North Central Kansas teams win doubleheader

The North Central Kansas All Stars won both the girls and boys game in the 2nd Annual Sunflower Shootout All Star basketball game at Smith Center on Saturday, March 17, that saw both games go right down to the wire.

            In the girls contest, the North Central Kansas girls held on to defeat the Mid-Continent League 75-74. 

            The NCK girls led 37-25 at halftime before the MCL girls made a second half run to close the gap.  Smith Center’s McKenzie Benoit was fouled with one second left on the clock and went to the free throw line to shoot 2 shots, trailing 75-73.  Benoit made the first shot but missed the second and the NCK team escaped with a one point victory.

            Beloit’s Bailey Brown led the NCK girls in scoring with 19 points.  Logan’s Caley Greving and Alissa Gasper of St. John’s Beloit/Tipton both added 12 points apiece.  Colby’s Morgan Bell scored 9 points, Shelby Heim of Hoxie 7, Republic County’s Michelle Cottermyre and Lakeside’s Prairee Marlier 5 apiece, Kaley Johnson of Republic County 4, Beloit’s Cami Englebert 3, and Washington’s Morgan Bisnette 2.

            “I really appreciate Michelle Cottermyre coming in to play,” said Smith Center Rec Director Mike Hughes.  “One of the NCK girls was ill that morning and couldn’t play and Michelle’s teammate Kaley Johnson called her at 10:30 and said she would be there at noon for practice, and sure enough she made it.”

            Hannah Dietz of Trego led the MCL team with 18 points, followed by Phillipsburg’s Raegan Vanderplas with 13 and Lexi Reidel of Trego with 10.  Haley Dietz of Trego added 9 points, McKenzie Benoit 7, Mikayla Gottschalk of Ellis 5, Hill City’s Haley Dinkel 4, Tangie Hileman of Smith Center and Hill City’s Kelsey Keith 3 apiece, and Hallie McCall of Smith Center 2.

            Winning coaches were Dallas Cox of Beloit and Brandon Gehring of Logan.  Norton’s Kevin Jilka and Kim Pakkebier of Phillipsburg coached the MCL squad.

            In the boys contest, the NCK all stars won 67-63. 

            The MCL boys had their way in the first half, leading 34-27 at halftime against a much taller team.  But the NCK boys battled their way back in the second half, taking the lead late in the game and holding on for the win.

            Beloit’s Zach Brummer led the winners with 12 points, with 6’10” Mitchell Walter of Washington County and Decatur Community’s Dalton Jones chipping in 10 points apiece.  Austin Herman of Thunder Ridge scored 9 points, Hoxie’s Jaxsen Moss 8, Cole Christenson of Golden Plains 6, Lakeside’s Keegan Heiland and Blake Walter of Rock Hills 4 apiece, and Kalen Cromwell of Republic County and Natoma’s Corey Dunlap 2 each.

            Norton’s Jordan Wahlmaier paced the MCL team with 14 points, while Plainville teammates Andrew Casey and Kyle Becker added 11 and 10 points respectively.  Jameson Klein of Plainville scored 8 points, Alex Hobelmann of Smith Center 7, Smith Center’s Kale Terrill 5, Adam Pfeifer of Hill City 4, and Norton’s Tye Nickell and Matt Craig of Hill City 2 apiece.  Trego’s Brad Pfannenstiel did not score.

            Coaching the NCK boys were Kyle Beisner of Lakeside and Alan Sheets of Republic County.  Doug Reusink of Norton and Plainville’s Chris Rorabaugh were at the helm of the MCL team.

            Kelsey Keith won the girl’s 3-point contest in a shootout over Shelby Heim.  Jaxsen Moss won the boy’s 3-point contest.

            “It was a fun and exciting day for everyone involved,” said Hughes.  “We had a good crowd for both games.  And the kids all told me they had a lot of fun and really enjoyed it, and that’s what it’s all about.”      

            “We would also like to extend a thank you to everyone that helped make this event possible.  There were a lot of people involved, too many to mention, but we do want to thank each and every one,” Hughes added.

            The Sunflower Shootout was sponsored by the Smith Center Recreation Commission.

Records set

Barry and I talked alot about it during the season, but it bears mentioning just one more time.  Republic County senior Kayley Johnson just wrapped up her career as the best 3 point shooter in school history.  She owns the single game record for most 3's (6 of 8 at Clay Center in 2011), the highest percentage for one game with a minimum of 4 attempts  (5 of 6 at Southeast of Saline this year, 83%), most in a season (50) and in a career (82). 

Kayley will be participating in the Sunflower Shootout in Smith Center on Saturday, March 17.  The girls game start at 5pm, and the boys at 7pm.  At half time of each game, there will be a 3 point contest.  Anyone wanna bet against her?

Also participating in Smith Center, Kalen Cromwell will lace it up one more time for his coach, Alan Sheets.  Congratulations to the players and coaches!

