Courtesy of Catherine Rice, here's a team photo of the newly crowned Kansas 4A State Champion Sumner Academy Sabres.

Click the photo for a larger version of it.

While Sumner Academy is celebrating its fourth state title, next year's season is already on my mind.

Here's a look at some things to watch before and during next year's season in the Kansas City, Kan., League. (Well, excuse me – the Kansas City-Atchison League.)

• Transfers: There's always rumors of players transferring to other schools. This year is no different. Transfers are critical to a team's success or downfall. The most notable transfer in recent memory is when Leo Lyons (then Leo Criswell) transferred from Washington High School to Piper. Although there's not an impact player like that, any transfer could be key. Whether its across state lines or inside the district, transfers can make a huge impact.

• How will Washington adjust to being on the radar?: The Wildcats had a great final month of the season and crashed the dream of a Highland Park-Bishop Miege state game. However, now they'll have everyone's attention. Will they play the role of the (or at least a) favorite well?

• It's Benny Parker's team: Sumner has a lot to replace with Reese Holliday, Davonte Chaney, Anthony White and Justin Strickland graduating. But Parked showed he could be a team leader at the state tournament and nearly single handedly beat Topeka-Hayden.

• While the champs and Harmon both lose seniors, don't write them off: Both Sumner Academy and Harmon have talented to very talented sophomore classes and a few freshman to keep an eye on. Sumner's Vernon Vaughn, Marcus Allen and Falcon brothers will likely join Parker and Eli Alexander on the varsity roster. Meanwhile, don't think the past two years have been flukes at Harmon. A sophomore class consisting of Jordan Horn, Darrin Hawks, Branden Roark, Al Hayes and Terrance Simmons will help pick up the slack for the departing De'Ontae Hooks, James Davenport and Exavier Bass-Brooks. Harmon's freshman of the year Mike Carson has a possibility of starting.

• Speaking of Harmon, Jauan Wilson's "the man.": Although he's been credited with being the team leader since his freshman year, Wilson is the team's lone senior next season and is the unquestionable leader of the team. Wilson has the ability to put his team on his back like Holliday and Washington's Tra'Vaughn White did this year. Will he take a younger group of Hawks to the state tournament? Big things are expected for Wilson, who's considered the "face of the program" by his coaching staff.

• Will perennial powers Wyandotte, Schlagle improve?: It's been a few rough seasons for these teams. Schlagle looks like the better of the two teams, bringing back Rozell Nunn and LaRay Young. Wyandotte will look to fill the (very large) void of Trinity Hall. Terry Moore returns for the Bulldogs.

• How will the freshman classes look?: Every two or three seasons, a freshman class comes along that transforms the league. Four years ago, a class arrived at Sumner Academy that had two guys named Reese Holliday and Davonte Chaney. Since then, they've won a state title, three league titles and several individual awards. The class did pretty well. This past season, Washington can boast pride about having the best freshman. Two years ago, Harmon had its best freshman team ever. There may not be star power in this league next year, but young talent is everywhere.

• Will Washington's junior class from this season take another step?: White, Kalen Allen and the Hibler Twins (Myles and MIchael) were not expected to take Washington to state this season. Entering next year with Wyandotte County's best senior class, will they contend for a state title? Talking to White a few weeks ago, he expects it. As bold as that sounds, he's been pretty accurate so far in his predictions.

• Will Atchison do anything to shakeup the league?: In basketball, it doesn't look probable. The team resembled road kill against their future league opponents this season, most notably getting destroyed at home by both Sumner Academy and Washington. It might take a few seasons for them to contend.

After the loss of leading scorer Neil Watson last season, some did not consider Sumner Academy the favorite to win the 4A state title this year.

After jumping out to a great start this year, the Sabres hit a road bump. After losing to Hogan Prep and Eudora, there were some questions about this tea.

After Davonte Chaney and Benny Parker were injured in the last week of the regular season, Sumner appeared on shaky grounds.

