By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Moundridge looked exactly as advertised for the first six and a half minutes of Thursday’s state semifinal, but Sacred Heart dominated the rest of the way, defeating the defending 2A champs 69-56 to advance to the state championship game.
The Lady Knights used a 31-6 run, ten turnovers, and eleven made threes to make things comfortable down the stretch, putting them one step away from the ultimate prize.
Moundridge came flying out of the gates, taking a 15-6 lead with 1:30 to go in the first quarter.
Sacred Heart ended the period on a 5-1 run and carried that momentum into the break.
Addie Lee owned the second quarter, knocking down all five of her three-point attempts and both of her free throws in a 17-point outburst.
By the time the buzzer sounded for halftime, the Lady Knights held a 15-point lead, finishing the quarter on a 31-6 run.
The Lady Wildcats showed signs of life in the third, and even managed to hold Addie Lee scoreless for the period, but Skylar Douglas picked up where Lee left off, scoring 8 of Sacred Heart’s 13 points in the quarter.
After knocking down a pair of triples to open the fourth, Sacred Heart put the game away at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 14 in the final quarter, and 19 of 22 on the day.
Addie Lee closed out the day with 27 points, five made threes, and ten makes at the free-throw line in as many attempts.
Skylar Douglas was also stellar, knocking down five more threes and ending the afternoon with 23.
Hattie Hecox (16), and Cammi Unruh (11) led the charge for the Lady Wildcats in the loss.
For Moundridge, the season draws to a close at 24-3, with two of those losses coming at the hands of Sacred Heart.
The Lady Knights, now 23-4, will take on the tournament’s top seed in Ellinwood (27-1) in the 2A state championship game at 12:30 on Saturday afternoon.
You can watch this game on-demand any time below.