By TYLER HENRY
Little Apple Post contributor
After soundly defeating Tonganoxie 55-34 on Tuesday, the fourth-ranked Wamego girls basketball team will return home to host Holton in the sub-state championship game on Friday night.
The Red Raiders come into this contest at 19-2 overall while Holton enters at 14-7 fresh off a close 32-29 win over Independence.
This game is a rematch of last year’s sub-state championship game that saw Wamego crush the Wildcats 55-20 to advance to the state tournament.
“A trip to state is something that we’ve had on their minds since last year but they’ve stayed present and they understand that the next game is the most important one,” Wamego head coach Brian McIntosh said. “Holton remembers what happened last year and they’ll be ready to go.”
Like last year, this 4A sub-state final will be played in front of the Red Raider faithful, something that gave Wamego a big boost last season.
“It’s incredible,” McIntosh said. “We have a really amazing community that comes out and supports our girls and there’s a very real home-court advantage here.”
Several key players from both sides last year will be involved in this year’s rematch, and while the two did not meet in the regular season, both teams are very familiar with the other.
“This is a clash of completely different styles of basketball,” he said. “They want to pound the ball inside and pack it in on defense, we want to play fast and disrupt people full court. I think it will be a real chess match tonight.”
To limit the Wildcat offense, Wamego will have to be wary of Lindsey Wisdom and Macey Patch, who have given opponents fits on the interior this season.
“They’re a high-low team so they try to feed it into the paint and move the ball well down there,’ McIntosh said. “We can’t let them catch in their spots and we need to rotate well to keep them out of what they want to do.”
With just two losses in their ledger, the Red Raiders are optimistic about their chances of a return trip to state and an opportunity to compete in a more normal postseason.
“When our girls feel good they tend to play good and I think they’re in a really good spot mentally,” he said. “They’re hungry and they want another shot at getting to state and seeing what they can do on a neutral court.”
Tip-off between the Red Raiders and Wildcats is set for 7 pm at Wamego High School with the winner punching one of the eight tickets to the state tournament in Salina next week.
For continuing coverage of both Wamego basketball teams in the sub-state championships stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.