Hesston boys surge to 18-point win over Haven (+video)

The Hesston boys have a penchant for winning big. Of their 15 wins, including Friday’s 52-34 victory over visiting Haven, 14 have been by double digits.

Hesston has won six games by 21 or more points and 12 by 15 or more.

But with that comes an expectation of blowing teams out for all four quarters — which doesn’t always happen.

“I think we’ve gotten in kind of a tendency to think we have to be ahead by 20 points in the first quarter or we’re doing something wrong,” Hesston coach Greg Raleigh said. “Teams in (the Central Kansas League) are good teams. The last few games, the pace has been slowed down a little bit, and we tend to get a little bit frustrated.”

Friday’s game was one of those types — Hesston led Haven 9-6 after the first quarter, only led by four at the half and by six after three quarters.

“Just given our success in the past few years, we always expect to be up by 30,” said Hesston senior Scott Duerksen.

Hesston is 62-5 over the past 2 1/2 seasons, including a 26-0 record and the Class 3A title in 2013-14.

Hesston has a two-game lead in the CKL with an 8-0 record.

Haven’s best stretch came in the third quarter, when it trailed 23-17 following a Duerksen jumper.

Haven’s Jeff Kauffman started a 9-3 run with a basket inside, then Jamal Rogers got a steal and fastbreak basket. Kauffman followed with a three-pointer to get within 25-24.

Rogers scored a game-high 19 points.

The Wildcats trailed 29-28 after an Aaron Yoder basket with 2:49 to go in the third.

But that was when the last time Haven threatened as Hesston outscored the Wildcats 23-6 the rest of the game.

“I think we got a little frustrated,” Haven coach Lonnie Paramore said. “We didn’t get some calls, didn’t make some shots, had some bunnies in there I thought, they roll in … they play a lot harder when they make shots.”

Hesston also took advantage of its nine players, who give consistently strong minutes and wore Haven down by the final period.

Hesston’s defense was also a major factor.

“We just made it a goal to get defensive stops,” Duerksen said. “Normally when we play good defense, it leads to good offense. We were able to make some shots and stop them from scoring.”

Hesston led 31-28 when Zach Vogt hit his second three-pointer. After a Haven turnover coming out of its timeout, Hesston’s Levi Caffrey scored on a putback.

Vogt finished with 11 points.

Hesston made 10 of 12 free throws in the final period, and Duerksen scored twice by getting inside.

“If Scott will go to the rim, good things happen,” Raleigh said. “Sometimes he gets a little complacent and doesn’t want to, but he can penetrate and create a lot of things, and he can pull out and pull up for the jump shot and the three. I’d rather have him go to the rim.”

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 10:42 PM with the headline "Hesston boys surge to 18-point win over Haven (+video)."