BELOIT ST. JOHN'S GIRLS 69, PAWNEE HEIGHTS 47 – Beloit St. John's won the battle of returning 1A Division 2 state basketball qualifiers with a dominating 69-47 substate championship victory over Pawnee Heights at the Stafford basketball substate.
The Blujays (14-5) placed fourth at state at Great Bend in 2023. The Tiger girls qualified for the 2023 girls state tournament at Great Bend for the first time in school history.
A shootout ensued when Beloit St. John's scored 30 points with eight 3-pointers and Pawnee Heights Tiger Olivia Hands scored a career high 29 points by dominating in the paint. The Blujays converted nine 3-pointers to outscore the Tigers 27-0 from long range.
Pawnee Hts. 9 19 13 6 – 47
Beloit St. John's 13 17 26 13 – 69
PAWNEE HEIGHTS (11-13)—Olivia Hands 10 9-12 29, Abby Hands 3 1-2 7, Hammeke 0 1-2 1, Cissell 2 0-2 4, Cordero-Valles 1 0-2 2, Scott 1 0-0 2, Ibarra 1 0-0 2, Totals 18 11-20 47.
BELOIT ST. JOHN'S (15-5)—Carly Brummer 11 0-0 30, Ava Brummer 6 1-1 13, Jenna Gengler 3 2-2 9, Lynette Gengler 2 2-2 6, Aubrey Gengler 2 3-4 7, Kendra Gengler 1 0-0 2, Mick 1 0-0 2, Totals 26 7-8 69.
3-pointers—BSJ 9 (C. Brummer 8, J. Gengler 1).
1A DIV. 2 STATE MARCH 7, GREAT BEND
2 p.m.–South Haven 20-2 vs. Northern Valley 12-11
4 p.m.–Bucklin 19-3 vs. Hanover 19-4
6 p.m.–Lebo 20-2 vs. Marais De Cygnes 13-9
8 p.m.–Wallace County 19-3 vs. Beloit St. John's 15-5
1A DIV. 1 STATE MARCH 7, COLBY
2 p.m.–Little River 22-0 vs. Olpe 17-5
4 p.m.–Norwich 20-1 vs Centralia 20-2
6 p.m.–South Gray 21-1 vs. Rawlins County 18-4
8 p.m.–St. John 21-1 vs. Frankfort 19-3
PAWNEE HEIGHTS GIRLS 41, VICTORIA 26 – Underdog Pawnee Heights surprised Victoria 41-27 behind the tandem of 6-3 Olivia Hands and 6-0 Abby Hands to qualify for the substate basketball championship for the second consecutive year.
Olivia Hands scored 14 points with four assists. Abby Hands scored eight points with three assists to stun Victoria.
The Tiger girls qualified for the 2023 girls state tournament at Great Bend for the first time in school history.
"The girls played great defense," said Pawnee Heights coach Doug Ellison. "They held Victoria to nine points after halftime."
Victoria's Kennidy Amrein scored nine points. The Knights made 9 of 54 field goals (17%).
Victoria 13 4 4 5 – 26
Pawnee Hts. 14 9 10 8 – 41
VICTORIA (9-13)—Amrein 3-7 2-4 9, Kuhn 3-13 0-0 6, Windholz 1-16 3-8 5, Lichter 1-8 0-0 3, Scheck 1-9 0-0 2, Dinkel 0 0-2 0, Younger 0 1-3 1, Totals 9-54 6-17 26
PAWNEE HEIGHTS (11-12)—Olivia Hands 5 3-3 14, Abby Hands 4 0-0 8, Hammeke 3 0-0 8, Cordero-Valles 3 0-0 7, Scott 0 2-2 2, Ibarra 1 0-0 2, Totals 16 5-5 41.
3-pointers—V 2-11 (Amrein 1-3, Lichter 1-6, Scheck 0-3); PH 4 (Hammeke 2, O. Hands 1, Cordero-Valles 1).
BELOIT ST. JOHN’S GIRLS 67, OTIS-BISON 27 – Beloit St. John’s crushed Otis-Bison 67-27 in the Stafford 1A basketball semifinals.
Carly Brummer scored 24 points. Jenna Gengler (13) and Lynette Gengler (12) scored in double figures. Beloit St. John’s (13-5) placed fourth in the 2023 1A Div. 2 state tournament.
Abigail Rodriguez led the Cougars (8-15) with seven points.
Otis-Bison 4 9 9 5 — 27
Beloit St. John's 27 19 13 8 — 67
OTIS-BISON (8-14)—Rodriguez 3 1-2 7, Reever 1 3-4 5, Mitchell 2 1-4 5, Croisant 1 1-2 3, McMillan 1 0-0 3, Smith 1 0-0 2, Lumpkins 1 0-0 2, Totals 10 6-12 27.
BELOIT ST. JOHN'S (13-5)—Carly Brummer 10 2-2 24, Jenna Gengler 5 3-4 13, Lynette Gengler 4 4-8 12, Aubrey Gengler 4 0-2 8, Kendra Gengler 1 2-2 4, Arnoldy 1 0-0 2, A. Brummer 1 0-0 2, Mick 1 0-0 2, Totals 27 11-18 67.
3-pointers—OB 1 (McMillan 1); BSJ 2 (C. Brummer 2).
1A DIV. 2 STAFFORD—3-2—Beloit St. John’s 13-5 vs. Pawnee Heights 11-12; Beloit St. John's 67, Otis-Bison 27; Pawnee Heights 41, Victoria 27; Otis-Bison 40, Tescott 29; Pawnee Heights 58, Chase 11; Victoria 48, Stafford 17
