Raiders beat Broncos, cap 0-3 area day at state

Friday, March 10, 2017
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette Wauneta-Palisade's Caid Doetker (31) and Dalton Harchelroad go high to corral this offensive rebound against the Mead Raiders in Thursday's Class D-2 state quarterfinal at Lincoln East High School. The Broncos trailed by 10 after one quarter, rallied to lead and then fell short late in a 45-33 defeat.

R.B. Headley

Gazette Sports Editor

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A few blasts of Wauneta-Palisade heat weren't quite enough to overcome all that cold Thursday night at Lincoln East High School.

The Broncos were blazing with bank-shot threes and late runs against Class D-2 state quarterfinal foe Mead.

Senior Greg Gaston delivered his own personal nine-point, turning a 32-24 deficit into the Broncos' only 33-32 lead.

More than six minutes remained as fans on both sides seemed ready for one of those back-and-fourth state tournament classics.

Sadly, the young Broncos did not score again.

The Mead Raiders' final 13-0 run clinched a 45-33 victory.

"We just didn't hit enough shots," Broncos coach Dave Kuhlen commented to media from Lincoln, Omaha, North Platte and McCook after the game. "We had some open looks, some really open looks, but they just didn't go in tonight."

"And they (Mead) are the kind of team you don't fall behind against," he added.

Indeed. The Raidersbrought in fantastic defensive numbers where they held nine opponents to 35 points or less this season.

Yet offense lit up the early moments of Thursday's game as Mead shot ahead 9-0 while forcing two early Bronco timeouts.

Senior Brody Nordhausen finally got W-P on the board after that second break. He powered right past defenders for an inside basket.

The Broncos finally broke through outside thanks to banks being open long after 5 p.m.

Both Gaston and sophomore teammate Dennis Cavanaugh hit threes off the backboard while quickly reducing that early Raider 10-point lead.

However, the Broncos were just too hot and cold throughout this contest. They soon fell behind again at 24-16 as Mead finished the first half on a 7-0 surge.

Gaston shook off a second-half missed three, suddenly scoring nine straight points starting with one steal and split through two Raider defenders.

The former McCook High Bison netted 15 points in his final basketball game with Wauneta-Palisade.

Mead tightened its great defense again, though, and twice stole the ball on late Gaston drives while regaining control. Cavanaugh added 11 points.

The Broncos finish their season at 19-7 while No. 3 seed Mead advanced into D-2 state semifinal play.

Yet don't be surprised if the Broncos are playing Mead's role next season. They lose just two seniors in Gaston and Nordhausen.

"The paper said we are the youngest team at the state tournament," Kuhlen concluded.

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