By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Despite a regular season mark of 5-15, the Hayden Wildcats opened eyes by winning their Class 3A sub-state bracket last week and went to Hutchinson hoping to continue that run.
The Wildcats showed that – despite suffering numerous losses – playing a rugged regular-season schedule could lead to postseason success. But when they confronted the top-ranked team in 3A at the state tournament in Hutchinson, the run come to an end.
Hayden coach Trey Brown said his Wildcats should be proud of the posteason run they made in Class 3A. [Photo by Kyle Grunert/Special to TSN]
As the No. 8 seed at the Hutchinson Sports Arena Wednesday, Hayden was mowed down by the top seed, Beloit, 56-42.
Hayden finished the season 8-16. Wildcat coach Trey Brown emphasized the team can take pride in the run it made in the postseason.
“We told the guys that they should be proud,” Brown said. “They worked hard and battled adversity all year. It was tough to get here but they did it. It just wasn’t our night tonight.”
Senior Cooper Colboch led Hayden with 15 points on five 3-pointers in Wednesday's Class 3A state tournament loss to top seed Beloit. [File photo/TSN]
Things started promisingly enough. Hayden had trouble getting shots off in the paint against the big and long post players from Beloit. But Hayden senior Cooper Colboch offset the Trojans’ dominance in the paint with three first-quarter 3-pointers and Beloit held a slim 11-10 lead after one period.
But when the Wildcats went cold from the perimeter in the second period, it opened the door for Beloit to reel off 16 consecutive points to break out to a 27-13 advantage over the next five minutes.
Beloit blocked eight shots and forced eight Hayden turnovers in the first half.
“Once we got it into (the interior) we didn’t really have a plan,” Brown said. “We didn’t move off the ball well. We just stood still. They’ve got some great bigs, but we just struggled to move without the ball when we were penetrating. So, then we were just forcing it over guys who are 6-5, 6-6. That’s not going to work out in our favor a lot of times.”
The Wildcats returned from intermission to a similar predicament in the third period. A 7-0 Beloit run to start the second half put the Wildcats in a 34-13 hole they would not escape. The third period ended with Hayden trailing 45-21.
The Wildcats valiantly scored 21 points in the fourth period to narrow the final margin to 56-42.
Colboch finished with 15 points to lead the Wildcats. Fellow senior Dom Ridley added 13.
“A lot of credit to (Beloit),” Brown said. “We missed a lot of shots that we have been making, so that didn’t help. But it’s a credit to them. That’s a really great team with a lot of seniors.”
Beloit efficiently connected on 23-41 shots from the field. They were led by 6-foot-5 post Eli Johnson who hit 10-12 shots to finish with 21 points. 6-foot-7 post Bryce Beisner was a perfect 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the line for 12 points.
The Trojans advanced to Friday’s semifinals where they will face Wellsville.
Brown, who completed his first season as head coach at Hayden after a season at Cair Paravel, praised the team for laying a foundation for future Wildcat teams.
“I’m super proud of these guys, especially our three seniors,” Brown said. “It’s not easy having three coaches in four years. Everything they went through this year, on the court, off the court, they did it the right way.
“It’s been a topic since the beginning of the year, that Hayden has been to state only one out of the last five years. Hayden basketball is used to going to state every year. So, a big thing was setting the bar. When the guys look back on the season, they are going to think ‘I grew as a basketball player, but also as a man too.’ ”
BELOIT BOYS 56, HAYDEN 42
Hayden 10 6 5 21 -- 42
Beloit 11 19 15 11 -- 56
Hayden (8-16) – Charvat 0-4 1-4 1, Hanika 0-3 0-0 0, Colboch 5-13 0-0 15, Ridley 4-11 3-4 13, Becker 1-6 0-0 3, Mitchell 0-1 0-0 0, Kuta 2-3 1-1 5, Deister 0-6 0-0 0, Grace 1-2 0-0 3, Banks 0-0 0-0 0, Kidd 1-1 0-0 2, Zwiesler 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 14-50 5-9 42.
Beloit (23-1) – Eilert 3-5 0-0 6, Johnson 10-12 0-0 21, Beisner 4-4 2-2 12, Gerstner 3-10 0-0 7, J. Cheney 0-2 1-2 1, Lundine 1-1 0-0 3, Litton 1-2 1-2 3, L. Cheney 0-0 0-0 0, Rexroat 0-1 0-0 0, Burke 1-2 0-0 3, Laflen 0-1 0-0 0, Lechien 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 23-41 4-6 56.
3-point goals – Hayden 9 (Colboch 5, Ridley 2, Becker 1, Grace 1), Beloit 6 (Beisner 2, Johnson 1, Gerstner 1, Lundine 1, Burke 1). Total fouls – Hayden 14, Beloit 15. Fouled out – Colboch. Technical fouls – Ridley.
