Jaci Swart

For the second straight year the Nemaha Valley Raiders have claimed the Hiawatha girl’s Invitational championship, accomplishing that for the first time in school history and winning the tourney for the sixth time in school history.

While the team has been led by multiple players all season perhaps the one gal that provides one of the biggest impacts for the Lady Raiders with leadership and her play is junior, Jaci Swart.

Swart lead the Raiders in scoring in two of the three HIT tournament games, while posting double figures in all three games. Jaci started the tournament by posting a new season high at the time of 14 points against Jackson Heights in a 48-23 win in the first round.

The junior followed that performance up with a 10 point showing against Horton in the semifinals as the Raiders battled for the 46-32 win to return to the HIT tournament championship game.

In the championship Swart turned things up a notch leading the Raiders defense to forcing 20+ turnovers against Marysville and ultimately helping them to the 49-35 victory. Swart’s impact wasn’t felt just on the defensive end but on offense, too as she established a new season high posting 21 points and went 9-12 from the free throw.

On the season Jaci touts a stat line of 8.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.2 apg and 4 spg to be a do it all player for the Raiders and fill the stat sheet on a continual basis all season.

Swart has provided great leadership on the season along with her teammates the Raiders have been a balance team on the season and sit at 10-3 on the year and look to be a dangerous team the rest of the season and come playoff times with their sights set on great success.