The North Bend Central Boys Basketball Team survived a close call against Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family in the East Husker Conference Tournament Semifinals at Midland Friday night in action aired on 107.9 the Bull, winning 35-34. The Tigers then lost 55-41 to BRLD in Saturday's Championship Game at Midland also aired on the Bull before downing Tekamah-Herman 64-25 at home Tuesday night.
H/LHF ran out to a quick start, taking a 16-8 lead after the first quarter.
The Bulldogs were held to just six points in the second quarter, but still led NBC 22-16 at halftime.
NBC outscored H/LHF 8-3 in the third quarter, but still trailed 25-24 heading into the fourth.
The Tigers were able to gain a lead in the fourth quarter. They led by as many as five points twice, but H/LHF cut it to one point both times.
The Tigers were leading 35-34 with 6.5 second left and H/LHF had the ball for a chance to win. Bret Hanis attempted a three pointer from the top of the key that was blocked by Jaxon Wietfeld. The Blocked shot went straight to Aiden Weidner who was able to get off one more shot for the Bulldogs, but it missed off the right side of the rim, preserving the win for NBC.
Wietfeld led the Tigers with 11 points. Austin Endorf and Cody Prohaska each added eight, and Brodey Johnson hit two crucial three pointers in the fourth quarter.
On Saturday, the first half was back-and-forth, with NBC leading 14-13 after the first quarter, and BRLD leading 24-23 going into halftime.
BRLD started to pull away in the second half, however, scoring 14 points in the third quarter, and taking a 38-30 lead into the final period.
NBC got the score within two possessions a few times, but BRLD pulled away late.
Endorf had 14 points, including four three-pointers to lead the Tigers. Wietfeld added 8 while Breckin Peters had 7.
North Bend Central led Tekamah-Herman 23-8 after one, and outscored Tekamah-Herman 16-5 in the 2nd quarter to take a 39-13 lead into the locker room.
NBC outscored Tekamah-Herman 18-5 in the 3rd quarter to increase their lead to 57-18 at the end of three.
Both teams scored 7 points in the 4th quarter.
Good dominant win Tuesday night following the EHC Tournament run.
North Bend Central (20-1) takes on Howells-Dodge (11-9) on the road Thursday night in action that can be heard on 107.9 the Bull.
The Jaguars lost 65-52 at Wisner-Pilger Monday night.
On paper, the Tigers should be able to win this one.
But it is the last home game of the year for Howells-Dodge, and you can bet the Jaguars will play tough and inspired.
I'm not suggesting North Bend Central will lose and get upset, but anything is certainly possible, especially this time of year.
Howells-Dodge went on a run at the end of last year and made state so the Tigers have to be wary and cognizant of the Jaguars.
North Bend Central can't take Howells-Dodge lightly and think that they have the game won before stepping out on the court.
The Tigers have to come out and run, run, run and get out in transition and light it up from beyond the arc.
Howells-Dodge lost by 18 to Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family earlier in the year.
That's when the Jaguars were playing better, in my opinion.
Howells-Dodge has lost three in a row and four out of their last five.
I also feel like North Bend Central has been good lately, but not as dominant as they were at the beginning of the year.
So it's a battle of a couple of teams looking for a game that sparks a run and gives them a boost.
The Tigers have a lot to play for in terms of postseason seeding and things of that sort, and could use a big win to reestablish a dominant level of play.
I feel like perhaps NBC did that Tuesday night, but do it against the Jaguars on their home floor and you'll really be rolling.
The Tigers also have Fort Calhoun next Friday to end the regular season, and I feel these next two games could be games that give North Bend Central just what they need to gear up for another deep state run even though the Tigers are already geared up for a postseason run already probably.
Thursday night's game is scheduled to tip-off at 8:30 p.m. on the Bull.
