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FRONTENAC —
The Frontenac eighth grade girls basketball team never settled over 32 games and closed out an undefeated junior high run (32-0) Monday evening with a 39-3 win over Southeast.
“It’s been enjoyable,” Frontenac head coach Hannah Ketterman said. “They’re a great group of girls, so it makes it easier. They’re very competitive, well-rounded and very fun. It’s a good experience.”
On Monday, Frontenac scored the first 13 points of the game and forced 18 Southeast turnovers in the first quarter.
Fleet point guard Emily Merando scored 16 points in the first half and 18 for the game, often at the center of Southeast ballhandling miscues with her relentless pressure defense. Kennedi Fields, Brilee Rhuems and Lauren Hipfl added six, five and four points, respectively.
Ketterman coached the girls both their seventh and eighth grade seasons — Merando, Fields, Rhuems, Hipfl, Kendall Hamblin, Karlie Zafuta, Abby Johnson, Aubrey Dainty, Emarrie Shaner, Kaylee Spangler, Kailey Hall, Dawn Terill and Emily Snider. The Raiders went 16-0 both seasons and won two CCCJL titles.
“It doesn’t happen very often, so it was special I got to be a part of it,” Ketterman said. “They worked hard every day. Just because they were undefeated last year didn’t mean that they thought they were going to get it handed to them this year. They continued to work hard and made a statement.”
Raider fans are no strangers to undefeated seasons — the sophomore class of varsity players and starters Bailey Flora (starter), Ryleigh McCartney (starter), Haley Wilson, Natalie Coomes and Andi Palumbo never lost a basketball game during two seasons at Frontenac Junior High.
The Frontenac girls are currently 14-1 and ranked No. 8 in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association.
These eighth grade girls have a chance to build on the foundation of a perennially successful high school basketball program.
“If they continue doing what they’re doing and the girls at the high school level continue to improve and work hard, then I can definitely see a very bright future for them,” Ketterman said. “It’d be fun to watch.”
The Raiders have 15 CNC League titles (including 11 straight from 1975-1985), 16 substate titles and two state titles (1979, 1982).
Girard Middle School
The Girard eighth grade boys ended their season 14-2 with a 50-10 win over Baxter Springs and the seventh grade boys finished 9-7 after taking a 35-27 loss on Monday. Tyler Green and Drew Davied each had 10 points for the Girard eighth grade and Eric Wilson led the seventh grade with 10.
The Girard seventh grade girls capped a 14-2 and CCCJL title season with a 27-23 win over Baxter Springs and the eighth grade evened their record at 8-8 with a 25-20 win Monday. Olivia Hanson scored 11 points for the seventh grade and Ashley Ray added eight. Schyler Nepote and Dee Dee Copenhaver shared eighth grade high-point honors with 10 apiece.
The Frontenac eighth grade girls basketball team never settled over 32 games and closed out an undefeated junior high run (32-0) Monday evening with a 39-3 win over Southeast.
“It’s been enjoyable,” Frontenac head coach Hannah Ketterman said. “They’re a great group of girls, so it makes it easier. They’re very competitive, well-rounded and very fun. It’s a good experience.”
On Monday, Frontenac scored the first 13 points of the game and forced 18 Southeast turnovers in the first quarter.
Fleet point guard Emily Merando scored 16 points in the first half and 18 for the game, often at the center of Southeast ballhandling miscues with her relentless pressure defense. Kennedi Fields, Brilee Rhuems and Lauren Hipfl added six, five and four points, respectively.
Ketterman coached the girls both their seventh and eighth grade seasons — Merando, Fields, Rhuems, Hipfl, Kendall Hamblin, Karlie Zafuta, Abby Johnson, Aubrey Dainty, Emarrie Shaner, Kaylee Spangler, Kailey Hall, Dawn Terill and Emily Snider. The Raiders went 16-0 both seasons and won two CCCJL titles.
“It doesn’t happen very often, so it was special I got to be a part of it,” Ketterman said. “They worked hard every day. Just because they were undefeated last year didn’t mean that they thought they were going to get it handed to them this year. They continued to work hard and made a statement.”
Raider fans are no strangers to undefeated seasons — the sophomore class of varsity players and starters Bailey Flora (starter), Ryleigh McCartney (starter), Haley Wilson, Natalie Coomes and Andi Palumbo never lost a basketball game during two seasons at Frontenac Junior High.
The Frontenac girls are currently 14-1 and ranked No. 8 in Class 3A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association.
These eighth grade girls have a chance to build on the foundation of a perennially successful high school basketball program.
“If they continue doing what they’re doing and the girls at the high school level continue to improve and work hard, then I can definitely see a very bright future for them,” Ketterman said. “It’d be fun to watch.”
The Raiders have 15 CNC League titles (including 11 straight from 1975-1985), 16 substate titles and two state titles (1979, 1982).
Girard Middle School
The Girard eighth grade boys ended their season 14-2 with a 50-10 win over Baxter Springs and the seventh grade boys finished 9-7 after taking a 35-27 loss on Monday. Tyler Green and Drew Davied each had 10 points for the Girard eighth grade and Eric Wilson led the seventh grade with 10.
The Girard seventh grade girls capped a 14-2 and CCCJL title season with a 27-23 win over Baxter Springs and the eighth grade evened their record at 8-8 with a 25-20 win Monday. Olivia Hanson scored 11 points for the seventh grade and Ashley Ray added eight. Schyler Nepote and Dee Dee Copenhaver shared eighth grade high-point honors with 10 apiece.
