Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week six of the winter sports season, sponsored by Landmark National Bank of Louisburg.
Michael Seuferling, Junior, Boys Basketball
Louisburg junior Michael Seuferling played a big role in the Wildcats’ second place finish last week at the Baldwin Invitational. Seuferling, along with being assigned to guard the best player on the floor for each of the three games, averaged more than 10 points a game for the Wildcats, including a 17-point performance against Bishop Seabury in the semifinals.
Seuferling was also named to the all-tournament team after recording seven rebounds and nine assists over those three games. Seuferling and the rest of the Wildcats have played well to start 2021 as they are currently ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, despite a buzzer-beating loss to No. 4 Augusta in the championship game.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
Spring Hill hands Louisburg its first loss of season
Louisburg senior Brooklyn Diederich battles Spring Hill’s Cate Milroy for a loose ball Friday in Louisburg.
For the first time all season, the Louisburg girls basketball team walked off the court with that sick feeling in its stomach.
The feeling of defeat.
The Lady Cats, who won their first eight games of the season, came up short in a 52-40 set back Friday at home to Spring Hill. A rough final three quarters sent Louisburg to its first loss of the year.
“It’s never easy to lose, and the girls were disappointed in how we played overall as a team,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “We will get better because of this loss. We can learn from our mistakes and fix them and become a better all-around team. I thought the girls played hard the entire game and did not quit. We played and battled till the buzzer sounded.”
Louisburg (8-1) got out to a fast start against the Broncos as the Lady Cats went on a 12-3 run to open the game.
Shortly after that, the Broncos went to a zone defense and Louisburg didn’t have an answer for it. Shots weren’t falling and the Broncos limited second chance shots.
The Lady Cats were just 1-for-17 from 3-point range and had trouble getting good looks on the inside.
“Our shots were for sure not falling on Friday, but I think we could’ve done a better job moving the ball more in the zone, and looking for better shot options especially since our outside shots were not falling,” Lane said. “Our rebounding could’ve also been better on both ends of the court.”
Junior Delaney Wright skies for a rebound Friday against Spring Hill.
Spring Hill outscored Louisburg 11-4 in the second quarter to take a four-point halftime lead. The game was tied midway through the fourth quarter, but the Lady Cats ran into foul trouble.
Senior Madilyn Melton, one the team’s main inside threats, fouled out midway through the quarter with the game tied at 35-all.
From there, Spring Hill went on a 12-4 run to end the contest and secured the win.
Junior Jordan Mynsted led Louisburg in scoring with 13 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Melton finished with nine points and senior Alyse Moore added seven points and seven rebounds.
Senior Megan Foote pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and also had four assists and two steals.
It is now tournament week for Louisburg as it will compete in the Top Gun Tournament in Wellsville. It is a tournament that not only features the No. 5 Lady Cats, but also the No. 3 team in Class 3A in Nemaha Central and the No. 3 team in Class 5A in Lansing.
Throw in other teams like Spring Hill, Baldwin and Topeka-Hayden – and it will be a challenging three days for Louisburg.
The Lady Cats, who are the No. 1 seed, open up against Wellsville at 5:15 p.m. tonight.
“We are super excited going into this week,” Lane said. “This will be a very challenging week for us, but we will use the games this week to get better as a team and that will help us come postseason.”
Buzzer-beater sinks Wildcats’ chances for Baldwin title
Louisburg senior Ben Guetterman pulls up for a shot in the lane Saturday in the championship game of the Baldwin Invitational against Augusta.
BALDWIN CITY – Louisburg left the Baldwin Invitational on Saturday with its highest regular-season tournament finish in recent memory.
No. 5 Louisburg squared off with No. 4 Augusta in the championship game of what was a battle of two of the top five teams in Class 4A.
The Wildcats were in no mood for celebrating thanks to Augusta’s Brendan Parker.
With the game tied and time running out in the fourth quarter, Parker pulled up from behind the arch and nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to hand the Wildcats a 43-40 loss in the championship game of the Baldwin Invitational.
It was a sour ending to what had been positive tournament experience for Louisburg, up to that point.
“Yeah, our guys were hurting,” Pfannenstiel said. “A buzzer beater always makes it a little bit tougher to swallow, but I think that ending was just a sign of how hard fought the game was on both sides. I think there is always something to learn or gain from a loss.
“We always stress the value of each possession in a game, be it on offense or defense, first quarter or last quarter. Each possession has equal value and it’s easier to understand that lesson when you lose a game on the last possession like we did. The last few possessions get magnified, but in reality, we had many opportunities to win that game within the full 32 minutes.”
