March 28, 2024

Hugoton Sweeps Goodland; Girls Close in on GWAC Crown

Hugoton, KS (westernkansasnews.com) The one hundredth winter homecoming for Hugoton basketball could not have gone any better.  All the Lady Eagles need is a win Tuesday night in Ulysses to take their first ever Great Western Activities Conference championship and the first title since playing in the High Plains League back in 1991 with a 68-34 win over Goodland. 

Hugoton girls won their seventh in a row, while the boys snapped their three game losing streak by hammering Goodland 62-38.

Girls Highlights

The Lady Eagles used the strength of a 28 point second quarter to take a 43-19 lead at half and never looked back in winning by 34.  Freshman Dallie Hoskinson added 16 points, followed by Kate Heger’s 15.  Melissa Fabella hit on two threes and finished with 12 points all while holding Cowgirl center Kate Lynn-King to 12, four shy of her average. 

Hugoton Head Coach Andy Gillen’s postgame comments

The win brings Hugoton to 14-2, 7-0 in GWAC and on a seven game winning streak.  Goodland falls to 9-8, 3-4 in GWAC.

Boys Highlights

Friday night the Hugoton boys for the first time in 2 weeks did not face a ranked team.  For the Eagles it was a welcomed relief beating Goodland who came in 3-13 and 1-5 in the conference beating the Cowboys 62-38. 

Hugoton matched their win total of last year when they went 11-10 getting their 11th win this season in their 16th game and improving their GWAC record to 4-3.

Parker Titus led the way with 14 points just days after being limited to 3-11 from the field against Scott City.  Wade Heger chipped in with 13 and Tony Kinser had eight including six points in a row during the second half.  Braxton Redlin nudged out Kolt Trachsel for the Goodland lead in points with 10, his teammate Trachsel followed up with 9. 

Goodland lingered around and was within 9 at half with a 31-22 lead.  Hugoton outscored Goodland 31-16 the rest of the way and had a 18-10 advantage in the third quarter.

Coach Craig Szymczak Postgame Comments

Hugoton girls will play to wrap-up the conference championship Tuesday at 6:30.  Pre-game show begins at 6:15 on Hits 106 and westernkansasnews.com.  The boys game will follow.  Hugoton has won both prior games with Ulysses this year including a win in the championship game of the Blue and Red tournament.