MANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) - The Kansas State women are going dancing.

The Wildcats were named a No. 9 seed in the Bridgeport Region. They’ll take on No. 8 seed Washington State Saturday in Raleigh, North Carolina in the opening round.

“We felt really good that we were solidly in the field. We had a lot of good wins, but until you see your name come up there, yeah it’s always a little nerve wracking,” head coach Jeff Mittie said. “We’ve got one of the best players in the country. We’ve got a group that I think grinded through the last part of the season. This is a new season for us.”

The ‘Cats are led by 6′6″ junior center Ayoka Lee, who is averaging 22.4 points per game — good for seventh-best in the nation.

Mittie’s squad enters March Madness 19-12 (9-9 Big 12).

By WIBW TVMANHATTAN, Kan. (WIBW) - The Kansas State women are going dancing.The Wildcats were named a No. 9 seed in the Bridgeport Region. They’ll take on No. 8 seed Washington State Saturday in Raleigh, North Carolina in the opening round.“We felt really good that we were solidly in the field. We had a lot of good wins, but until you see your name come up there, yeah it’s always a little nerve wracking,” head coach Jeff Mittie said. “We’ve got one of the best players in the country. We’ve got a group that I think grinded through the last part of the season. This is a new season for us.”The ‘Cats are led by 6′6″ junior center Ayoka Lee, who is averaging 22.4 points per game — good for seventh-best in the nation.Mittie’s squad enters March Madness 19-12 (9-9 Big 12).

Kansas State will play in the Women's NCAA Tournament

The Kansas Jayhawks are the top seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament.

This is the 15th No. 1 seed for Kansas and the first since 2018. The Jayhawks open the tournament Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. They will play either Texas Southern or Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi. Those teams meet Tuesday in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

The Auburn Tigers are the No. 2 seed after winning the Southeastern Conference regular-season title and start Friday in Greenville, South Carolina. Auburn plays Jacksonville State with the ASUN Conference regular-season champ getting that league's berth.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-mens-college-basketball-college-basketball-dylan-penn-cj-fleming-8445fc6c534944d9c164d7ebac8946be">Bellarmine wasn't eligible</a>&nbsp;due to its transition from Division II despite winning the ASUN tournament.

LSU is the No. 6 seed, playing Iowa State on Friday in Milwaukee. The Tigers will have an interim coach after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-sports-basketball-louisiana-state-tigers-mens-basketball-mens-college-basketball-672fea7a780a65da63f15bcbbca2d8a2">firing Will Wade</a>&nbsp;on Saturday.

Wisconsin is the No. 3 seed in the Midwest and starts close to home, playing Colgate on Friday in Milwaukee.

The Kansas Jayhawks are the top seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament.This is the 15th No. 1 seed for Kansas and the first since 2018. The Jayhawks open the tournament Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. They will play either Texas Southern or Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi. Those teams meet Tuesday in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.The Auburn Tigers are the No. 2 seed after winning the Southeastern Conference regular-season title and start Friday in Greenville, South Carolina. Auburn plays Jacksonville State with the ASUN Conference regular-season champ getting that league's berth.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-mens-college-basketball-college-basketball-dylan-penn-cj-fleming-8445fc6c534944d9c164d7ebac8946be">Bellarmine wasn't eligible</a>&nbsp;due to its transition from Division II despite winning the ASUN tournament.LSU is the No. 6 seed, playing Iowa State on Friday in Milwaukee. The Tigers will have an interim coach after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-sports-basketball-louisiana-state-tigers-mens-basketball-mens-college-basketball-672fea7a780a65da63f15bcbbca2d8a2">firing Will Wade</a>&nbsp;on Saturday.Wisconsin is the No. 3 seed in the Midwest and starts close to home, playing Colgate on Friday in Milwaukee.

Kansas will play in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — David McCormack had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Ochai Agbaji made a pair of clinching foul shots with just over a minute to go, and sixth-ranked Kansas beat No. 14 Texas Tech 74-65 to win the Big 12 Tournament title. Agbaji finished with 16 points, Christian Braun had 14 and Jalen Wilson and Remy Martin 12 apiece for the Jayhawks. Bryson Williams had 17 points and Terrence Shannon Jr. had 14 for the Red Raiders, who still have never won the Big 12 Tournament. They also lost to Oklahoma State in their only other championship appearance in 2005.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — David McCormack had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Ochai Agbaji made a pair of clinching foul shots with just over a minute to go, and sixth-ranked Kansas beat No. 14 Texas Tech 74-65 to win the Big 12 Tournament title. Agbaji finished with 16 points, Christian Braun had 14 and Jalen Wilson and Remy Martin 12 apiece for the Jayhawks. Bryson Williams had 17 points and Terrence Shannon Jr. had 14 for the Red Raiders, who still have never won the Big 12 Tournament. They also lost to Oklahoma State in their only other championship appearance in 2005.

Kansas wins the Big 12 Tournament

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=State Tournament=Class 6A=Championship=Wichita Heights 61, BV Northwest 54Third Place=Lawrence Free State 58, Olathe West 51Class 5A=Championship=Topeka Seaman 66, DeSoto 47Third Place=St. James Academy 81, Maize 62Class 4A=Championship=Bishop Miege 64, Andale 57Third Place=McPherson 37, Topeka Hayden 33Class 3A=Championship=Hesston 51, Royal Valley 41Third Place=Southeast Saline 57, Hays-TMP-Marian 44Class 2A=Championship=Hillsboro 60, St. Mary’s 32Third Place=Lyndon 66, Valley Falls 50Class 1A Division 1=Championship=Olpe 66, South Gray 42Third Place=Macksville 66, Solomon 54Class 1A Division 2=Championship=Greeley County 56, Hanover 55Third Place=Northern Valley 84, Bucklin 79, OT

Boys high school final round state tournament scores

Hanover 47, Hutchinson Central Christian 27

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=State Tournament=Class 6A=Championship=Washburn Rural 40, Derby 23Third Place=Blue Valley 48, Olathe North 46, 3OTClass 5A=Championship=St. Thomas Aquinas 52, Salina Central 38Third Place=Andover Central 48, Lansing 46Class 4A=Championship=Bishop Miege 71, Eudora 45Third Place=Wamego 68, Wellington 61Class 3A=Championship=Goodland 48, Hugoton 47Third Place=Silver Lake 53, Nickerson 51Class 2A=Championship=Sterling 47, Garden Plain 38Third Place=Smith Center 44, Berean Academy 37Class 1A Division 1=Championship=Pretty Prairie 37, Centralia 35Third Place=Burlingame 55, Hodgeman County 45Class 1A Division 2=Championship=Central Plains 50, Golden Plains 38Third Place=Hanover 47, Hutchinson Central Christian 27

Girls high school final round state tournament scores

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor

Back in June, Wamego senior Paige Donnelly said in a tweet that she was excited for herself, and the other senior Lady Raider seniors to go out with a bang.

On Saturday, Donnelly and her squad did just that, staving off the #1 ranked team in Class 4A in Wellington to secure the third-place hardware at the state tournament.

“This is a satisfying win for our girls who have worked so hard, some of them for four years to get to this point,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “There was a lot of dedication that went into this and when I think about this season it’s that work that comes to mind.”

