YATES CENTER — While both basketball teams already knew when and where they would be playing next week to start the postseason, Humboldt and Yates Center had some unfinished business to take care of Thursday evening.
The host Wildcats emerged with a hard-fought 30-28 victory over the visiting Cubs to wrap up the 2021-22 regular season.
Humboldt (12-7) will open the Class 3A Substate Tournament at home at 7 p.m. Monday as the fourth seed and will host fifth-seed Anderson County (9-9). The winner advances to Thursday’s semifinal round against either top-seed Frontenac or eighth-seed Eureka.
Meanwhile, Yates Center (12-6) is seeded third and will host Jayhawk-Linn at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Class 2A Substate Tournament. The winner will play either Southeast or Uniontown next Friday in the semifinal round.
But before that, there was Thursday’s regular season-capper, which featured plenty of defense.
The Wildcats led 14-12 at halftime and 24-16 at the break.
Humboldt made things close down the stretch, but could not complete the comeback.
Sean Hurst led the Wildcats with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Jack King and Cash Cummings scored seven apiece. Blake Audiss scored three; Jayston Rice had two points and five rebounds.
Humboldt, which shot at a cool 27% clip, was led by Trey Sommer’s eight points and three steals. Levi McGowen, Drew Wilhite and Gavin Page scored four each. Blake Ellis, Colden Cook, Logan Page and Colton Slocum all had two points. McGowen pulled in four rebounds.
IN GIRLS play, Humboldt cruised to a 49-29 victory to end the regular season at 7-13.
No other details were available.
The Lady Cubs hold the seventh seed in their substate tournament and will travel to second second-seeded Frontenac at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The winner faces either Girard or Anderson County on Friday at Prairie View.
Yates Center (5-14) is seeded seventh in Class 2A substate action, and will travel to Uniontown at 7 p.m. Monday. The winner plays either Southeast or Pleasanton Thursday.
The substate title games are next Saturday, March 5.
