The Nemaha Valley boys basketball team did something they could not accomplish in their five straight previous state tournament appearances, they won their final game of the season on a Saturday!  Although it wasn't the third championship in school history they had hoped for, it was a very nice ending to a spectacular 24-2 season as the Raiders beat Silver Lake 60-47 to claim 3rd place at Class 3A in Hutchinson.  It was the first time since 2000 that NV ended their season with a win and placed third after a pair of state runner-ups and a trio of 4th place medals the past five seasons.  

Trailing early 8-6, Nemaha Valley would go on a 10-0 run to finish the first quarter and take a lead they would never relinquish.  The Raiders led 25-20 at halftime and were withstood a Eagle charge that brought them as close as three points in the third quarter.  NV hit 22 of 28 free throws on the day to help seal the deal as both teams struggled shooting less than 37 percent from the field.  

Creighton Brinker had 15 points and 14 rebounds and finished his senior year at state with a total of 43 points, 38 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.  Justice McKernan hit a a trio of three-pointers and added 11 points while senior, Trent Olberding and Evan Hermersch each scored 9 and Caleb Meyer chipped in 8.  

Silver Lake, who had not played Nemaha Valley and Coach Jon Thomas in the past 18 seasons, was led by Trenton Smith with 12 points and he had 48 in three state games.  Evan Burdiek added 10 as one of 6 Eagle seniors who end their season 21-4 and fourth place.  

It was the 16th state tournament appearance and sixth in a row as well as the tenth time Nemaha Valley boys advanced to the semifinals.  They finish the year 24-2 and say farewell to six seniors, including Brinker and Olberding who finish as top 10 overall scorers and the only four-time state tourney participant in school history.  The Raider senior class was apart of 81 varsity wins in their high school career and helped Coach Jon Thomas soar past the 300 win mark in December of this season.