Category: Wyandotte County

Lady Pirates win hoops match with Sumner

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)

Legislative town hall meeting to be Jan. 5

The Wyandotte County Legislative Delegation will have a Town Hall meeting 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kansas.

Residents may share their thoughts and opinions about matters before the Kansas Legislature with state senators and representatives who represent Wyandotte County.

The meeting is open to the public.

New COVID variants pose threat for seniors

A new COVID variant poses a threat for senior citizens, according to doctors at the University of Kansas Health System.


Doctors heard at Friday’s news conference that there had been an upswing of COVID patients recently at the health system, with the numbers of COVID patients in the 60s last week. The number of COVID patients was 53 on Monday.


On Friday, doctors heard from Dr. Gregory Poland, vaccinologist at the Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, that the COVID bivalent booster is working to prevent 40 to 50 percent of infection, and its real value is it prevents severe disease, hospitalization and death. That’s the reason to get the vaccine, Dr. Poland said.


He said the Mayo Clinic had seen a 30 percent increase in COVID cases in the past 10 days, along with hospitalizations and admission to the intensive care unit. It was post-Thanksgiving as the Christmas season is starting.


Dr. Poland was concerned they would not be able to offer the best medical care because of all the illness filling up the hospitals, including COVID, flu and RSV.


He was also concerned about a new variant XBB, called the most immune—evasive variant seen to date.


It’s possible some people today may get this COVID variant by Christmas and not be able to enjoy the holidays with their families, instead being hospitalized, he felt.


“So it’s really important that people sort of shake off this COVID fatigue and lethargy and take action to protect themselves. We are not helpless here,” he said.


Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at KU Health, said senior citizens make up more than 90 percent of the COVID deaths. People need to take precautions when traveling to see grandparents, he added.


The number of COVID deaths for people who are vaccinated has gone up in the fall of 2021, Dr. Stites noted. Three in 10 adults vaccinated and boosted still died of COVID, he added. The number jumped to six in 10 in April.


Only one-third of the people over age 65 have received the bivalent boosters, according to Dr. Stites.


Dr. Jessica Kalendar-Rich, geriatrician at KU Health System, said there is definitely a higher risk for older adults. How people are moving and healthy they are overall are going to affect outcomes, she added.


Older adults are in need of socialization, meeting with their families, and keeping communication going to enhance better mental health, according to Dr. Kalendar-Rich.


In other COVID news, FDA recently approved COVID Omicron vaccinations for children 6 months and older, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson of the KU Health System.


See more at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/2920465108096873.

  • Information from KU Health System