Great performances abound in Kansas basketball championships

A long line of boys state basketball championships at McPherson grew by one more following a 79-68 win over second-ranked Washington (Kansas City) at the Topeka Expocentre Saturday.

The top-ranked Bullpups received 56 points collectively from Christian Ulsaker (30) and Jack Pyle (26) in flying past the Wildcats. Not only did Ulsaker want to win the school's first state title since 2003, he and his teammates expected it as well as anybody that's ever been involved in the McPherson basketball program.

"We feel like we've been there before, I mean past present and future – we expect to be back again," Ulsaker said of being a part of the Bullpup program. "This is the 11th state championship, and in 2011, which is huge. We couldn't ask for anything better."

McPherson, coached by Kurt Kinnamon, has now claimed Class 5A titles in 2011, 2003, 1999, 1996, 1994 and from 1990-1992 as well as Class 4A championships in 1972-1974.

Joining McPherson as 5A state champions were the Aquinas (Overland Park) girls. The Saints bumped Blue Valley Saturday with a 48-37 win. Senior guard Nelly Weledji said she had never experienced winning a state title before, but that it was an incredible feeling.

"It's awesome going 25-0," she said following the championship win. "It helped taking each game one by one and my teammates stayed focused and they kept me going. And I kept them going. We are just a great group of girls that are passionate and knowledgeable about the game. I am so proud of them.

"It didn't really feel different (than a regular season game) until the final buzzer because you know you have to stay focused the whole time. It was just like any other game. Then once the buzzer hit, the tears came. I mean my gosh we worked so hard for four years and we finally got it."

The 2011 title for Aquinas was the first one since the 2004 version of Saints basketball won the Class 6A title.

DOUBLE WINNERS FROM WICHITA HEIGHTS
In a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2, the Heights (Wichita) boys squeezed out their third straight Class 6A state title, edging Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park) 58-51 Saturday. The Falcons have now won 44 straight games.

Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, the Falcon girls swept through the girls side of the bracket, equaling the boys' season record of 25-0. The Heights (Wichita) girls became the first Kansas high school to sweep both titles while finishing the season unbeaten.

"It just shows what great athletes we have, both on the boys and girls side," Falcon senior Evan Wessel told the Topeka Capital Journal. "It's rare and it's very special."

CARDINAL WIN STREAK COMES CRASHING DOWN
The Holton girls got a little defensive Saturday in their 41-21 championship win over defending Class 4A state champion Cheney. The Wildcats used tenacious defense to force 27 turnovers in the game and shut down Ally Nikkel, Merissa Quick and Kylie Patterson. The Cardinal trio managed just 16 points between them.

The 21 points allowed by the Wildcat defense set a record for the lowest point total by a losing team in a Class 4A state championship game. Holton also snapped the state's sixth longest winning streak at 52 games while winning its second girls state basketball title, and the first since winning 4A in 1994.

"Our defense carried us from game one until now. I think that showed tonight," Holton coach Jon Holliday told the Wichita Eagle following the win. "We had a monster task trying to guard Merissa Quick inside and Ally Nikkel outside. Those are two great players and I think we pretty much shut them down. My kids really came tonight."

OTHER BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
CLASS 3A – Scott (Scott City) 55, Minneapolis 53
Scott City: Brett O'Neil, 13; Ron Baker, 26. Minneapolis: Grayson George, 23; Dylan Crosson, 12.

CLASS 2A – Berean Academy (Elbing) 41, Lyndon 32
Berean Academy: Joshua Hoover, 10; Karlin Wiebe, 14. Lyndon: Chase Vande Velde, 6; Trey Brown, 6; Tyler Decker, 6.

CLASS 1A-2 – Greeley County (Tribune) 42, Hope 35
Greeley County: Jonathan Miller, 15; Stephen Houston, 10. Hope: Todd Kickhaefer, 19; Tyler Mudd, 10.

CLASS 1A-1 – Macksville 59, South Haven 56
Macksville: Kyle Bunker, 33. South Haven: Jarod Young, 20; Blake Wilkey, 11.

OTHER GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
CLASS 3A – Collegiate (Wichita) 43, Jefferson County North (Winchester) 41
Collegiate: Sydney Lower, 10; Ashia Woods, 17. Jefferson County North: Jordan Kramer, 13; Katie Noll, 10.

CLASS 2A – Moundridge 48, Ell-Saline (Brookville) 34
Moundridge: Brooke Holloway, 12; MacKenzie Suderman, 21. Ell-Saline: Mariah Jones, 13.

CLASS 1A-2 – Argonia 69, Central Christian (Hutchinson) 41
Argonia: Ali Brewster, 14; Ashton Stansbury, 15. Hutchinson Central Christian: Jamie Patrick, 27.

CLASS 1A-1 – Olpe 63, Hoxie 44
Olpe: Kendyl McDougald, 10; Jill Cole, 12; Kathryn Flott, 23. Hoxie: Sarah Farber, 13; Shelby Heim, 11.

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