In the midst of a 1-15 season in 1989, Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson came to the conclusion the only way Dallas would be competitive long-term is to make a blockbuster trade.

They did

They traded Herschel Walker for eight draft picks, six of which would be eventually used. Although there were a lot of other pieces involved in the deal – Dallas traded four of their own picks while Minnesota traded five players – these draft picks were used to fuel a dynasty.

Two of the picks were spent on Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson, two staples of those great teams. Additional picks were used to trade up for Russell Maryland, who was awesome in his early years.

Dallas won three Super Bowls in part because of that trade and Johnson's aggressive draft maneuvering.

While that trade will never be duplicated again, it's time for the Kansas City Royals to develop that mindset.

In an American League Central that features four more talented teams than the Royals, it's time to shake things up.

Trade Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria.

The Royals' two most popular and talented players, the trades would leave many fans disappointed.

However, it could also leave the Royals' cupboard stacked with young talent and within five years, the Royals could be a prime-time contending team.

ESPN recently ranked the Royals farm system. It ranked ninth, the highest in years.

Consider trading Greinke.

Greinke has one of the friendliest contracts in baseball and any team – not just the Yankees, Red Sox or Mets – could afford him. A team like Tampa Bay, Texas or Anaheim, who might be just one piece away from a title, might not hesitate to dish out four or even five solid prospects.

Soria, a top notch closer, could generate two to even three prospects.

While the six to eight prospects all wouldn't turn out, odds are that half of them would. And joining the highly ranked class already, the Royals could have the premier minor league system in baseball by making these two moves.

Or, the Royals could have more pieces to trade for more talent.

Like those Cowboys and the NFC East, the Royals are too far away from their American League Central rivals, let alone the beasts in the American League East.

Considering Greinke had his best season ever last year, the Royals still nearly lost 100 games. Will Greinke repeat a season like he's just had? As good as he was, it's unlikely.

Soria is one of the top three closers in baseball. But what is good about a closer if your team is not in the position to close?

Trading the cornerstones of the franchise would be a bitter pill to swallow. Initially.

But within five years, these two moves could fuel a true rebuilding movement for the Royals – the one we've been promised for eons.

Imagine having three or four different prospects come up each year during a three-year period like those Cowboys did with the NFL Draft?

Instead of just getting excited about the occasional Alex Gordon, Billy Butler or Greinke, the Royals could have three young players to look forward to each season.

Add to the fact the Royals would likely receive a very high draft pick by doing these trades, a powerhouse farm could be built overnight.

The word "could" appears a lot in what I just typed.

However, "could" is a lot better than "won't." And right now, the Royals are much closer to "won't."

Next week, J.C. Harmon High School will induct it's first class into the school's new Hall of Fame.

The ceremony will be held during halftime of the Feb. 19 boys varsity basketball game against Wyandotte.

Among those inducted into the hall's first class – former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Mark Haynes. Haynes, a 1976 alum of Harmon, appeared in the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. He also played for some of the Bill Parcells' New York Giants teams in the 1980s.

Others included in the first class:

• Javier Calderon, soccer, Class of 2001
• Haromma Dickerson, football, Class of 1991
• Aaron Hodges, wrestling, Class of 1991
• Maryam Malone, volleyball, basketball and track, Class of 1995
• Glenn Mays, basketball, Class of 1980
• Harold Piersey, football, Class of 1995
• Kevin Pulliam, football, Class of 2002

Plaques of each nominee will be in a display case in the school's commons area.

Former Harmon Athletic Director Shirley Murray said the hall was established to reflect on the school's past, but also inspire Harmon's current athletes.

“We wanted individuals who had not only been successful athletes in high school, but who also had distinguished themselves through good character,” Murray said. “We looked at their ability to act as a role model, and how they related to their coaches, teammates, peers and teachers. We also looked at citizenship and academics.”

A new class is expected to be inducted annually.

Harmon High School hosted this year's Wyandotte County Wrestling Tournament on Saturday.

All nine area high schools competed in the tournament. Here are the team results first, then the individual winners.

TEAM RESULTS

1. Turner
2. Bonner Springs
3. Sumner Academy
4. Piper
5. Wyandotte
6. Schlagle
7. Washington
8. Harmon
9. Bishop Ward

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (listed in order of place)

103: Eason (Piper), Spurlock (Turner), Seaton (Bonner Springs), Cruz (Sumner Academy)

112: First Place:  Florez (Turner) won 15-6 over Kovesec (Bonner Springs); Third Place: Enloe (Washington won 16-2 over Vue (Sumner Academy)

119: Seaton (Bonner Springs), Saunders (Harmon),Alas (Sumner Academy), Bussard (Turner)

125: Lohman (Turner), Cobb (Bonner Springs), Vue (Sumner Academy)

130: Carrol (Turner) won 7-5 over Blackwell for first; Koberlein (Piper) defeated Loe (Schlagle) for third place.

