The Howells-Dodge Girls came up a win short of winning the Class D-1 State Championship, losing 41-38 to Emerson-Hubbard at Pinnacle Bank Arena Saturday Morning. Howells-Dodge reached the State Championship game thanks to a 59-32 win over Kenesaw in the semifinals on Friday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Jaguars advanced to Friday's semifinals by knocking off Dundy County-Stratton 54-40 in the first round at Lincoln North Star on Thursday.
Howells-Dodge started the Dundy County-Stratton game on a 7-0 run and led 18-10 at the end of one. The Tigers won the second quarter 14-12 to make it a 30-24 game at halftime. The Jaguars' Sam Brester registered a three-point play right before the half.
Both teams scored 10 third quarter points, and the score after three was 40-34 in favor of Howells-Dodge.
The Jaguars outscored Dundy County-Stratton 14-6 in the fourth quarter.
Brester had a game-high 19 points for Howells-Dodge, all coming in the final three quarters. Chelsea Bayer totaled 15 while Kelly Cech and Kalli Brester had 9 and 7, respectively.
The Jaguars led the Blue Devils 21-16 at the end of one. Howells-Dodge outscored Kenesaw 14-6 in the second quarter to lead 35-22 at halftime.
The Jaguars won the third quarter 15-8 to go up 50-30 at the end of three.
Howells-Dodge put up 9 fourth quarter points compared to just 2 for the Blue Devils.
Sam Brester led all scorers with 21 points. Bayer added 11 while Cech registered 10.
The Jaguars led the Pirates 9-7 after one. Emerson-Hubbard won the second quarter 13-10 to lead 20-19 at halftime.
The Pirates outscored Howells-Dodge 14-9 in the third quarter to go up 34-28 at the end of three.
The Jaguars notched 10 fourth quarter points compared to 7 for Emerson-Hubbard.
Sam Brester finished with a game-high 19 points while Bayer totaled 7.
Howells-Dodge made a nice run to the state tournament, and reached their goal of making it to Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The Jaguars finish the year 21-7.
It was a very memorable run and season for Howells-Dodge.
The Jaguars played a gauntlet of a schedule, and picked up big regular season wins over Stanton (twice), Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family (twice), Oakland-Craig, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, Humphrey St. Francis, Wisner-Pilger, Pender, and North Bend Central.
I don't think there's any doubt Howells-Dodge's tough schedule helped prepare for them for state, and allowed them to make the run they did.
The Jaguars see better competition than teams out West, and it really showed on Thursday and Friday.
Howells-Dodge should be really good again next year as the Jaguars lose just one senior in Cech.
Everyone else is back for Howells-Dodge.
Bayer, Emily Ritzdorf, Sam Brester, Kalli Brester, Tessa Brester, Erin Prusa, and Macey Kulhanek all figure to have a huge impact for the Jaguars again next season.
As good as this season was, next season has a chance to be even better, in my opinion.
These girls have to work their tails off in the offseason, and get in the weight room, the gym, and attend as many summer camps and open gyms as possible though. Success in summer league is also important in preparation for next season.
Next year has a chance to be another very memorable season for the Jaguars, they just have to grow, work hard, and develop from now until November.
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