CJ Girls Basketball Pre-season Rankings

Team  (2015-16 record)

1. Hugoton (23-2)

2. TMP-Marian (23-3)

3. Garden Plain (21-3)

4. Council Grove (18-5)

5. Nemaha Central (19-4)

Others — Caney Valley 18-6, Cheney 15-8, Cimarron 14-7, Conway Springs 18-4, Hesston 18-5, Humboldt 14-7, Kingman 15-7, Neodesha 15-6, Northeast-Arma 15-6, Remington 14-8, Riley County 16-6, Rossville 15-6, Sabetha 24-2, Silver Lake 26-0, Sterling 23-3, Wellsville 14-9.

CJ Pre-season Boys Basketball Rankings

Team    (2015-16 record)

1. Hugoton  (23-2)

2. Garden Plain (20-6)

3. Hesston (20-3)

4. Norton (20-4)

5. Sterling (17-6)

Others — Beloit 15-7, Fredonia 21-3, Humboldt 18-5, Nemaha Central 18-5, Osage City 25-1, Rossville 15-8, Sabetha 24-2, Southeast-Saline 22-4, Wellsville 17-7.

Amanda Hill To Lead Team

      Amanda Hill, a 5-10 Senior, is one of 15 high school girl basketball players to watch according to the Capital-Journal.  Amanda has led Rossville in scoring each of her first three seasons. Last year she averaged 19 points per game. The guard-forward combo can get her points anywhere, shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and 50 percent overall. She also averaged a team-best 6.8 rebounds and was second-team All-3A and first-team All-Mid-East League last year.

      To read about the other 14 players,  go to:  http://cjonline.com/sports/2016-11-30/2016-high-school-tipoff-15-area-girls-players-watch

Mid-East League Basketball Schedule

Riley County

Dec. – 6. at Wamego; 9. Silver Lake; 13. at Clay Center; 15. at Axtell. Jan. – 3. Rock Creek; 6. Rossville; 10. at St. Marys; 13. at Silver Lake; 17-21. at Hillsboro Inv.; 27. Wabaunsee; 31. Marysville. Feb. – 3. at Rock Creek; 7. Concordia; 10. at Wabaunsee; 14. at Council Grove; 17. at Rossville; 23. St. Marys.

Rock Creek

Dec. – 2. at Clay Center; 6. at Abilene; 9. Council Grove; 13. at St. Marys; 16. Wabaunsee. Jan. – 3. at Riley County; 6. Silver Lake; 10. Rossville; 13. at Wabaunsee; 17-21. at Burlington Inv.; 27. Wamego; 31. Centralia. Feb. – 3. Riley County; 7. at Marysville; 10. St. Marys; 14. Chapman; 17. at Silver Lake; 23. at Rossville.

Rossville

Dec. – 2. Wamego; 6-10. at Chapman Inv.; 16. at Frankfort; 20. at Perry-Lecompton. Jan. – 3. Silver Lake; 6. at Riley County; 10. at Rock Creek; 13. St. Marys; 17-21. at Oskaloosa Inv. (B); 24-28. at Jefferson North Inv. (G); 31. at St. Marys. Feb. – 3. Wabaunsee; 7. Osage City; 10. at Silver Lake; 14. at Wabaunsee; 17. Riley County; 23. Rock Creek.

Silver Lake

Dec. – 1. Frankfort; 6. Council Grove; 9. at Riley County; 13. Royal Valley; 16. St. Marys. Jan. – 3. at Rossville; 6. at Rock Creek; 10. Wabaunsee; 13. Riley County; 16-21. at Tonganoxie Inv. (G); 17-21. at Nemaha Central Thunder Classic (B); 24. at Santa Fe Trail; 27. Atchison; 31. at Osage City. Feb. – 3. at St. Marys; 10. Rossville; 14. at Wellsville; 17. Rock Creek; 23. at Wabaunsee.

St. Marys

Dec. – 6. Mission Valley; 8. Onaga; 9. Northern Heights; 13. Rock Creek; 16. at Silver Lake. Jan. – 6. at Wabaunsee; 10. Riley County; 13. at Rossville; 17-21. at Nemaha Central Thunder Classic (B); 20. Jacson Heights (G); 24-28. at Hiawatha Inv. (G); 27. Jackson Heights (B); 31. Rossville. Feb. – 3. Silver Lake; 7. Lyndon; 10. at Rock Creek; 14. Osage City; 17. at Centralia; 21. Wabaunsee; 23. at Riley County.

