6 MAN CHAMPIONSHIP—Weskan 49, Cunningham 48

SEMIFINALS—Cunningham 54, Tescott 8; Weskan 54, Golden Plains 37 (4TH)

QUARTERFINALS—Tescott 26, Peabody 13; Cunningham 52, Otis-Bison 6; Golden Plains 45, South Barber 28; Weskan 52, Weskan 12

SECOND ROUND—Peabody 59, Chetopa 20; Tescott 62, Altoona-Midway 12; Cunningham 1, Coffey County 0 (forfeit); Otis-Bison 65, Marias Des Cygnes 33; South Barber 69, Northern Valley 20; Golden Plains 46, Pawnee Heights 0; Weskan 52, Moscow 6; Ingalls 48, Cheylin 0

FIRST ROUND—Coffey County 1, Burrton 0 (forfeit); Moscow 55, Triplains 28; Chetopa 86, Chase 0; Pawnee Heights 66, Western Plains 6; Northern valley 69, Rolla 6

8 DIV. 2 CHAMPIONSHIP—Axtell 50, Victoria 0

SEMIFINALS—Axtell 52, Frankfort 20; Victoria 66, Dighton 20

QUARTERFINALS—Frankfort 46, Burlingame 38; Axtell 54, Osborne 8; Victoria 70, Hutchinson Central Christian 28; Dighton 44, Hodgeman County 22

SECOND ROUND—Frankfort 46, Marmaton Valley 0;  Burlingame 36, Hanover 24; Axtell 54, Rural Vista 0; Osborne 44, Lebo 6; Central Christian 48, Logan-Palco 6; Victoria 54, Wallace County 0; Hodgeman County 34, Bucklin 28; Dighton 30, Attica/Argonia 16

FIRST ROUND—Marmaton Valley 76, Hartford 12; Frankfort 40, Linn 14; Burlingame 54, St. Paul 0; Hanover 49, Pike Valley 0; Axtell 54, Thunder Ridge 0; Rural Vista 62, Waverly 6; Osborne 70, Blue Valley 24; Lebo 28, Crest 6; Central Christian 48, Macksville 6; Logan-Palco 62, Ashland 18; Victoria 52, Fairfield 0; Wallace County 62, Minneola 38; Bucklin 54, Wheatland 6; Hodgeman County 44, Norwich 38; Dighton 70, Deerfield 0; Attica/Argonia 70, St. John 20

8 DIV. 1 CHAMPIONSHIP—Hoxie 46, Central Plains 0

SEMIFINALS—Central Plains 28, Clifton-Clyde 25; Hoxie 42, South Central 28

QUARTERFINALS—Central Plains 38, Little River 32; Clifton Clyde 46, Madison 0; South Central 60, Hill City 12; Hoxie 40, Leoti 30

SECOND ROUND—Little River 34, West Elk 14; Central Plains 58, Chase County 52; Madison 16, Ell-Saline 14; Clifton Clyde 44, Oswego 20; South Central 24, Rawlins County 6; Hill City 50, Sublette 22; Leoti 58, South Gray 0; Hoxie 54, Oxford 0

FIRST ROUND—West Elk 46, Northern Heights 0; Little River 42, Lincoln 40; Chase County 50, Sedan  0; Central Plains 40, Sylvan-Lucas 38 (OT); Ell-Saline 50, Rock Hills 0; Madison 54, Cedar Vale 14; Clifton Clyde 45, Solomon 0; Oswego 60, Lyndon 50; South Central 60, Spearville 6; Rawlins County 70, Ellis 38; Sublette 1, Skyline 0 (forfeit); Hill City 34, Trego 26; Leoti 54, Oberlin 0; South Gray 56, Kiowa County 28; Hoxie 52, La Crosse 0; Oxford 46, Kinsley 28

1A CHAMPIONSHIP—Conway Springs 41, Centralia 6

SEMIFINALS—Centralia 22, Rossville 9; Conway Springs 55, Valley Heights 22

QUARTERFINALS—Rossville 38, Jackson Heights 34; Centralia 46, Pittsburg Colgan 14; Conway Springs 35, Plainville 6; Valley Heights 37, Medicine Lodge 22

