Another year of high school hoops has wrapped up in North Central Kansas, bringing me to my picks for the Northern Plains League in 2022-23. I say this most years, but it was another very tough season to narrow the picks down to 15 (or 16) players. Specifically on the boys side, I started with 27 names on my list. I will say as a tie-breaker on some of these picks on both the boys and girls side, I looked at the coach selections. As I did last season, due to injury, I’ll have a player on honorable mention, and unfortunately, it’s the same player as last season. I feel like players that are clearly on track for a great season but see their season cut short due to injury definitely deserve credit for what they were able to do prior. Disclaimers: these are just one man’s OPINION on this basketball season. My opinion is also not that of my employer.
Boys 1st Team
Jonny Hamel, 5’9″, Jr., G, Osborne Bulldogs
Hamel is on my first team for the second straight season. He helped lead the Osborne Bulldogs to a 19-3 overall finish and an NPL regular season title at 12-0. Hamel averaged 18.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.6 spg, 3.8 apg and shot 47% from the floor. He also made a team-high 42 three-pointers this season and shot 82% from the free throw line (58-71). Hamel scored in double figures in all 22 games this season and had 20 points or more nine times, scoring his career high of 26 at Victoria on December 13.
Valden Dohl, 6’3″, Sr., G/F, Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs
Dohl is also on my first team for the second straight season. After a break-out season in 2021-22 when he averaged 13.1 ppg, he added even more offense for the 15-7 Mustangs. Dohl put up 18.4 ppg and added 6.4 rpg, 4.1 apg and 2.0 spg. He also shot 43% from the floor and made 65 three-point shots, shooting 35% from beyond the arc. He also added a 72% free throw mark, finishing 34-47 for the season. Dole scored in double figures in 20 of the Mustangs’ 22 games and had eight games of 20 or more points and two over 30. He added three double-doubles, including a 38-point career high performance with 11 rebounds against Lincoln on February 24. He also scored 32 in a win at Wilson on February 10.
Daniel Eilert, 6’2″, Jr., F/C, St. John’s/Tipton Blujays
After being a second team pick last season, Eilert moves up to the first team after a solid junior season, helping lead St. John’s/Tipton to a 19-6 finish and a 1A-DII State Tournament berth. Eilert led the Blujays, averaging 12.9 ppg and 8.6 ppg. He shot 45% from the floor and 65% (65-103) at the free throw line. The junior scored in double figures 19 times and had ten double-doubles on the season. Eilert scored a career high 23 points in St. John’s/Tipton’s win at Tescott on January 27.
Ross Hutson, 6’1″, Sr., G/F, Lakeside Knights
Hutson has never been on my all-NPL team, but as a senior, he was the only player that returned to the Lakeside boys basketball team with a lot of varsity experience after they graduated six seniors from a team that was one win away from State last season. Hutson helped lead the Knights to a 12-11 record, averaging a team-high 13.2 ppg and adding 7.6 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.6 spg. He shot 37% from the floor and made a team high 41 three-point shots, while shooting 69% (46-67) from the free throw line. Hutson scored in double figures 15 times this season and added five double-doubles. He scored his career high of 20 in a win over Wilson in the NPL Tournament on January 16.
Dylan Bice, 6’2″, Sr., G, Thunder Ridge Longhorns
Bice has gotten recognition on my all-league team all four seasons of his high school career, but this is the first time he has made the first team. He helped lead the Thunder Ridge Longhorns to a 16-7 finish and a Sub-State semifinal appearance this season. Bice led the Longhorns with 14.3 ppg, adding 7.3 rpg, 3.2 spg and 3.0 apg. He scored in double figures 15 times this season and had 20 or more points on five occasions, including a career-high 30 points in Thunder Ridge’s Sub-State opening win over Natoma on February 24. Bice shot 48% from the floor this season and made 25 three-pointers. He also shot 58% from the free throw line at 62-107.
Boys 2nd Team
Andy Cooper, 5’10”, So., G/F, Pike Valley (12.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.6 apg; 64% FG; 52% FT)
Trenton Welch, 6’6″, So., F/C, Southern Cloud (12.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.2 bpg; 40% FG)
JaShawn Dodds, 6’6″, Sr., C, Thunder Ridge (10.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.2 spg; 54% FG)
Cooper McDill, 5’11”, So., G, Rock Hills (13.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg; 50% FG; 52% FT)
Levi Cool, 6’3″, Sr., G, Southern Cloud (11.2 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.5 rpg; 40% FG; 33% 3’s (30 total); 69% FT
Boys 3rd Team
Jace Cunningham, 6’2″, So., G, Lakeside (11.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg; 44% FG; 22 3-pointers; 57% FT)
Dalton Garman, 5’10”, So., G, Osborne (11.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.8 spg; 40% FG; 39% 3’s (39 total); 71% FT)
Matthew Lawson, 6’2″, Jr., F, Sylvan-Lucas (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg; 56% FG; 53% FT)
Luke Bates, 6’1″, Sr., G/F, St. John’s/Tipton (8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg; 33% FG; 57% FT)
Edward Horinek, 5’9″, Fr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (10.5 ppg, 2.5 spg; 42% FG; 34% 3’s (43 total); 65% FT)
Girls 1st Team
Trinity Lutters, 5’4″, Sr., G, Osborne Bulldogs
Lutters joins St. John’s/Tipton’s Lauryn Dubbert as the only players who have been on my first team all four years of their high school career. Lutters averaged a team high 19.0 ppg this season for the 20-3 Osborne Lady Bulldogs. She scored in double figures in 20 of the 22 contested games, finishing her career with 86 of 91 games in double figures. She also wrapped her career with 1,746 points, averaging 19.2 ppg over her four years. In 2022-23, Lutters scored 20 or more in ten games and had two games over 30 points, tying her career high with 32 in Osborne’s win over Wilson in the 3rd place game of the NPL Tournament. Lutters also added 3.4 rpg, 3.4 spg and 3.0 apg and shot 48% from the floor this past season. She also added 31 made three-pointers and shot 78% (66-85) from the free throw line.
