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.