KEARNEY – In the A-5 District Semifinal between #2 Kearney and #3 Papillion-LaVista South, the Bearcats got out sizzling early with an offensive barrage to dominate the first half and cruise to a postseason win, sending Kearney to the district championship after the 57-41 win at home. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the postseason at 14-10 after dropping their final regular season contest of the season at Lincoln Southwest on Friday night. Meanwhile Papillion-LaVista South had a hot start to the year turning out a 5-1 open, but went cold due to injuries and a tough schedule as they matched the Bearcats at 10-12.
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The Bearcats’ Tatum Rusher – the leading scorer for the team on the season – had a point to prove that she would not end her career on a low point with an eye-popping first half, scoring 10 points in the opening quarter and ending the first half with thirteen total. However, the party was started by sophomore Kelsey Hatcher hitting the first three of the contest while Papio-South continued to find their offensive rhythm. Rusher’s scoring outpaced the Titans in the opening six minutes as five different Bearcats contributed in the first eight minutes – including a Kennidy Garner three pointer – that extended the Bearcats to a 20-9 advantage entering the second quarter.
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At the start of the second, Kearney’s offensive cruise control was set to another high velocity as Rusher hit a triple with Hatcher and Garner adding in their own (two by Hatcher, one by Garner). The Titans attempted to work inside with junior Kate Ligon, but costly turnovers and empty possessions doomed Papio-South entering halftime as Kearney rolled 38-16 after two quarters.
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The game turned into a game of keep-away and control by Kearney, as Rusher added six more points to her total in the second half while reserves switched in and out to keep the Titans at bay despite a short rally in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. The game was decided by the fourth quarter, as the Bearcats rolled to a twenty five point lead in the second half and ended with the 57-41 win over #3 Papillion-LaVista South, setting up a matchup with the winner of #1 Bellevue East and #4 Omaha North.
Kearney’s Tatum Rusher also broke Bearcat records Wednesday night, as her final three pointer of the evening brought her the record for most career made triples for a Kearney Girls Bearcats player in school history.
The Bearcats had contributions from eight different players including Rusher with 19, Hatcher with 13, Garner with 8, Harley Straka hit 6 points, Kiara Dutenhoffer had 4, Haidyn Skeen dropped 3, and Addie Snyder and Maddy Province each had 2.
