BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HOISINGTON — Defending champion Hoisington battled past Ellsworth 50-46 as the Cardinals rallied past Ellsworth 50-46 in Friday's semifinals of the Hoisington Winter Jam. The Cardinals (8-2) play Ellinwood (9-1) for the championship.
Hoisington's Mason Haxton scored 21 points and Drew Nicholson added 15 points. Mason Haxton earned bragging rights over his cousin Avery Haxton of Ellsworth.
Ellsworth led 36-27 when Bearcat Kyle Anderson scored. The Bearcats slowed their offense and quit attacking as the Cardinals' Chase Robinson, Peyton Haxton and Ryan Woydziak had steals to ignite an 12-0 Hoisington burst. Bralen Thompson scored for a tie and Leyton Haxton's score gave the Cardinals a 38-36 lead
Braden Schulte hit a 3-pointer for Ellsworth's final lead 43-42. Nicholson converted two free throws and a basket on Mason Haxton's assist for a 46-43 lead after Cardinal Chase Robinson forced a turnover. Mason Haxton and Nicholson each converted two free throws to ice the victory.
"That's a big win against a quality opponent," said Hoisington coach Kyle Haxton. "We extended pressure with our 1-3-1 three-quarter court defense. I'm proud the boys executed it. Mason hit big shots and made all his free throws."
Braden Schulte led Ellsworth with 21 points and Anderson (13) and Avery Haxton (10) scored in double figures.
Ellsworth 8 22 8 8 — 46
Hoisington 10 12 16 12 — 50
ELLSWORTH (5-2)—Schulte 6-10 6-8 21, Anderson 5-7 2-2 13, Haxton 5-10 0-1 10, Kyler 0-1 0-0 0, Cravens 0-6 0-0 0, Stefek 0-2 0-0 0, Sharpe 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 17-37 8-11 46
HOISINGTON (8-2)—Mason Haxton 6-11 9-9 21, Nicholson 5-9 4-4 15, Leyton Haxton 3-6 0-0 7, Mooney 1-2 0-0 3, Thompson 2-6 0-0 4, Chase Robinson 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 17-36 14-14 50
3-pointers—E 4-15 (Schulte 3-5, Anderson 1-2, Kyler 0-1, Haxton 0-2, Cravens 0-5); H 2-10 (Mooney 1-1, L. Haxton 1-3, M. Haxton 0-1, Thompson 0-2, Nicholson 0-3)
CIMARRON 79, OTIS-BISON 41
HOISINGTON — Cimarron's Braxton Harrison scored 33 points as the Bluejays roared past Otis-Bison in Friday's consolation of the Cardinal Winter Jam. Cimarron (6-4) plays Pratt (6-5) for fifth place.
Harrison scored 27 first-half points for a 48-22 halftime lead. The Bluejays converted 21 of 38 first-half field goals.
Jayce Kohls converted a trio of 3-pointers and scored 17 points.
Otis-Bison 7 15 12 7 — 41
Cimarron 21 27 14 17 — 79
OTIS-BISON (2-5)—Kohls 6 2-2 17, Ethan Schneider 4 0-2 8, Foust 2 0-2 4, Dalton Regan 0 4-9 4, Juno 2 0-0 4, Graff 1 0-0 2, Nathan Roth 1 0-0 2, Totals 16 6-15 41
CIMARRON (6-4)—Harrison 16 0-0 33, Seth Ridenour 5 3-4 13, Andrew Ridenour 4 3-4 12, Marshall 3 0-0 6, Flores 2 0-0 5, Lopez 2 0-0 4, Trevino 2 0-0 4, Mendez 1 0-0 2, Totals 35 6-8 79
3-pointers—OB 3 (Kohls 3), C 3 (Harrison 1, Lopez 1, A. Ridenour 1)
HOISINGTON BOYS WINTER JAM
MONDAY—Ellinwood 66, Victoria 37; LaCrosse 49, Pratt 47; TUESDAY—Ellsworth 55, Otis-Bison 17; Hoisington 65, Cimarron 54; THURSDAY—Ellinwood 72, LaCrosse 33; Pratt 56, Victoria 40; FRIDAY—Hoisington 50, Ellsworth 46; Cimarron 79, Otis-Bison 41
SATURDAY—1st—Ellinwood (9-1) vs. Hoisington (8-2)—4:45; 3rd—LaCrosse (6-3) vs. Ellsworth (5-2), 1:15; 5th—Pratt (6-5) vs. Cimarron (6-4)—4:45; 7th—Victoria (3-6) vs. Otis-Bison (2-5)—1:15
