EMPORIA — From the opening tip, Axtell looked every bit like a team capable of playing for a state championship.
The Eagles set the tone early Thursday night and never let up, rolling past Cunningham 84-40 in the Class 1A Division II state semifinals at White Auditorium to punch their ticket to Saturday’s title game.
Axtell (27-1) raced out to a 15-5 lead after one quarter and steadily built on it, stretching the margin to 39-18 by halftime before putting the game completely out of reach with a 28-point third quarter.
Head coach Jayson Tynon said the fast start came from the Eagles doing exactly what they wanted defensively.
“We played really well right from the start,” Tynon said. “We value defense and we wanted to set the tone defensively. I thought we did a really good job of that. Thought Joe Lybarger came out, got a lot of steals and was active. We trapped their ball screens and we tried to ramp it up a little bit. That propelled us the rest of the game.”
The Eagles’ pressure defense fueled their offense throughout the night. Axtell forced Cunningham into difficult shots and held the Wildcats to just 28.6 percent shooting (12-of-42).
“When you hold a team to 28 percent that is good defense and that is what we wanted to do,” Tynon said. “We want to pressure and then get out and run. Thought we executed the game plan really well.”
Axtell's Wyatt Detweiler pulls up for a 3-pointer Thursday against Cunningham.
Offensively, Axtell showed the balance that has made it one of the top teams in the state all season.
Four Eagles finished in double figures, led by Colin Shaughnessy’s 22 points, which included six 3-pointers. Joe Lybarger added 16 points and four steals, Logan Sandmann had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Wyatt Detweiler scored 13 while handing out six assists.
“That is kind of who we are,” Tynon said. “We have a lot of balance. Detweiler can hit shots, Colin can definitely hit shots and Joe can as well. Then we have the big guy in the middle in Logan that can kind of control things for us in there. I know a lot of people focus on Colin and Logan, but the other guys can do things too.”
The 6-foot-6 Sandmann provides a different look than many teams see in today’s perimeter-oriented game, giving the Eagles a reliable presence on the block.
“It is really nice to have a player like Logan,” Tynon said. “You don’t see a lot of back-to-the-basket players anymore in basketball. We have the unicorn in the group and we like it and we take advantage of it.”
Axtell shot 52.8 percent from the field and knocked down 13 3-pointers while finishing with 19 assists as a team.
Cunningham (17-9) was led by Kendall Rogers with 13 points and Dylan Halderson with 12.
The win sets up a highly anticipated Twin Valley League showdown in the state championship game against Hanover. The rivals split their two regular-season meetings this year, with Hanover handing Axtell its only loss of the season.
“I know a lot of people want to see that matchup,” Tynon said. “They beat us first and kicked our butt the first time we played them and then we got them at home. So to play them again in this venue and on this stage would be an unbelievable experience for everyone involved, win or lose.”
Hanover's Cooper Bruna pulls up for two of his 21 points Thursday against Lebo in the state semifinals.
HANOVER 94, LEBO 42 — Hanover’s record-setting pace at the Class 1A Division II state tournament didn’t slow down Thursday night.
After scoring a state tournament-record 100 points in the quarterfinals earlier in the week, the Wildcats nearly matched that output again in the semifinals, racing past Lebo 94-42 at White Auditorium in Emporia.
Hanover (27-1) wasted little time setting the tone, pushing the tempo from the opening tip and building a 24-8 lead after the first quarter. The Wildcats continued to apply pressure in the second quarter to take a 42-23 advantage into halftime before breaking the game open with a 33-point third quarter.
The fast-paced style has been a trademark for Hanover all season and was again on full display against the Wolves.
“We played a lot like we have played all year,” Hanover head coach Cory Jensen said. “We really emphasize pressure on the defensive end, finishing the possession with a rebound and once the ball is in our hands, we go. We go as fast as we can. We feel we can get advantages in transition and we don’t stop.”
That up-tempo approach produced efficient offense as the Wildcats shot 60.9 percent from the field and finished with 25 assists on 39 made baskets.
Hanover's Tanner Bruna gets to the basket against Lebo.
“This is a really selfless group and love to share the ball,” Jensen said. “After the game, the guys always like looking in the assist column and we had 25 assists in this one. That just tells me we are really sharing the ball and that ball is moving. We are making those extra passes and running in transition. I love to see all those assists.”
Hanover’s depth and balance were evident once again. Tanner Bruna led the Wildcats with 23 points, while Cooper Bruna added 21. Braylon Meyn chipped in 10 points to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists.
The Wildcats also received contributions throughout the lineup as Braden Jueneman and Wyatt Simpson each scored nine points, Jack Bruna had eight and Brody Sedlacek added seven.
