More than anything, Blair High School freshman guard Kaitlynn O'Neil wanted her basketball team to have a good showing Saturday during the Eastern Midlands Conference (EMC) Tournament fifth-place game in Lincoln.
“We just need to play good, have good defense and just play as a team,” the ninth-grader said Dec. 29 after the Bears' consolation semifinals victory.
No. 8 Elkhorn, however, would top the No. 10 Bears, 52-31. The Antlers improved to 6-3, while coach Matt Aschoff's team fell to 6-3 with an 0-3 record against teams with winning records.
Elkhorn led the fifth-place game at Lincoln Standing Bear 8-5 after one period, but created space between the teams with a 16-5 second. MaKenna Villwok led the Antlers with nine points, while Kate Wulf scored the same total in defeat for BHS. Addie Sullivan added seven points for the Bears, who finished the EMC tourney sixth with a 1-2 record.
Against Hastings on Dec. 29, however, Blair's defensive pressure smothered Hastings during a 43-24 win at Standing Bear. Coach Aschoff's team forced multiple 10-second backcourt violations and 5-second rule turnovers throughout.
“Definitely everyone communicating and making sure we're all on the same page,” O'Neil said when asked for the key to Blair's defensive showing. “Just, pretty much, talking.”
Gueryn Kay hit a 3-pointer for the Bears' first points during the consolation semifinals against the Tigers before Joslyn Policky scored a 2-point bucket after a steal.
Hastings struggled to inbound the ball from the start and BHS made them pay with four long-range makes during the opening quarter total. Kay and Ally Sullivan had one apiece, while Wulf hit two of her three 3s as Aschoff's team built a 17-6 lead 8 minutes in.
The Bears added to their advantage from there and only allowed 11 second-half points to Hastings, which they also beat Dec. 9. Wulf and Kay scored nine points apiece during the EMC Tourney win, while O'Neil had eight.
Blair next competes Saturday at Bennington. Opening tip is set for 1 p.m.
BHS GIRLS HOOPS LINE SCORES
Saturday
No. 8 Elkhorn 52, No. 10 Blair 31
BHS (6-3) 5 5 5 16 — 31
EHS (6-3) 8 16 11 17 — 52
Scoring: BHS — Kate Wulf 9, Addie Sullivan 7, Claire Anderson 3, Joslyn Policky 3, Taylor Munger 3, Jacy Schueth 2, Marin Sather 2, Taytum Macholan 2.
EHS — MaKenna Villwok 9, Claire Nuismer 7, Dalia Durant 7, Makailey Beekman 6, Emerson Karstens 5, Ayshia Prince 4, Naomi Bertucci 4, Reese Turman 4, Olivia Bailey 3, Kenzie Doiel 3.
Dec. 29
No. 10 Blair 43, Hastings 24
HHS (1-5) 6 7 4 7 — 24
BHS (6-2) 17 10 9 7 — 43
Scoring: BHS — Wulf 9, Gueryn Kay 9, Kaitlynn O'Neil 8, Policky 4, Addie Sullivan 3, Sather 3, Ally Sullivan 3, Laynie Brown 2, Leah Chance 2.
HHS — Emma Landgren 11, Makenzie Nollette 10, Breianna Campbell 2, Madisyn Hamilton 1.
