By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Wichita East's Arthur Brown has been tabbed as one of six finalists for the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award by the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee.
Brown joins Wakulla High School (Crawford, Fla.) linebacker Nigel Bradham (6-foot-2, 230), Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) quarterback Dayne Crist (6-5, 228), Blanche Ely High School (Pampano Beach, Fla.) cornerback Patrick Johnson (6-1, 193), Jeanette High School (Jeanette, Pa.) quarterback Terrelle Pryor (6-6, 235) and St. Bonaventure High School (Ventura, Calif.) running back Darrell Scott (6-0, 204) as finalists for the award.
The winner will be presented the Ken Hall Trophy at the U.S. Army Awards Dinner in San Antonio Jan. 4, 2008, as the nation's outstanding senior in high school football. The trophy is named after prep football's all-time leading rusher.
The list of past players to receive Player of the Year honors includes Kevin Jones of the Detroit Lions (2001), Lorenzo Booker of the Miami Dolphins (2002), Chris Leak of the Florida Gators (2003), Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings (2004), Ryan Perrilloux of Louisiana State University (2005), Mitch Mustain of the University of Southern California (2006) and Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame University (2007).
Boys Basketball: Deficit Erasers
Facing a 22-point deficit with less than six minutes left in a game against Madison, Olpe coach Chris Schmidt had no choice but to apply full-court pressure. And as a result, the Eagles were able to rebound by out scoring Madison 31-5, in the final period, to win a 59-55 squeaker.
"I've been in a lot, but that's one that's new for me," Schmidt told the Topeka Capital Journal. "We asked the kids there in the fourth quarter to just get better in the fourth quarter. We really didn't have anything to lose. We started to get some steals and the ball started going in the hole. I guess that's why you play 32 minutes."
Cole Krueger led the way for Olpe in the fourth period by scoring 17 of his 27 points during that time span. Bradley Argabright contributed 11 of his 14 points during the same time span. Kaleb Schankie led the way for Madison by scoring 19 points. Eric Porter added 17 points for the Bulldogs.
Olpe forced 27 Madison turnovers, including 14 in the final eight minutes.
Girls Basketball: Falcons Post Shutout
Olathe South's girls basketball team accomplished a feat that is seldom seen in basketball today. After forcing 19 Harmon turnovers in the first period, the Falcons outscored the Hawks 31-0 in that frame. Olathe South went on to post a 71-0 win in the first round of the 25th Annual Olathe South Girls Basketball Invitational.
Olathe South forced 38 Hawk turnovers and held Harmon to 14 shots on the night. The Hawks did not attempt a free throw in the game. South led 56-0 at intermission.
"I don't know that I'm proud of it," Olathe South coach Steve Ingram told the Olathe Daily News. "I was talking to (assistant) coach (Heather) Peeke at the end and I said, `Should we give up a layup just so they score?' But she said the other team might be offended by that to know you just gave them something. We were hoping maybe we'd foul a shooter or they would somehow hit a shot."
Both coaches agreed to install a running clock during the second half, but that game plan would go against Kansas State High School Activities Association rules. A running clock can only be used during a league contest in which that league has adopted the fourth quarter running-clock rule.
Gist Sets Tournament Mark
Hays guard Sarah Gist set a record for 3-pointers in a tournament Saturday at the 25th Annual Hays City Shoot-Out.
Gist netted three 3-pointers in a 58-44 loss to Kearney (Neb.), in the tournament's third place game, and finished the tournament with 12 3-pointers in three games. The senior made six shots from beyond the arc in a 71-34 first round win over De Soto to tie the mark for 3-pointers in a game held by Lori Billinger (1990) and Kristen Becker (1990).
Lindsey Trembley (1998) and Kelly Curtis (2005) shared the old mark of 10 3-pointers in a tournament.
