Karter Lee, KHS Boys Basketball v. Omaha NW // Mitchell Brandt
KEARNEY – Despite a fast-paced start, Northwest never caught up to Kearney as the Bearcats flew past the Huskies at Kearney High School 84-41 Saturday night. Click here to listen to the broadcast replay.
Kearney was looking to make it two wins a row Saturday after downing Columbus in a hot-shooting contest Tuesday night. Northwest was winless entering the contest, falling to Omaha Westside the Friday night prior to their matchup in Central Nebraska.
The Bearcats were off to their usual fast-start, scoring quickly. However, Northwest would be able to keep up with a surprising rise in outside shots. The Huskies would knock down four triples in the first eight minutes, but the three pointers could not give them the lead as Kearney’s forced turnovers and early dunks by Asher Endorf, Ben Johnson, and Jacob Webber gave them the lead 26-15.
Jacob Webber, KHS Boys Basketball v. Omaha NW // Mitchell Brandt
At the start of the second quarter, Kearney would again outpace the Huskies but would handle the Northwest attack. While the Kearney attack would score 22 points, the defense would suffocate Northwest to only nine points in the quarter holding them to only three scorers. The Bearcats hot shooting continued, as Karter Lee, Webber, and Johnson would hit triples. Asher Endorf added four more points in the quarter, pushing the home team ahead 48-24 before halftime.
The Kearney starters would have their best third quarter on the season in the following eight minutes. Scoring twenty-five points and holding Northwest to only nine, Kearney’s starting five would each contribute as Johnson would add eight points, Endorf another four, Lee put on two, Webber would add five, and Colt Straka. Kearney wrapped the third quarter leading 73-33.
The Bearcats ended the final eight minutes with a running clock and reserves, knocking down three more triples from Evan Slaymaker, Ian Piper, and Keeghan Hunt. The game was led to rest quietly, ending in an 84-41 victory for the Bearcats.
Kearney (4-2) will pause and await their Heartland Athletic Conference tournament run beginning with first round action on Friday, Dec. 22. Matchups will be announced next week.
KHS Boys Basketball v. Omaha NW // Mitchell Brandt
UNOFFICIAL KGFW POINT TOTALS:
Kearney: Johnson (22 points), Webber (19), Endorf (14), Straka (11), Lee (7), Hunt (3), Piper (3), Slaymaker (3), Jacob Hansen (2).
Omaha Northwest: Daion Acevedo (9), Dontae McDowell (8), Shawn Barnes (8), Tyler Vaughns (6), Tony Smith (3), DaWayne Kearney (3), Michael Dubose (1).
