A Big Seven League showdown in Seneca between Nemaha Central and Riverside marked the opening of the high school basketball season for both teams and at the end of the night it was a pair of wins for the home teams. The lady Thunder of Nemaha Central opened the night with a 49-17 win over Riverside, while in the boys action Nemaha Central battled for the win against the Cyclones. 

It was a sluggish start to the night for both Riverside and Nemaha Central in the girls’ varsity action as neither team got into a rhythm early in the season opener, but the Thunder held Riverside scoreless in the first frame and held a 10-0 headed into the second quarter. Despite the Cyclones breaking through to score in the second quarter, Nemaha Central started to find a bit more consistency and used a 20-7 second quarter to go into halftime up 30-7. The Thunder would go on to cruise to the win opening up the year with a 49-17 victory over the Cyclones. 

Nemaha Central was led by Kaley Dalinghaus who notched a game-high 13 points earning her Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA, while Laura Macke and Rachael Baumgartner chipped in 11 and 10 points for the Thunder on the night. The Thunder on the visited the free throw line 33 times making 15 (10-22 in the first half). Riverside in the loss was led by Rayme Butts who scored nine points. 

Just like the girls matchup the boys contest showcased that it was the beginning of the season as both teams got off to a slow start and the game would prove to have a slower pace with over 60 free throws shot between the two teams. Nemaha Central worked out to the early lead as the teams traded buckets but behind 10 points from Grant Shue in the first quarter Riverside lead 10-7 after one. That three-point lead held up going into halftime as the Cyclones led 25-22 at intermission in Seneca. 

The teams traded buckets in the third quarter until Nemaha Central took the lead and would not give it back using a 15-8 third quarter to lead 37-33 going into the final eight minutes and down the stretch the Thunder hit free throws to keep Riverside at bay and earn the 53-43 win. 

Luke Holthaus paced a balanced scoring attack for Nemaha Central on the night as he had a team-high 11 points earning him Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA, while Nate Beck tallied 10 points and both Tristan Allen and Trenton Henry added nine points each. The Thunder on the night shot 38 free throws, hitting 20, while Riverside hoisted up 27 charity stripe opportunities connecting on 16. The Cyclones were led by Shue who had a game-high 20 points, while Levi Crespo scored 17 points and was 10-15 from the free throw line. 

The season rolls along for both teams with more Big Seven League play on Tuesday, December 8th as Riverside will host Hiawatha and Nemaha Central travels to Jeff West.