Terry Douglass, Central Nebraska Today
GRAND ISLAND — Omaha Northwest overcame a 16 point halftime deficit and a frigid shooting start to edge Grand Island 34-30 on Saturday afternoon.
The Huskies (8-6) managed just two field goals in the first half, shooting 2-for-17 with nine turnovers as the Islanders built a 22-6 lead at the break.
The second half flipped the script. Northwest outscored Grand Island 28-8 over the final two quarters, hitting 10 of 23 shots while forcing 14 turnovers. The win secured the program’s first eight win season since 2016.
DaWayne Kearney led Northwest with 11 points, and Michael DuBose added nine. The Huskies shot 6-for-10 in the third quarter to spark the comeback.
Grand Island (2-11) was paced by Carter Bernal’s 12 points, while Nelson Mintken scored eight. Nathan Anglow and Dakota Franzen each grabbed nine rebounds. The Islanders were without starter Trae Pomajzl Schacher, who suffered a concussion Friday in a loss at Gretna East.
Mintken’s 3-pointer with 5:01 remaining gave Grand Island its final points. Kearney put Northwest ahead 31-30 with 1:33 left and the Huskies closed the game on a 9-0 run over the final 3:18.
Grand Island had a chance to tie with 21 seconds left but failed to get a shot off before Kearney came up with a steal. DuBose hit the second of two free throws with 7.7 seconds remaining to extend the lead to four.
The Huskies previously defeated the Islanders 48-39 on Dec. 6 in the Omaha Public Schools Invitational.
Omaha Northwest 34, Grand Island 30
Omaha Northwest (8-6)……….4 2 15 13—34
Grand Island (2-11)……………10 12 5 3—30
OMAHA NORTHWEST—Michael DuBose 9, Jakyi Johnson 6, Xavier Bonner 3, DaWayne Kearney 11, Robert George 3, Dorar Duar 2.
GRAND ISLAND—Nathan Anglow 2, Nelson Mintken 8, Nathan Kosmicki 6, Cartel Bernal 12, Dakota Franzen 2.
