Colt Straka, Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt
LINCOLN – A slowed first quarter woke up the Kearney Bearcats, as the boys erupted for a 28 point second quarter to take down Lincoln Northeast on the road Saturday afternoon. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
The Bearcats were coming off a big Top-Ten win on Friday night at home over the Omaha Bryan Bears 66-50, while attempting to avoid the “trap game” presented by Monte Ritchie’s Rockets. Lincoln Northeast had proven to be a tough test in seasons prior, as the Rockets aimed to play spoiler again to a Kearney season on their home floor.
That trend appeared to continue early, as Kearney failed to garner more than a single point lead through most of the first quarter. Nearly all of their outside shots were falling short, as the only points added in the opening eight minutes came from Asher Endorf’s three free-throws and Jacob Webber’s two field goals. Northeast, however, rallied behind drives by Mo Abdalla and foul shots by Grant Fredericks as the deep roster of the Rockets provided early trouble. As Kearney looked to shake off the cobwebs, the Bearcats stared down an early 14-7 deficit at the end of the first quarter.
Ben Johnson, Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt
The Bearcats woke up in a big way in the second, taking anything and everything they wanted against the Rockets defense. Kearney also forced more defensive stops and transition turnovers, setting up further scoring. Ben Johnson and Endorf led the way, as Johnson had been shut out in the first quarter but hit his first three-point attempt of the quarter and added another six points after. Endorf was on fire, rolling in lay-ins off the rim and hitting fadeaway jumpers for eleven points in the period. Webber connected on free throws and a three pointer as well. The trio of scoring gave Kearney the lead 35-24 at halftime.
Jacob Webber, Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt
As the Bearcats continued the game, the floodgates continued to pour open as more Kearney players contributed to the box score. Turner Bertrand would lay in eight points in the second half, while Webber would build up another sixteen points to his game-high 27 total. The fourth quarter was never in doubt as Kearney was up 55-41, then allowed only eight points in the final eight minutes to secure the 74-49 win.
Kearney now returns on a day’s rest before heading back down Interstate-80 to Omaha Westview for a road tilt with the Wolverines on Monday night.
Kearney High Boys Basketball @ Lincoln Southeast 2024 // Mitchell Brandt
UNOFFICIAL KGFW SCORING TOTALS:
Kearney: Webber (27 points), Endorf (18), Johnson (15), Bertrand (8), Karter Lee (3), Colt Straka (2)
Lincoln Northeast: Fredericks (10), Hayden Tenopir (10), Abdalla (8), Brecken Wilke (7), Easton Switzer (6), Cooper Coffman (3), Marshawn Jefferson (2), Eli Ash (2), Kaden Coon (1)
