The role set for Hutchinson High senior guard Lyric Martin is simple - come off the bench and energize the Salthawks. Hutchinson needed that Thursday in a first-round Class 6A substate game against Garden City. Hutchinson didn't score until Martin drained a 17-footer nearly five minutes into the game, and Martin then helped force a turnover. It was still early, but that early energy from Martin was crucial in Hutchinson's 44-33 win. "She was a huge spark off the bench for us in the first quarter," Hutchinson coach Casey Stiggins said. "We were pretty lackadaisical offensively in the first quarter before her spark. "What a great kid. She comes to work every day in practice with a smile on her face. We'll miss her next year." Hutchinson (14-7) has had trouble scoring at times this year, and that happened again against Garden City (12-9). Neither team scored until Garden City's Jaymie Bernbeck sank a free throw with 3:29 left in the first quarter. A mere 23 seconds later, Martin was left wide open just inside the 3-point arc. She didn't hesitate shooting, and the shot hit nothing but net. Hutchinson never trailed again. "It's a pleasure to do what I do, and it's a pleasure playing with these girls," said Martin, who finished with four points. "I just like to come in and try to get the team rolling. I don't want to be the only one out there encouraging everyone. I want everyone do that, and I think that helps us out like it did tonight." Right after Martin's basket, Hutchinson got a 3-pointer from senior guard Jenna Higgins. But that would be the only scoring in the first quarter, as Hutchinson led 5-1. "We settled down after that," senior guard Shayla DeGarmo said. "We knew it could have been our last game, and nerves were there, but we relaxed." Both teams were better by the second quarter, as Garden City scored 16 points and Hutchinson 17. Senior guard Jordan Downing was fouled at the buzzer, and her free throws gave Hutchinson a 22-17 halftime lead. The third quarter, both teams struggled again offensively, especially Garden City. Like the first quarter, the Buffaloes didn't make a single field goal in the third quarter. "Our defensive pressure was really good," Stiggins said. "I thought we did a good job on (Bernbeck). One of our plans was to control (Bernbeck) and keep (Abbie Dart) out of the lane. We did that for the most part." Hutchinson's biggest lead was 34-20 after DeGarmo made two free throws early in the fourth quarter. But Garden City slowly made a run. Using a high-energy, full-court defense, and aided by a few missed Hutch free throws, the Buffaloes gave themselves a chance. When Tiffany Butler made a pair of free throws with 1:53 left, Garden City was down just 37-31. "One of the things I told them was to keep their heads up," Garden City coach David Upton said. "It was the last game of the season, and there were some tears, but they fought. It was almost like we'd create an opportunity, but then we'd turn it over." Garden City finished shooting 24 percent (10 of 41). Bernbeck led the Buffaloes with 13 points. DeGarmo led Hutch with 13 points, while Higgins had 12. The Salthawks will now play for the substate championship Saturday against undefeated and Class 6A No. 1 Maize.