KEARNEY – The Kearney High Girls basketball team showed out in a dominating 64-34 win over Lincoln North Star to kick-off their Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament on Monday afternoon. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney came into the contest at 4-2 on the season, having went on a two game winning streak prior to the holiday break and NSAA Moratorium. The Bearcats were voted #6 and pitted against #11 Lincoln North Star (3-4) and earned the first home game of the HAC Tournament.
Kearney started the contest very strong with a stout offensive performance by Kaleigh Hatcher and Tatum Rusher. Hatcher started the scoring with the first seven points of the contest, battling down low for two back-to-back underneath buckets and hitting a triple to force Lincoln North Star into an early deficit. A stuffing defensive pressure from Kyle Fletcher’s squad smothered the Navigators from the beginning of the contest, forcing turnovers and mistakes that led to empty possessions.
Those mistakes created opportunities for Rusher, who scored six in the opening eight minutes. Add in triples from Harley Straka making her first career start and Kierstynn Garner, the Bearcats led 25-8 after the first quarter.
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The second quarter continued much of the same, although the Navigators lethal freshman Sarah Gatwech ended the first half with 12 points. Rusher paced herself with back-to-back triples after a quick lay-in leading to an eight point effort in the second quarter. Maddy Province also tallied six points with aggressive attacks to the basket, while Haidyn Skeen dropped four points as well. The Navigators could not keep pace with the Bearcats, as Kearney led 48-20 after two quarters of play.
The second half was paced by Kearney rotating in reserve players and searching new strategies, as the Bearcats defense continued to shine with only allowing a total of 14 points in the second half while scoring 16.
Kearney earned their fifth win of the season in a final 64-34 trouncing of Lincoln North Star.
The Bearcats were paced by Rusher with 21 points, Hatcher finished with 14, Kierstynn Garner had 10 points, Province had 6, Straka had 5, Kennidy Garner and Josie Murray each tallied 2 points as well.
#6 seeded Kearney now awaits #3 Lincoln Pius X on Tuesday for the second round of the HAC Tournament. Pregame coverage begins on KGFW at 1:45 PM from Lincoln.
