Axtell moves on to the Class 1A Division II state semifinal round after a 59-44 win over Bucklin on Thursday night in Great Bend.

It was another evenly distributed scoring effort from the Eagles with four players scoring nine or more points.

Senior guard Isaac Detweiler and junior forward Grady Buessing both scored 13 points in the victory. Sophomore small forward Brandon Schmelzle scored 11 and freshman guard Colin Shaughnessy finished with nine.

Buessing was a rebound shy of a double-double. Detweiler was four rebounds, three assists and four steals away from a quadruple-double.

Axtell forced 21 turnovers with the Red Aces playing from behind for the whole game with the exception of when Bucklin started the game with a 4-0 lead. The Eagles proceeded to go on an 18-4 run and controlled the lead the rest of the way.

The Eagles shot an impressive 52.1% from the floor and 38.3% from beyond the arc. Bucklin didn’t shoot it poorly, though, with a team percentage of 43.9%.

They will play tomorrow against the winner of St. John’s-Tipton and Lebo at 8:00 p.m.