MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Arthur Kaluma scored 23 points, Cam Carter added 21 and Kansas State beat sixth-ranked Iowa State 65-58 on Saturday, giving the Wildcats' flickering NCAA Tournament hopes a big boost heading into the Big 12 Tournament.

David N'Guessan added 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds on senior day for the Wildcats (18-13, 8-10 Big 12), who blew most of a 17-point, second-half lead before holding on for their third win over a top-10 team this season.

Kansas State also beat No. 4 Kansas and No. 9 Baylor at home, where it went 15-3 this season.

Curtis Jones had 16 points and Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey 13 apiece for the Cyclones (24-7, 13-5), who couldn't replicate their rally from 14 down to beat BYU earlier in the week and had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Iowa State looked as if it would make senior day a forgettable day for Kansas State early on, relentlessly harassing one of the nation's most turnover-prone teams into offensive miscues and mental mistakes.

Fortunes suddenly flipped with the Cyclones leading 18-10 and about seven minutes left in the first half.

Kansas State held them without a field goal for more than six minutes, going on a 12-1 run to help take a 28-24 lead into the break. Then, the Wildcats scored the first nine points as part of a 15-2 run to begin the second half, stretching their lead to 17 while holding Iowa State without a field goal until Lipsey's lay-in with 13:30 to go.

The Cyclones finally got some momentum going, and a 10-0 run got them within 48-43 with 7:18 left.

Kansas State answered by pushing its lead back to double digits, though. And when Iowa State began to slap on full-court pressure in an attempt to mount a late-game comeback, Kaluma and Carter along with Tylor Perry were able to break it, and make just enough foul shots in the final minutes to wrap up the win.

Iowa State earned a double-bye for the Big 12 tourney and will play a quarterfinal game Thursday.

Kansas State will play a second-round game in the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.

Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season.&nbsp;<a href="https://link.apnews.com/join/6nr/newsletters-cbb">Sign up here</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710019441112.png" alt="Photo K-State athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Arthur Kaluma scored 23 points, Cam Carter added 21 and Kansas State beat sixth-ranked Iowa State 65-58 on Saturday, giving the Wildcats' flickering NCAA Tournament hopes a big boost heading into the Big 12 Tournament.David N'Guessan added 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds on senior day for the Wildcats (18-13, 8-10 Big 12), who blew most of a 17-point, second-half lead before holding on for their third win over a top-10 team this season.Kansas State also beat No. 4 Kansas and No. 9 Baylor at home, where it went 15-3 this season.Curtis Jones had 16 points and Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey 13 apiece for the Cyclones (24-7, 13-5), who couldn't replicate their rally from 14 down to beat BYU earlier in the week and had their four-game winning streak snapped.Iowa State looked as if it would make senior day a forgettable day for Kansas State early on, relentlessly harassing one of the nation's most turnover-prone teams into offensive miscues and mental mistakes.Fortunes suddenly flipped with the Cyclones leading 18-10 and about seven minutes left in the first half.Kansas State held them without a field goal for more than six minutes, going on a 12-1 run to help take a 28-24 lead into the break. Then, the Wildcats scored the first nine points as part of a 15-2 run to begin the second half, stretching their lead to 17 while holding Iowa State without a field goal until Lipsey's lay-in with 13:30 to go.The Cyclones finally got some momentum going, and a 10-0 run got them within 48-43 with 7:18 left.Kansas State answered by pushing its lead back to double digits, though. And when Iowa State began to slap on full-court pressure in an attempt to mount a late-game comeback, Kaluma and Carter along with Tylor Perry were able to break it, and make just enough foul shots in the final minutes to wrap up the win.UP NEXTIowa State earned a double-bye for the Big 12 tourney and will play a quarterfinal game Thursday.Kansas State will play a second-round game in the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season.&nbsp;<a href="https://link.apnews.com/join/6nr/newsletters-cbb">Sign up here</a>___

🏀 Kaluma scores 23 as Kansas State beats Iowa State

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

Despite falling to Goodland in the semifinal round at state, the Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team will have an opportunity to equal the program's best finish this afternoon as they prepare to play a familiar foe in the third-place game.

For the third time this season, the Southeast will face Beloit in a Trojan War, looking to avenge two earlier losses from this season.

This will be the fifth third-place game for the purple and white unit in their sixth trip to state, and their third appearance in this game in as many years.

“It says so much about our program and our expectations that this feels like a disappointment,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Our guys found ways to battle and when you watch March Madness there’s always a team that's got nothing to lose and that’s playing really good basketball and I felt like that was us this year.”

To claim the bronze for a third consecutive season, Southeast will have to overcome the top-seeded and #1-ranked Beloit Trojans, who will enter this game at 23-2 after falling to Wellsville on Friday.

“Beloit’s biggest challenge is their size,” Flax said. “Beisner is really good, the Johnson kid is playing at a whole other level and they’re a really good defensive team. They funnel things to their bigs and it’s always hard to play size when you don’t have a lot of it.”

That size gave SES trouble in each of the first two contests, but the Trojan team that has made this run through the playoffs is a far cry from the one that struggled with Beloit earlier this year, and will be primed to give it their all when the ball goes in the air on Saturday afternoon.

“We need to bring some energy to this game early and we’ll have to find ways to keep these big guys off the glass and knock down some shots,” he said.

Tip-off between the two Trojan teams is set for noon from the Hutch Sports Arena and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM) or streamed online at 910KINA.com.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite falling to Goodland in the semifinal round at state, the Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team will have an opportunity to equal the program's best finish this afternoon as they prepare to play a familiar foe in the third-place game.For the third time this season, the Southeast will face Beloit in a Trojan War, looking to avenge two earlier losses from this season.This will be the fifth third-place game for the purple and white unit in their sixth trip to state, and their third appearance in this game in as many years.“It says so much about our program and our expectations that this feels like a disappointment,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Our guys found ways to battle and when you watch March Madness there’s always a team that's got nothing to lose and that’s playing really good basketball and I felt like that was us this year.”To claim the bronze for a third consecutive season, Southeast will have to overcome the top-seeded and #1-ranked Beloit Trojans, who will enter this game at 23-2 after falling to Wellsville on Friday.“Beloit’s biggest challenge is their size,” Flax said. “Beisner is really good, the Johnson kid is playing at a whole other level and they’re a really good defensive team. They funnel things to their bigs and it’s always hard to play size when you don’t have a lot of it.”That size gave SES trouble in each of the first two contests, but the Trojan team that has made this run through the playoffs is a far cry from the one that struggled with Beloit earlier this year, and will be primed to give it their all when the ball goes in the air on Saturday afternoon.“We need to bring some energy to this game early and we’ll have to find ways to keep these big guys off the glass and knock down some shots,” he said.Tip-off between the two Trojan teams is set for noon from the Hutch Sports Arena and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM) or streamed online at 910KINA.com.

Southeast Battles Beloit for 3A State Hardware

BY ADAM COULTER Salina Post Contributor

The Sacred Heart Knights took on the top-seeded and undefeated Lyndon Tigers on Friday afternoon with a trip to the 2A boys state championship game on the line.

The Knights jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the early moments of the game, but the Tigers would answer and led 17-14 after the opening eight minutes. Tanner Heckel scored 13 first-quarter points for Lyndon, but would have to come out of the game for most of the second period as he was charged with three first-half fouls.

Sacred Heart took advantage of having one of Lyndon's best players on the bench. The Knights kept chipping away at what had become a double-digit deficit, but eventually took a one-point lead into halftime with the score 27-26.

