Under the Microscope — Who Emerges from the 5A East Bracket?

As we shift over to the 5A East bracket, the top teams appear to be in strong positions to move on and advance. This side of the bracket also features several high-level players who are more than capable of taking over a game and running away with it. I'll break down the bracket first, then dive into my predictions and pick the sub-state champions.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">East Sub-State Bracket & Matchups</h3>   (1) Bonner Springs (22-1) vs. (16) Schlagle (4-18)   (8) Blue Valley Southwest (11-12) vs. (9) Sumner Academy (11-12)   (2) Piper (16-7) vs. (15) St. Thomas Aquinas (6-17)   (7) Spring Hill (12-11) vs. (10) Lansing (11-12)   (3) Washington (15-8) vs. (14) Highland Park (7-16)   (6) Basehor-Linwood (13-10) vs. (11) Pittsburg (10-13)   (4) Shawnee Heights (15-8) vs. (13) De Soto (7-15)   (5) St. James Academy (13-10) vs. (12) Leavenworth (8-15)   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">East Sub-State Predictions & Champions</h3>   Bonner Springs, which dropped its final regular-season game to Baldwin, still earns the No. 1 seed on the East side. At 22–1, there's not much the Braves don't bring to the table. They should be able to get through their first two sub-state games without much trouble, and a big reason for that is lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='2211348' first='Kelan' last='Gruver']. He's the kind of player you want this time of year — steady, composed, and a true floor general. He leads by action, keeps everyone organized, and pairs that presence with a high level of skill and basketball IQ.   [player_tooltip player_id='2327571' first='Jason' last='Jones Jr']. and [player_tooltip player_id='2820802' first='Jaiden' last='Jones'] are the other key pieces for the Braves, but their supporting cast is also a group to monitor. It's a group that continues to grow in confidence and experience as the season progresses, giving Bonner Springs balance and depth heading into the postseason.   Blue Valley Southwest could be tougher than people expect. Playing a schedule loaded with 6A programs should benefit them this time of year. They've competed with some of the better teams in the state, which says a lot about what they're capable of when they rise to the occasion. They feature four reliable players who can stretch the floor while also bringing good positional size and skill. Brady Bonczynski, Nash Ferguson, Wesley Abraham, and [player_tooltip player_id='2327580' first='Eli' last='Mick'] have all shown flashes throughout the season and, collectively, can create problems with how well they space the floor and move offensively.   Other notable names in this bracket include Jaxon Davis, Howard Peoples, and Tyrone Jones.   It's hard for me to imagine anyone other than Piper coming out of the second bracket. The postseason experience they've built over the years alone is enough to believe they're capable of making another deep run. As I've said before, when you have an elite point guard, you always give yourself a chance at any level — and [player_tooltip player_id='2209781' first='DJ' last='Jackson'] is exactly that for the Pirates.   Jackson brings a dynamic presence to the floor. He's always been a strong passer, but his scoring punch this season has really taken his game to another level. He's finishing efficiently, picking his spots well, and consistently making the right reads in a variety of situations. That kind of poise and decision-making — especially this time of year — is invaluable.   DJ's growth as a shooter is also noticeable. He looks more comfortable creating space for himself and is playing with noticeable confidence. Whether it's pulling up in the mid-range or stepping out well beyond the arc, he's knocking down shots and forcing defenses to respect him at all three levels.   Alamar Brooks and [player_tooltip player_id='2211352' first='Cooper' last='Crawford'] complement Jackson extremely well. Brooks' athleticism is a difference-maker on both ends of the floor — he impacts the game whether it's attacking the rim or defending in space. Crawford gives Piper length and mobility at the forward spot, along with the size to hold his own inside. As a versatile bigger body — he's skilled enough to step out and play on the perimeter while still being effective in the paint.   Beyond those three, there are several other solid pieces on the roster — guys who understand their roles and fit seamlessly into what Piper wants to do. They may not always grab headlines, but they contribute in ways that matter.   As for the rest of the bracket, keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='1974549' first='Jackson' last='Bruce'], Deacon Manthe, Mehki Stephens, [player_tooltip player_id='1911626' first='Ben' last='Renze'], and Nick Sabers. Each of them has the ability to make an impact and potentially shake things up.   The third pod feels like it could be the most competitive group in the entire bracket. Three of the four teams have a legitimate shot to move on, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this one come down to the wire more than once.   You can throw the records out when it comes to Basehor-Linwood. They've already beaten the two-seed, Piper, this season and have competed well against several other strong teams. They've proven they're not intimidated by anyone in front of them.   Highland Park is another team that makes this pod interesting. They've already faced Washington twice this season, and everyone knows how difficult it is to beat a team three times in a row. In those earlier matchups, they've shown stretches where they can go toe-to-toe with the Wildcats, which should give them confidence heading into this one.   That said, I still think the top seed, Washington, finds a way to advance. I expect tight games and high-pressure moments, but from top to bottom, Washington is the most talented team in the pod.   [player_tooltip player_id='2327569' first='Jamari' last='Williams'], Elliott Berry Jr., [player_tooltip player_id='2619432' first='Jayden' last='Boggess'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2623117' first='Savion' last='Stone'] headline a group that's as athletic as anyone in the bracket. They've been a bit streaky and haven't always lived up to the preseason predictions, but they've flashed their potential at different points throughout the year. Williams' size and versatility on the perimeter create matchup problems, and the pieces around him are more than capable of stepping up and providing scoring whenever they're called upon.   There are other names to monitor within this pod — Jojo Kingcannon, Davion Anderson, and [player_tooltip player_id='2417862' first='Chase' last='Young'] all have the ability to impact the outcome if given the opportunity.   The final piece of the bracket comes from the bottom, where both St. James and Shawnee Heights look like teams built to make a postseason run.   The Thunder have picked up some big wins this year and have competed against quality 6A programs, which makes them battle-tested and prepared for this moment. Shawnee Heights is in a similar position. They've played a tough schedule themselves and have pushed some of the bigger programs in the state. In a lot of ways, these two teams mirror each other, which should set up a really intriguing second-round matchup.   Talent-wise, I think Shawnee Heights may have a slight edge. But St. James brings experience, and that matters this time of year. They're led by two seniors and a junior in [player_tooltip player_id='2828274' first='Grady' last='Ogden'], [player_tooltip player_id='2328082' first='Emmitt' last='Peters'], and Matthew Davis. All three can stretch the floor and knock down shots from the outside, which makes them tough to guard — especially if they get hot. They play an unselfish brand of basketball where multiple guys are involved, and they consistently take advantage of their opportunities. Defensively, they seem more than willing to play connected and communicate, which is critical in tight postseason games.   Shawnee Heights counters with its own core of players including Cam Ross, [player_tooltip player_id='3479605' first='Quincy' last='Dixon'], [player_tooltip player_id='1624894' first='Jaimarion' last='Cook'], and Javeon Alston. How far they go may ultimately come down to the freshman, [player_tooltip player_id='3479605' first='Quincy' last='Dixon']. If he can step up and find success in the postseason, Shawnee Heights becomes very difficult to beat.   With all that said, I'm leaning toward St. James Academy to come out of the bottom portion of the bracket. Still, players like [player_tooltip player_id='1990170' first='Brandon' last='Serna'], Ryvonni Cheatham, and Adrian Brantley should factor into the mix and could have a major say in how things unfold.

As we shift over to the 5A East bracket, the top teams appear to be in strong positions to move on and advance. This side of the bracket also features several high-level players who are more than capable of taking over a game and running away with it. I'll break down the bracket first, then dive into my predictions and pick the sub-state champions.