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Cair Paravel girls basketball flushing last season, excited to make jump in 2025-2026
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Jaley Barkley opens year number two as the head coach of the Cair Paravel Latin girls basketball coach, and as preseason practices ramp up, her smile couldn’t be any bigger.
Former Cair Paravel standout Jaley Barkley begins her second season as the Lions' girls basketball coach. [File photo/TSN]
If you ask why, that’s because of the returning talent CPLS has as the Lions look to put last season's 2-11 record in the history books and put their best foot forward this year, especially in their second season in the Flint Hills League.
“We have a lot of veterans but we also have a lot of new faces,'' Barkley said. "I’m just excited from what we learned last year. I was so proud of the girls last year despite how the season went and I want to build off that and continue their drive that they had last year and improve this year.''
Barkley said her voice doesn’t carry very well and goes out on her whether that’s at practices or game day when the gym is loud with people cheering. Barkley said it’s a playful thing the team feeds off, which she said is good because that helps them communicate better.
“It’s kind of fun between us because they know they may not be able to hear me … having that understanding of, 'Jaley is calling a play but we also have to look at her,’ so, I think that’s something fun with this group too,” Barkley said.
Barkley said this team feels more comfortable with each other as they build on those relationships. She said the Lions all respect each other and the game, which makes it easier to coach them.
“I love this season, I grew up playing it and being able to coach it, just makes me happy,'' Barkley said. "This time of the year, basketball is on all the time, watching it on TV, being able to coach, being able to practice with the girls, it brings me so much joy and being able to connect with my girls on and off the court wraps it up in a bundle for me.''
Senior Karsyn Hastert is a top returner for Cair Paravel girls basketball this winter. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Karsyn Hastert is a dominant force down low that will cause problems in Class 2A but Barkley also likes sophomore London Backman and her confidence and experience she brings back starting as a freshman last season.
Barkley said don’t forget senior KellyAnn Chada either, as most have seen what Chada brings to the court and soccer fields.
Hastert said with the team doubling in size, that will help in practice being more competitive and hopefully transition into gameplay.
“Building on last year is motivation just to be better, represent our school better and we know we’re better than what we executed last year… and hoping what we know now, we execute that better,” Hastert said.
Hastert said they have to remember as a group that it's a new year and turning a new leaf.
“The freshmen and sophomores have great drive and leadership for their age and I think they’re going to step into their roles once KellyAnn and I graduate which is great to see,” Hastert said.
Cair Paravel boys basketball ready to showcase more in 2025-2026
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Chip Kueffer enters year three at the helm of the Cair Paravel Latin boys basketball team, with the Lions coming off a 10-11 record last year.
Chip Kueffer has high hopes for his Cair Paravel boys basketball team in his third year as the Lions' head coach. [File photo/TSN]
Despite that record, it’s a new year and Kueffer said it doesn’t matter what other teams may think about Cair Paravel, whether that’s their record or where they finish in the conference. Kueffer isn’t worried about that.
“We have to over-achieve,'' Kueffer said. "Anytime in life if you’re up for something, you want to over-achieve. You don’t want to finish where people expect you to finish, you don’t want to perform the way people expect you to, you want to exceed expectations. We need to have the mindset every night that we’re going to play better and put up a better performance than people are expecting from us.”
The Flint Hills League is nothing to sneeze at in Class 2A boys basketball, whether teams make it to sub-state title games or the state tournament. Kueffer said he likes the Lions' chances this year because of the team's depth.
“I got eight guys that I would consider starters,'' Kueffer said. "We just have to make sure when we’re out there, we have to be going 100 percent. They can play until they’re tired and we can get fresh legs in there when needed, too.
“We’re blessed to have three senior captains this year between Caleb Cleverdon, Lucas Marichal and Drew Fay, who will be leading the charge this year. I think everybody is ready to play together and this team compliments each other really well.''
Graduated seniors Jase Pavlik and Ben Roeder were two big cogs on last season’s squad, so there will be some big shoes to fill. But Kueffer knows they left their mark to help this year's team pick up the slack.
“I think everyone leads differently and everyone is coached differently,” Kueffer said. “Those guys saw exactly what it should look like and I think they’re well equipped to be able to step into that. There’s some big shoes to fill but I know that they can do it, they’re built for it.”
Cleverdon said this year's team is really focusing on toughness and making that their identity, especially on the defensive side of the ball and being able to last all four quarters.
Lucas Marichal is a top senior returner for Cair Paravel boys basketball. [File photo/TSN]
Cleverdon said last year’s season was mediocre, that the Lions under-achieved, and that the goal for this year is set high.
“We have our eyes on the state tournament and we’re not going to stop until we get there,'' Cleverdon said. "We plan on playing every game hard, playing like it's our last because especially as seniors, we understand that not every game is given so we’re going to play with that same mentality that nothing is given and that we’re going to go out there and earn everything.”
“We’re really excited about the guys that we have. I think they’re going to lead us a long way this year and we’re excited about that.''
Topeka West girls basketball working to become consistent program again
By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Since at least 2006, the Topeka West girls basketball program has not had a winning season. However, looking back at the last two seasons under head coach Angie Ketterman, the win total is adding up.
Senior Addaline Hall (13) is a top returner for Topeka West girls basketball. [File photo/TSN]
Teairra Gonzales (22) will be counted on for senior leadership this winter for the Topeka West girls. [File photo/TSN]
In 2023-2024 the Chargers won eight games and in 2024-2025, they had six wins. That’s 14 wins in a two-year span. Before that, it took West five years to notch at least 14 wins total. Not to mention, the last season where they had at least five wins before 2023 was 2016.
“Every school has seasons where they’re really good,'' Ketterman said. "Eventually, you’re going to fade back out and then you start coming back up. I really feel like we have kids coming in now and we’re on our way up.
"They’re starting to see it, they’re starting to believe it and that they can win, so it’s going to be a fun year.''
Ketterman played for the Chargers and also coached at one point before coming back. She said with this being the third year and the same coaching staff, the girls are starting to figure it out.
“They know what we expect. This year feels different because I feel we’re all on the same page. They come in and know exactly what we’re wanting,” Ketterman said. “We didn’t have any seniors last year and now we have four. It’s a good group.”
Ketterman is excited about what the seniors are bringing in terms of a leadership standpoint because the younger girls, especially the bigger freshmen class, are buying into that. That’s the route Ketterman wants this team to take.
“It’s a good mixture. I can honestly tell you, we don’t know who we’re starting, it’s a good problem to have, it’s kind of exciting,'' Ketterman said.
Seniors Teairra Gonzales and Addaline Hall have been in the program for four years and in the UKC with tough competition and Gonzales said it's their time to shine and grow.
“I like how everybody on our team is interchangeable. We’ve all played together for so long, play each part of the game and we can switch it up sometimes,” Gonzales said.
