This year marks the hundredth year reunion of all Hugoton High School alumni. In all that time, the school has earned only three State Championships – all in Track & Field in 20-year intervals: 1938, 1958 and 1978. The long dry spell of State banners has at last been broken – the Hugoton High Lady Eagles have brought home a 4A Division II State Championship, winning over Baldwin 68-54!! The championship game’s first point came from a free throw by HHS’s Amy Scott. The Eagles maintained their lead until shortly before the second quarter, when Baldwin led by two shortly. Two Hugoton free throws brought the score to 15 all heading into the second quarter. The second quarter marked the beginning of the end for the Lady Bulldogs, as Hugoton outscored Baldwin 20 to 11. Katy Heger scored half of HHS’s 20, while efforts from Dallie Hoskinson and Amy Scott combined to finish up the first half scoring for the Lady Eagles. Baldwin headed into their locker room in a serious hole, despite a last-minute seven-point scoring run. The first couple of minutes in the second half were plagued by sloppy ball – handling as each team struggled to find the appropriate pace and rhythm. Baldwin’s score crept up to within five, until Amy sank a critical three, followed quickly by another three-pointer from Riley Sosa. Now the Eagles led by nine, and ended up stretching the lead to 14 at the close of the third quarter, 53-39. The final quarter featured 15 points by each side, and the Bulldogs couldn’t close the significant gap. Hugoton’s Lady Eagles finished the contest with a healthy 14-point lead 68-54. Hugoton’s first State Champions in over 35 years were applauded by an impressive near 500 fan cheering section at Hartman Arena, as well as the countless other fans at home. Top scorer for the championship game was Scott with 25 points. Dallie Hoskinson closely followed Scott with 21 points and Katy Heger had 13. Riley Sosa had three points, Ana Pena had four and Melissa Fabela had two. Hoskinson had an impressive five rebounds and Estefani Armendariz followed closely with four, with Pena close behind with three. Pena was 100% from the free throw line with four out of four. Hoskinson was 92% from the free throw line with 11 out of 12. Please be sure and attend the appreciation dinner Sunday, March 22 for the Lady Eagles. Free will donations will be accepted at the dinner with proceeds going towards State Championship Rings for team members. Please come and enjoy a nice meal and say hello to Hugoton High School’s First State Girls Basketball Championship Team Members!