Girls - Holton 46, Nemaha Valley 27     Boys - Nemaha Valley 42, Holton 40

Girls

Holton used a big second quarter outscoring Nemaha Valley 21-4 in that frame to propel themselves to their 102nd straight Big Seven League win and five straight this season. It was a close game at the end of the first as the Lady Wildcats only led 8-3 over the Lady Raiders with both teams getting off to a slow start. The slow start continued for Nemaha Valley in the second quarter and Holton continued their pressure defense that got to Nemaha Valley forcing multiple turnovers.

Raiders did outscore Holton in the second half by three points but the deficit was to large for the Lady Raiders to comeback from.

For the Wildcats they were lead by senior, Connor Strader who tallied 14 points on the night and Brylee New who finished with eight points, to be named our Co-Community National Bank "Players to Bank On" in the girls contest. Nine total players scored for the Lady Wildcats in the contest as they improved to 5-1 on the season.

The Lady Raiders, had eight players score in the ball game but no one registered over five points as senior, Lindsay Peterson and sophomore, Jaci Swart both tallied five points. Nemaha Valley with the loss closes on the first half of the season with a 2-4 record at the holiday break.

Both teams hit the hardwood again on January 4th in a pair of Big Seven League games as Holton will host Perry Lecompton and Nemaha Valley will take on Royal Valley.

Boys

It was a heavyweight fight on the basketball court between two of the top teams in the Big Seven League as Holton and Nemaha Valley were looking to take early control of the league.

Both teams traded blows in the first half and the Raiders lead by one-point, 17-16 at the half, but it was Holton that came out firing to start the second half of action as they propelled themselves to a 10 point lead in the third quarter of action. That's when head coach, Jon Thomas took out all five starters to get their attention and sat them for a good two minutes of action. Nemaha Valley stood right at the 10 point margin in that time frame and then when the starters returned the Raiders ended the third quarter on a run to regain a one-point advantage at the end of the third quarter, 30-29.

The fourth quarter would be much of the same as the game had went with each team trading blows back and forth. Nemaha Valley down by one had the ball with time ticking away and with six seconds left junior, Caleb Meyer drove on the baseline and scored and got foul and hit his free throw to give the Raiders a one-point lead. Holton's, Tyler Burdiek who had scored 15 points in the game hoisted a three-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the iron, to keep Nemaha Valley unbeaten on the season.

Meyer finished with nine points on the night for the Raiders including the game winning three-point play, earning him our Community National Bank of Seneca and Sabetha "Player to Bank On" award. Senior, Trent Olberding chipped in nine points, as well and senior, Creighton Brinker lead Nemaha Valley with 10 points.

Holton was lead by Burdiek who finished with his 15 points, while senior, Trent Tanking tallied 12 points.

Holton with the loss fell to 3-3 on the season, while Nemaha Valley remains unbeaten on the season at 6-0.

Both teams hit the hardwood again on January 4th in a pair of Big Seven League games as Holton will host Perry Lecompton and Nemaha Valley will take on Royal Valley.