OMAHA – The Kearney boys basketball team saw their season end at the hands of the Omaha North Vikings on Monday night, falling 68-48 in the A-1 District semifinal. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the contest having lost their last two games and having fell in 3 of the previous four. The Bearcats stumble forced them into a #3 seed in the A-1 District, forcing Kearney to travel to Omaha for a win-or-go home contest against Omaha North as the Vikings were 13-10 entering the game.
The contest kicked off slow for the Bearcats, as Omaha North scored in their first possession open the game. Parker Wise connected two free throws to tie the game, but the Vikings quickly established their up-tempo offensive philosophy while creating turnovers on the regular against Kearney. The Bearcats fell into a 8-4 hole in the middle of the first quarter, taking a timeout to prevent a run by Omaha North. The Vikings had other plans, as a quick steal and lay-in by Mason Strong blew the game open further. Rondale Thomas hit two three pointers in the opening minutes while Kearney could only muster two triples of their own, as the Bearcats trailed 20-12 at the end of the first.
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Despite their best efforts, Kearney could never get back within striking distance of the Vikings. Two more three pointers by Thomas and a triple also added by younger brother Daleron Thomas continued to extend the lead for Omaha North. Kearney was forced into multiple turnovers, none more back-breaking than a half-court fumble that resulted in the Vikings’ Raui Lew going from the logo, striding inside the lane, and finishing with a thunderous dunk.
Kearney kept clawing in the second quarter, trying to keep up with the Vikings as the Bearcats had Wise score an additional three while Ben Johnson erupted for seven points including a three pointer. The turnovers mounted against Kearney however, and the Bearcats were outpaced 17-12 in the second to trail 37-24 at the end of the first half.
The second half opened up with Omaha North imposing their will on the opposite half of the floor, allowing Mason Strong to power ahead for seven points in the quarter. Rondale Thomas hit another triple as well, while three other scorers for Omaha North contributed. Kearney fell into a scoring rut, trying to dig themselves out of the deficit they faced but instead dug deeper only scoring 10 in the quarter. Kearney trailed entering the final quarter 55-34.
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In the final quarter, the Bearcats could not get their offense rolling early in the quarter, as Omaha North took advantage of missed shots and cemented their win early in the final stanza. The Bearcats saluted their seniors with a chance for the final five upperclassmen to play their final minutes, while also nodding to their youth movement ahead as the Bearcats closed out their loss falling 68-48.
The Bearcats end the year at 12-11. Kearney had contributions from Jack Mundorf with 14 points, Wise with 12 points, Johnson with 10, Jack Dahlgren and Treyven Beckman ending with 3 each, Tristan Mailahn had 2, and 1 point was added by Kaden Miller and Karter Lee each.
A special thank-you for their contribution in blue over the past four years go to seniors Kaden Miller, Ty Lightle, Jack Mundorf, Will Vanderbeek, Parker Wise, and Tristan Mailahn.
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