3A State Boys Basketball in Hutchinson Opening Round
MH-MA 59, Council Grove 56

It's the survive and advance season for high school basketball and it was anything but a trypical #1 versus #8 seed matchup in the opening game of the Class 3A State Tournament in Hutchinson on Wednesday afternoon.  However, the MH-MA Ravens rallied from a 49-43 deficit in the final five minutes and got a basket from Jack Caudle with 10 seconds left to take a 57-56 lead and two free throws from Zach Schwinn a couple seconds later to earn the 59-56 victory.  Upset minded, Council Grove missed a potential game-tying trey as time expired in a contest that featured 10 lead changes and 13 ties.

The difference was inside play, specifically rebounding, where MH-MA had a 35-20 advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second chance points.  The Braves had only five offensive boards and seven second chance points and were outscored in the paint by the Ravens 32-18.  The teams combined to shoot 46 three-points with MH-MA making 5 of 24 and Council Grove 8 of 22. 

The 49-43 advantage was the biggest lead for either team in the state quarterfinal, but the Ravens battled back to tie the game at 54 on a long triple from Schwinn  with one minute remaining.  Carter Finch hit two free throws with under 45 second left, but Abe Siebenmorgen hit one at the other end with 29 ticks on the clock for MH-MA, then the Ravens grabbed another offensive rebound and got Caudle's shot to take the lead.  Council Grove stepped across the inbounds line after the basket which led to the Schwinn free throws as the Ravens improve to 23-1 and advanced to the semifinals in their first state appearance since claiming the 3A title in 2006.   

Colten Kocour led MH-MA with 20 points while Schwinn had 13 and Jared Thibault added 12.  Caudle finished with eight points.  Council Grove was led by Sam Kirk with 18 points while Branton Tischhauser had 13, Ty Salas 11 and Carter Finch finished with 10.  The Braves, who advanced as the seventh seed to win their sub-state, ended their season with a record of 11-12.