The Sabetha girls and boys basketball teams will make a return trip to the Class 3A State Tournament in Hutchinson after defeating rival Nemaha Central for the third time this season to win the Hiawatha Sub State.  Saturday night in front of a loud capacity crowd inside the Roundhouse, both Sabetha squads improved to 22-1 on the season by knocking out rival Nemaha for the second year in the Sub-State finals.

GIRLS = Sabetha 62, Nemaha Central 48

It was Nemaha Central that jumped to a 5-0 lead, but when Sabetha took their first lead at 8-7, they would never relinquish the advantage.  The Bluejays went on a 7-0 run to close the first quarter (15-8) and then finished the first half of a 9-2 run to take a 31-23 lead.  Nemaha had got within 22-21 in the second period, and got the defecit to two points in the third quarter but back-to-back baskets by Jena Winkler stretched out the Lady Jays margin. 

It was Alexis McAfee who got Sabetha off to a strong start with 16 of her game-high 23 points in the first half, including four long three-pointers.  Emily Meyer added 15 points while Taryn Schuette chipped in 8 and Mariah Huneke delivered 7.  Sabetha pullled away to their biggest lead of the game by making 12 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter and and was 80 percent (24-30) for the game.  McAfee was phenomenal filling the stat sheet in the win, including a perfect 4-4 at the foul line and five total treys in her highest scoring game of the season.  The Sabetha girls have won 11 straight and return to 3A State for third time in the last four years, including a fourth place finish a season ago. 

Nemaha Central went 0-8 from three-point land in the second half after making four treys in the opening half. The Thunder also had a trio of players foul out in the fourth quarter and end their season with a 19-4 record.  Nemaha also had an empty possession to end the third quarter and and empty possession to start the fourth quarter that seemed to be the window of opportunity before having to foul late playing catch-up.  The Thunder, likely the favorites next year, say goodbye to just two seniors, and both girls played terrific in their final game Saturday night.  Jenna Macke had a season high 17 points while Rachel Baumgartner added 15 and both girls scored in every quarter.  Sabetha and Hiawatha were the only teams to beat Nemaha all season.

BOYS = Sabetha 47, Nemaha Central 44 in Overtime

The boys game was much tighter throughout even though Sabetha scored the first seven points of the game and lead 12-4 with 3:30 to play in the opening quarter.  Nemaha Central took their first lead of the game at 15--14 and led 22-21 at halftime.  The Thunder took a four-point advantage early in the third quarter at 29-25 before Sabetha countered with a 5-0 run and the game was tied at 30 entering the fourth frame.  Still tied at 35, Luke Holthaus made a basket to give Nemaha the lead with 1:05 remaining.  Calder Keehn missed a pair of free throw for Sabetha with :35 left and Holthaus made 1-2 for the Thunder at the other end with :24 to play.  

The hero of the night turned out to be senior, Brock Frey, who got out of a double-team without his dribble by initiating contact leaning into a three-point shot and drawing a foul with :13 remaining.  Frey calmly stepped to the stripe and nailed all three foul shots to tie the game at 40 and after a timeout, Nemaha missed an eight-foot baseline jumper from Mitchell Henry that could have been a game-winner.  Keehn made two field goals for Sabetha in overtime as the Jays took a 44-42 advantage with just over a minute on the overtime clock.  However, while Sabetha tried to milk the clock, Nemaha got a tremendous hustle play and steal as Tristan Allen found Dylan Enneking for a layup to tie the game at 44.  The Bluejays made the next possession the last one of the game as Brock Frey hit a deep trey on the right wing as time expired as Sabetha celebrated their seventh win by five points or less this season. 

Frey finished with 18 points while Keehn added 17 and made the only two field goals for Sabetha in the fourth quarter.  The Jays did make six free throws in the final frame, including a pair of big ones by fellow senior, Alec Kirwan, who added 8 points.  Sabetha, who placed third at 3A State last year, will return with a 10 game winning streak and 22-1 record.

Nemaha Central ends the season 18-5 with three losses to Sabetha plus an overtime defeat again Royal Valley and a non-league loss to 4A State Bound, Wamego.  The Thunder could only made 10 of 21 free throws in the Sub-State finals, and that included a trio of misses on front end one-and-one's.  Luke Holthaus and Dylan Enneking each had 10 points and Nate Beck added 9, but Nemaha Central missed all eight three-point attempts after halftime.  The Thunder lose five seniors but will return a trio of starters and their sixth man for next season. 

Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Players to Bank On:"

Alexis McAfee and Brock Frey of Sabetha.