Despite rough shooting, including at the free throw line, the Kingston Redskins rallied from a five-point fourth quarter deficit to topple Dickson, 53-51, in the Area Consolation Finals and punchtheirtickettotheClass 3A state tournament for the first time since 2022.
Kingston dominated the finale for three quarters and built a 13-point lead heading to the final frame before it turned into a back and forth finish.
The Redskins slipped into the win-or-go-home contest with a 59-54 loss to thirdrated Heritage Hall in the area finals just a night before.
Kingston’s girls meanwhile battled for a pair of elimination game triumphs, turning back Heritage Hall (55-30)andSilo(53-45)before comingupjustshortofjoining the Redskins at state with a 57-54 loss to eight-ranked Anadarko.
Boys
The Redskins won the second half impressively against Heritage Hall but the halftime deficit was too much to overcome in the upset bid against the Chargers.
Heritage Hall led 12-7 after one period and 30-17 at the half before Kingston found its mark. Jack Hinsley poured in nine during a 1713 third quarter run by the Redskins and combined with Blane Henry for 15 of his team’s 19 in the final frame but came up a bit short.
Hinsley wrapped up the contest with a team-high 20 pointswithBrockRumercontributing 14 and Henry also reaching double figures with 13. Hayden Seeney pitched in five and Parks Ratzlaff scored two.
Kingston controlled the tempo and dictated the pace for three stanzas in the consolation final while frustrating the Comets but poor free throw shooting throughout the game (13 of 26) nearly derailed their hopes. The Redskins led 11-5 after one period, 20-13 at intermission and 36-23 after three quarters but the fourth was a completely different story.
Dickson reeled off 10 straight points to start the frame and nearly before you blink had taken a 47-42 advantage.
The Redskins refused to fold as they closed on an 11-4 that proved to be the difference in avenging a loss earlier this season.
Ratzlaff had a big offensive performance with 14 points while Henry sank three treys on the way to 11. Hinsley tossed in 10, Rumer had nine, Seeney scored three with Hudson Everhart contributing two.
Girls
The Lady Redskins began the trek through the area tournament loser’s bracket with Heritage Hall but got off to a cold start. It was a slim 11-8 Kingston lead through one period and 23-17 at halftime. A massive 19-4 scoring flurry by the Lady Redskins put it completely out of reach in the third frame.
Avery Ludrick fueled four double figure scorers with 15 points for Kingston. Dilynn Weeks pumped in 11 with Cassidy Walker and Dextry Bowerman adding 10 apiece.
A slow start was the story again facing Silo as the Lady Rebels steadily built as much as a 12-point edge in the third stanza before Kingston came storming back. It was 11-8 Silo after one quarter and 27-19 at the half before the Lady Redskins narrowed the margin to 41-36 at the end of three behind five points from Weeks.
Taylie Wiebener exploded for seven in the fourth to spur a decisive 17-4 offensive burst thatpushedKingstonintothe lead for good.
Wiebener and Weeks notched 12 points each as Walker poured in 10 with eight from Ludrick.
Kingston appeared on the way to victory by capitalizing on a 14-8 scoring spree in the third period to take a 41-39 edge. Keeton Hatley pitched in eight in the fourth, including a pair of three pointers, for the Lady Redskins but it wasn’t quite enough.
Walker tossed in a teamhigh 15 points with Hatley finishing with 14. Ludrick scored eight, Wiebener had sevenwhileBowermanadded six points.