Teams across the State never like seeing a Twin Valley League team in a matchup against them at the State basketball tournament but at the Class 1A-DI State tournament it was a pair of TVL schools matched up in the first round this year. Hanover and Frankfort Wildcats did battle in the first round and Hanover snuck away with a 50-47 win. 

Frankfort opened the game going up 9-2 to start the contest and led 11-8 at the first of the first quarter. The second quarter was a stalemate between the two teams and Frankfort behind 11 first half points by Kennen Brandt held a 21-18 lead over Hanover. Early in the second half Hanover snagged their first lead of the game at 24-23 at the 5:42 mark in the third quarter but that lead was short lived and Frankfort grabbed the lead back and led 33-30 at the end of the third quarter. Frankfort added to their lead in the fourth quarter expanding it to 38-32, then 42-35 and up to 11 points at 46-35 with 3:36 left in the contest. Hanover didn't go away battling back and took a 48-47 lead with 47.9 seconds remaining and made a pair of free throws to make it a three-point contest in the final seconds and Frankfort was unable to get a potential game tying shot off and Hanover earned the 50-47 win. 

Frankfort caps their season at 19-5 with the loss as they made their fifth appearance at State, first since 2010. Brandt led Frankfort with 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Emilee Ebert scored 12 points and Alli Tommer netted 10 points. 

Hanover with the win moved to 19-3 on the season and into the Semifinals for the second straight year. Macy Doebele led Hanover with 24 points and surpassed 1,000 points in her career and also grabbed eight rebounds, while Tianna Lohse scored 18 points. The duo of Doebele and Lohse accounted for all but eight points for Hanover. 

With the win Hanover will play South Central in the Semifinals of 1A-DI State tournament on Friday, March 9th at 3:00pm in Hays.