Journal-World’s All-Area Team: Everything falls into place for Ottawa

After years of being on the cusp — with four trips to the state tournament — Ottawa High’s boys basketball team has arrived.

The Cyclones wrapped up a record-setting season by taking third place at the Class 4A state tournament, their best finish since winning the 3A state title in 1971.

Ottawa (22-4) trounced Chanute in the final game, 80-64, thanks to its whirlwind offense and pressure defense. It was the second time in three games the Cyclones scored 80 points, as they were six points shy of breaking Parsons’ tournament record of 224 points in three games.

But, hey, one step at a time.

“It’s the first year we really were considered one of the elite programs in the state,” OHS coach David Grover said. “We had 20 wins for the first time in school history, we held the No. 1 ranking for a few weeks.”

But the success isn’t sudden. Rather, it has been years in the making as Grover — the Journal-World’s Area Coach of the Year — and his staff have been working toward this since he became head coach at Ottawa 11 years ago.

“Really, it almost took us 10 years to get everything into place,” Grover said. “I look at our first year — we went 14-8 and lost in the sub-state finals in ’93 — and it looked like we won a state title. Now 14-8 and a sub-state title game is looked upon like just another ordinary year.

“I don’t think you can do that. Like with our sub-state semifinal against Fort Scott. We’re one game away from going 18-4. Not that anything’s wrong with 18-4, but it goes to show you have to have everything fall into place.”

Despite losing three seniors — starters Jarod Sigmund, Michael Cation and Ross Thompson — the Cyclones could stick around for a while.

The three Ottawa teams — varsity, junior varsity and freshman — were a combined 155-30 the last three years, indicating there probably won’t be a large drop-off in talent. The Cyclone freshmen were 16-1 this season.

For a team that has won at least 12 games seven of the last eight years, it looks like more trips to state are in the cards.

“It’s a tribute to the people involved in our program,” Grover said. “It all starts with the time spent in the gym, in the weight room, playing in summer leagues. When parents drive them to play in tournaments and leagues, or when it’s 110 degrees in the middle of summer and we’re running youth tournaments in our gym.

“That’s where it begins. It’s really a testament to a lot of different people.”

