LEXINGTON – District champions started to be crowned across the state of Nebraska over the weekend as the Wayne High boys met Mitchell on a neutral court Saturday.
The seventh-seeded Blue Devils entered the C1-7 district final as subdistrict champions while #10 Mitchell garnered a wildcard.
Early in the game both teams went back and forth as Wayne High used a 33-21 second half to win the game 55-41. WHS wins their 12th straight improving to 21-6 while the Tigers fell to 18-8. Wayne High also advances to their 29th state tournament in program history, first since 2014.
Wayne High took the early 9-7 first quarter lead before both teams scored 13 points in the second quarter. At the half, WHS led 22-20. The Blue Devils then extended their lead over Mitchell with a 15-11 third and outscored the Tigers 18-10 in the fourth.
Wayne High’s leader came off the bench being Trevor DeBoer who finished with 12 points going 6-8 from the foul line. Tanner Walling (3-5 FT/two three-pointers), Tyrus Eischeid (3-5 FT) and Shea Sweetland (4-4 FT) all recorded nine points while both Josh Lutt and Cody Rogers poured in eight points.
Wayne High shot 18-24 from the charity stripe including 11-16 in the final quarter.
Blake Thyne paced Mitchell in scoring with 15 points followed by Keaton Reichert with 10 points.
The Tigers finished 7-11 from the foul line.
The 2020 NSAA boys state basketball tournament will be played in Lincoln from Thursday, March 12 – Saturday, March 14.
Class C1 District Results:
C1-1: #1 Adams Central vs. #16 O’Neill on Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. from Central Valley
C1-2: #2 Auburn vs. #15 Aquinas Catholic on Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m. from Waverly
C1-3: #3 Lincoln Christian defeated #14 Fort Calhoun, 57-45
C1-4: #4 North Bend Central vs. #13 St. Paul on Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. from Cross County
C1-5: #5 Chase County vs. #12 Ashland-Greenwood on Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. from Minden
C1-6: #6 Ogallala defeated #11 Battle Creek, 76-51
C1-7: #7 Wayne defeats #10 Mitchell, 55-41
C1-8: #8 Bishop Neumann vs. #9 Kearney Catholic on Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m. from York