3A State In Hutchinson 1st Round Girls on Thursday

Sabetha 47, Southeast Saline 26

In their return to the state tournament, the experienced Sabetha girls used a dominating effort on the glass and a 14-0 fourth quarter to pull away and sink Southeast of Saline on Thursday evening.  The Lady Jays never trailed after a pair of offensive rebounds and putback by Mariah Huneke gave them a 13-11 lead at the end of one quarter.  Sabetha started the second quarter on a 9-0 run and quickly built the lead to double-digits.  Southeast of Saline cut it to 33-26 entering the fourth quarter, but it was all Bluejays in the fourth frame to improve to 23-1 on the season and make a return trip to the 3A State Semifinals, along with the Sabetha boys, for the second straight year.  

Sabetha outrebounded SE of Saline 38-24, and had 15 offensive boards which led to 15 second chance points.  The Jays also made 12 of 15 free throws and had 10 fewer turnovers (18-8) in the quarterfinal.  Emily Meyer picked up where she left off in Hutch as a sophomore with a double-double, 14 points and 11 rebounds while Alexis McAfee started her third 3A State Tourney appreance with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block as Sabetha won their 12th straight game.  McAfee and Meyer also combined to make 10 of 11 charity tosses while Mariah Huneke added 7 points and 7 rebounds and Taryn Schuette chipped in 6 points. 

SE of Saline, making their first state tournament appearnce since 2008, ends their season with an 18-6 record as got 12 points from Kylee Thaxton.  Yet, 21-point, 10 rebound senior leader, Erica Montgomery was held in check by the Bluejays and finished with just 6 points and 5 boards.  The Lady Trojans also shot just 28 percent from the field.  

Sabetha girls will play their 3A State semifinals at 6:30 Friday evening live on KNZA 103.9 FM against #3 seed, Sterling.  Online live and free at

https://www.network1sports.com/station/knza#top