Big Seven League Mid-Season Evals

<p>The end of January has seen teams deal with pandemic, take holiday break, play tournaments and work through roster shakeups. It’s a good time to take a midseason look at how things are going. Here’s a update on the Big Seven League:</p> <p>Best Team:</p> <p>Royal Valley is ranked #6 in 3A, the only league team currently ranked. It is a club led by three standouts, but don’t underestimate the contribution of junior KJ Miller. The Panthers have withstood some close games with Jefferson West (twice), Riverside and St. Marys. They are building for a postseason run. They hope they can avoid defeat in the sub-state round that tripped them up last year.</p> <p>Stars:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="891912" first="Nahcs" last="Wahwassuck"], junior, Royal Valley:</p> <p>The all-state returner has an explosive and diverse game. His best outing thus far was probably the shootout with Riverside that saw him toss in 32. The 6-foot-4 junior defies a position – he can handle the point, score from the wing, defend in the paint and do just about anything needed.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1072895" first="Josh" last="Broxterman"], senior, Jefferson West:</p> <p>The 6-foot-3 banger returned from injury for his senior year. He has been impressive and a solid leader for the Tigers, who have a lot of veterans and just might be built for the postseason. Broxterman can shoot, rebound, and works hard in every aspect of the game. He has only been held below 13 points once this season, with a high of 25 against Hiawatha.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="889505" first="Parker" last="Stone"]</strong>, senior, Perry-Lecompton (pictured):</p> <p>Perry-Lecompton might just be a team built for the postseason as well. They made a deep run in the football season and have veteran, multi-sport athletes who know how to win. Stone is their leader on the hard court. The 6-foot-2 senior has games of 32 against Pleasant Ridge, 24 against Royal Valley, and 23 against Riverside. He is a deadeye shooter who can do a lot of everything else as well.</p> <p>Risers:</p> <p><strong>Zac Kramer</strong>, junior, Nemaha Central:</p> <p>The 5-foot-10 Kramer averaged just 2.1 points per game as a sophomore, but his role has greatly expanded this season. He is the primary guard complement to the Beck twins. He has four games in double figures, with a high of 16 against Holton.</p> <p><strong>Gunnar Ball</strong>, sophomore, Perry-Lecompton:</p> <p>A star on the rise, Ball is the primary underclassman for the Kaws. He has range and athletic ability. The 6-foot-1 guard popped for 18 against Pleasant Ridge and 17 against Wellsville, and also has games of 15, 14 and 11.</p> <p><strong>Matthew Lierz</strong>, sophomore, Holton:</p> <p>The Wildcats have really come on, and Lierz is getting more opportunities of late. He was a significant contributor as a freshman, and he is showing his range and more and more on the varsity level.</p> <p><strong>Christian McAfee</strong>, freshman, Sabetha:</p> <p>A down season at Sabetha has permitted a few youngsters to gain experience. The long and athletic McAfee has scored at least 4 points in each of the past five games.</p> <p>Unsung Heroes:</p> <p><strong>Neo Byrd</strong>, junior, Riverside:</p> <p>Somewhat overshadowed by the fast start of Bray Davies, Byrd has gradually become a significant second scorer the Cyclones need. The 5-foot-10 junior is athletic and has range. He has scored at least 14 in each of his last three games and his hit four 3-pointers in a game twice this season.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1076412" first="Brady" last="Klotz"], junior, Royal Valley:</p> <p>Klotz is a 6-foot-4 tough guy who really makes an impact in the lane. He usually scores between 12 to 15 points per game, and provides the muscle and grit the Panthers need. He tossed in 27 last week. If that sort of thing can become more routine, the Panthers will be ready to roll in the post season.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="891923" first="Mason" last="Thomas"] and <strong>KJ Miller</strong>, juniors, Royal Valley:</p> <p>As if Royal Valley needed any more juniors to step up, Miller has made his presence known. He has scored at least 9 points in each of the past six games, becoming yet another threat for the Panthers to turn to. He and Thomas and athletic and versatile guards with good size.</p>