As expected, this final game of the 2021-22 season was a dogfight as the previously-undefeated Crusaders battled to salvage a top-3 finish after falling to Miege in the semis.

The teams traded punches early and it was Wellington who outscored the Lady Raiders in the second quarter to take a two-point lead into the half.

Out of the locker room, Wamego strung together their best quarter of the game, pushing past the Crusaders in the third and matching pace in the fourth to secure the victory.

The Lady Raiders were led by Paige Donnelly, whose 21 points ensured that Wamego did in fact go out with a bang.

“Paige has been phenomenal and she’s carried us not just in points but with her stellar defense and veteran leadership,” McIntosh said. “She motivates and picks up the other girls and I’m proud of her, she’s grown so much over the last four years.”

With this win, this Wamego season will conclude as the third-best in program history both in terms of their 22 wins and their third-place finish.

Wamego has become a household name throughout the course of the last two years, thanks in large part to the work done quietly in the offseason.

“Four years ago we were just coming off of a six-win season,” he said. “We steadily improved and eventually made the state tournament in back-to-back years. When you put in the hard work and do things the right way you get rewarded for that and that’s what I’m proud to have seen from them.”

The Lady Raiders will say goodbye to three incredible seniors this offseason in Paige Donnelly, Ryann Alderson, and Cadence Kueker, but their impact on this program will live on for years to come.

“These seniors have put our program on the map and you have to mention Wamego now when you talk about 4A basketball,” McIntosh said. “Leadership carries on when you invest in and serve other people and our seniors have done that. I have no doubt that our juniors will keep this legacy going next year.”

For more coverage of Wamego Athletics, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorBack in June, Wamego senior Paige Donnelly said in a tweet that she was excited for herself, and the other senior Lady Raider seniors to go out with a bang.On Saturday, Donnelly and her squad did just that, staving off the #1 ranked team in Class 4A in Wellington to secure the third-place hardware at the state tournament.“This is a satisfying win for our girls who have worked so hard, some of them for four years to get to this point,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “There was a lot of dedication that went into this and when I think about this season it’s that work that comes to mind.”As expected, this final game of the 2021-22 season was a dogfight as the previously-undefeated Crusaders battled to salvage a top-3 finish after falling to Miege in the semis.The teams traded punches early and it was Wellington who outscored the Lady Raiders in the second quarter to take a two-point lead into the half.Out of the locker room, Wamego strung together their best quarter of the game, pushing past the Crusaders in the third and matching pace in the fourth to secure the victory.The Lady Raiders were led by Paige Donnelly, whose 21 points ensured that Wamego did in fact go out with a bang.“Paige has been phenomenal and she’s carried us not just in points but with her stellar defense and veteran leadership,” McIntosh said. “She motivates and picks up the other girls and I’m proud of her, she’s grown so much over the last four years.”With this win, this Wamego season will conclude as the third-best in program history both in terms of their 22 wins and their third-place finish.Wamego has become a household name throughout the course of the last two years, thanks in large part to the work done quietly in the offseason.“Four years ago we were just coming off of a six-win season,” he said. “We steadily improved and eventually made the state tournament in back-to-back years. When you put in the hard work and do things the right way you get rewarded for that and that’s what I’m proud to have seen from them.”The Lady Raiders will say goodbye to three incredible seniors this offseason in Paige Donnelly, Ryann Alderson, and Cadence Kueker, but their impact on this program will live on for years to come.“These seniors have put our program on the map and you have to mention Wamego now when you talk about 4A basketball,” McIntosh said. “Leadership carries on when you invest in and serve other people and our seniors have done that. I have no doubt that our juniors will keep this legacy going next year.”For more coverage of Wamego Athletics, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

Lady Raiders go out with a bang with win over Wellington, finish third at state

The Wamego girls basketball team will play for a third-place finish at state today as they prepare to take on the #1 ranked team in Class 4A in Wellington at noon.

The Lady Raiders fell to Eudora 49-41 in the state semis on Friday while Wellington was blown out in an upset 82-42 in their semifinal matchup with Meige.

“Wellington plays a lot like we do,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “They’re a little taller but they play good defense, they have four kids in double digits and they can get up and down the floor on you in a hurry. We’ve got three kids like that and I think if anybody’s got gas left in the tank this is going to be a fun game and I’m excited for it.”

Throughout their previously undefeated run, the Crusaders leaned heavily on senior Airalyn Frame, who brought senior leadership and big points performances to a potent offense.

On the other side of that coin, Wellington has successfully pressured and turned over opponents at will this season and play a similar style to the Lady Raiders.

“They pressure you full-court man and try to use their length so we’ll have to handle that,” McIntosh said. “I think once we settle into our offense we can give them some trouble but we have to handle their trap.”

With so many games in so few days, this final matchup of the year will test both sides, but each can be one of the two teams in Class 4A to go out with a win.

“I think we have to come out with a lot of energy and be a little tougher than we were last night,” he said. “It’s going to be a gut check with this being the third game in four days and neither one of these teams are very deep personnel-wise. Hopefully, we can settle in because I think this is a really good matchup.”

Regardless of what happens at noon on Saturday, this season will go down as one of the greatest in Wamego’s history thanks in large part to an amazing trio of seniors in Paige Donnelly, Ryann Alderson, and Cadence Kueker.

“Over 50 years of basketball at Wamego this is the third-best record in our team’s history,” McIntosh said. “We’ve been to back-to-back state tournaments and regardless of what happens today, this will be one of the best finishes we’ve ever had. It’s hard to appreciate in the moment but this group has done some really special things here.”

Tip-off between the Lady Raiders and Crusaders is set for noon on Saturday at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina. For continuing coverage of Wamego at state stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorThe Wamego girls basketball team will play for a third-place finish at state today as they prepare to take on the #1 ranked team in Class 4A in Wellington at noon.The Lady Raiders fell to Eudora 49-41 in the state semis on Friday while Wellington was blown out in an upset 82-42 in their semifinal matchup with Meige.“Wellington plays a lot like we do,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “They’re a little taller but they play good defense, they have four kids in double digits and they can get up and down the floor on you in a hurry. We’ve got three kids like that and I think if anybody’s got gas left in the tank this is going to be a fun game and I’m excited for it.”Throughout their previously undefeated run, the Crusaders leaned heavily on senior Airalyn Frame, who brought senior leadership and big points performances to a potent offense.On the other side of that coin, Wellington has successfully pressured and turned over opponents at will this season and play a similar style to the Lady Raiders.“They pressure you full-court man and try to use their length so we’ll have to handle that,” McIntosh said. “I think once we settle into our offense we can give them some trouble but we have to handle their trap.”With so many games in so few days, this final matchup of the year will test both sides, but each can be one of the two teams in Class 4A to go out with a win.“I think we have to come out with a lot of energy and be a little tougher than we were last night,” he said. “It’s going to be a gut check with this being the third game in four days and neither one of these teams are very deep personnel-wise. Hopefully, we can settle in because I think this is a really good matchup.”Regardless of what happens at noon on Saturday, this season will go down as one of the greatest in Wamego’s history thanks in large part to an amazing trio of seniors in Paige Donnelly, Ryann Alderson, and Cadence Kueker.“Over 50 years of basketball at Wamego this is the third-best record in our team’s history,” McIntosh said. “We’ve been to back-to-back state tournaments and regardless of what happens today, this will be one of the best finishes we’ve ever had. It’s hard to appreciate in the moment but this group has done some really special things here.”Tip-off between the Lady Raiders and Crusaders is set for noon on Saturday at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina. For continuing coverage of Wamego at state stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

