Avery Dunbar didn’t need much run support Monday afternoon, but her Blue Springs South teammates provided her with two home runs en route to a district championship. Those two bombs over the tall outfield fence at Blue Springs High School were all the Jaguars needed to win their first district title since 2023. Dunbar and the Jaguars shut out previously unbeaten Grain Valley in the Class 5 District 7 title game, winning 2-0. “It’s amazing. It’a awesome,” Blue Springs South c

PECULIAR — With just one game left before the postseason begins, Liberty North is continuing to head in the right direction after Friday’s road victory. The Eagles slowed down a high-octane Ray-Pec offense in the 24-17 win, extending their win streak to four since dropping back-to-back games to North Kansas City and Blue Springs. Ray-Pec came in averaging 39.5 points in all six of its victories. However, the Panthers have averaged 15.5 points in each of their two losses. On

PLEASANT HILL — As they’ve done in all four of their wins this fall, the Roosters took down their Cass County rival Friday night with a powerful rushing attack and a stingy defense. Pleasant Hill beat Harrisonville, 29-13, at Eklund Field on senior night. It was the Roosters’ seventh victory in the past eight matchups with Harrisonville. The Roosters’ win came one week after they fell at Warrensburg, 36-30, in overtime. That loss ended a two-game win streak, and it was the R

Liberty North junior Lucy Wright won the KC XC Classic on Saturday. (photo by Matt Noonan) By Jimmy Gillispie It was a busy weekend of cross country meets all around the region as runners enjoyed true fall temperatures for the first time this year. Teams from the Kansas City area competed in various meets, including the Kansas City XC Classic, Maple Leaf XC Classic, Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and even the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational in Terre Hau

Kearney senior quarterback Carter Temple runs free for a 30-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Temple scored three touchdowns in Kearney's 31-6 victory. (photo by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie KANSAS CITY — In a clash between undefeated teams in front of a large crowd filling the entire stadium, it was Kearney’s ability to make plays in all phases of the game that ultimately led to victory tonight. Kearney shut down St. Pius X’s rushing attack and k

Rockhurst finished third in the Elite Division of the Gans Creek Classic on Friday night. Rockhurst junior Jack McGovern broke the state record with a time of 14:25.8. (photo by Rockhurst Athletics) Rockhurst junior Jack McGovern made headlines Friday night after he ran the fastest time ever by a high school runner on the Gans Creek course in Columbia, Missouri. Under the lights, McGovern paced all runners at the Gans Creek Classic and brought home a victory in the Elite Divi

Lee’s Summit junior tight end Max Trillo runs downs the Tigers' sideline en route to scoring the go-ahead touchdown in Friday's 21-14 win over previously unbeaten Ray-Pec. (photod by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie LEE’S SUMMIT — Todd Miller jokingly said his team is going to switch to a passing offense after watching the Tigers throw two touchdowns in Friday night’s 21-14 victory over previously undefeated Ray-Pec. “Maybe a little run-and-shoot offense next week,” the Le

Lexington sophomore Ellie Lichte, junior Phoebe Engelbrecht and senior Addison Smith finished first, second and third, respectively, at the Odessa Invitational meet Saturday. (photos by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie ODESSA — The two-time defending state champion Lexington girls cross country team was challenged a bit Saturday morning, but its top three runners paced the squad to victory. Lexington won the Odessa Invitational with 30 points, beating just four other schoo

The Harrisonville Wildcats won their homecoming game Friday, beating Center for 62-48. (photo by Stephen Slaughter (https://skslaughter.smugmug.com/) Wildcats win wild shootout HARRISONVILLE — It’s been a couple of wacky weeks of football for the Wildcats, but they’ve won a pair of contests after losing their first two games of the season. Harrisonville and Center lit up the scoreboard Friday night, combining for 110 points. In the end, the Wildcats defended their home turf,

By Jimmy Gillispie BLUE SPRINGS — The Wildcats have now won back-to-back games in a series that was lopsided for years. The Wildcats defeated Liberty North, 31-24, on their home field Friday night. Their 27-14 victory last year ended a nine-game losing streak to Liberty North. “Obviously, winning is a big deal. We just continue to have way too many penalties,” Blue Springs coach Jed Paulsen said. “That’s putting us in bad situations, and we have to clean those up.” Blue Sprin

By Jimmy Gillispie PLEASANT HILL — Following a pair of lopsided losses, the Roosters earned their first 2026 victory Friday night. They defeated Benton, 47-21, at Eklund Field after a pair of losses by a combined 59 points. Needless to say, the mood was a lot more positive in the locker room following the game. “I don’t know, other than Class 6A schools, if there is a school that starts off with a tougher scheduled than we do,” Pleasant Hill coach Justin Hamilton said. “That

Blue Springs senior quarterback Wyatt Erickson dives across the goal line, scoring the first touchdown of the game Friday night. Erickson also threw four touchdown passes in the Wildcats' 38-17 win over rival Blue Springs South. (photo by Jimmy Gillispie) By Jimmy Gillispie BLUE SPRINGS — For the first time since 2021, Blue Springs defeated its cross-town rival in the regular season. The Wildcats did beat Blue Springs South, 29-10, last year in the Class 6 playoffs. Tonight,

Liberty senior Lily Hurt, right, out sprints Liberty North junior Lucy Wright down the final stretch of the Tim Nixon Invitational on Saturday morning. Hurt won the race by less than a second. By Jimmy Gillispie LIBERTY — Two teams who are expected to compete for MSHSAA Class 5 state titles this fall won team championships Saturday at Capitol Federal Sports Complex. On the boys side, Rockhurst cruised to an easy win at the Tim Nixon Invitational. The Hawklets scored 44 points

By Jimmy Gillispie BLUE SPRINGS — Greg Jones, the second-year Ray-Pec coach, was overcome with emotions following Friday night’s overtime victory. To say it was a tough week for Jones and the Panthers is likely an understatement. A day after the Panthers’ season opening win, William Jewell College running back MicahJo Barnett – a former player of Jones and Liberty North graduate – passed away following a medical emergency during the Cardinals’ game. Additionally, three Ray-Pe

Ray-Pec senior quarterback Daccota Stamback scores the game-winning touchdown on the first play of the Panthers' offensive possession in overtime Friday night. Ray-Pec beat Blue Springs, 35-32, improving to 2-0 on the season. (photo by Jimmy Gillispie) BLUE SPRINGS — Daccota Stamback caught the snap, hesitated and sprinted through the heart of the defense before ripping off his helmet and celebrating with teammates late Friday night. He helped the Panthers take down Blue Spri

By Jimmy Gillispie LEE’S SUMMIT — Needing a spark following a scoreless first half, the defending Class 6 state champions were propelled to victory by a sophomore with outstanding speed. Matthew Ahrens quickly put himself on a list of football players to watch in the Kansas City area. On Friday night, he scored two touchdowns – both on runs of at least 30 yards – and helped Lee’s Summit defeat Blue Springs South, 20-17, in the season opener. “We knew we had to make it ugly to

Iowa State senior Makayla Clark, a Lee’s Summit West alum, broke a 36-year-old school record and earned a second-team All-America honor at the NCAA Championship last week.

For the second year in row, the Blue Springs South baseball team was crowned the Class 6 champion. The Jaguars cruised to victory in the title game. They dominated Christian Brothers College, 10-5, winning a second-straight state championship.

WICHITA — Thanks to another gold medal race, the Baldwin High girls track and field team brought home a third-place trophy from the Class 4A state meet.

Editor's Note: From February 2024 By Jimmy Gillispie COLUMBIA — A year ago, Annabelle Rowe was watching the state wrestling tournament...