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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.''

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.

Rick Peterson, Top Sports News Writer — Rick Peterson

Details: Created: 20 November 2025

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAMES

CLASS 3A

SANTE FE TRAIL (11-0) at HAYDEN (11-0)

Connor Hanika, Hayden

Mason Becker, Hayden

Sante Fe Trail, the No. 2 Class 3A East seed, will face No. 1 East seed Hayden Friday night, with the winner moving on to the Class 3A state championship game. Hayden, which is shooting for its third straight trip to the 3A state final, is coming off a 43-29 state quarterfinal win over Jefferson West while Sante Fe Trail advanced with a 28-26 win over Holton. Hayden senior quarterback Connor Hanika has completed 97 of 158 passes for 1,614 yards and 22 touchdowns with just one interception while senior Kade Mitchell has rushed for 941 yards, caught 21 passes for 463 yards and has scored 21 total TDs. Mitchell did not play in the second half last week after a first-half injury. Wildcat senior Jackson McGivern has carried the ball 63 times for 420 yards while recording 72 tackles (45 solo) on defense with seven tackles for loss. Senior Jude Krentz leads Hayden with 102 tackles (53 solo) and six tackles for loss while rushing for 354 yards on 57 attempts. Senior Xander Blasing has 74 stops and seven tackles for loss and has caught 22 passes for 280 yards while senior Makhi Kidd has caught 27 passes for 286 yards. Junior Mason Becker has carried the ball 18 times for 234 yards, caught nine passes for 292 yards and is perfect on extra-point kicks on the year. Logan Power leads the Wildcats with five pass interceptions. The winner of Friday's game will move on to the state championship game at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, at Hutchinson Community College to face the winner of Friday's game between No. 1 West seed and defending state champion Andale (11-0) and No. 2 West seed Rock Creek (11-0). Andale advanced with a 57-7 quarterfinal win over Pratt while Rock Creek took a 14-7 win over Cheney. Game time: 7 p.m.

Xander Blasing, Hayden