KEARNEY – The Kearney High boys basketball team was looking to make a statement Friday night by taking down one of the top teams in Class A, and nearly did so by a remarkable second half comeback that ultimately fell short in a 57-53 loss to Lincoln Northeast. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
The Bearcats had won their last two games, including 5 of their last 6 dating back to Dec. 17, and were looking to win back-to-back games over Lincoln schools coming off a thrilling 63-59 victory over Lincoln Southeast the previous Friday night. Entering the contest at 6-4, Kearney was angling to take down one of Class A’s early risers on the season.
Lincoln Northeast was a surprise team for those not paying attention to the Rockets. Northeast had established themselves early as a contender winning 10 straight contests, including the HAC Tournament title with wins over top seeded Lincoln Southwest in overtime and Lincoln Pius. After winning over Lincoln East the prior Friday, the Rockets first loss on the year came at the hands of a rematch to the Thunderbolts. Lincoln Northeast looked to get back to their winning ways on the road at Kearney High School.
The opening of the contest was scripted for a back-and-forth affair as Kearney and Northeast gave way to two titans battling between Kearney’s Will Vanderbeek and Northeast’s Porter Bazill. Both scored on their opening touches – Bazill and three point play and Vanderbeek an early free throw – and remained in constant battle to kick off the game. The Bearcats Jack Dahlgren also got started early adding four points, but it was the reserve Gatran Gatnoor who added seven of his own points with two triples in the opening minutes to spring Lincoln Northeast to a 15-9 lead at the end of the first.
KGFW Sports
Kearney tried to keep pace with the Rockets, but Northeast zoomed past the Bearcats with explosive takes and confident shooting. Six different Rockets added scores in the second quarter, as Zerek Beard landed two triples, Bazill added his own three pointer and dropped an additional four, while Jalen Lang added four as well. Kearney was outpaced 22-12 in the second quarter, although Vanderbeek did his best to keep it close with a 7 point quarter addition. The Bearcats fell behind at halftime 37-21 as they stared at a sixteen point deficit to start the second half.
Rather than the game getting uglier for Kearney, the Bearcats rose to the occasion and exploded in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Not only getting the offense going, but Kearney also clamped down defensively as the Bearcats outpaced Northeast 18-5 in the third. Vanderbeek hit another triple late in the third but added in 3 earlier in the quarter, as well as Jack Mundorf hitting his first triple of the game. Parker Wise added four and Kaden Miller sunk his own three pointer and Kearney was well on its way to getting back in the game only trailing by three entering the final quarter.
KGFW Sports
The fourth quarter was a series of comebacks, big plays, then missed opportunities for Kearney. After keeping the contest close at one possession, missed chances underneath or an extra offensive rebound by Northeast allowed the Rockets to never trail nor be tied at any point in the final quarter. Dahlgren’s ferocious attack nearly toppled the Rockets, as the junior had 8 points in the fourth alone. It was late free throws and a dagger triple from Beard that sealed Kearney’s fate, as the Bearcats fell to 6-5 on the year with the 57-53 loss.
Kearney takes on Papillion-LaVista South on Saturday afternoon. Predicted pregame start time for the contest begins on KGFW at 3:30 PM.
The Bearcats had contributions from Vanderbeek with 16 points, Dahlgren with 14, Wise finished with 8, Mundorf had 7, Miller had 5, Ben Johnson had 2 points, and Cole Feddersen had 1.
