Tayland French goes to the hoop against Buhler. Avery Rusk is pictured above. (Dustin Craig photo).

by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — When Wellington and Buhler square off, it is always billed as the “battle of the Crusaders” because they both have the same mascots.

The Crusader South team picked up the victory on the girls side 65-41. The Crusader North squad would return the favor in the nightcap, 75-50.

Connor Phelps helps keep Wellington close in first half.

This marked the first home game in Wellington in three weeks for the Crusader South Nation. Wellington girls returned to action after winning the Haven Girls Tournament on Saturday and achieving a No. 2 ranking in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll. The boys hadn’t played for a week after finishing second in the Chaparral Tournament.

In front of a large crowd, Wellington girls would pick up a 24-point win that didn’t exactly start out looking like it would be any kind of blowout.

The two Crusader teams were locked in a showdown early. Buhler was in a 2-3 zone and Wellington was having trouble getting the ball to the hole. On those occasions, Wellington could get inside the paint, the shots weren’t falling.

Wellington Coach Eric Adams said Buhler’s 3-10 record was deceiving. Buhler had gotten off to a slow start early but were becoming a more cohesive unit as time progressed. They had just finished second in the Salina Invitational Saturday.

Jessica Steffen, Buhler’s 5-6 senior who is going to Yale, was a one woman wrecking crew, pouring in 29 points for the game – including 12 in the first quarter and 16 at the half.

She would bury a 3-pointer from the left wing at the end of the first quarter, giving Crusader North a 14-13 led. The two teams remained knotted up at 20-all midway through the second quarter. But then a Lauryn Snipes trey was followed by a Mariah Moore basket and just like that Wellington went on a 12-point run to lead 32-22 at the half.

The Wellington girls would pick up where they last left off and would outscore Buhler 22-13 in the third quarter, that ended with an explanation point after Grace Mitchell stuffed a driving Buhler player as time expired. The Crusader South would coast to victory as many reserves finished off the game.

Mitchell had 28 points for the Lady Dukes. Lauryn Snipes had 10. Wellington was 27 of 45 from the field including 10 of 18 from the 3-point arch. Mitchell led the field in rebounds with nine while Tayland French had 7.

Wellington, 13-0, travel to Augusta Friday at 6 p.m.

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In the boys game, the ninth ranked Buhler team came in with an athletic bunch. But for awhile Wellington held tough. At the end of the first quarter, Buhler led 18-13.

At the end of the first half, Buhler had expanded the lead by one 35-29. Then the Crusader North went off with 25 points in the third quarter and built a 60-43 advantage after three quarters.

Buhler was led by Jace Williams with 19, A. Joyce had 12 and N. Webster 11.

A.J. Snipes led Wellington with 21 points. Connor Phelps had 13.

The Dukes are now 6-7 and travel to Augusta Friday.

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