photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Bishop Seabury coach Trey Johnson celebrates with his team after defeating Centralia 52-51 on a buzzer-beater 3 by junior Jace Smith on Mar. 2, 2024, at Highland-Doniphan West High School in Highland, Kansas.

Highland – Little over eight seconds is all Bishop Seabury’s Jace Smith had to work with staring down a one-possession Centralia lead with an entire season on the line. The junior took just two steps into the lane before rolling back and burying the game-winner from 3-point land.

Smith’s bucket sent Seabury boys basketball past top-seed Centralia 52-51 in the substate championship on Saturday, punching the Seahawks’ state ticket for the first time since 2020.

“This game just proves we can come back and fight,” Smith said. “Next week, if we play the same way we’ve played during the final two minutes, I don’t think anybody’s holding us.”

The shot completed a 10-point comeback led by Seabury junior Chase Honarvar (19 points), Smith (16 points), senior Aidan Page (10 points) and sophomore Jace Hoffman (seven points).

Page, adding his entire night’s production in the fourth quarter, tested the Panthers (16-5) from the arc and managed to pull the Seahawks within five points with 1:13 left. Seabury then benefited from nine combined points, including the game-winner, by Smith and Hoffman to get the job done.

“Something just clicked,” Page added. “Once we started getting aggressive and playing right on the ball, it went our way…We know that, together, we can win. I have faith in every single one of these guys.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Bishop Seabury junior Jace Smith looks for an open pass during the sub-state title game with Centralia on Mar. 2, 2024, at Highland-Doniphan West High School in Highland, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Centralia senior Brett Heidman (32) battles with Bishop Seabury senior Aidan Page (10) and junior Zephyr O’Hara (21) during the sub-state title game with Centralia on Mar. 2, 2024, at Highland-Doniphan West High School in Highland, Kansas.

Neither squad shot over 50% in the first quarter, as Centralia and Seabury each chalked up five early turnovers after tipoff. Still, Three Panthers – senior Reese Tanking, senior Paxton Bowers and freshman Quentin Alderfer – peppered the Seahawks behind the arc (3-of-6) early.

Seabury, down 13-11 entering the second quarter, leaned on Smith and Honarvar for the entire first-half production. The duo combined for nine points, including a 3-point bucket, as Centralia lost steam shooting the deep ball but still led 22-20 at halftime.

Outscored 11-7 in the third quarter, Seabury opened the fourth quarter flat with two turnovers and drawing Honarvar’s fourth foul. Alongside Honarvar, five Seahawks entered the fourth quarter with three or more fouls.

“I’m not going to lie, I thought we were done,” Honarvar said. “We’re going to be smiling the whole way to Colby.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Bishop Seabury junior Chase Honarvar puts up a shot during the sub-state title game with Centralia on Mar. 2, 2024, at Highland-Doniphan West High School in Highland, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Bishop Seabury senior Aidan Page races down the floor during the sub-state title game with Centralia on Mar. 2, 2024, at Highland-Doniphan West High School in Highland, Kansas.

Centralia quickly grooved its way to a 39-29 lead behind late buckets by Bowers and junior Duke Timmel (13 points). Page, leading the Seahawks’ resurgence, picked up his fifth and final foul with just 22 seconds left.

A 3-point bullet by Hoffman trimmed the Panthers’ advantage to 50-49 with just 12 seconds remaining, as Alderfer split two crucial free throws leaving eight seconds for Smith and the Seahawks to make their grand escape.

First-year Seabury coach Trey Johnson said his program’s tackling a whole new animal at state next week.

“This is a whole new thing for me, and the same goes for these boys,” Johnson said. “They got knocked out in the second round last year, so this is huge for them. Wherever we go in Colby is going to be a whole new experience for everybody.”

Seabury travels to Colby for the 1A DI state tournament set for Mar. 6-9 at the Colby Event Center.

Box score

BSA 11 9 7 25 – 52

CHS 13 9 11 18 – 51

Bishop Seabury Academy (52) Jace Hoffman 2-10 2-2 7; Beau Peterson 0-1 0-0 -; Aidan Page 4-6 0-0 10; Jace Smith 5-11 2-2 16; Chase Honarvar 8-11 2-4 19. Totals: 19-42 6-8 52.

Centralia (51) Quentin Alderfer 4-7 5-6 14; Maveryk Becker 3-6 0-0 6; Duke Timmel 6-10 1-2 13; Reese Tanking 3-8 0-0 7; Landon Heller 0-0 0-0 -. Totals: 20-38 8-11 51.

3-point goals: BSA: 8-22 (); CHS: 3-11 (). Turnovers: BSA 12, CHS 15. Fouled Out: None.

Other area scores

4A Boys: Baldwin High 59, Louisburg 49. The 2-seed Bulldogs travel to Salina for the state tournament at Tony’s Pizza Events Center from Mar 6-9.