Meade rolls, while Republic County punches ticket to title game.
Boys
No. 1 Meade keeps unblemished record
The top-seeded and undefeated Meade Buffaloes trounced the No. 5 Moundridge Wildcats 74-54 to advance to the state championship game. Meade jumped out to a 22-13 first-quarter lead and steadily built it up from there.
Moundridge went bucket-for-bucket with Meade in the second quarter, but could never cut its deficit to less than nine points. Moundridge's Daniel Ratzlaff led all players with 26 points in the loss as Meade's Morgan Davis and Jett Little scored 25 and 21 points, respectively.
Meade will face No. 3 Republic County in the championship game.
No. 3 Republic County continues to roll
The Buffaloes of Republic County outplayed Ness City to a 51-37 victory in the semifinal stage. Ness City was the No. 7-seed. Republic County goes into the championship game with a 22-3 record and put up against the unblemished 24-0 of Meade, Republic County has its work cut out for a state title.
It is the battle of the Buffaloes as No. 3 Republic County will take on No. 1 Meade for the 2A boys' state championship.
Girls
No. 1 Jefferson County North moves into title game
The Lady Chargers outscored Moundridge 19-9 in the second quarter to extend its lead to 13 points at halftime en route to a 62-39 beatdown. North outscored Moundridge in every quarter of the semifinal game, including a 14-point output in the fourth quarter.
Jefferson County North's Jacee Kramer led all players with 23 points as teammate Heather Polson dropped 16 in the win. The top-seeded Lady Chargers will face No. 2 Smith Center in the championship game. Smith Center and North hold identical 23-2 records.
No. 2 Smith Center plants itself in the championship game
The Lady Red and Sterling Lady Blackbears went back-and-forth in the first quarter, as both teams started fast, scoring a total of 37 points. Smith Center led 20-17 after one and held just a four-point lead at halftime en route to a narrow 62-59 semifinal win.
Smith Center's Sydney Benoit led all players with 28 points in the loss. Smith Center will face top-seeded Jefferson County North in the state final.
