LINDSBORG, Kan. – The Smoky Valley and Larned basketball teams wrapped up their regular season on Tuesday night. In the girls contest, a back-and-forth battle led to a four-point win for the Indians. In the boys game, Smoky Valley used a big second quarter to go on to a 16-point victory.
Girls-Larned 33, Smoky Valley 29 – In a game that was tight early, Larned used a 9-0 run from the end of the first quarter to the start of the second quarter to take a 16-7 lead. The Vikings scored the final six points of the first half to cut the lead to three, then outscored the Indians 13-12 in the third to get within two. The teams combined to score just eight points in the final quarter. Natalee Brown gave Smoky Valley a 29-28 lead with a jumper late, but Larned scored all five of their points in the quarter down the stretch at the free throw line to pick up the four-point victory. Jadyn Crosby, who came into the game averaging 16.3 points, finished with a game high ten points, including 4-6 from the free throw line. She was the only double figure scorer for either team as Smoky Valley was led by Brown with eight points. Larned finished the regular season 17-6 overall and 6-2 in the Central Kansas League. They will be at home against Scott City on Friday in the first round of 3A Sub-State. Smoky Valley is now 6-14 and finished 1-7 in the CKL. They are on the road at Caney Valley on Friday to open the postseason.
Larned – Crosby 10, Sleder 8, Simmons 6, Wachs 5, Upson 4
SV –Brown 8, Ryan 7, Haxton 4, Dudley 3, Eyer 3, DeBaere 2, Whittaker 2
Boys-Smoky Valley 56, Larned 40 – Leading just 14-11 after one quarter, Smoky Valley took over in the second, outscoring the Indians 17-5 to create separation and lead by 15 at the break. Kristian Ryan scored 13 of Smoky Valley 17 points in the second and 22 of their 31 first half points. Despite the blazing start to the game, Ryan did not score again the rest of the night. In the end, it meant little as Smoky Valley built a 43-23 lead after three and everybody suited up got minutes by the time the final buzzer sounded on a 16-point win. Ty Heitschmidt chipped in with 11 points for the Vikings while Braylon Olson scored nine. They finished the regular season at 12-8 overall and 4-4 in the CKL. Smoky Valley hits the court next on Thursday when they host Fredonia to open 3A postseason play. Larned was led by Andres Martinez with 15 points on five made three-pointers. Javon Topps scored ten points in the first half and finished with 13 for the Indians as they are 6-17 and finished 1-7 in the CKL. Larned will be on the road at Lakin on Thursday night in the 3A Sub-State quarterfinals.
Larned – Martinez 15, Topps 13, Pinkston 5, Krehbiel 3, Hagerman 2, Regan 2
SV – Ryan 22, Heitschmidt 11, Olson 9, Griffith 6, Burgardt 2, Patrick 2, Riedel 2, Pavlovich 1, Reed 1
