OMAHA – The Bearcats had a closer game than expected, giving up brief runs to the Omaha Northwest Huskies, but end with a 68-47 win in the metro later Saturday afternoon. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney had won over Lincoln High the night prior by controlling the contest with the Links from start to finish and never giving a chance for their opponent to gain control of the contest. Much of the same story was written out Saturday afternoon as the Bearcats aimed for the third win on the season.
The Bearcats opened the contest in another 4-0 hole for the fourth consecutive game, unable to find offensive success in the opening two minutes. The contest flipped momentum however after a transition turnover and dunk by junior Asher Endorf added so much needed energy to the Kearney side, opening the contest up for the Bearcats. Kearney followed the score by Endorf with a Ben Johnson three pointer while Karter Lee, Jack Dahlgren, and Colt Straka all found scoring as well. Straka added his own three pointer to make it five points in the first quarter personally, as the Bearcats seized control in the opening minutes. The Huskies would not go down easily however, added four points from Jaiden Biesendorfer. The Bearcats led 16-8 at the end of the first quarter.
KHS BBB
Kearney corralled the second quarter into a controlling lead, taking their 8 point lead into a 20 point lead at halftime scoring 21 in the second quarter and only allowing 9 from the Huskies. Michael Hassenstab of Northwest added his own three pointer, but no other significant scores came as the Bearcats were focused defensively. The offense sputtered at times but was picked up by Dahlgren’s nine points in a variety of ways: three pointers, jumpers, attacks to the rim, and free throws. Treyven Beckman hit a signature three pointer while Ian Piper saw his first varsity bucket with a triple as well. The Bearcats led into halftime up 37-17.
The third quarter showed more of a struggle for Kearney as the Huskies came out, scoring nearly at well on a 12-4 run to begin the second half. Northwest’s Mehki Marks had been held in check most of the contest but was aided by Hassenstab who brought home two different three pointers. Five different Huskies contributed scores, as the Bearcats were held to only 11 points. Johnson powered through the defense for baseline attacks and cuts for four points, but the quarter was won by Northwest. Kearney still maintained their lead, however, up 48-36 entering the fourth quarter.
KHS BBB
The Bearcats took it to the Huskies coming right out of the break with eight straight points, as Ben Johnson got comfortable with more shots falling as he added ten points in the final quarter. Reserves saw action in the final four minutes as Kearney exited the metro with a 3-1 record, downing Northwest 68-47.
Kearney improved to 3-1 on the season and faces a tough gauntlet this upcoming week, taking on Papillion-LaVista South on Thursday at home, followed by a travel to Omaha on Friday night to face Buena Vista, and wrapping up their weekend heading to Hastings College to take on Elkhorn North in the Heartland Hoops Holiday tournament.
The Bearcats had contributions from Johnson with 19 points, Dahlgren with 18, Endorf ending with 10, Lee, Piper, and Straka all ended with 5 each, while Beckman and Turner Bertrand concluded with three points.
