HIGH PLAINS LEAGUE

by Krista Norton | April 30, 2020

Kansas State High School Association recently announced the All-League honors for the 2019-2020 basketball season. 

According to Syracuse High School Athletics Director, Dan Delgado, the recipients are chosen by selections made by each individual coach.  The players are then voted on by the High Plains League coaches.  Coaches may not vote on their own players. 

Three SHS girls’ basketball players received HPL honors. 1st team was Margo Stum, 2nd team, Carly Kullot and Kate Riley. 

According to head coach Kendra Fyler, Stum came into this season with a different attitude and big goals for herself and the team, coming to practice every single day ready to work hard. She strived to make herself better and make everyone around her work harder as well, leading the team as the captain, both vocally and by example. 

Fyler said proudly, “Margo was picked unanimously by the other coaches in the league for first team and I was happy to see that her hard work and talents had been recognized.” 

Margo ended the season averaging 11.2 points per game, shooting 51% from the field, 7.1 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists, and 2 steels. She was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Lady Bulldogs. She also had three double-doubles, meaning she had double-digit number total in three of five statistical categories, points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocked shots in one game which was during the Boarder Wars vs Walsh where she also scored 30 points.   

Carly Kullot, according to Fyler, was a great senior leader for the team and a consistent player for the Bulldogs. Kullot played many different positions on offense, depending on who was on the floor, and could guard anyone on the court from point guard to tall posts. 

Flyer explained Kullot did a great job driving to the basket, getting to the free throw line, and had a great outside shot. Kullot finished the season averaging 8.7 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists, and 1.8 steels, having one double-double on the season. “I could always count on Carly to play hard and be there for her team,” stated Flyer.

Kate Riley took on a new role for the Lady Bulldogs this year and became one of the main ball-handlers. Fyler felt she really pushed herself this season to become a better shooter and all around more consistent player. 

Flyer felt Riley was their top defender and they could count on her to shut down the other team. Fyler commented, “she showed up to practice ready to play hard every day and push her teammates to be better,” adding, “since she is only a junior this year, Coach Wahlmeier and I have set big goals for her for next season and I’m excited to see where that takes her.”

Riley finished the season averaging 8.4 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steels, finishing the season shooting 21/71 from three-point, shooting 30%.

Three SHS boys’ basketball players received HPL honors for the 2019-2020 season.  2nd team, Damian Ramirez and Austin Plunkett and honorable mention honors went to Cody Doze. 

Head Coach Bryce Simon commented, “I think anyone that watched us play throughout this year could see how important Damian, Austin and Cody were to our success.” 

Simon reports that Ramirez and Plunkett were first or second in most of the team’s statistical categories and each had individual games where they were flat out unstoppable offensively. Simon was most impressed with the unselfishness they displayed at times throughout the season when they were asked to do what was best for them and/or the team. 

When speaking of Doze, Simon explained “he displayed that same unselfishness, drawing the assignment of guarding the opposing team’s best player and usually did it extremely well!”  Simon knows spending that much energy on the defensive end can sometimes hinder you offensively but even then, Doze was still able to give the team huge games offensively and be a great outside threat. 

Simon said, “we would also like to acknowledge that without a tremendous effort by the entire team these players would not have been able to achieve the individual success that they did, giving special recognition to the three seniors, Luke Finlay, Drake Durler and Zared Vernon.”