Stanton County 45, Cheyenne Wells, Colo. 41

Maywood-Hayes Center, Neb. 61, Oberlin-Decatur 5

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=Andover 70, Maize 41Andover Central 70, Wichita Campus 44Baldwin 72, Anderson County 41Centralia 59, Cair Paravel 34Chanute 74, Winfield 60Chaparral 53, El Dorado 32Cheney 61, Pratt 58, OTClay Center 65, Beloit 59Concordia 45, Riley County 31Derby 74, McPherson 68Ellsworth 19, Phillipsburg 11Fairfield 66, Chase 26Garden Plain 53, Nickerson 24Greeley County 82, McClave, Colo. 67Hanover 87, St. Xavier 11Haven 69, Kingman 51Highland Park 82, Bonner Springs 62Hoisington 59, Kinsley 34Hutchinson 60, Salina Central 27Inman 54, Hillsboro 21Junction City 81 Salina South 53KC Bishop Ward 65, Rossville 54Labette County 62, Mulvane 46Logan/Palco 60, Golden Plains 22Macksville 69, Bucklin 45Madison/Hamilton Co-op 27, Oswego 25Manhattan 60, Hays 44Moundridge 71, Lyons 35Oskaloosa 59, Onaga 49Pawnee Heights 69, Wheatland-Grinnell 35Pittsburg 59, Nevada, Mo. 51Pittsburg Colgan 82, Chetopa 8Pleasant Ridge 52, McLouth 28Remington 39, Douglass 37Southeast Saline 70, Smoky Valley 38St. James Academy 67, Washburn Rural 62Stanton County 45, Cheyenne Wells, Colo. 41Sublette 72, Southwestern Hts. 50Sylvan-Lucas 45, Smith Center 36Trego 51, Victoria 40Wallace County 63, Cheylin 58Wichita Independent 73, Halstead 50Cattle Trail Invitational=Maywood-Hayes Center, Neb. 61, Oberlin-Decatur 5

Tuesday night boys basketball results

Wauneta-Palisade, Neb. 46, Oberlin-Decatur 38

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=Axtell 31, Flint Hills Christian 25Baldwin 43, Anderson County 29Bonner Springs 49, Highland Park 36Chanute 35, Winfield 31, OTCimarron 61, Southwestern Hts. 35Crest 49, Erie 45Elkhart 62, Walsh, Colo. 22Fort Scott 63, Wellsville 21Frontenac 64, Riverton 28Garden Plain 53, Nickerson 33Goddard 43, Buhler 32Golden Plains 62, Cheylin 7Hanover 79, St Xaviers 21Haven 38, Kingman 27Hesston 55, Rose Hill 16Hillsboro 64, Inman 49McClave, Colo. 54, Greeley County 24Nevada, Mo. 60, Pittsburg 41Northeast-Arma 37, Marmaton Valley 28Pawnee Heights 34, Dighton 29Phillipsburg 70, Ellsworth 44Quapaw, Okla. 52, Baxter Springs 29Quinter 67, Natoma 27Salina South 38 Junction City 32Smith Center 54, Sylvan-Lucas 41Southeast Saline 48, Smoky Valley 46St. Francis 76, Triplains-Brewster 15Syracuse 47, Eads, Colo. 31Valley Heights 49, Marysville 27Wallace County 41, Weskan 15Wamego 50, Sabetha 27Cattle Trail Invitational=Wauneta-Palisade, Neb. 46, Oberlin-Decatur 38___

Tuesday night girls basketball results

Congratulations to Parker Erickson of Ramona, the Week 13 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!

Parker, who scored 13 of 14 points, wins $100.

Although the season is underway, you still have time to win!

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!

Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662062091203.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to Parker Erickson of Ramona, the Week 13 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!Parker, who scored 13 of 14 points, wins $100.Although the season is underway, you still have time to win!<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

Gridiron Glory: Congratulations Parker Erickson!

The Hays High Indians are on the road for the first time Tuesday as they travel to Manhattan to take on the Indians.

The girls game will tipoff at approximately 6:00 with the boys to follow from Manhattan.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480602">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

The Hays High Indians are on the road for the first time Tuesday as they travel to Manhattan to take on the Indians.The girls game will tipoff at approximately 6:00 with the boys to follow from Manhattan.Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480602">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/480602?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>

🏀 🎥 WATCH LIVE Hays High at Manhattan

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor

After collecting big wins on opening night the Cowboys and Mustangs will meet in Abilene on Tuesday for a rematch of last year’s thrilling sub-state championship game.

The fourth-ranked Cowboys began their season in style with a convincing 73-52 dismantlement of the Smoky Valley Vikings, with team effort winning the day for Abilene. “Our guys played hard in that first game,” Cowboy head coach Erik Graefe said. “We had a lot of guys that we wanted to get on the floor, we have a lot of guys that we think deserve time and we’ve been demanding of them on the defensive end but we were pleased with what we saw.”

To the northeast Rock Creek kicked off their campaign with a thrilling 55-53 overtime win over Clay Center, that saw David Wilkinson play the part of the hero with the game-winner in OT.

“I thought we did a pretty good job defensively,” first-year Mustang head coach Justin Smith said. “Clay Center is going to be able to score a lot of points this year and I thought we did a pretty good job making it tough on them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As these two turn their attention to one another, fans of both sides can’t help but recall a thrilling 64-57 overtime sub-state final between these two that saw Abilene punch their ticket to state to stave off a Rock Creek upset.

Despite that bittersweet end to their season, the Mustangs remain more committed to their present goals, rather than living in a moment that has already come to pass.

“I don't think we think of this as a revenge game,” Smith said. “This is a new season, with new teams. I do believe we are creating a little bit of a rivalry and I believe that we will have some competitive games going forward.”

With Rock Creek set to join the NCKL that rivalry seems all but certain to emerge as these familiar foes continue to battle year after year.

“We’ve played Rock Creek for a long time and this is becoming a rivalry for sure,” Graefe said. “I like playing them because they’re good, they’re well-coached, they challenge you and they show you what you need to do differently.”

Praise for the other program has been high on both sides ahead of this matchup, as each looks to remain undefeated early in the year.

“Abilene is long, athletic, and they can really shoot the ball,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to do a better job rebounding and getting out to shooters and we’re going to have to shoot the ball better.”

On the other side of the matchup, patience will have to be a virtue for the Cowboys, who are still sorting out their rotation early in the season.

“We have to be patient both offensively and defensively because they will be,” Graefe said. “They attack the paint and try to get you off their feet. We can’t take the first shot we get off the first pass, we have to move the ball around and get better looks.”

Tip-off between the Cowboys and Mustangs is set for 7:30 pm at Abilene High School following the girl's game at 6:00.

For continuing coverage of all four teams, all season long stay tuned to the Salina and Little Apple Posts and follow us on Twitter @spostsports.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorAfter collecting big wins on opening night the Cowboys and Mustangs will meet in Abilene on Tuesday for a rematch of last year’s thrilling sub-state championship game.The fourth-ranked Cowboys began their season in style with a convincing 73-52 dismantlement of the Smoky Valley Vikings, with team effort winning the day for Abilene. “Our guys played hard in that first game,” Cowboy head coach Erik Graefe said. “We had a lot of guys that we wanted to get on the floor, we have a lot of guys that we think deserve time and we’ve been demanding of them on the defensive end but we were pleased with what we saw.”To the northeast Rock Creek kicked off their campaign with a thrilling 55-53 overtime win over Clay Center, that saw David Wilkinson play the part of the hero with the game-winner in OT.“I thought we did a pretty good job defensively,” first-year Mustang head coach Justin Smith said. “Clay Center is going to be able to score a lot of points this year and I thought we did a pretty good job making it tough on them.&nbsp;&nbsp;As these two turn their attention to one another, fans of both sides can’t help but recall a thrilling 64-57 overtime sub-state final between these two that saw Abilene punch their ticket to state to stave off a Rock Creek upset.Despite that bittersweet end to their season, the Mustangs remain more committed to their present goals, rather than living in a moment that has already come to pass.“I don't think we think of this as a revenge game,” Smith said. “This is a new season, with new teams. I do believe we are creating a little bit of a rivalry and I believe that we will have some competitive games going forward.”With Rock Creek set to join the NCKL that rivalry seems all but certain to emerge as these familiar foes continue to battle year after year.“We’ve played Rock Creek for a long time and this is becoming a rivalry for sure,” Graefe said. “I like playing them because they’re good, they’re well-coached, they challenge you and they show you what you need to do differently.”Praise for the other program has been high on both sides ahead of this matchup, as each looks to remain undefeated early in the year.“Abilene is long, athletic, and they can really shoot the ball,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to do a better job rebounding and getting out to shooters and we’re going to have to shoot the ball better.”On the other side of the matchup, patience will have to be a virtue for the Cowboys, who are still sorting out their rotation early in the season.“We have to be patient both offensively and defensively because they will be,” Graefe said. “They attack the paint and try to get you off their feet. We can’t take the first shot we get off the first pass, we have to move the ball around and get better looks.”Tip-off between the Cowboys and Mustangs is set for 7:30 pm at Abilene High School following the girl's game at 6:00.For continuing coverage of all four teams, all season long stay tuned to the Salina and Little Apple Posts and follow us on Twitter @spostsports.

