BIG SCHOOL, SMALL MARGIN: WICHITA EAST EDGES LITTLE RIVER BY 6!

LADY REDSKINS CHANNEL CHAMPIONSHIP HERITAGE IN NEAR UPSET OF CLASS 6A WICHITA EAST

By Staff

(Pic = post game sportsmanship, photo of a top Class 6A and the top Class 1A Division I schools - Wichita East Lady Blue Aces and Little River Lady Redskins)

        LITTLE RIVER — A packed home crowd watched 1A Division I Little River go toe‑to‑toe with one of the largest schools in Kansas on Friday night, as the Lady Redskins pushed Class 6A No. 5 Wichita East for four quarters before falling 55-61.

        The six‑point margin underscored what the Little River faithful already know: classification does not measure heart, and the Lady Redskins remain one of the toughest small‑school programs in Kansas.

        While Wichita East held a slim three-point, 15-12, lead at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Redskins pulled even and tied the game at 30-30 heading into the halftime break. The rest of the way it was three extra points in both the third and fourth quarters by the Lady Blue Aces that made the final difference.

East, a resurgent big‑school power coming off its first state‑tournament appearance in nearly 20 years, used its size and athleticism to control the paint and the glass. The Lady Blue Aces held advantages in points inside (30–22), transition scoring (13–4), and rebounding (31–23), allowing them to stay just out of reach despite a determined Little River effort.

Little River stayed in the fight behind the shot‑making of Arika Feldman, who led all Lady Redskins with 19 points, including three three‑pointers, while adding eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Havana Olander scored 10, and Evie Look and Avery Lafferty added nine each, with Lafferty nearly getting a double-double by pulling down a team‑high nine boards.

Wichita East was paced by Jada Davis, who poured in 20 points with four threes, while Miya Respress added 14 points and seven rebounds.

The loss drops Little River to  12-1 but the performance reinforced why the small‑school powerhouse continues to earn statewide respect: disciplined, fearless, and capable of competing with anyone, regardless of classification.

FRIDAY, JAN 30 – hosting Wichita East

SCORING: Little River lost 55-61.

Little River: 12-18-12-13 = 55; Wichita East: 15-15-15-16 = 61.

TEAM STATS:

Little River: 2FGs – 12/25; 3PTs – 6/19; FTs – 13/21; Assists – 12; Rebounds (off/def) – 8/15=23; Steals – 6; Blocked Shots – 2; Turnovers – 11; Fouls – 17.

Wichita East: 2FGs – 15//31; 3PTs – 6/14; FTs – 13/20; Assists – 11; Rebounds (off/def) – 9/22=31; Steals – 6; Blocked Shots – 2; Turnovers – 15; Fouls – 19.

LITTLE RIVER INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS:

Scoring (55): Arika Feldman – 19; Havana Olander – 10; Evie Look, Avery Lafferty – 9; Saelyn Raleigh – 4; Adelynne Strecker – 3; Lucy Wright – 1; Dempsey Lafferty – 0.

3-Pointers Made (6): Feldman – 3; Look – 2; Strecker – 1.

Assists (12): A. Lafferty, Feldman – 3; Look, Strecker – 2; Olander, D. Lafferty – 1.

Rebounds (23): A. Lafferty – 9; Feldman – 8; Look – 2; Raleigh, Strecker, Wright – 1.

Steals (6): Feldman – 3; Olander, Look, Raleigh – 1.

Blocked Shots (2): Feldman – 2.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)