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Baldwin’s Leo Schoenberger let’s our a roar to celebrate a win over Atchison in a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena. The Bulldogs punched their ticket to the state championship game for the first time in the program’s history.
HUTCHINSON — Leo Schoenberger’s scoring outburst in the KSHSAA Class 4A semifinals Friday night placed the Baldwin boys on the precipice of the program’s first state basketball championship in school history.
The sixth-seeded Bulldogs never trailed against the previously undefeated and second-seeded Atchison Phoenix en route to a thrilling 65-45 victory. Schoenberger powered his way to 29 points, while senior point guard Cooper Carr carved up the Phoenix defense with a game-high eight assists.
Top-seeded Rock Creek (27-0) awaits Baldwin in the title game clash, with tip-off slated for 6:30 pm today in Hutchinson.
Carr said the triumphant win was a “testament” to Baldwin’s ability to overcome season-long adversity that included injuries and tough losses.
“It takes a group of guys who just buy-in, enjoy the process, even through the adversity — and that’s what we’ve done,” he said. “Now it’s paying off, and we have one more game to win.”
Baldwin head coach Donald Blanchat called it a “team-oriented” victory, pointing to his club’s ability to make the extra passes and hit the open guys.
“We put on a great performance,” he said. “Everyone did their role.”
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin’s Leo Schoenberger shoots a layup against Atchison during a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Baldwin (21-6) opened the contest on an 8-0 run, while shooting perfect from the field. The early offensive flurry included back-to-back corner 3-pointers from Schoenberger, as Carr penetrated the lane and dished to his open teammate on both plays.
Carr’s midrange jumper handed the Bulldogs a 10-3 edge late in the opening frame, but a 3-pointer from Kael Williams cut Atchison’s deficit to 12-6 through one quarter of play.
Atchison Freshman Trey’Von Gillium supplied the Phoenix with consecutive 3-point makes early in the second quarter to knot the contest at 12. Baldwin replied with a 7-0 spurt, keyed by offensive contributions from sophomore guard Jackson Wheeler and senior guard Devyn Wadel to go in front 19-12.
Atchison trailed 19-17 after parlaying turnovers into transition points. The game of runs continued as Carr drove the lane and finished for a traditional 3-point play, followed by senior guard Jackson Rood scoring a fastbreak layup for a 24-17 lead.
Leading by just three, Schoenberger connected from 3-point land to hand the Bulldogs a 27-21 halftime advantage.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin’s Cooper Carr throws up three fingers on each hand to celebrate 3-pointer made by Leo Schoenberger on an assist from Carr against Atchison during a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Atchison (26-1) opened the second half on a 5-0 run as speedy guard Jeremiah Thompson supplied the Phoenix with its offensive firepower. Nursing a slim lead, the Bulldogs hit back with a 10-2 blitz, capped off by Schoenberger’s drive and kick-out to Wadel for the knockdown three and a 39-30 lead.
Gillium’s fourth triple of the contest sliced Baldwin’s lead to six, but Wheeler extended it back to nine after muscling in for a low-post bucket while drawing contact for the 3-point play.
Baldwin stretched its advantage to 47-35 late in the third quarter — courtesy of a step-back jumper from Carr, followed by a deep 3-pointer from Schoenberger for the Bulldogs’ largest lead of the game.
Leading 51-41 entering the final frame, Baldwin delivered the dagger when Carr penetrated the paint and threaded a dime to Schoenberger for his fifth trey of the evening and a 13-point lead.
The Bulldogs never looked back as Carr’s behind-the-back pass to Wheeler for the lay-in served as the icing on the cake, capping an extended 16-2 to swell the lead to 21 late in the fourth quarter.
While Schoenberger and Carr did much of the heavy lifting, Baldwin’s team defense was also superb. The Bulldogs held Atchison to a frigid 32% (16-of-49) from the field.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Atchison’s Trey’Von Gillum throws up three fingers to celebrate a made 3-pointer against Baldwin during a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
And while Gillium finished with a team-high 18 points, he needed 20 shots to get there on just 30% shooting from the field. Additionally, Baldwin’s defensive effort set the tone early, as Atchison misfired on nine of its first 10 shots.
“Defensively, we found their main guys and got a hand up in their face, and made it a little bit harder on them,” Blanchat said.
The Bulldogs also pounded Atchison on the glass, outrebounding an athletic Phoenix team 42-21, while holding a 13-4 advantage on the offensive glass.
Schoenberger needed just 15 shot attempts to reach 29 points, while finishing 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. Wheeler recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Carr, who controlled the offensive tempo, finished with 10 points, while also landing awkwardly on his ankle late in the game. Wadel added nine on a trio of 3-point makes as Baldwin finished 8-of-20 from long-range.
Schoenberger and Carr were aggressive from the jump, as evidenced by a combined 16 fouls that were assessed against Atchison on those two players alone.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin’s Cooper Carr dives for a loose ball against Atchison during a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Carr called Atchison a “scrappy” defensive squad that will “get down and guard.” He added that Baldwin features multiple players who can handle the ball against pressure, as Atchison was applying half-court pressure throughout much of the contest.
“I trust this guy with the ball; he trusts me with the ball,” Carr said, referring to Schoenbeger, who primarily plays on the wing. “We just put our heads down, and either of us can bring it up court.”
Schoenberger noted that floor spacing and getting to his spots were the primary keys to drawing hard contact.
“They ultimately had to grab at me and strike at me,” he said.
As far as the title game tilt against an undefeated Rock Creek squad that has been dominant on the glass, Schoenberger said that Baldwin needs to remain focused on the moment.
“If we get too ahead of ourselves, then they’re going to get on us early,” he said, adding that the team needs to make “each possession a winning play.”
“If we take care of the moment, then good things are going to come our way,” he said.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin’s Leo Schoenberger prepares to launch a 3-pointer against Atchison during a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin players celebrate a made 3-pointer against Atchison during a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin players celebrate after winning 65-45 against Atchison during a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin fans celebrate a big play late against Atchison during a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin’s Cooper Carr takes to the air with Logan Scott to celebrate winning against Atchison in a 4A state semifinal boys basketball game on March 13 at Hutchinson Sports Arena.
