LINCOLN – Despite three triples dropping in the opening minutes, Kearney was never able to find their momentum in a blowout 74-26 loss to Lincoln Pius X on Friday night. Listen to the broadcast replay here.
The Kearney boys entered the night having lost their last two contests by a combined seven points against Lincoln Northeast and Papillion-LaVista South. Sitting at a 6-6 mark, the Bearcats looked to make a stamp with a tough weekend of competition.
Friday night sent Kearney to Lincoln Pius, as the Thunderbolts looked to dominate the Bearcats once again – having won 58-38 on Dec. 28 in the Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Kearney would have to do so without one of their leaders and best facilitators, Kaden Miller, who went down with an injury against Papillion-LaVista South.
The Bearcats and Thunderbolts began by trading defensive stops, but it was Pius getting consistent scoring early from Brady Christiansen who added eight total points in the first quarter. Kearney kept close by knocking down three triples in the opening eight minutes of play, but the Bearcats were shut down inside by a lengthy and long Pius defense. The Bearcats trailed 15-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Things were beginning to get out of hand quickly as Kearney fell behind with a 20-5 run given up in the following eight minutes. The Bearcats watched as Pius’ Jared Bohrer got fire hitting 13 points in the second quarter that included three triples of his own. Kearney entered the locker room at halftime trailing 35-14.
Kearney’s Will Vanderbeek aimed to keep the Bearcats in the game, but with the only scoring of the third quarter coming from the senior center – adding eight points – and being outpaced again 19-8, the blowout warnings were on early at Lincoln Pius X High School. In the third quarter, Pius’ Sam Hastreiter went off for 11 points of his own. Kearney trailed 54-22 entering the fourth quarter.
Pius continued their march to victory, soaring past the 40 point mark and allowing reserves to see action at the end of the contest with a running clock, earning their ninth win on the season and finishing out a 74-26 victory.
Kearney falls to 6-7 on the year and faces Lincoln Southwest on Saturday evening. Pregame on KGFW will begin at the conclusion of the girls contest.
