KEARNEY BOYS DOWN GISH; ADVANCE TO LSE IN HAC TOURNEY:
The rivalry showdown ended in a big showing for the home team, as Kearney ran away with the first matchup of Kearney/Grand Island this season dominating 76-47.
The Bearcats entered the second round of the Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament as the top overall seed, having earned a 4-2 record to start their opening stretch of the season. Grand Island, however, was the ninth seed and upset eighth-seeded Lincoln High on Friday, Dec. 22 to earn a spot in the second round.
The Bearcats did not show any signs of rust from their time away, exploding for the early lead. Kearney gritted and grinded to a 17-8 advantage in the opening quarter, led by Ben Johnson’s eight points.
The Bearcats would hold a 61-32 lead into the fourth quarter, as fouls and reserves put the Islanders back in to cut the deficit before Kearney ended with a 76-47 win.
Kearney (5-2) moves on in the Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament and takes on Lincoln Southeast at Lincoln Southwest High School at 2:30 PM on Friday. KGFW’s pregame coverage is set to start at 2:15 PM from the home of the Silverhawks.
BEARCAT GIRLS FALL TO PIUS IN SECOND ROUND:
The Kearney Girls basketball team ultimately fell short despite a strong comeback at Lincoln Pius X on Thursday afternoon, falling 54-40 to the Thunderbolts in the second round of the HAC Tournament.
Kelsey Hatcher had another strong offensive showing with 18 points, while Harley Straka ended with seven.
Pius outpaced Kearney 19-6 and 14-5 in the first and fourth quarters, while the Bearcats’ near comeback was settled by a 14-8 and 15-13 advantage in the middle quarters.
Lincoln Pius X now takes on Lincoln Northeast for the HAC Semifinals on Friday at 4:15 PM from Pius High School. The Rockets won over Columbus 47-40.
Kearney is off until Jan. 2 when the Bearcats travel to North Platte.
STORM FALL IN ROAD TEST IN FARGO:
The Tri-City Storm dropped a road contest to the Fargo Force by a final score of 7-2 Thursday night at Scheels Arena. The game was the Storm’s first following the recent holiday break.
Tri-City will play an additional road game tonight before returning home to the Viaero Center to host the Lincoln Stars in a New Year’s Eve rivalry matchup.
Puck drop for tomorrow’s second game of the series is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. Puck drop for the Storm’s upcoming home game at the Viaero Center on New Year’s Eve is set for 6:05pm CT.
HUSKER MEN HOST SOUTH CAROLINA STATE:
The Nebraska men’s basketball team looks for its fourth straight win on Friday night, as the Huskers return home to face South Carolina State in the final non-conference matchup of the season.
Tipoff between the Huskers and Bulldogs is set for 6:30 p.m. KGFW’s pregame coverage is set to begin at 5:30 PM with Kent Pavelka and the Huskers Radio Network.
Nebraska (10-2) comes off a nine-day break following an 83-75 win over North Dakota on Dec. 20.
A win over South Carolina State on Friday will cap one of the most successful non-conference slates in school history. NU has finished non-conference play with one loss only four times (10-1, 2018-19; 10-1, 2003-04; 12-1, 1991-92; 11-1, 1977-78) since World War II.
CELTICS HAND PISTONS NBA-TYING RECORD 28th STRAIGHT LOSS:
The Pistons’ 28th loss in a row was unlike any of the many, many other defeats that came before it in what is now tied for the longest losing streak in NBA history.
The result was the same.
Detroit opened a 21-point lead against the league-best Boston Celtics on Thursday night and then rallied from a six-point deficit in the final minutes to force overtime before the Celtics recovered to win 128-122. It was the first time all season the Pistons led by more than 20 points, and the first time they had gotten to overtime in the two months since their last win.
Detroit fell to 2-29 and matched the “Trust the Process” Philadelphia 76ers with 28 consecutive losses; the Pistons need a victory at home against Toronto on Saturday night to avoid breaking the NBA record for longest losing streak.
HEARTLAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCORES/SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY – GIRLS SECOND ROUND RESULTS:
No. 1 Lincoln Southwest 68-47 No. 8 Lincoln East
No. 4 Lincoln North Star 57-45 No. 5 Lincoln Southeast
No. 2 Lincoln Pius X 54-40 No. 7 Kearney
No. 3 Lincoln Northeast 47-40 No. 6 Columbus
THURSDAY – BOYS SECOND ROUND RESULTS:
No. 1 Kearney 76-47 No. 9 Grand Island
No. 5 Lincoln Southeast 71-57 No. 4 Lincoln North Star
No. 2 Lincoln Southwest 76-69 Lincoln East
No. 3 Lincoln Pius X 82-41 Lincoln Northeast
FRIDAY – GIRLS CONSOLATION ROUND:
No. 12 Grand Island @ No. 11 Fremont – 11 AM
No. 10 Lincoln High @ No. 9 Norfolk – 2:30 PM
FRIDAY – BOYS CONSOLATION ROUND:
No. 12 Columbus @ No. 11 Norfolk – 2:30 PM
No. 10 Fremont @ No. 8 Lincoln High – 1 PM
FRIDAY – GIRLS SEMIFINALS:
No. 1 Lincoln Southwest v. No. 4 Lincoln North Star – 2:30 PM @ Lincoln Pius X High School
No. 2 Lincoln Pius X v. No. 3 Lincoln Northeast – 4:15 PM @ Lincoln Pius X High School
FRIDAY – BOYS SEMIFINALS:
No. 1 Kearney v. No. 5 Lincoln Southeast – 2:30 PM @ Lincoln Southwest High School
No. 2 Lincoln Southwest v. No. 3 Lincoln Pius X – 4:15 PM @ Lincoln Southwest High School
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SEASON SCORES/SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY RESULTS:
Fenway Bowl: BOSTON COLLEGE 23-14 No. 17 SMU
Pinstripe Bowl: RUTGERS 31-24 Miami
Pop-Tarts Bowl: KANSAS STATE 28-19 No. 19 NC State
Alamo Bowl: No. 14 ARIZONA 38-24 No. 12 Oklahoma
FRIDAY SCHEDULE:
Gator Bowl: Clemson v. Kentucky – 11 AM
Sun Bowl: No. 21 Oregon State v. No. 15 Notre Dame – 1 PM
Liberty Bowl: Memphis v. Iowa State – 2:30 PM
Cotton Bowl: No. 9 Missouri v. No. 7 Ohio State – 7 PM
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Cleveland Browns 37-20 New York Jets
