The Sutton Mustangs would see their 2024-25 basketball season come to a close in the Class C2-5 District Final as the Cedar Catholic Trojans gained a strong second-half effort to gain a 63-50 win over the Mustangs and end Sutton’s season with an 18-7 overall record.
The battle for the right to advance to the state tournament in Hartington began with a challenging first-half battle between the two teams, as the Trojans gained a narrow 26-24 halftime lead. A 1711 third quarter run, combined with a 2015 fourth quarter run, sealed the 13-point win for the Trojans.
Senior Aidan Jones and junior Payton Reed paced Sutton’s offensive attack with 14 points each, while junior Keith Kliewer added six, and senior Harrison Herndon, five.
Sutton was 16-36 from the floor (44.4%) and drained 15 of 18 free throws (83.3%) in the loss.
Jacob Huxoll and Weston Ohrt, who both hit for four points, gained five rebounds each in the loss. Jones also gained five boards while Reed and Herndon brought down two each.
Jones and Ohrt both had two assists, while Ohrt gained the lone steal in the season finale.
The 21-6 Trojans advanced to this weekend’s state tournament where they are set to take on Cross County in the opening round Thursday, March 13.
Sutton........................................................ 9 15 11 15 -50 Cedar Catholic............................................ 11 15 17 20 -63 Scoring: FG FT Pts Payton Reed.................................................................5-8 4-4 14 Aidan Jones................................................................. 4-12 6-8 14 Keith Kliewer................................................................ 2-4 0-0 6 Harrison Herndon.........................................................1-2 2-2 5 Weston Ohrt................................................................. 2-5 0-0 4 Jacob Huxoll................................................................. 2-5 0-0 4 David Fonseca..............................................................0-0 3-4 3 Sutton Totals:................................................16-36 15-18 50 Cedar Catholic Totals:.....................................23-46 11-15 63 3-pt FG: Kliewer 2-2, Herndon 1-1, Reed 0-2, Jones 0-5. Total: Sutton: 3-10, CC: 6-21. Rebounds: Huxoll 5, Ohrt 5, Jones 5, Reed 2, Herndon 2. Total:
Sutton: 19, CC: 21. Assists: Jones 2, Ohrt 2, Herndon 1. Total: Sutton: 5, CC: 13. Steals: Ohrt 1. Total: Sutton: 1, CC: 4.