“We play a lot of guys and we are comfortable doing that and we are just a well-rounded group from top to bottom,” Jensen said. “Going back throughout the season, I think we have had six different guys lead us in scoring. Generally what happens if one guy is not hitting then another will step up and make plays. We have been blessed with that all year.”
Lebo (20-8) was led by Colby Fehr and Jae’Mykel Hall with 11 points each.
The win sends Hanover to the state championship game Saturday and sets up a highly anticipated showdown with Twin Valley League rival Axtell. The two teams split their regular-season meetings and are responsible for each other’s only loss this season.
Jensen said his players are soaking in the opportunity to play on the state’s biggest stage.
“I just think it is fun that these guys get to be on this stage,” Jensen said. “I just told them that this is the most fun group I have ever been around. They work so hard and mesh so well as a team. Looking forward to going out there and competing with them one last time.
“Axtell is going to bring their best game and we are going to bring our best game and it is going to be fun.”
CLASS 1A DIVISION II SEMIFINALS
AXTELL 84, CUNNINGHAM 40
Axtell… 15 … 24 … 28 … 17 … -- … 84
Cunningham… 5 … 13 … 14 … 8 … -- … 40
Cunningham (17-9) – Kerschen 2-8 2-2 6, Rogers 3-12 5-5 13, Halderson 5-8 1-2 12, Kinsler 0-0 2-2 2, Hageman 0-3 0-0 0, Thimesch 0-1 0-2 0, Osmer 0-1 0-0 0, Sterneker 0-0 1-2 1, McGuire 0-1 0-0 0, Bock 1-5 0-0 2, Heatherman 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 12-42 13-17 40.
Axtell (27-1) – Schmitz 2-4 2-3 6, J. Lybarger 5-9 3-3 16, Detweiler 4-6 3-3 13, Shaughnessy 7-17 2-2 22, Sandmann 6-9 2-2 14, Ronnebaum 0-0 0-0 0, Stallbaumer 0-0 0-0 0, Heinen 0-2 0-0 0, B. Lybarger 2-2 2-3 6, Hasenkamp 0-0 0-0 0, Talbot 1-2 0-0 3, Kostal 1-2 1-3 4. Totals 28-53 15-19 84.
3-point goals – Cunningham 3-10 (Rogers 2-8, Halderson 1-1, Hageman 0-1); Axtell 13-28 (Shaughnessy 6-14, J. Lybarger 3-5, Detweiler 2-3, Talbot 1-1, Kostal 1-2, Schmitz 0-2, Heinen 0-1). Rebounds – Cunningham 31 (Thimesch 5); Axtell 27 (Sandmann 11). Assists – Cunningham 6 (Kerschen 3); Axtell 19 (Detweiler 6). Turnovers – Cunningham 25, Axtell 14. Total fouls – Cunningham 22, Axtell 20. Fouled out – None.
HANOVER 94, LEBO 42
Hanover… 24 … 18 … 33 … 19 … -- … 94
Lebo… 8 … 15 … 11 … 8 … -- … 42
Lebo (20-8) – Reber 3-13 0-0 7, Hadley 2-5 0-0 5, Blount 1-5 0-2 2, Edwards 2-5 0-2 4, Fehr 5-12 1-2 11, Durst 0-5 0-0 0, M. Ferguson 0-1 0-0 0, Plummer 0-0 0-0 0, Konrade 0-5 2-4 2, A. Ferguson 0-0 0-0 0, Hall 3-5 4-5 11, Rausch 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-56 7-15 42.
Hanover (27-1) – Cohorst 1-2 0-0 2, Meyn 4-9 2-2 10, C. Bruna 9-12 2-5 21, T. Bruna 10-13 1-2 23, J. Bruna 4-5 0-0 8, Stallbaumer 0-1 0-0 0, H. Bruna 1-3 0-0 3, Sedlacek 3-8 1-1 7, Kickhaefer 0-0 2-2 2, Jueneman 3-6 2-2 9, Simpson 4-4 1-2 9, Heiman 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 39-64 11-18 94.
3-point goals – Lebo 3-12 (Reber 1-4, Hadley 1-1, Hall 1-2, Durst 0-2, M. Ferguson 0-1, Konrade 0-1, Fehr 0-1); Hanover 5-13 (T. Bruna 2-2, C. Bruna 1-2, H. Bruna 1-3, Jueneman 1-2, Cohorst 0-1, J. Bruna 0-1, Stallbaumer 0-1, Sedlacek 0-1). Rebounds – Lebo 31 (Fehr 11); Hanover 43 (Meyn 10). Assists – Lebo 8 (Reber 2, Blount 2, Konrade 2); Hanover 25 (Meyn 6). Turnovers – Lebo 18, Hanover 13. Total fouls – Lebo 17, Hanover 18. Fouled out – None.