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2A Boys 3rd Place Game in Manhattan = Ell Saline 109, Valley Falls 74

The game started with a pair of designed alley-oop dunks for Brogan Rowley of Ell Saline and fueled a record setting performance by the Cardinals as they led 33-15 after one quarter, 65-38 at halftime and 97-51 at the end of the third quarter with Rowley nailed his fourth triple of the day. Rowley went on to dunk it four times in the first four minutes and six times total, including a reverse jam, before finishing with 34 points and securing a third place trophy to end his senior year. Four other Cardinals scored in double figures and all 12 players scored for Ell Saline who finished the year 22-4 and will give the Heart of America Conference the top three finishes at 2A State as Moundridge and Sterling played for the title.  

Valley Falls struggled with 14 turnovers and couldn't slow down the Cardinals who shot 67 percent in the first three quarters while building a 46-point advantage. The Dragons did find tdheir offense, led by senior Hayden Kearney, who scored 8 of his team high 16 points in the second stanza. Damian Cervantez hit three of his four triples in the second half to finish with 14 points while Trenton VanHoutan and Collin Kearney completed a three-game state sweep of scoring double figures every contest. Trent had 10 while Collin scored 14 on Saturday. Flint Seymour had his best scoring game with 7 points all in the first half and Brayson Miller knocked down a pair of treys off the bench in the second quarter. Senior Grayson Coleman along with Duncan Alvaranga and Jenner Young also chipped in on the final scoring. 

Dragon Wrap Up: Presented by Atchison Auto Parts your NAPA dealer.

Valley Falls hit nine trifecta's to the 12 that Ell Saline knocked down and the Dragons finish the year with a 20-5 record and fourth place state finish, just as they did the previous trip in 2022.It was the 17th state appearance for the Dragon program which saw 20th year alum Coach Caleb Gatzemeyer surpass 260 wins this season while going 12-2 in the NEKL.