LINCOLN – The Lincoln High Links used three consecutive Kearney turnovers to turn into six points that proved to be the turning point in a 49-40 win over the sixth seeded Kearney Bearcats in the Heartland Athletic Conference Semifinal on Friday afternoon at Lincoln North Star High School. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney entered the day coming off of two consecutive wins in the HAC Tournament with a home victory over #11 Fremont on Wednesday and upsetting #3 Lincoln Southwest Thursday afternoon. As the sixth seed, Kearney was hoping to continue their run to take down #2 Lincoln High for a spot in the HAC Championship match.
The Links were #2 in the bracket and won over Lincoln Southeast at home on Thursday. The Links were fresh and ready to take down a Bearcat squad they had faced and beaten at Kearney High School three weeks prior 55-39.
The Bearcats opened the game hot, rattling off an early score to take control from Maddy Province’s four points in the opening quarter. Harley Straka added four points off the bench as well, while Kelsey Hatcher knocked down a three pointer. Kearney aimed to play physical ball with the Links, as Nyawarga Jock and Jailynn Brill had the only points in the first eight minutes of play. Kiara Dutenhoffer found a score for Kearney, and the Bearcats controlled the first up 13-5.
KHS GBB
The second quarter saw Kearney start to slip slightly, as more scoring came from the Links beginning with Bri Robinson. She added two points and was followed by Dyvine Harris’ three point play. The Bearcats continued to work the ball to multiple scorers with five different players contributing in the second period. Hatcher knocked down another triple and Province added her sixth point as Kearney maintained their lead up 23-18 at halftime.
KHS GBB
The third quarter slowed the offensive attack for Kearney, but not for Kiara Dutenhoffer who scored all of the Bearcats points with six. Lincoln High powered back with a big triple by Aniyah Hicks-Robinson and more scores from Robinson and Kiana Wiley. Lincoln High was back in the contest down 29-28 entering the fourth.
KHS GBB
Lincoln High opened the fourth with a quick score to take their first lead of the contest and began to trade scores back-and-forth. Kearney regained the lead at 33-32, then quickly spiraled in a short time frame that doomed the Bearcats’ chances. Lincoln took a brief lead up 34-33, then three consecutive turnovers by Kearney – forced by steals from the Links – resulted in three coast-to-coast lay-ins to create the cushion the Links needed to pull away and close the contest. Lincoln High muscled away chances from Kearney in the final four minutes as Lincoln High punched their ticket into the HAC Championship with a 49-40 win.
The Bearcats fall to 6-3 on the season and aim to take down the top seed Lincoln Pius X Saturday afternoon at Lincoln North Star High School. Pius fell to #5 Lincoln Northeast in an upset in the HAC Semifinals on Friday. Pregame on KGFW begins at 1:45 PM with tip-off set for 2.
Kearney had contributions from Dutenhoffer with 15 points, Hatcher ended with 9, Province had 6, Straka finished with 4, Kennidy Garner had 3, Tatum Rusher ended with 2, and Haidyn Skeen wrapped with one.