The Oakland-Craig Boys Basketball Team beat West Point-Beemer 52-39 in an East Husker Conference Tournament Consolation Game at Wisner-Pilger Friday night before falling 61-52 at home to Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family Tuesday night.
The Cadets led the Knights 8-7 after one. Oakland-Craig took quarter number two 16-11 to take a 23-19 lead into the locker room.
Both teams scored 8 points in the 3rd quarter, and the score was 31-27 at the end of three in favor of the Knights.
Oakland-Craig outscored West Point-Beemer 21-12 in the 4th quarter.
Robby Mayberry had 14 points while Wyatt Seagren totaled 13 points and 10 rebounds, good enough for a double-double.
The Bulldogs went up 19-8 after one, and won the 2nd quarter 16-15 to take a 35-23 lead into the locker room.
Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family won the 3rd quarter 15-14 to go up 50-37 at the end of three.
The Knights won the 4th quarter 15-11.
Tyson Harney led the way with 13 points and 9 rebounds while Seagren registered 8 points and 8 rebounds. Garrison Dodge and Mayberry added 8 points apiece while Colton Thomsen recorded 7.
Excellent 4th quarter against the Cadets. I thought Oakland-Craig played well throughout much of the game against the Bulldogs, but the 1st quarter was the difference.
The Knights (11-10) host West Point-Beemer (10-9) in the regular season finale Friday night.
The Cadets won 69-56 at home over Madison Tuesday night.
This game is a big deal for Oakland-Craig as it is the last ever home game for the seniors.
The Knights have to make the most of it and make it a memorable one for the seniors.
Oakland-Craig can definitely beat West Point-Beemer again, and I think it could very well happen.
It's never easy to beat a team twice in such a short amount of time, but it appears the Knights put the Cadets in a funk they haven't truly snapped out of yet.
Oakland-Craig hopes West Point-Beemer doesn't snap out of it against them though.
The Knights have to go out there and sky high and run and give maximum effort at all times.
Oakland-Craig has to do what they did the first time defensively against the Cadets, and be efficient and effective on offense again.
The Knights avoided a slow start the first time around, and finished the game strong.
If Oakland-Craig does that again I like them to win.
A slow start could still be overcome by the Knights, but Oakland-Craig just assumes get off to a better start than they did against Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family.
This is the last game of the regular season for Oakland-Craig...the last time these seniors will ever play a high school basketball game on their home floor.
It's the last game the Knights will have to build off of for Sub-Districts too.
So knowing that, I think Oakland-Craig will come out and play well and inspired.
The Knights have to execute the fast break and get easy baskets off turnovers.
Oakland-Craig has to play with lots of intensity, toughness, tenacity, fire, passion, pride, and grit.
The Knights have to play above the rim and must be tenacious on defense.
Oakland-Craig also has to play their hearts and minds out and leave it all out on the floor.
The Knights have to do everything in their power to send the seniors out winners.
The Oakland-Craig Girls finished Runner-Up in the East Husker Conference Tournament, defeating Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family 66-62 at home in the Semifinals last Thursday night before falling 58-55 in overtime to West Point-Beemer in the Championship Game on Saturday at CCC in Columbus.
Oakland-Craig overcame an early 13-point deficit to win a back-and-forth contest with Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, handing the Bulldogs just their second loss of the season. The Knights also made nine three pointers.
Dacey Nelson led the way with 27 points on a hat trick of three pointers, with Kennedy Benne adding 22.
Head Coach Joe Anderson on the win. "Things weren't looking great early. We got into foul trouble, but credit our girls, they battled back. I think it was 15-5, and next thing you know it was 18-6. And we've been there before. I know one of our last games I think we were down 14 with 2 minutes and 40 seconds left, and we found a way to win. So I think that really helped us, let us know that we're never out of a game, and just keep playing hard and good things are going to happen."
West Point-Beemer got off to a quick start on offense, leading 15-9 at the end of the first quarter, and 31-26 at halftime.
Both teams struggled on offense in the third quarter, with the Knights held to just four points, and six for the Cadets.
Oakland-Craig made a strong push in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points while coming back from a 43-32 deficit.
The Knights led 50-47 with 10 seconds left in the ballgame and West Point-Beemer had possession of the basketball. Sierra Kile hit a three pointer from the right wing as time expired to tie the game at 50-50 and force overtime.
The Cadets outscored Oakland-Craig 8-5 in the extra period, and West Point-Beemer went on to win it’s first conference title since 1990.
The ending was not without controversy, however.
Oakland-Craig had the basketball with .9 seconds left, and threw a long inbound pass that was tipped and bounced once before landing out of bounds with .5 seconds left. After meeting at half court, the officials determined that the clocked did not start on time, and there there should not have been any time remaining, and determined that the game was over, preserving the final of 58-55.
Nelson led Oakland-Craig with 30 points and Benne added 12.
Oakland-Craig then held on to beat Fremont Bergan 68-65 at home in overtime Tuesday night.
Bergan led Oakland-Craig 14-12 at the end of one. Oakland-Craig outscored Bergan 17-7 in the 2nd quarter to go up 29-21 at halftime.
Oakland-Craig won the 3rd quarter 12-7 to extend their lead to 41-28 at the end of three.
Bergan outscored Oakland-Craig 30-17 in the 4th quarter to tie the game at 58 and send it into OT.
Oakland-Craig outlasted Bergan 10-7 in the extra session.
Nelson had 33 points while Benne notched 19.
Batman and Robin continue to electrify and lead this team.
The Knights (18-2) host the Cadets (20-1) Friday night in the regular season finale.
West Point-Beemer won 50-11 at home over Madison Tuesday night.
You can bet Oakland-Craig will be up and ready for revenge Friday night.
It figures to be a very emotional night for the team, especially the seniors.
This senior class has meant so much to the success of this program, and a win over West Point-Beemer to conclude their high school careers at home would be a big deal.
It figures to be a very special night for sure, but a win would make things really sweet.
I anticipate another great and close game, and feel the Knights have what it takes to win this time around.
If it's anything like round one it will be an instant classic.
Oakland-Craig made one less play than West Point-Beemer on Saturday so we'll see if the Knights can get the job done this time around.
Both Nelson and Benne have to be electric like they have been all season long.
I don't think there's any doubt the performance of those two will greatly affect the outcome of this game.
Oakland-Craig has to D up Kile, Swanson, and Hoffman, and try and force other players to beat them.
Much easier said than done though.
Regardless of how things go it should be a great game that comes down to the wire once again.
Both teams figure to have a great shot at making state and doing something in Lincoln.
Last week was kind of like a mini State Tournament, now we'll see how Oakland-Craig responds.
I think winning over Bergan definitely helps.
Finding a way to win another close overtime game could definitely help Oakland-Craig in round two against the Cadets.
It should be a great game, and I'm really looking forward to finding out how things transpire and unfold.
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