BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

ST. JOHN — St. John basketball coach Clint Kinnamon has never coached against six-time 1A state champion Hanover.

The Tigers are also six-time state champions, with five of the championships in 2A. Kinnamon has coached four Tiger teams to state championships. The Tigers lost to 1A-Division 1 state champion South Gray in the semifinals last year.

The traditional powers will clash at 4:45 p.m. Thursday at Dodge City’s Wireless Arena. 

“We’ve never played Hanover, but they have the athletic look they’ve always had,” Kinnamon said. “They play fast and press a little.”

No. 1 ranked Central Plains, St. John, Macksville and Ness City qualified for state tournaments from the Central Prairie League. Central Plains defeated St. John three times and Hesston downed the Tigers.

“There’s some luck getting to the state tournament, but when you get four teams, it shows our strong your league is,” Kinnamon said. “If we play well, we’ve got a good chance. I’m hoping our fundamentals will overcome their athleticism.”

Tiger 6-7 center Tanner Halling (18 ppg), joins point guard Mason Osborne (15 ppg), Marshall Woolf (8 ppg), Eddy Calleros (6 ppg), Collin Halling (5 ppg), Trey Fisher (4 ppg) and Cashe McVey (3 ppg). Halling and Osborne provide a reliable inside force with a solid point guard.

“Tanner has a great shot fake,” Kinnamon said. “We’ll hope to get them in foul trouble.”

Kinnamon likes the defensive presence of Tanner Halling inside and Osborne outside. Eddy Calleros, Trey Fisher and McVey are also outstanding defenders.

The Tigers needed every bit of defense to overcome a 3 of 17 free throw shooting night against Attica in a 36-34 substate championship. Kinnamon, a 1985 St. John graduate, outwitted former St. John Tiger Daniel Hilton (2010). 

“Our defense absolutely saved that game because our free throw shooting was contagious,” he said. “We missed a bunch of wide open 10- and 15-footers to. Other than a couple 3s, we played really well. We were good on the ball and mixed in a little trap.”

1A BOYS—DODGE CITY, THURSDAY

3 p.m.–Osborne 23-0 vs Lebo 18-5

4:45 p.m –St. John 20-4 vs. Hanover 23-1 

6:30 p.m—Central Plains 24-0 vs. Macksville 18-6 

8:15 p.m—Caldwell 22-2 vs. Berean Academy 21-3

ST. JOHN BOYS HISTORY (26-5) 

12 STATE TRIPS (6-2 FINALS)

2019—1A—St. John (20-4) vs. Hanover (21-3) 

2018—2A—St. John 49, LeRoy Coffey County 35; South Gray 43, St. John 37; THIRD PLACE—St. John 81, Centralia 49

2017—2A—St. John 51, Pittsburg Colgan 38; St. John 52, Lawrence Seabury 51 (6 OT); CHAMPIONSHIP—Salina Sacred Heart 59, St. John 51

2015—2A—St. John 83, Ellis 41; St. John 71, Washington Co. 53; CHAMPIONSHIP—St. John 49, Central Plains 44; Coach Clint Kinnamon

2014—2A—St. John 69, Washington County 42; St. John 57, Olpe 47; CHAMPIONSHIP—St. John 71, Plain-ville 58; Coach Clint Kinnamon

2013—1A DIV. 1—St. John 68, Burrton 44; St. John 61, Centralia 56; CHAMPIONSHIP—St. John 70, South Haven 50; Coach Clint Kinnamon

2008—2A—St. John 58, Syracuse 35; St. John 56, Frankfort 52; CHAMPIONSHIP—Pittsburg Colgan 53, St. John 48

2007—2A—St. John 52, Syracuse 28; St. John 44, Yates Center 26; CHAMPIONSHIP—St. John 51, Pittsburg Colgan 46; Coach Clint Kinnamon

2004—2A—St. John 65, Leavenworth Immaculata 57; Pittsburg Colgan 69, St. John 65; THIRD PLACE—St. John 58, Syracuse 49

2002—2A—Pittsburg Colgan 61, St. John 47

1982—2A—St. John 74, Sedan 44; St. John 54, Stan-ton County 53; CHAMPIONSHIP—St. John 57, Canton-Galva 48; Coach Loren Wiens 

1974—2A—St. John 60, Hillsboro 56; St. John 56, Basehor 47; CHAMPIONSHIP—St. John 48, Frankfort 41; Coach Ivan Williams

ST. JOHN BOYS 36, ATTICA 34

PRATT – St. John built a 9-point lead and held off Attica 36-34 in Saturday’s 1A Pratt basketball substate to qualify for the 1A state tournament.

Tanner Halling and Mason Osborne each scored 14 points. 

St. John’s Blake Goodman hit a 3-pointer and Zander Newberry hit a driving shot for a 36-34 score. But Blake Harnden missed the tying shot. 

The Tigers (20-4) led 22-13 in the third quarter, but struggled with 3 of 18 free throw shooting to keep things interesting for coach Clint Kinnamon.

Attica        4  7 9 14 – 34

St. John   10 9 7 10 – 36

ATTICA (20-5)—McDaniel 4 1-1 9, Miller 2 2-2 8, Harnden 2 1-2 7, Newberry 2 0-0 5, Goodman 1 0-0 3, Mans 0 2-2 2, Totals 14 6-7 34

ST. JOHN (20-4)—Tanner Halling 6 2-5 14, Osborne 6 0-1 14, Marshall Woolf 1 0-3 3, Fisher 1 1-2 3, Eddy Calleros 0 0-3 0, Collin Halling 1 0-4 2, Totals 15 3-18 36

ST. JOHN BOYS 66, MINNEOLA 27

PRATT – St. John’s Tanner Halling scored 19 points and Eddy Calleros chipped in 13 points as the Tigers coasted past Minneola 66-27 in Friday’s 1A Pratt basketball substate.

The Tigers led 17-2 after one quarter and 35-11 at halftime. St. John (19-4) plays Attica (20-4) for a 1A state berth at Dodge City.

Minneola    2  11  9  5 – 27

St. John    17 18 24 7 – 66

MINNEOLA (11-12)—Lang 5 1-2 11, Dewell 2 1-2 6, Laudick 1 0-0 3, Schaffer 1 1-5 3, Berger 1 0-0 2, Lantz 1 0-0 2, Totals 11 3-9 27

ST. JOHN (19-4)—Tanner Halling 8 3-4 19, Eddy Calleros 4 2-2 13, Osborne 4 0-0 8, Urriel Calleros 2 2-2 7, McVey 2 1-2 6, Delp 0 2-3 2, Sepic 2 0-0 4, Marshall Woolf 1 0-0 2, Toby Woolf 1 0-0 2, Fisher 1 1-2 3, Totals 25 11-15 66