LARNED—From the early moments it looked like another one of those “down to the last possession” games and it lived up to those expectations as the Larned Indians outlasted Halstead 51-48 Monday.

Larned (13-6, 7-2 CKL) clinches the runner-up spot in the Central Kansas League. Larned made 19 of 41 field goal attempts and hit 7 of 13 free throws, including 5 in the final minutes. Chance Sanger scored 18 while Brock Skelton added 12 and Trent Fletcher 7.

In the third quarter Halstead made five straight to seize a 39-33 lead. They led until Larned hit four straight shots coupled with three Halstead turnovers for a two-point margin.

Larned’s Mason Perez kept Larned in a two-possession lead as Halstead missed their last three shots until a meaningless layup just before the final buzzer.

“I’m really proud of these guys,” said Larned coach Larned coach Jerrod Smith. “They have matured so much. A year ago we would have lost that game when we fell behind by six. Now, they never quit battling, never get discouraged and never keep doing what it takes.” This was a big win over a very good Halstead team with a very good player in Andrew O”Brien.”

The two teams battled throughout the first half, trading leads and mini-runs. Larned led at the end of the first quarter, 10-9, and maintained that slim lead at halftime, 25-24. Halstead rode the hot shooting of Andrew O’Brien in the first half as he piled up 15 points. The 6-5 senior almost singlehandedly kept the Dragons in the game in the first half.

The Dragons made 17 of 37 field goal attempts and were 9 of 12 from the free throw line. O’Brien led Halstead with 25 points while Braden Gerber added 15 and David Schulte 6. Halstead (12-8, 4-6 CKL) plays in the Haven 3A substate.

Larned travels to Kismet Friday for its final regular season game.

Halstead 12 12 15 9 — 48

Larned    13 12 8 18 — 51

HALSTEAD (12-8, 5-4)—O’Brien 9 1-2 25, Gerber 7 1-1 15, Schulte 2 2-4 6, Talbott 1 0-0 2, totals 17-37 9-12 48

LARNED (13-6, 7-2)—Skelton 5 0-0 12, Sanger 7 1-3 18, Fletcher 3 0-1 7, Perez 1 4-4 6, Rupp 3 0-1 6, Smith 0 2-2 2, totals 19-41 7-13 51

CKL BOYS

Nickerson 8-0 13-6

Larned 7-2 13-6

Hillsboro 6-2 13-6

Haven 6-2 13-6

Halstead 5-4 12-8

Hoisington 3-5 8-10

Hesston 2-6 12-7

Smoky Valley 2-6 7-12

Pratt 2-6 6-13

Lyons 0-8 5-13

MONDAY—Larned 51, Halstead 48

TUESDAY—Smoky Valley at Haven; Lyons at Hoisington; Pratt at Hesston 

THURSDAY—Nickerson at Hillsboro; 

NICKERSON (8-0, 13-6)—W Sedgwick 61-51; L Hesston 40-49; W Wichita Independent 81-70; L Emporia 39-66; L Haven 54-62; W Pratt 51-44; L Larned 39-50; L Andale 42-60; W *Hoisington 51-46; W *Lyons 42-29;  St. John Tournament (L Central Plains 38-64; Larned 53-47; W Macksville 62-46); W * Larned 45-44; W *Halstead 55-39; W *Pratt 55-28; W *Haven 56-31; W *Smoky Valley 63-30; W *Hesston 43-39, OT; 2-19—*at Hillsboro 

LARNED (7-2, 13-6)—L Pratt 37-42; W Kiowa Co. 62-48; W Macksville 56-36; L St. John 45-52; W Cimarron 68-67; W Nickerson 50-39; W Lakin 71-56; W *Lyons 61-33; St. John Tournament (L St. John 45-46; L Nickerson 47-53; W KC Christian 61-47); W *Pratt 47-46 OT; L *Nickerson 44-45; W *Smoky Valley 70-65, 2 OT; W *Haven 58-52; W *Hillsboro 62-59, OT; W *Hesston 64-57; L *Hoisington 47-58; W *Halstead 51-48; 2-22—at SW Heights

HILLSBORO (6-2, 13-6)—L Belle Plaine 56-58; L Inman 38-49; W Moundridge 50-49; W Lyons 65-51; L Marion 52-54; W SE Saline 60-36; W Halstead 67-49;  W *Pratt 43-33;  L *Haven 59-64;  Hillsboro Tournament (W Remington 66-27; L Riley Co. 44-50; W Holcomb 46-34); W Sterling 72-52; W *Smoky Valley 53-48; W *Hesston 50-39; W *Halstead 53-41; L *Larned 59-62; W *Hoisington 62-52; W *Lyons 62-50; 2-19—*Nickerson 

