Ark Valley News - Maize South runs to its first Jam title

Maize South runs to its first Jam title
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: January 29, 2015

After slogging their way to a win in the first round of the 32nd annual January Jam, the Maize South Mavericks kicked things up a couple of notches.

It was Katie bar the door the next two contests, as the Mavs cruised in the championship game, rolling 89-68 over Wichita Northwest. Now 8-2, Maize South showed why it is ranked eighth in Class 5A.

After the Grizzlies (5-5) took its only lead of the game at 3-2, South gradually got things rolling. Eight straight points put the Mavs up to stay, 10-3.

The Grizzlies trailed 14-8 at the end of the first quarter and got to within five at 17-12 in the second quarter before Maize South pulled away for good. Kade Kordonowy tossed in nine points to highlight a run that put South up 34-16. The Mavericks took a 42-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Undaunted, K'veion Richard sparked a Wichita Northwest rally at the start of the third quarter. He scored five points in the first couple of minutes, as the Grizzlies pulled to within 10 midway through the quarter. That was the closest they would get, as Payten Ricks took over for Maize South.

Nine points the rest of the quarter by Ricks, a 6-foot guard, and four more from 6-foot-4 Kordonowy paced the Mavericks to a 66-47 advantage. The fourth quarter was essentially even as South cleared its bench.

Richard led Wichita Northwest with 21 points. That wasn't nearly enough to overcome Maize South's three-headed senior monster of Ricks, Kordonowy and 6-foot-7 Alex Martin. All three scored 20 or more points --- Ricks with 26, Kordonowy 24 and Martin 21.

South was 24 of 31 from the line. With Ricks driving and Martin getting the ball on the blocks, the duo hit a combined 19 of 24 free throws.