Elyria Christian's Anderson joins Swedes

June Unruh

ELYRIA — Elyria Christian School’s Brekken Anderson has signed a volleyball letter of intent with Bethany College.

“I am thrilled for Brekken to join our team,” Bethany coach Brandi Stewart said in a press release. “She is quick, athletic and will be an asset as part of our back row. Not only is she a good player, but she is also a good student and a fun, energetic person to be around. I enjoyed getting to know her and her family through the recruiting process and look forward to having them in the stands next year. We are excited to welcome Brekken to our Swedes family.”

Anderson, who played all over the court for the Eagles, is looking forward to advancing her career.

“I'm excited to play volleyball at the collegiate level,” she said. “The Bethany coaches are awesome, just like my Elyria coaches.” 

Anderson will major in secondary education with the hopes of becoming a teacher and coach.

9th boys outlasted for 5th place

HUTCHINSON — A short-handed McPherson ninth-grade boys basketball team put up a valiant effort on Thursday in the fifth-place game of the Hutchinson Invitational against Goddard Eisenhower, losing 42-37.

The Bullpups played without primary ballhandler Jayden Dukes, who was out with illness. Gus Ruddle was having perhaps his best game of the year when he went down in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

“With all that said, we played hard,” MHS coach Treg Fawl said. “We won the rebound battle and the 50-50 balls. Aiden (Hoover) did a great job of running the point and creating plays. (Michael) Morgan played his best game of the season on both ends of the floor. “(Braeden) Ediger was a force inside grabbing 10-plus rebounds. Ruddle was playing his best game of the year until his unfortunate injury. (Sky) Schriner came in and gave good minutes off the bench. A lot of guys had to step up tonight and they did.”

Ediger led MHS with 10 points, one more than Ruddle. Fawl said the team came up short due to going 6 of 17 at the foul line, but did everything else well. It is scheduled to play today at Circle.

MHS (37) — Ediger 10, Ruddle 9, Buckbee 8, Hoover 6, Morgan 4.

Bulldogs home for final time Saturday

It will be Senior Night on Saturday for McPherson College’s basketball teams as the Bulldogs wrap up regular-season play at the Sport Center against Bethel College.

The women start at 5:00, the men at 7.

The Mac women have been steaming toward the finish line and a win over Bethel would give them a 6-1 record in their final seven games.

The Bulldogs are 8-15 in the KCAC and 12-17 overall. They also had to forfeit two earlier wins this year due to a technicality, so their record could be 14-15.

Bethel is easily the KCAC’s surprise team as it is locked into the No. 4 spot for the upcoming KCAC Postseason Tournament. The Threshers are 15-8 in the KCAC and 20-8 overall. They were 8-14 a year ago in the KCAC, 12-18 overall. Abby Schmidt, their standout center, is in the running for KCAC Player of the Year.

The Mac men, after a 6-3 start to their season, have won just 4 of their last 19 to stand at 6-17 in the conference and 10-18 overall.

They are right behind Bethel, which is 9-14 in the KCAC and 14-15 overall as a win gives it a .500 season.

Baseball Bulldogs win 13-inning thriller

Micah Gilbert

McPherson College’s baseball team and Kansas Wesleyan were supposed to play two games here Thursday.

But it wound up being a single game as the Bulldogs were a 12-9 winner in 13 innings, a game that lasted more than 4 hours. The second game was cancelled due to no lights at Bulldog Park and the fact the weather was worsening. It will be made up at a later date.

Mac improved to 2-0 in the KCAC and 7-3 overall as it’s off to a good start. It was the road team again on Thursday as KW was supposed to be hosting the game, but its field was not playable.

The Bulldogs were up 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh when the Coyotes came up with four runs to take a 9-7 lead. But Mac tied it with two runs in the ninth and finally won it with three runs in the 13th.

The Bulldogs pounded out 16 hits, including three apiece by Mark Strebin and Brevin Baessler. Strebin wound up going 7 of 9 in the two games with the Coyotes and he had four more RBIs. Jakob Shields, Kristopher Perez, Dominick Ramos and Jackson Goodmiller all added two hits.

Seven Bulldog pitchers wound up working, with Jerrod Manick going four innings in relief to pick up the win, fanning eight. Mairion Brunken earned the save.

“Great series win for the ‘Dogs,” Mac coach Bryan Moses said. “Can't say enough about bullpen and the way we fought. We are excited to welcome in Oklahoma Wesleyan next weekend."

The Eagles are here on Friday and Saturday. They were the KCAC champion last season.

Weather clouds MHS games on Friday, Saturday

Kendall Shaw

This is one time it is hoped the weatherman is far off the forecast.

Inclement weather is expected to roll into Kansas early Friday morning, which puts McPherson High’s games Friday night at Circle as well as Saturday’s long road trip to Lawrence in jeopardy.

If the weather isn’t as bad as expected, MHS’ games in Towanda on Friday have a 6 p.m. start, while the time is also 6 p.m. in Lawrence (at Free State High School) on Saturday. 

