Barb Prater, Pratt Tribune
Matt Swank leans between several Scott City defenders during Saturday’s substate championship game in Kingman. Swank scored 17 points in the game as Pratt won 58-48 to earn their spot in the state tournament.Greenbacks win Class 4A Sub-State title
BY Melanie McGee, Pratt Tribune
March 08, 2010
An 8-0 run to end the third quarter gave them a lead going into the final eight minutes, and the Pratt High School boys never let up on their way to a 58-48 win over Scott City in Saturday’s Class 4A Sub-State championship game in Kingman. The win will send Pratt into this week’s Class 4A State Tournament in Salina as the top seed with a 21-2 record. “It’s a thrilling moment for the kids and the fans,” PHS coach David Swank said. “Our fan support was big. We had a huge crowd there, which was nice.”
After Robby Strube tied the game at 31 with a three-pointer at the 1:15 mark of the third, Brad Richardson hit a threepointer to put the Greenbacks back in front for good.
Skylar Angood added a three-point play and Brady Batman drained a shot at the buzzer to send PHS into the fourth quarter with a 39-31 lead.
Brett O’Neil’s three early in the quarter made it a five-point game, but Micah Swank answered with a driving basket for a 43-36 lead.
After Alex Swan scored for Scott City, Micah Swank was fouled and hit both ends of the one-andone with 4:25 left.
At the 4:08 mark, Ron Baker drew a foul and hit both charities to make it 47-40 Pratt, and Jordan Funk scored to get his team within five with three minutes and change remaining.
But the Greenbacks responded by forcing a turnover, then Matt Swank found Batman open in the lane. When the senior’s left-handed shot dropped through the net, Pratt had a 49-42 lead.
The Greenbacks immediately came up with a steal, and Matt Swank buried a three-pointer while being fouled from behind. He made the free throw too, and the fourpoint play made it 53-42 Pratt with 2:14 left.
“That gave us some breathing space in the fourth quarter,” Swank said.
Angood’s putback with 1:16 on the clock made it 55-42, and Batman added a free throw for a 56-42 lead with 1:07 to play.
Scott City outscored PHS 6-2 in the final minute, but the Greenbacks had more than enough of a lead at that point as they snapped an 18-year state tournament drought with the win.
“It was a total team effort on the offensive end,” Swank said. “It was kinda like we’ve seen all year where at different points in the game different kids stepped up.”
Pratt got a game-high 17 points plus eight rebounds, three assists and a steal from Matt Swank.
Micah Swank added 11 points, two assists and a steal while Richardson finished with ten points and
two assists. “Matt hit a couple huge shots. Micah handled the ball and got to the basket, made some nice plays,” Swank said. “Brad
