State hoops semifinals: BVNW, De Soto, Miege boys, Aquinas, Miege, Eudora girls advance
Blue Valley Northwest continued its march toward a Class 6A state championship in boys basketball Friday with a 51-42 semifinal victory over top-seeded Lawrence Free State at Koch Arena in Wichita.
The fourth-seeded Huskies (21-3), who won state titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019 under former longtime head coach Ed Fritz, got a team-high 26 points and game-ending slam dunk from Grant Stubblefield.
Blue Valley Northwest, coached to this weekend’s Final Four by Aaron Ihm, will play No. 2 seed Wichita Heights, a 61-46 winner over No. 6 Olathe West, for the championship at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Ihm is in his first season as Fritz’s successor after being hired last May following a successful six-year run at Raytown South. Fritz retired after last season.
In a hard-fought girls 6A semifinal, No. 6 seed Blue Valley lost 51-49 to second-seeded Derby in double-overtime at Koch Arena. Derby (23-1) will play No. 4 seed Washburn Rural for the title at 4 p.m. Saturday.
In fact, both 6A girls semifinals were razor-close. In the evening semi, Washburn Rural (21-2) edged previously unbeaten Olathe North 44-43. North (23-1) will play Blue Valley (20-4) for third place at noon Saturday.
In an all-KC-area boys 5A semifinal at White Auditorium in Emporia, sophomore David Cobin hit a buzzer-beater as No. 3 seed De Soto edged seventh-seeded St. James 58-56.
Cobin poured in 32 points for the Wildcats, who will play Topeka Seaman for the 5A state championship at 4 p.m. Saturday.
In girls Class 5A action in Emporia, No. 2 seed St. Thomas Aquinas (22-2) scored a 58-42 victory over sixth-seeded Andover Central (18-6). The Saints will play No. 1 seed Salina Central, a 68-37 winner in Friday’s other girls 5A semifinal, in Saturday’s 6:15 p.m. championship game.
In Class 4A girls competition at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina, fourth-seeded Bishop Miege will play for the championship after knocking off top-seeded and previously unbeaten Wellington 82-42.
Defending state champion Miege (22-2) will be playing in its Kansas-record 29th championship game in search of its state-high 23rd title. Led Friday by Gabriella Henderson-Artis’ 24 points, four Miege players scored in double figures. Miege will play No. 2 seed Eudora in Saturday’s championship game at 4 p.m.
Eudora (23-1) beat Wamego 49-41 Friday evening.
In one of the last semifinal games Friday night, the fifth-seeded Bishop Miege boys team beat No. 8 Topeka Hayden 62-50 in the boys Class 4A semifinals. Miege will play third-seeded Andale, a 49-42 winner over seventh-seeded McPherson, for the crown at 6:15 Saturday in Salina.
Both teams, Miege and Andale, are 18-6 entering Saturday’s championship finale.
KANSAS BOYS SCORES/SCHEDULE
Class 6A
At Koch Arena in Wichita
Thursday quarterfinals
Lawrence Free State 50, Manhattan 28
Blue Valley Northwest 58, Shawnee Mission Northwest 50
Wichita Heights 61, Olathe North 30
Olathe West 67, Dodge City 53
Friday semifinals
No. 4 Blue Valley Northwest 51, No. 1 Lawrence Free State 42
No. 2 Wichita Heights 61, No. 6 Olathe West 46
Saturday
Third-place game: Olathe West vs. Lawrence Free State, 2 p.m.
Championship: Blue Valley Northwest vs. Wichita Heights, 6:15 p.m.
