McPHERSON, Kan. – Four Bullpups scored in double-figures and three set a new career-high, pushing McPherson past Ulysses in the Sub-State Semifinal, 73-48, on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
Ulysses took a 13-9 lead in the first quarter, but McPherson went on a 7-0 run to end the first quarter, which eventually turned into a 16-0 run into the second quarter. Ulysses fought back, but McPherson led 34-27 at the halftime break.
McPherson shook off the back-and-forth first half to pull away, using their defense to force 21 turnovers, scoring 24 points off of those turnovers. The Bullpups outscored Ulysses 39-21 in the second half, winning 73-48.
Jett Pyle led the Bullpups with 20 points. Ashton Malm had a career-high 16 points, adding 6 rebounds and 6 assists, both team-highs. Cade Strathman added 14, and Paxton Ingels had a career-high 11.
The win for McPherson puts them at 15-9 on the season. They will travel to face the No. 3 seed, Concordia, on Saturday, March 7, at 5:00 p.m. for the Sub-State Final. If McPherson wins, they will head to the State Tournament for the 62nd time in program history, which would break the state record for the most State Tournament appearances by any school.
