By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Kansas high school basketball will see an additional classification this winter, with the return of two divisions for Class 1A. Going from six classifications to seven for the 2020-2021 school year, the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) needed an extra host site.
Barton Community
College in Great Bend was chosen to host the Class 1A –Division II State
Basketball Championships next March.
"It is a tremendous opportunity," said Barton Community College Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs. "I was really excited when they approached us to apply to be a host for the additional state tournament. It is an opportunity to bring people to our campus and the City of Great Bend."
Both the girls and boys state tournaments will be held at the Kirkman Center on
Barton’s campus. The tournaments are scheduled for March 10-13, 2021.
Rolfs
says he watched very closely how other nearby cities, like Dodge City, have handled hosting state championships and felt Barton’s facilities could accommodate
a tournament if it ever came available.
"They (KSHSAA) look at your facility really hard," Rolfs said. "Certainly being in the center of the state and having a nice facility helps. I think us hosting the Hilltop Classic the last few years was part of it too."
Barton Community College hosted the Hilltop Hoops Girls High School Basketball Classic the past eight years. The Classic consisted of several area teams including Central Plains High School.
The State Basketball Tournament next March will be the second state tournament
Great Bend has been selected to host. The Great Bend Sports Complex has hosted
the past six Class 2-1A State Baseball Championships and will again May 27-28,
2021.