After a closely contested third quarter, It was Lyndon with a one-point lead heading into the final eight minutes of the game. With the score 43-42 to start the fourth quarter, the Tigers pulled away and took their biggest lead with the score 61-48. The Knights never stopped battling as they finished the game the same way they started it with an 8-2 run. However, in the end, Sacred Heart ran out of time as Lyndon claimed the victory by a score of 63-56.&nbsp;

There were five lead changes and the score was also tied five times in the games.

Evan Bogart led the Knights with 19 points. Michael Matteucci scored 10 more for Sacred Heart. Daxton Massey led Lyndon with 19 points.&nbsp;

The Tigers remain undefeated at 24-0 and will play Moundridge in the 3A state championship game on Saturday.

Sacred Heart falls to 21-4 and will play its final game of the season against Sterling in the 2A boys third-place game.&nbsp;

The Black Bears come in at 22-3 after defeating Plainville 57-43 in the quarterfinals, but dropping their semifinal with Moundridge 56-45.

Tipoff is scheduled for 2 pm on Saturday afternoon from Dodge City. Coverage of the game will begin at 1:50 pm on KINA.

BY ADAM COULTER Salina Post Contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sacred Heart Knights took on the top-seeded and undefeated Lyndon Tigers on Friday afternoon with a trip to the 2A boys state championship game on the line.The Knights jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the early moments of the game, but the Tigers would answer and led 17-14 after the opening eight minutes. Tanner Heckel scored 13 first-quarter points for Lyndon, but would have to come out of the game for most of the second period as he was charged with three first-half fouls.Sacred Heart took advantage of having one of Lyndon's best players on the bench. The Knights kept chipping away at what had become a double-digit deficit, but eventually took a one-point lead into halftime with the score 27-26.After a closely contested third quarter, It was Lyndon with a one-point lead heading into the final eight minutes of the game. With the score 43-42 to start the fourth quarter, the Tigers pulled away and took their biggest lead with the score 61-48. The Knights never stopped battling as they finished the game the same way they started it with an 8-2 run. However, in the end, Sacred Heart ran out of time as Lyndon claimed the victory by a score of 63-56.&nbsp;There were five lead changes and the score was also tied five times in the games.Evan Bogart led the Knights with 19 points. Michael Matteucci scored 10 more for Sacred Heart. Daxton Massey led Lyndon with 19 points.&nbsp;The Tigers remain undefeated at 24-0 and will play Moundridge in the 3A state championship game on Saturday.Sacred Heart falls to 21-4 and will play its final game of the season against Sterling in the 2A boys third-place game.&nbsp;The Black Bears come in at 22-3 after defeating Plainville 57-43 in the quarterfinals, but dropping their semifinal with Moundridge 56-45.Tipoff is scheduled for 2 pm on Saturday afternoon from Dodge City. Coverage of the game will begin at 1:50 pm on KINA.

Knights Fall to Lyndon, Face Sterling in 2A Third-Place Game

The magical run for the Southeast of Saline boys basketball team came to an end on Friday night, as the Trojans fell to 3rd-ranked Goodland 55-38 in the 3A semifinals.

With this result, the Cowboys move to 22-3 on the year and will advance to play Wellsville in the 3A state championship game while the Trojans drop to 15-10 and will face a familiar foe in Beloit for third place on Saturday.

The Trojans held a two-point lead after a quarter, but were outscored 35-16 in the middle frames as Goodland pulled away and finished strong.

While Southeast had certainly hoped for more, the fact that the Trojans made the final four in Class 3A in a season that saw them enter sub-state unraked as a four-seed is nothing short of remarkable.

“I’m proud of our guys for battling and getting to this point,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. We were going to have to play an almost perfect game to keep up with them. We held a really good team in the 50s. I was proud of that, we just couldn’t knock down shots.”

Owen Bailey was the lone Trojan in double digits on Friday, scoring 15 of Southeast’s 38 points.

On the other side, two players shouldered much the load for Goodland as Brady Brumbaugh went off for 22, and future DI football player Linkon Cure finished his night with 12.

To return to Gysum with hardware for a third consecutive season, Southeast will have to take down a rival that’s given them some trouble this year, as the Beloit Trojans find themselves in the same position ahead of championship Saturday.

“It makes preparation on a short back-to-back easier but we don’t match up well with them,” Flax said. “At this point you’re going to come out and compete with whoever lines up across from you. Beloit is what they are, they’re really good and we’ll have to be good on the glass again.”

The third-place game is set for noon this Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, and as always the game can be heard on KINA.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>The magical run for the Southeast of Saline boys basketball team came to an end on Friday night, as the Trojans fell to 3rd-ranked Goodland 55-38 in the 3A semifinals.With this result, the Cowboys move to 22-3 on the year and will advance to play Wellsville in the 3A state championship game while the Trojans drop to 15-10 and will face a familiar foe in Beloit for third place on Saturday.The Trojans held a two-point lead after a quarter, but were outscored 35-16 in the middle frames as Goodland pulled away and finished strong.While Southeast had certainly hoped for more, the fact that the Trojans made the final four in Class 3A in a season that saw them enter sub-state unraked as a four-seed is nothing short of remarkable.“I’m proud of our guys for battling and getting to this point,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. We were going to have to play an almost perfect game to keep up with them. We held a really good team in the 50s. I was proud of that, we just couldn’t knock down shots.”Owen Bailey was the lone Trojan in double digits on Friday, scoring 15 of Southeast’s 38 points.On the other side, two players shouldered much the load for Goodland as Brady Brumbaugh went off for 22, and future DI football player Linkon Cure finished his night with 12.To return to Gysum with hardware for a third consecutive season, Southeast will have to take down a rival that’s given them some trouble this year, as the Beloit Trojans find themselves in the same position ahead of championship Saturday.“It makes preparation on a short back-to-back easier but we don’t match up well with them,” Flax said. “At this point you’re going to come out and compete with whoever lines up across from you. Beloit is what they are, they’re really good and we’ll have to be good on the glass again.”The third-place game is set for noon this Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, and as always the game can be heard on KINA.

Trojans Cinderella Run Comes to Close at Hands of #3 Goodland

For the eight teams that make it to state in any given bracket, a challenge unfolds unlike any other, and every game is a brutal battle to the bitter end.

Someone forgot to pass this memo on to the Sacred Heart boys.

On Thursday, the Knights cruised past Erie High School in a 74-35 quarterfinal rout, cruising into the semifinal round on Friday with ease.

"I was impressed with our preparation," Sacred Heart head coach Brian Gormley said. "We had a long haul out here to Dodge City and they've been great hosts but it was our guys responsibility to prepare themselves physically and we came ready to compete."

In the opening minutes of the game, the Red Devils hit a shot to go up 4-3.

A 16-0 run helped to put the Knights up 22-7 after one, and another 11-0 run put the game out of reach before the intermission where Sacred Heart took an astounding 49-16 lead into the locker room.

All told, twelve different Knights would see time on the floor, with eight contributing in the scoring column, led by Max Ehrlich (18) and Will Tuttle (17).

Sacred Heart finished the game on fire, shooting a ridiculous 48% from the floor, matched only by an even more absurd 54% clip from deep.

Erie came into this contest as a two-man army, and it hurt them in the end, as despite strong performances by Reid Duff (17) and Ethan Dillinger (14), the rest of the team scored a total of just four points for the entire game.

The Red Devil campaign comes to a close at 18-6 while the Knights march on to the semifinal round where Sacred Heart (21-3) will take on the 1-seed and only undefeated 2A team remaining in Lyndon (24-0).

That semifinal contest will be held at 4:00 on Friday at United Wireless Arena in Dodge City.

