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Breaking down all 14 state basketball tournaments, with title picks, contenders
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Granted, my jury is still out on the state's new quarterfinal format, but this remains my favorite week of the high school sports season, and for what it's worth -- and it's not much -- here's my take on all 14 of this week's state basketball tournaments across the state.
If I didn't pick your team don't fret because it could bode well for you.
If I did pick the team/teams you root for, I hope it's not a jinx.
By Saturday evening we'll know, and win or lose it promises to be a fun week.
CLASS 6A BOYS
Finalists -- Shawnee Mission South (1: 24-1) vs. Mill Valley (2: 22-3).
Champion -- Shawnee Mission South. The Raiders' lone loss on the season was a 69-66 decision to Mill Valley and those two teams could meet again in Saturday's championship game. I give SM South a slight edge in a rematch.
Other contenders -- No. 3 seed Olathe North is 21-4 and is capable of beating any team in the field.
CLASS 6A GIRLS
Finalists -- Wichita Heights (1: 24-0) vs. Shawnee Mission South (2: 21-3).
Champion -- Shawnee Mission South. Wichita Heights has passed each and every test it has faced this season, but I give South a very narrow edge in a championship game matchup.
Kansas coaching legend Ron Slaymaker's Topeka High girls are on a roll entering their Class 6A quarterfinal matchup with Derby. [File photo/TSN]
Other contenders -- The winner of the quarterfinal game between No. 2 seed Derby (22-3) and No. 7 Topeka High (17-8) could mount a title charge. No. 5 seed Olathe South (20-5) has five losses to out-of-state teams and perennial 6A contender Blue Valley North (20-5), the No. 6 seed, also has a shot at the crown.
Senior Malakyah Duncan cuts down the nets after Topeka West's win over Bishop Carroll in a Class 5A sub-state final. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 5A BOYS
Finalists -- Kapaun Mt. Carmel (1: 25-0) vs. Topeka West (3: 22-3).
Champion -- Kapaun Mt. Carmel. The Crusaders are the two-time defending champion and the team to beat again after running off 25 straight wins this winter, but Topeka West, which lost to KMC in the quarterfinals a year ago, has the firepower to challenge for the title.
Other contenders -- The winner of the quarterfinal game between No. 4 seed Maize South (21-4) and No. 5 Seaman (21-4) could definitely make a run at the title as could perennial state contender Piper (18-7), which has split games with Topeka West this season.
CLASS 5A GIRLS
Finalists -- Andover (1: 23-1) vs. Hays (2: 23-1).
Champion -- Hays. The Indians' lone loss came against Class 3A power Silver Lake, the only blemish on a dominating season, while Andover will be looking for its first title under former Topeka High coach Hannah Alexander.
Other contenders -- No. 3 seed Shawnee Heights (21-4) is making its first state appearance since 2011 and has the talent to go all the way as could the winner of the quarterfinal game between No 4 seed Maize South (21-4) and No. 5 St. James Academy (20-5).
CLASS 4A BOYS
Finalists -- Rock Creek (1: 25-0) vs. McPherson (7: 16-9).
Champion -- Rock Creek. The Mustangs have turned in a dominant season and there's no reason to believe they can't close out a perfect season.
Other contenders -- No. 2 seed Atchison is also unbeaten in 25 games on the season while No. 5 seed Andale (18-5) is a longshot contender for the crown.
Sophomore Hailey Schmidtlein and the Hayden girls are the No. 4 seed for the Class 4A state tournament with a 19-6 record. [File photo/TSN]CLASS 4A GIRLS
Finalists -- Wellington (1: 22-1) vs. Rock Creek (2: 22-3).
Champion -- Rock Creek. The Mustangs have put together a string of impressive victories this season, including a win over Class 3A contender Silver Lake.
Other contenders -- You can never count out perennial state champion Bishop Miege, the No. 6 seed this season at 17-8. The quarterfinal winner between No. 4 seed Hayden (19-6) and No. 5 seed Andale (17-6) could also make a run at the championship.
CLASS 3A BOYS
Finalists -- Wichita Collegiate (1: 24-1) vs. Hesston (2: 24-2).
Champion -- Wichita Collegiate. Collegiate's lone defeat on the season came against two-time defending Class 5A state champ Kapaun Mt. Carmel, which is a perfect 25-0 on the season.
Other contenders -- The quarterfinal winner between No. 4 seed Holcomb (21-5) and No. 5 Silver Lake (20-6) is capable of winning the championship while No. 3 seed Pratt is an impressive 21-3.
Senior Kailyn Hanni and the Silver Lake girls enter the Class 3A state tournament with a 25-1 record after winning the state crown in 2024 and advancing to the championship game last season. [File photo/TSN]
CLASS 3A GIRLS
Finalists -- Halstead (1: 25-0) vs. Silver Lake (2: 25-1).
