ANDOVER, Kansas – For much of his high school career, Andover senior Josh Kim has been a key component of the Trojans’ offense.

But Kim suffered through one of his worst halves of basketball in the first half Wednesday night and had just three points at halftime in the Class 5A sub-state opener against Salina Central, including hitting just one of four free throws.

Fortunately for third-seeded Andover, Kim regained his scoring touch in the second half, getting nine points in the third quarter and starting the Trojans on their way to a 61-44 victory.

Kim said the sudden lack of a shot clock after having had one all season hampered Andover.

“We had played the whole season with it and gotten used to it, because we’re a run-and-gun team,” he said. “What we really focused on (in the second half) was running our stuff and trusting it, because we can get any shot we want quick, but what really matters is getting the great shot.”

From there, it eventually proved to be business as usual for the Trojans, Kim said.

“We started doing that, playing harder defense and listening to the coaches,” he said.

Trojans coach Martin Shetlar said Salina Central did some things that affected Kim’s game.

“They made it tough for him in the first half,” Shetlar said. “Playing that zone takes him out of it a little bit, but he did a good job of going and finding other ways to score, a couple of offensive rebounds and then he got other people good shots.”

Like Kim, Shetlar likes having the shot clock.

“It just feels different, and it just feels like the game needs a shot clock,” he said. “It definitely does.”

Now that the season has come down to single-elimination, Kim said the team will need to bring its best effort.

“Anything can happen from now on,” he said. “It’s do-or-die, guys are giving their all and doing stuff they don’t normally do. You’ve just got to adapt and change to it, and having experience helps a lot with these guys.”

Andover (18-3) advances to the Saturday final at 5 p.m. against sixth-seeded Hays (13-8), a 48-43 winner over No. 11 Hutchinson.

“Hays is big and physical, so it will probably be a different game from (Wednesday night’s),” Shetlar said. “They’ll probably play some zone. We’re just going to have to be physical and make shots. They’ve got a couple of big guys that will be tough for us to guard.”

Advancing is nice, but advancing and playing the next game on your home court is even better, Kim said.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “Seeing all the people that we know come out to cheer us.”

Shetlar said having the home court is crucial – especially with a state berth at stake.

“Being at home makes a big difference,” he said. “We talk about that all season. We can’t let games go, because we need to be at home. It will be good to be here and play here, and hopefully we come out and play well.”

Being at home with the state berth on the line can’t be underestimated, Shetlar said.

“It means everything,” he said. “We learned that our first couple of years, how important it is to have these games at home.

“It’s a big deal. Hays is going to be a tough team coming in here, and them having to come all the way here and play on our home court is a big deal.”

After the Trojans took an 11-2 lead after the first quarter, helped by seven Mustangs turnovers, Salina Central (8-13) sprang to life in the second quarter, cutting the Trojans’ lead to just 19-17 at the break and limiting its turnovers to just one in the second period.

The Mustangs tied the score at 19-19 on their first possession opening the third quarter on a layup by junior Noah Peck. The Trojans reclaimed the lead on two free throws by junior guard Griffin Hand with 6:32 left in the third period and outscored Salina Central 19-8 from there, taking a 40-27 lead into the fourth quarter.

Increasing the defensive pressure was a key to the second half, Kim said.

“Our whole team focuses on defense, because … we get yelled at a lot for defense and rebounding,” he said. “Once we fix that minor stuff, the game will come to us, and offense will be created from our defense and hard work.”

Andover kept up its attack in the final period, matching its third-quarter total with 21 more points and easily dispatching the Mustangs, who had great difficulty taking care of the ball in the second half, committing 10 more turnovers.

Kim was a prime beneficiary of Salina Central’s miscues, including a layup and dunk in the final 26 seconds of the third quarter off of long passes after Mustang turnovers.

Just another key game in a very memorable senior season, Kim said.

“It’s been amazing,” he said. “I always try to stay positive with my last season because I feel like I’ve been here for what feels like 20 years. Having fun with my teammates and coaches is a big thing.

“I really love this group because we get along so well together.”

Senior guard Owen Allman also found his range in the second half, scoring eight of his 10 points after halftime. Juniors Walker McClellan and Paul Evans had nine points each, and senior guard Zeke McCaskill finished with eight.

Salina Central rode burly 6-foot-6 junior post Kaden Snyder to remain competitive. Snyder scored nine of his game-high 15 points in the fourth quarter to keep the game from becoming an even larger runaway.

Salina Central also used its height advantage for a degree of success. Half of the Mustangs’ roster is listed at 6-3 or taller.

However, some of that height is also very young, and some of the mistakes came as a result of youth and inexperience.

Senior guard Kamryn Jones also finished in double figures with 10 points, and 6-1 freshman Grant Ostmeyer helped fuel the second-quarter rally with two three-pointers.

The Trojans managed to avoid the upset bug that befell three top seeds in the 5A West. Top-seeded Great Bend fell at home to Goddard Eisenhower; fourth-seeded Topeka Seaman lost in overtime to No. 13 Valley Center; and 10th seed Maize South stunned No. 7 Emporia. Andover, No. 2 Kapaun Mount Carmel and No. 5 Topeka West are the highest seeds remaining.

SALINA CENTRAL – K. Jones 3 (2) 2-2 10, Cole 2 0-0 4, Peck 1 0-0 2, Snyder 6 (1) 2-3 15, Ostmeyer 2 (2) 0-2 6, Nienke 1 0-0 2, G. Jones 2 1-3 5. Totals 17 (5) 5-8 44.

ANDOVER – Kim 6 2-6 14, Allman 4 (2) 0-0 10, Baker 1 0-0 2, Hand 2 3-3 7, McClelllan 4 1-1 9, Evans 3 (2) 1-2 9, Lee 1 0-0 2, McCaskill 3 (1) 1-1 8. Totals 24 (5) 8-13 61.