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)
Sophomore Tyler Holmes raced out on a fast break. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
After nearly hanging a hundred points on the Maranatha Eagles in their last match-up, the Bishop Ward Cyclones got a much more spirited contest when they traveled to Maranatha on Friday, winning 61-43.
The Cyclones raced out to a 22-7 first-quarter lead, with pressure defense and good inside shooting from Jeremyah Greer and Immanuel Campbell.
The Eagles made a second-quarter comeback, holding the visitors to just seven points in the quarter. Maranatha had consecutive baskets late in the half to get the lead down to single digits, but a Ward timeout set up a three-pointer from Dustin Rector to keep the Eagles at arm’s length.
The Eagles kept the pressure on in the third quarter. Colton Williams hit two three-pointers and brought the lead down to six late in the quarter. As the clock ran out, Campbell hit a twisting put-back to send the game to the final frame with a 43-35 score.
The Eagles’ late outside attempts refused to fall, and six Cyclones scored a combined 16 points to pull away in the fourth quarter to the 61-43 final tally.
Campbell led the Cyclones with 18 points in the game, and Greer totaled 15. Rector scored 8 points, including two key three-pointers to hold off the Eagles’ challenge in the second and third quarters.
The win improves the Cyclones’ already-impressive season record to 13-2. The team’s next contest is at home against Lawrence’s Bishop Seabury Academy on Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m.
Senior T.J. Maddox scored on a layup. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Senior Dustin Rector lined up a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Maranatha junior Cooper Johnston stood his ground to pick up a charge on senior Jeremyah Greer. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Senior T.J. Maddox got a lot of height on his jump shot. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Senior Immanuel Campbell drove the ball from the top of the circle. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Senior Immanuel Campbell put up a mid-range jumper. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Sophomore Tyler Holmes put up a running hook shot. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Senior T.J. Maddox hit a jump shot in the lane over Maranatha junior center Graden Oswald. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Senior Jeremyah Greer pulled down an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel) Senior Jalen Pickens hit a baseline runner after rebounding his own missed three-pointer. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Olivia Stean posed before the tournament in a Bonner Springs wrestling T-shirt first won by her father (and former Bonner wrestler) Jeff Stean 32 years ago. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
A family feud decided the standings at the Frontier League girls’ wrestling tournament Wednesday evening at Bonner Springs.
Bonner standout Olivia Stean pinned her cousin, Tonganoxie sophomore Grace Stean, in the final match of the 170-pound weight class. Grace got an early takedown, but Olivia roared back for a pin with thirty seconds left in the first period.
The win pushed the Braves a slim half-point ahead of the Chieftains into second place to settle what had been a back-and-forth battle among four teams for second place behind runaway winner Baldwin.
Olivia Stean also hit the century mark for high school wins, earning her hundredth with a pin of Spring Hill’s Cali Claar early in the tournament. Stean is now 32-0 for the 2022-2023 season.
Bonner’s Jenna Knight won the title in the 115-pound class, pinning Ottawa’s Brooklyn Soman in the final after outlasting Eudora’s Kayleigh Miller in a 7-3 decision in the semifinal.
Bianca Keith placed second in the 155-pound class, while Kylie Enriquez (120), Neveah Brown (135), and Aaryn Krebs (235) earned third place in their classes. Brown won her third-place match with a takedown of Eudora’s Madelynn Arnold in sudden-victory (overtime).
The Braves’ wrestlers are looking ahead to their regional tournament in Topeka on Feb. 11 with the opportunity to win a spot at the state tournament in Wichita.
Team standings:
Baldwin 186.0 Bonner Springs 144.5 Tonganoxie 144.0 Paola 139.5 Spring Hill 137.0 Eudora 108.0 Ottawa 47.0
Hadley Hammerbacher tried to turn Ottawa’s Violet Parker in a 125-pound match. Hammerbacher won by 9-3 decision. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)Autumn Ashford pinned Eudora’s Abby Fager in a 140-pound match. Ashford won by fall and went on to place 4th. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Bianca Keith threw Tonganoxie’s Kendall Smart in a 155-pound match. Keith won by fall and went 3-1 in the tournament. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Olivia Stean wrestled Spring Hill’s Cali Claar in a 170-pound match. Stean won the match by fall, the 100th win of her high school career. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Olivia Stean received congratulations from teammate Jenna Knight after getting her hundredth career victory. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Kylie Enriquez wrestled Tonganoxie’s Grae Vanderweide in a 120-pound match. Enriquez won the match by fall and took 3rd place in the class. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Emmalee Foya had a lock on Tonganoxie’s Brooklin Rich in the 130-pound consolation semi-final. Foya won the match by fall in the 2nd period and took 4th place in the tournament. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Jenna Knight wrestled Ottawa’s Brooklyn Soman in the 115-pound final. Knight won the match by fall in the first period. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Neveah Brown tossed Eudora’s Madelynn Arnold in the 135-pound third-place match. Brown won the match with a takedown in sudden-victory. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Aaryn Krebs wrestled Tonganoxie’s Anna Tochtrop in a 235-pound match. Krebs won the match by fall and took 3rd place in the class. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Olivia Stean wrestled Tonganoxie’s Grace Stean in a 170-pound match. Olivia Stean won the match by fall in the 1st period. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
Tonganoxie’s Grace Stean got a small measure of revenge with a surprise cake to the face of her cousin Olivia Stean as they stood on the podium. (Photo copyright 2023 by Brian Turrel)
