TEAM: Seaman Vikings/Lady Vikes

CLASSIFICATION: 5A

LEAGUE: United Kansas Conference

COLORS: Cardinal Red & Royal Blue

SOCIAL MEDIA: @SeamanBoysBball (Boys) and @ladyvike_bball (Girls) on Twitter

2024-25 SCHEDULE:

12/6 at Piper
12/10 vs Lansing
12/13 at Topeka West
12/17 vs Turner
12/20 vs De Soto
1/8 at St. James Academy (GIRLS)
1/10 at Lansing
1/14 vs Topeka West
1/17 at Leavenworth
1/23-25 at Valley Center Tournament (BOYS)
1/23 at De Soto (GIRLS)
1/29 vs Topeka High (BOYS)
1/30-2/1 at Glacier’s Edge Tournament (GIRLS)
1/31 at De Soto (BOYS)
2/4 at Basehor-Linwood
2/7 at Turner
2/11 vs Shawnee Heights
2/18 vs Piper
2/21 vs Basehor-Linwood
2/25 vs Leavenworth
2/28 at Shawnee Heights

United Kansas Conference game

GIRLS

HEAD COACH: Matt Tinsley (8th year, 117-43)

2023-24 RECORD: 21-2, 15-1 United Kansas Conference, 5A State Champions

2023-24 IN REVIEW: What is delayed is not denied. Matt Tinsley used those words as motivation for their program after a series of disappointments in the postseason, from the cancellation of State after they had reached the final four in 2020 to a first round upset loss at state in 2023. Last season, the Lady Vikes were, finally, undeniable, capturing the program’s second girls basketball state title and first since 1991. They toppled the top-ranked team in 5A, Andover, in the semifinal before rolling past Maize South in the title game to hoist the big gold, a fitting capstone for the program’s seniors and further validation of just how high the Lady Vikes have risen in Tinsley’s tenure.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: Seaman will be a strong favorite to defend their 5A crown with four starters and four other letterwinners returning from last year’s squad. Senior guard Anna Becker  (All-State, UKC Player of the Year, 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists per game), a future Drake Bulldog, is the straw that stirs the drink. Fellow senior guard Jaida Stallbaumer played her best basketball at the state tournament and is poised for a big final season. Junior Maddie Gragg, who like Becker was a first team All-State selection, posted 12.4 points per game and is an outstanding all-around player who is beginning to get attention from colleges. Senior post Ava Esser snared 7.3 rebounds per game last year. Seniors Kinley Wilhelm and Maggie Moulden were important contributors last season as well. The UKC will test the Lady Vikes throughout and prime this experienced bunch for another run at a championship.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “We want to use our athletic ability and play fast, but need to get better in the half court as well. The girls need to continue to play within their role that we have established over the years. We cannot get comfortable or complacent.” – Matt Tinsley

BOYS

HEAD COACH: Craig Cox (14th year, 147-137)

2023-24 RECORD: 9-12, 7-9 in UKC

2023-24 IN REVIEW: A younger and less experienced Vikings squad than coach Craig Cox has fielded in recent years took some lumps in the 2023-24 season, and some key injuries didn’t help matters, either. An early-season win over eventual 5A state runner-up Piper raised optimism, but the team could never put together a winning streak that might have gotten things rolling in a fully positive direction. The end result was a losing campaign, Seaman’s first since the 2019-20 season and just their second in the past decade.

2024-25 OUTLOOK: The flipside of last season’s inexperience is that a much more field-tested team returns this year, and three double-figure scorers will hope to lead the way back to winning ways for the Vikings. Junior guard KaeVon Bonner is well established as one of the UKC’s best players, averaging 15.7 points and nearly three assists per game in his second year as a starter and earning first team All-League plaudits. His fellow junior guard Landon Wiltz was a pleasant surprise last season, emerging as a knockdown shooter and averaging 10 points. And the Vikings will welcome back 6’5” senior Bryer Finley, fresh off a record-setting season on the gridiron, who was off to a flying start last season (13.5 points per game) before being lost for the year due to injury after just four games. Seaman will hope for increased production for returners Dalton Smith and Griffin Zuniga as well. This should be an athletic team with an improved scoring punch that returns to UKC contention.

FROM THE COACH’S CLIPBOARD: “The UKC will be the most competitive 5A league in the State with a number of teams that could win the State Championship.” – Craig Cox

–Dan Lucero

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