Burlington prevails in three overtimes to advance to Class 3A KSHSAA boys basketball finals

Hesston High School Swathers boys basketball faced the Burlington High School Wildcats in a Kansas State High School Athletic Association (KSHSAA) Class 3A state basketball semifinal at the Hutchinson Sports Arena on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

The Hesston Swathers entered the game as the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A KSHSAA Basketball Championship, boasting a 25-2 record. The Burlington Wildcats were the No. 3 seed with a 23-4 record.

Hesston advanced to the state semifinals after a decisive 60-25 victory over Scott Community High School, while Burlington moved forward by defeating Heritage Christian Academy High School 59-44.

In the first quarter, Hesston went on a hot shooting streak, leading Burlington by 13 points with 3:33 remaining in the period. The Swathers continued their offensive advantage into the second quarter, ending the half with a score of 30-19.

However, the third quarter saw a shift in momentum as Burlington shot an impressive 83 percent from the field, scoring 24 points. Their defense effectively denied the Swathers under the basket, allowing Burlington to overcome the halftime deficit and take a 43-40 lead by the end of the third period.

The fourth quarter was a tight battle, with the two teams trading baskets. Regulation time ended with the teams even at 52.

The overtime periods were marked by intense play. Burlington held a lead for most of the first overtime, but Hesston managed to even the score at 63-63 with two successful free throws as time expired. In the second overtime, the Swathers took a slim lead, but the Wildcats fought back, with senior Alex Mautz hitting a three-pointer with just under a second left to tie the score at 70-70.

The third overtime tested the resources of both squads, with each having earlier lost two starters to fouls. In the thrilling final seconds, Hesston received the ball with 18 seconds remaining and scored to take a one-point lead. However, with only 3.7 seconds left on the clock, the Wildcats regained possession. They got the ball to junior Troy Over, who made a shot from the left corner as time expired, winning the game 77-76.

For Hesston, senior Ty Unruh led the scoring with 22 points, with junior Drew Bartell adding 15 points. Swather junior Kason Landes led the squad with seven rebounds.

Leading Burlington were senior Gaige Navarro, who scored 20 points, and juniors Mason Collings and Troy Over, who added 16 apiece. Navarro led the Wildcats in rebounds with eight.

With the victory, Burlington moves into the state finals on Saturday, March 14, 2026, where they will face the Wichita Collegiate High School Spartans. The game will be played at Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson, Kan., at 2:30 p.m.