Sabetha Girls Crush SE Saline to Open 3A State Tourney

3A State In Hutchinson 1st Round Girls on Thursday

Sabetha 47, Southeast Saline 26

In their return to the state tournament, the experienced Sabetha girls used a dominating effort on the glass and a 14-0 fourth quarter to pull away and sink Southeast of Saline on Thursday evening.  The Lady Jays never trailed after a pair of offensive rebounds and putback by Mariah Huneke gave them a 13-11 lead at the end of one quarter.  Sabetha started the second quarter on a 9-0 run and quickly built the lead to double-digits.  Southeast of Saline cut it to 33-26 entering the fourth quarter, but it was all Bluejays in the fourth frame to improve to 23-1 on the season and make a return trip to the 3A State Semifinals, along with the Sabetha boys, for the second straight year.  

Sabetha outrebounded SE of Saline 38-24, and had 15 offensive boards which led to 15 second chance points.  The Jays also made 12 of 15 free throws and had 10 fewer turnovers (18-8) in the quarterfinal.  Emily Meyer picked up where she left off in Hutch as a sophomore with a double-double, 14 points and 11 rebounds while Alexis McAfee started her third 3A State Tourney appreance with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block as Sabetha won their 12th straight game.  McAfee and Meyer also combined to make 10 of 11 charity tosses while Mariah Huneke added 7 points and 7 rebounds and Taryn Schuette chipped in 6 points. 

SE of Saline, making their first state tournament appearnce since 2008, ends their season with an 18-6 record as got 12 points from Kylee Thaxton.  Yet, 21-point, 10 rebound senior leader, Erica Montgomery was held in check by the Bluejays and finished with just 6 points and 5 boards.  The Lady Trojans also shot just 28 percent from the field.  

Sabetha girls will play their 3A State semifinals at 6:30 Friday evening live on KNZA 103.9 FM against #3 seed, Sterling.  Online live and free at

https://www.network1sports.com/station/knza#top