135: John (Turner) defeated Rhone (Schlagle) by a 2-1 decision for first; Morris (Piper) defeated Baker (Harmon) for third place.

140: Puckett (Bonner Springs), Sierant (Turner), Terres (Wyandotte) and Stevens (Washington)

145: Estrada (Turner) defeated Zwart (Piper) for first; Thompson defeated Moman (Sumner Academy) 12-3 for third.

152: Mohler (Turner) defeated Osuna (Sumner Academy) 7-2 for first; Bauswell (Piper) defeated Porter (Washington) 3-1 for third.

160: Tansey (Sumner Academy) defeated Hachinsky (Bishop Ward) 9-8 for first; Lira (Washington) defeated Clements (Bonner Springs) for third.

171: Callahan (Bonner Springs) defeated Avery (Schlagle) 11-7 for first; Palmer defeated Whitmore (Wyandotte) for third.

189: Alcantara (Turner) defeated Willis (Sumner) 9-4 for first; Moore (Piper) defeat Stirling (Bonner Springs) 3-1 for third.

215: Mitchell (Turner), Sipple (Wyandotte), Wallace (Schlagle), Leal (Sumner Academy)

285: Baren (Bonner Springs) defeated Young (Turner) for first; Berry-Davis claimed third.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

If there are break through games for Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball teams this season, you may need to go no farther than the Blue Devils’ impressive sweep of Neosho County at Chanute Saturday night.

Avenging an earlier 64-59 home loss, the Blue Devil men pulled themselves within a half-game of a first division playoff berth with an 88-66 cruise while the Lady Blue Devils were staging their biggest comeback of the season with a 79-75 victory.

The sweep sets up what could be a big stretch drive for both teams, who are home for four of their final six Jayhawk twin bills starting Wednesday against powerful Coffeyville (5 and 7 p.m.).

At 8-1, the Coffeyville men lead the Jayhawk East over Cowley County (7-3), Neosho (6-3), Allen County (5-3), KCKCC (5-4) and Independence (4-4).

The Blue Devils got big performances out of all five starters as they built their overall record to 18-6 with their third win in the last four starts. Derick Denny led the scoring with 22 points including six three-pointers while Scott Fruehling had 18 points on a career high six treys and Andre Metoyer was 9-of10 in an 18-point effort that also included six rebounds.

Dennis Tinnon led the rebounding with 16 and added 13 points, his seventh double double in his last eight games, while Melvin Gatson dished out nine assists and scored nine points.

Despite shooting just 38.5 percent and making only 7 of 22 three-pointers in the first half, KCKCC still led 37-29 before a blistering 51-point second half highlight by 59.4 percent shooting form the field and 8 of 14 three-pointers (.571). The Blue Devils also had a season low six turnovers and led rebounding 46-38.

Four of KCKCC’s six Jayhawk East losses have come after the Lady Blue Devils had led at halftime but this time, it was the Blue Devils who roared from behind, wiping out a 47-37 deficit with 57.7 percent second half shooting to improve to 3-6 in the conference and 13-10 overall heading into a makeup game at Saint Mary tonight.

Melanie Phipps (pictured), a 6-0 freshman from Mount Pleasant, Iowa, led the way with far and away her best performance as she scored 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field, grabbed four rebounds and had two steals.

Alyssa Rushton added 14 points and Shannon Carlin and Laci Schreiber 10 each. Schreiber also had 10 rebounds for a double double while Sarah Craft had nine points and seven rebounds.

KCKCC fell behind 47-37 despite shooting 50 percent but then limited Neosho to just 9 of 31 seconds half shots (.290) and no three-pointers in eight attempts.

Every matchup between the five teams in the Kansas City, Kan., League can be considered a rivalry.

No other league in the State of Kansas can boast that claim. It's a league of rivalries and the games between the five schools in basketball are generally can't miss.

But there are five above the pack in the league. Criteria – competitiveness, location, history and current developments.

Here they are:

5. Sumner Academy vs. Wyandotte: The two teams located near the heart of downtown Kansas City, the Bulldogs and Sabres have won the most state titles of any teams in Wyandotte County. With 20 for Wyandotte and three for Sumner, the two schools have the most prestigious basketball traditions in the county. Historically and geographically, this is one of the best rivalries in Wyandotte County. Last year, Wyandotte was the only team to put up a challenge locally against Sumner, losing by just five points at home. The two miles that separate the school make it the "closest" rivalry in Wyandotte County.

