One Month to Tourney: 2A Teams, Players to Watch
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We’re entering the home stretch. With the state tournaments about four weeks away, it’s time for teams to build their resumes, improve their seedings, and polish their rotations in preparation of substate, with the ultimate prize – a state title…
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Continue ReadingWe’re entering the home stretch. With the state tournaments about four weeks away, it’s time for teams to build their resumes, improve their seedings, and polish their rotations in preparation of substate, with the ultimate prize – a state title – awaiting.
Here are teams and players from the 2A class to watch this final month:
Frontrunner – Lyndon:
The Tigers are fully loaded, experienced and explosive. There are teams out there capable of knocking them off, but for now, it’s hard to not see Lyndon running the table. They are led by newcomer Tanner Heckel Tanner Heckel 6'0" | CG Lyndon | 2024 State KS , who transferred from Inman, but they would be loaded without him. Jalen Massey Jalen Massey 5'9" | PG Lyndon | 2024 State KS , Kaedin Massey, Casten Wirth, Daxten Miller…that’s plenty of firepower to make a run at a title.
Challenger – Sterling:
Sterling faces a huge stretch when they face Ell-Saline and Moundridge. They have weathered every challenge thus far, with just one loss to a Sunrise team. This team is in a media black hole, so there’s not much news out about them. Big men Gabe Riffel, Carson Gray and Boston Ekart Boston Ekart 6'5" | SF Sterling | 2026 State KS balance out sharpshooters Isaac Briar Isaac Briar 6'1" | SG Sterling | 2024 State KS and Blake Smith. The Blackbears have been close to a breakthrough for a few years. This might finally be their year.
Work to Do – Moundridge:
How can you not have the defending state champs in the mix? They added Kreighton Kanitz Kreighton Kanitz 6'2" | SG McPherson | 2024 State KS (pictured) to a big two in Barrett Moddelmog Barrett Moddelmog 6'3" | SG Moundridge | 2025 State KS and Henry Hecox Henry Hecox 6'2" | SG Moundridge | 2025 State KS , guys who brought back tons of experience from last year’s run. But the Wildcats have taken a few losses along the way as they put the new nucleus together. They have some experience, but just one senior in Kanitz.
Main Man – (tie) Tanner Heckel Tanner Heckel 6'0" | CG Lyndon | 2024 State KS and Barrett Moddelmog Barrett Moddelmog 6'3" | SG Moundridge | 2025 State KS
Heckel is without a doubt one of the best players in the field, but it’s what he adds to an already talented group that is special. He is an athletic beast on his way to a Division I football career. He brought explosiveness to a group poised for a run. Moddelmog was talented enough to be a title team leader as a sophomore. He’s big and physical and can shoot from anywhere. If you believe Moundridge is a challenger, then Moddelmog is at the forefront.
Player to Watch – (tie) Eli Lawson Eli Lawson 6'7" | C Bennington | 2024 State KS and Kevion Ruiz:
We’ve believed in Lawson all along. We see him as one of the most dominant forces in the small school ranks. We believe Bennington has what it takes to make a run. They will have to put it all together to avoid a disappointing end like they suffered a year ago. A team who did make a run a year ago is Medicine Lodge, and they were led by the athletic Ruiz. He’s football tough, plays inside and out and leads a group of winners. Both of these teams have taken a few losses this year, but have talent and the potential to go deep in the playoffs.