Crofton Holds Ponca To Just Four Points In Fourth, Warriors Top Indians In C2 Final

LINCOLN – Championship Saturday closed out the 2021 NSAA Girls State Championships.

From the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Class C2 concluded the five-day format between a pair of northeast Nebraska teams being #1 Crofton and #6 Ponca.

Crofton scored 10 of their 12 points in the fourth quarter from the foul line to hold off Ponca and win their ninth title in program history with a 46-42 final. The Warriors won their 14th straight game to close out the season at 26-3 while Ponca finished runner-up for the third time in school history (back-to-back) with a 21-5 record.

It was a back-and-forth game all night long with seven lead changes and four ties. Crofton led the opening quarter 12-11 before Ponca answered with a 17-13 second quarter to lead 28-25 at the half. Ponca then added to their lead in the third, 10-9 before the Warriors took over the fourth, 12-4. Final again favored Crofton 46-42.

Ponca was led in scoring by sophomore Samantha Ehlers with 17 points (7-15 FG/1-2 3 PT/2-3 FT) while sophomore Ashlyn Kingsbury added 13 points (3-7 FG/1-3 3PT/6-8 FT); both finished with three steals. Sophomore Gracen Evans recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards to go along with a team-high three assists (3-8 FG/4-8 FT).

Other Ponca scoring came from senior Alyssa Crosgrove with two points.

The Indians shot 14-45 (31.1%) from the field, 2-7 (28.6%) from behind the arc and 12-19 (63.2%) from the foul line.

Crofton leaders were junior Alexis Folkers with 11 points and three assists (3-8 FG/0-2 3PT/5-6 FT) and junior Jayden Jordan who also added 11 points to go along with five steals and three blocks (3-7 FG/1-2 3PT/4-6 FT). Seniors Lacey Sprakel (nine rebounds) and Kaley Einrim (three assists) both finished with eight points, junior Ella Wragge had five points and freshman Elli Tramp scored three points.

Crofton finished 13-38 (34.2%) from the field, 2-11 (18.2%) from behind the arc and 18-23 (78.3%) from the charity stripe.

1st 2nd Half 3rd 4th Final:

11   17    28    10      4     42 – Ponca

12   13    25     9      12    46 – Crofton

 

Final Bracket.

Class D1: #2 Weeping Water defeated #1 Pleasanton, 40-39

D1 consolation final: #4 Archbishop Bergan defeated #3 Hartington Cedar Catholic, 40-31

 

Class C1: #5 North Bend Central defeated #3 Hastings St. Cecilia, 51-49

C1 consolation: #2 Lincoln Lutheran defeated #8 Winnebago, 64-25

 

Class B: #2 Elkhorn North defeated #1 Norris, 46-33

 

Class D2: #1 Humphrey St. Francis defeated #2 Falls City Sacred Heart, 57-48

D2 consolation final: #4 Mullen defeated #6 Wynot, 30-28

 

Class A: #1 Lincoln Pius X defeated #3 Fremont, 56-52

 

Class C2: #1 Crofton defeated #6 Ponca, 46-42

C2 consolation final: #7 BRLD defeated #4 Bridgeport, 47-40

Share:
Comments