After opening up the 2016-17 high school basketball season last Friday with a huge 39-34 win over Jeff West, the Nemaha Central girls avoided a letdown against ACCHS Tuesday night taking down the Lady Tigers in Effingham 44-19.

The Thunder girls struggled early only leading the Lady Tigers 6-4 after the first quarter as Nemaha Central struggled to figure out the ACCHS 2-3 zone. The Lady Thunder figured it out in the second quarter, though, outscoring ACCHS 17-5 with senior Kailey Dalinghaus notching 8 of her 12 first half points in the quarter as Nemaha Central led 23-9 at halftime.

The third quarter was much like the first with neither team generating much offense. But, Nemaha Central was able to put up double digits in both the third and fourth quarters and held the Lady Tigers to single digits in both to extend their lead and put the game out of reach.

Kailey Dalinghaus, off an 8 point game against Jeff West, poured in a game-high 14 points in the win with 12 coming in the first half.

Nemaha Central (2-0, 2-0 Big 7) hits the road for a tough matchup with Holton (2-0, 2-0) Friday night, while ACCHS (0-2, 0-1) hosts Sabetha (3-0, 2-0).

Nemaha Central: Kailey Dalinghaus – 14, Ashley Larkin – 7, Allison Rottinghaus – 6, Laura Macke – 4, Sara Kuckelman – 4, Shiann Kramer – 3, Ashley Hammes – 2, Angela Holthaus – 2, Shayla Heiman – 2.

ACCHS: Katie Beien – 9, Madison Heatherington – 3, Jaycee Ernzen – 3, Georgia Appel – 2, Sara Johnson – 2.

BOYS

In the Thunder’s 46-36 win over Jeff West to begin the season last Friday, junior Mitchell Henry led Nemaha Central in scoring with 12 points.

Tuesday night Henry led not just the Thunder but all scorers with 17 points as Nemaha Central took town ACCHS on the road 60-27.

ACCHS hung tough early on in the first quarter pulling within 9-7 midway through, but Nemaha Central went on a 8-2 run to finish off the frame to lead 21-9 after the first.

The Thunder extended their lead in the second quarter as senior Dylan Enneking killed all the ACCHS momentum with a three-pointer at the buzzer to push the lead at the break to 34-17. Nemaha Central came out of the break and put the game away with a 17-5 third quarter and eventually forced a running clock in the fourth quarter.

Mitchell Henry led the way with 17 points, while sophomore Cole Kramer added 13 points and Dylan Enneking 11.

Nemaha Central: Mitchell Henry – 17, Cole Kramer – 13, Dylan Enneking – 11, Nate Beck – 8, Trent Henry – 6, Matt Baumgartner – 3, Austin Gerety – 2.

ACCHS: Lane Bowen – 8, Logan Kramer – 6, Ryder McAlexander – 4, Luke Miller – 2, Tucker Smith – 2, Shawn Boos – 2, Tate Smith – 2, Matthew Oswalt – 1.