CAPTION: Senior Grace Posch, 3, shoots a three-pointer and makes it Tuesday evening at the Salthawk Activity Center. CREDIT CAPTURED BY DYLAN
By John Mesh
The Hutchinson High School girls basketball team jumped out to a 17-3 lead in the first quarter and rolled to a 60-37 victory over Andover Central in Class 5A West #1 girls sub-state game Tuesday night at the Salthawk Activity Center.
Hutchinson led by as many as 19 points at 24-5 in the first half and led at halftime 29-18. The Salthawks led 46-28 after three quarters and outscored the Jaguars 14-9 in the fourth quarter for the 23-point victory.
Seniors Grace Posch (20) and Kaia Smith (18) combined for 38 points to lead the Salthawks. Posch, who will play basketball at Seward County Community College next year, has scored 968 points during four years as a Salthawk starter.
Tenley Keeton hit three 3-pointers for 9 points. Kohbie Craft scored 7 points, Ava Krone 4, Renee Alvarez 1 and Lily Rodriguez 1.
The Salthawks committed just 4 turnovers in the game.
Payton Converse led the Andover Central Jaguars with 15 points.
The Salthawk girls (15-6) will play the winner of the sub-state semifinal between Great Bend (6-14) and Hays (20-0) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Great Bend-Hays girls semifinal game slated for Hays on Tuesday was moved to 6 p.m. Thursday because of blowing winds in most of Kansas.
Andover Central finished the season with a 13-8 record.
Season ends for Buhler boys basketball team with loss to Wellington
In a Class 4A West #2 boys sub-state game at Wellington, Buhler’s season ended with a 60-45 loss to Wellington in a battle of the Crusaders.
Buhler finished the season with a 6-15 record. Wellington improved to 15-5.
The Buhler boys trailed 12-7 at the end of the first quarter, 28-16 at halftime and 44-32 at the end of the third quarter. Wellington outscored Buhler 16-13 in the fourth quarter.
In the Class 4A West sub-state #2, the Buhler girls (16-4) will host Abilene (3-17) and Pratt (11-6) hosts Towanda-Circle (9-11). The championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday.
Halstead girls advanced to sub-state finals
In the Halstead Class 3A girls sub-state #2 semifinals, No. 2-seed Halstead defeated No. 7-seed Nemaha Central 36-28 Tuesday night at Halstead.
Halstead led Nemaha Central 8-5 after one quarter, 16-13 at halftime and 26-19 after three quarters. The Dragons won the fourth quarter 10-9.
Halstead (20-1) will play Marysville (11-11) in the sub-state finals Friday at Halstead. Marysville defeated Cheney 37-32 in the other semifinal.
Season ends for Trinity boys with sub-state loss to Ell-Saline
The season came to end for the Trinity Catholic High School boys basketball team with a 70-42 loss to Ell-Saline Tuesday night in a Class 2A Moundridge boys sub-state semifinal.
The Celtics finished the season with a 8-14 record.
Aaron Gust led the Celtic boys with 12 points. Max Ryan scored 10 points, including two 3-pointers.
Brogan Rowley, whoo signed a letter of intent compete in track and field at the University of Nebraska next fall, led Ell-Saline with 20 points. Has Kramer added 12 points.
Ell-Saline plays Bennington (15-7) Friday at Moundridge. Bennington upset No. 1 Salina Sacred Heart 67-58 Tuesday in Salina. Salina Sacred Heart finished the season with a 19-1 record.
HutchCC baseball team sweeps Hesston College
The Blue Dragons swept a doubleheader Tuesday against Hesston College at Hobbart-Detter Field.
Hutchinson won the first game 11-0 (5 innings, run rule) and the second game 10-0 (5 innings, run rule). The Blue Dragons improved their overall record to 13-2 and their home record to 9-1.
The Blue Dragons are scheduled to play a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Dodge City Thursday and 1 p.m. twinbill Saturday at home against the Conquistadors.
The Hutchinson Blue Dragon softball team is scheduled to play a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Butler Community College in El Dorado on Wednesday weather permitting.
The Blue Dragon softball team hosts a 2 p.m. doubleheader Sunday at Fun Valley against Labette Community College.
Hutch Trinity alumnus Caleb Hammeke is five-time MIAA postseason honoree
The Fort Hays State University men’s basketball team had three players recognized with MIAA postseason honors on Tuesday.
Kaleb Hammeke, Hutchinson Trinity Catholic High School alumnus, became the only five-time All-MIAA selection in FHSU men’s basketball program history, earning a first-team selection for the third-straight year. He was also named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team.
Kyle Grill was an All-MIAA Honorable Mention pick. Shaun Riley joined Hammeke as one of five players on the All-Defensive Team.
Hammeke continued to add to his storied career at FHSU. He became the fourth player in the program’s history to receive all-conference first team honors for a third time in their careers, joining Elmer Johnson (1938, 1939, 1940), Mark Wilson (1978, 1979, 1981) and Raymond Lee (1984, 1985, 1986).
Hammeke is the first three-time all-conference first team selection in the program’s NCAA Division II history.
Hammeke is the all-time leading scorer at FHSU, now with 2,008 points in his career. This season, he is averaging 16 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He has scored in double figures in all but one game this year.
Hammeke is one of only four active players at all NCAA levels to have 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in their careers, joining Mark Sears of Alabama, Caleb Love of Arizona and RJ Davis of North Carolina.
Hammeke also received a selection to the All-Defensive Team for the first time in his career at FHSU.