PREVIEW: Class 5A state championships (predictions)
PREVIEW: Class 5A state championships (predictions)
All games played at Topeka Expo Center
First Round (Thursday)
(1) Goddard-Eisenhower (21-1) vs. (8) Wichita Bishop Carroll (12-10), 6:30 p.m.
They have won 17 straight games entering the state tournament this week, but their one loss this season was a 20-point loss to No. 2 seed Salina-Central. Eisenhower features one of the state’s top big men in 6’8 2017 forward Matt Pile who has signed to play at Omaha. He is putting up big numbers across the board, averaging 19 points, 14.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.7 blocks per game. He and 2018 guard Dylan Vincent form one of the state’s premier 1-2 punches as Vincent is averaging 22.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. The Golden Eagles recovered from a 1-4 start to advance to the state championships. They are led by Clay Cundifff, a 6’5 2019 forward who averaged 13.1 points, 6.0 rebounds per game
(4) Shawnee Heights (19-3) vs. (5) St. Thomas Aquinas (18-4), 8:15 p.m.
Should be one of the great match-ups in the first round across all classes. Shawnee Heights is a well-rounded team with a terrific interior player in 2017 Poncho Freeman, good guard play in 2017 PG Trey Brown and terrific depth in 6’4 2018 Jesse Moss and others. St. Thomas Aquinas has played a brutal schedule this season and feature a talented front line in Angelo Allegri and Jack Boedecker, as well as good guard play in Ben Hagenkord and Leiland Lewis.
PREDICTION: St. Thomas Aquinas
(2) Salina-Central (20-2) vs. (7) Schlage (16-6), 3 p.m.
Brayden Neuschafer is among Kansas’ premier outside shooters and enters the contest averaging nearly 18 points per game this season. He has helped lead Central to a 20-2 record. Its only losses this season have come to Newton by five and Andover by seven. KC Schlagle has put together a nice season at 16-6 and have some talent with several players capable of lighting up the scoreboard, including Ronnell Mitchell, a 6’2 2018 guard.
PREDICTION: Salina-Central
(3) Pittsburg (20-2) vs. (5) Wichita Heights (17-5), 4:45 p.m.
Heights features a well-balanced roster that is led by Devin Davis and Tyrell Andrews who are each averaging more than 14 points per game. Pittsburg features one of the state’s premier freshman,Gavyn Elkamil, a 6’3 guard.
PREDICTION: Wichita Heights
Players to Watch
Tyrell Andrews, 6’0, 2017, Wichita Heights
Angelo Allegri, 6;7, 2017, St. Thomas Aquinas
Jack Boedeker, 6’9, 2017, St. Thomas Aquinas
Trey Brown, 6’0, 2017, Shawnee Heights
Clay Cundiff, 6’5, 2019, Bishop Carroll
Devin Davis, 6’1, 2018, Wichita Heights
Gavyn Elkamil, 6’3, 2020, Pittsburg
Poncho Freeman, 6’3, 2017, Shawnee Heights
Ben Hagenkord, 6’0, 2017, St. Thomas Aquinas
Leiland Lewis, 5’7, 2017, St Thomas Aquinas
Brayden Neuschafer, 5’10, 2017, Salina-Central
Matt Pile, 6’8, 2017, Eisenhower (Omaha)
Dylan Vincent, 6’2, 2018, Eisenhower