LINCOLN – The Kearney Girls basketball team aimed to close out the regular season on a high note before heading to postseason action, instead dropped a road contest at Lincoln Southwest 51-44 Friday night. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
In a game originally intended to be played on Thursday night but was moved to Friday night due to the cancellation of LPS classes and activities with heavy snowfall, the Kearney Bearcats were hoping to end their regular season on the right foot before heading into district play next. With seedings already locked in late Thursday night, the contest was more of a morale booster for Kearney but served as a revenge matchup for the Silverhawks.
Lincoln Southwest looked to take down the Bearcats who upset the Silverhawks on their home floor 47-34 in the HAC Tournament second round, leaving the defending State Runner-Up with a sour taste. Additionally, Kennadi Williams was set to return from her injury with more time expected to play in her second varsity contest of the season.
KHS GBB
The game started off strong for Kearney, taking an early lead and controlling the pace of play despite some back-and-forth. The big shots hit early for the Bearcats, as Kelsey Hatcher knocked in a three pointer while Tatum Rusher hit two free throws. Southwest kept pace but was slightly behind, trailing 13-9 in the first quarter.
KHS GBB
The inverse occurred in the second as Southwest fought to tie the game at 22 prior to halftime. Future UNK Women’s Basketball commit Brinly Christensen added seven points in the quarter including a three pointer to take a Southwest lead 20-19 with less than four to play in the half. The Bearcats found a triple by Paige Mailahn and added four points from Kennidy Garner but allowed the Silverhawks to tie entering halftime.
KHS GBB
The third quarter ran by quickly as Kearney again looked to have a slight advantage hitting two big three-pointers by Hatcher and having Harley Straka attack the rim finding six points. Aniya Seymore of Southwest hit a three, but entering the fourth quarter Kearney held a 34-32 lead.
KHS GBB
As the fourth quarter began, Kearney again held their lead up 38-36 with six minutes to play. Southwest found success at the free throw line with Seymore, hitting multiple charity stripe shots to pull within and take the lead as the Silverhawks milked the deficit into a three point lead with 3:31 remaining up 44-41. As the contest began to close, Kearney’s turnover bug and cold shooting prevented a late rally as the Silverhawks celebrated their Senior Night with a 51-44 win.
Kearney had contributions from eight different players, including: Hatcher with 12 points, Maddy Province had 5, Garner, Straka, and Haidyn Skeen with 6 each, Rusher ended with 4, Mailahn had 3, and Kiara Dutenhoffer wrapped with 2.
The Bearcats enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the A-5 District hosted by #1 Bellevue East, as Kearney will host No. 3 Papillion-LaVista South on Wednesday night at Kearney High School.
