The Holton Wildcats hosted the Nemaha Central Thunder in a Class 3A Big East battle. The Nemaha Central Girls had a dominating performance to come out victorious, and the Nemaha Central came out of a close squeeze after a tied game early in the fourth. 

Nemaha Central over Holton (58-30) - Girls

Nemaha Central and Holton got out on a slow first quarter, but eventually Nemaha Central found some life to take the lead 2-0 before Holton would take its only lead 3-2 off a Lili Tanking three-point shot. The lead was short-lived halfway into the first, and NC ended the half up 13-8. Tanking wound up making two threes on the quarter while NC responded with just one from Bailey Snyder. The Thunder boomed in scoring and defense in the second quarter, outscoring Holton 22-3. Emma Hermesch had nine points in the 2nd quarter for NC and really kept the offense going, finishing with 13 on the half. 

Nemaha Central cruised to the finish line 58-30 in the second half, despite balanced scoring quarters from both teams in the third and fourth. The first half burst from Nemaha Central gave them the significant lead they needed to take their foot off the gas. Nemaha Central finished with 20 steals, and Holton finished with over 30 turnovers in the game. The Thunder was led by Hermesch in scoring with 20 points and four steals, but Meg Honeyman had an impressive night with four points, two rebounds, and eight steals for Nemaha Central. 

Nemaha Central over Holton (61-56) - Boys

The Nemaha Central Thunder started on fire, going up 11-2 on Holton in the first quarter, but were eventually matched with equal power as Holton knocked four threes in the first quarter, with two from Kerrick Dedonder. The first quarter would end 18-17 with Nemaha Central ahead by a thread. There would be only two lead changes in the game, and both occurred in the second quarter, but as quickly as Holton grabbed the lead, it was snatched right back. NC’s Layton Thomas hit two threes from NBA Range past the arc with three threes from the first half to lead the scoring with eleven. The half would end 32-25 with Nemaha Central in the driver's seat. 

Holton continued to battle tough as the game was just 44-40 going into the fourth quarter, with Holton only down by four. Holton splashed another two threes in the second from Easton Moulin and Devon Terwilliger, but Layton Thomas matched the threes with two of his own in the third to keep NC ahead. The Wildcats tied the game 44-44 just minutes in the fourth quarter, but would allow NC to go on an impressive stretch of scoring in which Holton would go into a five-minute scoreless drought. The contest concluded at 61-56 with Nemaha Central showing up at the free-throw line in the final minutes of play. Layton Thomas ended the night with 24 points to lead the Thunder, with Kalem Schmelzle right behind him with 15. Holton was led by senior Kerrick Dedonde,r who finished the night with 20 points and three total threes. Both teams finished with eight threes apiece. 

Conclusion

Nemaha Central Girls are now 9-3 this season and are 5-0 in Big East play heading into the Thunder Class to face Jackson Heights next Tuesday. Thunder boys are 7-5 now on the year and 3-2 in Big East games as they will have a bye in the first round of the Thunder Classic and will either play Jackson Heights or Rock Creek next Thursday. Holton Boys and Girls are both 1-5 in league play and 1-10 overall, with the Boys headed to the Valley Falls tournament to take on the NEK Nighthawks on Tuesday, while the Girls take on Rock Creek next Tuesday as well.