LINCOLN – The Lincoln East Spartans girls basketball squad did not start as efficient as possible in the opening minutes, but closed out the first quarter strong and never trailed through the rest of the contest earning a 60-53 win over the visiting Kearney Bearcats on Thursday night. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the evening at 8-5 on the season having gone 2-1 the previous week and 4-3 since the end of the NSAA Moratorium. The Bearcats were coming off a loss to Elkhorn North in the Girls Basketball Showcase, but were still contending to be a thorn in the side of any opponent they face.
East began the night at 6-3 looking to continue to prove their worth across the state in Alex McCleary’s first season at the helm taking over for Dennis Pritchard. McCleary entered with over 200 career wins during his stint at North-Central in Class D1, and had his team gearing up for a strong start to 2023.
The game tipped off with Kearney controlling early, up 5-1 in the first quarter in the opening minutes. The Bearcats’ Kennidy Garner nailed a triple with Maddy Province providing a scoring boost early as well. Fouls quickly piled up on Kearney’s side however, as East shot more free throws than made field goals in the first quarter. The trips to the foul line piled up for the Spartans, as the extra free throws gave East a chance to overtake the Bearcats in a big way – leading 20-9 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter advantage went the way of Kearney 13-10, but most answers by the Bearcats were quickly responded to by the veteran Spartan squad. Tatum Rusher scored four in the quarter early, while Kelsey Hatcher knocked down a three pointer. Ellie Bovaird for East continued her scoring in the second quarter, adding her ninth point overall. Late in the half, Kiara Dutenhoffer scored, forced a steal, then scored again for what Kearney looked to have a six point deficit. However, a late rally to the basket by East opened the lead back to eight as the Bearcats entered halftime trailing 30-22.
KHS GBB
The Bearcats lethargic third quarter proved deadly, as East controlled the clock and pace with two triples by Regan Barnard as she added eight in the quarter. Harley Strake hit a three-point play while Rusher added another four, but trailing 49-33 entering the fourth it appeared that the Bearcats’ chances had been cooked.
KHS GBB
Kearney did not flinch – responding with a twenty point quarter in the final eight minutes and furiously rallying to force turnovers, scores, and stops. Ellie Shaw for East was the back-breaker scoring five of six from the charity stripe in the final quarter alone. Kearney’s rally was fueled by Garner’s second and third three-pointer on the day, as well as Avery Franzen finding success from downtown. Maddy Province added six in the quarter, with several other scorers contributing but ultimately falling short. The Bearcats dropped back-to-back contests, falling 60-53 at East High School.
KHS GBB
Kearney falls to 8-6 on the season as the Bearcats return home Saturday afternoon taking on Bellevue West at 4:15 PM. The Thunderbirds are coming off their Metro Conference Tournament Championship and enter the weekend at 12-1 overall.
The Bearcats had contributions from Province with 14 points, Rusher had 10, Hatcher and Garner each had 9, Dutenhoffer and Franzen both had 4, Straka concluded with 3, and Haidyn Skeen wrapped with 1 point.