Champion -- Silver Lake. The Eagles won the championship in 2024 and were the runnerup a year ago. Halstead is a perfect 25-0 on the season, but it's hard to pick against Silver Lake.
Other contenders -- Holcomb, the No. 3 seed at 24-2, is likely to give Silver Lake a tough semifinal test if both teams get past their quarterfinal openers.
CLASS 2A BOYS
Finalists -- Sterling (1: 25-0) vs. Berean Academy (2: 22-2).
Champion -- Sterling. The Black Bears appear to be a good bet to close out a perfect season.
Other contenders -- No. 7 seed Rossville (17-7) has the talent and experience to knock off Berean in the quarterfinals and make a run at the crown. Other contenders include No. 5 seed St. Marys (19-7) and No. 6 St. Marys Colgan (18-7), a traditional state title contender.
CLASS 2A GIRLS
Finalists -- Eureka (4: 22-2) vs. Moundridge (2: 23-2).
Champion -- Moundridge. I give Moundridge a slight edge in a balanced field loaded with contenders.
Other contenders -- No. 8 seed Rossville (15-10) is capable of knocking off top seed and 25-1 Ellinwood in the quarterfinals while No. 3 seed St. Marys Colgan (23-2) and No. 6 Sacred Heart (22-4) are defintely title threats.
Washburn women claim MIAA Tournament title, automatic NCAA berth
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It's hard to beat the same team three straight times in a season.
And sometimes it's impossible.
Washburn celebrates its MIAA Tournament championship after Sunday's 53-44 win over top seed Central Missouri in Kansas City, Mo. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Central Missouri women's basketball beat Washburn University twice in the regular season en route to the MIAA regular-season championship, with the Jennies the only conference opponent to sweep the Ichabods.
But No. 3 seed Washburn gained a big measure of revenge over top seed Central Missiouri in Sunday's MIAA Tournament championship game, with the Ichabods rallying from a nine-point deficit in the first half to take a 53-44 win and clinch the conference's automatic berth for the NCAA Tournament.
Washburn women's basketball celebrates its MIAA Tournament championship with a team dogpile after Sunday's 53-44 win over top seed Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"Hats off to Central Missouri,'' said Washburn coach Lora Westling. "They played a great game and they're tough as nails, but my players, my team just continue to show how much depth we have, the selflessness.
"We found a combination that worked tonight and that's been kind of the story of the last few weeks for us is finding the combination that works for the job that needs to be done. And I can't say enough about the humility that that takes to have that kind of game plan. We have so many of them sacrificing for a greater purpose and that paid off tonight in a championship.''
Sunday's win gave 24-7 Washburn, winners of nine straight games, its 10th MIAA Tournament title in program history and first since the 2011-12 season while seniors Yibari Nwidadah and Gabi Giovannetti were named to the MIAA All-Tournament team and Nwidadah was named the tournament's most valauble player.
Washburn is heading to the NCAA Tournament for the 18th time in program history and the first time since the 2012-13 season, earning the No. 5 seed in the Central Region. Washburn will now face No. 4 seed Central Missouri for a second straight game and fourth time this season in the first round on Friday in Mankato, Minn.
The Jennies (25-6) hit four 3-pointers in seven attempts in the first quarter en route to an 18-10 first-quarter advantage and Central Missouri pushed its lead to nine points in the second quarter before the Ichabods finished the half on a 9-2 run to trail by just a 25-23 margin at the half.
Junior Madelyn Amekporfor ended the first-half scoring for Washburn and also began the third stanza with a hoop to tie the game at 25 before Central Missouri scored the next four points.
Giovannetti hit Washburn's first 3-pointer of the game at the 5:48 mark to pull the Ichabods within a point and shortly thereafter sophomore Brooke Gomez converted an old-fashioned three-point play to put the Ichabods in front for the first time since the first five minutes of the game at 31-30.
The lead went back and forth five times the rest of the quarter and ended with Central Missouri hitting a pair of free throws to lead 36-35 going into the fourth quarter.
It was at that point that Washburn took control, scoring the first 10 points of the quarter, including back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Payton Sterk to build a 45-36 advantage with 5:32 left, as the Ichabods held the Jennies scoreless until the 4:38 mark of the quarter.
Central Missouri cut its deficit to six points with 1:48 left but never got closer as Giovannetti went six of six at the free throw line in the final 50.5 seconds to close out the championship with the nine-point decision.
The Ichabods won despite shooting just 27.4 percent from the field and hitting 3 of 13 3-point attempts as Washburn went 16-19 at the free throw line and limited Central Missouri to 30.6 percent shooting overall and 4-16 from deep.
Washburn was plus 10 in rebounding margin (45-35) while grabbing 16 offensive boards.
"I think the most fun part of it is I'm not surprised,'' Westling said. "I know maybe this group had a little slower start and had to kind of find our own footing, but they've just been electric on the defensive end the past few weeks and that's a hard sell to young people these days and they are defending with passion and they are playing together.''