Lyndon has also been dominant throughout the postseason, lighting up Eureka (73-22), Central Heights (55-23), and Uniontown (84-31) to get through sub-state before dispatching Conway Springs (51-38) in their quarterfinal on Thursday.

Much of that success has rested on the shoulders of Division-I Illinois football commit Tanner Heckel, who anchors Lyndon on both ends of the floor.&nbsp;

"They have one of the best players and probably the best athlete in 3A," Gormley said. "Heckel can hit you from three, he can drive and dunk on you and he has a really soft midrange touch. He's hard to stop at all levels and then they have a 6-8 kid inside with good hands and feet and he really controls the area around the rim."

Coverage of Friday’s state semifinal can be heard locally on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM) or on 910KINA.com with Adam Coulter on the call.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>For the eight teams that make it to state in any given bracket, a challenge unfolds unlike any other, and every game is a brutal battle to the bitter end.Someone forgot to pass this memo on to the Sacred Heart boys.On Thursday, the Knights cruised past Erie High School in a 74-35 quarterfinal rout, cruising into the semifinal round on Friday with ease."I was impressed with our preparation," Sacred Heart head coach Brian Gormley said. "We had a long haul out here to Dodge City and they've been great hosts but it was our guys responsibility to prepare themselves physically and we came ready to compete."In the opening minutes of the game, the Red Devils hit a shot to go up 4-3.They would not lead again.A 16-0 run helped to put the Knights up 22-7 after one, and another 11-0 run put the game out of reach before the intermission where Sacred Heart took an astounding 49-16 lead into the locker room.All told, twelve different Knights would see time on the floor, with eight contributing in the scoring column, led by Max Ehrlich (18) and Will Tuttle (17).Sacred Heart finished the game on fire, shooting a ridiculous 48% from the floor, matched only by an even more absurd 54% clip from deep.Erie came into this contest as a two-man army, and it hurt them in the end, as despite strong performances by Reid Duff (17) and Ethan Dillinger (14), the rest of the team scored a total of just four points for the entire game.The Red Devil campaign comes to a close at 18-6 while the Knights march on to the semifinal round where Sacred Heart (21-3) will take on the 1-seed and only undefeated 2A team remaining in Lyndon (24-0).That semifinal contest will be held at 4:00 on Friday at United Wireless Arena in Dodge City.Lyndon has also been dominant throughout the postseason, lighting up Eureka (73-22), Central Heights (55-23), and Uniontown (84-31) to get through sub-state before dispatching Conway Springs (51-38) in their quarterfinal on Thursday.Much of that success has rested on the shoulders of Division-I Illinois football commit Tanner Heckel, who anchors Lyndon on both ends of the floor.&nbsp;"They have one of the best players and probably the best athlete in 3A," Gormley said. "Heckel can hit you from three, he can drive and dunk on you and he has a really soft midrange touch. He's hard to stop at all levels and then they have a 6-8 kid inside with good hands and feet and he really controls the area around the rim."Coverage of Friday’s state semifinal can be heard locally on KINA (910 AM/107.5 FM) or on 910KINA.com with Adam Coulter on the call.

Knights Roll Erie in Quarterfinals, Advance to Face Lyndon in State Semis

Despite facing a 2-4 start and long odds both at sub-state and state, the Southeast of Saline boy’s basketball team has reached the final four of this year’s 3A state tournament and will look to reach untread ground in tonight’s semifinal.

The Trojans held on for dear life to eliminate #2 Cheney 54-51 on Wednesday, solidifying to the few remaining doubters that Southeast belongs in the upper echelon of Class 3A.

“Defensively I thought we were really good,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Cheney is a great offensive team and they finish tough shots downhill and can shoot from the perimeter. We wanted to make sure they didn’t get any threes in rhythm and I thought we did a good job of limiting those kinds of shots and competing on the glass.”

Now, the Trojans will turn their attention to 3rd-ranked Goodland, looking to hunt down their third top-five foe in the span of a week.

“Goodland is exceptionally good,” Flax said. “They beat a good Hays High team, they fell by just ten to Olathe North, they played Hugoton to overtime and they are as advertised. They can really shoot the basketball and they’ve got a kid who’s a power five type in football and showcases that athleticism on the court. They’re really well coached, they get out and defend and this should be a good matchup.”

While Southeast will once again find themselves playing the role of underdogs, this Trojan outfit looks more like that of an esteemed hunter, than that of Cinderella.

None of this success happened overnight, but the Trojans have been playing their best basketball down the stretch as several individuals have found the best versions of themselves on the floor.

“There have been a handful of guys that have really stepped up for us,” Flax said. “It all starts with Gannon Jacobson who’s been very aggressive offensively and he’s knocking down shots from all three levels. Danny Kejrs numbers don’t wow you but he’s been the leader of our defense and he’s running the show and getting others involved and picking his spots to go and get his.”

“Brenton Leeds has really been on a different level in the postseason, he’s been dominating the boards averaging over 10 rebounds a game. He’s contesting a lot of shots and he plays with such a high motor that he gives himself opportunities around the rim. Omar Calzada has also provided us with really good minutes off the bench, he was phenomenal in that Hesston game and he did some really great things in the Cheney game as well.

It’s taken everyone on Southeast’s roster playing at their best to get this far, and it will take everyone doing the same to take down Goodland tonight, but the Trojans are a team with no fear, no quit, and no expectations heaped upon them, which in March, can be a dangerous thing.

“We can’t let them get comfortable on the perimeter,” he said. “We have to make them do things offensively that they’re not comfortable doing and we have to take away their catch and shoot threes. This time of year you can’t turn the ball over and you can’t give teams extra opportunities on the offensive glass.”

Tip-off between the Trojans and Cowboys is scheduled for 6:00 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena and as always, coverage of SES hoops can be heard on KINA locally on 910 AM/107.5 FM or online at 910KINA.com.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite facing a 2-4 start and long odds both at sub-state and state, the Southeast of Saline boy’s basketball team has reached the final four of this year’s 3A state tournament and will look to reach untread ground in tonight’s semifinal.The Trojans held on for dear life to eliminate #2 Cheney 54-51 on Wednesday, solidifying to the few remaining doubters that Southeast belongs in the upper echelon of Class 3A.“Defensively I thought we were really good,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Cheney is a great offensive team and they finish tough shots downhill and can shoot from the perimeter. We wanted to make sure they didn’t get any threes in rhythm and I thought we did a good job of limiting those kinds of shots and competing on the glass.”Now, the Trojans will turn their attention to 3rd-ranked Goodland, looking to hunt down their third top-five foe in the span of a week.“Goodland is exceptionally good,” Flax said. “They beat a good Hays High team, they fell by just ten to Olathe North, they played Hugoton to overtime and they are as advertised. They can really shoot the basketball and they’ve got a kid who’s a power five type in football and showcases that athleticism on the court. They’re really well coached, they get out and defend and this should be a good matchup.”While Southeast will once again find themselves playing the role of underdogs, this Trojan outfit looks more like that of an esteemed hunter, than that of Cinderella.None of this success happened overnight, but the Trojans have been playing their best basketball down the stretch as several individuals have found the best versions of themselves on the floor.“There have been a handful of guys that have really stepped up for us,” Flax said. “It all starts with Gannon Jacobson who’s been very aggressive offensively and he’s knocking down shots from all three levels. Danny Kejrs numbers don’t wow you but he’s been the leader of our defense and he’s running the show and getting others involved and picking his spots to go and get his.”He continued.“Brenton Leeds has really been on a different level in the postseason, he’s been dominating the boards averaging over 10 rebounds a game. He’s contesting a lot of shots and he plays with such a high motor that he gives himself opportunities around the rim. Omar Calzada has also provided us with really good minutes off the bench, he was phenomenal in that Hesston game and he did some really great things in the Cheney game as well.It’s taken everyone on Southeast’s roster playing at their best to get this far, and it will take everyone doing the same to take down Goodland tonight, but the Trojans are a team with no fear, no quit, and no expectations heaped upon them, which in March, can be a dangerous thing.“We can’t let them get comfortable on the perimeter,” he said. “We have to make them do things offensively that they’re not comfortable doing and we have to take away their catch and shoot threes. This time of year you can’t turn the ball over and you can’t give teams extra opportunities on the offensive glass.”Tip-off between the Trojans and Cowboys is scheduled for 6:00 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena and as always, coverage of SES hoops can be heard on KINA locally on 910 AM/107.5 FM or online at 910KINA.com.

