St. Patrick's day arrives in Arapahoe?

Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Sophomore Aidan Kennicutt (34) sends a shot over two North Platte St. Patrick’s defenders as Wauneta-Palisade battled the Irish in Monday’s Arapahoe Holiday Tournament title game. The Irish raised their record to 8-0 this season.
Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

ARAPAHOE, Neb. — The O’Malleys and other Irish were causing all sorts of chaos one night before New Year’s Eve.

Yet the biggest troublemaker for Wauneta-Palisade was a Dolan.

Dolan Branch delivered 28 points during Monday’s Arapahoe Holiday Tournament title game — 22 during the middle two quarters of an 83-39 North Platte St. Patrick’s victory.

Until then, the Broncos were keeping pace with an 8-0 powerhouse who’s won seven games by 21 points or more.

Senior Ty Duvel scored seven points in the first quarter while sophomore Garrett Hanna sizzled five points past tough Irish defense.

The Broncos (4-5 record) were also making great use of holiday charity, hitting seven freee throws in their first eight attempts.

Coach Rod Gaston saw his W-P team stay within 19-16 through the first eight minutes.

Suddenly, St. Patrick’s Day arrived about three months too soon.

The Irish unleashed a 25-7 second quarter where Branch lit up Arapahoe’s home gym with his own dozen points.

Sadly for W-P, St. Patrick’s did not drift into a holiday slumber during the halftime break.

The Irish instead tallied 24 more points to lead 68-32 through three periods.

Branch broke loose to net another nine points.

The Broncos didn’t quit as five players hit second-half shots.

Senior Ben Anderjaska buried a triple to follow his terrific 20-point effort in Friday’s semifinal game against host Arapahoe.

Anderjaska scored 14 points in one quarter of that Bronco victory.

Duvel, Hanna, Colby Hoskovec and Tucker Boos all made baskets after the break.

Yet the Broncos couldn’t quite stop an Irish juggernaut averaging nearly 74 points a contest.

The complete Bronco scoring summary:

W-P (39) — Ty Duvel 13 points, Garrett Hanna 9, Tucker Boos 7, Ben Anderjaska 5, Austen Rozelle 2, Colby Hoskovec 2, Aidan Kennicutt 1. Three-pointers: Anderjaska, Hanna.

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