LINDSBORG, Kan. – The Smoky Valley basketball teams were back at home Friday night against Pratt in Central Kansas League play. In a tight game throughout, the Viking girls fell to the Greenbacks by four. In the boys game, the Vikings battled with the third-ranked team in 4A but fell just short in the end.
Girls-Pratt 48, Smoky Valley 44 – In a back-and-forth game, the Vikings held an 11-9 lead after one and the game was tied at 19 at halftime. Smoky Valley opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run, including three straight three-point buckets with Kamryn Ryan knocking down the first and Kenzley Haxton following with two of her own. Smoky Valley would extend their lead to 13 points early in the third, but Pratt stayed in the game and had it down to eight after three. A 16-2 run from the end of the third quarter to the late portions of the fourth put Pratt up by one. A layup by Ellie Schmidt in the final 15 seconds game the Greenbacks the four-point win in the end.
Despite the loss, Haxton had a solid night with a game-high 19 points, scoring 11 in the third quarter with three three-pointers. Ryan was also in double figures with ten points. Smoky Valley fell to 6-13 and 1-6 in the CKL with the loss. They have one more regular season game against Larned on Tuesday before opening 3A Sub-State action on Friday at Caney Valley. Pratt moved to 7-15 and 2-6 in the CKL. They were led by Hope Hughes with 13 points, including 9-9 from the free throw line. Johanna Forssberg added 11 points for the Greenbacks.
Pratt – Hughes 13, Forssberg 11, Schmidt 8, Winklepleck 7, McAlister 3, Myers 3, Sowers 3
SV –Haxton 19, Ryan 10, Brown 9, DeBaere 2, Patrick 2, Whittaker 2
Boys-Pratt 57, Smoky Valley 45 – Ranked #3 in Class 4A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, Pratt found themselves in a battle with Smoky Valley most of the night. The Greenbacks held a 15-13 lead after one quarter but stretched it to 28-20 at half. Smoky Valley started the third quarter well, closing to within two at 30-28. From there, Pratt scored six straight and led 39-30 by the end of the third. The Greenbacks extended their lead to double digits in the fourth. Smoky Valley got as close as eight at 48-40 on a three-pointer by Ty Heitschmidt, but Pratt closed out with the 12-point win.
Heitschmidt finished with 14 points on the night with three three-point baskets. Kristian Ryan led the Vikings with 15, while Braylon Olson was also in double figures with ten points. Smoky Valley is now 11-8 overall and 3-4 in the CKL. They will finish the regular season at home against Larned on Tuesday and will then host Fredonia on Thursday in the first round of Sub-State. Pratt is now 19-2 and finished 7-1 in the CKL. K-State football signee Arley Morrell led the Greenbacks with 16 points, Landon Demuth scored 14 with eight in the fourth quarter and Cresten Pore finished with 11.
Pratt – Morrell 16, Demuth 14, Pore 11, Liggett 8, Lara 4, Barker 3, Strong 1
SV – Ryan 15, Heitschmidt 14, Olson 10, Pavlovich 4, Burgardt 2
