After winning a pair of overtime games including a double-overtime Sub-State championship on Saturday, the Lady Jays had a much easier and less dramatic challenge on Monday night in Sabetha as they defeated Silver Lake 47-28 to open the 3A State Tournament and will now advance to the semifinals in Hutchinson on Thursday. 

Sabetha had beaten Silver Lake on the road by 11 in late January and outscored the Eagles in every quarter in this game to win their 12th consecutive contest. After Melinna Schumann scored the first four points of the night, the Jays only trailed once at 7-5 and put the game away with a 10-1 second quarter to led 20-8 at halftime and never look back. 

Leah Renyer had 19 points while Schumann added 9 and Sabetha made 20 of 33 free throws while commiting only five turnovers in the game to improve to 22-2 on the season.  Sabetha will face Hugoton (23-1) in the final four at 7 PM Thursday night as they look to return to the state title game as they did their last state apperance in 2016. The facility and atmosphere should be comfortable for Sabetha, who also won their first-ever state volleyball title in Hutch ealier this school year.   

LIve play-by-play coverage of the Sabetha Bluejays will continue on Thursday in Hutchinson on the MSC Sports Radio Network on 92.1 KMZA.