The Pender Boys Basketball Team was upset 58-53 by Homer in the D1-4 Sub-District Semifinals from Ponca Tuesday night.
The Pendragons went up 20-8 at the end of the first quarter, and won the 2nd quarter 16-11 to take a 36-19 lead into the locker room.
The Knights outscored Pender 22-7 in the 3rd quarter to make it a 43-41 game at the end of three.
Homer outscored the Pendragons 17-10 in the 4th quarter to complete the comeback.
Tough pill to swallow and a tough way to go out for Pender. The Pendragons had it.
Pender ends the season at 9-14.
A lot was expected of the Pendragons this season, and at times Pender played really well.
Ultimately though I think a lack of consistent play ultimately cost the Pendragons.
Pender loses Chris Rutar, Eric Schopke, Korbyn Nelson, Gabriel Perez, Sam Mailloux, and Jaydon Jump.
These kids meant a lot to Pender Basketball and will sorely be missed without a doubt.
Key returners include Caleb Trimble, Dylan Vogt, Austin Roth, Nathan Breitbarth, Jaxon Maise, and Lucas Timm.
Lots of talent lost to graduation, but lots of talent coming back as well.
The Pendragons are going to be hurt and disappointed by the outcome of the final game for quite some time I would imagine.
This was Pender's chance to win Sub-Districts and advance to a Sub-State game.
It wasn't meant to be though, and all the returning players and newcomers can do is work hard in the offseason and get ready for next year.
The seniors have to get ready for baseball or track or whatever spring sport they do if they do one.
The seniors have to take the life lessons they learned playing high school basketball and apply them to their lives in the future.
I'm sure the end result of the season is disappointing, but 20 years from now I'm sure the kids will look back at things and remember all the good times they had together and will cherish the relationships built.
For the returning players and newcomers, they have to come back strong and use this year's disappointment as motivation to get better and have a better season next year.
They have to work hard in the offseason through open gyms, summer camps, summer leagues, and weightlifting sessions so they can set themselves up for success next year.
I honestly thought Pender would win the Sub-District and make Sub-State and have an overall better season than they did based on what they did last year and who was coming back, but the Pendragons struggled for whatever reason.
Pender has to bounce back and try and right the ship next season.
The Pender Girls saw their season come to an end last Thursday night as the Pendragons lost 55-42 to Randolph in the D1-6 Sub-District Final from Stanton.
The Pendragons led 12-11 after one. The Cardinals tripled up Pender 21-7 in the 2nd quarter to take a 32-19 lead into the locker room.
Randolph won the 3rd quarter 14-12 to increase their lead to 46-31 at the end of three.
The Pendragons won the 4th quarter 11-9.
Zoey Lehmkuhl led all scorers with 21 points.
Good season overall for Pender, but the finish had to be a little disappointing.
The Pendragons ends the season at 13-11.
Pender had a tough start to the season and then went just 2-4 in their last six games.
I thought the Pendragons did a lot of nice things over the course of the season though.
Ashley Ostrand led the team in scoring with 15 points a game while Lehmkuhl averaged 10. Sarah Krueger averaged 7.
Ostrand was the team's leading rebounder, averaging 7 per game.
Pender says goodbye to Krueger and Michaela Wegner.
Key returners include Caitlyn Heise, Lehmkuhl, Ostrand, Faith Morris, and Claire Felber.
I think the future of this team and program is very bright.
Lots of great players and talent return next year, and I think that bodes well for the Pendragons.
Pender has to get after it this offseason, and work on their game often and with great and tremendous effort.
The Pendragons have to wake up and have good attendance at weights, in open gyms, during summer camps, and also during summer leagues.
Pender has to work extremely hard to get back to that elite level they were at just a couple of years ago.
These girls have to be gym rats, and must get after things as much as possible.
I wish Wegner the best of luck at CCC playing Softball and to Krueger and her future endeavors also.
Those two meant a lot to and had great careers for the Pendragons, and will be sorely missed without a doubt.
Pender has to gear up and get ready for bigger and better things next year.
I feel the Pendragons can and will use the disappointment of last Thursday's loss as motivation and fuel to the fire heading into this offseason and into next year.
Pender has to workout and play the game with tremendous pride and passion this offseason in order to grow and improve and be type of team they can and hope to be next year.
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