In a rematch of Hiawatha’s 42–39 win on February 20, the Red Hawks again battled past Riverside, rallying for a gritty 44–39 victory Wednesday night. Now 22–3, Hiawatha advances to the Sub-State Championship at Sabetha High School, where the Red Hawks will face Marysville on Saturday at 6:30 PM with a trip to the 3A State Tournament on the line.

Hiawatha struck first with a Claire Twombly bucket off the opening tip, but Riverside quickly answered with a Trinity Jackson three. Kylie Nelson knocked down a triple and Remy Siebenmorgen went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line off the bench, yet Jackson’s hot start—11 first-half points with three threes—helped Riverside take a 16–12 lead after one and a 26–22 advantage at halftime.

The Red Hawks seized momentum in the third quarter with a 9–1 run. Twombly sparked the surge with a corner three off a Kenzie Nelson assist, and Michaela Williams scored off a sideline set to put Hiawatha ahead 28–27. Adison Williams followed with a strong drive and and-one to stretch the lead. Riverside tied the game at 36–36 early in the fourth, but Kylie Nelson answered with a deep three, and Hiawatha calmly closed the game with clock control and clutch free throws to secure the 44–39 win.

Hiawatha committed just 11 turnovers and went 15-of-19 from the free-throw line, with four of its five three-pointers coming in the second half. Kylie Nelson led the Red Hawks with 16 points and seven rebounds. Adison Williams added nine points, eight rebounds, and two steals, while Twombly chipped in seven points and seven boards. Michaela Williams scored six points with two steals. Siebenmorgen (four points, three rebounds, one block, one steal), Kenzie Nelson (two points, five rebounds, one steal), and Laura Lierz (two rebounds, one assist, one steal) helped anchor a defense that allowed just 13 second-half points.

The victory is Hiawatha’s 22nd of the season, making this team the third-winningest in the program’s 53-year history, passing the 1976–77 squad that finished 21–3 and placed fourth at the 3A State Tournament.

For Riverside, Trinity Jackson led with 12 points and three rebounds. Ella Wisler added four points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, while Niahla Duncan and Kennedy Griffin each scored eight. Tori Ortega chipped in five off the bench. The Cyclones hit six threes but committed 15 turnovers, finishing the season 15–10 overall and 8–2 in the Northeast Kansas League.