SECOND ROUND—Jackson Heights 38, Troy 6; Rossville 42, McLouth 0; Pittsburg Colgan 19, Riverside 0; Centralia 40,  Olpe 26;  Conway Springs 21, Marion 6; Plainville 12, Sedgwick 6; Medicine Lodge 22, Hutchinson Trinity 20; Valley Heights 24, Sterling 19

1A FIRST ROUND—Jackson Heights 56, Erie 8; Troy 48, Jayhawk Linn 18; Rossville 47, Wabaunsee 13; McLouth 64, Pleasanton 20; Pittsburg Colgan 62, Horton 16; Riverside 42, Jefferson North 22; Centralia 44, Onaga 20; Olpe 35, Mission Valley 21; Conway Springs 59, Bennington 28; Marion 70, Salina Sacred Heart 31; Plainville 28, Inman 0; Sedgwick 48, Republic County 20; Hutchinson Trinity 20, Moundridge 14; Medicine Lodge 20, Smith Center 0; Valley Heights 41, Oakley 7; Sterling 48, Hays TMP 6

2A CHAMPIONSHIP—SE Saline 36, Nemaha Central 28

SEMIFINALS—Nemaha Central 21, Council Grove 6; SE Saline 34, Beloit 30

QUARTERFINALS—Council Grove 31, Humboldt 8; Nemaha Central 33, Osage City 27; SE Saline 30, Hoisington 8; Beloit 19, Garden Plain 0

SECOND ROUND—Humboldt 64, Riverton 7; Council Grove 30, Silver Lake 8; Osage City 14, St. Marys 0; Nemaha Central 21, Sabetha 0; SE Saline 34, Norton 7; Hoisington 24, Haven 14; Garden Plain 28,  Phillipsburg 6; Beloit 28, Halstead 0

2A FIRST ROUND—Humboldt 57, Atchison County 8; Riverton 40, Eureka 36; Council Grove 35, Caney Valley 14; Silver Lake 61, Galena 0; Osage City 76, Bluestem 6; St. Marys 49, Central Heights 0; Nemaha Central 55, Fredonia 13; Sabetha 16, Royal Valley 14; SE Saline 76, Larned 12; Norton 33, Hillsboro 22; Hoisington 28, Ellsworth 15; Haven 38, Cimarron 7; Garden Plain 48, Douglass 0; Phillipsburg 16, Kingman 6; Beloit 41, Minneapolis 14; Halstead 36, Lakin 6

3A CHAMPIONSHIP—Andale 36, Topeka Hayden 19

SEMIFINALS—Topeka Hayden 35, Wellsville 7; Andale 55, Holcomb 14

QUARTERFINALS—Wellsville 35, Prairie View 14; Topeka Hayden 56, Perry 6; Andale 52, Cheney 14; Holcomb 10, Scott City 7

SECOND ROUND—Wellsville 49, Holton 0; Prairie View 34, Columbus 13; Perry 28, Frontenac 22; Topeka Hayden 49, Girard 0; Andale 74, Clay Center 0; Cheney 14, Wichita Collegiate 6; Holcomb 21, Rock Creek 14; Scott City 9, Hesston 7

3A FIRST ROUND—Wellsville 49, Baldwin 7; Holton 51, Burlington 21; Prairie View 49, Iola 14; Columbus 21, Parsons 0; Frontenac 71, Baxter Springs 21; Perry 35, Santa Fe Trail 0; Topeka Hayden 56, Hiawatha 6; Girard 43, KC Ward 15; Andale 51, Concordia 7; Clay Center 47, Pratt 46; Wichita Collegiate 62, Colby 0; Cheney 63, Wichita Trinity 14; Rock Creek 51, Smoky Valley 8; Holcomb 12, Marysville 7; Scott City 34, Clearwater 7; Hesston 43, Goodland 34

4A CHAMPIONSHIP—Andover Central 49, SM Miege 42

SEMIFINALS—SM Miege 48, Tonganoxie 13; Andover Central 41, Buhler 14

QUARTERFINALS—Tonganoxie 21, Lansing 7; SM Miege 37, Chanute 14; Buhler 28, Wamego 14; Andover Central 58, Wellington 13

SECOND ROUND—Lansing 23, Atchison 15; Tonganoxie 34, Fort Scott 28; SM Miege 34, Labette 6; Chanute 30, Ottawa 0; Wamego 20,  McPherson 13; Buhler 62, Mulvane 21; Andover Central 35, Winfield 7; Wellington 20, Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel 19

