Ottawa guard Maddison Soman in the backcourt. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Freshman Ryann Clark dribbled the ball in from the right side. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Ayreona Carter put back an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

High school cheer squads compete for state title

by Brian Turrel

Cheerleading squads from Piper, Turner, and Bonner Springs high schools competed Saturday in the third annual KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. The Pirates’ cheerleaders took home third place in the 4A division, following up their 2018 championship.

Spirit Gameday is KSHSAA’s state championship for cheerleading, now in its third year. Squads compete in three preliminary rounds — fight song, crowd leading, and band chant. Squads that make the final round perform a routine of their own selection, and then have to lead a cheer that fits a football game scenario randomly assigned by the judges.

Piper led all seventeen 4A squads after the preliminaries, but were edged out by first-place Louisburg in the finals.

Turner and Bonner Springs competed in the 5A division, but were unable to break through to the finals.

All the squads will be returning to the court when basketball season starts in early December.

The Piper High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

The Bonner Springs High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

The Turner High School cheerleaders competed in the 2019 KSHSAA Spirit Gameday. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

Stallions fall in 5A regional final

by Brian Turrel

Schlagle lost to Blue Valley Southwest 37-14 in the KSHSAA 5A regional final on Friday night, the Timberwolves’ second playoff victory over a KCKPS school in as many weeks.

Schlagle looked to running back Jaylin Richardson for rushing yards in the opening drives, but the Timberwolves contained him in the backfield and didn’t allow him to break free. On offense, Blue Valley Southwest focused on their own ground game, able to get solid gains up the middle and pulling out to a 14-0 lead.

On later drives, the Stallions had much better fortune through the air, getting Richardson out on the edge with swing passes, and targeting receiver Jermaine Hicks on deep throws. Hicks caught a 15-yard toss from quarterback Josh Becton with a minute remaining in the first quarter. Becton connected with Manowa Ngenzirabona for the 2-point conversion to pull within 14-8.

The Stallions kept the momentum going with a fumble recovery on the next Timberwolves drive, but weren’t able to cash in the opportunity. Southwest put together two touchdown drives in the second quarter and held a 28-8 halftime lead.

Schlagle got the first possession of the second half, but an interception gave the Timberwolves a short field and the first score of the half, a field goal for a 31-8 lead.

Cameron Campbell caught a touchdown throw from Becton with 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter for the final 37-14 result.

Schlagle ends the season with a 5-4 record, in a three-way tie for second place in the Kansas City-Atchison League.

Three other Wyandotte County teams also ended their seasons last night. Bonner Springs traveled to Bishop Miege, losing 57-8 to last year’s 4A champions. Piper played at undefeated Paola and lost 42-14. Wyandotte played at Olathe North in the 6A regional final, losing 56-13.