BY CARSON BYERS
Tournament Correspondent
2A BOYS
HILLSBORO 59, WABAUNSEE 50
Hillsboro (20-2) captures their fourth state title in school history, the first since 1998, by defeating Wabaunsee 59-50 in the 2A Boys State Championship.
Hillsboro’s Matthew Potucek scored 17 points. Brekyn Ratzlaff had 16 and Grayson Ratzlaff 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Wabaunsee (13-13) was led by Braden Meseke’s 22 points and Cade Oliver’s 12.
The first quarter showed Hillsboro out of the gate taking a commanding hold on the game and started the second quarter up 18-10. Wabaunsee was able to battle all the way back and tie up the game with four minutes until half at 23-23. A short run by Hillsboro however gave them the advantage at the half, 31-27.
The third quarter showed an even ball game and with neither team giving any ground. Braden Meseke was solid for Wabaunsee in the third quarter and ended totaling 22 points for the Chargers.
Hillsboro started the fourth quarter up 42-38 and took hold of the game scoring 17 points in the quarter.
Cade Oliver also chipped in 12 points for Wabaunsee on 5-18 shooting.
Hillsboro played in their seventh championship game and Wabaunsee played in their fifth, the first since 2005.
2A GIRLS
STERLING 52, PITTSBURG COLGAN 36
The Sterling Black Bears took home their first Girls State Basketball Championship Saturday with a 52-36 victory over St. Mary’s Colgan.
Bennie Horsch (16), Kali Briar (12) and Makenna Linden (11) led coach Jill Rowland to her first state championship (24-1). Colgan’s Lauren Yaghmour scored 10 points.
Both teams were playing in their first state championship game in their school’s history. The Black Bears found the edge by the end of the period up, 16-10.
The Black Bears doubled up Colgan in the second quarter and took at 26-17 advantage into the locker room.
The second half proved more of the same as Horsch and company could not be stopped by St. Mary’s Colgan. The Black Bears forced the Panthers into 19 turnovers on the night.
Colgan was able to get over the hump this year getting into the championship game after many years of coming up just short in the quarterfinals.
The Panthers were led by Lauren Yaghmour with 10 points.
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WABAUNSEE 73, HOXIE 56
The Wabaunsee Chargers used a great offensive performance to upset the undefeated Hoxie Indians in the first semifinal game of 2A Boys action by the score of 73-56.
Wabaunsee came out firing in the first quarter. They hit their first five triples and lit up the score board leading 28-14 after one quarter of action. Harlan Obioha was a bright spot for Hoxie in the early-going, the 7'0 big-man had 10 points in the first.
The Chargers extended their lead to 20 points early in the second period, but Hoxie would respond with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 34-21. Solid defense from both squads down the stretch led to a 38-23 halftime lead with Wabaunsee well in control.
In second half action, Hoxie began their comeback attempt behind lock-down team defense and a dominant offensive effort from Obioha. The Indians got back within single digits mid-way through the third with the score of 42-33. Despite the momentum, Wabaunsee didn't flinch. The Chargers continued to find offense and closed out the quarter with the lead well intact with the score of 50-40.
Wabaunsee cruised in the fourth quarter, putting the finishing touches on their semifinal upset bid. The Chargers continued to score at will, adding 23 more points to their total and maintaining their double-digit lead to the very end.
The Chargers were led in scoring by sophomores Tyler Lohmeyer with 22 and Eli Oliver with 24. Junior Brayden Meseke added 12 points. Harlan Obioha scored 36 points in the loss for Hoxie.
With the victory, Wabaunsee advances to the state title game on Saturday, March 13th at 2:00 pm. The Chargers return to the title game for the first time since 2005, their fifth appearance in school history. They will be searching for their first championship since 1986.
HILLSBORO BOYS 51, LYNDON 45
Hillsboro holds off Lyndon thanks to a strong finish, winning the second semifinal game of 2A boys action 51-45.
Both teams went back and forth throughout the first quarter with Lyndon grabbing a 16-14 lead off a runner from Miles Kitselman at the buzzer. The senior Kitselman paced the Tiger with 8 points in the opening period.
Hillsboro raced out in the second quarter with a 10-0 run, holding the Tigers scoreless for over 4 minutes. The Trojan's defense wouldn't let up and they outscored Lydon 15-3 in the second and holding Kitselman without a bucket. Hillsboro's lead at the half was 31-19 behind a 59 percent shooting performance. The Trojan's Brekyn Ratzlaff led all scorers with 9 points through one half of action.
Lyndon bounced back from the rough second quarter and cut the deficit down to 5 thanks to a solid offensive third quarter. The Tigers won the third period 14-7, using a 7-0 run to end the quarter. Hillsboro still maintained a 38-33 lead, but Lyndon had found the momentum they needed heading into the fourth.
In the final quarter of play, Hillsboro responded to the Lyndon momentum with a 7-0 spurt of their own, reinstating a double-digit lead of 10 points mid-way through the fourth. The Tigers wouldn't go down easily getting within 5 once more with about a minute to play. 30 seconds later a Luke Detwiler lay-in brought the game within a single possession for Lyndon at the score of 48-45. This game would be decided at the free throw line and Hillsboro delivered in the clutch going 3-4 from the charity stripe.
Miles Kitselman and Luke Detwiler both scored in double figures for Lyndon; Detwiler with 11 and Kitselman with 18 to lead all scorers. Grayson Ratzlaff led a balanced scoring effort for Hillsboro with 14 points and Brekyn Ratzlaff added 11.
The victorious Hillsboro Trojans play Alma Wabaunsee for the 2A title. It's their first title appearance since 1999 as they hope to win their fourth state championship in school history.
