By John Curtis
Dodge City Daily Globe
The Ashland Bluejays and Fowler Goldbugs opened up the Southern Plains-Iroquois Activities Association boys quarterfinals at the United Wireless Arena court in January.
The two teams will return to UWA this week to play in the Class 1A-Division II state championship this week hosted by the Dodge City Sports Commission. They will be among 16 teams battling for the boys and girls state championships that were moved to Dodge City from Fort Hays State University because of the potential of the college hosting a NCAA Division II women’s regional.
Fowler (11-11, seeded seventh) has been a regular participant, playing their fifth straight state tournament; but perhaps the most surprising as most of their squad the past two years graduated after the 2014 campaign. The Goldbugs, the only school to have played in all five Division II state tournaments, lost in the first round last season after finishing second in 2013 and third in 2012.
Ashland (17-5, seeded fifth) hasn’t been to the state tournament since winning the Class 1A-Division I state champion in 2012. The Bluejays have been ranked most of the season by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association.