Trojans Looking to Hunt Down Another Top-5 Foe in State Semis

The Abilene boys’ basketball team battled to the final buzzer but ultimately fell at the hands of the defending state champs in a 53-41 quarterfinal with Hugoton.

Despite the bittersweet ending, this was another stellar campaign for the Cowboys, coming to a close at 19-4.

On the other side, the Eagles (21-2) will advance to the 4A semifinals to face the Atchison Phoenix (21-2).

Abilene was in this game until the closing minutes, where a big run allowed the Eagles to pull away down the stretch.

“I was proud of the way we competed,” Abilene head coach Erik Graefe said. “We cut it down to one point late but just couldn’t make shots. Credit Hugotons defense, that’s a really good team.”

Neither team was great from the outside, but the Cowboys struggled to find their stroke beyond the arc, connecting on just four of their 26 attempts.

As he had all season, Brax Fisher led the way for Abilene with 13 points as the only Cowboy in double figures while Hugoton got 16 from DaSean Lewis and Izeyah Harris, and 12 more from Jay Acosta.

This loss should not in any way, take away from what Abilene accomplished this season, as the Cowboys fought tooth and nail to secure home-court for sub-state and punched a third ticket to the state tournament in four years.

“This is a remarkable group,” Graefe said. “Every game we played down the stretch felt like a playoff game to secure home court and these guys answered the bell every single night to make that happen. We want to be one of those teams that’s there every year and eventually something has to break but it’ll be all the more sweeter when it does.”

The Cowboys will have to say goodbye to a senior class that has helped to revive Abilene athletics to its former glory as Brax Fisher, Stocton Timbrook, Zach Miller, and Keaton Hargrave all approach graduation.

“There’s no way to quantify what those seniors have meant to me and to us and it’s not just basketball, it’s our whole program,” Graefe said. “Those guys are leaders, they made us relevant in football again, and they’ve done the same in baseball and track. They’re unbelievable kids and watching how heartbroken they are is the worst part but we’ve been successful because they’ve led us.”

Despite losing a majority of their starters, Abilene will have much to look forward to next season, with a strong group of returners looking to take up the mantle in 2024-25.

“I always feel optimistic,” he said. “We essentially had eight starters this year and four of them were underclassmen. When we put in those three guys every quarter the energy would ramp up and I really look forward to what they do next year.”

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Abilene boys’ basketball team battled to the final buzzer but ultimately fell at the hands of the defending state champs in a 53-41 quarterfinal with Hugoton.Despite the bittersweet ending, this was another stellar campaign for the Cowboys, coming to a close at 19-4.On the other side, the Eagles (21-2) will advance to the 4A semifinals to face the Atchison Phoenix (21-2).Abilene was in this game until the closing minutes, where a big run allowed the Eagles to pull away down the stretch.“I was proud of the way we competed,” Abilene head coach Erik Graefe said. “We cut it down to one point late but just couldn’t make shots. Credit Hugotons defense, that’s a really good team.”Neither team was great from the outside, but the Cowboys struggled to find their stroke beyond the arc, connecting on just four of their 26 attempts.As he had all season, Brax Fisher led the way for Abilene with 13 points as the only Cowboy in double figures while Hugoton got 16 from DaSean Lewis and Izeyah Harris, and 12 more from Jay Acosta.This loss should not in any way, take away from what Abilene accomplished this season, as the Cowboys fought tooth and nail to secure home-court for sub-state and punched a third ticket to the state tournament in four years.“This is a remarkable group,” Graefe said. “Every game we played down the stretch felt like a playoff game to secure home court and these guys answered the bell every single night to make that happen. We want to be one of those teams that’s there every year and eventually something has to break but it’ll be all the more sweeter when it does.”The Cowboys will have to say goodbye to a senior class that has helped to revive Abilene athletics to its former glory as Brax Fisher, Stocton Timbrook, Zach Miller, and Keaton Hargrave all approach graduation.“There’s no way to quantify what those seniors have meant to me and to us and it’s not just basketball, it’s our whole program,” Graefe said. “Those guys are leaders, they made us relevant in football again, and they’ve done the same in baseball and track. They’re unbelievable kids and watching how heartbroken they are is the worst part but we’ve been successful because they’ve led us.”Despite losing a majority of their starters, Abilene will have much to look forward to next season, with a strong group of returners looking to take up the mantle in 2024-25.“I always feel optimistic,” he said. “We essentially had eight starters this year and four of them were underclassmen. When we put in those three guys every quarter the energy would ramp up and I really look forward to what they do next year.”

Cowboys Fall to Defending 4A Champs in State Quarterfinals

Kansas Wesleyan's Mabee Arena will play host to the NAIA Women's and Men's Basketball First and Second Rounds on March 15 and 16.

The First and Second Rounds will feature four teams on both the women's and men's sides playing for a chance to advance to their respective NAIA Final Site - Sioux City's Tyson Events Center for the women, and Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City for the men.

The first round will be played on Friday in two sessions starting at Noon, and the second session at 6 p.m., and the second round will be played on Saturday at 3 p.m. (women) and 6 p.m. Saturday's winners advance to the Final Sites.

KWU is just one of many first and second-round hosts for the NAIA National Championships around the country.

KWU will be playing host to seven other teams from around the country.

On the women's side, it will be Freed Hardeman, Tabor, Mayville State and LSU-Shreveport

On the men's side, it will be LSU-Shreveport, Concordia (Neb.), and Indiana-Northwest along with KWU.

Kansas Wesleyan's Mabee Arena will play host to the NAIA Women's and Men's Basketball First and Second Rounds on March 15 and 16.The First and Second Rounds will feature four teams on both the women's and men's sides playing for a chance to advance to their respective NAIA Final Site - Sioux City's Tyson Events Center for the women, and Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City for the men.The first round will be played on Friday in two sessions starting at Noon, and the second session at 6 p.m., and the second round will be played on Saturday at 3 p.m. (women) and 6 p.m. Saturday's winners advance to the Final Sites.KWU is just one of many first and second-round hosts for the NAIA National Championships around the country.KWU will be playing host to seven other teams from around the country.On the women's side, it will be Freed Hardeman, Tabor, Mayville State and LSU-ShreveportOn the men's side, it will be LSU-Shreveport, Concordia (Neb.), and Indiana-Northwest along with KWU.

Kansas Wesleyan to host NAIA First and Second Rounds on March 15 and 16

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

For many teams across the state of Kansas, a trip to a state basketball tournament is something to be cherished, something rare, and something most players will never get to experience.

For the Abilene Cowboys, this will mark a third 4A state appearance in four years under head coach Erik Graefe, proving to all that Abilene is still at the top of its game.

The road to a state title is always a winding one, but at 19-3, the Cowboys have taken everything in stride and will be ready to lay it all on the line in Salina this week.

