SALINA, Kan.- The 2023-24 edition of Hutch High Salthawk basketball got off to a great start Tuesday night at Salina Central High School as both the Salthawk girls and boys earned a pair of big wins over the Mustangs.
In the girl's contest, first year head coach Kalen Hilst had his girls push the tempo and forced several Salina Central turnovers to turn into Salthawk points as the Lady Salthawks took a seven point halftime lead of 25-18 into a lead of 44-22 aided by a 19-4 run in third quarter.
The Hutch High girls sustained that lead to come away with a 56-36 win to give their new head coach his first victory after returning home to his alma mater this past summer.
The Salthawks were led by sophomore Grace Posch with 18 points although Posch went down in the fourth quarter to what looked like a severe leg cramp. Sophomore Kohlbie Craft followed with nine points including scoring seven 2nd half poi9nts. The Salthawks seven points apiece from Azariah Dawes, Rachel Tomac and Kaia Smith. Payzlee Regier also added six points off the bench.
Salina Central was led by Saniya Triplett with 13 points with six of those points coming in the fourth quarter.
In the boys game, the Salthawks super junior guard Terrell King only played two and a half quarters after picking up two quick fouls in the first quarter, but let the Salthawks with 25 points, 19 in the second half.
Hutch trailed 19-18 at the end of the first quarter and were down four 34-30 at halftime. Still trailing by one 46-45 going into the fourth, the Salthawks knocked down free throw after free throw going 33 of 39 from the charity strip to pull away 67-59 over the Mustangs.
Contributing 20 points as well was senior forward Julian Smith who hit five fourth quarter free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Hutch High only scored four field goals in the first half, but went 20 for 22 from the charity strip to stay in the game while King was saddled with foul trouble.
Jay Lewis, Lucas Witt and Daylee VanSyckle paced the Salthawks with five points each and Tai Clark added seven.
Salina Central's sophomore Kaden Snyder led the Mustangs with 21 points followed up by Mason Nemechek with 13 and Dezmyn Gibson with 13 points in the loss. Nemechek had the hot hand early in the first half with seven first quarter points but was shut down in the second half and held to only one basket in the fourth quarter.
Hutch High travels to Buhler on Friday night with the girls game tipping off at 6pm followed by the boys game at 7:30pm.
Catch all the action on KWBW Radio 1450am/98.5fm and on the Hutchinson High video stream channel at the NFHS Network.