It was a tale of two different games on the night but the same outcome in the end that was the Nemaha Valley Raiders notching a pair of wins on the road against Hiawatha. The Lady Raiders had to use overtime to fend off Hiawatha for a 57-49 win in overtime, while in the boy’s game it was Nemaha Valley in control from the start as they took the 63-48 win.

Girls’ varsity game started off with Nemaha Valley taking the early lead but Hiawatha despite their slow start worked back within two early at 11-9, until the Raiders closed the first quarter on a 4-0 run to lead 15-9 after the first period. That lead stretched slightly to 27-19 at the half for Nemaha Valley with junior, Madison Koch spear heading the offense for the Raiders posting 10 of her team-high 18 in the first half.

Out of the half the Red Hawks took flight with an 8-2 run to get back into the game and until behind a 14-4 third quarter took the lead after sophomore, Emily Gartner hit a bucket at the buzzer to give Hiawatha the 33-31 lead after three quarters. Teams traded buckets in the fourth and the Raiders had what looked to be the final possession of the ballgame until Kennedy McKernan lost the handle on the way to the basket for the potential game winning shot. The Raider turnover gave the Red Hawks a shot of grabbing the win with three seconds left in regulation. Freshman Courtney Brockhoff brought the ball across half court and a foul was called on Nemaha Valley giving Brockhoff a pair of free throws with 1.1 seconds left.

The freshman stepped to the line and was only 2-7 from the free throw up to that point in the game and miss fired on both, but Gartner rebounded the ball and threw it up for what would have been the game winner but the Red Hawks shot fell short and to overtime we went.

In overtime the Raiders put together a 10-2 frame to grab the 57-49 win and Hiawatha was hurt by Gartner picking up her fifth foul of the game and having to head to the bench for the remainder of the game.

With the win Nemaha Valley moved to 12-3 on the season and extended their win streak to eight straight and were led by Koch who scored 18 points a new season high for her, while Hailey Nolte chipped in 10 points. Hiawatha fell to 5-10 with the loss and was led by Gartner who posted a monster night of 31 points, while Brockhoff added 13 points. Koch and Gartner shared the Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA.

The boy’s game was quite different than the girls and different than the first two times of the Raiders and Red Hawks squared off earlier this season.

Raiders in the previous two games against Hiawatha trailed after the first quarter but this time Nemaha Valley shot off out fo the gate to lead 7-0, then 11-1 and ultimately 17-7 after the first quarter. That lead stretched to 28-16 at the half and continued to grow behind a 23 point third period by Nemaha Valley, as they cruised to the 63-48 win over the Red Hawks.

Junior, Devin Henry paced the Raiders on the night with 18 points including four three pointers and scored his points in bunches. Henry posted the first five points of the game and scored the first eight of the second half for Nemaha Valley, also earning him Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA. Senior, Evan Hermesch joined Henry in double figures posting a new season high of 13 points on the night, helping Nemaha Valley improve to 14-1 on the year.

Hiawatha with the loss fell to 5-10 on the season and was led by Conner Bigham who scored 16 points, while Conner Winters chipped in 11 points on the night.

Both teams continue Big Seven action on Friday as Nemaha Valley hosts Perry Lecompton and Hiawatha will play host to Royal Valley.