Lady Raiders look to cap off incredible 21-22 campaign with third-place state finish

St. Thomas Aquinas 58, Andover Central 42

Golden Plains 33, Hutchinson Central Christian 23

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=State Tournament=Semifinal=Class 6A=Derby 51, Blue Valley 49, 2OTWashburn Rural 44, Olathe North 43Class 5A=Salina Central 68, Lansing 37St. Thomas Aquinas 58, Andover Central 42Class 4A=Bishop Miege 82, Wellington 42Eudora 49, Wamego 41Class 3A=Goodland 59, Silver Lake 53Hugoton 59, Nickerson 52Class 2A=Garden Plain 40, Smith Center 38Sterling 42, Berean Academy 35Class 1A Division 1=Centralia 53, Burlingame 45Pretty Prairie 37, Hodgeman County 32Class 1A Division 2=Central Plains 49, Hanover 44Golden Plains 33, Hutchinson Central Christian 23

Girls high school state tournament semifinal scores

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=State Tournament=Semifinal=Class 6A=BV Northwest 51, Lawrence Free State 42Wichita Heights 61, Olathe West 46Class 5A=DeSoto 58, St. James Academy 56Topeka Seaman 66, Maize 54Class 4A=Andale 49, McPherson 42Bishop Miege 62, Topeka Hayden 50Class 3A=Hesston 45, Hays-TMP-Marian 36Royal Valley 60, Southeast Saline 52Class 2A=Hillsboro 37, Lyndon 28, 2OTSt. Mary's 80, Valley Falls 69Class 1A Division 1=Olpe 68, Macksville 38South Gray 79, Solomon 46Class 1A Division 2=Greeley County 59, Northern Valley 54Hanover 61, Bucklin 54

Boys high school state tournament semifinal scores

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ochai Agbaji scored 22 points, two of them coming on a jaw-dropping ally-oop dunk midway through the second half, and sixth-ranked Kansas cruised to a 75-62 victory over TCU and into the Big 12 Tournament title game. Mitch Lightfoot added 15 points while playing extended minutes in place of injured big man David McCormack, and Remy Martin finished with 10 as the top-seeded Jayhawks advanced to play Texas Tech on Saturday night. Chuck O’Bannon had 15 points to lead TCU. Mike Miles shook off a shooting slump to add 14.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ochai Agbaji scored 22 points, two of them coming on a jaw-dropping ally-oop dunk midway through the second half, and sixth-ranked Kansas cruised to a 75-62 victory over TCU and into the Big 12 Tournament title game. Mitch Lightfoot added 15 points while playing extended minutes in place of injured big man David McCormack, and Remy Martin finished with 10 as the top-seeded Jayhawks advanced to play Texas Tech on Saturday night. Chuck O’Bannon had 15 points to lead TCU. Mike Miles shook off a shooting slump to add 14.

Jayhawks oust TCU from Big 12 Tournament

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor

The Wamego girls basketball team battled down the stretch but fell just short to Eudora in the state semifinals on Friday by a final score of 49-41.

The Lady Raiders will take on Wellington in the third-place game at noon on Saturday while Eudora advances to face Bishop Meige in the championship.

This game was much closer than the regular season bout that the Cardinals won earlier this season, with the two trading punches all throughout.

Wamego made a big push to start the second quarter but Eudora closed out the half on a 9-1 run to take a three-point lead into the locker room.

The two were level at 32-32 going into the fourth and final quarter, but the Lady Cards would outscore the Raiders 17-9 in the final frame to survive and advance to the championship game.

Wamego was led in the loss by Paige Donnelly, who stood alone in double figures for the Raiders with 13 points.

Harper Schreiner, Sawyer Schreiner, and Mackenzie Mayer powered Eudora through with 16, 11, and 10 respectively in another gritty effort for Eudora who remain just a one-loss team.

Tip-off of the third-place game is set for noon at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina on Saturday.

For continuing coverage of Wamego at state, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorThe Wamego girls basketball team battled down the stretch but fell just short to Eudora in the state semifinals on Friday by a final score of 49-41.The Lady Raiders will take on Wellington in the third-place game at noon on Saturday while Eudora advances to face Bishop Meige in the championship.This game was much closer than the regular season bout that the Cardinals won earlier this season, with the two trading punches all throughout.Wamego made a big push to start the second quarter but Eudora closed out the half on a 9-1 run to take a three-point lead into the locker room.The two were level at 32-32 going into the fourth and final quarter, but the Lady Cards would outscore the Raiders 17-9 in the final frame to survive and advance to the championship game.Wamego was led in the loss by Paige Donnelly, who stood alone in double figures for the Raiders with 13 points.Harper Schreiner, Sawyer Schreiner, and Mackenzie Mayer powered Eudora through with 16, 11, and 10 respectively in another gritty effort for Eudora who remain just a one-loss team.Tip-off of the third-place game is set for noon at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina on Saturday.For continuing coverage of Wamego at state, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

Lady Raiders fall to Eudora in state semis

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The K-State football program has announced the launch of the Catalyst mobile app in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nextplay.me/" target="_blank">NextPlay</a>, facilitating lifelong support for Wildcat athletes from the moment they enter the program through the rest of their lives.

<a>“The Catalyst mobile app is a great way for us to directly connect with our former football players who helped build this great program,” head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;said. “It is vital for us to maintain those relationships, which became harder with the pandemic. This is just one way to keep them engaged with the program virtually in between their visits back to Manhattan.”</a>

Connecting with its former players has always been important for K-State Football through&nbsp;<a href="https://t.sidekickopen10.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8bq08pW1j7hvX59hl3kW7_k2847sD3qkMPw-j-vf3ybW2bzNNx45rvVp101?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3Y0wGZW4fGCtl43WhcpW1JxwY51LDL67W49RMzc1S1ngPW1L68dL1Q5ksGW1Q44bs20YCL6W1V0lfF24VhJDF1-Xz25Y6RG1&amp;si=7000000002210468&amp;pi=3ba2015a-e43f-4e4e-a946-6f095deac8bb" target="_blank">Golden Cats</a>&nbsp;and various outreach initiatives, and Catalyst will add even more value for former and future Wildcats. The app gives former players an inside look into the program that they helped to build, bringing them closer to their alma mater. It also serves as an exclusive platform for former player events and&nbsp;includes a directory where former players can connect with their teammates and current players can seek mentorship or career support.&nbsp;

