By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden went toe to toe with Class 4A giant Bishop Miege in Friday night's state boys semifinal and gave the the Stags a battle before dropping a 62-50 decision at the Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina.
The Wildcats, who fell to 10-14 were within six points at the half, but could never get over the hump against defending champion Miege (18-6), which will play Andale for the state title at 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
Hayden will take on McPherson in a 2 p.m. third-place game Saturday. The Bullpups dropped a 49-42 semifinal decision to Andale on Friday.
Peyton Bartlett hit four of four 3-pointers and tied for team-high scoring honors with 14 points in Hayden's 62-50 state semifinal loss to Bishop Miege Friday night. [File photo/TSN]
Hayden junior Joe Otting scored 14 points in the Wildcats' 62-50 Class 4A state semifinal loss to Bishop Miege Friday night. [FIle photo/TSN]
Hayden led 26-22 after a 3-pointer by senior Peyton Bartlett with 1:42 left before halftime, but Miege scored the final 10 points of the quarter to take a 32-26 lead at the break.
Miege then opened the second half with a 9-3 run and Hayden never got any closer than nine the rest of the way.
Christian Bowen scored 24 points to lead the Stags while Aiden Wing and Daegan Jensen scored 13 points apiece.
Hayden, which knocked off top seed Eudora in the first round, got 14 points apiece from Bartlett and junior Joe Otting.
The Wildcats out-rebounded Miege by a 22-18 margin and shot 55 percent from the field (18 of 33), but the Wildcats hurt themselves with 17 turnovers.
BISHOP MIEGE BOYS 62, HAYDEN 50
Bishop Miege 15 17 16 14 -- 62
Hayden 15 11 9 15 -- 50
Bishop Miege (18-6) - Hall 1-5 1-2 3, Bowen 7-12 8-12 24, Wing 5-7 3-4 13, Jensen 4-8 5-7 13, Boylan 2-5 4-4 9, Armstrong 0-1 0-0 0, Coppage 0-0 0-0 0, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-38 21-29 62.
Hayden (10-14) - Bartlett 5-5 0-0 14, Muller 3-7 1-2 8, Scott 1-3 1-1 3, Duffey 2-7 2-2 8, Otting 6-7 2-2 14, Foster 0-0 0-0 0, Ridley 0-1 0-0 0, Ham 0-0 0-0 0, Alfonsi 0-0 0-0 0, Gorman 0-1 1-2 1, Rice 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 18-33 7-9 50.
3-point shots - Bishop Miege 3-5 (Bowen 2-2, Boylan 1-2, Armstrong 0-1); Hayden 7-15 (Bartlett 4-4, Muller 1-5, Duffey 2-4, Gorman 0-1,l Rice 0-1). Total fouls - Bishop Miege 15, Hayden 22. Fouled out -- Duffey.
