2017 Axtell Boys Sub-State Champions (photo courtesy Maddy Kuckelman)

The Axtell Eagle boys returned to State making the tournament for the eighth time in school history getting to Dodge City for the Class 1A-Division II State tournament after taking the opportunity they had by winning their Sub-State. The Eagles entered State with the lowest record and drew the eight seed to face the one seed Caldwell and gave the Bluejays all they could handle but fell 64-40. 

Caldwell flew out to a early lead against Axtell and to what appeared to be control of the game leading 16-6 after the first quarter over Axtell but the Eagles didn't go away. Axtell outscored Caldwell 15-11 in the second and pushed the lead down to only six for the Bluejays by halftime trailing 27-21 entering intermission. The battle continued in the second half for Axtell drawing to within two points at 31-29 in the third quarter but trailed by nine at the end of three. Caldwell took a firm grasp on the game in the fourth using a 22-6 fourth quarter and also 24 points off 19 Axtell turnovers to secure the 64-40 win ending Axtell's season.

In the loss Axtell was led by Burke Deters who scored 14 points while grabbing eight rebounds, Quinn Buessing added 13 points for the Eagles. 

Eagles capped their season with a 6-18 record with a tough contest at State and continued to put some building blocks together for what is a young Axtell team.