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COLBY, KS – The Hanover Wildcats showcased their dominance Wednesday night, securing a decisive 64-49 victory over the Sharon Springs Wallace County Wildcats in a highly anticipated matchup at the Colby Event Center. The win propels Hanover into the 1A Division II State Quarterfinals.
Hanover, entering the contest with an impressive 20-2 record, displayed a balanced and potent offensive attack. Leading the charge was Anna Jueneman, who delivered a stellar 21-point performance, complemented by a remarkable 6 steals. Drew Bruna contributed a solid 11 points, while Alyssa Scheele provided a spark off the bench, adding 12 points, including four crucial three-pointers.
The Hanover offense proved particularly effective inside, dominating the paint with a 32-22 scoring advantage. Their bench also played a pivotal role, outscoring Wallace County’s reserves 26-6.
Wallace County, who came into the game with an 18-4 record, struggled to maintain consistency throughout the night. Jersi Benisch led their scoring efforts with 27 points, including four three-pointers, but her performance alone wasn’t enough to counter Hanover’s well-rounded team effort. Jaelyn Daily added 7 points, and Lyla Pearce chipped in 6 off the bench.
Turnovers proved to be a significant challenge for Wallace County, committing 20 compared to Hanover’s 18. The Hanover Wildcats capitalized on these miscues, converting them into 20 points.
Defensively, Hanover was equally impressive, limiting Wallace County to a 35.8% field goal percentage. Notably, the Hanover defense restricted Wallace County to a mere one second-chance point, demonstrating their tenacity on the boards.
Hanover established an early lead and maintained control throughout the game, extending their advantage to as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter. While Wallace County mounted a late rally, scoring 19 points in the final period, the deficit proved too large to overcome.
With this victory, the Hanover Wildcats advance to the 1A Division II Quarterfinals on Friday, where they will face Lebo. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Colby Event Center and will be broadcast live on 95.5 KNDY-FM.
