The Buhler High School girls basketball team advanced to the Kansas Class 4A finals with a 53-50 victory over McPherson Tuesday at the McPherson Roundhouse.
Buhler led 15-7 after one quarter, 24-17 at halftime and 36-34 after three quarters. Buhler outscored the Bullpups 17-16 in the fourth quarter.
Kinley Combs led the Buhler girls in scoring with 15 points, including four of Buhler’s five 3-pointers. Tori Tustian had 11 points, 3 steals and made five of her six free throw tries.
Buhler’s Maddie Stallman scored 10 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and hit all six of her free throw attempts.
Nyah Sewell had 9 points and 3 rebounds for the Crusaders. Kaia Edmond had 4 points and 2 assists. Ella Voss had 2 points and 3 steals. Addy Keller had 2 points and 2 steals.
Brooke Doile and Rylie Whitfield each scored 13 points to lead the McPherson Bullpup girls. Maryn Sandbo and Jersey Alexander each scored 9 points. Piper Alvord added 6 points.
Doile grabbed 9 rebounds, had 4 assists, blocked 2 shots and had 3 steals. Alvord blocked 5 shots.
The Buhler bench outscored the McPherson bench 21-9.
The Buhler Crusader girls (12-12) will play the Wellington Crusaders (22-1), the defending Kansas Class 4A girls state champions, in the championship game at 6 p.m. Friday at Wellington.
Wellington defeated Abilene 53-38 in the sub-state semifinals at Wellington Tuesday. Wellington held Abilene scoreless in the second quarter.
The Wellington Crusaders were led by Lyndi Barton with 16 points. Kirstyn Gregory added 12 points.
McPherson finished the season with a 13-11 record and Abilene went 4-18.
