2017 Nemaha Central Girls Sub-State Champs (photo courtesy of Nemaha Central Twitter)

103.9 KNZA Broadcast - Hiawatha vs Nemaha Central (3A Girls Sub-State Championship) - click to listen 
103.9 KNZA Broadcast - Sabetha vs Marysville (3A Boys Sub-State Championship) - click to listen 

From the 3A Sub State at Sabetha on Saturday night, the Nemaha Central girls and Marysville boys punched their tickets to the State Tournament in Hutchinson.

GIRLS FINALS = Nemaha Central 56, Hiawatha 50

For the third time in four games this season, the Nemaha Central Thunder defeated the Hiawatha girls, this time to qualify for the Class 3A State Tournament for the first time in program history.  Nemaha Valley and B&B girls both placed third at state in 2014 before the schools combined and now head to Hutchinson with a 20-3 record as the number five seed at will open state play at 4:45 on Wednesday against Humboldt. 

The only time Nemaha Central trailed Saturday night was 4-3 and they answered with a 9-0 run before stretching the margin to 17-5 early in the second quarter.  Hiawatha got within 22-16 at halftime, but the Thunder answered with another 12-3 to start the second half and pushed to a big lead of 38-21 with 6:30 remaining. 

Hiawatha, who had come back from 10 down in the last five minutes Thursdsay to force overtime and beat Marysville in the semifinals, made another push as Sydney Campbell sparked a 10-0 run with 7 points and Hiawatha got within 31-21.  Four straight free throws by Molly Kettler pulled the Redhawks within 50-46 with 47 seconds left, but they was as close as they could get as Laura Macke hit 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to help secure the Thunder win.  Macke scored 20 points while Jacy Dalinghaus had 6 of her 14 points in the first quarter and Kaley Dalinghaus added 11.  Nemaha made 12 of 24 foul shots in the final period and was 15 of 32 for the game, while Hiawatha missed a lot of free throws early and ended up 18 of 33 on the evening.

For the Redhawks, it was their first sub-state finals appearance in 13 years while coming up just one win short of their first State Tournament since 1979.  Cariann Kunkel scored 11 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter and Courtney Brockoff had 7 of her 17 in the final period as Hiawatha put up 29 points over the final eight minutes of the game. They close the year with a 15-8 overall record while going 9-3 in the second half of the season.      

BOYS FINALS = Marysville 50, Sabetha 40

The last time the Marysville boys made state, they won 4A in 2003, now they are headed back to Class 3A in Hutchinson with a 19-4 record as the number three seed and will take on Silver Lake Thursday at 4:45 PM in the opening round.  The Bulldogs jumped to a 10-3 lead and was only threatened one time as Sabetha pulled within 18-17 before Marysville went on a 10-0 run to close the first half with a 28-17 advanatage. 

The Bulldogs hit six of their seven treys in the first half and had Gabe Pieschl got 7 of 8 at the line in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.  Sabetha pulled within 40-36 with 4:30 to play on a trifecta by Jesse Burger, but the fifth seed Bluejays couldn't get any closer.  Christian Meyer scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter to led Sabetha while Brett Stallbaumer and Eric Renyer each had seven points before Sabetha ended the season 13-10 and just missed their third consecutive trip to State.

Pieschl again led Marysville with 19 points while Jack Blumer added 10 and the team with only two seniors won for the 12th time in their last 14 games.   

"PLAYERS TO BANK ON" Sponsored by Citizens State Bank and Trust Company - Hiawatha

Laura Macke from Nemaha Central and Gabe Pieschl of Marysville