It was a showdown in Seneca between a pair Big Seven League teams that have been at the top of the league many years as the Holton Wildcats went on the road to meet up the Nemeha Valley Raiders for their only matchup this year. At the end of the night it was the Raiders taming the Wildcats to earn the sweep on the evening with the Lady Raiders winning 37-34 and the Raider boys getting a 55-35 win.

The night started off with a scoring struggle for both girls varsity teams as the first point of the game didn't come until over two minutes had come off the clock in the first period. The low scoring trend was a theme throughout the game but the first half most notably as the Raiders lead 9-6 after the first quarter and 16-11 at the half.

Nemaha Valley opened things up in their favor behind a 13-5 third quarter extending their lead to 13 points, as the Raiders led 29-16 after three periods.

Holton wouldn't go away quietly as the Wildcats posted more points in the fourth period than they had in the first three quarters combine, outscoring Nemaha Valley 18-8 in the final frame, but the Raiders held on for the 37-34.

In the loss Holton was led by senior, Kyrstie Miller who tallied 16 points, including seven in the fourth quarter to earn "Player to Bank On" honors from Citizens State Bank and Trust Company in Hiawatha on KNZA. Holton struggled from three-point land going 2-12 on the night. Wildcats with the loss fall to 4-5 on the season and have yet to get over the .500 plateau this season.

Nemaha Valley notched win number six this season moving to 6-3 on the year with the win and was led by sophomore, Rachel Baumgartner who posted 11 points, earning the Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" on KMZA. Junior, Kennedy McKernan added nine points for the Raiders also on the night.

In the boys game it was a battle to stay behind Sabetha in the Big Seven League title race and the Nemaha Valley behind an early run took the lead and ultimately the 55-35 win.

Holton started the game on a 4-0 run but was held scoreless the rest of the first quarter as Nemaha Valley closed the first period on a 13-0 run, to lead 13-4. Nemaha Valley pushed their lead up slightly at the half 32-16 as the Wildcats had shooting woes from three-point land on the night.

The Raiders defense clamped down in the third quarter and put together an 11-3 quarter to hold Holton to less than 20 points through three quarters as Nemaha Valley lead 43-19.

For Holton in the game it was missed free throws and three-pointers that plagued them on the night as the Wildcats were 15-29 from the free throw line and 2-15 from three-point land. Holton fell to 7-2 on the season with the loss.

Wildcats were led by senior, Jason Yingst who tallied 13 points and was named “Player to Bank On” from the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company in Hiawatha on KNZA. While Garrett Beecher added 11 points for Holton on the night.

Nemaha Valley improved to 8-1 on the season with the win and was led by the senior duo of Caleb Meyer and Justice McKernan who each posted 14 points on the night. McKernan earned Community National Bank “Player to Bank On” honors on KMZA for his performance with 12 of his 14 points coming in the first half. Senior, Isaac  McWilliams added 10 points in the matchup while junior, Abe Elder chipped in nine points.

Next up for these teams is tournament action outside of the Nemaha Valley girls who will not play again until next Friday as they will host Horton. Nemaha Valley boys are set to host their annual Raiders Classic tournament starting Tuesday with the Raiders playing Hiawatha in the opening round at 8:00pm. Holton hits the court again on Monday with the girls in the Basehor-Linwood Invite playing at 3:00pm against St. Joe Benton in the first round and Holton boys play DeSoto at 5:30pm in the Tonganoxie Invitational.