The Crusaders (20-3) opened its state title defense with a 54-41 precarious victory over Bishop Miege, Wednesday night.
The Stags took the early 7-0 lead and were up 12-8 after the first quarter.
Trailing 14-8, Kapaun went on a 10-3 run to go up by one and led 23-18 at halftime. Kapaun opened up a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter and was up by 15 points, 45-30, in the fourth.
The Stags (17-6) got to within seven before the Crusaders pulled away for the win. Sydney Kuhn led three Crusaders in double figures with 13 points, while Lexie Villegas and Lexi Hughes each scored 12 for Miege.
Mill Valley shows Salina South the exit
A slow game early turned fast in the end as Salina South falls to Mill Valley, 38-28 in the first round.
Down by one, Mill Valley (21-1) opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to take control. Highlighted by back-to-back three-point plays, the Jaguars went up to stay, 27-20. They hit 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch, going 13 of 14 for the game.
Mill Valley’s Stephanie Lichtenaur scored 14 points to lead all scorers, while Megan Holloway had 10 for South, which finished 16-6.
Although Salina South outshot Mill Valley from the field, the Jaguars had five 3-pointers to one for the Cougars and hit 10 more free throws.
Newton puts hammer down vs. Andover in win
Newton Lady Railers kept up the pressure in the second half and topped Andover, 44-36 in the 5A State Tournament in Topeka.
They will face St. Thomas Aquinas Friday at 3 pm in the semifinals of the state tournament.
Newton's Abbie Lehman finished with 13 points, leading her team in scoring. She was the only player for Newton to finish in double figures. No one player from Andover did. JoLynn Hallmark had the most with eight for the Lady Trojans.
The game plan looked simple for Newton: shoot well and outrebound, accomplishing both of those very well. They finished the game shooting 36 percent to Andover's 33, outrebounding them 32-24.
Newton (19-4) held a 30-19 lead going to the fourth quarter before Andover made its charge, cut the lead to five thanks to Jaylyn Agnew and Hallmark. Agnew scoring from the perimeter and Hallmark from 3-point range.
From the five minute mark of the fourth quarter, it was a new and exciting ball game as Andover (18-5) continued to air it out from long range, trying to lead or at least tie. Six points was the closest Andover came before foul shots became the norm.
Aquinas gets more than it bargained for
Top seeded St. Thomas Aquinas certainly didn't imagine a double overtime dog fight with bottom bracketed Leavenworth, but this is why they play the game.
Saints' Kendra Weledji dropped in 25 points to escape with a 54-47 double overtime win to advance in the 5A State Tournament in Topeka.
Tied 36-36 at the end of regulation, the game slowed down in the extra periods.
Leavneworth (14-9) got 20 points from Tyler Johnson and 14 from Rashayla Mathis in the loss. Leavenworth actually outshot Aquinas percentage wise for the game (40.9%) but didn't make a single three-pointer after regulation.
Aquinas (22-1) will face Newton in the 5A semifinals, Friday at 3 p.m. at the Topeka Expocentre.
