If the Ellsworth girls proved the No. 4 versus No. 5 match-up is supposed to be a good one, the Bearcat boys went the other way in Monday night’s opener against Otis-Bison. Playing as the No. 4 seed, Ellsworth led 41-21 at the half and worked to a running clock in a 59-25 win.

Junior Avery Haxton got the ball rolling with the first eight Bearcat points. He took a steal the distance to cap that run just over three minutes into the game. Junior Luke Sharp entered the game and made an immediate impact down low to cap a quick 10-0 run.

The Bearcat defense was also effective, keeping the Cougars off the scoreboard until the 3:14 mark of the first quarter. Otis-Bison did not make its first field goal until nearly six minutes in, and the Cougars largely settled on 3-point shots all night, going just 1 for 17 beyond the arc.

Ellsworth, meanwhile, continued to pound away. John Kyler added a putback late in the first quarter, and Haxton added a baseline floater to give the Cats an 18-8 lead after one.

Haxton continued to score at will early in the second with six more points in just 63 seconds. Two of those baskets came as a direct result of inbounds plays.

“It depends on who we’re playing and what defense they’re in, but he obviously gets a lot of points around the bucket,” said Ellsworth coach Ryan Webber.

The Bearcats caught fire in the second, making nine of their first 10 shots from the floor. Hayden Rogers and Sharp scored, then a Rogers offensive board led to a 3-pointer from Braden Schulte. Rogers added a putback late in the quarter and the Bearcats finished the frame 11 of 15 from the floor to lead 41-21 at the break.

“We’re capable of doing that,” Webber said.“That’s not the norm. It depends on how we’re shooting, how we’re playing, and who’s working hard.”

Haxton just missed a 30-point night with 28 points and eight rebounds. He picked up quick baskets to open the second half on assists from Schulte and Kyler.“We have kids capable of doing that, it just comes and goes a little bit,” Webber said of the passing.“We have some talent. We just have to play intelligently.”

Schulte swished a three near the midway point of the third, and Trey Anderson took a steal the distance. Ellsworth neared a running clock with a 52-25 lead heading into the fourth.

The Bearcats eventually got there. A pair of free throws from Haxton pushed the lead to 29, then an offensive board and basket from Haxton put the Bearcats ahead 56-25 with 4:30 remaining.

Even as bench players entered the game, the Bearcats continued to dominate the boards. Ellsworth won that battle 21-2 in the first half and won the game 42-11.“I told them we have size enough there’s no excuse for us not to have a lot of rebounds,” Webber said.

Otis-Bison did not score in the final quarter. Sophomore Dalton Regan paced the Cougars with 10 points. Schulte added 10 points for Ellsworth. Rogers finished with six points and seven boards, and Anderson scored six points to go with five rebounds and a handful of steals.

Sharp finished with five points, Kyler and Jaxson Stefek each scored two points, and Gavin Webber contributed a late free throw in the win.

Ellsworth advances to Friday’s semifinal game against top-seeded Hoisington. The Cardinals enter the tournament with just one loss and a recent win over top-ranked Hesston. “They’re going to be tough,” Webber said.“They have some outstanding players. We’ll match up with them okay but we’ll have to be at our best.”