HAVEN (6-2, 13-6)—L Hutchinson Trinity 65-67; W Valley Center 56-53; W Conway Springs 49-33; L Kingman 45-51; W Nickerson 62-54; L Central Plains 35-51; W Sedgwick 48-44; W Pratt 52-42; W *Halstead 44-42; W *Hillsboro 64-59; Halstead Tournament (W Rose Hill 57-45; L Andale 33-48; W Halstead 44-42); W *Hesston 61-40; W *Hoisington 64-56; L *Larned 52-58; L *Nickerson 31-56; W * Lyons 55-38; W *Pratt; 2-19—*Smoky Valley 

HALSTEAD (5-4, 12-8)—W Remington 66-52; W Ell-Saline 62-24; W Remington 51-38; W Minneapolis 47-43; W Sedgwick 63-46; L Smoky Valley 43-46 OT; W Mulvane 48-34; L Hillsboro; L *Haven 42-44; *Hesston 37-34; Halstead Tournament (W Minneapolis 49-42; L Cheney 49-66; L Haven 42-44); W * Lyons 56-46; L *Nickerson 39-55; L *Hillsboro 41-53; W *Hoisington 57-49, OT; W *Pratt 57-21; W *Smoky Valley 61-57; L *Larned 48-51  

HOISINGTON (3-5, 8-10)—L Central Plains 30-60; W Spearville 62-30; L St. John 46-52; L Macksville 69-71; W Smoky Valley 56-37; W *Hesston 58-52; L *Nickerson 46-51; L *Smoky Valley 43-49; Hoisington Tournament (W Ellinwood 49-22; W Pratt 45-35; L Victoria 53-55, OT); W *Pratt 57-29; L  St. John 35-45; L Haven 56-64; W Plainville 70-53; L *Halstead 49-57, OT; L *Hillsboro 52-62; W *Larned 58-47; 2-16—Phillipsburg, ppd.; 2-19—*Lyons

HESSTON (2-6, 12-7)—W Sacred Heart 59-55; W Nickerson 49-40; L Emporia 39-63; W Independent 72-59; W Smoky Valley 52-46, OT; W St. John 64-53; W Clearwater 59-33; L *Hoisington 52-58; W *Smoky Valley 55-41; L *Halstead 34-37; Hillsboro Tournament (W Republic Co. 54-34; W Holcomb 54-37; W Riley Co. 57-47); W Buhler 41-36; L *Haven 40-61; L *Hillsboro 39-50; W *Lyons 47-35; L *Larned 57-64; L *Nickerson 39-43, OT; 2-19—*Pratt

SMOKY VALLEY (2-6, 7-12)—L Abilene 56-69; W SE Saline 61-53; W Concordia 53-42; L Hesston 46-52, OT; W Halstead 46-43, OT; L Hoisington 37-56; L *Hesston 41-55; W *Hoisington 49-43; Sterling Tournament (W Lyons 31-29; L Beloit 46-51; L Hugoton 44-52); W Clay Center 51-29; L Hutchinson Trinity 46-50; L * Hillsboro 48-53; L *Larned 65-70, 2 OT; W *Lyons 58-30; L *Pratt 55-62; L *Nickerson 30-63; L *Halstead 57-61; 2-19—*at Haven

PRATT (2-6, 6-13)—W Larned 42-37; L Chaparral 43-44; L Welliington 34-57; W El Dorado 54-45; W Hays-TMP 39-52; L Nickerson 44-51, 2 OT; L Hays 41-67; L Haven 42-54; L *Hillsboro 33-43; Hoisington Tournament (W Ellsworth 52-32; L Hoisington 35-45; W Russell 55-48); L *Hoisington 29-57; L *Larned 46-57, OT; W * Lyons 49-46; L *Nickerson 28-55; W *Smoky Valley 62-55; W *Halstead 21-57; L *Haven; 2-19—*at Hesston

LYONS (0-8, 5-13)—W Ellsworth 74-42; L Moundridge 36-49; L Inman 30-53; L Hillsboro 51-65; W Canton-Galva 41-35; L Skyline 50-55; W Sedgwick 71-65; L *Larned 33-61; L *Nickerson 29-42; Sterling Tournament (L Smoky Valley 29-31; W SE Saline 54-45, W Sunrise 61-36); 1-25—Ellinwood, ppd.; L *Halstead 46-56; L *Pratt 46-49; L *Smoky Valley 30-58; L *Hesston 35-47; L *Haven 38-55; L *Hillsboro 50-62; 2-19—*at Hoisington