The Arlington High School girls basketball team claimed its first state tournament qualification since 2001 on Friday, besting Central City 56-45 during the Class C1-7 District Final.
It was a year-long effort after the Eagles fell one win short of the NSAA State Championships last season.
“They were motivated. They wanted it from the get-go,’” AHS coach Tashia Wolf said. “They didn’t want it to end like it did last year. They had that goal to just push through.”
The Eagles (21-4 overall) next play Wednesday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Matchups are to be determined, but first-round C1 game times are 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.
To beat Central City (23-4), though, it took a four-quarter effort. Senior Britt Nielsen propelled her Arlington squad from the start, scoring all 14 of its first-quarter points.
The Eagles led 14-9 after one period, 20-17 after two and 37-28 at the end of three quarters even after the Bison took a brief, 21-20 lead after the break.
Nielsen finished with a game-high 31 points, while Macy Wolf scored 15 for AHS and Emma Timm had nine. Gracen Adams knocked down a free throw in the win, too.
The Arlington gymnasium was packed for the celebration, the game and even for the start of the 20-minute warmup before it all. The Eagles’ side of the bleachers were full about 40 minutes before game time with a line extending out of the school building before that.
“They kept saying, ‘We’re opening doors at 6,’” Coach Wolf said. “And people were like, ‘Do I really need to show up at that time?’”
They did.
And, now, Arlington supporters need to figure out plans for Lincoln next week as the Eagles play at the state girls tournament for just the third time in school history, according to NSAA records.
Editor’s Note: For the full story and additional photos from Friday’s game, check out next Tuesday’s Washington County Pilot-Tribune edition or next Friday’s Arlington Citizen newspaper. Full coverage will also appear online Tuesday at enterprisepub.com/sports and arlingtoncitizen.com/sports.
