KAIR Sports Channel Broadcast – Troy vs. Jackson Heights, click here to listen.

KAIR Sports Channel Broadcast – JCN vs. Bishop Seabury, click here to listen. 

2A Boys Valley Falls Sub-State Semifinal #1 –No. 1 Troy vs. No. 5 Jackson Heights

Monday night, Jackson Heights senior Wyatt Olberding scored a career-high 37 points in a 71-58 win over Kansas City Christian in the opening round of the 2A Valley Falls sub-state.

Olberding followed that up with a 25 points performance Thursday night, including the game-winning layup with under five seconds to play as the Cobras punched their ticket to the sub-state championship Saturday night for the third straight season with a 48-46 win over top-seeded Troy in Valley Falls.

Things didn’t start great for the fifth-seed Cobras, though, as the Trojans raced out to an 8-0 lead in the first four minutes. Jackson Heights struggled to get shots off in the first quarter, but hung tough and trailed by just seven after one, 15-8.

The Cobras got back into the game quickly in the second quarter and actually took a one point lead after senior Mason Thomas knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers, but Troy responded with a quick 4-0 burst to end the half and take a 27-24 lead into halftime.

Out of the break the Trojans made it a point of emphasis to get the ball in the paint to senior big men Wyatt Huss and Wil Smith, and the two responded combining for 11 points in the third quarter as Troy pushed their advantage to eight after three.

Cue the Olberding heroics.

The senior guard started off the final quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Cobras within two, but Troy senior Cuttar Huss answered with a layup to push the Trojans lead back to four. After Olberding drilled his third trey ball of the quarter, Troy’s Wyatt Huss answered with a layup before Olberding tied the game at 46 with his fourth 3-pointer of the quarter.

With just over a minute left the Trojans turned over the basketball and the Cobras dribbled the remaining one minute off the clock looking to take the final shot. With 10 seconds left Olberding drove to the left corner, found some space on the baseline, and banked in a one-handed shot which proved to be the game-winner.

The Cobras knocked down a total of seven 3-pointers in the game with Olberding drilling five on his own, while the Trojans shot just 39 percent from the floor and only attempted five free throws in the game.

Jackson Heights (15-7) now will play for their third straight sub-state championship Saturday night, as they are set to go up against Bishop Seabury with tip off at 7:30 p.m. in Valley Falls.

The Trojans end their season at 19-3, winners of the Twin Valley League title, and send off eight seniors; Brody Winder, Reid Greaser, Wyatt Huss, Tyler Franken, Wil Smith, Connor McNorton, Kortin Blevins and Cuttar Huss.

Jackson Heights: Wyatt Olberding – 25, Mason Thomas – 8, Braden Dohl – 6, Brady Holliday – 5, Lane Thomas – 2, Kaleb Keehn – 2.

Troy: Cuttar Huss – 15, Wyatt Huss – 12, Brody Winder – 8, Wil Smith – 7, Reid Greaser – 2, Tyler Franken – 2.

2A Boys Valley Falls Sub-State Semifinal #2 – No. 2 JCN vs. No. 3 Bishop Seabury

Heading into Thursday night Bishop Seabury senior Mikey Wycoff, a McDonald’s All-American nominee, was averaging 25 points per game.

In the semifinals of the 2A boys Valley Falls sub-state Wycoff showed exactly why he is one of the best players around the state, pouring in 27 points as the Seahawks took down Jefferson County North 66-49 to advance to the sub-state championship game for the second straight season.

The Seahawks started fast jumping out to an 11-4 lead after one as four of the five starters recorded field goals in the first eight minutes.

After scoring just four points in the first quarter the JCN offense came alive in the second. Chargers’ junior Boston Lane knocked down three shots from beyond the arc in the quarter, as JCN put up 27 points in the second to tie the game up at 31 heading into the half.

The two teams traded baskets to open up the third quarter, but Seabury junior Bansi King ended the quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers to push the Seahawks advantage up to eight heading into the fourth.

JCN never threatened in the final frame only scoring nine points, while Wycoff went 7-of-9 from the free throw line in the fourth to ice the game away.

The Chargers end their season with a 19-3 record and a Northeast Kansas League title, while sending off three seniors; AJ Stutz, Brysen Weishaar and Braden Schneider.

Bishop Seabury: Mikey Wycoff – 27, Bansi King – 12, Thomas DiZerega – 11, Zach McDermott – 7, Max Easter – 7.

JCN: Boston Lane – 17, Braden Schneider – 14, Joel Abel – 10, Brysen Weishaar – 5, Bryce Fowler – 3.