By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Leavenworth made a statement beginning in early February and running through the middle part of the month by going on a seven-game winning streak. During that stretch, the Pioneers, last season’s Class 6A runner-up to Blue Valley West, looked as if they had what it would take to make another run deep into the postseason.
Larry Hogan’s team looked especially dangerous during a three-game stretch in which the Pioneers defeated No. 7 Lawrence Free State, No. 6 Blue Valley West and No. 5 Shawnee Mission East in a matter of five days.
Now the Pioneers, who were seeded fourth in last year’s sub-state before making their postseason run, hope to mirror that seven-game sweep as Kansas sub-state basketball tournaments begin next week.
“Anything can happen,” Hogan said over the phone Wednesday. “We’ll just have to defend every possession like it’s our opponent’s last possession and take care of the ball like it’s our last possession.”
The Pioneers have plenty of athleticism and believe in defending full court.
“We like to defend from end line to end line,” Hogan said. “We want to try to make people make mistakes with the ball. Our philosophy is to apply a lot of defensive pressure by running and jumping around and trapping people. We pressure teams about 99 percent of the time and play very little zone.”
Leading the way offensively for Hogan are seniors Caprest Rhone (6-0, G/F) and Zack Riggins (6-5, F). Rhone was especially dangerous in big games. He scored 20 and 21 points against Free State and Shawnee Mission East, respectively, and went off for 27 points in a 69-66 overtime win over Hogan Prep (top-ranked in Missouri Class 3).
In addition to displaying plenty of offensive punch, Riggins is Leavenworth’s top rebounder.
Senior forward Jabril Bowlin is also having a great year. Point guard Isaac Johnston brings quickness to the position and is a great defensive player.
“He guards people so hard,” Hogan said. “He makes people make mistakes with the basketball.”
Coming off of the bench and getting plenty of playing time are Jeb Greenberg (6-1, Jr., G/F), Quinton Langen (5-9, So. Guard), Bruce Adams (6-3, Jr., G/F) and Darian Hill (6-6, Jr., F).
Should the Pioneers find themselves in an overtime game, Hogan has plenty of experience in coming out on top. In fact, he owns a 27-2 record in extra frames during his career. From 1985-98, Hogan won 21-straight overtime matches.
“I just tell the kids that it’s a blessing for them to be able to play that extra period,” Hogan said. “The kids are prepared to play. I don’t talk to them. They just go out there and execute.”
Three ranked teams in the latest MaxPreps.com basketball poll will butt heads during the 6A Lawrence Sub-State tournament beginning Feb. 27. Third-ranked Leavenworth leads the way. But Free State (seventh) and Shawnee Mission Northwest (eighth) will have something to say about the outcome as well.
Other teams competing for that elusive spot in the state tournament are: Lawrence, Olathe East, Olathe North, Olathe Northwest and Olathe South.
Class Leaders (Boys) – Wichita Southeast (6A), Topeka Highland Park (5A), Topeka Hayden (4A), Sabetha (3A), Syracuse (2A) and Crest (1A).
Class Leaders Girls – Blue Valley (6A), Wichita Bishop Carroll (5A), Andover Central (4A), Riley County (3A), Southwestern Heights (2A) and Olpe (1A).
