Boys 2A State Quarterfinal in Manhattan = Valley Falls 58, Syracuse 54

Giant Communications and JBN Telephone Company ROAD TO GLORY presented by Giant Mobile on the MSC Sports Radio Network. 

In a game that featured six ties, 15 lead changes, and no team leading by more than two possessions, Valley Falls saved their best ball and biggest plays for the fourth quarter and held on to defeat Syracuse 58-54 in Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon. 

The fourth seed Dragons won their 11th straight game and didn't trail after back to back triples by Damian Cervantez with 4:25 remaining to take a 48-44 lead.  Cervantez finished the game with a layup as time expired against the Bulldogs full court press and scored 21 total points, including five triples in his first state appearance. Ten of those points came in the fourth frame when the Dragons outscored Syracuse 18-12 to advance to Friday's state semifinals.  

Two Dragons posted double doubles as Collin Kearney scored 18 points with 11 rebounds and and Trenton VanHoutan added 15 points and 10 boards while going 8 of 10 from the foul line and hitting his only trey to tie the game at 36 late in the third period. Flint Seymour was playing with four fouls but stepped in to take TWO charges in the final minutes that were huge to protect the Dragon lead. Hayden Kearney and Grayson Coleman each added two points as well as Valley Falls improved to 20-4 on the season. 

Syracuse ended their season at 19-5 and went just 2 of 7 from the charity stripe in their first state tourney appearance since 2011. They also made just 4 of 24 three-pointers and were led by Alvaro Leyva with 23 points while Charlie Keller had 11 and Brody Keller added 9 before fouling out in the fourth. 

Next up: Valley Falls faces the undefeated and two-time defending 2A boys champs from Moundridge who dismantled Pitt Colgan earlier Wednesday 56-25.  The semifinal game will be Friday at 2 PM live on KAIR 93.7 FM and the MSC Sports Radio Network.  

Final numbers presented by Atchison Auto Parts your NAPA dealer.  The Bank of Atchison Player of the game was Damian Cervantez.