In the NIL era, the support from former players has become that much more valuable. Current student-athletes will be able to lean on the generations who came before them for advice and support as they navigate new opportunities. The Catalyst platform will continue to build on the legacy of success both on and off the field at Kansas State.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The K-State football program has announced the launch of the Catalyst mobile app in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nextplay.me/" target="_blank">NextPlay</a>, facilitating lifelong support for Wildcat athletes from the moment they enter the program through the rest of their lives.<a>“The Catalyst mobile app is a great way for us to directly connect with our former football players who helped build this great program,” head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;said. “It is vital for us to maintain those relationships, which became harder with the pandemic. This is just one way to keep them engaged with the program virtually in between their visits back to Manhattan.”</a>Connecting with its former players has always been important for K-State Football through&nbsp;<a href="https://t.sidekickopen10.com/s3t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7kF8bq08pW1j7hvX59hl3kW7_k2847sD3qkMPw-j-vf3ybW2bzNNx45rvVp101?te=W3R5hFj4cm2zwW4mKLS-3Y0wGZW4fGCtl43WhcpW1JxwY51LDL67W49RMzc1S1ngPW1L68dL1Q5ksGW1Q44bs20YCL6W1V0lfF24VhJDF1-Xz25Y6RG1&amp;si=7000000002210468&amp;pi=3ba2015a-e43f-4e4e-a946-6f095deac8bb" target="_blank">Golden Cats</a>&nbsp;and various outreach initiatives, and Catalyst will add even more value for former and future Wildcats. The app gives former players an inside look into the program that they helped to build, bringing them closer to their alma mater. It also serves as an exclusive platform for former player events and&nbsp;includes a directory where former players can connect with their teammates and current players can seek mentorship or career support.&nbsp;In the NIL era, the support from former players has become that much more valuable. Current student-athletes will be able to lean on the generations who came before them for advice and support as they navigate new opportunities. The Catalyst platform will continue to build on the legacy of success both on and off the field at Kansas State.

K-State Football Partners with NextPlay to Support Players, Alums

The Wamego Lady Raiders have played an almost flawless brand of basketball, winning 21 of their 23 games this season en route to a state semifinal matchup on Friday night.

Wamego fans may have noticed that the two teams the Raiders fell to this year faced each other on the other side of the bracket, meaning that regardless of results, if the Raiders advanced they would be in for a revenge game for a ticket to the state championship.

It was Eudora who got the better of Clay Center in a 50-46 overtime thriller, and it will be the 22-1 Lady Cardinals whom Wamego will have to overcome on Friday night.

Eudora will enter this contest ranked #3 in Class 4A with a 48-38 win over the Raiders already in hand, but Wamego has come a long way since that first meeting. “I think we’ve grown since that game,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “Everybody hates to lose but when you lose it can be easier to get your team's attention about some things. I think the losses that we’ve had this season have kept us grounded and focused on building on what we have.”

Both of the Lady Raider’s losses this season occurred against state-ranked opponents on the second night of a back-to-back, but foul trouble played every bit as much of a factor as fatigue the first time these two met back in January.

“We were ahead for most of the first half but we got into some early foul trouble and they made some runs,” McIntosh said. “Looking back there are some minor adjustments that we can make to be successful against them and if we execute our game plan I feel good about competing with them.”

The Cardinals run through Harper Schreiner, a DII commit who has been the steady heartbeat of one of the best teams in Class 4A this year.

“Schreiner makes them go offensively and defensively, she’s a fiery, passionate player and as she goes they go,” he said. “She can score at all three levels, shoot the three, take it to the rack or create easy buckets for her teammates. We have to keep her in front and I feel like we have the kids who can help each other and cut off her angles to the basket.”

In addition to growing from a talent standpoint, Wamego is also more battle-tested than they were back in January, exemplified in a come-from-behind win over Labette County in the state quarterfinal.

“I think our confidence has grown and we’re getting really good play from all of our spots,” McIntosh said. “We’ve learned to grow through adversity and we’re a lot better for it.”

The Lady Raiders will be hungry for an opportunity to avenge one of their only losses on the year, and to advance to the state championship game for the third time in school history, and just the first since 2014.

“We’re excited for the possibility to get one of those two losses back,” he said. “After we lost to Eudora I had a weird gut feeling that we’d see them again. I thought we were two of the top four teams in 4A after that game and here we are. You always want to have a little redemption and a chance to do it on this stage is pretty special.”

Tip-off between the Lady Raiders and Cardinals is set for 6 pm at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center on Friday with the winner moving on to the final to face 23-0 Wellington or 21-2 Bishop Miege at 4:00 on Saturday.

The losers of those two games will meet in the third-place game at noon on Saturday.

For continuing coverage of the Lady Raiders state tournament run, stay tuned to the Salina Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorThe Wamego Lady Raiders have played an almost flawless brand of basketball, winning 21 of their 23 games this season en route to a state semifinal matchup on Friday night.Wamego fans may have noticed that the two teams the Raiders fell to this year faced each other on the other side of the bracket, meaning that regardless of results, if the Raiders advanced they would be in for a revenge game for a ticket to the state championship.It was Eudora who got the better of Clay Center in a 50-46 overtime thriller, and it will be the 22-1 Lady Cardinals whom Wamego will have to overcome on Friday night.Eudora will enter this contest ranked #3 in Class 4A with a 48-38 win over the Raiders already in hand, but Wamego has come a long way since that first meeting. “I think we’ve grown since that game,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “Everybody hates to lose but when you lose it can be easier to get your team's attention about some things. I think the losses that we’ve had this season have kept us grounded and focused on building on what we have.”Both of the Lady Raider’s losses this season occurred against state-ranked opponents on the second night of a back-to-back, but foul trouble played every bit as much of a factor as fatigue the first time these two met back in January.“We were ahead for most of the first half but we got into some early foul trouble and they made some runs,” McIntosh said. “Looking back there are some minor adjustments that we can make to be successful against them and if we execute our game plan I feel good about competing with them.”The Cardinals run through Harper Schreiner, a DII commit who has been the steady heartbeat of one of the best teams in Class 4A this year.“Schreiner makes them go offensively and defensively, she’s a fiery, passionate player and as she goes they go,” he said. “She can score at all three levels, shoot the three, take it to the rack or create easy buckets for her teammates. We have to keep her in front and I feel like we have the kids who can help each other and cut off her angles to the basket.”In addition to growing from a talent standpoint, Wamego is also more battle-tested than they were back in January, exemplified in a come-from-behind win over Labette County in the state quarterfinal.“I think our confidence has grown and we’re getting really good play from all of our spots,” McIntosh said. “We’ve learned to grow through adversity and we’re a lot better for it.”The Lady Raiders will be hungry for an opportunity to avenge one of their only losses on the year, and to advance to the state championship game for the third time in school history, and just the first since 2014.“We’re excited for the possibility to get one of those two losses back,” he said. “After we lost to Eudora I had a weird gut feeling that we’d see them again. I thought we were two of the top four teams in 4A after that game and here we are. You always want to have a little redemption and a chance to do it on this stage is pretty special.”Tip-off between the Lady Raiders and Cardinals is set for 6 pm at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center on Friday with the winner moving on to the final to face 23-0 Wellington or 21-2 Bishop Miege at 4:00 on Saturday.The losers of those two games will meet in the third-place game at noon on Saturday.For continuing coverage of the Lady Raiders state tournament run, stay tuned to the Salina Post.

