CHADRON, NEBRASKA: After a humbling defeat to Bridgeport, Niobrara County High School rebounded with a thrilling win over the host school Tuesday afternoon. The Tigers raced out to a big lead behind treys from Brady Swisher and Corbin Matthews. The Eagles responded with a late run but still trailed by ten after one. Despite another trey from Matthews, the hosts had narrowed the gap to three at the break.
By the time three quarters were complete Chadron knotted the game at 41, to set up a frantic final eight minutes. The advantage changed hands four times and triples from Hudson Leimser and Nathan Miller kept it close. Brady Swisher had a driving layup and converted the charity toss to bring NCHS within one, and Miller’s free throw tied the game at 53 with barely a minute left. 40 seconds later Leimser’s putback gave the Tigers a 59-58 edge. The defense withstood multiple desperate attempts in the final 20 seconds to pull off the win. It was Lusk’s first win over the Eagles since 2002.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
CHADRON 14-13-14-17—58
NCHS 24-6-11-19—59
NCHS PLAYER SCORING: Matthews 14; B. Swisher 12; Brott 10; Miller 10; Leimser 7; Himes 4; D. Swisher 2.
Wednesday afternoon the Tigers faced Gering for fifth place and struggled in many areas after bench player Arnan Walker suffered a freak injury during warmups. The Bulldogs jumped out to an eight point cushion after the first period and held off every Lusk rally. The lead was bumped to ten at the midpoint with foul trouble mounting. Leimser pulled NCHS back within six late in the third with a deep three pointer, but the free throw line was a killer all day. Miller and Matthews knocked down triples but nine for 31 on free throws makes it hard to beat anyone in the 57-48 defeat.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
NCHS 8-11-15-14—48
GERING 16-13-11-17—57
NCHS PLAYER SCORING: B. Swisher 16; Matthews 11; Leimser 8; Miller 7; Brott 5; D. Swisher 1.
HEMINGFORD, NEB: Lusk made another trip to the Cornhusker state Monday evening and came out sluggish against the Bobcats. The game was knotted at a dozen after one before the Tigers warmed up.
Matthews found the hot touch with a hat trick over a three minute stretch, and for good measure added a fourth three pointer- yet NCHS led by just eight entering the locker room.
Sloppy Lusk passes and the scrappy home squad held strong until Brady Swisher’s trey. The Bobcats trailed by ten at the end of three. Matthews sank two more from long range as the Tigers went on a 9-0 run. The lead hovered around that down the stretch as Lusk came away with the 60-50 victory.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
NCHS 12-20-9-19—60
HHS 12-11-8-19—50
This weekend NCHS gets back into conference play with a trip to Hanna-Elk Mountain on Friday before Rock River comes to Tiger Gym on Saturday
