Two Morrill teams, Crawford and Hay Springs will advance to title games at the Harrison Holiday Tournament Tuesday.
Both the girls’ and boys’ teams from Morrill breezed to victories to claim spots in the championships, while the Crawford boys and Hay Springs girls clinched spots as well.
The Morrill Lions defeated Banner County in the girls’ bracket 64-7, and the Hay Springs Hawks won its contest over the Crawford 56-45.
Crawford led the Hawks 13-11 after one quarter, but Hay Springs used a 12-10 showing in the second to tie the contest at 23 at half-time. It was still anyone’s game as the final quarter began, with the Hawks edging ahead 36-35. Hay Springs exploded for 20 points in the final period and limited Crawford to 10 to take the win. Samantha Toof netted 28 for Hay Springs. No stats are available for the Rams.
On the men’s side of the bracket, Morrill defeated Sioux County 65-25, and Crawford triumphed 53-50 over Hay Springs in overtime.
Morrill held the Warriors to single digits in each quarter. Meanwhile, the Lions opened the contest with 22 points and led 33-11 at half-time. Five threes by the Lions in the third quarter helped Morrill post 27 to the board, and a dunk by Teige Whetham closed the quarter out in exciting fashion. Morrill capped the game with a final five points. Cody Johnson led the Lions with 16 points, and Cy Hughson scored 13 for Sioux County.
Crawford and Hay Springs traded the lead throughout the first half, with the Hawks gaining a 10-8 advantage in the first quarter, but the Rams inching ahead 23-22 at the break. The second half remained close, with the teams tied at 37 as the fourth quarter started. The Hawks made just a single field goal in the final minutes of regulation and went 7-of-11 from the free throw line. Rhett Flack scored seven of Crawford’s nine points in the quarter and teams went to overtime tied at 46. Crawford hit a trey and four-of-six from the charity stripe in overtime to take the win. Taylor Homan and Carter Rudloff led the Rams with 16 and 13 points, while Dylan Young scored 17 for Hay Springs.