Lady Raiders look to avenge loss to Eudora in state semifinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ochai Agbaji led sixth-ranked Kansas with 18 points in a 87-63 victory over West Virginia in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament. Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins picked up two technical fouls and was ejected 10 minutes into the game. The top-seeded Jayhawks, who also beat the Mountaineers twice in the regular season, will play fifth-seeded TCU on Friday night for a spot in the title game. Christian Braun added 11 points and 14 rebounds for Kansas. Malik Curry led West Virginia with 19 points.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ochai Agbaji led sixth-ranked Kansas with 18 points in a 87-63 victory over West Virginia in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament. Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins picked up two technical fouls and was ejected 10 minutes into the game. The top-seeded Jayhawks, who also beat the Mountaineers twice in the regular season, will play fifth-seeded TCU on Friday night for a spot in the title game. Christian Braun added 11 points and 14 rebounds for Kansas. Malik Curry led West Virginia with 19 points.

Kansas cruises by West Virginia in Big 12 Tournament

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=State Tournament=Quarterfinal=Class 6A=BV Northwest 58, SM Northwest 50Lawrence Free State 50, Manhattan 28Olathe West 67, Dodge City 53Wichita Heights 61, Olathe North 30Class 4A=Andale 62, Paola 52Bishop Miege 70, Abilene 40McPherson 61, Buhler 47Topeka Hayden 64, Eudora 53Class 2A=Hillsboro 73, Wichita Independent 46Lyndon 50, Sterling 38St. Mary's 69, Trego 43Valley Falls 64, Pittsburg Colgan 61

Boys quarterfinal scores

Andover Central 50, Wichita Bishop Carroll 34

Central Plains 58, St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 28

Hutchinson Central Christian 49, South Haven 40

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=State Tournament=Quarterfinal=Class 5A=Andover Central 50, Wichita Bishop Carroll 34Lansing 61, Emporia 43Salina Central 69, DeSoto 34St. Thomas Aquinas 48, Spring Hill 27Class 3A=Hugoton 52, Santa Fe Trail 19Nickerson 47, Frontenac 40Silver Lake 63, Cherryvale 33Southeast Saline 38, Goodland 37Class 1A Division 1=Burlingame 45, Little River 39Centralia 59, Spearville 42Hodgeman County 49, Clifton-Clyde 43Pretty Prairie 52, Osborne 33Class 1A Division 2=Central Plains 58, St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 28Golden Plains 49, Bucklin 28Hanover 57, Lebo 47Hutchinson Central Christian 49, South Haven 40

Girls state basketball quarterfinal scores

The Wamego girls basketball team battled through early adversity to pull out a 36-34 come from behind victory over Labette County in the opening round of the state tournament on Wednesday.

The Lady Raiders will advance to the state semis on Friday to take on 22-1 Eudora while the Lady Grizzlies season comes to a close at 18-5.

Wamego struggled to find the cup early, taking a touchdown deficit of 21-14 into the locker room after shooting just 7-20 from the floor and failing to connect on a single three-pointer.

“We were trying to feel them out in the first half and they did a good job of pressing us and slowing us down,” Raiders head coach Brian McIntosh said. “We weren’t patient, we were taking some questionable shots and I think their length surprised us a little bit.”

Knowing they needed to make a push out of the intermission, Wamego went to work on defense, tightening the clamps and holding the Grizzlies to just a single made field goal in the third quarter while the offense tacked on 11 points to pull ahead going into the fourth.

The teams traded punches down the stretch but it was the Lady Raider's experience and poise that won the day as Wamego sank their free throws late to put the game away and advance to the second round.

“I was very proud of our girls,” McIntosh said. “It would have been easy to hang our heads down at halftime but this group has fought through so much adversity in the last four years and I knew they would respond. This group is gritty, they’re tough and they’re fighters.”

Wamego was led in scoring by Paige Donnelly and Trista Hoobler who split 21 points down the middle in a big Lady Raider win.

“Trista really stepped up in the second half,” he said. “She got to the rim early on and that got us going for players like Paige Donnely and Rylie Meinhardt who played really well for us on both sides of the floor.”

Wamego will now turn their attention to the state semifinal on Friday as they prepare for a rematch with 22-1 Eudora who handed the Raiders one of their two losses earlier this season.

Tip-off for the semifinal is scheduled for 6 pm on Friday, for continuing coverage of Wamego’s state-run stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorThe Wamego girls basketball team battled through early adversity to pull out a 36-34 come from behind victory over Labette County in the opening round of the state tournament on Wednesday.The Lady Raiders will advance to the state semis on Friday to take on 22-1 Eudora while the Lady Grizzlies season comes to a close at 18-5.Wamego struggled to find the cup early, taking a touchdown deficit of 21-14 into the locker room after shooting just 7-20 from the floor and failing to connect on a single three-pointer.“We were trying to feel them out in the first half and they did a good job of pressing us and slowing us down,” Raiders head coach Brian McIntosh said. “We weren’t patient, we were taking some questionable shots and I think their length surprised us a little bit.”Knowing they needed to make a push out of the intermission, Wamego went to work on defense, tightening the clamps and holding the Grizzlies to just a single made field goal in the third quarter while the offense tacked on 11 points to pull ahead going into the fourth.The teams traded punches down the stretch but it was the Lady Raider's experience and poise that won the day as Wamego sank their free throws late to put the game away and advance to the second round.“I was very proud of our girls,” McIntosh said. “It would have been easy to hang our heads down at halftime but this group has fought through so much adversity in the last four years and I knew they would respond. This group is gritty, they’re tough and they’re fighters.”Wamego was led in scoring by Paige Donnelly and Trista Hoobler who split 21 points down the middle in a big Lady Raider win.“Trista really stepped up in the second half,” he said. “She got to the rim early on and that got us going for players like Paige Donnely and Rylie Meinhardt who played really well for us on both sides of the floor.”Wamego will now turn their attention to the state semifinal on Friday as they prepare for a rematch with 22-1 Eudora who handed the Raiders one of their two losses earlier this season.Tip-off for the semifinal is scheduled for 6 pm on Friday, for continuing coverage of Wamego’s state-run stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

Second half surge pushes Lady Raiders past Labette in state quarterfinal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bruce Weber resigned as the basketball coach at Kansas State on Thursday, one day after the Wildcats lost to West Virginia in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament to cap a third straight losing season.

Weber made headlines following the loss to the Mountaineers at T-Mobile Center on Wednesday night when he lambasted the NCAA over its handling of the FBI investigation into college basketball corruption. Weber said he had refused to cut his hair until schools that were identified in the probe were punished, which some took as a swipe at rival Kansas.

“We won titles. We did it the right way,” said Weber, who led the Wildcats to a share of two Big 12 regular-season titles in 10 seasons in Manhattan. "I'm on the NCAA ethics committee. I was told they were going to take care of the people in the FBI stuff, so I told somebody I'm going to grow my hair until something happens. Obviously, it's still growing.

“That's the sad part about our business,” Weber added. “Lon Kruger told me the other day, all the guys in the FBI (probe) except one are in the NCAA Tournament. All those teams are going to be in the NCAA Tournament.”

Weber was a largely unpopular pick to replace Frank Martin when he was hired by former athletic director John Currie in 2012, shortly after he was fired by Illinois. Weber was mulling several mid-major jobs when Currie selected him to take over a program that had suddenly shot to national prominence on the back of six straight 20-win seasons.