If the Bullpups do play, hear all the action on 96.7 KBBE FM with “Voice of the Bullpups” Jim Joyner on the call.

Friday’s girls game with Circle is huge because the league championship is on the line. MHS is 8-0 in league play, while the T-Birds are a game back. Circle played the Bullpups tough in McPherson as MHS grinded out a 37-30 victory.

“They have a lot of offensive weapons and girls that we really need to be locked in on defensively,” said MHS coach Chris Strathman, whose team has won 14 in a row and is 16-1 on the season as it’s battling for a Top 4 spot in Class 5A West. “We had a low-scoring matchup right after Christmas break, so we know that every possession of the game can be very important. We have a chance to secure an outright league title, which is always one of our season goals, so we hope to be able to accomplish that.”

On Saturday, the Bullpups hopefully head to Lawrence Free State to take on Baldwin as part of the 810 Varsity Classic. It’s a matchup of state champions as MHS was the Class 4A Division I champ last year and Baldwin won in 4A D-II. The Bulldogs, like MHS, have only one loss.

“Baldwin has been a very strong program for a long time and they have an excellent team this year,” Strathman said. “The style of that game could be totally different from Friday night versus Circle. Baldwin loves to play very fast and they really get up and down the court. They shoot a ton of 3s and do a great job of getting to the basket off drives and offensive boards. It is an honor to be invited to play in the 810 Varsity Sports event in Lawrence. I encourage our fans to get there early and watch a great game right before us, which matches up Derby and Aquinas, defending 6A and 5A champs and then our matchup is between defending 4A-1 and 4A-2 champions. It should be a great night of girls basketball and then our boys game with Free State will be an outstanding contest as well.”

The MHS boys can wrap up the outright league title on Friday at Towanda as Circle features the high-scoring Jude Warren, who gives his team a puncher’s chance in every game.

“Circle played us very tough here at home and we had to shoot the ball extremely well to get the win,” said MHS coach Kurt Kinnamon, whose team is now 13-4 after an 0-3 start.  “Jake (Alexander) got 35 on them the first game, so I anticipate some sort of junk defense. Warren is a great scorer and (Matt) Hromek is shooting the ball great lately. They zoned us the first game and will probably try something different this time.”

Saturday’s game against Lawrence Free State will be monumental. The Firebirds were second in the state last year in 6A and played in this year’s McPherson Invitational, taking third after being upset in the semifinals by Shawnee Mission East. They are big, strong and athletic, the most athletic team MHS will face all year.

“The tendency is for everyone to be looking at the weather and at times that causes a letdown,” Kinnamon said. “We have to be of the mind-set that the game is going to be played and then we can be disappointed if it is not. We have done extensive scouting on Free State both before our tournament and as of late. Noah Butler is the most athletic player that we will face all year, maybe the most athletic in the state. Turner Corcoran is the biggest player we will face so they are unique. They are a great offensive team that is hard to guard. Defensively, they apply a lot of pressure on the perimeter and we will have to take care of the ball.”

Swedes teams advance to postseason play

LINDSBORG — It was a KCAC Tournament-qualifying night for the Bethany College basketball teams on Wednesday at Hahn Gym.

The Swedes swept Saint Mary on Senior Night and punched their tickets to postseason play.

• Bethany women 59, Saint Mary 58 — With this one-point win, coupled with a forfeit received earlier in the day from Kansas Wesleyan, the Swedes not only are in the playoffs, but they’re now tied for fifth place in the standings with Oklahoma Wesleyan.

Hannah Ferguson’s basket with 1.5 seconds left saved the Swedes, who are now 13-10 in the KCAC and 17-12 overall.

The game was a donnybrook as the Spires would not go away and they finally took the lead at 54-52 with 4 minutes left.

But the Swedes regained the lead, only to fall behind again, before coming up with a big play down the stretch. Sena Atkas made the pass to Ferguson, who made the shot after missing every field goal attempt she had taken.

Atkas and Kelsi Mueller scored 10 apiece to lead the Swedes.

Bethany goes to Kansas Wesleyan on Saturday.

• BETHANY MEN 64, SAINT MARY 58 — The Swedes are in postseason play after missing last year.

This was a good win as Saint Mary was ahead of them in the standings.

Bethany is now 11-12 in the KCAC and 14-14 overall. It is tied with York for seventh, a game back of Saint Mary.

Saint Mary led much of the second half, including an eight-point bulge. Mitch Brown hit a big 3-pointer down the stretch for the Swedes and Mookie Duncan made an old-fashioned 3-point play to clinch it.

Duncan was again a powerhouse with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Tyler Larkin scored 15, Brown tallied 11 and Isiah Saenz tallied 10.

The Swedes wrap up the regular season Saturday at Salina against arch-rival Kansas Weselyan.

