In one of the top matchups around the area Tuesday night the Nemaha Central Thunder went on the road and picked up a sweep of Sabetha in the Nemaha County rivalry.

GIRLS: #1 Nemaha Central 50, # 4 Sabetha 43

The girl’s game was scheduled to be one of the top games in the state with two of the top five teams in Class 3A squaring off and it lived up to the hype with Nemaha Central winning the battle of the unbeaten 50-43.

Both teams started fast offensively with only two combined turnovers in the first quarter as Nemaha Central took a 20-16 lead after one behind 13 points from senior Alleigh Kramer.

The Thunder were able to extend their lead up to as many as nine in the second quarter, but Sabetha battled back and held Nemaha Central to just seven points in the second to pull within two at 27-25 going into halftime.

The third quarter then turned into the Alleigh Kramer show as she scored nine more points in the frame to give Nemaha Central a 40-34 lead going into the fourth.

Sabetha tried to make a couple of runs in the second half behind 15 points in the final two quarter from junior Melinna Schumann, but the Thunder went 4-of- 6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Kramer was outstanding all night for the Thunder (7-0, 5-0 Big 7) as she finished with a game-high 31 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe which came without the services of normal starter Kirsten Lortscher who was out with an illness.

Sabetha (6-1, 4-1) was led by Schumann who tried to will the Lady Jays to a victory with 23 points, but no other player scored more than seven points.

Nemaha Central: Alleigh Kramer – 31, Emma Elder – 9, Cassidy Corby – 6, Riley Rottinghaus – 4.

Sabetha: Melinna Schumann – 23, Hannah Wertenberger – 7, Maggi Hughes – 3, Morgan Schuette – 3, Payton Michael – 3, Kinley Schuette – 2, Leah Renyer – 2.

BOYS: Nemaha Central 45, Sabetha 35

Just like the girl’s game the boy’s contest went back-and-forth throughout with Nemaha Central making just enough plays in the fourth quarter to pick up a 45-35 win.

Both teams were offensively challenged in the first half with Sabetha leading just 8-6 after the first quarter, but Nemaha Central knocked down three 3-pointer in the second to take an 18-17 lead into halftime.

The Thunder extended their lead to 33-28 going into the fourth quarter and when it mattered most it was sophomore Zac Kramer who stepped up scoring seven points in the fourth to seal the victory.

Nemaha Central (5-2, 2-3 Big 7) drilled five triples in the win and overcame 10 turnovers along with shooting just 6-of-15 from the free throw line.

Sabetha (2-5, 1-4) tried to stay in it with senior Braden Argabright hitting a couple big treys in the fourth quarter, but the Bluejays leading scorer Gabe Garber was held to just nine points which was 13 points below his season average.

Next up for Nemaha Central is a road game at Jeff West on Friday while Sabetha has a make up game with Royal Valley on Thursday before traveling to Perry Lecompton Friday.

Nemaha Central: Zac Kramer – 10, Andrew Leonard – 9, Kurtis Beck – 8, Bryce Uphaus – 8, Marcus Beck – 4, Dylan Schultejans – 3, Eric Hammes – 3.

Sabetha: Braden Argabright – 10, Gabe Garber – 9, Kaleb Grimm – 7, Drew Schmelzle – 4, Kaleb Evans – 4, Cooper Bradbury – 1.