The Royal Valley boys are going back to the state tournament for the second straight year but unlike last year when they made their first trip in school history, the Panthers will get to play in Hutchinson at the 3A State site. RV completed a completely dominating sub state by forcing a running clock and siting their starters through the entire fourth quarter. Saturday night at Silver Lake culminated that dominance with a 54-23 victory against Sabetha.

It actually took Royal Valley almost four minutes to score their first point of the game and trailed 5-0, but the Panthers went on a 24-2 run to take a 24-7 lead and never look back. Nahcs Wahwassuck had two straight transition dunks off Bluejay turnovers and then slammed another going down the middle of the lane in a half court set as part of a 16-3 second period. Nahcs had 17 points at halftime and Brady Klotz had the other 11 points as Royal Valley led 28-10 and put the game away even more with a 20-8 third quarter to send the starters to the bench with a 48-18 lead. 

Wahwassuck finished with 25 points after posting 28 in the three quarters in the semifinals and Klotz added 13 while KJ Miller scored all 8 of his in the third quarter as the three-time defending Big 7 Champs beat Sabetha for a third time this season and improved to 22-1 on the season. 

Sabetha had 23 turnovers with 11 coming in the second quarter when the game got away. Davis Rockey led the Jays with 12 points as Sabetha finished the season 18-5, just one year after going 3-18 and will return 98 percent of their varsity production next year including all five starters. 

Royal Valley got the #1 seed at Hutchinson and plays at 2:00 PM on Wednesday in Hutchinson against Girard (16-5). Live coverage can be heard on KNZA 103.9 FM.