Holcomb sweeps Bluejay Invitational title games

By Benjamin Hutchinson
Cimarron, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The Holcomb Longhorns swept the championship games in the Bluejay Invitational on Saturday night. Holcomb’s girls won 49-40 over Cimarron, while the Longhorn boys won 49-44 over Sublette.

Holcomb Girls 49, Cimarron 40
The Lady Longhorns were down early 11-5. but Holcomb would close the quarter on a 7-2 run with five points from Halle Jones in that stretch. After one quarter of play Cimarron led by one at 13-12. The second quarter was back and forth and Cimarron still had the lead 20-19 with three minutes to go in the second quarter, but Miller got into foul trouble and the Longhorns finished the half strong on a 6-2 run and would have a halftime lead 25-22. Cimarron started on a 6-0 run in the third quarter to take the lead 28-25, but Holcomb continued to battle and regained the lead and would go into the fourth quarter up 34-30. The Longhorns would start to pull away as foul trouble built up for the Bluejays. Holcomb would lead by 11 points. 46-35 with 1:30 left to go in the game. Holcomb would close the game out and win 49-40 over Cimarron to win the Bluejay Invitational.

Cimarron shot 3-16 from three, 11-24 from inside, and 9-10 from the free throw line. Cimarron had 25 rebounds, six of those were offensive boards. They had 19 turnovers. The Bluejays were led by McKayla Miller with 22 points and eight rebounds, and Jayna Wilson with five points. For Cimarron both McKayla Miller and Caitlyn Sonday were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Holcomb shot 5-19 from three, 15-30 from inside, and 4-11 from the free throw line. The Longhorns had 23 rebounds, eight of those were offensive boards. They had eight turnovers. Holcomb was led by Bella Galliart with six points, Emily Resendiz with six points, Halle Jones with 11 points and 11 rebounds for a double double, and Jera Kruleski with 20 points and five rebounds. For Holcomb both Jera Kruleski and Halle Jones were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Holcomb is now 3-1 and will play at home on Tuesday against Colby.

Holcomb Boys 49, Sublette 44
Holcomb would jump out to a 5-0 lead with 5:00 minutes to go in the first quarter. Sublette would respond and be down by just 2 points 10-8 at the end of the quarter. Both teams went back and forth in the second quarter and the Longhorns would have the lead at halftime 19-17. In the third quarter, Holcomb would get out to a 24-17 lead ,but Sublette came right back and tied it at 25-25. The Longhorns got the lead to 10 points 37-27 with one minute left in the third quarter. Holcomb would be up 37-30 to start the fourth quarter. The Larks got it back within three points 37-34 with seven minutes left to go. Holcomb got it out to an 11 point lead 45-34 with just under four minutes left, but some made shots by Sublette and missed free throws by Holcomb made this one close. Holcomb would hang on and win 49-44 over Sublette to win the Bluejay Invitational.

Sublette shot 3-16 from three, 13-33 from inside, and 7-11 from the free throw line. The Larks had 28 rebounds, 11 of those were offensive boards. They had 10 turnovers. The Larks wer led by Ace Martinez with 18 points, and Mason Unruh with 20 points and five rebounds. For Sublette, both Mason Unruh and Ace Martinez were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Holcomb shot 3-13 from three, 16-35 from inside, and 8-20 from the free throw line. The Longhorns had 29 rebounds, 10 of those were offensive boards. They had 11 turnovers. Holcomb was led by Chris Palacios with seven points and 11 rebounds, Kooper Tichenor with 11 points, and Drayton Knoll with 13 points and six rebounds. For Holcomb, both Chris Palacios and Drayton Knoll were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Holcomb is now 3-1 and will play at home on Tuesday against Colby.