Mustangs travel to Abilene looking to avenge sub-state final

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor

After very different starts to their 2022-23 seasons, the Cowgirls (0-1) and Lady Mustangs (1-0) will meet in Abilene, for a future league preview on Tuesday night.

Abilene struggled in their season opener, turning the ball over 26 times in a 73-39 loss to Smoky Valley, but exhibited good effort for 32 minutes, something that has first-year head coach Shawn Hermann excited to get his team back on the floor.

“I went back and watched the film several times and our girls absolutely competed for the whole game,” Hermann said. “Smoky Valley shot lights out kudos to them, but we’re young and we’re still getting our feet wet with girls who don’t have a lot of varsity time. We did a lot of good things but we still have a lot of things to clean up.” Across the state Rock Creek was putting the clamps on Clay Center in a low-scoring 37-27 affair that saw the Lady Mustang defense completely neutralize a good Tiger team.

“Defensively we played with good energy and intensity,” Rock Creek head coach Adam Plummer said. “Our rotation was good, our closeouts were good and our movement when the ball was in the air was good. If you’re going to hold teams to 27 points you give yourselves a chance to win every single night.”

Now, these two teams will turn their attention to one another, with one looking to establish itself with a 2-0 start, and the other looking to avoid an early two-game skid.

A few years from now, these two will find themselves competing against one another in the NCKL, but familiarity between the programs already exists in what has become an increasingly fun matchup to keep an eye on.

“I think eventually this is going to turn into a rivalry,” Hermann said. “There’s precedent for that on the boy's side with a sub-state championship game. Bringing them into the league is a positive thing, they’re well coached, they compete every night and that’s what we need.”

Despite this matchup looking potentially one-sided on early-season paper, the Lady Mustangs know that one game is not indicative of a team's true identity, and are preparing for a battle on Tuesday evening.

“They have a really good post inside in Dannefer,” Plummer said. “She’s long, strong, and jumps well. We also have to make sure that we don’t give them easy baskets, they’re going to play with high intensity, they’re going to be competitive and we have to stick to who we are and not let them take us out of that.”

Post-play is something that has graced the Abilene scouting report as well, as a young Cowgirl team gets to grips with the speed of the varsity floor.

“Rock Creek has good size and they can guard the ball as well,” Herrman said. “They bring a lot of experience and you can’t put that into a stat line. They play hard, they’re physical and we have to be ready to play.”

To have success and get back to .500, Abilene must value each possession and take better care of the basketball after coughing up 21 turnovers that led to Viking buckets in transition last week.

On the other side of the matchup, Rock Creek will look to get things going on the offensive side of the floor to complement their sturdy defensive play.

“We’re looking to improve our offensive continuity,” Plummer said. “We pride ourselves on being able to go fast but we never slowed down mentally. I’m comfortable that our kids are going to bring a good intensity every single night and if we take care of the ball and we can keep our legs we’ll be okay.”

Tip-off between the Cowgirls and Lady Mustangs is set for 6 pm at Abilene High School with the boy's game to follow at 7:30. For continuing coverage of all four teams throughout the season stay tuned to the Salina and Little Apple Posts.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorAfter very different starts to their 2022-23 seasons, the Cowgirls (0-1) and Lady Mustangs (1-0) will meet in Abilene, for a future league preview on Tuesday night.Abilene struggled in their season opener, turning the ball over 26 times in a 73-39 loss to Smoky Valley, but exhibited good effort for 32 minutes, something that has first-year head coach Shawn Hermann excited to get his team back on the floor.“I went back and watched the film several times and our girls absolutely competed for the whole game,” Hermann said. “Smoky Valley shot lights out kudos to them, but we’re young and we’re still getting our feet wet with girls who don’t have a lot of varsity time. We did a lot of good things but we still have a lot of things to clean up.” Across the state Rock Creek was putting the clamps on Clay Center in a low-scoring 37-27 affair that saw the Lady Mustang defense completely neutralize a good Tiger team.“Defensively we played with good energy and intensity,” Rock Creek head coach Adam Plummer said. “Our rotation was good, our closeouts were good and our movement when the ball was in the air was good. If you’re going to hold teams to 27 points you give yourselves a chance to win every single night.”Now, these two teams will turn their attention to one another, with one looking to establish itself with a 2-0 start, and the other looking to avoid an early two-game skid.A few years from now, these two will find themselves competing against one another in the NCKL, but familiarity between the programs already exists in what has become an increasingly fun matchup to keep an eye on.“I think eventually this is going to turn into a rivalry,” Hermann said. “There’s precedent for that on the boy's side with a sub-state championship game. Bringing them into the league is a positive thing, they’re well coached, they compete every night and that’s what we need.”Despite this matchup looking potentially one-sided on early-season paper, the Lady Mustangs know that one game is not indicative of a team's true identity, and are preparing for a battle on Tuesday evening.“They have a really good post inside in Dannefer,” Plummer said. “She’s long, strong, and jumps well. We also have to make sure that we don’t give them easy baskets, they’re going to play with high intensity, they’re going to be competitive and we have to stick to who we are and not let them take us out of that.”Post-play is something that has graced the Abilene scouting report as well, as a young Cowgirl team gets to grips with the speed of the varsity floor.“Rock Creek has good size and they can guard the ball as well,” Herrman said. “They bring a lot of experience and you can’t put that into a stat line. They play hard, they’re physical and we have to be ready to play.”To have success and get back to .500, Abilene must value each possession and take better care of the basketball after coughing up 21 turnovers that led to Viking buckets in transition last week.On the other side of the matchup, Rock Creek will look to get things going on the offensive side of the floor to complement their sturdy defensive play.“We’re looking to improve our offensive continuity,” Plummer said. “We pride ourselves on being able to go fast but we never slowed down mentally. I’m comfortable that our kids are going to bring a good intensity every single night and if we take care of the ball and we can keep our legs we’ll be okay.”Tip-off between the Cowgirls and Lady Mustangs is set for 6 pm at Abilene High School with the boy's game to follow at 7:30. For continuing coverage of all four teams throughout the season stay tuned to the Salina and Little Apple Posts.

Lady Mustangs travel to Abilene looking to start season 2-0

The NFL has flexed the KC Chiefs at Denver Broncos game this coming Sunday from Sunday night to the mid-afternoon game time slot. The game is scheduled at 3 p.m. with the pregame broadcast on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK AM at 2 p.m.

The NFL has flexed the KC Chiefs at Denver Broncos game this coming Sunday from Sunday night to the mid-afternoon game time slot. The game is scheduled at 3 p.m. with the pregame broadcast on 107.9 FM / 1420 KJCK AM at 2 p.m.

Chiefs - Broncos game time changes

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Alabama and newly crowned Big 12 champion Kansas State will meet for the first time at the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Eve.

The Crimson Tide (10-2, No. 5 CFP) are headed to the Sugar Bowl for the 17th time after narrowly missing out on the four-team College Football Playoff because of losses at Tennessee and LSU on the last play of each game.

Kansas State (10-3, No. 9 CFP) did its best to help Alabama's chances of a playoff berth by handing TCU its first loss of the season in overtime of Saturday's Big 12 title game in Dallas.

But that close loss in a title game for TCU was not enough to persuade the College Football Playoff selection committee to drop the Horned Frogs out of the top four in its rankings. TCU wound up as the third seed and Ohio State, whose lone loss came against unbeaten Michigan, is the fourth seed and will meet top-seeded Georgia.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Alabama and newly crowned Big 12 champion Kansas State will meet for the first time at the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Eve.The Crimson Tide (10-2, No. 5 CFP) are headed to the Sugar Bowl for the 17th time after narrowly missing out on the four-team College Football Playoff because of losses at Tennessee and LSU on the last play of each game.Kansas State (10-3, No. 9 CFP) did its best to help Alabama's chances of a playoff berth by handing TCU its first loss of the season in overtime of Saturday's Big 12 title game in Dallas.But that close loss in a title game for TCU was not enough to persuade the College Football Playoff selection committee to drop the Horned Frogs out of the top four in its rankings. TCU wound up as the third seed and Ohio State, whose lone loss came against unbeaten Michigan, is the fourth seed and will meet top-seeded Georgia.