After a surviving a tough sub-state game against St. James Academy, some thought the Sabres would be easy doing in a road game against Basehor in the sub-state final.

After an emotional comeback victory in the first round against Topeka-Hayden, some wondered if the Sabres would have enough energy to complete the run.

After the final buzzer sounded on the season, this Sumner Academy team was better and more equipped to win the school's fourth title, three of which have came in the past 12 seasons.

So why did the Sabres get it done this year?

Here's why:

• Less stars, more role players: Most have heard of Reese Holliday, Chaney and Parker. But it was Sumner's role players that came up huge this year as well. This team has more role players than last year and they were on display in Salina.

Let's start with Anthony White, who came out for basketball for the first time this year. All White did at the state tournament was average a double-double. He was very important in Sumner's wins against Basehor at sub-state and against Washington, which clinched a league title.

Alfred Belton hit one of the school's three biggest shots in history, defeating Topeka-Hayden in the first round of the tournament.

Justin Strickland offered senior leadership and contributed when he needed too.

Although it might be a stretch calling him a role player, Eli Alexander was outstanding on the glass this year and inside the paint. His defense got better all year long and he was more valuable to this year's edition of the Sabres.

The best part of it? They all accepted the roles given to them. These guys are a reason why more room needs to be made in the trophy case just outside of the "new gym" at Sumner Academy.

• Holliday: Like any leader and any star player, Holliday saved his best for last, dominating great competition like Basehor-Linwood, Ottawa and Pratt. Holliday averaged about 20 points and 13 rebounds during the state tournament. He etched his name alongside Jeff Hawkins and Kelyn Block as Sumner legends who have led the Sabres to state titles. Like a Danny Manning or Tyler Hansborough, Holliday put his team on his back when he needed to. He has validated every compliment made to his game this season. Wisconsin-Green Bay is very lucky to have him.

• A focus unlike any other: Covering 16 Sumner games this season, each time I interviewed one of their players, the mission of winning a state title was talked about. This team had a focus unlike any other team I've ever covered in high school sports and they would not be denied. Whether it was down seven late against Topeka-Hayden or down 10 in the second half in a very hostile environment in Basehor, this team came back and showed the heart and will of a champion.

• Last year's "one and done" state appearance. Consider this a point to the last bullet about the focus. However, this Sumner team was hungry after being manhandled by Topeka-Hayden in the first round of the state tournament last season. This year's title run doesn't happen without last year's disappointment.

• A good, tough Kansas City, Kan., League: The previous two years, the Kansas City, Kan., League was Sumner's playground. They dominated. This year, they were tested by the likes of Harmon, Washington, Wyandotte and Schlagle. The league's teams may hate each other, but it's better when its competitive. With Sumner bringing home a championship, Washington getting to state and Harmon falling in a sub-state final in double overtime, it's clear the league made each other better. As the results show, that's a good thing.

• A tough non-league schedule: While the Sabres had some tests on last year's schedule, it's hard to compare it to this year's. They faced and beat the defending 4A champions Basehor-Linwood Bobcats twice; a Bishop Miege team that only finished 25-0 and won a state title and a Hogan Prep team that may win a state title in Missouri.

They were battled tested and were the best in the state. This was a special team. There is no silver bullet for these Sabres. A congratulations to the whole team and coaching staff.

Head coach Dan Parra wins his first state title after appearing four previous times (twice as the boys coach, twice as the girls coach). After coming close four times before, Parra's now a state champion coach, joining a rare group of basketball coaches in Wyandotte County who have won titles.

The 4A state championship is back where it belongs – in KCK.

PICTURED: Reese Holliday, Davonte Chaney, Benny Parker, Anthony White, Eli Alexander, Justin Strickland and Alfred Belton.

Here is The Salina Journal's wrap-up of Sumner Academy's triumph in the 4A State Tournament. Again, we thank them for providing us great coverage of the champions. Visit them at www.salina.com and support them.

