Prep Appraisals — Free State Splits at Leavenworth
Down a starter, Free State High’s girls still picked up a 55-48 road win at Leavenworth Tuesday night.
Abbey Casady wasn’t with the Firebirds but other players had big nights in her absence. Let’s check out the “Prep Appraisals.”
1. Kennedy Kirkpatrick, jr. — She lead Free State with 16 points, and her most productive stretch came in the third quarter. FSHS kept pace with the Pioneers in the third as Kirkpatrick hit two three-pointers, went coast to coast for a layup and found Robinson for a transition basket. Kirkpatrick was 5-for-19, with two steals and six boards. Also had what Duncan called “her best defensive game.”
2. Lynn Robinson, sr. — Free State couldn’t get much offense going in the first quarter, but Robinson’s play in the second helped the visitors get out to a lead. She scored eight of her 13 points in the quarter and finished with seven rebounds (including two in the final minute of a tight game) and three assists. Robinson was 4-for-16, plus she had the responsibility of staying in front of Leavenworth’s Rashayla Mathis (no easy task).
3. Chelsea Casady, jr. — Most efficient night of anyone on the floor. After Chelsea missed four shots in a row between the first and third quarters, her confidence never waned and she she hit four of her next five to finish the game 5-for-10 from the floor. Chelsea also made all four of her free throws and pulled down a key offensive board in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
4. Scout Wiebe, so. — A first-time starter, Wiebe was a solid replacement for Abbey Casady. She played tough inside while grabbing five rebounds and scoring seven points. Wiebe was the scrappiest player on the floor and showed poise by sinking two free throws to put FSHS ahead by five with 28 seconds left.
5. Jackie Garcia, sr. — No points for Garcia, but she found spots to attack the gaps in Leavenworth’s zone, held her own on the defensive end of the floor and found Robinson for s short jumper that tied the game in the second quarter after FSHS got off to a cold start.
6. A’Liyah Rogers, jr. — In the second quarter, the spunky back-up guard gave the team some defensive energy it really needed. Rogers also set Chelsea up for an easy baseline jumper in the third and drained a three to tie the game at 47 with less than five minutes to go.
7. Ariana Frantz, jr. — With one of its starters out for the night, Frantz benefited with more playing time. She hit a baseline jumper in the first quarter, when FSHS was already down five points. Later, in the fourth, Frantz’s offensive rebound made Rogers’ three possible.
Free State girls record: 12-3
Next up: 5:30 p.m. Friday, at Olathe South
Boys’ rally comes up short
It was a disappointing first half that ultimately led to a 63-56 loss for the Free State boys at Leavenworth.
Even though the Firebirds played much better in the second half, they couldn’t get any closer than four points in the fourth quarter.
Here’s a look at who stood out for FSHS in “Prep Appraisals.”
1. Gabe Patterson, sr. — An absolute stud for the Firebirds. Patterson missed just two shots on his way to a game-high 21 points. He hit all three of his free throws, pulled down seven rebounds and avoided disqualification despite picking up his fourth foul late in the third quarter.
2. Brett Frantz, sr. — His field-goal total of four was second-best on the team. Frantz was the only Firebird besides Patterson to reach double digits (10 points), and he brought down five boards.
3. Cameron Dabney, sr. — Though Dabney made just one field goal, he picked up some easy points by getting to the foul line, where he went 6-for-8. Dabney also secured five rebounds and passed out two assists.
4. Shawn Knighton, sr. — The senior point guard really got going in the fourth, with his only bucket and four assists. Each of his fourth-quarter dimes set up Free State big man Patterson for easy looks.
5. Kyle McFarland, jr. — Came off the bench, scored five points, had two assists and made a number of smart plays for FSHS. His steal out of the press in the fourth quarter set Frantz up for a basket, and less than a minute later McFarland drove the ball in for a layup, drew a foul and converted a three-point play.
6. Blake Winslow, so. — He scored four points off the bench and showed an impressive ability to make a spin move off the dribble that shed defenders.
7. Cole Moreano, so. — Whistles plagued Moreano all night, severely limiting his minutes and chances to produce. Moreano fouled out but scored and had a rebound, steal and assist in limited playing time.
8. Keith Loneker, so. — He didn’t get a chance to take a shot, but Loneker showed some promise in a few minutes. In the third quarter, he had a steal and, later, when he saw McFarland cutting to the hoop, he hit his teammate with a perfect pass for a score.
9. Tyler Self, sr. — No shot attempts or points for Self on a slow night off the bench.
10. Dimitar Gocevski, sr. — Didn’t enter the game until the fourth quarter, but showed nice energy in Free State’s press. Gocevski even nailed a three-pointer in the final minute, when he was in as a defensive substitute.
11. Reshawn Caro, so. — In a road game against a talented team, the young sub missed his only shot attempt.
12. Logan Bannister, jr. — Not much playing time for the backup post, who had a steal in the fourth quarter.
Free State boys record: 5-10
Next up: 7 p.m. Friday, at Olathe South
— Be sure to follow @LJWpreps on Twitter.
