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Both teams made valiant comebacks, but in the end, both Nemaha Valley squads couldn’t get over the hump as the Lady Raiders lost to Lyons 48-39 while the boys team was edged by Beloit 58-54.
The girls contest featured two evenly matched teams with a common element: defense. Nemaha Valley thrived off defensive pressure to win throughout the season while number eight Lyons used full-court pressure to knock off number one Riley County. Early on, the game was close with Lyons up 8-7 after the opening frame. The Lady Lions would continue to press and extend the lead out to five at halftime 17-12. Lyons’ 20-point third quarter really put Nemaha Valley on the ropes as the Lady Raiders trailed 37-24 going to the fourth quarter. NV made a late surge, but the deficit was just too great.
Lyons caused 26 Nemaha Valley turnovers and converted the other way with 19 points off those mistakes. Two players led in scoring for the Lady Lions in junior Brenna McClure and senior Aubrey Hollinger. McClure used quickness for her 14 points while Hollinger made three triples to finish with 14.
Junior Jaci Swart paced the Lady Raiders with 12 points, eight coming in the final period to be the Community National Bank Player to Bank On. Sophomore Rachel Baumgartner recorded another double-digit night with 11 points off the bench.
Lyons moves on to the championship match against number two Hesston while Nemaha Valley plays number six Council Grove at 12 pm on Saturday. Live coverage starts around 11:45 am on 92.1 FM KMZA and online at mscsports.net.
Two programs with 17 state tournament appearances each were showcased in the boys matchup. Number two Beloit hasn’t been to the championship game since 1999 while number three Nemaha Valley was in that position in 2012. Beloit relied on a three-point game while NV powered inside in the first quarter with neither team getting an advantage, tied at 16-16. The Raiders had a slight advantage midway through the second quarter, but Beloit ended the first half on a 10-2 run to lead 31-27.
The Trojans only scored 12 points in the third stanza, but Beloit also held NV in check to build its biggest lead of the night at nine points. Nemaha Valley charged back and trimmed the deficit to five heading to the final period. The Raiders had multiple chances to tie the game or take the lead, but the cards weren’t in their favor.
Sophomore Bailey Vetter drained three triples to pace the Trojans with 19 points. Senior Payton Vetter recorded 16 points, 13 of which were in the first half. Nemaha Valley senior Caleb Meyer scored 21 points to be the Community National Bank Player to Bank On. Fellow classmate Justice McKernan missed a three to tie the game with five seconds left, but he still had a solid game with 15 points and five assists.
Beloit moves on to play undefeated Hesston in the championship. NV battles number four Riverton at 2 pm on Saturday for third place. Live coverage is on 103.9 FM KNZA.
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