By Bob Davidson, The Salina Journal

There might be someone out there who would say Reese Holliday wasn’t the best player in the Class 4A boys state tournament.

There’s no disagreement, though, on whether Holliday and his Kansas City Sumner teammates were the best team.

Led by Holliday’s 22 points and 14 rebounds Sumner rolled over cold-shooting Ottawa 66-45 in the championship game Saturday night at the Bicentennial Center. It was Sumner’s fourth state title and first since 2000.

Holliday, a muscular and athletic 6-foot-4 senior who has signed with NCAA Division-I Wisconsin-Green Bay, was 9 of 13 from the field 3 of 5 at the line in the title game. He had 24 points and 16 rebounds Friday in Sumner’s semifinal victory over Pratt.

“It means the world, it’s what we’ve been working from the beginning of the season,” Holliday said after the game, the net from one of the goals draped around his neck. “At the end of last season this is what our goal was.”

Holliday had nine points and seven rebounds in the first half as Sumner (22-4) led 27-19 at halftime. He scored six of the Sabres’ first eight points of the third quarter as the Sabres extended their lead to 41-26 going into the final period.

A 9-0 burst to open the fourth quarter ended any doubt what the outcome would be.

“I think we came out a little more aggressive than we have been. We were on a mission to win a state championship,” Holliday said. “My coach (Daniel Parra) told me to be more aggressive and let the game come to me. That’s what I did today.”

Benny Parker scored 11 points while Davonte Chaney and Anthony White each had 10. White also grabbed 13 rebounds as Sumner overwhelmed Ottawa 53-22 in the rebounding battle.

Sumner shot 53 percent from the field (27 of 51) while Ottawa (22-4) managed just 25.5 percent (14 of 55). The Cyclones had two field goals in the third quarter and didn’t get their third basket of the second half until 2 1/2 minutes remained in the game.

“We got pretty good shots, shots we’ve made all year and they just wouldn’t go down,” Ottawa coach Jon McKowen said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow. When the ball doesn’t go in the hole on open looks and from kids who make shots throughout the year ... those things happen.”

Adam Hasty led Ottawa with 20 points on 7 of 19 shooting. Semi Ojeleye added 14 points and was 3 of 11 from the field.

“We thought we could match them athletically but their strength ... they have some really strong kids,” McKowen said. “They got some steals on us by just being just a little stronger inside.”
 

The Sumner Academy Sabres needed no late-game dramatics tonight.

The Sabres, after a tight first quarter, sailed past the overmatched Ottawa Cyclones in tonight's final game of the Kansas 4A State Basketball Tournament.

Sumner finishes the season 22-4 after defeating Ottawa for the championship tonight 66-45.

Reese Holliday, in the final game of his magnificent career at Sumner Academy, finished it up in style with a double-double. Holliday had 22 points and 14 rebounds.

Rebounding is what led the way for Sumner, as they brought down 56 rebounds in the victory. Anthony White had 13 rebounds, while Eli Alexander brought down eight.

Scoring wise, Benny Parker added 11 points, while White and Davonte Chaney chipped in 10 points to the effort.

Sumner shot 53 percent from the field, while holding Ottawa to just 24 percent from the field.

It's Sumner's first title since 2000 and fourth overall in school history. Sumner won in 1998 and 1969. The school finished undefeated in 1969.

FULL REACTION FROM SALINA LATER TONIGHT

The Sumner Academy Sabres have jumped all over the Ottawa Cyclones to begin the second half.

The Sabres lead 41-26 entering the final quarter.

Sumner jumped out to a 35-19 lead, scoring the quarter's first eight points.

Reese Holliday has a double-double for Sumner, scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Sabres have flat out dominated on the glass, rebounding 37 missed shots to just 17 for Ottawa.

Ottawa has been hit by the cold shooting bug, hitting just 3-19 three-point attempts. Point guard Adam Hasty has six steals for the Cyclones.

