The rivalry matchup between Centralia and Nemaha Central for its seventh consecutive season happened last night and the class 3A Nemaha Central Thunder made a dominant statement, winning 49-19 over the Panthers. This improved the Thunder to 6-1 to lead the series over the class 1A division one Panthers. 

The Thunder struck like lightning in the first quarter with a quick jump out to a 16-2 lead. Nemaha dominated underneath the basket and also had clean hands with only one turnover in the quarter compared to Centralia’s six. The half ended 26-10 and Centralia found a little bit of a defensive rhythm with out rebounding the Thunder in the second quarter, but Nemaha still holding strong on their defensive side of the court, limiting the Panthers to just eight in the quarter. Kaden Peterson knocked down two threes in the first half as well as Evan Olberding connected on one money shot. Colby Frehe, the six-foot-eight senior, had eight points and about three rebounds in the first half. 

Centralia would be outscored in the third quarter 15-6, going into the fourth 41-16, the Thunder started to substitute some bench players in throughout the quarter with the confident and comfortable lead as the game would end 49-19. The Panthers on paper had some great rebounding stats for the out-matched height they were facing but unfortunately nineteen turnovers, compared to the Thunder’s five, will always be costly to a game. 

Colby Frehe would finish as the player of the game with eleven points and eight rebounds. Evan Olberding finished with eight points on the game and Peterson would finish with nine points, adding another three point shot in the second half. The leading scorer of Centralia was the sophomore Quinton Aldefer with his seven points, he even landed a three pointer. Unfortunately, there was just also more guys at the disposal for NC as Centralia nearly rotated the same and only eight throughout the whole game, where the Thunder had around thirteen players take the court. 

After the game when I spoke to Coach Jon Thomas about what his thoughts were on the game, he said "I liked the energy" and that's all that needs to be said, the Thunder played fast, efficient with the ball, and hard. NC improves to 1-0 and will play Hanover next Tuesday. The Centralia Panthers will be able to take this game as a learning opportunity and look to improve as they have St Mary's set for next Tuesday.