Sumner Academy defeated by Lawrence in Blue Valley Shootout

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

The three-time defending Blue Valley Shootout champions will not make it a four-peat.

Sumner Academy was defeated by Lawrence 61-49 tonight in Stilwell, Kan. Benny Parker's 24 points were not enough for the Sabres, as they fall to 1-1 on the season.

Sumner led 12-9 after one quarter of play, but Lawrence took command behind KJ Pritchard's 24 points.

Lawrence held Sumner Academy to just five points in the second quarter. Then, in the third quarter, they jumped all over Sumner to build a 41-29 lead entering the final period.

Both teams scored 20 points in the quarter, but Sumner Academy could not make the comeback.

Marcus Allen, after scoring a career-high 31 points Saturday night against Hogan Prep, was held to 11 by the Lawrence defense.

No other Sabres player scored more than five points in the game.

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KCK Preps Interview: Earl Watson

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

When you sit down and develop a list of the greatest basketball players to ever come out of Kansas City, Kan., and Wyandotte County, Washington Wildcats legend Earl Watson is either at the very top of that list or in the top three.

Both Watson and Tra'Vaughn White - the two leading scorers in Washington Wildcats history - were in attendance for Thursday evening's game between the Wildcats and Raytown South Cardinals.

Watson, who has remained extremely close to his alma mater, said the last two years that featured trips to the state tournament in Topeka, Kan., were big for both the city and him.

"I was very proud of them," Watson said. "Coach King has grown this program to where it once was. Last year was very special."

During last season's 22-3 campaign, Watson remained in daily contact with King and the players from that team. White, in particular, spoke to Watson quite a bit last year. Ironically enough, it was White who ended up passing Watson late in the year for the all-time scoring record at the school.

Watson said he's grown closer to the program since King was hired to guide the Wildcats.

"He's done an amazing job," Watson said. "He lets me have input and he's confident enough in his own abilities to let others speak to and about the team. Parents need a coach who cares about the lives of these kids and Coach King does.

He teaches them about life first."

King, entering his seventh year as the boys head coach at Washington, was the first coach in over three decades to take Washington to back-to-back trips to the state tournament.

"Earl Watson is giving back to our team and school," King said. "Earl Watson did not forget where he came from and it's not about the money with him."

Following a successful college career with the UCLA Bruins, Watson has had a respectable career in the NBA. He's played in the big leagues for 10 years and has compiled over 5,300 points, 3,500 assists and nearly 800 steals.

Though he's on the road during the NBA season, Watson keeps close track of both his Wildcats and the other teams in KCK.

"I follow it very closely," Watson said. "I'm here tonight and I have practice tomorrow."

While Watson's Wildcats were defeated in a close game by Raytown South, he expects the team to come together over the season.

"They are a young group and they battled back after falling behind 12 points," Watson said. "Losing builds character."

Following the loss, Watson was in Washington's locker room, where he spoke to both King and the Wildcats roster.

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Young Wildcats claw back, but fall to Raytown South in opener of Leavenworth tournament

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

Entering the game against Raytown South Thursday afternoon, there were a combined four varsity starts between everyone on the Washington Wildcats roster.

With seven juniors on the team and without big man Dominique Wilson, nervousness appeared to be a big issue as the Wildcats started slow and missed several free throws in the second half.

Raytown South defeated Washington 60-55 in a game featuring two teams in rebuilding years, with Washington losing all-time leading scorer Tra’Vaughn White, Kalen Allen, Jervon Hooks and the Hibler twins and Raytown South losing Corey Hilliard and Ishmail Wainwright.

The Cardinals and Wildcats played a competitive first half – one filled with missed shots and turnovers. No team had a lead larger than five points.

Slowly, though, Raytown South started to take over the game.

After a James Jappa free throw gave Washington a 17-16 lead, the Cardinals closed the first half on an 8-1 run to take a 24-19 lead into the half.

