GIRLS = Holton 49, Santa Fe Trail 43
BOYS = Holton 58, Santa Fe Trail 33

GIRLS
The Big 7 League title still must run through Holton and the Lady Wildcats have secured a two-game cushion in quest for their 8th straight league crown.  Friday's highly anticipated matchup between one-loss teams never had more than a seven-point-margin.  However, Holton never trailed after taking a 20-17 lead at the end of the first quarter and went on to win their 105th consecutive Big 7 contest. 
Both teams came out shooting well and there were four lead changed in the first four minutes and after a couple treys from Connor Strader, the Lady Cats added to their lead by connecting on 11 of 20 free throws in the half.  Santa Fe Trail tied the score at 26 late second quarter before Holton scored the final four of the first half to lead 30-26.
Both teams were sloppy in the third quarter and scored only seven points, but Shelby Dahl heated up for the Chargers and had five points in the frame.  Dahl stayed hot in the fourth stanza and finished a four-point-play with 3:36 remaining to bring her team within a point.  Yet, just like they had all game long, the Lady Cats responded quickly with a three point play by Keri Tanking to cushion the lead.  Holton made 6 of 7 free throws in the fourth quarter and was 18 of 29 for the game. 
Dahl finished with 21 points for the Chargers while Holly Ullery had 11 of her 12 in the first half and Santa Fe Trail finished with 16 turnovers and just 8 of 15 from the line before falling to 6-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 7 play.  Holton has now won 8 in a row since the season opening 8 point loss to Wamego, the only team they trail in the Class 4A state rankings.  Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha sponsors our "Player to Bank On" honors and they went to Strader who finished with a team high 15 points including a trio of treys and also 4-4 at the line with several assists and steals.  Kyrstie Miller added 9 of her 11 in the second half to put Holton at 7-0 in league play.

BOYS
The Wildcats jumped to an 8-2 lead on the road and never looked back leading 16-7 after one quarter and 33-15 at halftime.  Trent Tanking scored 9 of his game high 21 points in the third quarter for Holton and earned "Player to Bank On" honors from Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha.  Cameron Karn got the Wildcats off to a great start with 8 points in the first quarter and Trey Tanking came on to add 7 in the second stanza.  Ryan Haefke chipped in 7 as well, and Holton forced 19 Santa Fe Trail turnovers while improving to 3-0 in 2013 and now 6-1 in league play.  The Chargers got 10 points each from Tyler Shaffer and James Sage but drop to 3-4 in the Big 7 and 3-5 overall.  
 

Both Santa Fe Trail teams will be in the Burlington Invitational along with league foe Sabetha this week, while Holton splits with the girls at Basehor-Linwood and the Wildcat boys at Tonganoxie.