Girls Semfinal #1 – #2 MH-MA vs. #3 Nemaha Central

During the 2015-16 high school basketball season, the Maur Hill-Mount Academy girls achieved the most wins in program history with 19, while finishing second in the Northeast Kansas League.

Friday night the Lady Ravens historical season came to an end, as Nemaha Central coasted to a 60-39 win in the Class 3A sub-state semifinals at Hiawatha.

The Thunder girls jumped out of the gates with a quick 14-4 run to take a 16-7 lead after the first quarter, behind eight points from senior forward Rachel Baumgartner.

Baumgartner was backed up in the second quarter by sophomore Laura Macke, who finished with seven second quarter points and 13 total in the half to give Nemaha Central a 32-15 lead at halftime.

MH-MA had their best quarter out of the break outscoring the Lady Thunder 11-10, but Nemaha still took a 42-26 into the fourth and the Lady Ravens never threatened the rest of the way.

Nemaha Central (19-3) now takes on one-seeded Sabetha (21-1) for the sub-state championship Saturday night at 6:00 in Hiawatha. MH-MA ended its season with a 19-3 mark.

Nemaha Central: Laura Macke – 25, Rachel Baumgartner – 18, Maggie Hammes – 6, Jenna Macke – 6, Kaley Dalinghaus – 2, Angela Holthaus – 1.

MH-MA: Avery Lewman – 10, Amber Weber – 10, Hana Ronnebaum – 7, Heather Ronnebaum – 7, Lauren Kocour – 3, Lexi Griffin – 2.

Girls Semifinal #2 - #1 Sabetha vs. #4 Hiawatha

In the first two meetings this season between Sabetha and Hiawatha, Sabetha won both contests first in dominating fashion on Dec. 15, 57-28, and then in a thriller Feb. 12, 47-44.

Friday night Sabetha finished off a season sweep of the Lady Redhawks by advancing to the championship game of the Class 3A Hiawatha Sub-State with a 55-47 come from behind win.

It was Hiawatha who started strong scoring 15 first quarter points behind eight points in the frame by senior Cyrstal Barbary, as the Redhawks led 15-11 after one.

Sabetha battled back in the second quarter as the lead changed hands several times, before Hiawatha pulled ahead by one at the break, 26-25.

Out of halftime the Lady Bluejays jumped all over Hiawatha with a quick 9-3 run to start the quarter, as they went on to take a 42-34 lead heading into the fourth.

Sabetha iced the game away in the fourth quarter connecting on 11 of 16 from the charity stripe to keep the Lady Redhawks at arm’s length.

Sabetha (21-1) goes up against Nemaha Central in the sub-state championship Saturday at 6:00 in Hiawatha. Hiawatha finished up the season with a 14-8 record.

Sabetha: Alexis McAfee – 18, Emily Meyer – 13, Taryn Schuette – 10, Mariah Hunecke – 8, Kalli Broxterman – 4, Jena Winkler – 2.

Hiawatha: Emily Gartner – 27, Crystal Barbary – 8, Sydney Campbell – 5, Molly Kettler – 3, Cariann Kunkel – 2, Kendra Overdick – 2.