Scott City Tames Cubs For Their Third Straight Title
Hutchinson, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Since 1969, no team in Class 3A was able to win three straight Class 3A State Titles. Sacred Heart won two straight in 1979 and 1980, but won their third straight in Class 4A in 1981. The last team that had a chance to accomplish that feat were the Wichita Collegiate Spartans, who lost their chance to three-peat when they lost to Scott City in the semi-finals in 2011. Saturday night, the Beavers led all but a few seconds, when they were tied at two, as they become the first Class 3A team to win three straight in a 74-55 thumping of Humboldt Saturday night at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
In the first two games, Scott City struggled from the field, shooting well below their season average. The Beavers exploded by hitting their first six shots from the field to begin the game. After Humboldt tied the game at tw0, Scott City scored the next 11 points, and took a 20-14 lead after the first period. The closest the Cubs could get in the second half was five, with the latest at 28-23 with 5:35 remaining before halftime. It would be a 16-9 Beaver run to close out the half to take a 44-32 lead into the locker room. In the second half, Scott City would put the game in doubt. A 12-2 run in the first three minutes gave the Beavers a 56-34 lead, and they would lead 60-41 heading into the fourth quarter. Scott City (25-1) led as many as 26 points in the fourth quarter at 73-47 with about three minutes remaining. Humboldt scored eight of the games final nine points to make the final 74-55.
The Cubs (25-1) were looking for their first undefeated season in school history.
Only five players scored for the Beavers, as four finished in double figures. Drew Kite led Scott City with 23 points, while Joey Meyer tied a career-high with 20, Trey O’Neil finished with 17 and Brett O’Neil pitched in 13 points, while dishing out 10 assists. Humboldt got a game-high 28 from Tanner McNutt, with 19 coming in the second half. Noah Thornbrugh and Nathan Whitcomb had 12 points each for the Cubs. The Beavers shot 55% for the game, and held Humboldt to 36%.
For Scott City, they claimed their fifth state basketball championship in school history, winning four of them in the Hutchinson Sports Arena. In the last three years, Scott City finished 75-3, with one loss each to Dodge City in 2011, Wichita Word of Life in December, 2011, and Wichita North in 2013, and have not lost to a Class 3A or lower school in three years. They also have won three straight GWAC Titles, and 14 out of their last 15 state tournament games, dating back to 2006. Nine seniors closed out their career, including Austin Habiger, Tyler Hess, Drew Kite, Joey Meyer, Brett O’Neil, Collin Ratzlaff, Brenner Wells, Anthony Wilson and Colton Yager.
