Ella Gardner (23), Laci Kitchhoff (0), Sadie Cornell (4) and Teegan Duncan (14) listen as Jake Nannen, head coach, lays out the team's strategy during Superior's Southern Nebraska Conference Tournament championship game against Milford, Saturday, at Utica.
Sadie Cornell (4) has a clear shot at the basket during Superior's Southern Nebraska Conference Tournament championship game against Milford, Saturday, at Utica.
A lack of field goal production for an extended period of time over the third and fourth quarters doomed the Superior High School girls basketball team to a loss in the Southern Nebraska Conference championship game against Class C-1 Milford, Saturday. The game was played at Centennial High School in Utica.
The Wildcats reached the final round by toppling Fillmore Central 62-51 last Tuesday to advance to the semifinal game against Fairbury.
Fairbury gave the Wildcats a wild run but Superior prevailed with a 43-38 overtime win.
Superior downed Smith Center 54-44, at Superior, in the Senior Night game Monday.
Superior was able to hold Fillmore Central at bay after taking a 31-27 half time lead.
The Fairbury Jeffs were a different matter. The Jeffs held a 22-21 lead at the halfway mark. Superior pulled ahead to lead 33-32 at the end of the third quarter. A low scoring effort by both teams led to a 37-37 tie at the end of the regulation four quarters. Superior stepped it up and posted six points in the overtime period while holding the Jeffs to one point. The 43-38 win sent Superior to the final round game against Milford who had upset top-seeded Sutton in their semifinal match-up.
Superior stayed close to Milford, trailing 21-17 at the half. The bottom dropped out of the Superior offense as they managed three points in the third period while Milford put up 12. A reignited Superior offense in the fourth quarter was not enough to close the gap.
Superior had their hands full with Smith Center early in the game. Superior held a narrow 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Smith Center roared out to a 27-18 halftime lead. The Wildcats used the half time intermission to regroup. They came back on the court fired up and held a slim 34-32 lead at the end of three quarters of play. The Wildcats did not let up and pulled away to a 54-44 win.
Shayla Meyer was the lead Superior offensive player against Fairbury with 16 points. Ella Gardner kicked in nine points. Laci Kirchhoff chimed in with seven points. Teegan Duncan dropped through six points. Faith Butler scored three points with a clutch shot. Meyer controlled the boards with nine rebounds. Halle Bargen and Gardner grabbed six rebounds each. Kirchhoff handled five rebounds. Duncan landed four rebounds. Butler recorded three rebounds. Madison Heusinkvelt and Neah McMeen had one rebound apiece.
Meyer tallied 17 points against Milford. Sadie Cornell netted eight points. Gardner registered five points. Kirchhoff netted four points. Duncan posted three points. Meyer hit the boards for 13 rebounds. Gardner and Kirchhoff accounted for two rebounds each. Bargen and Duncan grabbed a rebound apiece.
Meyer netted 20 points to lead Superior against Smith Center. Gardner contributed 13 points. Duncan accounted for nine points. Cornell and Kirchhoff produced six points each. Meyer landed 11 rebounds.
The Wildcats close out their regular season schedule Friday against intra-county rival Lawrence-Nelson at Nelson
Sub-district play gets underway with a play-in game Monday. Superior will play Tuesday. They face an uphill battle to qualify for the state tournament. They are in the sub-district bracket with Fillmore Central, Sandy Creek, Thayer Central and Sutton. Sutton downed Superior 53-47 in the season opener for both teams. Superior currently sits 14th in wild card points. They will have their best chance if they can down Sutton in the sub-district round. The Wildcats have defeated the other teams in the bracket this season.
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