Wayne High’s boys basketball team won a double-overtime thriller to cap the second day of the 2023 Elkhorn Valley Bank Great Northeast Nebraska Shootout on Friday.
The Blue Devils advanced to the finals with a 70-62 win over Pierce, coming back from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to outlast the Bluejays and earn a spot in Saturday’s 2 p.m. championship game at Rice Auditorium.
Wayne got out to an early 12-10 lead after one period, only to see the Bluejays shut them down offensively and take a 22-17 lead at the half.
Wayne got back into the game with 3-pointers by Colson Nelsen and Devin Anderson, but trailed by as many as nine early in the final period before their pressure defense and timely baskets got them back in the game.
The two teams headed into the extra sessions tied at 46-46, and Wayne trailed 54-52 before a fadeaway jumper by Anderson tied the game again at 54-all. Wayne outscored Pierce 16-8 in the second bonus session to come away with the victory and move on to the finals Saturday against Hartington Cedar Catholic.
Caiden Backer had a tournament-high 29 points, hitting five 3-pointers in the contest. Nelsen added 13 and Anderson put in 10, with Gavin Redden scoring eight, Jace Jorgensen putting in six and Drue Davis adding four. Keaton Frazier led three Bluejays in double figures with 20 points, followed by Deon Watts with 18 and Champion White with 12.
The Wayne girls also played some extra basketball in their consolation game with Pierce, coming up short in a 46-44 loss to the Lady Jays.
The two teams played even in the first half and were tied at 19-all before Wayne came out riding the hot hand of Frantzdie Barner, who hit three of her five trifectas in the period to held Wayne build a 31-21 advantage going to the fourth quarter.
Wayne couldn’t put the Lady Jays away, however, as Pierce came back and outscored Wayne 19-9 to force the extra session and come out with the win in overtime, moving Wayne to Saturday’s 9:30 a.m. game against Winnebago for seventh place.
Barner led all scorers with 19 points while Haley Kramer added 10. Addison Sharpe scored five, Reagan McGuire had three, Elle Powicki, Claire Lutter and Gabbi Judd each had two and Faith Powicki put in one. Hadley Wragge paced Pierce with 18 points, Skylar Scholting added 11 and Abbie Cone scored 10.
In other boys action:
— Pender rolled to a 66-43 win over Winnebago in consolation action. Aiden Beckman had a game-high 23 points and Alex Roth added 14 for the winning Pendragons. Timothy LaPointe had 11 and Braden Brownrigg added 10 for the Indians.
— Plattsmouth outscored South Sioux City 60-45 in consolation play. Three Blue Devils were in double figures, with Greg Olsen and Lincoln Bradney each tossing in 13 points. Traceson Skalberg added 10 for the winners. Prestin Blackhawk led the Cardinals with 13 points and Adam Hamilton added 10 for SSC.
— Hartington Cedar Catholic advanced to the finals with a 55-49 win over LCC, using a strong second half to pull away with the win. Nolan Becker led the Trojans with 22 points, with Jaymison Cattau adding 12 and Braeden Reifenrath putting in 11. Tyler Olson scored 19 points and Gibson Roberts added 17 for the Bears.
In other girls play Friday:
— LCC rolled past Winnebago 66-43, getting a game-high 18 points from Tali Erwin. Rena Rasmussen added 12 and Carlie Kvols put in 10 for the Lady Bears. Charlize Frenchman and Tressa BigBear both had nine points to pace Winnebago.
— Pender’s girls reached the finals with a 63-35 win over Hartington Cedar Catholic. The Lady Pendragons, ranked No. 1 in Class C-2, raced to a 36-13 halftime advantage on their way to the finals. Maya Dolliver had a game-high 22 points and Madalyn Dolliver added 15. Anisten Wortman led the Lady Trojans with 20 points.
— The other girls semifinal saw Class B No. 6 South Sioux City breeze past Plattsmouth 66-36. SSC led 39-13 at the half and never looked back. Brooklyn Heineman scored a game-high 20 points, Abbi Aitken added 13 and Bailee Durant scored 10 for the Lady Cards. Aimee Dasher led Plattsmouth with 12 points.
Saturday’s schedule is as follows:
Games at Wayne High School
9:30 a.m. — Girls 7th place: Wayne vs. Winnebago
11 a.m. — Boys 7th place: Winnebago vs. South Sioux City
12:30 p.m. — Girls 5th place: LCC vs. Pierce
2 p.m. — Boys 5th place: LCC vs. Plattsmouth
Games at Wayne State College
9:30 a.m. — Girls 3rd place: Hartington CC vs. Plattsmouth
11 a.m. — Boys 3rd place: Pender vs. Plattsmouth
12:30 p.m. — Girls Championship: Pender vs. South Sioux City
2 p.m. — Boys Championship: Wayne vs. Hartington CC