4A FIRST ROUND—Atchison 62, Bonner Springs 12; Lansing 37, Eudora 19; Fort Scott 49, Coffeyville 9; Tonganoxie 63, KC Schlagle 6; SM Miege 17, Louisburg 6; Labette 55, KC Schlagle 22; Chanute 44, Paola 14; Ottawa 31, KC Piper 7; Wamego 42, Independence 14; McPherson 41, Abilene 20; Mulvane 29, Augusta 22; Buhler 35, Arkansas City 7; Andover Central 49, El Dorado 13; Winfield 35, Circle 13; Wellington 61, Ulysses 6; Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel 55, Rose Hill 7 

5A CHAMPIONSHIP—St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Hays High 13

SEMIFINALS—Hays High 24, Goddard Eisenhower 7; St. Thomas Aquinas 24, Lenexa St. James 17

QUARTERFINALS—Hays High 28, Hutchinson 0; Goddard Eisenhower 44, Topeka Seaman 14; St. Thomas Aquinas 23,  Mill Valley 22; Lenexa St. James 45, BV North 0

SECOND ROUND—Hays High 24, Great Bend 14; Hutchinson 33, Liberal 13; Goddard Eisenhower 37, Maize South 26; Topeka Seaman 43, Valley Center 16; St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Pittsburg 14; Mill Valley 42, Spring Hill 6; BV North 41, Leavenworth 14; Lenexa St. James 37, Basehor 19

5A FIRST ROUND—Great Bend 49, Newton 7; Hays High 31, Andover 0; Hutchinson 42, Salina South 7; Liberal 17, Wichita Carroll 6; Goddard Eisenhower 55, Emporia 10; Maize South 56, Salina Central 35; Topeka Seaman 65, Topeka West 7; Valley Center 7, Goddard 6; St. Thomas Aquinas 35, KC Turner 6; Pittsburg 49, Highland Park 18; Mill Valley 77, KC Harmon 0; Spring Hill 48, Shawnee Heights 14; BV North 34, DeSoto 27; Leavenworth 47, KC Washington 7; Basehor 21, BV Southwest 18;  Lenexa St. James 48, Blue Valley 22

6A CHAMPIONSHIP—Gardner Edgerton 36, Manhattan 33

SEMIFINALS—Manhattan 31, Derby 14; Gardner Edgerton 35, Blue Valley West 24

QUARTERFINALS—Derby 63, Wichita East 28; Manhattan 49, Wichita Northwest 28; Gardner Edgerton 44, BV Northwest 29; BV West 35, SM Northwest 20

SECOND ROUND—Derby 42, Junction City 14; Wichita East 21, Dodge City 17; Manhattan 49, Maize 0; Wichita Northwest 64, Wichita South 28; Gardner Edgerton 42, SM East 7; BV Northwest 49, Lawrence Free State 14; BV West 40, Olathe NW 7; SM Northwest 21, Olathe East 7

6A FIRST ROUND—Derby 62, Campus 7; Junction City 47, Topeka High 14; Dodge City 34, Garden City 7; Wichita East 63, Wichita West 20; Manhattan 59, Wichita North 0; Maize 37, Washburn Rural 21; Wichita Northwest 35, Wichita Southeast 24; Wichita South 41, Wichita Heights 21; Gardner Edgerton 63, KC Wyandotte 0; SM East 28, Lawrence 14; BV Northwest 31, SM North 12; Lawrence Free State 49, Olathe West 26; BV West 38, SM West 7; Olathe NW 44, Olathe South 21; SM Northwest 57, SM South 27; Olathe East 28, Olathe North 14

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

STAFFORD —  The Stafford Trojans (8-12) took a step backwards last season after making school history by playing in their first state basketball tournament in 76 years in 2023. The Trojans’ prior state basketball appearance occurred in 1947.

Smith was Stanton County’s leading scorer and played junior college basketball at Colby. 

Stafford coach Cole Smith sees the Trojans as a young team with room to grow.

"We will be young and inexperienced. Improving each week will be our goal," he said. "We have talent, but we must trust the process. I’m excited to see how we grow and compete during December.

Sam Lowther (7 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 assists)

Jacob Simmons (10 ppg)

Zachary Sedore (3 ppg)

Cody Knoche (3 ppg)

These guys are a good core group of guys. We improved, but have a ton of growth. 

