(Dighton beats Axtell 64-56 - box score) 

At the State tournament for the first time since 1988 and only the third time in school history the lady Axtell Eagles notched the best finish in school history at State by finishing at State runner-up in Class 1A-Division II, falling to Dighton 64-56. 

A close game throughout the contest Dighton used a 36-28 second half against Axtell to notch the win in the 1A-DII State Championship. Dighton led 20-18 after the first quarter but the game was tied at 28-28 at intermission and the Hornets strong second half partnered with a 51.6% shooting night pushed them to the 64-56. The Eagles won the rebounding battle 27-21 and shot 44% from the floor even getting 17 points of 15 Dighton turnovers but the Eagles just couldn't stop the hot shooting Hornets and Dighton used a 29-38 performance from the line to help them earn the win, too, while Axtell had only eight free throws in the game (made seven) 

In the loss Courtney Heinen lead Axtell with 23 points on 9-14 shooting and earned Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on the radio, while Kiersten Talbot scored 20 points on 9-12 shooting. 

The loss caps Axtell's season with a 22-4 record and a 1A-DII State runner-up finish the best finish in school history as the girls basketball program in the previous trips to State hadn't won a game at State. The Eagles opened the tournament with a 53-26 win over Elyria Christian and dominated Ingalls 52-29 in the Semifinals but fell to Dighton in the Championship contest.