HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salthawk basketball teams played their final home game of the season against a school that they have played more than any other opponent in school history. That school was Newton and on this night, it belonged to the Salthawks.
Hutchinson earned a sweep with the girls clobbering Newton 68-16, while the Salthawk boys had to rally in the final quarter to finally pull away from the stubborn Railers to win 58-51,
It was senior night as well as Champions night as Hutch High honored its six seniors, three from each team as well as senior team managers and cheer squad seniors. Also honored were the 2004 Hutch High Football State Champions and 2005 State Golf Champs at half time of the boys game. Charlie Pierce, head golf coach and Randy Dreiling, former head football coach at Hutch High introduced their respective teams from 20 years past.
GIRLS
The game was tied at 7-7 at one time early in the first quarter, but the Salthawk girls put the game away going on a 34-4 run to lead at the half 41-11.
Hutch looks like it might be peaking at the right time as senior leaders Grace Posh and Kaia Smith let the Salthawks with 16 points and 15 points respectively while the third senior Lily Rodriquez pushed the ball up the floor to keep pressure on the Railers added 7 points. Sophomore Tenley Keeton added nine and Kohlbie Craft chipped in six points.
Newton's Amaree Henderson was the lone bright spot for the Railers with 10 points.
BOYS
Newton came in to the game with a 10-7 record showing why this was one of the better Newton teams in recent years and jumped out on the Salthawks to lead 19-11 at the end of the first quarter. Newton pushed the lead to double digits before the Salthawks rallied back in the second quarter to tie the game 28-28 at the half.
The third quarter was back and forth with nether team able to pull away as the Railers led going into the final quarter 43-42.
The Salthawks, with gutsy play from senior guard Terrell King finally pulled away in the final two minutes to earn a 58-51 win over the upstart Railers.
King led the Salthawks in scoring with 21 points including several key free throws in the final minutes of play. Free throws made for the Salthawks was a rarity as Hutchinson went 12 for 26 on the night.
Lamar Govain added nine points in the win after being injured by getting smacked in the nose accidently in the second quarter. Govain had to leave the game but did return in the second have to score two key baskets to help the Salthawks pull away.
Senior Levi Kepler had another solid game with 10 points and several rebounds in the win. Jalen Crable and Taishaun Govain added seven points each. Govain played well despite being under the weather the past several days.
Newton's Camden Smith led all scorers with 24 points including 18 in the first half. Cole Dillon added 11 and Maddox Williams scored eight in the second half to lead Newton in scoring.
The final week of the regular season will be a hard one for the Salthawks as they travel to Maize on Tuesday, Andover on Thursday and wind up the regular season with a make-up game at Salina South on Friday.
The Salina South game is a game that was postponed from both Jan. 11 and Feb. 19.
Sub-state seeding will be announced by the KSHSAA office on Saturday, March 1. The Salthawks are now 9-8 on the season while Newton falls to 10-8.