Mid-East League high school girls basketball team starting season. Here's what their coaches expect.
We talked to Mid-East League coaches for breakdowns on their teams, their top players to replace, their top returning players, key position battles and new players that could make an impact this season along with their outlook and schedules for this season.
*Home games are in bold, all Varsity start times are 6 p.m. or 6:15 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Riley County
Last season: 16-5
Top players to replace: Jessi Brummett (Forward; 14pts, 6 rebounds), Ames Burton; Center (10 pts, 8 rebounds), Kaytrin McGuire (Forward; 5pts, 3 rebounds)
Top returning players: CJ Rignell (5’7, Jr., PG, 10pts, 3 assists, 1st Team All-League, 3 year starter, 3A-Honorable Mention)
Other returning players, players that could contribute: Hailey Sharp (5’10, SR., Forward, 3 pts), Lindsey Roles (5’11, SR., Forward), Taryn Shepard (5’7, SO., Guard)
First-year head coach Kelsey Nelson: After losing a very valuable senior class we have several players eager and ready for their opportunity to get on the court more. Every night will be a challenge for us, but we will come prepared and ready to work.
Schedule
12/10 at Silver Lake
12/14 vs. Clay Center, 4:30 p.m.
12/20 at Beloit
1/4 at Rock Creek
1/7 vs. Rossville, 4:30 p.m.
1/11 vs. St. Marys, 4:30 p.m.
1/14 vs. Silver Lake, 4:30 p.m.
1/18 at Hillsboro Tournament, TBD
1/21 at Hillsboro Tournament, TBD
1/22 at Hillsboro Tournament, TBD
1/28 vs. Wabaunsee, 4:30 p.m.
2/1 at Marysville
2/4 vs. Rock Creek, 4:30 p.m.
2/8 at Concordia
2/11 at Wabaunsee
2/15 vs. Council Grove, 4:30 p.m.
2/18 at Rossville
2/21 at Mission Valley
2/24 at St. Marys
Rock Creek
Last season: 17-5
Schedule
12/7 vs. Abilene
12/10 at Council Grove
12/14 vs. St. Marys
12/17 at Wabaunsee
1/4 vs. Riley County
1/14 vs. Wabaunsee
1/28 at Wamego
2/4 at Riley County
2/8 vs. Marysville
2/11 at St. Marys
2/15 at Chapman
Schedule is incomplete
Rossville
Last season: 5-14
Top returning players: Kinsey Perine (So, G, 10.4 ppg, 5 rpg, 3.2 apg), Emma Mitchell (So, F, 11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
Other returning players, players that could contribute: Briar Gillum (Sr, F, 6.6 rpg), Kinley Porter (So, G), Caylee Douglas (Sr, G)
Ninth-year head coach Michael Bell: We look to build and get better every day. Low numbers out for basketball but we do have quite a bit of experience coming back. Last year with COVID was a mess, we are looking forward to getting back to normal. We want to play fast but under control. I really look for us to take some significant strides this year. Our top three scorers and rebounders are back from last year, we will be led by Perine and Mitchell.
