NORFOLK – For the third time this season Wayne High and Hartington Cedar Catholic met in boys varsity competition, this time on a neutral court during the winner’s bracket semifinal of Mid State Conference Tourney play.
From Northeast Community College, WHS and Cedar Catholic split the previous two meetings in their hometowns and closed out Friday night competition.
HCC took the early lead of 12-9 before extending their lead with an 18-12 second quarter. At the break, Hartington Cedar Catholic led 30-21. WHS then started their comeback with a 17-11 third and 21-11 fourth to win 59-52. Wayne High improves to 15-6 on the season while the Trojans fell to 10-6.
Shea Sweetland paced Wayne High in scoring with 22 points to hit the 1,000-point mark in his Blue Devil career. Other double figure scoring came from Tanner Walling and Tyrus Eischeid with 11 points as Cody Rogers added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Lutt poured in five points.
Myles Thoene scored 17 points for HCC as Tate Thoene followed with 14 points and seven boards.
Earlier in the evening, #5 Pierce defeated #1 Battle Creek, 45-24.
In the loser’s bracket semifinals, #4 Guardian Angels Central Catholic defeated #9 Boone Central/Newman Grove while #6 Norfolk Catholic defeated #7 O’Neill, 66-41.
Championship games will be played at Rice Auditorium on the campus of Wayne State College Saturday.
Girls fifth place: #4 O’Neill vs. #7 HCC at 11 a.m.
Boys fifth place: #4 GACC vs. #6 Norfolk Catholic at 12:45 p.m.
Girls third place: #1 GACC vs. #3 Battle Creek at 2:30 p.m.
Boys third place: #1 Battle Creek vs. #2 HCC at 4:15
Girls championship: #2 Crofton vs. #5 Norfolk Catholic at 6 p.m.
Boys championship: #5 Pierce vs. #3 Wayne winner at 8 p.m. WHS will host Pierce on February 21 to close out the regular season.