Undefeated M-HC teams sweep Paxton tourney titles

PAXTON, Neb. — Nothing says hello then goodbye! like a 17-2 start and a 19-0 fourth quarter.

Maywood-Hayes Center’s girls did just that during a 68-19 victory over Paxton in the Paxton Holiday Tournament title game Tuesday night.

The host Tigers were 6-0 entering this championship contest, but clearly Santa has brought a few more gifts coach coach Kim Stengel.

Stengel’s 8-0 Wolves made 24 shots with seniors Olivia Hansen scoring 16 points, Kiley Hejtmanek 13 and freshman Karissa Stengel 10.

Hejtmanek made seven of eight free throws. Senior Alexis Wood added nine points while shooting 80 percent at four for five.

Classmate Ashlin Broz netted another nine to help M-HC lead 49-19 before the 19-0 final quarter.

The Wolves finished exactly 50 percent (20 for 40) from two-point range. They swiped 18 steals as Hansen and Stengel each stole four.

Wood never broke inside the paint, securing six rebounds to match Hejtmanek’s team-high.

Sophomore Kesli Cox contributed six more points when she crushed on both her three-point attempts. Stengel connected two more times outside the arc.

Maywood-Hayes Center will aim for another tourney title at Cambridge next week.

BOYS

M-HC 59,

Paxton 50

The M-HC boys are also 8-0 and dropped Paxton (6-1) from unbeaten status in their title game Tuesday.

A trio of Wolves went “Blixen” as they carred the sleigh behind Hayden Kramer’s 22 points, Hayden Farr with 15 and another 10 from Jeremiah Ingison.

Farr was most efficient, hitting seven of eight field goals.

The Wolves’ inside muscle received outside point whether it was seniors Kyler Cox or Jhett Sellers. They both two three-pointers for six points each.

Cox only needed three attempts to finish 67 percent.

Farr collected 12 rebounds to keep the Tigers from getting many comeback chances.

M-HC took a 15-10 lead after one quarter which became 31-23 at intermission.

Senior Isaiah Fox’s 18 points powered the best Paxton efforts.