4. Harmon vs. Wyandotte: Perhaps the hottest new rivalry in Wyandotte County. Even before the school's basketball program was revived, Wyandotte was Harmon's main rival and geographically, it makes sense. In the past two years, the rivalry has been taken to new heights. In the last four games between the two schools, the margin of victory has been smaller than five in four of them. And unlike the other rivalries listed, it has a recent defining moment. Wyandotte knocked Harmon out of sub-state last year after Jerry Sipple hit a shot at the buzzer. The buzzer beater came days after Harmon administered one of the greatest beat downs from a road team in Shublom Gymnasium history.

3. Sumner Academy vs. Schlagle: While the last decade belonged to the Sumner Academy Sabres in basketball, Schlagle has been a thorn in the Sabres' sides. Schlagle was the last team in the KCKL league to knock off Sumner and even in the two years Sumner won titles, Schlagle defeated them. Once Sumner joined the KCKL again, the rivalry became one that determined league titles as well.

2. Sumner Academy vs. Washington: While this may not be on the top of the list, it's still an outstanding rivalry. And on paper, it doesn't make too much sense. Sumner is located downtown, while Washington is located in more of the western portion of Wyandotte County. But going back to my years as a student at Sumner, no atmosphere in recent years has been greater than when these two teams play, whether it be at Sumner Academy or Washington (or Wash-House). The gyms are packed and the games are usually heated. There is some genuine hatred between the school's students and for a rivalry, that's a beautiful thing. It's definitely the most underrated rivalry of any kind in Wyandotte County and the KCKL.

1. Schlagle vs. Washington: A no-brainer, really. This rivalry is generations deep and for many who attended each school years ago, the rivalry still means something. Consider Schlagle-Washington Wyandotte County's version of Duke-North Carolina. Schlagle has won two state titles and although Washington hasn't knocked down the door for a state title, the Wildcats are usually contenders for a league title each year. The games are usually close – Washington won a close one last season, Schlagle won the rematch in overtime and Washington won a one-point game this year. Just 2.7 miles separate the two schools. While teams have entered and left the KCKL, Washington and Schlagle have been two of the league's rocks.

In one of the best high school basketball atmospheres anywhere of the entire season, Sumner Academy survived a street fight from Washington 72-60 in front of a packed house at Sumner Friday night.

Through the first three and a half quarters of the game, no lead for either school was larger than four points. And from the get go, a fired up Washington squad battled with the favored Sabres.

Kalen Allen, who led Washington with 22 points in the game, scored four of the team's six points as the Wildcats opened with a 6-2 lead.

After six quick points from Reese Holliday, who scored a game-high 26 points for Sumner, the Sabres took a four-point lead of their own at 10-6.

Washington's Tra'Vaughn White – as he's done all season – found ways to score and score quickly.

White, 21 points in this game, scored five consecutive points to give Washington a lead.

In the second quarter, Allen began to find his stroke from downtown.

Allen hit a three-pointer in the first shot of the quarter, giving Washington a 14-12 lead. Another three-pointer from Allen, who hit six in the game, gave Washington a 17-14 lead.

But steady production from Sumner's other stars – Benny Parker (16 points) and Devontae Chaney (13 points) – allowed Sumner to maintain Washington's pace.

Down four points, Parker hit a basket to bring Sumner within two. A Holliday basket late in the half narrowed Washington's lead to just two points at the half, 28-26.

Early on in the second half, it appeared Sumner was ready to run away with it with their patented third quarter run.

Five points from Holliday and three from Parker allowed Sumner to go on an 8-0 run, giving the Sabres a 35-31 advantage.

However, Washington responded behind one of the best shooting exhibitions of any quarter this season.

Allen drilled four straight three-point shots, allowing Washington regain a 43-39 lead.

Sumner's Justin Strickland, who's provided Sumner some timely points this entire season, did it again Friday. He scored four straight points to end Washington's run and tie the game at 43.

After struggling offensively most of the game, Chaney began to heat up at the right time for Sumner.

Down 46-43 late in the third, Chaney scored the quarter's final four points to give Sumner a one-point advantage.

Despite nine fourth quarter points from White, Chaney answered with nine points of his own and Sumner began to run away with the game.

A Chaney three-point play gave Sumner it's largest lead of the game at 54-48. When White narrowed the game down to five late, Chaney responded with another basket to put Sumner up by seven at 64-57.

Late free-throw shooting from Sumner extended the margin to 72-60.

