McPherson 5th-Grade Girls Win State Basketball Title
Dominant defense and relentless rebounding carry McPherson to three decisive victories in Kansas City.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The McPherson 5th-grade girls basketball team captured the state tournament championship with wins of 31-7, 37-14 and 30-8 in the title game. The roster of Lindy Kramer, Teagan Burgan, Lucy Vernon, Mayzee Cooke, Meeghan Dorhman, Sloane Kliewer, Lyla Barkley and Kinsley Montagne was coached by Derek Burgan and Tim Kliewer.
Burgan said the team's defensive pressure created turnovers all weekend by forcing opponents to speed up, and McPherson's ability to attack zone defenses — finding gaps and generating quality looks — proved critical for such a young group. He added that the team dominated the offensive glass throughout the tournament, winning nearly every 50-50 ball, and credited the players' full effort and refusal to take a single play off as the defining traits of the championship run.