'Hawks survive Tornado rally

MOUND CITY -- Second-seeded Jayhawk-Linn survived a furious fourth-quarter rally and finally got by seventh-seeded Eureka, 51-49, in a Wellsville Class 3A Sub-State Tournament game here Tuesday night.

The Jayhawks (15-6) went into the fourth quarter with a 40-31 lead but were outscored 18-11 as the Tornadoes (4-16) managed to find their way to the free-throw line. Eureka went nine for 15 at the charity stripe as part of its attempt to rally.

In the end, the Jayhawks survive and will meet Pioneer League rival Central Heights (9-11), which itself was an upset winner over No. 3 Erie (12-8) on Tuesday night, 44-33.

The 'Hawks and Vikings met three times during the regular season. Central Heights won the first league game in overtime at Richmond and a semifinal match at the Pleasanton Mid-Season Tournament. The Jayhawks won their home league meeting, 26-22, which was the most recent of the three games played.

Kaylee Brownback led the Jayhawks with 14 points but fouled out and didn't score in the fourth quarter. Kylie Wilson added nine points while junior Cassie Rockers scored six of her eight points in the fourth quarter.

The Jayhawks made 19 of 47 shots from the field for 40 percent, brought down 22 rebounds and turned the ball over 19 times.

Individually, Brownback and Rockers each had four rebounds. Wilson and Taylor McGown were each credited with three steals while Wilson also dished three assists.

The game times for Friday's semifinals will be determined by adding the combined mileage from the host site of the teams involved in each game. With the other game involving Allen-Northern Heights, which is near Emporia, and Osage City, which is between Topeka and Emporia, it seems a safe bet that the Jayhawk-Linn game will be the first one. If so, that game will start at 6 p.m.

Osage City (16-5), the top seed, advanced by beating Wellsville, 48-38. No. 2 Northern Heights (12-8) defeated Pomona-West Franklin, 46-30.

(7) EUREKA: Erie 0-0 0-0 0, Valentine 3 3-10 10, Evenson 3 1-2 7, Schwartz 4 3-5 12, Vaughn 3 3-4 9, Ross 4 1-1 9, Ibarra 0 2-5 2. TOTALS: 17 13-27 49.

(2) JAYHAWK-LINN: Beckman 3 0-1 6, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Long 1 0-2 2, Jones 2 2-2 6, Dawson 2 0-0 4, Brownback 6 2-5 14, Wilson 2 5-6 9, Rockers 4 0-4 8, T.McGown 0 2-5 2. TOTALS: 20 11-25 51.

Jayhawk-Linn......... 8 20 12 11 -- 51

Three-point field goals: Eureka 2 (Valentine, Schwartz), Jayhawk-Linn none.

Total fouls: Eureka 21, Jayhawk-Linn 22. Fouled out: Brownback.