Near the game's conclusion, there was a skirmish between Holliday and Washington's Rakim McCoy. However, tensions between the two teams cooled down by the end of the game.

Sumner's KCKL streak is now 21. Sumner is 13-2 on the season and 5-0 in the KCKL. Washington has lost three in a row and sit at 8-7.

Apparently, a trip to Coffeyville, Kan., is all De'Ontae Hooks needed to get hot.

Hooks scored 40 points in Harmon's 75-62 victory against Schlagle Friday night.

Harmon, although never quite putting Schlagle away until late, led most of the game. The Hawks led 14-10 after the first quarter and led by seven at halftime.

By the end of the third quarter, Harmon led by 10 points.

Harmon, now 12-2, also had 12 points from Exavier Bass-Brooks. Jauan Wilson chipped in with eight points, while James Davenport scored five.

Leading Schlagle was Rozell Nunn with 21 points and Darius Hill with 14. B.J. Saunders added nine points.

However, the story was Hooks and his 40 points. His 40-point game is the second time a Kansas City, Kan., League player has accomplished the milestone this season, joining Washington's Tra'Vaughn White.

While Hooks has been the Hawks' most prolific scorer the past two seasons, he's stepped up since the beginning of Harmon's conquest of the Harold Thomas Interstate Classic in Coffeyville, Kan.

In seven games since the beginning of the tournament, Hooks is averaging 24.9 points a game, while hitting 21 three-pointers in the game.

Harmon has won eight games in a row.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Blue Devils got a much-needed win on the road at Labette Wednesday night but the Lady Blue Devils ran into a buzz saw against the nation’s No. 22 ranked team.

Defense was pivotal in both games as the KCKCC men posted an 81-62 win while the Lady Blue Devils fell 65-44 to the 22nd ranked Lady Cardinals.

Both teams are right back on the road at Neosho County Saturday (noon and 2 p.m.) before returning home Wednesday to host Coffeyville (5 and 7 p.m.)

Limiting Labette to just 8 of 27 field goal attempts (29.6 percent), the Blue Devil men raced to a 34-22 halftime lead and made it stand up with a 47-point second half.

Derick Denny led the way with 19 points including five three-pointers that put him over the 200 mark in career treys while Andre Metoyer added 15 points and seven rebounds and Melvin Gatson 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Dennis Tinnon led the rebounding with nine and had nine points, just missing a seventh straight double double as the Blue Devils improved to 17-6 overall and 5-6 in Jayhawk play.

Labette’s women protected their lead in the Jayhawk (10-1) by limiting KCKCC to just 4 of 22 first half field goal attempts (.182) and improved to 20-3 overall.

Alyssa Rushton had 11 points and Sarah Craft and Laci Schreiber nine each for KCKCC, which held the Lady Cardinals to just 36.5 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers but was outrebounded 48-28.

The loss dropped KCKCC to 12-10 overall and 3-8 in conference play

Story by ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Photo by LESLIE PAYNE

It was a week of ups and downs for Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball teams.

The Blue Devil men posted their 16th win with a 69-64 win at Fort Scott Saturday, sophomore Derick Denny became KCKCC’s all-time career three-point leader and freshman Dennis Tinnon was selected Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week while the Lady Blue Devils snapped a four-game losing skid with an exciting 56-52 win over Highland Monday night.

However, both teams were also just 1-2 for the week and are on the road for four of their next five Jayhawk twin bills before finishing the season with three straight at home.

At Neosho County Saturday, the Blue Devils are back home Wednesday against Coffeyville (5 and 7 p.m.).

Denny broke Jason Jemison’s career three-point record with seven treys in an 81-71 loss at Cowley on Wednesday and then added six more in the win at Fort Scott.

However, Highland’s stifling defense limited Denny to just 2 of 8 threes in a rare sweep of the Blue Devils 68-60 on Monday.

Selected Player of the Week for his 21 rebounds and 21 points against Independence and 24 points against Johnson County, Tinnon had double doubles in all three games the past week, averaging 11 points and 11.3 rebounds, and six straight games with 10 more points and rebounds.

Frustrated by losses at Cowley (57-33) and Fort Scott (53-44) after leading at halftime in both contests, the Lady Blue Devils made a 29-19 halftime lead against Highland stand up although it took some last minute heroics by Sarah Craft and Melanie Phipps for a 56-52 win.

Craft twice broke ties with field goals, the last on a pass from Phipps with 18 seconds left to put KCKCC ahead to stay 54-52, while Phipps had two clutch free throws to put KCKCC in front 52-50 along with a steal and a blocked shot in the final two minutes.

