Cardinals’ fire beats Indians
BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
LARNED – Hoisington raced to a first-quarter lead of 24-8 and expanded it to 48-14 by halftime on their way to a dominating 67-35 victory over the Larned Indians Tuesday.
A trapping half-court defense keyed by 6-7 Drew Nicholson at the point, frustrated Larned’s ballhandlers and took the Indians out of their offensive execution. Couple excellent defense with 64% first-half shooting by Hoisington and you have the recipe for a big win.
The Cardinals made 25 of 44 field goals for 57% and were 9 of 10 from the charity stripe. Drew Nicholson led the Cardinals with 24 points while Mason Haxton added 12 and Braylen Thompson posted 10.
“We’ve had a lot of doing a lot of things right,” said Hoisington coach Kyle Haxton. “We put on a lot of pressure and sped them up. We got easy baskets in transition. We put their offense on their heels. Our defense played disciplined. We’re playing with confidence. Drew shows why he’s an unselfish player. He scores a quiet 21 points.”
Larned had 11 first-half turnovers as they struggled against the aggressive defense of Hoisington. At one point in the second quarter Hoisington hit eight straight shots as they were expanding their lead. Nicholson posted 14 first-half points and fellow senior Mason Haxton had 10.
“Hoisington is an excellent team, five senior leaders,” said Larned coach Jerrod Smith.”They were hitting on all cylinders tonight. We got a little impatient and took some shots we shouldn’t have but, man, Hoisington was hot. They are a legitimate 3A state title contender.”
Larned outscored Hoisington 16-11 in the third quarter but the damage was done and the lead too great with the third quarter ending at 59-30. Hoisington (16-4, 6-2 CKL) earns the 3rd seed in Larned 3A substate action. The Cardinals play Cimarron Tuesday.
Larned made 15 of 43 field goal attempts and converted 5 of 9 free throws. Senior Layton Crosby led the Indians with 16 points while Dillan Smith and Ethan Haas added six apiece.
Larned (7-12, 1-6 CKL) travels to Hillsboro on Thursday for a CKL game. The Indians travel to play No. 2 seed Hugoton Tuesday.
Hoisington 24 24 11 8 – 67
Larned 8 6 16 5 – 35
HOISINGTON (16-4, 4-2)—Nicholson 9 2-2 24, Mason Haxton 4 4-5 12, Thompson 3 0-0 7, Hanzlick 3 0-0 6, Leyton Haxton 1 2-2 5, Dolezal 1 1-1 3, Richards 1 0-0 3, Woydziak 1 0-0 3, Chase Robinson 1 0-0 2, Moore 1 0-0 2, Totals 25 9-10 67
LARNED (7-12, 1-6)—Crosby 7 2-2 16, Haas 3 0-0 6, Smith 3 0-0 6, Hope 1 1-3 3, Upson 0 1-2 1, Tucker 1 0-0 2, Stelter 0 1-2 1, Totals 15 5-9 35
3-pointers—H 8 (Nicholson 4, Thompson 1, L. Haxton 1, Woydiak 1, Richards 1)
CENTRAL KANSAS BOYS
Hesston 8-1 18-1
Hillsboro 7-1 16-3
Lyons 6-2 14-4
Hoisington 6-3 16-4
Haven 6-3 14-5
Smoky Valley 4-5 7-12
Pratt 2-5 7-11
Nickerson 2-5 4-14
Larned 1-7 7-12
Halstead 0-9 0-20
HESSTON (8-1, 18-1)—W SE Saline 71-34; W St. Marys 62-44; W Smoky Valley 52-26; W St. John 57-29; W *Nickerson 59-29; W *Smoky Valley 49-28; W Holcomb 60-43; Hillsboro (W Eureka 66-28; W Clay Center 45-27; W Holcomb 60-43); W Central Plains 72-24; W Buhler 68-39; W *Pratt 60-28; L *Lyons 50-55, 2 OT; W *Hoisington 45-37; W *Hillsboro 44-30; W *Larned 49-18; W *Halstead 50-16; W *Haven 46-40
