MAIZE, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks basketball teams traveled to Maize for an Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I battle on Tuesday night. Both teams came out on top.
The Salthawk girls defeated 5A No. 7 Maize South 47-43 in double overtime before the 5A No. 2 Hutchinson boys completed the sweep, winning 52-49 over the 5A No. 4 Mavericks.
GIRLS RECAP
The Hutchinson girls (13-4) would use some timely free throws in the final seconds of the second overtime to secure a four-point road win. The Salthawks complete the season sweep of the Mavericks after winning in Hutchinson in early January. The Mavericks entered Tuesday's contest with a 10-game winning streak.
Hutchinson led 13-8 after the first quarter and 20-12 at halftime. Just like the first meeting in Hutchinson, the Mavericks made some second-half adjustments. Maize South turned up its defensive intensity and caused all sorts of problems for the Salthawks. The Mavericks outscored Hutchinson 12-6 in the third period to pull within 26-24 going into the fourth quarter.
Hutchinson trailed 35-34 with under 10 seconds to go, but that's when the unthinkable happened. Maize South lost track of the situation and fouled the Salthawks to secure free throws on the other end. HHS went 1-of-2 from the line to tie the game at 35 and force overtime. The Mavericks secured all of the momentum on their home floor as the extra period started. Both teams struggled in the first overtime frame, as each team scored just one point.
The scoring picked up in the second overtime, as each team made their first two shots to tie the game at 40 a piece. Josie McLean knocked down two big free throws with 22 seconds remaining to give the Salthawks a 45-40 lead. Bella Peters knocked down a huge three-pointer on the other end and pulled the Mavericks within 45-43. McLean was once again fouled and knocked down both free throws to give Hutchinson a 47-43 lead.
Hannah Ames finished with 13 points to lead the Salthawks, while Grace Posch and Aliyah Green each scored seven. Avery Lowe led the Mavericks with 14 points.
Hutchinson will travel to Haysville on Friday to face the Campus Colts. Coverage begins on KWBW with the girls pregame at 5:45 p.m.
BOYS RECAP
The Hutchinson boys (17-0) kept their perfect season alive following a three-point win on the road Tuesday evening. The win for the Salthawks marked their third win of the season over the Mavericks, the lone three losses Maize South has suffered thus far.
This game was a tale of quarters, as the Salthawks would come out red-hot, knocking down five three-pointers in the first quarter to build a 21-9 lead after the first frame. The shots that were falling in the first quarter weren't in the second, as the Mavericks outscored the Salthawks 16-9 in the second frame to pull within 30-25 at halftime.
Maize South (14-3) came out firing to start the second half, as Isaiah Atwater buried three three-pointers in the third frame alone, two of those back-to-back to help secure a 14-0 Maize South run. The Salthawks, who once led by 16 in the second quarter, saw their lead slip away. Maize South grabbed its first lead in the third quarter. The Mavericks would carry a 43-38 lead into the final frame.
The Salthawks tied the game up at 43 a piece with 5:44 remaining in the game, and then once again at 45-all. Hutchinson got a clutch three-pointer from the left corner by Wade Meyer to give the Salthawks the 48-45 lead with 2:40 remaining. Hutchinson got some clutch plays down the stretch, including a three-pointer from Dauntay King, as well as six huge free-throws from King in the final minute of the game.
Nic Lange, King, and Meyer each had 12 points to lead the Salthawks, while Terrell King added 10. The Mavericks were led by Atwater's 16 points.
Hutchinson travels to Haysille-Campus on Friday night for a date with the Colts. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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