103.9 KNZA Broadcast - Nemaha Central at Holton (girls) - click here to listen 
103.9 KNZA Broadcast - Nemaha Central at Holton (boys) - click here to listen 

It was a pair of very tight Big 7 League games on Friday night as Holton played at home for the first time this season.  Both games were decided in the final minute, in large part by free throw shooting, as the Thunder girls improved to 3-0 while the Holton boys won, to leave the other three competing teams 2-1 on the season. 

GIRLS = Nemaha Central 53, Holton 51

With a full court press and furious tempo, Holton jumped to a 10-2 lead, which was the widest margin of the night in both games.  Nemaha got within 17-14 after one quarter and trailed only 25-23 at halftime.  The Thunder took the first lead of the game at 26-25 as Laura Macke took over and scored 10 of her game high 26 points in the third period.  The contest was tied at 39 entering the fourth frame and tied again at 44 after a three-point-play by Holton junior, Maleah Price.

The Thunder however made 8 of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter and 20 of 30 for the game, which proved to be the difference.  Maggie Hammes was 4-4 at the stripe after cashing in on a pair of one-and-one opportunities with 1:36 remaining (48-45) and again with only nine seconds left to make it 52-48.  The free throws were pivotal as Shay Tanking hit her third three of the night to pull within 52-52 in the closing seconds, but Jacy Dalinghaus hit one more free throw to secure the win and move the Thunder to 3-0.  Macke was 8 of 10 at the line and earned "Player to Bank On" honors for her effort while Kaley and Jacy Dalinghaus combined for 15 points as the Thunder overcame some early foul trouble and 20 turnovers in the contest.  Ashley Larkin also had a monster night with double-digit rebounds.     

Holton got 19 from Tanking in their first setback of the season while Price scored 9 and Ashlyn Weilert chipped in 7, but the Cats made only 9 of 20 free throws and lost their rebouding advantage in the second half, using mostly a five-guard lineup, that also led to some inside points for Macke and the Thunder.        

BOYS = Holton 48, Nemaha Central 45 

It was Nemaha jumping to a 4-0 lead, but both teams struggled to find offense in the first quarter with the Thunder maintaining at 9-7 lead.  Holton went on a 12-4 run to open the second stanza to take take a couple six-point leads and held a 27-23 advantage at halftime. The Wildcats led 38-37 after a back and forth third period, as Nemaha struggled to make a lot of point-blank range shots throughout the night.  

The game however came down to free throws and the final minute as Holton went from trailing 45-42 to winning 48-45 in a matter of 20 seconds.  AJ Haussler tied the game at 45 on a trey with :35 remaining then Bryson Patch got a steal and converted three-point-play on the next possession to make it 48-45 with 14 ticks remaining.  The Thunder got just one shot off in the closing seconds before falling to 2-1 on the season.  

While Holton made 12 of 15 free throws on the night, Nemaha Central was just 6 of 15 at the line, including a pair of missed one-and-one opportunities in the fourth quarter that would have extended their lead to multiple possessions.  Mitchell Henry led Nemaha with 14 points while Dylan Enneking added 12 and Nate Beck had 8.  Nemaha also battled early foul trouble and did not make a three-pointer all night.  Holton was led by Patch with 17 points and Mason Chanay scored 15 for the second straight game as Holton improved to 2-1.