An improbable turnaround season for the Manhattan Indians boys basketball team (17-8) ended in Kansas City on March 11. The No. 8-seeded Indians were sent home at the hands of No. 1-seeded Shawnee Mission South (25-1) 94-50 in the first round of the 6A State Tournament. 

“It was hard for me to be sad, because I was proud of how we played [this] season,” senior Vince Doering said. “We got pretty close to reaching our potential. It was a fun year.”

Having to face the top team in 6A was a tall order for the Indians, literally and figuratively.

“They can just shoot the crap out of the ball,” Doering said. “Felt like they never miss. They’re also big and tall and run their offense really well.”

For senior Tim Washington, the transformation from a 6-win team last season to a State Tournament appearance this season, started off the court.

“Last year, I feel like we were more focused on just basketball things, and now we’re building a connection with the team and everyone’s more bought in together,” Washington said.

In Sub-State, the Indians beat Wichita East 57-48 on March 7 and Wichita Northwest 58-56 on March 4 to advance to the State Tournament for the first time since 2023.

Though seniors Will Carpenter, Vince Doering, Sawyer Newton and Tim Washington are all due to trade in their jerseys for a cap and gown, the Indians are set to return juniors Henry Witt and Easton Duff and sophomores Asher Newton, Tyson Hatrup and Graham Braxmeyer next season. Witt will be the Indians’ lone returning starter. 

“We have a lot of sophomores that have had to play varsity this year, so just them being able to come in and produce some productive minutes is always great,” Washington said.