3A State Quarterfinals in Hutchinson on Wednesday

#2 Seed Sabetha 43, # 7 Seed Scott City 40 in Overtime

It wasn't a pretty game in the return to the 3A State Tourney for either team on Wednesday.  However, it was the type of game that Sabetha was accustomed too and comfortabe with as they found another way to win another tight contests.  This time, it was unsung heros with leader Brock Frey and Calder Keehn fouling out and miraculously hitting 9 of 12 free throws in overtime after going just 3 of 12 from the charity stripe in the combined four quarters of regulation. 

The Bluejays took a 14-13 lead into halftime, but fell down 23-21 when Frey and Keehn were forced to the bench with three fouls each.  That is when fellow senior, Caleb Strahm scored five straight points and a layup by Jonah Montgomery gave Sabetha the biggest lead of the game at 25-21 to cap a 7-0 run.  Yet, Scott City got a basket and then a steal and layup to make it 25 all heading into the fourth frame.  Frey fouled out early in the fourth quarter and did not score after five points in the first half and was called for three offensive charges.  That was a common theme as Keehn and Montgomery also had questionable charge calls go against them down the stretch in the fourth quarter.  But, Sabetha never gave up the lead and with the game tied at 32, Strahm missed a pair of free throws and the game went to overtime after a halfcourt heave by Bo Hess of Scott City was barely short.

Keeen hit a basket to start the extra period and then hit two free throws before fouling out with Sabetha up 36-32.  From there, the Bluejays got huge free throws from Alex Kirwan, Eric Renyer, Keegan Cox and three more by Montgomery in the final 23 seconds to stay in front and secure the win against the defending 3A Champs.  Keehn finished with 19 points while Strahm was huge with 10 and the Jays outrebounded Scott City 30-19 and improved to 23-1 with their ninth win by five points or less and their third overtime victory. 

Scott City ends their season 18-6 and got 11 points Bo Hess after he hit a three-pointer with 05 left.  Dylan Hutchins added 9, but that was well below season average for both players.  The Beavers, with only two seniors on their roster, went 10 of 13 from the foul-line, but Hess missed two in the overtime and Scott City never lead after a 21-18 third quarter advantage and made just 13 of 37 shots (35%) against the tough Sabetha defense for the game. 

Sabetha boys advance to the 3A State semifinals for the second straight year and will play at 8:15 in the Friday night semifinal on KNZA 103.9 FM. They will play #6 seed Garden Plain, who rallied from an early 17-4 deficit to upset Fredonia 71-49.