In a third meeting between Jackson County Big 7 League rivals, the Holton Wildcats swept Royal Valley on Saturday night to win the Jeff West Sub-State and advance to Class 4A-DII State in Wichita. 

GIRLS = Holton 54, Royal Valley 41
The Holton girls are heading to the state basketball tournament for the seventh time in the last eight years. After missing the big dance a year ago, Coach Jon Holliday has his young team headed to Wichita with a 15-7 record overall and wins in 11 of their last 12 contests.  The Holton girls are making their 13th state tournament apperance.  The Lady Cats had their eight-year run of Big 7 titles snapped earlier this season after winning 114 straight league contests.  

Senior standout, Kyrstie Miller had 26 points on Saturday night in the Sub State Championship, including a couple treys and 8 of 10 free throws, which followed her 23 point performance against Jeff West in the semifinals.  Holton started slow but took a 21-17 advantage into halftime and put the game away with a 15-7 third period.  

Jaycee Worrell had 12 points along with Kate Hanson, who fouled out midway through the fourth quarter. The Panthers end the year 11-11 with just three seniors on the roster.

BOYS = Holton 61, Royal Valley 47
The Wildcat boys jumped to a 17-8 first quarter lead and never were threatened in route to seventh straight victory.  Trey Tanking had 19 points while Garrett Beecher added 15 and Holton made 32 of 46 free throws on the night.  The junior tandem also combined for 42 points in the Friday night semifinal, a third victory this season against Jeff West.  Holton, who finished runner-up in the Big 7 this year after claiming the previous four league titles, is now 17-5 on the season.  

Fifth year Coach Ryan West (105-34) takes the Holton boys to the state tournament for the third time after trips in 2010 and a third place finish in 2011 at Salina.  This is appearance number 8 total for the Wildcats, who will play at Hartman Arena in Wichita in the new venue for Class 4A - Division II.   

Skyler Link had 16 points for Royal Valley who ends their season with a 10-12 record.