A streak ended Thursday night.
For three-straight years — 2021, 2022 and 2023 — the Blair boys basketball team bested Bennington on its home floor in a subdistrict finals matchup.
In 2024, though, the Bears didn't bank home a game-winner from beyond the mid-court line like they did a season ago. This time, the top-seeded Badgers won, 63-48, leaving BHS without a clear path to the substate, district final round.
“I'm not sure what's going to happen,” Blair coach Chris Whitwer said. “To be honest with you.”
A few hours later, though, the Class B wild card picture became crystal clear. The Bears' season had ended Thursday night in Bennington. They were 9-14 overall.
Before the standings were set and the news was official, though, Whitwer explained why he wanted at least one more game with his team. One of the key reasons was his seniors — Crayton Macholan, Ben Holcomb and the injured Nate Wachter. The group played through plenty of adversity, but showcased leadership skills and productive, positive attitudes all of the way through.
“They've meant the world to our program,” Whitwer said.
Wachter showed his dedication, playing through pain early on before finding out he'd have to watch most of the schedule from the sidelines.
“The kid played three games with a fractured fibula and tibia,” Whitwer said. “He's just been a great part. He does stats for us on the bench and he's been a positive leader.”
All of the coach's players battled through a tough schedule during the rough season.
“You're always fighting, at this time of year, to get one more game together,” Whitwer said. “Those boys definitely deserve it.”
Bennington, though, thwarted the Bears' efforts. Macholan made a scoop layup to end the first quarter's scoring Thursday, but his team still trailed 17-12.
The Badgers pushed their lead to 33-23 at halftime, too, despite Blair 3-point makes by Hayden Daggett, Aidan Slominski and Easton Bosanek during the second period.
In the third, the Bears made their push, pulling within six points of their opponents four times in the quarter.
“Our man defense was a pretty good change-up to what we were trying to do in the beginning,” Whitwer said.
Holcomb first hit a long range shot at 37-31 before Macholan's 2-point bucket at 39-33. Cooper Sorensen made two free throws next at 41-35 before another Macholan basket at 43-37.
“I felt like our defensive intensity went up,” Whitwer said. “I felt like we did a better job finishing plays as well.”
From there, though, the Badgers settled in. They scored the final bucket of the third and outscored BHS 18-11 in the fourth.
“They're just a really tough team to defend,” Whitwer said. “They've got a lot of really good weapons.”
Holcomb knocked down a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left, but it was too little too late. The Bears pushed top-seeded Bennington during the B-5 Subdistrict final, but they couldn't beat the Badgers.
“We've had a hard time putting together four quarters on both sides of the ball all season,” Whitwer said. “That's, kind of, par for the course for what we've done. We've just been trying to battle and throw out different things to try to come out of that funk a little bit.”
The answers didn't come soon enough and a unique streak at Bennington ended.
Bears rout SSC
Blair earned its subdistrict finals opportunity Feb. 21 with a 30-point win against third-seeded South Sioux City, 62-32.
Coach Whitwer's Bears jumped out to a 23-6 lead, survived an 11-0 Cardinals run and put the game away with a 17-3 third period. Bo Meier scored a team-best 13 points, while Bosanek and Macholan notched 11 points apiece as BHS emptied its bench late.
The Bears earned their early lead with aggressive defensive pressure and rebounding. They repeatedly batted passes and boards away from SSC, earning a 17-4 lead through one period. Holcomb scored four of the winning team's six points to start the second quarter before Blair went cold.
The Cardinals took advantage of the Bears' offensive lull, scoring 11 straight points before Slominski's 3-pointer broke up the run and pushed his team's lead back out to nine points, 26-17. Meier added a bucket from there as BHS led by 11 at the half.
Ultimately, the Bears won comfortably after a 34-5 second half, advancing into another subdistrict matchup with the Badgers.
CLASS B-5 SUBDISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Thursday
Bennington 63, Blair 48
BHS (9-14) 12 11 14 11 — 48
BEN (16-8) 17 16 12 18 — 63
Scoring: BHS — Crayton Macholan 18, Hayden Daggett 7, Ben Holcomb 6, Easton Bosanek 6, Aidan Slominski 5, Bo Meier 4, Cooper Sorensen 2.
BEN — Hudson Neuverth 17, Austin Kaiser 16, Gavin Olson 16, Keegan Gilliland 6, Jace Fitzgerald 5, Easton Lapel 3.
Feb. 21
Blair 62, South Sioux City 32
SSC (0-23) 4 13 3 12 — 32
BHS (9-13) 17 11 17 17 — 62
Scoring: BHS — Meier 13, Bosanek 11, Macholan 11, Slominski 8, Daggett 6, Holcomb 6, Sorensen 4, Declan McCabe 2.
SSC — Alejandro Macias 9, Ahmed Mohamed 8, Prestin Blackhawk 6, Jaden Painter 5, Goy Tuach 2, Derrick Edwards 2.
