A couple of weeks ago the basketball coaches in the Southeast Kansas and Three Rivers leagues got together for a preseason media luncheon. The event was sponsored by The Ticket, 99.1 ESPN Radio in Pittsburg.
Labette County High’s Grizzlies were cast as the preseason favorite in the SEK girls’ race. The Grizzlies are out to defend their league title. They return five athletes with starting experience.
Parsons High’s Vikings were the preseason favorite to win the SEK boys’ title. The Vikings finished in a tie for second in the league last year.
Where did Iola High’s Fillies and Mustangs land in the preseason coaches’ polls? The Fillies were picked seventh and the Mustangs were picked to finish eighth in the nine-team SEK.
The SEK goes back to single-round robin league play starting at the end of January.
SEK girls’ preseason poll for the upcoming season: 1. Labette County, 2. Independence, 3. Pittsburg, 4. Fort Scott, 5. Chanute, 6. Parsons, 7. Iola, 8. Columbus, 9. Coffeyville.
SEK boys’ preseason poll for the upcoming season: 1. Parsons, 2. Coffeyville, 3. Pittsburg, 4. Fort Scott, 5. Independence, 6. Chanute, 7. Labette County, 8. Iola, 9. Columbus.
IN THE TRL, coaches selected Crest High’s Lancers and the St. Paul High Indian girls as preseason favorites.
Right behind the Lancers were the Oswego High Indians, then newcomer Northeast. Uniontown High’s Eagles tied with St. Paul’s boys for fourth. Marmaton Valley High’s Wildcats tied with Pleasanton for sixth. Chetopa was picked eighth and Altoona-Midway ninth.
In the girls’ poll, Uniontown High’s Eagles were picked second and Marmaton Valley High’s Wildcats were fifth. Crest High’s Lady Lancers were sixth. Oswego was third followed by Northeast in fourth. Pleasanton was slotted at seventh followed by Altoona-Midway and Chetopa.
K-STATE plays a non-conference football game at North Texas Saturday to wrap up the regular season. The KU Jayhawks take on Missouri Saturday morning at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
