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Kansas Class 6A Boys

Shawnee Mission Northwest 65, Shawnee Mission South 42

Shawnee Mission Northwest will be taking its perfect record to the state tourney in Wichita this week.

The Cougars shook off league rival Shawnee Mission South for a 65-42 win in its Class 6A substate final on Saturday night. Sophomore star center Ethan Taylor finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks for Northwest, now 22-0 and the No. 1 seed in the Class 6A state tournament.

Northwest led 30-26 at halftime, but blew the doors off in the third quarter for a 17-6 run and to put the game away at 47-32 entering the final period. Junior Keaton Wagler fired in 15 points along with 11 rebounds for the Cougars. Van Collins added 13 points for Northwest.

"It took a little bit, but we got things going in the second half," head coach David Birch said. "We've been to state three years in a row now and we're wanting to finish it off. But we've got one game at a time, and the guys have played like that all year."

Connor Kerrigan finished with a team-high 14 points for Shawnee Mission South (14-8).

Shawnee Mission Northwest opens the quarterfinals against Wichita East (7-15) at 2 pm on Thursday at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita. The Cougars are aiming to become the Metro's first undefeated team since Lansing (25-0) in 2014.

Class 6A boys quarterfinal matchups

Thursday, March 7

2 pm: (1) Shawnee Mission Northwest vs (8) Wichita East

4 pm: (4) Olathe North vs (5) Mill Valley

6 pm: (2) Wichita Heights vs (7) Haysville Campus

8 pm: (3) Blue Valley Northwest vs (6) Wichita Northwest

Kansas Class 5A boys

Piper 67, Blue Valley Southwest 57

Piper took a moment, but got the bus warmed up for a trip to the state tourney.

The Pirates topped Blue Valley Southwest, 67-57, in its substate final to advance to the Kansas Class 5A state tournament. Piper trailed the Timberwolves, 33-30, at halftime, but cranked into gear after intermission.

Senior Devin Kerr and sophomore Derrick Jackson combined for 22 second-half points as Piper surged in front of its home crowd for a state berth. Kerr finished with 16 points, while Jackson netted a team-high 19 points. Junior PJ Moore added 12 points for the Pirates.

"We had to shake off a little nerves and get everyone loosened up in the second half," head coach Steve Wallace said. "Once we got back in the flow, everyone played better. It's great for everyone and the community to be heading to state."

Tate Everard paced Blue Valley Southwest (14-8) with 15 points, while Dylan Dunn added 11.

The Pirates (19-3) will take on fellow United Kansas Conference foe, Shawnee Heights (19-3), in the first round at 8 pm on Wednesday night at White Auditorium in Emporia.

Class 5A boys quarterfinal matchups

Wednesday, March 6

2 pm: (2) Highland Park vs (7) Andover

4 pm: (3) Kapaun Mt. Carmel vs (7) De Soto

6 pm: (1) Maize South vs (8) Great Bend

8 pm: (4) Piper vs (5) Shawnee Heights

Kansas Class 5A girls

St. Thomas Aquinas 64, St. James Academy 42

St. Thomas Aquinas made sure St. James Academy wasn't going to trip up its state tournament streak.

The Saints advanced to their 30th consecutive state tournament with a 64-42 romp of the Thunder in their substate final on Saturday night. Kelsey Schenck led the way with a game-high 21 points, while Tatum Grimes added 14.

St. James had beaten Aquinas in its previous meeting, 55-53, and trailed just 29-23 at halftime. But the Saints opened the second half with an 18-8 run to put the game away at 47-31 entering the final period.

Reese Messer led the Thunder (15-7) with 21 points.

St. Thomas Aquinas (16-6) will take on Maize South (21-1) on Thursday at 6 pm in Emporia

De Soto 62, Shawnee Heights 47

De Soto put it on cruise control from the outset and onto a drive to Emporia.

The Wildcat girls throttled Shawnee Heights, 62-47, in its substate final on Saturday night to advance to the Kansas Class 5A state tournament. Senior Violet Conley led De Soto with 22 points, while fellow senior Amanda Tower tossed in 18 points.

De Soto built a 28-19 lead at halftime, and then felt good entering the fourth quarter with a 48-35 cushion.

The Wildcats (19-3) will take on fellow United Kansas Conference foe Seaman (20-2) in the first round.

Class 5A girls quarterfinal matchups

Thursday, March 7

2 pm: (1) Andover vs (8) Blue Valley Southwest

4 pm: (4) Seaman vs (5) De Soto

6 pm: (2) Maize South vs (7) St. Thomas Aquinas

8 pm: (3) Emporia vs (6) Bishop Carroll

Other state matchups

Class 6A girls quarterfinal matchups

2 pm: (1) Shawnee Mission South vs (8) Manhattan

4 pm: (4) Olathe South vs (5) Blue Valley North