K-State will play in the Sugar Bowl

The TMP girls will play in the seventh place game of the Hays City Shootout against Manhattan. The TMP boys will also take on Manhattan in the fourth place game.&nbsp;

The girls game will tipoff at 10 a.m. at Hays Middle School and the boys game is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at the middle school.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/479182">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the girls game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/479183">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the boys game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.

The TMP girls will play in the seventh place game of the Hays City Shootout against Manhattan. The TMP boys will also take on Manhattan in the fourth place game.&nbsp;The girls game will tipoff at 10 a.m. at Hays Middle School and the boys game is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. at the middle school.Click the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/479182">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the girls game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.Girls game<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/479182?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>Boys gameClick the player below or click&nbsp;<a href="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/479183">HERE&nbsp;</a>to view the boys game. You can also download the Team1Sports app for your phone or connected device, including smart TVs.<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/embed/479183?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>

🏀🎥 WATCH LIVE TMP vs Manhattan

Flint Hills Christian 52, Topeka Heritage Christian 47

Wichita Bishop Carroll 66, Wichita Southeast 63

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=Anderson County 61, Iola 54Andover 73, Wichita Campus 34BV Southwest 52, Lawrence 48Basehor-Linwood 58, Topeka West 52Berean Academy 42, Central Plains 40Bishop Miege 73, KIPP KC Legacy, Mo. 41Burden Central 44, Attica 34Burlingame 58, Cair Paravel 32Chase County 34, Central Heights 30Circle 68, Kingman 55Columbus 49, Pittsburg Colgan 35Elkhorn, Neb. 41, Bennington 35Emporia 72, Ottawa 65Eudora 38, Spring Hill 23Flint Hills Christian 52, Topeka Heritage Christian 47Frontenac 58, Nevada, Mo. 52Galena 71, St. Paul 29Goddard 58, Augusta 34Halstead 46, Sedgwick 44Heritage Christian 53, Barstow, Mo. 49Hill City 58, Ellis 32Independence 65, Caney Valley 31Jayhawk Linn 39, Cass-Midway, Mo. 18Junction City 84, Great Bend 51Liberal 74, Ulysses 60Logan/Palco 49, Wheatland-Grinnell 31Macksville 63, Ness City 29Oakley 55, Phillipsburg 51Pawnee City, Neb. 60, Frankfort 44Pike Valley 37, Rock Hills 26Pretty Prairie 71, Argonia 45Quinter 62, Victoria 31Remington 58, Bluestem 10Scott City 50, Hoisington 40Stafford 56, St. John 30Sublette 77, Kinsley 51Thunder Ridge 63, Chase 16Topeka Seaman 56, Lansing 35Wellington 60, Mulvane 28Weskan 77, Golden Plains 25West Franklin 60, Council Grove 47Wichita Bishop Carroll 66, Wichita Southeast 63Wichita Heights 47, Wichita Northwest 37Wichita Trinity 53, Garden Plain 31

Friday night boys basketball results

El Dorado Springs, Mo. 54, Olathe East 46

Wichita Bishop Carroll 45, Wichita Southeast 25

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=Anderson County 52, Iola 32Attica 52, Burden Central 27Augusta 33, Goddard 27Basehor-Linwood 52, Topeka West 36Beloit 36, Concordia 29Berean Academy 46, Central Plains 29Burlingame 47, Cair Paravel 20Cimarron 52, Holcomb 43Circle 46, Kingman 39El Dorado Springs, Mo. 54, Olathe East 46Ell-Saline 53, Herington 14Emporia 57, Ottawa 44Fairfield 53, Oxford 21Frankfort 59, Pawnee City, Neb. 12Garden Plain 54, Wichita Trinity 38Goessel 41, Marion 33Halstead 39, Sedgwick 13Lakin 59, Wallace County 42Liberal 49, Ulysses 17Ness City 51, Macksville 43Pawnee Heights 44, South Central 24Phillipsburg 47, Oakley 20Remington 35, Bluestem 27Rock Creek 37, Clay Center 27Rock Hills 45, Pike Valley 34Rural Vista 42, Canton-Galva 32Scott City 40, Hoisington 22Smith Center 71, Plainville 12Southeast 40, Erie 32Southwestern Hts. 59, Pratt Skyline 23St. Paul 47, Galena 44Sublette 52, Kinsley 22Thunder Ridge 64, Chase 35Topeka Seaman 62, Lansing 32Wellington 49, Mulvane 29Wheatland-Grinnell 49, Logan/Palco 43Wichita Bishop Carroll 45, Wichita Southeast 25Wichita Heights 47, Wichita Northwest 37Wilson 53, Otis-Bison 38___

Friday night girls basketball results

On the heels of a phenomenal 22-3 season that saw them take third at state, the Wamego girl’s basketball team will look to retool and run it back for the 2022-23 campaign.

The Lady Raiders are led by head coach Brian McIntosh who returns for his sixth season at the helm in Wamego.

Despite graduating three key seniors, the Raiders return deeper and more talented than ever, with a rotation of twelve players battling it out for a spot in the starting five.

While the lineup has yet to be decided, Wamego expects big minutes out of six seniors in Trista Hoobler, Ashten Pierson, Addison Denney, Maya Gallagher, Kirby McKee, and Kyla McAdam, two juniors in Rylie Meinhardt and Sara Springer, three sophomores in Bella Wilber, Sariah Pittenger-Reed, and Amber Kinsley, and freshman Lexi Hecht.

Before the season tips off, we had a chance to visit with Coach McIntosh to get his thoughts on this year’s Wamego squad.

Q: What were your overall thoughts on the 2021-22 campaign?

A: Each year we’ve taken steps to achieve our ultimate goal. This year we will look to take another step. Our returners played a huge role in our 3rd place finish last season, they understand what it takes to compete against the best and they have their focus set on some high goals.

Q: How excited is everyone to get back on the floor and back to playing real games after a long offseason?

A: The girls are very hungry and eager to get the season going. They all did more this off-season than they ever have. We look forward to another memorable season.

Q: Coming into the year what would you say is the biggest strength of this team?

A: We have the majority of our team returning from last season. The girls have been working hard in the offseason and are hungry to build off last year's success. Our six seniors have been instrumental in our program's success over the past three years. They are terrific leaders and understand what it takes to compete at the state level.

Q: What are the biggest question marks about this team as we head into the first few weeks?

A: Honestly, we have a pretty good idea of our lineup and who will be coming in, we’re healthy which is always a good thing at this point and we have a lot of kids back from last year and a lot of young kids who are excited to step up. Honestly, we’re just ready to get going again.

Q: What are the goals and expectations of this team for this 2022-23 campaign?

A: After last season our girls know what to expect and they know what they want. Their expectations are high, if not higher than last season. We’ve got a tremendous group of seniors who have been in our program for three years and they know the ins and outs of the season. I’m looking forward to them leading us.

The Raiders will tip off their 2022-23 season on Thursday, December 3rd when Wamego hosts Topeka High.

For continuing coverage of Lady Raider basketball all season long, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorOn the heels of a phenomenal 22-3 season that saw them take third at state, the Wamego girl’s basketball team will look to retool and run it back for the 2022-23 campaign.The Lady Raiders are led by head coach Brian McIntosh who returns for his sixth season at the helm in Wamego.Despite graduating three key seniors, the Raiders return deeper and more talented than ever, with a rotation of twelve players battling it out for a spot in the starting five.While the lineup has yet to be decided, Wamego expects big minutes out of six seniors in Trista Hoobler, Ashten Pierson, Addison Denney, Maya Gallagher, Kirby McKee, and Kyla McAdam, two juniors in Rylie Meinhardt and Sara Springer, three sophomores in Bella Wilber, Sariah Pittenger-Reed, and Amber Kinsley, and freshman Lexi Hecht.Before the season tips off, we had a chance to visit with Coach McIntosh to get his thoughts on this year’s Wamego squad.Q: What were your overall thoughts on the 2021-22 campaign?A: Each year we’ve taken steps to achieve our ultimate goal. This year we will look to take another step. Our returners played a huge role in our 3rd place finish last season, they understand what it takes to compete against the best and they have their focus set on some high goals.Q: How excited is everyone to get back on the floor and back to playing real games after a long offseason?A: The girls are very hungry and eager to get the season going. They all did more this off-season than they ever have. We look forward to another memorable season.Q: Coming into the year what would you say is the biggest strength of this team?A: We have the majority of our team returning from last season. The girls have been working hard in the offseason and are hungry to build off last year's success. Our six seniors have been instrumental in our program's success over the past three years. They are terrific leaders and understand what it takes to compete at the state level.Q: What are the biggest question marks about this team as we head into the first few weeks?A: Honestly, we have a pretty good idea of our lineup and who will be coming in, we’re healthy which is always a good thing at this point and we have a lot of kids back from last year and a lot of young kids who are excited to step up. Honestly, we’re just ready to get going again.Q: What are the goals and expectations of this team for this 2022-23 campaign?A: After last season our girls know what to expect and they know what they want. Their expectations are high, if not higher than last season. We’ve got a tremendous group of seniors who have been in our program for three years and they know the ins and outs of the season. I’m looking forward to them leading us.The Raiders will tip off their 2022-23 season on Thursday, December 3rd when Wamego hosts Topeka High.For continuing coverage of Lady Raider basketball all season long, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