HILLSBORO (7-1, 16-3)—L Sterling 48-53; L Moundridge 48-59; W Lyons 50-49; W Inman 37-35; W Marion 85-22; W SE Saline 71-68, OT; W *Hoisington 60-51; W *Lyons 53-36; Hillsboro (W Holcomb 66-54); W Hutchinson Trinity 44-36; W Halstead 69-23; W Remington 59-32; W *Smoky Valley 57-35; W *Pratt 45-40; W *Haven 61-53; L *Hesston 30-44; W Garden Plain 81-34; W *Halstead 72-29; W *Nickerson 70-40; 2-25 *Larned
LYONS (6-2, 14-4)—W Inman 44-33; L Hillsboro 49-50, OT; W Moundridge 57-42; W Canton-Galva 67-28; W Sedgwick 51-41; W *Pratt 57-41; L *Hillsboro 36-53; Sterling (W Kingman 73-63; L Hutchinson Trinity 38-43; W Sterling 41-27); W Skyline 64-56; W Ellinwood 53-45; L *Larned 51-50; W *Hesston 55-50, 2 OT; L *Haven 29-48; W *Hoisington 71-50; W *Smoky Valley 49-40; W *Halstead 60-35
HOISINGTON (6-3, 16-4)—W Central Plains 83-33; Larned (W Macksville 70-47; W Bucklin 67-33; W Larned 76-40); L Hays 63-64; W Beloit 79-49; L *Hillsboro 51-60; W *Nickerson 71-57; Hoisington (W Cimarron 65-54; W Ellsworth 56-51; W Ellinwood 85-59); W Smoky Valley 58-52; W *Haven 56-46; W *Halstead 50-12; L *Hesston 37-45; W *Pratt 57-43; W *Smoky Valley 71-50; L *Lyons 34-62; W Phillipsburg 82-56; W *Larned 67-35
HAVEN (6-3, 14-5)—Hutchinson Trinity 52-48; W Kingman 63-42; W Conway Springs 47-34; L Valley Center 43-59; W Nickerson 69-21; W Central Plains 76-27; W Pratt 57-35; W *Larned 62-34; W *Halstead 68-24; Halstead (Halstead 78-27; W Rose Hill 54-42; L Cheney 43-58); L *Hoisington 46-56; W *Nickerson 54-28; L *Hillsboro 53-61; W *Lyons 48-29; W *Smoky Valley 41-34; W *Pratt 45-33; L *Hesston 40-46; 2-25 at Sedgwick
SMOKY VALLEY (4-5, 7-12)—L SE Saline 37-65; L Concordia 33-45; L Hesston 26-52; W Halstead 75-11; W *Halstead 46-32; L *Hesston 28-49; Sterling (L Hugoton 34-67; W Kingman 60-49; L Scott City 29-44); L Hutchinson Trinity 42-52; L Hoisington 52-58; W Clay Center 57-38; L *Hillsboro 35-57; W *Larned 55-45; W * Nickerson 61-30; L *Hoisington 50-71; L *Haven 34-41; L *Lyons 40-49; W *Pratt 55-40
NICKERSON (2-5, 4-14)— Goodland (L Colby 30-49; L Dodge City 48-64; L Holcomb 24-60); L Haven 21-69; L Pratt 44-61; L Andale 26-64; L Larned 45-52; L *Hesston 29-59; L Buhler 39-69; L *Hoisington 57-71; St. John (W Macksville 60-54, OT; W Larned 48-44; L Sunrise 35-53); W *Halstead 67-44; L *Haven 28-54; W *Larned 55-50; L *Smoky Valley 30-61; L *Hillsboro 40-70; 2-25 Wichita Classical
PRATT (2-6, 7-12)—W Larned 61-53; L Hutchinson Trinity 38-63; W Chaparral 55-54; L Wellington 63-66; W Russell 75-54; W Nickerson 61-44; L *Haven 35-57; L *Lyons 41-57; W *Larned 68-58; Hoisington (L LaCrosse 47-49; W Victoria 56-40; L Cimarron 63-65); L Hays 29-74; L *Hesston 28-60; L *Hillsboro 40-45; W *Halstead 57-26; L *Hoisington 43-57; L *Haven 33-45; L * Smoky Valley 40-55
LARNED (1-7, 7-12)—L Pratt 53-61; Larned (W Kinsley 57-36; W St. John 46-44; L Hoisington 40-76); L Great Bend 24-52; W Skyline 53-45; W Nickerson 52-45; L *Haven 34-62; L *Pratt 58-68; St. John (W Central Plains 69-31; Nickerson 44-48; L St. John 41-49); L *Lyons 50-51; L *Smoky Valley 45-55; L *Nickerson 50-55; W *Halstead 58-30; L *Hesston 18-49; L *Hoisington 35-67; 2-25 *at Hillsboro
HALSTEAD (0-9, 0-20)—L Sedgwick 15-42; L Wichita Homeschool 29-59; L Eureka 29-59; L Medicine Lodge 33-55; L Smoky Valley 11-75; L Clearwater 25-65; L *Smoky Valley 32-46; L Marion 43-53; L *Haven 24-68; Halstead (L Haven 27-78; L Andale 22-56); L Hillsboro 23-69; L * Nickerson 44-67; L *Hoisington 12-50; L *Pratt 26-57; L Bluestem 53-58; L *Larned 30-58; L *Hillsboro 29-72; L *Hesston 16-50; L *Lyons 35-60
