DC-S Tigers will play for state championship!

Friday, March 1, 2019
The Dundy County-Stratton girls will hopefully have one more celebration after they play Archbishop Bergan of Fremont in Saturday's Class D-1 state championship basketball game at Lincoln's Pinnacle Bank Arena. Opening tip is set for 11 a.m.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

LINCOLN, Neb. — Junior Jessie Freeland’s steal led to a go-ahead Adalene Krutsinger basket and Dundy County-Stratton finished its 47-43 Class D-1 state semifinal win over Pleasanton this morning.

The Tigers (24-2 record) took a 43-41 for this classic contest’s 13th lead change — several during those final few minutes at Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Senior Grace Frederick hit three free throws and sophomore McKinzie Baney buried two more crucial shots for the four-point Tiger advantage.

The Tigers also drew a late charging call from Pleasanton, who finished 26-2 after being No. 1 ranked most of this season in Nebraska’s largest newspapers.

Coach Matt Thomas will lead the DC-S girls into a state championship game to cap his first season as head coach.

The No. 3-seed Tigers will take on No. 7-seed Archbishop Bergan (18-8 record) from Fremont on Saturday at Lincoln’s Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Opening tip is set for 11 a.m. and the game will be televised statewide on KOLN Channel 10-11 as well as Nebraska’s educational TV networks.

Bergan knocked off No. 8 Elkhorn Valley, 51-45, in today’s other semifinal. Elkhorn Valley had shocked No. 1 North Platte St. Pat’s by one point on Thursday.

Krutsinger and junior guard Sable Lambley scored 12 points each today to lead the Tigers, though point guard Lambley fouled out of her second consecutive game in this tournament.

Sophomore Maggie Lutz added 10 points as the Tigers again showed they are far more than just their senior post duo of Krutsinger and Frederick.

Frederick netted nine points after just two on Thursday in the win over defending state champ North Central. Frederick did pull down 14 rebounds during that quarterfinal.

Freeland and Baney added two points apiece to that winning Tiger total.

The Tigers shot an impressive 54 percent overall, according to post-game media reports.

They’ll play their second D-1 state title game in three seasons, losing a double-overtime thriller to Guardian Angels Central Catholic two years ago.

Watch for details on mccookgazette.com and full report Monday.

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