NORFOLK – The Kearney Girls won their fourth contest in their past five games, taking down the Norfolk Panthers in a road test Friday night 48-39. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
The Bearcats were coming off a Tuesday night home win over Lincoln East, and aimed to continue their hot streak on the road for their first road game since Jan. 4. Norfolk had been busy over the week, having their third game of the four day period falling to Lincoln Pius X on Tuesday and dropping a road contest at Omaha Benson on Wednesday night.
Kearney’s hot shooting streak continued early in the contest as Paige Mailhan quickly hit her first shot of the night, giving Kearney the early lead in the opening thirty seconds. Norfolk responded on their end, however, garnering four points from sophomore Bo Caskey to take their only advantage of the contest up 4-3. The Bearcats had Kennidy Garner knock down her own outside shot, while Mailhan added a field goal to push ahead. Harley Straka attacked the rim multiple times drawing fouls, giving the Bearcats a 12-6 lead into the second period.
Sophie Glandt, KHS GBB @ Norfolk // Mitchell Brandt
Kearney once again outpaced Norfolk 14-13 in the next quarter, as the Panthers’ Tasha Eisenhauer began to pickup her scoring with seven points in the period – including a three-point effort after being fouled on a closeout by the Bearcats’ Alaina Jasnoch. Kearney again held off Norfolk with balanced scoring having six different players contribute in the period. Although Norfolk continued to answer Kearney’s scoring, the Bearcats held a 26-19 into halftime.
The Bearcats third quarter solidified their standing in the game, taking a 19-13 lead and preventing inside looks for Norfolk on multiple possessions. Kearney’s continued scoring was led in part by more big shots from Mailahn and Garner, as each hit a three pointer. Straka added another five points while Addie Helmbrecht took low-post shots for four points.
As the game neared its conclusion, Kearney’s scoring grew cold but their defense held firm enough to keep the Panthers from closing the contest as the Bearcats earned the 48-39 victory Friday night.
Libby Province, KHS GBB @ Norfolk // Mitchell Brandt
Kearney (8-5) are now winners of back-to-back games and will return to Kearney High School on Friday, Jan. 26 hosting Lincoln North Star. The Bearcats will then take on Bellevue West the next day.
UNOFFICIAL KGFW SCORING TOTALS:
Kearney: Mailahn (11 points), Garner (10), Straka (10), Addie Helmbrecht (8), Addie Snyder (5), Jasnoch (2), Sophie Glandt (2)
Norfolk: Caskey (11 points), Skylar Indra (11), Eisenhauer (10), Raina Andreasen (3), Emma Long (2), Aubrey Russell (1)
