Weekend hoop reflections - Issue 1

Starting this week, we will take a deeper look into the happenings on the high school basketball courts of Southwestern Kansas, and pass along nuggets of information and observations as the season goes along. Typically, this will come out on Mondays, but on occasion, we may have to push it back as some coaches opt to look at game film first before posting stats. So expect it to come down the line on Mondays or Tuesdays for the rest of the hoop season.

If you want to send a contribution in, then please e-mail it to ben@swkspreps.com for consideration, or message us on Twitter (@SWKSPreps) or Facebook.

Boys

Lakin's Hunter Davis lighting it up

Let's just say that Lakin junior Hunter Davis has tried his best to burn out lamps on area scoreboards early in the 2019-20 season.

Davis had a 35-point effort against Burlington, Colo. in the Topside Tip-Off in Goodland, and a 23-point outing in a losing effort on Saturday against Wray, Colo. All told, Davis scored 72 points in the three games at Goodland.

Galindo and Walker All-Tourney worthy in Russell

Ulysses has jumped out to a 3-1 start, thanks in part to strong efforts by Aaron Galindo and Lance Walker this past week in the Amos Morris Classic at Russell,

Both Galindo and Walker earned All-Tournament Team honors, helping the Tigers to a 2-1 week and a 3rd-place finish in the tournament. Ulysses plays at Colby to open Great West Activities Conference play on Friday.

Three SWKS teams off to unbeaten starts

As of December 14, the amount of area boys basketball teams with unblemished records was down to just three, and one of them used their own tournament to help solidify a strong start.

With the efforts of Luke Finlay and Damian Ramirez, Syracuse swept through their opponents at the Border Wars tournament last week, beating three Colorado teams - Granada, Eads and Walsh - extend their record to 4-0, This followed an opening night win over Goodland at Herndon Gym. Finlay and Ramirez both made the Border Wars All-Tournament Team.

Their first road test comes this Friday, when they head to Kismet to play Southwestern Heights.

The other two teams from the area who have spotless records - Colby, who won the Topside Tip-Off and is off to a 4-0 start; and Class 3A No. 5 Hugoton, who stands at 3-0 entering a home contest on Tuesday against Class 6A Dodge City.

Girls

Cook, Stanton County off to red-hot start

Most people relate Rylie Cook to the golfer who has won back-to-back individual state titles in Class 2A Girls Golf. That's not the only venue in which she is effective from distance, a point she showed on Saturday at the Border Wars tournament.

Cook lit up the nets for 24 points, including seven three-pointers, to lead the Lady Trojans past Granada, and to a 3-0 mark in the tournament. That effort helped Rylie Cook make the Border Wars All-Tournament Team.

Both Cook's on the team - Rylie and Caelyn - are related to Josie Cook, who is currently a standout at Northwest Kansas Tech, and a former player in the Border Wars tournament for a Colorado team. The elder Cook played for Holly, Colo., before the Wildcats had to drop the tournament from their schedule due to a classification change.

That said, it's easy to see why Stanton County could turn into a tough out come March. With a front line that includes two players 5-10 or taller, and the number of guards who can handle the ball and have shooting range, the Lady Trojans will be a team to watch.

Stanton County is one of five teams who have survived the first few days of the winter schedule unbeaten. They include Class 6A No. 10 Dodge City (3-0), Liberal (3-0), Colby (4-0) and Class 3A No. 5 Scott Community (4-0).

Stum's big night helps earn All-Tourney berth

Magro Stum was not to be denied on Friday night when Syracuse matched up with Walsh, Colo. at the Border Wars tournament.

Stum ended the night with 31 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Lady Bulldogs pull away with a 55-34 win. That effort helped net Stum a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Stum and Cook had huge efforts that each netted them All-Tournament Team spots. The same can be said for the other three members of the squad - Jensen Renquist of Walsh, Katie Roesch of McClave, and Chevelle Ralston of Elkhart.

Fact of the Day:

Colby boys basketball is off to a 4-0 start this season. Combined that with their football team, the Eagles have won 13 of their 14 games played.