WAKEFIELD – A pair of northeast Nebraska high school basketball programs began the 2021-22 season Thursday night.
The annual basketball/wrestling dual event was held in Wakefield’s main and auxiliary gyms.
During the varsity basketball games, the Pender girls defeated Wakefield, 63-46 while the Wakefield boys won 72-35 against Pender.
In the girls outing, both teams came out firing early with 16 points each in the first quarter before Pender used a 19-16 second quarter advantage to go up 35-32 at half. In the third quarter, the Pendragons started to pull away, 15-6 and then 13-6 in the fourth. Final again favored Pender over Wakefield, 63-46.
Wakefield leading scorers were Alex Arenas with 15 points and Makenna Decker with 14 points. Aishah Valenzuela added eight points, Jordan Metzler poured in five points as Destiny Helzer and Daveigh Munter-McAfee both scored two points.
Pender was led in scoring by Maya Dolliver with 18 points, Caitlyn Heise and Claire Felber both tacked on 11 points as Reese Kneifl and Lillie Timm each scored nine points. Other scoring came from Olyvia Nelson with three points and Avery Wegner with two points.
During the boys game, Wakefield led early thanks to an 18-12 first quarter and 13-7 second. The Trojans went into the locker room up 31-19 at half. In the third quarter, Wakefield doubled up Pender, 18-9 and then poured in 23 fourth quarter points compared to seven by the Pendragons. Final again saw Wakefield win 72-35.
Wakefield leading scorers were Armando Villa with 15 points, Ryan Anderson added 12 points and Hunter Schultz poured in 10 points. Other scoring came from Eliseo Sarmiento and Cade Johnson both tabbed nine points, Johnathan Birkley with six points, Isiah Villa had three points, David Beltran and Logan Bokemper each had two points as Kaden Kratke scored a point.
Pender was led in scoring by Caleb Trimble with 10 points, Evan English added seven points and Spencer Rabbass scored six points. Other Pendragons scoring saw Gannon Walsh, Braden Prokop and Alex Roth all scored three points; Aiden Beckman had two points and Trent Hansen scored a point.
Wakefield will next visit Wayne on Tuesday, December 7 (game carried on KTCH) while Pender is right back in action on Friday, December 3 hosting Tekamah-Herman.
Thursday Area Doubleheaders:
Girls
Crofton 80, Tri County Northeast 29
Ponca 57, Hartington-Newcastle, 23
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 42, Creighton 36
Pierce 56, Howells-Dodge 32
West Point-Beemer 59, Arlington 31
Plainview 62, Winside 16
Wisner-Pilger 47, Lutheran High Northeast 45 OT
Boys:
Crofton 62, Tri County Northeast 44
Hartington-Newcastle 33, Ponca 26
Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 78, Creighton 34
Howells-Dodge 54, Pierce 42
Arlington 54, West Point-Beemer 40
Plainview 59, Winside 48
Lutheran High Northeast 46, Wisner-Pilger 42
Friday
@ Guardian Angels Central Catholic: Wisner-Pilger VS Guardian Angels Central Catholic
@ Tri County Northeast: Bloomfield VS Tri County Northeast
@ Boone Central: Hartington Cedar Catholic VS Boone Central
@ Laurel-Concord-Coleridge: Crofton VS Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
@ Pender: Tekamah-Herman VS Pender
@ Randolph: Osmond VS Randolph
@ Wayne: Battle Creek VS Wayne
@ Wynot: Winside VS Wynot
Saturday
@ Lutheran High Northeast: Guardian Angels Central Catholic VS Lutheran High Northeast
@ Osmond: Hartington-Newcastle VS Osmond
@ Ponca: Wayne VS Ponca
@ Omaha Roncalli Catholic: West Point-Beemer VS Omaha Roncalli Catholic
