YATES CENTER — A quick start propelled Yates Center High’s boys to victory Tuesday.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 15-6 lead over visiting Jayhawk-Linn High after one quarter and never looked back in a 48-37 win.
The victory, coming in the first round of the Class 2A Substate Playoffs, puts Yates Center in Friday’s semifinal matchup against Southeast, a 61-50 winner over Uniontown. The Wildcats are seeded third in the tournament; Southeast second.
The winner will face either top seed Erie or St. Mary’s Colgan in Saturday’s championship round for a berth in the upcoming 2A State Tournament next week in Manhattan.
The Wildcats’ Sean Hurst was his typical dominant self in the win, scoring 18 and pulling down nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Emmett Brittan drained five 3-pointers to follow with 15.
The Wildcat lead swelled to 27-12 by halftime.
The Jayhawks kept pace through the second half, but not enough to dent much into the lead.
Jack King accentuated Yates Center’s attack with six points and three steals.
Cash Cummings scored four, Canon Cavender and Blake Audiss two apiece, and Jayston Rice had one point and two steals.
ELSEWHERE, Humboldt High’s Lady Cubs saw their season come to an end with a 78-38 loss at Frontenac to end the season with a 6-14 record.
The Raiders blitzed their way to a 46-15 lead at halftime.
Additional details were unavailable.
Frontenac advances to take on Girard in the semifinals Friday