Updated KCAC basketball standings

• MEN •

Oklahoma Wesleyan, 21-2 (27-2)

Southwestern, 20-3 (24-3)

Friends, 16-7 (20-8)

Kansas Wesleyan, 15-8 (17-10)

Ottawa, 14-9 (17-12)

Saint Mary, 12-11 (12-16)

Bethany, 11-12 (14-14)

York, 11-12 (14-15)

Bethel, 9-14 (14-15)

McPherson College, 6-17 (10-18)

Tabor, 5-18 (7-22)

Avila 5-18 (5-20)

Sterling, 5-19 (6-21)

• WOMEN •

Tabor, 21-2 (24-3)

Sterling, 20-4 (25-4)

Kansas Wesleyan, 18-5 (20-9)

Bethel, 15-8 (20-8)

Oklahoma Wesleyan, 13-10 (17-11)

Bethany, 13-10 (17-12)

Friends, 12-11 (12-16)

Avila, 11-12 (12-12)

Ottawa, 9-14 (9-18)

McPherson College, 8-15 (12-17)

Saint Mary, 5-18 (7-20)

Southwestern, 3-20 (4-24)

York, 2-12 (5-23)

• Note — It was announced on Wednesday that Kansas Wesleyan had to forfeit wins over Bethany College and York College due to the use of an ineligible player.

Little River hosting 1A regional next week

LITTLE RIVER — Both Little River basketball teams have drawn the No. 2 seed for the Class 1A sub-state they will be hosting next week.

Here is the schedule:

• GIRLS •

Central Christian (17-2) drew a bye

St. John (7-12) at Fairfield (9-10), 7 p.m. Monday

Stafford (1-19) at Little River (14-5), 7 p.m. Monday

Chase (5-15) at Pretty Prairie (11-8), 7 p.m. Monday

Central Christian vs. St. John-Fairfield winner, TBA Thursday

Stafford-Little River winner vs. Chase-Pretty Prairie winner, TBA Thursday

Finals are 6 p.m. Saturday

• BOYS •

St. John (15-4) drew a bye

Pretty Prairie (7-12) at Central Christian, 7 p.m. Tuesday

Fairfield (1-18) at Little River (15-4), 7 p.m. Tuesday

Chase (4-14) at Stafford (12-7), 7 p.m. Tuesday

St. John vs. Pretty Prairie-Central Christian winner, TBA Friday

Fairfield-Little River winner vs. Chase County-Stafford winner, TBA Friday

Finals are 7:30 Saturday

Wildcats to host Class 1A regional

MOUNDRIDGE — Either the Moundridge or Elyria Christian School boys will not advance out of the Class 1A basketball regional next week hosted by the Wildcats.

Moundridge and Elyria are on the same side of the bracket, announced on Wednesday, which means one of them will see their season end next week.

Berean (16-3) has drawn a bye and will play the winner of Burrton (10-9) and Chase County (9-9) on Friday, Feb. 22, in Moundridge. Burrton and Chase County play Tuesday at Burrton.

Meanwhile, Elyria Christian (14-5) hosts Peabody (4-16) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, while Moundridge (13-6) entertains Flinthills (7-13), also at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Should both Elyria and Moundridge win, they would play on Friday, Feb. 22.

The regional and champion both advance to sub-state play.

On the girls’ side, Chase County (16-2) drew the bye. Elyria Christian School (5-14) plays at Flinthills (10-9) at 7 on Monday. Also, Moundridge (12-7) hosts Burrton (4-15) on Monday, while Berean (13-6) takes on Peabody (0-20). There’s a good chance Moundridge and Berean will square off on Thursday at Moundridge.

The finals for boys and girls is on Saturday.

Softball Tigers split season opener

WINFIELD — Central Christian College’s softball team won its season opener in dramatic fashion on Wednesday against Southwestern, but the Moundbuilders came back swinging in the nightcap to salvage the split.

The Tigers won Game 1 12-8 as they scored four runs in the seventh to force extra innings, then scored a run in the eighth to take the lead, only to see Southwestern answer. But in the ninth, the Tigers had another four-run burst to win it.

Cassidy Pitts had a monster game for the Tigers with a homer and triple as she had three hits, four runs and two RBIs. Kaitlyn Kindle added two hits, while Jessica Aldana scored two and drove in two.

Sydney Cantrell was the winner in relief, allowing only one run over the final 3 2/3 innings.

Central must have really made Southwestern mad as it crushed the Tigers 22-4 in Game 2, keyed an innings of five, six and 11.

Pitts had two more hits (one a triple) and Altavia Hall drove in two runs.

“I thought we played well in Game 1,” second-year CCC coach Aaron Annis said. “Our defense picked up and the offense kept us in the game. It was a team effort as we took Game 1. In Game 2 we just couldn't make the plays that we needed. Southwestern was hitting all the gaps in our defense. We will need to fix a few mistakes and get ready for Fort Hays State University next week."

The Tigers play at Hays on Tuesday, weather permitting.