Both #3 ranked Sabetha squads stayed focused on Friday night before their huge rivalry showdown against Nemaha as the Bluejays cruised to a pair of road wins at Royal Valley and improved to 17-1 on the season, while maintaining their lead a top the Big 7 League and sub-state standings.

GIRLS = Sabetha 61, Royal Valley 41

The first quarter was the difference in the game as Sabetha used a 7-0 run to jump to a 20-8 advantage after one quarter.  Emily Meyer keyed that early success with 12 points in the first frame and 16 of her 18 in the first half as she dominated inside.  Fellow Citizens State Bank and Trust Company "Player to Bank On," Alexis McAfee scored a game high 19, including a deep trey as part of a 7-0 run to start the second half that put the game away. 

McAfee hit 10 of 13 free throws as the Jays were 26 of 36 from the foul line on the night, keeping their impressive team foul shot percentage just under 70 percent for the season.  Kalli Broxterman added 11 points while also scoring in every quarter.  Sabetha girls improved to 14-0 in the Big 7 Leage, setting up their huge showdown versus Nemaha Central on Tuesday night.

Royal Valley was led by Tamo Thomas with 17 points and fellow sophomore Marlissa Jordan added 8 consecutive points in the second quarter, but both players fouled out.  The Panthers hit four treys in the second quarter including one by Maggie Schuetz that beat the buzzer and pulled the home team within 34-26 at halftime.  Royal Valley is now 8-10 overall and 5-9 in the League.  

BOYS = Sabetha 53, Royal Valley 40

The Bluejay boys jumped to a 10-0 run as Brock Frey got on track early in a bounce-back game with a pair of three-pointers and the Jays were never threatened against the short-handed Panthers.  Like the girls, foul trouble plagued the Royal Valley boys as Sabetha made 16 of 31 free throws to  stay comfortably in front.  Sabetha scored the first five points of the second and third quarters and led by 12 after each period.  Royal Valley had chances to get within five or six points in the fourth frame but went 0-8 at the free throw line down the stretch and was a mere 3 of 16 at the charity stipe on the night.  

Frey was the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Player to Bank On," with 16 points while Calder Keehn added 11 and Jonah Montgomery had 8.  Sabetha improved to 13-1 in the Big 7, but need a home win Tuesday against Nemaha to secure a third straight League Title.  

Royal Valley played their second straight game without senior guard Kwaki Spoonhunter and Derrick Barger sit out the first quarter on Friday night before the Panthers lost their third straight game after a 14-1 start to the season.  Barger did come on to score 10 of his 12 points in the second half to cap senior night as Masen Spoonhunter led the Panthers with 14 points including 14 points and 4 made triples.  Spoonhunter also had a big dunk in the first quarter but was the only Panther to score in that opening frame as RV fel down 15-8 and never got any closer than 9 points the rest of the night. Royal Valley is now 14-4 overall and 10-4 in the Big 7 League. 

Sabetha home games Tuesday night will be broadcast on KNZA 103.9 FM as both Big 7 League Championships are on the line in the rivalry affair.