Schedule
12/7 at Bishop Ward
12/10 at Chapman Tournament, TBD
12/11 at Chapman Tournament, TBD
12/17 vs. Atchison
1/4 at Silver Lake
1/7 at Riley County
1/11 vs. Rock Creek
1/13 vs. Valley Heights
1/14 vs. St. Marys
1/25 at Jefferson County North Tournament
1/28 at Jefferson County North Tournament
1/29 at Jefferson County North Tournament
2/1 at St. Marys
2/4 at Wabaunsee
2/8 at Osage City
2/11 vs. Silver Lake
2/15 vs. Wabaunsee
2/18 vs. Riley County
2/22 at Rock Creek
Silver Lake
Last season: 12-10
Head coach: Kyle Porter, 2nd year
Top players to replace: Kyla Hay, Olivia Fieger
Top returning players: Mariah Farmer (5'6", Jr, G, 7 ppg, 2.7 apg, Honorable Mention All-Mid-East League), McKinley Kruger (5'6", So, G, 8.7 ppg, 2.5 apg, All Mid-East League, All-State Honorable Mention), Taylor Ross (5'11", Jr, F, 8.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg), MaKenzie McDaniel (6', So, F, 8.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, Honorable Mention All-Mid East League)
Other returning players, players that could contribute: Kaibryn Kruger (5'7", So, G/F), Lexis Berndt (5'3", Jr, G), Lauren Rollenhagen (5'8", Sr, F), Kaylee Deiter (5'8", So, G/F), Sarah Wehrli (5'4", So, G), Lanie Koelliker (5'8", Jr, F)
Schedule
12/7 at Council Grove
12/10 vs. Riley County
12/17 vs. St. Marys
1/4 vs. Rossville
1/7 vs. Rock Creek
1/11 at Wabaunsee
1/14 at Riley County
1/18 at Tournament, TBD
1/21 at Tournament, TBD
1/22 at Tournament, TBD
1/25 vs. Santa Fe Trail
1/28 at Sabetha
2/1 at Osage City
2/4 at St. Marys
2/7 at Pleasant Ridge
2/11 at Rossville
2/18 at Rock Creek
2/22 at Royal Valley
2/24 vs. Wabaunsee
St. Marys
Last season: 7-14
Top players to replace: Jacie Schindler, Jordan Harrison
Top returning players: Katelyn Hurla (5'5", Sr, G, 13.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 2 spg, 1st team All-Mid East League), Vivian Martin (5'7", Sr, G, 8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Hope Garland (5'3", So, G) Mahtee O'Shea (5'6", Sr, G)
Other returning players, players that could contribute: Cat Moylan (5'3", So, G, 4 ppg), Brenna Smith, (5'10", So, F), Guin McCann (5'3" So, G)
Season outlook: Team loses starting point guard Morgan Hurla to knee injury in volleyball. Five games last year lost by five points or less. 7-3 when scoring 50 or more points, 5-0 when scoring 60 or more points. The team will have to replace Schindler and Harrison, last years only post players and will look to bring along their youth while playing uptempo.
Schedule
12/7 at Nemaha Central
12/10 vs. Mission Valley
12/14 at Rock Creek
12/17 at Silver Lake
1/4 at Wamego
1/7 vs. Wabaunsee
1/11 at Riley County
1/14 at Rossville
1/20 at Topeka Invitational, TBD
1/21 at Topeka Invitational, TBD
1/22 at Topeka Invitational, TBD
2/1 vs. Rossville
2/4 vs. Silver Lake
2/8 vs. Centralia
2/11 vs. Rock Creek
2/15 at Osage City
2/18 at Council Grove
2/22 at Wabaunsee
2/24 vs. Riley County
Wabaunsee
Last season: 9-15
Top players to replace: Madisyn Wertzberger (10.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Lauren Schutter (14.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.6 apg, 3.3 bpg)
Top returning players: Karlie Meseke (5'2", So, G, 6 ppg, 2.5 rpb, 2 apg, 1 spg), Taryn Maike (5', So, G, 5 ppg, 2 rpg, 2 apg, 1.5 spg), Kara Hafenstine (5'5", Sr, G, 3.1 ppg, 5.1 rpb, 6 apg, 1.5 spg)
Other returning players, players that could contribute: Kaelyn Conrad (5'5", Sr, G, 1.4 rpg), Kaci Meseke (5'7", So, F, 4 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Annie Wright (5'5", Jr, G
Third-year head coach Trevor Keller: We have a group of players returning that played significant minutes for us last season. We will need to get high percentage shots and limit turnovers on the offensive end. Defensively we will rely on our overall team speed and quickness to make up for our lack of height.
Schedule
12/ 7 - Tournament, TBD
12/9 - Tournament, TBD
12/10 - Tournament, TBD
12/17 vs. Rock Creek
1/7 at St. Marys
1/11 vs. Silver Lake
1/14 at Rock Creek
1/20 at Panther Classic, TBD
1/21 at Panther Classic, TBD
1/22 at Panther Classic, TBD
1/28 at Riley County
2/1 vs. Lyndon
2/4 vs. Rossville
2/8 vs. Mission Valley
2/11 vs. Riley County
2/15 at Rossville
2/18 at Herington
2/22 vs. St. Marys
2/24 at Silver Lake
Contact Seth Kinker at skinker@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @SethKinker.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Analyzing Mid-East League high school basketball for 2021-22 season
