GIRLS = Sabetha 53, Holton 23           BOYS - Sabetha 56, Holton 24

In the season opener for both teams, the Sabetha girls and boys jumped to double-digit leads after just one quarter and neither Holton team threatened as clock was running in the fourth quarter of both games with the Bluejays extending to 30-plus point leads. 

GIRLS - The Lady Jays scored the first 16 points of the game, including three pointers for Alexis McAfee and a pair from fellow senior starter, Kalli Broxterman.  Holton got their first points with :35 left in the opening period, but trailed 18-4 after one frame.  The Lady Jays pushed the margin to 37-13 at halftime and then put Holton away with an 11-2 second quarter.  The Wildcats turned the ball over 23 times and never found any offensive rhythm, with only Courtney Boswell tallying more than four points, as she finished with nine including a couple treys in the final period. 

Sabetha was as balanced as a team could be with McAfee scoring 12 and Broxterman 11 while Mariah Huneke and Taryn Schuette each added 8.  The Lady Jays talented group of six seniors accounted for all but two field goals in the game as they began defense of their two-time defending Big 7 League Title. 

BOYS - Coming off a state football title game and less than a handful of basketball practices, the Wildcats had an early 4-3 advantage and Sabetha's top returning seniors players, Brock Frey and Calder Keehn were each in early foul trouble.  Yet, the Jays closed the first quarter on a 12-0 run as Alex Kirwan nailed a trey to make it a double-digit lead for the rest of the night.  The Wildcats managed just four points again in the second quarter and trailed 25-8 at halftime.

With Frey and Keehn each having a trio of fouls and not starting the second half, the Wildcats outscored Sabetha 10-9 as got as close as 29-16 in the third quarter.  However, Sabetha saved their best basketball for the final frame and used their basketball conditioning to outscore Holton 22-6 down the stretch and put the Cats away.  Bryson Patch had 12 points for Holton while AJ Haussler added 7. 

Sabetha got 13 from Kirwan, while fellow seniors (and two-time defending Big 7 League champs) Keehn (12), Jonah Montgomery (11) and Frey (10) also scored in double-figures. The Jays have now won 17 straight Big 7 games and 27 of their last 29 with both league losses coming to Holton.