Highlights from the small school ranks – Western Kansas
Prep Hoops Staff
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<p>Things are getting hot and heavy in the run up to playoff time. There is some great basketball being played in the western part of the state.</p>
<p>Check out these highlights from the west:</p>
<p>1A Div. I Macksville scored a huge win over Bucklin recently. Freshman <strong>Hector Gomez</strong> continued to establish himself as a top 9<sup>th</sup> grader with 17 points, 4 boards and 3 assists. Macksville rose from sixth to second in the rankings. Bucklin is still considered a 1A Div. II team to reckon with. They are ranked fifth in the latest poll. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="946267" first="Scott" last="Price"] and <strong>Nate Bowman</strong> combine for about 35 points a game.</p>
<p>Northern Valley improved to 18-1 and is hot on the heels of #1 Hanover in the 1A Div. II rankings. The Huskies are led by a couple of top seniors, but sophomore <strong>Kenton Thalheim</strong> is increasingly making an impact. He is averaging 11.1 points per game, and led in scoring in a big win against ranked Logan-Palco with 18 points.</p>
<p>Logan-Palco’s [player_tooltip player_id="1195613" first="Dylan" last="Van Laeys"] continues to be a stat-monster. He averages 17.6 points and 14.8 rebounds. At 6-foot-5, he’s a long, athletic big who makes tough plays in the paint.</p>
<p>South Gray remains the top team in the west in the 1A Div. I ranks. Leading the Rebels to a 16-2 mark are seniors <strong>Brent Penner</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id="1195606" first="Brady" last="Deges"]. Those two each average 18.5 points per game. The 6-foot-2 forward Penner grabs 8.1 boards a game. Deges is a tough-as-nails guard who brings a winning attitude and explosive playmaking at both ends of the floor.</p>
<p>Trego Community is hanging around as Ellinwood’s top competition for best 2A team in the west (unless you include #7 Inman in the ‘west.’) The ultra-tough post player [player_tooltip player_id="1139918" first="Charlie" last="Russell"] backs down from no one and makes plays at both ends. He’s averaging 16.0 points and 8.8 boards.</p>
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