Steve Moseley, Central Nebraska Today
LINCOLN – The even quarters were the Elm Creek Buffaloes’ undoing in their Class D1 state semifinal vs. Howells-Dodge.
The Friday game went to the Jaguars, 60-36. Elm Creek broke fast and led 15-8 after the first eight minutes. Then the worm turned. The second quarter was a 21-5 avalanche on the Jaguar side of the board and the fourth was more of the same at 19-6 Howells-Dodge.
Quin Oberg netted more than half the Buffaloes’ points by himself with 19 in the losing cause. Blake Erickson was credited with seven boards and a team-high four assists. Kolten Keim pulled down six rebounds.
The Jaguars, by contrast, had four players in double digits led by Ethan Prusa’s 17 points. Andre Martin added 15 to an even dozen apiece from Chase Luther and Nathan Tomcak.
The individual scoring disparity resulted in Howells-Dodge enjoying a 17-9 advantage in assists.
The victory sent the Jaguars to the state championship game opposite McCool Junction’s Mustangs, a one-point winner over Lutheran High Northeast, 50-49, in the night’s other D1 semifinal.
