BOYS: AXTELL 50, CLIFTON-CLYDE 48

Eli Broxterman and Brandon Schmelzle accounted for 13 of the Axtell’s 15 points in the opening eight minutes as they would lead Clifton-Clyde 15-11. Jack Skocny and Trent Long had eight of their 11 total points.

Wyatt Detweiler kept the offense going in the second quarter scoring six of the team’s ten points. Skocny made a pair of untimed free throws at the end of the half that brought Clifton-Clyde within one point making it 25-24 at the break.

The third quarter was a game of runs. Clifton-Clyde took their first lead since the very beginning of the game with a 30-29 lead. That was followed by a 8-2 Axtell run to put them back up 37-32. Clifton-Clyde responded with a 6-0 run to retake a 38-37. Schmelzle would make an 18-foot buzzer-beater to tie it 39-39 in the fourth quarter.

The final eight minutes were a back-and-forth affair with both defenses shining for each team. Clifton-Clyde had a 46-45 lead when Detweiler stole an inbound pass near half-court and Eli Broxterman would make a layup with 20 seconds left. Long responded with a layup of his own to put Clifton-Clyde back up 48-47. On the final play of the game with 2.6 seconds left, Detweiler inbounded it to Schmelzle, but the pass was too far. As a result, he had to give it up and he found Broxterman just to the right of the top of the key, and he buried a three-pointer as the time expired to send Axtell to the championship game versus Hanover on Saturday evening at 7:30.

Eli Broxterman finished with 15 points including their final five points in the game which makes him the definitive Player of the Game brought to you by Farmers State Bank. Schmelzle was also terrific all game as he ended with 15 points.

GIRLS: CENTRALIA 46, VALLEY HEIGHTS 42

After Centralia scored the first basket of the game, Valley Heights went on a 7-0 run with Mia Vermetten scoring four points in the quarter. They would hold on to a 10-5 lead after eight minutes of action.

Valley Heights strung together another 11-3 run in the first five minutes of the second quarter to go up 18-8. However, Centralia would get a 9-0 run of their own. Valley Heights would get the last jab in the half, though, as Maggie Toerber made a mid-range jumper to beat the buzzer giving them a 20-17 lead at halftime.

Tava Gibbs took the game over for Centralia in the second half scoring all 13 points in the final 16 minutes including a couple of clutch shots in the final minutes. The Panthers’ defense was relentless in crunch time as they wouldn’t allow any late back-breaking baskets. Deters also made a pair of free throws when up by two which added up to a Panther victory and an appearance in the championship game on Saturday night.

Gibbs’ heroic efforts in the third and fourth quarters make her Player of the Game brought to you by Farmers State Bank. Deters also finished with 13 points for the Panthers, and the junior also reached the 1,000-point mark in the first quarter. Valley Heights was led by Maggie Toerber, who had 12 points in the contest.

BOYS: HANOVER 50, CENTRALIA 45

Braylon Meyn got the Wildcats off to a good start with 11 points in the first quarter. They would have a 16-14 lead after the first quarter. Centralia got five points from Reese Tanking and four from Duke Timmel.

In the second quarter, both teams were only able to muster up seven points apiece. Although offense came at a premium for most, Paxton Bowers was still able to score five points in the quarter. Centralia would find themselves down 23-21 going into the intermission.

Tanking would up his offensive game to a new level in the second half as he started with seven third-quarter points. Bowers was able to make a jumper in the final seconds to get them within two going into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Hanover was able to hold off Centralia thanks to two clutch free throws apiece from Meyn and Brigham Bruna. Tanking scored seven more points in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough. Hanover will face Axtell in the championship.

Garrett Martin scored 17 points including 13 in the second half, making him the Player of the Game brought to you by Farmers State Bank. Meyn scored 17 as well.

Tanking led all scorers with 19 for the Panthers. Bowers also added 13.