The Sabetha girls and boys capped impressive 24-2 seasons on Saturday with a runner-up finish in the Class 3A State Touranament in Hutchinson.  The three-time defending Big 7 League champs and back-to-back Sub-State champs both struggled in the second quarter of the title matches and could not make a run to ever tie or take a lead.  The Lady Bluejays have four 2nd place state finishes to go with their two state titles, while the Bluejay boys are now 0-3 in State Championship games, also placing second in 2001 and 2009. 

GIRLS = Silver Lake 57, Sabetha 44

In a matchup of the top two teams in the state, Silver Lake won the battle of experienced senior squads and finished an undefeated championship season 26-0.  Sabetha grabbed a brief led 10-9, but Rachel Heiman answered for the Eagles to make it 11-10 at the end of one quarter.  Heiman, the former Marysville product, registered 12 of her 15 points in the first half to push the Silver Lake lead to 30-21 at halftime and the Jays never were closer than six points the rest of the way. 

Alexis Gifford hit a trio of first half treys and had a game high 18 points while Taylor White added all 11 of her points in the fourth quarter, including 9 of 10 at the free throw line to keep a comfortable lead.  The Eagles won their first state basketball title since 2012 and a group of seven seniors also have three straight softball titles, a state track and field title and a couple state volleyball championships in their legacy.   

Sabetha went on a 9-2 run to make it a 37-31 game late in the third quarter, but Jordan Yoder answered with a baseline jumper to close the fourth quarter.  Alexis McAfee scored 8 of her 16 points in the final frame and finished with 43 points combined in the three state games while also posting 18 assists and 18 rebounds in three days.  Mariah Huneke scored 10 of her 14 points in the first half for the Lady Jays and Emily Meyer added 11 points, which took her total to 40 points in the tourney.  Sabetha was just 2 of 12 from outside the arc.  It was only the third game decided by single digits all year for the Sabetha girls, who improved on their fourth place finish at state from 2015 bringing home a 2nd place trophy. 

BOYS = Osage City 56, Sabetha 49

The Bluejays boys jumped to a 7-0 lead before Osage City went on a 10-2 run to retake control.  After a couple lead changes, the #1 ranked and seeded Indians went up 15-13 and never relinquished the advantage, going up 30-20 at halftime.  Sabetha did not have many answers for Emporia State signee, Duncan Fort, who scored right on his state leading scoring average of 27.  Fort finished with 68 total points in the three state games, while Ryan Haskins and Tyson Wilkens each added 11 in the championship as Osage City completed a 25-1 season with their third title in school history. 

Sabetha was down 13 a couple times in the third quarter, but used a 9-0 to get within 40-36 early in the fourth quarter.  It was 42-38 before Osage City got five straight points from Fort, including a slam-dunk, three-point play, and the Indians made 10 free throws late to hold on for the win.  Brock Frey scored 14 points to lead Sabetha with fellow seniors Jonah Montgomery added 12 on a bum ankle, Alex Kirwan chipping in 11 and Calder Keehn posting 8 before fouling out as he battled early foul trouble for the second straight contest.

The second place finish matches the best finish for boys state basketball at Sabetha High and the Bluejays ended up with 10 wins by single digits and 9 of those by five points or less, including three overtime victories.