Wabaunsee

Dec. – 2. Axtell; 6. at Chase County; 13. Onaga; 16. at Rock Creek; 20. Frankfort. Jan. – 10. at Silver Lake; 13. Rock Creek; 19-21. at Royal Valley Panther Classic; 27. at Riley County; 31. at Lyndon. Feb. – 3. at Rossville; 7. at Mission Valley; 10. Riley County; 14. Rossville; 17. Herington; 21. at St. Marys; 23. Silver Lake.

Schumacher Expected To Lead Team

     Cole Schumacher is one of 15 high school players to watch this season according to the Capital-Journal.  Schumacher, a 6-3 Senior,  was on his way to a huge junior season, averaging 21 points before a thumb injury sidelined him for three games and affected his performance the rest of the year. He still averaged a team-high 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds, shooting 44.2 percent from 3-point range. A standout receiver for the state-champion football team, Schumacher can score from anywhere on the court.
      You can read about the other 14 players at:  http://cjonline.com/sports/2016-11-30/2016-high-school-tipoff-15-area-boys-players-watch

Excellent Video of Hesston-RHS Game

This is the best video of the 3A championship game that I know of.  Expand to "full-screen" for best viewing.
http://www.catchitkansas.com/content/news/VIDEO-Hesston-vs-Rossville-403170716.html

Coach Hammes Interview

    This is a WIBW radio interview with Rossville coach Derick Hammes about the championship game last Saturday.
http://www.wibwnewsnow.com/dawgs-bring-home-third-straight-3a-title/

321A Wrestling Rankings

Rossville is currently ranked # 8 in 321A wrestling.  The team is led by #1 ranked Bryce Gfeller in the 126 lb. class and Isiah Luellen who is ranked #1 in the 160 lb. class.  Click on image to read the details.

Carl Searcy (45) Passes Away

Carl Roy Searcy,  88, of Willard, KS passed away at home November 22, 2016. He was born January 22, 1928 near Paxico, KS, the son of Roy W. and Emma Ruth Trostle Searcy. He graduated from Rossville High School in 1945 and joined the Navy in June. He was a Sea-Bee in the US Navy from 1945-1946. After leaving the Navy, he married Elberta Viergever, who preceded him in death in 2008, and worked at Goodyear until moving to Wichita, KS where he began working for KG&E. Carl and his wife were known for working with the Methodist youth group in Valley Center, KS for many years. After retiring Carl and his wife returned to Topeka, KS to be closer to family. Carl enjoyed watching KU sports and vacationing in Colorado with his family.

Together, they had two children; a son, Carl Dean Searcy who preceded him in death in 1972, and a daughter, Cynthia of Willard, KS.

Survivors include his daughter, Cynthia S. Miller; three granddaughters, Tonya Miller, Olathe, KS, Tishelle Miller, Los Angeles, CA; Tianna Miller and her children, Noah and Marlee Spencer of Lenexa, KS, as well as his brothers, Ray and Edward Searcy and sister, Pearl Wood and their families. One brother, Glenn Searcy, and six sisters, Thelma Stoneberger, Lucille Hosler, Dorothy Wright, Golda Plumly, Eileen Creveling, and Mary Miller preceded him in death.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 2nd at Dove Cremation & Funeral Service, 4020 SW 6th Ave. in Topeka. Private inurnment will be at West Lawn Memorial Gardens. Flowers are welcome. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Midland Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606.

Roger Perry Passes Away

Roger K. Perry, 84, passed away Saturday, November 26, 2016 at the Oakley Place in Rossville.

He was born September 8, 1932 at St. Clere, the son of Joseph and Ethel Littwin Perry.  Roger was raised in the St. Clere and St. Marys communities.  He graduated from St. Marys High School in 1950.  Mr. Perry served in the United States Army during the Korean War.

