BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
The number 13 spelled misfortune for the Pawnee Heights Tigers.
The Tigers led Tribune Greeley County 13-8 in the 1A Division 2 state basketball tournament with the pace favoring Pawnee Heights at the Kirkman Center.
But a fateful 13-minute scoreless streak started after Adam Hands converted a pair of free throws with 1:20 left in the first period. Twenty-four offensive possessions later, the Jackrabbits had reeled off 21 consecutive points for a 29-13 lead. Tiger Davin Hamby scored a basket with 4:17 left in the third quarter to end the drought.
The Jackrabbits scored 46 second-half points to roll past the Tigers 63-34.
Dakota Ryan started on fire with three consecutive baskets for a Tiger 8-6 lead. Davin Gamby hit a 3-pointer and Adam Hands hit two free throws for a 13-8 lead. But the Tigers misfired by missing 10 second-quarter field goals to go with four turnovers against an aggressive man-to-man defense. Greeley County standout Jaxon Brandl hustled for 10 first-half points.
"We played well in that first quarter," said Pawnee Heights coach Rick Carlson. "Greeley County played great help defense. It was hard to get the basketball into the lane and get kickouts or floaters. We stopped moving and weren't as quick as we needed to be. They took advantage."
The Jackrabbits ran their offense in high gear after halftime with 19 of 29 field goals for 66%. Brandl scored 24 points and Lincoln Shafer and Cade Morgan each added nine points. The Jackrabbits' Shafer hit three consecutive 3-pointers on second-chance scores. Morgan hit a fourth 3-pointer on a second chance for a 38-23 lead after three quarters.
"Defensive rebounding was a key," Carlson said. "If you give teams second chances, it makes your offense much harder. We knew they were good shooters. That second half, they hit shots on us."
Adam Hands led the Tigers (12-11) with nine points and Dakota Ryan added eight points. Pawnee Heights leading scorer Alec Carlson was defended tremendously by a wave of four Jackrabbits — Shafer, Titus Sherer, Jariath Yanez and Valentin Villalobos. Carlson scored seven fourth-quarter points after missing 10 consecutive field goals.
"We defended Carlson by committee," said Greeley County coach Josh Gooch. "We kept guys fresh doing that. We kept somebody on his left hand and helped in the paint when he touched it. We finished the game with Lincoln Shafer defending him."
The Jackrabbits (21-2) got their fast pace rolling after halftime. Brandl led the way, scoring inside, outside and in transition. The Jackrabbits converted 7 of 8 3-pointers the second half.
"Alec Carlson slowed him down, but Jaxon scores in a sneaky way," Gooch said. "He can shoot it and post up. He runs the court and scores in transition."
The Tigers (12-11) qualified for state basketball in back-to-back years for the first time since 1972.
NORTHERN VALLEY 63, WAVERLY 57 (OT) — Northern Valley's Eric Loya hit a 3-pointer and Drew Schemper hit a 2-pointer for overtime. Jeremiah Hansen and Kenton Thalheim scored in overtime. Loya scored 22 points. Waverly's Damian Foster scored 23 points.
Pawnee Heights 13 0 10 11 — 34
Greeley County 10 7 21 25 — 63
PAWNEE HEIGHTS (12-11)—Hands 3-7 2-2 9, Dakota Ryan 4-11 0-2 8, Carlson 3-16 1-1 7, Hamby 2-6 0-0 5, Colglazier 2-4 0-1 4, Gardner 0-1 1-2 1, Hammeke 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 14-46 4-8 34.
GREELEY COUNTY (21-2)—Brandl 10-17 2-2 24, Shafer 3-7 0-0 9, Mangan 4-6 0-0 9, Sherer 2-4 1-2 6, Schneider 0-1 0-0 0, Villalobos 2-5 0-0 5, Yanez 2-7 0-1 4, Martinez 1-3 0-0 2, Grubb 1-1 0-0 3, Luebbers 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 25-52 4-5 63.
3-pointers—PH 1-12 (Hamby 1-4, Hands 1-3, Carlson 0-5); GC 9-20 (Shafer 3-5, Brandl 2-4, Sherer 1-1, Grubb 1-1, Mangan 1-3, Villalobos 1-3, Yanez 0-3). Rebounds—PH 25 (Ryan 8); GC 35 (Brandl 10). Assists—PH 4 (Carlson 3); GC 17 (Shafer 5). Steals—PH 4; GC 7 (Brandl 5).
Waverly 7 17 12 19 2 — 57
No. Valley 12 11 8 24 9 — 63
WAVERLY (13-11)—Foster 8-17 4-7 23, Bartley 6-11 1-2 13, Myers 5-12 1-2 12, Meehan 1-4 1-2 3, Peterson 2-6 0-0 6, Wallace 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 22-51 7-13 57.
NORTHERN VALLEY (21-2)—Loya 8-17 1-4 22, Thalheim 5-11 3-3 14, Sides 0-12 2-2 2, Hansen 4-11 1-2 9, Brands 0-2 0-0 0, Preston 0-2 0-0 0, Schemper 2-3 0-0 4, Rudd 2-2 0-0 4, Totals 25-67 7-11 63.
3-pointers—W 6-18 (Foster 3-7, Peterson 2-5, Myers 1-5, Meehan 0-1), NV 6-30 (Loya 5-12, Thlheim 1-4, Preston 0-1, Hansen 0-5, Sides 0-8). Rebounds—W 30 (Myers 6, Foster 6), NV 44 (Sides 9). Assists—W 11 (Meehan 6), NV (). Steals—W 9 (Meehan 3, Bartley 3), NV 13 (Sides 4, Hansen 4).
