Sports

Schools compete at State basketball tournaments

TSnews The Hesston Swathers were the better team last Thursday night, defeating the Cheney Cardinals girls basketball team 65-43 in the Class 3A State basketball tournament first round at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. The Swathers took an 11-point lead in the first quarter, and extended to 16 points at halftime, 31-15.

TSnews SALINA – The Clearwater Indians girls basketball team started the Class 4A State tournament last Wednesday with a strong first half against Fort Scott, but an even stronger second half by the Tigers was the difference as the Indians lost their State opener 64-42. The Indians led 28-26 at the intermission, but Fort Scott outscored Clearwater 21-6 in the third period to take a 47-34 lead to the fourth quarter, then pulled away down the stretch.

TSnews The Conway Springs Cardinals boys basketball team fell short of winning a Class 2A State championship, but it does little to tarnish the team’s deepest postseason run in 12 years. “I’m happy our guys got to experience winning substate and going to a State tournament,” Conway Springs coach Paul Lange said.

TSnews Poor shooting plagued the Campus Colts boys basketball team in an 86-57 loss to the Wichita Heights Falcons in the first round of the Class 6A State tournament, played last Thursday at Koch Arena in Wichita. This was the Colts’ first trip to State since 2021, when they finished as the second-place team in 6A.

TSnews The Cheney Cardinals hit three buzzer-beating shots during last Wednesday’s Class 3A boys State basketball game, but couldn’t get a needed fourth shot to fall in a 54-51 loss to the Southeast of Saline Trojans. The Cardinals got off to a slow start shooting, falling behind by 10 points, but got to within two possessions when senior Jackson Voth sank a 35-foot shot as the first quarter ended, closing the Cardinals’ deficit to 16-12.