PAWNEE HEIGHTS 43, STAFFORD 34
STAFFORD – Stafford's first boys state tournament trip in 75 years was within range. The underdog Trojans were tied 25-25 and Tigers Braden Colglazier, Adam Hands and Alec Carlson were tagged with four fouls.
But the Tigers' standout Alec Carlson made all the key plays down the stretch with a brilliant 23-point night. Carlson scored 17 second-half points. The Tigers built a 7-point lead at 36-29 and 37-30 when the Trojans made one last rally in a 43-34 substate championship setback.
Colson Minks drilled a 3-pointer and Dakota Rodriguez sank a free throw to get within 37-34. But Dakota Ryan and Carlson each dropped two free throws for a 41-34 lead. Colglazier finished off the Tigers' second consecutive state trip with a slam dunk.
The Tigers (12-10) made their first state basketball since 1972 last year when they qualified at Great Bend and lost 55-42 to McPherson Elyria in the state semifinals. Stafford (14-8) was paced by Colson Minks with 11 points and Josh Hildebrand added 10 points.
Pawnee Heights 7 8 10 18 – 43
Stafford 3 9 13 9 – 34
PAWNEE HEIGHTS (12-10)–Alec carlson 9-14 2-4 23, Colglazier 3-7 0-0 6, Hands 1-4 0-1 2, Hamby 2-5 0-1 5, Dakota Ryan 2-5 3-4 7, Totals 17-35 5-10 43.
STAFFORD (14-9)–Minks 4-17 0-2 11, Josh Hildebrand 4-8 2-4 10, Tai Hildebrand 0-3 0-0 0, Dominguez 0-0 2-2 2, Rodriguez 1-7 1-2 3, Kerschenske 2-4 0-2 4, Sheets 2-3 0-0 4, Totals 13-42 5-12 34.
3-pointers–PH 4-10 (Carlson 3-5, Hamby 1-4, Hands 0-1); S 3-14 (Minks 3-12, Rodriguez 0-2).
1A DIVISION 2 STATE WEDNESDAY
GREAT BEND, BARTON COUNTY
2 p.m.—Tribune Greeley County 21-2 vs. Pawnee Heights 12-10
4 p.m.—Northern Valley 20-2 vs. Waverly 13-10
6 p.m. —Hanover 21-1 vs. Central Plains 4-18
8 p.m.—Bucklin 17-5 vs. Caldwell 15-6
SUBLETTE – Sterling's Kaz Comley steamrolled Ellinwood's Alec Brack at halfcourt with the Eagles expecting a charging foul. Like most things all night, the call swung Sterling's way in a hard-fought 48-42 substate basketball championship over the Eagles. Sterling (18-5) qualifies for the 2A state tournament at Manhattan.
The Black Bears led 29-12 at halftime by holding the Eagles to 3 of 16 shooting. Sterling's Cody Oden scored 12 of 15 first-half points.
Ellinwood's Britton Dutton led a hustling comeback with 21 points, 15 after halftime. Parker Scheck chipped in 10 points. The Eagles worked within 37-32 (4:30) and 45-40 (0:27) with vastly-improved defense after halftime. Sterling iced the victory with nine fourth-quarter free throws.
Sterling (18-5) beat the Eagles 49-30 in last year's 2A semifinals. The Black Bears edged the Eagles 43-37 in the 2020 substate championship at Inman.
Sterling 17 12 8 11 – 48
Ellinwood 8 4 12 18 – 42
STERLING (18-5)–Oden 5-12 5-10 15, Comley 2-8 8-9 12, Surface 3-10 4-6 11, Riffel 2-5 1-2 5, Beagley 1-2 0-0 3, Hopewell 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 14-40 18-27 48.
ELLINWOOD (20-2)–Dutton 8-23 4-4 21, Scheck 4-8 2-2 10, Heinz 1-3 0-0 3, Zink 1-5 0-0 2, Behnke 1-5 4-4 6, Brack 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 15-45 10-10 42.
3-pointers–S 2-14 (Beagley 1-2, Surface 1-5, Comley 0-3, Oden 0-4); E 2-11 (Heinz 1-2, Dutton 1-5Brack 0-1, Behnke 0-3).
2A BOYS STATE BASKETBALL
MANHATTAN. BRAMLAGE COLISEUM
2 p.m.—Hillsboro 22-1 vs. Wichita Independent 17-5
4 p.m.—Lyndon 21-2 vs. Sterling 18-5
6 p.m.—Valley Falls 23-0 vs. Pittsburg Colgan 14-8
8 p.m.—St. Marys 20-3 vs. WaKeeney-Trego 18-4
2A GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL
MANHATTAN, BRAMLAGE COLISEUM
2 p.m.—Sterling 22-0 vs. Mission Valley 14-8
4 p.m.—Berean Academy 22-1 vs. Blue Rapids Valley Heights 21-2
6 p.m.—Pittsburg Colgan 21-0 vs. Garden Plain 17-6
8 p.m.—Jackson Heights 22-1 vs. Smith Center 19-4
