OMAHA – In an offensive second half, Kearney survived by relying on their leading scorers – Ben Johnson and Jack Dahlgren – shattering personal accolades to a 76-69 win over Omaha Bryan in the metro on Saturday afternoon. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
The Bearcats entered the day at 9-4 on the season looking to avenge their loss from Thursday night at Lincoln East. Omaha Bryan was proving to be a new up-and-c0mer in the Metro Conference, having taken down Omaha Central in the Metro Conference Tournament in late December. At 5-5, Head Coach Gaelin Gullie was rebuilding the Bryan Basketball brand as it was in his tenure during his playing days.
KHS BBB
Kearney started the contest a bit sluggish by this game’s standards – trailing early in the opening minutes but taking back the lead with a Karter Lee three pointer. Bryan never flinched however, responding with quick strike scores from their three-headed scoring attack. Elijah McCullough added a score, but it was Mat Tut who flourished with five points as well as reserve guard Deon Darnell knocking in five of his own. Despite the strong start, Kearney continued their offensive attack as well hitting a three from both Colt Straka and Ben Johnson as the Bearcats trailed 16-15 at the end of the first.
KHS BBB
Starting the second quarter, Kearney regained the lead in the opening minutes by relying on the slashing of Jack Dahlgren who erupted for eight straight points in the second. Another Karter Lee three pointer held off Bryan, but the Bears would not be deterred as they settled in for scores to tie the game at 24 each. Kearney then relied on Ben Johnson to carry the load, knocking down free throws and taking a 31-26 lead into halftime.
KHS BBB
The third quarter began an offensive eruption for both sides, as the Bearcats put up 24 compared to the Bears’ 22. Amir Martin for Bryan was sharpshooting from deep, knocking in three triples from way beyond the arc to keep Bryan at pace with Kearney. However, each shot was responded to by the Bearcats as Kearney’s rising sophomore began to take over. Having back-to-back three-point-plays, Johnson added a triple in the third to score nine by himself in the eight minutes. Dahlgren followed suit with eight points of his own, while Asher Endorf joined the scoring parade with four. Bryan added three other scorers to the mix with at least four points each, but Justin Murray had a three pointer to continue to keep pace in front of the Bears.
As the third quarter wound down, McCullough drove in for a finish and lay-in with few seconds remaining. As the score came, Kearney quickly worked the ball out to Johnson who drilled the aforementioned three pointer from the Bryan Bear logo at midcourt, giving Kearney control into the fourth quarter up 55-48.
KHS BBB
The fourth quarter continued the back and forth, as Kearney led by as much as ten in the final eight minutes. Up 61-55, Kearney began to slowly gain control of their possessions and the clock; milking time away and finding looks outside for Johnson, Endorf, and Lee. Each hit a triple in the fourth quarter.
As Bryan fought back, Kearney focused more intensely on their defensive effort, forcing the Bears to work for each possession and finally pushing the game out of reach with Asher Endorf’s free throws and Jack Dahlgren’s final lay-in to win 76-69 for their tenth win on the season.
Kearney improves to 10-4 on the year with the win and will return home to face Norfolk on Friday night at Kearney High School. Ben Johnson’s 28 points set his new career high, while Dahlgren’s 20 points puts him over Steve Curtiss for 15th all-time in KHS Basketball scoring history.
The Bearcats had contributions from Johnson with 28, Dahlgren with 20, Endorf with 13, Lee with 9, Straka with 3, and Murray finished with 3.
Listen to Coach Drake Beranek’s postgame report with Austin Jacobsen here:
