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The Salina Journal has been gracious enough to provide reports from Sumner Academy's run in the Kansas 4A State Tournament. Here is their report of Sumner's 58-53 victory against Pratt. Visit them online at http://www.saljournal.com/sports.

By Harold Bechard, The Salina Journal

Maurice Holliday put the Sumner Academy Sabres on his big, broad shoulders Friday night and carried them into the state championship game.

The 6-foot-4 Holliday, one of the state’s top players, scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in leading the Sabres to a hard-earned 58-53 victory over the battling Pratt Greenbacks in the semifinals of the Class 4A boys’ state tournament.

Those numbers are a far cry from Thursday night’s foul-plagued seven-point effort from Holliday during a tense overtime victory over Topeka Hayden. But, as far as Holliday is concerned, the only number that matters is the one in the victory column.

“My numbers don’t matter as long as we get the win,” said Holliday, whose team will face Ottawa in today’s 6:15 p.m. state championship game at the Bicentennial Center. “I’m just so happy. The fouls have been killing us. Yesterday we had all those guys foul out, but the bench came through for us. It was a blessing, it truly was.”

Despite Holliday’s big game and Anthony White’s 12 points and eight rebounds, the scrappy Greenbacks were right there down the stretch. They trailed by just two points (50-48) after a lay-up by Brady Batman with 2:37 remaining in the game.

But, a free throw by Holliday, a put-back from White and a lay-up by Elijah Alexander gave the Sabres (21-4) some breathing room – 55-48 – with 1:23 remaining.

“Our kids competed. I thought we had a good game plan,” said Pratt coach David Swank. “It was a great game and I think it’s going to be a great battle between Sumner and Ottawa tomorrow night.”

The Greenbacks (22-3), who will play Coffeyville foe third place today at 2 p.m., were plagued with foul trouble in the first half. Skylar Angood picked up three fouls in the first two quarters and played just 2 ½ minutes, but came back with 12 points in the second half.

“Sylar had a great third quarter and came back with 12 points to keep it close for us,” Swank said. “But, the fouls really hurt us in the first half.”

Neither team could shoot a lick in the first half, but the Sabres did get a strong performance from Holliday, who had 13 points and nine rebounds at intermission.

The Greenbacks stayed close for much of the first half despite shooting 28 percent from the field and missing seven of eight 3-point attempts.

It was a four-point game heading into the final minute before a put-back by White and a lay-up from Holliday gave Sumner a 29-21 lead at halftime.

But, Pratt came roaring out of the gate in the third quarter with a 9-0 run to take a one point lead (30-29) at the 5:23 mark after a lay-up and steal by Matt Swank. Angood’s 3-pointer from the baseline got the Greenbacks within one point and Swank’s steal put them ahead.

It remained close throughout the quarter with Sumner taking a two-point lead (39-37) into the fourth quarter.

”We got key rebounds when we needed to and key scores when we needed to,” Sumner coach Daniel Parra said. “And that was the Maurice I’m used to seeing for the last 2 ½ years. He’s a double-double every time out and tonight was no different. He really took control in the fourth quarter.”

The Greenbacks got 15 points each from Matt and Micah Pratt, but each had to work hard for their points as the two combined for 8 of 29 shooting. Matt hit six field goals and Micah was 11 of 14 from the free throw line.

“Even though they were not as athletic as we were, they were a fundamental team,” Holliday said. “They played very well together.”

The Sabres will go for their first state title since 2000 tonight against an old league foe. Ottawa and Sumner were members of the Huron League until a few years ago.

“Ottawa’s about as good as it gets,” Parra said. “It’s going to be a very good match-up.”