Class 5A
At White Auditorium in Emporia
Wednesday quarterfinals
Topeka Seaman 54, Kapaun Mt. Carmel 43
Maize 53, Highland Park 47
St. James Academy 59, Topeka West 51
De Soto 50, Blue Valley Southwest 45
Friday semifinals
No. 8 Topeka Seaman 66, No. 4 Maize 54
No. 3 De Soto 58, No. 7 St. James Academy 56
Saturday
Third-place game: St. James vs. Maize, 12
Championship: De Soto vs. Topeka Seaman, 4
Class 4A boys
At Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina
Thursday quarterfinals
McPherson 61, Buhler 47
Andale 62, Paola 52
Topeka Hayden 64, Eudora 53
Bishop Miege 70, Abilene 40
Friday semifinals
No. 3 Andale 49, No. 7 McPherson 42
No. 5 Bishop Miege 62, No. 8 Topeka Hayden 50
Saturday
Third-place game: McPherson vs. Topeka Hayden, 2
Championship: Bishop Miege vs. Andale, 6:15
Class 3A
At Hutchinson Sports Arena
Wednesday quarterfinals
Royal Valley 60, Girard 56
Southeast-Saline 62, Osage City 53
Hesston 46, Hugoton 34
Thomas More Prep 68, Galena 67, 2OT
Friday semifinals
No. 1 Royal Valley 60, No. 4 Southeast-Saline 52
No. 2 Hesston 45, No. 6 Thomas More Prep 36
Saturday
Third-place game: Southeast-Saline vs. Thomas More, 12
Championship: Royal Valley vs. Hesston, 4
Class 2A boys
At Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan
Thursday quarterfinals
Hillsboro 73, Wichita Independent 46
Lyndon 50, Sterling 38
Valley Falls 64, Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan 61
St. Mary’s 69, WaKeeney-Trego 43
Friday semifinals
No. 2 Hillsboro 37, No. 3 Lyndon 28, 2OT
No. 4 St. Mary’s 80, No. 1 Valley Falls 69
Saturday
Third-place game: Lyndon vs. Valley Falls, 2
Championship: Hillsboro vs. St. Mary’s, 6:15
Class 1A Division 1
At Dodge City
Wednesday quarterfinals
Olpe 51, Troy 21
Macksville 45, Osborne 41
Solomon 45, Norwich 43
Montezuma-South Gray 62, Ness City 53
Friday semifinals
Olpe 68, Macksville 38
Montezuma-South Gray 79, Solomon 46
Saturday
Third-place game: Macksville vs. Solomon, noon
Championship: Olpe vs. Montezuma-South Gray, 4
Class 1A Division 2
At Barton Community College
Wednesday
Greeley County 63, Pawnee Heights 34
Northern Valley 63, Waverly 57, 2OT
Hanover 84, Central Plains 43
Bucklin 67, Caldwell 45
Friday semifinals
No. 2 Greeley County 59, No. 3 Northern Valley 54
No. 1 Hanover 61, No. 4 Bucklin 54
Saturday
Third-place game: Northern Valley vs. Bucklin, noon
Championship: Greeley County vs. Hanover, 4
KANSAS GIRLS SCORES/SCHEDULE
Class 6A girls
At Koch Arena in Wichita
Wednesday quarterfinals
Derby 41, Shawnee Mission West 17
Blue Valley 33, Topeka 32
Olathe North 54, Blue Valley North 51
Washburn Rural 66, Dodge City 43
Friday semifinals
No. 2 Derby 51, No. 6 Blue Valley 49, 2OT
No. 4 Washburn Rural 44, No. 1 Olathe North 43
Saturday
Third-place game: Blue Valley vs. Olathe North, noon
Championship: Derby vs. Washburn Rural, 4
Class 5A girls
At White Auditorium in Emporia
Thursday quarterfinals
St. Thomas Aquinas 48, Spring Hill 27
Andover Central 50, Bishop Carroll 34
Salina Central 69, De Soto 34
Lansing 61, Emporia 43
Friday semifinals
No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas 58, No. 6 Andover Central 42
No. 1 Salina Central 68, No. 4 Lansing 37
Saturday
Third-place game: Lansing vs. Andover Central, 2
Championship: St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Salina Central, 6:15
Class 4A
At Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina
Wednesday quarterfinals
Wellington 33, McPherson 29
Bishop Miege 74, Andale 35
Eudora 50, Clay Center 46, OT
Wamego 36, Labette County 34
Friday semifinals
No. 4 Bishop Miege 82, No. 1 Wellington 42
No. 2 Eudora 49, No. 3 Wamego, 41
Saturday
Third-place game: Wellington vs. wamego, noon
Championship: Bishop Miege vs. Eudora, 4
Class 3A
At Hutchinson Sports Arena
Thursday quarterfinals
Silver Lake 63, Cherryvale 33
Goodland 38, Southeast-Saline 37
Nickerson 47, Frontenac 40
Hugoton 52, Santa Fe Trail 40
Friday semifinals
No 4. Goodland 59, No. 1 Silver Lake 53
No. 3 Hugoton 59, No. 2 Nickerson 52
Saturday
Third-place game: Silver Lake vs. Nickerson, 2
Championship: Goodland vs. Hugoton, 6:15
Class 2A
At Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan
Wednesday quarterfinals
Sterling 73, Mission Valley 52
Berean Academy 46, Valley Heights 43
Garden Plain 39, Pittsburg-St. Mary’s Colgan 26
Smith Center 44, Jackson Heights 37
Friday semifinals
No. 1 Sterling 42, No. 4 Berean Academy 35
No. 7 Garden Plain 40, No. 6 Smith Center 38
Saturday
Third-place game: Berean Academy vs. Smith Center, noon
Championship: Sterling vs. Garden Plain, 4
Class 1A Division 1
At Dodge City
Thursday quarterfinals
Jetmore-Hodgeman Co. 49, Clifton-Clyde 43
Pretty Prairie 52, Osborn 33
Centralia 59, Spearville 42
Burlingame 45, Little River 39
Friday semifinals
No. 5 Pretty Prairie 37, No. 1 Jetmore-Hodgeman 32
No. 2 Centralia 53, No. 6 Burlingame 45
Saturday
Third-place game: Jetmore-Hodgeman vs. Burlingame, 2
Championship: Pretty Prairie vs. Centralia, 6:15
Class 1A Division 2
At Barton Community College
Thursday quarterfinals
Golden Plains 49, Bucklin 28
Hutchinson Central Christian 49, South Haven 40
Central Plains 58, Beloit-St. John’s Tipton 28
Hanover 54, Lebo 47
Friday semifinals
No. 1 Golden Plains 33, No. 5 Hutch Central Christian 23
No. 2 Central Plains 49, No. 6 Hanover 44
Saturday
Third-place game: Hutch Central Christian vs. Hanover, 2
Championship: Golden Plains vs. Central Plains, 6:15
MISSOURI BOYS
CLASS 6
Saturday quarterfinals
St. Louis University High vs. Christian Brothers College, 2:45 p.m.