In what was a low-scoring affair, the Wildcats took a 20-15 lead at halftime in what was a defensive battle.
Augusta hit a 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter to take a three points advantage, and the Orioles then built that lead to 10, before the Wildcats rallied back.
Weston Guetterman flies through the air for a layup opportunity Saturday against Augusta.
Julian Margrave knocked down a basket and then Weston Guetterman had a steal and a score to knock it down to six. Ben Guetterman scored seven straight points to bring Louisburg within one with under a minute to go
Weston Guetterman drew a foul with 35 seconds left and made 1 of 2 free throws to tie it. Augusta then held the ball for one final shot, which set up Parker’s heroics.
Defense also played a big factor in the contest as both teams were forced to be patient on offense and had limited second chance opportunities.
“Augusta plays a pack line defense so they do a good job of closing down lanes and make you be patient on offense,” Pfannenstiel said. “We were a bit out of rhythm offensively, but our defense was great again. If you hold a team to 43, you’d always say that’s a pretty good performance. Unfortunately, Augusta made one more play than us”
When it was all over, it was announced that three Wildcats made the all-tournament team. Ben Guetterman, Julian Margrave and Michael Seuferling received the honors after a strong 3-game performance.
Senior Konnor Vohs pulls down a rebound Saturday during the title game of the Baldwin Invitational.
On Saturday, Ben Guetterman led Louisburg in scoring with 10 points and Margrave finished with nine points and six rebounds. Weston Guetterman had seven points to go along with eight rebounds and four steals.
“I think this game was a measuring stick for us,” Pfannenstiel said. “Augusta is one of the top teams in the state. For us to go toe to toe with one of the state’s best should give us confidence moving forward. Obviously we aren’t into moral victories, but I think this game will give us the motivation and focus we need to improve and grow as a team.”
Louisburg will try and bounce back tonight when it hosts Piper. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Wildcats advance to title game with wins over Seabury, Wellsville
Louisburg senior Andy Hupp drives to the basket Wednesday against Bishop Seabury in the second round of the Baldwin Invitational.
BALDWIN CITY – Coming off one of its roughest shooting performances of the season the night before against Wellsville, the Louisburg boys basketball team quickly turned it around.
On Wednesday in the second round of the Baldwin Invitational, the Wildcats put together one of their best shooting performances of the season as they rolled Bishop Seabury, 76-41, to advance to the championship game.
The Wildcats shot 62 percent for the game and connected on nine 3-pointers that allowed them to breeze past the Seahawks.
Louisburg (8-2) will meet Augusta in the title game at 3:30 p.m. at Baldwin Jr. High School.
“I don’t know if you could say it was our best, but it was definitely a good offensive performance for us,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “I thought we played well. We looked comfortable on the court and were able to work on some defensive looks that we haven’t used yet in games.”
The Wildcats had no problems scoring from the opening tip as they recorded 25 points in the first quarter and took a 46-23 halftime lead. Louisburg eventually built a big enough lead to force a running clock in the fourth quarter.
Junior Julian Margrave was a problem for the Seahawks most of the night as he finished with a team-high 24 points. Another junior, Michael Seuferling, who is more known for his work on the defensive end, was second on the team with 17 points.
Junior Michael Seuferling goes up for two of his 17 points Wednesday against Bishop Seabury.
“Michael has the capability to really score,” Pfannenstiel said. “There will be times in practice where he just goes on runs. The energy that he plays with is so fun to watch. He literally never stops playing hard. He’s such a good defender and that carries over to his aggressiveness on offense. When he’s on, he can really have some big nights.”
Senior Ben Guetterman also finished in double figures with 11 and also had a team-high seven rebounds.
Point guard Weston Guetterman ran the team well as he had nine points to go along with nine assists and five rebounds. Senior Andy Hupp finished with eight points and senior Dawson Barnes had six rebounds and four assists.
Louisburg now has won five straight since the Christmas break and are playing for a tournament championship for the first time in several years. The Wildcats hope to bring home the title.
“Our kids are excited,” Pfannenstiel said. “It’s hard to believe we are halfway through our regular season. What a way to start the second half of the season with a chance to win a tournament championship. We are definitely looking forward to the opportunity.”
For those wanting to watch today’s game against Augusta, click here.
Everything started well for Louisburg in the opener of the Baldwin Invitational on Tuesday against Wellsville.
