By Brad Hallier – KSHSAA Covered Contributor
HUTCHINSON — No matter the situation, no matter the score, there is never a time to feel comfortable against the Goodland girls basketball team.
Hesston girls coach Matt Richardson had seen it at the 2022 and 2023 Class 3A state tournaments. Goodland won back-to-back titles thanks mainly to finding a myriad of ways to win close games.
Heck, even in Thursday’s first round at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, Goodland pulled out a two-point win over Girard.
Goodland had become like an unstoppable horror movie slasher. Just when you think you’ve won, you soon realize you’ve lost.
That’s why Richardson couldn’t help but shake his head in admiration Friday night. His Swathers did it.
Hesston 40, Goodland 31.
The team that seemingly could not be beaten at the state tournament had been vanquished by Richardson’s young Swathers, who don’t have a single senior on the roster.
“We watched two or three game films on them,” Richardson said. “They were always coming back from down three, down five, down seven. They would finish it off in different situations, and this team was practicing against the best team in the state the last two years. They never care how they won, they just won.”
Hesston ensured there would not be another edge-of-your-seat, jaw-dropping win for Goodland. The Swathers took out a lot drama with a stifling defense that held Goodland to a season-low in points, and also a patient offense that solved the Cowgirls’ 1-3-1 zone defense that gave the Swathers problems in the first three quarters.
“We took some time off the clock and made some free throws down the stretch,” Richardson said. “They’re so big in that zone. They’re all 5-9, and they make it tough. The last five minutes, the girls were asked to do something they don’t usually do. Usually, we run and gun, but we wanted to move the ball and take some time off the clock.”
Hesston executed the fourth quarter almost to perfection. The Swathers knocked in 2 of 3 field goals and sank 9 of 12 free throws, while cutting down their turnovers to just three in the final eight minutes.
“Goodland runs their defense so well, and they were mixing it up,” said Hesston junior guard Kendal Brueggen. “We had to focus on our passing. We had to be strong with the ball and know where we were going with it, and we made those adjustments.”
Hesston led 16-12 at halftime, as points were difficult to come by for both teams. But Hesston improved in the second half, making 7 of 12 field goals.
Goodland, meanwhile, didn’t find much offense. The Cowgirls mustered only 18 points through three quarters, made just 11 of 30 field goals, 7 of 16 free throws and had 21 turnovers, which led to 18 Hesston points.
Brueggen had her second standout game at state. After scoring 31 points in Thursday’s 65-43 win over Cheney, Brueggen had 19 points on 7 of 13 shooting against Goodland.
And while that was key for the Swathers, Richardson was more interested in their defense.
“Kendal gets a lot of attention for what she does on offense, and deservedly so, but everyone on this team plays defense,” Richardson said. “Even Kendal. Abby Proctor and Callie Yoder, and everyone played defense tonight. I thought we defended much better than we did (Thursday).”
Now, Hesston will look for a third championship, to go with titles in 2014 and 2015. The Swathers will take on undefeated Silver Lake at 6:15 p.m. Saturday for the title.
But, more important, the Swathers look to bring back a basketball championship trophy for the fourth straight year, after the boys saw their run of three straight 3A titles end with a sub-state semifinal loss to Southeast of Saline.
“We’ve been saying, ‘Carry the torch,’” Brueggen said. “The boys season didn’t end the way we all hoped it would, so now it’s our turn. It’s an exciting time to be a Swather.”
SILVER LAKE KEEPS PERFECT SEASON ALIVE AFTER RARE TEST FROM HAYDEN
Silver Lake was in an uncharacteristically close game at halftime, leading 3A newcomer Hayden by just two points.
The Eagles’ fans may have been on edge. Fans around the state may have bulged their eyes a bit, and for good reason. Silver Lake, after all, won its first 23 games by an average of 32.4 points a game. Then in Thursday’s first round, the Eagles beat a good and battle-tested Haven team 75-38.
About the only people not worried for Silver Lake were the players and coach Kyle Porter.