2022-23 Preseason Profile: Wamego girl's basketball

Lawrence Free State 76, Hays-TMP-Marian 34

Midland Adventist 61, Maranatha Academy 42

Thayer Central, Neb. 36, Republic County 34

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=Baxter Springs 61, Liberal, Mo. 49Hays 65, Newton 40Holton 65, Burlington 62, 2OTHugoton 66, Wichita Life Prep 60Lawrence Free State 76, Hays-TMP-Marian 34Maize South 46, Andover Central 40McPherson 74, Dodge City 32Midland Adventist 61, Maranatha Academy 42Olathe North 46, Chrisman, Ill. 45Olathe West 74, Manhattan 70Riley County 41, Valley Heights 36Thayer Central, Neb. 36, Republic County 34

Thursday night boys basketball results

Thayer Central, Neb. 53, Republic County 37

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=Bentonville, Ark. 64, Wichita Sunrise 34Carthage, Mo. 44, Olathe East 34FS Northside, Ark. 58, Hugoton 36Garden City 52, Coronado, Colo. 50Hays 45, Newton 29Holton 53, Burlington 22Liberal, Mo. 57, Baxter Springs 23Maize South 41, Andover Central 38McPherson 43, Dodge City 37Olathe West 58, Manhattan 40Riley County 39, Valley Heights 36, 2OTSouthern Coffey 38, Crest 22Thayer Central, Neb. 53, Republic County 37Wamego 57, Topeka 52Washburn Rural 49, Hays-TMP-Marian 24

Thursday night girls basketball results

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals hired Guardians bullpen coach Brian Sweeney as their new pitching coach and Nationals minor league coordinator Jose Alguacil as their infield coach Thursday, filling two of the spots on new manager Matt Quatraro’s staff. The 48-year-old Sweeney spent five seasons on the Guardians staff, including the last three overseeing the bullpen. Alguacil had spent 15 years in the Giants organization before spending last season in Washington. Quatraro was hired to replace the fired Mike Matheny in Kansas City. He had previously announced the addition of former Tampa Bay major league field coordinator Paul Hoover as his bench coach.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals hired Guardians bullpen coach Brian Sweeney as their new pitching coach and Nationals minor league coordinator Jose Alguacil as their infield coach Thursday, filling two of the spots on new manager Matt Quatraro’s staff. The 48-year-old Sweeney spent five seasons on the Guardians staff, including the last three overseeing the bullpen. Alguacil had spent 15 years in the Giants organization before spending last season in Washington. Quatraro was hired to replace the fired Mike Matheny in Kansas City. He had previously announced the addition of former Tampa Bay major league field coordinator Paul Hoover as his bench coach.

Kansas City Royals hire a new pitching coach

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22049&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Collin Klein’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22050&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Joe Klanderman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/coordinator-press-conferences-december-1-2022/4786" target="_blank">Listen on Wildcats Uncut</a> MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State offensive coordinator&nbsp;Collin Klein&nbsp;and defensive coordinator&nbsp;Joe Klanderman&nbsp;met with members of the media on Thursday at the Vanier Family Football Complex prior to the 10th-ranked Wildcats facing No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on Saturday. Links to video and audio of both press conferences are above, and a transcript of select quotes are below.

COLLIN KLEIN, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

On what he has learned about the offense since the TCU game…

“Shoot, it's a game of inches. A couple plays on that first drive of the third quarter are huge. You play in those big games against great teams, it's going to be a game of inches. If that's a first down play, second down play, or a third down play on the third, fourth, fifth, sixth drive of the game, we've got to scratch and claw for every inch because it might be the difference.”

“It’s definitely different. I think it’s been interesting even kind of self scouting ourselves and how we've grown and developed through the year. They have too, and they're doing some different things than they were six weeks ago and credit to them. Again, I've got a ton a ton of respect for Coach (Joe) Gillespie and what he's done because their defense is flying around right now and really hitting their fits, I think, a lot faster on some things. You can tell now they've had a season with their new staff and new coordinators. But we have too so it'll be a fun challenge.”

On if TCU will be more aggressive at the line of scrimmage facing Will Howard for a second time…

“I think it's something that you saw even through the game. The first 3rd&nbsp;and 16th they’re in Tampa 2 and (Will) rips that seam to Malik (Knowles) ,and you didn't see that the rest of the day. Even last week on some things, I think there was a little bit more pressure, which is something that we've gone through the year. They're going to make us win and beat man coverage, but our guys have been doing that and are prepared for it. Excited to watch them do their thing.”

On Ben Sinnott’s performance this season…

“He's made some huge plays at some huge times. It's fun to watch. He and Will (Howard) are really, really close. Both those guys, they love competing, they love practicing and working hard. Just yesterday, making fun of one another for something and having fun, getting better at their craft. We've known Ben, he's an instinctual football player. He's got great ball skills and tools, and when you're out there and you're going to battle with your teammates and having that much fun, good things happen.”

On what kind of mindset it takes to win a championship game…

“I almost tend to go the other way of saying, we've been in a one-week season since, really, probably even week one, but definitely week three. Just, hey, let's put our head down and focus on one at a time and this happens to be the 13th step in that journey of the 13-week season, but I think our guys, we’re where we're at because they've really bought into that and lived it. I haven't felt much of a sense, and I don't want them to think of this as anything else, because it's another challenge and it's another one-week season.”

JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

On what he has learned about the defense since the TCU game…

“Well, there’s been some shuffling for sure. I think that at that time we were still trying to find ourselves a little bit. There was a stretch in that game where we were playing pretty well, and then it kind of went sideways. We lost Deuce (Daniel) Green, we lost Julius Brents, we lost Khalid Duke. It just kind of became a rash of things there for a minute. We’ve got a veteran group of guys, and I think that they'll respond being in the big moments.”

On what is more concerning, TCU’s run game or explosive passing attack…

“Well, that's a great question. They just have tremendous playmakers. Tremendous playmakers at the receiver position. I think their tight ends are good playmakers. I think that the quarterback, obviously, makes it go, and Kendre Miller is a stud. I think they found a couple other guys at that position that are playing really high level too. It's a delicate balance of how do you keep people over the top of things and still put enough people in there to turn the run down. So, that’s the mix, and that's going to be the chess match all game long.”

On how important it is to get multiple tacklers on Kendre Miller…

“We didn't tackle him very well last time at all. I think our pursuit saved us a couple of times. I think we missed more tackles in that game that maybe we missed in any other game this year. It's due to him, and it's due to Max Duggan. He just does a really nice job of being patient in his runs. I don't think he rushes anything. I think he keeps himself under control, and if you yourself are out of control, you're going to miss him because he's going to change his pace and change his level. Even when we were able to get pretty good thuds on him, I don't think we played with very good technique last time in terms of running through the contact, which is something that we emphasize. I think a lot of times we ran to the contact and dove and put our head down and missed. That's a recipe for disaster no matter who you're tackling.”

On how V.J. Payne preformed against Kansas…

“He played awesome. He played really well last week. We knew he had the ability. He just didn't have a ton of seasoning. Changing his position in the matter of a week was a thing. I think the way that we teach things, we try to teach them conceptually. So, there was a lot of carry over from what he was doing, but definitely a different look at it, a different perspective. So, what he did last week to get himself ready to play and then playing well. I was so happy and proud of him. He played his tail off.”

On getting off to better starts defensively…

“No doubt, yeah. We started slow and it's our own fault. I think last week it was we couldn't get off the field on third down. I think we had them in some third and very manageable situations for us last week and couldn't get out. Had a couple of penalties that kept a couple of drives going and just couldn't get out of our own way. Feel like last week against West Virginia, obviously started off with that pick-six and things were kind of going well early, and then it ended up they got to pick-six and then they kind of got some momentum and same kind of deal. Just a play here, whether it's a call or an error or whatever. Wasn't like we were not playing hard or unprepared to play, that's not what it is. We’ve just got to find a better way. I think teams are doing a good job of attacking us differently then maybe we would anticipate. Maybe that's a sign of respect, I guess, but that's part of it. Then the other part of it, we’ve got to execute early, and I think that's especially huge against these guys. Same kind of deal when we played these guys last time. I thought we put ourselves in some third downs in that first series and had chance to get off field, and then next thing you know, they get a, whatever it was, a 70-yard pass on a one-on-one play. You bet that's going to be a huge deal who can start this game early. They do a good job with their script right away. They can flow pretty quickly, early.”

