Coming off though losses earlier in the week the Nemaha Central Thunder hit the basketball court again on Friday night and hosted ACCHS in Big Seven League action eager to get back in the win and the both the girls and boys did just that. The lady Thunder notched the 56-26 win on their home floor, while the boys cruised to the 65-35 win. 

The Thunder struck early in the girls contest as a pair of three-pointers and six-points from Rachael Baumgartner helped Nemaha Central establish a 19-9 lead after just the first quarter with their defense leading to offense. That lead grew to 32-15 by halftime and ultimately the 56-26 win as Nemaha Central closed the game out with a 15-4 fourth quarter. 

Baumgartner led the charge for the Thunder with 14 points, while Laura Macke chipped in 13 points and seven other gals finished with two or more points. The game-high 14 points and early presence Baumgartner provided in the game earned her Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA as the Thunder improved to 8-1 and got back into the win column. 

ACCHS was led by Lucy Kearney who scored eight points in the matchup, while the Tigers fell to 2-7 on the season. 

Just the girls the Thunder boys made plenty of noise early in their contest working to a 10-point lead at 22-12 after the first quarter and leading 37-23 at the half with Mitchell Henry leading the charge posting 11 points in the first half. The game was firmly fixed into Nemaha Central's hands in the third quarter as the Thunder outscored ACCHS 21-8 in the frame and Nate Beck posted 12 of his 14 points in the quarter. Nemaha Central finished out the game to earn the 65-35 win. 

Beck with his season-high 14 points led the Thunder in the win and Henry finished with 11 points each providing big sparks for Nemaha Central in the game at different times and thus each earning Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA. Both Luke Holthaus and Tristan Allen each chipped in 10 points, also on the evening as Nemaha Central moved to 6-3 on the year. 

The ACCHS Tigers fell to 0-9 on the season with the loss and were led by Luke Miller who scored seven points, while both Trever Smith and Lane Bowen each chipped in six points. 

Both teams now have mid-season tournament action on the horizon. ACCHS will have the boys compete at the Valley Fall tournament starting Tuesday, while the girls play next Thursday against Perry Lecompton in Big Seven action at Effingham. For Nemaha Central the boys will host the Thunder Classic starting next Tuesday and the girls will have a week off until the Hiawatha girls Invitational which starts January 26th.