TOPEKA — When it comes to the best thing about being a boys basketball player at Westview, Kyle Miller cuts right to the chase.

As in the chase to see which team will put the most points on the scoreboard.

“That we win,” Miller says with a grin about why he loves playing for the Warriors.


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Of course, there's more to it than that, but Miller's also experienced 76 wins as a member of Westview's varsity program, so how could he not think of that little nugget first?

“I really do appreciate everything about it, especially now that I'm a senior,” Miller says. “It's just the best program to play in. I really believe that. I like coming out and playing with my teammates and winning. That's about it.”

Miller and Westview (18-3) shoot for a third straight Class 2A Westview Sectional title beginning Tuesday, Feb. 26, when they face Bremen (9-11) in the opening game.

LaVille (15-6) and Fremont (12-8), who face off in the second contest that night, also bring winning records to the six-team field.

The Warriors' mark this season comes after they lost their top two scorers to graduation off last winter's 21-6 club.

The improvement of Miller, the point-guard play of Jordyn Bontrager and the emergence of sophomore Chandler Aspy are just some of the reasons Westview hasn't missed a beat.

Miller saw bits of varsity time as a freshman and sophomore, then averaged 9.1 points as a junior.

This season, he's at a team-leading 14.7 points, is averaging 3.7 rebounds and is second in assists at 1.8.

Though he's the Warriors' tallest player at 6-foot-4, the sharp-shooting Miller's perfectly comfortable on the perimeter. He's 33 of 81 on 3-pointers for 41 percent, to go with 54 percent on 2-pointers and 78 percent at the line.

“Kyle's worked super, super hard and improved a lot this year,” Westview coach Rob Yoder says. “He's really matured as a person, and he's played a lot better defensively. I think he's worked harder physically than he ever has, and mentally he's tougher than he's ever been. Those two things have allowed him to play harder for longer periods.”

“Mainly my defense,” Miller says of how he's grown as a player. “I was a lot slower on defense when I was younger, but I've learned to work at it.”

The oldest of three siblings — brother Kolton is a freshman in the basketball program and sister Karli is in grade school — Miller says he probably won't play basketball after high school. He's looking at attending Ivy Tech and counts teaching grade school as one of the careers he might pursue.

Off the court, Miller likes “hanging out with friends and family. Family's the big one there,” he says.

And on the court, Miller just wants to add a few more of those wins that he counts as the best part of Westview basketball.

Class 2A

Westview Sectional

Tuesday, Feb. 26

Bremen (10-10) vs. Westview (18-3), 6 p.m.

Fremont (12-8) vs. LaVille (15-6), follows

Friday, March 1

Central Noble (5-15) vs. Bremen/Westview winner, 6 p.m.

Prairie Heights (11-11) vs. Fremont/LaVille winner, follows

Saturday, March 2

Championship, 7 p.m.