92.1 KMZA Broadcast (girls) - Holton at Nemaha Central - click here to listen 
92.1 KMZA Broadcast (boys) - Holton at Nemaha Central - click here to listen

The first time around the games went down to the wire in Holton and this time in a battle of ranked and top Big Seven League teams it would be the same with tight ballgames between Nemaha Central and Holton this time in Seneca. While the games were tight again the winners of the contest flipped from the first time as Holton girls avenged an early season loss to win 45-42 and the Nemaha boys got payback on Holton with a 39-28 win. 

It was a back and forth affair throughout the girls contest on the night as Nemaha Central built a six-point lead in the first quarter but led just 11-9 after the first quarter. The second quarter was a slow start for both teams and the game was tied at 12-12 with 4:08 left in the first half but Holton behind Shay Tanking had a burst of offense to outscore the Thunder 14-5 in the second and lead 23-16 at halftime. Tanking tallied 14 of Holton's 23 first half points to spear head the Wildcat offense. Looking to answer Nemaha Central came out and behind four three-pointers in the third quarter, three by Maggie Hammes the Thunder sounded off for a 17-8 third and carried a 33-31 lead into the fourth. Down the stretch it was tied late but the Wildcats took advantage of Nemaha turnovers and free throws to take the 45-42 win on the road. 

Tanking paced Holton scoring 20 points helping lead the Wildcats early with 14 in the first half earning Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" on KMZA. Lauryn Moore chipped in 10 points and the Wildcats went 17-25 from the free throw line as Holton improved to 12-3 on the season and 9-2 in the Big Seven. 

Nemaha Central with the loss moved to 13-2 on the season and 9-2 in Big Seven play as Laura Macke led the Thunder on the night with 13 points, while Hammes and Jacy Dalinghaus each netted 11 points. 

A fast early start for Nemaha Central gave the Thunder a 7-0 lead before Holton final out on the board with a free throw but that was the only points Holton got in the first quarter as the Thunder led 11-1 after one frame. The field goal drought for Holton stretched into the second and the Wildcats went 10 minutes of game play without a field goal but managed to hang tough and get within one at 13-12 late in the first half. Nemaha Central netted a pair of buckets in the final minute of the first half including a steal and bucket at the buzzer by Trenton Henry to take a 17-12 lead into the half. Led by the offense of Bryson Patch Holton tied the game at 18-18 in the third and took their first lead of the game in the final 20 seconds of the third going up 24-23 entering the fourth quarter after posting a 12-6 third quarter. The fourth quarter however belonged to Nemaha Central as the Thunder in the later part of the game extended the lead out and hit free throws to stretch it out for the 39-28 win. 

Mitchell Henry led the charge for Nemaha Central netting 17 points while going 9-11 from the free throw line as Nemaha went 12-19 in the game from charity stripe. Henry's performance earned him Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" on KMZA. Trenton Henry added 11 points for the Thunder as they improved to 12-3 on the year and 10-1 in the Big Seven League. 

Holton Wildcats with the loss moved to 10-5 on the year and 9-2 in Big Seven play as Patch led the team with 17 points in the loss. 

Both teams continue the season with another Big Seven League showdown on Tuesday, February 7th as Holton will host Riverside and Nemaha Central will welcome Sabetha to town.