Chaminade vs. Ft. Zumwalt Souht, 2:45 p.m.
Nixa vs. Lee’s Summit West, 7:45 p.m.
Blue Springs vs. Staley, 7:45 p.m.
CLASS 5
Saturday quarterfinals
Central (Cape Girardeau) vs. Webster Groves, 2:45 p.m.
Springfield Catholic vs. Bolivar, 2:45 p.m.
Helias Catholic vs. William Chrisman, 2:45 p.m.
Cardinal Ritter vs. St. Dominic, 7:45 p.m.
CLASS 4
Saturday quarterfinals
Pembroke Hill vs. Richmond, 2:45 p.m.
Central (New Madrid) vs. Life for Life, 2:45 p.m.
Vashon vs. Mexico, 2:45 p.m.
Father Toltan vs. Willow Springs, 2:45 p.m.
CLASS 3
Thursday’s semifinals
Charleston 56, Duchesne 53
Lafayette County 64, Thayer 59
Friday, at JQH Arena
Third-place game: Thayer 70, Duchesne 35
Championship: Charleston 58, Lafayette Co. 56
CLASS 2
Friday’s semifinals
Bernie 79, Putman County, 75
Norwood 59, Bishop LeBlond 55
Saturday, at JQH Arena
Third-place game: Putnam County vs Bishop LeBlond, noon
Championship: Bernie vs. Norwood, 4 p.m.
CLASS 1
Friday’s semifinals, at Hammons Student Center in Springfield
South Iron 85, St. Elizabeth 51
Stanberry 45, Wellsville-Middletown 40, OT
Saturday, at JQH Arena
Third-place game: St. Elizabeth vs. TBD, noon
Championship: South Iron vs. TBD, 8 p.m.
MISSOURI GIRLS
CLASS 6
Saturday quarterfinals
Jackson vs. St. Joseph’s Academy, 1 p.m.
Incarnate Word Academy vs. Troy Buchanan, 1 p.m.
Springfield Kickapoo vs. Truman, 6 p.m.
Blue Springs South vs. St. Joseph Central, 6 p.m.
CLASS 5
Saturday quarterfinals
Raytown South vs. Smithville, 1 p.m.
Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) vs. Webster Groves, 1 p.m.
West Plains vs. Carl Junction, 1 p.m.
Whitfield vs. Warrenton, 6 p.m.
CLASS 4
Saturday quarterfinals
St. Pius X (KC) vs. Benton, 1 p.m.
Central (Park Hills) vs. St. James, 1 p.m.
John Burroughs vs. Hallsville, 1 p.m.
Helias Catholic vs. Ava vs. Seneca, 1 p.m.
CLASS 3
Thursday’s semifinals
South Shelby 45, West County 31
El Dorado Springs 46, Strafford 44
Friday, at JQH Arena
Third-place game: Strafford 64, West County 34
Championship: El Dorado Springs 61, South Shelby 26
CLASS 2
Friday’s semifinals
Ellington 65, St. Paul Lutheran 51
Wellington-Napoleon 66, Blue Eye 47
Saturday, at JQH Arena
Third-place game: Blue Eye vs. St. Paul Lutheran, 10 a.m.
Championship: Wellington-Napoleon vs. Ellington, 2 p.m.
CLASS 1
Friday’s semifinals
In Springfield; at Hammons Student Center
Delta 43, Walnut Grove 30
Platte Valley (co-op) 45, Leeton 37
Saturday, at JQH Arena
Third-place game: Walnut Grove vs. Leeton, 10 a.m.
Championship: Platte Valley (co-op) vs. Delta, 6 p.m.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 4:19 PM.