ANDALE, Kan. — For the fifth consecutive year, the Andale girls basketball team is heading back to the Class 4A State Tournament that begins on Tuesday.
On Friday, Andale had to hold off Hugoton, 43-39, in a Class 4A Sub-State Championship game after holding an 11-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Andale senior Brooke Grimes started the game, tying the school record with her 135th career 3-pointer, but Hugoton responded with seven straight points en route to a 9-4 advantage after one quarter of play. The Lady Eagles pushed their lead to seven on three separate occasions in the second quarter, with Andale cutting the deficit to 18-14 at halftime.
Both teams exchanged buckets to start the third quarter until Andale junior Abbi Winter hit a 3-pointer to put the Lady Indians up 23-22 and never gave up the lead. Winter scored 16 of her game-high 23 points in the period that turned into a 37-26 advantage heading into the fourth.
Hugoton responded with nine consecutive points to start the fourth quarter before Grimes put Andale up 39-35. Both teams exchanged buckets until Andale led 41-39 and got two made free throws from Winter and Addy Orth.
Andale will enter the Class 4A State Tournament on a five-game winning streak with a 17-6 record. The Lady Indians are set to be the No. 5-seed and play Hayden on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined by KSHSAA.
