Schlagle upsets Salina Central in state boys basketball match

Schlagle senior Malik Cushon (12) went up for a shot in the first quarter. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Schlagle High School boys basketball team upset Salina Central High School 56-53 in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs March 9 in Topeka.

Schlagle, the seventh seed, made enough free throws to keep its lead over Central, which was the second seed of the tournament.

With 8 seconds remaining, Central had a last-chance shot to tie the game with a long three-pointer, but missed the mark.

Down by 5 with three minutes remaining in the game, Central shifted to a hacking strategy to conserve the clock, fouling the Schlagle ball handler immediately off the inbounds pass. As a result, Schlagle took 34 free throw shots for the game, versus 12 for Central. Schlagle made 20 of 34.

Schlagle moves on to face Wichita Heights in the tournament semi-finals on March 10. The game will be at 4:45 p.m. today at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka.

Photos copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel

Schlagle junior Tyon Grant-Foster (2) drove to the basket. Grant-Foster led the team with 16 points. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle senior Cordae Bass (3) took a short-range jumper in the first quarter. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Malik Cushon knocked away a shot from Central junior Ethan Speer (15). Cushon finished with 6 blocks in the game. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle senior Tama Johnson (11) looked to pass inside. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle sophomore D’Monte Gaw (13) went up for a layup in the second quarter. Gaw had 11 points and 7 rebounds in the game. Central led 31 to 24 at halftime. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

The Schlagle dance team performed with the band at halftime. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle senior Dominique Sanders (32) challenged Central sophomore Harper Williams (23) at the perimeter. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle sophomore Ronnell Mitchell (1) concentrated on a free throw in the fourth quarter. Gaw made 9 of 12 free throw attempts in the game, many during the critical fourth-quarter stretch. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

The Schlagle band played during a timeout in the fourth quarter. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Tyon Grant-Foster threw down a dunk. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

With a small lead late in the fourth quarter, the Schlagle bench watched nervously from the sidelines. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

During a timeout in the fourth quarter, Schlagle head coach Prentes Potts talked with his team about Central’s strategy. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)