Weber kept the momentum going for a while, too. He led the Wildcats to a share of the Big 12 title in his first season, made five NCAA Tournaments in his first seven seasons and added a share of another conference title just four years ago.

But the past few years have been a struggle, and all the hard-won support Weber had gained over most of the previous decade simply disappeared. He was forced to completely rebuild the roster after the 2019 season, then struggled to recruit at a level to get the Wildcats back to the point where they were competing for championships.

They went 9-20 last season and 14-17 this season, leaving Weber — who took the Illini to the national championship game in 2005 — with a 184–147 record with the Wildcats. His career mark, including a highly successful run at Southern Illinois that included two NCAA tourney appearances, stands at 407-301 with 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

“I'm very, very proud of my time here,” Weber said Wednesday night. "It was a long, long time that we won a championship and I told the guys, the funny part and the sad part, I didn't get much credit for that, and they all said it wasn't my guys, but I would tell you probably the closest group of all of my 40-some years of coaching in that group.

“Then we did it with our guys,” Weber continued. “Whatever happens in the future happens, and that's fine. K-State is a great place, great people.”

-Below is the media release from KSU Athletics on Weber's resignation

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Head men’s basketball coach&nbsp;Bruce Weber&nbsp;announced today (March 10) that he has resigned from his position at Kansas State.

“Coach Weber has provided selfless leadership to our basketball program and university for the last decade,” said Director of Athletics&nbsp;Gene Taylor. “With two conference championships and an Elite Eight run in 2018, our program reached exceptional levels of success under his direction. His development of young men on and off the court, while representing K-State in a first-class manner with the highest level of integrity is unmatched in today’s game and something all K-Staters should take great pride in.”

In 10 seasons as head coach at K-State, Weber amassed a 184-147 overall record, including an 82-98 mark in Big 12 play, with 5 trips to the NCAA Tournament (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019) and a share of the Big 12 regular season title in both 2013 and 2019. His 2018 team made the school’s first trip to the Elite Eight in eight years.

Weber’s 184 wins are the third-most by a head coach in school history, trailing Hall of Famers&nbsp;Jack Hartman&nbsp;and&nbsp;Fred “Tex” Winter. He is the fourth coach (Hartman, Winter and&nbsp;Frank Martin) to take the school to at least five NCAA Tournaments in a tenure. He was named the 2013 Big 12 Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to a 27-8 overall record and their first-ever Big 12 regular-season championship.

Weber was named the school’s 24th&nbsp;head coach on March 31, 2012.

Weber, 65, has a compiled a 497-302 overall record in 24 seasons as a head coach, which includes stints at Southern Illinois (1998-2003) and Illinois (2003-11). His teams have participated in postseason play 15 times, including 13 NCAA Tournaments. He has won 15 NCAA Tournament games, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2018 and the Elite Eight in 2005 and 2018, while he played in the NCAA Championship in 2005.

Director for Men's Basketball Communications

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bruce Weber resigned as the basketball coach at Kansas State on Thursday, one day after the Wildcats lost to West Virginia in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament to cap a third straight losing season.Weber made headlines following the loss to the Mountaineers at T-Mobile Center on Wednesday night when he lambasted the NCAA over its handling of the FBI investigation into college basketball corruption. Weber said he had refused to cut his hair until schools that were identified in the probe were punished, which some took as a swipe at rival Kansas.“We won titles. We did it the right way,” said Weber, who led the Wildcats to a share of two Big 12 regular-season titles in 10 seasons in Manhattan. "I'm on the NCAA ethics committee. I was told they were going to take care of the people in the FBI stuff, so I told somebody I'm going to grow my hair until something happens. Obviously, it's still growing.“That's the sad part about our business,” Weber added. “Lon Kruger told me the other day, all the guys in the FBI (probe) except one are in the NCAA Tournament. All those teams are going to be in the NCAA Tournament.”Weber was a largely unpopular pick to replace Frank Martin when he was hired by former athletic director John Currie in 2012, shortly after he was fired by Illinois. Weber was mulling several mid-major jobs when Currie selected him to take over a program that had suddenly shot to national prominence on the back of six straight 20-win seasons.Weber kept the momentum going for a while, too. He led the Wildcats to a share of the Big 12 title in his first season, made five NCAA Tournaments in his first seven seasons and added a share of another conference title just four years ago.But the past few years have been a struggle, and all the hard-won support Weber had gained over most of the previous decade simply disappeared. He was forced to completely rebuild the roster after the 2019 season, then struggled to recruit at a level to get the Wildcats back to the point where they were competing for championships.They went 9-20 last season and 14-17 this season, leaving Weber — who took the Illini to the national championship game in 2005 — with a 184–147 record with the Wildcats. His career mark, including a highly successful run at Southern Illinois that included two NCAA tourney appearances, stands at 407-301 with 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.“I'm very, very proud of my time here,” Weber said Wednesday night. "It was a long, long time that we won a championship and I told the guys, the funny part and the sad part, I didn't get much credit for that, and they all said it wasn't my guys, but I would tell you probably the closest group of all of my 40-some years of coaching in that group.“Then we did it with our guys,” Weber continued. “Whatever happens in the future happens, and that's fine. K-State is a great place, great people.”-Below is the media release from KSU Athletics on Weber's resignationMANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Head men’s basketball coach&nbsp;Bruce Weber&nbsp;announced today (March 10) that he has resigned from his position at Kansas State.“Coach Weber has provided selfless leadership to our basketball program and university for the last decade,” said Director of Athletics&nbsp;Gene Taylor. “With two conference championships and an Elite Eight run in 2018, our program reached exceptional levels of success under his direction. His development of young men on and off the court, while representing K-State in a first-class manner with the highest level of integrity is unmatched in today’s game and something all K-Staters should take great pride in.”In 10 seasons as head coach at K-State, Weber amassed a 184-147 overall record, including an 82-98 mark in Big 12 play, with 5 trips to the NCAA Tournament (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019) and a share of the Big 12 regular season title in both 2013 and 2019. His 2018 team made the school’s first trip to the Elite Eight in eight years.Weber’s 184 wins are the third-most by a head coach in school history, trailing Hall of Famers&nbsp;Jack Hartman&nbsp;and&nbsp;Fred “Tex” Winter. He is the fourth coach (Hartman, Winter and&nbsp;Frank Martin) to take the school to at least five NCAA Tournaments in a tenure. He was named the 2013 Big 12 Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to a 27-8 overall record and their first-ever Big 12 regular-season championship.Weber was named the school’s 24th&nbsp;head coach on March 31, 2012.Weber, 65, has a compiled a 497-302 overall record in 24 seasons as a head coach, which includes stints at Southern Illinois (1998-2003) and Illinois (2003-11). His teams have participated in postseason play 15 times, including 13 NCAA Tournaments. He has won 15 NCAA Tournament games, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2018 and the Elite Eight in 2005 and 2018, while he played in the NCAA Championship in 2005.Tom GilbertDirector for Men's Basketball Communications

K-State coach Bruce Weber resigns

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sean McNeil scored 21 points, Malik Curry added 17 points and No. 9 seed West Virginia beat eighth-seeded Kansas State 73-67 in the opener of the Big 12 Conference tournament. West Virginia advances to play top-seeded Kansas on Thursday. The Mountaineers lost at Kansas 85-59 in January and again at home 71-58 about a month later. Neither team led by more than nine points in this one. McNeil scored four points during a 10-2 run that gave West Virginia a 69-60 lead with 3:29 left. Curry and Taz Sherman made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions during the run. Nijel Pack led Kansas State with 18 points.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sean McNeil scored 21 points, Malik Curry added 17 points and No. 9 seed West Virginia beat eighth-seeded Kansas State 73-67 in the opener of the Big 12 Conference tournament. West Virginia advances to play top-seeded Kansas on Thursday. The Mountaineers lost at Kansas 85-59 in January and again at home 71-58 about a month later. Neither team led by more than nine points in this one. McNeil scored four points during a 10-2 run that gave West Virginia a 69-60 lead with 3:29 left. Curry and Taz Sherman made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions during the run. Nijel Pack led Kansas State with 18 points.