“We’ve learned to be a little more patient offensively throughout the year,” Abilene head coach Erik Graefe said. “It was all about our press early and getting buckets off turnovers but teams figure that out as the season goes on. The kids have figured out how to exploit mismatches instead of forcing things.”

All three of those Cowboy losses come with an asterisk, as they came at the hands of 6A Wichita North, 5A Great Bend, and 5A Hays, all by an average of just six points.

“You want to play really good, physical teams that speed you up and that’s what the SIT and Hays do for us,” Graefe said. “We need to feel that physicality and pressure, and we wanted to play those bigger schools, hopefully that pays dividends for us in Salina.”

Those games certainly had Abilene prepared last week, as the Cowboys eliminated rival Chapman 59-48 before coming back to knock off Pratt 47-42 in the sub-state championship game.

“We didn’t play particularly well in either of those sub-state games but our guys found a way to win and that’s been a recurring theme for this team this year,” he said. “It’s a testament to the eight guys who get the bulk of our minutes, they understand what needs to be done and they make plays.”

After a brief absence from the 4A bracket last year, the Cowboys make their triumphant return to a place that’s become a mainstay this time of year, and one Abilene will look to make a run at in 2024.

“Familiarity can be something as simple as knowing how to get to your locker room,” Graefe said. “Those little things play a role psychologically but we’re familiar with the building, we know what it’s going to feel like and we’ve got three guys who were on the floor the last time we were in the state tournament.”

While the Cowboys will be making their third appearance at state in four years, Abilene is still in search of its first playoff win during that span and returns a group that will be eager to get on the floor and do just that on Thursday night.

“We want to show up and I know that sounds cliche but we were a little like deer in the headlights the last time we were there,” he said. “We want to be present in every situation, to play our best, and to expect to win. I trust our guys to do just that.”

Standing in Abilene’s way is the defending 4A state champion Hugoton Eagles, an imposing foe who will be just as hungry for a chance to claim back-to-back state titles.

“Hugoton is really good,” Graefe said. “They have three returning starters from a state champion and that experience is huge. Not only have they been in that building but they’ve won the thing. They’re good defensively, they’re physical and they have an excellent point guard, strong guys down low, and guys that can shoot the three. It’s going to be hard it’s exactly what we want and it should be fun.”

Tip-off between the Cowboys and Eagles is set for 8:00 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina, with the winner advancing to play either 20-2 Atchison or 18-4 Rock Creek on Friday night.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>For many teams across the state of Kansas, a trip to a state basketball tournament is something to be cherished, something rare, and something most players will never get to experience.For the Abilene Cowboys, this will mark a third 4A state appearance in four years under head coach Erik Graefe, proving to all that Abilene is still at the top of its game.The road to a state title is always a winding one, but at 19-3, the Cowboys have taken everything in stride and will be ready to lay it all on the line in Salina this week.“We’ve learned to be a little more patient offensively throughout the year,” Abilene head coach Erik Graefe said. “It was all about our press early and getting buckets off turnovers but teams figure that out as the season goes on. The kids have figured out how to exploit mismatches instead of forcing things.”All three of those Cowboy losses come with an asterisk, as they came at the hands of 6A Wichita North, 5A Great Bend, and 5A Hays, all by an average of just six points.“You want to play really good, physical teams that speed you up and that’s what the SIT and Hays do for us,” Graefe said. “We need to feel that physicality and pressure, and we wanted to play those bigger schools, hopefully that pays dividends for us in Salina.”Those games certainly had Abilene prepared last week, as the Cowboys eliminated rival Chapman 59-48 before coming back to knock off Pratt 47-42 in the sub-state championship game.“We didn’t play particularly well in either of those sub-state games but our guys found a way to win and that’s been a recurring theme for this team this year,” he said. “It’s a testament to the eight guys who get the bulk of our minutes, they understand what needs to be done and they make plays.”After a brief absence from the 4A bracket last year, the Cowboys make their triumphant return to a place that’s become a mainstay this time of year, and one Abilene will look to make a run at in 2024.“Familiarity can be something as simple as knowing how to get to your locker room,” Graefe said. “Those little things play a role psychologically but we’re familiar with the building, we know what it’s going to feel like and we’ve got three guys who were on the floor the last time we were in the state tournament.”While the Cowboys will be making their third appearance at state in four years, Abilene is still in search of its first playoff win during that span and returns a group that will be eager to get on the floor and do just that on Thursday night.“We want to show up and I know that sounds cliche but we were a little like deer in the headlights the last time we were there,” he said. “We want to be present in every situation, to play our best, and to expect to win. I trust our guys to do just that.”Standing in Abilene’s way is the defending 4A state champion Hugoton Eagles, an imposing foe who will be just as hungry for a chance to claim back-to-back state titles.“Hugoton is really good,” Graefe said. “They have three returning starters from a state champion and that experience is huge. Not only have they been in that building but they’ve won the thing. They’re good defensively, they’re physical and they have an excellent point guard, strong guys down low, and guys that can shoot the three. It’s going to be hard it’s exactly what we want and it should be fun.”Tip-off between the Cowboys and Eagles is set for 8:00 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina, with the winner advancing to play either 20-2 Atchison or 18-4 Rock Creek on Friday night.

Abilene Opens 4A State Tournament Against Defending State Champs

MANHATTAN, Kansas –&nbsp;For the second time in her career, K-State center Ayoka Lee has been named an All-American by The Athletic as she was a second team selection.

Lee, a unanimous selection to the 2023-24 All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection, garners the honor from The Athletic as she was a first team recipient in the 2021-22 season. Earlier this season, Lee was a Midseason All-American by The Athletic, as she was a second team honoree.

The product of Byron, Minnesota, has had a strong 2023-24 as she is averaging 19.8 points on a .620 field goal percentage, 8.3 rebounds and 2.83 blocked shots. She ranks seventh in the nation and leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage. Lee is third in the Big 12 in scoring average, second in the league and seventh in the nation for blocks per game and sixth for rebounding average.

Lee, a Lisa Leslie Award Top 10 finalist, has recorded 11 games this season with 20 or more points including her second career 20-20 double-double with 24 points, 21 rebounds and five blocked shots against Oral Roberts.

This season, Lee has led the Big 12’s top defense with 18 games of two or more blocked shots including a season-high seven at UCF on Jan. 6 and at Iowa State on Feb. 14. The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year candidate has also collected two or more steals in five games. This season is Lee’s third with 60 or more blocks.

In her career, Lee ranks fourth in school history for points scored with 2,116, second for rebounds with 1,077, the school record holder for career blocks with 300 and owns the school record for career double-doubles with 57. She is the first player in program history with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.&nbsp;She is the only active NCAA Division I women’s player with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.

Up next for K-State is the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship. The Wildcats are slated as the 3-seed and will face either West Virginia, Cincinnati or UCF on Saturday at 8 p.m., in Kansas City at T-Mobile Center.&nbsp;<a>Session and single-game tickets are available at big12sports.com.</a>&nbsp;Premium seating options range from $35-$85, dependent on the session and sideline reserved seats range from $15 for early rounds to $25 for the championship game. General Admission tickets can be purchased starting at $10.

Saturday’s game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network including the flagship stations Sunny 102.5 FM and 1350 KMAN, online at&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com/" target="_blank">kstatesports.com</a>, or on the K-State Sports app.

