The Centralia Panthers of class 1A Dl hosted the 3A Nemaha Central Thunder in a boys and girls double header to open the season for Centralia. The Lady Panthers came out victorious 47-34 to continue their 26-game winning streak from last season's 26-0 state championship year. Nemaha Central Boys won in a well-paced 61-50 win over Centralia.

Girls - Centralia over Nemaha Central 47-34

The first half was a back and forth match between the Panthers and Thunder. The first quarter ended 10-8 with Centralia in the lead. Centralia ended the half up 23-20 over Nemaha Central. Despite losing the turnover margin quite significantly in the first half the Panthers rallied well with rebounding and finishing underneath the basket with Josie Haverkamp from Centralia being the main threat in the paint.

Centralia out scored Nemaha Central 24-14 in the second half, put together well by a 14-4 third quarter run by the Panthers. Centralia would finish 10 of 10 from the free-throw-line with nearly thirty rebounds.

Josie Haverkamp led in scoring with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Keelyn Rempe would hit three threes for Centralia and conclude with 11 points. Centralia had four girls finish in double digits all-together. Emma Hermesch led Nemaha Central with sixteen total points in the loss. 

Boys - Nemaha Central over Centralia 61-50

Nemaha Central led exiting the first quarter 15-10 and the first half 32-25. Kalem Schmelzle had an impressive 24-point performance in the first half for the Thunder with three threes being drained as well. Centralia had four threes on the half with two coming from Bronx Talley with one in the first and the other in the second quarter. 

Nemaha Central would win 61-50 despite Schmelzle being held to just two points in the second half and Centralia’s Quinten Alderfer having an impressive 15 points in the second half with three threes, two coming in the fourth quarter before fouling out.

Despite the loss it’s a massive improvement from last year’s 49-19 loss for Centralia against Nemaha Central. The win boosted Nemaha Central to 2-0 on the season with wins over Royal Valley and Centralia.

Kalem Schmelzle led with 26 points for Nemaha Central, while Alderfer ended with 15 to lead Centralia. 

Next up for Nemaha Central is Hanover and for Centralia is St. Mary’s.