SALINA, Kan. - The Salina Central boys jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead and never looked back as they throttled the Hutchinson Salthawks 55-48 at the Brickhouse in Salina Friday night.
Hutchinson answered the opening blitz by the Mustangs to pull within 7 at the end of the first quarter to trail 14-7, and let by 12 at the half.
Salina Central senior Javon Burnett started the second half with back-to-back threes to lead an 8-2 run by the Mustangs to lead 36-20. Hutchinson responded after a timeout to pull within 8 before Salina Central finished off the third quarter to lead again by 12, 42-30.
The Salthawks fought back to close the gap to 3 at 49-46, but Salina Central Super Sophomore guard Logan Losey hit 4 straight free throws in the quarter to lock the victory up.
Hutchinson Junior Treyton Peterson paced the Salthawks with 12 points. The Mustangs Reed McHenry led Salina Central with 14 points.
Central Girls 55, Hutch 42
Salina Central is young, but showed they can play as Hampton Willions 8 of her 16 points all in the fourth quarter to help the No. 4 (5A) ranked Mustangs over Hutchinson 55-42 Friday in Salina.
The Mustangs put the press on to score 7 points within the first 20 seconds of the first quarter to quickly lead 7-0, but the Salthawks rallied back to tie it at 10-10. Salina Central Sophomore Aubrie Kierscht quickly hit a trey to get the lead back to 17-14. The second quarter was a drought for the Salthawks being held to 1 free throw and only 1 field goad scored which was scored late in the quarter to make the score Mustangs 27, Salhawks 17 at the half.
Salina Central pushed the lead to 11 before Hutch came up with a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 4 at 34-30, but the Mustangs pushed the lead to double digets again soon after.
The Salthawks fought back to within 5 again, but Central went on an 8-0 run to close out the ball game to win 55-42.
Salina Central was led by Kierscht with 18 and Williams with 16. Hutch Highs Tina Robertson scored 17 to lead the Salthawks.
Next action for the Hutchinson boys is in the Orange and Black Classic in Colby next Thursday as they open against Pine Creek HS out of Colorado Springs at 3:00 pm.
The Lady Salthawks travel to Goddard Eisenhower on Tuesday, January 21st with a single game @ 7:15 pm.