Kearney Revenge Served in Home Comeback

KEARNEY – The Bearcats had waited since Dec. 29, 2023 for this home matchup. Although it was not always pretty, Kearney earned their revenge in home-cooking at Kearney High School on Friday night, taking down Lincoln Southeast in a late stretch of offense and final score by Ben Johnson to push past the Knights 51-48. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.

Kearney was aiming to make their win streak to four-in-a-row on Friday night, having taken down Top-Ten Omaha Bryan a week prior, surviving a road test at Lincoln Northeast six days before, then out-hustling Omaha Westview on the road Monday night. The contest appeared pivotal for postseason play as well, as the Bearcats chances of hosting their district postseason rested on a win over another Top-Ten team in Lincoln Southeast.

The Knights used a state tournament run in 2023 to their advantage in 2024, creating a 15-5 record in the second weekend of February. That stretch included a Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament Championship run, taking down then No. 1 seeded Kearney in a neutral site 61-55 prior to the new year.

Jacob Webber, Kearney Boys Basketball v. Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt

The Bearcats revenge would have to wait until the second half, as both teams appeared in a proverbial slugfest to open the game.

In a thirteen point first quarter total, scoring was difficult to track down despite each team trading leads in the opening two minutes. Ben Johnson had the early hand with his first two points, but Jacob Webber’s signature three-pointer would not drop. Instead, the sophomore worked inside for quick attacks to the rim scoring six total points. Deng Giet of Southeast hit his first three-point attempt in the opening thirty seconds, and added another score a minute later. Kearney held the 8-5 lead heading into the second.

Southeast woke up in the quarter, pouring on 23 points to Kearney’s nine. Kearney struggled to find consistency, while Southeast was in rhythm early and often. Mikey Ngoyi hit a three pointer adding to his seven points in the quarter, while Jake Hilkemann proved to be the real threat inside scoring eight of his game total fourteen points in the second. Taye Moore was also efficient, hitting a late three pointer while also attacking the rim for four other points. As Kearney’s scoring drought began in the mid-second, the Knights would go on a 11-0 run. The Bearcats had their tail tucked between their legs, trailing 28-17 at halftime.

The momentum change came later in the third quarter as Kearney looked to close the deficit. The Bearcats did it with the help of their offensive catalysts; Karter Lee knocked down a three pointer, Webber added his first triple, and Johnson bullied inside with post attacks for six points. Meanwhile, the Bearcats focused their energy elsewhere to prevent further shots from dropping. Zone defenses allowed Hilkemann to continue to work inside, as he added six more points but the damage was done by Kearney as the Bearcats 16-8 run in the third propelled the hometown team back in with a 36-33 deficit.

Jacob Hansen, Kearney Boys Basketball v. Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt

Early on in the fourth, Southeast had the edge going up by nine in the opening ninety seconds. A minute later, it was a ten point game with Southeast putting up an additional five points between timeouts. Kearney appeared gasping for air, as a lifeline came in the form of focus and aggression from its leading scoring trio.

The next four minutes were all Kearney, as the Bearcats blasted scoring by Asher Endorf who maneuvered his way for eight fourth quarter points. Endorf’s shot making allowed Johnson to bang inside for two points, that then opened up Jacob Webber for the tying three pointer to make the contest at 48-48 game that erupted the Rowdies. Following back-to-back stops by the Kearney defense, Ben Johnson had the final laugh scoring his final three points – a rush to the basket underneath, followed by an up-and-in with an and-one.

Kearney’s final defense blow came from man-t0-man defense that forced an off-shot by Moore, giving the Bearcats their win and new life to host postseason play in Central Nebraska.

The Bearcats (14-5) head to Grand Island on Saturday as members of the Heartland Hoops Classic, facing Papillion-LaVista South at 4:15 PM at the Heartland Events Center. Pregame on KGFW begins at 4 PM.

UNOFFICIAL KGFW SCORING TOTALS:

Kearney: Johnson (17 points), Webber (16 points), Endorf (13 points), Lee (3), Straka (2)

Lincoln Southeast: Moore (15 points), Hilkemann (14), Ngoyi (9), Giet (7), Kendall Hinton (3), Jaziah Brown (2)