Tait’s Take – Free State girls vs. O-North
One of the more popular features of our Kansas University sports site, KUSports.com, is “The Keegan Ratings,” in which Journal-World Sports Editor Tom Keegan ranks the Jayhawks’ performances in both football and basketball after every game he attends. The individual rankings provide a great starting point for discussion and debate about the game that was in KU Sports.
With that in mind, the Journal-World would like to introduce “Tait’s Take,” a similar ranking system for the local high school games that High School Sports Editor Matt Tait attends each week. Because we can’t be in two places at once — or even three for that matter — this will not be a comprehensive look at athletes at both Lawrence High and Free State over the course of any given season. However, it will provide you with a deeper look at the most recent game and will give Tait an opportunity to include those tidbits about certain players that may not have made it into his story about the game.
This feature will fly fast and furious throughout the football, basketball and baseball seasons. So stop by often. If you can’t find a game you’re interested in, click on The Dividing Line archives and search for it. Chances are it will be there.
Here’s another edition of Tait’s Take, which looks back at the top players from Friday’s 57-40 victory by the Free State High girls basketball team.
1. Chantay Caron, sr. — One of the more efficient nights in recent prep basketball history. Twenty-five points on 11 shots, including 11 trips to the free throw line. As Free State coach Bryan Duncan pointed out, Caron probably could have — and perhaps should have — gone for 40 in this one. Added 10 rebounds and two blocks during her monster night.
2. Ashli Hill, sr. — 15 points — on 6-of-11 shooting — to go along with 12 rebounds and two blocks. She also added three assists. If not for Caron’s sweet night, Hill would easily have occupied the top spot. The only down side… She fouled out and was 3-of-6 from the free throw line.
3. Lynn Robinson, soph. — Five assists, two steals and two rebounds to go along with her seven points. Not great numbers but she once again showed that she has a great knowledge of the game. Also led the charge to bring back the intensity after the team was chewed out by Duncan during a fourth-quarter timeout.
4. Jackie Garcia, soph. — Six rebounds, two steals and two assists. All with a little bit of an attitude. Garcia looked comfortable during the physical second half. Keeps improving each game.
5. Wren Wiebe, sr. — Not a great night shooting (2-of-6) but contributed on the boards, with five, and in the halfcourt with two assists.
6. Nicole Humphrey, soph. — Fiery reserve guard gave all she had, including five fouls. Handled the ball decently and hounded North’s guards all night.
7. Amarra Lee, sr. — Missed four of the five shots she took and never seemed to get into the flow of the game on either end. That didn’t stop her from playing hard, though.
8. Kylee Loneker, soph. — Didn’t play enough minutes to make a fair assessment. Didn’t complain either.
Free State record: 6-2.
Next up: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Topeka High.