K o C Free Throw shoot

The Knights of Columbus State Free Throw Championship was held in Salina, Kansas on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at Sacred Heart Jr/Sr High School Gym.  The State Contest was hosted by three Salina Knights of Columbus Councils #601, #8196, and #10778 and was under direction of Rod Hoffman of Lenexa, State Youth Activities Director.  The winners’ scores will be sent to the Knights of Columbus Supreme Office in New Haven, Connecticut to be entered in the International Contest.  Tyler Popelka, Cuba, KS, son of Robert and Lesley Popelka won his division shooting 24 out of 25.  Zachary Sorell of Clyde, Kansas takes 3rd shooting 21 out of 25, and Austin Biery of Clyde, Kansas takes 2nd shooting 23 out of 25.  Congratulations to these boys from our area!

StateTournament brackets!

Republic County girls will play Lebo at 8:15pm on Wednesday

2A Bracket

Pike Valley will play Spearville at 4:45pm on Thursday

1A Bracket

Lady Buffs top Ell-Saline

1st Rd SubState		Seed							1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Belleville, KS		4		#10 Republic Co					12	13	12	15	52		17-4
		5		#9 Ell-Saline					12	6	12	17	47		16-5
REPUBLIC CO.		FG	Att	3's	Att	FT	FTA	Off	Reb	Pts	Ast	Blk	Stl	GP	GS
4	Saren Hobelmann	1	3	1	1	2	2	0	2	5	5		3	1	1
12	LaShae Hedstrom	3	7	0	0	2	2	0	0	8	2		1	1
13	Kiara McCall	3	9	0	1	1	3	1	3	7	3		3	1	1
14	Bryn Hobelmann	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
21	Abbey Anderson	2	4	0	0	1	2	0	5	5	1		1	1	1
22	Kayley Johnson	1	4	1	4	0	0	1	1	3	1		1	1	1
23	Jayden Jackson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	Joni Sheets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
30	Darci Morely	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
32	Devin Nutsch	8	13	0	0	4	4	3	5	20	1	1	1	1
35	Katelyn Crim	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
40	Tia Frey	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
42	Michelle Cottenmyre	2	6	0	0	0	0	2	2	4		1		1	1
	Totals	20	46	2	6	10	13	7	23	52	13	2	10	1
#9 Ell-Saline		FG	Att	3's	Att	FT	FTA	Off	Reb	Pts	Ast	Blk	Stl
2	Taylor Albers	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
4	Amber Bird	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Darriane Wikoff	5	8	3	3	4	4	2	8	17			1
14	Bailey Goddard	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
21	Darby Wikoff	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	Emma Drees	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
23	Sesely Omli	2	4	0	0	1	1	2	5	5			1
24	Aubrey Wilson	3	4	0	0	3	4	2	5	9			3
25	Brittany Clancy	0	2	0	0	3	4	1	4	3			2
31	Whitney Albers	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
32	Emily Work	4	16	1	5	2	4	0	2	11		2	3
33	Paige Johnson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Totals	15	37	4	8	13	17	7	28	47	0	2	10

Popelka wins free throw shoot

Tyler Popelka,  son of Robert and Lesley Popelka, Cuba, KS, has won the 2012 Knights of Columbus Regional Free Throw Contest. It was held at Tipton, Kansas on February 5th.  He shot 19 out of 25 to win.  He will be participating in the State Competition this weekend on March 4th in Salina, Kansas.  To qualify for the Regional he first won the Council Contest held in Belleville on January 8th and then the District Contest held in Clyde on February 19th. 

Gieber, Kort Top HBHoF Gamers

Feb. 25 - Bragging rights were on the line Saturday morning at the High Banks Hall of Fame Museum in Belleville. Students from the Republic County USD 109 East Elementary and Middle School took part in the Wii “MarioKart” Tournament. The event provided a fun activity for the kids and an opportunity for those attending to learn some history on the museum, the racing memorabilia, and the Belleville High Banks.

The nine-entrant “RED” division, consisting of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Graders, took the green flag to start the event. Fifth-grader Cody Gieber earned the championship over runner-up, Kara Weber, a fourth grader. Other participants included semi-finalists Guy Filinger and Kaitlyn Hoge, plus Max Filinger, Alexus Skocny, Sydney Lewellyn, Zach Nabity, and Jared Edwards.

A “race-in” match was required to pair the field for the “GREEN” division. When the cheering was over, first-grader Keagan Kort was atop the champion's podium. Sammy Sly , a second-grader, was runner-up in the First, Second, and Third grade sector. Semi-finalists were Brandon Allen and Abby Wurdeman. Other racers included Lindsay Gieber,, Brody Boyer, Brianna Frye, Dylan McCartney, Trevor Lewellyn, Libby Wurdeman, Jacob and James Van Winkle, Tyler Stindt, Chase Hoge, A.J. Polansky, and Jady and J.W. LeDoux.

Division winners received a prize package of 2012 Belleville Midget Nationals tickets, commemerative “MarioKart” t-shirts, and their winning brackets. Random prize winners were selected for autographed posters, t-shirts, and 2012 Belleville Midget Nationals tickets. Thanks go out to The High Banks Amusement Committee, FoodMart Thriftway of Belleville, and Rite-Way Lumber of Belleville and KR 92 radio; celebrity drivers Kurt Johnston, Delbert Smith, Garett Hood, Dustin Newlin, and Tyler Frye; and Principal Don Westphal of the USD 109 Republic County School District.