By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
The Abilene boy’s basketball team has become a mainstay at the 4A state tournament, and this year will be no different after the Cowboys defended their home floor in a 48-43 win over Wellington on Friday night.
This game was a rollercoaster from start to finish, but one the Cowboys would lead for most of its runtime in a near wire-to-wire victory.
After Wellington jumped out to a 4-0 lead, the Cowboys put on a clinic, outscoring the Crusaders 23-2 over the next 12 minutes to take a colossal 23-6 lead.
Just when it seemed the rout could be on, Wellington came alive, forcing three quick turnovers and rattling off a 9-0 run of their own courtesy of their star Carter Burnett.
On the ensuing possession, Burnett committed his fourth foul, and in frustration, ended his own night before the end of the first half, collecting a technical before being escorted back to the Wellington locker room.
Whatever momentum the Crusaders had built was swiftly crushed, and three free throws later the Cowboys led 26-15 at the break.
Down big without their star, many teams would have crumbled, but Wellington fought back, cutting the deficit to two possessions at the end of the third, and whittling the lead down to as few as three in the fourth.
The comeback, however, was not to be, as the Abilene steeled their nerves and pulled away late, thanks in no small part to seven straight free throw makes by Weston Rock.
Brody Weir led the way for Wellington with ten points, followed by Burnett, who scored all nine of his points in the first half.
Abilene meanwhile had six different players in the scoring column, led by Tyler Holloway (13) Ian Crump (11) and Weston Rock (9).
Wellington’s season comes to a close at 15-7 but for Abilene, now 16-6, the campaign marches on at the 4A state tournament in Salina next week.