HOISINGTON — Hoisington's offensive balance featured four players with at least eight points in a hard-fought 44-29 Central Kansas League basketball victory over rival Larned.

The Cardinals (13-7, 6-3 CKL) clinched third place in the league after previously winning the Keady Classic and Hoisington Winter Jam. The Cardinals broke the game open with a key 16-2 stretch for a 31-18 lead on 3-pointers by Addy Mason and Jordyn Boxberger, steals and layups by Mallory Mooney and Boxberger and free throws by Kylee Hahn and Macy Hanzlick.

Hahn (10), Mason (9), Boxberger (9) and Hanzlick (8) led the way. The Cardinals play Russell (12-9) at home March 1 in the 3A Goodland substate. The Cardinals converted 15 of 42 field goals, 11 of 15 free throws and 3 of 20 3-pointers. Hoisington dominated the rebounding and had numerous second-chance attempts.

"Once we got into our press, it helped," said Hoisington coach Mandy Mason. "We got offensive rebounds. Larned played us tough."

Larned (2-17, 0-9) was sparked by Akielah Collins with an energetic 16-point effort. Jayme Hagerman hit a pair of 3-pointers. Larned travels to Hugoton (16-2) March 1 in the Kingman 3A substate. 

Larned's defense kept the Cardinals in check in the third quarter, but the Indians scored one point for a 33-19 score.

“We let the game get away from us in the last minutes of the first half and that third quarter," said Larned coach Jerrod Smith. "We had turnovers in that stretch and it really hurt. We were good defensively, but couldn’t score.”

Larned 8 10 1 10 – 29

Hoisington 11 16 6 11 – 44

LARNED (2-17, 0-9)—Collins 6-8 4-9 16, Jayme Hagerman 2-5 0-0 6, Herrera 1-3 1-2 3, Lemuz 1-5 0-0 2, Hempken 0-1 0-0 0, Makenzie Reinert 1-4 0-1 2, Pinkston 0-3 0-0 0, Totals 11-29 5-12 39.

HOISINGTON (13-7, 6-3)—Hahn 2-4 6-9 10, Addy Mason 3-11 1-2 9, Boxberger 4-9 0-0 9, Hanzlick 2-11 4-4 8, Mooney 3-5 0-0 6, Brewer 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 15-42 11-15 44.

3-pointers--L 2-10 (J. Hagerman 2-4, Herrera 0-1, Reinert 0-2, Pinkston 0-3); H 3-20 (Mason 2-10, Boxberger 1-5, Mooney 0-1, Hahn 0-1, Hanzlick 0-3).