New coach, new season, new expectations for Braves baseball

Angelique McNaughton, Special to the Chieftain

March 26, 2014

At the beginning of the school year, Adam Loecker had no idea that he would eventually be taking over the Bonner Springs High boys baseball program as the head coach when the season started.

Former coach Scott Lero resigned in the middle of the school year leaving the position up for grabs.

Loecker was already in the district and had joined on with the program last summer but he would have his hands full. As a first year coach, he was picking up a struggling program that had went 2-18 in 2013.

“Actually, it’s motivating because of the fact that I can actually do something to make an impact on the program because we can always go up,” he said. “We are kind of at the bottom of the barrel right now and the only thing that we can do is go up.”

Fortunately for Loecker, the transition’s gone smoothly.

“I don’t think it has been difficult,” he said. “They are willing to listen and learn because you know, new coach, new standards, different philosophy. But you know baseball is baseball and I think they are willing to ask questions and they are coachable players for the most part.”

Junior shortstop Roman Glenn, who has been a varsity player since his freshman year, has an optimistic outlook on the impending season.

“I feel like if we play to our potential that we have, we can go pretty far,” Glen said. “We have a new coach, so we do have those new standards and if we do all the little things right, we can take it away.”

So what are those new standards?

For the former JUCO pitcher, developing a pitching staff is the first step. The McPherson native pitched for two years at Hutchinson Community College before concentrating on his education at Kansas State University, where he graduated from in 2012 before coming to BSHS as a math teacher.

“We have to start somewhere and I think they are going to be the glue to the team,” he said. “That’s what I preach to our guys everyday-pitching and defense- because bat’s don’t come everyday but pitching and defense, we can have that on a day-to-day basis and hopefully that is what holds our team together.”

Junior center fielder Thaddeus Glenn said consistent pitching would solve some of last season’s shortcomings.

“We didn’t have great pitching and there were a lot of balls and walks and it was a big problem,” Glenn said.

Focusing on pitching and defense could potentially propel the Braves to at least a .500 win season, Glenn said.

“I think we are capable of that and we could probably make it to state,” he said. “I’m just excited and ready to see how the season will go.”

The Braves enter the season with a relatively young roster consisting of one senior and a handful of juniors and sophomores.

“We had (more than) 40 guys try out this year and that was pleasing to see because that means there is interest in the program,” Loecker said. “If you get interest in the program then I think you can start developing players and wins will start to come that way.”

Loecker and the Braves will be relying on lone senior — Maison Patchett — not only as a leader, but as a utility player.

“I ask more of him than I do of anybody else on the team and I think he is going to be ready to carry that weight,” Loecker said.

Patchett, who pitches and plays shortstop and catcher, said he is ready to make the most of his final season with the Braves.

“I just want to do good so I can go to college,” he said. “I want to win more games and just be more consistent as a team and play good every game, not just every now and then.”

Loecker said he’s not too worried about wins and losses. He said progress and improvement are more important than a aiming for a winning record at this point.

“I’m worried about what can we do to get better,” he said. “That’s basically the goal I have. Did we take a step forward or did we take a step back? And hopefully everyday we are going to be moving in the right direction and wins will start to pile up.

“We can make a run that way, but if we are not getting better then we are not winning games,” Loecker said.

The Brave’s season opens Thursday with a double-header against Mill Valley.

“I’m excited, probably more excited than some of the players because I’m out here doing what I enjoy,” Loecker said. “I probably have more butterflies than a lot of the players do because it’s been a challenge so far but it’s been a fun challenge.”

Williams has lofty expectations for Lady Braves swim team

Angelique McNaughton, Special to the Chieftain

March 26, 2014

After a successful season last year as Kaw Valley co-champions, Bonner Springs High girls swimming coach Preston Williams has high expectations for his team.

With 15 on his squad this season, including returning varsity swimmers Robyn Lewis and Madison Stumbough, the second-year coach said he is encouraged with what he has seen since practice started March 3.

“They are working hard and I think they are doing well so far,” he said.

The Lady Braves lost four swimmers last season, but have a heavy freshman presence with swimmers that have experience in both the pool and with Williams.

He lauded freshman Brenna Holt and Alayna Dooley as strong breast strokers who will most likely contribute well to the relay teams.

“I want to get those relays to state again, and I want to see them improve,” Williams said. “And those girls can help.”

The Lady Braves qualified all three relays for state last season, as well as four individual events.

Lewis is the Lady Braves’ top returning state placer, after breaking two school records in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle as a freshman. She was also on the two freestyle relays, 200 yard and 400 yard, that broke school records, as well.

“Going to state was such a big thing for me as a freshman and I knew going into sophomore year that it was going to be crazy because everyone is going to have high expectations of me,” Lewis said. “That puts pressure on me but that also motivates me.”

Despite an injury prone off-season, Lewis said physically, she feels 100 percent but isn’t exactly where she would like to be mentally.

