League coaches pick Tiger girls third, boys fourth

PITTSBURG -- Defending girls' champion Fort Scott was picked to finish third while defending boys' tri-champ Fort Scott was tabbed four fourth at the Southeast Kansas League pre-season media conference here Monday.

Tiger girls, 16-0 in the league and 18-4 overall last season, received two first-place votes and received the most top-three votes, eight.

The boys, who tied with Labette County and Pittsburg for the first three-way the for the championship in league history, received two top-three votes. Coffeyville received six first-place votes and eight top-three votes.

Coffeyville assistant boys' coach and athletic director Frank Sills, who spoke for head coach Dan Wall as he was unable to attend, remembered that the Golden Tornado were picked to win the league last season and jokingly called the prediction the "kiss of death." Coffeyville finished fifth, two games out of first.

Chanute was the choice to win the girls' side of the SEK, although four teams received first-place votes. The Blue Comets, who tied for fourth with Coffeyville and Iola last season, received four first-place votes and six top three-votes. They had 56 points in tabulation.

Comet head coach Megan Reid noted her team lost only one senior from last year's team but won't have Amy Weilert until the end of the season if they're fortunate as she tore her ACL during the summer.

Labette County, which tied for second place with Independence last year, had two first-place votes, seven top-three votes and 54 total points as they were picked for second place. Head coach Kristi Snider reported between 42 and 45 signed up to play this season. The Grizzlies return three starters.

Fort Scott had 53 points in the tabulation. Head coach Jeff Armstrong said that numbers are low with 12 freshmen and just 15 in the top three classes reporting.

Independence was chosen fourth with one first-place vote, two top threes and 42 points. Iola was fifth in voting with 41 points and four top threes.

Pittsburg was chosen sixth with 33 points, Parsons seventh with 17 and Coffeyville and Columbus were tied for eighth with 14 points each.

On the boys' side, Sills said there were expected to be 50 players out at Coffeyville, which received 61 points in voting.

Parsons was chosen second with two first-place and eight top-three votes and a total of 57 points. Head coach Mike Krull expected 36 players out with six of those returning with varsity experience.

Pittsburg was chosen third with one first-place vote, six top threes and 50 points. Head coach Kiley Roelfs said his team had lost just two starters but that they were both key inside players.

Fort Scott picked up 34 points in voting. Head coach Jeff DeLaTorre said that 20 players in the top three classes and 12 freshmen were expected to report. The Tigers (12-4, 14-8) will return two full-time starters and one part-time starter.

"I think we will have a good bunch of kids," DeLaTorre told the assembled media. "We're excited to start working with them."

Labette County and Independence were tied for fifth and each received a top three-vote. They each had 34 points.

LCHS head coach Brad Smith begins his 26th season as a head coach with three senior lettermen. Independence head coach Matt Bromley has two returning starters and hopes that the success Indy's football team had this season can spill over into basketball season.

Rounding out the SEK poll were Chanute with 27 points, Iola eighth -- although it did receive a top-three vote -- with 17 points and Columbus bringing up the rear with 11 points.

The first day teams could practice in Kansas was Monday. Play begins in about 2 1/2 weeks with Fort Scott's teams tipping things off with games against Broken Arrow (Okla.) on the first day of the Willard Classic round-robin tournament Dec. 3.

x -- League champion.

x -- League co-champions.