After the season-ending loss, and the tears, hugs and photos that tend to accompany such things, Blair High School senior Addie Sullivan embraced coach Matt Aschoff as she made her way back to the locker room.
As she did, the University of Nebraska-Kearney basketball recruit thanked her coach with a smile and told him just how fun the season was.
“That's why it's so hard,” Aschoff said after the fact.
The Bears' third matchup of the year against the Bennington Badgers went about as well as the first two did Saturday afternoon. The Badgers (21-4 overall) won the Class B-5 District Final, 55-33, after besting BHS 51-34 on Jan. 7 and just last Wednesday in the subdistrict final, 55-43.
The last loss ended Blair's season at 15-11. It was just the school's second 15-win season since 1998.
The defeat also cost Sullivan and classmate Hayden Frink-Mathis their prep careers. They, notably, played Saturday, but also in 2022 as freshmen when the Bears advanced onto the Class B state tournament with a district finals win in Sidney. Senior manager Lillian Huenink was there, too.
“They've done so many things for us and we're going to miss them a lot,” Aschoff said.
He credited the players for helping build a strong team chemistry this season.
“This has been one of the closest groups I've ever had, if not the closest,” Aschoff explained. “We've had some really good teams in the past, but this team really bonded.”
It was an obvious career highlight for the coach, who was emotional after the game.
“I'm very blessed to coach them,” he said. “They were a joy to coach every single day.”
In preparing to play Bennington for the second time in four days, the Bears watched 48 individual clips of game film.
“It sounds like a lot and it is,” Aschoff said.
The effort, though, appeared to help as BHS played the Badgers close through two quarters Saturday. The Bears led 6-4 and 10-8 during the first period on go-ahead baskets by Sullivan and freshman Beau Wendt, respectively, but trailed 13-10 through 8 minutes.
Undeterred, this visiting team played its host even — 9-9 during the second.
“At halftime, they had two 3s,” Aschoff said. “And we were right where we wanted to be.”
Bennington's offense, however, came alive during the third quarter. After Sullivan scored the first bucket of the period, the Badgers outscored her team 18-3 the rest of the 8 minutes, taking a 40-24 lead with a buzzer-beating layup.
“That's what it comes down to,” Aschoff said. “Are you making shots or not?”
Bennington did, while Blair struggled to keep up. Aschoff said the Bears didn't get what they wanted out of their offense in the second half, but also credited the physical and fast opposition.
“They're 21-4, 22-4 for a reason,” Aschoff said. “They're really good.”
BHS was good during the 2024-25 season, though, too, showcasing it in wins against Elkhorn North, and Class B state qualifiers Waverly (20-3) and Norris (16-8).
Aschoff said he'll never forget those games. The Bears faced a tough schedule and worked together to make the most of their opportunities.
“They're just a great group, a great group of kids,” the coach said. “All of them. Seniors to freshman, just so great.”
Badgers win subdistrict final
Before he knew the Bears would face the Badgers again during the district finals, Coach Aschoff commented on Blair's 55-43 road loss Feb. 26 during the Class B-1 Subdistrict final.
“We didn't shoot well,” he said. “They did and that's just the way it goes. We learn from it and, hopefully, it makes us better for Saturday.”
Bennington sophomore Skylar Johnson knocked down six 3-pointers and had 24 points during the home squad's postseason win. Her second-period effort — three 3s — pushed the Badgers' lead from five points after one quarter to 13 at halftime.
“We had 16 turnovers in the first half,” Aschoff said. “So, we had more turnovers than points. And, I think, we gave up nine offensive rebounds.”
The Badgers added to their lead during the third period, too, but Blair made a push in the fourth. A Sullivan basket cut Bennington's lead to just 10 points the first time before Kate Wulf — who scored a team-best 17 points — did it twice more.
“I thought cutting it to 10 was great,” Aschoff said. “I thought we fought back. We didn't give up.”
In the end, though, the Badgers earned their second-consecutive win against the Bears this season, setting up the third matchup with a state trip on the line — a trip the home squad earned.
CLASS B POSTSEASON BASKETBALL
Saturday
Bennington 55, Blair 33
BHS (15-11) 10 9 5 9 — 33
BEN (21-4) 13 9 18 15 — 55
Scoring: BHS — Addie Sullivan 18, Kate Wulf 9, Hayden Frink-Mathis 2, Beau Wendt 2, Claire Anderson 1, Taytum Macholan 1.
BEN — Presley Baca 12, Harper Bohaboj 12, Macie Reiner 10, Addison Reinoehl 9, Skylar Johnson 8, Haydin Jackson 2.
Feb. 26
Bennington 55, Blair 43
BHS (15-10) 6 9 10 18 — 43
BEN (20-4) 11 17 13 14 — 55
Scoring: BHS — Wulf 17, Sullivan 11, Cadence Field 8, Macholan 4, Wendt 2, Madeline Chikos 1.
BEN — Johnson 24, Reinoehl 9, Baca 9, Bohaboj 6, Reiner 4, Alexandra John 3.