Lee BaldwinOttawaAfter losing four starters from last year’s 17-6 squad, the 6-foot-1 Baldwin provided the Cyclones with much of their scoring punch, averaging 17 points a game, including a 26-point effort against Burlington in the Class 4A sub-state finals. The junior scored more than 20 points nine times, while hitting 55 percent of his field-goal attempts. An All-Huron League selection, Baldwin was deadly from the line — sinking 89 percent of his free throws — and from three-point range — hitting 38 percent of his attempts. He formed one of the state’s best one-two punches, as he and all-area senior Ross Thompson combined for almost 37 points a game, or half of the team’s 74.9 average.Andy HannonBaldwinA repeat all-area selection, Hannon was the Bulldogs’ go-to player, as they dealt with numerous injuries to key players. The 6-foot junior point guard delivered in a big way. Hannon averaged 17.9 points — on a team that averaged less than 50 ppg — 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and two steals a game. A repeat All-Frontier League selection, Hannon was a consensus choice this year and was the league’s second-leading scorer. Still, for a team that was picked by league coaches in the preseason to finish first, Baldwin struggled despite Hannon’s play. But thanks to a surprise win in the 4A sub-state opener against Kansas City Piper, the Bulldogs put some shine on their 6-16 season. Hannon just provided the polish.Kyle KelsayOskaloosaNeed a basket? Kelsay’s your man. The 6-foot senior guard ripped off 24 points a game, setting school marks for points in a season (504) and a career (1,103). The Bears (9-12) ran most of their offense through Kelsay, and it’s obvious why. He usually faced double- and sometimes triple teams, but his versatility helped him overcome opposing defenses. Deadly from outside (hitting 29 of 62 three-pointers) or inside (making 56 percent of shots inside the arc), Kelsay was among the state’s top scorers. He scored a career-high 39 points in an 85-60 win against Olathe Christian. He also notched 4.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds a game, proving he wasn’t a one-dimensional player.Kaleb NiedensEudoraHere’s the lesson opponents learned when playing Eudora this season: Don’t give Niedens an open shot. The 6-2 senior took half of the Cardinals’ three-point attempts, hitting 57 of 147 (39 percent). With that kind of marksmanship, Niedens was a consensus All-Frontier League selection. He averaged 15.4 points a game and scored at least 20 points four times, including dropping in 32 in a 70-69 overtime loss to Anderson County. Eudora needed all 29 of his points against Tonganoxie in the second round of the Tonganoxie Invitational, as Niedens nailed a game-winning three-pointer. Eudora finished 15-8 and nearly earned a trip to the 4A state tournament.Ross ThompsonOttawaThompson usually was the biggest guy on the court the last two seasons, and he always played like it. A repeat all-area selection, the 6-8 senior scored in double figures in 46 of his 49 career games, including 25 of 26 this year. He’s a large reason — pun intended — the Cyclones finished 22-4 and took third at the 4A state tournament. Thompson made nearly 75 percent of his shots, averaging 18.8 points per game. He grabbed nearly nine rebounds an outing and tallied two blocks a game, which reinforces how big he was. Other teams knew it too, as he constantly faced double- and triple teams in the post. But, looking at his stats — and Ottawa’s record — it didn’t faze Thompson.
Emily BrownBaldwinA three-time All-Frontier League choice — unanimously the last two years — the 6-foot-2 junior asserted herself as one of the state’s top players this season. Her numbers — averages of 16.5 points, 3.5 blocks, nine rebounds and 2.5 steals a game — are impressive, but belie how dominant she could be. She altered countless shots by opponents with her inside presence and rarely forced a shot herself, though she probably could have done so. She made 65 percent of her field-goal attempts inside the three-point line, 47 percent beyond the arc. The Bulldogs (21-2 overall) won the league title, and came up just short in the Class 4A sub-state final, losing to eventual state champ Spring Hill — the only team to beat Baldwin this year.Liz BurksOttawaThe Cyclones, 13-9 this season, had a sub-par year by their standards — they notched at least 20 wins and trips to the state tournament the previous two years — but Burks certainly didn’t. An All-Huron League selection, the 5-9 point guard balanced a scoring touch with excellent court sense. A three-time all-area selection, Burks closed her prep career by averaging 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists a game. Smooth with the ball in her hands, and smart without it, she simply knows how to play. Burks also is a two-time 4A honorable mention selection, though it could be hard to deny her a third year. It’s tough to imagine there are any players better.Lauren KraclEudoraFew players finished with the flourish Kracl did this season. The 6-2 junior missed the Cardinals’ first six games after having surgery on her right thumb. She started slow, adjusting to playing through pain and having her thumb wrapped, but in the last five games, she excelled. Kracl scored 22 points in a 42-36 win against Paola and followed that by scoring 24, 26, 26 and 29 points, respectively. Her 29-point effort came in Eudora’s final game, the 4A sub-state opener against Spring Hill. That helped push her average to 17.1 ppg, to go along with an average of 10.3 rebounds an outing. A repeat all-area selection, Kracl also snagged her third All-Frontier League honors, the last two years as a consensus pick.Anna SkaggsBaldwinHer numbers aren’t as impressive as some players. But make no mistake, Skaggs is one of the best and most versatile players around. The All-Frontier League senior averaged 11.0 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists a game, but was certainly capable of more. Skaggs posted a career-high 29 points against Gardner-Edgerton in the second round of the Wellsville Tournament. The 5-8 guard could run the Bulldog offense, match up with the other team’s best player, or, if need be, score. Along with junior center Emily Brown, Skaggs keyed Baldwin’s marvelous 21-2 season, which featured a league title and narrowly missing out on the state tournament.Shannon WilsonPerry-LecomptonWilson, a do-it-all forward/guard for the Kaws, became the school’s all-time leading scorer this season and led them to their first sub-state victory in five seasons. The 58-56 win against top-seeded Lansing was a product of the Lions focusing on Wilson, allowing her teammates to have open looks. But Wilson was the type of player teams needed to focus on. The 5-9 senior averaged 21 points and eight rebounds a game, usually playing against double- and triple teams. She pumped in 44 points in a 73-65 loss to Basehor-Linwood, 38 of which came in the second half. With more than 1,400 career points she left her mark on the Kaws’ record books.