With the community behind them, the Fort Calhoun boys basketball team earned its first state tournament berth since 1923.
The Pioneers bested Gordon-Rushville 48-44 during Monday's district final game in Broken Bow. Coach TJ O'Connor said the school and town was behind his team, evidenced by the large contingent of supporters that made the 3-hour-plus drive west.
FCHS (20-5 overall) clinched its win over the Mustangs (21-4) when sophomore Grayson Bouwman stepped to the foul line with 7.4 seconds left and pushed the Pioneers' lead from two to four points. He finished with 12 points.
Calhoun only took the lead at the midway point of the fourth quarter, however, when senior Zane Schwarz passed the ball across the lane to his brother, Carsen, for a 2-point bucket. The Pioneers never trailed after taking that 39-37 advantage.
Carsen Schwarz led FCHS with 20 points, while Zane had seven.
Earlier in the game, the Pioneers trailed 23-20 at halftime despite 10 points by Carsen Schwarz. The post player made four free throws and three shots in the lane, including a buzzer beater that cut a five-point FCHS deficit to three.
Calhoun led once during the half when Glenn Hunter hit a second-quarter 3-pointer to push the Pioneers out front, 15-14.
O'Connor's squad next plays in the Class C1 state tournament on Tuesday, March 8, in Lincoln. This article will be updated with Fort Calhoun's first-round matchup when it becomes available.
The appearance will be FCHS' fourth-ever. It qualified all three previous times in the 1920s.
Gordon-Rushville, meanwhile, has never reached the state tourney as a consolidated school. Rushville last qualified in 1960, while Gordon's last trip to Lincoln came in 1954.
For the full story on the Pioneers' district final win, check out Friday's Washington County Enterprise for comments from the players and more photos. The same coverage will appear on enterprisepub.com/sports later that day.
