Sumner Newscow report — Two of Sumner County’s top 10 KBCA-ranked teams got on the hardwood Friday for the first time this season. Conway Springs boys lost an overtime squeaker to Medicine Lodge 53-50 while the Oxford boys dismantled Fairfield 58-52. South Haven girls will open play next week in the Border-Queen Tournament — now hosted in both Caldwell and South Haven (schedule is below).

Here are some other Sumner County scores:

Boys
Berean Academy 60 Caldwell 22
Norwich 50 Belle Plaine 46

Girls
Berean Academy 55 Caldwell 9
Belle Plaine 53 Norwich 39

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Medicine Lodge 53 Conway Springs 50 

This was a battle of the No. 4 and No. 5 teams in Class 2A. And the game lived up to its billing.

No. 4 ranked Conway Springs took an initial 9-8 lead and Medicine Lodge held a 23-22 advantage at halftime. The Indians then outscored the Cardinals 13-7 in the third quarter. But Conway Springs came back and outscored Medicine Lodge 18-11. Grant Fisher, who led Conway Springs with 18, hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send it into overtime.

With the game tied at 45-all, Fisher hit another trey to give the Cardinals the lead. But Medicine Lodge got on the free throw line and was 4-of-6 in the extra frame. Conway Springs had a chance to tie it again at the end of overtime, but this time the shots didn’t fall.

Medicine Lodge was lead by Ke’Veon Ruiz, who had 23 points, while Crenner had 18.

Others scoring for Conway Springs were: Eli Benge 10, Connor Koster 9, Eli Howard 6, Logan Osner 4 and Carson May 3.

Conway Springs now travels to the Marion Tournament, where it battles Wichita Homeschool. Girls start at 3 p.m. and boys follow at 4:30 p.m. The Cardinals will then play on Friday against Halstead at 3 and 4:30 p.m.

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Oxford 58 Fairfield 52

The No. 4 ranked Wildcats got in the W column. Oxford took a 17-11 first-quarter lead and led 33-20 at the half.

Fairfield outscored Oxford 15-12 and 17-13 in the third and fourth quarter.

Scoring for Oxford were: Kellen Green 20, Cordell Jordan 15, Sam Wheeler 9, Tucker Ruyle 6, Zane Whitson 6, Connor Commerford 2. Faifield was led by Fowler with 16.

Oxford head coach Kyle Green had this to say about the game:

This was a typical first game of the season, we didn’t look smooth at all, especially on offense. Fairfield is a much improved ball club, well coached, kids do the right things. I was impressed with their improvement from last year to this year, Coach Pankratz has that program going in the right direction. We have a lot to clean up before next Tuesday. The one good thing that came out of tonight is that our kids showed some grit, showed they were battle tested, and found a way to win a game ugly. We are going to get everybody’s A game all year. Our kids have to learn to win games ugly at times. We play Central Burden next Tuesday in the Border Queen Tournament at Caldwell.

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The Border Queen Tournament has undergone a couple of changes. It will now be played in Caldwell and South Haven. The bracket will return to a traditional format like the SCBL Tournament. The games will be held on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday.

Border Queen Tournament at Caldwell – First round on Tuesday:  

Central v Oxford — G- 3;30, B- 5 p.m.

Caldwell vs. Douglass – G – 6:30, B- 8

Border Queen Tournament at South Haven- First round on Tuesday:

Norwich v. Udall – G- 3;30, B- 5

South Haven v. Argonia – G – 6:30, B- 8.

Semifinals at Caldwell and South Haven on Friday. Times TBA. 

Championship finals at Caldwell, Consolation finals at South Haven. Times TBA. 

NOW OPEN ON MONDAYS!