Thursday Night’s Semifinals — Who Came Out on Top in 3A and 5A?

By the end of Thursday night, only two teams remained in the hunt for a state championship in both 3A and 5A in Kansas. Each of the four games featured a collection of strong teams, impactful players, and impressive coaching staffs. I'll break down the results, look at what stood out, and preview the state title games in both classifications.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wichita Collegiate 57, Silver Lake 43 | 3A State Semifinal</h3>   Silver Lake held their own for much of the night, especially early, sticking to the game plan and keeping play in the half-court as much as possible. Offensively, they were patient, working for quality shots and taking care of the basketball to limit turnovers. That approach forced the Spartans into a slower pace and play in the half-court, keeping them out of transition where their depth and athleticism usually give them an edge. By the end of the first quarter, the Eagles carried a slim one-point lead.   Collegiate's shooting began to heat up in the second quarter, however. The Spartans connected on multiple shots from beyond the arc, including a deep three just before the halftime buzzer that pushed their lead to four points at 25–21. Even with Collegiate finding success from the perimeter, Silver Lake managed to keep the game within striking distance and at a pace that still allowed them to stay competitive heading into the second half.   The second half saw the game begin to open up, which allowed Collegiate to build on its slim halftime lead. The Spartans stretched the margin to 13 during the third quarter as they started to push the pace back toward the style of play that has suited them best all season long.   Silver Lake didn't go away, though. The Eagles battled back late in the third quarter and into the early part of the fourth, cutting the lead back down to seven and briefly putting some pressure back on Collegiate. In the final few minutes, however, the Spartans responded with a run of their own, closing the game strong and eventually pulling away for a 57–43 victory.   [player_tooltip player_id='2209780' first='Sebastian' last='Hines-Turner'] was the best player on the floor. Silver Lake really struggled to match up with his size, skill, and explosiveness. He finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, and five assists to go along with a number of steals coming off his length and anticipation on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='2205716' first='Kamari' last='Jennings'] added 14 points, while [player_tooltip player_id='1541007' first='Amare' last='(AJ) Batiste'] would also finish with 10. The Spartans' key players delivered exactly what was needed and expected for that matter.   For Silver Lake, [player_tooltip player_id='2403152' first='Dayne' last='Johnson'] — the program's all-time leading scorer — finished with 14 points, while Hunter Rooks added 13.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kapaun Mt. Carmel 54, Seaman 52 | 5A State Semifinal</h3>   In a season where [player_tooltip player_id='2211343' first='KaeVon' last='Bonner'] had arguably been one of the top players in the state, he ran into a Kapaun team that made it a clear priority not to let him beat them. Defensively, the Crusaders made life difficult for Bonner throughout the night, especially in the first half, forcing him into several turnovers and tough situations whenever he touched the ball.   Seaman struggled to find any rhythm offensively as a result. The Vikings managed just 15 points in the first half, and even those came with a great deal of difficulty. Kapaun's defensive pressure consistently disrupted possessions, and they repeatedly finished those stops by securing defensive rebounds to prevent second-chance opportunities.   Early in the second half, the Crusaders delivered a quick run that stretched the lead out to 17 points, putting Seaman in a very difficult position and giving Kapaun firm control of the game. However, just as they have shown all season, the Vikings didn't go away.   Seaman, led by Bonner, battled back throughout the second half, gradually chipping away at the deficit. They began to find some openings offensively and finally saw a few shots start to fall. By the final quarter, the Vikings had cut the lead down to five after a deep three with just over three minutes remaining.   As the game tightened late, though, the Crusaders continued to respond. Every big shot Seaman made seemed to be matched by one from Kapaun, a reflection of the composure and championship pedigree the Crusaders have built over the years. The final minutes turned into a back-and-forth battle, with momentum swinging on nearly every possession.   Seaman managed to cut the lead to just two points with 20 seconds remaining and, after a couple of missed free throws by Kapaun, the Vikings got one final opportunity with the ball. They created multiple looks at the basket in the closing seconds but couldn't get a shot to fall, as Kapaun held on for a dramatic 54–52 victory.   Bonner led all scorers in the game, finishing with 27 points and helping spark Seaman's second-half comeback effort. He rebounded from a rough first half and looked much more like himself in the second half as his play helped shift the momentum and gave the Vikings a real chance late in the game. [player_tooltip player_id='2245738' first='Griffin' last='Zuniga'] also contributed with 13 points and six rebounds, making some crucial plays down the stretch as well.   Kapaun was paced by Cole Rapp, who finished with 18 points and nailed four huge three-pointers to keep the Crusaders in control. [player_tooltip player_id='2211346' first='Rocco' last='Keller'] also had a strong showing, adding 12 points and nine rebounds, giving Kapaun another reliable presence during key stretches. Defensively, the team was solid, particularly early, reinforcing the identity and toughness that defines the program.