Roger lived in California for nine years moving back to St. Marys in 1959.  He worked for the United States Postal Service for 35 years, serving as Postmaster for 31 years before his retirement.  Roger was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  He was a member of Aubert-Walls FVW Post NO. 7796 in St. Marys and Jimmie Lillard Post No. 31, of the American Legion, in Rossville.  Roger was a prominent and active member of NAPUS where he served in both state and national positions. Roger served several terms on the city council and also served as mayor of St. Marys.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Louis, an infant son, David, son, Jeffrey Perry, daughter, Tricia Garver and son-in-law, Roy Darting.

On March 5, 1952 he was united in marriage to Mary Beth Muckenthaler in St. Marys.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two sons, Keith Perry and Andy (Donna) Perry all of St. Marys; two daughters, Nancy Darting and Janet (Vern) Sumner all of Rossville; a brother, Don Perry, CA; two sisters, Ada (Bob) Heemstra and Sharon (Chris) Couchois all in CA; 17 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren; a son-in-law, Roger Garver.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, December 1, 2016 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys.  Interment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys.  Mr. Perry will lie in state from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at the church where there will be a rosary recited at 7:00 P.M.  Memorial contributions may be made to Oakley Place and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536

Announcements for 11-28-16

Here are Trey and Malcolm with the video of announcements  for 11/28/16, including video of the State Champion Trophy presentation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3bNqwpp2Wk

Another Article About Title Game

From the Capital-Journal:

HUTCHINSON — In the week leading up to Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game, Rossville coach Derick Hammes heard from plenty of Bulldawg alumni, wishing him and his team the best as it went after a title three-peat.

But one group of Dawg supporters had even more invested in their desires for another Rossville celebration on the field at Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium. For the members of the 1992 Rossville team, Saturday was a bit about payback.

You see, standing in Rossville’s way for the three-peat was the same team that denied the 1992 Bulldawg team from becoming the program’s first state championship squad. That year, Hesston nipped Rossville 3-0 for the Class 3A state title at Wichita’s Cessna Stadium.

Hesston did its best to play the spoiler again Saturday, but Rossville mounted a furious comeback and pulled out the 48-42 overtime win to complete the three-peat and give the past Dawgs a bit of redemption.

“I’m in a group text that gets kind of wild sometimes, but I definitely heard from them,” Hammes said. “But this is true, there is a genuine interest and care in the program from the community to the alumni. And that’s a pretty neat deal.”

The manner in which Rossville got redemption almost came in the most fitting ways, even if the means of getting there was drastically different. The 1992 title game was decided on a 39-yard field goal by Hesston’s Ryan Achilles in the first quarter in a defensive slugfest where the teams combined for just 304 total yards.

After an offensive shootout that produced 1,070 yards of total offense, Saturday’s title game nearly came down to a field goal as well with Rossville’s Freddie Andresen lining up for a 43-yard attempt on the final play of regulation with a chance to break a 42-42 tie. With the wind at his back, Andresen got plenty of leg on the kick, but it sailed just wide right, forcing Rossville to win it in overtime.

“That would have been ironic and he gave it a run,” Hammes said. “It was on line and if that’s a high school goal post, maybe we would have got it.”

Instead, Rossville made the plays in overtime to deliver the crown. Sheldon Hulbert and Cole Schumacher combined on a tackle of Hesston quarterback Zach Esau at the 1 to force a fumble recovered by Bulldawg senior Jordan Johnston in the end zone. One play later, Jacob Bradshaw capped a monstrous performance with a 10-yard scamper to the same northwest corner of the end zone where a year ago he had come up with the title-clinching interception in a 20-19 win over Wichita Collegiate.

“That fumble was huge for us,” Hulbert said. “Our defense had kind of been lagging most of the game, but we stepped up when we needed to.”

A junior, Hulbert will be part of the cast of Bulldawgs who next year will be asked to step up and try to carry on the streak Rossville is riding. After graduating stellar senior classes the previous two seasons off title teams, Rossville will once again have some major holes to fill.

For starters, there’s Bradshaw, who in his first year at quarterback taking over for two-time All-State selection Tucker Horak did a pretty good impression of his former teammate. Bradshaw ran for 281 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 147 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s title game, capping a season that saw him amass more than 4,500 yards of total offense.

That job will fall to Hulbert, who took only a handful of snaps at quarterback this year, completing 1 of 3 passes for four yards and rushing for 44 yards and a touchdown.

