Preview to Playoffs: News and Notes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playoffs are just around the corner. Here are a few items of note:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Suspension Might Shake Up 5A:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest development of the past couple of weeks is the apparent suspension of Highland Park's star [player_tooltip player_id='1300865' first='Ketraleus' last='Aldridge']. The athletic wing player has missed the past few games, and will apparently not be back in uniform for the playoffs. The Scots haven't missed a beat, largely due to a slate of games against lesser opponents down the stretch. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1454197' first='Tre' last='Richardson'] has taken the team on his shoulders and played like an all-stater. But how far can the Scots go without Aldridge? The answer may rest on whether forwards [player_tooltip player_id='1588346' first='Jacorey' last='Robinson'] (pictured) and [player_tooltip player_id='1378392' first='Jahmir' last='Kingcannon'] can take their games to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rough Road:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bigger schools await their substate assignments, but some of the top teams in 2A might wish for a redo on their brackets. The Sterling bracket will bring together four of the top 10 teams in the class - #3 Moundridge, #5 Ellinwood, #7 Inman and #8 Sterling. Four of the other seven substate groups have no ranked teams. Sadly, that's the system we have to work with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huskies on the Rise:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state runner up in 6A lurked around the bottom half of the rankings most of the season, but all four of their losses were to non-Kansas teams. They are now on a seven-game win streak and have shot to the #2 spot in 6A. They survived a couple of nail biters to stay in that spot. But they have experience at state and there's no reason not to think they can't challenge for the title again. The Huskies have tons of size with a frontline of [player_tooltip player_id='1461338' first='Joey' last='Matteoni'], <strong>Jake Fritz</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1561993' first='Landon' last='Braun'] and <strong>Gavin Hoffman</strong> all standing 6-foot-4 or better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lyndon Riding Bigs (and Biggs):</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers have just one loss on the season – to 3A Osage City. They made a statement by beating 1A powerhouse Olpe that they are going to be a player in the playoffs again this year. They have a size advantage with long senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1454194' first='Jackson' last='Biggs'] and monstrous junior <strong>Kaedin Massey</strong>, a 6-foot-8 football prospect. Massey got little playing time when the Tigers finished third in state a year ago, but he will make an impact this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eudora Uses Different Recipe:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year, Eudora finished the regular season ranked #1 in 4A with a couple of talented and long men making plays in the paint. With neither back this season, the Cardinals are going small ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1461341' first='Logan' last='Sullivan'] and <strong>Cole Parker</strong> are the biggest on the court at 6-foot-2, and neither is a post player. The Cardinals' lack of height might get exploited in the playoffs, but they keep five guys on the floor at all times who can make a play on the perimeter or push it in the open court. It's a different approach from last year, but so far, it's working.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->