Buffaloes take win streak to substate where Red Devils await

Coach Ryan Gehring (left) and his Decatur Community, Kan., girls captured a Cattle Trail Tournament win over Wauneta-Palisade when they visited McCook in early December.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

OBERLIN, Kan. — The Rawlins County girls will take an eight-game winning streak into 1A substate basketball at Decatur Community High School Thursday through Saturday night.

In fact, those Buffaloes (16-4 record) have not lost since a 38-31 defeat at Oberlin against host Decatur on Jan. 20.

Who will test this surging Buffaloes team Friday night?

Those same Decatur Community, Kan., Red Devils (12-9) who will play a 7:30 p.m. semifinal against Rawlins County.

Decatur also edged the Buffs, 35-32, to start their seasons Dec. 1 so the Devils will be aiming for a huge three-game season sweep of their Northwest Kansas League rivals.

The Jan. 20 contest proved painful for Rawlins fans considering their team allowed five — yes, just five points — before halftime while building a 13-5 lead.

However, Decatur unleashed a 14-point third quarter then 19-9 fourth period to overtake those Buffaloes. Junior Jenna Fortin scored 13 points while sophomore Brylee Minnick was doubly difficult with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Ratlins fell short despite freshman Camden Franklin hitting all four of her free throws during her team-leading 12-point performance. Junior Tayten Dewey added 10 points and senior Abby Micek nine.

Whoever wins Friday's round three will play the subdistrict title game Saturday night against either (12-8) or Ness City (9-12). They'll play the first semifinal on Friday.

Both the Rawlins County and Decatur Community boys actually tip off subdistrict play Thursday evening.

Rawlins County (7-14 record) meets Ness City (6-4) in the first semifinal at 6 p.m.

They did not play during the regular season, though Ness City does own an 81-78 overtime win vs. Decatur Community on Jan. 19.

Coach Brad Weese's Decatur boys (6-15) play that second Thursday semifinal against the No. 1-seed and title favorite Quinter (17-3 record).

Quintero has only lost twice to 19-1 Dighton and once vs 21-1 Osborne.

Sophomore Tyler Ostmeyer will lead the Red Devils' upset hopes. He's averaged nearly 15 points per game while hitting 53 percent of his field-goal attempts.

Ostmeyer also pulls down 10 rebounds for his average along with 2.5 blocked shots.

Whoever wins these semifinals will play the Saturday substate title game at 5 p.m.