Big Games, Big Names: Kansas City’s Best on Friday Night

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the season rolls on, we're seeing more and more anticipated matchups around Kansas City. These games bring the area's top teams and players together, with plenty on the line. If Friday night was any indication of what the rest of the season has in store, February should be loaded with great games, big moments, and plenty of highlights. Below is a look back at the action, including final scores and the players who helped decide the outcomes in the area's two biggest games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mill Valley 67, Olathe East 59</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Although Olathe East had been trending up in recent weeks, they ran into a buzzsaw Friday night against a surging Mill Valley squad. The Jaguars were clearly the more complete team, taking control from the opening tip and never letting go. Using their athleticism to create success in transition and on the run, Mill Valley kept the Hawks playing from behind for most of the night.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mill Valley continues to build momentum as the season progresses, improving to 14–3 overall and a perfect 7–0 in Sunflower League play. The two best players on the floor both wore Jaguar uniforms, as JaKhai Carter and [player_tooltip player_id='2327573' first='Reece' last='Riedel'] spearheaded the attack. Each provided highlight-reel finishes above the rim, putting their athleticism on display with powerful, decisive plays at the basket.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Carter was relentless on both ends of the floor, turning defensive stops into offensive opportunities. He consistently attacked downhill, embraced contact, and imposed his will as a slasher. Riedel lived in transition, where his skill set was on full display, finishing efficiently off two feet and showing excellent body control. Both Carter and Riedel also knocked down shots from the perimeter, while [player_tooltip player_id='2245759' first='Jack' last='Carpenter'] and Grady Larson added valuable floor spacing and timely shooting to round out the offensive effort.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mill Valley won't have much time to slow down, as they head to Olathe Northwest early next week looking to keep their momentum rolling.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>For Olathe East, there were still positives to take away. [player_tooltip player_id='2692700' first='Cade' last='Alholm'] continued to strengthen his case as one of the rising prospects in the metro area and across the state. He led the Hawks with physical interior play, drawing contact, finishing through traffic, and generating opportunities at the free-throw line. Alholm was also impactful defensively, protecting the rim and showing the versatility to guard multiple positions.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Tye Mwenda and [player_tooltip player_id='2328074' first='Hudson' last='Weikal'] also flashed throughout the game. Mwenda provided scoring punch and steady ball-handling, while Weikal made a late push by playing aggressively and attacking from all three levels — the perimeter, mid-range, and at the rim — highlighting his unique scoring ability.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Olathe East will need to regroup quickly, as they hit the road to face Shawnee Mission East this Tuesday.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Blue Valley 61, Bishop Miege 57</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The Stags and Tigers went toe-to-toe all night in what stood out as one of the best games of the season, delivering back-and-forth action from start to finish. Blue Valley was able to make the key plays down the stretch, creating just enough separation in the fourth quarter to pull away with the win.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Once again, [player_tooltip player_id='2234471' first='Enoch' last='Rodriguez'] proved to be the difference-maker, stepping up with timely plays and clutch shots as the game wore on. His shooting continues to trend upward, as he knocked down several big baskets throughout the contest. Rodriguez has been particularly effective as a catch-and-shoot threat, getting into his motion quickly while also relocating and finding space off the ball — skills that consistently allow him to get clean looks. He also made his presence felt on the defensive end, coming up with a critical late steal and using his explosiveness to make plays above the rim.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2866725' first='Brendan' last='Walsh'] was another important contributor, but it was the supporting cast that truly rose to the occasion. Dan Sogard, Joey Lonergan, and Jacob Lockett all delivered timely offense, with Lockett continuing to trend up and play with more and more confidence. He's added another perimeter dimension for Blue Valley that should make them even more difficult to deal with in February and March. With St. James on the schedule, the Tigers will turn their attention forward and look to add another quality win to their résumé later this week.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bishop Miege had its opportunities late and received a tremendous performance from [player_tooltip player_id='3271831' first='Keyvonte' last='Hudson'], who seemed to score at will. Hudson was especially dangerous from beyond the arc, knocking down multiple three-pointers with impressive range. The Stags also got solid contributions from Wesley Walsh, whose inside-outside presence complemented Miege's guard play and added another dimension to the offense.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Miege now turns its focus to a tough matchup against Blue Valley West as it continues to navigate a rugged league schedule.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->