The Hutchinson Central Christian Cougar girls survived an upset bid by Wallace County-Sharon Springs 39-28 in the quarterfinals of the Kansas Class 1A Division II state tournament Wednesday afternoon at Mabee Arena on the Kansas Wesleyan University campus.
Central Christian went on a 7-0 run at the end of the first half to take an 18-15 halftime lead. After Central Christian opened up a 24-15 lead, Wallace County went on a 9-0 run to tie the score at 24-24 at the end of the third quarter.
The Cougars scored the first 12 points of the fourth quarter and outscored Wallace County 15-4 in the fourth quarter.
Reese Swanson led the Cougars with 11 points. Ava Newcome scored 9, Avery Kaufman 7 and Jessa Losew 7. Losew, a 5-foot-8 senior, has scored 999 career points. Swanson grabbed 10 rebounds.
Jersi Benisch led Wallace County with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Mackenzie Woolf also grabbed 10 rebounds.
The Cougars (25-2) will play Hanover (24-3) in the 1:30 p.m. Final Four state semifinal game Friday at Emporia’s White Auditorium.
The 3:30 p.m. girls semifinal Friday will feature Bucklin (22-2) vs. Linn (22-5). Bucklin defeated Dighton 55-35 in a quarterfinal Wednesday at Dodge City’s United Wireless Arena. Led by senior point guard Emmerson Kirk with 23 points.
The Class 1A Division II girls state championship game is slated for 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Emporia.
