PAPILLION – The Kearney girls rebounded well after a loss to Lincoln Northeast on Friday night by staving off a second half rally by the Titans and downed Papillion-LaVista South 51-50 on the road. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the contest at 8-4 on the season having a disappointing loss to Lincoln Northeast the night prior. The Bearcats looked to get back to their winning ways taking on the 3-8 Papillion-LaVista South Titans.
Kearney’s day did not start on the right foot, as an early score from the Titans was followed by a collision between the Bearcats’ Tatum Rusher and Kierstynn Garner, as both had to exit the floor and leave action to be checked out by the trainers at Papillion-LaVista South high school. While the Bearcats had to recover, Papillion-LaVista South started off on a roll after the stoppage of play and used the rotation to their advantage, earning an early lead.
Kearney did not give in to the pressure however, and returned Garner and Rusher to the floor in time to mount an impressive first quarter attack that featured three triples – two from Kennidy Garner and one from Harley Straka – that gave the Bearcats the edge. The Bearcats led 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.
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Riding their momentum into the second, Kearney scorched Papillion-LaVista South with blazing shooting and impressive drives as five different players contributed scores: Straka sank another three pointer, Kaleigh Hatcher added her first points on a three pointer, and Kierstynn Garner also got involved with her first points of the day from beyond the arc. Tatum Rusher had a three point play as well, and the Bearcats zoomed past the Titans in a 18-8 blitz that gave them the 31-20 lead entering halftime.
No lead was safe this weekend, as the Titans roared back following the impressive play by senior Taylor Mauch. Mauch dropped nine points in the third quarter to spark a run by Papillion-LaVista South, but Kearney continued to keep pace with the fast attacking Titan. While the Titans’ had Mauch, Kearney had Haidyn Skeen who began to look comfortable in her role underneath the post. In jumpers, post-moves, and lay-ins, Skeen added six points while also knocking down a three pointer to add to her 11 point day. The Bearcats held their lead 45-36 entering the final quarter.
The all-gas and no brakes play by the Bearcats slowed in the fourth quarter as Kearney wasn’t able to keep their momentum. Papillion-LaVista South however continued their high energy with Mauch adding in 6 more points and McKenna Blankman dropped another five. it was a 14-6 quarter owned by Papillion-LaVista South, but with the game inching closer and the Bearcats unable to score Kierstynn Garner calmly knocked down three of four free throws in the waning minutes to secure the win for Kearney who never allowed the game to be tied nor to lose their lead after taking it at the beginning of the contest. In a defensive standing in the final minutes, Kearney won 51-50.
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The Bearcats improve to 9-4 on the season and take time off until Friday night to travel to Lincoln Pius X in a rematch against the Thunderbolts. The Bearcats had contributions from Skeen with 11 points, Straka had 11, Rusher had 10, Kierstynn Garner finished with 8, Kennidy Garner had 6, and Kaleigh Hatcher ended with 5 points.