Lauren Whelchel, 5’9″, Sr., G/F, Rock Hills Grizzlies
Whelchel is on my first team for the third consecutive season. She helped lead Rock Hills to an 11-11 finish in 2022-23, averaging a team-high 16.1 ppg and adding 7.7 rpg, 2.3 apg and 2.0 spg. She scored in double figures in 20 of the team’s 22 games this season and added seven double-doubles. She scored a season high 27 against Lakeside on February 3 in Mankato. Whelchel leaves Rock Hills as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She became the first player in school history to surpass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career.
Keeli Knobbe, 5’10”, Sr., G/F, Sylvan-Lucas Mustangs
Knobbe is also now a three-time first team selection for me. She averaged a team-high 16 ppg and added 7.4 rpg, 3.7 spg and shot around 45% from the floor, 30% from three-point land and 84% from the free throw line this season. Knobbe helped lead the Lady Mustangs to a 16-7 overall finish and a 9-3 record in the NPL. She scored a career-high 29 at Thunder Ridge on February 3. Knobbe also surpassed the 1,000 point mark in her career during her final season.
Kylie Bergmann, 5’6″, Sr., G, Lakeside Knights
After a breakout season and a 2nd-team selection last season, Bergmann is on my first team for 2022-23. She continued her ascension as one of the top players in the league in averaging 17.7 ppg as well as 4.8 rpg, 4.2 spg and 2.8 apg. Bergmann shot 41% from the floor and 38% from three-point land with a team high 48 made three-pointers. She also was efficient from the free throw line, making 65 of 91 attempts for a 71% mark. Bergmann scored in double figures 19 times this season and had 20 or more points 11 times. She tied a career high with 27 points in a win over Southern Cloud in the NPL Tournament on January 13.
Toree Slavik, 6’1″, Sr., C, Thunder Ridge Longhorns
After being a third-team selection last season, Slavik is on my first team for the first time. She helped lead the Thunder Ridge Lady Longhorns to a Sub-State runner-up finish in 2022-23. Slavik averaged a double-double with a team-high 15.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg to go along with 1.4 blocked shots a game. She finished the season 55% from the floor and was one of the best free throw shooting posts in recent memory, making 70-110 for a 60% clip from the line. She scored in double figures in 18 of 22 games this season and scored 20 or more seven times. Her season high was 28 against Stockton on February 23 in the first round of Sub-State. Slavik also led Thunder Ridge with 11 double-doubles in her final season.
Girls 2nd Team
Anna Thielen, 5’5″, Jr., G, Wilson (15.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.8 spg; 39% FG; 65% FT)
Carlie Brummer, 5’7″, So., G, St. John’s/Tipton (16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.6 spg, 1.5 apg)
Gracie Riner, 5’4″, Jr., G, Osborne (13.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.0 apg, 3.1 spg; 39% FG; 36% 3’s (51 total); 62% FT)
Candyce Engling, 5’9″, Sr., G/F, Natoma (16.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.0 spg; 36% FG; 32 total 3’s; 57% FT)
Lauren Brummet, 5’11”, Jr., F/C, Lakeside (12.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.3 spg, 1.0 bpg; 45% FG)
Girls 3rd Team
Ella Wiles, 5’9″, Sr., F/C, St. John’s/Tipton (10.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.2 spg)
Mallorie Church, 5’7″, Sr., F, Tescott (15.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2.3 spg; 45% FG; 57% FT)
Grace William, 5’11”, So. F, Osborne (10.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 45% FG, 58% FT)
Danica Frost, 5’4″, Sr., G, Rock Hills (10.7 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.4 spg; 38% FG; 28 total 3’s; 69% FT)
Jenna Gengler, 5’7″, Jr., G, St. John’s/Tipton (10.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.6 spg, 1.5 apg)
Girls Honorable Mention
Kamryn Rietzke, 5’5″, Jr., G, Thunder Ridge (7 games; 15.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.9 spg; 34% FG, 67% FT)
Previous All-League Teams
2021-22
2020-21
2019-20
2018-19
2017-18
2016-17
2015-16
2014-15 (No team as I missed all of the regular season due to sickness)
2013-14
2012-13
2011-12
dusty40 