Sabetha Channel Broadcast – Sabetha vs. Hiawatha (2/26/18) – click here to watch.

A little over a week ago, the Sabetha boys’ basketball team had no problems getting by Hiawatha at home winning 60-36 on Feb. 16.

Monday night the Bluejays had the same task in the opening round of the Class 3A Horton Sub-State, and although the Redhawks hung tough early Sabetha hit their stride in the second half and advanced with a 45-28 win over Hiawatha at home.

Neither team was able to find the bottom of the net early on combining for five first quarter turnovers, but a couple of steals by the Bluejays’ Ryan Stapelton and three points by the junior gave Sabetha a 7-4 lead after one quarter of play.

Despite turning the basketball over three more times in the second quarter the Bluejays were able to extend their lead to 10 points at halftime, 20-10, as sophomore Gabe Garber scored all five of his points in the quarter.

Sabetha put the game out of reach by outscoring the Redhawks 15-6 in the third quarter, despite finishing with 11 total turnovers in the game.

The Bluejays (13-7) now advance to the semifinals of the sub-state Thursday night at Horton, where they will take on Class 3A No. 7 Nemaha Central with tip off scheduled for around 7:30 with live coverage on KNZA 103.9 FM. Sabetha was swept by Nemaha Central this season in two thrillers, falling 46-40 and 46-42.

Hiawatha finishes the season with an overall record of 3-17, and send off Cody Siebenmorgen as the lone senior.

Sabetha: Braeden Cox – 11, Brett Stallbaumer – 8, Kyle Grimm – 7, Gabe Garber – 5, Ryan Stapelton – 4, Joe Gruber – 4, David Dyke – 4, Jesse Burger – 2. 

Hiawatha: Tyler Brockhoff – 8, Caden Lillie – 8, Michael Moreno – 6, Andrew Lierz – 2, Hunter Pavlish – 2, Alex Rockey – 2.