103.9 KNZA Broadcast - 3A Horton Sub-State Boys Semifinals 
  (Riverside vs. MH-MA - click here to listen ---- Sabetha vs. Nemaha Central - click here to listen)

3A Horton Sub State  Boys Semifinal from Thursday, March 1st 

#1 MH-MA 62, #5 Riverside 23

The Ravens jumped to a 14-2 lead after one quarter and led 35-10 at halftime before stretching the margin to 37 entering the fourth quarter with a running clock through the end of the game.  Nine different players scored for MH-MA, who won their 15th straight game and improved to 21-1 on the season.  Jack Caudle scored 15 points while Zach Schwinn and Jared Thibault each had nine and Abe Siebenmorgen chipped in eight points.  

The Ravens struggled a bit from behind the arc, but forced 18 turnovers and was 10-17 at the foul line, while the Cyclones didn't attempt a free throw all night.  Riverside ended the season at 6-15 with star senior Andrew Miller closing out his prep career with a 14 point game, but no other Cyclones made more than one basket in the loss.  

#2 Nemaha Central 47, #3 Sabetha 44

The third meeting this season between rivals was another tight battle with neither team leading by more than seven points.  However, Nemaha Central used a 15-8 third quarter to turn the game in their favor and got a career night from Matt Baumgartner with 17 points to hold on for their ninth consecutive victory and third by six points or less against the Bluejays this year.  Baumgartner scored 11 of the Thunder 15 points in the first half but suffered a cut above his eye and had to get repaired before coming back to help finish the game with four late points.  Dalton Schmelzle had a pair of three-point plays in the final stanza to score 11 points and Mitchell Henry scored all 11 of his points in the second half as the Thunder improved to 19-3 on the season.  

The game was tied at 10 after one quarter, but Sabetha went on a 7-0 run, including five straight points from Braedon Cox, to take the biggest lead of the night before a timeout with 5:03 left in the first half.  The Bluejays led 19-15 at halftime, but trailed 32-27 early in the fourth before a trey by Joe Gruber and tied the game at 40 on a shot by Brett Stallbaumer.  Nemaha Central got another three-point play from Schmelzle with 2:10 remaining to lead 45-40, but a free throw by Gruber and trifecata from Stallbaumer brought the Jays back within 45-44 with 1:20 left.  Sabetha would only get one possession and one shot in the final 80 seconds and Nemaha Central played keep-a-way and worked the clock down to 17 seconds before Cole Kramer hit two free throws to increase the advantage to 47-44.  Stallbaumer got off a long look from the top of the key in the closing seconds but it missed and the Sabetha season ended with a 13-8 record.  

Stallbaumer scored eight of his 14 points in the fourth period while Cox added nine points and Jesse Burger had eight.  Sabetha however was just 4-10 at the free throw line while Nemaha finished 11-20 at the charity stipe, but converted seven of nine foul shots in the fourth stanza.  Kramer added seven points as just four players scored for Nemaha Central.  

Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Players to Bank On:"
Jack Caudle from MH-MA and Matt Baumgartner from Nemaha Central