By CONOR NICHOLL
Southeast-Cherokee has an extremely senior-laden squad. The Lancers start five seniors for legendary coach Dan Wall and assistant Dustin McMinn. Cade Burdette is SE-Cherokee’s highlighted player for the experienced group that has played together since around first grade.
Southeast-Cherokee is 9-2 and has won three straight games. On Jan. 13, the Lancers defeated Marmaton Valley 76-31. Burdette made 12 treys and scored 44 points. He cleared 1,000 career points. Burdette was recently on the SIK All-Access show. He credited his teammates in the 44-point game for providing open looks and ball screens. Notably, the seniors are longtime good friends.
Wyatt Scales, Landon Cole and Easton Renn are among the top players. Burdette noted the team’s “good family atmosphere.” Wall has coached basketball for more than 40 years and won a national junior college championship and a high school title. Burdette noted the team’s strength comes with the “pure speed.” Wall is long known for his running and gunning teams. Southeast-Cherokee has not made state since ’05.
Cherokee and Jayhawk Linn (10-3) lead the 2A Erie sub-state. Wall has helped Cherokee turnaround. The program won seven games the year before he took over and captured 18 victories last season.
