KEARNEY – The Kearney High Girls Basketball team used an unconventional winning method from this season, not relying on the three-point shot and playing tough defense down to the wire to down Gretna on Saturday afternoon 48-44 in the A-2 District Semifinal. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the A-2 District Tournament as a #2 seed after finishing the season 12-10 on the year. The Bearcats would host this matchup against the #3 seeded Gretna Dragons, who ended their regular season at 12-11. The Dragons were a tremendous defensive team, only allowing 37 points per contest and held an 11-1 record when holding teams to less than 40 points scored.
The game kicked off in a big way for Kearney, as the Bearcats knocked down a three pointer from Kennidy Garner to open the scoring while also working the ball to senior Kaleigh Hatcher who knocked down a two herself. Tatum Rusher hit a three pointer while adding a lay-in and Kierstynn Garner attempted a three pointer but was fouled allowing her to knock down 2 of 3 from the charity stripe. Gretna wouldn’t fall easily however, as in an early 10-2 hole the Dragons took a page out of the Bearcats playbook and connected on three triples in the quarter – one each from Jenna Marshall, Aidan Pohlman, and Sidney Reimer. Despite the late hot shooting from Gretna, Kearney held a first quarter 12-11 advantage.
The second quarter began a furious back-and-forth offensive showdown between the two teams as Kearney held the early lead until Gretna took their first lead with 6:16 remaining in the second quarter. Sydney Zaboudil added four points in the quarter for Gretna, but three other scorers added two’s as well. As both teams went back and forth with five lead changes in 4 minutes of play, Kearney continued to try to find their outside shot. None fell, but good looks inside allowed the Bearcats a 13-10 advantage in the quarter and a three point lead heading into halftime.
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Kearney and Gretna both slowed in the third quarter, as a defensive slugfest took place with only a few glimpses of offensive success. Rusher continued to collet points adding another three, while Haidyn Skeen – who added four points herself in the second – added another in the quarter. Gretna could only muster six total points out of halftime, while Kierstynn Garner seemed to be heating up as she hit her first three pointer of the contest to beat the buzzer in the third and gave Kearney their biggest lead since the first quarter, 34-27.
Hearts were racing at Kearney High in the fourth quarter however, as the Bearcats nearly squandered their lead as Hall of Fame Head Coach Jerome Skrdla for Gretna employed a harrowing full-court pressure that would triple trap Kierstynn Garner or any Bearcat ball handler into a turnover or timeout. Kearney never squandered their lead, but the Bearcats needed to find their offensive muscle with Gretna mounting a comeback on quick possessions. The elder Garner and Rusher came through in the final quarter, totaling a combined 13 points in the eight minutes; holding off late rallies by Gretna by icing the game away after Rusher knocked down two free throws to extend the game to 46-42, then forcing a steal that Kierstynn Garner corralled on the hardwood and went coast-to-coast with to take a 48-42 lead with less than 12 seconds to play.
Gretna would add a lay-in by Emma Schweigart in the remaining seconds off a missed three pointer, but the damage was done and Kearney was ready to head to Fremont as the Bearcats won their first post-season game since Feb. 24, 2020, finishing the game 48-44.
Kearney had contributions from Rusher with 16 points, Kierstynn Garner had 12, Hatcher, Skeen, and Kennidy Garner each had 6 points, and Maddy Province ended with 2.
The Bearcats will take on Fremont on Tuesday night for a chance to punch their ticket to state against the 22-2 Tigers.
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