The North Bend Central Girls routed Pender 65-39 in the East Husker Conference Tournament Semifinals in action aired on 107.9 the Bull Thursday night before falling 49-48 in overtime to Oakland-Craig in Saturday's Championship Game also aired on the Bull, and then winning 59-23 at home over Tekamah-Herman Tuesday night.
Against the Pendragons, The Tigers used a fast start to take an 18-8 lead after the first quarter and a 41-20 lead into halftime.
Head Coach Aaron Sterup says the quick start was key. “It was big. You know, we need to get off to good starts just for our confidence level and just to kinda get our full court game going a little bit,” Sterup said. “Knocking down some shots really, I think, got us going. For the most part, if we get going, we’re tough to beat. So I think that was big.”
Sydney Emanuel led NBC with 14 points, with Megan Ortmeier adding 10. Lauren Emanuel added 9 while Kaitlyn Emanuel scored 8.
The old cliche in basketball is that free throws win championships.
If that’s the case, then there were plenty of opportunities for either team to win on Saturday when then 20-0 Oakland-Craig squared off with then 19-1 North Bend Central.
Oakland-Craig won the game in a contest that saw both teams combine to shoot a total of 71 free throws.
The Knights held a slim 11-9 advantage after the first quarter, and went into halftime leading 17-12.
Both teams score nine points in the third quarter, and Oakland-Craig still led 26-21.
The Knights built a 14 point lead in the fourth quarter, and looked like they were going to run away with the lead, before NBC went on a scoring run.
The Tigers went off for 21 points in the fourth, and were able to tie the game at 42-42, forcing overtime.
Oakland-Craig outscored NBC 7-6 in the extra period, claiming the Conference title, while also beating NBC for the second time this season.
Sydney Emanuel had 12 points to lead NBC, and was one of four Tigers to foul out of the game. Ortmeier added 9 while Kaitlyn Emanuel totaled 8. Cierra Kluthe chipped in 7. NBC was 18-38 from the free throw line as a team.
North Bend Central tripled up Tekamah-Herman 12-4 in the 1st quarter, and outscored them 21-3 in the 2nd quarter to take a 33-7 lead into the locker room.
NBC doubled up Tekamah-Herman 16-8 in the 3rd quarter to extend their lead to 49-15 at the end of three.
North Bend Central won the 4th quarter 10-8.
Good, dominant performance and response from NBC Tuesday night.
The Tigers (20-2) battle Howells-Dodge (8-12) on the road Thursday night in action that can be heard on 107.9 the Bull.
The Jaguars won 68-61 at Wisner-Pilger Monday night.
North Bend Central should be able to take care of business Thursday night you would think.
Still though Howells-Dodge has played a few top teams tough, and with it being their final game of the season at home and for their seniors you never know what might happen.
Anything can happen, especially this time of year, and so the Tigers have to be ready to battle for 4 quarters with the Jaguars.
North Bend Central has to play hard and make their layups and convert their free throw opportunities.
The Tigers have to come out and turn in another dominating performance Thursday night and gear up for another State run.
We are getting down to the very end of the season, an exciting time for some and a tough time for those teams whose seasons end prior to State.
North Bend Central has to come out and play well Thursday night, and be the last team standing.
The Tigers also have to be one of the last teams standing come Saturday, March 7th if they can can at all help it.
I feel North Bend Central is well equipped to make another postseason run.
The Tigers are in a Sub-District with Wahoo though, and those teams could very well meet in Sub-Districts and then again potentially at State.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, but one thing is for sure...North Bend Central would give themselves another big momentum boost by winning big Thursday night.
I think the Tigers definitely have what it takes to come out and dominate and win big over Howells-Dodge.
The Jaguars have good guard and post play though, and are very tough.
North Bend Central might be bigger and more athletic though.
I think this is a key game for the Tigers to play well in as you want to be playing strong and your best basketball heading into the postseason.
North Bend Central has done that all year long they've just lost a couple of nail biters to an undefeated Oakland-Craig team.
Thursday's tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on the Bull.
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