NORTH PLATTE – The Kearney High Boys Basketball team had eight different players score as the Bearcats staved off rallies by North Platte to win their ninth game on the year 79-64. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney had won back-to-back games entering their Thursday night tilt with North Platte after upsetting No. 8 Lincoln Southwest the prior Saturday and dominating winless Omaha Northwest on the road Tuesday night. The Bearcats looked to improve their Power-Point ranking sitting at #15, just ahead of their opponent North Platte at #16. The Bulldogs had a slower start to the season, but rallied to win their last five consecutive contests coming into the matchup with Kearney.
The Bearcats started the contest off on the right foot, getting Kaden Miller back into the lineup and playing significant minutes since his injury at Papillion-LaVista South a few weekends prior. With Miller facilitating the offense, Jack Dahlgren and Will Vanderbeek powered inside with their strengths – Vanderbeek playing the lane and operating as a true center, floating in jumpers and powerful moves to the basket while Dahlgren exploded past defenders as he slashed inside the lane. Vanderbeek had eight points in the first quarter while Dahlgren paced with six. North Platte came out with a three pointer by Carter Kelley, but gave the lead to Kearney who held that advantage the rest of the contest. Caleb Tonkinson added a triple of his own for the Bulldogs, but a late rally with a minute to play in the first quarter gave Kearney back-to-back three pointers by Jack Mundorf, a steal and lay-in by Kaden Miller, then a huge block to end the quarter by Vanderbeek. Kearney led 24-11 at the end of the first quarter.
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Kearney continued to pace themselves with North Platte, albeit giving up a 21-18 advantage to the Bulldogs in the second quarter. Vanderbeek added another six while Dahlgren had four added to his total. River Johnston for North Platte began cooking as he scored twelve points in the quarter, while Kelley contributed nine of his own points. The Bearcats still held a 42-32 advantage heading into halftime.
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The third quarter kept North Platte within reach, fighting to stay out of the double digit deficit, but Kearney’s offensive efficiency out played the Johnston storm as the senior added another 8 points in the third. Kearney had four different scorers in the third quarter, including Parker Wise and Miller adding in seven points from the free-throw line themselves. Kearney led 56-47 at the end of the third quarter.
The Bearcats held off North Platte’s Kelley on his deep shots as he knocked down two more triples in the fourth, Johnston added four points of his own. Kearney earned the 23-19 advantage over North Platte in the fourth to win 79-64 and improve to 9-7 on the season.
Kearney had contributions from Dahlgren with 21 points, Vanderbeek had 16, Mundorf finished with 12, Miller ended with 11, Wise had 10, Karter Lee had 5, and Ben Johnson finished with 2 as a team 2 points were added as well.
The Bearcats now face Lincoln High at Kearney High School on Friday night.