The high school basketball season is quickly winding down and the season continued in Meriden Tuesday night with the Jeff West girls and the Nemaha Central boys picking up Big 7 League wins.

GIRLS

In a battle of top 10 ranked teams in the state the Jeff West girls used a 21-3 second quarter to get out on top of Nemaha Central before going on to win 57-42.

The Thunder couldn’t have had a better start to the game forcing six turnovers in the opening quarter and jumping out to a 17-6 lead after one with senior Jacy Dalinghaus notching nine points in the frame.

Jeff West bounced back in the second quarter and took control, holding Nemaha Central to just three points while freshman Kristen Biltoff scored 10 points in the second giving the Tigers a 27-20 lead at the half.

The Thunder pulled within five points going into the fourth quarter, but turned the ball over six times in the fourth which allowed Jeff West to continue to extend their lead and ice the game away.

The Tigers (15-3, 9-3 Big 7) knocked down five 3-pointers in the game with Biltoff scoring a game-high 20 points while senior Aaliyah Negonsott added 17.

Nemaha Central (15-2, 10-1 Big 7) suffered their first league loss of the season, turning the basketball over 15 times.

Jeff West: Kristen Biltoff – 20, Aaliyah Negonsott – 17, Heather Kahler – 6, Zoe Holthaus – 6, Kiley Biltoff – 5, Jordan Negonsott – 3.

Nemaha Central: Alleigh Kramer – 16, Jacy Dalinghaus – 12, Ashley Larkin – 6, Kirsten Lortscher – 6, Ashley Hammes – 3.

BOYS

Behind an 18-5 third quarter, the Nemaha Central boys avenged an early season loss to Jeff West Tuesday night by defeating the Tigers on the road 51-36.

The Thunder jumped out to a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game, but the Tigers bounced back and the tied the game up at 7 before Nemaha took an 11-9 lead after the first.

The two teams went back-and-forth in the second quarter with neither team leading by more two points and Jeff West takin g a 24-23 lead into the half.

Nemaha Central took control in the third quarter outscoring the Tigers 18-5 in the quarter led by senior Matt Baumgartner’s seven points giving the Thunder a 41-29 lead into the fourth before icing the game away.

The Thunder (12-5, 6-5 Big 7) were led by Baumgartner’s 17 points and will next host Holton Friday night, while Jeff West (9-9, 6-6 Big 7) travels to Hiawatha Friday night.

Nemaha Central: Matt Baumgartner – 17, Andrew Leonard – 9, Cole Kramer – 8, Dalton Schmelzle – 7, Austin Gerety, Bryce Uphaus – 4.

Jeff West: Josh Broxterman – 16, Bryce Clements – 14, Brayden Cruz – 4, Quinn Nuenswander – 2.