Garnett ? Ottawa High girls basketball coach Cliff McCullough sees a big difference between last year’s squad and this season’s.

“As much as we’re the same personnel, we’re a different team,” McCullough said. “We’ve matured, and that’s the difference between last year’s team and this year’s.”

The Cyclones proved their maturity Saturday, fighting back from an early deficit to defeat Iola, 54-43, in a Class 4A sub-state championship and advance to their second consecutive state tournament.

Iola jumped to an 8-2 lead midway through the first quarter, preying on Ottawa’s nerves.

“I think we were loose, but maybe too loose,” junior point guard Liz Burks said. “It seems like if we don’t start off well, we get nervous.”

Burks helped calm the team with back-to-back layups to start an 11-2 run, and, just over a minute into the second quarter, Katie Sheffield hit a three-pointer to put the Cyclones up, 11-10.

OHS never trailed again.

“My shooting has really been off lately and I saw we were down and I started getting jittery and nervous,” Sheffield said. “I took the shot and I kind of felt it when I shot it and it seemed we got in a rhythm right then.”

Ottawa continued that rhythm through the third quarter, holding the Phillies to five points in the period and extending its lead to 38-22.

Iola clawed back in the final quarter, though, with 21 points and trimmed the deficit to 10, but Ottawa hit 13 of 17 free throws to hold on.

After the game, McCullough praised his players for meeting expectations that arose after returning the majority of their starters from last season.

“I think it’s a sense of relief for them,” he said. “It was for me. It was expected of them. Unfortunately, we were the ones who had to go out and prove it. When you’ve got the players, they take care of that for you and make the coach look good.”

Ottawa’s first-round opponent in the state tournament will be announced today.

Chanute boys 76, Ottawa 58

Chanute’s Brent Wilson and Josh Wire combined for 41 points to help end the careers of six Ottawa seniors.

“I told them, ‘No regrets whatsoever,'” OHS coach David Grover said. “They’ve had a phenomenal two seasons  35 wins over two years. You have to go back to 1931 and ’32 to top that at this school.

“I’m just going to remember them from all the exciting wins, the one close game after another. But we couldn’t get this one close to let them work their magic one last time.”

Chanute led 33-30 at halftime and extended its lead to six points after the third quarter before scoring 25 points in the final period. The Comets made 19 of 22 free throws in the fourth quarter, including 10-of-10 shooting from Wire.

Cale Drumright led the Cyclones with 15 points, and Isaac Templeton added 12. Adam Spratt finished with 11 points and moved into third place on the Kansas season and career assist lists.

Ottawa girls 54, Iola 43

IOLA (17-5)

Nicole Hermreck 1 1-2 3, Amanda Regehr 8 2-4 18, Chelsea Beshore 1 3-6 5, Maggie Apt 3 9-11 15, Rachel Bockover-Collins 0 2-2 2. Totals 13 17-25 43.

OTTAWA (22-1)

Kathryn Sylvester 1 4-6 6, Liz Burks 5 7-8 18, Katie Sheffield 1 2-2 5, Jenny Heck 1 1-2 3, Jayme Vance 1 2-2 4, Adrienne Allegre 0 2-2 2, Lindsey Dieterich 6 3-4 16. Totals 15 21-26 54.

Iola 10 7 5 21 Â 43

Ottawa 8 13 17 16 Â 54

Three-point goals  Iola 0, Ottawa 3 (Burks, Dieterich, Sheffield). Total fouls  Iola 20, Ottawa 18.

Chanute boys 76, Ottawa 58

OTTAWA (17-5)

Chris Hermreck 3 4-7 10, Isaac Templeton 6 0-0 12, Adam Spratt 4 2-6 11, Ross Thompson 2 1-2 5, Cale Drumright 5 4-7 15, Eric Hull 2 0-0 5. Totals 22 11-22 58.

CHANUTE (16-7)

Josh Wire 6 12-12 27, Brent Wilson 6 2-4 14, Bret Lickteig 4 4-5 12, Javen Harris 3 0-0 6, Hunter Spencer 2 3-4 8, Jacob Williams 2 1-2 5, Adam Brazil 0 2-2 2, Andrew Hurst 0 2-2 2. Totals 23 26-31 76.

Ottawa 16 14 15 13 Â 58

Chanute 16 17 18 25 Â 76

Three-point goals  Ottawa 3 (Spratt, Drumright, Hull), Chanute 4 (Wire 3, Spencer). Total fouls  Ottawa 27, Chanute 22.