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Unbeaten Tigers pounce on 10-1 Trojans
CAMBRIDGE, Neb. --A young cub rose among the Tigers and showed why Dundy County's girls are more dangerous than ever Thursday night.
"Kami Porter. Who would have seen that?" coach Nathan Behlke said after the sophomore's 20 points ignited a 58-41 conquest of perhaps the area's best challenger in Cambridge.
The Tigers are now a sweet 16-0, though they tend to depend on five seniors who've led them into three straight state tournaments.
Seniors delivered a punch again Thursday night as Aubrey Frederick netted 14 points and Payton Zarkowski zipped two threes through the Trojan nets to fend off any Cambridge comeback.
Yet the biggest Tiger belonged to Porter with 13 of her game-high 20 points before halftime.
"You might not see it looking at her (Porter), but yeah she loves to compete," Behlke said. "She doesn't back down to our seniors or anyone."
On "National Popcorn Day", Tiger fans could sit back and enjoy the show.
Dundy shot ahead 16-4 through one quarter and led by 20 points midway through the second period.
"It was nice," Behlke admitted about the fast start in such a big-hyped mid-season showdown. "But they (Cambridge) are so good, we knew we couldn't relax too much."
Sure enough, the Trojans came firing back like a team that was only one basket from also being unbeaten entering Thursday. Cambridge's only other loss was a 44-42 game at Southern Valley last month.
The Trojans (10-2 record) trimmed that 24-4 deficit to 24-12, then got within eight points shortly after intermission.
"I didn't think we would start out a little nervous but it seemed that we did," coach Jarod Albers said.
The fog soon lifted far better than what anyone saw driving between Cambridge and McCook Thursay night.
Top scorer Alea Shaner and freshman Korynn Clason both scored two baskets during the Trojans' second-quarter surge.
Teammate Katelyn Benson also drilled her first of three trifectas.
Yet like the finest class of student-athletes, Dundy County-Stratton always seemed to have a right answer.
When Zarkowski wasn't hitting from outside, Adalene Krutsinger worked closer to the basket and made two big third-quarter shots.
Frederick consistently attacked throughout the contest. When the score reached 56-41, both teams went to substitutes as Cambridge would have to focus on perhaps another shot at DC-S next week.
Both teams have earned No. 1 seeds for RPAC tournament play which tips off on Saturday -- DC-S No. 1 in the West Division and Cambridge leading seven East Division teams.
A rematch would be Saturday, Jan. 28, in McCook Community College's Peter & Dolores Graff Center.
"We've played just about every one on our (West) side and they always say it's tough to beat a team twice," Behlke concluded. "So we won't take anything for granted. These girls are pretty focused on what they want to achieve with this season."
Scoring summaries from both teams:
Dundy County (58) -- Kami Porter 20 points, Aubrey Frederick 14, Adalene Krutsinger 9, Payton Zarkowski 6, Madison Lambley 5, Grace Frederick 4. Three-pointers: Zarkowski 2, Porter 2.
Cambridge (41) --Alea Shaner 19 points, Katelynn Benson 9, Korynn Clason 6, Shaye Porter 5, Baylee Miller 2. Three-pointers: Benson 3, Shaner.