March 1 - Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Lansing boys, girls teams to play at state tournamentSource: The StarRod Briggs’ three-year goal for the Lansing basketball program —to make the state tournament — was met with last weekend’s 71-61 victory over Washington in a 5A substate championship game.Briggs, in his third season as Lansing’s head coach, knew hecould build a program that could compete against the best teamsand play in the 5A state tournament. He also knew it wouldn’t beeasy.advertisement “This has been a three-year process of hard workin the summer from dedicated players,” Briggssaid. “We started three years ago with no returning starters, andonly one player who had (varsity) experience. It proves hard workand dedication pay off.”Lansing played hard from the start against Washington in buildinga 17-11 lead heading into the second quarter. The Lions outscoredWashington 26-18 in the second quarter in taking a 43-29 halftimelead.“We got off to a great start,” Briggs said. “We played probably thebest basketball we have played all year in the first half.”Washington put together a 22-15 run in the fourth quarter, butLansing made its free throws down the stretch in securing theprogram’s fourth trip to state. Lansing played in the 4A tournamentin 2003, and also went to state in 1990 and 1950.more boys basketball...• Johnson County boys state tournmentpreview• Platte County, Kearney take aim atbasketball state championships• Out-of-town games haven’t stoppedSoutheast boys• Sumner Academy knocks off St. JamesAcademy 68-51• Grandview beats Liberty in MissouriClass 5 quarterfinalsyou might also like...• Lansing falls in 5A substate final• Lansing defeats Basehor-Linwood• Improved Schlagle girls fall in substatefinal; Lansing wins• Lansing rolls over Atchison• Rush helps to power LansingCody Rush led a balanced offense with 22 points. Lansing hadfour other players score at least nine points.No. 3-seeded Lansing (19-3) will play Salina Central (14-8 and the sixth seed) at 8:15 Thursday night at the KansasExpocentre in Topeka.Basehor-Linwood boysAfter several failed attempts to win a substate title and advance to the Class 4A statetournament, Basehor-Linwood is state-bound.The Bobcats were helped by a clutch fourth-quarter shooting performance from senior guard Tanner Bowers, whoscored 12 points in the quarter. He also made some key free throws in helping Basehor-Linwood earn a 68-50victory over Tonganoxie in a 4A substate final.Bowers finished with 17 points. Senior Chandler Schaake scored 15.Basehor-Linwood (19-4 and the sixth seed) will play Wichita Trinity Academy (22-1 and the third seed) in the 4Astate tournament at 8:15 tonight at the Bicentennial Center in Salina.Lansing girlsA big second half lifted Lansing to a 50-42 victory over Topeka Seaman in a Class 5A substatechampionship game Friday night at Lansing.