COTTONWOOD FALLS — It took a bit too long for Humboldt High’s girls to find their offense Thursday.
Host Chase County may have had something to do with that.
Chase County held Humboldt scoreless for nearly 7 minutes in the first half, using a 15-0 run to take control of their Class 2A Substate Tournament opener.
The Lady Cubs picked up the pace from there, but pulled no closer than 12 in the second half of a 49-31 setback.
The loss ends Humboldt’s season at 8-16.
Neither team did much early on, as both squads struggled to find open shots against each other’s smothering defenses.
Ricklyn Hillmon scored inside before a steal led to a layup from Lakyn Meadows to push the Lady Cubs ahead, 5-2, with 4 ½ minutes left in the first quarter.
But Humboldt didn’t score again until Jo Ellison muscled in a bucket with about 5 ½ minutes left in the second quarter and the Lady Cubs on the short end of a 17-5 deficit.
Another 5 ½-minute field goal drought allowed Chase County to push ahead 22-9.
The Lady Cubs had the makings of a comeback late in the third quarter. Skylar Hottenstein drained a 3-pointer before Hillmon scored again to keep Humboldt within 28-16.
But Chase County erased any doubt with another 7-1 run to lead 35-17 early in the fourth quarter.
Hillmon scored 10 points, followed by Ellison with nine.
Meadows scored five, Hottenstein and Bailey Daniels had three apiece and Laney Hull scored one.
Chase County’s Madelyn Wilson led all scorers with 14, followed by teammate Lynnae Rains with 13.
Thursday’s loss marks the end of the high school careers of Hottenstein, Hillmon and Hull.
YATES CENTER’S girls also saw their season end in the 2A Substate Playoff opener, falling 36-26 to Cherokee-Southeast Thursday.
