Trying to make up the the final Big 7 League games, Jeff West had senior night on Thursday against visiting Nemaha Central.  It was the Thunder coming away with two victories to complete a season sweep and the Nemaha girls clinched their fourth straight Big 7 League title outright.

GIRLS = Nemaha Central 42, Jeff West 39

It was a wild first half as Nemaha Central jumped to a 7-1 lead and was ahead 10-4 after one quarter. Yet, Jeff West dominated the next eight minutes to the tune of a 15-2 advantage and led 19-12 at halftime. The Lady Tigers maintained a 30-27 lead entering the fourth period before Addy Holhaus had a defensive block and then hit a trey on the other end to put Nemaha ahead for good 31-30 with just under seven minutes remaining. The Thunder capped a 10-1 run to lead 37-31 and made 11 of 15 free throws in the second half to seal the win. 

Cassidy Corby scored 16 points and Riley Rottinghaus had 7 of her 11 in the fourth quarter. Nemaha won the second half 30-20 to finish the regular season 19-1 and 13-1 for a fourth consecutive league title. 

Kristin Biltoff had 14 points and Mellany Roenne added 10 before the Tigers fell to 12-7 overall and 8-6 in league play. The teams could possibly meet again Thursday in the Sabetha 3A Sub State semifinals. 

BOYS = Nemaha Central 52, Jeff West 41 

Following a 9-9 tie after one quarter, Nemaha Central never trailed and pulled away from a 23-20 halftime lead with a 20-10 decisive third quarter. Marcus Beck led the way with 15 points while Kurtis Beck had 12. Landen Baker added 8 points and Zac Kramer 7 as the Thunder boys improved to 14-5 overall and 11-3 for a second place Big 7 finish.  

Jeff West, who has lost seven games by six or less points and five of those losses by a single possession fell to 7-10 and 5-6 league mark for the regular season. Josh Broxterman had 17 points while Luke Dickey added 9 and Carson Brading 8 as those three seniors celebrated senior night with six other Tiger teammates.  

These two teams will play again in the Sub State quarterfinals next week as #5 seed Jeff West plays at #4 seed Nemaha Central on Tuesday in Seneca.