Sunflower Slate

DAVID BIRCH

School’s not back in session yet for most of these athletes, but Roll Call definitely is.

I have to admit — I’ve been sleeping on Ottawa’s David Birch. The 6-foot-1 senior guard out of Olathe East is not only the reigning KCAC player of the year, but also seems to be shooting for a first-team All-American bid this year. He’s averaging 23.3 points, 3.63. assists and 3.81 rebounds per game and he just completed his biggest week yet — all as the Braves try to stay in the KCAC title hunt. He had 22 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in an 85-60 win over Bethany then capped things Saturday with a school-record 44 points to go with four steals in Ottawa’s 92-86 win over McPherson. All that makes him the KCAC player of the week.

KAYLAEN DITTMER

On the women’s side, it’s not hard to tell why Kansas Wesleyan is No. 21 in the country — just look at the play of senior Kaylaen Dittmer. The 5-7 senior guard from Tribune (that’s waaay west, people) has the Coyotes 12-4 and she’s the KCAC player of the week after averaging 17 points, 6.3 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 steals per game in wins over Peru State, Friends and Bethany. The Coyotes are also 5-1 in conference play and tied for first with Sterling after the Warriors were upset at Southwestern. KWU has also won six straight. They’re rolling.

MIAA

IDA EDWARDS

I’m starting to believe maybe I was wrong to say the Emporia State women were experiencing a post-Michelle Stueve hangover. It’s just, when you’re No. 10 in the whole country and you lose at home to an unranked team … anyways. They just reeled off two big wins last week to improve to 13-2 overall and 7-1 in league play — retaking first place. They were led by six-foot senior Ida Edwards, who averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in wins over Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. Against the Gorillas, she went 7 of 7 from the field. Her schoolmate, Lamar Wilbern was the men’s player of the week for his 17-point effort in a win over No. 12 Missouri Southern and his 27 points and 16 rebounds in a record-tying, 4-OT 102-100 win at Pittsburg State.

JAYHAWK

They don’t put out their teams until Wednesday morning. I’ll update this when they pop up in my inbox.