Hugoton boys win Sterling Invitational, girls third

Sterling, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The Hugoton Eagle boys basketball team controlled the second half with stifling defense in a 44-30 victory over the Sterling Black Bears Friday night inside the Gleason Center at Sterling College. It was Hugoton’s second straight Sterling Invitational Tournament title.

The game saw three ties and six lead changes, with Sterling using a 10-3 run in the first quarter to take a 10-7 lead after the opening eight minutes. They pushed their lead to 18-13 late in the first half, before the Eagles responded with six straight to lead 19-18 at the break. It would be 21-18 Hugoton early in the second half, before the Bears responded with five straight to lead 23-21 with five minutes left in the third quarter. That was their final lead of the night.

The Eagles would go on a 13-1 run in the final 4:18 of the third quarter to lead 34-24 going into the final frame. Sterling could get no closer than 10, with the last coming at the 3:57 mark at 37-27. Hugoton closed out with seven of the games final 10 points to take a 44-30 win. It was a night where the Eagles defense shined, not allowing a field goal from the Bears for 12:50 of the game, until the last three pointer of the night. 

No Hugoton player was in double figures, as Griffin Heger came off the bench to lead them with nine points and had six steals. Zach Surface led Sterling with 15 points. 

Ryle Riddlesperger and Carson Bennett were named to the All-Tournament Team, with  Riddlesperger winning the Three-Point Competition and Bennett named as the winner of the Most Inspirational Player. 

Hugoton 7 12 15 10-44
Sterling  10  8   6   6-30

Hugoton (7-3): Delgado 0 0-0 0; Lewis 1 0-0 2; Heger 3 3-5 9; Riddlesperger 3 0-0 8; Bennett 3 0-0 6; Martin 1 0-0 Gaskill 1 0-0 2; Jimenez 0 0-0 0; Mecklenbert 3 2-2 8; Williams 2 2-4 6; Team: 17 5-9 44
Sterling (7-5): Surface 4 3-4 15; Gray 0 0-0 0; Briar 1 0-0 3; Beagley 0 0-0 0; Ochs 0 0-0 0; Wilson 0 0-0 0; Oden 1 2-4 4; Riffel 2 4-10 8; Comley 0 0-0 0; Team: 8 9-20 30

Three-Pointers: Hugoton 5 (Riddlesperger 2, Mecklenberg 2, Martin 1); Sterling 5 (Surface 4, Briar 1); Rebounds: Hugoton 30, Sterling 33; Turnovers: Hugoton 11, Sterling 16; Fouls: Hugoton 19, Sterling 11; Fouled Out: None. 

Coach Trey O’Neil

In the girls game, Hugoton took their frustrations out on Scott City, and never trailed in a 58-29 win over the Lady Beavers in the third place girls game at the Gleason Center Friday afternoon. Hugoton led 14-4 after a quarter, and 28-12 at the break. They led by as many as 30 in the game, before coasting to a 58-29 win.

Mikyn Hamlin led the way with 25 points for the Lady Eagles, while Giana Vos added 17 points. Scott City got 20 from Erika Felker. Hamlin was named to the All-Tournament Team. 

Scott City  4   8   3 11-29
Hugoton 14 14 18 12-58

Scott City (6-6): Stevens 0 0-0 0; Rumford 1 0-2 2; Strine 0 0-0 0; Gentry 0 0-0 0; Latta 1 1-2 3; Sowers 0 0-0 0; Felker 8 1-1 20 Kough 0 0-0 0; Cupp 0 0-0 0; Lewis 0 0-0 0; Cramer 0 0-0 0; Patton 1 0-0 2; Team: 12 2-5 29
Hugoton (8-2): Salazar 0 0-1 0; Slocum 0 0-0 0; Vos 6 1-2 17; Adigun 3 1-1 7; Goode 0 0-0 0; Haar 3 1-2 7; Hamlin 10 3-9 25 Lott 1 0-0 2; Team: 23 6-17 58

Three-Pointers: Scott City 3 (Felker 3); Hugoton 6 (Vos 4, Hamlin 2); Rebounds: Scott City 35, Hugoton 34; Turnovers: Scott City 23, Hugoton 7; Fouls: Scott City 9, Hugoton 6; Fouled Out: None.

Hugoton will host Scott City in GWAC play on Tuesday, and will travel to Ulysses on Friday for a non-league game.