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Cardinals' defense stops Ellsworth
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The Hoisington girls tennis team features Annabelle Gonzalez, Aubree Martin, Jaylin Kolas, Decelia Bray, Jillian Axman, Brennley Reif, Coach Kiley Klug

HOISINGTON 40, ELLSWORTH 34 — Hoisington's lockdown defense shut down Ellsworth's boys 40-34 to avenge a 58-50 loss to the Bearcats two weeks ago. This time, Hoisington dictated the game's slower tempo with a patient offense and effective ball-hawking defense that slowed the Bearcats.

Hoisington's Mason Martin scored 10 points and slowed down Ellsworth's Cooper McGowan defensively. McGowan scored 12 points, but shot 5 of 13. 

McGowan's back-to-back baskets sliced the Cardinals' lead to 31-30. Cardinal sparkplug Marcus Ingram responded with back-to-back baskets. Drake Gruis fed Carson Mason with a clinching field goal for a 37-30 lead.

The Cardinals held the Bearcats to 12 of 37 shooting, 4 of 19 from 3-point range. Jace Thomasson chipped in 10 points with a pair of 3-pointers.

"We knew we had to challenge Ellsworth on the 3-pointers after they made 10 the first time," said Hoisington coach Kyle Haxton. "We played tough. They didn't shoot a high percentage from the perimeter. We knew it'd be a dogfight. 'Marty' played tough defense."

Hoisington (14-10) plays Scott City (12-9) in Tuesday's the Larned 3A substate semifinals. The Cardinals defeated Scott City 62-55 to open the season Dec. 5.

Ellsworth 5 12 8 9 —34

Hoisington 12 6 8 14 —40

ELLSWORTH (6-15)—McGowan 5-13 (1-4) 1-2 12; Thomasson 3-4 (2-3) 2-2 10; Goss 2-8 (0-3) 1-2 5; Tully 2-8 (1-6) 0-1 5; Barta (0-1) 2-3 2; Jacobs 0-3 (0-2) 0; Totals 12-37 (4-19) 6-10 34

HOISINGTON (14-10)—Mason Martin 2-11 (2-5) 4-5 10, Crawford 3-5 2-4 8, Hekele 0-1 0-0 0, Carson Mason 2-4 (0-1) 0-0 4, Ingram 3-8 (0-1) 1-2 7, Pfannenstiel 2-5 1-2, Gruis 1-1 4-6 6, Totals 12-35 (2-7) 12-19 40

3A LARNED BOYS 

LARNED A (3-3)—1—at Beloit 17-4 vs. Phillipsburg 10-10; 4—at Hoisington 14-10 vs. 5—Scott City 12-9; FIRST ROUND—Beloit 79, Nickerson 27; Phillipsburg 61, Russell 47; Hoisington 40, Ellsworth 34; Scott City 56, Lyons 48

LARNED B (3-3)—2—at Holcomb 19-5 vs. 7—Colby 12-11; 3—at Lakin 14-8 vs. 6—SW Heights 13-11; FIRST ROUND—Holcomb 73, Cimarron 31; Colby 67, Norton 54; Lakin 88, Larned 33; SW Heights 79, Goodland 68