The Big Seven League race continued to take interesting turns on Tuesday night as the regular season starts to reach its end. In Seneca the Nemaha Central played host to Royal Valley in a pair of close entertaining ball games in which the winners came back from a halftime deficit to ultimately earn the win, while the lady Thunder claiming the 56-53 victory the Panther boys notching the 46-41 road win.

Royal Valley girls pounced on Nemaha Central early to the tune of a 9-0 start and the Thunder didn't sound for their first points until midway through the first quarter and they came from the free throw line. After the first quarter the Panthers held the 18-11 lead but in the second quarter they saw that lead go away as Nemaha Central took their first lead of the game at 23-22 but gave it back to Royal Valley and the Panthers were up 28-26 at the half. The Thunder started off the second half with a bit of a roll and pushed ahead at the end of three leading 40-39. Keeping Royal Valley at bay in the fourth the Thunder went to the free throw line and made free throws to help secure the win finishing the night 22-34 from the line to win the game 56-53. The Thunder was up by a bigger cushion late but some made three-pointers (6 in the game) drew Royal Valley close and a three at the buzzer by Tamo Thomas made it the three-point difference at the end.

The Thunder spread the wealth offensively with seven gals scoring as Rachael Baumgartner led the way with 15 points, hitting 9-13 free throws. Jenna Macke and Jaci Swart each added double figures, too finishing with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Macke's 13 was a new season high for the junior and along with her energy off the bench providing rebounding and great defense earned her Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA radio. The win makes Nemaha Central to 12-5 on the season and 9-4 in Big Seven action, while Royal Valley falls to 7-8 on the year and 5-7 in League play. The Panthers were led by Jaycee Worrell who posted a season and game-high 19 points, including a 10-point first quarter, Thomas added 12 points on the night.

It was a slow start to the game in the boy’s action as it was just 6-4 after the first quarter with Nemaha Central in the lead. That lead was pushed all the way to 22-11 at one point in the second quarter for the Thunder, but a pair of three-pointers by Royal Valley to close out the first half drew them within five-points, as Nemaha Central lead 22-17 at halftime. The teams traded buckets and opportunities in the second half but Royal Valley ultimately pushed ahead, taking their first lead 25-24 with 3:30 left in the third and it was tied at 30-30 after three periods. Royal Valley then pounced in the fourth quarter posting a 16-11 frame and hitting free throws down the stretch (12-26 in game & 11-23 in second half) to claim the 46-41 road win. The Thunder got a pair of three's by Devin Henry late to keep them in the game, but Royal Valley made the plays needed down the stretch to earn the win.

Seven Panthers got in the scorebook with Jarrett Roy coming off the bench to pace the team with 11 points, providing an instant impact when coming into the game in the first half. Roy's impact and 11 points earned him Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA radio. Kwaki Spoonhunter joined him in double figures with 10 points as Royal Valley with the win improved to 12-4 and 8-4 in League action. Nemaha Central with the loss fell to 14-3 on the season and 11-2 in Big Seven action, as Henry led the team with a game-high 14 points.

Both teams hit the court again this week on Friday as they hit the road for League matchups as Royal Valley will be at Sabetha and Nemaha Central at Holton.