HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After allowing Goddard Eisenhower to jump out to an eight-point lead in the first quarter, the Hutchinson Salthawks roared back with a 20-6 run in the second quarter to lead at the half, 34-28, in the first round sub-state game played at the Salthawk Activity Center Tuesday night.
But Eisenhower was not going to roll over and go away easily. Pierce Blue and Chase George fired long-range bombs to cut the Hutch lead to 49-45 going into the final quarter.
Eisenhower pulled within one late in the contest. Every time the Tigers got close, Hutch would find a way to pull away again. The Salthawks finally pulled away for good with a Jax Heneha triple from the far right corner to win 69-63.
Hutch High travels to Great Bend on Friday night for a rematch with the Panthers. Great Bend is the No. 4 seed and edged a pesky Wichita Bishop Carroll team 54-51 in Great Bend.
Hutch was led by Terrell King with 17 points. Julian Smith had 16 and finished with a double-double. Heneha added 13-plus pinpoint assists. Devon Spiller had 12, including back-to-back three-pointers in the first quarter. Daylee VanSycle had six, Jay Lewis three and Taishaun Govain two.
Blue led all Goddard Eisenhower scorers with 19. George had 18 and Larsen Schneider had 10 before fouling out late in the game. Daren Morgan had eight, Kade Perry five and Lucas Rickman hit a 40-foot three-pointer at the buzzer for his only basket.
Hutchinson (15-6) travels to Great Bend Friday night at 7 p.m. to see who will advance to the 5A state tournament in Emporia next week.
Eisenhower finishes the season 8-13.
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