GLEN GRUNWALD
Hutch Post
EMPORIA, Kan.-The Hutchinson Salthawks Boys Basketball quest for a State Championship was derailed on Friday night by a hot shooting Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusader team in the second quarter with Kapaun going 4 for 6 from distance to build a 33-20 lead at halftime that held up for the remainder of the game. Final score, Kapaun 71, Hutchinson 50.
The final score is not indicative as to how this game played out, as Kapaun was holding the Salthawks at bay with a 10 to 13 point lead until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Hutch made a couple runs to cut the lead to nine and 10 points, but never could make the game any closer.
The Salthawks jumped out to a quick lead of six points at the 4:41 mark of the first quarter, but Kapaun came up with a 8-2 run to close the first quarter and led 13-11 and the end of the quarter.
The third quarter was back and forth, but the Crusaders took a 15 point lead into the final quarter leading 47-32.
Hutchinson was led by Terrell King with 15 points, Garrett Robertson added 14, Nic Lange eight pts and nine boards, Wade Meyer added six, and Julian Smith came off the bench to score five.
Kapuan was led by Corbin Johnson's 19 pts including 5 three pointers, Will Thengvall added 14, Will Anciux chipped in 13 and earned a double-double with 11 rebounds, Max Keller also had 14, Charles Teagan four, Dominic Shibley and Beau Dalian added two points each for the Crusaders.
Hutchinson (22-2) suffered only their second loss of the season and will play Topeka-Highland Park (23-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday in the third place game at White Auditorium in Emporia. Highland Park lost a heart breaker on Friday afternoon to Andover 55-54 on a last second free throw by Andover.
Andover will play Kapaun for the class 5A Championship at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday at White Auditorium in Emporia.
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