Class 1A Division 2 State Boys Semifinals in Great Bend 

Lebo 45, Axtell 38

It was a tough day to have a tough shooting day for the Axtell boys who lost in the state semifinals to Lebo for the second straight year on Friday. Axtell led 4-3 after the first quarter, but never again as Lebo scored five straight points by Zachary Oswald to start the second frame and hold on for the win. The score was just 12-9 at halftime as Axtell made only 3 of 24 shots in the first half and would end the game connecting on only 27 percent. 

Lebo sruggled schooting as well and never led by more than nine points (33-24) with just over five minutes left in the game. The Eagles pulled within 39-36 after a big triple by Eli Broxterman and then had the ball under their own basketball before a tough inbounds pass was stolen away and ultimately led to four points at the other end for the Wolves to regain a 43-36 advantage. Brandon Schmelzle picked up two quick fouls with 4:50 left in the third period and didn't return to play with his fourth personal until 6:33 in the contest. He had just four points before fouling out.  

Broxterman finished with four treys and 16 points while Grady Buessing and Landon Schmitz each added six. Schmitz was a boost with all his buckets in the fourth quarter and also led the Eagles with nine rebounds. Axtell outrebounded Lebo and had 12 offensive boards but only produced five second chance points. 

Axtell falls to 22-3 on the season and will face top seed Dighton in the third place game at Barton County Saturday at 12:00 PM on 103.9 FM KNZA.  

Number six seed Lebo improved to 18-7 and got 20 points from Grayson Shoemaker while Oswald added 9 points and 8 boards. Lebo couldn't quite put the game away while going just 7 fo 17 from the charity stripe but after shooting only 31 percent in the first half, they hit 13 of 22 attempts in the final two quarters to pull off another upset win and advance to the title game for the second straight year, where they will face #4 seed Cunningham.