Matchups to Watch at State

You hear the quotes from coaches: “We are all 0-0 at state.” “Every team at state is good.” “Anything can happen once you’re in the tournament.”

It’s true. Every team is good at this point in the season. But some games pair more evenly matched teams, and some games set up intriguing contrasts.

Here are four games to keep your eye on in the opening round of state.

4A #3 Atchison vs #6 Bishop Miege:

Installing Miege as a six seed is problematic. It forces one of the best teams from the regular season to immediately face the perennial power in the first round. Sure Miege lost six games, but those losses were all to good 5A and 6A teams. They return some experienced players from last year’s state champion, particularly playmaking Aidan Wing Aidan Wing 6'4" | SF Bishop Miege | 2023 State KS and guards Mac Armstrong and Daegan Jensen Daegan Jensen 6'1" | SG Bishop Miege | 2023 State KS . This will be an enormous test for Atchison, which has played some good teams, but hasn’t faced nearly the tests Miege has. Atchison has some talented guards in Trey Carter Trey Carter 5'9" | PG Atchison | 2024 State KS and Xiomer Hernandez, toughness in Jesse Greenly and length in Jeter Purdy. This could be an intriguing matchup of the perennial power versus the rising program.

6A #4 Derby vs #5 Olathe North:

Derby isn’t necessarily a big team, but they do run out 6-foot-6 forward Kaden Franklin, 6-foot-3 Dallas Metzger Dallas Metzger 6'3" | SF Derby | 2024 State KS and 6-foot-2 guard Kaeson Fisher-Brown Kaeson Fisher-Brown 6'2" | SG Derby | 2023 State KS . And those guys are big and play with physicality. How the small lineup of Olathe North will handle that size will be interesting. Aside from forward Cameron Love Cameron Love 6'4" | PF Olathe North | 2026 KS , who stands 6-foot-4, the Eagles generally run a rotation of guys under 5-foot-11. Will Derby be able to run with the ultra-quick Eagles? Will the Panthers’ size be too much for Olathe North? This will be a battle of very different rosters and styles.

5A #4 Andover vs #5 Maize South:

Though these two teams are from the same general neck of the woods, they did not face each other this season. Andover is generally senior-led while Maize South boasts some high quality juniors. Maize South has a traditional center in 6-foot-7 junior Troy Homan, while Andover’s biggest player, Chris Harris Chris Harris 6'7" | SF Andover | 2023 State KS , tends to float on the perimeter. Highlighting this matchup are the Mavericks’ top notch guards Isaiah Atwater Isaiah Atwater 5'8" | PG Maize South | 2023 State KS and Michael Kates Michael Kates 5'9" | PG Maize South | 2024 State KS and Andover’s sharpshooter Eli Shetlar Eli Shetlar 6'5" | SG Andover | 2023 State KS .

3A #2 Southeast of Saline vs #7 Perry-Lecompton:

At first glance, a two-seed versus a seven-seed might not seem like an even matchup. But if you are familiar with some of Perry-Lecompton’s players, you have to like their chances. The Kaws couldn’t solve Sabetha, losing two to the Bluejays this year. Otherwise, they have put together a solid body of work. They have a couple of physical seniors who can get it done at all three levels in Gunnar Ball Gunnar Ball 6'3" | SF Perry-Lecompton | 2023 State KS and Kameryn Kaniper, an athletic defender in the paint in Kael Gorski and a nice supporting piece in Jack Golden. Will it be enough to combat the length of Eli Sawyers Eli Sawyers 6'7" | SF Southeast Of Saline | 2023 State KS and Nakari Morrical-Palmer Nakari Morrical-Palmer 6'3" | CG Southeast Of Saline | 2023 State KS and the bevy of guards at Southeast of Saline? We’ll see.