2A Boys State at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan = Ell Saline 82, Rossville 78

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

It was a back and forth shootout between two teams making their first state basketball tournament in more than a decade, but a slow third quarter with six turnovers and late free throws by Ell Saline allowed the Cardinals to come away with the 82-78 victory against the Bulldawgs on Wednesday. 

Despite trailing by six points twice in the first quarter, Rossville rallied to take a 25-24 lead at the end of one and led 45-41 at the conclusion of a wild and highly offensive entertaining first half. However, Ell Saline took control with a 16-10 third quarter and would hold on for the win. The Cardinals took their biggest lead at 80-69 with 1:13 left and cleared their bench, only to see Rossville rip off a couple steals and pull within 80-75 in the last 30 seconds. 

Ell Saline shot 50 percent from the floor and went 21-30 from the free throw line including 13 of 16 in the forth period to seal the win and improve to 21-3 on the season. The third seed will get a semifinal with Sterling on Friday as the Black Bears rolled Chase County 97-48. Kas Kramer scored 25 points for the Cardinals while 6'5 towers Brogan Rowley and Reese Krone had 21 and 17 respectively and combined to make 14 of 15 free throws. Garrison Zerger added 10 points for the third seed. 

Rossville was led by a junior trio with Jack Donovan scoring 25, Cameron Miller posting 16 points and 15 rebounds and Jakoby McDonnell adding 13 points and 7 assists. The Bulldawgs had 6 of their 12 turnovers in the third frame and was just 6 of 8 from the charity stripe in the second half. The Bulldawgs close their season at 16-8 and their first state hoop tourney since 2011. Senior Tayson Horak and Kameron Badura added 15 points before both fouled out in the fourth quarter. The other two Rossville seniors Mahki Jackson and Brock Bush each added two points as well. 

Final lineup stats presented by Atchison Auto Parts your local NAPA dealer.