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bonner Springs 76, Topeka West 61 | 5A State Semifinal</h3>   Bonner Springs kept their momentum rolling Thursday night, coming out focused and locked in from the opening tip against Topeka West. The Braves wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to an 11-point lead by the end of the first quarter. That early advantage came from strong offensive execution, unselfish ball movement, and a collective ability to knock down shots. When Bonner Springs is sharing the ball and making the extra pass, they become a very difficult team to slow down, and that was evident right away.   Both [player_tooltip player_id='2820802' first='Jaiden' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2211348' first='Kelan' last='Gruver'] continued to score efficiently throughout the second quarter, pacing the Braves with a balanced inside-out attack. Their ability to complement each other kept the floor spaced and forced the Chargers' defense to constantly adjust. Jones did a great job attacking and finishing, while Gruver controlled the game's rhythm, creating opportunities both for himself and for teammates. At times, Bonner Springs was able to pick apart the Topeka West defense with patient possessions and well-timed scoring runs. By halftime, the Braves had built a solid 37–25 lead.   In the second half, Gruver really took control of the game and continued to lead the way for Bonner Springs. The Braves maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the third and fourth quarters as he consistently made big plays when his team needed them. His ability to create within the offense, find open teammates, and finish through contact stood out throughout the night. Time and again, he stepped up and delivered key baskets or assists that kept the momentum firmly on Bonner Springs' side.   The Braves supporting cast would show up again throughout the game, getting timely production from the players around their stars. The supporting cast consistently contributed, helping maintain the same identity that Bonner Springs has used throughout the season to this point.   Gruver finished the night with an outstanding all-around performance, putting up 32 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. [player_tooltip player_id='2820802' first='Jaiden' last='Jones'] added 20 points of his own, while Nate Ferrell continued his upward trend, chipping in 18 points.   For Topeka West, Prince Lassiter led the way with 21 points, while Gad Munganga added 15 in the Chargers' effort.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Burlington 77, Hesston 76 | 3A State Semifinal</h3>   In what could go down as the best game of the season in Kansas, Burlington and Hesston went toe-to-toe in a thrilling battle that stretched into three overtimes, with both teams matching each other play for play the entire night.   The game began with Hesston coming out firing. The defending state champions jumped all over Burlington early, using their connected defense and strong shot-making on the offensive end to build what looked like a commanding lead. For a while, it seemed like Hesston might run away with the game. But Burlington never panicked. As the second quarter went on, they slowly began to settle in and chip away at the deficit. While they still trailed by 11 at halftime, there was a clear sense that Burlington had found its rhythm and was starting to feel comfortable in the game.   The third quarter felt like a completely different matchup. Burlington came out red hot and simply could not miss. They knocked down four three-pointers in the quarter and poured in 24 total points, completely flipping the momentum of the game. What had once been a sizable Hesston lead quickly shrank, and by the end of the quarter the gap was down to just three points heading into the fourth.   Burlington carried that momentum into the final period and eventually grabbed the lead as they continued to find ways to score against Hesston's tough, disciplined defense. But the defending champions weren't going away easily. Hesston battled right back, answering Burlington's runs with big plays of their own. Late in the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 52–52, both teams had chances to win it but couldn't convert, sending the game into overtime.   From there, the drama only continued to build. Each overtime period was packed with big shots, clutch plays, and momentum swings as both teams refused to give in. Every possession felt critical, and both sides seemed to embrace the critical moments.   Shawn Mautz and [player_tooltip player_id='3028577' first='Troy' last='Over'] delivered some of the biggest plays of the night during the overtime periods. Mautz hit a buzzer-beater that forced a third overtime and kept Burlington's hopes alive, while Over eventually sealed the game with the game-winning shot at the end of the third overtime, sending Burlington through in dramatic fashion.   It was the type of game where it's tough to see either team lose, but Burlington ultimately survives and moves on with a chance to play for a state title.   [player_tooltip player_id='2948828' first='Gaige' last='Navarro'] led Burlington with 20 points, while Over added 18 and Mason Collins would add 16. Hesston was led by Ty Unruh, who finished with 22 points and six assists, while [player_tooltip player_id='3091354' first='Drew' last='Bartell'] scored 15 points in the loss.   3A State Championship: Wichita Collegiate vs. Burlington | March 14th at 2:30 PM | Hutchinson Sports Arena   3A Third Place Game: Silver Lake vs. Hesston | March 13th at 12:30 PM | Hutchinson Sports Arena (Silver Lake 61, Hesston 45)   5A State Championship: Kapaun Mt. Carmel vs. Bonner Springs | March 14th at 2:30 PM | Koch Arena   5A Third Place Game: Seaman vs. Topeka West | March 13th at 12:30 PM | Koch Arena (Seaman 66, Topeka West 50)

By the end of Thursday night, only two teams remained in the hunt for a state championship in both 3A and 5A in Kansas. Each of the four games featured a collection of strong teams, impactful players, and impressive coaching staffs. I'll break down the results, look at what stood out, and preview the state title games in both classifications.