The Wildcats took a 10-point lead going into the second quarter and held the Eagles to just three points in the opening frame.
Wellsville battled back to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats used an 11-0 run to pull away for a 58-47 victory.
“We struggled offensively,” Pfannenstiel said. “Give credit to Wellsville, they played tough defense, but we battled through a tough night from the field and still did enough to win. But our kids really executed our defensive game plan perfectly.
“Wellsville really likes to shoot from the perimeter, so we worked hard to not give them any space and make them uncomfortable on offense all night. Our defense has been great. We know that if we play well defensively, we are always going to have a chance.”
Senior Dawson Barnes skies for a rebound Wednesday.
Both teams struggled from the field as the Wildcats shot 36 percent, but Wellsville shot 32 percent on their own. The two teams combined to go just 2-for-32 from the 3-point line.
Defense carried the Wildcats as they forced 21 turnovers and turned those into 18 points. Louisburg was also 21 for 26 from the free-throw line, which was crucial down the stretch.
“The momentum was definitely trending toward Wellsville late,” Pfannenstiel said. “But I think that just shows what kind of character our team has. We kept our focus and made big plays down the stretch to seal the win.”
Senior Ben Guetterman led the way offensively for Louisburg with 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Junior Julian Margrave added 14 and eight rebounds.
Lady Cats down Baldwin for second time this season
Jordan Mynsted goes up for two of her team-high 18 points during Friday’s six-point win at Baldwin High School.
BALDWIN CITY – For the second time in a month, the Louisburg girls basketball team had to face off with Baldwin.
A month ago, Baldwin took the Lady Cats to the wire, but Louisburg hung on by three points back in December. This time, Louisburg had to travel to Baldwin in hopes of keeping its perfect season alive.
Louisburg trailed by one going into the fourth quarter, but the Lady Cats scored 22 points in the final frame to leave with a 57-51 victory over the Bulldogs. It was the Lady Cats’ eighth consecutive win on the season.
“Beating Baldwin on the road was huge,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “The girls were so excited and very proud of themselves. They worked very hard for that win, and afterwards they were very happy.”
There was a lot for the Lady Cats (8-0) to be happy about as they put together a team effort that allowed them to escape with a difficult road victory against one of the Frontier League’s most successful programs in recent years.
Louisburg made the plays in the fourth quarter when it needed it and several of them came from the trio of Madilyn Melton, Megan Foote and Jordan Mynsted.
The three Louisburg players combined for 19 of the team’s 22 points in the fourth and made several key plays down the stretch.
The Lady Cats were also solid on the defensive end despite a couple players having to deal with foul problems.
“I felt the team played great in the fourth quarter,” Lane said, “The girls all did a great job and played their roles. Brooklyn (Diederich) and Megan guarded their two best guards perfectly down the stretch. Brooklyn did a fantastic job playing tough defense even though she had four fouls. Delaney Wright also came in and gave us a spark on the defensive end. She took two charges towards the end of the game that gave our team momentum on the offensive end. Madilyn did a fantastic job against Baldwin’s post player as she blocked her out and stepped and helped when needed.
“Megan, Madilyn, and Jordan had 19 points between the three of them in the fourth quarter. Having multiple girls who can score under pressure says a lot about the maturity of our team.”
Sophomore point guard Brianne Kuhlman tries to drive past a Baldwin defender Friday.
Mynsted led the Lady Cats with 18 points on the night to go along with three blocks. Foote had 13 points but also tallied a team-high eight assists and four steals.
Melton also finished in double figures with 12 points and had five rebounds and four assists from her forward spot.
Sophomore point guard Brianne Kuhlman was a model of consistency for Louisburg. Kuhlman played the entire game and tallied six points and a team-high six rebounds. She also had zero turnovers on the night.
“Brianne did a great job,” Lane said. “She handled the ball the entire game and did not have one turnover. The team definitely looks for her when we rebound and she does a great job staying calm and composed when bringing the ball up and starting the offense in a tight game.”
The Lady Cats’ bench celebrates a big play in the fourth quarter of their 57-51 win over Baldwin.
Louisburg also came through when it needed to from the free-throw line. The Lady Cats knocked down 5 of 7 from the line in the fourth quarter and finished 11-13 for the game.
“Our free-throw shooting is what sealed the win for us,” Lane said. “The girls are very committed to making free throws in pressure situations. We shoot a lot of free throws in practice to help them stay composed during the game.”
