<a href="http://kansas-sports.com/ks/news/?id=12081&amp;t=sports-in-kansas-2020-girls-basketball-coach-of-the-year">Sports in Kansas has announced</a> three area coaches as the class winners for its 2020 Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.In 5A, Chris Strathman was honored, as his Lady Pups finished as a state semifinalist in spite of three key players missing some or nearly all of the season with injury: Lakyn Schieferecke, Emma Ruddle, and Andrea Sweat. All three players had signed to play NCAA Division II basketball.In 4A, Jon McLean's Nickerson Lady Panthers finished 21-2 and joined Bishop Miege and K.C. Piper with the top record in Class 4A girls. The Panthers ended the season on a 10-game winning streak, including a 61-36 victory versus Buhler in the first round of the state tournament. In 3A, Halstead’s Derek Schutte shared the honor with Hadden Hiltgen of Nemaha Central. Halstead finished with nine straight wins and permitted just 28.1 points a contest. That included a 45-43 win at Cheney on Feb. 1, another 3A final four qualifier. Nemaha Central beat Big 7 rival Sabetha three times, including in sub-state.

Three area coaches tabbed as tops in 2020 girls basketball