“We’ve had this group for four years, and they’ve been in almost every situation you can imagine,” Porter said. “The girls were prepared for this.”
The minuscule halftime lead ballooned to nine points by the end of the third quarter and to as many as 18 in the fourth quarter.
A big reason for that dominant second half was senior MaKenzie McDaniel. The 6-foot, 1-inch McDaniel had a tame first half with six points and four rebounds, but had 14 points and eight rebounds in the second half.
“Getting Kenzie the ball was big, especially with (Hayden’s) big having some foul trouble,” Porter said. “The first play of the second half, we ran a high-low, and Kenzie scored with her left hand, and that really got her going in the second half.”
Plenty of Eagles contributed, as is usually the case. Kailyn Hanni scored 12 points, dished out eight assists and had six rebounds. McKinley Kruger scored 12 points, and Kaylee Deiter added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Amelia Ramsey led Hayden with 20 points and seven rebounds.
CLASS 3A GIRLS SEMIFINAL BOXSCORES
SILVER LAKE 64, TOPEKA HAYDEN 49
Hayden … 13 … 14 … 11 … 11 … – … 49
Silver Lake … 10 … 19 … 17 … 18 … – … 64
Hayden (20-5): Sandstrom 3-11 0-0 7, Ramsey 7-11 3-4 20, Meier 4-11 2-2 11, Grunert 1-3 2-3 5, Greco 2-11 0-0 6, Rea. Huscher 0-2 0-0 0, Fulton 0-3 0-0 0, Ree. Huscher 0-0 0-0 0, Reid 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-52 7-9 49
Silver Lake (25-0): Deiter 4-4 0-0 11, McDaniel 10-15 0-3 20, Hanni 4-7 4-5 12, K. Kruger 2-9 4-4 9, M. Kruger 3-11 5-5 12, Wehrli 0-1 0-0 0, Bolan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-48 13-17 64
3-point goals — Hayden 8-20 (Ramsey 3-4, Greco 2-5, Sandstrom 1-1, Grunert 1-2, Meier 1-6, Huscher 0-2). Silver Lake 5-16 (Deiter 3-3, K. Kruger 1-5, M. Kruger 1-6, Wehrli 0-1, Bolan 0-1). Rebounds — Hayden 27 (Ramsey 7), Silver Lake 37 (McDaniel 12). Assists — Hayden 14 (Fulton 5), Silver Lake 19 (Hanni 8). Turnovers — Hayden 9, Silver Lake 10. Total fouls — Hayden 16, Silver Lake 11. Fouled out — None.
HESSTON 40, GOODLAND 31
Hesston … 7 … 9 … 11 … 13 … – … 40
Goodland … 8 … 4 … 6 … 13 … – … 31
Hesston (22-3): Brueggen 7-13 4-4 19, Proctor 2-7 2-2 7, Mason 1-3 2-2 4, Yoder 2-4 2-2 6, Magill 0-0 1-4 1, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Phillips 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 13-29 11-14 40
Goodland (21-4): Mitchek 2-5 2-2 6, Martin 1-4 0-0 3, Blochlinger 3-6 2-6 8, Ho. Biermann 0-3 0-0 0, Ha. Biermann 4-5 1-4 10, L. Cure 0-2 0-2 0, A. Cure 0-2 0-0 0. Linton 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 11-30 7-16 31
3-point goals — Hesston 3-11 (Proctor 1-2, Yoder 1-3, Brueggen 1-5, Williams 0-1). Goodland 2-9 (Ha. Biermann 1-1, Martin 1-2, Mitchek 0-1, L. Cure 0-1, A. Cure 0-2, Ho. Biermann 0-2). Rebounds — Hesston 17 (Proctor 5), Goodland 22 (Mitchek 6). Assists — Hesston 7 (Yoder 3), Goodland 5 (Haley Biermann 2). Turnovers — Hesston 15, Goodland 21. Total fouls — Hesston 19, Goodland 20. Fouled out — Goodland: Ho. Biermann.
