LINCOLN – The second day of boys state tournament basketball action featured a semifinal game for the Ponca Indians Friday late afternoon.
From the Bob Devaney Sports Center, #7 Ponca took on #6 Yutan.
Ponca was held to early foul shots each quarter and couldn’t get a bucket to fall from the field until after the 4:00 mark. Yutan took a 10-5 lead after the first as both teams scored 15-second quarter points. The Chieftains remained ahead 25-20 entering the break. Ponca then used an 8-0 run to start the second half and take a third quarter lead with a 13-5 quarter. The Indians went 1-4 from the foul line in the fourth and had a tough time dropping a shot from the field. Yutan pulled away in the fourth to win 46-42. Both teams are 23-5.
Junior Carter Kingsbury posted a team-high 15 points for Ponca as senior Evan Anderson followed with 10 points. Junior Brandon Kneifl tacked on eight points, junior Paul Masin poured in five points and senior Jayde Reid closed with four points.
Ponca shot 6-10 for the charity stripe (1-4 in fourth).
Sophomore Brady Timm paced Yutan in scoring with 20 points (11-13 FT) followed by junior Trey Knudsen with 12 points.
The Chieftains finished 20-25 from the foul line (10-14 4th shooting).
Scoring by quarter:
1st 2nd Half 3rd 4th Final:
5 15 20 13 9 42 – Ponca
10 15 25 5 16 46 – Yutan
#1 BRLD downed #4 Centennial, 54-25 in the second semifinal game. #7 Ponca will face Centennial at 9a.m. from Lincoln Southeast high school. The C2 title game for #6 Yutan vs. BRLD is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday from the Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Join Sports Director, Aaron Scheffler on Big Red Country ‘KTCH’ 104.9 and online at waynedailynews.com with pregame set for 8:45 a.m.