Louisburg will continue its difficult schedule Friday when it hosts Spring Hill as the Lady Cats look to keep their perfect season intact. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Wildcats continue winning ways with victory over Baldwin
Junior Julian Margrave looks to haul in a pass in front of the basket Friday against Baldwin.
BALDWIN CITY – January certainly has presented its fair share of challenges for the Louisburg boys basketball team.
The Wildcats started off their season with three games in a row on the road, including last Friday’s game at Baldwin. This week, Louisburg is also playing three games at the Baldwin Invitational and the Wildcats wont’t play their first home game of 2021 until late this month.
Louisburg didn’t look road weary against Baldwin on Friday as the Wildcats took care of business in a 65-49 victory. It was the Wildcats’ third straight win as they continue their positive start to the new year and one that has put them as the No. 5 team in Class 4A.
“It was good to get another win.,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We played well in spurts, but we definitely weren’t as consistent as we were against Bonner. We were a bit out of rhythm offensively. We didn’t seem to move the ball as well and forced some shots.
“You’re going to have those games where things are clicking on all cylinders, but you hope to fix those mistakes watching film and in practice and prepare for the next one.”
The Wildcats got off to a cold start to begin the game as they trailed by two points going into the second quarter, but began to heat up in the second.
Louisburg opened up a 28-23 lead at halftime, and still had five-point lead going into the fourth, when the Wildcats outscored Baldwin 20-9 in the final frame to pull away for the win.
Senior Ben Guetterman pulls up for two of his team-high 20 points Friday against Baldwin.
Senior Ben Guetterman led the Wildcat offense as he finished with a game-high 20 points, including four 3-pointers, and ended four rebounds and three assists.
“Ben has been playing very well,” Pfannenstiel said. “He’s been shooting it better since the break, but he’s at his best when he’s moving and being active without the ball. He’s an aggressive and explosive offensive rebounder.
“Ben has his best games when he plays active within the three point line. When he plays that way and then can add a few makes from the perimeter is when he really sparks us offensively.”
Junior Julian Margrave also had a big night as he helped the Wildcats pull away. He ended up with 19 points, six rebounds and four blocks.
Senior point guard Weston Guetterman also scored in double figures with 14 points and had five rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals.
“Julian had a stretch where he really took over,” Pfannenstiel said. “Our guys did a good job of getting him touches and he made some nice plays at the rim. We need to do a better job as a team of playing through Julian and then working off of that. If he’s getting touches inside, many times teams are double teaming him and that makes for great opportunities for other guys cutting to the rim or moving to get a good shot.”
Junior Michael Seuferling gets a shot up past two Baldwin defenders on Friday.
Defense was also big for the Wildcats in the fourth quarter as they held Baldwin to single digits and forced 16 turnovers for the game. They turned those mistakes into 21 points to help turn the tide.
Junior Michael Seuferling, along with seniors Konnor Vohs, Andy Hupp and Dawson Barnes, have all provided Louisburg good minutes in that regard.
“Baldwin played tough,” We had to work for everything on both ends, but I’ve been pleased with our defensive effort this month – actually all year. We’ve kept all of our opponents in the 40’s so far since break. We have guys that are really embracing their roles as defensive stoppers.
“Michael Seuferling has played great defensively all year. He’s one of the best on ball defenders in our league. Konnor Vohs, Dawson Barnes and Andy Hupp have really been active on the defensive end as well. Those guys cause a lot of problems for other teams. Our goal is to make the other team uncomfortable all game long. Our kids have been playing with tremendous energy and effort and have executed really well.”
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week five of the winter sports season, sponsored by Louisburg Family Dental.
Madilyn Melton, Senior, Girls Basketball
Louisburg senior Madilyn Melton gave the Lady Cats a big boost last week as she played a large role in helping her team to a pair of wins against Bonner Springs and Baldwin. Against Bonner Springs, Melton led Louisburg with 17 points to go along with three rebounds.
Melton made an impact on both ends of the floor for Louisburg in its win over Baldwin last Friday. Melton scored 12 points and added five rebounds and five blocks in the victory, to go along with four assists and two steals. Those victories moved Louisburg to an 8-0 record on the year and the Lady Cats are currently ranked No. 5 in Class 4A.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
Wildcats roll Bonner Springs to pick up second straight win
Senior Konnor Vohs puts up a shot during a game earlier this season. Vohs and the Wildcats cruised to a 70-47 victory over Bonner Springs on Tuesday.
BONNER SPRINGS – For four quarters, the Louisburg boys basketball team had possibly its best performance of the season and it showed in the score.