Davonte Chaney has nine points for Sumner Academy, while Benny Parker has added eight points.

Eli Alexander has eight rebounds for Sumner.

If Sumner holds on, which looks likely, the Sabres will win their fourth state title and third in the past 12 seasons.

The Sumner Academy Sabres are one half away from winning the school's fourth state title.

Sumner leads 27-19 at halftime over Ottawa. Tough defense and dominance inside are the two biggest reasons why for the lead.

Reese Holliday is leading the way for Sumner with 9 points and 7 rebounds. Davonte Chaney has 9 points, while Benny Parker's chipped in six points.

The Sabres have doubled up Ottawa on the glass, out rebounding them 28-14. Ottawa is shooting just 26.7 from the field.

Of the team's 27 points, Sumner's scored 19 inside the paint.

Adam Hasty leads the way for Ottawa with 7 points.

The Sumner Academy Sabres lead after one quarter in the final of the Kansas 4A State Basketball Tournament.

The Sabres lead the Ottawa Cyclones 16-12 in what some are calling a dream final in the tournament.

The Sabres jumped out to a 10-3 advantage behind hot shooting from Davonte Chaney, who's perfect from the field with 7 points already.

Sumner is dominating on the glass with 12 rebounds to just 6 for Ottawa.

The Salina Journal has been gracious enough to provide reports from Sumner Academy's run in the Kansas 4A State Tournament. Here is their report of Sumner's 58-53 victory against Pratt. Visit them online at http://www.saljournal.com/sports.

By Harold Bechard, The Salina Journal

Maurice Holliday put the Sumner Academy Sabres on his big, broad shoulders Friday night and carried them into the state championship game.

The 6-foot-4 Holliday, one of the state’s top players, scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in leading the Sabres to a hard-earned 58-53 victory over the battling Pratt Greenbacks in the semifinals of the Class 4A boys’ state tournament.

Those numbers are a far cry from Thursday night’s foul-plagued seven-point effort from Holliday during a tense overtime victory over Topeka Hayden. But, as far as Holliday is concerned, the only number that matters is the one in the victory column.

“My numbers don’t matter as long as we get the win,” said Holliday, whose team will face Ottawa in today’s 6:15 p.m. state championship game at the Bicentennial Center. “I’m just so happy. The fouls have been killing us. Yesterday we had all those guys foul out, but the bench came through for us. It was a blessing, it truly was.”

Despite Holliday’s big game and Anthony White’s 12 points and eight rebounds, the scrappy Greenbacks were right there down the stretch. They trailed by just two points (50-48) after a lay-up by Brady Batman with 2:37 remaining in the game.

But, a free throw by Holliday, a put-back from White and a lay-up by Elijah Alexander gave the Sabres (21-4) some breathing room – 55-48 – with 1:23 remaining.

“Our kids competed. I thought we had a good game plan,” said Pratt coach David Swank. “It was a great game and I think it’s going to be a great battle between Sumner and Ottawa tomorrow night.”

The Greenbacks (22-3), who will play Coffeyville foe third place today at 2 p.m., were plagued with foul trouble in the first half. Skylar Angood picked up three fouls in the first two quarters and played just 2 ½ minutes, but came back with 12 points in the second half.

“Sylar had a great third quarter and came back with 12 points to keep it close for us,” Swank said. “But, the fouls really hurt us in the first half.”

Neither team could shoot a lick in the first half, but the Sabres did get a strong performance from Holliday, who had 13 points and nine rebounds at intermission.

The Greenbacks stayed close for much of the first half despite shooting 28 percent from the field and missing seven of eight 3-point attempts.

It was a four-point game heading into the final minute before a put-back by White and a lay-up from Holliday gave Sumner a 29-21 lead at halftime.