Prep Appraisals — Free State Splits at Leavenworth
Down a starter, Free State High’s girls still picked up a 55-48 road win at Leavenworth Tuesday night.
Abbey Casady wasn’t with the Firebirds but other players had big nights in her absence. Let’s check out the “Prep Appraisals.”
1. Kennedy Kirkpatrick, jr. — She lead Free State with 16 points, and her most productive stretch came in the third quarter. FSHS kept pace with the Pioneers in the third as Kirkpatrick hit two three-pointers, went coast to coast for a layup and found Robinson for a transition basket. Kirkpatrick was 5-for-19, with two steals and six boards. Also had what Duncan called “her best defensive game.”
2. Lynn Robinson, sr. — Free State couldn’t get much offense going in the first quarter, but Robinson’s play in the second helped the visitors get out to a lead. She scored eight of her 13 points in the quarter and finished with seven rebounds (including two in the final minute of a tight game) and three assists. Robinson was 4-for-16, plus she had the responsibility of staying in front of Leavenworth’s Rashayla Mathis (no easy task).
3. Chelsea Casady, jr. — Most efficient night of anyone on the floor. After Chelsea missed four shots in a row between the first and third quarters, her confidence never waned and she she hit four of her next five to finish the game 5-for-10 from the floor. Chelsea also made all four of her free throws and pulled down a key offensive board in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
4. Scout Wiebe, so. — A first-time starter, Wiebe was a solid replacement for Abbey Casady. She played tough inside while grabbing five rebounds and scoring seven points. Wiebe was the scrappiest player on the floor and showed poise by sinking two free throws to put FSHS ahead by five with 28 seconds left.
5. Jackie Garcia, sr. — No points for Garcia, but she found spots to attack the gaps in Leavenworth’s zone, held her own on the defensive end of the floor and found Robinson for s short jumper that tied the game in the second quarter after FSHS got off to a cold start.
6. A’Liyah Rogers, jr. — In the second quarter, the spunky back-up guard gave the team some defensive energy it really needed. Rogers also set Chelsea up for an easy baseline jumper in the third and drained a three to tie the game at 47 with less than five minutes to go.
7. Ariana Frantz, jr. — With one of its starters out for the night, Frantz benefited with more playing time. She hit a baseline jumper in the first quarter, when FSHS was already down five points. Later, in the fourth, Frantz’s offensive rebound made Rogers’ three possible.
Free State girls record: 12-3
Next up: 5:30 p.m. Friday, at Olathe South
Boys’ rally comes up short
It was a disappointing first half that ultimately led to a 63-56 loss for the Free State boys at Leavenworth.
Even though the Firebirds played much better in the second half, they couldn’t get any closer than four points in the fourth quarter.
Here’s a look at who stood out for FSHS in “Prep Appraisals.”
1. Gabe Patterson, sr. — An absolute stud for the Firebirds. Patterson missed just two shots on his way to a game-high 21 points. He hit all three of his free throws, pulled down seven rebounds and avoided disqualification despite picking up his fourth foul late in the third quarter.
2. Brett Frantz, sr. — His field-goal total of four was second-best on the team. Frantz was the only Firebird besides Patterson to reach double digits (10 points), and he brought down five boards.
3. Cameron Dabney, sr. — Though Dabney made just one field goal, he picked up some easy points by getting to the foul line, where he went 6-for-8. Dabney also secured five rebounds and passed out two assists.
4. Shawn Knighton, sr. — The senior point guard really got going in the fourth, with his only bucket and four assists. Each of his fourth-quarter dimes set up Free State big man Patterson for easy looks.
5. Kyle McFarland, jr. — Came off the bench, scored five points, had two assists and made a number of smart plays for FSHS. His steal out of the press in the fourth quarter set Frantz up for a basket, and less than a minute later McFarland drove the ball in for a layup, drew a foul and converted a three-point play.
6. Blake Winslow, so. — He scored four points off the bench and showed an impressive ability to make a spin move off the dribble that shed defenders.
7. Cole Moreano, so. — Whistles plagued Moreano all night, severely limiting his minutes and chances to produce. Moreano fouled out but scored and had a rebound, steal and assist in limited playing time.
8. Keith Loneker, so. — He didn’t get a chance to take a shot, but Loneker showed some promise in a few minutes. In the third quarter, he had a steal and, later, when he saw McFarland cutting to the hoop, he hit his teammate with a perfect pass for a score.
9. Tyler Self, sr. — No shot attempts or points for Self on a slow night off the bench.
10. Dimitar Gocevski, sr. — Didn’t enter the game until the fourth quarter, but showed nice energy in Free State’s press. Gocevski even nailed a three-pointer in the final minute, when he was in as a defensive substitute.
11. Reshawn Caro, so. — In a road game against a talented team, the young sub missed his only shot attempt.
12. Logan Bannister, jr. — Not much playing time for the backup post, who had a steal in the fourth quarter.
Free State boys record: 5-10
Next up: 7 p.m. Friday, at Olathe South
— Be sure to follow @LJWpreps on Twitter.