Hesston overcomes an eleven-point deficit to advance to the state quarterfinals
Story & photos by Dale Grosbach
Hesston High School Swathers boys basketball faced the Cheney High School Cardinals in a Kansas State High School Athletic Association Class 3A Sub-state Final at Haven High School on Friday, March 6, 2026.
The Hesston Swathers entered the game as the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A Haven Sub-state bracket, boasting a 23-2 record. The Cheney Cardinals were the No. 6 seed with an 18-6 record.
The game started at a fast pace, with scoring closely contested on both ends of the court. After an early 7-7 tie, Cheney went on a 13-2 scoring run, ending the first quarter with a 20-9 lead. The Cardinals scored off Hesston turnovers and showcased strong defensive rebounding. Cheney's balanced offense saw three players score five or more points in the opening period. In the second quarter, however, Hesston began attacking the lead, narrowing the score to 24-16.
In the third quarter, Hesston continued to chip away at the deficit, outscoring the Cardinals by five points. Senior Ty Unruh and junior Drew Bartell led the Swathers' offense. The quarter concluded with a score of 36-33 in favor of Cheney. Hesston played the latter part of the third quarter in the bonus and added five points from the free-throw line.
The fourth quarter saw the Swathers continuing to apply pressure on the Cheney defense, reducing the lead. At the 6:33 mark, Hesston took its first lead since early in the first quarter, 37-36. The two teams traded baskets until the 2:00 mark, when Hesston executed a four-point play. After scoring a basket to tie the game at 41-41, the Swathers stole the ball on the inbounds play and scored again, taking a 43-41 lead they would not relinquish.
Cheney used its remaining fouls in an attempt to regain possession, but Hesston responded by making 5 of 6 free throws. With one minute remaining, the Swathers went into slowdown mode, waiting for the open shot. Hesston maintained control and ultimately won 50-44.
Junior Alex Lynch led Cheney in scoring with 10 points. For Hesston, Unruh topped the score sheet with 18 points, while Bartell contributed 12 points.
With the victory, Hesston advances to the state quarterfinals Tuesday, March 10, 2026, where the Swathers will face the Scott Community High School Beavers. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Friends University in Wichita.
