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Ward girls advance over Hiawatha, 49-45

by Brian Turrel

Coach Dominique Washington challenged the Bishop Ward Lady Cyclones after a half of being outplayed and outmuscled by the Hiawatha Redhawks. He reminded them of the obstacles and adversity they had faced all season and how they had come through.

“It’s up to you. It’s up to you to dig this one out. Get yourself out of the hole. I guarantee you we will advance,” Washington recalled after the game. “And that’s what they did. We came out strong.”

The team responded to Washington’s challenge, and Bishop Ward came back from an 11-point second quarter deficit to beat Hiawatha in the 3A KSHSAA sub-state playoffs, 49-45.

Bishop Ward went on a run in the third quarter, pulling even with the Redhawks with about 5 minutes to go in the querter. Hiawatha didn’t relent, and the two teams traded leads throughout the second half. Trapping defense with active hands on the ball and the ball-handler prevented any easy plays by either team.

The vocal Ward fans weren’t able to exhale until 4.2 seconds remained in the contest. With Ward up by 3, Jimena Lopez was knocked to the ground in the Redhawks’ last-chance attempt to regain possession. Lopez hit the second of two free throws for a 4-point lead, eliminating Hiawatha’s chance for a game-tying buzzer-beater.

Lopez finished the game with 18 points, 16 in the second half. She hit key baskets on drives in the third quarter, and made 4 of 7 free throws in the closing minutes to keep Ward ahead. Tina Rosales scored 10, and Perla Frayre-Delgado added 8.

Ward advances to the 3A sub-state semi-finals on Friday. The sub-state semi-finals and finals are being held at Hiawatha High School. Ward will face off against the Sabetha Lady Bluejays, tipping off at 6 p.m.

Other local playoff action:

3A: Bishop Ward boys lost to Marysville 63-25.
4A: Piper girls defeated Ottawa 64-36.
5A: Turner boys lost to Basehor-Linwood 70-40.
Schlagle boys lost to De Soto 68-62.
Washington boys defeated St. James Academy. They move on to play at De Soto in the sub-state final on Friday at 7 p.m.
Bonner Springs boys lost to Topeka West 71-54.
6A: Harmon girls lost to Olathe North 79-12.

Jimena Lopez wrestled for a rebound. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Both teams scrambled after a loose ball on the floor. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Bishop Ward head coach Dominique Washington encouraged his team during a break in the fourth quarter. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Jimena Lopez tried a scoop shot to get out of the reach of her defender. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Sophomore Sofia Cook took a fall-away jumper. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Tina Rosales was challenged as she went to the basket. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Tina Rosales got some push-back from a defender as she drove along the baseline. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Vanesa Otero drove around the defense of Hiawatha junior Callyn Pavlish. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Hiawatha junior Katherine Madsen got back to defend a layup by junior Vanesa Otero. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Jimena Lopez got congratulations from her mother after the game. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Jimena Lopez drove for a layup. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Freshman Jaden Oropeza got a brushback from Hiawatha sophomore Clara Lindstrom. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Perla Frayre-Delgado was defended by Hiawatha sophomore Clara Lindstrom. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Sophomore Sofia Cook put up a short jumper on the baseline. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Aliana Rodriguez muscled a shot up past the Hiawatha defense. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Hiawatha sophomore Sarah Madsen was surrounded by Ward defenders as soon as she came with a rebound. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Pirates head to post-season with 19-1 record

by Brian Turrel

The Piper Pirates head into post-season play with a full head of steam, knocking off the Eudora Cardinals 62-41 Friday evening at the Piper fieldhouse. The Pirates finished the season ranked first in Class 4A, and will attempt to duplicate last year’s championship run.

Piper’s multiple scoring options were more than enough to sink Eudora. Tamar Bates showed his ability to blow past defenders or to pull up and hit an outside shot. Gabe Eskina and Ty Shelley provided outlets on the wing, while Christian Arndt battled down low, controlling the boards on both ends.

Bates led the scoring with 21 points, picking up 12 in Piper’s 19-point second quarter. That scoring burst gave Piper a 29-16 halftime margin and made clear the outcome of the game wasn’t in doubt. Jaron Briggs scored 11, hitting three 3-pointers.

Piper celebrated its senior players in a ceremony before the game. Seniors Ty Shelley, Gabe Eskina, Christian Arndt, Scott Lindblad, Parker Bryant were honored, along with team manager Jack Robinson.

The Pirates earned the Frontier League title with a perfect record in conference games. The only blemish in the 19-1 season was a narrow loss to 5A contenders Basehor-Linwood on Jan. 25.

Piper will tip off the sub-state playoffs on Wednesday, March 4, by playing host to the 5-15 Atchison Redmen. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Senior Ty Shelley hit a three-point shot from the left side. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Scott Lindblad got the layup and was fouled late in the fourth quarter. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Team manager Jack Robinson was escorted by his parents during the senior night ceremony. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Tamar Bates snared the ball and put up a shot on the fly. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior dance team captain Morgan Slaughter performed during the senior farewell dance. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Christian Arndt went high to block the shot of Eudora junior Ty Abts. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Junior Tamar Bates drove past Eudora senior Jacob Merkle. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Senior Gabe Eskina looked for an outlet on the wing. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Sophomore Jaron Briggs took a three point shot from the right side. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

Lady Pirates win Frontier, set sights on state

During Friday night’s game against Eudora, senior Ali Vigil became the fifth Piper Pirate to reach 1,000 career points. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Piper Lady Pirates defeated conference rivals Eudora on Friday night, claiming the Frontier League crown with a 48-39 home win.

The title was up for grabs coming into the game, with both teams boasting undefeated conference records. Eudora fought tough through the first half on the strength of freshman Sawyer Schreiner’s lights-out shooting.

As the game wore on and Piper focused its defense on stopping Schreiner, the Lady Cardinals’ offense struggled, while the Lady Pirates surged ahead.

Piper’s offense was powered by senior Ali Vigil. Vigil scored inside and out, hitting 3 three-pointers and scoring 19 overall. She also served as a primary ball-handler while point guard Evelyn Vazquez sat out parts of both halves with foul trouble.

Vigil was also recognized on the court during a break in the fourth quarter for scoring her 1,000th career point.

Piper recognized senior players in a ceremony after the game. Ali Vigil, Emma Serrano, Riley Porter, Grace Banes, Ayreona Carter and Ashley Williams were honored.

Piper will head into the KSHSAA 4A sub-state playoffs next week. Brackets and game times will be announced Saturday morning.

Piper is ranked second in the state in the 4A division and Eudora is ranked third, so a rematch with the Lady Cardinals is a good possibility. Also looming is a potential showdown with last year’s champion, the top-ranked Bishop Miege Lady Stags.

Update: The Piper Lady Pirates will open the KSHSAA 4A sub-state playoffs by playing host to Ottawa on March 3, tipping off at 7 p.m.