WILDCATS SET TO RUN FOR REPEAT STATE TITLE

Kanitz, Hecox led offense

By Staff

Despite losing a hall-of-fame coach to retirement and two all-state players, here they are – the Moundridge boys -  just three games from a second straight  state title after defeating Ell-Saline 47-25 in their Class 2A sub-state championship game on Saturday.

This came after winning a semi-final matchup with Hillsboro, 61-42, on Friday.

Now 20-3 for the season, the Wildcats will head to Dodge City where they will begin defense of their state title on Thursday, March 7 as the third seed playing sixth seed Jefferson County North. Jefferson County North comes into the game 16-7 for the season with the winner to battle either second seeded Sterling (21-2) or seventh seed Plainville (16-7) in the semi-finals on Friday.

Here is a summary of the Wildcats last two games of sub-state.

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCATS vs. Ell-Saline at Sub-State Finals

In the sub-state championship game, Moundridge took an early seven-point, 12-5, lead by the end of the first quarter and then pushed it to an 18-point, 28-10, advantage heading to the halftime break.

After building the lead to 27 points by the end of the third quarter, Ell-Saline cut the final deficit to just 22 at 47-25 for the Wildcat victory.

Kreighton Kanitz led the game in scoring with 18, while Henry Hecox scored 16.

SCORING > Wildcats won 47-25 (20-3, Sub-State Champions)

Wildcats > 12-16-11-8 = 47; Ell-Saline > 5-5-2-13 = 25.

WILDCAT TEAM STATS > 2-FGs = 16/33; FTs = 3/4; 3-PTs = 4/11; ASTs = 17; REBs (off/def) = 24 (9/15); STLs = 9; BLKs = 2; STLs = 9;  BLKs = 2; TOs = 4; FLs = 10.

WILDCATS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERES >

Scoring (47) > Kreighton Kanitz – 18; Henry Hecox – 16; Barrett Moddelmog – 7; Kaizer Kanitz – 4; Zach Dixon – 2. 3-Pointers Made (4) > Hecox – 2; Kre. Kanitz/Moddelmog – 1.

Assists (17) > Kai. Kanitz/Layton Schmidt - 4.

Rebounds (24) > Schmidt – 6; Kai. Kanitz – 5; Dixon – 4; Kre. Kanitz/Hecox – 3; Moddelmog – 2; Heath Churchill – 1.

Steals (9) > Kre. Kanitz/Hecox – 3; Kai. Kanitz – 2; Moddelmog – 1.

Blocked Shots (2) > Kre. Kanitz/Kai. Kaniz – 1.

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCATS vs. Hillsboro at Sub-State Semi-Finals

In their sub-state battle with Hillsboro, the Wildcats scored a 20-point, 61-41 despite only leading by two, 12-10, at the end of the first quarter and then held a nine-point advantage at the halftime break.

Kreighton Kanitz led the team in scoring with 23 while Barrett Moddelmog hit for 18. The Kanitz brothers, Kreighton and Kaizer, tied for the lead in offensive assists as they both dished out five.  Kreighton Kanitz just missed a double double with a team leading eight rebounds, while Henry Hecox pulled down seven.

SCORING > Wildcats won 61-41

Wildcats > 12-13-16-20 = 61; Hillsboro > 10-6-11-15 = 42.

WILDCATS TEAM STATS > 2-FGs = 19/27; FTs = 11/20; 3-PTs = 4/16; ASTs = 16; REBs (off/def) = 23 (9/14); STLs = 8; BLKs = 2; TOs = 12; FLs = 17.

WILDCATS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS >

Scoring (61) > Kreighton Kanitz – 23; Barrett Moddelmog – 18; Kaizer Kanitz – 7; Henry Hecox – 6; Layton Schmidt – 7; Zach Dixon – 2. 3-Pointers Made (4) > Moddelmog – 2; Kre. Kanitz/Kai. Kanitz – 1.

Assists (16) > Kre. Kanitz/Kai. Kanitz – 5; Hecox – 4; Dixon/Moddelmog – 1.

Rebounds (23) > Kre. Kanitz – 8; Hecox – 7; Dixon – 3; Schmidt/Churchill – 2; Kai. Kanitz – 1.

Steals (8) > Hecox – 3; Kai. Kanitz/Kre. Kanitz – 2; Moddelmog – 1.

Blocked Shots (2) > Kre. Kanitz/Hecox – 1.