By DEVIN HANNEY
Sports Director - Salina Post
On Wednesday, the Abilene Cowboys embarked on a short 22-mile journey to Salina for the 4A State Basketball Tournament – a trip they've made four times in the past five seasons.
As the seven seed, the Cowboys faced a familiar foe in the opening round: the 2-seed Rock Creek Mustangs, a fellow NCKL League foe who had defeated them twice in the regular season.
Abilene started strong, scoring the first four points, but Rock Creek quickly responded, taking a two-point lead with a conventional three-point play and an outside three-pointer.
The Cowboys tied the game at 6-6, but the Mustangs pulled ahead with an 11-2 run to close the quarter, capitalizing on a 14-5 rebounding advantage.
The Mustangs continued to dominate in the second quarter, outscoring Abilene 16-7 and taking a commanding 33-15 lead into halftime. Rock Creek's stifling defense limited Abilene to just two field goals and seven points in the second period while forcing four turnovers.
Abilene's defense improved in the third quarter, initially limiting Rock Creek's scoring, but, the Mustangs eventually found their rhythm, ending the period with a 9-3 run and extending their lead to 44-24.
Rock Creek opened the final quarter with a three-pointer, building their largest lead of the game at 23 points. This margin held for the remainder of the game, with the Mustangs ultimately winning 56-33.
Coley Burgess led the charge for Rock Creek, equalling his season average of 13 points in the first quarter alone on the way to a 21-point performance.
Burgess was the only Mustang to score in double figures but had seven different teammates chip in at least one bucket in the win.
On the Abilene side, Ian Crump (15) and Tyler Holloway (10) led the way but the rest of the team combined to score just eight points all game.
For the Cowboys, another strong campaign comes to a bittersweet end in Salina at 16-7, while the Mustangs advance to face Andale (20-3) in the state semifinals on Friday.