Associate Athletics Director for Communications

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22049&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Collin Klein’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22050&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Joe Klanderman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/coordinator-press-conferences-december-1-2022/4786" target="_blank">Listen on Wildcats Uncut</a> MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State offensive coordinator&nbsp;Collin Klein&nbsp;and defensive coordinator&nbsp;Joe Klanderman&nbsp;met with members of the media on Thursday at the Vanier Family Football Complex prior to the 10th-ranked Wildcats facing No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on Saturday. Links to video and audio of both press conferences are above, and a transcript of select quotes are below.COLLIN KLEIN, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOROn what he has learned about the offense since the TCU game…“Shoot, it's a game of inches. A couple plays on that first drive of the third quarter are huge. You play in those big games against great teams, it's going to be a game of inches. If that's a first down play, second down play, or a third down play on the third, fourth, fifth, sixth drive of the game, we've got to scratch and claw for every inch because it might be the difference.”On preparing for a rematch…“It’s definitely different. I think it’s been interesting even kind of self scouting ourselves and how we've grown and developed through the year. They have too, and they're doing some different things than they were six weeks ago and credit to them. Again, I've got a ton a ton of respect for Coach (Joe) Gillespie and what he's done because their defense is flying around right now and really hitting their fits, I think, a lot faster on some things. You can tell now they've had a season with their new staff and new coordinators. But we have too so it'll be a fun challenge.”On if TCU will be more aggressive at the line of scrimmage facing Will Howard for a second time…“I think it's something that you saw even through the game. The first 3rd&nbsp;and 16th they’re in Tampa 2 and (Will) rips that seam to Malik (Knowles) ,and you didn't see that the rest of the day. Even last week on some things, I think there was a little bit more pressure, which is something that we've gone through the year. They're going to make us win and beat man coverage, but our guys have been doing that and are prepared for it. Excited to watch them do their thing.”On Ben Sinnott’s performance this season…“He's made some huge plays at some huge times. It's fun to watch. He and Will (Howard) are really, really close. Both those guys, they love competing, they love practicing and working hard. Just yesterday, making fun of one another for something and having fun, getting better at their craft. We've known Ben, he's an instinctual football player. He's got great ball skills and tools, and when you're out there and you're going to battle with your teammates and having that much fun, good things happen.”On what kind of mindset it takes to win a championship game…“I almost tend to go the other way of saying, we've been in a one-week season since, really, probably even week one, but definitely week three. Just, hey, let's put our head down and focus on one at a time and this happens to be the 13th step in that journey of the 13-week season, but I think our guys, we’re where we're at because they've really bought into that and lived it. I haven't felt much of a sense, and I don't want them to think of this as anything else, because it's another challenge and it's another one-week season.”JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOROn what he has learned about the defense since the TCU game…“Well, there’s been some shuffling for sure. I think that at that time we were still trying to find ourselves a little bit. There was a stretch in that game where we were playing pretty well, and then it kind of went sideways. We lost Deuce (Daniel) Green, we lost Julius Brents, we lost Khalid Duke. It just kind of became a rash of things there for a minute. We’ve got a veteran group of guys, and I think that they'll respond being in the big moments.”On what is more concerning, TCU’s run game or explosive passing attack…“Well, that's a great question. They just have tremendous playmakers. Tremendous playmakers at the receiver position. I think their tight ends are good playmakers. I think that the quarterback, obviously, makes it go, and Kendre Miller is a stud. I think they found a couple other guys at that position that are playing really high level too. It's a delicate balance of how do you keep people over the top of things and still put enough people in there to turn the run down. So, that’s the mix, and that's going to be the chess match all game long.”On how important it is to get multiple tacklers on Kendre Miller…“We didn't tackle him very well last time at all. I think our pursuit saved us a couple of times. I think we missed more tackles in that game that maybe we missed in any other game this year. It's due to him, and it's due to Max Duggan. He just does a really nice job of being patient in his runs. I don't think he rushes anything. I think he keeps himself under control, and if you yourself are out of control, you're going to miss him because he's going to change his pace and change his level. Even when we were able to get pretty good thuds on him, I don't think we played with very good technique last time in terms of running through the contact, which is something that we emphasize. I think a lot of times we ran to the contact and dove and put our head down and missed. That's a recipe for disaster no matter who you're tackling.”On how V.J. Payne preformed against Kansas…“He played awesome. He played really well last week. We knew he had the ability. He just didn't have a ton of seasoning. Changing his position in the matter of a week was a thing. I think the way that we teach things, we try to teach them conceptually. So, there was a lot of carry over from what he was doing, but definitely a different look at it, a different perspective. So, what he did last week to get himself ready to play and then playing well. I was so happy and proud of him. He played his tail off.”On getting off to better starts defensively…“No doubt, yeah. We started slow and it's our own fault. I think last week it was we couldn't get off the field on third down. I think we had them in some third and very manageable situations for us last week and couldn't get out. Had a couple of penalties that kept a couple of drives going and just couldn't get out of our own way. Feel like last week against West Virginia, obviously started off with that pick-six and things were kind of going well early, and then it ended up they got to pick-six and then they kind of got some momentum and same kind of deal. Just a play here, whether it's a call or an error or whatever. Wasn't like we were not playing hard or unprepared to play, that's not what it is. We’ve just got to find a better way. I think teams are doing a good job of attacking us differently then maybe we would anticipate. Maybe that's a sign of respect, I guess, but that's part of it. Then the other part of it, we’ve got to execute early, and I think that's especially huge against these guys. Same kind of deal when we played these guys last time. I thought we put ourselves in some third downs in that first series and had chance to get off field, and then next thing you know, they get a, whatever it was, a 70-yard pass on a one-on-one play. You bet that's going to be a huge deal who can start this game early. They do a good job with their script right away. They can flow pretty quickly, early.”RYAN LACKEYAssociate Athletics Director for Communications

K-State Coordinators Discuss Big 12 Championship

On the heels of an 8-14 campaign complete with a first-round upset of Ell-Saline at sub-state, the Wabaunsee girl’s basketball team will look to restock and take the next step in 2022-23.

The Lady Chargers will be under the direction of head coach Trevor Keller, who enters his fourth year at the helm in Alma.

Over the offseason, Wabaunsee graduated just two seniors, and will return most of a core now led by upperclassmen, culminating in a veteran-heavy lineup that should look something like this come tip-off.

G- Taryn Maike (Jr) G- Karli Meseke (Jr) G- Anni Wright (Sr) G/F- Lexi Barnes (Sr) F- Kaci Meseke (Jr)

The Chargers will also look for big minutes off the bench from Alexus Ford, Ava Huske, Harley Ridder, and Reese Michaelis.

Ahead of the season’s tip-off, we had an opportunity to sit down with Coach Keller and get his thoughts on this year’s Lady Chargers.

A: We talk every year about wanting to play our best basketball in late February and early March. We play in a tough league and our record probably didn’t indicate the level that we played at or how good we were as a team but we were able to knock off a higher-seeded team at sub-state in Ell-Saline and that was a big win for us. I was really proud of the growth that we made throughout the season.

A: Everybody’s really excited. We’ve had a great first few weeks of practice and the effort that we get day in and day out is great, that’s all you can really ask for as a coach. We want to get 1% better each day and up to this point, I think we’ve accomplished that.&nbsp;

A: Our returning core is big, we have a lot of girls that have played a lot of minutes for us over the last couple of years. We’re a little bit deeper this year than we have been in the past. We only have 12 girls out but we could play 9-10 deep and we’re excited about that.

A: Any time you come into a new season as a coach you have a vision of everybody’s role but over the first couple of weeks it's important that you learn from each other and define those roles as players settle in. We also have to take care of the basketball and limit our turnovers to give ourselves a chance to score.

A: Every year the ultimate goal for every team is to make state so that’s out there but we talk about how we achieve that and for us, it’s about getting 1% better every day. We want to be playing our best basketball in late February and early March to give ourselves an opportunity to achieve that goal.

Wabaunsee will open their season on Friday, December 2nd when the Lady Chargers host Northern Heights.