MANHATTAN, Kansas –&nbsp;For the second time in her career, K-State center Ayoka Lee has been named an All-American by The Athletic as she was a second team selection.Lee, a unanimous selection to the 2023-24 All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection, garners the honor from The Athletic as she was a first team recipient in the 2021-22 season. Earlier this season, Lee was a Midseason All-American by The Athletic, as she was a second team honoree.The product of Byron, Minnesota, has had a strong 2023-24 as she is averaging 19.8 points on a .620 field goal percentage, 8.3 rebounds and 2.83 blocked shots. She ranks seventh in the nation and leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage. Lee is third in the Big 12 in scoring average, second in the league and seventh in the nation for blocks per game and sixth for rebounding average.Lee, a Lisa Leslie Award Top 10 finalist, has recorded 11 games this season with 20 or more points including her second career 20-20 double-double with 24 points, 21 rebounds and five blocked shots against Oral Roberts.This season, Lee has led the Big 12’s top defense with 18 games of two or more blocked shots including a season-high seven at UCF on Jan. 6 and at Iowa State on Feb. 14. The 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year candidate has also collected two or more steals in five games. This season is Lee’s third with 60 or more blocks.In her career, Lee ranks fourth in school history for points scored with 2,116, second for rebounds with 1,077, the school record holder for career blocks with 300 and owns the school record for career double-doubles with 57. She is the first player in program history with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.&nbsp;She is the only active NCAA Division I women’s player with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.Up next for K-State is the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship. The Wildcats are slated as the 3-seed and will face either West Virginia, Cincinnati or UCF on Saturday at 8 p.m., in Kansas City at T-Mobile Center.&nbsp;<a>Session and single-game tickets are available at big12sports.com.</a>&nbsp;Premium seating options range from $35-$85, dependent on the session and sideline reserved seats range from $15 for early rounds to $25 for the championship game. General Admission tickets can be purchased starting at $10.Saturday’s game can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network including the flagship stations Sunny 102.5 FM and 1350 KMAN, online at&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com/" target="_blank">kstatesports.com</a>, or on the K-State Sports app.

K-State’s Lee Named Second Team All-American by The Athletic

Last week, the Southeast of Saline boy’s basketball team made an improbable run through sub-state, eliminating a top-ranked foe to punch their ticket to the 3A state tournament.

On Wednesday, the Trojans were right back at it again, handing #2 Cheney their first loss in 92 days to claim one of four tickets to this year’s semifinal round.

With a 54-51 victory over the Cardinals, the Trojans move to 15-9 while Cheney’s season, and 20-game win streak come to an end at 21-3.

This game stayed close from the jump, with neither team managing to take more than a three-point lead into any of the four quarters.

A stark difference in play styles was on full display in the first 16 minutes, as Cheney collected nine points on 11 takes from the stripe before Southeast attempted their first free throw.

In the second half, Gannon Jacobson took over, dropping 15 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter alone, to lead all scorers with 24, and push the Trojans over the finish line.

A late 5-0 run allowed Southeast to come from behind in the closing minutes, and with the final seconds winding off the clock, the Trojans contested a would-be game-tying three to survive and advance.

Seven different Trojans finished the night with at least a bucket, with Owen Bailey joining Jacobson in double digits with 11.

For Cheney, three different Cardinals surpassed the ten-point mark, led by Jack Voth (15), Josh Burdick (13), and Colton McDaniel (10).

SES will join Beloit and Wellsville in the semifinals and will take on Goodland (20-3) at 6:00 on Friday night.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Last week, the Southeast of Saline boy’s basketball team made an improbable run through sub-state, eliminating a top-ranked foe to punch their ticket to the 3A state tournament.On Wednesday, the Trojans were right back at it again, handing #2 Cheney their first loss in 92 days to claim one of four tickets to this year’s semifinal round.With a 54-51 victory over the Cardinals, the Trojans move to 15-9 while Cheney’s season, and 20-game win streak come to an end at 21-3.This game stayed close from the jump, with neither team managing to take more than a three-point lead into any of the four quarters.A stark difference in play styles was on full display in the first 16 minutes, as Cheney collected nine points on 11 takes from the stripe before Southeast attempted their first free throw.In the second half, Gannon Jacobson took over, dropping 15 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter alone, to lead all scorers with 24, and push the Trojans over the finish line.A late 5-0 run allowed Southeast to come from behind in the closing minutes, and with the final seconds winding off the clock, the Trojans contested a would-be game-tying three to survive and advance.Seven different Trojans finished the night with at least a bucket, with Owen Bailey joining Jacobson in double digits with 11.For Cheney, three different Cardinals surpassed the ten-point mark, led by Jack Voth (15), Josh Burdick (13), and Colton McDaniel (10).SES will join Beloit and Wellsville in the semifinals and will take on Goodland (20-3) at 6:00 on Friday night.

Trojans Stun #2 Cheney in 3A Quarterfinals

After making an improbable run through their sub-state tournament last week, the Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team is headed to their third 3A state tournament in as many years at the Sports Arena in Hutch this week.

The Trojans will enter the bracket as the 7-seed with a 14-9 overall record and will take on Cheney (21-2) in the opening round this evening.

Despite being counted out in a bracket that housed the three-time defending state champs in Hesston last week, Southeast never doubted themselves for a minute, dispatching Council Grove, Hesston, and Santa Fe Trail to punch their ticket to state.

“Nobody expected us to make a run,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Our mindset was ‘why not do everything in our power to do just that’ and I thought we were pretty darn good throughout the week, especially in the things that don’t show up in the stat sheet.”

If there was a moment where it sunk in for the Trojans that they could compete with anyone it wasn’t during that tournament, as Southeast has played a murderer's row of a schedule and gone toe to toe with a slew of ranked foes all year.

“We didn’t just decide that we belonged last week,” Flax said. “That’s been going on for a while. We’ve talked all season about how good we could be if we did some of the little things better and we were just waiting for all the little things to click the way they did for almost three complete games.”

Of the six teams to beat Southeast of Saline this year, five will also be playing for a state tournament this year, including two other schools from the NCAA.

“To have half of our league competing at state is incredible,” he said. “In a lot of years we all get bunched up in the same sub-state because of geography but this year we got spread out and you can see how deep our league is.”

Up first at the Hutch Sports Arena is a date with one of the hottest teams in the state in 2nd-ranked and 2-seeded Cheney.

The Cardinals began the year 1-2, falling in back-to-back games at the hands of 4A Wellington and Pratt before going on a tear, winning their next 20 straight games including victories over Chaparral, Wichita Trinity, and Wichita Collegiate at sub-state last week.

“Cheney is really good,” Flax said. “Defensively they get out and really guard you, they make it difficult to catch. On the offensive end, they like layups and threes and they don’t seem to have a problem getting either of them. They might be the best offensive rebounding team that we’ve seen on film and they really work to earn extra opportunities.”

The Cardinals have dominated with defense down the stretch, holding their last six opponents to just over 36 points a night on average.

“They really make you work for everything on the offensive end and they don’t give up many offensive rebounds,” he said. “We need to settle in, make sure we move the basketball around and find good opportunities.”

It may take the best night of basketball Southeast has played all season, but the Trojans have been counted out before, and will be ready to give another top-ranked opponent all they can handle when the ball goes in the air at 6:00 tonight.

