It was a major non-league clash to open the 2019-20 season Friday night in Centralia as the Panthers played host to Nemaha Central and it was the Thunder who swept the night winning the girls game 61-39 and the boys 64-43.

Girls: Nemaha Central 61, Centralia 39

The girl’s game was the most well-played game of the night between two perennial powers, but it was Nemaha Central who jumped out in front leading 14-9 after one quarter behind five points from senior Alleigh Kramer.

Centralia battled back despite having just one starter back from a year ago and won the second quarter 13-12 behind eight points from senior Kennedy Becker to trail by just four at halftime, 26-22.

The Thunder then took control of the game out of halftime with a 17-9 third quarter to lead 43-31 going into the fourth as Kramer and junior Hannah Macke combined to score 13 points.

Centralia was able to get the game back down to single digits early in the fourth, but Nemaha Central had seven different players score to extend the lead and win comfortably in the end.

Nemaha Central starts their quest for a third straight state tournament berth with a big win and will host St. Mary’s Tuesday night while Central (0-1) hosts Hanover for a big TVL matchup.

Nemaha Central: Alleigh Kramer – 17, Hannah Macke – 10, Riley Rottinghaus – 10, Cassidy Corby – 8, Kirsten Lortscher – 8, Emma Elder – 4, Madson Lortscher – 2, Kari Heideman –2.

Centralia: Kennedy Becker – 13, Morgan Kramer – 10, Avery Deters – 9, Olivia Kuckelman – 5, Lena Haverkamp – 2.

Boys: Nemaha Central 64, Centralia 43

Just six days after the Nemaha Central and Centralia football teams each captured state titles the Thunder and Panther basketball teams met up on the hardwood and despite it being close in the first half the Thunder pulled away for a 64-43 victory.

The first half went back and forth with Nemaha Central leading by two after one quarter and by two at halftime 18-16.

The Thunder pushed their lead to nine after three quarters with an 18-11 third quarter and despite the Panthers pulling back within seven early in the fourth Nemaha Central’s Kurtis Beck and Andrew Leonard combined for 17 points in the fourth to put the game away.

Beck was great leading all scorers with 18 points while Bryce Uphaus added 13 for the Thunder and Leonoard 12.

Nemaha Central (1-0) will host St. Mary’s Tuesday night while next up for Centralia is a home game against Hanover with live coverage of 92.1 KMZA.

Nemaha Central: Kurtis Beck – 18, Bryce Uphaus – 13, Andrew Leonard – 12, Marcus Beck – 5, Eric Hammes – 4, Gavin Duryea – 4, Dylan Schultejans – 3, Landen Baker – 3, Austin Ahlquist – 2.

Centralia: Kamble Haverkamp – 12, Raef Osterhaus – 8, Cooper Deters – 6, Noah Quigley – 5, Colby Arnold – 5, Presley Bowers – 3, Corbin Becker – 2, Ian Haverkamp – 2.