The officiating crew posed together before the start of the game. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Piper girls’ basketball won handily over Turner 60-30 on Friday evening. Senior Ryann Clark won the night, leading her team in scoring, and then being crowned courtwarming queen immediately after.
The Lady Pirates’ pressure defense hassled the Turner offense throughout the game, and at every pass it seemed like a Piper defender was already in position to prevent a clean dribble or pass.
The tough defense led to a series of layups from Clark and Sage Grann, especially in the second quarter when Piper turned up the defensive pressure even higher.
Jerzey Hanna was Turner’s main response to the pressure, playing through contact to earn six first-quarter free throw chances. Later in the game, Hanna connected from the perimeter on two three-pointers and a long two.
Even though Clark slipped away in the fourth quarter to change into her courtwarming dress, her 14 points paced the Lady Pirates, with Grann right behind at 13.
Avary Vallejo hit three first-half shots behind the arc for nine points, and Lauren Marron also scored nine.
Hanna totalled 14 points in the game for the Lady Bears, with Arylne Carrillo and Damarys Nieto each adding six.
The courtwarming coronation took place after the game. Alongside Clark, senior boys’ basketball player Terelle Berry was crowned courtwarming king.
The Lady Pirates improved their season record to 13-5 with just two home games remaining, facing Topeka West on Tuesday and Shawnee Heights on Friday.
Turner stands at 1-14 for the season, with a January win against Washington in the plus column. The Lady Bears will play at Basehor-Linwood on Valentine’s Day.
Piper junior Sage Grann took a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Piper sophomore Avary Vallejo took a jump shot from the free throw line. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Turner sophomore Kahlis Jones took a mid-range jump shot. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Turner sophomore Jerzey Hanna took a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)The Piper cheerleaders performed a routine at halftime. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Piper senior Ryann Clark drove to the basket on a fast break. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Piper sophomore Abbie Roth took a shot from the right wing. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Piper junior Sage Grann led a fast break. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Piper senior Evelyn Collins and Turner junior Jayden Hanna wrestled for a loose ball. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Piper junior Lauren Marron took a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Turner junior Anely Navidad took a mid-range jumper. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)A double-team of Piper defenders frustrated a shot attempt from Turner senior Damarys Nieto. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Piper senior Tatum Vallejo took a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Piper senior Jade Arwine made a layup. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Piper seniors Ryann Clark and Terelle Berry were introduced on court before being named courtwarming queen and king. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
A Piper High School student, Aubri Markham of Kansas City, Kansas, has been awarded a scholarship at the second annual Women in Business Career Summit.
More than $20,000 in scholarships were awarded to current and future K-Staters at the event.
Six high school students received scholarships for $1,000 to pursue future studies at K-State.
The event was made possible through individual and corporate sponsor support. Sponsors for this year’s summit included BNSF Railway, ConocoPhillips, Fastenal, the Kansas State University Foundation, Koch Industries, Nike and Target.
It supports business research related to the broader goals of the initiative. It works to educate, empower and engage leaders to create social and economic impact and enhance societal prosperity, a spokesman stated.
Piper junior Sage Grann went up for a layup. Grann scored 17 points in the Lady Pirates 57-27 win over Sumner Academy. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Piper Lady Pirates won a cross-town match against the Sumner Academy Lady Sabres 57-27 Friday evening at Sumner.
Piper’s active defense made it difficult for the Lady Sabres to get the ball inside and helped the visitors take an early 6-0 lead, but Sumner took advantage of free throws and a timely three-point shot from Ariana Rivera to pull ahead 10-9 by the end of the first quarter.
Sumner kept the game knotted midway through the second quarter, using full court pressure to slow the Piper offense. As Piper broke the press, a burst of fast-break scoring wore down the home team as halftime approached.
Rivera hit two three-pointers in the second quarter to keep things close, but the Lady Pirates went to the break with a 25-18 advantage.
The third quarter showed much more of the same as Piper controlled the tempo and extended the lead. The Lady Pirates distributed the scoring, racking up 19 points in the quarter with no player scoring more than four.
Sage Grann led Piper with 17 points, and Lauren Marron and Anneliese Lockwood added nine points each. Grann was especially effective on the offensive glass, getting several points on putbacks.
Rivera ended the game with 18 of Sumner’s 27 points, along with five steals. Kylie McCleary pulled down 11 rebounds in the contest.
The win gives Piper a 2-1 record heading into United Kansas Conference play next week. The Lady Pirates will take on Topeka’s Seaman Lady Vikings at home on Tuesday starting at 5:45 p.m.
The Lady Sabres, just off a 59-9 drubbing of Kansas City’s Northeast High School, dropped to 2-1. The team will open Meadowlark Conference play against Washington at home on Tuesday. The game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Sumner junior Ariana Rivera drove around a Piper defender. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior Kylie McCleary put back an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Piper cheerleaders practiced a stunt during halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper freshman Anneliese Lockwood put up a shot from the block. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior Ariana Rivera took a short jumper from the baseline. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper junior Lauren Marron launched a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
In between quarters, the Sumner cheerleaders showed off a stunt called “The Bird.” (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper sophomore Abbie Roth flipped up a shot as she sailed out of bounds. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper sophomore Avary Vallejo took a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
