BY TORY DUNCAN
The Sutton Fillies found themselves one step closer to reaching the ultimate goal during the basketball season, the Class D-1 state tournament, after handing the Tri County Trojans a 52-40 loss in the D1-2 Sub-District finals Friday, Feb. 20.
The game, originally slated for Thursday, Feb. 19, was delayed one day due to winter weather travel hazards, and marked the second time the Fillies and Trojans played each other. Sutton handed Tri County a 41-37 loss during the quarterfinals of the Southern Nebraska Conference tournament, Feb. 3.
Sutton led 12-0 midway through the first quarter before the Trojans could score, with the Fillies claiming a 12-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Sutton then held a 12-11 second-quarter scoring edge to post a 24-14 halftime lead.
In the second half, the two teams battled evenly, with Sutton holding a 28-26 scoring edge to produce the 12-point victory.
Sutton rallied around sophomore Isabella Trejo and senior Miranda Nuss, as the two combined for 27 of the Fillies’ 52 points.
Trejo hit for 14 points, while Nuss added 13. Senior Kyla Griess added eight, senior Avery Smith added six, while Camden Mau had four, Jadlynn Kinney, three, and Kaci Yost and Kali White both had two.
The Fillies shot at a 36 percent clip, making 18 of 50 total shots, including a 5-17 effort from three-point range (29.4%).
At the foul line, Sutton was a solid 11-14 (78.6%).
In contrast, Tri County was 14-49 from the floor (28.6%), and hit on just one of 17 three-pointers (5.9%), while sinking 11 of 19 foul shots (57.9%).
Sutton held a 34-30 re
TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
Sophomore Isabella Trejo splits two Tri County defenders during Sutton’s 52-40 D1-2 sub-district championship win over the Trojans. Trejo poured in 14 points to lead the Fillies to the win.
TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
Senior Kyla Griess attempts to make a steal during Sutton’s 12-point win over Tri County Friday, Feb. 20. Sutton improved to 19-7 with the sub-district championship and will once again play Tri County this Friday night at home in the D1-7 district final in an attempt to advance to the state tournament next week in Lincoln. Jadlynn Kinney is pictured in the background.
bounding edge, with Nuss reaching double-double status with 12 rebounds to go with her 13 points.
Mau pulled down seven boards, while Avery Smith, White, and Kamryn Steinhauer all had three boards each.
Griess and Yost dished out two assists in the win, while Kinney had a team-high two steals.
These same two teams will square off again this Friday, Feb. 27 in the Sutton Dome for the D1-7 District Final and a berth in the 2026 Class D-1 state tournament in Lincoln.
Tip-off for the Fillies and Trojans third battle in the third game in four weeks is set for 6 p.m.
Sutton............................. 12 12 15 13 -52 Tri County.......................... 3 11 14 12 -40 Scoring: FG FT Pts Isabella Trejo................................ 4-7 3-4 14 Miranda Nuss............................... 6-9 1-2 13 Kyla Griess.................................... 3-9 1-2 8 Avery Smith................................. 2-7 2-2 6 Camden Mau................................ 1-5 2-2 4 Jadlynn Kinney............................. 1-5 0-0 3 Kaci Yost....................................... 1-1 0-0 2 Kali White.................................... 0-4 2-2 2 Julie Smith................................... 0-3 0-0 0 Sutton Totals:..................... 18-50 11-14 52 Tri County Totals:................ 14-49 11-19 40 3-pt FG: Trejo 3-5, Griess 1-4, Kinney 1-4, Mau 0-1, A. Smith 0-3. Total: Sutton: 5-17, TC: 1-17. Rebounds: Nuss 12, Mau 7, A. Smith 3, White 3, Kameryn Steinhauer 3, Griess 2, Trejo 2, J. Smith 1, Kinney 1.
Total: Sutton: 34, TC: 30. Assists: Griess 2, Yost 2, White 2, Mau 1, Trejo 1, Kinney 1. Total: Sutton: 9, TC: 5. Steals: Kinney 2, A. Smith 1, Griess 1. Total: Sutton: 4, TC: 11.
Sutton’s fan base cheers on their Fillies during the D1-2 Sub-District final. Sutton rolled past the Tri County Trojans 52-40 to win the tournament title and will once again face the Trojans this Friday for a trip to the Class D-1 state tournament in Lincoln. TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
