Pre-State Collisions

And another one? A year after going through the 2007-08 season as two of the state's best, splitting during the regular season and finishing first and third in Class 6A, respectively, Southeast and East could play another rubber match this season. The Southeast boys went into Christmas break in December with a loss at Heights but kicked off the second half with a win at home over East, 83-79. East returned the favor two weeks ago, beating Southeast 73-71. Southeast (16-4), the second seed in the 6A Derby sub-state, could play East (15-5), seeded third, again on Friday if the two win their opening round games Wednesday. East hosts Topeka (11-9) and Southeast hosts Junction City (11-9). Re-read the records of the teams participating in these opening-round match-ups. Junction is a seven-seed with a winning record. Topeka is a six-seed with a winning record. No one gets a break in this 6A Derby sub-state. Heights High (19-1), which just completed the first undefeated run through the City League since the Steve Eck era at South High, can't even catch a break. They open against Manhattan, which is 10-10 and coming off a one-point loss to the top team in 4A, Topeka Hayden. This sub-state is almost of the same caliber as a state tournament. Truly, it's arguable. If Heights does get by Manhattan, it's likely they will meet Washburn Rural (13-7), which ended Topeka Highland Park and Topeka Hayden's mammoth winning streaks within the past two and half weeks. Not that Rural is a lock to win in the first round. They start off playing at Derby (14-6) Wednesday. Are you kidding me? Sub-state notes: With the 6A and 5A sub-state pairings released on Sunday, there are other intriguing match-ups to be had this week. The Derby girls (11-9) travel to Junction City Thursday in the opening round. With a win, Derby's Joanna McFarland will get one last shot at state against Washburn Rural (19-1) on Saturday. The Derby bus will be chugging up Kansas roads this week. After a slow start to the season, the Maize High boys (14-6) beat McPherson mid-season, polished off Goddard late, and are a favorite to go to state. They open Wednesday at home against Northwest, and Garden City and Dodge City duke it out on the other side. Northwest hosts the sub-state finals, so that's a home game for Maize. Can the North High boys (8-12) get it going in the postseason? Goddard (16-4) is the favorite, and the two will meet in the final if North beats Campus and Goddard beats South. The Goddard girls (15-5) seemed to have a season of ups and downs, but they won 15 games. They're a favorite to return to state, where they were runner-up last season. Two of the most competitive and intriguing games of this sub-state season will go on in the 5A Winfield sub-state, involving the girls and boys teams of two schools which rarely play one another in any sport. The Carroll girls (18-2) should meet Andover Central (16-4) in their sub-state final in Winfield. Last season, Bailey Gee-led Andover Central put a whooping on Carroll at the Newton mid-season tournament. Still with junior point guard Tiffany Bias, sharp shooter Kaitlyn Tennyson and a strong supporting cast, Central will give Carroll a go. Carroll has two of the best guards in the state. Can Central guard both of them? Both Carroll and Andover Central should meet in Winfield on Saturday on the boys side, as well. Carroll (12-8) came on strong late with wins over East and Southeast but ended with a 15-point loss at Heights. They'll have to be better; Central sports a class of juniors who are athletic, confident and jonesing to get their school back to state. And how about those young Kapaun girls (14-6)? Almost forgotten this season, they only reeled off 14 wins and nearly beat Carroll in the second half of the season. Don't be surprised if they dispatch Valley Center and upset Liberal (19-1) in the sub-state final on Friday. Damian Smithhisler has brought this team a long way this season.