Prep Notebook: Veritas seeking supplemental scoring punch

Veritas Christian girls basketball coach Kevin Shelton knows what he’s going to get out of junior Kristie Tiegreen every night.

The mystery comes in finding a dependable scoring option or two to help carry the load.

Through four games, Tiegreen, a 5-foot-8 forward, is averaging a strong double-double of 16.3 points per game and 16.5 rebounds per game, as the Eagles are off to a 2-2 start.

However, no other player on the Veritas roster has scored in double digits yet this season.

The best bets to emerge as dependable complimentary players alongside Tiegreen are sophomore guard Taelyr Shelton, who scored nine points in Friday’s loss to Wichita Christian, and freshman guard Susan Wilson, who tallied eight in Saturday’s victory against Wichita Word of Life.

The good news for Shelton is he has plenty of time to develop a winner around Tiegreen. She is just one of two juniors on a roster that also features no seniors, pointing to a bright future should the Eagles develop some additional solid contributors.

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Likewise looking ahead: In what could be deemed a rebuilding year, the Veritas Christian boys team has struggled to a 1-4 start, but has displayed some promise for the future.

Coach Doug Bennett lauded the improvement of sophomore Jeremiah Johnson, and sophomore Taylor Zook led the team in scoring twice last week, scoring 13 points against Wichita Christian and 20 against Wichita Word of Life.

“Taylor Zook’s really coming along,” Bennett said.

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Post presence wanted: The Lawrence High girls basketball team features a strong backcourt led by sisters Danielle and Taylor Bird, but the Lions – much like last year’s guard-heavy squad – could use more options on the interior.

Perhaps senior Abby Vestal could fill that void. The soccer star who grabbed headlines while kicking for the LHS football team the last two seasons has also shown signs of promise on the hardwood. She came off the bench to score 10 points against Shawnee Mission Northwest in Thursday’s 65-59 loss.

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Steady scorer: Last Friday marked the third consecutive game Free State junior guard Kris Wilson has led the Firebirds in scoring. Wilson had 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting in Free State’s 74-63 loss to Topeka High.

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Stuffing the stat sheet: The Free State boys swimming and diving team had 16 top-three finishes in last week’s team victory during a five-school meet at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.

The meet featured 12 events, with Firebirds winning four of them.