The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Boys Basketball Team lost 44-24 at Pierce last Saturday in the bunny bracket game of the Mid-State Conference Tournament.
Pierce went up 13-5 after one, and won the 2nd quarter 8-6 to take a 21-11 lead into the locker room.
Pierce outscored GACC 14-5 in the 3rd quarter to extend their lead to 35-16 at the end of three.
Pierce won the 4th quarter 9-8.
Nate Niewohner paced GACC with 7 points.
I thought this game would be closer than it was, but Pierce is on a roll right now.
GACC (3-13) battles Norfolk Catholic (9-9) on the road Tuesday night.
The Knights lost 50-43 to Pierce in the Conference Tournament Semifinals Friday night.
Norfolk Catholic is playing good basketball right now, and figures to be a tough challenge for the Bluejays.
GACC is no doubt disappointed about not advancing farther in the Tournament, but all the Bluejays can do now is regroup and move on.
GACC has to use these days off as a way to get better and prepared for the Knights.
I fully expect the Bluejays to come out and play well and give Norfolk Catholic all they can handle and then some.
GACC has to shoot lights and out be more efficient on offense than they were against Pierce.
GACC has to put the Pierce loss in the rearview mirror, and come out and refocus on Norfolk Catholic.
GACC has a big week this week and gets another shot at Pierce at home on Thursday.
It's now or never for GACC if they want to make some hay, in my opinion.
The Bluejays have to raise their game and level of play on Tuesday and in their other two games next week.
GACC plays Fremont Bergan next Saturday, and the Knights are having a very nice and fine season.
The Bluejays have to come ready to play each and every night, and get fired up before each game.
GACC has to be aggressive attacking the basket, and has to take some chances and gamble on some plays.
The Bluejays really have nothing to lose so they might as well let things rip and hang in the balance next week and beyond.
It's never too late to get things going, and a good week next week could lead to bigger things for GACC I feel.
The Bluejays have to find a way to take strides and make headway next week, win or lose.
The Guardian Angels Central Catholic Girls lost 54-47 to Pierce on Monday in the first round of the Mid-State Conference Tournament at Northeast Community College in Norfolk before falling 61-51 to Norfolk Catholic in a Consolation game at Norfolk Catholic on Thursday.
Pierce got out to an 11-8 lead at the end of one. Both teams scored 15 points in the 2nd quarter to make it a 26-23 game at halftime.
GACC won the 3rd quarter 13-12 to make it a 38-36 game at the end of three.
Pierce outlasted GACC 16-11 in the 4th quarter.
The Knights jumped out to a 14-2 lead on the Bluejays after one. Norfolk Catholic outscored GACC 18-11 in the 2nd quarter to take a 32-13 lead at halftime.
The Bluejays won the 3rd quarter 16-13 to make it a 45-29 game at the end of three.
GACC outscored the Knights 22-16 in the 4th quarter.
Sophia Hass had a team-high 10 points while Maddie Bracht chipped in 9 points and 9 rebounds. Marissa Hunke added 8 points while Brenna Rief notched 7.
I thought GACC might make some noise in this tournament, but they simply came up short.
The Bluejays (13-7) host Pender (12-8) Tuesday night.
The Pendragons defeated Howells-Dodge 59-57 in an East Husker Conference Tournament Consolation Game at home Thursday night.
It's almost do or die time for GACC.
GACC needs wins over Pender and Pierce this week to have any shot at earning a wildcard into Sub-State I would say.
GACC also needs a couple of wins to give themselves momentum heading into Sub-Districts.
The Bluejays can still do it as I don't expect GACC to go down quietly, easily, or without a fight.
You can bet GACC will give whoever they play everything they've got until the very end.
The Bluejays' 21-year streak of making the State Tournament is in serious Jeopardy right now though.
GACC has picked the wrong time in the season to go in a slump.
Hopefully the Bluejays can get back to their winning ways this week.
Sub-Districts are going to be tough regardless of how well GACC performs this week, but play well this week and chances are the Bluejays will be more prepared for Sub-Districts than if they suffer one or two losses this week.
GACC has to play with a sense of urgency and purpose.
The Bluejays need to have good practices leading up to Tuesday.
GACC has to get back on track defensively, and has to kick the offense into high gear once again as well.
The Bluejays appear to have hit a bump in the road starting with the O'Neill game, and need to get past and overcome it.
Having big 4th quarters in both games this week could end up making all the difference for GACC I feel.
It is almost now or never for the Bluejays.
GACC has to step up and play well and with lots of grit, toughness, fire, passion, tenacity, pride, and determination.
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