For continuing coverage of Lady Charger basketball all season long, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorOn the heels of an 8-14 campaign complete with a first-round upset of Ell-Saline at sub-state, the Wabaunsee girl’s basketball team will look to restock and take the next step in 2022-23.The Lady Chargers will be under the direction of head coach Trevor Keller, who enters his fourth year at the helm in Alma.Over the offseason, Wabaunsee graduated just two seniors, and will return most of a core now led by upperclassmen, culminating in a veteran-heavy lineup that should look something like this come tip-off.G- Taryn Maike (Jr) G- Karli Meseke (Jr) G- Anni Wright (Sr) G/F- Lexi Barnes (Sr) F- Kaci Meseke (Jr)The Chargers will also look for big minutes off the bench from Alexus Ford, Ava Huske, Harley Ridder, and Reese Michaelis.Ahead of the season’s tip-off, we had an opportunity to sit down with Coach Keller and get his thoughts on this year’s Lady Chargers.Q: What were your overall thoughts on the 2021-22 campaign?A: We talk every year about wanting to play our best basketball in late February and early March. We play in a tough league and our record probably didn’t indicate the level that we played at or how good we were as a team but we were able to knock off a higher-seeded team at sub-state in Ell-Saline and that was a big win for us. I was really proud of the growth that we made throughout the season.Q: How excited is everyone to get back on the floor and back to playing real games after a long offseason?A: Everybody’s really excited. We’ve had a great first few weeks of practice and the effort that we get day in and day out is great, that’s all you can really ask for as a coach. We want to get 1% better each day and up to this point, I think we’ve accomplished that.&nbsp;Q: Coming into the year what would you say is the biggest strength of this team?A: Our returning core is big, we have a lot of girls that have played a lot of minutes for us over the last couple of years. We’re a little bit deeper this year than we have been in the past. We only have 12 girls out but we could play 9-10 deep and we’re excited about that.Q: What are the biggest question marks about this team as we head into the first few weeks?A: Any time you come into a new season as a coach you have a vision of everybody’s role but over the first couple of weeks it's important that you learn from each other and define those roles as players settle in. We also have to take care of the basketball and limit our turnovers to give ourselves a chance to score.Q: What are the goals and expectations of this team for this 2022-23 campaign?A: Every year the ultimate goal for every team is to make state so that’s out there but we talk about how we achieve that and for us, it’s about getting 1% better every day. We want to be playing our best basketball in late February and early March to give ourselves an opportunity to achieve that goal.Wabaunsee will open their season on Friday, December 2nd when the Lady Chargers host Northern Heights.For continuing coverage of Lady Charger basketball all season long, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

2022-23 Preseason Profile: Wabaunsee girl's basketball

After a terrific 17-6 campaign that saw them fall in overtime of the sub-state final, the Wabaunsee boy’s basketball team is hungry to run it back and take the next step in the 2022-23 season.

The Chargers will once again be under the direction of head coach Christian Ulsaker, who enters his fourth year at the helm in Alma.

Wabaunsee graduated just two seniors over the offseason and will return a deep roster, brimming with talent and experience, with several familiar faces lining a starting five that should look something like this come tip-off.

PG- Eli Oliver G- Zach Frank G- Logan Clark G- Bryton Reves F- Ryan Schutter

The Chargers will also look to the bench for big minutes from Lanson Parry, Maverick Havenstein, and Cole Frank.

Ahead of the start of their new campaign, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Ulsaker to get his thoughts on this year’s Chargers squad.

A: We had a very successful season, 17-6 is nothing to hang your head about, we just got matched up with a very good St. Mary’s team that had a bunch of kids who went on to play at the next level. Overall the year was a good building block for our program and all of our guys got better as the season progressed.

A: Our guys are hungry, very much so. We have seven seniors and this will be the first group that I’ve had since they were freshmen so they understand what’s expected of them, the offense we run, what we expect from them on defense, and what it takes to be winners.

A: Compared to years past this team has a lot of depth. I feel like I have 8-9 guys that I trust to be on the court at any given time, run the offense, and play defense at the high level that I expect. We also have some athletes and we have more size than normal for a 2A team.

A: We need to continue to improve our three-point shooting. We have some guys coming back that can really shoot it but we want a few more guys that we can trust to shoot that open shot efficiently. Other than that we just have to make sure we don’t get complacent and understand that our past success isn’t where championships are crowned.

A: We always want to improve by 1% every single day. We haven’t won a league title since I’ve been here and long before so that would be big and getting back to state is always a big goal as well. We talk about that in practice, Manhattan is just down the road, and we’d like to make that our second home.

Wabaunsee will open their 2022-23 season on Friday, December 2nd when the Chargers take on Northern Heights.

For continuing coverage of Charger basketball all season long, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorAfter a terrific 17-6 campaign that saw them fall in overtime of the sub-state final, the Wabaunsee boy’s basketball team is hungry to run it back and take the next step in the 2022-23 season.The Chargers will once again be under the direction of head coach Christian Ulsaker, who enters his fourth year at the helm in Alma.Wabaunsee graduated just two seniors over the offseason and will return a deep roster, brimming with talent and experience, with several familiar faces lining a starting five that should look something like this come tip-off.PG- Eli Oliver G- Zach Frank G- Logan Clark G- Bryton Reves F- Ryan SchutterThe Chargers will also look to the bench for big minutes from Lanson Parry, Maverick Havenstein, and Cole Frank.Ahead of the start of their new campaign, we had a chance to catch up with Coach Ulsaker to get his thoughts on this year’s Chargers squad.Q: What were your overall thoughts on the 2021-22 campaign?A: We had a very successful season, 17-6 is nothing to hang your head about, we just got matched up with a very good St. Mary’s team that had a bunch of kids who went on to play at the next level. Overall the year was a good building block for our program and all of our guys got better as the season progressed.Q: How excited is everyone to get back on the floor and back to playing real games after a long offseason?A: Our guys are hungry, very much so. We have seven seniors and this will be the first group that I’ve had since they were freshmen so they understand what’s expected of them, the offense we run, what we expect from them on defense, and what it takes to be winners.Q: Coming into the year what would you say is the biggest strength of this team?A: Compared to years past this team has a lot of depth. I feel like I have 8-9 guys that I trust to be on the court at any given time, run the offense, and play defense at the high level that I expect. We also have some athletes and we have more size than normal for a 2A team.Q: What are the biggest question marks about this team as we head into the first few weeks?A: We need to continue to improve our three-point shooting. We have some guys coming back that can really shoot it but we want a few more guys that we can trust to shoot that open shot efficiently. Other than that we just have to make sure we don’t get complacent and understand that our past success isn’t where championships are crowned.Q: What are the goals and expectations of this team for this 2022-23 campaign?A: We always want to improve by 1% every single day. We haven’t won a league title since I’ve been here and long before so that would be big and getting back to state is always a big goal as well. We talk about that in practice, Manhattan is just down the road, and we’d like to make that our second home.Wabaunsee will open their 2022-23 season on Friday, December 2nd when the Chargers take on Northern Heights.For continuing coverage of Charger basketball all season long, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

2022-23 Preseason Profile: Wabaunsee boy's basketball

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Led by Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah&nbsp;– who was also named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year – and Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year&nbsp;Cooper Beebe, a total of 17 Kansas State football players picked up postseason honors, as the Big 12 announced the 2022 Coaches’ All-Big 12 selections on Wednesday.

Anudike-Uzomah is the seventh player in school history to be named the conference defensive player of the year and the first since Jordan Willis – who was also the defensive lineman of the year – in 2016. It was the second-straight season that Anudike-Uzomah was named the conference’s top defensive lineman, the first ever two-time winner since the Big 12 began handing out the award in 2006.

Beebe is K-State’s first offensive lineman of the year since Dalton Risner in 2018 and the third since the Big 12 established the award in 2006 (B.J. Finney, 2014).

With the honors by Anudike-Uzomah and Beebe, the Wildcats rank second in Big 12 history with 37 individual awards. Oklahoma is first with 48 and Texas is third with 32.

Joining Anudike-Uzomah and Beebe on the first team were tight end&nbsp;Ben Sinnott&nbsp;and cornerback&nbsp;Julius Brents. K-State’s second-team selections included running back&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn, wide receiver&nbsp;Malik Knowles, punt returner&nbsp;Phillip Brooks, safety&nbsp;Kobe Savage&nbsp;and punter&nbsp;Ty Zentner.

The Wildcats had seven players named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in cornerback&nbsp;Ekow Boye-Doe, offensive linemen&nbsp;Hayden Gillum&nbsp;and&nbsp;KT Leveston, linebackers&nbsp;Daniel Green&nbsp;and&nbsp;Austin Moore, nose guard&nbsp;Eli Huggins&nbsp;and quarterback&nbsp;Adrian Martinez. Additionally, Martinez earned votes for Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Brooks for Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, Savage for Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, Vaughn for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and running back&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;for Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.

