By CONOR NICHOLL
Johnson Stanton-County girls was named one of Sports In Kansas’ Potential Breakout Teams in December. The Trojans went 7-14 in 2021-22, though returned a bevy of key Trojans, including Adyson Scott, the Hi-Plains Player of the Year. Adyson, the team captain, is 6-foot and can play multiple positions.
Plus, Stanton County brought in a couple of talented freshmen, especially Adyson’s sister, 6-foot-1 center Avery Scott. Joel Hannagan took over the program. Hannagan has been well-known on the summer basketball scene as a coach/director with Game Ball Fusion.
Thus far, Stanton County has enjoyed one of the state’s biggest turnarounds with a 9-2 record. The Trojans have one state appearance since ‘99, a 2A quarterfinal loss to WaKeeney-Trego in 2019.
Since then, Stanton County went 14-8, 15-7 and 7-14.
Last winter, the Trojans, with zero seniors, averaged 41 points per game and went 2-5 in games decided by six points or fewer. SC also had five losses by 20-plus points. Adyson Scott led with 18 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 steals per contest. She was the lone player above 28 percent shooting at 37 percent.
Overall, SC averaged 18.5 turnovers a game, and shot 28 percent from the field with 10 steals a contest. Stanton County collected 29 percent of available offensive rebounds.
Stanton County averaged .66 points per possession and allowed .74 points per possession.
This winter, Adyson Scott is back, along with junior Hallie Waldron.
This year, Stanton County opened a 5-0 start, including three wins against Colorado schools. After a loss to Lakin, SC beat Southwestern Heights by two. SC fell to South Gray, a 1A-I state power, and has since delivered three straight victories.
On Monday, SC beat Elkhart, 46-35. SC was 1-3 in its last four meetings versus the Wildcats.
Adyson Scott paces with 14.7 points per game. However, Avery Scott, has stepped in with 12.2 points and a team-best 9.9 rebounds. Waldron is at 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and a Trojan-high 2.5 steals a contest. Freshman Karlee Nairn and sophomore Kenzington Nairn have both delivered 2.2 points a game. The roster has two other seniors, Cassandra Aleman and Calyssa Seger.
In a 52-24 league win against Sublette on Jan. 13, Waldron finished with 23 points and six steals. Avery Scott delivered 12 points and nine rebounds.
Against Elkhart, Avery Scott produced 28 points, 19 rebounds, seven blocks and six assists. She has delivered multiple double-doubles this season and has played across the country with summer basketball.
Stanton County is up to 35 percent shooting and nearly 12 steals per game. SC has cut its turnovers to 11 per game and collected 34 percent of available offensive rebounds. SC is at .964 points per possession and allowing .701 points a possession.
Stanton County will be at the Hi-Plains League tournament throughout this week. Most games are at Leoti-Wichita County and Garden City.
