This year’s Lady Eagles basketball team is looking to build off of last year’s success both on and off the court. Like the boys team, the girls also place a big emphasis on team chemistry and leadership. In fact, for power forward Le’Yanna McGinnis, the best part of being on the team is “all the team dinners, us bonding, and everything like that.” McGinnis also personally hopes to “be a better leader and have more wins than last year.” Point guard Hope Owens has similar goals, including one “to be a better leader, a more vocal leader.”

This focus on bonding and leadership doesn’t stop the Lady Eagles from having big expectations for their on- court results, however. Both Owens and McGinnis hope to help their team make the state tournament this year. Having a raucous crowd of North fans certainly wouldn’t hurt their chances of achieving that goal.

“We don’t get a lot of people that come [to games] because they don’t think girls are as good as boys, but it’s the same. We play hard and we just want support,” states McGinnis.

The team’s first home game is at 5:30 on Friday, December 14th, against Shawnee Mission North, so make sure to show up and cheer the Lady Eagles on to victory. You can also follow the team on Twitter @ONLadyEaglesBa1l.

The 2019 Olathe North boys basketball team not only has high expectations for this season; they also have the talent to back it up. After making it to the state

tournament last year, this year’s varsity team returns a lot
of last year’s players including senior Tymer Jackson, a First Team All-Sunflower League selection last year, and junior KT Raimey, last year’s Sunflower League sophomore of the year. Both players are currently considering Division I offers from around the country, but before they head off to play college basketball, they get to light up the court here at Olathe North. For Jackson, this year’s goals are pretty lofty and include going undefeated as a team and getting a state title. After winning their first game against Pleasant Hill by a score of 80 to 33, these aspirations seem reasonable.

Besides winning state titles, this year’s varsity squad also has a big emphasis on team chemistry. “For this seasonI want us to actually be a team, learn to cope with each other and be a brotherhood and be friends outside of basketball,” states Raimey. Jackson also mentions having good chemistry as one of the team goals for this year.

If you want to see this excitement in action, attend the Eagles’ first home game against Shawnee Mission North on Friday, December 14th. In the words of Raimey, “Everyone should come because we are going to be a show to watch.”

The Eagle bowling team may not have their first tournament until January, but they are already gearing up for the

season with high expectations. This year’s bowling team looks a little different than last year’s group but that’s not stopping anyone from striving for team and individual success.

Sophomore Evan Harrison recognizes that this year’s squad will be missing a major part of the previous year’s team. “Our teams were a little bit smaller this year than they were last year. A lot of our really good bowlers, they’ve left, so we’re all just kind of having a fresh start now,” he says.

Harrison still maintains big goals

for himself, however, as he wants to beat his personal best game, a 242, and achieve a 600 series, which refers to the combined score of three games.

On the girls side, senior and Baker University bowling commit Emily Stamper hopes, “to be on the honor roll this year for bowling and qualify for state.”

She also recommends that you attend a bowling tournament because, “It’s completely different to watch than other sports.”
You can catch the Striking Eagles in action at their first home tournament at Olathe Lanes East on Friday, January 18th at 3:00.