The only Big 12 defender to be a unanimous first-team selection, Anudike-Uzomah has a team-leading 7.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss among his 39 tackles this season as 25.6% of his stops have been for lost yardage despite being the recipient of consistent double-team blocking. He has tallied at least a half TFL in eight of 12 games and at least a half sack in six contests. A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Anudike-Uzomah tallied 3.0 sacks against Texas Tech to tie for fourth in a game in school history. He has 19.5 career sacks to rank 10th&nbsp;in school history, while his eight career forced fumbles are tied for fourth and one shy of the school record.

Beebe, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, has started each of the last 30 games, including all 12 contests this season at left guard. He has not surrendered a sack among his 358 pass blocking snaps this year and is currently riding a 27-game streak without allowing a sack dating back to his redshirt freshman campaign of 2020. Beebe earned All-Big 12 First Team honors for a second-straight year, the first Wildcat offensive lineman to do so since Risner was a three-time All-Big 12 First Team performer from 2016 to 2018.

A former walk-on from Waterloo, Iowa, Sinnott has emerged as one of the top receiving threats from his tight end/fullback position, hauling in 15 catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns over the last five games. He had consecutive 80-yard performances against Baylor and West Virginia, including a career high 89-yard, two-touchdown effort in K-State’s 31-3 win over the Bears. His two touchdowns were the most by a K-State tight end since 1996. He enters this week’s Big 12 Championship ranked 10th&nbsp;in school history in single-season receiving yards by a tight end with 382 yards.

Brents, a product of Indianapolis, Indiana and former transfer from Iowa, has three interceptions this year to tie for fifth in the Big 12 and tops on the team. Showing more physicality this season, Brents has 40 tackles and a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, while his six total passes defended are also a career best. He totaled a career-high nine tackles at Oklahoma and a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss at TCU.

Kansas State, which was ranked 10th&nbsp;in the penultimate College Football Playoff Top 25 on Tuesday evening, takes on No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on Saturday. The game, which will be the backdrop for ESPN’s&nbsp;College Gameday&nbsp;beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, kicks off at 11 a.m. from AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will be shown on ABC with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call.

Coaches’ All-Big 12 Teams (Kansas State)

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year:&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year:&nbsp;Cooper Beebe.

Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year:&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

First Team:&nbsp;Ben Sinnott (FB), Cooper Beebe (OL), Felix Anudike-Uzomah (DL), Julius Brents (DB).

Second Team:&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn (RB), Malik Knowles (WR), Phillip Brooks (KR/PR), Kobe Savage (DB), Ty Zentner (P).

Honorable Mention:&nbsp;Ekow Boye-Doe (DB), Phillip Brooks (Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year), DJ Giddens (Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year), Hayden Gillum (OL), Daniel Green (LB), Eli Huggins (DL), KT Leveston (OL), Adrian Martinez (QB, Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year), Austin Moore (LB), Kobe Savage (Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year), Deuce Vaughn (Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year).

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Led by Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah&nbsp;– who was also named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year – and Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year&nbsp;Cooper Beebe, a total of 17 Kansas State football players picked up postseason honors, as the Big 12 announced the 2022 Coaches’ All-Big 12 selections on Wednesday.Anudike-Uzomah is the seventh player in school history to be named the conference defensive player of the year and the first since Jordan Willis – who was also the defensive lineman of the year – in 2016. It was the second-straight season that Anudike-Uzomah was named the conference’s top defensive lineman, the first ever two-time winner since the Big 12 began handing out the award in 2006.Beebe is K-State’s first offensive lineman of the year since Dalton Risner in 2018 and the third since the Big 12 established the award in 2006 (B.J. Finney, 2014).With the honors by Anudike-Uzomah and Beebe, the Wildcats rank second in Big 12 history with 37 individual awards. Oklahoma is first with 48 and Texas is third with 32.Joining Anudike-Uzomah and Beebe on the first team were tight end&nbsp;Ben Sinnott&nbsp;and cornerback&nbsp;Julius Brents. K-State’s second-team selections included running back&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn, wide receiver&nbsp;Malik Knowles, punt returner&nbsp;Phillip Brooks, safety&nbsp;Kobe Savage&nbsp;and punter&nbsp;Ty Zentner.The Wildcats had seven players named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in cornerback&nbsp;Ekow Boye-Doe, offensive linemen&nbsp;Hayden Gillum&nbsp;and&nbsp;KT Leveston, linebackers&nbsp;Daniel Green&nbsp;and&nbsp;Austin Moore, nose guard&nbsp;Eli Huggins&nbsp;and quarterback&nbsp;Adrian Martinez. Additionally, Martinez earned votes for Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Brooks for Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, Savage for Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, Vaughn for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and running back&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;for Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.The only Big 12 defender to be a unanimous first-team selection, Anudike-Uzomah has a team-leading 7.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss among his 39 tackles this season as 25.6% of his stops have been for lost yardage despite being the recipient of consistent double-team blocking. He has tallied at least a half TFL in eight of 12 games and at least a half sack in six contests. A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Anudike-Uzomah tallied 3.0 sacks against Texas Tech to tie for fourth in a game in school history. He has 19.5 career sacks to rank 10th&nbsp;in school history, while his eight career forced fumbles are tied for fourth and one shy of the school record.Beebe, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, has started each of the last 30 games, including all 12 contests this season at left guard. He has not surrendered a sack among his 358 pass blocking snaps this year and is currently riding a 27-game streak without allowing a sack dating back to his redshirt freshman campaign of 2020. Beebe earned All-Big 12 First Team honors for a second-straight year, the first Wildcat offensive lineman to do so since Risner was a three-time All-Big 12 First Team performer from 2016 to 2018.A former walk-on from Waterloo, Iowa, Sinnott has emerged as one of the top receiving threats from his tight end/fullback position, hauling in 15 catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns over the last five games. He had consecutive 80-yard performances against Baylor and West Virginia, including a career high 89-yard, two-touchdown effort in K-State’s 31-3 win over the Bears. His two touchdowns were the most by a K-State tight end since 1996. He enters this week’s Big 12 Championship ranked 10th&nbsp;in school history in single-season receiving yards by a tight end with 382 yards.Brents, a product of Indianapolis, Indiana and former transfer from Iowa, has three interceptions this year to tie for fifth in the Big 12 and tops on the team. Showing more physicality this season, Brents has 40 tackles and a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, while his six total passes defended are also a career best. He totaled a career-high nine tackles at Oklahoma and a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss at TCU.Kansas State, which was ranked 10th&nbsp;in the penultimate College Football Playoff Top 25 on Tuesday evening, takes on No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on Saturday. The game, which will be the backdrop for ESPN’s&nbsp;College Gameday&nbsp;beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, kicks off at 11 a.m. from AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will be shown on ABC with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call.Coaches’ All-Big 12 Teams (Kansas State)Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year:&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah.Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year:&nbsp;Cooper Beebe.Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year:&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah.First Team:&nbsp;Ben Sinnott (FB), Cooper Beebe (OL), Felix Anudike-Uzomah (DL), Julius Brents (DB).Second Team:&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn (RB), Malik Knowles (WR), Phillip Brooks (KR/PR), Kobe Savage (DB), Ty Zentner (P).Honorable Mention:&nbsp;Ekow Boye-Doe (DB), Phillip Brooks (Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year), DJ Giddens (Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year), Hayden Gillum (OL), Daniel Green (LB), Eli Huggins (DL), KT Leveston (OL), Adrian Martinez (QB, Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year), Austin Moore (LB), Kobe Savage (Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year), Deuce Vaughn (Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year).– k-statesports.com –RYAN LACKEYAssociate Athletics Director for Communications

Seventeen Wildcats Garner All-Big 12 Accolades

LAWRENCE -&nbsp;John Hadl, a homegrown football legend at the University of Kansas who went on to become a professional football star, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 82 years old.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hadl made a name for himself at Lawrence High School as an all-state halfback for the football team and as a centerfielder for the baseball team. To the delight of Lawrence residents, Hadl chose to play for KU.

His ability as an all-around athlete served him well as he transitioned into the college game. As a sophomore in 1959, in his first season of collegiate eligibility, Hadl led the NCAA in punting (45.6 yards per punt) and set KU records for the longest punt (94 yards, which still stands) and the longest interception return (98 yards, which stood until 2007).

But it was his junior and senior campaigns that etched his name into the history books. Hadl’s versatility propelled him to excel both as a halfback and quarterback. With Hadl running the offense, the Jayhawks were ranked in the top-20 his junior and senior years and finished the two-season span 14-5-2. He wrapped up his Kansas career leading his team to the program’s first-ever bowl victory, a 33-7 decision over Rice in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.