“Being our first game, we had some kids with some nerves,” said Eric King, head coach of the Wildcats. “We made bad passes and a lot of our mistakes were because of youth.”

That youth was on display as Raytown South dominated the third quarter of play. After three points from Deandre King cut the lead down to 31-28, Raytown raced off on to an 8-0 run led by star Earl Peterson.

A three-point play from Peterson gave Raytown South its biggest lead at nine points – a lead that would eventually crawl to 12 points in the third quarter.

Behind juniors Jaamie Trevillion, King and Jappa, Washington fought back.

Trevillion, in his first game as a starting point guard at the varsity level, displayed excellence at times. He penetrated the lane and dished off some excellent passes. His 13 points did not hurt either.

Four straight points from him helped Washington cut the edge down to 52-48 midway through the fourth quarter.

After Peterson responded with a basket to extend the lead back to six, Jappa scored from the field.

However, one of the stories of the game was free throw shooting.

Raytown South’s aggressive play put them at the free throw line more, taking over 30 attempts.

Washington, meanwhile, was able to get to the free throw line a little more than half of that. It didn’t help the fact they shot just above 50 percent at the charity stripe – missing seven free throws alone in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, King saw some good things for his team and he sees a good opportunity in Washington’s final two games in the consolation bracket of the Citizens National Bank Invitational – a tournament Washington won last year.

“Jaamie is going to be a wonderful point guard for us,” King said. “He can get 10 assists any night and we have a great group of kids who will learn. The junior group we have is one of the best in the state.”

King said Washington needs to work on offensive, composure and boxing out in the next few games. 

Deandre King led the way for Washington with 15 points, while Trevillion scored 13.

Washington will play North Kansas City in tomorrow’s consolation bracket.

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LEAVENWORTH: Washington loses heartbreaker, Wyandotte blitzed by Hogan Prep

In the first game of the post-Tra'Vaughn White era at Washington, the Wildcats were defeated 58-55 by the Raytown South Cardinals.

Washington, down most of the game, rallied from 12 points down in the second half to come within three.

However, Washington could not quite overcome the hole they dug for themselves.

Wyandotte, meanwhile, suffered a big defeat at the hands of Hogan Prep.

Full recaps soon.

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Trio of Piper soccer players heading to KCKCC

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

Bernie May, RJ Cawthon, and Collin Cook all signed to play soccer at Kansas City Kansas Community College this week.

The three Pirates were key to Piper’s 11-6-1 season, one which saw nearly double the wins as the school had last year.

Both May and Cawthon scored four goals this year for Piper.

However, the big signing may be Cook.

Cook was widely considered as the best goal keeper in the Kaw Valley League and one of the best in the metro area.

His goaltending abilities kept Piper in a handful of games this season.

Most notably, against Wyandotte in the finals of the Wyandotte County High School Soccer Tournament, he kept the Bulldogs to a single goal despite Piper being down a man nearly 70 minutes following a red card.

Piper eventually came back to win that game.

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810 Varsity Boys Basketball Poll: Week of December 5, 2011

By NICK SLOAN, NJSloan212@gmail.com

Apologies for being a little late on this, but here's this week's poll.

My own ballot was published on Sunday afternoon. This ballot includes the voters at 810 and a few other media sources around Kansas City.

Kaw Valley League teams and Kansas City Kansas - Atchison League teams are in bold.

1. Olathe Northwest
2. BV Northwest
3. BV North
4. Blue Springs South
5. Sumner Academy
6. Lansing
7. Hogan Prep
8. Basehor-Linwood
9. Lee's Summit North
10. Olathe East
11. Rockhurst
12. Leavenworth
13. Ruskin
14. Olathe South
15. Washington
16. Ottawa
17. O'Hara
18. Raytown South
19. Lee's Summit West
20. Liberty North
21. Grandview
22. Bishop Miege
23. Truman
24. Platte County
25. St. Thomas Aquinas

Others: Schlagle, St James, Bishop Seabury, Lee's Summit, Bonner Springs

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