As always state coverage of SES hoops can be heard locally on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and on 910KINA.com.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>After making an improbable run through their sub-state tournament last week, the Southeast of Saline boys’ basketball team is headed to their third 3A state tournament in as many years at the Sports Arena in Hutch this week.The Trojans will enter the bracket as the 7-seed with a 14-9 overall record and will take on Cheney (21-2) in the opening round this evening.Despite being counted out in a bracket that housed the three-time defending state champs in Hesston last week, Southeast never doubted themselves for a minute, dispatching Council Grove, Hesston, and Santa Fe Trail to punch their ticket to state.“Nobody expected us to make a run,” SES head coach Bryson Flax said. “Our mindset was ‘why not do everything in our power to do just that’ and I thought we were pretty darn good throughout the week, especially in the things that don’t show up in the stat sheet.”If there was a moment where it sunk in for the Trojans that they could compete with anyone it wasn’t during that tournament, as Southeast has played a murderer's row of a schedule and gone toe to toe with a slew of ranked foes all year.“We didn’t just decide that we belonged last week,” Flax said. “That’s been going on for a while. We’ve talked all season about how good we could be if we did some of the little things better and we were just waiting for all the little things to click the way they did for almost three complete games.”Of the six teams to beat Southeast of Saline this year, five will also be playing for a state tournament this year, including two other schools from the NCAA.The other was Hesston.“To have half of our league competing at state is incredible,” he said. “In a lot of years we all get bunched up in the same sub-state because of geography but this year we got spread out and you can see how deep our league is.”Up first at the Hutch Sports Arena is a date with one of the hottest teams in the state in 2nd-ranked and 2-seeded Cheney.The Cardinals began the year 1-2, falling in back-to-back games at the hands of 4A Wellington and Pratt before going on a tear, winning their next 20 straight games including victories over Chaparral, Wichita Trinity, and Wichita Collegiate at sub-state last week.“Cheney is really good,” Flax said. “Defensively they get out and really guard you, they make it difficult to catch. On the offensive end, they like layups and threes and they don’t seem to have a problem getting either of them. They might be the best offensive rebounding team that we’ve seen on film and they really work to earn extra opportunities.”The Cardinals have dominated with defense down the stretch, holding their last six opponents to just over 36 points a night on average.“They really make you work for everything on the offensive end and they don’t give up many offensive rebounds,” he said. “We need to settle in, make sure we move the basketball around and find good opportunities.”It may take the best night of basketball Southeast has played all season, but the Trojans have been counted out before, and will be ready to give another top-ranked opponent all they can handle when the ball goes in the air at 6:00 tonight.As always state coverage of SES hoops can be heard locally on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and on 910KINA.com.

Southeast Looks to Continue Cinderella Run at 3A State Tournament

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas rarely loses at Allen Fieldhouse, and even rarer do the Jayhawks lose there to Kansas State.

On senior night? The Wildcats hardly seemed to have a chance.

Kevin McCullar Jr. had 19 points in his farewell to the Phog, fellow senior Hunter Dickinson added 15 points with 20 rebounds, and No. 14 Kansas snapped a modest two-game skid with a 90-68 blowout of Kansas State on Tuesday night.

Nick Timberlake added 18 points and KJ Adams Jr. had 16 for the Jayhawks (22-8, 10-7 Big 12), who beat the Wildcats at home for the 18th straight time and won their 40th in a row on senior night, a run that stretches back to the 1983-84 season.

Kansas also avenged an overtime loss to Kansas State (17-13, 7-10) earlier this season.

“I saw how excited they were after they beat us,” Dickinson said, “and I think that kind of stuck with us, kind of how excited they were. Usually people are excited to beat us, but especially them. I felt a little motivated coming into tonight.”

Will McNair had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, but leading scorers Tylor Perry and Cam Carter were shut down. Perry had two points after scoring 26 against the Jayhawks in February, and Carter had three points on 1-of-7 shooting.

“They kicked our butts. We didn't deserve to win,” Kansas State coach Jerome Tang said. “Didn't give an effort that deserved to win. Disappointed in that because the staff did an unbelievable job putting together a plan that would give us a chance.”

Two schools separated by about 80 miles of highway, and who have played 300 times since 1907, naturally harbor a little bit of animosity toward each other. And that was on display during a first half in which a couple of players nearly came to blows.

It also was evident after the game, when Jayhawks coach Bill Self said Tang did a “fly by” in the handshake line.

“I will say, when we got our ass kicked there, we shook everybody's hand," Self said, "so I guess it was different here today.”

The Wildcats were just 10 of 21 from the foul line for the game. Throw in some sloppiness on offense — hardly new for a team that is 339th in Division I in turnovers per game — and they were fortunate to trail 41-33 at halftime.

Kansas quickly stretched the lead to double digits in the second half. And after making one 3-pointer over the first 25 minutes, McCullar and fellow senior Timberlake hit them in quick succession, stretching the lead to 53-38 with 13:30 to go.

The Jayhawks eventually pushed the lead to 28 before the senior night celebration began in earnest.

“I think we felt a little motivated coming into tonight, knowing it was senior night, and wanting to send the seniors out on a good note,” Dickinson said. “I think this is a really good stepping stone for us."

Kansas State's NCAA tourney hopes are in peril after a last-second loss to Cincinnati and a lopsided loss to Kansas. The Wildcats desperately need to beat No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday before winning a couple of games in the Big 12 Tournament.

“It's about being competitive. Nobody is going to sprinkle fairy dust on us,” Perry said. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror. Our back is pressed against the wall. It starts with winning on Saturday and having some momentum going into next week.”

Kansas could give its own NCAA Tournament seeding a big boost by beating top-ranked Houston on Saturday.

Kansas State wraps up its regular season against the Cyclones.

Kansas visits the Cougars for its regular-season finale.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709697248410.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas rarely loses at Allen Fieldhouse, and even rarer do the Jayhawks lose there to Kansas State.On senior night? The Wildcats hardly seemed to have a chance.Kevin McCullar Jr. had 19 points in his farewell to the Phog, fellow senior Hunter Dickinson added 15 points with 20 rebounds, and No. 14 Kansas snapped a modest two-game skid with a 90-68 blowout of Kansas State on Tuesday night.Nick Timberlake added 18 points and KJ Adams Jr. had 16 for the Jayhawks (22-8, 10-7 Big 12), who beat the Wildcats at home for the 18th straight time and won their 40th in a row on senior night, a run that stretches back to the 1983-84 season.Kansas also avenged an overtime loss to Kansas State (17-13, 7-10) earlier this season.“I saw how excited they were after they beat us,” Dickinson said, “and I think that kind of stuck with us, kind of how excited they were. Usually people are excited to beat us, but especially them. I felt a little motivated coming into tonight.”Will McNair had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats, but leading scorers Tylor Perry and Cam Carter were shut down. Perry had two points after scoring 26 against the Jayhawks in February, and Carter had three points on 1-of-7 shooting.“They kicked our butts. We didn't deserve to win,” Kansas State coach Jerome Tang said. “Didn't give an effort that deserved to win. Disappointed in that because the staff did an unbelievable job putting together a plan that would give us a chance.”Two schools separated by about 80 miles of highway, and who have played 300 times since 1907, naturally harbor a little bit of animosity toward each other. And that was on display during a first half in which a couple of players nearly came to blows.It also was evident after the game, when Jayhawks coach Bill Self said Tang did a “fly by” in the handshake line.“I will say, when we got our ass kicked there, we shook everybody's hand," Self said, "so I guess it was different here today.”The Wildcats were just 10 of 21 from the foul line for the game. Throw in some sloppiness on offense — hardly new for a team that is 339th in Division I in turnovers per game — and they were fortunate to trail 41-33 at halftime.Kansas quickly stretched the lead to double digits in the second half. And after making one 3-pointer over the first 25 minutes, McCullar and fellow senior Timberlake hit them in quick succession, stretching the lead to 53-38 with 13:30 to go.The Jayhawks eventually pushed the lead to 28 before the senior night celebration began in earnest.“I think we felt a little motivated coming into tonight, knowing it was senior night, and wanting to send the seniors out on a good note,” Dickinson said. “I think this is a really good stepping stone for us."BIG PICTUREKansas State's NCAA tourney hopes are in peril after a last-second loss to Cincinnati and a lopsided loss to Kansas. The Wildcats desperately need to beat No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday before winning a couple of games in the Big 12 Tournament.“It's about being competitive. Nobody is going to sprinkle fairy dust on us,” Perry said. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror. Our back is pressed against the wall. It starts with winning on Saturday and having some momentum going into next week.”Kansas could give its own NCAA Tournament seeding a big boost by beating top-ranked Houston on Saturday.UP NEXTKansas State wraps up its regular season against the Cyclones.Kansas visits the Cougars for its regular-season finale.___

🏀 McCullar scores 19 as Kansas routs K-State

PARK CITY - It was not the outcome Kansas Wesleyan coach&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f3e74c1d-a3a0-4902-800c-a04fcd0c8b22?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Anthony Monson</a>&nbsp;wanted but he was at least heartened by the fact there is more basketball to be played.

