The Circle Thunderbirds found themselves in a huge hole early in the second quarter of their Class 4A boys sub-state championship game at Maize South, trailing by 15 points after the Rose Hill Rockets hit five straight three-pointers.
The Thunderbirds were able to turn up their defensive pressure and clawed their way on the offensive side of the game to overcome the deficit and beat the Rockets 38-30 to claim the sub-state title.
Circle allowed only six Rose Hill field goals after the opening quarter and used a 11-point run in the fourth quarter to take the lead for good and earn a trip to the Class 4A state tournament at the Salina Bicentennial Center.
“We just picked up intensity,” said Circle post player Jordan Phillips. “They just came out hitting shots and we knew they couldn’t do that the whole time. They they just went cold and we took advantage.”
It didn’t look pretty early for the T-Birds (14-9) after Rose Hill scored the final 14 points of the first quarter and then hit a three-pointer to open the second. However, the Rockets (15-8) didn’t score again in the final 7:30 of the first half and Brett Tunnell scored seven and Phillips four to cut the deficit to 17-13 by halftime.
The two teams were similar in shooting (both were 6-of-18 from the floor), but all but one of Rose Hill’s baskets were three-pointers, while Circle had only one three in their side of the scorebook. All of Circle’s points in the first half were scored by Tunnell and Phillips.
“Everybody was still positive,” Tunnell said. “We just knew that we could come back so we just kept fighting.”
The third quarter was a defensive struggle as Circle made only three of their 11 shots, while Rose Hill was 2-of-10. Circle gained the lead late in the stanza on a basket by Phillips, but the Rockets were able to regain the advantage going into the final quarter at 21-20.
Circle’s scoring run in the fourth quarter started with a three-point basket by Nick Warren, followed by the T-Birds were able to get eight points off of Rose Hill turnovers – six scored by Alex Gardinier – to lead 33-26. The Rockets got the margin down to five, but a three-point play by Kanyon Kinder and a basket by Tunnell to seal the win.
“We had some defensive problems there in the early going; but once our offense got going, then it covered up for the defense a little bit,” said Circle coach Burt Helmer. “Our obvious strength is inside; but if we have to go inside-out, then we have guys who can shoot it, too.”
Tunnell led Circle in scoring with 13 points, while Phillips added eight in the win. Tyler Shelley scored 10 points to lead Rose Hill.
The T-Birds will play top-seeded Pratt in a first round game at the state tournament on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
ROSE HILL (30) – Tyler Shelley 10, Dillon Rapp 8, Chris Paddock 4, Sam Newton 3, Ramsey Khalidi 3, Caleb Braddy 4. Totals 11 2-3 30.
CIRCLE (38) – Jordan Phillips 8, Brett Tunnell 13, Kanyon Kinder 4, Eric Shepherd 4, Nick Warren 3, Alex Gardinier 6. Totals 13 10-16 38.
Rose Hill 14 3 4 9 – 30
Circle 2 11 7 18 – 38
Three-point baskets – Rose Hill 6 (Shirley 2, Rapp 2, Newton 1, Khalidi 1), Circle 2 (Tunnell 1, Warren 1). Records – Rose Hill 15-8, Circle 14-9.
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The Circle Thunderbirds found themselves in a huge hole early in the second quarter of their Class 4A boys sub-state championship game at Maize South, trailing by 15 points after the Rose Hill Rockets hit five straight three-pointers.
The Thunderbirds were able to turn up their defensive pressure and clawed their way on the offensive side of the game to overcome the deficit and beat the Rockets 38-30 to claim the sub-state title.
Circle allowed only six Rose Hill field goals after the opening quarter and used a 11-point run in the fourth quarter to take the lead for good and earn a trip to the Class 4A state tournament at the Salina Bicentennial Center.
“We just picked up intensity,” said Circle post player Jordan Phillips. “They just came out hitting shots and we knew they couldn’t do that the whole time. They they just went cold and we took advantage.”
It didn’t look pretty early for the T-Birds (14-9) after Rose Hill scored the final 14 points of the first quarter and then hit a three-pointer to open the second. However, the Rockets (15-8) didn’t score again in the final 7:30 of the first half and Brett Tunnell scored seven and Phillips four to cut the deficit to 17-13 by halftime.
The two teams were similar in shooting (both were 6-of-18 from the floor), but all but one of Rose Hill’s baskets were three-pointers, while Circle had only one three in their side of the scorebook. All of Circle’s points in the first half were scored by Tunnell and Phillips.
“Everybody was still positive,” Tunnell said. “We just knew that we could come back so we just kept fighting.”
The third quarter was a defensive struggle as Circle made only three of their 11 shots, while Rose Hill was 2-of-10. Circle gained the lead late in the stanza on a basket by Phillips, but the Rockets were able to regain the advantage going into the final quarter at 21-20.
Circle’s scoring run in the fourth quarter started with a three-point basket by Nick Warren, followed by the T-Birds were able to get eight points off of Rose Hill turnovers – six scored by Alex Gardinier – to lead 33-26. The Rockets got the margin down to five, but a three-point play by Kanyon Kinder and a basket by Tunnell to seal the win.
“We had some defensive problems there in the early going; but once our offense got going, then it covered up for the defense a little bit,” said Circle coach Burt Helmer. “Our obvious strength is inside; but if we have to go inside-out, then we have guys who can shoot it, too.”
Tunnell led Circle in scoring with 13 points, while Phillips added eight in the win. Tyler Shelley scored 10 points to lead Rose Hill.
The T-Birds will play top-seeded Pratt in a first round game at the state tournament on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
ROSE HILL (30) – Tyler Shelley 10, Dillon Rapp 8, Chris Paddock 4, Sam Newton 3, Ramsey Khalidi 3, Caleb Braddy 4. Totals 11 2-3 30.
CIRCLE (38) – Jordan Phillips 8, Brett Tunnell 13, Kanyon Kinder 4, Eric Shepherd 4, Nick Warren 3, Alex Gardinier 6. Totals 13 10-16 38.
Rose Hill 14 3 4 9 – 30
Circle 2 11 7 18 – 38
Three-point baskets – Rose Hill 6 (Shirley 2, Rapp 2, Newton 1, Khalidi 1), Circle 2 (Tunnell 1, Warren 1). Records – Rose Hill 15-8, Circle 14-9.