“John Hadl had a generational impact on Kansas football, the University of Kansas and the Lawrence community. He was a once-in-a-lifetime Jayhawk student-athlete, a coach and mentor, a prolific fundraiser who developed profound relationships with countless, and the ultimate ambassador for KU. In short, our University and athletic program has been transformed by John and his legacy will forever be cemented. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with Diana and the Hadl family. We will deeply miss John and his contagious smile but will proudly honor him and his unrivaled legacy as we move forward,” said KU Director of Athletics Travis Goff.

“Upon my arrival, I heard instantly from people across the state about John’s impact to this department, not just as a student-athlete and coach, but as someone who dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to the University of Kansas. His desire to enhance KU and make it as special as possible truly resonated with me. To be the head coach of this program and see his statue every day outside Anderson Family Football Complex, is a firm reminder of the passion and love that John had for this program. Kelly and I send our condolences to the Hadl family and his loved ones,” said KU&nbsp;Head Football Coach Lance Leipold.

An inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame (1994), Hadl was the first Kansas player to be picked twice for All-America honors (1960 and 1961). He was also named the Most Valuable Player of both the East-West Shrine game and the College All-Star game after the 1961 season.

Hadl then enjoyed a successful 16-year career as a professional quarterback, most notably with the San Diego Chargers. A six-time Pro Bowler, he played in three American Football League Championship games and was named National Football Conference Player of the Year in 1973.&nbsp; He was named the 1971 National Football League Man of the Year and is a member of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame. Hadl was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft.

After retiring from professional football in 1977, Hadl returned to his hometown and to his true love, the University of Kansas, as an assistant football coach. As assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 1981 he helped lead the Jayhawks to the Hall of Fame Bowl. His players loved him, having come to understand his passion for and knowledge of the game. In the mid-1980’s he coached in the NFL and the USFL.

In 1988 Hadl returned to KU to join the Williams Education Fund.&nbsp; For 30 years he was at the forefront of fundraising for the construction and renovation of KU’s athletics facilities. Hadl retired from his position in the Kansas Athletics’ Williams Education Fund in October of 2018.&nbsp;

A Jayhawk at heart, John Hadl will forever be honored as a member of the Kansas football Ring of Honor and the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame. His No. 21 is one of three Kansas football numbers to be retired (Gale Sayers No. 48 and Ray Evans No. 42).

Hadl’s legacy was celebrated during the 2020 season with a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=6251a7c0c7&amp;e=42e2e56024" target="_blank">statue unveiling</a>&nbsp;outside of Anderson Family Football Complex. He is one of two Jayhawks to be commemorated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669833873846.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy <a href="http://kuathletics.com">kuathletics.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy <a href="http://kuathletics.com">kuathletics.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>KU AthleticsLAWRENCE -&nbsp;John Hadl, a homegrown football legend at the University of Kansas who went on to become a professional football star, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 82 years old.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hadl made a name for himself at Lawrence High School as an all-state halfback for the football team and as a centerfielder for the baseball team. To the delight of Lawrence residents, Hadl chose to play for KU.His ability as an all-around athlete served him well as he transitioned into the college game. As a sophomore in 1959, in his first season of collegiate eligibility, Hadl led the NCAA in punting (45.6 yards per punt) and set KU records for the longest punt (94 yards, which still stands) and the longest interception return (98 yards, which stood until 2007).But it was his junior and senior campaigns that etched his name into the history books. Hadl’s versatility propelled him to excel both as a halfback and quarterback. With Hadl running the offense, the Jayhawks were ranked in the top-20 his junior and senior years and finished the two-season span 14-5-2. He wrapped up his Kansas career leading his team to the program’s first-ever bowl victory, a 33-7 decision over Rice in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.“John Hadl had a generational impact on Kansas football, the University of Kansas and the Lawrence community. He was a once-in-a-lifetime Jayhawk student-athlete, a coach and mentor, a prolific fundraiser who developed profound relationships with countless, and the ultimate ambassador for KU. In short, our University and athletic program has been transformed by John and his legacy will forever be cemented. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with Diana and the Hadl family. We will deeply miss John and his contagious smile but will proudly honor him and his unrivaled legacy as we move forward,” said KU Director of Athletics Travis Goff.“Upon my arrival, I heard instantly from people across the state about John’s impact to this department, not just as a student-athlete and coach, but as someone who dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to the University of Kansas. His desire to enhance KU and make it as special as possible truly resonated with me. To be the head coach of this program and see his statue every day outside Anderson Family Football Complex, is a firm reminder of the passion and love that John had for this program. Kelly and I send our condolences to the Hadl family and his loved ones,” said KU&nbsp;Head Football Coach Lance Leipold.An inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame (1994), Hadl was the first Kansas player to be picked twice for All-America honors (1960 and 1961). He was also named the Most Valuable Player of both the East-West Shrine game and the College All-Star game after the 1961 season.Hadl then enjoyed a successful 16-year career as a professional quarterback, most notably with the San Diego Chargers. A six-time Pro Bowler, he played in three American Football League Championship games and was named National Football Conference Player of the Year in 1973.&nbsp; He was named the 1971 National Football League Man of the Year and is a member of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame. Hadl was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft.After retiring from professional football in 1977, Hadl returned to his hometown and to his true love, the University of Kansas, as an assistant football coach. As assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 1981 he helped lead the Jayhawks to the Hall of Fame Bowl. His players loved him, having come to understand his passion for and knowledge of the game. In the mid-1980’s he coached in the NFL and the USFL.In 1988 Hadl returned to KU to join the Williams Education Fund.&nbsp; For 30 years he was at the forefront of fundraising for the construction and renovation of KU’s athletics facilities. Hadl retired from his position in the Kansas Athletics’ Williams Education Fund in October of 2018.&nbsp;A Jayhawk at heart, John Hadl will forever be honored as a member of the Kansas football Ring of Honor and the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame. His No. 21 is one of three Kansas football numbers to be retired (Gale Sayers No. 48 and Ray Evans No. 42).Hadl’s legacy was celebrated during the 2020 season with a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=6251a7c0c7&amp;e=42e2e56024" target="_blank">statue unveiling</a>&nbsp;outside of Anderson Family Football Complex. He is one of two Jayhawks to be commemorated.

KU's hometown legend John Hadl dies at 82

After a 9-13 campaign in which they took Abilene to OT in the sub-state championship, the Rock Creek boy's basketball team will look to reload and take the next step in 2022-23.

This year’s Mustangs will be under new leadership as first-year head coach Justin Smith takes the reigns for the upcoming season.

After graduating just three seniors over the offseason, Rock Creek will have several familiar faces in a lineup that should look something like this come tip-off.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorAfter a 9-13 campaign in which they took Abilene to OT in the sub-state championship, the Rock Creek boy's basketball team will look to reload and take the next step in 2022-23.This year’s Mustangs will be under new leadership as first-year head coach Justin Smith takes the reigns for the upcoming season.After graduating just three seniors over the offseason, Rock Creek will have several familiar faces in a lineup that should look something like this come tip-off.G- Coley Burgess G- Ethan Burgess G- Logan Sturdy&nbsp; G- Dalton Whitworth G- Daegen Vinduska&nbsp;The Mustangs will also look for big minutes off the bench from a deep rotation that will include Brady Schneider, Kade Welfringer, Ryker Zoeller, Payton McCarn, Yanci Spiller, and David Wilkinson.Before the start of the 2022-23 season, we had a chance to catch up with Rock Creek’s new skipper to get his thoughts on this year’s squad.Q: What is your vision for the culture of boys’ basketball at Rock Creek?A: I honestly don't have to do much with it because there was such a great culture developed by Coach Johnston, but I want to make sure we continue to play as hard as anyone out there and compete for league and state championships every year.Q: How excited is everyone to get back on the floor and back to playing real games after a long offseason?A: Everyone is excited, we had a good football season and that bleeds into other sports. Also, the success we had at the end of last year helps and we had a good summer.Q: Coming into the year what would you say is the biggest strength of this team?A: We are extremely deep, I really feel like we have 15+ kids that have a chance to see varsity time and that makes practices extremely competitive.Q: What are the biggest question marks about this team as we head into the first few weeks?A: The rotation is going to be hard to figure out so I am hoping some kids separate themselves there. We also have to have some kids step up and be able to score consistently.&nbsp;Q: What are the goals and expectations of this team for this 2022-23 campaign?A: The goals and expectations will never change and that is to get better every day and every game and compete for league and state championships.Rock Creek will kick off their new season on Friday, December 2nd when the Mustangs travel to Clay Center to tussle with the Tigers.For continuing coverage of Rock Creek boys basketball all season long, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.