photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Bishop Seabury sophomore Jace Hoffman is jubilant after scoring a basket during a game with St. Mary's on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at Bishop Seabury Academy.

As area high school basketball ramps up again this week, the Eudora High girls squad returns alongside the Bishop Seabury boys as an undefeated power in the new year.

The Cardinals’ 6-0 start is a far cry from last season’s 6-14 finish that featured a rough January slate that ultimately doomed Eudora’s postseason hopes.

At the center of the early-season success are freshman Brynn Deterding (14.2 ppg) and senior Kenzie Yoder (8.8 ppg). The depth needed to recreate the 2021-22 state runner-up campaign remains to be seen, Eudora head coach Brandon Parker said.

“Our seniors have a wide range of experience from playing in that state title game as sophomores to playing hard and not winning many games last year,” Parker said. “They’ve led that charge and that’s been the biggest reason for the success in December.”

photo by: Jack Denebeim/The Eudora Times

Eudora senior Kenzie Yoder in a game against Shawnee Mission North on Dec. 18.

Since December, Eudora’s picked up three Frontier League victories over Spring Hill (53-47), Paola (49-20), and Tonganoxie (37-27). The team isn’t concerned with league talk, though, Parker said.

“We know that our league is difficult,” Parker said. “Every night will be (difficult). We’ve got to be prepared for that, but I think our girls are trying to be in the moment, playing the game and we don’t talk much about ‘hey, this is where this and this is in the league.’

“One game at a time. It works out how it works out.”

Eudora will get its crack at a fourth league win Thursday when Louisburg (0-5) comes to town.

Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.

Seabury boys flying into the New Year with big goals

It’s safe to say first-year Bishop Seabury head boys basketball coach Trey Johnson has made a strong first impression this winter, leading the Seahawks to a 4-0 start and sitting comfortably atop their Class 1A DI subdivision.

Johnson and staff assembled a deep roster heading into the season, highlighted by juniors Jace Smith (18.8 ppg) and Chase Honarvar (16.8 ppg). Defensively, Honarvar leads the state with 6.3 blocks per game.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Bishop Seabury senior Aidan Page keeps his eye closely on St. Mary’s senior Nick Whitehead during a game with St. Mary’s on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at Bishop Seabury Academy.

The roster isn’t limited to this pairing either, as was the case in Seabury’s most recent win over St. Mary’s, where four Seahawks landed in double figures.

“I think we’re getting more of an identity,” Johnson said. “I think we’re more of a defensive team and they’ve all said the same thing. We already know what we can do offensively.”

Next up, Seabury will put its unbeaten status to the test against Veritas Christian (2-3) on Friday.

For Johnson, the game represents an opportunity for his group to clean up turnovers (the Seahawks gave up 16 against St. Mary’s) and other miscues Johnson caught along the way.

Hoping to exploit those shortcomings will be Veritas junior guard Abel Ney (11.0 ppg) and junior center Gavin Oberzan (9.5 ppg), who leads the Eagles with 6.3 rebounds per game. Veritas is looking to rejoin the win column after falling to St. Mary’s 70-42 on the road.

Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m.

Starting fast atop LHS girls’ New Year’s resolution list

After ripping off two come-from-behind victories, the Lawrence High girls basketball team capped its December slate by dropping to 3-2 with a deflating 49-31 loss to Grandview heading into the break.

After the game, LHS head coach Jeff Dickson vowed to have his girls report the next morning for practice at 8 a.m. before anyone took time off for the holidays.

“Everybody wants us to pat us on the back for coming back from behind and winning some games, but that’s not a winning recipe for basketball,” Dickson said. “We’ve been fortunate, but we’ve been down in four of the five games we’ve played – we haven’t won a first quarter.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High girls basketball coach Jeff Dickson gathers his team during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.

Behind the leadership of junior star Brynnae Johnson (13.0 ppg), LHS is circulating a bench full of familiar faces from last year’s state-qualifying team.

Seniors Emma Roman Nose, Cyrenity Hardy-Billy, Destiny Savannah and freshman newcomer Cami Nauholz have seen a bulk of those minutes through five games. But balancing the starting five isn’t as cut and dry as it seems, Dickson said.

“We seem a lot more tentative than I was expecting,” Dickson said. “And so, I’ve got to do a better job. We have kids that care, kids that are willing to work and play hard. It’s up to me to find a way to get off to a better start.”

With a heavy league schedule in front of them – beginning with Shawnee Mission Northwest on Friday – the Lady Lions are configuring as many lineup versions as they can. The question is – can they get right in time for the postseason?

Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. at SM Northwest.

Can the Baldwin High boys stay perfect?

Baldwin High boys basketball is on the right track, beginning the season 6-0 after being kept out of the 4A state tournament a year ago at the hands of rival Eudora High in the quarterfinal title game.

Now, the top-ranked Bulldogs will try to maintain that momentum as a tough Frontier League schedule continues with Eudora (3-2) on Friday at home. Baldwin already owns league wins over Paola (62-41), Louisburg (60-42), Spring Hill (62-39) and Tonganoxie (76-63).

Sophomore Cooper Carr (16.7 ppg) has led the production for the Bulldogs, with seniors Talan Torrez (14.3 ppg) and Joey Ziembicki (11.5 ppg) adding even more power to Baldwin’s stout scoring attack.

Better yet, Baldwin’s seemingly found their next big man in sophomore Leo Schoenberger (6.2 ppg), who averages 10.5 rebounds per game and pulled down a season-high 14 rebounds against the Chieftains heading into the winter break.

Baldwin hosts Eudora on Friday. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.