Top-seeded and fourth-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan took a 26-point lead into halftime then fended off KWU's second-half comeback attempts in an 81-65 victory in the championship game of the Kansas Conference Men's Tournament Monday night inside Hartman Arena.

The second-seeded Coyotes (23-8) got as close as 13 points three times in the second half, but OKWU (29-2) held on. Cold shooting (36.4 percent) and the Eagles' All-American center Jaden Lietzke (21 points, 13 rebounds) were major factors.

"I'm proud of these guys," he said. "A rough night tonight but that doesn't sum up the season. It's not over with."

KWU will be among the 64 teams playing in the NAIA National Championship - the field and first-round pairings unveiled at 6 p.m. Thursday. First- and second-round games will be played at March 15-16 at various campus sites across the country - Wesleyan one of them with the Coyotes and three other teams playing March 15 inside Mabee Arena.

Four women's teams also will compete in first-round games at KWU that day. Second-round games will be played March 16.

The Coyotes will have 10 days to rest and regroup after Monday's setback. OKWU shot 60 percent in the first half (18 of 30) that included 7 of 13 from long distance. The Coyotes, meanwhile, shot 23.3 percent (7 of 30), were 0 of 11 beyond the arc and trailed 48-22 at the intermission.

"We couldn't hit shots, turned the ball over, no rhythm offensively, defense starts to feel a lot of pressure and the next you know you're down and it just spirals out of control," Monson said.

"I think there was a little bit of nerves, I don't think we executed very well," he said. "We talked about moving the ball, getting downhill and penetrating and we didn't do a whole lot of that. We settled for bad jumpers and when we did drive it was terrible finishes."

The second half was a different story. KWU was 17 of 36 from the field (47.2 percent), limited OKWU to 15 of 42 shooting (35.7 percent) and outscored the Eagles 43-33.

Monson was pleased with the way his team responded after the break.

"We never gave up, I never thought we would give up," he said. "I just wondered how much energy we could give without giving up layup after layup. We battled and competed and did things better in the second half but we can't dig ourselves a 26-point hole and expect something good to happen."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/74bc2394-84cb-4146-acf4-df9525061c4b?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Alex Littlejohn</a>&nbsp;led the Coyotes with 19 points and 17 rebounds - 17 points in the second half that included the team's two made 3-pointers on the night (2 of 23).&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/956c217b-47a3-44b5-bae5-e50e2c2a8507?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Jun Murdock</a>&nbsp;had 18 points,&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a63fa4cb-2fe2-4521-a414-fecb2eca1007?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Caden Hale</a>&nbsp;13 and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/14f4ba04-0ff6-431c-b473-494a72514084?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Thurbil Bile</a>&nbsp;10 and six rebounds.

The Eagles outscored KWU 40-26 in the paint, had more second chance points (15-6) and had 19 points off turnovers compared to nine for the Coyotes. Lietzke, a 6-foot-8 junior and unanimous All-KCAC First Team selection, was 10 of 15 shooting and scored 14 the second half.

"We've got to watch some film and fix a few things and go from there with it," Monson said. "The national tournament's coming up and we've got to make sure we're doing things the right way and playing the right way come Friday next week."

PARK CITY - It was not the outcome Kansas Wesleyan coach&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f3e74c1d-a3a0-4902-800c-a04fcd0c8b22?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Anthony Monson</a>&nbsp;wanted but he was at least heartened by the fact there is more basketball to be played.Top-seeded and fourth-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan took a 26-point lead into halftime then fended off KWU's second-half comeback attempts in an 81-65 victory in the championship game of the Kansas Conference Men's Tournament Monday night inside Hartman Arena.The second-seeded Coyotes (23-8) got as close as 13 points three times in the second half, but OKWU (29-2) held on. Cold shooting (36.4 percent) and the Eagles' All-American center Jaden Lietzke (21 points, 13 rebounds) were major factors.Monson was not distraught, though."I'm proud of these guys," he said. "A rough night tonight but that doesn't sum up the season. It's not over with."KWU will be among the 64 teams playing in the NAIA National Championship - the field and first-round pairings unveiled at 6 p.m. Thursday. First- and second-round games will be played at March 15-16 at various campus sites across the country - Wesleyan one of them with the Coyotes and three other teams playing March 15 inside Mabee Arena.Four women's teams also will compete in first-round games at KWU that day. Second-round games will be played March 16.The Coyotes will have 10 days to rest and regroup after Monday's setback. OKWU shot 60 percent in the first half (18 of 30) that included 7 of 13 from long distance. The Coyotes, meanwhile, shot 23.3 percent (7 of 30), were 0 of 11 beyond the arc and trailed 48-22 at the intermission."We couldn't hit shots, turned the ball over, no rhythm offensively, defense starts to feel a lot of pressure and the next you know you're down and it just spirals out of control," Monson said.He cited several reasons."I think there was a little bit of nerves, I don't think we executed very well," he said. "We talked about moving the ball, getting downhill and penetrating and we didn't do a whole lot of that. We settled for bad jumpers and when we did drive it was terrible finishes."The second half was a different story. KWU was 17 of 36 from the field (47.2 percent), limited OKWU to 15 of 42 shooting (35.7 percent) and outscored the Eagles 43-33.Monson was pleased with the way his team responded after the break."We never gave up, I never thought we would give up," he said. "I just wondered how much energy we could give without giving up layup after layup. We battled and competed and did things better in the second half but we can't dig ourselves a 26-point hole and expect something good to happen."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/74bc2394-84cb-4146-acf4-df9525061c4b?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Alex Littlejohn</a>&nbsp;led the Coyotes with 19 points and 17 rebounds - 17 points in the second half that included the team's two made 3-pointers on the night (2 of 23).&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/956c217b-47a3-44b5-bae5-e50e2c2a8507?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Jun Murdock</a>&nbsp;had 18 points,&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a63fa4cb-2fe2-4521-a414-fecb2eca1007?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Caden Hale</a>&nbsp;13 and&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/14f4ba04-0ff6-431c-b473-494a72514084?elinkdata=6670" target="_blank">Thurbil Bile</a>&nbsp;10 and six rebounds.The Eagles outscored KWU 40-26 in the paint, had more second chance points (15-6) and had 19 points off turnovers compared to nine for the Coyotes. Lietzke, a 6-foot-8 junior and unanimous All-KCAC First Team selection, was 10 of 15 shooting and scored 14 the second half."We've got to watch some film and fix a few things and go from there with it," Monson said. "The national tournament's coming up and we've got to make sure we're doing things the right way and playing the right way come Friday next week."