Hy-Vee Shootout boys and girls high school basketball event begins today at Avila.
1 Washington, Lee’s Summit West promises high-flying fun
Want to see a track meet break out in the gym at Avila University? Eager to see two hyper-athletic teams that play basketball at a breakneck pace, deploying high-pressure defenses that often lead to fast-break dunks? If that’s the kind of basketball you love, you don’t want to miss the nightcap Thursday. Lee’s Summit West and Washington are set to clash at 8:30 p.m. in a game that promises some rim-rattling action.
For the Titans, there is no higher flier than junior guard Monte Harrison, the top returning scorer and a key cog for the No. 3 team in Missouri Class 5. Senior forward Trevor Gregory and junior forward Dale Brown lead the frontcourt, while senior Kyndall Powell and sophomores Ryan Williams and Jared Dixon are off to strong starts in the mix at guard.
Meanwhile, Washington is coming off a title at Leavenworth’s Citizens National Bank Invitational. The Wildcats are deep and can attack in numerous ways, led by senior center (and double-double machine) James Jappa inside along with senior forward Kindred Williams and guards Kameron Allen, a senior slasher with range, and De’Andre King, a senior swingman sharpshooter.
2 Difficult road continues for Hawklets, Mustangs
Rockhurst and Blue Valley North both harbor state-title hopes and have opened the season with a series of markedly difficult tests. They can each add another to the list when they close out the Hy-Vee Shootout at 9 p.m. Saturday.
Rockhurst has defeated Liberty North this season, but Blue Springs South defeated the Hawklets in convincing fashion Saturday. An athletic bunch with a high-quality, low-post option in Kyle Wolf, Rockhurst meets a BV North team that began the year with a loss to Olathe East followed by a victory against St. Thomas Aquinas. Last year’s third-place finisher in the Kansas Class 6A tournament, the Mustangs lean on returning starters Scott Edwards, Matt McHugh and Jawan Emery.
3 Sleepers set to clash
One of the area’s more underrated teams, William Chrisman’s girls will showcase one of the shootout’s best players when Nieka Wheeler takes the floor against Blue Valley North at 4 p.m. Friday. A senior post player, Wheeler has averaged 21 points during the Bears’ 4-2 start. On the other hand, BV North presents a more balanced lineup that features four starters back from a 15-win season. The Mustangs, 2-1, rely on shooter Ali Pollard, forwards Caroline Dupont and Bria Pierce and point guard Maria Klug.
4 Undefeated girls powers to collide
Truman’s girls are undefeated and No. 6 in Missouri Class 5. Bishop Miege’s girls are undefeated and ranked No. 7 in Kansas Class 5A. The two teams clash at 4 p.m. Thursday in the opening game on Day 2 of the Hy-Vee Shootout. The Patriots rely on post player Becca Jonas, while guard Lexi Hughes leads the Stags in a clash of styles as well.
5 Imports set to challenge local elite
Tough tests from outside the Kansas City area await several teams, but perhaps none faces a tougher test than the Olathe Northwest girls, who drew Rock Bridge from Columbia at 7 p.m. Friday. The Ravens, 1-2, lost at Hopkins (Minn.), which is ranked No. 25 in the nation, opening the season and got nipped by perennial East Kansas League power St. Thomas Aquinas the following week. Now comes a date with the Bruins, who check in 13th in the MaxPreps rankings.
The boys team from Blue Valley Northwest, 2-0, led by Iowa State commit Clay Custer, also faces a stern challenge against Nixa, which is ranked No. 2 in Missouri Class 5, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Grandview, a 22-win team a year ago, must contend with Ottawa and Duke-bound scoring machine Semi Ojeleye, who dropped 58 points in a game last week, at 4 p.m. Saturday.
HY-VEE SHOOTOUT Schedule
Missouri vs. Kansas format
*NOTE: All games will be broadcast live in HD on Metro Sports
At Avila University
TODAY’S GAMES
Session 1
4 p.m.: Lee’s Summit vs. SM West (girls)
5:30 p.m.: Kearney vs. SM West (boys)
7 p.m.: Center vs. Blue Valley West (boys)
8:30 p.m.: Hogan Prep vs. Bishop Miege (boys)
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Session 2
4 p.m.: Truman vs. Bishop Miege (girls)
5:30 p.m.: Liberty vs. Olathe Northwest (boys)
7 p.m.: Lee’s Summit North vs. Sumner Academy (boys)
8:30 p.m.: Lee’s Summit West vs. Washington (boys)
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Session 3
(All are girls games)
2:30 p.m.: St. Teresa’s Academy vs. Olathe East
4 p.m.: Wm. Chrisman vs. BV North
5:30 p.m.: Blue Springs vs. McPherson
7 p.m.: Rock Bridge vs. Olathe Northwest
8:30 p.m.: Lee’s Summit North vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
SATURDAY’S GAMES
(All are boys games)
Session 4
9 a.m.: Raytown vs. St. James Academy
10:30 a.m.: Ruskin vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
Noon: Raytown South vs. Olathe East
1:30 p.m.: Rock Bridge vs. SM East
Session 5
4:30 p.m.: Grandview vs. Ottawa
6 p.m.: Liberty North vs. McPherson
7:30 p.m.: Nixa vs. BV Northwest
9 p.m.: Rockhurst vs. BV North
