The Nemaha Central boys basketball teams played the Holton Wildcats on Thursday, January 14. A total of four games were played, an 8th grade A and B game and a 7th grade A and B game.
The Thunder eighth grade A-team game got off to an intense start with both teams trading buckets throughout the first quarter. The quarter ended with the Thunder leading 12-8. The Thunder quickly found their defensive stride in the second quarter and only allowed the Wildcats two points the whole quarter. The score to end the half was 20-10 with the Thunder on top.
The third quarter was a defensive battle throughout, with both the teams only scoring a combined nine points. The Thunder team maintained their lead ending the quarter up 25-14. The Thunder managed to hold off the Wildcat’s desperate surge in the fourth quarter winning the game 34-24 in a thrilling defensive showcase.
Jack Macke said, “We worked hard and played tough to pull out the victory.”
The first quarter of the eighth-grade B-team game got off to a snail's pace with both teams missing many shots. The score at the end of the quarter was 2-1 with a minuscule lead. In the second quarter, both teams began putting the ball through the basket. The score at halftime was 10-7 with a Nemaha Central lead.
The Thunder were outscored in the third quarter 3-9 leaving the score of 13-14 with the Wildcats on top heading into the final quarter. The fourth quarter was very exciting with both teams playing their hearts out. In the last few seconds of regulation, the Thunder scored to tie up the game as the clock ran out. After four quarters, the game was all tied up at 22 heading into the overtime. At the beginning of overtime, the Thunder got off to a hot start and didn’t look back, outscoring Holton 8-4 in the three-minute overtime. NC won the game, 30-26.
In the first quarter of the seventh grade A-team game, the Thunder got off to an explosive start scoring 23 points while holding Holton scoreless. The second quarter was a little closer with the Wildcats managing to score 4 points and only allowing the Thunder to score 10. The score at the end of the half was 33-4 Thunder.
NC came out of the break with a fiery intensity scoring 20 points, while only allowing the Wildcats 4. In the fourth quarter, the Thunder scored 9 points while shutting out their opponents. The final score was 62-8 Thunder.
Will Young said, “It was a fun game and they are a competitive team and I can't wait to play them again.”
Like the A-team, the Thunder seventh grade B-team also started off very hot outscoring the Wildcats 13-4. The Thunder only scored 6 points in the second quarter but managed to shut out Holton. The score at halftime was 19-4 Thunder.
NC held the Wildcats scoreless yet again while scoring 8 of their own in the third quarter. The final quarter found the Wildcats outscoring the Thunder 4-1. NC won 28-8 in the final game of the night.
The Thunder swept the Holton Wildcats on the night. Both the A-teams and the seventh-grade B-team look to keep their undefeated seasons alive.
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