“I’m going to have to step up a lot next year and put in a lot of work and try to get as good as I can,” said Hulbert, who started at linebacker all season on this year’s title team. “This year’s senior class had a good class to replace and next year’s will be the same way. It’s going to be a big push for us to try to keep this going. We’re going to work hard and try to get it again.”

There’s also the likes of Schumacher, linebacker Dawson Hammes, linemen Jackson Reeves and Malcom Gillum and receiver/backs Trevor Balch, Wyatt Dyche and Bryce Gfeller from a class of 11 seniors who did their part to keep Rossville atop Class 3A.

“The players at the school, when we get up here we expect to win,” Bradshaw said. “That’s huge for us. We knew we were capable enough to be in this position, but to win it three years in a row, that just continues our dynasty. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the guys perform next year.”

“The bar’s been set pretty high, but our expectations are always high,” Hammes said. “That’s how you build these things. We will do the same things it takes in the offseason and prepare for the games the same way next year.”

State Championship Game Video

WIBW has video of the Hesston-Rossville game at:
http://www.wibw.com/content/news/Three-peat-Rossville-wins-state-title-again-403174606.html

KSNT has video at:
http://ksnt.com/2016/11/26/rossville-three-peats-as-state-champions/

Capital Journal Game Article

HUTCHINSON — The weather was a far cry from the wintry, tundra-like conditions Rossville endured to pull out its Class 3A football championship repeat a year ago.

But on Saturday at Gowans Stadium, the Bulldawgs showed they still had ice in their veins.

Down 15 points to Hesston early in the second half and trailing by a touchdown with four-plus minutes to play in the 3A title game, Rossville showed its championship composure once again. The Bulldawgs calmly drove for the game-tying touchdown with 1:22 left, nearly won it on a field goal as time expired and then delivered the knockout punch in overtime, securing the 3A three-peat with a 48-42 victory over the Swathers.

“I’m just extremely pumped right now,” said Rossville senior quarterback Jacob Bradshaw, whose 10-yard run on the Bulldawgs’ first offensive play of overtime was the game-winner. “We didn’t panic at all and we knew we could get it done.”

Rossville capped a 13-1 season with its third straight state title and avenged the program’s 3-0 1992 state championship game loss to Hesston. The Swathers (10-4) saw their late-season surge which saw them upset two straight unbeatens to get to the title game end in heart-breaking fashion after fumbling the ball at the 1 on their overtime possession.

“This is our third year here and we never give up no matter what happens,” Rossville senior linebacker Dawson Hammes said. “Coach always talks about poise and you just can never forget that.”

As much confidence and poise as Rossville has shown late in tight games — particularly in Hutchinson where both previous state titles were come-from-behind wins in the fourth quarter — the Bulldawgs’ mettle was being pushed to the limit by a Hesston team which had little trouble moving the ball against the Bulldawg defense. The Swathers racked up 509 yards of total offense and every time Rossville seemed to grab a bit of momentum, the Swathers snatched it right back.

Whether it was sophomore Parker Roth in the run game (135 yards, 2 TDs) or senior quarterback Zach Esau with the run (112 yards, 2 TDs) or pass (238 yards, 2 TDs), the Swathers had an answer for everything Rossville came up with, making one wonder just what it would take for the Bulldawgs to get title No. 3.

“This one was tougher because we were down early in the football game and throughout and weren’t doing much right,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “We dug ourselves a hole and credit to them, they made plays and have some great players. We had to fight and scratch to get back in this thing and every little thing mattered. We just made the play at the end when we needed to.”

What Rossville needed was a stop from its defense after Dawson Hammes’ 7-yard touchdown run with 1:22 left in the game forced overtime. Rossville actually got the ball back with 15 seconds left and attempted a 43-yard field goal as time expired, but Frederik Andresen’s kick was just wide right.

Hesston got the ball first in overtime and 4-yard runs from Esau and Roth put the Swathers in prime position to do what it had done all game, convert red zone opportunities into touchdowns. But on third down, Esau lost the ball as he was driving toward the end zone and Rossville senior Jordan Johnston fell on the loose ball.

“I just saw the ball come out and I sprinted to it,” Johnston said. “Our defense was struggling, but we stepped it up when we had to.”

Esau was brilliant otherwise in the game, and Hesston coach Clint Rider wasted no time defending his senior quarterback’s effort.

