It was a packed house as always on Tuesday night when Nemaha County rivals Sabetha and Nemaha Central meet up on the hardwood in a pair of high profile Big Seven League contests. At the end of the night in Seneca it was Sabetha coming out on top flying home with a pair of wins, as the girls cruised to a 60-41 win and the boys held off Nemaha Central down the stretch for the 46-44 win keeping Sabetha unbeaten for the girls and boys. 

Sabetha jumped out to the lead and never gave it up in the girl’s game as the Bluejays added to their lead throughout the contest. Only 14-10 after the first quarter the Bluejays opened things up to an 11-point margin by halftime leading 29-18 at intermission behind 14 first half points by Alexis McAfee who poured in four three-pointers. The Bluejays continued to have a firm grasp on the game in the third quarter pushed their lead to over 20-points multiple times and led 46-23 after three, by outscoring Nemaha Central 17-5 in the third and went to win 60-41. 

McAfee led the Bluejays on the night with 18 points and earned Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA after helping Sabetha take control of the contest in the first half. Jena Winkler and Kalli Broxterman joined McAfee in double figures with 11 points each on the night, helping Sabetha move to 8-0 on the season a 7-0 in Big Seven action. 

The loss for Nemaha Central is just their first of the season as they are now 7-1 on the year and 6-1 in Big Seven play. Rachael Baumgartner paced the Thunder on the night with a season high 16 points, while Ashley Larkin finished with eight points. 

All three meeting last year were decided by single digits between the Sabetha and Nemaha Central boys with Sabetha earning the win each time and the first meeting of the 2015-16 season between the two didn't disappoint as it went down to the wire. 

Both teams traded blows early in the first each raining in some three-pointers and each holding leads but behind a 4-4 start from the three-point line Nemaha Central lead 20-17 after the first quarter. It was back and forth in the second quarter and by halftime the game was tied at 27-27. Nemaha Central grabbed the lead in the third and took a 39-35 advantage into the final eight minutes of the contest, but Sabetha battled to grab the lead in the fourth and ultimately the win behind an 11-5 fourth quarter. Nemaha Central had an opportunity with under 10 seconds left and Dylan Enneking drove straight down the lane to the basket but misfired on a layup at the buzzer and Sabetha kept the record unblemished with a 46-44 win. 

The win pushes Sabetha to 8-0 on the year and 7-0 in the Big Seven League. Brock Frey led the Bluejays with 16 points earning Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA, while Calder Keehn chipped in 10 points and Alec Kirwan added nine points. 

Nemaha Central with the loss falls to 5-3 on the year and 5-2 in Big Seven League action. Luke Holthaus led the Thunder on the night with 12 points, while Mitchell Henry added nine points and Enneking scored eight points.

Both teams continue Big Seven League action later this week on Friday night as Sabetha travels to Perry Lecompton and Nemaha Central will host ACCHS. (Sabetha game will be on the Sabetha Channel and the Nemaha Central game will be featured on 92.1 KMZA)