by KSHSAA recap website
HUTCHINSON - Things were looking good for Hugoton early in the fourth quarter Friday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
A double-digit lead. An inspired offense. A suffocating defense.
And almost in a flash, Nickerson had a two-point lead.
All Hugoton coach Emmanuel Adigun wanted to see was a couple good possessions, a couple good shots, and he thought his team would be right back in a groove.
He was right, as his daughter Summya Adigun hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Hugoton set up a Great West Activities Conference state championship game in Class 3A against Goodland with a 59-52 win over Nickerson.
Goodland beat Silver Lake 59-53 earlier in the day.
Emmanuel Adigun said he knew Nickerson would make a run in the fourth quarter, but all it would take would be one good possession to change the Eagles' fortunes.
"I thought if we could get two good possessions, two good shots, the ball would go in and give us confidence," Emmanuel Adigun said. "Once we made those shots, I felt it was difficult for Nickerson to overcome that momentum."
Before Summya Adigun rescued Hugoton's title hopes, Nickerson seemed ready to claim an epic comeback win.
Trailing 45-33 after three quarters, Nickerson went to work quickly.
Standout junior forward Ava Jones scored eight points on three straight possessions, and then assisted 3-pointers to Alexis Allen and Josie McLean, the latter of which gave Nickerson a 47-45 lead.
"We knew this was a final four game, and they wouldn't quit," Emmanuel Adigun said. "They come from a good league, they're athletic, and we knew they'd punch back. I didn't think they'd punch back like that, but I was glad the girls overcame it."
After McLean's 3-pointer, it was a matter of seconds before Summya Adigun was left open in the right corner for a 3-pointer.
Swish.
Next possession, the exact same thing happened. All of a sudden, Hugoton reclaimed a 51-47 lead.
"I was pretty confident, and we needed to score and get momentum," Summya Adigun said. "I just shot it, and I believed it would go in."
That was part of a personal 8-0 Adigun run, on her way to a stat-filling night. She finished with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals to just one turnover.
Jones led Nickerson with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Goodland players celebrate after reaching the Class 3A state championship game with a 59-53 win over Silver Lake.
GOODLAND 59, SILVER LAKE 53
This has been a few years building for Goodland.
Two years ago, Goodland went 12-11 and lost in the substate championship game. Last season, the Cowgirls were 18-4.
Now, Goodland is one win away from a state title after it defeated top-seeded Silver Lake.
"It's the first team this group has been here, but it's been building," Goodland coach Bill Biermann said. "This team is following the teams that laid the foundation."
Goodland shot a solid 51.2% and hit a sizzling 8 of 14 from 3-point range while holding Silver Lake to 33.3%.
"I think we thought if we could hold them on defense, our offense would come," said Goodland's Talexa Weeter, who scored 20 points and added seven rebounds.
Trailing 13-12 after one quarter, Goodland outscored Silver Lake 37-27 over the next two quarters.
HUGOTON 59, NICKERSON 52
Hugoton ... 15 ... 11 ... 19 ... 14 ... -- ... 59
Nickerson ... 7 ... 15 ... 11 ... 19 ... -- ... 52
Hugoton (23-2) -- Kelley 0-0 0-0 0, Salazar 1-3 1-2 3, Slocom 0-1 0-0 0, Vos 6-12 4-5 19, Adigun 6-8 9-10 23, Haar 1-3 0-2 2, Hamlin 5-11 1-2 12. Totals: 19-38 15-21 59
Nickerson (23-2) -- Allen 3-6 0-0 9, McLean 2-11 0-0 6, A. Ontjes 0-0 0-0 0, K. Ontjes 3-7 0-0 9, Ponds 2-3 2-2 6, Abernathy 1-1 0-0 2, Jones 8-14 4-6 20. Totals 19-42 6-8 52
3-point goals -- Hugoton 6-17 (Vos 3-7, Adigun 2-3, Hamlin 1-4, Slocom 0-1, Salazar 0-2). Nickerson 8-22 (K. Ontjes 3-5, Allen 3-6, McLean 2-9, Jones 0-2). Rebounds -- Hugoton 19 (Adigun 6), Nickerson 27 (Jones 10). Assists -- Hugoton 10 (Adigun 5), Nickerson 16 (Jones, Allen 5). Total fouls -- Hugoton 10, Nickerson 18. Fouled out: Haar.
GOODLAND 59, SILVER LAKE 53
Goodland ... 12 ... 18 ... 19 ... 10 ... -- ... 59
Silver Lake ... 13 ... 9 ... 18 ... 13 ... -- ... 53
Goodland (23-2) -- Biermann 0-1 2-2 2, Mitchek 5-9 0-1 12, Weeter 8-13 3-5 20, Cure 1-3 1-5 4, O. Lehman 4-5 1-2 11, E. Lehman 3-9 2-2 10, Biochlinger 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-41 9-17 59
Silver Lake (23-2) -- Wehrli 0-0 0-0 0, Farmer 5-12 0-0 11, Deiter 2-3 2-2 6, McDaniel 2-6 0-0 4, K. Kruger 5-13 1-2 14, M. Kruger 4-10 4-5 16, Bolan 0-0 0-0 0, Ross 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 18-47 9-11 43
3-point goals -- Goodland 9-17 (Weeter 3-5, E. Lehman 2-2, Biermann 2-2, O. Lehman 1-2, Cure 1-5, Mitchek 0-1). Silver Lake 8-23 (M. Kruger 4-5, Deiter 2-2, Ross 2-2, K. Kruger 1-2). Rebounds -- Goodland 24 (Weeter 7), Silver Lake 31 (McDaniel 9). Assists -- Goodland (Mitchek 4), Silver Lake 10 (Farmer 4). Total fouls -- Goodland 11, Silver Lake 17. Fouled out -- Deiter.
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