Giovannetti scored a game-high 17 points, including a 10 of 10 performance at the free throw line, while also adding eight rebounds and two steals.
Washburn men roll to MIAA Tournament title with dominating 91-59 win
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The No. 3-ranked and top-seeded Washburn Ichabods delivered a wire-to-wire rout Sunday, overwhelming Rogers State 91-59 to capture the 2026 MIAA Tournament championship at Municipal Auditorium.
MIAA Tournament MVP Jack Bachelor hoists the championship trophy after Sunday's 91-59 win over Rogers State. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods never trailed, controlling all 40 minutes and improving to 31-1 on the season while securing the MIAA's automatic bid and surpassing their 30-win total in 2024-2025.
"I'm really proud of our guys,'' Washburn coach Brett Ballard said. "We came out ready to play. I thought our intensity and our focus to start that game was at a really high level. That first half was about as good as you can play basketball.
"We probably caught Rogers on a little bit of an off night. They obviously weren't on their 'A' game. I think we had a lot to do with that, but they clearly didn't play as well as they're capable and sometimes that happens.''
Washburn will host the NCAA Central Regional Tournament for the second year in a row starting Saturday in Lee Arena. WU will host Minnesota-Duluth (21-11) on Saturday, with game times to be announced as soon as available.
"I just love the way our guys have approached the daily process to this,'' Ballard said. "Our shoot-around this morning was good and every part of the process has been good and when you prepare that way it gives you a chance to play at a high level.''
Washburn senior Bryson Smith opened the game with a hoop and junior Jeremiah Jones followed with a 3-pointer, setting the tone for the day with an early 5-0 burst.
Washburn dominated the glass from the outset, piling up 15 offensive rebounds in the first half alone while holding Rogers State to zero.
Washburn junior Jack Bachelor received the MIAA Tournament MVP award Sunday after Washburn's 91-59 win over Rogers State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Jack Bachelor, who was named the tournament most valuable player, connected on multiple threes in the opening minutes and a transition trey by Smith pushed the Ichabod lead to 22-10 just before the 13-minute mark.
Washburn senior Brady Christiansen cuts down the nets after a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double in Sunday's 91-59 win over Rogers State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Senior Brady Christiansen was a force, collecting 12 first-half rebounds -- eight on the offensive end – and his follow shot at the 6:39 mark pushed the Washburn margin to 36-20 and the Ichabods carried a huge 49-25 margin into the halftime break.
Rogers State (21-10) never had an answer as Washburn opened the second half with a 14-1 run.
Christiansen drilled a three to make it a 54-25 game, and moments later a Jones tip-in extended the lead to 31 points.
Bachelor scored on a fastbreak layup with 8:19 remaining to give Washburn its largest lead of the afternoon at 77-38, a 39-point cushion.
Smith led the Ichabods with 21 points, knocking down two threes and adding five rebounds.
Christiansen, an all-tournament pick, registered a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds for his second double double in as many games.
"It's championship Sunday and I was going to give it my all,'' Christiansen said. "I just think from the start, that first offensive rebound that I got kind of set the tone for the game.
"We had 52 rebounds and I don't know if that's a season high but that's incredible. It wasn't just me, it was everyone and I just couldn't be more proud of the team.''
Bachelor added 14 points, with four 3-pointers, and dished out nine assists.
All-tourney pick Jones recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, and three steals while sophomore Tyson Ruud, making his second straight start in place of injured Ichabod standout Dillon Claussen, scored 12 points on 6 of 8 shooting.
All five Ichabod starters reached double figures.
Washburn finished with a huge 52-25 rebounding advantage and the Ichabods shot 46.5 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from three, while holding Rogers State to 38.8 percent shooting overall and 33.3 percent from outside the 3-point arc.
The Ichabods won their first MIAA Tournament title since the 2021 season and the first in Kansas City since 2012.
Bachelor was named the MVP after games of 24, 27 and 14 points while also dishing out 22 assists with only two turnovers and hitting 16 3s during the three games.
"Dudes have been locked in,'' Bachelor said. "Like coach said, we were very focused this week. We got here Wednesday and that's a long trip and it could be easy to get your eyes off what the goal is, but our guys were locked in and that's what we showed tonight.
"We'll get locked back in this week and ready for that national tournament.''
Christiansen was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 14.3 points and 10 rebounds in the tournament while hitting 50 percent of his 3-point shots (7 of 14).
Fellow all-tourney pick Jones set an MIAA single-game tournament steals record with eight in the semis against Missouri Western.
The Ichabods recorded the largest margin of victory in an MIAA Tournament game, with the 32-point win topping the previous mark of 29 set in 2019.
Washburn's men's title followed a championship by the Ichabod women in the first game of the day, a 53-44 win over Central Missouri.