“He’s going to feel really bad, but we wouldn’t be in this game without Zach Esau,” Rider said. “We wouldn’t have been in the position we were today if it wasn’t for Zach Esau. My heart hurts for that kid.”

Given its shot at victory, Rossville wasted no time capitalizing. Bradshaw, who finished with a monster performance in his final game, sprinted around the left side untouched for a touchdown to the northwest corner of the end zone on the Bulldawgs’ first play, sealing the victory. It was the same corner where he clinched last year’s championship win over Wichita Collegiate, pulling down an interception in the final seconds to preserve the Bulldawgs’ 20-19 win. “We had four plays and we knew we’d get it on one of them,” Bradshaw said of the winning touchdown. “I must really like that end zone.”

Bradshaw finished with 423 yards of total offense, rushing for 275 yards and two touchdowns and throwing for 148 yards and three touchdowns — all three to Cole Schumacher, who had 148 yards receiving. Rossville racked up 561 yards of total offense and 33 first downs with Hammes adding a 106 yards and two scores rushing.

Despite all that offense, Rossville spent much of the game playing catch-up as Hesston struck for 20 first-quarter points behind a punishing ground game for a 20-7 lead. After Rossville closed to 20-13 at halftime on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Bradshaw to Schumacher, Hesston smacked the Bulldawgs right after halftime as Esau hit Zach Vogt for a 61-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second half for a 28-13 lead.

“There was some urgency on our part to start making some plays,” Coach Hammes said. “I have all the faith in the kids and certainly wouldn’t turn my back and panic on them. We knew it was going to be a tough one.”

Rossville methodically climbed back. Bradshaw had a touchdown pass (15 yards to Schumacher) and run (50 yards) in the third quarter and the Bulldawgs finally tied the game 35-35 when Bradshaw hit Schumacher for a 14-yard touchdown with 6:50 left in the fourth quarter and then Trevor Balch for the two-point conversion.

But Hesston came right back and needed just 2:12 to reclaim the lead on Esau’s 2-yard run with 4:38 left. That put the burden back on Rossville’s offense and the Bulldawgs quickly drove from their own 30 and got the score on Hammes’ run with 1:22 left.

With as much trouble as Rossville had had stopping Hesston, Hammes said he considered going for the two-point conversion after the touchdown. Instead, he opted to kick for the tie and take his chances with his team holding Hesston in the final minute-plus and in overtime.

“I did (think about it), honestly,” Hammes said. “But when you think you have the better team, the longer you play, the better chance you have. And I trusted my kids and that the longer this thing went, something would break for us. And it certainly did.”

Rossville (13-1) 7 6 14 15 6 — 48

Hesston (10-4) 14 6 15 7 0 — 42

Hess — Esau 2 run (kick failed)

Ross — Hammes 1 run (Andresen kick)

Hess — Roth 7 run (Vogt pass from Cox)

Hess — Roth 27 run (kick failed)

Ross — Schumacher 44 pass from Bradshaw (kick failed)

Hess — Vogt 61 pass from Esau (Roth pass from Esau)

Ross — Schumacher 15 pass from Bradshaw (pass failed)

Ross — Bradshaw 50 run (Bradshaw run)

Hess — Cox 31 pass from Esau (Whitsitt kick)

Ross — Schumacher 14 pass from Bradshaw (Balch pass from Bradshaw)

Hess — Esau 2 run (Whitsitt kick)

Ross — Hammes 7 run (Andresen kick)

Ross — Bradshaw 10 run

GAME IN FIGURES

Ross Hess

First downs 33 20

Rushes-yards 66-413 41-271

Passing 148 238

Comp-Att-Int 11-16-0 15-26-1

Punts 1-32.0 2-32.5

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 0-0 4-42

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Rossville: Bradshaw 40-275, Hammes 16-106, Foster 5-19, Balch 4-10, Dyche 1-3. Hesston: Roth 19-135, Esau 19-112, Vogt 2-25, Hostetler 1-(minus 1).

PASSING — Rossville: Bradshaw 11-16-0, 148. Hesston: Esau 15-26-1, 238.

RECEIVING — Rossville: Schumacher 9-135, Balch 1-9, Dyche 1-4. Hesston: Cox 9-124, Vogt 4-107, Bachman 2-7.