“That brought me down mentally and I just need to get my mindset back and have faith in myself,” she said. “I think after our first meet I need to put myself out there to just race and see where I’m at.”

Williams said he has named Stumbough, who was on three relays last year, as a team captain. The other captain will be chosen his week.

Considering her previous season, Williams said is looking forward to see how she will fare.

“She was real close to making it to state last year and I really want to get her to state in an individual event this year,” he said. “She swims pretty much anything and she’ll definitely be on all of our freestyle relays.”

Returning juniors Morgan Lawrence and Amber Lies will be competing for spots on relays, along with Australian exchange student Danielle Hasking.

“Freestyle is her strength and she is an experienced swimmer who will definitely be contributing on our relays,” Williams said of Hasking.

The Lady Braves have one senior — first year swimmer Sasha Bingaman — who could also be competing for a spot on a relay.

In anticipation of the squad’s first meet April 3 at the Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka, the Lady Braves will be running time trials all this week.

“Our first meet is actually huge,” he said. I’m excited about that and I’m just really excited in general because I think we should have a good season. Our numbers are growing and I’m ready to see where the season takes us.”

Lady Braves fall in sub-state championship to Bishop Miege

Angelique McNaughton

March 11, 2014

De Soto — The Bonner Springs’ High girls basketball team was made short work of by Bishop Miege High during the sub-state finals.

The second-seeded Lady Braves failed to get anything going offensively on Saturday night and were down 20 points at the half, before eventually falling 67-40 to the Stags.

“They were just a lot better team than we were,” BSHS head coach Clay Oakes said. “They had us out manned every possession. They were very athletic and quick and we had a lot of problems getting the ball down the floor against their pressure.”

Julianne Jackson scored 11 points, and Caitlin Reed added seven, as the Lady Braves’ (15-7) season ended just one game shy of a Class 4A-I state appearance.

“We had some good things happen when we could get into our offense but unfortunately, we dug a whole early, had a lot of turnovers and were down most of the game,” Oakes said. “We didn’t do a whole lot of anything well and there were not very many bright spots the whole night.”

Miege (19-3) dominated the entirety of the game, taking the lead 23-7 in the first quarter before extending the lead to 25 by the end of the third.

“We won’t let a game like that ruin what we’ve accomplished the rest of the year in terms of injuries and adversities we’ve overcame,” Oakes said.

The Lady Braves advanced to the sub-state finals after a 46-38 victory against Sumner Academy Thursday night at De Soto High, without starter Kayleigh Taylor.

Jackson led the Lady Braves with 15 points, while Miyah Hightower added eight and Kyliea Jarrett had seven. Jarrett will graduate in May along with fellow senior Kennedy Bizzell.

While the girls prepare for a break, Oakes is already thinking ahead to his new roster and next season.

“I’m ready to get the ball rolling again in May and go from there,” he said.

Bonner Springs girls one game away from state with win against Sumner

Angelique McNaughton

March 6, 2014

De Soto — Julianne Jackson scored 15 points in Bonner Springs High’s 46-38 sub-state victory over the Sumner Academy on Thursday night at De Soto High.

Miyah Hightower added eight points and Kyliea Jarrett had seven for the Lady Braves, who earned a No. 2 seed going into Thursday night after finishing the regular season 14-5.

The Lady Braves took an early lead in the first quarter near the four minute mark and never lost it.

The Sabres were held to just four points during the second quarter and ended the half down 21-11, but cut the lead to single digits with 2:24 left in the game after back-to-back three pointers.

Jackson scored a two-point bucket off of an inbound play late in the fourth quarter, that the Sabres followed with a layup to get within six with 55.8 seconds left.

A Sabres turnover prompted a full timeout from BSHS head coach Clay Oakes with 29.5 seconds remaining in the game.

Quick subsequent fouls put the Lady Braves’ Hightower at the free throw line to extend the lead to 46-38 and put the game out of reach for the Sabres.

“Well, we survived and moved on to the next round,” Oakes said. “It wasn’t pretty and we had a lot of things that we had to adapt to tonight.”

The Lady Braves’ roster remains thin without starter Kaleigh Taylor, who was sitting on the bench with a boot on her left foot Thursday night.

“That was a big shakeup for us so we had to adapt to that it was a little sloppy at times and at atimes we did things ok ,“ he said. “We are going to have to come out and relax (on Saturday) because we came out real tense and tight tonight and we know we didn’t play our best tonight but we will try and clean it up a little bit on Saturday and see what will happen there.”

BSHS will play Bishop Miege High on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to the state tournament in Salina.

Lady Braves led from start to finish in victory against Lansing

Angelique McNaughton

January 11, 2014

Lansing — The Bonner Springs High girls took control of the game early on and never lost the lead in their 59-40 win over Lansing High.

