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Cardinals sweep Smoky Valley
Samantha Colson jumps up and scores.jpg
Hoisington's Samantha Colson jumps up and scores against Smoky Valley Vikings on Thursday night. - photo by Hugo Gonzalez

HOISINGTON 51, SMOKY VALLEY 33 — Standout Ryan Nicholson ignited a rousing 51-33 Central Kansas League basketball victory over Smoky Valley with 26 points. Hoisington converted 19 of 20 free throws. The Cardinals (12-2, 4-0) head to Haven (12-1, 2-1) Friday in first place.

Mason Haxton scored 10 points. The Cardinals outscored the Vikings 15-1 in the third quarter for a 37-21 lead. Ryan Woydziak accomplished the key defensive assignment. The Cardinals knocked down 13 of 18 field goals inside the 3-point line against the Vikings' defense.

"We attacked the heart of the zone," said Hoisington coach Kyle Haxton. "That was the difference."

Smoky Valley 10 10 1 12 — 33

Hoisington 6 16 15 14 — 51

SMOKY VALLEY (4-10, 0-3)—Kennedy 4 1-3 11, Pihl 4 0-0 8, Schneider 2 0-0 5, Heble 2 0-0 4, Heline 1 1-2 3, Miller 1 0-0 2, Totals 13 4-7 33.

HOISINGTON (12-2, 4-0)—Nicholson 9 6-6 26, Haxton 3 4-4 10, Thompson 1 4-4 6, Brewer 1 2-2 4, Specht 0 2-2 2, Woydziak 1 0-0 2, Hanzlick 0 1-2 1, Totals 15-29 19-20 51.

3-pointers—SV 3 (Kennedy 2, Schneider 1), H 2-11 (Nicholson 2).

HOISINGTON GIRLS 35, SMOKY VALLEY 34 — Samantha Colson scored the game-winning basket for the Cardinals' lone score of the fourth quarter to steal a hard-fought Central Kansas League basketball victory. The Vikings nearly rallied from a 12-point deficit behind 17 points by Ellie Brumbaugh.

Keeley Wolf scored 13 points and Kelsi Dalton added eight points for Hoisington (3-11, 1-3 CKL).

"Keeley is a ball of fire," said Hoisington coach Mandy Mason. "She does a lot of things for us."

Dalton's basket gave the Cardinals a 35-31 lead, which Brumbaugh sliced to 35-34 with a 3-pointer. Breanna Priddy's potential game-winner for Smoky Valley missed.

"It felt good to earn a close one under our belt," said Mason. "We got the job done tonight. We finished the game. We moved the ball really well and got some open shots against their man-to-man."

Smoky Valley 7 5 11 11 — 34

Hoisington 6 16 11 2 — 35

SMOKY VALLEY (4-10, 0-3)—Ellie Brumbaugh 7 0-0 17, Rose 3 0-0 7, Haxton 2 0-2 4, Priddy 1 0-0 2, Johnson 1 0-2 2, Kaylie Ryan 1 0-2 2, Totals 15 0-6 34.

HOISINGTON (3-11, 1-3)—Keeley Wolf 4 2-4 13, Dalton 3 2-2 8, Colson 2 1-1 5, Brack 2 0-0 4, Schneider 1 0-0 3, Guthrie 1 0-1 2, Totals 13 5-8 35.

3-pointers—SV 4 (Brumbaugh 3, Rose 1), H 4 (Wolf 3, Schneider 1).