Both Nemaha Central basketball teams are heading to Hutchinson this year for the 3A State Tournament after posting exciting championship wins in the Hiawatha Sub State on Saturday night. The Nemaha girls (23-0) will be the top seed in their fourth straight trip to state while the Nemaha boys (17-6) are making their first-ever trip to state basketball as the Thunder. 

GIRLS FINAL = Nemaha Central 42, Sabetha 34

In their third matchup of the season with Sabetha the only team that has played Nemaha Central within 15 points in a game this season, the Lady Thunder used an 11-4 third quarter to turn a three-point halftime lead into a double-digit advantage and hold on for the win making 10 of 17 free throws in the fourth quarter. 

Sabetha trailed 9-8 after one quarter and was down 18-15 at halftime after Hannah Macke hit a shot for Nemaha just before intermission. Yet, despite having a couple leads in the second period, the Jays made only one shot in the third frame and found themselves down 36-23 early in the fourth stanza. An 8-1 run pulled Sabetha within 37-31 with the ball and one minute to go, but a couple key turnovers kept Sabetha from getting any closer than four points.

Melinna Schumann fought through a broken wrist to score 17 points while Leah Renyer added eight, but only four players scored for the Bluejays who end their season with a 19-4 record, three of those losses coming against Nemaha Central. 

Alleigh Kramer scored 24 points, including seven free throws and 11 points in the fourth quarter. Emma Elder added eight points as the Thunder overcame six turnovers in the first frame. Nemaha Central will look to improve on a fourth place state finish a year ago next week in Hutchinson, facing #8 seed Osage City in the opening round on Thursday. 

BOYS FINAL = Nemaha Central 46, Marysville 41

This game was also close throughout in the third meeting and rubber match this season. Despite eight early points from Kurtis Beck, Nemaha Central trailed 11-10 after one quarter and was tied at 21 at halftime.  The Thunder opened the second half on a 6-0 run and only trailed once briefly in the third before taking the biggest lead of the night 42-33 early in the fourth frame. 

Nemaha Central missed nine free throws in the fourth to keep the door open and allow Marysville a chance, but the Bulldogs who came into sub state averaging more than eight three-pointers made per night, struggled in the Roundhouse making just a couple treys against Hiawatha in Thursday's semifinal and only knocking down three triples in the championship. Koby Schroeder had 12 points for Marysville who fell just short of their third trip to state in the last four years and finished this season 18-5 with eight seniors.

Kurtis Beck scored 18 points for Nemaha Central while twin brother Marcus Beck added seven just two nights after the sophomore duo combined for 24 in the semifinal victory against MH-MA. Andrew Leonard added eight points as the Thunder improved to 17-6 with their fifth win in a row and won a sub-state championship game after falling just short the past five years.   

It was no surprise that it was a close game, but certainly something that the Nemaha Central boys have grown accustomed too,  The Thunder are now 10-3 in games decided by six points or less this season with all three of those losses by a single possession. 

Farmers State Bank of Onaga and Westmoreland "Players to Bank On:" 

Alleigh Kramer and Kurtis Beck from Nemaha Central