The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

That's a wrap. The Haxtun Lady Bulldogs wrapped up regular season play with games in Otis and Sedgwick County last week. The team heads into the post season with an overall 8-6 record and a final 16th placing in RPI standings in 1A basketball action.

It was a quick, shortened season, that at times players, fans and coaches wondered if it would ever start. Despite mandated mask wearing and limited fans in the stands at the first few games, the season went on and now as the Lady Bulldogs head into the post-season, they will see yet again a shorter road to the State Finals.

The top 24 teams in 1A are now in a championship bracket with games taking place throughout the second week in March with final four contests slated for March 16 and Mach 19.

The Lady Bulldogs wrapped up their regular season last week with an away contest in Otis on Tuesday. Haxtun led by four after the first quarter, putting 13 points on the board in the first eight minutes. The Lady Bulldogs added another 16 in the second to hold a 29-16 lead at the half.

Haxtun's defense held Otis to just three points in the third quarter and just four in the fourth while the Lady Bulldog offense added another 20 points to the board to sail to a 49-23 victory.

"We played a solid game at Otis. It gave us an opportunity to work on some different zone defense looks as we prepare for our final regular season game and also the playoffs," Head Coach Arlan Scholl said. "This team is very versatile and we can give other teams many different looks on offense and on defense. I am so proud to be working with this group of hard working basketball players and excellent students. We have accomplished much so far this season and I look forward to continuing success."

Three Lady Bulldogs put up double-digits in the points department led by sophomore Cassidy Goodwin. Goodwin netted 11 points from five shots inside the paint and one free throw. Allie Thompson and Cassidy Goddard each added 10 points followed by Taylor Schram with eight.

Goodwin shot 100 percent from the free-throw line. As a team, the Lady Bulldogs went 30 percent from the charity stripe knocking down three of 10 shots.

Goddard pulled down 11 rebounds, the team high. She nabbed seven on offense and four on defense. Senior Bella Tori pulled down 10 rebounds; three on offense and seven defensively.

Schram added seven assists on the night while also nabbing five steals.

On Friday, the team traveled to Ovid to the home of the Sedgwick County Lady Cougars where the Lady Bulldogs jumped to an early 12-8 lead after the first quarter. Sedgwick County evened things out just before the half but Haxtun remained on top 21-20 at the half way point.

The Lady Bulldogs struggled offensively in the third and fourth quarters, putting up just 17 points to their opponent's 37. Sedgwick County ran away with the win, 57-38.

"We played a very good first half and were leading at the half. However, fouls and turnovers started to plague us in the third and fourth quarters and the game started to get away from us," said Scholl. "The final score really isn't representative of how competitive the game was. I felt like we played very well at times, and our defense kept them in check most of the game. We will now see how we can compete in the 24-team playoff bracket that is being used this year."

Tori put 12 points on the board, the team high, netting five shots under the basket and two from the charity stripe. K'lyn Bornhoft also hit double digits, putting up 11 points, followed by Schram with seven and Goddard with six.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs connected with six of 16 shots at the free-throw line to go 38 percent on the night. Goddard shot 50 percent, connecting with two of four.

Goddard led under the basket, pulling down 13 total rebounds. The starting freshman nabbed five on offense and eight on defense. Tori added nine rebounds and Bornhoft pulled down seven. Schram led in assists for the second game in a row, this time tallying eight. Goddard also led in steals, picking up five.

Now that the regular season has wrapped up, the Lady Bulldogs head into post-season play as the 16 seed in the 24-team playoff bracket. The team scored a home game in the first round and were set to face off with the Idalia Lady Wolves on Tuesday, March 9. The Lady Wolves entered the contest with a 9-4 record and a final 17 seat in the bracket. Results from the match up were not available as of press time.

If the Lady Bulldogs won over Idalia at home Tuesday, they advance to play on Thursday and will meet up with the number-one seeded Briggsdale Lady Falcons. The winner of that contest moves onto the great eight on March 13.

Watch next week's edition of the Herald for complete coverage of the Lady Bulldogs' post-season experience.