LADY BULLPUPS OPEN 2023-24 SEASON AT DODGE CITY

Seniors Alvord, McLeod to Lead Run to State Tourney

By Staff

MCPHERSON – For the twenty-eighth time in thirty-one seasons, the McPherson girls basketball team made a run at the state tournament before finishing second, leaving them with a dazzling 22-3 mark for the 2022-23 season.

For the upcoming 2023-24 season, the Lady Bullpups will need to replace three major contributors in first-team all-state Jordan Sears, Chloe Clevenger, and Alexis Dukes.

What the McPherson girls do have for the nineteenth season as head coach and his twenty-ninth on the bench, is Chris Strathman. All Strathman has done is roll up an overall mark of 360-71 and a near unbelievable mark of 173-8 in league play while recording a record of 58-15 in post-season play.

The Lady Bullpups have won nine state championships with the most recent being in 2018 while winning a league title in each of the last 16 seasons and 26 of the 29 that Strathman has been on the bench.

With Sears now playing at Nebraska-Kearney, Clevenger putting points on the board for McPherson College and Dukes playing KCKCC, what will Strathman do – restock.

“We are returning several key players that were able to gain a lot of varsity experience last season,” explained coach Strathman. “This is a group that has the chance to be very versatile on both ends of the court and while we do not have great size, we do have a very good mix of experience and youth along with overall athleticism at multiple spots on the court. This group is very competitive and will find a way to be a very strong team by the end of the season.”

The top returnees will be returning senior starters Karter Alvord and Jayla McLeod along with seniors Reanna Eilrich, Madi Moors, and Alex Romero plus juniors Ellie Bower, Izabel Backhus and sophomore Ava Romero.

Speaking of his returning starters and others, Strathman noted, “Karter (Alvord) has received the most postseason honors of any of our players and has been a starter for two seasons now. She played a key role on our Class 4A runner-up team as a freshman in 2021. Jayla (McLeod) along with Breanna (Eilrich) will be our primary inside players while Mandi (Moors) has played a lot of minutes at the guard spot the past couple of years.”

The coaches also sighted sophomore Brooke Doile and freshman Jaela Thompson as two younger players to watch as they develop into varsity playing time.

As for the upcoming season, coach Strathman stated, “Class 4A will have some outstanding teams again this year, highlighted of course by Bishop Miege. Other top contenders will be Wellington from our area as they return some outstanding players and athletes while Wamego will be one of the best teams in 4A but has a difficult seeding matchup as they in the same area as Bishop Miege. Parsons is also a good team and will return nearly everyone.”

The Lady Bullpups open up the 2023-24 season on the road on Friday, December 1 at Dodge City before making their season home debut on Tuesday, December 5 hosting powerhouse Derby.

Among the teams McPherson will play before the holiday break include Andover and Buhler, both on the road plus a battle with Bishop Miege in Kansas City. In January the highlight of course will be hosting the Mid-America Classic where Andover Central, Olathe South, Shawnee Mission South, and Shawnee Mission East will be among the teams competing.

MCPHERSON LADY BULLPUP BASKETBALL

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

COACH INFORMATION >

Chris Strathman – 19th season as head coach, 29th season on staff; 360-71 overall record, 173-8 in league play, 58-15 in post-season.

Assistants > Katelyn Clothier, Emma Malm, Bri Hable, Kami Wood

LADY BULLPUP TEAM INFORMATION >

Season 22-23 – finished 22-3 overall, 2nd at Class 4A State tournament, 10-0 in league play.

State Championships – 9 = 1981, 1982, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2018.

Qualified for a State Tournament in 28 of past 31 seasons,.

Won league titles last 16 seasons and 26 of past 29.

LADY BULLPUP INFORMATION >

Lady Bullpups Graduated >

Jordan Sears – Class 4A 1st Team, now at Nebraska-Kearney

Cloe Clevenger – now at McPherson College

Alexis Dukes – now at KCKCC

Returning Starters > Karter Alvord / Jayla McLeod

Varsity Returnees > Seniors = Karter Alvord, Reanna Eilrich, Jayla McLeod, Madi Moors, Alex Romero; Juniors = Ellie Bower, Izabel Backhus. Sophomores = Ava Romero.

Key Newcomers > Brooke Doile, So. / Jaela Thompson, Fr.

2023-24 LADY BULLPUP SCHEDULE >

Friday, December 1 > at Dodge City

Tuesday, December 5 > hosting Derby

Friday, December 8 > at Andover

Tuesday, December 12 > at Buhler

Friday, December 15 > hosting Winfield

Saturday, December 16 > play Bishop Miege in Kansas City

Friday, January 5 > at Circle

Tuesday, January 9 > hosting Augusta

Friday, January 12 > at Mulvane

Tuesday, January 16 > hosting Andale

Thursday-Saturday, January 15-27 > hosting Mid-America Classic

Teams Competing in Mid-America Classic > Andover Central, Clearwater, Manhattan, Olathe South, Shawnee Mission South, Shawnee Mission East, Wichita Northwest

Friday, February 2 > hosting Wichita Collegiate

Tuesday, February 6 > at Hays

Friday, February 9 > at Winfield

Tuesday, February 13 > hosting Buhler

Friday, February 16 > hosting Circle

Tuesday, February 20 > at Augusta

Thursday, February 22 > hosting Mulvane

Tuesday-Friday, February 27 – March 1 > Class 4A Sub-State Playoffs – TBD

Wednesday, March 6 > at Class 4A State Tournament in Salina

Friday-Saturday, March 8-9 > at Class 4A State Tournament in Salina

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