The Nemaha Central Middle School eighth grade boys basketball team traveled to Rossville to start the Big East Tournament on Saturday, February 8, 2025. In the first round of the tournament NC matched up with Riley County, and if they won they would move on and play another game that day.
The Thunder boys were ready to start the game and hopefully get a win. In the first quarter, Riley County got a jump on the score with 12 points while NC scored 5. Making the score 5-12 with three more quarters to go. The second quarter was back and forth with NC scoring 3 and Riley County scoring 9. At halftime, the Thunder was trailing 8-21.
NC had a devastating third quarter as Riley County found openings in the Thunder defense and scored 22 points to NC’s 8. The Riley County lead increased with a score of 16-43. The fourth quarter was defensive as NC was unable to score while Riley County only added 4 points. The Thunder dropped their first game of the tournament with a score of 16-47.
Kaden Spefslage said, “Even though we didn’t play well we can still learn a lot from this game and get better.”
The second day of the tournament took place on Monday, February 10. NC was matched up with Sabetha. The winner of that game would play the winner of the Hiawatha versus Perry-Lecompton game.
The first quarter of the game found both teams trying to find ways to score. NC took the lead at the end of the quarter 3-2. Sabetha had a spark in the second quarter and scored 10 points to NC’s 3. Sabetha took over the lead at halftime with a score of 6-12.
The Bluejays continued to outscore the Thunder in the third quarter and the score at the end of the quarter was 10-20. Both teams were fighting hard in the fourth quarter but NC couldn’t pull out the win. The game ended with a score of 17-25.
Kollin Wagner said, “We didn’t like the outcome, but we got up and improved for the next game.”
After the Sabetha game, NC would be playing Perry-Lecompton.
The first quarter was a slow one to start but then both teams were scoring. NC managed to get 5 points while Perry scored 11. Both teams were fighting for control of the game in the second quarter, however, Perry had an 11-19 lead at halftime.
The Thunder team had an exciting third quarter where they were finally putting it all together. They managed to score 16 points while holding Perry scoreless. At the end of the quarter, they were leading 27-19. Both teams battled for the game in the fourth quarter. The Thunder boys were able to hold on and get the victory 40-30.
Hudson Kuckelman said, “We played very well and didn’t give up and that’s what won us the game.”
Overall the Thunder boys had a decent season with an overall record of 2-18 and they placed eleventh in the league. The boys improved throughout the season and finished the season off with a win.
Article by: Drivyn Hynek