But, Pratt came roaring out of the gate in the third quarter with a 9-0 run to take a one point lead (30-29) at the 5:23 mark after a lay-up and steal by Matt Swank. Angood’s 3-pointer from the baseline got the Greenbacks within one point and Swank’s steal put them ahead.

It remained close throughout the quarter with Sumner taking a two-point lead (39-37) into the fourth quarter.

”We got key rebounds when we needed to and key scores when we needed to,” Sumner coach Daniel Parra said. “And that was the Maurice I’m used to seeing for the last 2 ½ years. He’s a double-double every time out and tonight was no different. He really took control in the fourth quarter.”

The Greenbacks got 15 points each from Matt and Micah Pratt, but each had to work hard for their points as the two combined for 8 of 29 shooting. Matt hit six field goals and Micah was 11 of 14 from the free throw line.

“Even though they were not as athletic as we were, they were a fundamental team,” Holliday said. “They played very well together.”

The Sabres will go for their first state title since 2000 tonight against an old league foe. Ottawa and Sumner were members of the Huron League until a few years ago.

“Ottawa’s about as good as it gets,” Parra said. “It’s going to be a very good match-up.”

The Sumner Academy Sabres did not need overtime tonight to prevail in the semifinals of the Kansas 4A State Tournament.

Sumner Academy defeated the top-seeded Pratt Greenbacks 58-53.

Reese Holliday had another clutch game for the Sabres, putting 24 points on the scoreboard and bringing in 16 rebounds. The Sabres had 47 rebounds, dominating the glass over the smaller Pratt squad.

Senior Anthony White had another solid performance, hitting a perfect 5-5 from the field and scoring 12 points. He had 8 rebounds.

The Sabres prevailed despite shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 15 percent from behind the three-point line and 58 percent from the charity stripe.

The Sumner Academy Sabres are up 29-21 on Pratt at halftime in the second round of the Kansas 4A State Basketball tournament.

Reese Holliday is again leading the way with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Benny Parker has 7 points.

Unlike last night, there is no foul trouble for the Sabres.

Both teams are shooting cold from the field – Sumner is shooting 33 percent from the field, while Pratt is shooting 30.3 percent.

Having covered the Kansas City, Kan., League the past two seasons, one of the best things about the league is the league-wide rivalry between the five schools.

Between some schools, fans, students and players, there are some tense feelings and borderline hatred exchanged.

As a Sumner Academy graduate, the Sabres are either beloved by fans in the community or hated. There's really no room in the middle. It's a black and white issue.

Still, at the same time, there's a big-time pride in Kansas City, Kan. We like to see KCK products do well. The greatest example was Maurice Greene, the F.L. Schlagle graduate who won a gold medal.

Fans from all over the city pulled for him to win and win big.

The leads me to this question, which I'll also poll beneath as the weekend poll for this weekend.

Should fans of Harmon, Schlagle, Washington and Wyandotte (or other Wyandotte County teams) root for the Sabres to bring home the trophy?

I can see it both ways – rivalries are too strong and a rival school winning a title could damage (or at least hurt) other programs.

But Sumner is still KCK and KCK would be in the spotlight.

Thoughts?

The Kansas City Wizards will offer a 20 percent discount on season ticket packages and all season-game tickets for residents of Wyandotte County.

The offer is an exclusive local offer for just residents and employees of the county. Season-game tickets can be purchased by calling the team at (913) 387-3400 or by going to www.ticketmaster.com/wyandotte.

Season tickets can be purchased by calling the aforementioned number.

The catch – the offer stands until just March 25, two days before the team's season opener on March 27.

With the discount, season ticket packages can be purchased for $145.

The Sumner Academy Sabres, after surviving a marathon game against Topeka-Hayden, take on the 22-2 Pratt Greenbacks.

Although I don't know too much about them (they are located in Central Kansas), here's some basic information about the team I've found in a comment section here and reading some press reports.

• David Swank is the first year head coach at the school.

• Pratt enters the tournament on a 10-game winning streak.

