By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The St. Mary's Bears traveled a long distance to make it to the 3A state tournament in Hutchinson and they relied on long-distance shooting to stake them to a lead against Haven, a school less than a half hour down the road.
Six made threes staked the Bears to a 20-9 lead in the game's first 10 minutes. Then the Bears were able to get some baskets in transition to push the lead out to 29-14 at the half.
Haven didn't quit and narrowed the gap to 9 points after three at 35-26.
The comeback trail continued for the Wildcats in the fourth. The score was 43-40 St. Mary's with 90 seconds left and Haven rebounded a missed one and one and called timeout. Haven got a great look out of the timeout, but the Wildcats missed a point blank shot and St. Mary's secured the rebound and called timeout with 1:04 to play.
A wild scramble for the ball near midcourt resulted in St. Mary's having the ball back with 48.6 seconds to play and Caden Hurla hit two big free throws to extend the lead.
A corner three from Haven cut the lead to two with 30.5 seconds to play. St. Mary's threw over the top of the press for a Isiah Holz layup, but then Haven rushed down and Mario Quinero was fouled shooting a three and made the first, missed the second and the third and St. Mary's secured the rebound.
Holz then missed the front end of a one and one, but Haven was unable to cash in on the trip down. Hurla was fouled with 5.9 seconds left and it was double bonus time. Hurla hit both free throws and St. Mary's finished off the upset 49-44.
Haven's season ends at 21-3. Wyatt Carmichael had 13 for Haven. Benaiah Yoder had 10. St. Mary's was led by Holz's 13, Caden Hurla had 11. St. Mary's will face the winner of Burlington and Galena on Friday at 8:15 at the Sports Arena.