The Nemaha Central Middle School boys basketball team hosted a game against the Hiawatha Red Hawks in the NCHS high school gymnasium on Monday, January 27, 2025. The Thunder team was looking to grab a few wins on the road.
The first game was the eighth-grade A-team game. The first quarter was not good for the Thunder as they only scored 4 points and allowed the Red Hawks to score 8. The Thunder team went out during the second quarter and scored 4 more points, but the Red Hawks came up with 9 points. At halftime, the score was 8-17
After the halftime talk, the Thunder boys returned with a positive mindset and scored 6 points in the third quarter, but once again, the Red Hawks answered with 12 points. In the fourth quarter, the Thunder outscored the Red Hawks by scoring 9 points and only allowing 5. It was not enough to beat the Red Hawks as the game ended with a score of 23-34.
“We fought hard, and in the end, we didn’t give up,” said Hudson Kuckelman.
The B-team game followed, and the Thunder boys hoped to turn things around. In the first quarter, the Thunder scored 6 points while the Red Hawks scored 11. The second quarter was a little better for the Thunder defensively, but they still gave up 8 points and were only able to score 5 themselves. The Red Hawks were up 11-19 at halftime.
The third quarter rolled around and the Thunder scored 2 points, while the Red Hawks managed 7. Even though the third quarter didn't go as planned the Thunder team did not give up. In the fourth quarter, the Thunder outscored the Red Hawks by 2 points. The final score was 19-30, with another Thunder loss.
In the seventh-grade A-team game, the Red Hawks came out hot, scoring 13 points and limiting NC to 1. The Thunder was again outscored in the second quarter and were trailing at the half 6-29.
During halftime, the Thunder refocused and hoped to have a better second half. The Thunder offense picked up 11 points, but their defense couldn’t hold the Red Hawks down as they scored 16. The fourth quarter rolled around, and NC scored 6 points, and the Red Hawks added 8 points. The Thunder lost another game with a score of 23-53.
The seventh-grade B-team game started similarly to the A-team game as the Thunder was outscored 1-10. The Thunder couldn't stop the Red Hawks in the second quarter, as they scored 10 points. The Thunder was losing at halftime 1-20.
The third quarter wasn't much better, but the Thunder did score a basket to make it 3-33. The fourth quarter rolled around, and NC put 10 points on the board and held the Red Hawks scoreless. The final score was 13-33 in favor of the Red Hawks.
“Even though we tried our best, the outcome is not what we wanted,” said Evan Bletscher.
The Thunder teams dropped all their games to the Red Hawks. They have some things to work on and hope to play better in the games to come.
Article by: Mason Clary