BY BUDDY TABLER

Special to the Tribune

HAVEN — Larned’s boys found Haven’s 1-3-1, trapping zone defense a challenge in a 68-27 loss to Central Kansas League tri-champion Haven. 

The Wildcats opened with an 11-0 run and never allowed Larned to get comfortable.  Haven (14-6, 8-1 CKL) led 22-9 after one quarter.

Behind a ball-hawking defense that forced Larned into 28 turnovers, the Wildcats doubled the number of shots over Larned. Haven attempted 60 shots compared to 30 by the Indians. Haven led 35-16 at halftime. Haven outscored Larned 23-5 in the third quarter to remove any doubt of the outcome.

Larned made 11 of 30 field goals for 36% but the biggest statistic was the turnovers which ballooned to 28. The Indians got to the free throw line only 5 times, making 2. The Indians had nobody in double figure scoring. Carson Shaver and Carter Crosby each scored 6 and Cade Colglazier 4 as Larned fell to 2-18 in the final game of their regular season.

 Larned (2-19, 0-9 CKL) will travel to top-seeded Ellsworth (16-4) Monday for a first-round game in the 3A Hoisington substate.

“We struggled against their 1-3-1 zone defense," said Larned coach Luke Steinlage. "They sped us up. When we did get open looks, we were so sped up we didn’t make shots. Haven is a really good team and they will be tough for anyone to match up with.”

Haven dominated the rebounding behind the efforts of 6-5 Dalton Bontrager and 6-0 Gatlin Reinert. Braxton Miller was on fire from beyond the 3-point line and finished the game with 16 points to lead the Wildcats. Bontrager added 14 points and 9 rebounds as Haven improved to 14-6 on the season. The Wildcats made 27 of 60 field goal attempts for 45% and were 6 of 8 from the free throw line.

Larned 9 7 5 6 — 27 

Haven 22 13 23 10 — 68

3A HOISINGTON—2-26 Ellsworth 16-4 vs. Larned 2-18; 2-26 Lyons 7-13 vs. Kingman 7-13; 2-26 Haven 14-6 vs. Nickerson 4-16; 2-26 Hoisington 11-9 vs. Russell 7-14