Regional play begins Monday for 1A basketball
Gallagher Martin previews all 16 1A regionals
Devin and Emily Ryan will try to keep both Central Plains teams undefeated throughout the postseason starting with this week's regional tournaments. (Devin Ryan photo by Joey Bahr, Emily Ryan photo by Everett Royer)
With 108 schools spread across 16 regional sites, postseason basketball begins in Class 1A Feb. 18. The top two teams from each regional advance to one of four sub-state sites starting Feb. 28. All rankings and records are accurate as of Feb. 14.
Argonia
At 17-2, ninth-ranked Caldwell is the heavy favorite on the boys side. Udall (11-8) and Wichita Classical (11-9) are the only other two teams with winning records. The tenth-ranked Argonia girls have only one loss on the season, while South Haven (14-5) is also expected to grab a sub-state berth.
Chetopa
Two teams stand out above the rest in Chetopa for the boys. Dexter-Cedar Vale and Sedan have a combined record of 31-7 and first-round byes. St. Paul (14-4) is the only team with a winning record for the girls.
Moundridge
There are three solid teams fighting for two spots, while five of the seven teams are at least .500 on the boys side. Sixth-ranked Berean Academy will likely claim one of two sub-state bids, but Elyria Christian (14-5) and Moundridge (13-6) will likely face off in the semifinals to claim the second spot. Similar story with the girls. Chase County (16-2) appears as the best team, but Berean Academy (13-6) and Moundridge (12-7) are capable of winning regionals as well.
Olpe
At 11-6, Olpe is the only boys team with a winning record plus they will benefit from home-court advantage. But Waverly, Madison-Hamilton, and Leroy-Southern Coffey County could all advance to sub-state. The undefeated and second-ranked Olpe girls will look to stay that way all the way through state, but 16-2 Waverly will likely be waiting in the finals.
Butler Community College and the Emporia Recreation Center are the host of the two sub-states in this regional.
Lebo
There are no shortage of good teams in Lebo, headlined by third-ranked Burlingame. But Rural Vista (15-3), Lebo (13-4), and St. Xavier (11-5) are all worthy of advancing to sub-state. Fourth-ranked and undefeated Rural Vista should steamroll the competition on the girls side, while 11-8 Centre should grab the second sub-state spot.
Onaga
Valley Falls (14-5) is the only team with a first-round bye, while Centralia is the only other team with a winning record on the boys side. The girls side is wide open. No. 1 seed Centralia is 12-6, but Highland-Doniphan West, Wetmore, and Valley Falls will all fight for a sub-state spot.
Solomon
St. John's-Beloit/Tipton is likely to secure a spot at sub-state, while the Southern Cloud boys are the only other team above .500. The St. John's-Beloit/Tipton girls also look like the best team in their regional, while Southern Cloud is expected to face them in the regional championship.
Washington County
Second-ranked Hanover will be favored to win the regional, but it won't be easy. Washington County (15-6), Blue Valley (12-5), and Clifton Clyde (13-7) are all having solid seasons. The Washington County regional will not be any easier on the girls side. Third-ranked Frankfort will likely make the regional championship and face seventh-ranked Hanover, but Clifton Clyde and Blue Valley are quality opponents.
Alma-Wabaunsee High School and Clay Center Community High School are the host of the two sub-states in this regional.
Wheatland
Seventh-ranked Wallace County (16-2) and Dighton (10-9) are the only two teams with winning record for the boys, while Weskan (16-3) and Dighton (11-8) are the only teams with winning records for the girls.
Hill City
Eighth-ranked Osborne will likely remain undefeated through regionals, unless Downs-Lakeside (10-8) or Hill City (9-8) can deliver a massive upset. Kensington-Thunder Ridge (15-2) will be the favorite on the girls side.
Golden Plains
Fans will be treated to great basketball on both sides at the Golden Plains Regional. Fourth-ranked Northern Valley has a bye as does St. Francis (14-4) on the other side of the bracket. But the top two seeds are both expected to face teams with winning records in the second round. The same can be said on the girls side. Undefeated and sixth-ranked Golden Plains should win the regional, but there are three formidable opponents in the field.
Sylvan-Lucas Unified
It would take one of the greatest upsets in Kansas high school sports history for either of the two top-ranked Central Plains teams to not make it out of regionals. Host Sylvan-Lucas (12-4) will likely get their chance to pull it off in the regional championship on the boys side, while ninth-ranked Otis-Bison (17-2) or Sylvan-Lucas (12-5) will try to give the Central Plains girls a game.
Russell High School and WaKeeney-Trego Community High School are the host of the two sub-states in this regional.
South Central
Both South Central teams are ranked and the top seeds in the regional they're hosting, but a regional championship is anything but guaranteed. The boys will likely face either Attica (16-3) or Ashland (13-5) in the finals, while the girls will most likely have to go through Cunningham (17-2) in the finals.
Hodgeman County
Macksville is the slight favorite on the boys side, but Hodgeman County will likely challenge them in the finals. The eighth-ranked Spearville girls should take care of business on the girls side, while Kinsley (13-6) and Ingalls (12-7) will fight for the other sub-state berth.
Little River
Both Little River teams could win their regional, but they won't be the favorite to do so in either bracket. The boys (15-4) would likely face St. John-Hudson (15-4) or Central Christian (12-7) in the finals, while the girls (14-5) would have to go through a tough Central Christian team (17-2) in the finals.
South Gray
The South Gray boys are ranked fifth and will likely receive little resistance on the way to a regional championship. The South Gray girls are the top seed at 15-4 and won't see a team with a winning record at regionals.
Gallagher Martin is a sportswriter for the McPherson Sentinel and Kansas Pregame. He can be reached by email at gmartin@mcphersonsentinel.com. Kansas Pregame covers high school sports in the Sunflower State. Know of a great story that needs to be told? We want to hear from you! Email us the next great story or video focused on Kansas high school sports at kansaspregame@gmail.com.