Kansas Boys Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Topeka Highland Park (17-1)
2. Bishop Miege (17-2)
3. Wichita Southeast (16-2)
4. Topeka Hayden (17-1)
5. Manhattan (16-2)
6. Leavenworth (15-3)
7. Wichita East (14-4)
8. Shawnee Mission East (14-4)
9. Blue Valley West (13-5)
10. St. Thomas Aquinas (12-7)
Class 6A
1. Wichita Southeast (16-2)
2. Manhattan (16-2)
3. Leavenworth (15-3)
4. Wichita East (14-4)
5. Shawnee Mission East (14-4)
6. Blue Valley West (13-5)
7. Lawrence Free State (12-6)
8. Shawnee Mission Northwest (14-4)
9. Blue Valley Northwest (7-7)
10. Wichita South (14-4)
Class 5A
1. Topeka Highland Park (17-1)
2. Bishop Miege (17-2)
3. St. Thomas Aquinas (11-7)
4. Emporia (11-7)
5. McPherson (15-3)
6. Liberal (16-2)
7. Shawnee Heights (8-7)
8. Sumner Academy (15-3)
9. Salina Central (14-4)
10. Topeka Seaman (8-8)
Class 4A
1. Topeka Hayden (17-1)
2. Andover (18-0)
3. Cheney (17-2)
4. Basehor-Linwood (13-4)
5. Ottawa (13-5)
6. Colby (14-5)
7. Andover Central (12-6)
8. Perry-Lecompton (17-1)
9. St. James Academy (13-2)
10. Hesston (16-1)
Class 3A
1. Sabetha (17-2)
2. Republic County (17-1)
3. Wichita Trinity Academy (17-2)
4. Wichita Collegiate (16-2)
5. Larned (15-3)
6. Holcomb (16-3)
7. Nemaha Valley (19-1)
8. Lakin (15-4)
9. More Prep-Marian (9-6)
10. Belle Plaine (15-5)
Class 2A
1. Syracuse (14-4)
2. Trego (17-1)
3. St. Mary?s-Colgan (17-2)
4. Frankfort (16-2)
5. Marmaton Valley (9-1)
6. Smith Center (16-1)
7. Humboldt (15-1)
8. Meade (16-3)
9. St. John (15-4)
10. Berean Academy (15-5)
Class 1A
1. Crest (19-1)
2. Centralia (17-2)
3. Wallace County (15-3)
4. Hanover (17-2)
5. Olpe (20-1)
6. South Gray (17-3)
7. Macksville (17-3)
8. Quinter (17-3)
9. Madison (16-3)
10. Blue Valley (12-2)
Kansas Girls Basketball Rankings
Top 10
1. Andover Central (18-0)
2. Blue Valley (17-1)
3. Olathe South (17-2)
4. Wichita Heights (18-1)
5. Abilene (19-0)
6. Colby (19-0)
7. Riley County (18-0)
8. Bishop Carroll (16-2)
9. Lawrence (14-4)
10. Washburn Rural (15-3)
Class 6A
1. Blue Valley (17-1)
2. Olathe South (17-2)
3. Wichita Heights (18-1)
4. Lawrence (14-4)
5. Washburn Rural (15-3)
6. Goddard (16-2)
7. Shawnee Mission West (12-6)
8. Shawnee Mission East (14-4)
9. Shawnee Mission South (13-5)
10. Blue Valley North (12-7)
Class 5A
1. Bishop Carroll (16-2)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (12-7)
3. Emporia (14-4)
4. Great Bend (13-5)
5. McPherson (14-3)
6. Shawnee Heights (12-6)
7. Wichita Kapaun Mount Carmel (12-6)
8. Bishop Miege (12-7)
9. Hutchinson (12-6)
10. Lansing (13-6)
Class 4A
1. Andover Central (18-0)
2. Abilene (19-0)
3. Colby (19-0)
4. Basehor-Linwood (17-1)
5. Holton (18-1)
6. Buhler (14-4)
7. Concordia (13-5)
8. Rose Hill (15-3)
9. Tonganoxie (16-2)
10. Topeka Hayden (15-3)
Class 3A
1. Riley County (18-0)
2. Cimarron (17-1)
3. Wichita Collegiate (15-3)
4. Rock Creek (13-4)
5. Garden Plain (17-2)
6. More Prep-Marian (9-5)
7. Medicine Lodge (15-4)
8. Norton (12-6)
9. Sacred Heart (14-4)
10. Silver Lake (9-9)
Class 2A
1. Southwestern Heights (17-1)
2. St. Marys (12-4)
3. St. John (16-2)
4. Osborne (16-2)
5. Berean Academy (18-1)
6. Oakley (17-3)
7. Sublette (14-5)
8. Moundridge (15-5)
9. Frankfort (13-7)
10. Syracuse (9-6)
Class 1A
1. Olpe (20-0)
2. South Barber (19-1)
3. South Gray (19-1)
4. Centralia (15-3)
5. Blue Valley (17-2)
6. Southern Coffey County (19-1)
7. Weskan (17-3)
8. Quivira Heights (19-1)
9. Hoxie (14-5)
10. Linn (14-5)