The Axtell Eagles have booked yet another ticket to the 1A DII State Tournament as they look to defend last year’s 24-1 state title season.

Axtell leaped out to an early 10-0 run to start the game and led 14-2 with less than three minutes to go in the first quarter, forcing Linn to use two timeouts early to reset. Axtell finished the first quarter with an 18-6 lead over Linn.

Linn responded by holding Axtell to just two points through the first four minutes of the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 20-12. The Eagles quickly regained momentum, however, and pushed the lead to 31-19 by halftime. Logan Sandmann led the way in the first half with 17 points, highlighted by an impressive dunk in the first quarter and his second three-pointer of the season in the second quarter. Joe Lybarger also contributed all of his points in the half, scoring eight before the break.

Axtell surged again in the third quarter and carried a 49-34 lead into the fourth. The Eagles closed the game in dominant fashion, with the bench finishing out the final minute as Axtell secured a 77-52 victory.

Axtell knocked down eight three-pointers in the game, including three from Wyatt Detweiler and two from Colin Shaunessy in the second half. Logan Sandmann finished with an impressive stat line of 30 points, five steals, one block, one three-pointer, a dunk, and five rebounds.

With the win, Axtell improves to 25-1 on the season and has once again set a new standard for Axtell basketball.