West Virginia defeats Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL=State Tournament=Quarterfinal=Class 2A=Berean Academy 46, Valley Heights 43Garden Plain 39, Pittsburg Colgan 26Smith Center 44, Jackson Heights 37Sterling 73, Mission Valley 52Class 4A=Bishop Miege 74, Andale 35Eudora 48, Clay Center 46, OTWamego 36, Labette County 34Wellington 33, McPherson 29Class 6A=Blue Valley 33, Topeka 32Derby 41, SM West 17Olathe North 54, BV North 51Washburn Rural 66, Dodge City 43

Girls state basketball quarterfinal results

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL=Berean Academy 46, Valley Heights 43State Tournament=Quarterfinal=Class 1A Division 1=Macksville 45, Osborne 41Olpe 51, Troy 21Solomon 45, Norwich 43South Gray 64, Ness City 51Class 1A Division 2=Bucklin 67, Caldwell 45Greeley County 63, Pawnee Heights 34Hanover 84, Central Plains 43Northern Valley 63, Waverly 57, OTClass 3A=Hays-TMP-Marian 68, Galena 67, OTHesston 46, Hugoton 34Royal Valley 60, Girard 56Southeast Saline 62, Osage City 53Class 5A=DeSoto 50, BV Southwest 45Maize 53, Highland Park 47St. James Academy 59, Topeka West 51Topeka Seaman 54, Kapaun Mount Carmel 43

Boys state basketball quarterfinal scores

The Wamego girls basketball team will continue their postseason run in the 4A state tournament on Wednesday as they travel to Salina to take on Labette County.

The Lady Raiders enter this contest as the 3-seed at 20-2 after soundly defeating Tonganoxie and Holton in their sub-state.

“I’m extremely proud of the work that these girls have put in not just this year but for the last several years,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “They’ve been dedicated to turning the culture of this program around in the gym and in the weight room and we’ve gotten a lot tougher which has become the foundation of our program.”

On the other side of this matchup, the Lady Grizzlies will come in as the 7-seed at 18-4, punching their ticket to state with wins over Ottowa and Fort Scott last week.

Much of Labette’s success this season has come from the inside play of seniors Madison Brannin and Anna Dean, who have given opponents fits in the paint this year.&nbsp;

“[Brannin] is a tremendous shooter and she has a quick trigger,” he said. “She’ll take you down in the post as well with [Dean]. They’re both pretty good shot blockers and that strength in the paint is what really stood out to me right away.”

The Grizzlies are red hot coming into state this week, adding to their active six-game winning streak with a revenge win to eliminate Fort Scott in the sub-state championship.

It will take a solid game plan and even better execution for Wamego to maintain the upper hand throughout what should be an intriguing matchup.

“You have to scheme around their size a little bit and getting some players back will help us tremendously,” McIntosh said. “We’ll have to help down low and fly around like we have, this isn’t the first time we’ve faced size and at the end of the day we have to make them take tough shots and keep them off the glass.”

With Labette focusing on the inside, the Raiders will have the green light, and likely some space, to rain down threes from the exterior, something that has been a strength for Wamego this season.

“We’re fortunate to have our 1-4 spots able to hit the three and get to the rim so I think that will cause some problems for Labette,” he said. “It’s a matter of them going out there and making plays and I’m confident in that.”

Wamego is also looking forward to an opportunity to compete on a neutral stage after falling to Miege on their home floor last season as a result of covid-regulations.

“It didn’t really feel like state being on someone else’s home court,” McIntosh said. “Our girls learned what the best looks like and they kept that loss in our minds. We’re very excited to get out there and play on a neutral court this year.”

While the Raiders are the favorites to advance to the semifinal later this week, Wamego remains laser-focused on today’s matchup and understands that any slip could result in an early end to their run.

“Our first goal is to win on Wednesday and we know that we’re in for a battle,” McIntosh said. “We’ve only talked about Labette and our kids are locked in and excited. We know that if we don’t win today we don’t get to see Friday.”

Tip-off between the Lady Raiders and Grizzlies is scheduled for 8 pm at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina, with the winner moving on to face either 21-1 Eudora or 16-6 Clay Center on Friday.

For continuing coverage of the Wamego girls basketball team throughout the state tournament, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributorThe Wamego girls basketball team will continue their postseason run in the 4A state tournament on Wednesday as they travel to Salina to take on Labette County.The Lady Raiders enter this contest as the 3-seed at 20-2 after soundly defeating Tonganoxie and Holton in their sub-state.“I’m extremely proud of the work that these girls have put in not just this year but for the last several years,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “They’ve been dedicated to turning the culture of this program around in the gym and in the weight room and we’ve gotten a lot tougher which has become the foundation of our program.”On the other side of this matchup, the Lady Grizzlies will come in as the 7-seed at 18-4, punching their ticket to state with wins over Ottowa and Fort Scott last week.Much of Labette’s success this season has come from the inside play of seniors Madison Brannin and Anna Dean, who have given opponents fits in the paint this year.&nbsp;“[Brannin] is a tremendous shooter and she has a quick trigger,” he said. “She’ll take you down in the post as well with [Dean]. They’re both pretty good shot blockers and that strength in the paint is what really stood out to me right away.”The Grizzlies are red hot coming into state this week, adding to their active six-game winning streak with a revenge win to eliminate Fort Scott in the sub-state championship.It will take a solid game plan and even better execution for Wamego to maintain the upper hand throughout what should be an intriguing matchup.“You have to scheme around their size a little bit and getting some players back will help us tremendously,” McIntosh said. “We’ll have to help down low and fly around like we have, this isn’t the first time we’ve faced size and at the end of the day we have to make them take tough shots and keep them off the glass.”With Labette focusing on the inside, the Raiders will have the green light, and likely some space, to rain down threes from the exterior, something that has been a strength for Wamego this season.“We’re fortunate to have our 1-4 spots able to hit the three and get to the rim so I think that will cause some problems for Labette,” he said. “It’s a matter of them going out there and making plays and I’m confident in that.”Wamego is also looking forward to an opportunity to compete on a neutral stage after falling to Miege on their home floor last season as a result of covid-regulations.“It didn’t really feel like state being on someone else’s home court,” McIntosh said. “Our girls learned what the best looks like and they kept that loss in our minds. We’re very excited to get out there and play on a neutral court this year.”While the Raiders are the favorites to advance to the semifinal later this week, Wamego remains laser-focused on today’s matchup and understands that any slip could result in an early end to their run.“Our first goal is to win on Wednesday and we know that we’re in for a battle,” McIntosh said. “We’ve only talked about Labette and our kids are locked in and excited. We know that if we don’t win today we don’t get to see Friday.”Tip-off between the Lady Raiders and Grizzlies is scheduled for 8 pm at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina, with the winner moving on to face either 21-1 Eudora or 16-6 Clay Center on Friday.For continuing coverage of the Wamego girls basketball team throughout the state tournament, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

