Rawlins girls reach substate this week

ATWOOD, Kan. — The Rawlins County (Kan.) girls will take a solid 15-7 record into Class 1A substate where they’ll play Quinter Thursday night in Russell, Kan.

Rawlins crushed the 10-12 Quinter Bulldogs, 54-21, last month as they prepare for this semifinal rematch.

The Buffs dropped their district final to Golden Plains (Kan.), 39-35, last week but still qualified for this final round before state.

Rawlins reached the district finals with a 56-46 semifinal win over St. Francis, Kan.

Senior Angie Singhateh scored 17 points while hitting six of her nine shots.

Senior Amy Crouse followed with 14 more points and junior Kristen Beckman tallied 12.

Crouse connected on four of seven from three-point range.

Together, they took down a solid 13-7 St. Francis team.

The Buffaloes built a 44-25 lead through three quarters and survived a 21-point St. Francis fourth period.

Great defense featuring eight blocks fueled the victory. Singhateh swatted four and Crouse added two.

Beckman and freshman Abby Singhateh added one blocked shot apiece.

Whoever wins on Thursday will advance into the substate championship game and a likely meeting with unbeaten Central Plains (23-0) seeded No. 1.

Meanwhile, the Rawlins boys finished a 13-9 season for new coach Levi Poindexter last week.

The Buffaloes beat Cheylin, 49-42, in their subdistrict semifinal but then encountered 20-2 Northern Valley from Almeda, Kan.

Those Huskies broke a 26-26 halftime tie with 25 third-quarter points and went on to the 64-55 triumph.

The loss denied Rawlins County a return to 1A state where those Buffaloes played last season.

Seniors Jorge Chacon, Brennan Dixson, Marvin Sanchez, Arie Olson and Michael Martinez comleted their hoops careers.