Bullpup boys beat Concordia 65-48
Earn spot in state quarterfinals in Salina next Wednesday
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BULLPUPS PUNCH TICKET TO STATE, SENIORS BID FAREWELL TO ROUNDHOUSE
The McPherson High School boys basketball team secured their spot in the 4A State Tournament with a commanding 65-48 victory over Concordia in Friday's sub-state championship game. In what marked the final home appearance for the Bullpups' senior class, McPherson pulled away in the second quarter and never looked back, building a 37-22 halftime advantage that proved insurmountable for the visiting Panthers.
Senior Gabe Pyle delivered a fitting performance in his Roundhouse finale, leading all McPherson scorers with approximately 18 points while continuing his defensive prowess with multiple steals. Fellow seniors Bishop Brown, Brody Seidel, and Ian Razak also made big contributions in their home court farewell, with Brown securing several key rebounds, Seidel providing crucial defensive minutes, and Razak offering interior scoring and rim protection despite battling foul trouble throughout the contest.
The Bullpups' defense proved to be the difference-maker, forcing Concordia into double-digit turnovers that frequently translated into transition opportunities. Junior Jett Pyle was perfect from the free-throw line, going 10-for-10 as part of his 16 point performance, while teammate Cade Strathman sparked a second-quarter run with a corner three-pointer. Sophomore Ashton Malm provided valuable minutes off the bench, including clutch free throws down the stretch to help maintain McPherson's advantage when Concordia briefly cut the lead to eight points in the fourth quarter.
The victory advances the Bullpups to the 4A State Tournament in Salina, where quarterfinal games begin Wednesday, followed by semifinals on Friday and the championship on Saturday. As the team looks ahead to the state tournament, they'll carry the momentum of their dominant sub-state showing and the satisfaction of sending their seniors off from the Roundhouse with one final victory on their home floor.
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