photo by: Conner Becker

The Lawrence High girls basketball team warms up ahead of the 2023 City Showdown. LHS hosted Free State on Feb. 17, 2023 at Lawrence High School.

The time has come for substate basketball, with area schools gearing up for the first and second rounds this week.

Each area assignment class – 6A, 5A, 4A and 3A – begins or continues postseason play as early as Monday. Seeding for each was finalized over the weekend, as area schools wrapped up their regular-season schedules. Finals for each substate bracket will take place on Saturday, March 4, with all four class state championships being held March 8-11.

The Class 6A state championship will be held at Wichita State University; Class 5A will be held at Emporia-White Auditorium in Emporia; Class 4A will be held at the Tony’s Pizza Event Center in Salina and Class 3A will be held at Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson.

Here’s a look at what area schools can expect this week:

CLASS 6A

LHS set to host Dodge City, Wichita North

The No. 3-seeded Lawrence High boys basketball team hosts No. 14 Dodge City (6-14) for the first round of substate on Tuesday at 6 p.m. LHS (16-4) finished its regular season winning five consecutive games, including a 52-32 win over cross-town rival Free State.

On Wednesday, the No. 3-seeded Lawrence High girls basketball team hosts No. 14 Wichita North (3-17) in the first round of substate at 6 p.m. LHS (16-4) ended the regular season winning its last four games, including a scrappy 32-31 win at Olathe North.

The winner of the boys’ contest will meet either No. 6 Manhattan (12-8) or No. 11 Wichita Southeast (8-12) on Friday. The winner of the girls’ contest will meet either No. 6 Wichita South (14-6) or No. 11 Wichita Northwest (8-12) on Friday.

Free State boys headed to Junction City; girls to Derby

The No. 9-seeded Free State boys basketball team travels to No. 8 Junction City (11-9) for the first round of sub-state on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Firebirds (11-9) have dropped their last three games and are seeking to open the postseason in the win column.

The No. 16-seeded Free State girls basketball team travels to No. 1 Derby (18-2) for the first round of sub-state on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Free State (0-20) will enter its first postseason under the direction of first-year coach Summer Frantz.

The winner of the boys’ contest will meet either No. 1 Garden City (19-1) or No. 16 Topeka High (3-17) on Friday. The winner of the girls’ contest will meet either No. 8 Wichita Heights (13-7) or No. 9 Wichita East (10-10) on Friday.

CLASS 4A

Eudora boys, girls opening substate versus Independence

The No. 2-seeded Eudora boys basketball team hosts No. 15 Independence (6-14) in the first round of substate on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Cardinals (16-4) are maintaining a seven-game winning streak, including a 54-50 win over Topeka-Hayden to close the regular season.

The No. 14 Eudora girls basketball team travels to No. 3 Independence (16-4) for the first round of substate on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Cardinals (6-14) won four consecutive games early in the season, but are currently seeking to snap a seven-game losing skid.

The winner of the boys’ contest will meet either No. 7 Wamego (12-8) or No. 10 Ottawa (10-10) on Friday. The winner of the girls’ contest will meet either No. 6 Baldwin (13-7) or No. 11 Altamont-Labette (9-11) on Saturday.

Baldwin set to host Iola, Altamont-Labette

The No. 3-seeded Baldwin boys basketball team hosts No. 14 Iola (8-12) in the first round of substate on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs (16-4) won their final two games of the regular season, including the home finale against Bonner Springs 62-57.

The No. 6-seeded Baldwin girls’ basketball team hosts No. 11 Altamont-Labette (9-11) in the first round of substate on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs (13-7) have won five of their last six games, dropping its regular-season finale to Bonner Springs 50-38 at home.

The winner of the boys’ contest will meet either No. 6 Holton (12-8) or No. 11 Fort Scott (9-11) on Friday. The winner of the girls’ contest will meet either No. No. 3 Independence (16-4) or No. 14 Eudora (6-14) on Saturday.

CLASS 3A

Perry-Lecompton boys hosting Jefferson West; girls to Rossville

The No. 2-seeded Perry-Lecompton boys basketball team hosts No. 7 Meriden-Jefferson West (7-13) in the first round of substate on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Kaws (16-4) have won 10 of their last 11 games, including a tight 54-53 win at Holton to close the regular season.

The No. 6-seeded Perry-Lecompton girls basketball team travels to No. 3 Rossville (14-6) for the first round of substate on Monday at 7 p.m. The Kaws (7-13) enter the postseason seeking the win column after dropping its last six showings.

The winner of the boys’ contest will meet either No. 3 Atchison-Maur Hill-Mount Academy (16-4) or No. 6 Silver Lake (7-12) on Friday. The winner of the girls’ contest will meet either No. 2 Olathe Heritage Christian (15-4) or No. 7 Meriden-Jefferson West (5-15) on Thursday.

CLASS 1A

Bishop Seabury boys to take on top-seeded Burlingame

The No. 4-seeded Bishop Seabury boys basketball team travels to Onaga to take on No. 1 Burlingame (16-4) on Friday at 6 p.m. The Seahawks (8-9) defeated No. 5 Onaga 76-40 in the first round of substate last week. If they beat Burlingame, the Seabury boys will meet the winner of No. 2 Troy (15-6) and No. 3 Centralia (13-7) on Saturday.

The No. 7-seeded Bishop Seabury girls basketball team finished its season at 0-12, falling to No. 2 Highland Doniphan West in the first round of substate last week.