by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington boys basketball team is coming off a state tournament berth, and that is something no team has said since the 1950s.

Last March, Wellington won its sub-state and qualified for the Class 4A Div. 1 state tournament in Salina. The opportunity presents itself again. The Crusaders will be hosting the sub-state in Wellington and the same three opponents are back: Rose Hill, Mulvane and Winfield.

But that is a story for late February. Today, Wellington head coach Brian Buchanan, embarking for the 13th year in Wellington, is trying to find the best combination of players for December.  So far so good, Wellington is 1-0 after beating host Kingman 62-49 Tuesday in the Eagle Basketball Classic.

Buchanan has a unique situation. He has just two seniors on his roster. But he has three returning starters. And he has a plethora of sophomores and juniors, who could play a major factor in the season.

“Young players are going to have to play important roles at the start of the season,” Buchanan said. “They display a very good basketball mentality and I’m looking forward to watching this group this year.”

For example, in the Kingman game,Wellington was 10 deep in its rotation after some of its starters got in foul trouble.

Wellington returns 30.6 ppg experience from last season. At the top of the list are a couple of sophomores, who contributed significantly as freshmen.

A.J. Snipes

Sophomore A.J. Snipes, at 6-1, scored 9.7 ppg and nabbed 2.1 rebounds a game. He scored 16 points on Tuesday.

He is joined by Ian King, at 6-5, who scored 7.9 ppg and had 5.3 rpg.

Of course, Connor Phelps, will be the senior leader and will take off where he last left off in football. He averaged 7.2 ppg and 6.0 rpg. He scored 16 points Tuesday.

Those three will be joined by four returning lettermen.

Wesley Gilmore, at 6-0, is the other senior and has scored 4 ppg with 1.8 rebounds. Cade Phelps returns as a 6-0, sophomore. Jack Walton and Chaese Hamel also return as returning lettermen.

“This group displays great work ethic each and every day,” Buchanan said. “The players understand what is expected of them.”

Buchanan said defense and rebound has to be more consistent than last year’s 12-11 team.

Of course, Wellington is still in the rock solid Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV which means the Crusaders will have to deal with basketball powers Wichita Collegiate and Andale twice every season. Buchanan said while Collegiate could be competing for a state title in Class 4A Div. II, Andale is not as good as the past two seasons giving Wellington an opportunity to knock it off for the first time in years, Buchanan said.

The Indians are ranked No. 6 in the latest KBCA 4A Div. 1 poll.

“I think there will be a dogfight for the second and third place spot in the league,” Buchanan said.

The schedule:

 
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