The 5A Kansas State High School Activities Association state basketball tournament is ready to take over White Auditorium this week.
This will mark the 25th consecutive year that Emporia has hosted a state tournament in one of the KSHSAA classifications. Last year White Auditorium played host to the class 4A Division II tournament.
This year KSHAA did away with both the 4A Division II and 1A Division II classifications. Despite the decrease in classes, tournament director Tom McEvoy says he was never concerned about the possibility of Emporia hosting a state tournament.
Along with the warm and welcoming atmosphere, Emporia is also well known for the quality of its hospitality room which was run for years by Judy Dunn. Sadly, Dunn passed away last year, however, in recognition of her hard work and welcoming attitude, McEvoy says the hospitality room will from now on be named the Judy Dunn Hospitality Room in her honor.
Hosting a state tournament is no small task, and McEvoy says they have a large force ready to help tackle it.
The 16 teams heading to Emporia include McPherson, Topeka Seaman, St. Thomas Aquinas, Maize South, Goddard, Blue Valley Southwest and Kansas City Schlagel in the girl’s bracket. In the boy’s bracket, the teams attending are Maize, St. James Academy, Andover Central, Pittsburgh, Bonner Springs, Bishop Carol, Baesor Lindwood and Salina Central.
The 5A state tournament gets underway Wednesday at 3 pm with the girl’s side of the bracket. The first game will feature Mcpherson taking on Topeka Seaman.
KVOE will be covering the Waverly and Olpe Girls and Lebo boys from the 1A state tournament in Dodge City, starting Wednesday. Those games will be broadcast on Country 101.7 fm and KVOE.com.
