1A Division II Semifinals: Otis-Bison versus Hope

For a second year in a row, the Otis-Bison Cougars and Hope Lions squared off for the right to play the KSHSAA Class 1A Division II State title. Last year the Lions prevailed by 18 points.

This year’s tilt was far tighter. Both teams traded baskets and slim one or two point leads for most of the first half.

In the third quarter, Otis-Bison broke the game open with a Trevor Keller lay-up followed immediately by Dylan Wissman stealing the Hope inbound pass and making a lay-up for two more points. From then the Cougars held the lead to finish with a score of 54 to 47.

The Otis-Bison Cougars will now face the Frankfort Wildcats for the State Championship on Saturday.

Below are some of the pictures I took at the game:

Click here to purchase prints of these pictures.

Otis-Bison students cheer before the start of the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game against the Hope Lions at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Trevor Keller (#3) of the Otis-Bison Cougars dribbles towards Hope Lion Nathan Lorson (#3) in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison Cougar Trevor Keller (#3) takes a three-point shot against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Hope Lion Landon Cook (#11) dribbles around Otis-Bison Cougar Trevor Keller (#3) in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Shilo Goracke (#25) of the Hope Lions takes a shot during the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game against the Otis-Bison Cougars at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison Cougar Dylan Wissman (#11) jumps into the lane against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Dylan Wissman (#11) of the Otis-Bison Cougars carries the basketball down the court against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Trevor Keller (#3) of the Otis-Bison Cougars tries to lay the basketball in while Hope Lion Phillip Haslouer (#15) goes for the block in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

“Allin Forawin” is a composite picture of the Otis-Bison Cougar team on display at the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

A fan gives the Otis-Bison Cougar a massage during halftime of the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

The Otis-Bison Cougar breaks out some dance moves at the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Hope Lion Phillip Haslouer (#15) passes the basketball to a teammate against the Otis-Bison Cougars in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Zachary Stejskal (#14) of the Otis-Bison Cougars down the court past Hope Lion Shilo Goracke (#25) in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison Cougar Brandon Pechanec (#44) looks for a teammate to pass the basketball to against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Dylan Wissman (#11) of the Otis-Bison Cougars drives past Hope Lion Nathan Lorson (#3) in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Hope students cheer on their team against the Otis-Bison Cougars in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison Cougar Tyler Maier (#40) passes the ball to Trevor Keller (#3) against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison Cougar Trevor Keller (#3) carries the basketball down the court against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Patrick Piper (#22) of the Otis-Bison Cougars goes up for a layup against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison Cougar Patrick Piper (#22) tries to keep the ball away from Hope Lion defender Dwight Davidson (#31) in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Trevor Keller (#3) of the Otis-Bison Cougars lines up his free throw attempt against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Hope Lions Dwight Davidson (#31) and Shilo Goracke (#25) try to block out Otis-Bison Cougar Brandon Pechanec (#44) during a free throw attempt in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Brandon Pechanec (#44) of the Otis-Bison Cougars starts to shoot a free throw attempt against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison Cougar Patrick Piper (#22) watches the basketball as Hope Lions Dwight Davidson (#31) and Shilo Goracke (#25) move for a possible rebound in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison students cheer on their team against the Hope Lions in the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Otis-Bison students celebrate as the Cougars win the 2012 Class 1A Division II Boys State Championship Semifinals Game against the Hope Lions at Gross Memorial Coliseum at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas on March 9, 2012. Photo: Joey Bahr

Click here to purchase prints of these pictures.