Three Emporia High Spartans scored in double figures leading a balanced attack in a 72-46 victory over Wichita Trinity in the opening round of the Bluestem Classic Thursday night in El Dorado.
Emporia High scored the game’s first 13 points with Trinity pulling within eight points before the Spartans took a 19-13 lead heading into the second quarter. The Spartans extended their lead to as many as 18 in the second quarter before Trinity scored the final 11 points of the half to cut the deficit to seven, 31-24, at halftime. Emporia High started the second half on a 7-2 run to push the lead back to double figures and never got below 10 the remainder of the game. Rylan Crowell led Emporia High with 16 points, while Chase Harrington added a career-high 15 points off the bench and Harry Trelc added 13. Emporia High coach Lee Baldwin liked the balanced attack from his team.
Emporia High is now 5-3 on the season. The Spartans will play Kapaun Mt. Carmel, the defending state champions in Class 5A, in the first of two championship semifinals at 6 p.m. Friday in El Dorado. The semifinal will be a rematch from one semifinal from the 2024 edition of the tournament. The RV-Doc Pregame Show begins at 5:45 p.m. on KVOE. The other championship semifinal has Wichita Collegiate facing Goddard to be played at 7:45 p.m. Friday.
