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.