PHOTO: KCKCC forward Dennis Tinnon goes high over Highland’s Thomas Shibeshi for two of his 10 points in a 68-60 loss Monday. Tinnon now has double doubles, 10 or more points and rebounds, in his last six games. (Photo by Leslie Payne)

The last time Sumner Academy lost a game in the Kansas City, Kan., League, Reese Holliday (pictured above) and Davonte Chaney were both freshman, while Eli Alexander was an eighth grader and Benny Parker was a seventh grader.

Current head coach Dan Parra has not lost a game in league since taking over the helm at Sumner.

For two and a half seasons, the Sabres have dominated KCKL teams, while embarrassing others.

They've won 20 consecutive games against Washington, Wyandotte, Harmon and Schlagle, dating back to the 2006-07 season.

A list of the victories:

2007-08

at Wyandotte 71-61
at Schlagle 77-68
vs. Harmon 80-59
vs. Washington 60-35
at Schlagle 58-53
vs. Wyandotte 77-48
at Washington 78-70
at Harmon 81-56

2008-09

at Schlagle 96-54
at Harmon 85-65
vs. Wyandotte 70-57
vs. Schlagle 82-66
at Washington 102-72
at Wyandotte 73-68
vs. Washington 92-61
vs. Harmon 97-65

2009-10 (Current season)

vs. Wyandotte 90-71
vs. Harmon 75-67
vs. Schlagle 71-58
at Schlagle 71-58

Doing the math, the Sabres' average margin of victory is 18.7 points a game.

When looking at the school by school margin of victory, the domination is even more clear.

The past two-and-a-half seasons, the Sabres have defeated Wyandotte by an average of 15.2 points, Schlagle by 16.3 points a game, Harmon by 21.2 and Washington by 23.5 points a game.

That's not bad. And it's not like the KCKL is a doormat league.

When combining the state championships won by current teams in the Kansas City, Kan., League, you come up with 25 titles.

Wyandotte has 20 of those, Sumner has claimed three and Schlagle has earned two. That's tradition and Sumner Academy's run across the league shouldn't be taken lightly.

KCKL games are the easiest games to prepare players for and once you are in league, anything can happen.

Tonight, the Washington Wildcats will look to knock off the Sabres. In the past two seasons, Washington's especially had trouble against  Sumner – losing two 30-point contests last season, a 25-point defeat two years ago and a Sumner eight-point squeaker two seasons ago.

The current 20-game streak is one that'll be tough to replicate down the road. As teams are improving, this might be the last great streak in KCKL play.

It's history and any Sabre fan should appreciate it. And anyone who's not a Wildcat, Stallion, Bulldog or Hawk fan should enjoy the streak, too.

Harmon Hawks' guard De'Ontae Hooks was named NBC Action 41's HyVee Athlete of the Week on Wednesday.

Hooks as done a little bit of everything for the Hawks this year. He's scoring just about 20 points a game, bringing in 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists a game and 2.7 blocks a game this season.

Hooks hit 13 three-pointers in Harmon's triumph in Coffeyville two weeks.

He's the leading scoring for the Hawks, who are 11-2 on the season.

The video is available after the jump.

Sumner Academy basketball player Justin Strickland was named a 2010 KMBC Channel 9 Hy-Vee Scholar Athlete.

Strickland, who will be on the network later this spring, will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

He was just one of 10 selected across the Kansas City area.

Strickland performed well against Schlagle earlier this week, scoring 12 critical points against the Stallions.

Six players from this year's Wyandotte Bulldogs team will play college football next season.

Brion Milstead, Edgar Martinez and Lorenzo Byers signed yesterday to play at Highland Community College.

Versell Gee and Derrick Rolls will play together at Coffeyville Community College, while Montell Anderson will play at Ft. Scott Community College.

Picture: (Front) Brion Milstead and Lorenzo Byers. (BACK) Versell Gee, Derrick Rolls, Montell Anderson and Edgar Martinez.

Thanks to Wyandotte High School for the photo.

Seven members of the Washington Wildcats signed a letter of intent yesterday.

Tim Goode, Justin Haynes, Craig Newton, Andy Patrzykont, Andrew Schumant and Darnell Walker will attend Fort Scott Community College together.

Meanwhile, Kyndale Prather will attend Highland Community College.

"Today's a special day for all of our players," said coach Todd Buttermore. "It's a very special day and it represents the next step for them.

Buttermore told the seven players to "keep their grades up" and "workout" so they could transfer to a four-year college after their two years at the community college.

They were joined by Washington Athletic Director Nancy Browne, parents and faculty.