By RICHARD LUKEN
richard@iolaregister.com
HUTCHINSON — Sure, those high-flying offenses are fun to watch — and Humboldt High has a few players capable of lighting up the scoreboard — but defenses win championships.
The Cubs have figured that out, too, and it has them one step closer to a state title.
Humboldt kept alive its magical, undefeated season with a stifling defense, thwarting repeated Salina-Sacred Heart scoring chances down the stretch to secure a come-from-behind, 41-37 win..
Humboldt’s win in the opening round of the Class 3A state tournament puts the Cubs into the state semifinals.
The Cubs (24-0) will tip off against Silver Lake at 8:15 tonight at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. Silver Lake had to sweat some as well Thursday, grabbing the early lead, then hanging on down the stretch in a 52-50 win over Beloit.
In the other semifinal matchup, two-time defending state champion Scott City takes on Nemaha Valley.
The winners of the two semifinal games will square off at 6:15 p.m. Saturday in the state championship game.
As has become the norm, Humboldt’s win wasn’t assured until the final buzzer sounded
Humboldt prevailed allowed only a single field goal in the last 5 minutes of the game, although that basket was a doozy.
The Cubs had just made up a five-point deficit to tie the score at 34-34, and rebounded a Knight miss to gain possession midway through the fourth quarter
But Sacred Heart’s Austin Palen managed a steal and layup to give the Knights a 36-34 edge.
Blake Crawford’s offensive rebound and putback for the Cubs tied the score with 3:23 left. Then Humboldt forced another Sacred Heart miss with 2 1/2 minutes remaining.
Noah Thornbrugh stepped up with a tie-breaking jumper from just inside the 3-point line at the 1:30 mark.
The sequence was an apt illustration of Humboldt’s night, Taylor noted.
“We ran our offense well at times, and got some great looks, but we didn’t make those (shots),” he said. “That’s what’s scary. We missed our easy ones, but were able to make the ones that were more difficult.”
“I was a little tight early on,” Thornbrugh admitted after the game. “This was my first time in an atmosphere like this. But I felt good shooting it.”
