KEARNEY – A rivalry maybe not built on respect, but on great competition represents Kearney and Grand Island. That was on display at Kearney High School Thursday night as the Bearcats led throughout the contest but grinded out a defensive showdown with their Central Nebraska rival, 37-31. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the evening at 8-3 on the season and had downed their opposing rival from the West, North Platte, on Wednesday night. Continuing to look to improve their record, the Bearcats had a tougher task than anticipated with Grand Island. The Islanders record sat at 2-6 but Head Coach Jeremiah Slough knew that better days laid ahead for his squad quickly gaining varsity experience having won two of their last three contests.
To add more to the rivalry, Grand Island had not downed Kearney since pre-COVID back in January and February of 2020.
The Bearcats began the contest better than any game on the season, knocking down two three pointers – one from Ben Johnson and the other from Jack Dahlgren – as Asher Endorf followed a cut inside with a foul and three-point-play. Up 9-0 in the first two minutes of action, Kearney appeared ready to steamroll their rival.
KHS BBB
Grand Island didn’t blink, and instead quietly played patient finding their defensive form and some scoring as well. Two quick looks for Colton Marsh and Kazadi Mukoma had the Islanders back in at a 9-4 deficit in the mid-first quarter. Looking to capitalize, Grand Island swarmed quickly for a three-point play by Marsh and a runner by Broxton Barrientos for a tie game heading into the second at 9 each.
KHS BBB
Kearney’s offensive drought continued well into the second quarter, having not found a bucket in about eight minutes of game time. The drought ended as Kearney finally lifted in a score by Dahlgren, missing his free throw opportunity. A score on the opposite end by Babur Choul tied the game at 11, but Johnson’s second three pointer of the half lifted Kearney into a 14-11 lead entering halftime.
KHS BBB
The game broke open slightly in the third, as the Bearcats scored 13 while limiting Grand Island to 8. Kearney’s Karter Lee had misfired on his attempts in the first half, but came back strong lifting a mid-range jumper and a triple in the third quarter to add five. Treyven Beckman found access for a lay-in as well, while Asher Endorf knocked in free throws. Dahlgren added his signature runner as well, while the Islanders could muster five points by Mukoma off a three-pointer and free throws while Marsh found another three-point play. Bearcats led into the fourth, 27-19.
KHS BBB
Kearney would add 10 in the final period, squeezing the air out of the ball with possessions running every second of the shot clock down to prevent a late rally by the Islanders. Grand Island would not back down, knocking in big triples by Choul to cut the lead to six points but could not inch closer as Ben Johnson took the game away with two three pointers of his own. Late possessions resulted in free throws by Endorf who sank two of three, and Kearney walked away with a bruising 37-31 win at home.
The Bearcats improve to 9-3 on the season as the real teeth of their schedule bear down beginning next Thursday as Kearney travels to Lincoln East to face the Spartans. Grand Island drops to 2-7 and will turn around to face Papillion-LaVista on Tuesday night.
Kearney had contributions from Johnson with 12, Dahlgren with 9, Endorf finished with 7, Lee had 5, and Beckman ended with 2 points.
The Islanders wrapped with Kazadi Mukoma with 12, Marsh and Choul each with 8, Barrientos with 2, and Mukadi Mukoma with 1.
