LINCOLN – After a back-and-forth first half, Kearney’s hot shooting flamed out and the Bearcats fell to 1-2 on the year after a 59-48 loss at the hands of Lincoln East on Friday night. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Lincoln East and Kearney entered Friday night’s matchup at 1-1 on the season and looked to improve their stock while finding confidence in their offensive games. Kearney was without their star center, senior Will Vanderbeek, as he was injured during the prior week’s matchup with Lincoln Southwest.
At the start of the contest, Lincoln East and Kearney battled back and forth with trading buckets and big defensive plays. Three pointers were on sale during the first quarter, as six different players dropped a triple on both sides. Kearney’s Kaden Miller, Jack Dahlgren, and Jack Mundorf all connected and led the way for the Bearcats. The Spartans however had inside looks as well, slicing and dicing the Kearney defense in transition with quick passes. While Carter Mick, Carter Tempelmeyer, and Zach Van Genderen all hit triples, Joe Marfisi and Brayden McPhail worked inside to garner a 19-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Trailing to start the second quarter, Kearney got hot early to get back within reach. Mundorf connected on a three pointer, along with freshman Ben Johnson adding his own triple. Dahlgren slashed inside, while Cole Feddersen found points for himself as well. Kearney outpaced Lincoln East 18-13 in the second quarter, but still trailed entering the locker room 32-29.
KGFW Sports
The back-and-forth sprint to start the game was slowed to a halt as neither squad could find success to begin the second half. A longer halftime intermission may have slowed and cooled down both teams, as only a combined 11 points were scored in the third quarter. Kearney knocked down a three pointer within the first minute of the quarter from Dahlgren, but the Bearcats never found success again after tying the game at 32. The added 8 points by Lincoln East gave them a 40-32 advantage in the final quarter.
The sluggish start continued for Kearney, as they were never able to get back within reach. Anytime a Kearney bucket connected, Lincoln East would respond with their own. Parker Wise dropped 8 more points in the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats were outgunned 19-16 in the final eight minutes to fall 59-48 at Lincoln East.
Lincoln East improves to 2-1 on the year.
Kearney falls to 1-2 and will face Omaha Central Saturday afternoon at home after a long bus ride home. The Bearcats saw contributions from Parker Wise with 12 points, Dalhgren finished with 12 as well, 8 were added by Mundorf, 7 by Miller, 5 by Feddersen, and 3 by Johnson.
Pregame coverage of Kearney and Omaha Central’s boys matchup with begin around 6 PM, or at the conclusion of the Kearney Girls contest. Listen on KGFW, 1340 AM 96.1 FM and at KGFW.com as well as on the free KGFW App.