Smith projects Cunningham, Norwich and Central Christian to be top league contenders.

Jake had a much better year than expected and has improved a ton this offseason as a more well-rounded scorer. 

Sam does a little bit of everything for us, he’s super skilled and just keeps growing. Sam is a gym rat and doesn’t lack confidence in some ways but focusing on making the simple play will really allow Sam to show just how impactful he can be. 

Zach is a coach’s dream, comes to work doesn’t complain, always in the right place and plays his tail off. Zach may not have a huge jump statistically but he’s going to be a huge part of our success. 

Cody Knoche, he’s a great on-ball defender and is going to go 100 miles an hour every day. I look forward to Cody taking a big step into being more than just a defensive threat. 

Sam Lowther, Junior, 6’3”, long and active guard, who is looking to take a big step forward this season after underachieving last season both personally and as a team. Will benefit from the improvementJake Simmons, Pablo Diaz, and Cody Knoche. 

Cody Knoche will be most improved player by the end of the year. 

Jacob Simmons can really shoot the ball but has improved dramatically as a ball handler and driver this off season. He can be a reliable defender is the next step for him. 

Zachary Sedore is undersized but led us in rebounding (9 rpg) and battles every night.

Newcomers

Pablo Diaz, Sophomore, 6’2”, exchange student from Barcelona, Spain. Pablo is a gym rat who has a bright future ahead of him. 

Iago Lima, Senior, 5’10”, exchange student from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Iago is a well rounded athlete with a high IQ and great on-ball defense.

James Englebrecht, Sophomore, 5’10”, saw limited action last season but showed flashes on JV and during the summer of being a very good contributor for us this season. 

Other Newcomers- Joel Valadez, Pol Beltran, Landon Baird, Jacob Johnson

8-12

STAFFORD TROJANS

2—Sam Lowther, 6-3, G, 12 (7 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 assists)

2—Jobe Valadez, 5-5, G, 9 

3—Jacob Simmons, 5-10, G, 11 (10 ppg)

7—Brock Oleson, 5-7, G, 9

10—Zachary Sedore, 5-11, G/F, 12 (3 ppg)

11—Josue Valadez, 5-9, G, 12 

14—Joseph Valadez, 5-5, G, 12 

20—Cody Knoche, 6-0, F, 12 (3 ppg)

22—Brock Downing, 6-2, F, 12

23—Landon Marks, 5-10, G/F, 9

24—Landon Baird, 5-9, G, 12

25—Joel Valadez, 5-7, G, 10

Pablo Diaz, 6-2 (Spain)

Iago Lima, 5-10 (Brazil)

James Englebrecht, 5-10, 10

Pol Beltran

Landon Baird 

Jacob Johnson

STAFFORD SCHEDULE

12-6—at St. John; 12-9-13—at Fairfield Tourney; 12-17—at Centre; 12-20—Macksville; 1-7—Otis-Bison; 1-10—*Argonia; 1-14—*Fairfield; 1-17—*Hutchinson Central Christian; 1-20/25—at Pratt 54 Boys Classic; 1-29—at Fairfield Girls Tourney; 2-4—*at Skyline; 2-7—* South Barber; 2-11—*Norwich; 2-14—*at Burrton; 2-18—*at Cunningham; 2-21—*Attica; 2-25— at Pretty Prairie

What are goals for Heart of Plains, postseason play?

Everyone’s got big lofty goals and that’s fine. Our goals will just be to buy in and improve more and more each day and if we do that, we can achieve some of those bigger goals. 

What is projected offensive pace of play, style?

We will play with at an extremely high pace this year, which will be a dramatic change from previous years. Even though we will play at a high pace, ball movement, player movement and shot selection will be our focus. Some possessions, we may come down and get a great shot within the first 8 seconds and then the next we may have to work 30-40 seconds to get that same shot. 

What is projected defensive style — man, zone, pressure?

One word, Pressure

What are expected strengths?

We have a good core as I stated before but we also have some exchange students who are very good and then about 3-4 others, that will get plenty of time this season. So, we should have some very good depth to keep guys fresh and effective with our pressure and pace. 

Not much height. How do battle on the boards?

A big reason for the change of style was because of our height, however toughness and want to matter more when it comes to rebounding, example: Josh Hart, Dennis Rodman, Russell Westbrook