By Toby Hammes
A first-round sub-state game was light fare for the Manhattan High girls’ compared to the heaping serving that the Indians will see forked up in a 6A sub-state championship later this week. Third-seeded Washburn Rural awaits, one week after the Junior Blues scrapped to a five-point win on MHS’ home floor.
The sixth-seeded Indians ensured the season’s 14th victory with a ho-hum 51-27 decision against Maize, which lost for the 13th time in 15 starts. Defense was a key for Manhattan (14-7) to set up a sub-state title tilt between teams that reached the 2024 6A state tournament. Rural won twice during the regular season, including 51-45 last week, and wants to chart a return to the 6A title game.
Rural won 10 straight from late January to mid-February before back-to-back losses. K-State signee, 6-foot-1 sophomore Maddie Vickery is the Blues’ bellwether.
