Friday — February 20, 2004

State-bound Cutthroats trounce Tigers

Hayes (18 points) leads the way

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They’ve been disappointed before in their attempts to make state, so Community School boys’ varsity basketball players weren’t about to take any chances with Tuesday’s Northside 1A Sub-District tournament game against Richfield, down in Shoshone.

Andrew Durtcschi goes for a two-pointer against Dietrich in the Northside Conference tournament on Monday. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Led by senior captain John Hayes (18 points, 4 assists), the #2-seeded Cutthroats trounced the #6-seeded Richfield Tigers 57-35 to earn only the second State 1A tournament berth in school history.

Coach Mike Wade said, "These seniors—before tonight they’ve played four games to go to state, two as sophomores and two as juniors, and they’ve lost all four. Before the game I said to them, we’re 0-4 in these games, it’s time to win one. Let’s go out and win it. And they did."

Not only did the Cutthroats (19-4 overall, 60.4 ppg) win their third straight game and 15th of 17, their 4-1 second-place back-door finish in the seven-team Northside meet gave them an automatic berth in the 16-team State 1A tourney March 3 at Caldwell.

Unfortunately the Cutthroats lost senior Dylan McIlhenny, who injured his ankle making an incredible 3-point bank at the half-time buzzer from just inside the midcourt line.

The Cutthroats will rest up and play one more game for state seeding at Murtaugh Thursday, Feb. 26.

CSchool 57-35 over Richfield: John Hayes 18 points, Dylan McIlhenny 9, Jimmy Fairchild 8, Luc McCann 8, Connor Wade 4, A.J. Beesley 4, Andrew Durtschi 2, Hunter Smith 2, Logan Koffler 2. Rebounds (37)—Durtschi 12, McCann 8, Koffler 5, Fairchild 4. Blocked shots—Fairchild 2, Durtschi 1, Wade 1, Hayes 1, McCann 1. Assists—Hayes 4, McCann 3, McIlhenny 2, Durtschi 2. Steals—Hayes 2, Wade 2. 3-pointers—Hayes 2, McCann 2, McIlhenny 1. FT—10-17. Opp FT—6-16.

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