WRITER: David Rodish

Free State alumnus and assistant basketball coach leaves program, plans to stay around Free State community

At any given Free State sporting event, odds are that Jamar Reese is somewhere near the action. Reese, a former student-athlete for the Firebirds from 2004-07, has been a staple at Free State events for the last 12 years. In that time, he hasn’t missed a football game. He can be found hanging around the baseball and softball fields in the spring. And since 2017, he has been an assistant coach for the boys ...

Two local schools to compete in 4A state basketball tournaments

Updated 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11: Two Douglas County basketball teams — Eudora girls basketball and Baldwin boys basketball — will compete in the 4A state basketball tournament in Salina this week. All 4A tournament games will be at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina. Eudora girls basketball enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed with a 20-2 record. The Cardinals won their first substate game ...

Baldwin boys basketball juniors flourish offensively by playing off of each other

Baldwin’s boys basketball team graduated two leading scorers last year, which changed how the Bulldogs’ offense would look this season. Junior Leo Schoenberger’s role with the Bulldogs last year was mainly as a rebounder. At 6-foot-5, he stayed in the paint and worked the offensive glass. This year, he’s built an extensive role offensively for the Bulldogs, playing off of junior Cooper Carr, who leads ...

Baldwin boys basketball punches ticket to 4A state tournament with 54-41 win over Field Kindley

Baldwin City — With 3 minutes, 52 seconds left in the boys basketball substate championship, the Field Kindley Golden Tornado scored a layup to make it a 45-41 Baldwin lead. The Bulldogs didn’t allow a point after that and won 54-41 to punch their ticket to the 4A state tournament in Salina. “We got a really nice win against a good team,” Baldwin coach Don Blanchat said. “The big thing going in was ...

Father-daughter duo finish first year together on Lawrence girls basketball team

Jayla Colter had some nerves about playing varsity basketball her freshman year. As a point guard on a team with four seniors, Colter had to step in and play above her years of experience. Luckily, a coach on that staff was familiar with Colter. Not only has he coached her since kindergarten, but he is also her dad. Jeff and Jayla Colter recently finished their first year together on the Lawrence girls ...

Lawrence girls basketball falls short of upset with 63-53 loss to Olathe West in the first substate round

Olathe — Lawrence girls basketball came close to an upset in the first substate round against Olathe West but fell short in a 63-53 loss to end the season. Lawrence coach Jeff Dickson says that no matter the score in any given game, “we want people to know that we were there.” Wednesday’s game didn’t result in a win for the Lions, but the team performed at their best and finished the season on as ...