Tuesday’s 3A State Quarterfinals — What’s Next for the Winners?

As we move closer to crowning state champions in each classification, 3A gets things started with teams clinching their spots in the Final Four on Tuesday. I'll take a look back at these games, break down how each team advanced, and share some thoughts on what stood out along the way.   From there, we'll also look ahead and make a few predictions on how the upcoming matchups might play out as the path to a championship becomes clearer.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Burlington 59, Heritage Christian Academy 44</h3>   Burlington clearly looked like — and played like — the better team in this one, getting strong contributions from their core as they took down Heritage Christian.   [player_tooltip player_id='3028577' first='Troy' last='Over'] led the Wildcats with 17 points, including a barrage of long-range triples, hitting five in total while keeping the floor spaced and spread. Maddux Cheever put together another all-around performance, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, demonstrating his ability to impact the game and make the winning plays that often go unnoticed in real time. Shawn Mautz added 11 points to round out the trio of Burlington players in double figures.   Now, Burlington turns its attention to the reigning state champions, Hesston. There's no question this team can compete with the Swathers, but they'll need to be at their absolute best. Over and Cheever will need to continue their strong play, while [player_tooltip player_id='2948828' first='Gaige' last='Navarro']'s size and mobility will be crucial on both ends of the floor to match up against Hesston's frontcourt. Success for Burlington will depend on executing at a high level and finding ways to handle the Swathers' inside-out game and physicality.   Next Game: Burlington vs. Hesston | Thursday, March 12th at 8:00 PM | Hutchinson Sports Arena   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Silver Lake 47, Holcomb 37</h3>   In one of the more physical games of the quarterfinal round, Silver Lake outlasted Holcomb, making just enough plays on the offensive end to close out the Longhorns. It was a tough, grind-it-out matchup where possessions were at a premium. Silver Lake found enough ways to execute in the second half and were able to secure the win.   The Eagles were led by [player_tooltip player_id='2403152' first='Dayne' last='Johnson'], who finished with 16 points and led as he has all season with his aggressiveness and ability to create space with the ball. Grady Bergmann was also heavily involved, adding 10 points and giving Silver Lake a valuable secondary scoring option. For Holcomb, Ayden Brown led the way with 15 points, doing his best to keep the Longhorns within striking distance throughout.   Silver Lake now moves on to face Wichita Collegiate, a team that has been widely regarded as the best in 3A for most of the season. If the Eagles want to keep their run alive, they'll likely need to approach the game in a similar fashion — slowing the tempo and embracing the physical, half-court style that worked for them in the quarterfinals.   Camden Kruger and Grady Bergmann will need to be locked in on both ends of the floor, providing shot-making while also delivering strong situational defense. Their ability to handle key moments and make timely plays will be important if Silver Lake wants to stay within striking distance.   [player_tooltip player_id='2403152' first='Dayne' last='Johnson'] will also need to deliver another strong performance — potentially his best yet in an Eagles uniform — if Silver Lake hopes to continue advancing.   Next Game: Silver Lake vs. Wichita Collegiate | Thursday, March 12th at 6:00 PM | Hutchinson Sports Arena   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hesston 60, Scott Community 25</h3>   Hesston delivered a dominant performance in this one, methodically taking control of the game and wearing down the Beavers with their size and balanced production across the roster. The Swathers shot the ball well throughout the night and consistently found quality looks, particularly inside the paint.   [player_tooltip player_id='3091354' first='Drew' last='Bartell'] led the way with 18 points, scoring at a very efficient rate and asserting himself offensively with his size and strength. His ability to dominate the painted area and capitalize on strong positioning paid dividends for the team. Ty Unruh also had a strong night, adding 13 points and providing another reliable scoring option as Hesston continued to extend its lead.   Hesston now moves on to face Burlington in the Final Four. It's an intriguing matchup, but the Swathers should have the advantage if they continue to play connected basketball on both ends of the floor. Look for Hesston to establish an inside-out approach early, while leaning on their strong team defense and rebounding to create separation.   Bartell, Unruh, Gavin Larson, and Kason Landes will all be key contributors offensively as they look to lead the group and maintain Hesston's momentum heading into the semifinals. Their experience and success over the years should be a major factor when everything is on the line, especially in a game where a win brings them one step closer to another state title.   Next Game: Hesston vs. Burlington | Thursday, March 12th at 8:00 PM | Hutchinson Sports Arena   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wichita Collegiate 106, Wellsville 60</h3>   As expected, the top-seeded Spartans took care of business Tuesday night in decisive fashion. Not only did they hang 100 points, but they also got one of the biggest individual performances of the postseason so far from AJ Batiste, who finished with 42 points to go along with seven rebounds.   Batiste was easily the best player on the floor and asserted himself early and often, taking control of the game with his blend of skill and quick-twitch athleticism. He consistently found ways to create offense and kept the pressure on throughout the night. [player_tooltip player_id='2209780' first='Sebastian' last='Hines-Turner'] also had a strong performance, adding 18 points of his own and providing another reliable scoring option for the Spartans.   The game was essentially decided early, as Collegiate built a big lead heading into halftime and maintained control from there. From start to finish, it was a dominant performance that highlighted the type of talent this Collegiate team has and what it's capable of when playing at its best.   Collegiate will now take on Silver Lake in the semifinals with a trip to the state title game on the line. The Spartans should continue leaning on their top three players, who have been productive all season thanks to their combination of skill and athleticism — Batiste, Hines-Turner, and [player_tooltip player_id='2205716' first='Kamari' last='Jennings'].   Next Game: Wichita Collegiate vs. Silver Lake | Thursday, March 12th at 6:00 PM | Hutchinson Sports Arena

As we move closer to crowning state champions in each classification, 3A gets things started with teams clinching their spots in the Final Four on Tuesday. I'll take a look back at these games, break down how each team advanced, and share some thoughts on what stood out along the way.