• Micah Swank and Matt Swank are considered the leaders of the team. Matt Swank averages 15.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Micah averages 14.8 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 steals. Micah is a sophomore while Matt is a junior.

• Another senior, Skylar Angood, averages 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds.

• Their tallest player is Luke Southard, who is 6-4.

• Pratt is 0-1 against 6A teams, 12-1 against 4A teams, 5-0 against 3A teams and 4-0 against 1A teams.

• Their chief rival, looking at their schedule, is (Fort) Scott. Fort Scott won three titles in 4A in the last decade and beat Sumner twice, so there is some tradition there. Pratt knocked them off three times this season.

Bottom line, looking at Pratt, Sumner has an opportunity to dominate on the boards.

My only major concern for Sumner is how much energy they have left emotionally. They have great leadership with Reese Holliday, Davonte Chaney and others. But two overtime games the past week and a war with Basehor-Linwood has to be draining.

Thanks to reader J.H. for supplying some of this information.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

The basketball record books at Kansas City Kansas Community College are going under a major revamping after one of the most successful combined seasons in recent years.

Not only did the Blue Devil men become only the fourth team in KCKCC history to win 21 games and the Lady Blue Devils win the most games (15) since 1999, the two teams were among the leaders in numerous statistical categories in the very tough Jayhawk Conference and nationally.

The biggest assault on the record book was turned in by the Blue Devil women, who led the conference in free throw percentage (.730) thanks to the best three free throwers in college history. Freshman Michelle Selbe of Piper obliterated the old KCKCC record of 81.3 percent by making 46 of 51 for 90.2 percent. However, an injury ended her season during the holiday break and she did not have enough free throws to qualify to lead the conference.

That honor went to another KCKCC frosh, Alyssa Rushton, who led the league at .850 followed closely by sophomore Sarah Craft, who finished at .845. The Blue Devils also wrote themselves into the record book by making 16 of 17 in a come-from-behind 62-54 win at Allen County after netting 15 of 17 against Fort Scott.

Rushton also tied the KCKCC record for three-point goals in a season with 65 and her .404 shooting percentage from three-point is second best both in the KCKCC record book and the Jayhawk Conference. Nationally, Rushton ranked eighth and Craft ninth in free throw percentage while the Blue Devils as a team were seventh.

Sophomores Derick Denny and Scott Fruehling and freshman Dennis Tinnon led the men’s assault on the record book.

In leading the Jayhawk in three-point goals both as a freshman (3.6 per game) and sophomore (4.1), Denny finished with 227 three-point goals and a 45.4 percent shooting percentage on treys, both all-time KCKCC bests. The most accurate free thrower in the conference (.844) and second in three-point accuracy, Denny ranks No. 2 on KCKCC’s all-time list for free throw percentage and three-point goals in a single season (119).

Led by Denny and Fruehling, whose 87 three-point goals were the second most in the conference, the Blue Devils led the conference with 266, an average of 8.58 per game. With 38 three-pointers as a freshman, Fruehling is sixth on the all-time KCKCC list for three-pointers for a career and single season.

Tinnon led the Jayhawk in field goal accuracy, hitting 64.0 percent, and was third in rebounding with 10.65 per game. His 21 rebounds against Independence are the second most in KCKCC history and he’s also third on the all-time list in shooting percentage and fifth in rebounds in a single season (277).

In addition to leading the conference in three-point goals, the Blue Devils also led in three-point shooting percentage (.396); were second in field goal offense (.481); third in scoring margin (11.2) and rebound margin (8.58); fourth in scoring defense (66.3), field goal defense (.406) and defensive rebounds (27.32); and fifth in assists (16.52).

Nationally, the Blue Devils tied for fourth in three-point field goal percentage, were 19th in rebounding and 25th in field goal percentage while individually, Denny was 12th in free throw percentage and 13th in three-point percentage and Tinnon 11th in field goal percentage.