The Wildcats went on the road to Bonner Springs on Tuesday and came away with a 70-47 win over the Braves to earn their second consecutive victory.
Louisburg, which defeated Eudora a week ago, is off to a good start in 2021.
“This was an important win for us,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We played well at Eudora, but we needed to put back to back games together. It’s honestly the most complete game that we’ve played in my four years as coach. From start to finish, we were really good for all four quarters.
“Bonner is a good team. I knew it was going to take a great effort to win, and fortunately we were clicking on all cylinders.”
The Wildcats (5-2) controlled the first half and took a 35-18 halftime lead and never looked back.
Not only did Louisburg make nine 3-pointers, but they also controlled the glass and did a lot of work on the inside. The Wildcats out-rebounded the Braves by 20 and scored 34 points in the paint.
Junior Julian Margrave finished with a double-double to lead the Wildcats. Margrave finished with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Ben Guetterman had 16 points to go along with eight rebounds.
Senior point guard Weston Guetterman had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Senior Dawson Barnes also had a big game on the glass with seven rebounds, while senior Konnor Vohs added nine points and five rebounds.
“We played team basketball,” Pfannenstiel said. “We had a lot of guys step up and contribute in lots of different ways. We need guys to play with great effort and play to their strengths and everything will come together like it did this time.
“We were good on the glass. We stress the importance of getting all five guys on the defensive boards and the stats show that we did a nice job of that. We have improved in our rebounding since the start of the year. We are focused on what needs to happen when a shot goes up and we execute well.”
Louisburg will try to keep its winning ways going tonight when it travels to Baldwin for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
“I really enjoyed watching us play with energy and confidence,” Pfannenstiel said. “No matter who was on the court or who was on the bench, they were all playing for each other and genuinely happy for each other. We are starting to come together. I hope we can continue to build off of this momentum.”
Lady Cats stay perfect with easy win over Bonner Springs
Louisburg junior Delaney Wright drives to the basket during a game earlier in the season. The Lady Cats downed Bonner Springs, 57-34, on the road Tuesday.
BONNER SPRINGS – The Louisburg girls basketball team once again had their perfect record on the line – and once again – the Lady Cats passed with flying colors.
The Lady Cats jumped out to a 16-point halftime lead Tuesday at Bonner Springs and never looked back in a 57-34 victory over the Braves. The win is the Lady Cats’ seventh straight to start the year.
“Overall, I thought we did a good job as a team,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “I also was very proud of the girls for holding onto their lead and playing smart in the second half. All of the girls on the varsity roster got into the game and all the girls contributed.”
Louisburg focused on getting the ball inside and it seemed to work against Bonner Springs’ zone defense. Senior Madilyn Melton and junior Jordan Mynsted dominated the paint for Louisburg.
Melton finished with a game-high 17 points, while Mynsted also finished in double figures with 13 and had six rebounds.
“Bonner ran a 3-2 zone which was a defense we had not seen yet, so our offense was focused on getting the ball to the inside,” Lane said. “I thought once we recognized the defense the girls did a good job running our offense. Madilyn and Jordan both did a great job finishing. As a team we also rebounded well, and we finished the game with 18 offensive rebounds.”
It wasn’t the best of shooting nights for the Lady Cats as they shot 35 percent for the game, but they attacked the offensive glass and it led to 16 second chance points.
Louisburg out-rebounded Bonner Springs 48-31 and also played well on the defensive end.
Seniors Alyse Moore and Megan Foote were active on the boards. Moore pulled down a team-high 14 rebounds and Foote recorded 12 from her guard spot. Foote also had a team-high five steals and four assists.
“The girls did a great job defensively and being aggressive paid off against Bonner,” Lane said. “We ended the night with 10 steals and 29 defensive rebounds. The team did a great job running the floor and converting the steals and rebounds into baskets.”
Louisburg will square off with Baldwin tonight in a rematch of one the Lady Cats’ closest games of the season. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at Baldwin Jr. High School.
Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week four of the winter sports season, sponsored by IronHorse Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
Megan Foote, Senior, Girls Basketball
Louisburg senior Megan Foote was a big piece to the Lady Cats’ victory over No. 4 Eudora on Friday. Foote was second on the team in scoring with 12 points and had three 3-pointers. She also finished with a team-high three assists to go along with three rebounds.
It was Foote’s defense that helped lead the way as well. She shadowed all-state player Harper Schriener most of the game, which was key in the Lady Cats’ win.
The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.
