The Class B No. 9 Blair girls basketball team ended Thursday's first half on a 12-2 run.
The final bucket of that home court scoring streak against Plattsmouth belonged to junior Maggie Valasek, who knocked down a foul line jumper at the horn.
“I have not,” she said, laughing when asked if she'd ever hit a buzzer-beater before. “I was very excited.”
The Bears road that momentum to a 55-22 romp of the Blue Devils. Coach Matt Aschoff's team improved to 9-3 with the win.
“(The buzzer-beater) started the energy in the locker room and, when we came out, we were more energetic,” Valasek said. “We carried that throughout the game.”
BHS senior Ella Ross scored the first nine of her team's 21 third-quarter points, including six from beyond the arc. She finished with 11 total, while junior Makayla Baughman led all scorers with 18, including 15 from 3-point range.
Valasek added seven points and freshman Kalli Ulven notched six in her first start as the Bears won by 33. They did it despite a growing list of injuries, which now includes heavy contributors Avory French, Mya Larson and Sami Murray.
“You have to fill their spot with confidence,” Valasek said. “And you have to know what you're doing.”
Aschoff said its been a team effort to continue Blair's winning ways.
“We feel we have 12 girls that can come in,” he said.
It started with the BHS culture set by the more experienced Bears, but freshman like Ulven, Joslyn Policky and Leah Chance have made their impact as well.
“Since day one, those freshmen have come in and competed,” Aschoff said. “And, I think, when you have kids that aren't afraid to compete, it raises everybody's level.”
The Blair coaching staff expressed the importance of every member of the team just a day earlier during practice.
“Individually we're one rain drop, but together we're an ocean,” Aschoff said, recalling the message.
On Thursday, the Bears rode the wave of a first-half buzzer-beater, and won a 55-22 game eight hoopers in home white uniforms scored in.
Friday's scheduled game against Nebraska City was postponed by snowy weather. The game will take place Feb. 12.
