by Brian Turrel
The young and talented Wyandotte Bulldogs will almost certainly have their day at the state tournament, but it will not be in 2018. Their gutsy comeback was undone in the game’s final second by a halfcourt heave from Mill Valley standout Cooper Kaifes. The Bulldogs lost at home 64-63 in the 5A sub-state finals.
The Bulldogs were down as many as 10 points midway through second quarter before going on a run to pull within 3 at halftime, 31-28.
Wyandotte used halfcourt trapping to force wild passes from the Mill Valley ball handlers. Diamond Hines usually defended Kaifes on the perimeter, but Wyandotte rotated on dribble drives to keep a man in front of him.
The Bulldogs fought back to take the lead with three minutes to go in the game, and then pushed to a 5-point advantage with one minute left. The home crowd buzzed with anticipation of a trip to the state tournament, and the Bulldogs’ bench jumped with each score. Mill Valley got a defensive stop and a turnover to get back to a one-possession game.
With Wyandotte up by 1 point with five seconds remaining, Mill Valley fouled to stop the clock. Wyandotte hit one of two free throws to go up by 2. Kaifes took the inbounds pass, dribbled past the halfcourt line, and launched his heartbreaker.
A gang of midnight blue Mill Valley players dogpiled Kaifes, while the Wyandotte Bulldogs sank to the court in shock.
Hines led the Bulldogs with 25 points. Walzel Evans scored 17, and Joseph Moye added 11.
Wyandotte finished the season with an 11-6 overall record, earning the Kansas City – Atchison League championship.
