The Fort Calhoun boys basketball team trailed by as many as eight points during Thursday's second period against Mead.
The Pioneers, however, scored a go-ahead bucket just before the halftime buzzer, capping an 11-2 run to end the quarter. Senior Grayson Bouwman made the layup, finishing off an improbable three-pass, no-dribble fast break.
At that point, coach TJ O'Connor's team led the Raiders 25-24 at home. It won 59-47 in the end, improving to 11-3 on the season.
“We were excited,” FCHS senior Declyn Otte said of the go-ahead fast break. “Ready for the next half. Ready to beat them.”
The Pioneers capitalized on their halftime lead and extended it with a 19-5 third period. Otte knocked down a 3-pointer during his team's first second-half possession before Adam Elofson scored another on the next trip down.
“We just knew that we had to come out with momentum and just be dogs,” junior Travis Skelton said. “Just be dogs with them right from the start — just get after them.”
Calhoun led by as many as 15 points in the quarter.
“We had to set the tone,” Skelton added.
Mead later pulled within six points during the fourth period, but never any closer. It dropped to 9-3 in defeat.
“We just had to keep our composure,” Skelton said when asked how the Pioneers held off the Raiders. “Just know that we've got a good coaching staff and all of our teammates behind us.”
He finished with nine points, while Bouwman — FCHS' all-time leading scorer — notched 22. Sophomore Colby Bentley totaled 12 points in his return from a one-game absence, too.
“It was sticking together,” Otte said, detailing his key to the victory. “Not getting down during bad runs that we had during the beginning.”
The Pioneers next compete today against Arlington during the first round of the Nebraska Capitol Conference Tournament. Coach O'Connor's second-seeded lineup will host his former school at 6 p.m.
FCHS BOYS HOOPS LINE SCORE
Thursday
Fort Calhoun 59, Mead 47
MHS (9-3) 11 13 5 18 — 47
FCHS (11-3) 8 17 19 15 — 59
Scoring: FCHS — Grayson Bouwman 22, Colby Bentley 12, Travis Skelton 9, Adam Elofson 8, Declyn Otte 7, Eli Tinkham 1.
MHS — Frankie Hebenstreit 14, Emmett Couch 8, Nolan Robinson 6, Brady Gartner 5, Tytus Lee 5, Tristan Zwiener 5, Isaac Couch 4.
