By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

Unlike last year at sub-state, Victoria prep boys' basketball coach Stuart Moeckel said his team was ready from the get-go on Thursday night.

The Knights led after the first quarter, then used a big second quarter to take control of the game in a 54-32 semifinal win over Sharon Springs at the Class 1A Hays sub-state at Felten Middle School gym.

Victoria (14-10) will play top-ranked Quinter (24-0) in Saturday's 7:30 p.m. championship game at Felten. Quinter rolled past Ness City 72-37 in the other semifinal. The sub-state winner advances to next week's 1A state tournament at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

"We talked about coming out with intensity," Moeckel said. "Looked at film from last year, thought we didn't come out with the intensity you need to at this level."

Taking an 11-8 lead into the second quarter, Victoria outscored Sharon Springs 15-4 in the second quarter to take a 26-12 halftime lead. Senior Garrett Dreiling, the Knights' 6-foot-5 senior center, scored 10 of his game-high 19 points in the period.

But Dreiling had plenty of help. The Victoria guards attacked the basket in the Knights' dribble-drive offense, taking it to the Wildcats inside. Sharon Springs (15-9) had a 6-6 center and a 6-3 forward, but that didn't change Victoria's offense. If it wasn't Dreiling scoring inside or facing up to hit 15-footers, the guards were scoring on layups.

"We always talk about not changing shots when we go up against bigger guys," Moeckel said. "Going against Garrett in practice helps."

Victoria also shut down Sharon Springs' top scorer, 6-3 senior forward Tate Andrews, who was averaging 21 points per game. Andrews was held to 16 points on 5-of-18 shooting. The Knights would double-team Andrews, providing help defense.

"He's a really good player," Moeckel said. "We knew he was going to get his points."

Victoria led 39-23 after the third quarter, then went on a 9-2 run to start the fourth quarter to take a 48-25 lead, its biggest of the game.

Dreiling also had 10 rebounds to go with his 19 points for a double-double. Senior guard Jeremy Urban hit a pair of 3-pointers and added 10 points.

As the final buzzer sounded, Knights fans cheered loud and long.

"Our fans did a great job," Moeckel said. "The whole town of Victoria was here."