Boys Top Scoring Performances
Lance Russell scored 34 points for Wichita South in a 78-66 loss to Wichita Heights.Wichita Southeast's Jordan Cyphers scored 33 points in a 102-44 win over Wichita West.Will Spradling scored 31 points for Shawnee Mission East in a 57-48 win over Shawnee Mission South.Hoisington's Cameron Horeskey scored 30 points in a 63-53 win over Claflin.Blake Brewster scored 29 points for Argonia in a 75-53 win over Attica.Attica's Tanner Hayes scored 29 points in a 75-53 loss to Argonia.Bobby Wesley scored 28 points for Garden City in a 63-53 win over Great Bend.Baxter Springs' Zack Wilson scored 28 points in a 65-62 overtime win over Erie.Ethan Cornell scored 27 points for Erie in a 65-62 overtime loss to Baxter Springs.South Central's Jrae Beck scored 27 points in a 55-53 win over Bucklin.Dennan Morrow scored 26 points for Larned in a 51-39 win over Ulysses.Hays' Jason Ball scored 26 points in a 59-50 win over Newton.Justin Bright scored 25 points for Macksville in an 89-44 win over Stafford.Tyro Christian's Evan Hand scored 25 points in a 76-45 win over Dexter.Jordan Embers scored 35 points for Louisburg in an 88-35 win over Prairie View.Shawnee Mission South's Will Spradling scored 31 points in a 57-48 loss to Shawnee Mission East.Brian Johnson scored 30 points for Sumner Academy in a 92-55 win over Van Horn.Kensington's Ethan Kuhlman scored 32 points in a 68-46 win over Alma.Dennan Morrow scored 36 points for Larned in a 51-39 win over Ulysses.Otis-Bison's Kevin Wissman scored 24 points in a 55-51 loss to Wilson.Todd Johnston scored 24 points for Crest in a 49-25 win over Jayhawk-Linn.Newton's Jordan Voelker scored 24 points in a 68-55 win over Riley County.Patrick Schulte scored 29 points for Nemaha Valley in a 52-48 win over Wamego.Oswego's Austin Johnson scored 29 points in a 60-59 win over Frontenac.
Girls Top Scoring Performances
Jordi James scored 27 points for McPherson in a 59-53 loss to Goddard.Neodesha's Stevi Schultz scored 26 points in a 65-53 win over Humboldt.Lan Danielson scored 25 points for Royal Valley in a 56-45 win over West Franklin.Olpe's Megan Wood scored 25 points in a 68-37 win over West Elk.Carli Abbey scored 24 points for Nemaha Valley in a 51-50 loss to Oskaloosa.Pawnee Heights' Betsy Smith scored 24 points in a 53-26 win over Minneapolis.Allyx Barnhart scored 24 points for Burlington in a 49-48 loss to Cherryvale.Wichita Heights' Amanda Orloske scored 23 points in a 55-48 win over Wichita South.Laura Patrick scored 22 points for Hutchinson Central Christian in a 52-40 win over Pretty Prairie.Wichita Southeast's Kamisha Richard scored 22 points in a 95-29 win over Wichita West.Breanna Gottschalk scored 22 points for Holcomb in a 44-43 win over Stanton County.Wichita North's Brittnee Foster scored 22 points in a 55-45 loss to Wichita Kapaun Mount Carmel.Tiffany Bias scored 22 points for Andover Central in a 63-48 win over Buhler.Louisburg's Brittany Daily scored 22 points in a 73-25 win over Prairie View.Taber Spani scored 31 points for Metro Academy in a 58-55 win over Bishop Miege.Thomas More Prep-Marian's Kaylee Hoffman scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 64-50 loss to Concordia.Amber Kriley scored 25 points for Stockton in a 54-47 loss to Hill City.Hays' Sarah Gist scored 24 points in a 71-34 win over De Soto.Amanda Dreiling scored 24 points for Great Bend in a 53-39 win over Manhattan.Topeka High's Jessica Blake scored 27 points in a win over Topeka West.Vanessa Finlay scored 28 points for Mission Valley in a 55-24 win over White City.Royal Valley's Courtney Brown scored 25 points in a 44-42 loss to Rossville.