Lady Raiders tip-off state tournament run with Labette County in quarterfinal

K-STATE PLAYS WEST VIRGINIA AT BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP

K-STATE PLAYS WEST VIRGINIA AT BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP<ul>
 <li>Kansas State (14-16, 6-12 Big 12) will open play as the No. 8 seed in the 26th annual Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship on Wednesday night at 6 p.m., CT against No. 9 seed West Virginia (15-16, 4-14 Big 12) at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The teams split the season series with each winning on their home court. The winner of the lone opening round game will face top-seed Kansas (25-6, 14-4 Big 12) in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 2 p.m., CT.</li><li>K-State enters as the tournament’s No. 8 seed for the seventh time in program history and the first time since 2016. The Wildcats are 37-42 (.468) all-time in the Big Eight/12 Championship, including a 17-24 (.415) mark in the Big 12 era. The school is 2-6 as a No. 8 seed in the Big Eight/12 Championship, while it is 2-1 vs. the No. 9 seed.&nbsp;</li><li>K-State is 0-1 vs. West Virginia at the Big 12 Championship, losing 51-50 in the semifinals on March 10, 2017.</li>
 </ul>

K-State plays West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament Wednesday

The Wamego Lady Raiders have been playing their best basketball in the final months of the season and have won ten of their last 11 heading into the state tournament this week.

Let's take a look at how Wamego stacks up by the numbers coming into a busy week of state basketball action in Salina.

Wamego Lady Raiders Head Coach: Brian McIntosh (5th) Record: 20-2 4A Ranking: #4 Point Diff: +485 Leading scorer: Paige Donnelly (17.8 ppg)

State seed: 3 First-round matchup: #10 Labette County (18-4) Game info: Wednesday, March 9, 8 pm, Tony's Pizza Events Center Winner plays: #3 Eudora (21-1) or Clay Center (16-6)

Notable wins: - #7 Rock Creek (58-35) - Basehor-Linwood (56-51) - Holton (53-26)

Losses: #3 Eudora, Clay Center Largest blowout win: 59 vs. Atchison (12/10)

Sub-State wins: - 55-34 over Tonganoxie - 53-26 over Holton

For continuing coverage of the Red Raiders state tournament run, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599179528888.png" alt="This state tournament profile is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!" />
 <figcaption>This state tournament profile is presented by Salina Ortho: Quality orthopedic care when you need it!</figcaption>
 </figure>The Wamego Lady Raiders have been playing their best basketball in the final months of the season and have won ten of their last 11 heading into the state tournament this week.Let's take a look at how Wamego stacks up by the numbers coming into a busy week of state basketball action in Salina.Wamego Lady Raiders Head Coach: Brian McIntosh (5th) Record: 20-2 4A Ranking: #4 Point Diff: +485 Leading scorer: Paige Donnelly (17.8 ppg)State seed: 3 First-round matchup: #10 Labette County (18-4) Game info: Wednesday, March 9, 8 pm, Tony's Pizza Events Center Winner plays: #3 Eudora (21-1) or Clay Center (16-6)Notable wins: - #7 Rock Creek (58-35) - Basehor-Linwood (56-51) - Holton (53-26) Losses: #3 Eudora, Clay Center Largest blowout win: 59 vs. Atchison (12/10)Sub-State wins: - 55-34 over Tonganoxie - 53-26 over HoltonFor continuing coverage of the Red Raiders state tournament run, stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.

State tournament profile: Wamego girls

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Just over two months removed from a victory over LSU in the TaxAct Texas Bowl to cap off an 8-5 campaign and with much anticipation for the 2022 season, Kansas State hits the field for its first of 15 spring practices on Tuesday morning.

The Wildcats will practice throughout the month of March and April, which will culminate with the final practice on Saturday, April 16.

K-State returns 47 letterwinners, which includes 16 starters and 10 players that earned All-Big 12 honors a season ago. In addition, the Wildcats also brought in five Division I transfers for spring practice that have combined for 150 total games played and 81 starts.

The Wildcats enter their fourth season under head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman, who holds an 92-29 career, including a 20-16 mark at K-State. The offensive unit is led by&nbsp;Collin Klein, who is entering his eighth year overall on the K-State staff but is the sole offensive coordinator for the first time in his career.&nbsp;Joe Klanderman&nbsp;enters his third season as the defensive coordinator and fourth year in Manhattan.

<a>Season tickets for the 2022 campaign are on sale now.&nbsp;</a><a>Fans are again offered a variety of choices with options starting at less than $22 per game. All season ticket prices in Bill Snyder Family Stadium remain unchanged for 2022, including $150 view level season tickets and $199 season tickets for young alumni. Full season ticket options can be found at&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

K-State opens the 2022 season with three-straight home games, hosting South Dakota on September 3, former Big 12 foe Missouri on September 10 and Tulane on September 17. The schedule also features visits from Big 12 opponents Texas Tech (October 1), Oklahoma State (October 29), Texas (November 5) and Kansas (November 26).

By Ryan LackeyMANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Just over two months removed from a victory over LSU in the TaxAct Texas Bowl to cap off an 8-5 campaign and with much anticipation for the 2022 season, Kansas State hits the field for its first of 15 spring practices on Tuesday morning.The Wildcats will practice throughout the month of March and April, which will culminate with the final practice on Saturday, April 16.K-State returns 47 letterwinners, which includes 16 starters and 10 players that earned All-Big 12 honors a season ago. In addition, the Wildcats also brought in five Division I transfers for spring practice that have combined for 150 total games played and 81 starts.The Wildcats enter their fourth season under head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman, who holds an 92-29 career, including a 20-16 mark at K-State. The offensive unit is led by&nbsp;Collin Klein, who is entering his eighth year overall on the K-State staff but is the sole offensive coordinator for the first time in his career.&nbsp;Joe Klanderman&nbsp;enters his third season as the defensive coordinator and fourth year in Manhattan.<a>Season tickets for the 2022 campaign are on sale now.&nbsp;</a><a>Fans are again offered a variety of choices with options starting at less than $22 per game. All season ticket prices in Bill Snyder Family Stadium remain unchanged for 2022, including $150 view level season tickets and $199 season tickets for young alumni. Full season ticket options can be found at&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;K-State opens the 2022 season with three-straight home games, hosting South Dakota on September 3, former Big 12 foe Missouri on September 10 and Tulane on September 17. The schedule also features visits from Big 12 opponents Texas Tech (October 1), Oklahoma State (October 29), Texas (November 5) and Kansas (November 26).

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