LINCOLN – The Kearney High Girls Basketball team controlled the final 16 minutes of play, outscoring Lincoln East 32-19 in the second half, and won their second game of the season with a 51-34 victory on the road. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney and Lincoln East both entered the contest at 1-1 on the year after splitting their opening weekends in their respective Early Bird Tournaments. Kearney was looking to earn their first win on the road at Lincoln East since 2015, and came out with a snuffing defensive performance.
Lincoln East struggled to get easy looks past half-court as Kearney smothered possessions with a fast-attacking and tenacious defense. The Bearcats also had help on the offensive end as Kierstynn Garner drained a three pointer and Tatum Rusher found two points early. A few added free throws led to a 9-4 advantage at the end of the first for Kearney.
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Kearney continued to work defensively entering the second quarter, but Lincoln East’s Matalynn Campbell – who did not play in the opening games of the season and was seeing her first varsity action of the year – began to find her confident shooting stroke. Campbell knocked down a quick three pointer and responded to quick passes coming her way with turnovers and deflections. The Bearcats kept their cool, and despite giving up 11 points in the quarter, Kearney held their lead 19-15 at the end of the first half. Rusher added three more points in the quarter as well as Garner knocking down another triple to outpace Lincoln East.
The second half would be dominated by head coach Kyle Fletcher’s squad. Confident shooters erupted in the third quarter, as the Kearney Girls found three triples from three different players hit the bottom of the net – Kierstynn Garner, Kennidy Garner, and Harley Straka all connected. Seven different Bearcats scored in the quarter, totaling a 21 point effort after halftime concluded. The Kearney defense swarmed over the Spartans, only allowing 11 points. Kearney led after three quarters 40-26.
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The route was on early, as Kearney paced themselves at arms length away from the Spartans who’s comeback mounted short by another great defensive performance in the fourth quarter. Kearney only allowed 8 points in the final stanza, while the Bearcats dropped another 11 points including two triples by Rusher.
Kearney would close out the victory winning 51-34.
The Bearcats improve to 2-1 on the season and face off against Omaha Central at Kearney High School Saturday afternoon. Pregame coverage on KGFW begins at 4:15 PM on 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, at KGFW.com and at the free KGFW App. Kearney saw contributions from Rusher with 13 points, Kierstynn Garner finished with 11, Kaleigh Hatcher dropped 9 points, 6 came from Straka, 5 added by Kennidy Garner, 4 by Haidyn Skeen, and 3 by Maddy Province.
The Spartans fall to 1-2 on the year.
