STERLING LADY BLACK BEARS
HEAD COACH: JILL ROWLAND
ASST. COACHES: STACIE LEWIS, PAULA CRANDALL TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES: 7
TOURNAMENT RECORD: 18-3 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 STERLING BLACK BEARS SCHEDULE AND RESULTS |
Sub-State: At Spearville – Elkhart, Ellinwood, Johnson-Stanton County, Medicine Lodge, Spearville, Sterling, Sublette, Syracuse
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Sterling Lady Black Bear Historical Notes
- The Sterling Ladies own an unofficial state championship (dubbed the largest basketball tournament in the world according to the Topeka State Journal. It was also known as the"free for all "tournament.) that was annually held in Robinson Gymnasium at the University of Kansas. 1912-1913 13 girls teams entered the tournament and the Sterling cagers defeated Dickinson County (Chapman) 22-12 in the opener. Beat Chanute 23-20 in the second round and Ellsworth 31-9 in the championship game.
- According to Macfeesports.com the 1914 Sterling team would lose to Chanute in the third place game. In 1915 Sterling would be the Runner Up once again losing to Chanute 30-17. Sterling defeated Eudora 48-11 and Atchison 33-13 on their way to the finals. In 1916 Sterling would lose in the quarterfinals to Kansas City-Rosedale 20-12. In 1921 Sterling would return to the tournament and would lose to Russell in the quarterfinals. The 1921 Tournament would be the last girls state tournament until 1973.
- The Lady Black Bears first game under the new participation rules under the KSHSAA resulted in a loss to Lyons 41-20 on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1974.
- Sterling finished 7th in the 1975 Southeast of Saline Girls Invitational. Defeated Sacred Heart 41-40
- Sterling defeated Trinity in the finals of the 2020 Inman Sub-State 62-44.
- 2020 21-3 2A State Tournament Qualifier Lost to Garden Plain in the opener.
- 2021 Kingman Eagle Classic Champion defeated Haven 58-48
- 2019 2A State Runner-up. Losing to Garden Plain 47-40
- 1989 First trip to the state tournament. 3A state fourth place. Opening round win against Yates Center 54-52 in overtime. Lost to Silver Lake 55-51 overtime and lost to Ellsworth 51-49 in the third place game.
- 1989 3A State Fourth Place.
- 1990 2A State Runner-up losing to Spearville 56-53.
- 1991 3A State 3rd Place. Defeated Osage City
- 1999 2A State Runner-up Losing to Moundridge 65-62
- 2013 2A State 3rd Place. Defeated Moundridge
- 2016 3A State 4th Place
- Head coach Jill Rowland is in her 12th season at Sterling.
- Mike Berblinger led the Lady Bears to the 1989, 1990 and 1991 State Tournaments
- Larry Brownlee coached the 1999 State Tournament team.
Historical information was obtained from Yearbooks, The Hutchinson, News, Salina Journal, Garden City Telegram, Macfeesports.com, KSHSAA Basketball Tournament History, Wikipedia, and USA Basketball.