District finals set

After four entertaining days of basketball the district final matchups are set for both the boys and girls.

The boys decided their champion tonight at 7 p.m. when Lee's Summit North squares off against host Blue Springs South.

The Broncos have defeated the Jaguars twice this season and both by comfortable margins. The thing that seems to give the Jaguars trouble is the way the Broncos play defense. They can really get after you on the defensive end and that has led to fast starts in both games for North, as they cruised to a pair of wins.

Of course, this time of year, anything can happen. South put together a solid game in a win against Lee's Summit in the semis Wednesday night, and they'll have to do that again if they want to continue their season. They need to execute offensively and establish a presence inside with Shawn Meyer.

For the Broncos, if they continue to play solid defense, they should advance. They can have their struggles offensively, but they can beat you with their defense, which helps them create offense in transition.

As for stopping Meyer, Chase Salazar and David Kravish should be able to neutralize him as long as they don't get into foul trouble. As long as the Broncos don't sleep-walk through this one, they should advance into the state sectional against either Grandview or Rockhurst.

The girls matchup pits Lee's Summit North against top-seeded Blue Springs.

The Wildcats defeated the Broncos twice this season in conference play. They are clearly the most explosive offensive team on this side of the state but they can be beat, just ask Liberty.

The Broncos will have to win with defense, which is exactly what senior Lauren Dudenhoeffer said after Thursday night's 30-28 win over Lee's Summit. Blue Springs isn't a team you try and outscore, you have to try and slow them down.

Dudenhoeffer and Ashley Creason will have their hands full inside with Azia Washington and Cee Cee Burris, but if they avoid foul trouble I don't see either of those Wildcat post players taking over the. Dudenhoeffer and Creason are good enough defenders to stop that from happening.

But the way the Wildcats will really try to get after the Broncos is with their press. They are all over the place, circling like sharks in the water. North will have to be under control and not get in a fast-paced game like Blue Springs wants. If they do that, it could be a long night.

If the Broncos can get passed the Wildcat press, they will need big games out of Dudenhoeffer and Creason, but they'll also need some other girls to step up, like Codi Fritchie and Mollie Williams. Those two had a good first game against the Wildcats by doing damage from long-range, and they'll need that again to open things up inside.

It's tough pick against the Wildcats, but don't be surprised if the Broncos give them all they can handle and pull off an upset.

Check back soon to see who's moving on!