Season Superlatives: Salute to Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring season is off to a great start. But we want to recognize some of the standouts from the past high school season before we move totally into the next phase. So we are going to focus on Season Superlatives in a variety of categories: leaders, stat sheet stuffers, defenders, athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a salute to some of the top leaders across the state:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1270090"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Of course, everyone knows about Williams by this point, but you can't make a list about leaders without mentioning this guy. The Falcons transitioned about a dozen key guys through their lineup the past three years, with Williams holding it all together. The team has rotated around him, letting him run the point, slash to the hoop from the wing, and generally guide the show. With Williams leading the show, the Falcons have played for 6A titles the past three seasons, winning one.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1953952"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Kanitz made the difficult transition of moving to a new school as a senior. The challenge was tough going from a key cog on a bigger school team to the senior leader of a smaller school. And he also had the pressure of following up a state title from a year ago. Kanitz stepped in at Moundridge and gave them leadership in every facet of the game. The result: another title.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1953933"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"What didn't this guy do this year? He completely dominated the small school ranks, leading South Gray to the title. He blew up as a junior and was determined to bring home a title as a senior. He had great talent around him, but Dyck was the veteran leader who knew what needed to be done and made sure the Rebels got the title.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1270287"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Similar to Dyck, Thengvall was an experienced member of teams that knocked on the door but hadn't quite finished on top. As a senior, Thengvall took over full leadership and did everything the team needed to bring home a championship. His length and strength, combined with his ball schools and athleticism, made him a dynamic threat running the point, getting into the lane, rebounding, shooting…anything and everything Kapaun needed to finish on top.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Brecken McGuire","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Olpe","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Here's a curveball. We've saluted four seniors for their leadership – just what you'd expect from veteran stars. But you couldn't help but be impressed by the freshman at Olpe who stepped onto the varsity and showed he could lead from day one. McGuire has the court awareness, the ball skills and the natural IQ for the game needed to run the point and guide the offense. By state tournament time, he was in command and able to lead effectively against the best teams in the class.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66202c633147d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66202c63314f6"} /-->