LINCOLN – A pair of boys basketball teams who were eliminated in the first round of last year’s state tournament, matched up against one another Wednesday evening.
From the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, the third Class C1 quarterfinal featured #2 Kearney Catholic and #7 Wayne High. Neither team have met on the basketball court in recent history but the schools did play two years ago in the 2019 first round of the football playoffs as WHS won 28-21.
The stat line that stuck out was foul shooting. WHS scored 18 of their 24 fourth quarter points from the charity stripe and didn’t allow the Stars back in the game. Final favored Wayne High, 59-52 over Kearney Catholic. The Blue Devils are back in the semifinal for the first time since 2014 winning their fourth straight game improving to 23-5 while the Stars had back-to-back first round exits seeing their 15-game wining streak snapped ending their season at 23-3.
The Blue Devils led 14-9 after the opening quarter and outscored Kearney Catholic, 15-13 in the second. WHS found themselves out front 29-22 at the break. The Stars started to mount their comeback in the third with an 11-6 quarter before Wayne High took control in the fourth, 24-19. Wayne High again defeated Kearney Catholic, 59-52.
Wayne High was led in scoring by junior Brandon Bartos with 18 points (7-8 FT/one three-pointer) while fellow junior Tanner Walling followed with 15 points (7-10 FT/two three-pointers). Senior Colton Vovos added 12 points (4-4 FT/two three-pointers), sophomore Daniel Judd finished with six points, sophomore Alex Phelps fouled out with four points as sophomore Sedjro Agoumba and senior Jacob Kneifl both had two points.
The Blue Devils shot 18-21 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and 24-31 in the game along with five triples.
Kearney Catholic leaders were junior Brett Mahony with 23 points (4-5 FT/one three-pointer) while senior Logan O’Brien finished with 11 points (0-5 FT).
The Stars finished 6-18 from the charity stripe and knocked down four three-pointers.
Wayne High will next face #3 Adams Central who defeated #6 St. Paul, 63-56 in overtime Wednesday evening. The semifinal game will be scheduled for Friday, March 12 at 11:15 a.m. Pregame coverage will be set for around 11 a.m. on The City ‘KCTY’ 98.9/1590 and waynedailynews.com.
1st 2nd Half 3rd 4th Final:
14 15 29 6 24 59 – Wayne
9 13 22 11 19 52 – Kearney Catholic
2021 NSAA Boys State Basketball bracket.
Class C1 Wednesday scores from the Pinnacle Bank Arena:
#1 Auburn defeated #8 Pierce, 51-28 (60th straight win for the Bulldogs)
#4 Omaha Concordia defeated #5 Milford, 66-54 (first loss for Milford)
#7 Wayne upsets #2 Kearney Catholic, 59-52
#3 Adams Central defeated #6 St. Paul, 63-56 in overtime
Class C2 Wednesday scores from Lincoln Northeast HS:
#1 Grand Island Central Catholic defeated #8 Tri County, 58-29
#5 Hartington Cedar Catholic defeated #4 Freeman, 40-37
#2 Yutan defeated #7 Chase County, 63-43
#6 BRLD defeated #3 Bridgeport, 59-43 (BRLD is the two-time defending C2 champs)
Class D1 quarterfinal games on Wednesday, March 10 from Lincoln Southeast HS:
#1 Burwell defeated #8 Central Valley, 53-45
#4 Howells-Dodge defeated #5 Walthill, 68-49
#2 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family defeated #7 Southern Valley, 49-43
#3 North Platte St. Patrick’s defeated #6 Ansley-Litchfield, 59-47
Class D2 quarterfinal games will be held at Lincoln East on Wednesday, March 10:
#1 St. Mary’s defeated #8 Osceola, 62-50
#4 Parkview Christian defeated #5 Loomis, 71-54
#7 Falls City Sacred Heart defeated #2 Mullen, 49-47
#3 Humphrey St. Francis defeated #6 Wynot, 49-41.
Class A Tuesday results:
#1 Millard North defeated #8 Millard South, 73-46
#5 Millard West defeated #4 Lincoln Pius X, 47-45
#2 Bellevue West defeated #7 Lincoln East, 55-47
#3 Creighton Prep defeated #6 Papillion-La Vista South, 64-56
Class B Tuesday/Wednesday results:
#1 Norris defeated #8 Blair, 62-46
#5 Elkhorn defeated #4 Platteview, 63-48
#7 Waverly defeated #2 Omaha Skutt Catholic, 41-40
#6 Beatrice defeated #3 Mount Michael Benedictine, 49-39