Libby Province, Kearney High Girls Basketball v. Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt
KEARNEY – The biggest win of the season for the Kearney Girls basketball team came with a hot start, as the Bearcats took down Lincoln Southeast 53-42 Friday night at Kearney High School. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney was aiming to play spoiler after a strong finish on Monday night at Omaha Westview, where the Bearcats outlasted the Wolverines 71-69 in the Metro. Lincoln Southeast had been a surprise through most of the season, using their veteran experience and talent to bolster their February record to 14-4 entering the Friday night tilt.
The Bearcats pushed ahead early, as Paige Mailahn knocked down a routine three-pointer to open the scoring for Kearney. As the Bearcats scoring continued to heat up with inside plays by Sophie Glandt, Kiara Dutenhoffer, and Libby Province, the defense shut down the Knights advances. Avaerie Graves was the lone contributor in the opening eight minutes, hitting a three pointer but nothing else would work for the visitors in the first frame. After Glandt’s three-point play off an and-one, senior Harley Straka added the second three pointer of the opening quarter to push Kearney ahead 17-3 in the first quarter.
Harley Straka, Kearney High Girls Basketball v. Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt
The opening surge flipped to Lincoln Southeast’s side in the second quarter, as the Knights responded in a 12-11 quarter advantage. Despite the single digit push, Kearney did not falter to respond at nearly every score by the visiting Knights. Graves found two lay-ins while Catrice Olds found four points in the quarter. The biggest surprise came from Kearney’s defensive presence on Southeast’s leading scorer Nyaluak Dak, who was shut down to only two free throw points in the first half. The Bearcats held their first half lead, up 28-15.
The third quarter began the Knights crawl back into the contest. Southeast was the one having to respond to Kearney’s scoring threats, as the Bearcats rapid fire shooting from Mailahn launched up three triples that connected in the quarter. A 14-11 advantage in the quarter did not showcase how close the gap became, as Southeast repeatedly threatened to bring the deficit to single digits. However, the largest threat loomed late in the fourth quarter, as Kearney entered leading 42-26.
Graves began firing shots and half-court pressure consumed Kearney early in the period, as Southeast surged ahead on a quick run to draw the contest to within six points. As the game felt as if it may teeter-totter between sides, Kearney ripped away the hope of the Knights with Straka’s second three-pointer on the night. That response pushed Kearney ahead back to double-digits, as Province began to run the floor reading the defense and adding buckets. Despite Graves’ ten point quarter, the Bearcats leaders stepped up and kept their defensive presence firm in the final two minutes, snuffing out late chances and earning the 53-42 win.
Kearney (11-9) is winners of back-to-back contests and heads to Fremont on Tuesday night for the final road game of the regular season.
UNOFFICIAL KGFW SCORING TOTALS:
Kearney: Mailahn (15 points), Straka (13), Province (10), Glandt (5), Dutenhoffer (4), Addie Snyder (4)
Lincoln Southeast: Graves (21 points), Dak (11), Ava Neumayer (6), Olds (4)
Kearney High Girls Basketball v. Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt
