Why the City League vs. AV-CTL high school basketball event at Koch Arena is ending
For most of the last decade, the City League vs. Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Challenge has given Wichita-area high school basketball players a chance to play on a Division I basketball court at Wichita State’s Koch Arena.
But that tradition is coming to an end, at least for now, following this year’s edition featuring 14 ranked teams and six games played between ranked opponents at Koch Arena on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to kick off the Kansas high school basketball season.
City League athletic director J. Means told The Eagle that he can no longer justify the costs of playing three straight days at Koch Arena. He hopes there will be a strong showing in attendance this week — with tickets at $6 for adults and $4 for students — could show the district that there remains public interest in the event.
“Like any event, sometimes you have to take a step back and see if it’s run its course,” Means said. “I think we’re going to do some things differently next year. We just don’t have a lot of advertising right now, so it’s hard to justify the costs of playing at Koch Arena.”
From a strictly basketball sense, coaches say it’s a shame the event is ending at Koch Arena.
“There are kids who grow up in Wichita who dream of playing for the Shockers some day, so I think it’s good for the kids, it’s good for the community and it’s good for USD 259,” Heights boys coach Joe Auer said. “I hope there’s a way to figure out how to let our kids have the chance to play there again because I know all of the coaches and the players would love for that to continue.”
For its last hurrah, the challenge is providing some of its best matchups yet.
Friday night’s marquee game should be must-watch theater, as the Maize boys, the defending state champions who enter this season with the No. 1 ranking in Class 5A, take on Kapaun Mt. Carmel, ranked No. 6 in 5A, around 8:30 p.m. in what will be the return of City League legend Steve Eck on the sidelines.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the matchup is that the school’s football teams just battled in the Class 5A semifinals with Maize edging Kapaun out in a 22-21 win to advance to the state championship game. Both teams have the majority of their players coming off of football season with limited practices ahead of Friday’s game.
“I think you learn a lot about your team playing a great team the first game of the season like this,” Maize boys coach Chris Grill said. “I really enjoy this game every year at Koch Arena and it’s even more exciting that it’s the first game of the year.”
Saturday’s schedule is even more loaded, as a fan could pay $6 to watch a total of four games involving two ranked teams.
At 11:45 a.m., two of the best 6A girls teams square off in No. 6-ranked Derby and No. 9-ranked Heights, followed by the same boys matchup that pits No. 3-ranked Heights against No. 7-ranked Derby around 1:30 p.m.
“I think for the kids it’s like Christmas came early,” Auer said. “They all dream about getting to play in a big venue like this to get to open your season, especially after last season playing in front of limited fans. To open up your season at Koch Arena is a dream come true for most of these kids. It will be a lot of fun and a lot of excitement and energy.”
Saturday night ends with a bang, as two 5A girls contenders square off in No. 2-ranked Andover Central and No. 6-ranked Bishop Carroll at 6:45 p.m., followed by two 5A boys contenders in No. 4-ranked Andover and No. 3-ranked Bishop Carroll around 8:30 p.m.
“It’s exciting to be able to offer this many great games at Koch Arena,” Means said. “It’s not every day a high school player or coach gets to play in an arena like that, so it makes it exciting for the participants and also makes it exciting for the fans. If you’re a fan of basketball, $6 will get you a whole day of great games.”
City League vs. AV-CTL Basketball Challenge schedule
Thursday games
3:15 p.m.—Newton vs. West girls
5—Newton vs. North boys
6:45—Andover vs. Southeast girls
8:30—5A No. 9 Maize South vs. Southeast boys
Friday games
11:45 a.m.—Eisenhower vs. North girls
1:30 p.m.—Campus vs. Northwest boys
3:15—5A No. 8 Maize South vs. East girls
5—Andover Central vs. East boys
6:45—5A No. 5 Maize vs. 5A No. 9 Kapaun Mt. Carmel girls
8:30—5A No. 1 Maize vs. 5A No. 6 Kapaun Mt. Carmel boys
Saturday games
8:15 a.m.—Campus vs. Northwest girls
10—Goddard vs. West boys
11:45—6A No. 6 Derby vs. 6A No. 9 Heights girls
1:30 p.m.—6A No. 7 Derby vs. 6A No. 3 Heights boys
3:15—Goddard vs. South girls
5—Eisenhower vs. South boys
6:45—5A No. 2 Andover Central vs. 5A No. 6 Bishop Carroll girls
8:30—5A No. 4 Andover vs. 5A No. 3 Bishop Carroll boys
This story was originally published December 1, 2021 at 5:49 AM.
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