LINCOLN – For the second time in four years and third time in program history, the Winnebago Indians are back in the State Championship game. #2 Winnebago stayed ahead of #3 Broken Bow Friday late morning from the Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Day two action continued for the 2018 NSAA Boys State Basketball Tournament with a semifinal contest between the Winnebago Indians and Broken Bow Indians in Class C1.
Winnebago jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the opening quarter before Broken Bow closed on a 10-5 run to see Bago take the first quarter 13-10. Winnebago extended their lead with a 22-18 second quarter to stay ahead 35-28 at the break. Broken Bow stayed close in the third after Winnebago won the quarter 17-16, but Winnebago added another 17-point fourth to win 69-55. Winnebago improves to 22-6 on the season while Broken Bow falls to 23-4.
Three Winnebago Indians hit double figures led by the 27-point performance from senior MaNaPe Cleveland who had 11 points at half and doubled his scoring with another 11 in the third quarter. Cleveland hit five, three-pointers and was followed by senior D’Von LaPointe scoring 25 points. Senior Maurice Scott tallied 10 points as Winnebago went 3-7 from the foul line.
Broken Bow was led in scoring by senior Kevin Linn with 22 points while senior Paydn Borders tacked on another 14 points. The Indians hit 14-17 from the foul line.
#2 Winnebago will next face #1 Wahoo who defeated #5 Lincoln Christian, 60-48 earlier Friday morning. This will be a rematch from last year’s semifinal where Wahoo defeated Winnebago 55-52.
