HOISINGTON — The Otis-Bison High School boys’ basketball team led by 30 points at halftime in a Class 1A Division-II sub-state semifinal game on Thursday night.
The Cougars jumped ahead early, getting turnovers in the transition game and utilizing 6-foot-4 post player Brandon Pechanec under the basket as they beat Stafford 65-33.
“As a team, we played very well defensively,” Otis-Bison head coach Alan Clark said. “We got out and ran well. Our half-court offense was alright, but Pechanec just scored a lot of points in the first half. He played very well.
“We also got a lot of points in transition.”
Pechanec finished with a game-high 16 points, scoring 14 in the first half as the Cougars (13-7) jumped to a 45-15 lead.
Dylan Wissman added 12 points and Trevor Keller scored 11.

Hoisington 63,
TMP-Marian 48
LYONS — The Hoisington boys amassed a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter against Thomas More Prep-Marian.
The Cardinals were able to hold onto the lead to advance to the Class 3A sub-state tournament final against Beloit on Saturday night at 7:30.
“I was very pleased with the way we played in the second half,” Hoisington head coach Kyle Haxton said. “We trusted our game plan. We knew what we wanted to do. We didn’t make many adjustments in the second half. The boys just played hard.”
Derrick Kaiser led the Cardinals with 16 points, sinking four 3-pointers.
Trent Schremmer stepped up as the No. 2 scorer, adding 15 points for Hoisington (18-4).
“Schremmer was unbelievable,” Haxton said. “He stepped up and knocked down some shots. He was the difference-maker for us, no question.”
Hoisington 6-foot-8 center Cody Stetler was held to six points.
“The guarded him with two or three guys,” Haxton said. “That’s when you need someone else on the team to step up and hit some shots like Schremmer did. Cody didn’t get frustrated. He just kept working hard and demanding that double team.”
Jacob Fouts led TMP-Marian with 13 points.
Beloit defeated Salina Sacred Heart 68-66 to advance to the sub-state final.

South Central 64,
Macksville 63
COLDWATER — Macksville scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, but it fell just short against South Central.
The Mustangs trailed by as much as 11 points and closed the gap to one, but they were never able to tie the game or take the lead.
“They had a pretty big lead,” Macksville head coach Jeff Kuckelman said. “We hadn’t really hit any shots all night. That was our big problem.
“Then Tanner Tranbarger heated up some 3s, and we started to get some momentum.”
Tranbarger finished with 16 points, scoring 11 in the final eight minutes. He dropped in four 3-pointers.
Adam Oak led the Mustangs (15-6), who were the defending Class 1A Division-I state champions, with 18 points, scoring eight in the fourth quarter.
“You never like to see it end,” Kuckelman said. “But I can’t say enough about how our kids fought. They fought back from 11 pointer down a couple of times, and they just kept getting off of the mat and kept at it.”

Ashland 68, St. John 47
COLDWATER — Ashland held a 40-25 lead at halftime, and the St. John Tigers were unable to make up the ground in the Class 1A Division-I sub-state semifinal game.
Zuriel Reyes finished with a team-leading 13 points.
Kade Kinnamon scored nine points, knocking down three 3-pointers for the Tigers (14-8).
St. John’s defense didn’t have an answer for Jay Luerman, who led Ashland with 26 points.

GIRLS
Central Plains 50,
Pratt-Skyline 43
PRATT — Central Plains outscored host Pratt-Skyline 16-6 in the final eight minutes to earn a spot in its Class 2A sub-state championship.
The Lady Oilers were led by Sydney Rugan, who finished with 14 points. Rugan scored five points in the fourth quarter, leading six players who contributed to the comeback.
Lindsey Woodmansee finished with 11 points for Central Plains (17-5).
Kaitlyn Stark led Skyline with a game-high 16 points.
Central Plains faces Sterling at 6 p.m. in the championship game on Saturday.
                                                                                                                                — Kevin Price