photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Bishop Seabury sophomore Jace Hoffman sends up a shot during the sub-state title game with Centralia on Mar. 2, 2024, at Highland-Doniphan West High School in Highland, Kansas.

Seabury boys basketball vastly exceeded the expectations set by its seeding with a 72-51 blowout win against No. 2 La Crosse in the first round of the 1A DI state tournament on Wednesday in Colby.

The seventh-seeded Seahawks (20-4) outshot the Jaguars (20-3), finishing the night 27 of 51 from the field behind a game-high 21 points by senior Aidan Page. Sophomore Jace Hoffman and junior Chase Honarvar each posted 17-point performances to add to the production.

They’ll now prepare for No. 3 Quinter (21-3) in Friday’s semifinal round.

Moving the ball well early, Seabury quickly landed five players on the scoresheet to claim an 18-8 lead on the Jaguars by the end of the first quarter. Hoffman led the Seahawks with eight points in this stretch, raising that number to 12 before halftime.

La Crosse flashed its teeth late in the second quarter, getting back within seven points on two 3-point buckets by sophomore Lee Holopirek (six points) and senior Caden Morgan (14 points). Honarvar and Hoffman gave Seabury a strong 6-0 push late, however, as it leapt to a 37-22 lead at the break.

Page and Honarvar returned from halftime in a groove, keeping the Jaguars on the run with 10 combined points. Hoffman buried a long 2-pointer just before the third quarter closed, raising Seabury’s lead to 51-35 heading into the final stretch.

Seabury junior Jace Smith, who entered the final eight minutes with just four points to his name, raised his final point total to nine. A fourth-quarter technical foul called on senior Logan Skillet (12 points) spelled the end for La Crosse with under four minutes to go, as Seabury rolled to its first-round victory.

Tipoff for Friday’s semifinal is set for 6 p.m.

Box score

Seabury 18 19 12 23 – 72

La Crosse 8 14 13 16 – 51

Bishop Seabury (72): Page 8-12, 5-6, 21; Hoffman 7-15, 2-2, 17; Honarvar 7-13, 3-4, 17; Smith 3-5, 2-2, 9; O’Hara 2-5, 1-2, 6. Totals: 27-51, 13-18, 72.

La Crosse (50): Morgan 4-11, 3-3, 14; Burk 6-13, 1-2, 13; Skillet 5-8, 2-6, 12; Holopirek 2-4, 0-0, 6; Barriger 2-8, 0-0, 4. Totals: 19-44, 6-13, 50.

3-point FGs: Seabury 3-14; La Crosse 5-14. TOs: Seabury 6; La Crosse 9; Fouled out: none.