League: Heart of America
Class:  2A Enrollment:  158

HEAD COACH: DEREK SCHNEIDER 
​ASST. COACHES: ERIC WENZEL, CHAD BENNETT

​Season Record Entering Tournament:   7-2
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES: 53ND
TOURNAMENT RECORD: 73-73
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS: 8 1983, 1987,1994,1995, 2012, 2018, 2020, 2024

​STERLING BLACK BEARS SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
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2A DIVISIONAL STANDINGS
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  HEAD COACH: KYLAH HAYES
  ASST. COACHES: CHAD COMLEY,   ALEX COMLEY
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Season Record Entering Tournament: 0-9
TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES: 12TH
​TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS: 5   2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022.

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​STERLING LADY BLACK BEARS SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
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2A DIVISIONAL STANDINGS

Sub-State: @Smith Center 
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Atwood-Rawlins County, Brookville-Ell-Saline, Ellinwood, Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian, Hoxie, Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic, Johnson-Stanton County, Leoti-Wichita County, Medicine Lodge, Oakley, Plainville, Smith Center, Sterling, Sublette, Syracuse, WaKeeney-Trego Community​

Derek Schneider (Head Coach)
Sterling’s all-time leader in coaching victories. A Sterling graduate (Class of 2002), Schneider is in his 17th year
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​Program Highlights
• Sterling Invitational Tournament Championships: 8 (1983, 1987, 1994, 1995, 2012, 2018, 2020, 2024)
• State Tournament Appearances: 13
• State Championships: 2 (2012, 2025)
• Recent SIT Finish: 2025 Runner-up | 2024 Champions

Recent Seasons

• 2025: 2A State Champions (defeated Moundridge) | SIT Runner-up (lost to Scott City)
• 2024: 22-4 | SIT Champions (defeated Hugoton)
  • 2A State: defeated Plainville, lost to Moundridge, lost to Sacred Heart for 4th Place
• 2023: Lost to eventual 2A Champion Moundridge in the Sub-State Final | SIT: 3rd Place
• 2022: 2A State: lost to Lyndon (1st round) | SIT Runner-up (lost to Hugoton in the final)
• 2021: SIT: 4th Place (lost to Lyons in consolation) | 2A State: lost to Hoxie

Historical Highlights

• 2025: 2A State Champions, defeated Moundridge
• 2012: 2A State Champions, defeated Meade 71-49
• 1958: Class A State Runner-up (lost to Scott City)
• 1961: Class A State Tournament, 4th Place
• 2020: Final Four run, finished 20-4 in a COVID-19 affected season

Coaching Legacy

• Ora Shields (205-177) coached Sterling teams in 1958 and 1961. Sterling’s gym is named the Ora Shields Activity Center.
• Bill Ferguson and Kelly Patterson coached Sterling to SIT championships in 1983, 1987, 1994, and 1995.

Kylah Hayes (3rd season as head coach)
A two-time Sterling Invitational Tournament champion and two-time “Most Inspirational Player.”
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Program Highlights
• Sterling Invitational Tournament Championships: 5 (most recent title: 2022)
• State Championships: 2 (2021, 2022)
• Notable Recent Finishes: 2019 2A State Runner-up | 2022 26-0 undefeated season
Recent Seasons

• 2025: SIT 5th Place (Lost to Smoky Valley 33-27)
• 2024: 6-15 | SIT: lost to Scott City 55-24 (3rd place game) | Sub-State: lost to Medicine Lodge (1st round)
• 2023: 4-17
• 2022: 2A State Champions (defeated Garden Plain 47-38), finished 26-0 | Sub-State Champions (Sublette) | SIT Champions (5th title, defeated Southeast of Saline in the final)
• 2021: 2A State Champions (defeated St. Mary’s Colgan) | SIT Runner-up (lost to Hugoton) | Kingman Eagle Classic Champions

Historical Highlights

• 1912-13: Unofficial state championship era, highlighted by a major tournament at Robinson Gymnasium (University of Kansas)
• 1974: First game under new KSHSAA participation rules (lost to Lyons on December 3, 1974)
• 1989: First modern-era state tournament trip, 3A 4th Place
• 1990: 2A State Runner-up, lost to Spearville
• 1991: 3A 3rd Place, defeated Osage City
• 1999: 2A State Runner-up, lost to Moundridge
• 2013: 2A 3rd Place, defeated Moundridge
• 2016: 3A 4th Place
• 2019: 2A State Runner-up, lost to Garden Plain
• 2020: 2A State qualifier, lost to Garden Plain in the opener

Coaching Legacy

• Mike Berblinger: led Sterling to state appearances in 1989, 1990, 1991
• Larry Brownlee: coached the 1999 state runner-up team
• Jill Rowland: led Sterling to six state appearances, two state titles (2021, 2022), a runner-up finish (2019), 3rd place (2013), and 4th place (2016)