2017 Hanover Girls Sub-State Champions (courtesy of Kieran Wurtz)

After a tough nosed win in the Semifinals against a League rival the Hanover lady Wildcats played for the State title on Saturday for the first time in school history and set more history in thrilling fashion. Locked in a battle with Olpe the Wildcats tied in the final seconds of the contest got a three-pointer at the buzzer to win the game 50-47 and claim the Class 1A-Division I State title. 

Olpe had control early behind a 13-9 first quarter against Hanover but the Wildcats pushed back outscoring the Eagles 17-12 in the second frame and went into the half up by one-point. The teams traded leads 12 times and the game was tied 10 times over the course of the contest and Olpe led by three entering the fourth quarter but tied in the final minute of the game both teams would have opportunities down the stretch. Hanover with the ball late dwindled the clock down but when driving to the basketball the Wildcats were called for a travel giving Olpe a chance with the game tied at 47-47. The Eagles however turned the ball right back over getting whistled for a travel themselves and Hanover was back in business for the final shot opportunity of the game. As the clock ticked the final seconds Hanover freshman, Tianna Loshe fired up a three-pointer and hit it as time expired to lift the Wildcats to the 1A-DI State title with a 50-47 win over Olpe as the shot was her only field goal of the game. 

The Wildcats overcame 51.6% shooting by Olpe and the fact the Eagles outscored them in the paint but Hanover did go 17-24 from the free throw line helping them hang tough to lead to the opportunity late to earn the win. Macy Doebele led Hanover with 15 points going 9-11 from the free throw line, while Ashton Jueneman scored 12 points in her final game as a Wildcat. 

With the win Hanover caps the season 24-2 and the Class 1A-DI State champs winning the school’s first girls State basketball title after picking up their first ever State tournament win in this year’s tournament.