STERLING GIRLS 69, GARDEN PLAIN 52
The Sterling Black Bears shined in the second half to pull away from Garden Plain and win 73-56 in the first semifinal game of 2A girls action.
Sterling jumped out quickly to a 7-0 lead as Garden Plain struggled on the offensive end. The Owls missed their first five looks from the field. Mid-way through the first quarter the Black Bears extended their opening run to 13-2 after a Kate Rowland three-point jumper. This shot caused Owl’s head coach Mindy Bruce to signal for a timeout, which helped Garden Plain to settle in. They found some easy buckets down low from AlIi Puetz and Madelyn Rolfs and cut the Black Bear lead to just four at the end of the first.
The offenses for both teams continued to roll in the second quarter. The two squads combined for 23 points in the first 3 minutes of the period, with Sterling still in control and leading 29-24. Garden Plain had multiple chances take the lead throughout the quarter but was never able to get over the hump. Sterling held strong and led at the half 39-32.
Free throws were huge for the Black Bears in the opening half, they went 16-19 from the line to go along with a 50 percent shooting performance. Bennie Horsch led them in scoring with 11 and Sadie Beagley added 10. Madelyn Rolfs and Celia Puetz were in double figures with 10 each for Garden Plain at the break.
The third quarter is where Sterling began to pull away. Sterling senior Makenna Linden opened second half scoring with a three-pointer from the wing which sparked a dominant third quarter performance that ballooned the Black Bear lead to 57-41 heading into the final quarter of play.
Now in complete control, the fourth quarter saw Sterling easily close out the game going away by the final score of 69-52.
Bennie Horsch of Sterling led all scorers in the contest with 23 points. Sadie Beagley poured in 18 points as well. Alli Puetz scored 18 points for Garden Plain in the loss.
Sterling plays Pittsburg Colgan for the 2A title.
STERLING 69, GARDEN PLAIN 52
Garden Plain 13 19 9 11 — 52
Sterling 17 22 18 12 — 69
Garden Plain (17-6) —Rolfs 4-12 1-2 10, Ma. Zoglman 1-7 2-2 4, A. Puetz 7-11 4-8 18, Hammond 0-8 2-2 2, Gorges 1-4 0-1 2, S. Puetz 0-6 0-0 0, C. Puetz 5-7 3-5 13, Hitt 0-0 1-2 0, Mo. Zoglman 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 19-56 13-22 52.
Sterling (23-1) —Farney 0-0 2-2 2, Linden 3-7 6-8 13, Horsch 9-15 5-6 23, Briar 2-4 2-2 6, Beagley 5-7 8-9 18, Rowland 3-6 0-0 4, Farney 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 22-40 23-27 69.
3-point goals — GP (Rolfs 1) S 2 (Linden 1, Rowland 1). Rebounds — GP 32 (C. Puetz 10) S 32 (Horsch 10)
PITTSBURG COLGAN GIRLS 40, VALLEY HEIGHTS 38
Lily Brown’s jumper at the buzzer lifts over Valley Heights 40-38 in the second semifinal game of 2A girls action.
Defense was the story of the first quarter. Buckets were hard to come by in the early going with Colgan earning a 10-7 advantage on the scoreboard after one.
Colgan started feeling it from behind the arc once the second quarter began. The Panthers poured in three triples in a hurry from three different players. That scoring burst would help them build their margin to 11 before finishing the half leading 25-16.
It was balanced scoring for both squads in one half of action. Lily Brown had 8 and Kaitlin Crossland had 9 to lead the way for Colgan. Catherine Toerber of Valley Heights scored 5 points as the leading scorer for the Mustangs.
Valley Heights shook off their first half shooting woes and raced out to a 7-0 run after the break with the Colgan lead dwindled to just one possession. The Panthers survived the dominant Mustangs quarter with the lead still intact at 31-29.
In fourth quarter action Valley Heights found the lead on a fast break finish by Madison Vermetten. The lay-up would make the score 34-33 in favor of the Mustangs at the 5:45 mark. Defense took over the rest of the quarter with the teams knotted up at 38 with 20 seconds to play Colgan took the inbounds pass.
On the final possession, Lily Brown was the hero for the Panthers. The freshman found space in the short corner for an open jump shot and she calmly knocked it down right at the buzzer to win the game 40-38.
Brown was the leading scorer for Colgan with 12 points and Crossland added 11. Emma Yungeberg scored a game high 19 points for Valley Heights.
Colgan plays Sterling for the 2A girls title.
PITTSBURG COLGAN 40, VALLEY HEIGHTS 38
Colgan 10 15 6 9 — 40
Valley Hgts 7 9 13 9 — 38
Pittsburg Colgan (19-3)—Crossland 3-6 3-3 11, Torrance 1-5 1-2 3, Root 3-6 1-2 7, Yaghmour 1-3 0-0 3, Brown 5-9 2-3 12, Imhof 1-3 1-4 4, Totals 14-32 8-14 40.
Valley Heights (21-2)—C.Toerber 2-11 0-0 5, M.Toerber 1-5 0-0 2, Vermetten 3-10 1-4 7, E.Toerber 2-10 1-2 5, Yungeberg 9-14 1-2 19, Murk 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Steinfort 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-53 3-8 38.
3-point goals—PC 4-12 (Crossland 2-3, Torrance 0-2, Root 0-3, Yaghmour 1-1, Imhof 1-3), VH 1-11 (C.Toerber 1-7, Vermetten 0-1, E.Toerber 0-2, Murk 0-1). Rebounds—PC 28 (Torrance 8), VH 33 (Yungeberg 14)