“It was a tough win and a good bounce back game for us,” BSHS coach Clay Oakes said, referring to the Lady Braves’ 46-38 loss to Piper High on Tuesday. “We didn’t play with much intensity then, but we had a great team effort tonight.”

The Lady Braves (4-2) got into some foul trouble early in the game forcing Oakes to look to his bench and rotate through 11 players during the game.

“Luckily we had a deep bench and all 11 players scored,” Oakes said.

Tanya Hernandez saw her first start as point guard for the Braves, and for the third game in a row Caitlin Reed scored in double figures. Both Kaleigh Taylor and Julianne Jackson got into foul trouble in the second and third quarters, respectively and saw limited minutes on defense for the remainder of the game.

After letting the Lions get within nine late in the fourth quarter, BSHS eventually extended the lead to 16 with 1:52 left.

“It seems like once we get a big lead we kind of ease up a little bit and let teams crawl back into it,“ Oakes said. “But we just want to continue to build and get to where we develop that killer instinct because we are still pretty young. We haven’t developed that killer instinct yet, and when we get to that point, we can put teams away and then we are going to be a pretty good team.”

Lansing too much after the first quarter

After taking the lead briefly in the first quarter for the only time in the game, the Bonner Springs High boys basketball team was unable to recover and eventually fell to undefeated Lansing High 76-49 during Friday night’s Kaw Valley League matchup.

Aaron McGee led the Braves (3-4) with 14 points, Jordan Jackson added 10 points and Devante’ McGee scored seven points.

The Braves were down 14-12 at the end of the first quarter, but an 8-0 run by the Lions (7-0) late in the second quarter went unanswered.

“We played really well that first half and I applaud our guys for playing hard for one half,” BSHS coach Dan Streit said. “Hopefully our guys can figure out how to put four quarters together.”

The Braves were hoping to bounce back after a 75-50 loss to Piper on Tuesday and will turn around and host Tonganoxie (3-4) on Tuesday.

“We match up nice with Tonganoxie,” Streit said. “While we don’t quite have the chemistry that we want, we are better chemistry-wise than we were last year and I think we are getting there.”

BSHS boys swim team sixth at Turner on Tuesday

By Angelique McNaughton

January 9, 2013

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Kansas City, Kan. — The Bonner Springs boys swim team continued to shave time off of individual and group events at Tuesday’s Turner Invitational, but failed to place within the top five as a team.

On their first day back in the pool after winter break, the Braves were three swimmers shy of their normal roster.

Placing sixth with 16 points, the Braves were three points behind Washington and nine points ahead of De Soto in the seven-team meet. Coffeyville placed first with 173 points.

“We got beat by a few teams we’ve beat in the past,” BSHS coach Preston Williams said, referring to Washington. “But we continue to take time off of our medley relay and I think we can definitely take more time off if they can get everybody to come together.”

“It could possibly be a state team,” Williams added.

Junior Thomas Hook shaved 19 seconds off of his 500 freestyle time and won his heat in the 50 yard freestyle, shaving .08 seconds off of that time.

After his last event, Hook said he was satisfied with his performance for the day in his two events, as well as his teams.

“I thought our team did  a lot better today,” Hook said. “They were going faster and I can tell they are getting a lot better.”

First year swimmer Junior Jack Klingele took time off of every event he competed in, including four seconds off of his 100-yard freestyle time and three seconds off of the his 100-yard breaststroke time.

Still trying to catch his breath following the 400-yard freestyle relay, Klingele said he swam better and had better times than he had all season.

“I think I’ve done better than I had before and I think our team did really good, too,” he said. “We didn’t give up, even though we were tired, and we just kept swimming.”

Freshman Griffin Mareske also improved his times in the breaststroke and the butterfly.

“He got faster in everything he did and I was happy about that,” Williams said. “I am excited about his future as a swimmer.”

Williams said he saw some great things on Tuesday, but that he also saw mistakes that need to be worked out within the last month of the season if the Braves want to qualify swimmers for the Feb. 16 state meet.

“The biggest weakness I saw was coming off the wall and taking a big breath, slowing us down,” he said. “We need to get better off the wall and on our starts.”

Beyond that, it’s a lot of rotation not just in the shoulders, but in the hips, he said, most of which comes from strength and effort.

“It’s a lot of just getting stronger, faster and putting the time in,” Williams said. “We have to get them faster in the water because I feel like we could get within that state consideration time.”

The Braves have six meets left to qualify swimmers for state, including the league championship meet on Feb. 6 back at Turner.

“I really, really want to get some kids to state,” Williams said. “This first half of the season we focused on technique and have a long way to go … got to get them working harder, doing a lot more sprints and a lot more of really challenging them in practice beyond technique.”

The Braves travel to Lawrence on Thursday for the Free State Invitational.

“I expect them to have a good meet and take some time off,” Williams said. “It should be really good competition.”