The Blair boys basketball team tied its Tuesday night home game with Class B No. 3 Elkhorn twice during the third period.
The Antlers (14-2 overall) eventually went into the final quarter ahead, 48-45, but with the Bears (7-10) on their heels. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Nixon Farmer, however, ripped back momentum as the visitors won the Eastern Midlands Conference matchup, 66-54.
Altogether, EHS started Tuesday's fourth quarter on a 10-0 run.
“They were just hitting their shots,” BHS senior Crayton Macholan said. “We got good looks — they just weren't falling.”
Easton Bosanek, Bo Meier and he scored baskets from there, though, trying to get back into the game. It wasn't enough for coach Chris Whitwer's team.
“Maybe, on another day, (the shots will) fall,” Macholan said.
His Bears trailed Elkhorn 34-29 at halftime, but pulled within two points when Meier started the third period with a 3-point make. The Antlers created space on the scoreboard again, but back-to-back buckets by Macholan and Bosanek tied the game at 42-all.
When EHS hit a free throw next, Meier answered with his own for another tie at 43-43. It was the last time the conference foes were even, though, as the Antlers won their fourth-straight game.
Macholan scored 22 points in defeat after also scoring more than 20 during last Saturday's win at Seward.
“The big games are because of my teammates,” the senior guard said. “Easton, they've got to guard him out. Bo, he's down low — they've got to double him whenever he gets it. So, I'm just doing the easy work, I guess.”
Meier, a sophomore, finished with 16 points against Elkhorn, too, while Bosanek had 10. Colin McCabe, Aidan Slominski and Hayden Daggett added two points apiece as well.
Farmer, meanwhile, led the Antlers with 21 points as Charlie Lamski scored 19.
Blair was scheduled to play Omaha Concordia on Thursday and hosts Omaha Roncalli on Saturday at approximately 2:30 p.m.
BHS BOYS HOOPS LINE SCORE
Tuesday
No. 3 Elkhorn 66, Blair 54
EHS (14-2) 14 20 14 18 — 66
BHS (7-10) 12 17 16 9 — 54
Scoring: BHS — Crayton Macholan 22, Bo Meier 16, Easton Bosanek 10, Colin McCabe 2, Aidan Slominski 2, Hayden Daggett 2.
EHS — Nixon Farmer 21, Charlie Lamski 19, Colin Comstock 9, Luke Howard 5, Cole Petersen 5, Nate Roberts 4, Gus Schultz 3.
