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Buffaloes reach substate finals, but Quinter boys prevail
awlins County’s boys stayed within striking range of mighty Quinter until a 21-7 fourth quarter clinched the 1A substate title Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (19-3 record) scored their 11th win in 12 games, 52-25, and advance to Class 1A state tourney play starting at Colby, Kan., Thursday evening.
Rawlins County finished 8-15 overall though senior Brayan Rodriguez topped the 1,000-point career mark during this substate tournament.
Rodriguez netted 17 points against Quinter on Saturday to follow his 20 during Thursday’s semifinal win over Ness City.
The Buffaloes’ defense was a bigger story since Quinter could only score four third-quarter points.
Those Bulldogs had been held below 40 points during their three defeats, and they only produced 31 in three quarters Saturday.
Yet that 21-7 explosion ended any Rawlins County upset hopes.
Besides Rodriguez, the other eight Buffs points came from seniors Braxton Dixson (four) and Pete Crouse (two) along with sophomore Tru Dewey (two points).
Rawlins County teamed to only make nine of 36 two-point shots. Rodriguez made the lone two three-pointers.
Dixson did secure five rebounds while Dewey and Rodriguez each brought in four boards.
Sophomores Shaun Lare and Tucker Prideaux delivered two assists apiece.
The semifinal was a different story since Rawlins blasted for 23 first-period points vs. Ness City.
Dixson hit four of his six shots for 10 points besides Rodriguez’s 20.
Crouse and Lare both totaled eight points as Lare made his only shot from beyond the arc.
Prideaux pitched in six points, Dewey three and freshman Beckett Dixson one point.
Dewey’s nine rebounds were best for a Buffaloes team that pulled in 36 overall.
Braxton Dixson secured seven, Crouse six and Rodriguez five caroms.
Lare sent out five of an impressive 15 Rawlins assists on made baskets.
Braxton followed with four and Dewey totaled three assists.
For the host Decatur Red Devils, they fell 54-36 to Quinter on Thursday though sophomore Tyler Ostmeyer totaled 13 points and six rebounds.
Junior Devin Jensen scored six points while freshmen Gage Williby and Caden Shaw equally divided 10 (five apiece).
Williby also distributed a Devil-leading four assists.
The Decatur girls’ 39-27 semifinal loss to Rawlins on Friday featured sophomore Brylee Minnick’s eight points, senior Kamryn Oien scoring seven with four rebounds and senior Aidyn Witt five points.